[img]1640|left|Arthur Christopher Schaper||no_popup[/img]Re “Romney Could Not Ever Match Obama’s Dollar Giveaways”
In his Wednesday essay, Rabbi Steven Pruzansky laid out a cynical and inaccurate evaluation of Mitt Romney’s defeat last month.
The “weeping prophet” Jeremiah anticipated that YHWH's wrath against His people would relent. Israelites in captivity would leave off from mourning for “His mercies are new every morning.” In spite of Romney's loss, Republicans can expect better days.
Some of the rabbi’s points were well-taken. Americans re-elected “divided government.” More than a facile explanation, white voters did not show up, a devastating statistic Rabbi Pruzanksy underestimates. Granted, Mother Nature did not tether President Obama to a sudden, windfall win, nor did Romney surrogate Fatman Chris Christie sell out his nominee. No faux “improvement” in the economy gave Obama a boost. Rabbi Pruzansky charges that “Obama handouts” bought the election, that a tide of “gimme now, pay back never” has taken over America, never to be turned back. Minorities hunkered down on the Democratic platform because the President looks like them and paid their way.
How and Why He Was Wrong
About minorities, Rabbi Pruzansky is wrong all the way. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal rightly rebuked Romney after he claimed that “Obama came bearing gifts” to win the Presidency. The 47 percent who do not pay federal income taxes include respectable Social Security recipients and pensioned veterans (former U.S. Sen. John Sununu in Time magazine had softened this harsh statistic, still alarming, yet not parasitic). No one can say with dignity that they define the “welfare kings and queens” who elected Obama in droves. Such elitist, cynical pessimism is insulting.
Regarding “bought” minorities, immigrants who push their way through the line legally cannot be bought. Cuban-American U.S. Sen.-elect Ted Cruz of Texas posed the glaring and glorious question: “Have you ever seen a Hispanic panhandler?”
Two Hollywood Views
Not George W. Bush, who won 44 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2004. Today, W is teaching the GOP Minority Outreach 101. About low information voters, Lindsey Lohan supported Romney (not the greatest example, but she represents the white low information voter). An African-American Latina who supported Romney, Hollywood actress Stacey Dash appeared on “The View” and caught Hollywood hell for her independence and integrity.
The rabbi also defended Romney by implying that the Republicans could not have found a better candidate, that Romney ran his best campaign. Yes, they could have. No, he did not. These canards must be shot down, stuffed, and pilloried without delay.
Overlooking Romney’s many years of campaigning, 2008 GOP Presidential nominee John McCain had called Romney the “real candidate of change” for his many flip-flops. The moderate-to-RINO New York Times columnist David Brooks chuckled when Romney adopted the conservative helm at the 2008 Republican convention. From July 2011 to April 2012, Romney coasted (or roasted?) along at 22 percent, while one GOP contender after another hovered around the rankings. The national GOP insisted on stringing out the primary process. Establishment and grassroots dueled over “Romney vs. Anyone But.”
Romney was severely out of place at the conservatives PAC convention. Townhall.com blogger Brian Hawkins set up “NoRomney.com.” Romney bet $10,000 that he would win, followed by self-deportation. RomneyCare (the blueprint for ObamaCare) was tied to the former Massachusetts governor’s neck like a dead blue elephant. Seventh in the ranking for months, former Sen. Rick Santorum bounced ahead, barely, in Iowa. The attorney general of Virginia switched his endorsement from Romney to Santorum midway during the primary season. Santorum’s sweater vests and etch-a-sketching lasted until the Great Lakes primaries. A Big Government, No Child Left Behind, Amtrak, Medicare Part B Senator (i.e, George W. Bush sans accent), Santorum held on for four months, dropping out when the money ran out.
While Romney Dawdled…
Romney sat out the summertime while Obama burned up his record at Bain Capital. Romney was a no-show in Ohio. The GOP convention faithful got a bigger charge out of Dirty Hairy talking dirty to an empty chair. Obama editorialized Romney’s editorial as Detroit goes bankrupt. Only David Letterman despised Obama’s depraved mendacity. Former New Hampshire Gov. Sununu did all the punching on MSNBC and CNN. Romney French-kissed Obama during the final debate.
After Nov. 6, one party spokesman admitted to me: “Romney was not my first choice or my second choice.” I had concurred in press and by word of mouth. Ron Paul was my first choice, followed by the Republican reptile Newt Gingrich. Another South Bay Republican accommodated the outcomes: Romney was “best of show” out of “not so much.” The Washington Post's Charles Krauthammer called the GOP candidates “a weak field.”
What Will?
The biggest reason why Romney lost was. . . Romney. His own son acknowledged that Dad did not want to be President, that he ran again only out of obligation. Flip-flopping within before flip-flopping from Bay State governor to nationwide challenger, Romney was a mixed messenger. He did not believe his message. Neither did we. From 47 percent to “binders full of women” to ducking questions with “Ask my church” on CNN, Romney played defense in a game he did not want to win.
However, Romney’s mediocre loss is hope for the GOP. The messenger failed, not the message. The year was an aberration, demanding a course correction. GOP captivity can turn into restoration. “Mourning” will become “morning” in 2014. A leader who wants to win will win in 2016.
Arthur Christopher Schaper is a writer and blogger on issues both timeless and timely; political, cultural, and eternal. A lifelong resident of Southern California, he currently lives in Torrance. He may be contacted at arthurschaper@hotmail.com, aschaper1.blogspot.com and at asheisministries.blogspot.com. Also see waxmanwatch.blogspot.com
