Saturday, September 29, 2012

What Ann Romney Did NOT Say

Regarding the previous post on Ann Romney saying she worries about Mitt's "mental well-being" if he should win the presidency, I think it needs a closer look.

Here's the exchange (and it's on video):
Asked what her primary worry would be should her husband succeed in defeating President Obama on Nov. 6, Mrs. Romney replied, "You know, I think my biggest concern, obviously, would just be for his mental well-being." 
"I have all the confidence in the world in his ability, in his decisiveness and his leadership skills, in his understanding of the economy, in his understanding of what's missing right now in the economy - you know, pieces that are missing to get this jumpstarted," she continued. "So for me I think it would just be the emotional part of it."
She doesn't say "But he can handle it." She doesn't even imply it. 

She starts with her worry about whether Mitt can withstand the pressures of being president, which have to be tremendous, then adds what things he would be good at—and finishes by reiterating that she worries about his mental/emotional ability to handle the pressure.

How do you NOT say "But he can do it" - unless you actually worry that he can't? I mean, that just seemed like candor. It is difficult to take anything from that answer except that Ann Romney is herself worried that her husband may not be able to take the pressure of being president.

She's his wife. She knows this guy. If she's worried - shouldn't the rest of us be?

Update: To put a finer point on it, look at her own construct: "I have all the confidence in the world" about that other stuff, but...

[Lightly edited for clarity.]

• Crossposted over here.

1 comment: