Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Smartypants   [John Derbyshire]

A Midwestern conservative activist "formerly of the Fred! team and now in the Romney camp" emails in to tell me something I think is likely true.

Romney lost here for two reasons that are not mutually exclusive: class warfare and envy. People don't like him because he is richer, smarter, better-looking and more successful than they are, and so much so, that it is impossible for him to camouflage the difference. Oh, they will make claims such as religion or flip flops, but it's all hogwash. This is, of course, contrary to what conservatism ought to be, but it is in line with humanity as it is.

I am afraid so. There's the paradox of democratic politics. You need to be an alpha individual to climb up that greasy pole; but you must not be one too obviously. Of course people want leaders, but not leaders who remind us too forcefully how very ordinary most of us are.

02/06 10:22 AMShare