Whatever it takes

As ThinkProgress understated it, it's just "another sign that the Romney campaign doesn’t appear to speak for its candidate."

In the reassuring afterglow of a Romney campaign spokeman's unambiguous declaration that the "mandate was not a tax," which was contemporaneous with a Romney campaign spokeswoman's unambiguous declaration that "Governor Romney thinks [the mandate] is an unconstitutional penalty," Governor Romney now unambiguously declares that the mandate "is a tax" (although his mandate was not).

Don't ask. It makes as much or as little sense as you want it to. It's auditor's choice. In RomneyWorld it's a tax or a penalty or the Easter Bunny--and what it is in your world depends entirely on which "reality" you choose to accept. Should you be a citizen of RomneyWorld, however, you are unbound by facts, unobligated to history. You are free, free to accept and defend any shifting explanations or shifty flip-flops you like.

For comfort, look at it this way. Romney's position(s) on the mandate is at least as conceptually solid as Joe Stalin's 'Popular Front.' The mid-1930s communist international movement was designed to oppose German fascists, until Joe, in 1939, signed a treacherous deal with the German fascists, at which point the movement was expected to love German fascists. Two years later, the fascists returned the treachery and everyone standing with Joe was expected to hate the fascists again.

Whatever it takes. Whatever it takes.

That is Mitt Romney's only reality.

Comments

[Peter G]

I think I see the problem. Fehrnstrom, the right knob on the etch-a-sketch is not being properly coordinated with Romney, the other right knob on the etch-a-sketch.

[NickT]

I suspect it's just because Megan McArdle hasn't shown them the right Etch-a-Sketch filled with rose crystal Himalayan sea salt.

[Janicket]

Last night I saw upon the stair
A little man who wasn’t there
He wasn’t there again today
Oh, how I wish he’d go away

William Hughes Mearns, "Antigonish" (1899)

[Robert Lipscomb]

@Janicket LOL!

[majii]

There is a lot of truth in saying that Romney's supporters will believe and back any position he takes, PM. After flip flopping on whether the mandate is a tax or a penalty, I began seeing posts on the web from his supporters who are now saying that his campaign always said it was a tax. Never mind that this isn't even close to being the truth. It's very difficult dealing with people like these.

[nk007]

"It's very difficult dealing with people like these."

It's indeed, majii!, Especially when the so called mainstream media gives them a pass.