Brownback Campaign Rips Romney on Boy Scouts Position

CBN ^ | 7/22/07

[redgirlinabluestate]

Below is the response from Kevin Madden, spokesman for Governor Romney's campaign:

"Governor Romney has been the most prominent, leading advocate of the family values platform in this campaign. His consistent advocacy on these issues has resulted in an important growth of support for our campaign. Some other campaigns will resort to negative attacks and distortions which is an unfortunate reflection on their campaign's conduct. Governor Romney has been a supporter of the Boy Scouts and has said he supports their right to decide scouting policies." In their release, the Bownback campaign said, "Senator Brownback has always supported the right of the Boy Scouts of America to determine the best leaders for young scouts."

Well, the last line in Kevin Madden's statement seems similar to what Brownback is saying as well. Is there any difference between the two?

Guess not.

[bnelson44]

Mitt Romney’s 1994 debate against Sen. Ted Kennedy. Watch the Republican presidential wanna-be as he tries to convince the audience that he is more pro-choice and pro-gay than a Kennedy. There’s also an interesting exchange where Mitt says that gays “should be allowed” to serve as Boy Scout leaders. At the time he served on the board of directors of the Scouts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI

[redgirlinabluestate]

You are reaching pretty far back. Why the worry? Seems a little desperate since we don't have to rely on what he said 13 years ago while trying to get elected in a liberal state. We can review what he actually did while governor during the last few years. Romney's Conservative Record as Governor For Review

Nonetheless, even back in 1994 -- if you want to go way back -- Romney maintained conservative positions on a majority of issues.

A campaign flyer unearthed from the 1994 race lists a side-by-side comparison of positions between Romney and Kennedy for 24 election issues. Images of the front and back of the flyer are available on the web. A closeup of the flyer with the candidate comparison on the issues is shown below:

Romney held the solid conservative position for 23 of the 24 issues listed; the only exception being the pledge to maintain the status quo in Massachusetts regarding a woman's right to choose. A pro-choice position in Massachusetts in 1994 was a socially moderate stance accommodating the large majority opinion of voters in the state. Romney did not run to the left of Kennedy. One moderate position does not a leftist make.

[bnelson44]

It is a pretty big deal to those of us involved in Scouts. And if a man is willing to sell the Scouts out to get elected, it sure tells a lot about his moral character.

Again, if he has changed his mind and now doesn’t want homosexual Scoutmasters, it would be pretty easy for him to say so. My guess is that he has not changed his mind.

[CheyennePress]

Actually, Romney did maintain the status quo in Mass regarding abortion.

A law, being an instrument of change, breaks the status quo. And thus Romney kindly vetoed every single “instrument of of change” the Mass legislature sent him with regards to abortion. ;)

[AppyPappy]

But Romney is on public record favoring inclusion of open homosexuals in scouting.

Correction: It is no longer about favoring inclusion. It's about forcing inclusion. That's Romney's stand.

Ironically, the BSA has put so many safeguards in place, you could almost drop the exclusion these days. I don't think that is a good idea but they have done a good job protecting the kids.

[PJ-Comix]

And Romney’s going nowhere fast.

Which bleacher seat do you want during the Romney inaugural parade?

[elpadre]

I don’t consider this release as throwing dirt.

There is a big difference between verbally assassinating a candidate and getting out the history and facts so that the people can make an informed decision.

We need a complete and true picture of every candidate on both sides. Where do they stand on each of the important issues of the day?

As a former Eagle Scout and Scoutmaster in my younger years this information is all I need to cross him off my list.

[samtheman]

Actually, my appraisal of Romney’s chances is headed north, along with my opinion of the guy. He’s still not my first choice, but I like him better today than I did last week.

[JakeS]

Time to bump this back up to the top.