Last weekend on one of those “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer” (Nat
King Cole, 1963), I was lying in the hammock thinking about
unsolicited advice to give Mitt Romney.
First, remember when Ronald Reagan was running for president and
being given advice, much of it conflicting, from a variety of both
highly paid and unpaid consultants? Finally, someone said “let
Reagan be Reagan” and he was, into the White House.
So, let Romney be Romney. I find him likable and real, perhaps a
little corny, not any different than he was when he governed here. I
was glad to see him on vacation, riding on the back of a Jet Ski
driven by his wife, obviously not caring if someone thinks Jet Skis
are elitist, or real men always drive. If John Kerry, photographed
windsurfing, had laughed and said, “I LOVE windsurfing, it’s fun,
and a nice break from being decisive all the time,” he might have
survived the killer political ad claiming that he, like most
politicians, goes with the wind of public opinion just to get
elected.
If I had known Romney well enough to advise him on social issues,
early on, I’d have said, never go with the wind of public opinion
unless you agree with it. I’d love someday to test my theory: One
can get through a party primary without pandering to the most
committed elements of that party if one sits firmly on one’s Jet
Ski. I like the way Mitt responded to an abortion question in
Colorado last week, that it’s a very tough issue, he understands and
respects both sides, he chose his side and expects respect for that
personal decision. I think that simple answer would have worked for
him through all his campaigns, and the “flip-flop” attack wouldn’t
have stuck.
On the other hand, candidates, if you do change your mind about
something, just ask a critical audience: Have you never changed your
mind about anything? No? Wow, glad I’m not like that, never learning
or growing.
Which brings us to Romneycare. Romney explains its original
“personal responsibility” concept and bare-bones affordable
insurance, but hasn’t seriously acknowledged what’s gone wrong with
it since it passed. I thought the campaign should have had a
Republican legislator here file a correction bill, at least getting
rid of the additional required coverage added by the Legislature.
All Republican candidates need a proposed state model with which to
replace Obamacare if Romney repeals it as promised. I wish someone
would take the recommendations in the Pioneer Institute’s book “The
Great Experiment: The States, the Feds and Your Healthcare” and put
them into bill form for other state legislatures to adapt re: the
federalist model Romney supports.
Here’s some advice I received when I started debating issues:
Challenge your opponents’ assumptions, don’t respond as if they are
valid. When some Democrats, liberals or Occupiers address tax policy
by charging that Republicans only want tax breaks for their rich
friends, why doesn’t anyone ever ask “why?”
Why would someone who wanted to be elected jeopardize his chances by
doing favors for rich friends unless there is a sound economic
principle involved? Clearly, supporters of tax limitation have a
better grasp of what drives an economy than politicians who have
never related to or worked in the private sector, like President
Obama.
Republican candidates need to explain basic economics to those who,
if they studied it in school, probably studied under liberal
teachers who think that government money grows on trees. And after
the debacle of 2008, Republicans need to understand that the old
platitudes don’t necessarily work anymore, that there is a sector of
the private sector, infiltrated by the public sector, that has
nothing to do with real capitalism, i.e., the marketplace.
There is a new reality around the world marketplace, and some of the
“bootstraps” platitudes don’t work there, either; we need
intelligent discussion about jobs that have gone overseas, never to
return. The recent bipartisan outrage about American Olympic
uniforms made in China is a good place to start that discussion,
which Romney should lead.
Also, Mitt, whatever you decided to do with your tax returns,
investments and other income, own it and tell us what your reasons
were. For instance, feel free to say what I would if I’d ever had
enough money to place in a Swiss bank account: I was hiding it from
those politicians who think that “tax the rich” is good policy and
would steal anything they could find over $200,000 if they had the
votes.
Advice on vice president: Keep the congressmen, senators where they
are; you’ll need them. I liked New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, but
she has too many family responsibilities, so I’m now hoping for a
good surprise choice, maybe Ken Cuccinelli, present attorney general
in the battleground state of Virginia, who has his master’s in
international commerce and policy.
Finally: As Deval Patrick runs around the country supporting Obama,
run an ad telling the entire country about our governor’s support
for subsidized tattoos, pornography, guns, jewelry, vacation cruises
and lobster for Massachusetts welfare recipients.
You’re welcome, Mitt.