Why Romney's High School Bullying Is Fair Game

[There Is No Spoon]

—By Kevin Drum
| Thu May. 10, 2012 10:22 AM PDT

...

Does this matter? It was 50 years ago and a different era. And generally speaking, I've always felt like there ought to be a political statute of limitations on this kind of thing: anything that happened before, say, age 25 and more than 20 years ago is off limits.

Needless to say, though, that's decidedly not the way the world actually works, and in the case of presidents their pasts have always been fair game back to the day they entered kindergarten. Like it or not, Romney isn't being treated any differently here than any other presidential candidate of the past half century.

So: does it matter? Paul Waldman says no. What matter are his abhorrent current day policy positions:

...

Jon Chait isn't so sure. Some people grow out of their youthful doltishness and some don't:

Quote: The story does give the sense of a man who lacks a natural sense of compassion for the weak. His prankery seems to have invariably singled out the vulnerable — the gay classmate, the nearly blind teacher, the nervous day student racing back to campus. It’s entirely possible to grow out of that youthful mentality — to learn to step out of your own perspective, to develop an appreciation for the difficulties faced by those not born with Romney’s many blessings. I’m just not sure he ever has.

... http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/20...-shows-day

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Needless to say, I agree with Jon Chait.

[pappy]

As Rachel aptly pointed out last night it is his current reactions to this and other revelations that should raise eyebrows if not hackles.

The nervous, almost sinister, laughter. The simultaneous denial, excuse, discounting of importance and misremembering speaks more to political calculation than a maturing of attitude and personality.

Indeed it appears his lack of empathy has become exaggerated over the years rather than any tendency towards sympathy for the plight of those less fortunate.

[There Is No Spoon]

(05-11-2012 06:34 AM)pappy Wrote:  As Rachel aptly pointed out last night it is his current reactions to this and other revelations that should raise eyebrows if not hackles.

The nervous, almost sinister, laughter. The simultaneous denial, excuse, discounting of importance and misremembering speaks more to political calculation than a maturing of attitude and personality.

Indeed it appears his lack of empathy has become exaggerated over the years rather than any tendency towards sympathy for the plight of those less fortunate.

Exactly this.

Some people learn from their mistakes, Romney has simply tried to "forget" his past indiscretions, his efforts failing behind that "guilty laugh" that he cannot hide. This man makes Nixon look like a well-adapted human being.

[NJMaverick]

and failed to apologizes NOW, shows he still has the same lack of character that drove his bullying 46 years ago.

[pappy]

(05-11-2012 06:43 AM)NJMaverick Wrote:  and failed to apologizes NOW, shows he still has the same lack of character that drove his bullying 46 years ago.

Lack of character or a defective sociopathic character.

[Velleity]

(05-11-2012 06:43 AM)NJMaverick Wrote:  and failed to apologizes NOW, shows he still has the same lack of character that drove his bullying 46 years ago.

It sure seems like it's a pattern.

[jaxx]

It is fair game. And today the wingers are pouring through Dreams From My Father to find stuff about PBO. One incident I saw in an article tells about being in school and pushing a girl because of something that was said. He writes about it because he was ashamed for doing it.

Some people do grow up, others can't change because either they don't want to or they don't have to. There is no shame in Willards bullying episodes, he laughs and can't remember when he hurt people.