Posted on 10/29/2008 6:34:55 AM PDT by Reaganesque
It’s been the most frequently asked question I’ve gotten from National Review Online readers and conservatives over e-mail and in person since the market chaos and subsequent bailout circus began.
My answer these last few months has always been: Turn on MSNBC. Turn on FOX. Google a conservative candidate for Congress. Romney is liable to turn up.
And yet, a ridiculous item on the Internet yesterday suggested that he’s been in hiding, keeping a “low profile nationally” and unwilling to help out Republicans who aren’t a sure thing.
There are problems with that contention: Why do I keep seeing the man on television? Is any Republican a shoe-in this year? Someone get Norm Coleman on the phone with the good news! Because Romney is scheduled to campaign with the Minnesota senator, who is fighting for his political life against the not-so-funny prospect of Senator Al Franken. The images on his website blog do not suggest someone who’s decided to sit out the election — they suggest someone still engaged in the election year. Nor does his travelog, as he’s been doing McCain surrogate events everywhere from Pennylvania and Colorado to Nevada and Texas (among other places including Oregon, Georgia, Nashville ... ). Nor do his post-debate spin-room appearances or his interview on The Laura Ingraham Show this morning suggest that Mitt is standing down on election 2008.
Romney’s been in Virginia helping Keith Fimian in that newly blue-leaning state. He’s campaigned for Michele Bachman, now a favorite of MSNBC. He’s raised money for John Sununu in New Hampshire and Oregon senator Gordon Smith — both of whose reelection prospects are far from guaranteed. The list goes on.
Since Romney suspended his campaign and subsequently formed the Free and Strong America political action committee in April, he has donated approximately $202,000 to 75 GOP candidates, according to numbers made available to NRO from the PAC. Romney has also made an additional $173,000 in donations through flexible spending accounts to five affiliated state PACS, including $10,000 to the National Organization for Marriage, which is working to pass Proposition 8 in California, and $5,000 to stop a ballot initiative in Massachusetts to decriminalize marijuana.
And when the McCain campaign famously withdrew from Michigan, Romney contributed $50,000 to the demoralized GOP there. According to his PAC, “The total amount of financial support to GOP candidates and conservative causes through Romney-controlled state and federal PACs is $375,000.”
The web piece further blamed former Romney aides for being the source of the Sarah-Palin-is-a-diva complaints coming out of the McCain camp, presumably meant to damage her post-election prospects should the Republican ticket lose next week. The problem with that is: Most of Romney’s inner circle is still his inner circle — some having come from the business world, others being Massachusetts people now running his PAC. Others returned to Washington, and are doing McCain surrogate work, but are far from campaign insiders. Whomever is shooting at Palin from the McCain camp is not doing Romney’s bidding.
The good news for Mitt Romney is folks care what he’s doing. And someone out there sees him as enough of a threat to their ambitions to try to wound him. That rarely happens to irrelevant also-rans.
When longtime Romney spokesman Eric Fernstrom was asked about the former Massachusetts governor’s future on Monday, the longtime aide suggested Romney’s 2008 presidential ambitions weren’t running his life: “Gov. Romney had his shot at the White House, and he lost fair and square.” After a hostile primary season that highlighted some shameful instincts hostile to religious liberty both in the mainstream media and on the Right, you might not blame Romney if he went into retreat. But he never did. Romney got on the campaign trail for John McCain, defending the free-market policies that this successful businessman could no doubt run with, if he were in the driver’s seat.
Romney’s been a team player. Is it because he wants a Cabinet seat? Ask him — but I doubt it. There are easier jobs that taking over a massive bureacracy with limited freedom. Is it because he wants to be president? Ask him, but I don’t think that’s it either — and only time will tell, anyway, who will be Right prospects in a few years.
Watching him these past few months, he acts like a man who found a home on the Right, who both personally and philosophically appreciates those who were open to what he brought to the campaign trail, and continues to want to serve his country in whatever capacity she needs him. Right now, that’s by fundraising, contributing, and campaigning for conservative candidates and causes like the Susan B. Anthony List and Proposition 8 in California.
In his final primary-campaign speech in February, Mitt Romney said:
I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country.
I will continue to stand for conservative principles. I will fight alongside you for all the things we believe in. And one of those things is that we cannot allow the next President of the United States to retreat in the face of evil extremism.
And so he campaigns for candidates who share his general vision of the world. Romney was with McCain in Ohio on Monday. He’ll be in New Hampshire on Wednesday campaigning for congressional candidates Jeb Bradley and Jennifer Horn. And then he’ll take off for get-out-the-vote rallies.
If you’re wondering where Mitt is — and you can suspend some of your cynicism — the answer might just be: Where he can be of use. If you take him at his word and his schedule, that’s what it reads like anyway.
— Kathryn Jean Lopez is the editor of National Review Online.
our conservative movement leaders
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Who are the “our” ????
and just who are the “conservative movement leaders” ????
Well then; what WAS your OLD screenname??
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mwl8787
Since Aug 22, 2008
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Facts are facts:
“In 1990, Romney was asked to return to Bain & Company, which was facing financial collapse. As CEO, Romney managed an effort to restructure the firm’s employee stock-ownership plan, real-estate deals and bank loans, while increasing fiscal transparency. Within a year, he had led Bain & Company through a highly successful turnaround and returned the firm to profitability without layoffs or partner defections.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitt_Romney
He deserves our full respect, support and commendation for putting the good of his country before his one self-interest and so might I add do his supporters, most of whom simply adore Governor Palin. In fact, BOTH of them, are the top talents in the Republican party and the best that Republicans and conservatives have to offer.
What I wouldn't give to be able to have lunch or dinner with the two of them at the same time!!! WOW!!!! : )
So, your objection to someone being a former leftist is restricted to Romney only?
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Nice try...
Again you are putting words in my mouth/keyboard...
FOCUS...
Ted Hayes is PRO-IMMIGRATION...
Romney is ANTI-IMMIGRATION...
Just the one issue applies here...
That CAN'T be true!!!
Why.. he has been a life long MORMON!!
Born INTO a Mormon household - descended from POLYGAMISTS!
Been a holder of various positions of AUTHORITY in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
HE just could NEVER have held a position that leaned towards abortion and been a true Mormon; too!
--MormonDude(Say it isn't so; Mitt!)
one=own
How sweet!
Personal attacks from Team Willard.
Then I guess one just has to COMPRIMISE his principles then!
Hatred of Mormons and male jealousy and something I cannot fathom.
You will hear that he is RINO, but you don’t see other RINOs being attacked as viciously as he is.
What position does that have to be?
ANYthing would be welcomed, as NOTHING seems to have worked yet!
Despite the fact that a McCain victory may end any chance Romney may have at a future bid for the presidency
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So, to you a McCain victory would be a bad thing ????
I thought Republicans were in unity and all pulling for a McCain win in November ???
Why dont you concentrate and put all your energy and efforts towards that...
The 2012 election seasons starts after the 2010...
2008, 2010, 2012...
Do you see a pattern of some kind here ?????
ROFLMBO
:)
Boo hoo.
You also don't see any OTHER RINO's minions out stumping for 2012 even BEFORE the election takes place!
Enough. My old screen name was essentially the same as my new but I forgot my password so it was simpler to start over. Ask Jim R if you don’t believe me.
Monitor my posts over the past 3 months, as well as the past 8 years. Do it. Please. Be my guest.
I don’t deserve this crap from any fellow freeper. God Help someone who says something fairminded about Mitt Romney while supporting McCain, speaking glowingly about Bobby Jindal, and worrying about Mitch McConnell, Norm Coleman and others.
I hope that other freepers treat you with more respect than you’ve treated me.
Nah...
You make the statement: YOU 'try to find it'.
http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=280825-1
Flash video on the right.
Approximately 11:40 into the video.
McCain says, “I will need him by my side on next January when I’m POTUS.”
All the lil ol’ MittNittWittTwitts have been busy the last few days...
After a nice long rest of course...
The 2012 election session must have begun...
Romney has thrown his halo, err, hat into the ring...
or maybe he never pulled it back out...
Too bad he’ll be way TOO OLD to be POTUS in 2012...
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