That would be Romney, yep.
A real, live "cover the road" politician.
"Live," politically, for the moment...
Posted on 08/17/2007 10:41:28 PM PDT by EternalVigilance
BOSTON - After a recent discovery by the press, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney appears to be pulling out his investments from two companies that use embryonic stem cell research. The discovery of his investments may have a negative effect on voters who already have doubts over the statesman's inconsistent record on life issues.
Members of the press and campaign opposition recently examined a federal financial statement and found that Romney owns stocks in Novo Nordisk and Millipore Corporation, two companies that use embryonic stem cells in their research, the Boston Herald Reports. Since the discovery was made public, Romney has stated that his investments will likely change to support his views.
"The trustee of the blind trust has said publicly that he will endeavour to make my investments conform with my positions, and I am confident that he will," said Romney. The former Massachusetts governor defended himself by saying that his investments were held in a blind trust which made him unable to specifically direct his funds. To some, however, this justification rings hollow in light of the fact that in 1994, he criticised Senator Edward M. Kennedy for the very same defense during the U.S. Senate campaign.
"The blind trust is an age-old ruse," Romney was quoted as saying at the time, the Herald reports. "You give a blind trust rules. You can say to a blind trust, don't invest in properties which would be in conflict of interest or where the seller might think they're going to get an advantage from me."
According to Romney's trust manager Brad Malt, of the law firm Ropes & Gray, the former governor took none of these precautions when the trust was established in 2002. Nevertheless, Malt also stated that it was impossible for Romney to predict where his money would go, for he "lost that ability once the trust was created."
According to the Herald, Romney owns between $190 and $250 million worth of assets. Out of this, he has between $100,000 and $250,000 invested in Novo Nordisk. On its official website, however, the company clearly states its support of embryonic stem cell research. (Read the Novo Nordisk statements on embryonic stem cell research: http://www.novonordisk.com/science/bioethics/stem_cell_ethic...).
Romney also invested in the Massachussetts-based Millipore Corporation, another company that uses embryonic stems cells for research. (See the Millipore website: http://www.millipore.com/corporate/pressroom.nsf/docs/73alx3).
Despite the fact that Romney appears to be pulling out of the problematic companies, the discovery of his these investments may shake the faith of conservative voters, especially since Romney's past record on life issues has been a slippery see-saw.
Ten years after declaring himself pro-choice, the former governor stated in 2004 that he had a pro-life conversion while discussing the very issue of embryonic stem cell research. He said, "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." Nevertheless, the recent discovery may once again have people questioning his motives and the reliability of such conservative claims during his run as presidential candidate.
Interestingly enough, however, it has also recently been discovered that the fiercely pro-life Senator Sam Brownback also had a much less sizeable amount of money invested in one of the same embryonic-stem-cell-using companies as Romney (Novo Nordisk), in the form of mutual funds. According to Brownback's financial disclosure records, he has between $1001 and $15000 invested in the mutual fund. Brownback's aides, however, have pointed out that in fact the fund is listed under one of Brownback's dependant children.
"The fund in question was not owned by Senator Brownback or his wife. It was owned by one of his children, who was unaware of the issue. The broker has already been contacted and instructed to sell the fund," said Brownback spokesman Brian Hart.
So I did not read it careful enough sue me!
Don’t pay this man any mind he is not a nice person!
Leave my faith out of this!
I dont go after yours if you have one!
I know people will “care” about this... but who cares.. if his blind trust did this, it’s not like he did.
And someone CMIIW but those companies do more than stem cell research right... so are we to believe that every product or research line of every company invested in needs to be examined for something politically incorrect?
Nonsense.
This is a meda hit against Republicans, as usual.
Sheesh..I have no words....
..Guennie just shakes her head.
PING
Fred T does not get a pass, no. The anti Mitt’s are out there in full force. Fair ‘nough.
“It’s good that Governor Romney discovered it and I admire him for doing the right thing. It isn’t easy keeping track of ones investments, when one has as many as Mitt, even when one has a mind too.”
If Mitt had discovered it, you wouldn’t have heard about
it. Only when another’s flashlight fell upon the truth,
was Mitt forced to act. I admire people who do the right
thing “in the dark” - and not just when they are running
for office.
You flack for him.
ampu
“Yes, it’s just that simple!”
;-)
That would be Romney, yep.
A real, live "cover the road" politician.
"Live," politically, for the moment...
EternalVigilance, the man that FR liberals love to hate.
If I had the ban button, you'd be permanent toast for that post.
MassResistance is not a hate group. Such a claim could qualify you for membership in the Southern Poverty Law Center, who think anyone to the right of Al Gore belongs to a "hate" group, but in my opinion it makes you a very poor fit for FR.
Readers can look for themselves here to see if this simple compilation of press clippings about Romney's record qualifies it for a designation as a "hate group."
You're now practicing gutter politics of the worst sort, restornu, and you should be ashamed. Threatening people, and slandering them, makes you no better than Hillary Clinton and her worst enablers.
So did Romney. He's much more accomplished than Hillary about actually advancing the most egregious parts of the radical Left's agenda.
Has Hillary ever enacted socialized medicine, complete with taxpayer-funded abortions? Mitt has.
Has Hillary implemented gay marriage? Mitt has.
Has Hillary ever signed a permanent "assault" weapons ban? Mitt has.
Has Hillary ever filled the public schools with the vilest homosexual propaganda? Mitt's agencies did, with his cooperation.
Mitt is Hillary, only slicker.
And he looks better in a suit...
While, unlike Liberals, I am not quick to push the bigotry button, it is still alive and well regarding some groups in the U.S., and among some groups and individuals in the U.S. It definitely exists here on FR and elsewhere regarding Mormons, and is most disturbing. There are those who oppose Mitt for legitimate reasons and those who oppose him just because he is a Mormon. The latter is truly incredible in 21st century America. Thankfully, I will never be among those despicable and disgraceful groups.
Romney is a real piece of work, the only thing is some here think we can trust him to go forward with his new agenda(s)
He has good hair, nice suits and is pandering to the right like he needs to get the nomination.
He won't be getting my vote.
BTW, what happened to old crusty anyway? ;-D
That link leads to a blog whose sole purpose, it would seem, is to defend gay behavior and mock anyone and everyone who opposes it, especially in the public square and in public policy.
Though, at its heart, it’s little more than a thinly-disguised effort to attack Romney’s political opponents.
Is that what Mitt Romney has reduced you to defending?
Standing in the corner of a closet in Kennebunkport or something. ;-)
Like Ross Perot?
There are no "reluctant" leaders. All have ego. Even the "saint" Jimmy Carter has an ego the size of a watermelon. This seems like more "Fred" adulation to me. "He really doesn't want it, but feels compelled". Give me a break!
taxpayer funded abortions — we already have addressed that on another thread, which you refuse to respond to.
Implemented gay marriage? — what in the blazes are you talking about?
signed weapons ban? — oh yeah, when was that?
filled public schools with vilest homosexual propaganda? — again, what in the blazes are you talking about?
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