Words about Mitt Romney

My mother posted a link to Thomas Friedman's editorial, "Why Not in Vegas" on Romney's trip to Israel. I was struck by the words and phrases Friedman associates with Romney and his trip. Here's the skip-through:

• not about learning
• satisfy the political whims
• all about money anyway
• abase himself
• wrong with the U.S.-Israel relationship
• add more pandering
• canard
• had time for a $50,000-a-plate breakfast
• did not have two hours to go to Ramallah
• didn’t know what he was talking about
• feeding off this conflict for political gain
• using this conflict as a backdrop for campaign photo-ops and fund-raisers
• making things even worse
• grovel for Jewish votes and money
• blatantly ignoring the other side
• not going to do something constructive

As the great political philosopher Rush Limbaugh so adroitly observed, "words have meaning."

I think they may also have real-world effects. Among the effects Friedman is observing is the deterioration of peace, or of the potential for peace, in the Middle East when American politicians pander instead of speaking uncomfortable truths.

Another effect may be that Friedman finds himself severed from Movement conservatives. I may not have long to wait till he's branded a socialist.