Irony: Free marketers in business advocate protectionist politics

Matt K. Lewis Senior Contributor
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In defending “creative destruction” and the free market in business, many conservatives are demonstrating they don’t really believe in it.

At least, not in politics.

In business, of course, they advocate fighting it out — letting the best products and companies win — while the losers go out of business.

In politics, however, they are advocating a sort of protectionism (protecting Mitt Romney’s career at Bain Capital from scrutiny). The theory, of course, is that too much competition now will weaken him later.

Romney has based much of the rational of his candidacy on his Bain career. Why is it an apostasy to question it?

Exit question: If vigorous competition makes economies stronger, why does it weaken political candidates?

Matt K. Lewis