Romney Stands for Something, Sometimes

To his credit, Governor Romney repudiated the attempts of an independent PAC to go negative on the President over his former religious associations. As noted by Wolf Blitzer, this will also likely earn Romney some support from moderates who like the President personally even if they disagree with some of his policies. And it does Romney no harm in helping to deflect negative adds on his own religious affiliation. 

On the other hand, Eric Randall at the Atlantic presents what may be Romney's John-Kerry moment. When asked about a previous statement concerning the President's former Pastor, Romney said:

"I’m not familiar precisely with exactly what I said, but I stand by what I said. Whatever it was."

Yikes.

I don't know whom to credit with the Washington definition of a gaffe as unintentionally speaking the truth. (See e.g., Joe Biden). Perhaps it is more in the nature of revealing at least the perception of your true political self. But that's pretty close to what Kerry did to cement his flip-flopper persona with "I voted for it before I voted against it." And it may be what Romney just did now by standing behind his position - whatever it was.

I believe Romney is a man of some good, moderate convictions. I just wish he could remember what they were.