Folks, I don't know about you, but I have been shocked by the outpouring of post-election vitriol on my Facebook page. "Friends" of "friends," most of them Southern, have been showing up in huge numbers attempting to re-fight the election battles with me. I have deleted three posts that vaguely threatened the President's life. I have been "unfriended" by almost 40 people and have had to "ban" about 10 for threats or fearsomely awful language.
Trying to figure it out, I think I know at least one reason why. Bear with me for a moment.
There is a tradition in American politics called the "concession speech." An important part of this ritual is that the candidate says he just spoke with the winner and congratulated him on the victory.
The crowd always boos and the candidate says "no, no, wait," then goes on to say that they had a good conversation and that he had pledged to work with the winner of the election for the common good of the country.
Then he urges his supporters to do the same. To support the rightful winner of the election.
Now. Let's look at Mitt Romney's five-minute, hastily-written, tight-lipped, curt "concession" speech, delivered with a grim smile in Boston the other night.
These are the only portions dealing with the President:
I have just called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory. His supporters and his campaign also deserve congratulations. I wish all of them well, but particularly the president, the first lady and their daughters.
This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation.
That's almost all. At the end there is this little piece:
I so wish — I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead the country in a different direction, but the nation chose another leader. And so Ann and I join with you to earnestly pray for him and for this great nation.
Now. Follow me below the Hotte Dogge Francais du Libertad, and we'll see how others have done it.
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