A Long Time Til November (2008)

Originally published as a Facebook note on February 11, 2008, which seems from this vantage point to have been a far more innocent age.

As the two parties close in on their presidential nominees, we Americans are about to embark on another edition of the world's longest general election campaign. In the past these have featured some invigorating policy debates, along with explorations of the candidates' qualities that have unfortunately been laden with innuendo and nastiness.

Will 2008 take things to a new low? Departing Republican candidate (and former Massachusetts governor) Mitt Romney gave an indication in his concession speech: "...Barack and Hillary have made their intentions clear regarding Iraq and the war on terror. They would retreat and declare defeat. And the consequence of that would be devastating. It would mean attacks on America, launched from safe havens that make Afghanistan under the Taliban look like child's play. About this, I have no doubt.... If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror."

So there you go. Democrats would "declare defeat" and "surrender to terror." I think Governor Romney went way over the line in these remarks. But is he unique? In her speech on Super Tuesday, Hillary Clinton had some pointed remarks about President Bush and the Republican candidates. "After seven years of a President who listens only to the special interests, you're ready for a President who brings your voice, your values, and your dreams to your White House....Well, the Republicans want eight more years of the same. They see tax cuts for the wealthy--and they say, why not some more? They see nine trillion dollars in debt--and say, why not trillions more? They see five years in Iraq--and they say, why not a hundred more?"

I think Romney's comments go beyond the usual political mudfight, because they accuse both Democratic candidates of what amounts to disloyalty to the nation. I don't find Clinton's remarks particularly edifying, but they seem to me to stay within a boundary of decency.

Are Romney's remarks indeed extra-muddy? If so, do they indicate a new, more disgusting level of political rhetoric? Or is it just Mitt being Mitt, one of the most unpleasant people to run for the presidency in my memory (apparently a bipartisan sentiment)? I hope that's all it is.