http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2 ... -gore.html
It discusses how other charisma impaired presidential candidates were able to finesse the issue by admitting the weakness and linking it to a strength. The author’s examples are Bush I and Gore. He says Mitt didn’t do this in his acceptance speech. And I’m wondering why.
Here are three suggestions from Shrum how Mitt could have handled it:
Shrum wrote:Why couldn’t Romney bring himself to say something like this: “I’ve been criticized for being stiff and too earnest”—and then turn it—“but our problems are big, and I’m in earnest about solving them; I am unbending in my resolve to do the job of freeing our economy to create millions of new jobs.”
Or this: “Tonight I’ve tried to tell you a little about who I am and what makes me tick, but I am a private man, and I don’t like to spend a lot of time talking about myself. Perhaps there’s good in that, too. As president, I will focus on what’s happening to you, not me.”
Or: “I won’t be flashy, but I will have a guiding star—to work my heart out each and every day to end the heartache of unemployment and put America back to work.” Message bonus: Romney does have a heart.
I wonder if part of the issue is that Mormon perfectionism, the Mormon idea that God is on our side, that God is inspiring us and God can do no wrong is the problem. Mormons can never publically admit to a specific weakness. Sure a Mormon will say “if I have offended anyone, I apologize.” Or “I am humbled.” I think this is particularly true of the leadership. You never hear I did “x” and I apologize. Or I’m the new bishop and I'm not good at “y.”
Would Pres. Hinckley ever have said, “I may not have the doctrinal background of Elder McConkie, but what I know about the church I will present in the best possible way to the world as we spread the gospel.” He couldn’t, he had to be too near perfect to acknowledge a deficiency and anyway, it didn’t matter, the unerring God was whispering day-to-day in his ear.
Mitt faced the same problem. God wants him to run for president, hell, he probably thinks God wants him to be president and that God is guiding his campaign. What different does it make if he is stiff and a lot of people can’t relate to him. He’s on God’s errand whether a Stake President or a presidential candidate. Anyone who criticizes his stiffness as a weakness is just wrong. Why would God give a weakness to the person he wants to be president?
And this is one way I think knowing a bit about the specifics of Mitt’s religion helps illuminate the man.