Charles Krauthammer correctly stated it was a big stumble. His exchange with Barnes went back and forth with Barnes fuming and stammering that, "people were over analyzing it[!]".
I think Fred Barnes has folded his arms across his chest and is starting to get the picture of how unreliable Mitt is. Interesting that Barnes says that Mitt's defenders "believe him to be more conservative than he sounds." It's now coming to their (at least Fred Barnes' -- so I expect others) attention, that Mitt is NOT more than he sounds and perhaps, just perhaps, even LESS conservative than they'd hoped.
But the "worst" revelation to the establishment is, that the BASE knew this already and they AREN'T coming around.
Fred Barnes is the Beltway boy and even he’s getting tired of having to defend Romney. Poor Ann will have him all to herself.
It's now coming to their (at least Fred Barnes' -- so I expect others) attention, that Mitt is NOT more than he sounds and perhaps, just perhaps, even LESS conservative than they'd hoped.
No, his political ideology has been on display for years. They don't see it because they don't want to have to admit they see it and knew of it all along. Barnes is a perfect example.
The blind sheep are supposed to follow the blind sheperd.