After experiencing first hand the catastrophic implosion of the Barry Goldwater campaign in 1964 and the violent personal attacks made against him during the primary for California governer, Reagan popularized what has since become known as Reagan’s 11th Commandment:
Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.
This was a rule Reagan followed for the rest of his political career, but its a rule that the so-called “Reagan Republicans” currently facing off for the 2012 Republican candidacy appear to have forgotten. Which begs the question: Whatever happened to Reagan’s 11th Commandment?
For that matter, what happened to the Candidate Gingrich that appeared in last year’s summer debates? The man who attracted applause for his friendly demeanor towards his fellow candidates and for reminding the country that the primary focus of these debates should be on unseating Obama. As his popularity grew, his focus shifted towards defaming Mitt Romney, and his favorability ratings have plummeted. Perhaps the true staying power of Mitt Romney’s campaign has been his laser-like focus on Obama. Sure he’s had to respond to the challenges about his record, but throughout the primary season his message has been consistently aimed at winning in November, 2012.
As Romney gets closer to winning the nomination, its time for the Republican Party to stop dithering and start focusing. Regardless of who becomes the nominee, the incessant and increasingly personal attack against the candidates will only hamper the ability of the GOP to present a unified front against the opponent who really matters — President Obama. Regardless of who wins in South Carolina, attacking Mitt Romney’s career in a private equity firm is counterproductive. Who cares if he saved jobs, created jobs, whatever; that wasn’t his job. His vast personal fortune would indicate that Romney was good at his actual job–making money. If Gingrich, Perry, et al, want to run as conservatives, its time to be less-focused on criticizing Romney’s business history and spend more time articulating how their policy positions are different from his. Otherwise the South Carolinians will see right through their negativity and hand Romney his third consecutive win.
