What almost everybody thinks about when they praise capitalism and free markets are people and business like Steve Jobs, Home Depot, and Walmart. The founders of those businesses exercised their freedom, creativity, assets and hard work to create products and services that have enriched humanity beyond anything that occured before freedom took hold. On a smaller scale, even the guy who opens a storefront restaurant is admirable, brave, and provides a useful service.

They DON’T think about wealthy individuals and businesses who use their assets and knowledge to expoit other businesses and walk away rich, even if their targets are dissolved. As you say, it isn’t illegal, but it also isn’t the business model that people want their leaders to be engaged in.

And perhaps Romney didn’t do that. But the reports certainly imply, as you describe, that the Bain people were, in at least some cases, exploiting weak businesses with little risk to Bain, and also with little acceptance of responsibility.

If the reports are true, I would draw a parallel to the payday loan business. It’s a legitimate business. It helps some, perhaps even most, of its customers. But do you want your president to have made his fortune that way?