Notes of Concern…
…Jackson Blair
SILLINESS
Before Mitt Romney there was George Romney.
George Romney, a successful CEO of a major American automobile company, entered American politics and rose to become Governor of Michigan. Governor Romney had a beautiful wife, gregarious children and was a prominent Mormon. He was a handsome, articulate and successful man. He also was a candidate for the GOP nomination for President in 1964 and in 1968.
After George Romney there was Mitt Romney.
Mitt Romney, a successful CEO of a financial company, entered American politics and rose to become Governor of Massachusetts. Governor Romney has a beautiful wife, gregarious children and is a prominent Mormon. He is a handsome, articulate and successful man. He is also a candidate for the GOP nomination for President in 2012.
During George Romney’s campaign for the GOP nomination he agreed to do a television interview in Detroit. In the course of that interview he was asked about the major issue of his day, the Vietnam War. Governor Romney responded that he had gone to Vietnam and while he was there he “had the greatest brainwashing that anybody can get when they go over to Vietnam.”
Presidential historian Teddy White wrote that Governor George Romney saw that as simply a “throw away” comment. He did not think of it as a seismic event in his campaign for president.
His Republican opponents picked up this simple “throw away” comment, as did the national press, and they clubbed him with it. The comment brought an end to his viability as a candidate and essentially collapsed his carefully orchestrated, long-planned, and well-staffed campaign. It deprived Americans of a tested and qualified candidate for the presidency.
Governor Mitt Romney has planned carefully for his well-orchestrated presidential campaign. He put together an outstanding campaign staff. His staff has built an admirable strategy and Governor Romney has sailed through this debate season, often above the fray, and for many months seemed the likely nominee of the GOP.
In his most recent debate outing Governor Romney got “off message” when confronted by an inaccurate statement about his stance on an issue. The total inaccuracy of a comment made by rival Governor Rick Perry of Texas brought about a “throw away” challenge from Governor Romney. He did something many of us have done. He said “want to bet!” He embellished that a bit by asking if Perry wanted to bet $10,000.
His Republican opponents picked up this simple “throw away” comment, as did the national press, and they clubbed him with it. The comment could bring an end to his viability as a candidate and essentially collapse his carefully orchestrated, long-planned, and well-staffed campaign. It could deprive Americans of a tested and qualified candidate for the presidency.
Fifty years have passed since Governor George Romney made a casual comment that brought an entire presidential campaign crashing down around him.
His son, undoubtedly aware of his father’s misstep and surely determined not to make a similar mistake, fell victim to our national silliness about campaigns.
Why would voters permit something so insignificant to overshadow a lifetime of good work, a dedication to public service, millions of newspaper columns dealing with the serious and sensitive issues of the day?
We show ourselves to be shallow.
We encourage politicians and press to go for the “news byte” approach to educating us. We prefer to be entertained rather than educated. And perhaps worst of all is the glee many enjoy at the slightest slip or embarrassment of any candidate who is not our own favorite.
I hope before this political season ends we will see that the silliness that brought down a credible and talented candidate for president almost 50 years ago is no longer the way we Americans select someone to lead our country.
Selecting a president is a serious event with enormous consequences.
Surely, in 2011, we can see that this is so.
For further information: jacksonblair@gmail.com
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