Posted on 06/11/2016 1:33:35 PM PDT by COUNTrecount
Mitt Romney laid into the large and rambunctious group of 2016 Republican candidates here on Saturday, arguing that they deserved a share of blame for the rise of Donald Trump.
During a question-and-answer session with CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer before around 250 Republican donors gathered here for the Romney-hosted Experts and Enthusiasts summit, the former Massachusetts governor said this year’s group of primary candidates misplayed their hand. By spending months attacking each other and ignoring Trump, he argued, they made a severe tactical error that allowed Trump — who Romney has criticized as a "con man" and a "fraud" — to escape unharmed.
“Their biggest failure was attacking each other and not the frontrunner,” Romney said. “Just politically, I thought that move was not right for them.”
Romney reserved particular scorn for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who Romney endorsed late in the primary process. The Texas senator, he pointed out, spent extensive time during the campaign praising Trump. He also said Ohio Gov. Kasich had divided the anti-Trump vote by remaining in the race long after it had become clear he didn’t have a realistic pathway to the nomination — a message he said had relayed personally to the Ohio governor. And Romney chided Right to Rise, the $100 million-plus Jeb Bush super PAC that spent heavily to tear down Bush rivals other than Trump.
“I thought it was an extremely large mistake on their part,” he said of Right to Rise.
Romney, though, credited Trump with waging a politically savvy primary campaign. “He played it extremely well,” he said, noting that the New York businessman had tapped into a deep vein of voter frustration. “It was a very effective strategy.”
As he has on previous occasions, Romney warned that a Trump presidency could have disastrous repercussions for the country.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Bot to mention an African American and a woman.
Mitt should have won in 2012, so who is he to judge?
At least DT is going after Hitlery and Hussein.
This really is a shame. Mitt could be gracious and willing to help. Instead, he is turning a tin ear to millions of voters.
I have no particular personal embrace of DT, yet the recognition that he is more desirable as an executive than the shrill bombast HRC is inescapable.
Somehow, the dense GOP elites and the media have convinced themselves a liberal fascist is preferable to a capitalist.
Nuts.
“I had some respect for Romney and Ryan in 2012 but that has been replaced by pure loathing for them both.”
Me too and I bet we are not alone.
My goodness he’s a loser. Im starting to think that the longer he talks the more he looks small and the bigger Trump looks. Keep at it Mitless
Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad. . .
This man is imploding. His political career is over, and he has done this to himself. Had he just been a good sport, a little graciousness, even if rather noncommital, he could have had a political future of some sort. A cabinet position maybe? An ambassadorship perhaps?
Choke artist supreme.
There is just no other way to say it:
FUMR!
Two Hispanics... that’s twice as racist. Call the haters at the Southern Poverty Law Center...
Point very well taken.
Myth lost on purpose.
Ha, ha, because they were as milquetoast as you are. Donald Trump is a man of the REAL world.
You are not alone.
Just posted this on Facebook.
You know I wish that Romney would understand that most of us supported him because he was the party nominee. He repaid us by deliberately losing. How does he have any right to speak?
Unbelievable! The guy who viciously went after Newt and then caved to Obama dares to criticize anyone. I’ve been tough on some of these candidates but at least they had the true grit to get out there and run.
Democrat wing of Republican Party bump for later...
How much Bain money is Romney getting for Ryan’s bailout of the liberals in Puerto Rico?
Mitt Romney, mythical underwear hero and political genius.
I thought they were both better then Obama/Biden, but; I damn sure have no respect for a Massachusetts liberal like Romney and a little punk like Ryan.
Where is Mitt’s post mortem on PRyno?
Yes, send him as the Chief Insect Inspector to the Zika ridden 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
BINGO!!!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.