Princeton. September 13. Although eight hopefuls showed up, the commentariat has pared the race to three contenders: Perry, Bachmann, and Romney. Considering only those who have declared their interest, this sounds about right. But even the also-rans deserve a few words.
Huntsman -- articulate, innovative and creative -- has failed to create a media presence. Perhaps more importantly, he has totally failed to grasp the Tea Party megaphone. He remains his own man, and once put Utah in the forefront of the states in their management of illegal immigration. Undocumented children have access to schools and medical care, resident tuition at state universities, and access to drivers licenses. As a young man he did missionary service in China and is fluent in Mandarin. He recently returned as Obama’s ambassador to the People’s Republic. He may have the best grasp of world affairs of any other candidate of either party. But although that might make him a contender for vice president, he’s out of the big ticket race.
Herman Cain is a great entertainer and is probably a great dinner companion. Someone should send him a check for $9.99 in gratitude for his contributions. And throw in some garlic bread.
Ron Paul is the bright eccentric uncle who sits at the kids table at Thanksgiving because he has offended too many grown-ups over the years. He thinks it signifies his influence over the future.
Santorum. I wish I had never googled the word. As Jon Stewart said, if you didn’t get that, go do it now. I’ll wait.
The differences between the leaders were evident in body language and appearance. Romney ‘s stance was erect and confident. Good hair and impeccable tailoring. He looked attentively at his opponents as they spoke. The man knows his manners. Perry, in sharp contrast, stood in a slight crouch, shoulders hunched , weight forward. He could have been a boxer entering the ring. Testosterone oozed from his podium. His speeches ended on an upward tone, as if to say, “Oh yeah? You got something to say to me?” Bachmann was strangely apart, When Mitt and Rick were going nose to nose, Michelle was at the margin staring away from the action. I presume she was looking at Wolf Blitzer (the moderator), but it left her disconnected. And why does she run off the stage in haste at every break? Does she have a urinary tract infection? She may be more articulate than Palin, but she can’t match her physical presence. Nor can she stand up to the men around her, who have started ignoring her.
As the new media rave, Rick Perry came to Tampa with the most to lose. Michelle had to hold on to the hard core tea partiers. And Mitt needed to brand Perry as the Joker in our political deck, a Texas wild card and loose cannon. Perry was attacked from both sides on Social Security, vaccinations, and immigration.
A close reading of the facts and the arguments might favor Romney in the debate on Social Security, but Perry was an agile opponent. He showed himself ready to jettison his past (backing off from past statements) and eager to counterpunch (a nice jab about Romney’s past comments). He presented himself as having been consistent over time while reassuring his critics. This judge scored the round even. Both corners had reason to be pleased with their man’s performance.
Perry has an indisputable advantage in the debate about immigration; governing the state with the largest border has given him a wealth of experience. It’s curious that the only man with the experience of a wall in his jurisdiction opposed it, while the others all united behind technological solutions to border security. I scored this round for Perry, but I suspect that the judges were split.
The harshest attacks on Perry concerned the cervical cancer vaccinations given to girls in Texas. Paul complained from a libertarian perspective about mass inoculations, although I have to wonder whether, as a physician, he objected to smallpox and polio vaccinations in schools. Santorum objected on religious grounds: the risks of cervical cancer are proportional to the number of lifetime sexual partners, and he was offended that we are assuming that 12 year old girls are at risk. Bachmann objected on both grounds. Perry managed a very graceful apology for a tactical error – he regrets having implemented the program by executive order rather than through the legislative process – and a passionate statement of principle in defense of a program to save lives. Romney was reduced to picking nits: he favored an opt-in parental decision over the Texas opt-out option. The fundamentalist judges would score this round for Bachmann; everyone else had to give it to Perry.
The last word probably should go to Paul Simon:
Going to the candidate’s debate;
Laugh about it, shout about it.
When you’ve got to choose:
Every way you look at it you lose.
