The Romney Calls: The Rorschach Test of the Righty Blogosphere

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

MITT ROMNEY, HORSERACE

So far, I think the who-made-the-anti-Romney-calls question has turned into a massive Rorschach Test for the righty political blogosphere.

If you dislike McCain, you think it's McCain. Nevermind that the Arizona Senator has about a billion better ways to spend the limited financial resources he has than to try a stunt like this. You look at his mother's comments about Mormons and see the definitive clue. (I'm just gonna note that the traditional schoolyard taunt doesn't work in a situation like this, because in a family like the McCain's, with generations of military service, John McCain's mom probably does wear combat boots.)

If you don't like Giuliani, you're thinking Western Wats' past work with the Tarrance Group is the important clue.

I've heard folks who aren't particularly fond of Huckabee speculate that it's the former Arkansas governor. I've heard a guy in Romney circles speculate that it's disgruntled former Brownback supporters, although in this case, the guy was on good terms with the Senator.

If you dislike Romney, you're thinking this was done by someone on his behalf to stir up sympathy, and paint himself as a victim. You're looking at a TargetPoint statement like "TargetPoint Consulting has absolutely nothing to do with the calls in question," and concluding that it doesn't answer the question, ""Did the Romney campaign or Target Point pay for phone calls — survey, push, or otherwise — from Nov. 15-17 in IA, NH, or SC that asked questions about Mormonism?" Beyond the denial, can TargetPoint prove a negative? I guess they could come out and say what the nature of their work with Western Wats was - wouldn't surprise me if it were a corporate client - but they may feel that honoring confidentiality with that client is more important that answering that question.

(I should note that somebody who's not particularly a fan of Romney is trying to persuade me, "Romney's the most vulnerable candidate we have! If anything, the Democrats should be trying to get him to be the nominee!" Yes, Democrats do try to determine the winner in Republican primaries - California Governor Gray Davis spent $10 million to influence the Republican primary in 2002, so it's not unthinkable.)

The question of who's behind the calls has quickly turned into, who do you trust least? Who do you think is the most likely to make an underhanded move at a time like this? Who has the least benefit of the doubt in your mind, and who are you quickest to accuse

Me? Well, no secret, I'm thinking some deep-pocketed liberal like George Soros. ;)

11/20 11:06 AM Share