Did Josey Wales Still Mitt Romney’s Political Dream?

Commentary by Anelsa

WASHINGTON DC (Tell Us DC) - On Thursday night, August 30, 2012 Mitt Romney accepted the GOP nomination for president. It was the night Romney had anticipated most of his adult life and it had finally arrived. His perfectly aligned teeth showed the world how pleased he was to be one step closer to the second part of his political dream. Media hype about the night was high. Speculation about the messages of scheduled speakers and the mystery surrounding a surprise one, dominated many social media websites. Political analysts predicted historical consequences, network bosses hoped for high ratings.

My television was programmed to turn to MSNBC at 10:00 sharp. I focused my eyes on the 52-in screen and had expected to see Mr. Romney standing on the platform. Instead, I saw an aging actor who portrayed one of America’s most famous fictional cowboys. The mystery guest had been unveiled; it was actor and director Clint Eastwood. My first impression of Eastwood was that he was old and thin. Each strand of his thinning white hair was going in a different direction. He looked tired and a bit nervous. His voice was weak and wavering. As I listened and watched I realized Eastwood was talking to an empty chair, a chair in which an invisible President Obama was seated. My thoughts reflected on another night on which a similar vision of Eastwood was clear. It was during the Kennedy Honors Awards in December 2008. Eastwood rambled and talked overtime that evening while there to honor his close friend and fellow actor, the Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman. (Freeman is a supporter of President Obama and in July 2012 he donated a million dollars to his presidential campaign).

What does the choice of Eastwood as a speaker and the order of his appearance on the program of his political prom say about Romney? How can a man who could neither manage, strategize nor consult with a campaign team to present himself in a strong authoritative light manage, strategize, plan, consult or lead a country? Why should we entrust him with our destiny that is economically precarious (because of years of political posturing on both sides) when he could not master the fate of his own political destiny so long in the making?

Why did he think that the mere celebrity of Clint Eastwood did not call for a conversation with the actor about the content or duration of his message? Why did he not question the content of material from speakers Rubio, Christi and others who boasted more of their own political achievement than of his attributes and measurable accomplishments?

How did he not imagine that the video created by his campaign team to show America his compassionate, emotional and loving side would impact Americans with the compelling effect it was intended to do? The video was the perfect way for Mitt Romney to say “So America who want to know the real Mitt Romney, well here I am”! Imagine the impact if after Rubio’s speech the Romney video had been shown and then the man; the Romney in the video had simply walked out on stage; that would have been creative genius.

Consequences of decisions made for the Republican National Convention 2012’s big night remain to be seen and may not be revealed until Election Day 2012. Conversations of Eastwood’s ramblings will transition and go from loud laughter to silent unspoken thoughts. Like the invincible character Josey Wales, Eastwood is still standing unscathed. Unlike the character Josey Wales who fought for the underdog, the abused and tortured, Mitt Romney stands only for his ego, and his foreign bank accounts. There were many significant issues missing in action in Romney's speech. Absent was expression of gratitude for the sacrifices our troops have and are making for our country. Romney did not mention the current war but even a forgetful Eastwood did.

This writer’s impression of Romney has been reaffirmed; the only thing that Romney can control is his hairbrush and the marching of his millions of dollars into foreign bank accounts. I predict that one of America’s most favorite fictional characters, Josey Wales may have cost Mitt Romney his dream. No Clint you may not have made Romney’s day on Thursday evening, but you sure did make mine.