Much has been made of Mitt Romney’s apparent enthusiasm for becoming Donald Trump’s Secretary of State, even after denouncing him repeatedly during the campaign season. I can’t help but wonder what the big deal is. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do? Sure, when it’s campaign time you fight hard for whatever you believe in, but once someone is chosen, aren’t we supposed to support them? Isn’t that what we claim we want to see from our politicians? If so, what exactly did Romney do wrong?
Besides, suppose someone whose policies and approach to things you didn’t like gets elected, but then they ask you to fill a roll in their administration. Do you refuse to work with them, or do you recognize an opportunity to influence things in a direction more favorable to your own views? Whatever else he may be, I believe Trump to be a person who picks someone he likes for a position, and then lets them do the job they’re picked to do. Who would you rather have leading the way on foreign policy, Donald Trump or Mitt Romney?
Yes, I know there are many people for whom the answer is “C: None of the above”. Let’s put it another way: who do you want on the phone to China?
Now, of course this is all moot at this point, as Romney wasn’t chosen. But for all you who were throwing a fit over the idea that he might be, are you sure you got the better choice after scuttling Romney? If he was willing to set aside his dislike of Trump for a greater good, why can’t the rest of us? Yes, there will always be those who absolutely refuse to have anything to do with Trump, as if they can hide their heads in the sand for the next four years, but what will that really get them, besides no say at all in the coming months and years?
Update: Evidently I’m not alone in this line of thinking.