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2016 Postmortem
Showing Original Post only (View all)"Will Americans overlook their deeply held conviction that he’s a jerk?" [View all]
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/05/13/michael-tomasky-on-mitt-romney-the-unlikable-presidential-candidate.html
Michael Tomasky on Mitt Romney, the Unlikable Presidential Candidate
by Michael Tomasky May 13, 2012 4:45 AM EDT
Its been a long time since the country elected a man as personally unappealing as Mitt Romney. Will Americans overlook their deeply held conviction that hes a jerk?
snip//
Romney, though? This is the biggest washout of modern times, folks. Gallup just this week put the likeability ratings at Obama 60, Romney 31. Its not that Obamas number is unusually high. Look back at those Kerry-Bush numbers. Americans are an open-hearted lot, at least presumptively, so they want to like the guy whos going be the president. But they Do. Not. Like. Mitt. Romney.
It would be more interesting for all of us if there were some great mystery here, but there isnt. He reeks of privilege. Every time he says something off the cuff he says something obnoxious. Corporations are people, pal. I like firing people. Where on earth did you get those Godforsaken cookies?
snip//
And this brings us back to the Cranbrook School incident. We might have learned from The Washington Post this week that Romney gallantly interceded on poor Laubers behalf. Or even, maybe, that he did the awful deed, but a few years later he got in touch with Lauber to say, Gee, old scout, went a bit overboard there. Or even that he acknowledged to one of his confederates that he regretted the incident. In other words, we might have learned something that showed he knows he behaved like an asshole. But all we learned is that he behaved like an asshole and is now pretending to forget it. A jerk is one thing. But a jerk who takes no responsibility for his jerkitude is pretty much the definition of an unlikeable person.
No human being is one dimensional. Im sure there are plenty of people in the world for whom Mitt has performed kindnesses. I expect well be getting to know every single one of them in these next few months, too, in heavily filtered television ads in which the men wear proletarian flannel and the womens St. John blazers are kept safely in the closet. All I can say is theyd better be more likeable than their candidatefor his sake. In the meantime, theres something very reassuring about this country reposing in those numbers, that the black guy with the weird name whos been called everything under the sun is twice as likeable as the rich white guy. This is the America that drives the wingers crazy, but that the rest of usthe majoritylive in, and love.
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"Will Americans overlook their deeply held conviction that he’s a jerk?" [View all]
babylonsister
May 2012
OP
Exactly. Not only does he look like the guy who laid off your dad--he actually did. nt
SunSeeker
May 2012
#49
You're right as long as you're talking about the average ignorant wingnut.
Jackpine Radical
May 2012
#8
Basically, ever since the GOP became emboldened by the success of Nixon's "Southern Strategy",
Iceberg Louie
May 2012
#48
Wonder if the Dems would fold again - sure hope the people would be in the streets.
polichick
May 2012
#31
Yeah, well I sure can't wait to hear from the five people for whom Mitt has performed a kindness.
bluesbassman
May 2012
#33
What's funny is that he doesn't even realize that those locations would be a problem!
Chemisse
May 2012
#42
Great article, but... if. I. see. One. More. Sentence. Written. Like. This. I. Will...
wakemewhenitsover
May 2012
#34