But Is Romney as Good as He Sounds and Looks?

Friday, June 17, 2011

Dick Morris, Fox TV flack and political prognosticator, has praised Mitt Romney as being "Reaganesque." Fact is, he's hardly Reaganesque, except in the looks department.

Romney is, however, every central casting director's dream to play a handsome WASP president. Ironically, many GOP Christian fundamentalists still question his religious bona fides. They consider Mormonism a sect far outside mainstream Protestantism.

Squeaky-clean Romney gladly accepts praise from the sleazy Morris - who, when doing political scheming for Bill Clinton, operated from a D.C. hotel while serviced by convenient hookers.

Morris' "Reaganesque" appellation is way off. Romney is 10 times smarter than Reagan ever was, but he unfortunately lacks the Gipper's ability to inspire voters. Well educated, Romney never took Communication 101 or Excitement Generation 102. He can't motivate a crowd the way Ronnie could.

Romney, unlike Reagan, has great personal wealth earned as a business consultant and buyer and seller of companies. Romney doesn't require 3-by-5 dummy cards like Reagan; Mitt's got it all inside his head. His academic credentials include exclusive Cranbrook School, Brigham Young, and MBA and law degrees from Harvard.

The smart money usually favors candidates with brains. But in a Tea Party-dominated GOP environment, that's no longer the case. Were smarts the contemporary determinate, Romney should be a shoo-in at the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire's primary.

But when John McCain put the clueless Sarah Palin on his ticket, he demonstrated that intellectual prowess could be abandoned for so-called "charisma." The Republican Party, which had given America highly intelligent presidents like Lincoln, Taft, Teddy Roosevelt, Hoover and Nixon, proved it would gladly settle for far less.

Romney is not having an easy time of it. Blowhard Rush Limbaugh can't stand him. Limbaugh's crowd condemns as "socialist" Romney's Massachusetts version of "Obamacare" and rejects Romney's acknowledgement that global warming is real. Women don't trust Mitt on the abortion issue because he's been enthusiastically pro-choice and pro-life.

In this Great Recession, Romney's pitch is that he created jobs as CEO of Bain Capital. Analysis of his Bain achievements shows that companies acquired by Romney cut thousands of jobs and several declared bankruptcy.

"Throughout his 15-year career at Bain he had chances to save jobs but didn't," The Boston Globe wrote. "Romney claims he helped create thousands of jobs. But job growth was never a priority."

If nominated, he'll be pummeled by TV advertising in which employees of many companies he took over while head of Bain Capital tell of their experiences when Romney repeatedly fired people yet personally prospered. His personal gains ran into the hundreds of millions while corporate workers lost jobs and companies were bankrupted.

A typical Bain acquisition was Ampad (acquired for $5 million in 1992). Two years later, the company bought a factory in Marion, Ind. Romney's new management team dismissed about 2,000 workers, slashed salaries and hired strikebreakers after the union called a walkout.

In 1994, Ampad workers who had been dismissed drove to Massachusetts to campaign against Romney when he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against Ted Kennedy. Ampad workers described how Romney took good jobs with benefits and created in their stead low-wage, part-time, no-benefit jobs.

TV commercials also dramatized what happened when Romney bought SCM in Marion, Ind. All 350 workers at SCM's plant were laid off, then offered their jobs back at significantly reduced wages. They went on strike. The ads featured workers who denounced Romney for lining his pockets at their expense.

One woman told the viewers, "I'd like to say to the workers of Massachusetts, if you think it can't happen to you, think again, because we thought it couldn't happen here either." Romney soon nosedived in the polls and lost to Kennedy.

If Mitt is the GOP standard bearer, similar commercials will air, along with persistent reminders that he strongly opposed Obama's government -rescue of the auto industry. Romney, whose father ironically ran American Motors, had -recommended that the ailing U.S. auto companies declare -bankruptcy. Organized labor will powerfully oppose him at a time when the GOP is trying to weaken unions across the country.

Paul R. Dunn lives in Pinehurst. Contact him at paulandbj@nc.rr.com.

More like this story

GoldenDreams 1 year, 11 months ago

As usual Mr. Dunn, this is another thoughtful analysis. What worries me is that Romney may get the presidency, but based on another GOP tactic: he is such a good businessman with excellent managerial skills. Isn't that what our country needs now that we are in this financial mess, they reason? Next time that comes up I'll have to counter with the human side of the stories you told of the companies he took over. Thanks for the information.

blessherheart 1 year, 11 months ago

Unfortunately Golden, many people do not care about the human side of the stories unless it affects them. They would rather kowtow to big business in hopes they will reap the benefits of such companies. Today that does not happen.

GoldenDreams 1 year, 11 months ago

Good points, but I can still try. If Romney moves ahead in the polls, I want his history known about jobs and employment. The more we know, the better.

teufelhunden 1 year, 11 months ago

Another reason I like Herman Cain.

DaveyNC 1 year, 11 months ago

@Goldendreams and @blessherheart, you two seem to be quite concerned about the human side of the campaign. I wonder what your thoughts are on the human side of the current mess that we are in and whether or not you think that things will get better if we continue on the path we are on? Because what I see is a President who is in over his head and not willing to admit it and a Congress that is too busy playing politics to get serious about straightening things out.

At some point in the very near future, we the people may have to take a more direct hand in things.

BigE 1 year, 11 months ago

Examples of the current President being "over his head" might be helpful (or hurtful, depending on your examples) to your argument.

None 1 year, 11 months ago

Just read the paper, any paper. Obama talks a good game but offers nothing concrete. As an aide was quoted "He likes to lead from behind".

But let's give just one example for you to consider. Obama decided that the legal advice given on the War Powers Act by his Office of Legal Counsel and the DOD senior lawyer was not correct. Even though we are flying drones, carrying weapons that have and are being used to target Libyan forces does not constituent "hostilities" as defined in the WPA. Perfect.

Or maybe that the Obama budget for 2012 was voted down in the Senate 97 to zero. The press thought it was more important to show that the Senate voted down the Republican's House budget.

None 1 year, 11 months ago

POTUS'O got Bin Laden when Bush couldn't in 8 years...War Powers Act by his Office - - - - spring forward 30 years after Ronnie Raygun circumvented the WPA. I think we addressed that in another blog. Link was provided.

DaveyNC 1 year, 11 months ago

Here you go!

http://inthearena.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/20/dershowitz-obama-made-serious-mistake/

That whole "increasing the troops in Afghanistan or not" thing.

When Newsweek is wondering about your abilities, you have a problem: http://www.newsweek.com/2009/03/09/a-turning-tide.html

And George Stephanopoulos: http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2009/08/obama-needs-confidence-boost.html

A guy who voted for him: http://seekingalpha.com/article/116977-what-obama-needs-to-do-to-correct-his-economic-vision

A two-fer! First Newsweek, now Time: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2024718,00.html Be sure to read that second paragraph.

Lots more where that came from: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=is+obama+in+over+his+head

TOYTIME 1 year, 11 months ago

Again I say, please, Republicans, draft Condi Rice! NOBODY can hold a candle to this lady.

None 1 year, 11 months ago

Strange that the Republican "10 times smarter than Reagan" and the extremely intelligent Democrat in the White House found the same solution to health care. And both the state and national plans will bankrupt their system. Can you spell RINO?

We need the man or woman with strong core values, a grasp for the constitutional role of the federal government, and the desire to start the recovery from 100 years of going down the socialist/progressive road. Cain, Bachmann, and Palin would work, and maybe some others.

None 1 year, 11 months ago

Bachmann? Palin? I shudder at the thought.

None 1 year, 11 months ago

You get that the health care system, pre-Obama, was going to bankrupt the country, right? We have out of control costs and an aging population which is going to grow the number of users of Medicare. Whether you like everything about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or not, at least there was an effort to put brakes on cost escalation. How about we all work towards improving the law (and the healthcare system) instead of starting over and doing nothing... which absolutely will bankrupt the country. Remember, we are basically and insurance company with an army. Until we fix the cost controls of those majority budget items we are wasting time arguing about nonsense.

None 1 year, 11 months ago

There wasn't anything in the bill that controls costs. It mostly shifts cost and control. I think that we are all in agreement that doing nothing was not a good option and for you to say so is to set up a straw man argument. Kudos to Obama for moving the problem into the mainstream discussion. Unfortunately, he wasn't really interested in having a discussion so much as he was interested in doing it his way.

Personally, I think that Whole Foods CEO John Mackey had it right: http://goo.gl/n9X9V

None 1 year, 11 months ago

A pizza baker, tax attorney, and a dimwit. GOP hardliners complain about POTUS’O’s lack of experience even though he took down the world’s greatest terrorist. Well how would you like that pizza? Yes, a tax attorney would provide a valued service to the 3% of the wealthiest in America, and a short-term quitter who has experience to do what? Articulating one-liners that make absolutely no sense; I never compared my wife to a grizzly bear or a pit bull. However, she does have the mentality of either!

Arestorer 1 year, 11 months ago

Any time someone brings up Bachmann or Palins name as a serious contender in 2012,,I have to think they are not any smarter than said persons...If you people are serious,I hope you are never put in control of any aspect of my life..

None 1 year, 11 months ago

Arestorer June 18, 2011 at 9:06 a.m. Next election apparently will be based on appearance as opposed to a tried and proven president. Bush served 2 terms and look what the result of those 2 terms got us; an economy on the verge of total collapse. Can anyone in their right mind conceive the thought of Bachmann and Palin running as Prez and V-Prez. What a ridiculous joke on the American people. Mitt Romney could dismantle and sell off US Parks, waterways, public buildings, and government owned landmarks in and around Washington, and layoff all the federal employees increasing the unemployment rate in America. He’s good at divide and dismantle.

TreadLightly 1 year, 11 months ago

ARESTORER: When we realize the dangers of haveing somone else "put in control of any aspect of my life..." then we are making progress! Maybe that helps you understand why I want a president who will defend our nation (including the Texas and Arizona border) and leave ME in control of MY LIFE. The country IS NOT AN INSURANCE COMPANY!!!!!!!

BigE: There is not enough medical care to cover the demands of the population of the United States, especially if you include the illegal aliens. IT MUST BE RATIONED, or the demand lowered.

It has always been rationed. Poor people do not get face lifts, fancy bridgework, and two office visits for each child's head cold. Rich people can have all of that, plus a summer home in a better climate. The rest of us get reasonable care and a few new teeth.

"Safety Net" levels of medical care are the responsibility of every society, as are "Safety Net" levels of many other services. But to take medical care, transportation, food and clothing and say that the government must make sure that we all get the same level of medical care, drive the same car, eat at the same restaurants and wear the same clothes is a gross misuse of power.

My brother stayed in school through the PhD level, and his lifetime earnings were much greater than mine. Who are we to say that he did well because of LUCK? He worked VERY HARD to get a PhD and VERY HARD in his work. And there are two observations that can be made:

If you want the same level of benefits that he has, go work just as hard.
Your ability to rise to that level can be discouraged by your parents or schoolmates. A crack using mom could leave you UNABLE to rise to that level. YOU CAN HANDICAP YOUR OWN CHILDREN to the extent that someone must care for them the rest of their life!

Society as a whole and individuals are not benefited by the government redistribution of wealth. Safety net levels of redistribution works through church, charity or personal donations. But to have wealth to hand out, SOMEONE must work VERY HARD. For us to have good doctors, good business men, good government leaders and good military leaders, someone must work VERY HARD. Rewarding HARD WORK benefits all of us with the services of those people. Excessive taxing kills their incentives.

The other approach is to redistribute the wealth, and after we use it al up, we have the progressive dream as played out in CUBA. For my part, NO THANKS.

Arestorer 1 year, 11 months ago

TreadLightly: I think I resemble that remark!!! Were not to far apart on the same line of thinking... Its great for people to be rewarded for hard work..Dr's and teachers especially...When Laywers and Consultants and Buisness brokers rake in the 7digit incomes, Im not as pleased.... Medi-care and other social systems could be made liquid again by policing the systems..To many taking what they dont deserve.. I dont want Wealth redistribution,,If thats all thats done, the ones that have it now, will have it back in a years time.

Steadfast 1 year, 11 months ago

Leave aside that Romney has never even acknowledged Dick Morris or accepted his praise, leave aside that Romney was never enthusiastic about abortion, leave aside that Rush Limbaugh said last week that he "likes Mitt", but aside from these mischaracterizations, the one most distorted is your statements about AmPad. The fair analysis can be found here: http://americaneedsmitt.com/blog/2011/06/16/mitt-romney-company-bankrupt/

But if you think for one minute rescuing failing companies is easy its because Bain made it look easy. They were successul in 90-95% of the time taking on troubled enterprises and making them profitable.

Now as to layoffs, these are the tough choices business owners must make, to cut costs, overhead, and payroll is one of those. Romney has proven he is a guy who can cut the spending. Name one other presidential candidtate who has done it as much as Romney.

buddysmith 1 year, 11 months ago

i am not voting for anyone that their hair never moves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DaveyNC 1 year, 11 months ago

Did you vote for Obama?

buddysmith 1 year, 11 months ago

nope! his hair never moves!!!

None 1 year, 11 months ago

"Rewarding HARD WORK benefits all of us with the services of those people. Excessive taxing kills their incentives.", that's one of the reasons jobs along with major corporations have move their interests offshore. One can work hard as I did with my construction business, while the Federal Government took almost 50 percent. I know the tax rate is about 28%, and keep on thinking that's correct. I paid taxes on my business as a sole proprietorship. and my personal income. I was double dipped. The government and schools encourage entrepreneurship. What is not said is how much money will be paid to the government and the long hard hours to churn out a meager living. No one can work hard enough in business to satisfy the taxation by government. It is time for a Fair Tax. http/:www.fairtax.org

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