Mitt Romney Is Not a Moderate

The mantra in political punditry is that Mitt Romney can’t win over Republican voters because he’s too moderate, too Nelson Rockefeller. But that’s all wrong, writes Salon’s Steve Kornacki. “Treating the current contest as a repeat of Goldwater vs. Rockefeller is a poor way to understand the evolution of the Republican Party since the 1960s and how Romney fits into it today.” Rockefeller was a genuine political liberal and wasn’t afraid to show it; Romney has tailored his campaign to appeal to the party’s rabidly conservative base. And the only way he is considered a “moderate” is in relation to his opponents: overall, it’s difficult to find an issue where he is out of step with his party."