February 22, 2012--Endorsement: Mitt Romney for . . .
Not for president but for the Republican nomination.
I know that in the progressive community there is a movement afoot to help Rick Santorum win the nomination since, it is felt, he would be the weakest GOP candidate. That Obama would thus coast to victory.
There is chatter in the left-wing blogosphere encouraging Democrats to participate in the upcoming Michigan primary. It is an open one that allows Democrats and Independents to vote. If enough liberals vote for the allegedly less-electable Santorum, it is argued, it might help tip Romney's home state to Santorum and thereby effectively derail Romney's candidacy. Some even have a name for it--Operation Hilarity.
But though helping to nominate Santorum may in the short run be a smart and even playfully disruptive political tactic, in the long run it could turn out to be a disaster for our country.
If we are Americans before we are either Republicans or Democrats, to be responsible citizens we should hope that the two most qualified candidates wind up competing for the presidency--Obama and, I contend, Romney. So if liberals want to participate, they should be voting to help nominate Romney.
Yes, viewed in the most partisan way, Santorum is likely less competitive in the general election than Romney. But what happens if, somehow, Santorum manages to become president? How would we feel about that? If you want to give yourself nightmares, imagine who he would appoint to the Supreme Court. The last thing we need are more Anton Scalias and Clarence Thomases.
A Santorum presidential victory is far from out of the question. There is an almost 50-50 chance that whoever wins the Republican nomination will win the general election. Any GOP (or Democratic) candidate starts out with at least 45 percent of the vote. Nearly 90 of voters will not cross party lines. The election is therefore about the swing 10 percent.
Between now and November many things could happen to upend Obama's candidacy. The unemployment rate might reverse itself. Obama could have a health issue. There could be a significant terrorist attack on the United States. Israel could bomb Iran during the summer and gasoline could rise to $10 a gallon. What do you think that would do to the economy and Obama's chances?
Who would you prefer to have picking up the pieces if any of this were to occur? If we couldn't have Obama, how does Santorum sound? I hate the idea, but I'd find a way to live with Romney.
I know that in the progressive community there is a movement afoot to help Rick Santorum win the nomination since, it is felt, he would be the weakest GOP candidate. That Obama would thus coast to victory.
There is chatter in the left-wing blogosphere encouraging Democrats to participate in the upcoming Michigan primary. It is an open one that allows Democrats and Independents to vote. If enough liberals vote for the allegedly less-electable Santorum, it is argued, it might help tip Romney's home state to Santorum and thereby effectively derail Romney's candidacy. Some even have a name for it--Operation Hilarity.
But though helping to nominate Santorum may in the short run be a smart and even playfully disruptive political tactic, in the long run it could turn out to be a disaster for our country.
If we are Americans before we are either Republicans or Democrats, to be responsible citizens we should hope that the two most qualified candidates wind up competing for the presidency--Obama and, I contend, Romney. So if liberals want to participate, they should be voting to help nominate Romney.
Yes, viewed in the most partisan way, Santorum is likely less competitive in the general election than Romney. But what happens if, somehow, Santorum manages to become president? How would we feel about that? If you want to give yourself nightmares, imagine who he would appoint to the Supreme Court. The last thing we need are more Anton Scalias and Clarence Thomases.
A Santorum presidential victory is far from out of the question. There is an almost 50-50 chance that whoever wins the Republican nomination will win the general election. Any GOP (or Democratic) candidate starts out with at least 45 percent of the vote. Nearly 90 of voters will not cross party lines. The election is therefore about the swing 10 percent.
Between now and November many things could happen to upend Obama's candidacy. The unemployment rate might reverse itself. Obama could have a health issue. There could be a significant terrorist attack on the United States. Israel could bomb Iran during the summer and gasoline could rise to $10 a gallon. What do you think that would do to the economy and Obama's chances?
Who would you prefer to have picking up the pieces if any of this were to occur? If we couldn't have Obama, how does Santorum sound? I hate the idea, but I'd find a way to live with Romney.
posted by Steven Zwerling at
5:11 AM
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