Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Leaving No Gimmick Behind   [Rich Lowry]

I trust that Romney's proposal on trade is substantive and sound, but as Matt Continetti points out, calling for a "Reagan Zone of Economic Freedom" makes it seem gimmicky. One wonders if Romney is ever presented a silly idea by his consultants that makes him say, "No, sorry, I can't do or say that—it's not dignified and that's not who I am"? Or when they tell him to pledge, say, "to get God back on the front of the coin!" does he just go out and do it, no questions asked? It would do the Romney team well to think long and hard about why he can go to a group like the Value Voters Summit and tell them absolutely everything they want to hear, and avoid any serious discussion about what might make them uncomfortable about him, and still get wiped out in the on-site voting. His Mormon faith (unfairly) has something to do with it surely, but it probably has more to do with the sense that he lacks a core. And with every gimmick and scripted line and pander, he only increases that sense. Mitt Romney is a good man and a talented politician, but the very slickness of his campaign threatens to overwhelm its appeal.

10/23 03:56 PMShare