http://www.salon.com/news/2012_elections/?story=/politics/war_room/2011/05/11/flawed_candidates_gopWednesday, May 11, 2011 12:48 ET
First Read, the daily tip sheet from NBC's political unit, notes this morning that every 2012 Republican candidate is in some way "flawed." Which is true enough. But in handicapping the GOP field, it's important to recognize that the term "flawed" can have two very different meanings.
For instance, First Read points out that Mitt Romney's flaw is healthcare; he championed Massachusetts' universal coverage law, which contains an individual mandate, something that the right recently decided is tantamount to socialism. (Romney will try yet again to present satisfying healthcare talking points to the right in a major speech on Thursday.) And Tim Pawlenty's flaw is that he's a "a former Minnesota governor most Americans have never heard of (and when they have, he gets overshadowed by others)," while Jon Huntsman's is that he "faithfully (and uncritically) served in the Obama administration" (as ambassador to China).
What do these flaws have in common? They really only matter within the Republican Party.