Romney Lashes McCain Over Washington Record

Washington Post ^ | January 27, 2008 | Zachary A. Goldfarb

[Iron Munro]

Two days before the critical Florida primary, Mitt Romney sought to strike Sunday at one of the central tenets of GOP rival Sen. John McCain's candidacy: leadership.

"[I]f he has been a leader, where has it led us?" Romney said. "Senator McCain has been in the Senate for the last 20 years. ... Look at his legislation. McCain-Feingold: That hurt our First Amendment rights. McCain-Kennedy: That was granting amnesty to 10 million illegal aliens."

Romney's harsh words, on CNN's "Late Edition," came after McCain criticized the former Massachusetts governor for failing to support President Bush's military strategy in Iraq. Romney has said he supported the "surge" strategy and demanded an apology, but McCain repeated the assertion this morning on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"Governor Romney obviously said there had to be timetables, though they had to be secret, because we weren't going to tell the enemy when we were leaving," McCain said. "If we had done that ... we would have lost that surge and al-Qaeda would be celebrating a victory."

To emphasize the point, McCain held up a white card purporting to carry a quotation from Romney.

McCain quoted Romney as follows: "Well, there's no question that the president and Prime Minister [Nouri] al-Maliki have to have a series of timetables and milestones that they speak about, but they shouldn't be available for public pronouncement."

"He's equivocated on it," McCain said, speaking of Romney. At a September debate, McCain noted, Romney said the surge was "apparently working."

Romney called McCain's statements "dishonest. ... He desperately is trying to change the subject, because he does not understand the economy."

McCain received an assist in targeting Romney from a third GOP candidate, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee.

[Iron Munro]

I am dumbfounded at the efforts of McCain (and Hillary) to portray themselves as agents of change when they are beltway insiders and a big part of why the federal government is so incompetent, unresponsive and wildly out of control. Is there a more irritating, arrogant speaker in this campaign than John McCain?

[SpinyNorman]

McCain is an illegal alien licker and should be disqualified simply on the basis of his appointment of “volunteer” Juan Hernandez as Hispanic Outreach Director.

He’ll change the country all right: into a third world cesspool.

[1Old Pro]

To emphasize the point, McCain held up a white card purporting to carry a quotation from Romney. McCain quoted Romney as follows: "Well, there's no question that the president and Prime Minister [Nouri] al-Maliki have to have a series of timetables and milestones that they speak about, but they shouldn't be available for public pronouncement."

What Mclame didn''t do is read the next sentences. Of course then left wing host Tim Russert FORGOT to put up the WHOLE QUOTE like I expected - Russert blew it and let Mclame Lie.

[not2worry]

Is there a more irritating, arrogant speaker in this campaign than John McCain?

——————————————————————————>

NO! John McCain gets the Mr. Ego Award, IMHO.

He drove his second wife, Judy, to drugs to relieve her having to deal with him. At least Bill Clinton was good at dodging flying objects from Hillary.

I’d hate to wake up to either McCain or Hillary every morning, and it makes me sick to think of calling either one of them my President.

[TheThirdRuffian]

Chick fight.

Two RINOS fighting over which is a darker shade of gray.

[philsfan24]

we are down to romney vs mccain. sad, sad state of affairs for the republican party.

[Greg F]

Chick fight.

Two RINOS fighting over which is a darker shade of gray.
_________________________________________________________

LOL. So true. Vote Huckabee and hope for a contested convention.

[stratboy]

Agreed, but I must go with Romney before McAmnesty. In fact, I am not sure if I will even vote if McAmnesty gets the GOP nod. I am a conservative before a Republican.

[dforest]

Just heard McCain said when appointing justices to SCOTUS, he might want to appoint a Roberts, but he would not support an Alito, because he wears his conservatism on his sleeve.

I will never vote for McCain, ever.

[Greg F]

we are down to romney vs mccain. sad, sad state of affairs for the republican party.
_________________________

See my post above. Huckabee votes will throw this race to the convention.

[lone star annie]

Don’t worry. He will never win. The GOP will be so dispirited it will make 1996 race look close. McCain is 10 times worse than Bob Dole.

I will not vote for McCain out of my love for my party. I will vote third party or write in a candidate. I can tolerate a politician like Bush who may mistakenly drift to the dark side, but not a member of my party that actively works against it. McCain took a pro active role in thwarting a conservative agenda. This is not acceptable.

[Matchett-PI]

"I am dumbfounded at the efforts of McCain (and Hillary) to portray themselves as agents of change when they are beltway insiders and a big part of why the federal government is so incompetent, unresponsive and wildly out of control."

Romney just did an interview on FNC that REALLY blew McCainic out of the water!

If you live close enough to make it, Romney is holding an election rally at Avion Jet Center in Sanford, Fl. (near the Sanford International Airport) at 11:45 today. RSVP 866-701-2079 or email RSVP to FloridaRSVP@MittRomney.com I live about 20 miles away, but figure my time is better spent making phone calls for the Romney campaign today. Whoo Hoo!!

Romney Headquarters: 300 South Orange Avenue Suite 300. This office is located in Lincoln Plaza on the corner of Orange Avenue and South Street (downtown Orlando). Email ALovejoy@MittRomney.com or call him at 407-592-5331 to volunteer your help in the Rokmney Campaign. There is a Romney campaign office in Winter Park, Fl. also if that would be closer for you. It's at 400 S. Park Avenue Ste. 150 in the Sun Trust Bldg. Both offices will probably be opened again until 9:PM tonight. Check with the main office on Orange/South St. to verify. Great people working there.

[philsfan24]

“Two RINOS fighting over which is a darker shade of gray.”

exactly. i think romney is the worst kind of rino, one who has no principles at all. if he changed all his positions on everything a year before a presidential run to appeal to a conservative base, what will happen if hes ever elected?

[Sybeck1]

Clearly the Huckster would take a McCain veep spot.

[Matchett-PI]

Rokmney = ROMNEY! GEEZE!! bttt

[samtheman]

It’s a nail-biter for me. I think there’s a big difference between Romney and McCain and I’m very much hoping Romney wins in Florida tomorrow.

[TheThirdRuffian]

The remaining four are digusting:

1. Myth Romney: became a conservative to run for nomination, will revert to a liberal to win the election. It’s an old, tired, trick.

2. McCain: is a liberal, but screams that he is not. Mentally unbalanced like Dan Rather who calls himself a moderate.

3. Huckabee: Christian Socialist -— hated by the entire Arkansas Republican Party -— raised taxes more than Bill Clinton. He served his purpose to derail Thompson, and will now be discarded by his cheerleaders in the MSM

4. Rudy — admitted social liberal with all sorts of problems in his closet like estranged children and sleeping with Wife No. 3 whilst married to Wife No. 2; Oddly, while liberal, at least he’s honest about it, which is refreshing.

That said, won’t vote for any of them; I will write in Thompson.

[BoBToMatoE]

couldnt have said better my self, ruffian.

[HawaiianGecko]

"Well, there's no question that the president and Prime Minister [Nouri] al-Maliki have to have a series of timetables and milestones that they speak about, but they shouldn't be available for public pronouncement."

One has to be an idiot not to understand what this statement really says, and it's not what McCain thinks it is.  Of course there are timetables and milestones, he didn't say there was a timetable for a pullout.  You would have to be the worst leader on the planet to NOT have timetables and milestones.

What McCain is really saying is: "I think the GOP is full of morons that will believe what I'm saying about Governor Romney."

[HawaiianGecko]

What the hell's the matter with these two clowns.  Neither are liberals, but they are beginning to both look unpresidential... acting like a couple of children.  I guess their canvassing tells them that there are people stupid enough to believe these ridiculous charges or they wouldn't be making the claims.