McIsane sacres me, Huckabee gives me the creeps and Duncun Hunter is terrific but doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell.
You just summed up my thoughts exactly.
What about his record do you feel comfortable about?
Top 10 RINOs (Republicans in Name Only)
Human Events 12/27/05 - (Mitt Romney is ranked #8)
On the other hand, it's particularly interesting to note that Bay Windows, Boston's major homosexual newspaper, has reviewed Romney favorably. That same newspaper regularly prints extremely vicious and even obscene attacks on all conservative politicians, the "Christian Right" and even parents who challenge the liberal political agenda.
The November elections were clearly a turning point for the conservative movement. While President Bush has done some good things for the conservative movement, in many areas his administration has been a great disappointment. Movement activists across the country have become disillusioned with the Republican Party as a result of Bush's massive spending spree, his failure to veto wasteful programs, his inattention toward illegal immigration, and his token attention to social issues. As a result, we paid a price at the polls.
In two years, the presidential elections will be upon us and the GOP will have an opportunity to redeem itself. However, if we elect another President who demoralizes our base even further, it could spell the end of the conservative movement as we know it. Many conservative organizations are already reporting that segments or our base are dropping out of politics altogether or joining the Libertarian and other small parties. Another four or eight years of "big tent" Republicanism or "compassionate conservatism" will kill our base and CPAC meetings will be held in a phone booth.
Thus, it is imperative that the movement carefully scrutinize the record of all candidates seeking the presidency and if none of the existing candidates meet our standards, then it would be prudent for the conservative movement to draft someone we can all be supportive of. Let's review Governor Romney's positions on the hot-button issues and his actions as Governor of Massachusetts.
Abortion
"Romney ran against Senator Edward M. Kennedy in 1994. During a debate, Romney declared: '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.' " (NOTE: Romney has supported abortion since before the 1972 Roe v. Wade ruling!) - Boston Globe, 3/2/2006
"On a questionnaire Planned Parenthood gave to the gubernatorial candidates in 2002, Romney answered ''yes" to the question, 'Do you support the substance of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade?' Romney also professed support for state funding of abortion services for low-income women, [Erin] Rowland [spokeswoman for the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts] said." - Boston Globe, 3/25/2005
The Homosexual Agenda
"During his 2002 gubernatorial run his campaign distributed bright pink flyers during Pride that declared 'Mitt and Kerry [running mate Kerry Healey] wish you a great Pride weekend! All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual preference.' Romney also argued that he would not only support gay friendly policies but would fight on behalf of the gay community to secure benefits such as domestic partner benefits and hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples." - Bay Windows 3/3/2005
"The state LCR [Log Cabin Republican Club] worked with Romney's unsuccessful campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy in 1994. Romney won the LCR endorsement primarily based on his support for the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a pro-gay piece of legislation that at the time had little Republican support." - Bay Windows, 10/24/2002
There will be children born to same-sex couples, and adopted by same-sax couples, and I believe that there should be rights and privileges associated with those unions and with the children that are part of those unions." On another occasion, his spokesman "declined to state Romney's position on whether homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt, and declined to say whether the governor opposes gay adoptions." - State House press conference, 6/15/2005 - Boston Globe, 3/2/2006
Despite the over 2,500 pedophilia cases now on record involving homosexual scout leaders, Romney stated, "I feel that all people should be allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts regardless of their sexual orientation." In the same article, a BSA official criticized Romney for opposing Scout policy. - Boston Globe, 10/27/1994
In 2002, before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court declared same-sex marriage protected by the Constitution, Romney denounced as "too extreme" the effort by pro-family groups to enact a preemptive state Marriage Protection Amendment prohibiting homosexual marriage, civil unions and same-sex public employee benefits. - Boston Phoenix, May 14-20, 2004
Gun Control
Regarding the Brady Bill which required waiting periods to buy a handgun, Romney stated, "I don't think [the waiting period] will have a massive effect on crime but I think it will have a positive effect." - Boston Herald, 8/1/1994
Economic Issues
Romney supports minimum wage laws
* In as a candidate for Governor 2002, Romney proposed indexing the Massachusetts minimum wage with inflation, telling the Boston Globe "I do not believe that indexing the minimum wage will cost us jobs. I believe it will help us retain jobs." - - Boston Globe, 7/25/2002
* "The minimum wage is important to our economy and Mitt Romney supports minimum wage increase, at least in line with inflation." - Romney 2002 campaign website
Romney Balances Budget with $500 Million in New Fees
* "His first budget, presented under a cloud of a $2 billion deficit, balanced the budget with some spending cuts, but a $500 million increase in various fees was the largest component of the budget fix." Cato Institute annual Fiscal Policy Report Card - America's Governors, 2004. Romney was rated a "C" overall by Cato.
Romney imposes "socialized" health care on Massachusetts
* In 2006, Romney introduced a universal health care bill (which passed the Legislature in a slightly amended version) which has been criticized by conservatives as being socialistic. Republican Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is trying to accomplish in his final year in office what Democrats can only dream of these days: boosting government spending on and regulation of health care and requiring individuals to purchase government-designed policies. Romney's plan, which is backed by such liberals as Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, Mass.), is being pitched as a compact between citizens and the state. - National Review Online, 1/26/2006