Romney's Campaign Of Transformation

By: James Pinkerton

Newsday

Thursday, Feb 15, 2007

"Mitt Romney wants transformation. How do we know? The former Massachusetts Republican governor used the word 'transform' or a variant no fewer than 13 times in his presidential announcement Tuesday.

"Of course, so far at least, the greatest object of transformation in Romney's life is - Romney. And maybe that's not so bad. Because, while some might wish for a president who is locked into predictable orthodoxy, right or left, America desperately needs a president who can learn and adapt - and get things done.

"Romney's career as a venture capitalist - he is worth an estimated $500 million - is certainly proof of his acumen. And, at the same time, any baby boomer who has been happily married to the same woman for 37 years deserves a medal for good conduct during sexual revolution.

"So when Romney, whose father, George, was a Detroit auto magnate turned governor, declares that 'innovation and transformation have been at the heart of America's success,' he knows whereof he speaks.

...

"So when he said on Tuesday, 'If there ever was a time when innovation and transformation were needed in government, it is now,' Romney was accurately describing the need to overhaul the doddering status quo in health care, education and homeland security - just for starters.

"He was also correct when he added, 'I do not believe Washington can be transformed from within by a lifelong politician.'"

...

"After eight years of slippery opportunism, and after eight more years of 'moral clarity' that has become indistinguishable from myopic obsession, perhaps voters in 2008 will embrace a candidate who has demonstrated that he or she has sound personal values, even as we are told that we have to learn from our mistakes - that we must learn anew and act anew."

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