PrintMay 8, 2007
Seizing the Moral High Ground for Reform
Last week Mitt Romney cracked jokes with Jay Leno and mildly corrected Chris Matthews about the propriety of a Mormon advising Catholic bishops on church doctrine. But he got his Three Strongs message in:Strengthen America's military; strengthen America's economy; strengthen America's families.Mild mannered Mitt was careful not to frighten the horses on anything so controversial as reform of the welfare state so it was John McCain who got branded the "cranky warrior" for getting angry about Iraq.Rule One for conservative candidates in twenty-first century America is: Don't get defined as the mean-spirited candidate.Of course, it's grossly unfair. The Rev. Al Sharpton can base an entire career on rage: "No Justice, No Peace!" Well-born feminists can swoon with outrage at the gender-based equivocations of ex-Harvard president Larry Summers. Media mavens can puff their important chests out like pouter pigeons over the edgy comments of former...(Read Full Article)
