Dana Milbank: How Dare Romney Withdraw Back Into Private, Profit-Seeking Life After I and My Political Correligionists Trashed Him and Kept Him From Taking Office

Apparently, having been rejected by the liberal media elite, Romney now finds himself in the curious position of owing them something anyway.

I sense a pattern here. A pattern that involves endless obligations to work for free or donate money to the liberal machine, even if -- nay, especially if -- you actually oppose the liberal machine.

The nation is heading toward the “fiscal cliff,” but have no fear: Mitt Romney is coming to the rescue — of Marriott International Inc.

In his first public comments since election night, the defeated Republican presidential nominee issued a statement Monday announcing his next step. An appeal to national unity? A charitable initiative?

No, he announced that he was rejoining the hotel chain’s board of directors. “It is an honor to once again be able to serve in the company of leaders like Bill Marriott,” said Romney’s statement, distributed by Marriott.

It was emblematic of the tone-deaf, I-have-some-great-friends-that-are-NASCAR-team-owners moments that contributed to his loss. The country is in a crisis, political leaders in a standoff, and Romney is joining his buddy’s corporate board.

Romney is a private citizen now and free to do as he chooses. But it’s not as if he needs the money; the $170,000 in cash and stock that Marriott directors received in the most recent year reported is but a sliver of the $20 million or so Romney takes in annually from his investments.

...

Romney’s post-election behavior has been, in a word, small. Never again, likely, will his voice and influence be as powerful as they are now. Yet rather than stepping forward to help find a way out of the fiscal standoff, or to help his party rebuild itself, he delivered a perfunctory concession speech, told wealthy donors that Obama won by giving “gifts” to minorities, then avoided the press at a private lunch with President Obama.

So what he wants is for Romney to agitate on behalf of Barack Obama and convince those crazy Republicans to give in for the sake of the country, before Obama is forced to shoot his hostage.

Isn't that always the way? Always demanding that Republicans force other Republicans to be Democrats.

Since Obama built his campaign on absurd opposition to everything Romney urged, what role could Romney possibly have? He couldn't advocate his own positions; Obama trashed them. So yeah, Romney is now supposed to join Obama push the policies Obama can't, so Obama can play more golf.

Forgive the blasphemy, but Jesus Christ Almighty.

Amusing... That it turns out that maybe the country needs Romney's financial acumen after all.

Maybe should have thought of that before.

PS, let it burn.

posted by Ace at 03:15 PM

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