Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Readers on Mitt   [David Freddoso]

Readers opine on the high Romney negatives in the Rasmussen poll. Responses seem to have a theme, but vary in degree of antipathy: 

Gee, I wonder why Romney rubs people the wrong way? It couldn't be because he is a computer generated, pandering opportunistic politician who will say anything to a particular audience to get elected.

And another:

Don’t know about everybody else, but in my case he reminds me of slick, empty-suit types I’ve seen in the corporate world.  i.e., they look good on paper, good-looking, great at giving powerpoint presentations and giving the impression that they know exactly what to do, but they can’t lead effectively and don’t listen well.  

And another:

He looks like a charicature of a car salesman.   Although I am sure for some it's the anti-Mormon thing.

 And then another, more sympathetic:

I know that is unfair to Mitt, but he just exudes that "politician" vibe in a way that a guy like Rudy, or Fred Thompson, or heck even John McCain doesn't.  This is only exacerbated by his "rediscovery" of core positions on issues like abortion, etc. 

I have never been a Romney guy myself, but the focus on his image does indeed seem somewhat unfair. If he were a woman, people would be cry "sexism" over this kind of thing. But we live in an image-conscious society, and perhaps that's really what drives the low numbers.

Still, Hillary Clinton had to do quite a bit to earn her "hate-me" stripes. What has Romney done to generate this kind of reaction?

08/22 01:34 PMShare