“The reason Romney built up so much support - about 30% of
the Republican base - is that many people were attracted to
his ideas.”
Not ideas. Claims. All shaped by his legion of consultants
and extravagent spending and donations. I’ve read he had
a woman consultant who was hired to “shape his conservative
image”.
As an example (small, compared to all I could copy and
paste)... here is a quote from Harpers about buying
influence with conservative causes and influential
party members....
* * *
“In seeking to woo conservatives, Romney has also used his personal PAC—the Commonwealth Political Action Committee—to contribute lavishly to several national pro-life groups, the Federalist Society, the National Review, and the Heritage Foundation, among others.
===>> Notice the names of the groups he gave bucks to, who
later spoke highly of him or endorsed him <<===
“In South Carolina, Romney set up a branch of the PAC all
the way back in 2004. (He started branches in Iowa, New
Hampshire, Michigan, and Arizona at the same time.)
===>> Here we interrupt this quote to point out that Mitt
was setting up a Presidential run back AT LEAST in 2004 -
about the time he was busily changing his personal convictions
about almost every issue important to winning the Republican
primary. THIS is why so many of us called his “conversion”
to so many conservative issues fake. <<===
“Since then, the state branch—with guidance from a number of consulting firms, including DC Navigators, a top Washington-based group—has run up expenditures of roughly $518,000. Recipients in South Carolina include dozens of state representatives as well as Lieutenant Governor André Bauer ($3,500) and Attorney General Henry McMaster ($1,000). Romney has ladled $9,500 on the state Republican Party, $3,500 on the state Senate G.O.P. caucus, and $7,000 on the House caucus, and has sent tens of thousands of dollars in total to numerous county-level party committees.
[http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/11/0081773 - btw]
===>> Apparently, money can buy 4,700,000 votes, by greasing
the sweaty palms of state Republican leaders who went on
to endorse Mitt. <<===
I’m not sure Romney had any really original ideas. He had
17 staff members writing position papers for the campaign
that would appeal to conservatives. And, I admit, many true
conservative voters believed him - just like those who hear
Hillary and believe what she says and do not look at her
history.
best,
ampu
Fine. Can you give me the tally of votes that Romney received as a result of all these endorsements you claim he “bought?” Didn’t work so well, did it...?
It amazes me that every endorsement Romney received had to somehow be discredited. Heck, when Limbaugh started speaking positively about Romney, I learned about Bain’s pending investment in ClearChannel ON FREE REPUBLIC. The implication being that Rush had sold out.
Frankly, after so many times crying wolf, I have a hard time believing the assertions you have listed. They’re copy-pasted from other sources, but it’s apparent that you’ve bought into the claims, even if you haven’t made them.
Sorry, I’m giving Romney the benefit of the doubt. And, I don’t have to defend that position anymore because it is of absolutely no consequence whether or not you and I agree.
~”I’m not sure Romney had any really original ideas.”~
He had conservative ideas. Of course they weren’t original, conservatives have been espousing them for decades.
Do you want a candidate with original ideas or with conservative ones?