Romnial
by Lori Latrice Martin | special to NewBlackMan (in Exile)
During the 2012 presidential campaign, the term Romnesia was added to the American lexicon. President Obama came up with the term as a way to describe Governor Romney’s apparent “flip flops” on a host of issues. The term, criticized by some on the right as trivial and unbecoming, described what President Obama said was Romney’s “changing up so much, backtracking and sidestepping.” It appears that while the election may be over, and diagnoses of Romnesia are now few, and far between, that Romney, and other members of his party, are suffering from yet another condition, one that could be called Romnial.
Romnial is a condition characterized by series of political denials, which began afflicting Romney and other Republican candidates, even Republican operatives, beginning election night. First, Governor Romney was so convinced that he would win the election that he apparently did not even prepare a concession speech. Romnial. Although the state of Ohio was called for President Obama by watchers at various news outlets, including at Fox News, some on-air analysts and personalities, refused to concede defeat. Even Governor Romney took his time conceding the election, hoping, and perhaps praying that somehow, someway, everyone in the know got it wrong. Romnial.
Governor Romney’s own analysis as to why he lost the election is further proof that he has come down with a case of Romnial. On a conference call to donors and fundraisers, Governor Romney attributed his defeat to the belief that President Obama essentially dangled a host of political gifts before the eyes of selected voters. These voters, according to Romney, already see themselves as victims, who are dependent upon government. These individuals, including young people and people of color, were undoubtedly, included in the now infamous 47%. They, say Romney, believe they are owed an array of unearned and underserved entitlements. Romnial. Romnial has clearly caused some to ignore the broad-based coalition; superior voter turnout machine; and republican gaffes; that led to the downfall of Governor Romney’s presidential aspirations.
As was the case with Romnesia, Romnial also appears to be contagious. Vice President Joe Biden observed that Congressman Paul Ryan had come down with a case of Romnesia. Other Republicans have apparently come down with Romnial. For example, Representative Allen West apparently developed a case of Romnial. West was defeated by Democrat Patrick Murphy, and refused for a time to concede. Legal challenges not only failed, but revealed, according to the Daily News, that West may have garnered less support than shown in the original count. West, also suffered from an apparent case of Romnial. Even more well-known Republicans, like Arizona Senator John McCain have come down with Romnial.
The pre-emptive attack on Dr. Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., led by McCain and others, is reflective of a serious case of Romnial. Michael Tomasky of The Daily Beast, said it best, “In reality land, she’s done nothing that ought to be considered all that controversial. But again, conservatives don’t like the outcome—Democrats having the upper hand on foreign policy and national security—so they’re trying to make her controversial.”
McCain, perhaps still bitter about his loss in 2008 and embarrassed by his party’s showing in 2012, is waging a war with the administration, when there are clearly more important battles to fight. Some have even said that the attack on Susan Rice smacks of racism and sexism, both aimed at her and the nation’s first president of color. Apparently, Romnial can result in political hallucinations and paranoia.
There is hope, not all Republicans appear to be suffering from Romnial. Some Republicans have not only publically refuted comments made by Governor Romney, but they have already started placing political and physical distance between themselves and their former “golden boy”. Even the governors of New Jersey and Louisiana have denounced his comments. Some on the Hill have even expressed a willingness to work with President Obama on a number of issues, including on immigration and the so-called, fiscal cliff.
Whether those afflicted with the most serious cases Romnial will recover remains to be seen, but the mandate that President Obama and his party received on election night, may indicate that they have no choice but to take a shot of reality and a sip of a serum called, truth.
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Lori Latrice Martin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Africana Studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and author of the forthcoming, Black Asset Poverty and the Enduring Racial Divide (First Forum Press, a Division of Lynne Reinner Publishers).
