Mitt Romney Says He Was "Severely Conservative." Odd, Walkeresque Wording

Mitt Romney used an awkward but telling phrase before the national conservatives meeting in DC last week to bolster his credentials with the Right and bluster his way past the "Massachusetts moderate liberal" label Newt Gingrich tarred him wit.h.

Romney said he'd been "severely conservative" as Massachusetts' governor.

"Severely?"

Besides burying "compassionate conservatism," let's note two things:

1. Gingrich is the more severe wordsmith.

2.  The negative, even menacing implication of "severely" accurately describes Scott Walker's year of attack on middle-class Wisconsinites, collective bargaining, open government, public education, women's health, environmental protection, low-income workers' tax situation, voting rights, state tradition, and so forth.

Consider what the Macmillan dictionary folks have to say (sorry about the coding below) about the word "severely."

1. very seriously

   
   

   Several of the passengers were severely injured in the accident.

   The decision would severely damage the economy of Scotland.

   severely limited/restricted/reduced:
   

   The original scope of the work had been severely reduced.
2. in a very strict or extreme way

   
   

   If anyone breaks the rules, they will be punished severely.

   The army has been severely criticized for attacking the region.
3. with an unfriendly attitude and a lack of humour

   
   

   He stared at her severely.
4. in an extremely plain style that is not attractive

   her severely cut hair