Posted on 02/14/2008 9:12:59 AM PST by JRochelle
Snip Let us not forget that Romney snapped his fingers before the election and decided to become a conservative by switching his positions on a litany of key issues, even though his past record was moderate. There were endless gaffes throughout the campaign in which he reinforced the well-earned perception that he would say anything to get elected--from describing himself as a lifelong hunter even though he had hunted only twice, for saying he watched his father march with MLK, for claiming an endorsement of the NRA he never received, etc.
He also failed to emotionally connect with voters. I would go to Romney speeches all year, and talk to audience members after who would tell me they agreed with what he said, but he was "too slick" and "too packaged." It never ceased to amaze me how emotionally tone deaf he was as a candidate, most notable was when he said his sons were serving their country by working to get him elected. I went to a townhall meeting just days before the New Hampshire primary in which a woman said her 26-year old cousin had been paralyzed in a rugby accident, and she asked Romney for his position on stem cell research. Romney responded, "Great, thank you for the question" and he went on with a textbook answer about pluripotent cells without offering any sympathy. Romney's checklist conservatism appealed to desperate conservatives on a cerebral level, but he never reached people emotionally as Huckabee and McCain did. If you want to know why McCain beat Romney, look no further than the final debate between them at the Reagan Library. When they were asked why Reagan would endorse them, Romney recited a laundry list of issues on which Reagan would have agreed with him, while McCain
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
“Mormonism Didn’t Sink Romney”
But it sure helped!
Yeah, I would argue that. George W was the Governor of Texas, and had spent his life in Texas.....that’s about as far North East as you can get (not).
I think the geographical part is secondary to the “Rockefeller Republican” part. Which quite arguably, both the Bushes were/are, although certainly the father moreso than the son.
Every time I read one these articles about Romney and his faith I go away and decide wisdom says to keep my mouth shut.
I think I finally know how speak without sounding like a narrow minded religeous bigot.
We don’t have any problem recognizing that Islam, the R.o.P., perverts the minds of Middle Eastern Terrorists. That said, we do not hate everyone of Middle Eastern Origin.
Romney’s character is shaped by his faith. In communities where Mormon’s are in the majority, they have their ways. Doesn’t mean they are not nice people, but a particular world view is predictable,especially with the leadership. A person’s inner compass, what they determine as truth, determines how they act.
Mormon beginnings and history in this country makes very interesting reading.
Like her, I would tend to give Romney the benefit of the doubt as to whether his conversions to conservative was sincere given the constituency which he governed.
The only thing for certain is that the default nominee McCain will not govern as a conservative assuming he can beat the odds and get elected. And Huck was his chief enabler.
Mitt is the best on economics as well.
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no he was not. he’s a keynesian corporatist. He was very into corporate welfare and the tax rebates.
Their consistently conservative voting patterns also make for good governance. I'm talking about the rank and file, not politicians like Harry Reid. And, no, I can't guarantee Mitt would not have been another Harry Reid, though I think the odds would have been greatly against it.
Had Romney really been a screaming one-world liberal of the McCain variety in conservative clothing, then I think it likely that the enemedia would have promoted him rather than piled on him.
no he was not. hes a keynesian corporatist. He was very into corporate welfare and the tax rebates.
I think permanent tax cuts are good. I also believe that corporate incentives are good. He also understand business - the Huckster hasn’t got a clue and neither does McPain.
That's what the MSM want you to believe, but it's pure nonsense. Romney switched on one major issue. That's it.
He flip-flopped less than any of the other major candidates, including Fred Thompson, John McCain, and the Huckster.
That's a fact. Unfortunately, in our age of 2 minute attention spans, it's perception that matters, not the facts.
THANK YOU for posting this.
I’ve been saying this since he entered the campaign, and since he “suspended” it. More so since his suspension.
The point is valid, and one that was CONSTANTLY obfuscated if not outright ignored by his supporters. Some of his more adamant supporters here on FR would insist that, if his Kerry-esque FLIP-FLOPPING were pointed out, then that person MUST be an anti-Mormon bigot.
I quite frankly couldn’t care less about a person’s religious affiliation in the world of politics. I deal with POLITICAL facts when deciding upon a candidate, NOT religious facts. He could have been an atheist, and I would’ve still voted for him if he just wasn’t a flip-flopper.
I’ve said this before too: I can’t imagine for the life of me why someone would want to, ultimately, through their support of Romney, want to be in the same position in the general election as Kerry’s supporters found themselves in 2004 after THOSE primaries. I mean, did we all forget how EASY it was to exploit HIS flip-flopping?
This would be a vastly different, if not much more palatable race if all the Romney supporters had looked past the “bigotry” smokescreen, seen what he was (a Kerry like flip flopper), and gotten behind a true conservative like Hunter or Thompson. Do I sound like I’m blaming the McCain curse we now face on Romney supporters? That’s because I am.
Do you think that your tax dollars should go to prop up failing companies?
He turned around the winter olympics because he pushed for millions of taxpayer dollars.
/s
1/3-1.5 billion dollar Utah Olympics bailout.
Permits, licenses,fines fees on Massachusetts businesses.
RomneyCare.
20 billion dollar Michigan bailout.
Florida bailout.
We can only conclude from that, Mormons are anti-Baptists bigots, otherwise more would have voted for Huckabee.
The only real conservative was Ron Paul.. ALL the others prevaricated and hemmed and hawed.. America seems to NOT WANT Ron Paul but a government check.. Same thing on free republic.. getting a free check from the government IS NOT LAUGHED AT but encouraged on free republic.. My, my do things change around here..
and both were anti-irish bigots for not voting for mccain
One could make the same argument for Huckabee, given that he governed a state in which the legislature was 135 Democrats and 15 Republicans (or very close to that number). Not that I especially care about Huckabee, I'm just saying.
conservatives believe in Peace Through Strength, not Blame America First
Who knew you had to be a short guy to get a tall redheaded woman!
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