Ann and Christie

Watching Ann Romney speak at the Republican National Convention, it's hard not to be impressed by the enthusiasm she conveys in trying to convince us what a wonderful man he is. For her part, Mrs. Romney seems as nice as she does full of crap for claiming that the time she and her husband spent in a little basement apartment with modest means were the "best days" of their marriage. I was struck by the subtle invocation of certain stereotypes about African-Americans when she repeatedly talked up how hard-working her husband is when talking about the criteria people should focus on when deciding who they should elect as president. Above all, though, what I loved was how hard she (and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who spoke after her) worked to emphasize their families' humble beginnings and struggles for opportunity as the GOP looks to dismantle the programs that provided the stepping stones to those opportunities. It's amazing what some people will applaud.