The time for making a decision is rapidly approaching. Thanks to Florida moving the nomination process forward, Republicans must soon choose a candidate to oppose Barack Obama. Most of the faithful believe that it is crucial to take back the presidency, but a majority remains undecided about who can best achieve this.
I have recently come to the conclusion that Mitt Romney is the one. While many party regulars are uncertain if he is conservative enough to undo the damage that Obama and his henchmen have wrought, I now believe he is. But let me explain.
First there is the business of winning the general election. This is no small matter. Many in the current crop of contenders do not measure up to the task. They either lack the experience, the knowledge, or the temperament to get the job done.
The best place to start my analysis is with Mitt. By most accounts he has been the more consistent debater. Many, however, dismiss him as too bland, but I count this as an advantage. This is because another way to describe his style is as “cool.” He does not lose his balance or become overly emotional.
Some see this as a lack of commitment, whereas I believe it is the perfect antidote to Obama. Our current president is himself cool and unflappable. Whatever the challenge, he keeps his head and offers what sounds like a rational rebuttal. Even when he makes foolish comments, he does so in a manner that seems well considered.
Romney, however, can match him cool for cool. Both are self-possessed and clearly intelligent. As a result, it is unlikely that Romney can be made to appear a hothead relative to Obama. He too possesses an imperturbable disposition that is suited to the demanding decisions required of an occupant of the oval office.
But consider some of the other candidates. Perry gets tongue-tied when confronted with serious competition. He then resorts to emotional appeals to his presumably greater compassion, which makes him appear “hot.” Unfortunately hot on cool feels out-of-control. So score this one for Obama.
Next there is Michelle Bachmann. If Perry is hot, she is ablaze with fiery indignation. So passionate is she that she routinely rushes to the head of the parade without considering the implication of what she is saying. So once again Obama wins by coolly pointing out her errors.
Then there is Newt Gingrich. By almost every account, Newt matches Romney and Obama in brainpower. A man filled with good ideas, he also promotes many clinkers because, as has frequently been observed, he cannot seem to keep from verbalizing his every thought. Besides Newt has a mean streak that makes Obama look like choirboy. Here too the incumbent has the advantage.
As to Rick Santorum, he too gets carried away with himself. By his own admission, he is probably the most ardent conservative in the pack. Yet too often he also appears to be the least mature. Once he gets an argument between his teeth, he is like an adolescent at a bull session. Obama, in contrast, is the composed professor.
Finally, there is Herman Cain. Like many others, I love Herman Cain. He too is a cool adult. Moreover, he is probably the most honest of the candidates. Unlike ordinary politicians, he admits when he does not know something, and then goes out to learn it—as he did when he went to Israel to investigate the so-called “right of return.”
But Cain is politically inexperienced. In many ways he is a conservative reflection of what Obama was before he came to office. He is a jewel whose abilities must not be wasted, but if Chris Christie is unprepared for the presidency, he is less so. Consequently, I say: Cain for Secretary of Commerce.
Which brings us back to Romney. He is a specialist in turning around organizational failures—as is Cain—and is therefore well suited to a time of economic crisis. He may not be as conservative as some might hope, but if he wins election his coattails will probably bring in a very conservative congress. Like it or not, this will contain some of his more liberal impulses.
So let us swallow hard and nominate a candidate that Obama cannot possibly attack for having enacted RomneyCare.
Melvyn L. Fein. Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
Kennesaw State University
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