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NAME BRAND
Willard power
By Adam Reilly
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After years of calling our Republican governor by his middle and preferred name, Mitt, the Massachusetts Democratic Party has developed a sudden fondness for Governor Romney’s first name: Willard. Earlier this month, as Romney shifted right on abortion and headed to New Hampshire for a Republican fundraiser, the Democrats put out a mocking press release titled "What’s Willard Thinking?" Next came "Willard’s Waffle File," an overview of alleged Romney inconsistencies on issues like abortion and gay marriage. There’s more at work here than a simple love of alliteration. The Democrats’ style shift reflects something deeper — a conviction that the name Willard is amusing, and that mentioning it repeatedly will make Romney look silly as he ponders whether to seek re-election or run for president. In this, the Democrats are following the lead of "Ben," the anonymous author of the Romney Is a Fraud blog (www.romneyisafraud.blogspot.com), who routinely identifies the governor as "Willard Mitt." And they’re in sync with Boylston resident W. Bates, who launched www.WillardRomney.com last fall. (The site features a publicity still from Willard, a 2003 remake of the 1971 movie of the same name. Judging from the plot summary — "A young man with an unusual connection with rats uses them at his own sociopathic will" — neither film gave Willard a good rap.) But is this really a fight that the Massachusetts Democratic Party wants? Sure, nowadays the name Willard evokes an awkward and/or unhinged gentleman (think manic weatherman Willard Scott or Captain Willard — "We’ll exterminate the fuckers!" — from Apocalypse Now). Back in the day, though, Willard ("one who has a determined disposition, from will, choice, command, and ard, the Teutonic of art, strength, nature, disposition," according to www.last-names.net) was a name to be proud of. Take Jess Willard, the Pottawatomie Giant, heavyweight champion of the world from 1915 to 1919. Or Willard Libby, winner of the 1960 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Or Willard Kiplinger, intrepid journalist and founder of the widely read Kiplinger Letter. Or A.M. Willard, creator of The Spirit of ’76, America’s best-known Revolutionary War painting. Consider this, Massachusetts Democrats: when you diss one Willard, you diss them all. So maybe it’s time to rethink your Willard-bashing. After all, "Mitt" is probably weird enough.
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