Perhaps angry he was left off Time’s 100 most influential people list, while AK Gov. Sarah Palin was included, Romney offered some snark in a CNN interview:
KING: As you launch this effort, anyone who picks up Time magazine this week and sees the 100 most influential people, will see two Republicans in that magazine. They’ll see Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh. Is that helpful, hurtful, indifferent?CANTOR: You know, they are two individuals that have a lot of ideas, and our party should be about ideas. That’s what this effort is about and the National Council for a New America, and that is what they’re about. So I don’t think any of us should have any monopoly on the ideas. And I know that there are some who like to make it all about personalities, but it’s about ideas. It’s about how we take this country forward.
ROMNEY: John, I’d like to have a lot more influential Republicans. I think there are a lot more influential Republicans than that would suggest. But was that the issue on the most beautiful people or the most influential people? I’m not sure. If it’s the most beautiful, I understand. We’re not real cute.
Several bloggers (even from the lefty blogs) feel Romney’s statement was sexist, and condescending towards women. But I think that misses a larger point. Palin was an embarrassment during the campaign, and no matter how hard some try to parlay that as a result of her being a woman, that just wasn’t it. (Ahem… Katie Kouric interviews: “What newspapers do you read?” “Oh, all of ‘em!”) Her continued “influence” in the GOP is much like that of Joe the Plummer (who, incidentally left the GOP today): an easy target for the Democrats. There is nothing sexist in recognizing incompetence.
But Palin supporters (h/t Doug Gibson) think this shows Romney fears a Palin candidacy in 2012. And have YouTube spoof to prove it. If this keeps up, the GOP primaries may be more fun than the Daily Show.
On a related note, I just offered my first ever defense of Mittens! and feel dirty. Off to the showers.
Jason,
The fact that you are defending Mitt on this is proof that this is not an issue of sexism. Palin has not demonstrated that she is quite ready for prime time and those who think she is ready to be a national party leader are obviously looking for a figurehead (easy on the eyes) rather than a real leader (promoting and defending the party values).
P.S. this is really more about Palin than it is about Mitt. You haven’t really said anything particularly nice about him, just pointed out that he was right in this one instance. You can still come clean.
Heh, thanks for the support David. Maybe I’ll be able to sleep tonight after all.
And I think “not ready for prime time” is a good way to put it.