Blogger Ann Althouse’s Analysis of Mitt Romney on Meet the PressDecember 16th, 2007 | 2 Comments | Posted in Analysis, Commentary, and Editorials, Ann Althouse, Meet The Press, Mitt Romney, New Media, Tim Russert
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I found —–>this post at her self titled blog, “Althouse”
Highlights:
I thought he sounded really Reaganesque — the tone, the pauses, the personal warmth.
At this point in his story, he says that he still remembers when he heard that the Mormon church announced that it was abandoning its belief in discrimination. He was driving his car, he says. I am moved to tears. He then says, after I’ve started to cry, that he pulled over to the side of the road and wept. Now, that was well done. I felt the emotion in the story and cried before he says he cried. I don’t normally cry at anything a politician says. I tend to laugh at anything sentimental, especially when it’s at all self-aggrandizing. So I’m going to say he showed some fine — Reaganesque — skill.
On abortion and health care, Romney relied heavily on federalism. He was especially persuasive talking about relying on the states to experiment with different solutions on health insurance. Here, he was able to confirm his belief in the value of the mandatory approach he instituted in Massachusetts, without saying he’s ready to impose it nationwide. Conditions in Texas are different, but in the end, he hoped we might learn that what he did in Massachusetts was best. This was nicely moderate.
On abortion, he was clear that he wanted Roe v. Wade overturned, and this says a lot about the kind of Justice he would appoint to the Supreme Court. Russert tormented him with questions about his change of position on abortion, and he clearly conceded that he’d changed. He has a huge problem dealing with this issue, but I thought he handled it well, under tough questioning. I don’t agree with him on this issue (as he presents himself now), so I’m only talking about his skill as a candidate here. I think it is very strong.
An excellent performance.
Be sure to —–>Click on Over to her entire post. I felt it was very warm, like Romney on Today’s edition of Meet the Press.