Last night's Florida GOP debate was uneventful. Frankly, it was boring. All of the candidates looked exhausted and questions, once again, covered irrelevant issues that brought little, if any, attention to the Obama administration. Instead, the debate served as an opportunity to see a side of Mitt Romney that reveals deeper insight to his true character: he will attack anyone that stands in his way of becoming president. For some time we've pointed out that Mitt Romney will do and say anything to become president. This is a character flaw that we see in Barack Obama. The ego comes before taking a stand on the issues. The Florida GOP debate showed, as in previous debates, that Romney isn't putting America first, but rather himself.
What do we have against Mitt Romney? Nothing personal whatsoever. If he wins the GOP nomination, we'll support him 100%, no questions asked. However, his record of actions are not conservative, nor was his response to the question regarding his conservatism. It was a pathetic answer; liberals have families and start their own businesses, too. What we saw in the opening of the debate was an all-out assault on Newt Gingrich. This was expected because he just beat Romney in South Carolina and he wants the title of "President" so badly. However, the attacks were relentless to the point that it was clear Romney wanted to bury his opposition, just like he did to the loser John McCain and Mike Huckabee in the 2008 election.
Beating the opposition is expected and certainly understandable, but it was how Romney did it. Newt was right: Romney had a new debate coach. He was a polished robot; his answers were well rehearsed. He came off as a crybaby, in all seriousness. And he finally had a stage to get attention and whine about it. His minions and surrogates are on the attack 24-7, but they're not telling the truth. Romney is a Massachusetts moderate, home to the murdering drunk Ted Kennedy, John "D-student" Kerry and Barney Frank.
Between Romney and Newt, we support Newt. And the reason why is simple: Newt has a proven history of conservative actions. We judge actions and listen to spoken works closely. Both candidates have made plenty of stupid, non-conservative comments. Newt has a history of conservative actions. And that's where Romney is out-right lying. The ethics charges against Newt were filed by radical liberals that were furious they lost control of the House. Of the one ethics charge that stuck, Newt paid the fine because he didn't have the money to fight it, just like Chris Christie did when he paid for the use of a helicopter to watch his son play baseball. He ushered in conservative change in Washington and helped pass the Contract with America. What that did for welfare in America has been incredible. So when Romney attacks his record, it's the actions, not the words, that are important.
The Florida GOP debate may not have had the flare as past debates, but it showed Romney's true character. He is part of the establishment, which is why so many websites and news outlets are attacking Newt and blubbering about Romney. The establishment supports Romney and that is very troubling. An establishment president will not change Washington. If anything, the Florida GOP debate showed that Newt Gingrich has the qualities of an elder statesman that can handle countless false attacks, while still getting his message across. On the other hand, the Florida GOP debate showed that Romney has one important trait he'll lose if he doesn't get the nomination: his dignity.
Chuck Justice is the editor-in-chief for Habledash.
