The Quittster is making the rounds at the local papers, giving both the Globe and the Herald interviews (that both described as “wide-ranging”). At the Herald, he moaned that he never should have run for Governor of Massachusetts – had he known he would end up in politics, he would have stayed in Michigan. Oh, would that it were so, Mitt! Would that it were so!
Meanwhile, at the Globe, he whines that the mean ol’ Boston media are always trying to falsely paint him as tacking right, and he insisted that he has been absolutely consistent all along. Never mind that, in 1994, he said: “I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain it and support it.” Yet a few months ago he called for Roe v. Wade to be overruled. Never mind, even, that he told the Globe in today’s story that his positions are “moderate” everywhere but Massachusetts, yet he told a group of South Carolinians that he’s a “conservative Republican.” Consistent? Heh.
There are some other good bits in the Globe interview. Like the part where he says he opposes the teaching of intelligent design in science classrooms. This issue, of course, has been on the front burner for months, yet to my knowledge he has never said one word about intelligent design, even when he was touting the importance of science education (back then I wrote to request his views on intelligent design – no response). Couldn’t have anything to do with the fact that a Republican, W-appointed federal judge just outed intelligent design for what it is – creationism in disguise – thereby giving Republicans a bit of cover to distance themselves from this reactionary movement, could it? Romney could have taken a stand on this issue when it was much less safe to do so. But he didn’t. Profile in courage.
Also excellent was the bit where he said how easy it would have been for him to beat Tom Reilly, citing as evidence for his alleged broad-based popular support his recent appearance on – get this – Howie Carr’s radio show, where the callers said they liked him. Geez, it’s no wonder Romney has never had any idea who the people of this state really are. If Howie Carr’s listeners are anything even remotely resembling a representative cross-section of the electorate, don’t you think Romney might have been a tad more successful in his embarrassing effort to increase the Republican contingent in the state legislature in 2004? As you’ll recall, Romney’s expensive, high-profile push to elect more Republicans actually resulted in them losing a couple of seats to the Dems.
So. Romney doesn’t like us, and we don’t like him. Fair enough – not everyone likes everyone in this world. But at least Kerry Healey wants to be here. Come on, Mitt – turn over the reins. You obviously don’t want them now, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that you never really did.
