Gosh Darn, He's Likeable (Romney Interview)

Reader's Digest ^ | 06/12/07 | Bill Beaman

[Reaganesque]

It was the day before I was headed to Des Moines to interview Mitt Romney when a friend called who covers the White House for another publication. "Romney's catching fire in Iowa," he said. "Interesting time for you to be seeing him up there."

Well, polls are polls -- meaning, don't trust 'em -- and it's awfully early to be on fire lest you burn out before the actual voting begins. But then again…

The fact is, I've become fascinated with Romney. This wouldn't be the first time I'd met him, or the second. Okay, it would be merely the third. But I figured after three sit-downs I'm justified in forming some opinions of the man. And so I have.

Let me say right off the bat that I am not being paid under the table by the Romney campaign. I have no horse in this race. I'm a registered Independent. Blah, blah, blah. Nonetheless, my message to his Republican rivals (and to any future Democratic ones, too) is: Watch out for this guy.

Let's get quickly past the lame critiques. "He's actually too good-looking for a politician. He looks too perfect, a candidate from central casting." Please. That's like a bald man saying all those guys out there with a full head of hair are so…ugh… hairy. Somehow I don't think Romney's looks will doom him.

"Yeah, but he's a Mormon. And that makes him unelectable." So let's see -- he's up against one Republican who's supposedly unelectable because he's not a real conservative and another Republican who's unelectable because…umm… oh yeah, he's not a real conservative. And on the Democrats' side, he'd be up against a woman who's said to be unelectable and an African American who's said to be unelectable. Unless we're just going to shut down the White House for four years (tempting, isn't it?), someone's going to prove electable. Might as well be a Mormon.

If there's a legitimate criticism of Romney, it's that he's flipping and flopping on any number of issues. From pro-abortion rights to fervently pro-life. From pro-gun control laws to fan of the NRA. From pro-gay rights to anti-gay marriage. These shifts can make you think that, maybe, just maybe, there are political calculations behind them. Imagine.

Here's why I think Romney can survive the scrutiny. He's smart. He's articulate (a reading of my interview transcipt confirms that he talks in complete sentences. Present occupants of the White House, take note). But the most important thing he has going for him is that he's so likeable. Bear with me, because I know how superficial that sounds. It's actually a hugely important trait.

Since every Republican candidate this year is evoking Ronald Reagan, let's use the 40th president as our standard here. Reagan said any number of bizarre and contradictory things during his years in politics, from confusing a Hollywood role of his with actual combat service to claiming that trees are the main cause of air pollution. America forgave him for these sorts of gaffes and more -- including, ultimately, Iran-contra. Why? They liked him so much as a person. They liked his sunny optimism and his heartland America values. They liked that Reagan was a person who, even in his private diaries, as we've now discovered, couldn't bring himself to spell out curse words.

Well, among the cast of characters running for president this go-round, no one is more darn wholesome than Mitt Romney. No one projects optimism in quite the same "gosh, we can do it, folks" sort of way. In the Republican debates, he has been very polished, and pundits say he probably "won" two of the three (whatever that really means). He's also been genial, despite some tough give-and-take. Asked after one debate about a barb he got from McCain (about switching his stands based on what office he was running for), Romney just smiled and said that John can really throw out some good one-liners. Imagine how Rudy would have responded to the jab.

I don't buy that Fred Thompson is the Reaganesque candidate in the wings. I think the closest the Republicans will find this year is Mitt Romney -- a man with Reagan-style appeal, combined with gray matter.

Don't just take my word, though. Take Chris Matthews' word, if you dare. "I can't help it, I just like the guy," he recently said on his show about Romney. Remember, Matthews is nothing if not proudly cynical about politicians. More revealing, a friend of mine from Massachusetts said her parents, who are ardent liberal Democrats, are disappointed in Romney's campaign stands. Why? "They really liked him as governor." Now, I've met her parents. I've discussed politics with them. If they liked Romney, a Republican, then he is likeable.

Prior to our interview last week, he joked with me as I fumbled around with audio equipment. "Ok, time's up! Gotta go!" he laughed, when I finally got all the equipment working. For someone on the grueling campaign trail, he sure was chipper and having fun. And why not? It must be nice to be liked.

[Reaganesque]

An interesting take on Mitt from the Reader's Digest. The author has a point. Likability is a factor in electability. Just look at John McCain. Despite his honorable service to our country in Vietnam, as a politician and man, he comes across as the grumpy old man down the street who sits on his porch, yelling at the neighborhood kids to get the h*ll off his lawn. It certainly was a driving factor in the public's affection for Ronald Reagan. He could communicate directly with the public which drove the media nuts. Mitt certainly has that quality. I think Fred may have it as well. We'll see.

[Reaganesque]

Mitt Ping!

• Send FReep Mail to Unmarked Package to get [ON] or [OFF] the Mitt Romney Ping List •

[libbylu]

I think as people get to know him they will like him too, especially the ones who aren’t terribly political. I personally picked him last fall based on his anti amnesty position. The fact that he seems like a perfect husband and dad and has the looks and the manners of a gentleman, and where are all the other truly nice guys with one wife for 35 years, a good reputation, good looks, no apparent dirt or we would have surely heard it by now, are there any others?

[SteveMcKing]

Last thing we need is another “Bob Dole” — perfect on paper, but a persona of a grumpy old man. That’s how Hunter/Thompson come across.

Good old Bob had chronic eye-blinking problems whenever he was nervous... Things like that will kill you on camera.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

http://www.imwithfred.com/

[Scarchin]

I went to an "Ask Mitt Anything" event. It wasn't a prescreened bogus deal. People asked him tough questions and he didn't pander.

Can you imagine Hillary doing this?

[traderrob6]

Too bad he’s been mired in the polls at 11% for months.

[SteveMcKing]

Too bad he’s been mired in the polls at 11% for months.

LA Times?

[Paperdoll]

Don’t want to rain on your parade, and I hate to cast aspersions on my own screen genre, but Mitt romney comes across to me as a carefully painted cardboard model - not a real, honest to goodness person.

[WVNan]

That makes two of us. I predicted last summer that he would be the next President. I know, I was going out on a limb, but it was that small voice that says “he’s the one.” I haven’t decided on who I will vote for yet. I’m still watching.

[Cicero]

Bob Dole gave the Christian Coalition and the right to life movement the finger about three minutes after he was nominated. And these were the people who worked for him and put him over the top.

Bob Dole and Fred Thompson are about as different as you can get.

[CheyennePress]

National polls that mean essentially nothing, you mean?

Let’s be honest, if Romney’s momentum carries Iowa and New Hampshire, and he rolls into South Carolina with all of that, a win there would make him very, very hard to beat. For one, the party leadership would begin to solidify around him. Second, he’d be getting press constantly just as peopel started tuning in for the elections.

South Carolina SHOULD be Thompson territory. We’ll see. I’ve seen him bomb some recent interviews and just come across as very unconvincing and bumbling.

He may not need to worry about that, though, as he can deliver a heck of a speech. Debates with fewer candidates would be more his style. Shorter snip-its, not so much...

We’ll see.

[traderrob6]

RCP Average 10.3%

Romney

Rasmussen 10%
LA Times/Bloomberg 11%
FOX News 10%
AP-Ipsos 10%
USA Today/Gallup 11%
ABC News/Wash Post 11%

RCP Average 10.3%

[sionnsar]

But the most important thing he has going for him is that he's so likeable. Bear with me, because I know how superficial that sounds. It's actually a hugely important trait.

Agreed. They said the same about Bill Clinton. Look what you got there.

(Before I get jumped, I don't think Mitt is another Clinton but I have other reasons for not preferring him. And anyone who's followed my postings knows I have nothing against Mormons in government - I'm just waiting for my former state rep to re-announce so I can sign up. "Mormon" and surnamed "Nixon" -- I'm with him!)

[traderrob6]

If, if, if and one more if.

[afraid]

NO.

[George W. Bush]

They liked his sunny optimism and his heartland America values. They liked that Reagan was a person who, even in his private diaries, as we've now discovered, couldn't bring himself to spell out curse words.

When I noticed this myself, I changed my estimate of him for "flipflopper from liberal MA" to "he could get elected". In a good appearance, he can warm a crowd, make them draw near, really listen to him. It's a personal quality that all great politicians have. And he really is a Boy Scout kind of guy, clean-living like Reagan was.

His voice, when he's on a roll, has a certain penetrating quality and resonance. He may well match Thompson at stand-up roles. But he speaks with greater energy, has more vitality. With Fred Thompson, I keep wondering how he can really fire up his supporters the same way. After Fred speaks, he's so calm and rational with his southern charm, you just feel things are right with the world and maybe it's time for a nap. This is why he was so perfect a replacement for Paul Harvey in many ways.

I think Thompson will continue to climb. But with the long background of lobbying and less than two terms in the Senate and his age, two very young children, well, I keep wondering how Fred will stand up to the campaign trail. Those 16 hour days take their toll and that's what they do.

Another Romney advantage is good health and vitality. This season is so long, it's a marathon. The others, especially McCain and a little less Thompson, are older and not as vital as Romney. It will begin to show. We already see McStain looking older. Guys at that age just can't take the campaign schedule. Romney's good health and vitality are an asset to him.

I'm not voting for him, at least not yet. But he is interesting to observe.

[Saundra Duffy]

What’s not to like?

[afraidfortherepublic]

I really like Fred Thompson, but that is a very bad picture of him at your link. He really looks grumpy.

Looks DO make a difference. They shouldn’t, but we’re all human and they make a difference as to whether the general public will listen to what the politician is saying. When the general public listens, they vote. It’s all a matter of getting votes.

In the Nixon Kennedy debates back in 1960, those who heard them on the radio gave the winning margin to Nixon. Those who watched them on TV picked Kennedy.

If Fred runs, he should stay off TV and just let his beautiful voice speak for him on audio and use beautiful smiling still pictures of himself in camoaign lit. But I don’t think that is possible in today’s campaign climate.

Everybody is laughing at Hillary’s various face lifts and cosmetic makeovers. But she looks really good and will fool those who haven’t been paying attention. It gives her an edge.

[Andy'smom]

Hmmm, I’ve met Mitt (as governor) and yes, he is the perfect husband and father. I also wish he was still the governor, but he has also been shall we say recent convert to the illegal immigration problem. I am suspicious of how tough he would actually be. Mitt is really more of a pragmatist, truth be told.