The Chameleon

Little is known about the man who, in two days, will be crowned the Republican candidate for November’s presidential election.

And the little that is known about him does not incline one to think that the American people would be better served if this man captures Barack Obama’s seat in the Oval Office. In fact, rarely has a candidate for the highest office in the most powerful nation generated more questions, ambivalence and mistrust before even being formally appointed — including within his own party.

Put bluntly: Mitt Romney is neither loved nor respected.

“Nobody knows who this strange man is, willing to say almost anything to get elected. America won’t vote for that man; nor would this newspaper*,” says The Economist.

It would be only one opinion among others if the British magazine was not one of the most respected news outlets in the world — and rather leaning to the right, which predisposes it to be a natural ally of the Republicans. In Britain, in fact, which is the closest ally of America, Romney made himself detested on his first visit, leading the tabloid The Sun, which is not exactly Marxist, to write the headline “Mitt the Twit” — no need to translate. At home, the candidate managed to quarrel with Fox News, which many consider to be the advertising agency of the Republican extreme right!

Let us continue.

Women do not like Romney (a differential of 10 percentage points between him and Obama; NBC/Wall Street Journal poll). Nor the young: 11 points. Nor Latinos: 50 points. Nor blacks: 94 points! In short, the man is a living symbol of a Grand Old Party that has become increasingly male, white, aged and obsessed with the moral questions of another century.

What’s wrong with Mitt Romney?

***

First, he seems not to know who he is. As governor of Massachusetts, Romney reformed health care in the fashion of Obamacare, called for access to abortion, gun control, more or less equitable taxation. However, like a chameleon, he has metamorphosed and fights against all of that today.

But that is not the worst part.

It is his weakness of character, in fact, that repels and even frightens. Under pressure (and there exists no greater than that experienced by a president of the United States), would he be able to make decisions that are both rational and courageous? We doubt it. “Wimp,” judged Newsweek. In fact, more than half of those who will vote for him will do so holding their noses, their only motivation being to defeat Barack Obama.

Americans liberated themselves, just four years ago, from a president who was not up to the height of his duties. It would be a pity if in November, they return to that.

* Editor’s note: The original quotation, accurately translated, could not be verified.