Willie Bain Horton

Summertime is historically when presidential candidates get defined in a way that cripples them in the fall.
 
It happened to Michael Dukakis in 1988. After he locked up the nomination, he went back to Boston, rolled up his sleeves and work to work – on being governor.
 
Meanwhile, Lee Atwater rolled up his sleeves and found the infamous Willie Horton, a violent felon who took at Dukakis prison furlough and murdered someone. Dukakis never recovered.
 
In 2004, John Kerry went wind-surfing and got Swift-boated. He never recovered.
 
That’s what Democrats are trying to do now with Bain Capital and Mitt Romney: define him as a ruthless, heartless corporate ax murderer who got rich loading up companies with debt, laying off thousands of employees and selling out for big profits.
 
Some Democrats – like Bill Clinton, Ed Rendell and Cory Booker – complained. But they’ve all Wall Street buddies. The attack dogs are right.
 
If this label sticks in the summer, Romney will lose in the fall.
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Gary Pearce

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Willie Bain Horton

Summertime is historically when presidential candidates get defined in a way that cripples them in the fall.
 
It happened to Michael Dukakis in 1988. After he locked up the nomination, he went back to Boston, rolled up his sleeves and work to work – on being governor.
 
Meanwhile, Lee Atwater rolled up his sleeves and found the infamous Willie Horton, a violent felon who took at Dukakis prison furlough and murdered someone. Dukakis never recovered.
 
In 2004, John Kerry went wind-surfing and got Swift-boated. He never recovered.
 
That’s what Democrats are trying to do now with Bain Capital and Mitt Romney: define him as a ruthless, heartless corporate ax murderer who got rich loading up companies with debt, laying off thousands of employees and selling out for big profits.
 
Some Democrats – like Bill Clinton, Ed Rendell and Cory Booker – complained. But they’ve all Wall Street buddies. The attack dogs are right.
 
If this label sticks in the summer, Romney will lose in the fall.
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Gary Pearce

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