An Accurate Prediction of Desperation

Last week, when the Florida polls were deadlocked and it appeared that Newt Gingrich's South Carolina surge was going to help him in Florida, he told his supporters to watch for a new desperation from the Romney camp.  He said, "When you get desperate, you say almost anything...and stretch the barrier on almost anything."

Interesting how a political landscape can change in just 10 days.

Gingrich was certainly right about witnessing a new "desperation," however, what he may not want to admit is that the desperation has come from Newt Gingrich himself. 

AP Photo
  

In a Monday interview with Fox News, Gingrich criticized Mitt Romney of being "extraordinarily insensitive to religious freedom in America."  He went on to say that Mitt Romney is no different than President Obama and that like Obama, "Romney is a threat to religious freedom."  (Click to read Fox News Article).

He argued that while Mitt Romney was Governor of Massachusetts, cuts to Medicaid funding for health care services that benefited Jewish and Catholic facilities clearly demonstrate "Mitt's lack of respect for religion in America" and expose a "trend for a secular state assault on people of faith."

An assault on people of faith?  Religious intolerance?  Really? This is a ridiculous claim and is obviously a desperate attempt to inaccurately label an opponent.

Gingrich is talking about Mitt Romney, an individual who has been active in his faith his entire life.  Mitt Romney attends church every Sunday.  He gives millions in charitable donations to his church.  This is also an individual who has constantly had to defend his faith because of fears that Mormons are not mainstream.  I can assure you Mr. Gingrich, Mitt Romney deeply respects religious freedom in America.   

Romney is in no sense of the word, "a threat to religious freedom in this country."  But, I guess as Gingrich has watched a Florida win slip through his fingers, he was right about his prediction, "Desperation does force one to say almost anything...and stretch the barrier on almost anything."

***

Almost all polls indicate a double-digit win today for Mitt Romney.

Florida has been a hard fought battle.  The candidates presented their case and voters listened.  Florida heard Mitt's message for a better, stronger and more prosperous America.  They examined his career and his success with making weak things stronger.  They looked at his familiarity with making failing systems prosperous.  They looked at his expertise in repairing broken structures.  The voters looked at Mitt Romney and realized that his experience is exactly what this country needs.

The voters in Florida saw that Mitt Romney has years of invaluable training.  Training that will grant Mitt Romney the skill set and know-how to get America back on the path to a more prosperous future.  One thing is certain, a Mitt Romney Presidency will not be "on-the-job training" full of guesstimates and finger crossing on what it will take to get Americans back to work.

Mitt Romney is prepared to revive our fragile economy.  He is prepared and ready to demonstrate to President Obama and the American people that Obama's efforts have failed us.

He made the case for why America needs Mitt.  It resonated.  We do.

Time to Exhale?

The latest poll numbers today suggest that Mitt Romney will emerge the victor in tomorrow's Florida primary. The NBC/Marist poll shows Romney leading by 15 points (42%-27%).

A primary win is important in any state, but Florida is critical because the voter base is so diverse and it tends to be a pretty good indicator for the mindset of the broadest group of Americans.  A win tomorrow shows that Romney will have passed a very crucial test.

In just seven days, Mitt Romney emerged from the rubble of a crushing loss in South Carolina.  He refined his message, he sharpened his attacks and he went on the offensive.  His message resonated.

Photo from sunshinestatenews.com

Romney leaves the sunshine state with some much-needed momentum, but it goes without saying that the fight is far from over.

Romney ran a great campaign in Florida.  It was remarkably well-organized and credit to his staff and vast volunteer base for re-energizing the support needed to put Romney ahead of a surging Newt Gingrich.  Many credit Romney's debate performances, his advertisements and his offensive strategy.

Gingrich has complained of being outspent in Florida.  He was outspent, but I don't believe that it why he lost support.  Romney and Pro-Romney PACs spent a total of $16 million compared to Gingrich and Pro-Gingrich PAC's $4 million.  Money is important, but a clear and effective message is what made the difference.  Romney's message, his experience and his electability resonated with voters.

***

The month of February appears to be in Romney's favor.  Only one scheduled Republican debate and primaries in Nevada, Arizona, Michigan will most likely prevent his rivals from having a chance to shine.  But all four candidates have declared a fight to the bitter end. The negative attacks are sure to get even nastier.

This is no time to exhale.

The attacks against Romney have done some damage.  Gingrich has attacked Romney's greatest strength--his long and successful career at Bain Capital.  Furthermore, he tried to portray Romney as a pretentious millionaire whose career experience might not be as noteworthy as the Romney camp has boasted.  Gingrich was heavily criticized for these attacks because they essentially discredit the role of capitalism and free-enterprise, but Gingrich persisted.  His message worked.  Romney's image has been tarnished.

Where does Mitt go from here?  Can he reshape his image?  Will his vision of a more prosperous America resonate?  I believe it will, but he definitely has some work to do.

In the past 30 days, Romney has learned a lot of valuable lessons. His campaign has made convincing adjustments, but it is too early to tell how it will fare in the general election.  It is too early to tell how Romney's message will stack up against a sputtering, but improving economy.  President Obama is a masterful speaker and he has a billion dollar campaign fund to discredit the conservative cause.  A billion dollars to show that Mitt Romney is a heartless business tycoon whose wealth makes him out-of-touch.

AP Photo

Fortunately for Mitt Romney, history shows that Americans generally do not punish candidates for their wealth.  The financial status of Presidents John Kennedy, George Bush and George W. Bush did not hinder their ability to get elected.  But the lesson here is that history also demonstrates that it can--just ask Senator John Kerry.

The trick for any candidate is to have a convincing and believable message.  Americans are hungry for stability and aching for prosperity.  Mitt Romney has a long career of repairing broken systems, improving weakened structures, making fiscally responsible decisions, and most importantly, he has a history of being accountable with other people's money.

Mitt Romney has a history of making weak things stronger.  Obama's history doesn't.  Even a billion dollar campaign machine cannot compete with that.

A Tipping Point?

By all accounts, last night was Mitt Romney's strongest debate.  It is too early to tell if it will be his most influential.  The race in Florida has been in a dead heat all week.  Many have been anxious to see how the rise of Newt Gingrich in South Carolina would play out in Florida.

Reuters Photo

Last night things took a major swing in Romney's favor. Today the Romney camp is celebrating the favorable press coverage and the revelation that he is experiencing a much-needed bump in the polls.

According to a Quinnipiac University poll released today, Romney has opened a nine-point lead over Newt Gingrich--38% to 29%.  This is important because as of yesterday, Romney and Gingrich were in a virtual tie at 36% to 34%.

What was it about the debates this week that made a difference?  Deeper question, was it enough?

***

Powerful Moments From Last Night

From the beginning of the debate, Romney responded strongly to charges made this week by Newt Gingrich that Romney is the most "anti-immigrant candidate."

Romney said,  "That's simply inexcusable. And, actually, Senator Marco Rubio came to my defense and said that ad was inexcusable and inflammatory and inappropriate.  Mr. Speaker, I'm not anti-immigrant. My father was born in Mexico. My wife's father was born in Wales. They came to this country. The idea that I'm anti-immigrant is repulsive.

"Don't use a term like that. You can say we disagree on certain policies, but to say that enforcing the U.S. law to protect our borders, to welcome people here legally, to expand legal immigration, as I have proved, that that's somehow anti anti-immigrant is simply the kind of over-the-top rhetoric that has characterized American politics too long.

"And I'm glad that Marco Rubio called you out on it. I'm glad you withdrew it. I think you should apologize for it, and I think you should recognize that having differences of opinions on issues does not justify labeling people with highly charged epithets."

Huge applause...for Romney.  Gingrich was like a deer in headlights.

He tried to silence the cheering crowd by switching the focus to Romney's belief that illegal immigrants will "self-deport" if employers will no longer hire them.

Gingrich said,  "Tell me what language you would use to describe somebody who thinks that deporting a grandmother or a grandfather from their family?   The idea that you are going to push them out in some form by simply saying they can't go get a job -- I think the grandmother is still going to be here. All I want to do is to allow the grandmother to be here legally with some rights to have residency but not citizenship, so that he or she can finish their life with dignity within the law."

Reuters Photo

This argument by Gingrich has been quite effective and has resonated with a lot of voters.  Romney however, quickly turned the tables on Gingrich with his powerful response.

Romney said,  "You know, our problem is not 11 million grandmothers. Our problem is 11 million people getting jobs that many Americans, legal immigrants, would like to have. It's school kids in schools that districts are having a hard time paying for. It's people getting free health care because we are required under the law to provide that health care.  

"And the real concern is the people who want to come here legally. Let's let legal immigrants come here. Let's stop illegal immigration."

Reuters Photo

From that point on, it was pretty much downhill for Gingrich.  The crowd was cheering for his rival and he could never find his voice again.  Even his best trick of attacking the liberal moderator's question completely backfired and turned out to be a shining moment for Romney when Romney said, "Wouldn't it be nice if people didn't make accusations somewhere else that they weren't willing to defend here?"

Ouch.

The last powerful moment of the night for Romney came during an exchange regarding Newt's involvement with the mortgage giant Freddie Mac.  Romney questioned why Gingrich did not do more to stop the devastation of the housing crisis.  He said that Gingrich's role was that of "Horn Tooter" rather than a "Whistle Blower."

But it was clear that Gingrich was waiting to pounce.

He said,  "The governor has cheerfully attacked me inaccurately and he knows it. The contracts we released from Freddie Mac said I would do no lobbying, none. But this is a more interesting story. We began digging in after Monday night because frankly I'd had about enough of this. We discovered to our shock, Governor Romney owns shares of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Governor Romney made a million dollars off of selling some of that. Governor Romney owns share -- has an investment in Goldman Sachs, which is today foreclosing on Floridians.

"So maybe Governor Romney in the spirit of openness should tell us how much money he's made off of how many households that have been foreclosed by his investments? And let's be clear about that."

This was an interesting moment, because it appeared that Romney might lose the edge on the issue.  But Romney's quick and thoughtful response was the final blow to his closest rival.

Romney brilliantly responded, "First of all, my investments are not made by me. My investments for the last 10 years have been in a blind trust, managed by a trustee. Secondly, the investments that they've made, we've learned about this as we made our financial disclosure, have been in mutual funds and bonds. I don't own stock in either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. There are bonds that the investor has held through mutual funds. And Mr. Speaker, I know that sounds like an enormous revelation, but have you checked your own investments? You also have investments through mutual funds that also invest in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

"But what the speaker did, was to work as a spokesman to promote Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. To protect them from those people that wanted to take them down.  

"He got paid $1.6 million to do that. He said his first contract indicated there would be no lobbying. But his second contract didn't have that prescription taken out of it. And so you have to ask yourself why is that? What he was doing was clearly promoting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, in this case Freddie Mac to the tune of $1.6 million. That is one of the reasons we're in the trouble we're in."

Kaboom!

Gingrich could never recover.  Romney owned it and was able to walk away with the coveted praise for a stellar debate performance.

***

A tipping point?  Maybe.

The most important revelation from this week's debates are two crucial factors which may very well prove to be the tipping point for Romney securing the Republican nomination.

First of all, Romney was able show--for the second time in one week--that Newt Gingrich is beatable in a debate.

Secondly, and perhaps most imperatively, Romney is articulately trying to silence attacks from his critics on his financial success and exemplary career.  Romney said, "I'm proud of the the taxes I pay.  My taxes, plus my charitable contributions, this year, 2011, will be about 40 percent.  So, let's put behind this idea of attacking me because of my investments or my money and let's get Republicans to say, you know what?  What you've accomplished in your life shouldn't be seen as a detriment, it should be seen as an asset to help America."

This was a pivotal moment.  Pivotal because it demonstrates that Romney is not about to be "Swift Boated."  He is not going to sit by and let people attack his greatest strengths--his greatest asset.  He is proudly owning his successes and he is demonstrating to his rivals, the democrats and voters across this country that his long and successful career is exactly what this country needs to guide us out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

AP Photo

Tuesday's Florida Primary will help define a crucial moment in this election.  I believe that Romney's performance last night was the tipping point he needed.

Romney has found his feet. He has found his voice.  He is demonstrating the type of authority and influence that must have been felt all those years in the Board Room at Bain Capital.  He is showing his ability to lead.

It is too early to tell how it will play out, but today's polls show that voters are beginning to like what they see.

Does Character Matter?

Newt Gingrich had an interesting interview this morning in Tampa, Florida.   He was interviewed by David Brody of CBN news and was asked why he thinks evangelicals have forgiven him for his past mistakes and appear to be rallying behind his candidacy.  His response was interesting.  He said:

“They recognize that I have not hidden from the facts of my life, that I have confessed my weaknesses, and that I have had to go to God for forgiveness and for reconciliation."

"And I think most people can identify, either with themselves or with loved ones, that life has moments that are very sad, you wish wouldn't have occurred.  And you look back on them and you seek forgiveness for not having done everything you could have."

"So, I think in that sense, it may make me more normal than somebody who wanders around seeming perfect and maybe not understanding the human condition, and the challenges of life for normal people."(Click to read CBN interview).

I can't stop thinking about this interview.  Gingrich's insinuation that his own past mistakes make him easier to relate to for normal people is quite frankly offensive.

Mr. Gingrich, I am impressed that you have had the discipline to overcome some major mistakes in your life.  We are all entitled to that kind of change and I hope for your sake that you are what you say, "a changed man," but let's be perfectly clear, the "facts of your life" do not make you easy to relate to.

• Cheating on your first wife and leaving her with cancer does not make you normal.  
• Being married to your second wife of 18 years and then leaving her for your mistress does not make you conventional.  
• Being the first Speaker of the House in history to face ethics violations and be publicly reprimanded by Democratic and Republican colleagues with a $300,000 fine does not make you ordinary.  
• Being forced to resign from your Speakership does not make you typical.
• Calling your ex-wife a liar on national television for discussing your very public betrayal does not make you someone most can relate to.

***

I am baffled Mitt Romney is now being attacked for the moral compass by which he has led his life.

It is ridiculous to insinuate that somehow Mitt Romney has escaped the trials and hardships of life.  He like all of us, has had to face adversity.  Like all of us, he has had to decide how those moments of adversity will define him.


As a Young LDS Missionary

Mitt Romney had a very defining moment in his life as a young missionary for the LDS church in France.  At the age of 21, he was driving along the French countryside with a few missionaries, the mission president and his wife.  They were struck by another vehicle in a head-on collision.  It was a horrific accident.  The mission president's wife was killed instantly.  Mitt Romney was also terribly injured and was initially pronounced dead at the scene.  He was in a coma, but was able to make a full recovery.

This accident proved to be a defining moment for Mitt Romney.  The injured mission president returned to the United States to bury his wife and he decided to leave Romney in charge of the affairs of the mission.

Romney was given the task to tend to the administrative duties of the mission, as well address the needs of 200 emotionally weakened and scared mission colleagues.  By all accounts, he led with dignity and many were "struck by his resilience."

He did not give up.  He fulfilled his duties and helped the missionaries refocus their responsibilities to act as ambassadors for their faith.

In a 2007 interview with the New York Times, Romney said the experience changed him.  He credited his mission with "growing up quickly."  He went on to say that the experience defined his faith in Jesus Christ.  He said, "For me it became much deeper." (Click to read NYTimes Article)

Mitt Romney has since been a faithful and life-long member of his church.


His Wife Ann's Illness
In 1997, after experiencing severe numbness and fatigue, Ann Romney was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  In an 2007 Boston Globe interview, Mitt Romney described watching Ann fail a series of neurological tests as, "the worst day of my life."

Unsure what their future held, Romney stood by his wife and helped their five sons adjust to the new reality of life with a fragile and weakened mom.

Photo from mittromneycentral.com

In 2008, Ann was also diagnosed with breast cancer.  She had the pre-cancerous lump removed and underwent radiation therapy.  Mitt Romney stood by her and helped her regain her strength.

Mitt and Ann have been married for 43 years, they have raised 5 exemplary sons and are now proud grandparent to 16 grandchildren.

***

Defining moments.

It has long been said that, "Character is what defines you when no one is looking."  I couldn't agree more.  Character matters.  It is a predictor for how one will act under difficult circumstances.  It is an indicator if one will be guided by a moral compass.

One's character is defined by how one faces the adversities of life.

AP Photo

Mitt Romney is a man of good character.  He is a man of faith.  A man who loves his wife.  A man who loves his family.  A man who has committed his life to their well-being.  A man who is charitable.  A man who is an incredibly hard worker.  A man who is a solid leader.  A man who by all accounts is honest in his dealings--all his dealings.

Mitt Romney is a man of good, moral and honorable character.  America needs a leader with this type of character.  America will be a stronger nation with a leader like Mitt Romney.

Shame on those who are trying to portray him as "abnormal."  Shame on those who portray these qualities as a weakness.

George Washington once said, "I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man."  

A President's Plea for More Time

In last night's State of the Union address, one thing was abundantly clear--it is obviously an election year. President Obama, like presidents past, used the pulpit to deliver a message that sounded a lot like a campaign stump speech.  A message about what an Obama second term would look like.  A message about why he deserves more time.

Problem?  It was full of bold ideas that should have been implemented in the first two years when Obama had a Democratic controlled House and Senate.  Why didn't Obama take better advantage of that fully cooperative political environment?  Answer?  He was too focused on the wrong things.  More importantly, he didn't know how to govern.


From the beginning, Obama was fixated on the wrong things.  Fixated on fundamentally "changing" America.  Initially, he was fixated on healthcare reform.  By all accounts, healthcare reform should have been the easiest thing for a Democratic controlled House and Senate to pass.  It wasn't.  Countless meetings were held behind closed doors, yet Obama's message was not resonating--even with his friends.  Furthermore, the American people were sharply opposed to the legislation.  


The president did not listen and for 15 straight months, he continued to push this reform.


The bill was unpopular with Conservatives, Moderate Democrats as well as the American people--at passage, only 42% percent supported the initiative.  There was virtually no bi-partisan support--only one Republican senator voted in favor of the bill.  But, Obama continued to push.  Back door meetings and rumors of deals being struck in an effort to secure votes with moderate Democrats continued to dominate the headlines.

Despite huge opposition, Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi got the votes needed and in March 2010, the Affordable Care Act was passed.  A bill that proposes to spend $1.055 trillion to add 36 million Americans to the insurance rolls.


Even two years later, this legislation remains extremely controversial. 

***

While the president focused on healthcare reform, our economy was in crisis.  Millions of Americans were out of work, unemployment numbers were rising and millions were on the verge of losing their homes.  


It was and continues to be a desperate time, yet where is the leadership to help us turn it around?

Obama passed a $785 Billion dollar stimulus bill to artificially stimulate the economy.  It did not work.  Many analysts question if it actually made things worse.  $785 Billion dollars and we have nothing to show for it.  


Poor judgement.  Poor vision.  Poor leadership.


Although last night's State of the Union speech was full of bold proposals, most critics labeled it a campaign speech full of rhetoric rather than a true legislative agenda.  


The overall theme of his speech was "Fairness."  Arguing the need for greater government power to balance the scale between America's wealthy and poor.  He stressed the gap between “a shrinking number of people do really well while a growing number of Americans barely get by.” He reinforced his 2008 campaign themes of an America “where everyone gets a fair shot.”


This time around it was labeled as "fairness," but a closer look shows that "fairness" is just a different way of advocating what many argue is a socialist principal of the wealth distribution.  A "fundamental change" that most Americans still don't want.

*** 

Last night, Obama made a plea for a second term.  A plea for more time.  Did he make his case? 


His first three years in office brought us:
-  A spike of an astronomical figure of $4 Trillion dollars to our national debt
-  No end in sight for the housing crisis 
-  Stagnant employment
-  A drop in our country's credit rating--first time in history
-  An extremely divided nation.  


I guess healthcare reform will be his lasting legacy?  (Too bad that every one of his opponents have declared to repeal it on day one).


Can the American people trust him to revive our crippled economy? 


His record demonstrates that he is not capable of it.  Time is not what Obama needs.  Beautifully written and eloquent speeches have not helped us.  His programs have failed.  His initiatives have not worked.  What would be different in a second term?


America needs a different kind of leadership.  America deserves more.

***

America needs a leader that sees beyond the restrictive tunnel of a political party.  A leader that has an expert vision for achievable prosperity.  A leader that can inspire political rivals to unite and find common ground.  A leader that has a long history in successfully making weak things stronger.   Unlike our current President and the other Republican candidates, Mitt Romney has years of this kind of success.  And he has done it over and over.

Getty Images

Mitt Romney has the unique experience of governing a state, rescuing and overseeing the 2002 Olympics, and time and again, restoring broken companies and organizations.  Americans deserve a stronger, more prosperous nation.  We need Mitt's expertise to help us achieve it.

Calling A Spade A Spade

Last night, the four remaining Republican candidates appeared at the NBC Presidential debate.  A few things were very apparent right off the bat.  First of all, a different Mitt Romney showed up.  He was authentic, incredibly well-informed and direct.  Most significantly, he was aggressive without being combative or condescending.  It was very effective and at times, it left his opponent Gingrich grappling for the right response.

From very first answer of the night, it was clear that Mitt was on the offensive.

Romney said, "The speaker was given an opportunity to be the leader of our party in 1994.  And at the end of four years, he had to resign in disgrace."  He went on to say, "Don't forget at the end of the speaker's term as speaker, his approval rating was down to 18 percent.  We (The Republican Party) suffered historic losses after his four years in office."

Gingrich's response? "I am not going to spend the evening trying to chase Governor Romney's misinformation."

Misinformation?  Really? Was Gingrich the Speaker of the House for four years? Yes.  Was he forced to resign? Yes.  Upon leaving was his approval rating down to 18%? Yes.  Did the Republican Party suffer historic losses after his four years? Yes.

Misinformation?  Maybe Gingrich meant to say, "I am not going to spend the evening trying to chase Governor Romney's uncomfortable information."

***

The most interesting exchange between Gingrich and Romney took place in regards to Gingrich's involvement with the years he worked for the mortgage giant, Freddie Mac.

Gingrich has long defended his role arguing that he acted as a "historian," offering only strategic advice to Freddie Mac.  In previous debates, Gingrich claimed that he was paid around $300,000 for his time.

Yesterday, in response to pressure from the Romney camp, Gingrich released his contract with Freddie Mac.

From the contract, a few things are now clear.

1) Gingrich was paid $25,000 a month for 6 years equalling $1.6 million dollars.
2) The contract also identified Gingrich as a consultant, not a historian.
3) Gingrich was not hired by the CEO of Freddie Mac, he was hired by their chief lobbyist.

Romney called Gingrich on all of this and clarified that you don't get paid that kind of money to be a historian.  It's called lobbying.

Last night, Romney pressed further and said, "If you're getting paid by health companies...and you then meet with Republican congressmen and encourage them to support that legislation, you can call it whatever you'd like.  I call it influence-peddling.  It is not right.  It is not right.  You have a conflict."

Powerful words--a spade is a spade.

***

Aside from Romney's more aggressive style, one other factor was remarkably different in last night's debate--the audience was surprisingly quiet.  No cheers, no clapping, no booing and it goes without saying, no standing ovations.

The audience was asked by NBC News to hold their applause until commercial breaks.   They did.  A stark contrast to South Carolina.  It was strange.

Gingrich hated it and many have commented that Gingrich was off his game.  The National Journal, co-host of the debate compared Gingrich to "a stand-up comedian whose routine suffers without echoes of laughter egging him on."

The Gingrich team clearly acknowledged his poor performance and today in response, told Fox & Friends that he threatens to skip future debates if his supporters have to be silenced.  Arguing that silencing supporters "stifles" free speech.  (Click to read NYTimes article).

Hmmm.

Hearing this can only make one wonder, was the energetic supportive audience in South Carolina authentic?  Were his supporters coached and encouraged to applaud at just the right time?  Could it all have been staged?

Let's be honest, would the standing ovation zingers that Gingrich delivered last week have been as effective if the audience had been quiet?  Probably not.

Perhaps this is why the Presidential Debate Commission rules specifically say that audience applause and crowd reaction is strictly prohibited.

Debates matter.  It was a great night for Romney and a poor night for Gingrich.  It is impossible to tell how it will affect either candidate, but one has to ask, does last night's poor performance test the theory that Gingrich's stellar debate performances guarantee him an easy win over Barrack Obama?  Too early to tell.

In politics, it can all change in a day....

When Silence Speaks A Thousand Words

Now that the political dust storm of South Carolina has settled, political analysts everywhere are scratching their heads trying to figure out what just happened on Saturday.  Newt Gingrich won by double digits in what is arguably the most conservative state in the country.

How did Gingrich convince the voters to overlook the years of political and moral baggage that he brings with him?  More importantly, will it work beyond the borders of South Carolina?

As Gingrich has basked in the glory of a very unexpected resurgence of his campaign, it has been interesting that the bulk of the people singing his praises have been the Democrats.  James Carville, Paul Begala and David Axelrod have openly praised Gingrich on his win.

And Republican support and praise for Newt's win?  It has been eerily quiet.  Where are all the legislators who served with Gingrich?  If he was the effective leader he claimed to be, shouldn't there be dozens of his colleagues applauding this major step to the White House?

Truth is, only a handful of Gingrich's former House colleagues have endorsed him.  A total of 12 sitting Republican lawmakers have endorsed Newt.  It should be mentioned that Mitt Romney has 64.

In fact, conservatives in Washington DC are beginning to voice serious concern and angst about a Gingrich Nomination.  Sitting legislators and former House colleagues are coming out in opposition to the idea of Newt representing the party.

Today CNN interviewed several of these legislators but under strict anonymity for fear of what they referred to as, "A Gingrich Backlash."

One legislator said,  "If he's (Gingrich) the nominee, it's a disaster.  There is no way to sugar coat it."

Another colleague who has endorsed Mitt said, "There is a reason that most people who know him aren't supporting him."  When asked why he endorsed Romney despite the fact that he had served with Gingrich for so long, his response was astounding.  He said, "It is because I served with Gingrich for so long." (click to read full CNN article).

Opposition and silence from the many who served with Gingrich.

This silence speaks volumes about Gingrich's leadership.

***

It is one thing to be an effective "legislator" and another thing to know how to effectively "govern."  The only time that Gingrich has governed anything was during his tenure as Speaker.  It goes without saying that this attempt to govern ended in disaster when he was forced to resign in disgrace.

In 2008, America also placed a bet on a presidential candidate who like Gingrich, had never governed anything or anyone.  Despite Obama's lack of experience in governing or managing anything, the country voted for him.  And it was obvious from the start that he was in over his head when for the first two years, he could not even rally the Democratic controlled House and Senate to pass any of his initiatives.

Can America risk another bet on someone with the wrong experience?

To legislate is one thing...to effectively govern is another.

Mitt has been effective at both.  He has managed failing systems and restored them to become successful and prosperous. Despite an 85% Democratic controlled legislature in Massachusetts, he led from both sides of the aisle and successfully brought bi-partisan reforms to the state.  He balanced the budget and turned a $3 billion dollar budget shortfall into a surplus and he did it without raising a single tax.

This is the leadership that America needs and deserves.  We need Mitt's skill-set to help us emerge out of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression.

America needs Mitt.

Best and Worst of Times

The South Carolina primary is over and Newt Gingrich is the winner--by an overwhelming majority.  Gingrich lost horribly in Iowa and New Hampshire, but somehow in just over 2 weeks, Gingrich surged and became the dominant winner of the coveted South Carolina prize.

How did things change?  Why did conservative Evangelicals rally behind the candidate with the most questionable moral compass?  Why did they rally behind one of the most polarizing political figures of our time?

Photo from ABCnews.com

Three things are clear:

1) The Pro-Gingrich Super PAC hit a home run with their 27 minute documentary depicting Bain Capital and ultimately Mitt Romney, of destroying companies and eradicating American jobs.   

Despite the fact that many have pointed out inaccuracies and falsities in the ad, it was just enough to crack the foundation in Romney's character.  Despite countless conservatives arguing that Gingrich's "Armageddon-like" attack on Romney's private sector record is an attack on capitalism itself, an attack straight from the left, it was just enough to cause credibility issues and harm Romney.  

CNN Photo

2) Debates work.  Gingrich is a debating genius.  It is still hard to believe that Newt skillfully shifted attention away from the scandal surrounding accusations made by his ex-wife where she claimed that after 18-years of marriage, Newt tried to save his marriage and his adulterous affair by proposing an "open marriage." Gingrich turned the tables on CNN's debate moderator, John King and cleverly began lecturing King on using good judgment.  Then he decisively attacked the liberal media and accused them of protecting Obama.

It was like watching an Olympic gymnast nail a tricky landing.  It was a perfect ten.  South Carolina was eating out of the palm of his hand and somehow chose to overlook the fact that he had dodged a legitimate question about his morality and furthermore, he had just called his ex-wife a "liar."

3) A candidate should realize that when they are on the defensive, the damage is much worse than it appears. 

From attacks on Mitt Romney's financial success to attacks on his integrity by challenging the release of his tax returns, Mitt Romney was being "Swift Boated" and he didn't do enough to get back on the offense.  His defense wasn't working.  His defense was ineffective.   Romney's disciplined and scripted answers to these attacks seemed elusive and it left many questioning his authenticity.

The "Armageddon" worked and it cost Romney an election.  

It goes without saying that if your opponents are no longer defending themselves, defending their record or defending their candidacy, then you are losing your ground, you will lose the election.

***

It was a tough week for Romney--slipping polls, attacks from all sides, a revoked win in Iowa and a painful loss on Saturday.  At times it seemed like it might be too much to bear.  Many questioned if Romney could recover.  Many wondered if his support would dwindle.

But Romney's concession speech on Saturday night changed everything.

Photo from business insider.com

A passionate Mitt Romney emerged on that stage.  He reminded his supporters of the need to fight for a better America.  He rallied his supporters to remember their cause.  He reminded his supporters to keep fighting.   He ignited a fervor that has long been silenced by a barrage of negative attacks.

America's economy will require the greatest turnaround history has ever known.  It will require the experience of a leader who has done it--someone who will not need on-the-job training.  It will require more than the ability to balance a budget.  It will require the leadership of someone who has governed.  It will require the vision and discipline of a leader with a strong moral compass who is grounded in their principles.   It will require boldness, yet a gentle authority.  It will require someone who can effectively rally opponents to find compromise and middle ground.

Turning this economy around requires someone like Mitt Romney.

Last night, Mitt Romney reminded America that he is that candidate.  He went on the offensive and became more effective.
 
I am more convinced than ever.  America needs Mitt!

A Little More Offense...Please?

Last night proved to be another powerful and spirited debate.

During the debate, Romney continued to get pressure to release his tax returns--a practice though not mentioned in the constitution has a long history in our presidential election process.

When asked directly, Romney said that he will release them this coming April once his 2011 tax returns are filed.  CNN moderator John King pressed him further by reading a 1967 quote from then presidential candidate George Romney. He said, "Back in 1967, your father set a groundbreaking standard in American politics.  He realeased his tax return.  He released them for not one year, but for 12 years.  And when he did that, he said this: "One year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show."  King concluded by posing the question, "When you release yours, will you follow your father's example?"

To which Romney responded, "Maybe."

Missed opportunity.

This was the perfect opportunity for Mitt Romney to lay to rest some controversy that has been brewing for days.  Romney needed to be more aggressive in taking this issue head on.  Romney needed to go on the offensive, but he didn't and it is starting to hurt him.  Many are questioning his vague responses.  Many believe his ambiguity is now helping his opponents.  

***

In many previous presidential elections, candidates have been successful at exploiting the strengths of their opponents and turning them into weaknesses.  A lot has been written about this is recent days.  George W. Bush effectively weakened John Kerry's biggest strength which was his military experience by questioning Kerry's authenticity.  The Swift Boat ads were the final straw which ended Kerry's presidential hopes.  Kerry's military experience was no longer a strength.

Bill Clinton also effectively weakened Bob Dole's biggest strength--a long and impressive political career in Washington DC, including many prestigious leadership positions.  Clinton effectively weakened this strength by questioning whether or not that very lengthy experience actually made Dole "old fashioned" and "out-of-touch."   In both elections, it worked. 

Mitt Romney is now standing at a very critical point in his bid for the White House.  His greatest strengths--which are leadership, governing, financial success and a deep belief in a free enterprise are now being mocked.  His strengths are becoming a weakness.  Romney needs to go on the offensive. 

CNN ran an article today about this very issue.  Click here to read the article.

I believe that Mitt Romney should proudly release his tax returns and remind America that his successes are because he is a product of the "American Dream."  His financial successes are because of free enterprise and limited government regulations on the private sector.  He should remind America that he is truly self-made.  He did not inherit money from his parents.  Romney needs to remind America that education, hard work, perseverance and determination, in the right economic climate, can and will pay off...for anyone.

Quite frankly, I believe that he should be bragging about his 15% tax rate.   Not because he is wealthy and privilege and has therefore figured out a way to benefit from a lower tax bracket, but because his tax percentage demonstrates the core of conservative values, which is that lower taxes benefit the economy; lowering taxes leads to job creation and American prosperity.   

Mitt Romney needs to remind America of his inspiring message and vision for our country.  A message which advocates that lower taxes work; that lower taxes provide real incentives for the wealthy to reinvest in America.  A message that advocates that free enterprise works.  And most importantly, Romney needs to remind America that limited government makes for a better and stronger America.  His message needs to be that lowering taxes for all Americans will stimulate our economy and ultimately create a healthy environment for prosperity and job creation.

Romney needs to go on the offensive and make his rivals look like fools for questioning his success.

***   

I wish that he had put this to rest last night.  I wish that he was doing more to ensure that his rivals aren't "swift boating" his greatest strengths.

Mitt Romney's experience is real and will be invaluable in restoring our economy.  America will be better with a leader who has a long history of making weak things stronger.  America will be better with Romney's  vision for our country.

America needs Mitt Romney.

Something I Wish I Had Seen in Last Night's Debate

Gingrich received a standing ovation for his direct and combative response to CNN's John King's opening question regarding an ABC News interview with Gingrich's ex-wife--Marianne--where she alleged that Gingrich proposed an "open marriage" rather than end his 18-year marriage in divorce.

It was the first question of the night and Gingrich fired back with a scathing attack on King for opening a presidential debate with a question based on a scandalous interview.  He said, "To take an ex-wife and make it two days before the primary a significant question in a presidential campaign is as close to despicable as anything I can imagine."

He went on say that he was sick of the media asking offensive questions to Republicans in an effort to protect Barack Obama's Presidency.

Fair question?  Debatable.

Gingrich's fiery response has earned him praise and plenty of media attention, but I say, not so fast.

AP Photo

The fact of the matter remains that for the President of the United States, character matters. Integrity matters.  Does that imply that an individual must be perfect in order to attain the highest office of the land?  Of course not.  We have all made mistakes and are entitled to change and start over.

But what I found so interesting about last night's heated exchange is that although Gingrich dodged an embarrassing question and was able to skillfully turn the tables and lecture John King on using "good judgment," he didn't address the issue.  An issue that would help define his character.  He adamantly denied his ex-wife's charges, but in doing so, he is insinuating that she is a liar.

Has he denied the affair with his now wife, Callista?  No.  Is it hard to imagine an extremely powerful political figure--then Speaker of the House--making this kind of suggestion to his wife in order to avoid the outbreak of a scandalous and damaging news story?  Of course it isn't.

So, as a wife and a young mom, I needed Gingrich to acknowledge the human side of this scandal which is that a wife was publicly betrayed by her spouse and she is still hurting.  He should have apologized to her.

Furthermore, I wanted an apology for the stance he took on President Clinton's infidelity while in the White House (although it goes without saying that I am not defending the scandal itself).   Gingrich was one of the loudest voices calling for defense of morality, family values and standards from our elected officials and yet, during the scandal, he was secretly involved in his own destructive behaviour.  Hypocrisy at the highest level.

Last night, his ex-wife needed an apology.  Last night, America deserved more.

That kind of response to John King's controversial question would have spoken volumes about his true character--much more so than turning the tables on a moderator.