Shape-Shifting and Distractions: The middle class and gay Americans have much at risk Nov. 6

Opinion: Like a mythical shape-shifter or a repertory actor, Mitt Romney will pretend to be whatever you need. Politicians often do this, but he reaches new heights of brazenness. Time and again he says something on the stump that a campaign spokesperson later ''clarifies.'' This only works if people are not paying much attention – Mitt as pliant vessel of everyone's discontent. A gay former Democrat, for reasons he apparently deems too obvious to mention, recently began lighting votive candles every night against President Obama. There's something about Obama that some folks don't like, that makes them deny him due credit for his accomplishments and overlook relentless Republican obstruction. Whatever his real or imagined traits that provoke this irrational bias, the most generous votive offerings against him are not by disillusioned liberals but by latter-day robber barons with a starkly illiberal agenda. It is hard to get a substantive discussion on the merits of candidates so late in the process. Voters respond better to theatrics. But we face crucial public-policy choices, and to advance the common good we must look past the polling and posturing and press some questions. ... (more)

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