Against Mitt, tougher but bigger win for Dems
I’m of the school of thought that it would be more fun run against Newt or Rick Santorum than Mitt simply because Newt and Rick are just crazy enough to say what they really think. On the other hand, Mitt would mislead his way into the presidency just like G.W. did.
It makes for a more fair contest for a right-winger to stand at a podium, saying what he really thinks, and then having to defend it. Does Newt want to abolish the minimum wage and do away with child labor laws? Great. Let’s talk about that. Is Rick Santorum against birth control? Fine. Let’s let him explain to America why it’s any of his business. That’s the kind of debate you like to have. That’s the kind of debate you want to have.
But it’s infuriating to watch a candidate convince people he’s different than what we know he is. We watched in horror as Bush convinced America in 2000 that he was folksy and reasonable “family values” kind of guy. He said he was going to make sure regular people would have more money in their pockets and be able to afford their own homes. Do you remember them asking him about gun control and affirmative action during the debates? “I believe in reasonable gun control.” ”I just don’t believe in quotas.” As if he’d found a magical middle-ground known only to himself, while those of us who knew better and looked on in horror. And, once elected, what was the first thing he went after? That’s right, tax cuts for the wealthy! And in 2008 all those “values voters” were left scratching their heads, trying to remember what they’d gotten out of two terms. Good ole’ you’d-like-to-have-a-beer-with-him George W. Bush gave us an economy custom-tailored to benefit the wealthy while putting everyone else out of work and out of their homes. Mr. “compassionate conservative” snuck one past the plate. Make that two.
You can expect the same from Mitt. No doubt, he’ll run on the premise (or promise) to make everyone as wealthy as he. “Why should I be embarrassed about my wealth? I just got what you want, and I’ll help you get it!”, he’ll declare as if hawking some get-rich-quick scheme on late-night TV for three easy payments of $19.95 (but it’ll cost us more than that, you can be sure). I know a lot of people think Mitt’s wealth will be his liability and that he’ll be easy to beat because he’s so out of touch, but Republicans have a way of steering into these things, and coming out on top. Karl Rove Politics 101 says he should try and turn it into a strength, and I’m betting that’s what he does. And it may work. If four years of slumping economy has done anything, it’s caused people to long for some wealth of their own, even at the expense of their values. If Obama’s going to beat Mitt, he’ll have to remind everyone it’s not their income Mitt’s looking out for. He’ll have to do more than inspire hope. He’ll have to plant some serious suspicion about what will surly be a wily opponent.
But having Mitt on the ticket does do one thing for Democrats – it takes the wind out of the sails of the same conservatives George W. Bush and Carl Rove felt were the key to everything: their base. And with those staunch conservatives staying home, unenthusiastic occupying the sofa on Election Day, it not only means victory for Obama, it means Democrats take back the House. If Mitt becomes the nominee, it may mean a more difficult and tricky election for Obama, but it also guarantees a low turnout election for Republicans.
