On Super Tuesday, Romney Makes Himself And Bob Dole The Conversation

But ... if the goal is gin up resentment against McCain from party activists, maybe Dole isn't such a bad target.

After Dole sent a letter to Rush Limbaugh (kind of a weird choice, there), Romney told Fox News that Dole is "probably the last person I would have wanted to have write a letter for me. I think there a lot of folks who tend to think that maybe John McCain's race is a bit like Bob Dole's race. That it's the guy who's next in line, the inevitable choice."

Conservatives didn't dislike Dole because he was anointed. They disliked him because they did not believe he ever bought into the premises of the conservative revolution and that he was too accommodating toward Democrats.

McCain called Romney's comments "disgraceful."

An hour ago, CBS News's Scott Conroy transcribed Romney's explanation:

"What I am pointing to and wanted to in my comment was that the selection of our nominee based on someone having served in the Senate a long time can be seen as the person who deserves the nomination did not do well for us in that election. it is that aspect, not Sen. Dole that I am referring to with that aspect in choosing someone who has been in the senate the longest and giving it to him out of a sense of obligation that I think it was the error, but there is certainly nothing but respect on my part for senator Dole."

Again -- conservatives didn't trust Dole because they did not believe he was one of them. The comparison with McCain -- from Romney's perspective -- is apt... perhaps unfair and ungenerous, but it's exactly the type of comparison Romney wants conservatives to make.

On the flip side, though, there are plenty of Republican voters today who will find it unseemly that Romney appears to be casting aspersions on a war hero and their 1996 nominee.

Comments

McCain and Huckabee's constant indignation is getting old (pun intended). It's like watching a segment on The View or Oprah with those two.

Bob Dole in 1996 was a lackluster candidate for president. I remember because I tried to convince people to vote for him!

McCain is going to be a hard sell too and actually I'm not that interested in repeating history with McCain.

Posted by sheryl | February 5, 2008 1:03 PM

Oprah's show is about constant indignation? When? Are you talking about her old "Angel Network"? Or is it her book club? Or perhaps this occurs on shows with al that swag? Please explain this.

Posted by jay | February 5, 2008 1:29 PM

Sure I'll explain. The last time I watched Oprah's show is when she had the women from the jury that set free the murderer OJ Simpson.

The indignation displayed on that show by all of those women, including Oprah, about the trial, why they believed OJ was innocent was sickening....just sickening.

Posted by sheryl | February 5, 2008 1:46 PM

give me a break! Bob Dole's campaign was horrible and Mitt was just reminding everyone what a pain it was to see him up against Clinton

Posted by mike | February 5, 2008 1:59 PM

It is Bob Dole who should apologize. He was a lackluster Senate leader who compromised principles every chance he got. He was a miserable Presidential candidate who stood for nothing except his pathetic wit and platitudes.

No one questions that fact that is a war hero and he is to be credited with his service to his Country.

Now, as usual, McCain and a willing press have distorted the words of Romney once again in an effort to change the subject about the "real" McCain.

The letter by Dole to Limbaugh was made public at once and McCain inferred that he had Dole's endorsement. He might have been right.

Watched Dole on a Fox News program and he came as close to an endorsement as he could for McCain.

Dole is a has been and is not an elder statesman. He simply wants the limelight.

By the way, his stupidity in this case could cost is wife, Libby, in votes in her reelection campaign.

Bob Dole would do millions of Republicans a favor by just fading into the background. He has hurt the Party and untold numbers of us will never forget it. What little legacy he might have had is gone.

Bill

Posted by Bill Roberts | February 5, 2008 2:33 PM

Here's the thing - there is a real long history of Mittens Romney freaking out every time he's within a shot of winning but he feels like it's slipping away from him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1Hn2tTVjRo

His frantic grasping at straws is pathetic. He should retain his dignity and go home now.

Posted by Sam | February 5, 2008 2:46 PM

Romney's comment on Dole was appropriate because Dole was taking sides. And it was also a good reminder that Dole was the one that was called so electable with all his name recognition, and so senior in the Senate, and damn, he was a war hero too who SERVED!! unlike any of his challengers in either Party

- then he ran a low energy, lackluster campaign and was thrashed.

What isn't excusable is McCain and his new Military-worshippers. Now swaggering around with a monstrous sense of entitlement that no ex-military person may be criticized by a "lesser citizen" who "never served".

Which puts, as some in the media and certainly McCain wishes - the professional, intergenerational Southern professional military caste on the highest pedestal - with lesser tiers for volunteers, wounded, draftees. Then "hero" government employees like cops and firemen and DEA.
And still lower still tiers for enlisted and non-line command officers who "never saw combat" - but SERVED!!!

Then various strata of mere civilians in order of their patriotism...

McCain then retaliates by wrapping himself via Bob Dole in the Flag: McCain said he was "saddened and disappointed to see that kind of comment about a person who is an American war hero, who built our party, who served our party so well for so long

Same tactic McCain has gone back to whenever he is in a scandal or wishes to promote his interests and intimidate critics. The scoundrel in his usual "Pay Homage to This Heroic POW" refuge.

McCain, taking lessons from Al Sharpton, goes on:

Bob Dole has served his country in war and in peace in a way that all of us admire, and to disparage that, or criticize him in such a way, is just not appropriate, I think, in the minds of most Americans." Then McCain demanded an apology on Dole's behalf from Romney

Notice what the scumbag does in his political tactics: He takes criticism of either his or Doles bad politics and reframes it as unpatriotic disparaging a war hero, not paying proper homage to their service, and worth apologizing for - like an officer upbraiding a lower-ranked officer or an elisted for failing to salute them.

Nothing new, McCain has been on this "I was captured by the enemy, that makes me special" sanctimonious high horse for decades.

I much prefer the attitude of George McGovern, Richard Nixon, Eisenhower, Bush I, Gerald Ford, JFK, Truman, Bob Kerrey - who faced equal or greater risks than McCain - and never dealt with people with an attitude that they were morally superior to civilians who never did military time. Who only rarely and with some embarassment used their military service to promote themselves, and never used Present-Day militaristic themes hammering other people with symbols that They Served! ("While you're saying my Immigration Plan is wrong, remember I was being tortured as a POW while you were on a deferment in Law School, you Fuck!"
"I know everything about winning wars. I served and therefore am ready to be Commander in Chief from Day 1"
"I was just a mere footsoldier at the start of the Reagan Revolution."
"I didn't come back from Vietnam with an arm that had to be rebroken twice and look at that wonderful Flag to later tolerate that Flag being tarnished by those who are voting against McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform")

As an ex-officer, a combat Vet, and a conservative Republican, I am sick of that guy and think he would be a dangerous Commader in Chief. I will never vote for him.

Posted by chris ford | February 5, 2008 3:01 PM

It's amazing to watch the rightwing blogosphere go further and further out on limbs defending Mitt Romney. He just makes one gaffe after another trying to reverse his campaign nose-dive and lifelong political positions. I know that being a Conservative means being able to read--for example that Massachusetts' Mitt-managed version of HillaryCare has just doubled in cost--but that doesn't seem to trouble any of you. Or are you planning to to just vote for Hillary, like Ann Coulter?

Any of you so-called Christian Conservatives ever read the Book of Mormon those kids in business suits keep dropping on your front porches? Hello!! Mormon, while a perfectly fine and respectable religion for those who practice it, is NOT a Christian denomination. It's a cult. What's next for you Ditto-heads? Plan to support Tom Cruise in 2012? Sun Myung Moon maybe?

Romney not only couldn't elected dog-catcher in a normal election cycle, he's also from a political dynasty--just like Clinton, Gore, Bush, Kennedy, etc. What are you people thinking--if at all??? there are only two candidates offering any kind of 'change' here--McCain and Obama. And you'll really love life under Obama. That will be so good for the GOP--especially the surrendering to a defeated enemy part.

I thought that being a Conservative meant a lot more than being deceived by a huckster's promises into mindless hatred of any politician wounded in the service of his country--while frothing at the mouth like a Kossite. Shame on you. Grow up.

Posted by Hope Muntz | February 5, 2008 3:23 PM

Hope Muntz - into mindless hatred of any politician wounded in the service of his country.

Another mindless militarist worshipper wrapping her Hero in the American Flag. Claiming any criticism is out of bounds because it somehow ties into their service....

Nor is Mormonism a "cult" anymore than any other long-established successful religion is. Take time to meet some LDS people. With rare exceptions, they are hard-working, decent, moral credits to America.

As for my vote, as a conservative and ex-military officer - seeing this lying, treacherous person always hiding behind his former uniform and service makes my choice easy. No vote for McCain, ever. He lacked the character, integrity, ability, and temperment to be promoted to an executive Flag Rank officer in 1982 and since being retired some 25 years ago has done nothing to correct those deep flaws.

Posted by chris ford | February 5, 2008 3:54 PM

I was referring to the trashing of Bob Dole. However, I'm sure you can find something wrong with his war record too. Or accuse him of being 'lying and treacherous'. Mormonism is a cult, just like Catharism or Bahai. It's not a major world religion, I have Mormon friends, too. None of them will ever be elected president in my lifetime--like Disraeli, they'd have to convert first.

So, as a military officer I take it YOU had the courage and integrity to survive for 5 years in the Hanoi Hilton without ratting out your comrades? Is that what you got your 'Flag Rank' for?

Just asking.

Posted by Hope Muntz | February 5, 2008 4:52 PM

Nice try, Hope. You are saying that no Jew like Disraeli will ever be elected President without converting first? Bigoted....

I laud McCains service and his putting his piss and venom to good use against a real enemy back when he was captured by an actual enemy rather than expend it on fellow Republicans and backstabbing voters on his promises.

Is that what you got your 'Flag Rank' for?

I didn't find McCain was unfit for senior executive leadership on grounds of insuffecient character, integrity, temperment, and performance. The Navy did.

Posted by chris ford | February 5, 2008 7:38 PM

Hope Muntz, you wrote: "Massachusetts' Mitt-managed version of HillaryCare has just doubled in cost--but that doesn't seem to trouble any of you." And Hope, I'd like to inform you, although I'm sure you've heard it a thousand times before, that you're a moron. The Mass healthcare system that Mitt came up with, was an incredible machine. The DEMOCRATS who took office after him, changed it and that is why the cost has doubled. Get your facts straight, don't just perpetuate the lies.

And Hope, since we know how much you like to pass on the gossip about things, rather than find out the truth for yourself, we can be sure that you have no grounds for saying: "Mormon, while a perfectly fine and respectable religion for those who practice it, is NOT a Christian denomination. It's a cult." You see Hope (I imagine your parents are disappointed that your demeanor doesn't live up to the name they gave you), Mormon is not the name of the religion. It is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They prefer to be referred to as LDS, rather than Mormon (which is just the name of a Prophet from the year 400). Did you happen to catch that part in there where it said Church OF JESUS CHRIST? Does your church have Jesus Christ in it's official title? I can guarantee that the faithful members of that church are far happier than you or your family could ever know. (That is of course, unless you became a member of the church, and experienced for yourself-not what others told you-the happiness I speak of) Take a look around you at the exemplary lives people of this faith live. "By their fruits shall ye know them." They are the most Christlike religion and people in the world. But of course, just as they bashed Jesus in his day, those possessed with evil spirits will bash the LDS today. Research your thoughts before you corrupt the minds of those who don't.

Posted by Jacob Davies | February 6, 2008 2:11 PM