The Boston Globe has a jaw-dropping story about Romney’s lawn care issues. Not crabgrass, but illegal immigrants. Specifically, the same illegal immigrants that were working for him last year. This is only a jaw-dropping story, of course, because of Romney’s own heated rhetoric on the issue. And, I gotta say, for a guy who is campaigning on the idea that he’s genius business manager, the idea that he was so out of the loop on this — after being burned so badly — is not exactly proof of concept.
We jerks in the traveling press (as McCain calls us) were especially eager to ask McCain about the breaking story. We relished the thought that — though aide Mark Salter had given him the general outline of the story — we’d get the chance to spring on him some of the story’s other titillating details that were making their way through our email boxes:
•the “salmon-colored mansion”
•the fact that the Globe confirmed the workers’ presence the day after he and Giuliani got into a spat about it during a GOP debate
•they also mowed Tagg’s lawn
•the fact that he learned of their being illegal from the Globe, despite the workers’ apparent willingness to immediately confirm the fact to anyone who asked
Yet McCain was steadfast in his refusal to condemn Romney for hypocrisy, or even to say much about the issue beyond “I’m more than pleased that I live in a condominium.” But he did say that with a wicked grin. (And perhaps, actions and expressions speak louder than words… including his first, wordless reaction to the press corps’ recitation of the story details: McCain smiled, then pantomimed mowing a lawn.)
In a hard-fought campaign, it’s difficult not to take some pleasure in the pratfalls of a rival. On the record, however, McCain would only say that, “I’ve had [media incidents] happen to me that I couldn’t imagine.” Then, unprompted, he offered an example of his own hypocrisy: “I talk about the need for climate change and I drive a Cadillac,” though, he said, “Cindy and I have talked about replacing the light bulbs.” He sighed, “I probably could do more to reduce my carbon footprint.”
Maybe a push mower?