South Carolina ___________________________________________________________________
It looks as if the Thursday night debate will be the most significant one yet, though Monday’s was the most vigorous and interesting. It was held the same day that Huntsman bowed out and threw his support to Mitt Romney. Some say that Newt Gingrich won the night, and perhaps he did. We shall see. He was definitely louder... But the tortoise always wins. To my mind, Newt is the hare. He got our attention after Juan Williams asked if Newt could see how some people, especially African Americans, could take offence at his remark days earlier that black kids should apply for jobs as janitors in public schools.
“No,” replied Newt, pleased as punch. He was apparently prepared for the question because he launched into an explanation about how a janitor’s job teaches you good stuff like getting there on time, and it gives you cash, and so on. But, I don’t know ... sometimes flashier isn’t necessarily better. Often what’s obvious is crass. It was the day of Martin Luther King’s holiday!
What I have come to appreciate about Mitt Romney is his resilience and steadiness. He did, as many said, seem slightly shaken. But I think he was shocked by the rudeness! He was definitely the grown-up. He continued on his regular path of attacking Obama and allowing the kids’ accusations about him and Bain and so on to roll off his back.
Are we mature enough for a mature candidate? (And older does not necessarily mean more mature. I tweeted during that debate, “Ron Paul is an old man but he’s kittenish.”)
On va voir ... On to South Carolina ... Soldier on ... • Barbara Waterston, January 18, 2012
|
|
|