Two perspectives on Romney on his birthday

Monday, March 12th is Mitt Romney’s 60th birthday. On his birthday, there will be two events that are iconic of his campaign.

First, Hugh Hewitt, blogger, radio talk-show host, law school professor, and, now, author, will be releasing, A Mormon in the Whitehouse. Hewitt is clear in his praise. A Boston Globe blog offered excerpts:

"I have never met a more intellectually gifted, curious, good humored, broadly read, and energetic official than Mitt Romney," he writes in the introduction. Hewitt also concludes that "Mitt Romney is qualified to be president. Perhaps even over-qualified."

"Over-qualified" is high praise. However, Hewitt’s exuberance for Romney is matched perhaps only by Romney’s own view of himself. This weekend in West Virginia Romney said:

I’m exactly what the nation needs right now.

Some have said that Romney’s foreign policy might be light. However, Hewitt has noted that Romney has hit the books:

And Romney knows the war. He was worked to learn its complexities and the nature of our diverse enemies, constantly reading the sorts of books that must be absorbed.

All the praise aside, Hewitt’s real objective is to argue that Romney’s religious beliefs should not be held against him in his race for President. (that much I agree with)

Another view is offered by the Massachusetts Republicans for Truth, a group of MA Republican activists who are unhappy with Romney’s legacy in their state. Rather than think Romney "overqualified", they think that the record that he trumps around the country is a charade. One of the founders told the Boston Herald:

“He’s running for the highest office in the nation and voters need to know the entire record,” said Robichaud. “We can’t elect an unknown quantity to president of the United States.”

Robichaud also attacks Romney saying:

“It’s a matter of trust,” Robichaud said yesterday. “When somebody changes their position on so many different issues – taxes, minimum wage, abortion, gay marriage, gay rights – you’ve got to start to wonder, where are his core beliefs?”

“If you don’t have any core beliefs, you shouldn’t be president of the United States,” she said.

These two perspectives are the contrasting narratives on Mitt Romney, his campaign, and his record. Only time will tell which the public eventually accepts.