Mitt Flip-Flop on Reagan (Romney: "I'm not trying to return to Reagan")

Patterico's Pontifications ^ | Jan. 30, 2008

[jdm]

Here’s a fun little video of a younger Mitt saying he’s not trying to return to the Reagan/Bush era, as he was an independent at that time:

Here’s Mitt from tonight:

[W]e’re in the house that Reagan built. It’s important that we, as Republicans, stay in the house that Reagan built. If we want to take the White House again, social, economic and foreign policy conservatives have to come together.

. . . .

I would be with Ronald Reagan. And this party, it has a choice, what the heart and soul of this party is going to be, and it’s going to have to be in the house that Ronald Reagan built.

Now watch the video again.

It’s short, and perhaps it’s ripped out of context. It’s hard to imagine how context could help much — but you never know.

UPDATE: The same YouTube poster has an effective little video showing Mitt supporting a woman’s right to choose — time and time and time again:

[Tennessee Nana]

His past 2 debate performances have been spectacular.
________________________________________________

Not to worry

The Academy Award people took notice...

[jdm]

Mitt did a fantastic job as governor for a guy that had no prior political experience. Did he make mistakes and has he flipped on issues. Yes but...

Stop right there.

[Lijahsbubbe]

He didn’t work his whole life after graduating college to focus on being a senator or president.

You don't think he had that in his sights, or wanted to follow in daddy's footsteps?

[blueheron2]

McCain and Guliani are on the Tonight show right now. Why do they keep saying conservative over and over?

[bleach]

I don’t see an issue with folks evolving or seeing the light. I grew up in a blue collar union household. I never voted for anyone with an R after their name, Liberal and proud of it into the 80’s. Started listening to Rush in 88 for a laugh, it took a few years then the light came on.I’m the first registered Republican on my side of the family since reconstruction and consider myself very conservative.

I’m not happy about it, but it’s Mitt or sit as far as I’m concerned.

[Tennessee Nana]

He didn’t work his whole life after graduating college to focus on being a senator or president
_____________________________________________________

Are you sure ?????

I could have sworn Romney was one of the POTUS candidates in the debate on Wednesday...

Seems like that would require more focus than a future as an office boy ...

[CaspersGh0sts]

"Ok that’s it. Mitt can’t be trusted. If he becomes Pres. he will flip flop the US into a monarchy with him as King. Or a Soviet style gulag with him as Czar. We are doomed if he gets in! We must stop this conniving potential potentate!"

I think you might have lost these somewhere...

[Tennessee Nana]

See # 26

[Terpfen]

Not even close.

The most liberal thing Romney has ever done is implement a designed-specifically-for-the-confines-of-Massachusetts health care plan.

The most liberal thing McCain has done is to abridge the First Amendment.

Orders of magnitude, my FRiend.

[jdm]

The most liberal thing Romney has ever done is implement a designed-specifically-for-the-confines-of-Massachusetts health care plan.

Don't forget about abortion-on-demand.

[Terpfen]

Romney headed the executive branch, not the judicial. Not blaming him for that one.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Egad, how could anyone like the guy? It’s just not happening for me.

[TBP]

People change over the years. What a person said 10-15 years ago isn’t as relevant as what he is saying and doing NOW. It would be one thing if this were from a couple of years ago. But it isn’t. Romney, to his credit, admits that he has changed his mind on some key issues. It’s not like he was saying something different last Tuesday, like the Klintoons.

[ari-freedom]

Romney isn’t crazy. He’s a congenital liar and a narcissist

[Antoninus]

The most liberal thing Romney has ever done is implement a designed-specifically-for-the-confines-of-Massachusetts health care plan.

Romney also forced Catholic hospitals to provide abortions and closed down the adoption services of Catholic Charities in Massachusetts because they wouldn't give babies to homosexuals. All the while pretending to be conservative, pro-family, and pro-life.

He is beneath contempt.

[jdm]

There’s clips of Romney from 2002/03 being proudly pro-choice.

Watch this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ijh1YXOgJwI

A few of those clips are from a few years ago, not 10-15 years ago.

[byteback]

I’m with you here. Keep the GOP as narrow as possible and attack anyone who decides that they have changed positions over to our side. If they weren’t born with the right side of issues screw em.

[NautiNurse]

Did you hear what Michael Reagan had to say about the debate?

[americanophile]

[ari-freedom]

but he changes his mind and equivocates on practically every issue. On moral absolutes, not just tactics. It really scares me to think how he’d handle national security with his finger always in the air to see where the wind is blowing.

I understand that politicians are politicians. They bend a lot and try to make the best case out of a flawed position. They compromise. But what romney does is beyond bizarre even by political standards.