Romney's Pardon Expert: Chuck Norris

Previously, I have noted several oddities related to Mitt Romney's blanket condemnation of the clemency decisions of Mike Huckabee and have expressed concerns about Romney's own proposals for federal clemency reform. Along the way, I casually asked whether Romney intended to abolish the use of federal clemency altogether.

It appears the answer has come sooner than I expected. According to this post, Romney is set to run this campaign ad which highlights the general thrust of the following quote from clemency expert and action adventure actor Chuck Norris:

"I was wondering the other day, if I ran for president, what would be my campaign promises? I made a list I'm certain can get me elected. If I'm elected president, I will... Give a presidential pardon to ... no one, ever. Baretta was right in the '70s, 'Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time. Don't do it!'"

With this ad, Romney promptly blasts himself back to the level of Barack Obama, whose stellar contribution to clemency discussions thus far is a daring promise not to pardon anyone else like Scooter Libby - a promise which is usually then followed by prurient reference to Paris Hilton. But, I guess that settles it. Romney is proud that he has never granted a pardon. He has proposals for the federal system which would, apparently, allow him to brag about granting no pardons as president and, most importantly, Chuck Norris and the fictitious character Baretta support it all.

One wonders when any reporter is going to revisit the issue of Scooter Libby while the Romney campaign is singing this tune! He has, after all, already said that he would pardon Libby. Now who deserves a roundhouse kick to the head?