Gloves Coming Off As Romney Aide Attacks Palin
The Palin and Romney camps have already started trading barbs in what could be a preview of the race for the GOP nomination in 2012.
In a sure sign that her potential opponents consider a Sarah Palin run for the Republican nomination in 2012 a likelihood, a recent column in Time Magazine includes what can only be called a shot across the bow from the Romney campaign:
Few express much regard for Palin’s ultimate chances. One adviser to Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, and, by traditional standards, the putative 2012 frontrunner, says of Palin, “She’s not a serious human being.” Another Romney intimate warns, “If she’s standing up there in a debate and the answers are more than 15 seconds long, she’s in trouble.”
The Palin camp swatted back in The Politico:
In potentially the first inter-staff dust up of the 2012 presidential race, an aide of Sarah Palin is hitting back at Mitt Romney’s camp for saying the former Alaska governor is “not a serious human being.”
(…)
Asked about the comments by POLITICO, a longtime Palin aide unloaded on Romney’s staff.
“It shocks me that anyone would try to do that,” the aide said. “You’d think we’d all be working together toward a common goal – that being 2010 – and that should be the focus right now. Those who try to claim the mantle of Reagan would be good to follow one of his most sacred tenets.”
“For Washington consultants to sit around and personally disparage the Governor anonymously to reporters is unfortunate and counterproductive and frankly immature,” the aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, continued.
Well, all I can say in response to that is welcome to big time politics, buddy.
It’s fairly obvious that anyone who runs against Sarah Palin, assuming she ever runs for anything ever again, is going to hit her on her relative lack of experience and her disengagement with issues beyond repeating platitudes — something that can be seen fairly evidently in this recent appearance on The O’Reilly Factor. And if the Palin camp thinks that this little comment from an anonymous Romney aide is “disparaging,” just wait for what the media and the Democrats are going to put her through.
If Palin runs, she sure isn’t going to get a coronation.
Well, it’s pretty clear that Romney is a communist, and a nazi, and an all-round wanker who doesn’t love America, and is really a Democrat, and is a Rino, and is in the pocket of the left-wing communinazis, and…sorry, what was the question?
Well put Doug.
I would add that, if she runs, the media and the Democrats are the least of her worries. If 2007/2008 taught us anything, it’s that the Eleventh Commandment doesn’t mean much anymore.
Republicans may all be clamoring for the “Reagan candidate” label, but politics is politics. They will tear her apart (if she becomes a candidate for the nomination).
Oh, this should be fun…I wonder if even people like her fanboys around here will be able to save her…
It would be fun to watch Palin in a primary campaign. Everyone would pussyfoot around her at first, but eventually someone would have to unload on her.
Plus, you know, that all of the other potential candidates consider her to be a phony. They must be pulling their hair out that she is able to put out her little Facebook messages and talk on Fox News and never be challenged on substance.
Judging by how hard the Tea Party Congressional candidate Rick Barber got spanked in Alabama last Tuesday, I doubt Palin will run…unless there’s a buck in it for her, of course.
“In a sure sign ”
I rather doubt it means any such thing. By lobbing a little grenade in Palin’s direction Romney’s aide calls attention to his candidacy. One of the oldest tricks in the book Doug.
I support Romney. I think after more than two centuries of human presidents the time has come to elect a lizard.
So I guess the Romney strategy is to open up the “not serous” thing right away, and let it hang there all through the (possible) primary campaign.
That the Palin camp’s initial response reduced to “that’s mean” is a little sad. They are obviously not ready to answer.
(I like this because while I might not totally like a Romney Presidency, I ‘d find a Palin one truly frightening.)
“I support Romney. I think after more than two centuries of human presidents the time has come to elect a lizard.”
That was his previous position.
I’m getting my popcorn ready.