Monday, January 07, 2008

Mitt and Taxes   [Byron York]

Another thing.  When Huckabee said to Romney, "You opposed those Bush tax cuts in 2002," and "Did you support or oppose the 2002 Bush tax cuts?" Romney said, "I never opposed the Bush 2002 tax cuts.  I supported them.  The first comment I made about the Bush tax cuts was that I supported the Bush tax cuts.  I did not oppose them.  I support them, always have." At that point, Huckabee could have mentioned, but did not, what was reported in the Boston Globe in April 2003:

Governor Mitt Romney refused yesterday to endorse tax cuts at the heart of President Bush's economic program, but he told members of the state's congressional delegation during a private meeting he also would not oppose the cuts because he has to maintain "a solid relationship" with the White House….

According to the observer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Romney told the delegation that he "won't be a cheerleader" for proposals he doesn't agree with, "but I have to keep a solid relationship with the White House."

When Romney talked about his "first comment," he obviously seemed to be dissembling.  What I don't understand is why politicians don't carry a small laminated card with their opponents' most questionable quotes on them, so they can pull them out when those opponents – and this is usually pretty predictable – make the claims again in debate.  Reading something back to a dissembling politician is pretty effective; it works for Tim Russert all the time.  Why politicians don't do it to their opponents is beyond me.  (Obviously, one answer is that they don't want their own rivals doing it to them.  But if everybody did it, it would make for more interesting debates and fewer extravagant claims.)

And Kathryn – Of course there is nothing shameful about succeeding in the business world.  It's a good thing.  But performing heroically in wartime is simply a higher level of achievement; that's why there is an Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, and not for entrepreneurs.  McCain was the only one at the table who could say what he did, so he took the opportunity.

01/07 08:35 AMShare