I don’t understand why a talk show host would deny a valued guest the time to talk. David Frost allowed his guests to have their say. Robert Novak hosted a little known interview show several years ago. He allowed his guests, liberal or conservative, to express themselves without interruption.
I saw Mitt here and he is right. You can have views that guide your life without trying to make it the law for everyone else. Whether it is drinking, adultery, smoking, charging interest, lack of tact, shooting coyotes - or not, or anything else, your rules for yourself need not be the law for all. This seems a pretty basic distinction that everyone should understand. This distinction is central to the concept of tolerance.
I once saw Mitt briefly on 60 minutes as I was flipping channels. Mitt tried to explain that his actions as President might differ in a particular case from his actions as Governor. That was brushed off. Hello 60 minutes, ever here of the 10th amendment? Federalism? States should have powers are denied to the federal Government. Before Roe v Wade, different states had different laws on abortion. Georgia and New York are different. Georgians and New Yorkers like it that way. So one might support a law in Massachusetts that one should never think to inflict upon the nation as a whole.
Mitt is smart enough to make valid distinctions. Many of his detractors just can’t keep up. In many cases, it seems they are seeing red and just can’t see or think straight.
If Mitt should make it to the general election, do you really believe that in a debate with Hillary he would be handled with the kid gloves you want? Mitt better be ready for prime time by then. His off air demeanor indicates he isn't there yet.