Umm… this is NOT how I would “stand by, and up for,” my man: “Stop it. This is hard.”

Ann Romney must be exhausted and beyond irritated. Or at least, that’s what resorting to the “why don’t you try this, you don’t know how lucky you are, all of you who speak for the GOP,” argument signals.

When your own party is criticizing you — not simply the “chattering class” but regular voters affiliated with your own party (I know some of these folks, Mrs. Romney) — maybe you could respond like this:

“We recognize their frustration, we feel it too. This is a tough race, we are trying to win on the substance of our ideas, on our vision for the country, on our faith in the opportunity that our country can provide to every single one of its citizens. Criticism from within our ranks and beyond helps us, it strengthens our resolve, it shows us that our fight continues, and will continue, until that very last vote is counted on November 6.”

At least, that’s what I would have done. But that’s because I would never take for granted that the country is lucky to have my spouse as their candidate. I would only know that my spouse was lucky to have the chance to represent the country.