The Republican National Convention is over and we’ve seen the face of the new, diverse, GOP. The tired, vicious, Leftist attacks – both by the mainstream media and the Democratic Party – of the former Governor of Massachusetts, savior of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games, and wildly successful private entrepreneur were finally challenged by endless heartfelt examples of a loving, generous man.

The themes of the convention were inclusion, economic success, and hope for America. Republicans highlighted a record number of elected women and minorities in prominent speaking positions. Of course in this age of cynical politics, the media complained anyway, saying there still should have been more.  

My favorite attack are the lame “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” accusations. A single Republican makes a stupid statement about abortion last week. The entire GOP – including Romney – immediately denounced the statement. Yet because a minor person who also endorsed Romney once said something that was as equally ridiculous, the Left gleefully portrays Republicans as anti-women.

It was Republicans, not Democrats, who gave women and minorities the right to vote. It was Republican majorities who passed most of the Civil Rights agenda against Jim Crow Democrats. Governor Romney filled half his cabinet with women and they still claim he’s waging a war against women. But facts never stop the media or the Left.

But I want to talk about what’s right about Mitt Romney, not what is wrong about the Left. Once upon a time people in America praised success. Bain Capital sought out struggling businesses and then invested money into those companies to help them grow. Most of these companies prospered, some of them failed. The reality is they would have all failed if someone like Bain wasn’t there to invest in them.

Capitalism is the best system on earth to generate prosperity. Before capitalism, the vast majority of people throughout history lived in abject poverty, with no hope of working their way out. The engine of capitalism is the only way to break that cycle.

It’s really that simple. If you want a job you need to let the people with money create those jobs. Sadly, the President hasn’t done that. He’s tried, instead, to squelch capitalism and the people who make money to make it “fair” to those who don’t make as much. The result? The kind of unemployment you see today, and the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression.

   It’s easy being a Leftist. All the cool people – actors, rock stars, and movie stars – like you. You feel good about yourself because you rightly wish that everyone should have everything they want. It sounds so sweet.

The problem is it doesn’t work.  Giving away money makes people more dependent, not less. The War on Poverty has been an abject failure. One in five Americans, most of them women, are now in poverty. The government can try, but will never succeed, to create wealth. The only ones who have ever created jobs are the same entrepreneurs that the Left is constantly demonizing.

Mitt Romney made a clear case. He understands you like the president. He’s really cool and gives great speeches. He has a great family.

The problem is that he has not led us out of this recession. His policies have failed. America has been patient. We need to choose someone who can fix this problem.

The President promised to “lower the oceans” and “heal the earth.” Romney promises to help your family. Which promise is more important to you?

Printed in the September 6. 2012 edition.