NYT: Conservatives move against Romney as VP pick

The New York Times ^ | 08/18/08 | Michael Luo

[presidio9]

On the day Mitt Romney bowed out of the presidential race last February, his supporters latched onto something of a consolation prize that appeared to bode well for his political future: the warm embrace of hundreds of conservatives whose seal of approval he had long sought.

-SNIP-

Yet as Mr. Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, is said to have emerged as a top contender to be Senator John McCain’s vice-presidential running mate, a vocal segment of conservative leaders and grass-roots activists have mobilized against him, with some going out of their way to block his path to the Republican ticket.

It is unclear just how large the group of Romney detractors is and how representative it is of the broader conservative movement. Many are evangelicals who flocked to one of Mr. Romney’s rivals in the Republican primaries, Mike Huckabee, the Baptist minister and former Arkansas governor whose own hopes for making a repeat presidential run in 2012 or 2016 could suffer if Mr. Romney were named to the ticket.

Indeed, Mr. Huckabee himself aimed a few jabs at Mr. Romney this week, arguing that he would make an unacceptable vice-presidential pick because of his shifting positions on several issues.

Nevertheless, the determined opposition to Mr. Romney highlights the nagging concerns about his ideological authenticity — and his Mormon religion — that dogged him throughout his primary campaign. It also illuminates the continuing unease Mr. McCain arouses among some evangelicals and other social conservatives who make up an important voting bloc of the Republican base.

-SNIP-

The ultimate danger for Mr. McCain is not necessarily that Christian conservatives will not vote for him if he chooses Mr. Romney, but that they will not be as energetic in turning people out to vote,

-SNIP-

[K-oneTexas]

No it's not. I spent 27 years in the military. I also have 25 years in civilian government. They do not match well when politicians and their sycophants are also in the mix. I've been there with politicians and they thumb there nose at military bearing and training.

I'm not talking CINC, I'm talking President. There is a difference. This office has many hats, one is diplomat which none of those running possess the skills for.

McCain is the best qualified for those that are in the mix because of the necessity of supporting the military and understanding the military situation in the world today.

Please, don't assume you know what I'm saying. Ask specific questions and do not ever accuse me of offending or not caring for the military. I consider that remark of yours highly offensive to me. You assume a lot without knowing squat!

[Leisler]

Er, we could survive a President Romney. He would advance, for the children, or health, or whole milk, or UN brotherhood the usual RINO/HW Bush/Establishment crap. It’s all he knows.

The notion that he is, or ever was, conservative is Soviet in its untruth.

[Tennessee Nana]

And you assume a lot while disregarding my military service...

[kabar]

At CPAC this year, Romney won the straw vote for President. This is a BS story.

[K-oneTexas]

McCain left the Navy in 1981. His training would be with him till he dies if he internalized it like many military veteran do. In 1982 he began his life as a politician in the House of Representatives and then the Senate.

The world of the military and the world of politics are light years apart. His military training didn't teach him to compromise on issues and reach across the aisle to Democrats. That my friend is politics.

Barry Goldwater didn't change until after his retirement. McCain learned early in his political career.

As CINC, McCain has the training no others do. But politics is management of a different style.

[Amerigomag]

Let me quote you;

Really?

My guess is that you intended to say: Let me quote an example to you.

Even if inappropriate comments were published by others on this forum, Romney's problems on FreeRepublic stem from his application of political, not religious philosophies.

A politician simply can't implement a pervasive, taxpayer supported health care system and expect to continue to mascaraed as a conservative. Romney may continue as a Republican, but not as a conservative. Romney is, more properly, an anathema to conservatives, hence his well justified infamy here on FR.

FR is an equal opportunity discriminator. McCain, another liberal Republican, is in the same league as Romney.

[K-oneTexas]

You should ask before you judge. You assume that I believe the President wears one and only one hat. This office is the most important in the land because he has so many duties. These duties can not always be carried out in the same fashion or with the same technique a commander in the field takes an objective.

[Lady GOP]

He should be blocked. A Mormon on the ticket would be a disaster.

Mormon..? I never thought I would see someone with the middle name Hussein on the ticket for Pres of the US.

[longtermmemmory]

The only “conservative” I know the the Romney obsessed Huckabee.

This is NYT manure.

[broncobilly]

A politician simply can't implement a pervasive, taxpayer supported health care system and expect to continue to mascaraed as a conservative.

---

That is what we have now with Medicare, Medicaid and the subsidized ER. In California 9 hospitals have gone bankrupt because of it. And Romney had nothing to do with it. Romney tried to do away with the subsidized ER care. For that he is labeled a liberal. I get the impression some people believe in leaving the ER system as is and calling it conservatism.

[broncobilly]

I said what I intended to say. However, I made a mistake. I was going through an exchange and you slipped in, so I thought I was quoting you.

[littlehouse36]

Smells squirrely to me.

[Amerigomag]

In California 9 hospitals have gone bankrupt because of ... unregulated immigration and the federal appellate.

No, governor Romney had nothing to do with these federal fiascoes. He did, however, sponsor similar contrivances, requiring equally few qualifications, at the state level in Massachusetts. Romney was the progenitor of one of the largest redistributions of wealth in Massachusetts.

[TigersEye]

Lieberman it is then!

[Migraine]

candidates out there with far more sterling conservative credentials-- Sarah Pallin

Good. Stop right there. Perfect. The biggest political slam-dunk I've ever seen.

[XR7]

Mormons believe that the Bible is the Word of God and Jesus is the Son of God. Muslims do not.

The Muslims also do not believe that as man is, God once was, and as God is, man can become. Neither do Christians.

[XR7]

Romney was the progenitor of one of the largest redistributions of wealth in Massachusetts.

Question:
Who was the governor of Massachusetts during Fistgate?

[ckilmer]

I think the prominant role give to Ex virginia governor Mark Warner suggests that he’s the next democrat to make the democratic party run for president.

If so a match up between warner and romney would look tough for romney. nothing to back that up but just a gut feeling. a successful one term mccain presidency might give romney a boost.

[Migraine]

McCain needs to choose Govenor Palin of Alaska. Game, set, match.

We need that ticket. It's so obvious.

[sefarkas]

NYT endorsing Romney is enough for me. Chief of Staff, Sec Def., HHS Secretary jobs for Mr. Romney come to mind. None of the ex-candidates is suitable as the VP by the simple fact that they were unable to convince voters to support them for the top job. You can't win if you don't play, but losing does have a cost. One of the Republican governors or retired Republican governor will have to step up #1 to counter Obama’s executive inexperience, and #2 to neutralize the McCain age issue.