Mitt Romney Backer Accuses Fred Thompson of Bribing Pro-Life Group

LifeNews ^ | 11/14/2007 | Steven Ertelt

[JRochelle]

Fred Thompson received the endorsement of the National Right to Life Committee on Tuesday and a surrogate for the campaign of Mitt Romney claimed Wednesday that it was motivated by money. Paul Weyrich, president of the Free Congress Foundation, says he can't find any other explanation. National Right to Life officials said Tuesday they backed Thompson because of his 100 percent voting record on pro-life issues, his willingness to back overturning Roe and the viability of his campaign.

But Weyrich, a Romney backer, told the Washington Times the endorsement "makes no sense" and claimed the Thompson campaign bought off the pro-life group.

"I think in all probability the Thompson people were engaged with the National Right to Life people in financial dealing," Weyrich said.

"In the past, the Republican Party has funded National Right to Life, and while [National Right to Life] can raise money on its own, it needs funding," Weyrich claimed.

David O'Steen, the executive director of the leading pro-life organization, called the claims ludicrous.

"He's got to be joking," O'Steen told the Washington Times. "There is absolutely no financial arrangement between [Right to Life] and the Thompson campaign or Fred Thompson."

Todd Harris, the communications director for the Thompson campaign, told LifeNews.com that the Weyrich accusations that the National Right to Life Committee was bribed by the Thompson campaign in exchange for its endorsement are "outrageous."

He said National Right to Life is supporting Thompson "because of Fred's 100% pro-life voting record."

"It is unseemly for the Romney campaign and its supporters to suggest that National Right to Life's coveted endorsement is based on a bribe," Harris added.

"If the Romney campaign is looking for the reason they did not receive the National Right to Life endorsement, they can start with the fact that Gov. Romney was pro-choice just two years ago," he told LifeNews.com.

"The Romney campaign was clearly hoping for this endorsement and are now clearly upset. But being denied an endorsement is no excuse to impugn the integrity of the very organization they were just days ago trying to woo," he concluded.

[Reaganesque]

No problem:

To: Reaganesque

Buying all the people you can buy helps. If there is a surge, could be just a wet dream.

11 posted on 11/14/2007 7:21:49 AM PST by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)

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...The general quid pro quo pattern is this: a) conservative group criticizes Willard; b) Willard gives money to group in manner he never has before; c) Group does 180 on Willard and suddenly loves him.

196 posted on 11/14/2007 11:51:39 AM PST by Petronski (Congratulations C.C. Sabathia - A.L. Cy Young 2007)

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Hey, aren’t the Romney supporters always bragging about how much of Mittzie’s own money he’s investing to buy this presidency? Can’t help it if some people get suspicious.

218 posted on 11/14/2007 12:32:55 PM PST by Jim Robinson (Our God-given unalienable rights are not open to debate, negotiation or compromise!)

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...Its all about the Benjamins baby...



4 posted on 11/06/2007 2:11:06 PM PST by colorcountry ("ever met a gang banger with a hunter safety card?" ~ Ted Nugent)

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Q: What's driving the Romney Surge?

A:



28 posted on 11/14/2007 7:38:24 AM PST by RockinRight (Just because you're pro-life and talk about God a lot doesn't mean you're a conservative.)

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And here's one from the author of this thread:

Dear Paul,

Just because your guy tries to buy all the endorsements he can does not mean that all the other candidates do it too.
1 posted on 11/14/2007 7:18:33 AM PST by JRochelle

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There are many, many more that I could have posted and I'm willing to post them if you want. Heck, just read a number of the comments on this thread, particularly from JRochelle. Anybody who supports Mitt Romney is bought and paid for. (See response 14: "Mitt has had to purchase his conservative creds.") And don't Clinton up on me and claim that "buying people" isn't the same thing as "bribery".

[Ingtar]

How many of those comments are made in the MSM by a public figure?

[colorcountry]

I will stand behind my belief that Romney is throwing money at anyone who will catch it. Romney has money - he's trying to buy the election, Fred doesn't have money and so he can't attempt to buy endorsements or votes. That is the biggest difference.

I wish Romney would stop the embarrassing attempt. It dirties up the political process.

Oh and....

[MeanWestTexan]

They should have included the full text of the Thompson camp’s response, WHICH LEFT A MARK:

“Gov. Romney was pro-choice just two years ago. They should also consider the fact that Gov. Romney’s own health care plan in Massachusetts offers taxpayer funded abortions for a mere $50 co-pay and requires by law that a representative from Planned Parenthood sit on the MassHealth advisory board. Tellingly, Gov. Romney made no such requirement for a representative from the pro-life movement.”

[JRochelle]

http://harpers.org/archive/2007/10/hbc-90001501

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/romney-pac-donates-to-sc-groups/

Mr. Romney and a group of his supporters also contributed a total of about $10,000 to a nonprofit group affiliated with National Review. Over the past two years, he contributed $35,000 to the Federalist Society, an influential network of conservative lawyers. And in December 2005, he contributed $25,000 to the Heritage Foundation, a leading conservative research organization that has helped support his Massachusetts state health care plan to other conservatives. His charitable foundation has not yet released its 2006 tax filings, which may show what other donations it may have made last year.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/us/politics/12topic-romney.html

His campaign, for instance, paid for vans and hotel rooms for young supporters to attend the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in the hope of doing well in the event’s straw poll — a vote that had never before drawn much attention. And more recently it was revealed that in the months before he announced his candidacy, he made large donations to several conservative groups in a position to influence his reputation on the right.

Now Reaganesque, I know you will have a fit about the sources. But if what is reported in these links is not the truth, has the Romney campaign denied the donations?

I will take back my suggestions that Romney is attempting to buy endorsements, (which by the way isn’t illegal is it?) if you can prove that he never gave to these groups and organizations.

[HerrBlucher]

See... there's this little thing called evidence that you may want to consider. Romney hasn't exactly been shy or secretive about pumping large amounts of money into winning straw polls (e.g., booking every bus in Iowa to prevent other candidates from being able to bus in supporters and busing in senior citizens to vote in a straw poll by the Florida Young Republicans).

Yup, that is the difference. There is NO evidence that Fred bought, or even attempted to buy, the NRTL endorsement but there is a boatload of evidence that Romney is trying to buy the election.

But Mittheads don't need evidence to support their ridiculous accusations, there was one Mitthead post on another thread saying that the NRTL supported Fred because they are anti-Mormon......LOL! I guess if you throw out the "bought" accusation you would have to resort to the "bigot" accusation to fill the Romney crybaby void.

[JRochelle]

Now show me where Fred has done what Romney did.

PUT UP OR SHUT UP!

[JRochelle]

Another story.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/us/politics/11romney.html?hp

[GregH]

The Presidential race is not for paupers. It is going to require money, if Fred has problems raising it then it is his own problem and not Mitt’s, many of Fred’s crybaby supporters dont like the fact it takes money for campaigning. BTW there is no evidence that Romney accused Thompson personally of buying endorsements despite the ranting of Fred’s whining supporters.

[JRochelle]

More,

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/08/17/romney_aided_conservative_groups/

Romney and his foundation can give to whomever they please.

But spare us, we are not stupid. He gave in order to influence them. Hell thats why most people give to politicians!

[colorcountry]

Maybe you missed this post from one of the most (lol) influential FreeRepublic posters ever!

To: CharlesWayneCT
Hey, aren’t the Romney supporters always bragging about how much of Mittzie’s own money he’s investing to buy this presidency? Can’t help it if some people get suspicious.

218 posted on 11/14/2007 1:32:55 PM MST by Jim Robinson (Our God-given unalienable rights are not open to debate, negotiation or compromise!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 199 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925599/posts?page=218#218

[Pistolshot]

You Fred supporters can really dish it out with your incessant cries of "Romney is buying his vitories"

Romney does buy 'vitories'.

but let one Romney supporter say the same exact thing about Fred and you're crying and moaning about the outrageous

If there was ANY basis for this accusation, we would all be on it, unfortunately for you, there is no evidence that Fred 'bribed' the NRTL to endorse him. None whatsoever.

That is the difference.

[Reaganesque]

Or what? You'll go whining to Jim Robinson demanding that I be banned? Go ahead. Coward. You are running around saying that Mitt has bought off all of his support based on contributions he has made with ZERO evidence of any direct link between these contributions and his support. You are spreading innuendo and rumor as if it were fact. That is flat out dishonest and to listen to you whining about "false accusations" is nauseating.

I was asked directly if any Thompson supporter had made the allegation that Mitt supporters had been bribed. I provided concrete evidence and now you're spinning as if you didn't write what you wrote. Heck, I could have included the fact that you and many other Thompson supporters have accused me of being a paid operative of the campaign, but why pile on when the evidence is so overwhelming?

If you don't have the integrity or guts to own up to your own sleazy, underhanded, dishonest BS then I suggest you find another avocation. What you and a few other Thompson supporters are engaged in is very nearly slander. But hey, it's worked for the Democrats, why not you, eh?

[Zionist Conspirator]

Why isn’t Paul Weyrich supporting Duncan Hunter???

[Reaganesque]

Yes, actually I did post it above. Go back and read my previous post. It's just above your enlightened post.

I am not surprised that you stand by your accusations. You once justified the murder of Joseph Smith to me as being nothing more than "frontier justice." So, it's not surprising you haven't a problem in the world with slander.

[JRochelle]

Now you are having a hissyfit.

I’m done responding to you.

[Reaganesque]

Ah yes, I ask you for direct evidence and you go into hiding. Naturally. That’s what most cyber-bullies do. Make an unverifiable claim and when they are called on it whine, complain about how unfair it all is being held responsible for a lie and then they clam up and refuse to talk about it. That ought to work wonders when it’s Hillary doing the bashing.

[colorcountry]

....Frontier justice is served.

[JRochelle]

I’m not going anywhere.

I posted evidence about Romney and him many donations to conservative causes, you refuse to see them for what they are.

I can’t make you open your eyes. Believe what you want, I’ll do the same.

[Petronski]

Paul Weyrich is not a member of the Romney campaign. He is not an "aide". He is a private individual, a prominent conservative leader, who privately chose to endorse Romney. The Romney campaign has no control over Weyrich or what he says.

Profiles in **ahem**
Willardian Courage


The buck stops . . .
over there somewhere . . .

Quick! Throw Weyrich under the bus . . .
. . . with Limbaugh!