What has Governor Romney advocated in the campaign that he will do as president? What has President Obama done and what does he propose to do?
How these things stack up against each other? That’s the most relevant thing."
- From former President Bill Clinton, commenting on Mitt Romney's work with Bain Capital during a Thursday night interview on CNN.
Hardcore liberals are frustrated with Clinton's characterization of Romney's business career as "sterling," insisting that it undercuts the Obama campaign's attack strategy.
Cynics criticize Clinton's remarks as self-serving, citing the former president's close ties to Wall Street, and declaring that he is simply fulfilling his own obligations to the private equity industry.
I choose, perhaps naively, to read no ulterior motive into Clinton's statement, beyond the former President attempting to appropriately refocus the political dialogue. I also agree with Clinton's characterization of Romney's business career. The guy is wealthy like a sultan, or a Trump, right? He's done well in the financial industry, but for me, the question of Romney's business success misses the mark.
The media and the right-wing are sensationalizing Clinton's "praise" for Romney, while the important angle here is Clinton's clear and simple characterization of what our electoral focus should be.
- From former President Bill Clinton, commenting on Mitt Romney's work with Bain Capital during a Thursday night interview on CNN.
Hardcore liberals are frustrated with Clinton's characterization of Romney's business career as "sterling," insisting that it undercuts the Obama campaign's attack strategy.
Cynics criticize Clinton's remarks as self-serving, citing the former president's close ties to Wall Street, and declaring that he is simply fulfilling his own obligations to the private equity industry.
I choose, perhaps naively, to read no ulterior motive into Clinton's statement, beyond the former President attempting to appropriately refocus the political dialogue. I also agree with Clinton's characterization of Romney's business career. The guy is wealthy like a sultan, or a Trump, right? He's done well in the financial industry, but for me, the question of Romney's business success misses the mark.
Romney's private sector experience, while somewhat relevant, doesn't serve as immaculate qualification for repairing the nation's stumbling economy. Holding a leadership role in single private equity firm qualifies a businessman to develop and implement national economic policy about as much as owning a chain of successful emergency care clinics qualifies a businessman to head the Department of Health and Human Services.
Yes, I get it. Romney knows how to make money in private sector business. And the guy who owns the emergency care clinics knows how to set up a medical organization to heal sick people. In neither case though, do the private sector skills and experience automatically translate to some magical wisdom about the larger and infinitely more complex public sector arena.
Yes, I get it. Romney knows how to make money in private sector business. And the guy who owns the emergency care clinics knows how to set up a medical organization to heal sick people. In neither case though, do the private sector skills and experience automatically translate to some magical wisdom about the larger and infinitely more complex public sector arena.
The media and the right-wing are sensationalizing Clinton's "praise" for Romney, while the important angle here is Clinton's clear and simple characterization of what our electoral focus should be.
- Mr. Romney, what specifically are your plans for our future?
- Mr. Obama, what have you done for us lately?
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