TAMPA, Fla. -- If conventions are important anymore, and I'm not sure they are, they matter for what is not said more than what is said.
The strategic and factual silences show indirectly what the party, candidate and campaign regard as their vulnerabilities -- the people, issues and themes that they know will drive away what's left of the undecided vote.
As the Republican National Convention comes to a close, I'm sitting here in the hall compiling a list of the unstated:
1. "Social" issues. In 1992, a rudderless Bush One reelection campaign turned the GOP convention over to the abortion/traditional family crowd. It was a disaster. Republicans ever since have tried to tone it down, with mixed success. In Tampa, there has been barely a mention of those issues. Even Mike Huckabee toned it down -- and did not mention his good friend Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri. No reference to gay marriage or traditional marriage. Nearly no mention of abortion.
2. Sarah Palin. Even Fox TV banned her for one night of the convention, a remarkable editorial coincidence.
3. Romneycare. Even though Mitt brags about it selectively on the campaign trail, his health care program in Massachusetts has not received a mention here. The reason is obvious: He's running against Obamacare, which was modeled on his own. Wouldn't be prudent.
4. The GOP's spending/budget record 2001-2008. During George W. Bush's presidency, more than $3 trillion was added to the debt. Paul Ryan voted for most of the measures that made up that total. In his speech on Wednesday, he made passing reference to the Bush spending, but not to his own role.
5. Immigration. The divisive issue is verboten here and for good reason: Romney is way behind among Hispanics, disastrously so. He is 5 percentage points behind in Florida, and Nevada and Colorado are in danger, too. I saw Sheriff Joe Arpaio on the floor the other night, but no one was giving him high fives and he was nowhere near the stage.
6. Lack of diversity. There have been plenty of persons of color at the podium, nearly as many as there are in the hall. It is, frankly, a white-on-white crowd. And the GOP, for better or worse, does not seem to mind. It's not that they don't want more diversity; they just aren't for the kind of methodical outreach that accelerates it. They think their ideas are enough. At least that's the generous interpretation.
7. War in Afghanistan. Last night I watched a stirring and, at the same time, heartbreaking color guard of amputee vets bring Old Glory on stage. That was about the only reminder of the war. Or the trillions that have been spent since 9/11.
8. Foreign policy. Except for Condi Rice's speech, and then only partially. And just one mention of Osama bin Laden, by Romney himself, for the obvious reason that President Obama got him and President Bush did not.
9. Bushes. Except for Jeb and a short video on the Georges.
10. Seamus.
Follow Howard Fineman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/howardfineman
Janet Harris: From Reagan to Romney: How Last Night's Speech Measured Up
 |
 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
Although when it comes to the war they so love to make (we prefer making love) one average Halliburton mercenary costs a million a year--ten times the cost of a US marine. And yet they decry the deficit...one can only go, hmmm.....
To use your own words, "SHUT UP."
Deportation has been at the highest level in years under Obama.I understand that border guards are on the Republican cuts list...Last thing we need is presenting ourselves as bullies worldwide again..No one has the ability to become self sufficient without certain needs being met...
There was a lack of southern twang at the podium. Not to mention the ticket. None of the "rising stars" were from the deep south. (Niki Haley is not a rising star)
more than a "single dime" in news taxes, that he is "protecting" Medicare by raiding billions from it to favcilitate his collectivist inspired wealth distribution sacrament.
There is not nearly enough space allowed to come close to the entire, disastrous list. But one I cannot let pass is his SAVING the auto INDUSTRY. Chrysler's demise was prevented by FIAT, not Obama. Obama saved the UNIONS, not the industry.
He love to demagogue the fact that in some of Bain's companies things didn't work out and people unfortunately lost their jobs. That is how things have ALWAYS worked in our country. What Obama, nor his media campaign never mentions are the many thousands of NON UNION WORKERS at the CLOSED and SILL CLOSED dealerships.
Many of the closed dealerships were PROFITABLE but owned by the "wrong" people. Some less profitable dealerships, owned by the "right" people were kept open. Oh, and GM still owes the Treasury approximately $26 BILLION dollars!
The GM share price needs to reach $54 to BREAK EVEN, and the price today is slightly above $21.
So I guess we can assume that Fineman is simply another ideologically driven partisan hack.