Politics just ain't what it used to be. Here's a headline from a Reuter's article on Thursday's Republican debate in South Carolina: "Romney Attacks McCain at Republican Debate." What'd he do, throw a chair at him? Call him nasty names? No, here's what the article said he said:
I know that there are some people who think, as Sen. McCain did, he said, you know, some jobs are leaving Michigan and they're not coming back. I disagree. I'm going to fight for every single job, Michigan, South Carolina, every state in this country, we're going to fight for jobs and make sure our future is bright.
So did Romney lie about what McCain said? Is that the attack part? Nope, three short paragraphs later the article quotes McCain as saying exactly what was attributed to him: "There are some jobs that aren't coming back to Michigan," McCain said. "There are some jobs that won't come back to South Carolina, but we're going to take care of them."
So Romney's "attack" consists of accurately quoting McCain in a comment and disagreeing with him? What exactly are candidates supposed to do at debates if not state their own views and contrast them with the views, record, and proposals of the other candidates? Isn't that what debates are about? How else are voters supposed to choose between candidates?
"Going negative" used to refer to launching personal attacks on the other candidate. Now, it seems, just mentioning the other candidate is an "attack," at least when Romney does it. Huckabee can't be the bad guy, he's an aw shucks Baptist minister. McCain can't be the bad guy, he's a war hero and he's 71 years old. Rudy ... uh, Rudy who? How ironic that Romney, who graciously finds something nice to say about the winner every time he loses a primary, gets labelled the mean guy. I'll bet when he gets back to his hotel room the first words out his mouth are, "Those reporters can be such idiots."
And Obama probably has more to complain about than Romney, what with the gullible MSM reporting the "Iron my shirts" radio stunt as if it were a real event and thereby generating phony sympathy for Senator Clinton. [Not that she doesn't deserve a little sympathy, but having it come from a misreported event is bizarro.] Gullible -- is there any charge more damning to a journalist?
There's no doubt that we've seen a shamefully gullible press in action over the last few years.
However, the truly gullible would be those who think that Romney is going to bring back the jobs to Michigan:
"From 1984 until 1999, Romney led Bain Capital, a Boston-based private equity group that earned jaw-dropping profits through leveraged buyouts, debt hedge funds, offshore tax havens and other financial strategies. In some cases, Romney's team closed U.S. factories, causing hundreds of layoffs, or pocketed huge fees shortly before companies collapsed." [Los Angeles Times, 12/16/07]
Posted by: Bill | Jan 10, 2008 at 09:37 PM
This is funny because I remember thinking while watching the NH Republican debate that Romney was so nice! He complimented every single person throughout the debate. Of course, he argued some of their points, but he complimented them just the same. Nobody else did that. If anything, they just looked for ways to throw barbs at the poor guy. What's even worse? The headline about the debate over here in California was "Romney gets defensive during debate".
The media is very vocal about who they hate this election.
Posted by: cheryl | Jan 11, 2008 at 08:49 AM
That's something that I've never understood about politics. They call it an "attack ad" if the candidate points out the statements or policies of the opponent. It's not like they say "So-and-so is a poopie-head".
I also note it depends on which party is involved as to how much consternation an "attack ad" causes...
Posted by: Steven | Jan 11, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Romney doesn't have the war hero biography or the evangelical network and has to compensate with spending money to get his message out.
His "attack" ads have been the the wimpiest I recall seeing. I don't think he's accusing McCain of dragging African-Americans from his truck or of dropping an A-bomb on a little girl in a flower field.
The media has a general bias against "negative ads" and so does McCain and Huckabee since they haven't raised the funds to run them. If they did have the money, I think they'd be singing a different tune.
I think Romney is being faulted for wanting to talk issues and not pose and posture like the substance-free campaigns of Mick and Huck.
Posted by: David H. Sundwall | Jan 11, 2008 at 10:55 AM
The biggest guffaw I've had so far is the "complaint" that McCain made about Romney spending his fortune.
Is he clueless?
McCain/Feingold is THE reason guys with fortunes are gravitating to elections.
Posted by: mondo cool | Jan 11, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Yea, whatever happened to wanting the candidates to stick to the issues? If it is Romney, sticking to the issues seems to translate directly into "negativity" and "attacks." I have been scratching my head about this, glad to see I am not alone.
Posted by: Jacob J | Jan 11, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Talk about meanness--
Everyone of those guys (with the exception of Ron Paul, I think) had something poignantly negative to say about Romney at last week's debate--especially McCain!
Posted by: Jack | Jan 11, 2008 at 04:24 PM
Here's what Romney should say to avoid being accused of attacking:
"I agree with everything the other candidates have said. In fact, I think their ideas are better than mine. And their better leaders, and better people, and more electable. You should really vote for one of them."
Note that he should not point out who to vote for, because that would be an attack on all the other candidates.
Posted by: Mike (fka Horebite) | Jan 11, 2008 at 06:31 PM
I do not agree with Romney on the issues but I too have noticed how quick the media is to accuse him of being mean. Watching the campaign coverage is better than a soap opera with all the drama the media drums up.
Posted by: Calandria | Jan 12, 2008 at 08:18 AM
"Wait Wait don't tell me" (you can get it off itunes podcasts too)
had pollster/consultant Paula Begala on today. He singled out Romney as being unworthy of respect.
Posted by: Ben | Jan 12, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Democrats for Rommney in Michigan. Now this link is pretty cool while disturbing. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/10/2713/87225/55/434206
McCain is not going to be happy with this.... hehehe
Posted by: Lucas | Jan 13, 2008 at 01:05 PM
You hit the nail right on the head! There's some real prejudice against Romney, and it's not because of his political views.
Posted by: Andrew Miller | Jan 19, 2008 at 11:40 AM