As Liberals Mourn Last Night’s Debate, Conservatives Should Be Seething

I watched in awe last night as Mitt Romney pummeled President Obama. All this week we’d heard that Romney did more debate prep than Jesus Christ, but I assumed that meant he’d be able only to hold his own—not win by TKO. 

Yet something about the substance of Romney’s answers didn’t sit well with me. Tim Carney noticed it too, tweeting after the debate: “Don’t ignore that Romney tonight walked a very centrist line—on regulation, spending, taxes…” Philip Klein also noticed Romney’s move toward the center, and cautioned conservatives against being too enthusiastic: 

Romney, as part of his efforts to disarm Obama’s criticisms, made a number of policy concessions that could box him in and make it more difficult for him to govern as a limited government conservative if elected. At various times during the debate Romney said that he wasn’t interested in cutting taxes, particularly on the wealthy; that he would cover individuals with pre-existing conditions; that he wouldn’t touch Medicare and Social Security over the next decade and would be willing to give more money to seniors for prescription drugs; and that he’d be open to hiring more teachers. Should he be elected president, all of the major fights – repealing Obamacare, overhauling the tax code and reforming entitlements – will trigger a massive campaign by liberals to portray him as trying to hurt the poor to the benefit of the rich. If he is so willing to concede policy points during the campaign, will he fight for limited government as president?

In other words, Romney “won” by promising big-government conservatism in the vein of George W. Bush. Actual conservatives should be furious and very worried. 

-Mike Riggs

88 Notes/ Hide

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  11. theperksofbeingattractive reblogged this from election and added:
    I would say I’m glad Romney’s more centrist than the average republican, but I feel like he’s just saying stuff to get...
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  14. baileyeverywhere reblogged this from jasencomstock and added:
    I don’t have any energy left for GWB; I barely remember anything except fear and seething and a little bit of sadness...
  15. immunochic reblogged this from election and added:
    answers. They weren’t at all what he has been trumpeting for...last month or so.
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  18. kunari reblogged this from election and added:
    was just talking-the-talk...get elected. If he wins...GOP...
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