Joe Klein: Romney Gave 'One of the Most Impressive, Impeccable Debate Performances I’ve Ever Seen'
This weekend's syndicated Chris Matthews Show spent the entire first segment talking about how America wants more centrist politicians looking to compromise with their political rivals.
The host and his guests believe the Republican presidential candidate that best exemplifies this moderate stance is Mitt Romney, with Time's Joe Klein actually saying he gave on Tuesday "one of the most impressive, impeccable debate performances I’ve ever seen" - but the panel still thinks Romney's got a very serious Mormon problem (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: As a bottom line, we asked the Matthews Meter, twelve of our regulars including Katty and Joe, is Mitt Romney now in a position where he can stick to his views we’ve described him, center-right, and not bend to the far-right? Seven say no, Romney can't ignore the right. He has got to bend. But you two, Joe and Katty, you voted he could stick to that sort of middle he’s carved out there, that position.
KATTY KAY, BBC: Last weekend, Chris, we talked about Rick Perry and whether he could surge again in the polls. And we all agreed that it depended on him turning in a good debate performance. He didn't do that this week, which puts Romney increasingly in the position of being the frontrunner. Well, if he is already in that position, the onus on him to shift to the right and then have to do the double step back again to the middle is less at the moment.
MATTHEWS: Then why is he only at 23 percent, Joe? He can't get above the 23 percent in the Republican primary polling.
JOE KLEIN, TIME MAGAZINE: Well, I think that there is great doubt about his health care plan and there is great doubt about the fact that he’s a Mormon. But, you know, it's interesting that all of the headlines from the debate this past week was Herman Cain and 999. Mitt Romney gave, I thought, one of the most impressive, impeccable debate performances I’ve ever seen by a candidate. I mean, that should have been the headline. This guy has actually gotten pretty good at this.
MATTHEWS: I agree with you.
Romney did extremely well Tuesday, but was it one of the most impressive, impeccable debate performances you've ever seen? Isn't that a bit of a stretch?
Notice, too, the almost unanimous, enthusiastic support for Romney from this entire panel made up exclusively of liberals with the exception of the National Journal's Major Garrett.
Is it possible that much as they did with John McCain in 2008, the media have now settled on Romney as the least conservative candidate to face the person they want to win, and they're now starting the push to get him the nomination over the more right-leaning candidates in the field?
Of course, they still want viewers to know Romney's got a serious Mormon problem if he gets to the general election given what transpired in the program's final segment:
MATTHEWS: This week's big question: If Mitt Romney’s the Republican running against Barack Obama next year, will his Mormon religion cost him states in November? Joe.
KLEIN: Only if there is an Evangelical or Libertarian third party that comes as a result of the fact that they really do believe Mormonism is a cult.
MATTHEWS: Katty.
KAY: It will be a question of whether enough Evangelicals or Baptists stay home in some southern states or states towards the south that possibly the Democrats might be able to take.
MATTHEWS: Name one of those states where it might change?
KAY: I’d say, you wonder whether it will have an impact on somewhere like Florida, I don't know enough, but could it have an impact in a state like that?
So Romney's Mormonism could cost him Florida or even create a third party candidate that would doom his chances.
Makes it pretty obvious what the media strategy has become now that Chris Christie and Sarah Palin have officially bowed out: get Romney in but continually remind people of his religion.
I don't remember Barack Obama's connection to an America-hating Reverend ever being such a focus by the media back in 2008, do you?
- Noel Sheppard's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
if Romney get the nomination we are going to witness a tsunami
Submitted by Paarl on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 2:24pm.
of anti Mormon screeds over the course of the elections....these will originate with the same damn press/MSM that said nothing about Obama's very radical ideological roots etc.....we are going to hear about polygamy and child molestation and weird theological doctrines....
It will be very ugly indeed !!! I will support Romney but there is going to be a real kick to the solarplexus that might knock the wind out of the GOP campaign.....interestingly enough I believe that only one person has the stature and guts to stand up for Romney and turn this tsunami on its ear and that Sarah Palin. I think she has the ability to catch the serious attention of all evangelicals etc who have a real doctrinal and theological issue with the LDS .
Paarl of Rhodesia
Rhodesia; where the national religion was rugby and lager the holy water !!! ;>)
This is 2008 all over again.
Submitted by pcnav on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 10:18am.
When leftist commentators sung John McCains praises during the last cycle it was only until he won the nomination. After that their venom flowed freely.
I do not trust their praise of Romney because it is only disguising the fact that they find him defeatable.
Never trust leftist scum like Joe Klein. If he says something believe the opposite to be true.
They have conceded that Obama is toast.
Submitted by NeoKong on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 2:30pm.
Now they are trying to prop up the most neutral Republican they can find and that is Romney.
Democrats would never vote for a Republican but if they had to pick someone they could tolerate then it's Romney.
Herman Cain scares the hell out of them because if he made it to the White House without the help of the Democratic grievance machine it would shake the party to it's very core.
Just imagine....a black man who succeeded without the help of a white liberal or a govt. program. They can't have that.
Wrong, Neo...
Submitted by motherbelt on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 2:41pm.
Democrats would never vote for a Republican but if they had to pick someone they could tolerate then it's Romney.
They have no intention of "tolerating" Romney.
Neo's analysis for picking Romney over Cain is correct, though
Submitted by gopcongress on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 6:10pm.
Neo's analysis for picking Romney over Cain is correct, though.
In fact, the mainstream media has only ONE mission in life: Destroy Herman Cain's drive for the presidency. The socialists/democrats/media KNOWS that a Cain presidency, coupled with a fortified conservative House and, most probably, Senate, would be the undoing of many of their liberal policies.
To that end, the mainstream media will come out with all SORTS of puff pieces, in some cases almost Obama-esque, to promote Romney as a "conservative we can trust." They will try to get Romney appear to the RINO faction as much as possible during the primaries. They will have glowing stories about how the GOP "leadership" (actually, "RINO establishment") is doing everything they can to promote Romney's "sensible" policies over Cain's "rather obscure" (or other euphemisms for "extreme right -wing") views.
Now, Motherbelt's analysis comes into play once Romney is the GOP nominee. THEN they will do as much as they can to tie Romney in with Cain, OR they will try to say how much of Romney is LIKE Obama, or go schizo and actually do both. Regardless, the mainstream media KNOWS that if Cain is defeated in the primary, then Obama's successful (that is, "destructive") policies will stay in place, regardless if Obama is reelected or not. Remember, RomneyCare is the blueprint for what Obama used.
"The news and truth are not the same thing." -Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
Matthews is definitey onto something.
Submitted by motherbelt on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 2:37pm.
Or maybe just "on" something....
But I digress. However, as Debbie Wasserman Schultz-for-brains said, The people don't elect us to create jobs. They elect us to work together.
Work togetherr to do what, Debs? Now, a lot of people believe that government creates jobs, and yet you don't think they want you to "work together" to do that?
Oh, and if that's not true, why is Obama pushing a "jobs" bill? Bill....that means law....that means you and your colleagues, Debs! The "US" you speak of! Maybe you should tell the president the people didn't elect you (or him) to create jobs!
And as usual, the media muppets are pushing the candidate most like "work with" (read: roll over for) Democrats.
Lefties on Romney.....
Submitted by Forbus on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 2:33pm.
"impeccable" today...and if he wins the nomination he'll be the reincarnation of Hitler tomorrow.
Voting advice
Submitted by cocodrie on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 2:40pm.
Voting advice from Joe Klein,the liberal with the brains of a dead chicken. Of course most liberals have the brains of a dead chicken, the rest have the brains of a dead rock.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
Up to you RNC how many polygamist raids, this election cycle?
Submitted by upcountrywater on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 3:01pm.
O'bamas, ratting out of the Texas polygamist ranch was in the pipeline before Romney's early loss to Juan Mc RINO, in '08...
How many wasted stories of '08 can now be resurrected....
All the slavering MSM wastrels, just chomping at the bit, to be first with film at 11:00...
Romney is a lawyer, he will compromise with democrats, as he did as governor in his democratic state.
CAIN 4 PRESIDENT..He's our only hope...that and Republican land slides.
You Didn't Build That.
The is one main reason why Dems and MSM want Romney to win . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 6:32pm.
. . . the GOP nomination: He takes Obamacare off the table.
The wheels are coming off the Obamacare wagon month by month, and since it was purely an Obama-Democratic Party creation, they can't blame Bush.
Romney will use up enormous political capital trying to explain why Romneycare was good and Obamacare is bad, and the public won't buy it.
Obama's principal hope is that conservatives disenchanted with Romney will stay home or vote for a third party candidate, and Obama wins.
Here they are picking the GOP
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 4:32pm.
Here they are picking the GOP President candidate for us again. As much as I dislike Ron Paul and his isolationist policies, I would want Ron Paul instead of Romney.
Herman Cain is my first pick right now.
What the American people want:
Submitted by Phryj1 on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 5:12pm.
Elected officials who will fight for their interests, act responsibly, and uphold the Constitution.
Democrats only care about the citizens' desires when they align with left-wing goals, otherwise they don't give a damn what the American people want.
Also, a Dem's idea of working together is giving Dems exactly what they want without any concessions on their part or resistance from the opposition, because as far as they're concerned, ANY disagreement with Dem policies and ideas is right-wing extremism.
Progressives seem to be completely averse to facts and logic. Apparently, reality has a conservative bias.
agree - principles matter most
Submitted by mom_rox on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 6:58pm.
How often is the POTUS going to be in a debate with Putin or Ahmadinejad? (another similar question: How often is the Student Body President and the captain/leader of the debate team the say person?)
Yes, Romney keeps winning the debates (he's been practicing for 5+ years), but I still don't like what I'm hearing.
mom_fox
Submitted by Radical1979 on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 7:06pm.
You got it, Romney is a debator. But I think Cain has the best ability to deal with the leftist media when they come after him. IMO, he puts them in their place.
Herman Cain is always
Submitted by Samshile on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 8:31pm.
the smartest guy in the room. He has superior reasoning skills.
Mormon or Muslim
Submitted by giatn on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 6:44pm.
The fact that Rpmney is NOT Obama would certainly overcome any hesitation based on
religion. Obama had a close relationship with Rev Wright, a Muslim father and a Marxist
mother and grandparents. How could anyone care about Romney being a Mormon?
Mormon vs. muslim
Submitted by Radical1979 on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 6:47pm.
When Mormons start flying planes into buildings and trying to kill unarmed people, I'll worry about it. Till then Romney's religion is not my problem with him.
giatn and Ms Rad*
Submitted by cajun2 on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 6:53pm.
Two great posts back to back...dont you just love NB
So they want the return of
Submitted by Samshile on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 8:29pm.
Bush? Can they make up their minds? Please, please can we have another RINO?
Klein's "endorsement" is reason enough not to support this RINO
Submitted by Dave. on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 8:39pm.
If Romney is the answer, I clearly didn't understand the question.
I do not understand why so many conservatives think Mitt Romney is conservative.
He isn't.
Not even close.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Ths is just another attempt...
Submitted by Dbak61 on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 8:58pm.
...by the LSM to pick our candidate. They wanted McCain and they were appeased. Do you think any of these libtards voted for him? And to them, it's always conservatives who 'want a candidate that will compromise.' Why don't they ever compromise? No; whenever they get a win, even when it's not even by 50% of voters (Can you say Clinton?), or they recount the votes, (what makes one count more accurate than the first anyway?), until they are satisfied with the results, they pretend they have a mandate and the lib's darling media report the lie with their unspoken adage that 'a lie repeated often enough...
To the LSM I say: Screw any compromising RINOs! That's how we got into the mess we have today. And: Conservatives actually do win elections...and mandates when they DO NOT compromise their principles.
That's the point, a Romney or
Submitted by dscott on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 10:44pm.
That's the point, a Romney or Huntsman as nominee will cause the base to tepidly endorse and partially sit out the Nov 2012 election, just like with McCain.
The country will barely last as it is to Nov 2012 given the incompetence of Obama's anti-business policies, another 4 years of Obama would simply be the final straw.
Imo The media is creating a
Submitted by TerryWest on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 11:29pm.
Imo The media is creating a false picture in that his faith is his biggest issue and hurdle, it's not the reality to the majority of people I have talked with or read in post comments about him.
Most have doubts that he is strong enough to keep the far left agenda and policy's from continuing to fail the country and some worry he will embrace them.
The push from the left media that Americans want a centrist is odd seeing how they use so much effort to support the existing policy's that are anything but .
impeccable, like his hair and
Submitted by redfish on Sun, 10/16/2011 - 11:53pm.
impeccable, like his hair and teeth and manner of speaking
Klein pumping the RINO shill,
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 12:44am.
Klein pumping the RINO shill, Romney will be destroyed by the liberals simpling by attacking his beliefs. He is an ease win for from the left because they don't have to confront him on issues. Romney is the new McCain.
Romney or BHO
Submitted by TangoUniform on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 11:16am.
If Romney happens to get the nomination, and us conservatives sit out the election, afraid of a RINO, then we are dumber than Obamalogists. Who will be deciding the next few Supreme Court Justices? You think Rs nominees will be in the same veil as Os? And R is no McCain. Half of the dimwits that vote for president look up two or three months before an election and see who is on the cover of People and US magazines the most. And since the JFK election, every election has been one by the most charismatic of the candidates. I will take my chances EVERY day of the week with a "rino" as Romney over another four years of O. THINK people, who will have the best shot of DEFEATING this current regime? IF Romney gets the nomination don't be foolish.
To vote for someone, just
Submitted by jessieH on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 11:18am.
To vote for someone, just because he is a Democrat or a Republican, is a vote against the Republic. Shouldn't WE be voting for the best person to bring the country back from the brink of disaster? Someone who can actually be a true leader? From what I have seen, there is three choices. Obama, the Marxist, comunist muslim, Cain, the inexperienced but brilliant newcomer or Gingrich, the man who, I think, is the only one who can destroy Obama, completely.
Joe is right!
Submitted by AdrianVance on Mon, 10/17/2011 - 1:22pm.
Joe Klein got it right, but he missed many good moves Romney made: He used snarky questions to other participants to zing Perry a couple of times! This is a first for such debates, but there is no escaping that Romney is a RINO.
The Two Minute Conservative at http://adrianvance.blogspot.com has political analysis, science and humor. Now in the top 3% on Kindle.