Posted on 03/11/2007 11:00:12 AM PDT by wagglebee
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is the richest man in the presidential race.
Presidential candidates are not required to disclose their net worth, and Romney has not. But analysts who track compensation in Romneys business field said it was likely to exceed $500 million, according to a report in Saturday's New York Times.
Romney built his fortune with the Boston-based Bain Capital, a venture and buyout firm. In 1984, Romney began investing Bains $40 million venture fund that eventually grew to billions. Romneys fund was the first investor in Staples, the office supplies store.
The Times also suggests that Romney has been using his personal wealth to woo conservative support for his presidential bid.
Examples include:
The Times report noted that coming on the eve of his presidential campaign, Romneys contributions might create the appearance of a conflict of interest for groups often asked to evaluate him.
For example, Romney critics have already zeroed in on a $15,000 donation to Massachusetts Citizens for Life arguing that he is trying to buy the groups support.
Additionally, Romney-watchers have pointed out that the contributions listed above are to groups to which he had never contributed before.
The paper noted that in 2002 Romney ran the most expensive race for governor in Massachusetts history -- spending about $6 million of his own money on a campaign that rang in at a hefty $9.4 million.
Meanwhile, Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said that Romneys donations simply demonstrated his convictions. "He has donated his time and his effort and whatever resources he can to help advance their causes, Madden said.
Public financial disclosure forms completed by presidential candidates do not reveal net worth. Madden added that the campaign had not yet decided whether to release Romneys tax returns.
Meaningless to some, but prior business experience in the private sector and proven executive management skill are something I put at the top of my long list of desirable attributes in a candidate for President of the U.S. Afterall, the President is the CEO of the largest organization on the planet. Prior experience as a Chief Executive in a large organization is the primary reason that Governors are elected President much more often than members of the House and Senate.
Mitt Romney's highly successful career in business is only one aspect of his leadership ability and résumé to examine that he developed further in public office (see my tagline). In comparison, Ross Perot was a one-dimensional candidate running on reducing the federal budget deficit, never elected to public office, and a bit of an eccentric to put it very kindly.
'Governor Romney, our records indicate that you gave more than three million dollars to what some would describe as an American religious cult based in Salt Lake City, and yet in the same time period you only contributed five hundred dollars to Save Darfur...'
'Are these the kinds of foreign policy blunders we should expect from a Romney Presidency?'
Why? The last person who could really run on this was Herbert Hoover and it's not like Romney can bring that up.
"Romney is the most successful 'self-made' candidate we've had in a long time."
GWB:"For that reason alone, he deserves a good hard look in consideration for the nomination.The GOP is still the party of business."
Indeed. We need candidates who can and have made it in the 'real world' of private enterprise, so they know what they are talking about there.
'Governor Romney, our records indicate that you gave more than three million dollars to what some would describe as an American religious cult based in Salt Lake City, and yet in the same time period you only contributed five hundred dollars to Save Darfur...'
'Are these the kinds of foreign policy blunders we should expect from a Romney Presidency?'
I am glad you brought that up Geronimo!
3- Welfare Services 2005 Fact Sheet
4- Humanitarian Services: In the News Humanitarian General Fund
5- Humanitarian Update from the Church
The Humanitarian offering through the Church gets to it's destiny and 100% is used on that service, plus volunteer labor!
Why don't you look at this FR thread: Romney Never was a "Liberal" . . . No, not even close.
It's Romney's campaign flyer from 1994. Out of 24 issues, Romney comes down on the conservative side for 23 of them. That's 95.8% conservative, 13 years ago.
Yes, one can correctly say Romney has 'changed his public position' on abortion. But, one is wrong in saying that Romney suddenly 'found' conservatism.
I think I knew that, but it is a good reminder. Bears repeating!
For the most part, I think Romney has been conservative all along. And, even on abortion, while he was governor he governed to the right and made decisions that were pro-life such as opposing embryonic stem cell research, vetoing a bill that provided for the "morning after pill" without a prescription, and fighting to promote abstinence education in public school classrooms with a program offered by faith-based Boston group Healthy Futures to middle school students.
I don't think they will be able to destroy him. He can take it directly to the people.
Romney is probably the best choice of all the candidates.
It's completely true. Romney's been conservative for all of six-to-eighteen months, depending on how you look at it. Until recently, he was a social liberal and an economic liberal. Ted Kennedy is right now pushing legislation that would bring Romney's Massachusetts Hillary-Care-Lite plan (which Romney authored) to the federal level. Can't wait!
I think the 'litmus test' is a relatively recent phenomenon. Paleo-conservatives had no such test. Neo-conservatives believe in using the power of the federal government to further their social causes (on up through foreign policy).
The Health Care plan is not single payer, and it is not universal. It is like what Workfare did for Wellfare reform. It does mandate that everyone must purchase their own healthcare.
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