The Romney Verses -- Don't Trust What I Say

Mitt Romney keeps his campaign well-scripted with messaging so simplistic that it should be insulting to every voting American.  When the candidate himself or a campaign spokesperson is questioned on his legendary flip-flops on core conservative issues (often framed by the clip of him describing his views as “progressive” and “moderate” during his campaign for Governor of Massachusetts) the boilerplate response is two-fold:

1. Deflect the question by attacking Newt Gingrich as being the greater offender. Redirection may be Politics 101, and so by itself insufficient reason for outright condemnation, nonetheless it serves as a reminder of the man’s utter lack of creativity.

2. After this, assert that Romney should be judged not on how he campaigned, but on how he governed once elected. Then mention several of the ostensibly conservative achievements of his administration.

So, in other words, we are asked not to judge Romney by what he says while campaigning, but by what he does when in office... Wait a minute!  Romney is not yet President of the United States—he is *campaigning* to become President of the United States!  So, by his own logic, we should not believe anything he says!

By his choice of campaign talking points, political hermaphrodite Romney displays, in effect, an utter contempt for the voter’s intelligence.

   

I don’t know about you, but I feel insulted by this strategy that assumes I’m not smart enough to add two and two together and see through the inherent contradiction in his explanation.

Of course, can we really expect an honest answer from Romney on his flip-flops, when the real reason is simply that he is a man who believes it is justifiable to say anything to win an election; that the ends justify the means. Is that the kind of person you want as President of the United States?

The Romney Verses -- Losing My Religion

Dec. 20, 2011

Council Bluffs, Iowa -  A reliable source in the Romney campaign made a startling revelation today: the GOP presidential contender is considering leaving the Mormon Church. The unnamed official claims to have been a party to a private conversation Romney had with members of his campaign staff.

According to the source, Romney said he had been having second thoughts about the Church of Latter-day Saints, as the church is officially known, for several years. The Third Rail has also obtained what is purported to be a rough draft of the announcement Romney intends to make at an imminent press conference; it reads:

“After several years of soul-searching, I have decided to leave the Mormon Church. This is a decision that I have come to after extensive consultation with Ann and after discussing it with our children.

Religions are always helpful and interesting, and offer positive things to people. But they can also sometimes be counterproductive, and subject to manipulation. We know that faith is a necessary precondition for religion.  However, I have come to believe that some of the church’s teachings are difficult to accept, and somewhat troubling. It takes a leap of faith to believe that Joseph Smith was directed by the angel Moroni to a place near his home where several golden plates were buried on which was written what became the Book of Mormon.

There are other zany beliefs of the church that have created doubt in my mind and we have recently decided to worship with the congregation of the Grace Evangelical Free Church in Davenport while we’re here with the good people of Iowa.”

Reaction to the leak has met with mostly muted reactions from rival candidates who are waiting for further confirmation before commenting. But both Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and Texas Governor Rick Perry have responded.

Bachmann said, “We now have the answer to the question Americans have been asking about Mitt Romney: ‘If a politician will flip-flop on abortion and gay marriage, what’s left for him to change his mind about?’” 

Rick Perry gave a terse response. “Don’t say I didn’t warn ya,” he offered.