Mitt Romney Shows Craven Cowardice Over the Debt Deal

From his position, safely and comfortably out of office, former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney has hurriedly joined his closest rival for the Republican presidential nomination, Michele Bachmann, in denouncing the deal that Congress and the White House have finally put together to stave off national default.

Of course, the way Mr. Romney spun his statement, it was entirely Obama's deal and Obama's doing that the honorable and distinguished Republicans in Congress are forced to take it or leave it. Never mind the particulars of the arrangement were largely drawn up by leaders of both parties in the Senate and the House. The easy target is Mr. Obama.

As a candidate who resides outside the Halls of Congress, Mitt Romney is absolutely exempt from the opprobrium that would befall our lawmakers (and the President, to be sure) if this nation defaulted on its debt. Had he been a member of the House of Representatives, would he take the same "bold" stand against the compromise? Of course he wouldn't. The man might be unprincipled, but he is not stupid.

Since he does not get to vote on whatever bill comes out of the compromise on the debt, what harm, we might ask, comes from his denunciation? Well, there is no actual harm involved, but, in the process, he has sent two messages, loud and clear.

The first and most obvious message was to the Tea Party extremists, and its implied text could not be clearer: I will kiss your behinds as long and as passionately as I have to in order to win you away from my opponent.

The related, longer-term implied message is: I will say whatever it takes to whomever I have to say it to in order to get nominated for President. That is, of course, a sentiment all politicians of both parties surely think about, from time to time, but Mr. Romney seems willing to put all his chips on that one, leaving nothing for that impractical thing some people call integrity.

Speaking of integrity, that is the thing that makes so many of the Tea Party legislators so dangerous and so strong. As we go over the sordid history of this crisis, look at all the ground, not only the Democrats, but the "establishment" Republicans have had to yield to this distinct Congressional minority.

Here is the thing: you can't cajole them with pork, because they have rejected pork. You can't threaten them with non-support in the coming election because they do not care whether they get reelected or not. While their politics are wildly impractical, their resolve is nothing short of admirable and something their opponents in the political arena should seriously consider emulating. I have made the point before, and I will make it again: no politician is going to end up begging in the streets with a tin cup if he or she gets thrown out of office. They are all well-off to begin with and generously pensioned to boot.

Getting back to Mr. Romney and his feared bogeyperson, Ms. Bachmann, his cowardly attempt to woo her supporters may well have been a needless prostitution of what passes for his principals. Consider this for a moment: Michele Bachmann has come out forthrightly, extremely and uncompromisingly against pornography. Think about that.

When she made her stand, any Republican men who had to or cared to comment would have said out loud, something like: "Fine idea, Congresswoman!" Deep in the deepest recesses of their minds, though, they would be thinking, "We have to bury this harpy and bury her deep!" I do not think Michele Bachmann will survive the primary process, her initial strength in Iowa, notwithstanding. Of course, she has other issues working against her as well. In the end, she will be the Republican Howard Dean.

In closing, let me note that another out-of-work Republican candidate, John Huntsman, had the integrity to say he favors the deal, to the extent that all its supporters, in office or out, do. It is not exactly what anybody wants, but it is probably what everybody needs, at least for now.

Sources

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/washington/7678591.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-01/romney-bachmann-oppose-debt-deal.html

WETA, "Inside Washington," 7/30/11 telecast