A Theory [UPDATED]
What needs to happen for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential aspirations to remain viable? Primarily, at least 2 things:
(1) McCain needs to lose, and
(2) Sarah Palin has to be seen as a political liability and therefore unelectable.
Given that, I wonder if it's only a coincidence that many (but certainly not all) of the elitist "conservatives" who have abandoned McCain in favor of "The One" - and who have thoroughly trashed Sarah Palin in the process in an order to paint her as responsible for a McCain loss (should that occur) - just so happen to be Romney supporters?
Republicans have joked about how the Clintons secretly want Obama to lose so that Hillary's presidential hopes remain viable for 2012, and that they've been working behind the scenes to ensure that happens. Of course, there's been scant evidence of this to date.
But what if Mitt Romney really is working behind the scenes, having his sycophants undermining McCain's campaign and doing a number on Palin's credibility as a political force to be reckoned with in the future?
Honestly, I believe there's something to that. I do not have a difficult time believing that Romney has sent out his minions (see, e.g., Kathleen Parker, William Weld, etc.) to do his dirty work. One commenter at FreeRepublic referred to it as the political equivalent of the Mountain Meadow Massacre. Now that's funny, albeit a little below the belt, ecumenically speaking.
But, lest there be any confusion about the likelihood of my ever voting for Mitt Romney, it ain't gonna happen. Not ever. It wasn't going to happen if he had won the nomination this year, so don't bother trotting him out in 2012 because I'm not going to vote for him then, either. The man is a liberal wolf in conservative sheep's clothing. His record as Governor of Massachusetts (as well as his "pro-choice"/pro-gay political rhetoric prior to his decision to run for the GOP nomination for president, at which point he suddenly decided he was a social conservative) reveal him to be untrustworthy on issues of import to social conservatives. I don't trust him, and I won't vote for him. Under any circumstances. I'd vote for Rudy before I'd vote for Romney. And, as my involvement with Catholics Against Rudy indicates, I'd never vote for Rudy for President. So, that shows you where Romney rates in my book.
Besides, if Sarah Palin wants the nomination in 2012, I'm guessing it's hers for the taking, in spite of the best efforts of Romney's elitist Palin-hating minions.
UPDATE (27 October)
Hat tip to Cranky Con for providing the link to the following, which confirms my suspicions:
ROMNEY ANTI-PALINLet me repeat what I said above: lest there be any confusion about the likelihood of my ever voting for Mitt Romney, it ain't gonna happen. Not ever. It wasn't going to happen if he had won the nomination this year, so don't bother trotting him out in 2012 because I'm not going to vote for him then, either. The man is a liberal wolf in conservative sheep's clothing. His record as Governor of Massachusetts (as well as his "pro-choice"/pro-gay political rhetoric prior to his decision to run for the GOP nomination for president, at which point he suddenly decided he was a social conservative) reveal him to be untrustworthy on issues of import to social conservatives. I don't trust him, and I won't vote for him. Under any circumstances. I'd vote for Rudy before I'd vote for Romney. And, as my involvement with Catholics Against Rudy indicates, I'd never vote for Rudy for President. So, that shows you where Romney rates in my book.
Former Mitt Romney presidential campaign staffers, some of whom are currently working for Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin's bid for the White House, have been involved in spreading ant-Palin spin to reporters, seeking to diminish her standing after the election. "Sarah Palin is a lightweight, she won't be the first, not even the third, person people will think of when it comes to 2012," says one former Romney aide, now working for McCain-Palin. "The only serious candidate ready to challenge to lead the Republican Party is Mitt Romney. He's in charge on November 5th."
Romney has kept a low profile nationally since being denied the vice presidential nomination. He is currently traveling for the National Republican Congressional Committee in support of some House members, and has attended events for a handful of other House members who have sought his support, but he has traveled little for the McCain-Palin ticket. "He said the only time he'd travel for us is if we assured him that national cameras would be there," says a McCain campaign communications aide. "He's traveled to Nevada and a couple other states for us. That's about it."
Should McCain-Palin not win next week, Romney is expected to mount another presidential run, though it isn't clear that he has handled himself particularly well since losing the nomination. He failed to support or espouse conservative positions on the economic bailout bill in an effective or meaningful way, and he has turned down opportunities to endorse and work for conservative candidates in House or Senate seats unless they were assured of winning.
The most glaring oversight was Romney's refusal to do a phone recording for Massachusetts Republican Jeff Beatty, who is challenging Sen. John Kerry. "Mitt supposedly cares about Massachusetts, but won't even return phone calls asking for help," says a conservative working for Beatty in Boston. "It's a tough race, but the least he could do is help. He's showing his true colors."
Some former Romney aides were behind the recent leaks to media, including CNN, that Governor Sarah Palin was a "diva" and was going off message intentionally. The former and current Romney supporters further are pushing Romney supporters for key Republican jobs, including head of the Republican National Committee.
And let me add this for good measure: if, by some chance, Romney should stumble into winning the nomination, not only will I stay home or vote 3rd party on election day 2012, I will work to defeat him.
Got that, "Anonymous"? Care to push your case for my "distort[ing] ... the Romney that does exist" any further? I got your "Guinness record" right here, buddy. Run back and tell your boy Willard that he's done once word of his treachery gets out.
Labels: Country Club Elitists, Elections, Ivory Tower Elitists, RINOs
posted by Pro Ecclesia 9:38 AM
13 comments
13 Comments:
Were these guys all Romney supporters? I know that Buckley was part of the "shut up and vote for McCain" brigade. Then again, you have guys like Kmiec who were Romney supporters, but I think his whole schtick is based more on McCain Derangement Syndrome than anything else (and he turned on the GOP well before Palin was selected).
No, you don't need to go so far as to say that they are secretly plotting Romney's 2012 campaign. They hate Palin because they are elitist. Even if there were no such person as Romney, they would still hate her. Because they are elitist.
And because many of them, at best, do not care about life issues or, at worst, are pro-abortion.
These are the reasons to hate Palin. They may also be reasons to support Romney, but we are looking at correlation here, not causation.
That, and the fact that John Maverick McCain made it fashionable and acceptable to bash and oppose and obstruct and confound the leader of his own party, so it can hardly be surprising that others would then think it perfectly fine to turn against him and his running mate. For all the low approval ratings of President Bush, let us not forget that much of what he has done or not done that has caused such discomfort is the fact that, for nearly eight years now, he has had to placate and appease folks like the Maverick. That's right -- it is JOHN MCCAIN who is largely responsible for Bush too often not being as conservative as some would like. And it is JOHN MCCAIN who helped drive down the approval ratings of Bush and the Republican Party in general by his own back-stabbing and fragging of his "own side," giving those on the other side permission to engage in malicious hate as well.
McCain does NOT deserve to win this election.
But American does not deserve the disaster that would be President Obama.
Oh, believe me, as I've blogged on many occasions, I KNOW that the elitist thing is the primary motivator behind the cocktail-circuit "conservative" rats jumping ship.
But I also think there's a little bit of Romney behind-the-scenes stuff going on as well.
I was reading your post on Romney and hoping your were dreadfully wrong until a sinking feeling came over me and I realized when the first time I heard a conservative say anything negative about Sarah Palin. It was the day she was picked on the Fox All stars. It came from Nina Easton, whose husband was a major player in the Romney campaign.
I really agree with this and Have been thnking this for a while
tell us how you really feel.
As far as I am concern you all have distorted completely the Romney that does exist, a man that has honor and high Family values with a unselfish commitment to help our Country. You are so good at distorting that we will include you in the Guinness records.
Well I voted for Romney in the primary since I thought he was preferable to McCain. However, in any contest between a true conservative like Palin and Romney, Romney is toast. Win or lose, the future of the Gop is with Palin and her supporters, and I am pleased to be among them.
It might be true, but if so than Romney is delusional. Even if he manages to weaken Palin, he still has to run up against Bobby Jindal in 2012, who has a credible pro-life record and the charisma that Romney, who oozes used-car salesman, can only dream about.
Jindal-Ryan '12, two Catholics on a the ticket, a bit risky, but eh.
I don't know about Romney supporters trashing Sarah Palin, but as I've long suspected, there are more than a few idiot McCain insiders who have contempt for her.
Jay:
Wow. You were onto something after all. It may not have been Romney himself, but those who used to work for him.
It's understandable. Disgusting, but understandable. This comes down to perspective. Those of us at home viewing things, and complaining about various people undermining the McCain/Palin ticket in general and Palin in particular, are solely concerned with right and wrong and ensuring the disaster known as Obama/Biden are not elected. The chattering class criticizing Palin have other concerns that are more important to them personally and financially. Say you're a Romney supporter who quit your pretty good job to campaign with an eye on being rewarded with a plumb job. Now, you're on the outs. Your view of Obama v. McCain is neither is going to hire you so you're looking at 2012. If Mitt is back in play so are you. What is in the way of that? Not McCain. If McCain loses he doesn't get another chance. Unless they effectively undermine her, Palin is the de facto front runner in 2012.
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