George Will: Mitt Romney May Be The Next Michael Dukakis

Conservative mainstay George Will isn't exactly jumping on the Mitt Romney bandwagon.

Writing in Sunday's Washington Post, he bashes the GOP contender for failing to take consistent positions on many key issues. "A straddle is not a political philosophy; it is what you do when you do not have one," Will writes.

Will calls Romney's subtly shifting positions on ethanol subsidies, for example, "a policy pretzel."

He also takes aim at Romney's failure to express a clear opinion last week about an Ohio ballot initiative that would affect collective bargaining rights in the state.

Romney, Will continues, "is a recidivist reviser of his principles who is not only becoming less electable; he might damage GOP chances of capturing the Senate...Republicans may have found their Michael Dukakis."

This is hardly the first time Mitt Romney has been accused of inconsistency, of course. His changing positions on healthcare, immigration, climate change, and more have made for frequent charges of hypocrisy from his GOP rivals, not to mention liberal critics like Jon Stewart.

Still, Romney's weak competition--his chief rivals have been deemed too unserious (Herman Cain) or undisciplined (Rick Perry)--has left him as the default establishment choice for the nomination. But many conservatives aren't happy about his flip-flopping past.

"Romney has a real trust problem he has to overcome," writes Erick Erickson at the conservative website Red State. He "seems too much an opportunist. Republicans are happy to support him, but they sure don’t want to settle for him."

George Will, in other words, may have said what many other influential conservatives are thinking.

"Even as Republicans come around to the idea that Romney may be their strongest opponent for President Obama," writes Alexander Burns at Politico, "many are still convinced that a Romney presidency would represent a historic missed opportunity for the right. Will may be the most important establishment voice to come out and say so directly."

Comments

[Mike6514]

09:23 PM on 11/01/2011

I see Mittster Mitt as a neurotic who is paranoid about his reputation, whether real or imagined in Mitt's head

[Charles Queen]

07:01 PM on 10/31/2011

Envormental issues is going to play a big part on both sideds.I think though they better start working on a jobs solution

[ramona817]

10:21 PM on 10/30/2011

Interesting... what he has in common with Dukakis is, he's going to get creamed.. one of the few things I have ever agreed with George F. Will about. The GOP is basically writing off 2012 and looking forward to 2016.

[TimFredrickson]

10:21 PM on 10/30/2011

George Will
A neo-con still
TeaBagger sought
His opinion bought
By rightwingers
Obama haters

[SueMVetforObama2]

09:53 PM on 10/30/2011

So the Almighty Conservatives have become squishy McRomney voters? GOP-TPers have no tenets, at all.

[Omentum]

09:30 PM on 10/30/2011

And as Willard's political minions toil one stands in amazement and offers a great idea. He says let get Willard out in a field perched on top of a tank to show he would be a military friendly president.

They all cheer.

[ardis]

08:17 PM on 10/30/2011

Beltway rhino Will's hit piece might have been more discerning had he analysed WHICH of the top tier GOP candidates "twisting on ethonal" do not make a pretzel? Like Romney, Cain both opposes & supports ethonal--i.e., Ethonal should be phased out when it can "compete in the marketplace" but until then he supports ethonal subsidies. Iowa neighbor Bachmann voted for requiring ethonal subsidies, but has delivered very mixed messages during the GOP primaries. Typically, Obama Stumulus sponger Rick Perry is all over the map. In fact, Perry once spoke in support of EPA regulations requiring ethonal & praised Fed subsidies, saying he was "excited" about potential corn based ethonal, quote: "I strongly support it's increased use & production in the Lone Star State." Perry then flipped and since 2007 has spoken out against corn based ethonal. However, according to the Des Moines Register, GOP candidate Perry recently dodged questions from Iowa farmers & refused to get specific on whether ethonal subsidies should end. Meanwhile, anti-Fed welfare subsidies Bachmann & Perry have both received farm subsidies. As usual, deeds & words don't exactly match. Although, Gingrich has since conspicuously flip flopped on his joining forces with Pelosi to promote the Cap & Trade agenda--he still strongly supports ethonal subsidies. So who's the next GOP Dukakis?....zzzz...

[hearmeloudandclear]

07:09 PM on 10/30/2011

Willard is chalking up the titles as he moves on, day-by-day: Newest title: "Serial Flip-flopper".

I wonder if Willard, himself remembers everything he has said?


OBAMA in 2012 - VOTE !

[dearrunfarm]

08:00 PM on 10/30/2011

HUFFPOST SUPER USER
hearmeloudandclear --

"OBAMA in 2012 - VOTE ! "
**********************
I'm curious,why do you think no one admits to voting for him in 2008 ?
You think he has improved and will be able to run on his record ?

[outofstepper]

08:51 PM on 10/30/2011

Everyone who voted for Obama admits it. You are thinking of those who voted for Republicans.

[hearmeloudandclear]

01:10 AM on 10/31/2011

dearrunfarm - Absolutely ! I see no evidence of people saying they didn't vote for him -- I read volumes and keep up with all the political-speak.




OBAMA in 2012 - VOTE !

[calloy]

06:45 PM on 10/30/2011

this is more like bush vs kerry. a party nominates someone that nobody on either side really likes to run against an incumbent and loses.

there's always 2016, republicans.

[bmitche]

06:27 PM on 10/30/2011

The Republicans might not want to settle for Romney , but he is all they have at this point.

[Tom Airhart]

07:27 PM on 10/30/2011

When Bush ran, he was the "chosen" one. McCain was far more popular but the party faithful didn't want McCain so they chose the "empty hat".

[cheneylips]

08:03 PM on 10/30/2011

Palin?

[seyj5]

07:46 PM on 10/30/2011

Very true,so what do we do ?

[jsmills]

12:05 AM on 10/31/2011

you really want to know....??? jump --- - -----.....

[StevieRae]

06:20 PM on 10/30/2011

George, if Romney could be the Republicans' Dukakis, what would you label Perry or Cain? A Nixon running after Watergate was revealed?

[Tom Airhart]

07:17 PM on 10/30/2011

I'd label Perry and Cain has beens. Perry as a cheap suit and hat and that's about it. Cain as a carnie in the carnival. Romney is the only geniune one in the pack of Republican candidates.

[SueMVetforObama2]

09:54 PM on 10/30/2011

Genuine?

[Scott3843]

06:39 AM on 10/31/2011

The only genuine what? That's both the question and the problem.

[thomasskycap]

06:01 PM on 10/30/2011

Mitt Romney only recognizable claim to fame was that health plan that he sanctioned and had to distance himself from because of its similarity to the president's health plan, to appease the TP and the Obama conservative haters, the only thing he has left. Is his supposedly business acumen, if he wins the nomination, the media, and the Democrats are going to hit Bain Capital and flush out any and all questionable transactions he ever made.

[RetireeGoneWild]

06:45 PM on 10/30/2011

Too bad they didn't do that with Obama, he may not be the POTUS today.

[Tom Airhart]

07:18 PM on 10/30/2011

But he is.

[theSiNN3r]

01:26 AM on 10/31/2011

Your micro-bio is the most rediculous thing I have ever read....It's like saying a chimp can beat a human teen in intelligence.

[Scott3843]

06:41 AM on 10/31/2011

I can't believe we haven't heard how Mitt "saved the Olympics" yet this week. Are they saving that one up to re-hash it again for the general election?

[4more]

05:41 PM on 10/30/2011

Michael Dukakis is offended by this comparison and would like an apology!

[Giglawyer]

10:03 AM on 10/31/2011

Somehow, I seriously doubt that.

[TheoRealist]

10:54 AM on 10/31/2011

To me the better comparison would be to Bob Dole in '96--decent guy, but couldn't get the base excited, and the lower turnout on the Republican side helped to re-elect a nominally unpopular Democratic president.

[hagen10]

05:30 PM on 10/30/2011

I would like to see George Will or any of these so called experts live on minimum wage for a full year. Then they would be able to really talk about what needs to be accomplished in this country. Right now they just don't have a clue.

[straight skinny]

05:18 PM on 10/30/2011

First of all I want to say Hi to George. I hope his daughter Jon and the rest of his family are doing well :)

While George and I have not always agreed exactly the same in all our views, I can say that this Great Pulitzer Prize winning American Journalist and I have agreed on more issues than we have disagreed on-and we Certainly Agree on the comparison of Romney and Dukakis. In fact, I have posted on Dukakis several times on this forum with similar comparisons. When George Will talks-I listen!

PS-George, if you're reading this I will have to admit I gave the Texas Rangers an edge, but Congrats to the Cards (and your good buddy Tony LaRussa-even though you're a Cubs fan) who pulled it off! Great series though and Texas will Always be a Great Team Regardless!!