CrosswordNewsletters
DAILY BEAST
ALL
  • Cheat Sheet
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Media
  • Innovation
  • Covid-19
  • World
  • U.S. News
  • Scouted
  • Travel
CHEAT SHEET
    POLITICS
    • Biden World
    • Elections
    • Opinion
    • National Security
    • Congress
    • Pay Dirt
    • The New Abnormal
    • Right Richter
    • Trumpland
    MEDIA
    • Daytime Talk
    • Late-Night
    • Fox News
    U.S. NEWS
    • Identities
    • Crime
    • Race
    • LGBT
    • Extremism
    • Coronavirus
    WORLD
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • China
    • Middle East
    SCIENCE
    • Hunt for the Cure
    • Rabbit Hole
    TRAVEL
      ENTERTAINMENT
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Music
      • Comedy
      • Sports
      • Sex
      • TDBs Obsessed
      • Awards Shows
      • The Last Laugh
      HALF-FULL
        CULTURE
        • Power Trip
        • Fashion
        • Books
        • Royalist
        TECH
        • Disinformation
        SCOUTED
        • Face Masks
        • Clothing
        • Technology
        • Bedroom
        • Kitchen
        • Home
        • Fitness
        • The Case For
        • I'm Looking For
        • New Kids On the Block
        COUPONS
        • Adidas Promo Codes
        • DoorDash Promo Codes
        • H&M Coupons
        • Hotwire Promo Codes
        • Wine.com Discounts
        • Vitacost Coupons
        • Spanx Promo Codes
        • StubHub Promo Codes
        Products
        NewslettersPodcastsCrosswordsSubscription
        FOLLOW US
        GOT A TIP?

        SEARCH

        HOMEPAGE

        Romney Returns to the Right, Part II

        Captain Jellyspine Reappears

        Several times last night, Romney returned to playing to the right-wing base, and it cost him.

        Michael Tomasky

        Special Correspondent

        Updated Apr. 21, 2017 3:10PM ET / Published Oct. 17, 2012 1:12PM ET 

        I noted in the column I wrote last night that Romney seemed to be playing to the right-wing base again. But as I was writing, I forgot the two biggest pieces of evidence for my case.

        First, all that time he spent talking about "self-deportation" on the immigration question. That was playing defense, first and foremost, but maybe he was playing defense there for a reason--to reassure the right that he's not going soft on the illegals. Second and more interesting was that weird jag he went on about Fast & Furious. I bet most of the people in the audience and watching at home were thinking, "What's he talking about? What's Obama got to do with that movie?"

        The wingers were popping champagne corks, I'm sure. Man, they love that stuff. I was just on Geraldo's radio show, and a woman called in to speculate that the Benghazi attack was actually perhaps the botched-up product of a US government covert op a la Fast & Furious. But for normal Americans, those were seriously wasted minutes.

        It all makes me think his people, or the candidate himself, heard from some of his conservative benefactors over the past two weeks. All very well, Willard, you had to do that in the first debate, we understand; but you better come back home a little in this one. Whatever the case, it'll cost him.

        READ THIS LIST

        DAILY BEAST
        • Podcasts
        • Cheat Sheet
        • Politics
        • Crime
        • Entertainment
        • Media
        • Covid-19
        • Half Full
        • U.S. News
        • Scouted
        • Travel
        • Subscription
        • Crossword
        • Newsletters
        • Podcasts
        • About
        • Contact
        • Tips
        • Jobs
        • Advertise
        • Help
        • Privacy
        • Code of Ethics & Standards
        • Diversity
        • Terms & Conditions
        • Copyright & Trademark
        • Sitemap
        • Coupons
        © 2022 The Daily Beast Company LLC