Mitt's secret weapon may keep bombing By Muhammad Cohen

[bemildred]

HONG KONG - Ahead of the Republican convention and on the opening night of the hurricane-abbreviated affair, presidential candidate Mitt Romney unleashed his secret weapon, his wife Ann. Her jaw-droppingly vapid, smugly delivered speech qualified for immediate induction into the lost opportunity hall of fame for its lack of genuine detail, memorable anecdotes and authentic emotion.

The Republicans are counting on Ann Romney primarily to humanize their candidate and make him seem more likeable. But even if she had delivered her words with perfect execution, the decision to feature Ann Romney underscores parts of the presidential candidate's story and platform that may well do Romney more harm than good.

Playing the political spouse card always holds risks. Betty Ford had a habit of speaking her mind when asked, even when it contradicted her husband's positions. Hillary Clinton, in policy terms the highest profile first lady since Eleanor Roosevelt, became a polarizing figure. She was so hated by Republicans that Democrats thought twice about nominating her in 2008, when she was their obvious choice, giving an opening to a freshman senator named Barack Obama to take the prize away from her.

Candidate Clinton got a double whammy: she had to tote the political baggage of her husband and former president Bill Clinton and bear the stigma of the (unsympathetic to many) wronged spouse.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/NH31Dj03.html

[Lifelong Protester]

1. The bolded description in the first paragraph

couldn't have nailed it better. I agree.


(Just for the record, my spouse, now an AVID Democrat, grew up in a household that was so Republican that they referred to Eleanor Roosevelt as "that woman", which I guess was common at that time.)

[bemildred]

3. Yes, I remember the "that woman" characterization well. nt

[Viva_Daddy]

2. This was Ann Romney's attempt at a Clinton-like "I feel your pain" speech. It failed.