From Deseret News archives:
The real Mitt turned up MIA in campaign
He balanced the budget; he made a profit; he forged alliances; he delivered great speeches; he secured the borders; he got a lot of people, including himself, to work for nothing (and thoroughly enjoy it); and he left to a standing ovation.
Based on that evidence, I thought he would make an excellent president of these United States.
Now that it has been determined that he won't be president not in 2008, at any rate the question for me is obvious:
Why didn't national primary voters see the same Mitt Romney I saw in 2002?
That guy would have trounced a mean-spirited, over-the-hill John McCain in a nanosecond. That guy would have had Mike Huckabee carrying his suitcases and working a magnetometer when he was off duty.
Where was that guy?
I don't think he ever really appeared. Running for president didn't give Mitt the time to be himself.
He turned into a, gasp, politician. He started using talking points. He listened to advisers. He chased votes and dollars over hearts and souls. When he spoke he looked like a mannequin.
And has there been a stiffer speech in all of politics than Romney's so-called religion speech last December? Instead of defending his right to be a Mormon and let it go at that, he attacked Americans who aren't religious a subtle but obvious pander for the Christian voting bloc. He couldn't stop campaigning even when he wasn't campaigning.
He wound up making more enemies than friends. A year ago, I thought that if and/or when his candidacy collapsed because he is Mormon and I thought that being Mormon was his most serious obstacle to becoming president every other Republican candidate would slap him on the back, thank him for participating, and invite him and Ann over for a barbecue.
Instead, he became the most unpopular guy on the debate floor.
In the end, in his never-ending quest to get votes and be all things to all people, he allowed Rush and Sean, those fading virulent talk-show superstars, to paint him as an arch-conservative when anyone who watched him win the governorship of Massachusetts not to mention who watched him get along famously with Salt Lake's liberal mayor Rocky Anderson in the Olympic years knows he's no conservative. He's the absolute king of the moderates. He proved that during our Olympics, building bridges, bringing people together, working within the system, considering all positions, creating solutions.
He'd have made a great moderate president. A lot of people in Utah, and other places he's lived and led, know that from firsthand experience. Oh well. As the Olympians put it, maybe in four more years.
Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.
Recent comments
GREAT COMMENTARY, VERY PERCEPTIVE... I AM RIGHT ON WITH YOU, LEE.
JOHN B. ROMNEY | Feb. 11, 2008 at 7:43 p.m.
Benson, you have amazing insight on this one. I am with you all the...
looking on | Feb. 9, 2008 at 7:50 a.m.
I agree with Jordan. Right on. If you can see through one phony you...
Anonymous | Feb. 8, 2008 at 4:23 p.m.
- Germany celebrates Wall falling 3:53 p.m.
- Iraq electoral law passes 3:39 p.m.
- Memorial at site of Cleveland killings 3:35 p.m.
- Chavez to troops: Prepare for war 3:34 p.m.
- Suspect in Vail shooting faces charge 3:31 p.m.
- TCU moves into 4th place in BCS 3:16 p.m.
- Alcohol suspected in Roy shooting 2:36 p.m.
- Chaplain seeks prayers for meaning 2:36 p.m.
- La. Gov. declares state of emergency 2:34 p.m.
- 'SuperFreakonomics' just as fun 1:42 p.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
213 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - House passes health care bill
186 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
147 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
112 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
98
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
I guess your paper likes that 1/2 wit moore, UH? :(
Utes will get beat by TCU worse than BYU did. You can take that to the bank....
Same record as USU had last year at this time. Look, ags, it isn't the...
Utah's defense isn't as good as last year and it's offense is certainly not...
Could we have a requirment before making a post? Will everyone please look...
AK is pretty cool!! He needs to get a hair cut. He is on of my favorite utah...
Sorry Ute fans. It's not going to happen against TCU this year. You were...
Maybe Utah should "play dead" and get $375,000 instead of a paltry $125,000...
Matheson must go, so he didn't vote for this awful bill...he really wanted...
Honk! Honk! Honk! Get a clue

