The Romney Speech: Good, but will it mean anything?
By Ben Domenech Posted in 2008 | Faith | Mitt Romney — Comments (12) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Promoted by Jeff. CaliforniaYankee's opposing viewpoint can be seen here.
Okay, you can stop emailing, I'll talk about it.
I think Mitt gave a good speech. He delivered it well. One of the tests for me was how Romney actually gave this speech, as opposed to its content - we all saw how unsteady he looked in giving the answer on the Bible, even though the content of his answer was good.
I think, however, that the content of this speech was rather less than what Romney's campaign may have wanted it to be. It's a speech that seemed less like Romney, and more George W. Bush-like in nature - which is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. It has some decent lines, it has some good references, it is easy on the ear as you sit and listen - it is a safe speech. But like all but a few epic George W. Bush speeches, it has little staying power in the memory. It does not ignite.
Read on.
If I had to guess? This speech gives Romney a small bump, but a month from now, few people think of it when casting a vote one way or the other.
A personal note: I have more than one friend who is Mormon. I've been in relationships with Mormons. I have significant, deep-rooted differences with their doctrine. But I respect them for their strong communities, for their example to others, for their dedication to outreach, and for their activity in society. I am glad that many LDS members are part of the conservative coalition, and I hope that even if Romney's candidacy fails, they will understand it did not fail because of his faith - I think Romney's chances would be much the same if he were a Methodist - but because of the kind of candidate he is.
Perhaps Romney suffers from a ceiling because of Mormonism. But McCain and Thompson are both Protestant and Giuliani is Catholic, and none of the three managed to pose a threat in Iowa. Romney may falter because he is a Mormon, but Huckabee is leading because he's Huckabee.
I think there's some tribalism involved--evangelicals like evangelicals--but that's going to be true even if Romney were Catholic or Jewish or mainline Protestant.
They that are with us are more than they that are against us.
If you think a "good speech" can be meaningless, you are too cynical by far.
Still, in this knock-down fight-it-out primary atmosphere, Romney should take your grudging admission as a compliment.
Looked Presidential, said things probably 90-plus-percent of the church-going public could agree with...
Makes me wonder if the target audience for this was not so much folks in Iowa and NH - but rather the 95% of the country who has only recently started to pay even the remotest attention to this race (meaning, not any of us), and who's only knowledge of Romney is that he is "dropping like a brick in Iowa".
This sounded like, "Hey, my name is Mitt Romney and I'm going to introduce myself by talking about something really important..." speech. Not sure that was the right target audience, but that's what I read.
Only time will tell.
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Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.
Short answer: yes.
The positive spin and media on this thing is good for at least a week's worth of puff pieces and stories about how Romney diffused the Mormon issue.
“.....women and minorities hardest hit”
Yes - I wrote ad time. This was a stunt by Romney to get advertising to cover his faith and to make him feel like a victim. If this gives him a bump in Iowa it probably won't last more than a week. He is down in the polls because he is a flip flopper and he wouldn't even be in the news if he didn't loan his campaign millions.
He's trying to get your sympathy vote and if that won't work he'll throw his money around. Come on people don't be bought or so gullible for a slick looking flip flopper.
IMWITHMCCAIN
I am glad that many LDS members are part of the conservative coalition, and I hope that even if Romney's candidacy fails, they will understand it did not fail because of his faith - I think Romney's chances would be much the same if he were a Methodist - but because of the kind of candidate he is.
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I agree. As a Mormon, I spend a lot of time trying to convince my fellow Mormons that a vote against Romney isn't a vote against Mormons. There are some evangelicals and liberal secularists with some degree of prejudice, but Romney wouldn't have the degree of support that he does if that were very widespread.
Founder and contributor to The Minority Report and Senior writer for The Hinzsight Report
Why is this linked to the other article as an "opposing viewpoint"? You both are negative about the speech - strange.
At least in regards to the way the polls sit now, I would have to disagree with you on that last point.
The only reason Mike Huckabee is challenging Romney in Iowa is because Huckabee is Protestant and Romney is Mormon.