Consider what Barack Obama said after he was sworn in as the
44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009. The newly
inaugurated President stated:
What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a
recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to
ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not
grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge
that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of
our character than giving our all to a difficult task.
Well, as it turns out, President Obama’s definition of
responsibility is quite different from that of most Americans.
Because the only duty he has seized gladly over the past three and
a quarter years is holding everyone other than himself responsible
for the shortcomings of his policies. President Obama has blamed
everyone from former President George W. Bush and House Republicans
to the Arab Spring and the Japanese earthquake and tsunami for
things not going exactly as planned. At this point, I am surprised
he hasn’t got around to blaming his dog Bo, but his turn may soon
come. The Obama 2012 campaign is underway and it’s a dog eat dog
world out there. Or should I say a man eat dog world? Either way,
Obama always seems to have a bone to pick with someone.
However, with the emergence of the GSA and Secret Service
scandals not to mention the Fast & Furious scandal at the
Department of Justice and the Solyndra boondoggle, President
Obama’s time in office can be characterized as an era of
irresponsibility.
Enter Mitt Romney. Say what you will about the former
Massachusetts Governor. Sure he’s flip-flopped more than John
Kerry, might not care much for the poor, and likes firing people as
much as he likes mandates. But at least Mitt would mind the store.
This is a man who dots his i’s, crosses his t’s
and curves his u’s as meticulously as he combs his hair.
Whatever his shortcomings, Romney comes across as a man who knows
not only what he is doing but also what he needs to do. The same
cannot be said for Obama. When we take the time to stack the
résumés of Obama and Romney side-by-side we might very well come to
the conclusion that Obama would be lucky to qualify for an entry
level position in one of Romney’s companies.
If America should choose to put its faith in Mitt this November
then over the next four years we will told about how things are
being cleaned up and turned around instead of being subjected to
four more years of speeches from Obama telling us about the mess
that was inherited from the previous administration and how
frustrated he is that he doesn’t have the power to wipe it out with
the single stroke of a pen. We will have gone from Obama the Orator
to Romney the Responsible.
To borrow a phrase from DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz,
Romney is literally and figuratively a picture of sobriety. There
is some
question as to whether the strongest thing Romney drinks is
Diet Coke or chocolate milk. I know Bill Maher kind of beat me to
this, but I have a slightly different take from that of the
“comedian” who donated $1 million
to an Obama Super PAC.
So let’s cue the flamenco guitar and images of a younger Romney
in the French Alps with PowerPoint in tow.
He can balance the federal budget on the tips of his
fingers.
He can alphabetize his tax deductions blindfolded.
He has won gold medals for Olympic events that do not yet
exist.
Hairstylists go to him for grooming advice.
He can tell you that 2 + 2 = 4.
He is the most boring man in the
world.
To which Romney, seated at an overcrowded table with his wife
Ann, his five sons, their spouses and sixteen grandchildren, would
reply, “I don’t always drink chocolate milk, but when I do I prefer
Over the
Moon. Stay thirsty my friends.”
Mitt Romney might very well be the least hip presidential
candidate since Nixon set
foot on a beach. As such he would be well advised to refrain
from asking “Who let
the dogs out?” ever again (unless, of course, said dogs found
themselves on the menu of the next White House State Dinner). Mitt
should also probably resist the temptation to tell people that he
listens to Jay-Z on his iPod (assuming he even has an iPod.)
While Romney might not be able to carry a tune, let
us remember that we’re voting for the next American President, not
the next American Idol. So while Obama
sings “Let’s Stay Together” with the Reverend Al Green, Romney
is actually figuring a way to bring the nation together. Not very
exciting perhaps. But 3 ¼ years of Obama plus the trillions added
to our debt is more than enough drama for a lifetime. At least four
years of boredom is exactly what this country needs.
