McCain, Romney’s top target?

Rufus Gibbons, DC — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:32:54 GMT

Why do the Romney's go to a coffee house? Mormons don't drink the stuff.

McCain, Romney’s top target?

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:49:43 GMT

Mitt is being disengenuous. Governors are hardly 'Outside the Beltway'. They have their own version of it, in the State they rule. When one of them becomes President, it's not a 'Gosh, what do I do, next?' thing. They roll into DC with their whole gang well versed in the language of 'Slap and Schmooze'. Dubya did it, Slick Willy did it, the Quipper, Jimmy, etc. Governors are the mini-presidents of their own peculiar kingdom, and lay on the rest of us, the eccentricities they've acquired from the taste of power they previously had. There are no virgins in politics. They all have at least their little finger hooked in the belt.

McCain, Romney’s top target?

Lee in CA — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:01:43 GMT

"No one votes for yesterday; they vote for tomorrow."

Then why do every one of you neocon disasters invoke the name of the great St. Ron of Reagan?

It's a constant back-and-forth between Huckebee, Rudy Tutti and Romney about which is going to say the more pandering, assinine, sound-bite mealy-mouthed crap.

At least McCain says - "Yah - let's kill them."

McCain, Romney’s top target?

Candace Cox, Concord, NH — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:05:07 GMT

There is a reason Romney is the the other wannabee's are ganging up on - He's CLEARLY the Republicans top candidate. The GOP constituency had better wake up and get on Romney's side instead of allowing this bickering to continue or the Republican Party will be watching Hillary and Bill in the White House a year from now.

McCain, Romney’s top target?

R.J. Utah — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:06:43 GMT

More flip Flopping from Mitt Romney, do you really want a scumbag like this.

Governor Romney…imposed a slew of fee hikes and tax 'loophole' closures….The largest of these was $259 million worth of fee hikes in FY 2004, the bulk of which came from higher Registry of Deeds fees. Smaller fee hikes, including higher charges for boaters and golfers, we imposed in FY 2003 and FY 2005. Romney also sought $128 million worth of so-called tax loophole closures for FY 2004; $70 million for FY 2005; and $170 million for FY 2006, which were later reduced to $85 million due to backlash from business leaders."
- Club for Growth's White Paper on Mitt Romney

"Romney continues to oppose the flat tax with harsh language, calling the tax 'unfair.'"
- Club for Growth's White Paper on Mitt Romney

The Governor would also seek to raise $128 million in revenue by closing corporate tax loopholes (Rick Klein, “Massachusetts Governor’s Proposed Budget Includes Layoffs, New Fees”, Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, 2/27/2003)

Despite the governor's pledge of no new taxes, his proposal does increase some taxes and fees: The administration says it can collect an additional $70 million by "closing loopholes" in corporate and sales tax rules (Scott Greenberger, “Massachusetts Governor Sets $22.98 Billion Budget Blueprint”, Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, 1/29/2004)

“…business groups objected so strongly to a proposed $170 million tax increase that Romney snuffed the idea and proposed $85 million instead.” (Alexander Bolton, “Romney’s Tax Record Gets A Closer Look,” The Hill, 3/27/2007)

Governor Romney even raised taxes on some New Hampshire residents who worked in Massachusetts, taxing their income and their pensions. Learn more

McCain, Romney’s top target?

Sara Danielson — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:25:10 GMT

Mitt Romney,

Or should I say Flip Flopper Romney!

Mitt Romney's Flip Flop Record

ABORTION

From the Left:

Romney ran against Senator Edward M. Kennedy in 1994. During a debate, Romney declared: "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it."
- Boston Globe, March 2, 2006

"I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose."
-2002 Questionnaire for the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL)
Boston Globe, July 3, 2005

From the Right:

"I am pro-life. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate."
- Boston Globe, Op-Ed, July 26, 2005

More from the Right:

"Every decision I have made as Governor in a very liberal state has been on the side of favoring life." – Governor Romney

- Robert Behre, "Romney Gets S.C. Support," Charleston Post-Courier, January 30, 2007

STEM CELL RESEARCH

From the Left:

"Romney has decided to support experimentation on surplus frozen embryos from in-vitro fertilization procedures."
- National Review Online, February 11, 2005

"At a campaign appearance at Brandeis University in June 2002, Romney strongly endorsed stem cell research."
- Boston Globe, December 17, 2006 Read the article

From the Center:

"Governor Mitt Romney set off a storm of criticism yesterday after he declared in a published interview that he favored banning a specific type of stem cell research. Scientists and the leader of the state Senate accused him of trying to block a promising avenue of research, even as antiabortion groups assailed him for declaring that he did not object to stem cell research involving embryos from fertility clinics."
- Boston Globe, February 11, 2005 Read the article

From the Right:

"I studied the issue for many months, and entered into conversation with experts from across the nation who were looking for consensus solutions, like Stanford's Dr. William Hurlbut. In the end, I became persuaded that the stem-cell debate was grounded in a false premise, and that the way through it was around it: by the use of scientific techniques that could produce the equivalent of embryonic stem cells but without cloning, creating, harming, or destroying developing human lives."
- Governor Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, "A Stem-Cell Solution," National Review Online, June 15, 2007

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION

From the Left:

"When he ran for governor in 2002, Romney said he supported expanding access to the emergency contraception pill, a high dose of hormones that women can take to prevent pregnancy up to five days after sex . . . On a questionnaire Planned Parenthood gave to the gubernatorial candidates in 2002, Romney answered 'yes' to the question, 'Do you support efforts to increase access to emergency contraception?' "
- Boston Globe, July 7, 2005

From the Right:

"Yesterday I vetoed a bill that the Legislature forwarded to my desk. Though described by its sponsors as a measure relating to contraception, there is more to it than that. The bill does not involve only the prevention of conception: The drug it authorizes would also terminate life after conception."
- Governor Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, "Why I Vetoed The Contraception Bill," Boston Globe, July 26, 2005 Read the article

GAY RIGHTS

From the Left:

"All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual orientation. While he does not support gay marriage, Mitt Romney believes domestic partnership status should be recognized in a way that includes the potential for health benefits and rights of survivorship."
- Romney's 2002 campaign website

"Mitt and Kerry Wish You a Great Pride Weekend! All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual preference"
- A flier handed out at "Gay Pride" by the Romney/Healey Campaign See the flier here

"We have discussed a number of important issues such as the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which I have agreed to co-sponsor, and if possible broaden to include housing and credit, and a bill to create a federal panel to find ways to reduce gay and lesbian youth suicide, which I also support. One issue I want to clarify concerns [grammar in context] President Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue" military policy. I believe that the Clinton compromise was a step in the right direction. I am also convinced that it is the first of a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation's military. That goal will only be reached when preventing discrimination against gays and lesbians is a mainstream concern, which is a goal we share…"
- Governor Romney letter to Log Cabin Republicans, October 6, 1994 Read the letter here

From the Right:

Lopez: "And what about the 1994 letter to the Log Cabin Republicans where you indicated you would support the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and seemed open to changing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military? Are those your positions today?

Gov. Romney: "No. I don't see the need for new or special legislation. My experience over the past several years as governor has convinced me that ENDA would be an overly broad law that would open a litigation floodgate and unfairly penalize employers at the hands of activist judges...As for military policy and the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, I trust the counsel of those in uniform who have set these policies over a dozen years ago. I agree with President Bush's decision to maintain this policy and I would do the same."
- Interview with National Review, December 14, 2006 Read the interview

MARRIAGE AMENDMENT

From the Left:

In 2002, before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court declared same-sex marriage protected by the Constitution, Romney denounced as "too extreme" the effort by pro-family groups to enact a preemptive state Marriage Protection Amendment prohibiting homosexual marriage, civil unions and same-sex public employee benefits.
- Boston Phoenix, May 14-20, 2004

From the Right:

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough: "Do you support a national constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage?"

Governor Romney: "Boy, I sure do. You know, that's a topic that's really, I think, very important to the country because marriage is not just about adults. Marriage is about the development and nurturing of kids, and in my view, the development of a child is enhanced by having a mom and dad. And so, I think it's very important that we have a national standard because marriage is a status. You get married in one place and then you move to another, you're still married at least in the eyes of the community and the children and the benefits may not follow you, but ultimately we're going to have one standard of marriage in this country and that standard ought to be one man and one woman."
- MSNBC's "Morning Joe" September 17, 2007

GUN RIGHTS

From the Left:

"He [Romney] is a supporter of the federal assault weapons ban."
- Romney 2002 campaign website

More from the Left:

In his 1994 US Senate run, Romney backed two gun-control measures strongly opposed by the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights groups: the Brady Bill, which imposed a five-day waiting period on gun sales, and a ban on certain assault weapons.

"That's not going to make me the hero of the NRA," Romney told the Boston Herald in 1994.

At another campaign stop that year, he told reporters: "I don't line up with the NRA."
- Boston Globe, January 14, 2007 Read the article

From the Right:

"Americans should have the right to own and possess firearms as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution," said Governor Romney. "I'm proud to be among the many decent, law-abiding men and women who safely use firearms."
- Governor Romney, News Release, January 12, 2007

WAITING PERIODS FOR GUNS

From the Left:

Regarding the Brady Bill which required waiting periods to buy a handgun, Romney stated, "I don't think [the waiting period] will have a massive effect on crime but I think it will have a positive effect."
- Boston Herald, August 1, 1994

From the Right:

"Romney says he still backs the ban on assault weapons, but he won't say whether he stands by the Brady Bill. And after the gun show tour, his campaign declined to say whether he would still describe himself as a supporter of tough gun laws."
- Boston Globe, January 14, 2007 Read the article

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

From the Left:

"The minimum wage is important to our economy and Mitt Romney supports minimum wage increase, at least in line with inflation."
- Romney 2002 campaign website

From the Right:

Governor Mitt Romney yesterday rejected the Legislature's plan to raise the state minimum wage to $8 an hour over two years, angering Democratic lawmakers and advocates who accused him of abandoning a 2002 campaign pledge to significantly boost the pay of low-wage workers.
- Boston Globe, July 22, 2006 Read the article

EDUCATION

During his 1994 campaign for Senate he continually called for the abolishment of the Department of Education.
- Club for Growth's White Paper on Mitt Romney

Governor Romney now supports the No Child Left Behind Act.
- Club for Growth's White Paper on Mitt Romney

IMMIGRATION

From the Left:

In a November 2005 interview with the Boston Globe, Romney described immigration proposals by McCain and others as "quite different" from amnesty, because they required illegal immigrants to register with the government, work for years, pay taxes, not take public benefits, and pay a fine before applying for citizenship.

"That's very different than amnesty, where you literally say, 'OK, everybody here gets to stay,' " Romney said in the interview. "It's saying you could work your way into becoming a legal resident of the country by working here without taking benefits and then applying and then paying a fine."

Romney did not specifically endorse McCain's bill, saying he had not yet formulated a full position on immigration. But he did speak approvingly of efforts by McCain and Bush to solve the nation's immigration crisis, calling them "reasonable proposals."

Romney also said in the interview that it was not "practical or economic for the country" to deport the estimated 12 million immigrants living in the US illegally. "These people contribute in many cases to our economy and to our society," he said. "In some cases, they do not. But that's a whole group we're going to have to determine how to deal with."
- Boston Globe, March 16, 2007 Read the article

From the Right:

In his appeals to conservative voters, Romney has made the Arizona senator's work on immigration one of his favorite targets. When McCain and other senators unveiled the latest reform bill two weeks ago, Romney called it the "wrong approach" and immediately launched a television ad slamming "amnesty" for illegal immigrants.
- Boston Globe, June 1, 2007 Read the article

TAXES

From the Left:

"Governor Romney…imposed a slew of fee hikes and tax 'loophole' closures….The largest of these was $259 million worth of fee hikes in FY 2004, the bulk of which came from higher Registry of Deeds fees. Smaller fee hikes, including higher charges for boaters and golfers, we imposed in FY 2003 and FY 2005. Romney also sought $128 million worth of so-called tax loophole closures for FY 2004; $70 million for FY 2005; and $170 million for FY 2006, which were later reduced to $85 million due to backlash from business leaders."
- Club for Growth's White Paper on Mitt Romney

"Romney continues to oppose the flat tax with harsh language, calling the tax 'unfair.'"
- Club for Growth's White Paper on Mitt Romney

Romney didn't support President Bush's tax cuts in 2003. That earned him praise from liberal Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA)
- Boston Globe, April 11, 2003.

From the Right:

"I said no to a tax hike; raising taxes hurts working people and scares away jobs. I also said no to more borrowing; borrowing just shifts our problems to the backs of our kids...Instead, I went after waste, inefficiency, duplication, and patronage."
- Governor Romney, Boston Globe, October 24, 2005

NO NEW TAXES PLEDGE

From the Left:

In 2002, Romney broke with his predecessor, Jane Swift, and Republican governors before her by declining to sign a written vow not to raise taxes once in office.

- Boston Globe, January 5, 2007 Read the article

From the Right:

Almost five years after he refused to sign a "no new taxes" pledge during his campaign for governor, Mitt Romney announced yesterday that he had done just that, as his campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination began in earnest.
- Boston Globe, January 5, 2007 Read the article

CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS

From the Left:

Governor Romney has changed his position on key campaign finance reform issues several times during public life. During his 1994 Senate campaign, he held far left positions that advocated for abolishing PACs and creating strict campaign spending limits.

- Club for Growth's White Paper on Mitt Romney

From the Right:

As he runs for President, Romney abandoned his previous stance and has come out as a harsh critic of McCain-Feingold, and those presidential candidates who support it. His transformation has even propelled him to call for the legislation's repeal.
- Club for Growth's White Paper on Mitt Romney

ON HIS FAVORITE BOOK

From the Left:

He told Fox News his favorite book is L. Ron Hubbard's "Battlefield Earth"

From the Right:

He also told Fox news his favorite book is the The Bible

Or

Who Knows:

His MySpace page said his favorite book is "Huckleberry Finn"

Read more news articles on Mitt Romney's Record
Watch a video from Mitt Romney's 1994 debate with Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA

McCain, Romney’s top target?

HMT-MI — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:49:09 GMT

they need to perform in every state just before the vote

McCain, Romney’s top target?

Bryant Anderson — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:50:21 GMT

Huckabee and McCain are running one state campaigns. Romney is running in both states. Romney is the only candidate that can put our countries economy back on track by cutting deficit spending. He provides the clearest support for the family and will keep our nation strong. Romney will make the best president to deal with our own internal problems and strengthen our nation within.

McCain, Romney’s top target?

HMT-MI — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:55:50 GMT

Romney blasting everybody is appropo----the guy has proven over and over again he has 2 answers to every question he has been asked.He lies as much as the Bushies---Bush does not need another term as president.and Romney seems to be another clone of the decider in fact so are all the republicans running for office.

McCain, Romney’s top target?

JohnC, SC — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:15:43 GMT

Once voters learn of Huckabee's roll in releasing a rapist, Wayne Dumond, it's over.

Huck caved into right wing evangelist who demanded this rapist was convicted because she was a distant relative of Clinton.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/04/documents-expose-huckabee_n_75362.html

Then Romney, McCain, and Giulainai will battle it out.

McCain, Romney’s top target?

DAVID ANDERS PHARR,TX — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:18:03 GMT

GOOD TRY BAD LIE JOHN C we dont need 12 wives

McCain, Romney’s top target?

TS, Beavercreek, Ohio — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 22:12:52 GMT

DAVID ANDERS PHARR,TX
Old joke, or was that the total of McCains and Gigi's combined?

Romney-Solid Man!Solid Faith!Solid Family!Solid Resume!Solid Success! Solid Optimist! Solid Future!

Go Romney!

McCain, Romney’s top target?

Carl Loeber, San Jose, CA — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 05:16:31 GMT

How can you complain about Romney on the abortion issue when he is endorsed by Robert Bork, Jay Sekulow, James Bopp (former chief attorney for National Right to Life) .. and Jim Talent .. and Bob Jones .. and now the head of the Iowa Christian Alliance .. ??

These are guys who have spent hours personally talking to Mitt Romney .. and you think they are not honest men ..??

Do you know who Robert Bork is ?

McCain, Romney’s top target?

Wayne — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 07:17:49 GMT

Sara Danielson, I'm thinking your post looks very much like the one that Jorgenson cut and pasted several times over the past few days. So either you cut & pasted his post into yours (guess you couldn't come up with something of your own), the both of you cut & pasted from another source (guess neither of you could come up with something of your own), or you are Jorgenson posting with a different name. The message is still the same from Jorgenson. Jorgenson hates mormons. Romney is a mormon. Lets do anything to discredit him rather than do something postive to advocate for a candidate.

(PS-HMT-MI - You seem to bash all Republicans. Though I agree some do need some bashing, do you ever take a moment to build arguments in behalf of candidates you support? Just a thought.)

All one needs to look at is the supposed Gun Rights contradiction below to see the weak attempt presented to discredit Romney in this oft duplicated post.

GUN RIGHTS
More from the Left:
In his 1994 US Senate run, Romney backed two gun-control measures strongly opposed by the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights groups: the Brady Bill, which imposed a five-day waiting period on gun sales, and a ban on certain assault weapons.

HERE, ROMNEY STATES HE BELIEVES THERE SHOULD BE A WAIT PERIOD AND BAN ON SOME ASSAULT WEAPONS.

From the Right:
"Americans should have the right to own and possess firearms as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution," - Governor Romney, News Release, January 12, 2007

HERE, ROMNEY SAYS AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO OWN AND POSSESS FIREARMS. THERE IS NO LEFT-RIGHT CONTRADICTION. BOTH VIEWS CAN EXIST SIMULTANEOUSLY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, EACH STATEMENT EXISTS ON ITS OWN MERIT, WITHOUT RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF REALLY BAD ANALYSIS.

To top it all off, one statement was made in 1994 and another in 2007. Good Governing means listening to one's constituents and expert advisors and making an informed decision. That means the government representative should hold their own ego in check, and be willing to change their mind when a compelling argument is made.

Romney appears to understand this key component of governing - recognizing that at times, his views will need to be adjusted based upon new and more compelling information. As I've stated before, how many of us flocked to the ARM mortgage a few years ago - it looked pretty good then. Now, how many of us have changed our mind based upon our new information? A lot.

I would rather support a candidate (Ind, GOP, or DNP) who listens to us (expert advisors) to govern instead of one who always has been, still is, and will continue to be close minded and unwilling to consider a differing point of view.

Great teams are built with a strong leader that understands how important it is to have strong and differing points of view advising them. The Supreme Court is an excellent example. Each Justice has DNP and GOP stances on each issue, regardless of the Justice's own personal political affiliation.

Keep an open mind, you might be amazed at what can be learned.