Mitt Romney represents a first for American politics in the new millennium: a viable third-party candidate. As the race for the GOP nomination continues to trend in the direction of reality TV-host and sound-bite machine Donald Trump, the 2012 presidential nominee took to the mic at the University of Utah to deliver the following condemnation of his party’s nominee apparent:
Romney plainly calls Trump a fraud and a phony, and challenges the Donald’s policies on:
The Economy — “If Donald Trump’s plans were ever implemented, the country would sink into prolonged recession.” He condemns Trump’s tariffs (which Trump claims would help keep out cheap foreign goods to boost Made in America products) as well as Trump’s alleged refusal to reform entitlements, essentially casting Trump as a secret Liberal.
Romney calls out Trump as a failed businessman who has crushed the lives of his own workers, and further pointed out that Trump is not a self-made businessman but rather inherited a successful business from his father.
The other candidates — “The only serious proposals…come from Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and John Kasich. One of these men should be our nominee.”
National Security — “Mr. Trump’s bombast is already alarming our allies and fueling the enmity of our enemies.” He specifically cites Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country, as well as Trump’s proposal to let ISIS take out Assad in Syria, then engage in a total war with the ISIS-controlled country.
Rhetoric — Romney delineates Trump’s verbal attacks on a disabled reporter’s speech pattern, on Megyn Kelly’s menstrual cycle, on Hillary Clinton’s appearance, John McCain’s imprisonment in Viet Nam, all the while praising Vladimir Putin.
“[Trump’s] imagination must not be married to real power.”
Romney continues by noting that the president is an idol many model their behavior after, and that failings of the presidency always hurt families and our country (perhaps referencing the Clinton-Lewinski scandal or Nixon’s Watergate,) asking the crowd if they would want their children and grandchildren behaving as Trump does. “Watch, by the way, how he responds to my speech today.” Thanks to the speed of the internet, we have Trump’s response here:
Trump’s response, summarized:
“Mitt is a failed candidate…he failed horribly. I backed Mitt Romney, he begged for my endorsement. I could have said, ‘Mitt, drop to your knees’ and he would have dropped to his knees. He was begging, it’s true…Mitt ran what was probably the worst campaign in history…Mitt Romney is a choke artist, he should not run…Mitt Romney chickened out [this election] because of me.”
Returning to Romney’s speech…
Mitt makes a brief attack on Hillary Clinton and her husband, echoing a sentiment people on both sides of the aisle have made concerning her cozy ties to Wall Street and corporate lobbyists. This is, of course, hypocritical given how much money Romney has made through his political ties.
He concludes with the following:
“Trump is a fraud, a phony; his promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He’s playing the members of the American public for suckers. He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat. His domestic policies would lead to recession; his foreign policies would make America and the world less safe. He has neither the temperament nor the judgment to be president and his personal qualities would mean that America would cease to be a ‘shining city on a hill.’ I’m convinced America has greatness ahead and this is a time for choosing. God bless us to choose a nominee who will make that vision a reality. Thank you and God bless you all.”
Now them’s fighting words. Were it not for his statement at the beginning of his speech, I’d expect Romney to announce his intentions to run. Now, that would be foolhardy this late in the campaign season; too many caucuses and primaries have been held, too much momentum has built behind Trump, Cruz, and Rubio. However, the Republican party is gearing up for a National Convention in which Trump will have enough delegates to win the nomination. What will happen when the party is forced to choose someone so uncontrollable, so openly hostile to the GOP, as Trump?
The Republicans get Romney to run Independent.
By fielding Romney as a third party alternative to Trump, the GOP gets a chance to retain control of the right wing of American politics while distancing themselves from the last several years of dangerous dogmatic Tea Party rhetoric which Trump and his followers now represent.
There are risks to this plan, most obvious of which is that a divided Right allows for a greater chance of a Democrat win. But it should actually be welcomed as a great opportunity to Bernie Sanders, who is still the underdog in a tight race for the Left’s nomination. Assuming the race remains tight and Clinton clinches the nomination for the Democratic side, and Romney declares himself as an Independent Conservative, Sanders may want to consider a run as an Independent as well. For the first time in over a century, Americans would have a true four-party election with four very different candidates running.
In this case, the American people win. Finally, citizens will have more choices than simply Democrat or Republican on election day. Choice will liberate Americans to side with people they feel best represent them. Specialized political movements will be able to voice their concerns and field candidates that don’t have to toe the party line. Then again, maybe this is just “magical Christmasland” thinking. But it would be something.
