Romney pulls out for the sake of the war on terror

Samuel Coates, at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, reports on Mitt Romney's resignation speech.

Talk show host Laura Ingraham gave Romney a strong introduction, saying that he was a security conservative, a social conservative and an economic conservative and that she was proud to be the only introducer with the job of introducing the conservative candidate. She also spoke of how Reagan battled on to the convention when people were saying he should stand down for the good of the party (curiously, so did Mitt!). I wonder if she was told?

Romney walked on to the stage to mass placard waving and cheering. He spoke of the "unique" sacrifice America had made in the cause of liberty in the 21st century - only taking enough land after its victories to bury its dead - and that if it didn't change course it could be the new France (crowd boos). There were several nods to Christians, he said the majority of Americans believed in God or at least in "a purpose-driven life" (the title of a bestselling Christian book), and criticised intolerance of such faith.

He spoke in particularly strong terms about:

• fighting the "culture-killing poison of dependency"
• how "depressing the private sector depresses the well-being of all"
• the danger of China and India overtaking America in the same way America did the UK and France
• being held hostage by the oil needed from "the likes of Putin, Chavez and Ahmadinejad"
• getting the dividend bit of Bill Clinton's "peace dividend", but not the peace bit

He said he disagreed with John McCain on a lot of things but that he was absolutely right on doing whatever it takes in Iraq and the fight against radical, violent Islam.  I half-expected a slight jibe to follow this concession, but it didn't come. He criticised Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for wanting retreat and defeat. Then, to a gasping crowd that had been giving him a rapturous reception, he said that continuing to stand made it easier for one of those two to win. That because he loved America and because he "cannot allow the next President to retreat in the face of evil extremism", he felt he must stand aside. If his candidacy was only about him, he went on, he would have continued.

In short, he did an Obi Wan Kenobi, and in doing so endeared himself to those who, like me, saw him as little more than a politician's politician. It was a great speech. If a British Conservative had said the things he said about the blend of issues that he focused on, I'd be right behind them.

He'll have his eyes on 2012 now. He's set himself up well.

Comments

[Martin Wright]

Sam
I liked the bulk of the speech about conservative values. Standing aside for the benefit of John McCain seems a non sequitur, since many of McCain's policies go against the conservative grain.

Romney said he was standing aside because he didn't want Republicans to be divided at a time of war.But as the Democrat race is so close and likely to continue for some while, I cannot see the harm in continuing the contest for the moment. Voters know what McCain's position is - he'd stay in Iraq for 100 years if necessary. If McCain wins the Republican race, as seems likely, voters will have plenty of time to consider this stance before the general election in November.

I don't feel at all good about McCain. While he may be the front runner amongst Republicans at the moment, I doubt that he has the greatest appeal across all voters

[Tony Makara]

I'm disappointed that Romney is standing down as he is the only candidate who recognizes the economic and geopolitical danger that China represents to the west. I'm not in favour of McCain but if McCain had Romney on his ticket I'd be a lot more positive.

[Andrew]

"Standing aside for benefit of country/party".... please.

He conceded because he got annihilated, unable to win a state outside of his home two, or where he could buy caucus organisation his opponents couldn't, or where Mormons dominate primaries. This only gave him a dribble of small states, while McCain won literally all the biggies: NY, NJ, Florida, Missouri, California. What's more, he did so with all the talk show nutters screaming/ranting constantly, and with 1/10th of the ad spend in states so large that TV money is a massive advantage.

Poor candidate, with no base, and no sincerity. Did he really believe he could go from being pro-gay rights, pro-abortion, tax-raising in office to the complete opposite just a few years later? How stupid does he think the electorate is?

[Donal Blaney]

Having been in the room when he gave the speech too I concur with Sam's analysis. He has gone up in the estimation of many people and is well positioned either to be VP or a candidate in 2012.

[Tony Makara]

If Romney could find enough common ground, like beating the Democrats, they could work together on a fairly balanced ticket. Romney understands the need to strengthen the military and to address the moral decline in America which has its roots in popular media. McCain could present himself as a father figure, after all he's a very difficult character to dislike, there isn't an once of swagger about him, which certainly can't be said about Hillary or Obama. Could it be a winning ticket?

[Comstock]

I've just watched the whole speech on Fox video player (2 parts, 20 minutes in all)

What thoroughly nasty politics you have, Mr Romney. Please don't come back.

I'm for Obama, but either Hilary or John McCain would be an improvement on this guy.

[CCHQ Spy]

Thank you Sam. I hope you are enjoying being there.

[Ron Paul Supporter]

I could not vote for a liberal imperialist like McCain or a religious nutter like Huckabee. Both can get stuffed. Ron Paul must run as a third party or independent candidate. The Revolution is more important than the War Party, i.e. the GOP.

[Malcolm Dunn]

Sam, Romney is a politician's politician and for that reason alone I'm glad he's gone. He stood down because he knew he would lose,end of story. After all the backbiting in this campaign I'm afraid I don't believe his story about appealing for republican unity at all.

[Frogg, USA]

It is not likely Romney could have beat McCain; but, he sure could have drug it out and forced it to a brokered convention--denying McCain the ability to launch a national compaign quickly. In the meantime, anything could have happened. So, I think he made an honorable move by suspending. He has garnered great respect from the party for this.