At CPAC, Mitt Romney Speech Fails to Dazzle

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is a conservative. So conservative, that in his Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) speech in Washington, D.C., on Friday morning, he found 19 different ways to say it.

It's the beginning of a new "conservative era," Romney says, an era of "conservative values." He proclaims himself as a steadfast supporter of "conservative constants," a champion of "conservative principles," has "conservative convictions" and will provide "conservative leadership."

“This is our moment. This is why we are conservatives,” Romney said. “The task before us now is to reaffirm the convictions that unite us and go forward shoulder to shoulder to secure the victory America deserves.” 

Driving home his character as the most authentic conservative in the Republican primary, Romney might as well have whacked the audience with a conservatism flashing sign.

What’s with all the rallying cries? The speech was seen by many as an important opportunity for Romney to win over again the GOP conservative base that has been leaning towards recent star Santorum. 

But saying so don't always make it so. With the recent sweep by Rick Santorum in three primaries on Tuesday, the front-runner rhetoric that Romney spouted to a full ballroom in Washington wasn't fooling anybody.

Citing his experience as a businessman (Bain Capital), his successes as governor and as a family man, Romney went on a self-loving spree. And to make up for the recent lack in any substantial policy measures, he laid out his laundry list of promises: reenact the Mexico City policy, cut federal support for Planned parenthood, reverse Obama regulations that “attack our religious liberty and endangers innocent lives.”

It was quite the opposite of a politician pandering for attention. He spoke as if everyone in the room were constantly battling to shake his hand.  

In the end, the audience enthusiasm measured in decibels of supportive was greater. But whether his one speech has truly undone the damage of three republican primaries remains to be seen. 

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