COMMENTARY | In perhaps his most condescending statement yet from the campaign trail, Mitt Romney said of President Barack Obama this weekend: "President Obama … hasn't run a state or a city, or a business and so he's kinda learning this leadership thing on the job."
But he called him "a very nice fellow," so that's just fine.
Right, Mitt. He hasn't run a state or a city, or a business. He's only run the country. You know, for about three and a half years. You might be familiar with the job, because it's the one you're trying to get.
While claiming you have more experience at it than he does.
It's OK, it makes my head hurt, too, but it is indicative of a conservative side of this nation so disrespectful to the president of the United States, he was actually heckled on Friday by a "member of the press" during his remarks in the White House's own Rose Garden. The "reporter" claimed he thought the president was finished, which the actual members of the press present found incredible.
And that's not all. Some "genius" -- and I mean that in the most ironic use of the word possible, thus the need for sarcastic quotes and an explanation -- at the Montana GOP convention brought an outhouse, riddled with fake bullet holes, and labeled "Obama Presidential Library." While "birthers," according to MSNBC, are being given all of the credit for the work, the Montana GOP Chairman Will Deschamps reportedly told the Missoulian:
"It's not something I'm going to agonize over."
Generously, and to my ear, somewhat grudgingly, Deschamps continued, "Some of that stuff is not real good taste. We do have a president of the United States, and we have to honor that."
At least it's not in bad taste. It's just not in "real good taste."
Which brings me back to Romney. As the heir apparent to the Republican nomination, Romney should be showing some leadership, which, as he points out, he is. Only it's the wrong kind of leadership.
It is all part-and-parcel of the same attitude that allowed snickers, but no reprimands, in response to that outhouse. An outhouse which also sports a fake Obama birth certificate, and "for a good time call" messages referring to the secretary of state, the first lady of the United States, and Democratic leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, respectively, and less formally, known as Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Nancy Pelosi.
Where is Romney's condemnation?
In the same ABC News article where Romney claims to be more experienced at a job than the person who holds it, even though Romney himself has never held it, he says that part of leadership is working with people on the other side of the aisle. He says "But it will not happen unless you have someone who has the experience and the capability of really being a leader."
Well, Mitt, you've got it wrong. Collaboration takes more than "leadership," which anyone must concede is a quality someone who went from unknown to president in four years had to have.
Collaboration takes respect. Simple, decent respect. So long as you, and the Republicans, persist with the dehumanization of anyone who does not share your ideology, collaboration cannot happen. What you have there is imposition. You have dogma enforced with the might of the government.
You seem to have confused leadership with dictatorship. Hopefully the electorate can spot the difference.
