Opinion
Romney vs Obama: Why the Pot Should Never Call the Kettle Black
By Ryan Elcock
If you have been following the US 2012 election, you will agree that this one has been the most contentious since the Bush-Gore debacle in 2000. Both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney appear to be in a statistical tie with Obama having a slight edge in the polls, although Romney was starting to gain some ground until Hurricane Sandy hit America.
I have been following this election with great interest due to the fact that the Republicans have a desire to bring down Obama either by hook or by crook and attribute all the ills befalling America to his term in office. Never before have I seen such a desire to make up lies and create false hoods about the man’s heritage, faith, character and intellectual capabilities in order to bring him down.
In fact, one illustrious business man (and I use the term ‘illustrious’ loosely), Donald Trump, has tried to discredit Obama at every turn and has gone so far as to state that Obama is the least transparent and least trustworthy of all the presidents that has gone before him.
How ironic is it that Donald Trump is declaring Obama the least transparent when he refused to let people see his financial records determining his status as a billionaire during his run for the republican nomination in his bid to become president? But then again, Donald Trump has always had a well-ventilated Manhattan condo with all the stones he throws but I digress.
But of all the Obama naysayers, none has been more vocal than his opponent, Mitt Romney. Romney has portrayed himself as the White Knight who will save the United States from economic oblivion and bring the country back to prosperity. Although there is no denying Romney’s business acumen or his successful handling of the Salt Lake City Olympic Games, his ability to run the country is what I question.
While Romney presents himself as a man who has what it takes to run the country and appears to have that “presidential look” – I guess that means white, tall and a full head of hair – his history in the political arena is questionable along with his motives for being president.
Romney was quick to criticize Obama’s performance in handling the economy during his first term as President, but if you take a look at his record as Governor of Massachusetts, his overall record was not as stellar as he would like us all to believe.
It is quite interesting Romney fails to point out how his popularity had plummeted severely during his term as Governor. Then again, it is easier to point out the faults of others while failing to see your own.
And while Romney and his supporters are quick to question Obama’s leadership ability, how can they be blind to the fact that Romney is a fly by night leader? He did not even try to run or defend his term as governor, but rather decided to throw himself into the 2008 Presidential arena and that begs the question: why does Romney want to be president so bad?
My personal opinion and belief is that Romney is trying to follow in his father’s footsteps and then do what his father could not; become President of the United States? Now for Americans, that should be a cause for concern because they have been through this game before with George W. Bush and his war in Iraq. Bush’s desire to outdo his father, by getting rid of Saddam Hussein, not only led to the country wasting US$87 billion on a war that had nothing to do with 9-11, but also a tragic loss of life for those brave men and women who answered the call of duty.
While I am not saying that Romney might turn out to be as bad as George W. Bush, I do believe that there are similarities. You see, like Bush, Romney learned from the mistakes of his father and seemed determined to rectify those mistakes. Most people may not know that Romney’s father, George W. Romney, ran for the presidency of the United States, as a Republican, back in 1968. However, the elder Romney’s campaign fell apart because he appeared too liberal and sealed his fate when he retracted his support for the Vietnam War claiming that he was brain washed back in 1967.
There can be no doubt that the elder Romney’s failed campaign had a profound effect on Mitt Romney which explains why Romney has been the ultimate chameleon, in terms of his policies, in order to get votes. In fact, Romney’s bid for the Republican ticket reminds me of the student who tries to pad his resume with numerous volunteering and community service activities in order to get into an Ivy League college even though he does not believe in half the things he is volunteering for. Thus it is no surprise his “declaration” of the standard tenets of the Republican Party, which included membership into the National Rifle Association (NRA), not only seemed contrived but also reveals the desperation of a man eager to do what his father could not in order to make his mark.
But Romney’s willingness to do whatever it takes to become president and his lack of having a consistent plan and policy reveals his character flaw. For even though his father did not achieve the presidency, he was a man who stood by what he believed in and also demonstrated his convictions regardless of what his party affiliations were. So even though Romney’s father did not win the presidency, he achieved something greater; the maintenance of his dignity, character and honor – a feat few politicians could ever achieve.
So while Romney paints himself as the Messiah and economic turn-around artist who can set America on the right path, I will have to disagree because although he may have the look of a president – according to white republicans, he has neither the heart nor the will. Yes he has turned around a few failing businesses and rescued the Salt Lake City Olympic Games from oblivion. However, such accomplishments are drops in the buckets because they required short term planning and strategies.
However, when we look at his ability to endure for the long term, Romney falls short – no pun intended – because America is more than a business and there are way more stakeholders involved. Furthermore, in order to become president and turn around a country that is struggling economically, one must have two things: patience and a long term strategy.
While Barack Obama’s term has been fraught with trials and tribulations, he has clearly laid out a plan and a vision which will enable America to move forward in the right direction. He has also shown great patience as leader along with a willingness to strategize with the right people in order to keep America safe and bring her into prominence once again. His leadership was also demonstrated in the way he mobilized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and briefly stopped campaigning, to help and support the people of New York City and New Jersey who were ravaged by Hurricane Sandy.
So while Romney points the finger at Barack Obama and criticizes him for not moving swiftly enough to create jobs and keep America safe, he is really just criticizing himself because if, God forbid, he should become president, he would end up following Obama’s plans anyways because they were what laid the foundations for America’s future success. Then again, remember America’s past prosperity was always built on the backs of black people but this time, it was because a black man did it by choice rather than force.
Ryan Elcock
relcock@thehabarinetwork.com