by Smitty
Why is the low pressure of the Romney vacuum continuing to bolster Santorum?
Romney, for reasons that continue to remain a mystery to me, appears to be following a strategy of actively avoiding the Tea Party movement. To my knowledge, he has never addressed an actual tea party rally or local tea party group. In December, he spoke on the phone at a tea party tele-town hall with other Presidential candidates, but that appears to be the extent of his direct communication with the Tea Party movement.
This remoteness–an odd strategy to keep Romney in a “bubble” away from potential supporters–seems to permeate his campaign. In Ohio last week, for instance, Attorney General Mike DeWine withdrew his endorsement of Romney and endorsed Santorum. “He doesn’t write, he doesn’t call,” DeWine said of Romney.
Gingrich, who has a long and twisted history with the movement, has, until recently spoken at numerous tea party rallies, but has never really actually modified his policies according to communications he’s received at these rallies, at least as far as I can tell. And where Santorum appears friendly, upbeat, and approachable, Gingrich appears a bitter, scowling, intellectual elitist. Santorum is blue collar, Gingrich is academic cap and gown.
Because Mitt is an elite, Ruling Class, Progressive tool. Those who support Mitt may also be of that ilk, too silly to notice, or, I don’t know, genuinely like the guy. I guess it’s possible to like Mitt, judging by the great-looking family.
But would George Washington, who sucked it up with the troops in the field, be impressed with Sir Mitt of Romney? Maybe a little moreso than GW would be with Barack Obama, but I submit that neither Mitt nor Barack’s commitment to liberty and the notion of every American having an equal stake in the new nation would impress the first President.
In defense of Mitt, hanging out with Tea Partiers and waving a Gadsden flag is one thing Romney has not tried to fake. Santorum got spanked in an election and, seemingly, used the free time to get out there, mingle, and re-connect with the electorate. That disarming sweater-vest of Rick’s gets him out there with the people in ways that blue jeans and rolled-up sleeves have not for Mitt. Perhaps Mitt’s every hair follicle and syllable are too calculated. Perhaps the charade of being above the fray, while the SuperPAC artillery makes dust out of the pebbles of the opponents is looking just a tad fake.
Should Romney carry the GOP nomination, the Tea Party effort will shift to supporting state and local candidates. I owe the country more in the struggle against another Ruling Class turkey, ‘Gentleman’ Jim Moran, than I do supporting Mitt. Sure, I’d vote for Romney, but heres the bottom line: the Tea Parties will mirror Romney’s enthusiasm for them if Mitt is the nominee.
via Instapundit
