Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

What Was He Thinking? [Fred Barnes questions Romney's conservatism]
The Weekly Standard ^ | February 19, 2012 | Fred Barnes

Posted on 02/10/2012 12:50:00 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

...Romney’s embrace of insuring the minimum wage increases, currently at $7.25, was surprising for a candidate who insists he is a reliable conservative. It was major mistake on his part for three reasons.

First, from an ideological standpoint, what was he thinking? Has he missed the decades long discussion among conservatives about the disastrous impact of the minimum wage? It has eliminated jobs – hundreds of thousands of them – for young persons on the low rungs of employment. The ill effects have been felt especially by African American youth.

Not only that, but the minimum wage represents a government intrusion in the economy. Free market economists, most notably Thomas Sowell, have been making this point for years.

Any self-identified conservative should be aware of this, even if the media has given it minimal coverage. And Romney’s support for jacking up the minimum wage annually only makes his apostasy worse.

Second, his timing was, to be charitable, politically clumsy. The day before, Romney had been trounced by Rick Santorum in two caucuses and one primary. This was more than an embarrassment. It showed once more that Romney has failed to persuade most conservatives he is indeed one of them. Instead, his message is one conservatives continue to find unconvincing.

.....Is Romney more conservative than he sounds? That’s been the belief of at least some of his defenders, including me. Now I’m not so sure.

(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: conservatism; economy; minimumwage; romney2012
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last
To: Cincinatus' Wife

Thanks for the info. I didn’t think Santorum could ever win anything again, but I think something has shifted, and people want a MORAL CONSERVATIVE.......neither Mitt or Newt are that combo......but it will take some time for the vast majority to come to that conclusion.


21 posted on 02/10/2012 4:04:02 AM PST by Ann Archy ( ABORTION...the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

I’m inclined to agree with you. (!!!)

Newt would have to be something of a Clintonian proposition to voters: he’s a rogue, but he seems to have some real competences and there’s hope that he’ll do well for the economy. That may be the best we have this year.


22 posted on 02/10/2012 4:06:33 AM PST by 9YearLurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
I'm not sold on Romney, but Fred Barnes' Conservative "cred," so to speak, is Dee Cee-tainted, too. Probably better than than most of the Beltway Bombers over at the Billy the K's Standard (and much improved the past few years), I'll admit.
23 posted on 02/10/2012 4:18:29 AM PST by Prospero
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
If Romney cannot see the inherent damage to the economy and to employment of the minimum wage act, I question his understanding of economics in general. Just because Romney made a lot of money DOES NOT automatically mean that he understands how the economy works (and should work).

Micro IS NOT macro! The economy is macro!

24 posted on 02/10/2012 5:26:08 AM PST by RoosterRedux (Go Newt!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

Romney doesn’t think like a conservative, does he, Fred?


25 posted on 02/10/2012 6:11:42 AM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Pray Continued Victory for our Troops Still in Afghan!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

How cute. Fred Barnes actually trying to sound like a conservative.

He’s just trying to get some distance between his milquetoast moderate magazine and the coming flameout of the Romney campaign.


26 posted on 02/10/2012 6:17:38 AM PST by Buckeye Battle Cry (Not Romney - Not ever!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
I haven't watched FOX in over two years. I don't like carrying dead weight.

It's now coming to their (at least Fred Barnes' -- so I expect others) attention, that Mitt is NOT more than he sounds and perhaps, just perhaps, even LESS conservative than they'd hoped.
No, his political ideology has been on display for years. They don't see it because they don't want to have to admit they see it and knew of it all along. Barnes is a perfect example.
The blind sheep are supposed to follow the blind sheperd.

27 posted on 02/10/2012 6:58:43 AM PST by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
His support is a mile wide and an inch deep.

I love that! How apt.
And he's being carried across lest his $1000 shoes get damp, much less wet.

28 posted on 02/10/2012 7:05:48 AM PST by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife

Romney is the ahem conservative who would manage the welfare state better than any other conservative. Santorum and Gingrich want to tear down the welfare state. That is the difference between the candidates.


29 posted on 02/10/2012 7:29:30 AM PST by driftless2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: driftless2

Bump!


30 posted on 02/10/2012 1:20:45 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson