Posted on 06/25/2007 9:27:32 AM PDT by Reaganesque
Recent polls in two crucial primary states--Iowa and New Hampshire--show that Mitt Romney has leapfrogged John McCain and Rudy Giuliani to claim momentum in the race for the Republican nomination for president.
The latest Des Moines Register poll shows Romney with 30 percent support, a 12-point lead over his nearest competitor in Iowa, McCain. Even better, Romney's internal polling has him running 17 points ahead of the competition in the Hawkeye State. A Zogby poll of New Hampshire voters offers similar results: Romney leads with 35 percent while McCain and Giuliani tie for second with 19 percent.
This surge of support for Romney comes as no surprise to those of us supporting the former Governor of Massachusetts. In fact, I predicted back in October that once voters got to know Romney they would like him very much. And so they do. The question now is, why?
I believe voters are attracted to Romney because of his three-part vision for America, one that seeks to build and maintain a strong national defense, a strong economy, and strong families.
Romney believes that peace comes through strength. In a recent Foreign Affairs article he called for adding 100,000 troops to our armed forces and for sizeable investments in military equipment, capabilities, and preparedness. To support these goals, Romney has said the next president should commit at least four percent of gross domestic product to national defense.
Romney has an adroit understanding of the threat posed by radical Islam. He recognizes that Iraq is but a part of a larger battle against Islamists that includes Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia and many other places. "Jihad is the greatest threat that faces humanity," Romney said in a speech earlier this year. "It cannot be appeased. It can only be defeated."
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
His events do serve liquor. It’s all part of the job, unfortunately. Just as Steve Young had to play football on Sundays, serving cocktails at political events is just the way it is. Mitt simply won’t be partaking in the adult beverages along with them, that’s all. Heaven forbid the press and politicians do without their alcohol for more than a few hours.
There are always bad apples in any group. I’m sorry you had to meet some of ours.
Fear not, there is no way he will win the nomination.
It will be between Rudy and Fred and Rudy’s stock is going down every day.
The fact that many Mass. republicans don’t like Mitt is very telling and once he establishes a firm hold on the number three spot, voters will begin to do their homework and find out that he is really a liberal just like Rudy.
Except for the girls that’ll vote for him cuz he’s cute but that won’t be enough.
I’m not a Mormon, but at least try to spell it right.
Uhhh, it’s called running an effective presidential campaign. The other candidates should try it.
Supporting equal rights for someone is not the same thing as demanding special rights for them. Equal rights -- yes. Special rights - no. He is sympathetic to human rights NOT gay rights.
In fact, Romney is the only one in the top tier who has strongly stood up against changing the definition of marriage as gays have demanded.
Mitt lobbied Congress in favor of a Federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution defining marriage to be between one man and one woman. Romney testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the Federal Marriage Amendment, and sent a letter to all 100 U.S. Senators on June 2, 2006 asking them to vote for the Amendment.
Sen. John McCain and Rudy Giuliani opposed the FMA.
http://www.freerepublic.com/~unmarkedpackage/#gayrights
For what it is worth:
ALEXANDRIA, Va— A new YouTube video released yesterday shows presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s alleged pro-life conversion story to be chronologically false and misleading.
Romney’s own comments on the abortion issue have been as follows:
1994: Mitt Romney was pro-choice:
“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.” (Joan Vennochi, “Romney’s Revolving World,” The Boston Globe, 3/2/06)
2001: Mitt Romney was not pro-choice:
“I do not wish to be labeled pro-choice.” (Mitt Romney, Letter to the Editor, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7/12/01)
2002: Mitt Romney was again pro-choice:
“I respect and will protect a woman’s right to choose. This choice is a deeply personal one … Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not mine and not the government’s.” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Clarity Sought On Romney’s Abortion Stance,” The Boston Globe, 7/3/05)
November 2004: Mitt Romney said he converted to the pro-life position.
Romney said he changed his views after meeting with Harvard scientists on stem-cell research: ‘It hit me very hard that we had so cheapened the value of human life in a Roe v. Wade environment that it was important to stand for the dignity of human life.’ (Karen Tumulty, “What Romney Believes,” Time, 5/21/07)
May 2005: Mitt Romney reaffirmed that he was “absolutely committed” to support the pro-choice position.
Six months after he claimed to have converted to the pro-life position, Romney stated: “I am absolutely committed to my promise to maintain the status quo with regards to laws relating to abortion and choice and so far I’ve been able to successfully do that and my personal philosophical views about this issue is not something that I think would do anything other than distract from what I think is a more critical agenda ...” (Mitt Romney, Remarks At Press Conference, 5/27/05)
January 2007: Mitt Romney acknowledged he was “effectively pro-choice.”
On January 29, 2007 during a visit to South Carolina, Romney stated: “Over the last multiple years, as you know, I have been effectively pro-choice.” (Bruce Smith, “Romney Campaigns in SC with Sen. DeMint,” The Associated Press, 1/29/07)
February 2007: Mitt Romney stated that he “was always for life.”
On another campaign stop in South Carolina, Romney stated: “I am firmly pro-life… I was always for life.” (Jim Davenport, “Romney Affirms Opposition to Abortion,” The Associated Press, 2/9/2007)
This new video came on the same day that Romney’s presidential campaign released a list of social-conservatives backing Romney, and just two days before Romney is scheduled to speak to the National Right to Life Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.
“I would assume that those social conservatives who are supporting Romney did not know at the time that he had misled them about his conversion story,” said Martin Gillespie, political director of Brownback for President. “I would encourage those who have supported Romney to publicly ask him to clarify when exactly he became pro-life, or if he did at all.”
Romney has also continually rejected a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution, which would protect unborn children in all fifty states. The Human Life Amendment is part of the platform of the Republican Party, and Romney opposes it. Romney also refused to call abortion murder during a campaign event in New Hampshire a few weeks ago, instead stating that murder “means different things to different people.” Romney’s wife has also financially supported Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the world.
“One would think that Mitt Romney is in training for an Olympic gold medal in verbal gymnastics, as his various political contortions on abortion are stunning in their timing and flexibility,” Gillespie added. “The best advice for Mitt Romney comes from Mark Twain: ‘Always tell the truth. That way, you don’t have to remember what you said.’”
Senator Brownback has a 100% lifetime voting record with National Right to Life and backs the Republican Party platform on abortion as well as the Human Life Amendment to the Constitution.
The new YouTube footage of Romney reaffirming his support for abortion rights after his alleged pro-life conversion is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxV-QNXoRIc.
I think Mitt has changed his position so many times he is confusing himself now a days.
Mitt Romney is a very “attractive” candidate. Its his conservatism that is in question. Romney remains a political centrist at best. Its critical for Romney -— and all the candidates for that matter -— to get his message out. So far he hasn’t done that. What are his signature issues and his policy agenda?
The GOP candidate field is weak for 2008, without a true standout that appeals to conservatives. Fred Thompson could change all that real soon.
If Romney wants to win the nomination he’ll have to influence conservatives and communicate what he wants to do as POTUS.
No I don’t:
ALEXANDRIA, Va— A new YouTube video released yesterday shows presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s alleged pro-life conversion story to be chronologically false and misleading.
Romney’s own comments on the abortion issue have been as follows:
1994: Mitt Romney was pro-choice:
“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.” (Joan Vennochi, “Romney’s Revolving World,” The Boston Globe, 3/2/06)
2001: Mitt Romney was not pro-choice:
“I do not wish to be labeled pro-choice.” (Mitt Romney, Letter to the Editor, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7/12/01)
2002: Mitt Romney was again pro-choice:
“I respect and will protect a woman’s right to choose. This choice is a deeply personal one … Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not mine and not the government’s.” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Clarity Sought On Romney’s Abortion Stance,” The Boston Globe, 7/3/05)
November 2004: Mitt Romney said he converted to the pro-life position.
Romney said he changed his views after meeting with Harvard scientists on stem-cell research: ‘It hit me very hard that we had so cheapened the value of human life in a Roe v. Wade environment that it was important to stand for the dignity of human life.’ (Karen Tumulty, “What Romney Believes,” Time, 5/21/07)
May 2005: Mitt Romney reaffirmed that he was “absolutely committed” to support the pro-choice position.
Six months after he claimed to have converted to the pro-life position, Romney stated: “I am absolutely committed to my promise to maintain the status quo with regards to laws relating to abortion and choice and so far I’ve been able to successfully do that and my personal philosophical views about this issue is not something that I think would do anything other than distract from what I think is a more critical agenda ...” (Mitt Romney, Remarks At Press Conference, 5/27/05)
January 2007: Mitt Romney acknowledged he was “effectively pro-choice.”
On January 29, 2007 during a visit to South Carolina, Romney stated: “Over the last multiple years, as you know, I have been effectively pro-choice.” (Bruce Smith, “Romney Campaigns in SC with Sen. DeMint,” The Associated Press, 1/29/07)
February 2007: Mitt Romney stated that he “was always for life.”
On another campaign stop in South Carolina, Romney stated: “I am firmly pro-life… I was always for life.” (Jim Davenport, “Romney Affirms Opposition to Abortion,” The Associated Press, 2/9/2007)
This new video came on the same day that Romney’s presidential campaign released a list of social-conservatives backing Romney, and just two days before Romney is scheduled to speak to the National Right to Life Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.
“I would assume that those social conservatives who are supporting Romney did not know at the time that he had misled them about his conversion story,” said Martin Gillespie, political director of Brownback for President. “I would encourage those who have supported Romney to publicly ask him to clarify when exactly he became pro-life, or if he did at all.”
Romney has also continually rejected a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution, which would protect unborn children in all fifty states. The Human Life Amendment is part of the platform of the Republican Party, and Romney opposes it. Romney also refused to call abortion murder during a campaign event in New Hampshire a few weeks ago, instead stating that murder “means different things to different people.” Romney’s wife has also financially supported Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the world.
“One would think that Mitt Romney is in training for an Olympic gold medal in verbal gymnastics, as his various political contortions on abortion are stunning in their timing and flexibility,” Gillespie added. “The best advice for Mitt Romney comes from Mark Twain: ‘Always tell the truth. That way, you don’t have to remember what you said.’”
Senator Brownback has a 100% lifetime voting record with National Right to Life and backs the Republican Party platform on abortion as well as the Human Life Amendment to the Constitution.
The new YouTube footage of Romney reaffirming his support for abortion rights after his alleged pro-life conversion is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxV-QNXoRIc.
No how is he pro life when in January ‘07 he stated I have been EFFECTIVELY PRO CHOICE over the last couple of years?
He signed a law as Governor FORCING tax payers to pay for abortions (Romney care).
What he has pledged and what he has done are two different things.
That is a stark difference among hundreds of others.
John Kerry is also a UN loving America hating socialist. Romney clearly loves America and is a staunch supporter of free enterprise.
Look up bigot.
Why don’t you keep your moralistic opinion to yourself?
Me too, and I wish I had just kept my mouth shut; but it’s the only exposure I have had. I am sure the good outweighs the bad.
You are just proving what I have been exposed too.
From what I’ve read about Fred, he isn’t all that conservative. He is no Ronald Reagan.
From what I’ve read about Fred, he isn’t all that conservative. He is no Ronald Reagan.
You are right,I should have just let you keep going.Thank you I have learned.
I agree - plus the fact that this guy does more for real family values than the others put together - and his wife is also a class act, the perfect First Lady. Compare that with Fred ‘chaser’ Thompson and his current wife (was she date #1022”?) ...enough said.
You must have just had a really bad experience. I know many, many Mormon families and they are some of the most kind, considerate and real family oriented people I’ve ever known.
Your welcome.
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