What can I say -- I supported Mitt Romney because he had a solid personal life, and he served as a capable governor in Massachusetts.
When I visited "Why 'Mitt Romney' Lost, I found once again a comprehensive sampling of views and positions which Romney held at one point, then switched to more conservative views as he continued running for President.
Granted, I supported Romney because he was not Barack Obama. Most general election contests in this country as a clothespin vote.
I recall all the flip-flops. There were one two many, most of which communicated to the electorate that he was trying to make himself into something that he really wasn't.
Politics is tough. On one hand, a man wants to believe what he believes is right. On the other hand, espousing views which are more current with the population becomes necessary in order to advance a cause without offending prospective voters so that they vote for the other guy, or they do not vote at all.
Now, one can make the argument that as Governor of Massachusetts, he framed the abortion issue in relation to state power vs. personal preference. He did veto legislation which would have authorized stem-cell research. He released an Op-Ed in the Boston Press explaining his views.
That was a principled position.
In fact, every turnaround that he made during his tenured can be interpreted in light of the fact that he was working with a heavily Democratic legislature. He did veto 800 bills,700 of which the legislature passed over his veto.
Yet his tenure as Governor warred against the fundamental principles of the Republican Party across the country. He signed into law RomneyCare, the blue print for ObamaCare. He extended an assault weapons ban. He stated that he would not mess with Roe v. Wade.
If Romney had served as Governor of Ohio of even Nevada, and especially Utah, he would have endorsed policies more in line with the platform of the Republican Party.
Is it possible for a Republican from the Northeast to compete in a national election? Following Romney's failure in swing-states with a conservative base, who suffered terrible during the Great Recession, we must acknowledge that once again, voters elected Obama because to them, he was the lesser of two evils.
The two-party system forces voters like me who want a change to accept the faults and distinct differences of the several candidates. Throughout the 2012 primaries, not one of the candidates contained the command, the character, or the consistency to be President of the United States.
Election 2012 was not the best year for Republicans. The Establishment impulse which prospered Romney has caused more problems than necessary, a throw-back from the "Mad Men" mentality which plagues the Republican Party.
Romney was a flip-flopper, and the more that one listened to his rhetoric, the more it sounded as if he was going to advance the same over-spend policies which brought on this country the Great Recession.
No wonder an uncontested number of Evangelicals and Republican voters chose to stay home. They did not see a viable alternative.
Republicans, we have to stop feeling bad that we stood behind Romney. We also do not have to feel bad that he lost, nor should we justify the glaring problems which disturbed Republicans, swing-voters, and even disaffected Democrats. The nominating process needs to be streamlined. All of the party infighting just opened Romney up to so many attacks, so much scrutiny, that I supposed a candidate who had never changed his views on anything would start to sound inconsistent.
The Mainstream Media is still overpowering for too many. The next crop of candidates across the board have got to get tech savvy and wise and simple about their views on diverse issues. Regarding abortion: "Life at conception with exceptions: rape, incest, the life of the mother.
Part of the reason why New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is more effective and persuasive is that he has had more political and legal training as a federal prosecutor before entering the statehouse in Trenton. Instead of getting bogged down in seeking out outsiders, the GOP next election cycle must focus on men and women who persuade and also respect that their views are not all universal accepted. While they do not have to give on their core values, they know when to back down or compromise, and they can explain why when they change their minds.
Romney had gubernatorial experience, but he was leading in a true-blue state which later reelected his incumbent challenger by double-digits. Hardly a ringing endorsement for his previous experience. Fewer businessman, more community political leaders who have stood the test of time, who have rode out the storms, both natural and political, but most importantly, who spend more time communicating what the believe, not just communicate a mixed sense of sly calculation with uncertainty. A lawyerly confidence is needed in Washington and on the way there over the campaign trail. Perhaps the New Jersey governor can teach the next generation of GOP Presidential contenders a thing or two.
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