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JOHNSTOWN, CO -- Mitt Romney's campaign spent Tuesday morning tamping down expectations ahead of tonight's nominating contests, going so far as to say they expect to lose the Minnesota caucus to Rick Santorum.
The former Massachusetts governor's campaign circulated a memo and talking points to reporters this morning reminding them that no delegates are bound by tonight's caucuses in Minnesota and Colorado and another primary in Missouri, while reminding interested parties that John McCain lost 19 states in his successful run for the nomination in 2008.
A senior campaign official also said yesterday he expects Romney will lose Minnesota today -- a state he carried four years ago -- but that the contests remaining in February (and the other ones set for March) all favor point toward Romney being able to gain momentum cement his status as the campaign's frontrunner. This morning's memo from political director Rich Beeson closed by underscoring that same point.
"Speaker Gingrich’s and Senator Santorum’s campaigns have resource challenges. The remaining February states may not be kind to them, and their hopes for a comeback in March may be very difficult and based on an incomplete understanding of the delegate selection rules. Even “success” in a few states will not mean collecting enough delegates to win the nomination," Beeson wrote. "In contrast, Governor Romney will be competing across the country and collecting delegates in state after state, even if other candidates pick up some wins. This is exactly the sort of methodical, long-haul campaign we planned for, and we are well on the way to victory."
Romney's campaign made this argument as the candidate himself made a final appearance in Colorado before tonight's caucuses.
The event, though, did not get off to a smooth start.
Thirty minutes after Romney was scheduled to arrive, a woman standing in the front of the crowd suffered a medical problem requiring police attention. She remained on site and was later moved to a VIP seating area. With Romney still absent forty minutes after campaign advisories said the event was scheduled to begin, the candidate called in to the room via Skype, and provided a pixelated and electronically-garbled apology for being late.
When he finally did arrive, nearly an hour behind schedule (a rarity for the tightly-run Romney campaign), Romney apologized for his truancy, blaming weather.
"I really appreciate the warm welcome on such a cold and snowy morning, I guess it took a long time to get the snow off the windshield of the bus. So it slowed us down, but it did not slow you down, so I appreciate your willingness to be here, and to participate in this process," Romney said.
During his speech, Romney once again accused President Obama of waging an "assault on religion," for his position on ministerial exemptions, and on the ongoing battle between the administration and the Catholic church over a new health care mandate.
"Just in the last several days the administration has said, under Obamacare, that religious organization like schools, catholic schools, catholic hospitals and so forth have to provide for free contraceptives and free morning after pills, abortive pills, for all of their employees in violation of the religious conscience of those organizations," Romney said this morning at a rally north of Denver. "This kind of assault on religion will end if I’m president of the United States."
Democrats have pushed back since last night, when Romney first spoke about the issue, accusing him of hypocrisy by pointing to similarities between the federal law -- which requires religious organizations like hospitals, colleges and charities to provide birth control under their health plans -- and a similar provision under Romney's Massachusetts health care reform law.
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The government also says a Mormon can't have more than one wife - even if the religion recommends polygamy.
Is this a violation of religious freedom? Discuss.
Romney said this morning at a rally north of Denver. "This kind of assault on religion will end if I’m president of the United States."
This guy deserves to lose BIG TIME.
Strictly speaking, it is a violation of religious freedom. There are religions, cults and sects out there that would break most laws in this country, including those regarding murder. Some religions don't feel even their children should receive medical treatment, but there are laws that trump their beliefs. People need limits. People need laws.
Good question Amy ... wouldn't you love to hear that question come up at a debate?
I don't claim to know very much about LDS but I do know they no longer condone or encourage polygamy.
It's a mute point. The norm for Christians will be decided by the ruling authority and that is the Catholic Church, regardless of denomination or affliation.
But religions only last 2 to 4 thousands years, so Christianity and the Church is on it's last days . You can see the drop in numbers on a yearly basis. Though the number of people who say they believe in a supreme being is high, they do not participate in organized religion.
A clueless analogy, Amy.
Here is a better analogy..
Polygamy....where the government can legislate that you cant marry more than one person at a time. Isnt that exclusionary, discriminatory, judgmental ?
What business is it of yours, or the government's , who wants to marry?
You see, the argument for court-imposed gay marriage clearly opens the floodgates for other alternative forms of marriage, so that the institution of marriage can no longer be defined.
The one-two punch of Clint Eastwood and George W. Bush on the auto industry.
Just out of curiousity, what "alternative forms of marriage" do you anticipate if Prop 8 is ultimately overturned?
Is it fitting that the 9th US Circuit Court just struck down Prop H8te as Unconstitutional? This baby is headed to the Supremes,...mark my words.
Freedom with Responsibility. Where one exists does not necessarily mean the other resides,...
No Amy, it is not a violation of religious freedom. Religions have the obligation of following the rule of law. This is why the Catholic Church is out of line screaming they have been violated (you'd think they are being raped they way they are carrying on). If the law dictates that an employer providing insurance coverage must offer contraception coverage, then the religion must provide it.
If a religion doesn't like the law, they are always welcome to leave the country. The country does not have an obligation to bend the law to accommodate religion. Utah and the LDS church already played this card once, even declaring war on the US.
Kingofmyhill,
It's moot not mute..........
RedDev,
So what you're saying if a religion doesn't like the laws it can leave? Hmmmmm kind of sounds like Nazi Germany and the Jews. Now I see where your logic lies and it make sense based on your posts. It's cool at least political views are not agains't the law right? But I'm sure you wouldn't mine seeing GOP leave too. After that you can work on the Independents until you have a one political government........
No, it's a mute point. The Catholic Church has silenced any discussion on the subject. They were the driving force behind the demonization of the Mormon faith. They are the driving force behind one man, one woman marriage.
Ok kingofmyhill if you say so. You want the Catholics to leave too? I don't care what happens because when the HC gets ruled unconsititutional this will be a moot point. The Government can't make you pay for a service you don't want, but we will see right?
Jim Jones disliked U.S. laws, so he relocated his religion and members to Jonestown where they were free to establish a communist style of living. So yes, if a religion dislikes the rules of law, they are free to leave. Why don't you ask Mr. Romney about relatives fleeing the country over a disagreement with the rule of law. I believe they preferred Mexico to the US. Fine, great, that is their option if they are feeling oppressed.
Funny you say that Red, My wife's Grandfather belonged to that Cult and died with him too. Do you know what religion they were and where they came from? Did you know the US Government went down there to see what was happening and a Congressman was murdered because he was going to report back to the Government. Yes, you're correct and that happened in the 1800's. So you're cool with a Government telling a religion what/when/how to do things because Obama's HC bill? What do you think Kathy Dahlkemper thinks now about the HC bill? I bet if she read it she would had voted differently.
While campaigning for President of the United States in 1844, Smith had opportunity to take political positions on issues of the day. He believed a strong central government crucial to the nation's well-being but thought democracy better than tyranny—although he also taught that a theocratic monarchy was the ideal form of government. (Page 522, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling)
Joseph Smith
Golden Plates
Kirtland Safety Society
1838 Mormon War
Death of Joseph Smith
Birgham Young
Utah War - Mountain Meadows Massacre
Mormon Colonies in Mexico
1890 Manifesto
Second Manifesto
Black People and Mormons
Paul, I answered the original question posed by Amy. Not sure why you feel I need to answer in-depth questions about The Peoples Temple. I don't really know much about Ms. Dahlkempers thoughts on health care. I am cool with the government telling any Church that employs people through a business that if they offer insurance coverage, it must comply with the law and include contraception coverage. It would NOT be cool if the government forced Catholics, against their will, to take birth control, just as it would NOT be cool if the government denied any woman wanting an abortion from getting one.
It's obvious Paul-Florida doesn't know his scriptures or history. Congressman Ryan went because people from his district were telling him that family members were not allowed to leave. They didn't just go because they all of a sudden decided too. Geez. And you're gonna have to stretch that line real thin to call what was going on there a "religion" Why you taking things so personal?
Looking at the back and forth regarding beliefs of two religions and their millions of followers I believe we need to knock it off. We are electing a president not a pope. We are electing a president not a bishop or minister. Keep church and state separate and everybody but extremists are happy and, well, they're almost never happy anyway.
The Religious Right have been playing the victim card so long. They are NOT persecuted, oppressed, or any other BS others (like Gingrich or Perry or Bill O'Really) would have them believe. All the more ironic is that liberals are the first to protect freedom of religion, along with any other civil or individual rights.
Christains (or any faith) can do what ever they please in the public square--on their own. They just can't do it on the tax payer dime (Separation of Church and State) or in favor of one faith over another, such as forcing students to participate in Christian prayer or take Christian creationism classes in the public school system. They can't even use tax paid vouchers to send their kids to parochial schools.
Technically there shouldn't be "under God" in the pledge of allegiance if required to be recited, or "in God we trust" on currency, or the Ten Commandments in court houses -- all paid for by tax payers, many of other faiths or no faith at all. And now here we are with yet another crock of crap, to which I'll repeat the following from another thread:
This is ALL just to gin up the Teapublican base because their candidates suck so bad.
86% of the voting public cant stand the site of Romney and the cult member BS..If Romney doesn't want an abortion.. I suggest he make his sexual partners use a condom .. Its none of the religious cults dam business what a woman does !
You are 100% correct. The Republicans are always running around saying get the government out of our lives, and then they pull this crap.
Progressives want abortion on demand, paid for by taxpayers, up till partial birth abortion, and even out of the womb. They do not value human life.
Bob
That is a bull crap lie and you know it. Stop the fake outrage.
Liberals do not want abortions to be paid for by taxpayer money. The only ones who say they do are conservatives who lie. Abortions are not paid for by taxpayer money. It has been illegal since 1976.
Okay Bob, we should not devalue human life. The next obvious question is how do you feel about the death penalty. If you agree with it, do you value human life?
Nice avatar, bOb...
Nobody...
But...
Obama...
Carry that torch, boobie...carry that torch!
Mickey, LOL...nice post. I dont think he gets it, is that possible? Or could it be he doesn't know how to change it. Either way, may the flame burn bright all the way to November.
I like your new avatar
The Romney campaign is some what slippery and slimy.
Whereas the Obama reelection campaign, with its team member MSNBC, is completely slippery and slimy, and deceitful.
Obama / Biden 2012 The Clear, Clean and The Only Real Choice.
It is only February and I am already tired of hearing the candidates talk about what is wrong with the other guy instead of telling me what they would do to benefit our country. Seems lately all Romney does is blast Obama; all Gingrich does is blast Romney; all President Obama does is blast Congress. Enough already!
Do any of these guys even have a clue, a semblance of a policy for governing this country for the next few years? If so, its about time they tell us what it is.
Since the last jobs report, all these guys can talk about is contraception and religion. Because it's a tough argument to say they would've been more effective at creating jobs...when Obama's saying it could've been a lot worse. Neither is provable (though I'd have to side with the president). So it's the "shiny object" tactic again, only this one on women's health has really been worked over this campaign season.
Ursula
That's there only hope..........bashed hope.
Back here in the real world, the economy is still in the tank, despite the cooked up unemployment numbers..
If you think the public is buying this "Obama recovery" BS, wait till November.
Bob - Just like your clueless candidates, you sound so deflated . I understand the latest job numbers are so crushing (4million jobs created so far) but I still expect GOP to come up with something instead of hoping on no winner abortion and contraceptive crap........November is here wake up.
The jobs picture has been improving for sixteen straight months. Republicans can scarcely hide their contempt for America and the economy. They sense that there is a plot in statistics and facts. Republicans will just have to accept American exceptionalism and live with it.
Back here in the real world, the economy is still in the tank, despite the cooked up unemployment numbers
Well, Bob we need to give credit where credit is due. There was roughly 240,000 jobs added last month. Unfortunately, if that rate of growth continues to be duplicated evry month going forward the unemployment rate will get down to Bush's average unemployment rate sometime in 2024.
I'm hoping that President Obama wins in another landslide like he did in 2008.
When will Mitt do a set down interview with anyone other that FOX? At least Newt is not afraid to do so. Mitt you run but you can’t hide.
Romney needs to get back to talking about how he and his trickle down economics will help us out of this financial crisis.
He can create jobs with his extreme wealth if we help him keep his 15 percent tax bracket. The only problem is that he and other extreme wealthy financiers tend to take there wealth and send it to the islands or overseas. This helps Foreign economies but not ours..
How much of Romney's wealth has produced jobs, that's what the Republicans keep telling us, they help create jobs by keeping there money and sending it down the pipeline.. How about them proving it for once...
The Republican "job creators" had deep tax breaks for several years and unemployment rose to over 10%. The "job creators" failed.
Anyone with a modicum of understanding about capitalism, stagnant wages, and the skyrocketing wealth of the few, knows that capital gets sucked up to the top, and does not trickle down. Wages have demonstrated that for the last four decades. What has been trickling down has been tax liability for the middle class.
The Romney campaign spent the morning lowering expectations for Mitt's performance today because----there is no enthusiasm for his candidacy. Despite his money and his support by the "establishment", the folks that actually go out and vote/caucus for him aren't excited about it.
Catholicvote.org has endorsed Rick Santorum and NOT Romney. Romney is NOT conservative, Romney IS a LIBERAL. Romney is a super wealthy individual who does not care about the economy by helping start-ups, bringing jobs back into the US and much less a good Healthcare package for the people and NOT ONLY for Congress, the Senate and himself. He is a narcissistic person much like Obama is a narcissistic sociopath... (he loves seeing his picture all over yahoo, msn, everywhere). Michelle is a close second. Anyway, in Massachusetts all the people are FOR Romney. Doesn't that tell you something from the SUPER LIBERAL state that ONLY slaps the wrists of would be murderers (domestic violence and other instances) and many other criminals? Massachusetts defends and stands by the criminals and NEVER defends or stands by the victims. Please DO NOT vote for their bad guy with a smiling face, just flirting with the women so they will vote for him. We, the smart women, know better though.
Obviously neither of these candidates know nothing about Catholic teaching. A victim of rape or incest is ENCOURAGED to have a Dand C, without commiting a sin, as long as it is done within 72 hours!