Will the Real Mitt Romney Stand Up in the Debates?

October 1, 2012 RSS Feed Print

Will the real Mitt Romney please stand up? That's the question that Barack Obama will force Mitt Romney to answer Wednesday night during the first debate between the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates. It's a question that Mitt Romney will have a tough time answering because he has changed his position so often he doesn't know himself. If the candidate can't figure himself out, how does he expect Americans to do it?

Which Mitt Romney will show up for the confrontation next week? Will it be the Mitt Romney who was the pro-choice governor of Massachusetts; or will it be the Romney who only favored abortion in cases of rape or incest during the GOP primaries; or will it be the fall candidate who now favors abortion in cases of rape, incest, and the health of the woman? I don't know about you, but I can't wait to find out.

[See a collection of political cartoons on Mitt Romney and his flip-flopping.]

Romney's identity problem also makes it difficult for voters to figure out his position on gun control. Who will show up Wednesday? Will it be the former liberal and former Bay State governor who strongly supported a ban on the sale of assault weapons or the White House candidate who strongly opposes a ban on the sale on automatic weapons? Enquiring minds want to know. You guess is as good as mine.

How about immigration reform? During the Republican primary campaign, Romney said he favored "self deportation." Last week in front of a Latino audience, he stated that "self deportation" was just a matter of personal choice. Huh?

[See a collection of political cartoons on the 2012 campaign.]

Then there's Romney's epic journey on the road to healthcare reform. While he was governor of Massachusetts he pioneered his own healthcare reform law which became the prototype for Obamacare. During the GOP primary campaign, Romney said he opposed the individual mandate to buy insurance which was the centerpiece of his own health reform plan. Last week, the GOP nominee declared that he was proud of Romneycare. Are you still following me? Which Doctor Romney will debate the president?

There are three presidential debates in October but they should have scheduled a fourth. In the last debate the former liberal and former governor Romney would debate the current conservative wannabe White House resident. I'd pay admission to see that. May the best Mitt win.

Conservative columnist David Brooks believes the root of Romney's problem is that the GOP candidate is running an "insincere campaign." Mitt Romney is uncomfortable in his own skin because he doesn't really believe in the issue positions he took to win the Tea Party primary. If Brooks is right and Romney is lying to himself, voters will know the candidate is lying to them too.