CNN Republican Debate: Non Sequitors 101 With Professor Mitt Romney

From the first question of the debate, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney showed no hesitation in using the rhetorical strategy of avoidance and answering difficult questions with non sequitors.

Let's unspin Mitt Romney's political rhetoric and examine his use of the non sequitor.
(Note: All quotes taken from the official CNN transcript).

The first question of the debate was posed to former Governor Romney and he showed no hesitation in responding to questions with blatant non sequitors:
"COOPER: So tonight, in terms of the economy, are Americans better off than they were eight years ago?"
"ROMNEY: Well, if you're voting for George Bush, you'd be very interested in knowing the answer to that. If you're voting for Mitt Romney, you'd like to know, 'Are you better off in Massachusetts after four years of my term in office?' And the answer would be decidedly yes...."

Governor Romney has supplied and answered his own question ("So, in terms of the Massachusetts economy when you left office as Governor, are the people of Massachusetts better off than they were when you entered office?")

Anderson Cooper recognized the blatant non sequitor and challenged Mr. Romney:
"COOPER: Let me just interrupt. The question was: Are Americans better off than they were eight years ago?"
"ROMNEY:Well, again, I'm pleased with what I do while I was -- as governor and happy to talk about that record."

Once again, Governor Romney has refused to answer the question posed to him. But, Cooper gives him yet another chance:

"COOPER: Are you running for governor or are you running for president, though?"
"ROMNEY: But I'm not running on President Bush's record. President Bush can talk about his record."

For a third time, Romney employs the rhetorical strategy of avoidance. The contrast between former Governor Romney's response and former Governor Huckabee's could not be clearer:

"COOPER: ... So, Governor Huckabee, if you can, briefly: Are we better off [economically] than we were eight years ago?"
"FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. HUCKABEE: I don't think we are. "