What Went Wrong in 2012? Don't Say Romney

[DonViejo]

ELSPETH REEVE 12:00 PM ET

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Why did Republicans lose the 2012 elections when so many Republicans really didn't like President Obama? A CPAC panel titled "CSI: Washington, D.C.: November 2012 Autopsy" set out to answer that question. The panelist mostly avoided a question that might better help them win elections: Why aren't there more Republicans?

In their introductory speeches, The American Spectator's John Fund explained that Obama's campaign had amazing microtargeting power. The Washington Examiner's Michael Barone said Republicans lacked enthusiasm. Former Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle said Democrats demonized Republicans and made people feel guilty. Editorial cartnooist Michael Ramirez ticked through many conservatives hate about Obama -- Solyndra, the deficit, Obamacare, Benghazi -- and suggested these things should have been fatal if the mainstream media wasn't such a lapdog for the White House. "The media made the economy irrelevant," Ramirez said, even though three of the four members of the panel are successfully employed by conservative media, as was the moderator, Daily Caller founder Tucker Carlson.

After the speeches, Carlson, to his credit, gently prodded the panelists to wonder if maybe Romney played a role in Romney's loss. "The lack of emphasis on Romney's campaign was striking," Carlson said of the speeches. "I'm wondering is there something the Republican Party is doing wrong in the way that it goes about finding candidates?" Fund agreed that the tendency to blame campaign consultants -- Romney campaign manager Stuart Stevens and Karl Rove have gotten a lot of criticism since November -- forgets that candidates are the ones who hire the consultants. But Barone stepped in, saying, "Let me just say a few things in defense of Romney…" Romney made some bold decisions he said. He showed up unannounced at Solyndra's headquarters, for example. That's right, he did things Republicans like. Why didn't he win?

Carlson, again to his credit, asked for specific things Republicans could do to make new Republicans. The panel struggled to do that. Fund was the most specific -- Republicans should take a grittier, more populist tone, and recognize that being pro-business is not always the same as being pro-free market. Maybe they should look at why they're defending the carried interest loophole that allows investment managers (like Mitt Romney) to be taxed at a low rate of 15 percent.

But the other panelists failed to answer Carlon's question...

-snip-

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/03/what-went-wrong-2012-dont-say-romney/63152/

[graham4anything]

1. President Obama is beloved by far greater voters than the other sides have

President Obama would have beaten ANY contender.

they didn't lose, President Obama won.

Fair and Square.

Nothing could have changed destiny in either 2008 or 2012.

And hopefully it shall continue in 16 and 20 and 24 and 28 and 32 and 36 and 40 and 44...
to infinity and beyond

[jollyreaper2112]

2. No

It's possible the Republicans could have fielded someone to replace Obama. A lot of his base were pretty pissed with him and the election was not a foregone conclusion. Romney was a pretty terrible candidate.

Note that Bush was the worst president in our entire history and Kerry still couldn't manage a win. Moral of the story: people vote for someone, not against someone.

I do think Kerry was too interested in being polite and presidential and not breaking out the brass knuckles and combat boots. Bush had an atrocious record and the war already looked like a mistake. Remember Fahrenheit 9-11? A screenwriter couldn't have given him a better candidate to run against. And he conceded the election immediately, even faster than Gore.

[monmouth3]

3. Oh, I think Kerry could have managed a win had the SC not stepped in. He probably did win but

little Jebbie took care of that.

[Stuckinthebush]

4. That was Gore

Kerry had to deal with shenanigans in Ohio.

[monmouth3]

5. Oh my, you are right. I blur out when I think about the entire fiasco. Many thanks...n/t

[Cha]

6. Good.. asshole Liars were in the dark and plan to stay there.

It's easier for them than facing reality.