Sen. Mitt Romney’s (R-Utah) Washington Post op-ed this week was presumably intended to be a declaration of moral superiority and political leadership. If this was the goal, Romney’s commentary fell flat. The piece was, however, an effective case study in why Trump won in the first place.
The op-ed offers no concrete examples of which of Trump’s values and policies Romney finds objectionable, instead relying on vagueness and the favorite fallback of the never-Trump crowd: “he’s just offensive”. The term “bad character” is repeatedly used, but never explained. What about President Trump’s character does Romney find so unsuitable? And going beyond the president’s character, why is Romney willfully ignoring all the good Trump has done for the country over his own personal differences with the man?
Romney is not new to the game of politics – he knows he has a chance to help the Republican Party and make a very real impact on our country’s future. Which makes it all the more baffling why he’d attack the president before even being sworn into the Senate.
But in his attacks on the president, Romney inadvertently exposed all of his own weaknesses. An establishment Republican through and through, Sen. Romney is just one of the many swamp-dwellers Trump has readily unmasked and humiliated in his less than two years in office.
Although framed as an attack on the president (“Trump’s character falls short,” the headline reads), the op-ed reads more like Romney giving himself a pat on the back. Highly self-congratulatory, Sen. Romney praises himself for his differences with Trump, all while ignoring the biggest difference: unlike the former Massachusetts governor, Trump actually won his bid for president.
This is common among President Trump’s critics—most show more interest in attacking his perceived weaknesses than they do in accepting their own. Romney has to focus on the differences between himself and Trump, because if he focused on their similarities he’d have to come to terms with his numerous failures. Like Trump, Romney was a businessman and a prominent figure in the American public sphere throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Both had established reputations as competitive, business-minded men and both were portrayed by liberals as ruthless, transactional figures. But of the two men, only one has achieved real results for America.
By criticizing Trump and focusing on their perceived differences, Romney avoids accepting that Donald J. Trump did what he could never do. As the president himself put it in a tweet responding to the op-ed, “I won big and he didn’t.”
Rather than wasting his time trying to build the never-Trump Republican faction in Congress or become some sort of #Resistance icon, Sen. Mitt Romney should spend his time focusing on policy objectives, specifically on issues like border security.
Picking a fight with his own party’s president exposed Mitt Romney’s political weakness and lack of foresight more than anything else. While the mainstream media has already lionized the Utah senator for his commentary, portraying it as heroic and virtuous, it’s important that the rest of America recognizes Romney’s flaccid op-ed for what it really is: the gripes of a sore loser.
Romney was just jealous
Great Article!
Romney …. a coward, loser, RINO and useful idiot for the DEMOCRATS who thinks he is morally superior just like his buddy McCain.
In fact, he is nothing more than a lawn jockey for the Left masquerading as a Conservative Republican.
I thought the voters in Utah had more intelligence than to vote for a back stabbing Democrat in Republican clothing like Romney. Remember, his healthcare program when he was governor of Massachusetts, was the model for Obamacare.
Romney= envious spiteful hateful RINO….the new McCain?
Great article you are on the money. Whether Dem or Repub—the status quo crowd hate Trump. Trump is the best thing that has happened to this country since Ronald Reagan. The Deep State is not the American Taxpayers friend.
Tremendous article on Romney’s jealousy of President Trump
He is full of greed and power we should feel lucky he wasn’t nominated president.
Once a loser always a loser
I wish there was some way for me to get my donations to Romney’s bid for president back. What a loser. I had no choice but to vote for him in 2012 because of the alternative, but I certainly wouldn’t do it again if the opportunity ever presented itself. Is he not paying attention? What a fool.
Mitt Romney wears an (R) behind his name, is labeled as a RINO, but make no mistake about his true alliance – a Globalist who would just as soon see our country governed by the same kind of system Europe is suffering under where national sovereignty is only a mask covering an un-elected oligarchy. You don’t hear the term “North American Union” mentioned anywhere anymore, but the agenda is alive and moving slowly ahead, even in the new “trade” agreement with Canada and Mexico. The “Common Market” trade agreement was the cornerstone of the founding of the European Union. Regional “Unions” are the next step to a totally global government in which you can bet the bank would not contain a Bill of Rights. Global organizations like the Fabian Society and other Progressive movements have been patiently working for more than a century to transform the world into the image they desire. Today, the movement has more money and power than ever in history behind it. America is the biggest roadblock to their goal and the all out assault on that roadblock is underway as never before.
Luke 18:11-12 (KJV)
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Now we conservatives finally get a man (Romney take note, I said Man)! and you can’t handle it!
Our President is finally Presidential and leaving you lossers in the dust! Panty waiste’s!
There needs to be a website initiated by the republican party that tactfully and truthfully informs all citizens of the facts on a daily basis. It should show videos from present to past to show people of the hypocrisy of the left and Democratic party. They should get the guy behind the scenes that was the IT guru that HELP trump WIN the presidency. This way everyone would know the truth about the real issues of the country.
The rest of the United States is still asking themselves, how UTAH feels realizing they have become the absolute winners for the title of “THE DUMBEST VOTER BLOCK ” in America !. Not only did they elect an idiot by the new name of “Flake” Romney as their Senator, they also sent a brain dead Democrat to the Senate at the same time. UTAH likes to elude that they are Conservative, But, now have become the most Liberal State we have. They had to stretch out and break the Law to allow “FLAKE” Romney to run in the first place, because he didn’t meet the requirements for Residency. My O My, what the Hell has become of UTAH ?
All comments thus far are anti-Romney and all are on the money. If Romney is the future of the Republican Party, then the party has no future. He is a RINO, another McCain, and were he president rather than President Trump, all the good things accomplished by Trump would not have happened. We don’t have border funding for the border wall precisely because too many Republicans like Romney are already in government. We sure don’t need another.
Romney is proving to be an embarrassment to Utah and he just took office. It sure didn’t take long to show his love for himself as he has proven over and over. Utah voters put themselves in the difficult position here by not wanting to vote for a liberal fake, so having no real choice he gets in. Here is an interesting question, is the congress getting paid during this shutdown? No DNC’ommunist members of the Left should get paid, even back pay!
Utah will have to endure this milk toast Rino until they experience the Awakening. Then his candy ass will be gone if he chooses to stay on his anti Trump course ……
Mitt Romney comes across as a “good guy” when you hear him in an open discussion such as a question & answer time after he gives a speech. I attended one several years ago (about10+) when he was on the western shore of Maryland. I left that meeting feeling positively about him.
The fact that Trump followed through with moving our embassy to Jerusalem (although 3 or 4 previous administrations did not even though approval had been given back in the mid 90,s) validate that Trump is his own man!!
Our President is obviously out-spoken which the news media holds against him but his actions totally out weigh any of those discrepancies.
I am thankful for who currently occupies the White House and any thinking person should be; unless you have the mind-set of an Eastern European Billionaire.
Frank Prettyman; former Caroline County Commissioner
Mr Romney, who I supported in 2012, exhibited an exceptional lack of character with his slam on the President. He gave indications over the past few years, but with this he definitely pulled the curtain back exposing himself as just another Swamp Rat. He has made me ashamed I supported him previously.
First, Mr. Zail, excellent article. You put into writing what the majority of Conservative Republicans were/are thinking about Romney. When Mitt Romney ran against Obama for the presidentery, I fully support Romney and his platform. I thought him an honorable man, a fair man, an honest man,a smart man, a man with a conviction to undue damages caused by the Obama administration. But Mitt, a very negative “something” changed you from that person you use to be. Your attacks on President Trump are being lauded by the main stream media and those few RINOs. However, your making those comments about my President are not acceptable and will come back to haunt you!! It is strongly suggested that (1) you apologize to President Trump, (2) to apologize to all Conservatives, (3) you get on board with our agenda, (4) or move to the other side of the isle. At least on the blue side, we know how you are going to govern. Congratulations, you are now a member of the FLAKE, CORKER, ROMNEY CLUB!!!
Thank God for President Trump.
He didn’t surprise anyone except maybe the Utah citizens who voted for him. I have no sympathy for them and hope the state suffers for it. Just hope he doesn’t damage the rest of the country.
Romney is just the first “Republican” (He is actually a R.I.N.O.) to begin his run against Trump for 2020. Fat chance! He went carpetbagger to get elected in Utah where his Mormon affiliation got him by in a state he’s never lived in before. He couldn’t get elected dogcatcher anywhere else. LOSER!!!!
Great response to a sore losers attitude ! Get a grip Rommney!@@@
Romney is the Republican’s Hillary; can’t come to terms that they lost their respective elections. Start taking ownership for your weaknesses, Hillary and Mitt. That is the only way healing and positive growth begin.
Mr Romney is not well attached to the TRUTH on any subject.
Romney is just being Romney. He has always been a self-centered RINO, who has looked out for ways to further his political career at the expense of anyone standing in the way. He is no more Republican than McCain was. Both were far more comfortable railing against constitutionally conservative principles than supporting them. In actuality, he has always been a Democrat at heart. Just look at his one term record as Governor of Massachusetts. Romney only ran for Senator from Utah, because he needed a taxpayer-funded platform that allowed him to get instant TV coverage, which being a senator does, from which he could position himself over the next two years as “the Republican alternative to Donald Trump in 2020.” Romney, like Kasich, Rubio and a few other Never Trumpers, all long for the days of “losing with dignity”. Honestly, the people of Utah should be petitioning the Governor of Utah to remove Romney from Congress asap and replace him with someone who actually wants this country to be successful again.
The Mitt , just an extension of ” the Flake ” lol .
Absolutely, on spot. Very good article, and reading comments on websites, we 63 million who elected Donald Trump picked the winner. Just as Democrats now want to remove Electoral Congress, per Representative from Tennessee. He is not current in why that is the chosen and always has been the means to elect President. Constitution had House (Representatives) being elected for 4 years, and being closest to the people. But smart, experts, lawyers changed that system, and made Senate and President direct vote by the people, and now with large funds spent, the office is bought by rich people. Holding the people as serfs, slaves, by controlling the economy and jobs.
———-Constitution originally called for Representatives to choose (chuse as spelling was then), from among them and then vote. Top vote getter, became a Senator, and they were staggered by classes. Senators then would do same from among themselves, and top votes names, would be sent to all states, then members of USA. Each state only got one vote, and that was cast by the State Legislature and Governor. Top vote was President, and 2nd best was Vice President. And they both, could not be from same state.
——-That was to ensure, only well qualified, experienced, and mature candidates would rise to be Senators, and then President or Vice President. Would have prevented some of the changes in our administrations, experienced after system was changed. Was not best way to choose Leaders, when all positions are elected by direct vote. That is Democracy, and leads to fights and war within the government.
As a conservative from Utah, I am so so sorry to have elected such a liberal as Romney. Luckily, he has already said this is his only term but we all know what power does to one’s character so who knows. Pray for Trump and America.
Mitt Romney can serve an admirable function if he supports conservative causes including President Trump’s agenda. Or he can be another Jeff Flake/Bob Corker RINO socialist flamethrower. It appears that he is solidly on the latter path, and if he continues, he can kiss goodbye to whatever higher aspirations he may have in government “service.”
Mitt Romney is just another swamp dweller trying to get back to Washington where he can belly up to the trough.
I hate to admit it, but I voted for Romney against the faker candidate, Obama. He ruined that more than 2 1/2 years ago when he started trashing DJ Trump. He gets creepier by the day! Senator Romney needs to go back to thinking for himself. As of now, he is only parroting the phony story-telling media & leftist Libs.
Cal
I would expect a Republican from Massachusetts to be like Romne. Anything slightly right of center qualifies for Republican status in a state that is so far left. I still believe the dumbest block of voters to be California. After all where can you get a group as disgusting as Nancy Palosi, Diane Feinstein, Camilla Harris most of all Maxine Waters, but the list of fools never ends.
Appalling waste of op-ed space in the Washington Post. Romney is an idiot, and showed himself for exactly what he is. Thank God he was NOT elected President. Although we had to put up with Obama, at least we knew what we had in Obama.
Sounds just like Hillary!
What a complete Ass.
So disappointed in Romney.
His tirade against President Trump just shows him to be a small and vindictive person.
I believe that Mr. Romney shows no change in his demeanor as a loser when he ran against the “Pretender President” Obama and his present day stances. He is indeed a loser and I doubt that he will do nothing to enhance our President’s successes! Instead, he has come out full force to show his weakness as a fighter for the Conservative values which President Trump has done time after time after time. Stay the course Mr. President, your citizen family stands proudly with you. History will record that America was brought back from the depths of ruination by Donald J. Trump!!!
We just got rid of Flake and McCain, now we pick up another RINO that’s only in it for his needs.
This puts Romney in the same category as Paul Ryan, Little Marco and the Chinless Wonder…sore losers and not able to see what’s good for the American people over their own childish disappointments. To be fair, Little Marco has come back from the ledge a little, but the likes of these delicate flowers makes me sick. They all need to put on their big boy pants and get to work for the nation.
Mitt Romney has become the sad face of an abusive politician. I paid into his campaign in 2012 and he messed up severely. He in a debate with Obama ignored the simple question, “Where were you when Steven’s was getting killed?” He left Obama off the hook and never did a good job in his campaign. I attended his meetings here in Florida. I put skin in the game and raised money for Mitt Romney.
Trying to act superior be criticizing our president who fights for us against huge odds and wins in most cases is an act of severe stupidity, in my opinion.
Politicians like to collect big pay checks for long periods of time even when they accomplish nothing for us, the tax payer voters who have to pay their salary. Here in Florida we just got rid of that kind of do nothing leach of a politician, Bill Nelson. Let’s hope and pray that Mitt Romney will somehow learn to serve his Country before the masters the art of bragging.
Let’s be real here—ROMNEY is an intelligent squeaky clean nice guy. You’d never find the dirt that President Trump has in his past in ROMNEY ‘s life period. BUT with that said maybe he’s too nice?? Too gentlemanly for the crooked DC vultures?? If the DC vultures can’t handle Trumps “honesty” think how they’d react to Mitts? Or maybe we as a society wouldn’t be able to react well to someone who is so squeaky clean?! Maybe we can’t imagin such an uncivil society be led by someone with such civility?? I hope not — but either way you can’t blame poor Mitt who is squeaky clean in noticing how Trump isn’t such a comparable twin politician, after all Mitt aligns himself with such companionships — Mitts world is full of integrity so any contrast would stand out.
So who knows maybe our society and DC are not ready for such a man with civility to lead—and perhaps rightly so we are content with a scrapper and fighter who will make things happen. I don’t know.
But is was the civility of England that couldn’t understand the uncivil revolutionists— and that’s how we won the war. Maybe Romney and Trump could learn a few things from each other?
Shame on Romney and his pettiness. As far as I’m concerned, Romney just sealed his fate as not only being a carpetbagger, but an all time LOSER!!! His career is done and over!
Romney is a looser and is not fit to shine President Trump’s shoes
Does he remember how when our Marine accidentally ended up in Mexico and tried to turn around but was arrested and held for months. (Tamaruci-spelling?) It was Donald Trump who paid the money and got him out. He is always doing good for others, often behind the scenes. Look at all the good things President Trump has done in the 2 short years he’s been the President. Not even taking a salary, being a nonstop worker, etc. And now he wants to protect Americans from illegals. BUILD THE WALL !
I will not renew my amac membership after this article demeaning Mr. Romney. President Trump has a bad habit of going after the very people who could have made his presidency even better. {resident Trump has done some very good things, but he continues to lose good people, How Many cabinet positions have turned over? I will answer way too many. They all cant be bad, He always demeans them when they leave. Terrible habit. He needs to pull up his big boy pants and do the job, He brings the presidency to a new low.
its clear Romney is testing the waters on whether to primary Trump in 2020. The public’s reaction to this op-ed needs to make it crystal clear to Romney that he shouldn’t even think about running against Trump in 2020. Once he gets that message, *maybe* he could make a decent Senator — at least better than he would be if he felt he had to oppose Trump at every turn to support his bid in 2020.