Why the UK was right on Romney

[Commentary] The Washington commentariat is fond of disparaging Fleet Street – usually with good reason. In terms of intrusion, iniquity and, on occasions, pure invention, the UK tabloids are Olympic gold medallists. But the UK media has a reasonable track record at detecting bluff.

One example was its skepticism about the reasons for invading Iraq, a stance that often set the British press at odds with their more patriotic US counterparts. Another is Mr Romney’s awfulness as a candidate. It has nothing to do with insight: the UK media are only stating bluntly what is on everyone’s minds. Headlines like “Mitt the Twit” showcase how irreverent British tabloids can be. Yet they present in caricature what many Republicans are happy to volunteer in private. But then the Republican “establishment” long since resigned themselves to the trials a Romney nomination would entail.