The Say-Nothing Candidate

Mitt “Flip-flopper” Romney has tried his damndest, ever since the Republican race for this year’s presidential nomination ended, to avoid making any policy statements that might conceivably hurt his appeal to independent voters--even if it means pandering shamelessly to the most extreme elements within his party. He hopes that the news media, increasingly too timid to hold politicians’ feet to the fire, will play along with his evasive tactics and not highlight his spinelessness.

But Romney’s ability to talk a lot and say nothing may be coming to an end, as Steve Benen notes today on The Maddow Blog:

Politico reported this week, “Vague, general or downright evasive policy prescriptions on some of the most important issues facing the country are becoming the rule for Romney.” MSNBC's own Joe Scarborough told viewers this week the Romney campaign’s “goal is to not let people know what he believes on one issue after another.” Chris Cillizza noted yesterday that Romney “continues to decline to outline specific policies or take firm positions,” adding, “How sustainable is this?”

It’s likely not sustainable. Furthermore, his evasiveness just feeds into Romney’s growing reputation for lying repeatedly and shamelessly, and it exacerbates fears among right-wing ideologues that he will say anything to be elected.