There is no way of knowing whether Mitt Romney actually did or didn't watch the inauguration on TV while in his home in La Jolla, or whether he sent congratulations to President Obama, but according to the little bit of information his aides have released, the odds are that he didn’t.
A former Romney aide said Romney was on the West Coast and it was 'doubtful' that the Massachusetts Governor and his wife, Anne, watched President Obama’s inauguration on television. In some ways a statement like that smacks of being a sore loser who has not yet recovered. Many commentators remarked that it was unusual that a such statement would be released, adding to the impression of “I didn’t win so I won’t watch.” MSNBC Host Rachel Maddow said by making it known he wasn’t going to watch, Romney was “making himself the story.”
Romney is the first losing candidate since 1989 who has not attended a presidential inauguration. However, in all fairness, most other losing candidates have been sitting presidents, vice presidents, or senators, so they had a more formal reason to attend.
In 1989, then-Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis stayed in Massachusetts, ate a tuna sandwich, watched on television, and sent a congratulatory telegram to the White House. But at least it was widely known that he did watch and congratulate his opponent.
While Romney had 'no big plans' for the weekend, First State Bank in Norton, Kansas planned to hang his portrait in its ‘They Also Ran Gallery’ today. Maybe there is some small consolation knowing that he will be have his own inauguration of sorts--or not.
They house a second-floor gallery full of those, who like Romney, have tried but failed to become president.
"I've tried to make it a party and a little inauguration," Lee Ann Shearer, the gallery’s director, told the Salina Journal. "After a welcome, I will have a little talk about the rejected candidate."
Romney’s portrait will join those of 59 other presidential losers, including John Kerry, Bob Dole, Al Gore, and John McCain.
Author Morgan St. James has written over 500 articles about the craft of writing and people in the industry for Examiner.com over the past two years. As Las Vegas Women Democrat Examiner, she looks at the political arena from both sides and supports women's rights. Visit her website,www.morganstjames-author.com and her blog for more information.
Her two recently released books are Who's Got the Money?, a funny crime caper about government embezzlement inspired by real experiences is available at most online booksellers in trade paperback and Kindle editions, select Barnes & Noble locations, or can be ordered from local bookstores. Confessions of a Cougar, a mostly true story, is available at online booksellers, also available in all digital formats including Kindle and Nook, or order at your favorite bookstore.
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