This will be a very short diary and possibly a violation of the rules as such, but we need to nip this in the bud now.
Since the debate, I have seen the phrase "Moderate Mitt" or "Moderate Romney" all over the liberal blogs . For instance, here is Ed Kilgore at Washington Monthly.
But Moderate Mitt should not be able to get away with bland reassurances on this issue—with his own campaign repudiating him almost on the spot—without dealing with specific pledges he made during this very campaign. Is he—on behalf of himself and his loyal running-mate, Paul Ryan, who up until now has been universally considered a leader in the anti-choice cause—specifically retracting promises to promote a funding ban on Planned Parenthood and federal legislation flatly banning abortions prior to some arbitrary point in the second trimester of pregnancy?
It would be good to know if Moderate Mitt is talking out of both sides of his mouth.
Sure, we are using it with scorn and believe we are highlighting that it is just a ruse. In fact, we are helping him out simply by putting moderate anywhere near his name and his agenda.
Ted Kennedy still has the best sobriquet for Romney and it is much more apt today than it even was in 1994: Multiple Choice Mitt.
This slur reinforces the fact that he is a liar and political chameleon who will say and do anything to win the election.
We simply can't help him in this regard. I hereby ask all good Kossacks and liberals/progressives (I'm a liberal and proud of it) to encourage all of our allies to stop using Moderate and bring back Multiple Choice.
Ted Kennedy would want it that way.