It is often said of the unsuccessful politician that, if voters had only seen what he’s like in private, he would have been successful. But I never bought into this political trope.
You need only recall that this is what was said to explain Al Gore’s abysmal failure as a presidential candidate in 2000. With post-campaign revelations about his private life, however, we soon learned that there was nothing there that would’ve endeared him to more voters. To the contrary in fact, especially revelations about the hypocritical disconnect between his profligate carbon footprint and his self-righteous preaching about global warming.
Except that post-campaign revelations about Mitt Romney’s private life are giving some credence to this trope.
This was brought into endearing relief as I watched the Netflix documentary Mitt last weekend. I was immediately struck by his preternaturally affable presence, which he displayed with as much ease while interacting with family members as he did while interacting with total strangers. This was complemented by his surprising humility, which he displayed by continually cleaning up after his kids and grandkids alike, and in one hilarious by trying to iron out the French cuffs of his shirt, while still wearing it.
Barack Obama’s two presidential campaigns benefited tremendously from the public narrative about him being a good husband and great father. This documentary leaves no doubt that, if the public saw more of his family life during his 2012 presidential campaign, Romney would’ve benefited tenfold in this respect.
That said, it speaks volumes about the Romneys commitment to what they clearly felt was his manifest destiny that they retained an independent documentary filmmaker to begin chronicling his road to the White House as early as 2006. And it was very fitting to learn that this critically acclaimed businessman and investor regarded his 2008 presidential campaign as little more than an investment to establish the name recognition that would set him up for the real campaign in 2012.
Apropos of destiny, a truly poignant scene has Romney regaling a room full of family, friends, and political aides with tales about his father’s improbable rise from rags in Mexico to riches in America – complete with the political power and influence that came with being elected governor of Michigan. Because his punch line has him dismissing, in remarkably humbling and self-deprecating fashion, all that he has accomplished by comparison. He insists that his accomplishments are nothing to brag about because he was born into great wealth with every possible advantage one could have in life.
Alas, with his legacy now highlighted by two failed presidential campaigns, his high praise for his father’s accomplishments begs an epilogue to Mitt – duly noting that, despite being born on third base, Romney still could not make it to home plate.
Indeed, one got the sense that his failure to surpass his father by becoming president of the United States will haunt him for the rest of his life. Especially given that this documentary ended with Romney back home in his mansion sitting in a chair staring out the window at the setting of the sun, his wife Anne looking at him with her face evincing all of the pain and disappointment he must’ve been feeling inside.
I highly recommend Mitt – as much for its American-style Forsyte Saga as for its study in the spectacular reckoning of political ambition.
But let me make perfectly clear that, even if voters had known everything this documentary reveals about Romney’s private life, I do not believe enough of them would’ve been sufficiently moved to give him the votes to defeat Obama.