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‘Where’s Mitt?’
National Review Online ^ | 10/28/08 | Kathryn Jean Lopez

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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; 2012; antichrist; campaign; conspiracy; elections; mccain; mittromney; mormon; obama; palin; romney; team
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To: Elsie

The biggest lies are the coverup of bad behavior by MythRomney.


241 posted on 10/30/2008 6:34:00 PM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: Reaganesque

Hi Reaganesque,

I’m still waiting on your apology. I’ve been on this site for a short time now and you’ve been on since 1999. It would be the appropriate FReep thing to do to at least acknowledge that your accusations on me are false.


242 posted on 10/30/2008 8:47:46 PM PDT by AmericanGirlRising (Obama/Pelosi/Reid - the Axis of Taxes (I didn't come up with that, borrowing from another FReeper.))
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To: AmericanGirlRising
We are ALL waiting for the apology of Mitt Romney to Gov. Palin's
beautiful family whom he has trashed through his RomneyBOTs.


243 posted on 10/31/2008 4:55:15 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: Diogenesis
The Big Dig started in 1982 and opened in Jan 2003. by the same reasoning we should hold Ronald Reagan accountable for the Cuban Missile Crisis under the Kennedy administration. After all he was President 20 years after it started.

At least your latest post didn't include your usual fawning praise to Dick Morris' Opinion so I would say you are getting better.

244 posted on 10/31/2008 9:38:16 AM PDT by Rameumptom (Gen X= they killed 1 in 4 of us)
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To: Rameumptom

Big difference. Romney could have brought the corrupt
contractors in the BIGdig to accountability.

Instead, he took campaign contributions from them.

Romney is corrupt and covered up the BIGdig fiasco.


245 posted on 10/31/2008 9:45:23 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: Diogenesis

Ya thunk that the guy who “saved the Olympics” woulda “saved” the BIG Dig, wouldntcha ?????


246 posted on 10/31/2008 9:51:31 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana (McCain/Palin Now that's a ticket that deserves a tagline)
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To: Tennessee Nana

Don’t forget Romney refused to accept federal matching funds of 42 million dollars so that McCain could have access to his fundraising list and not compete with the same donors.

Follow the money, Mitt wouldn’t waste 42 million dollars so that he could undermine McCain. You anit-MittWitts are stupid. The facts are on Mitt’s side. The itchy ears are on your side.


247 posted on 11/01/2008 1:53:24 AM PDT by nowandlater
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To: nowandlater; fieldmarshaldj; Elsie; greyfoxx39

Don’t forget Romney refused to accept federal matching funds of 42 million dollars so that McCain could have access to his fundraising list and not compete with the same donors.
___________________________________

Source ????

LINKy ????


248 posted on 11/01/2008 6:09:26 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana (McCain/Palin Now that's a ticket that deserves a tagline)
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To: Tennessee Nana

Here’s a link for the idiots.

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/07/17/romney-will-not-seek-millions-he-loaned-to-his-campaign/

Yep, he sounds like a selfish guy, NOT!!!

This is a case of itchy ears, believing lies about Romney because it makes you feel good. But then again, its typical of this crew. I am glad you guys are reacting this way, because there are only probably 5 to 10 people on the entire site who believe. If you ran a poll on this topic you would be losing in a landside. You guys have just shot your credibility.


249 posted on 11/01/2008 6:24:34 AM PDT by nowandlater
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To: nowandlater; Elsie

Don’t forget Romney refused to accept federal matching funds of 42 million dollars so that McCain could have access to his fundraising list and not compete with the same donors.
_______________________________________________

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

This LINK you provided doesnt say that...

As usual Romney’s actions were to benefit only himself...

He wanted something...the VP slot...

And he was willing to buy it...

After all he could afford it...

And you do realize he could recoupe through tax write offs, etc ???

“when all the bills are paid and the books are balanced”

That doesnt sound like some guy about to go in a hole...

“The former presidential candidate’s Press Secretary, Eric Fehrnstrom said Romney’s “priority right now is raising money for other Republicans.” He has been actively campaigning for John McCain and speculation continues to rage that he will be the GOP nominee’s Vice-Presidential pick.

Fehrnstrom confirmed that he is not trying to recoup the funds and will write a letter to the Federal Election Committee explaining his decision, “At some point, the Romney loans will be reclassified as contributions. The way that will happen is the Governor will write a letter forgiving the outstanding loans,” Fehrnstrom explained through an e mail message, “That will occur around the time Romney for President is ready to shut down, when all the bills are paid and the books are balanced.”

The Romney camp still has no specific date set for when this will happen.”

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/07/17/romney-will-not-seek-millions-he-loaned-to-his-campaign/

(SIGH)

Next time read the article before you post it...

:)


250 posted on 11/01/2008 6:59:43 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana (McCain/Palin Now that's a ticket that deserves a tagline)
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To: AmericanGirlRising; Reaganesque
Hmmmm...I see that you got no reply to your post #215, AGR.

For my part, I commend you for the work you have done and are doing. But, I did take time to read your description of that work.

Romney has been campaigning for McCain in the southwest the past few days, NV, NM and CO. That's good. It's too bad he wasn't able to control his present and former operatives and muzzle them, at least until the election is over with.

I'm sure that FReepers, with their long memories, will be noticing who is employed by Mitt for his next run at the presidency. Should the Kevin Maddens be front and center, it will be remarked on...frequently.

251 posted on 11/01/2008 7:09:14 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (Obama, an empty suit, empty words, shiny shoes and a smile but no core beliefs.!)
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To: TAdams8591; CommerceComet; Elsie
Lies must be corrected and cannot be allowed to stand.

CLICK HERE

252 posted on 11/01/2008 7:16:02 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (Obama, an empty suit, empty words, shiny shoes and a smile but no core beliefs.!)
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To: TAdams8591; Diogenesis; Elsie; Tennessee Nana
REAL conservatives don’t lie. Neither do REAL patriots, of which you are neither.

How conservative and patriotic of you to say.

Mind-numbed robots aren't conservatives, either...especially hive members of the Morg...err...Borg.

253 posted on 11/01/2008 7:20:33 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (Obama, an empty suit, empty words, shiny shoes and a smile but no core beliefs.!)
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To: Reaganesque
Mitt was in Reno yesterday.
254 posted on 11/01/2008 7:23:45 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (Nemo me impune lacessit.)
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To: Tennessee Nana

Here’s today’s Romney-for-himself tidbit, from the Boston Globe:

“And Romney himself? “He said the only time he’d travel for us is if we assured him that national cameras would be there,” said a McCain campaign aide.”

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/11/01/the_campaigns_10_biggest_surprises/

Sure sounds to me like a ‘12 presidential candidate on the prowl!


255 posted on 11/01/2008 7:28:16 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: greyfoxx39

Thanks GreyFoxx39 - I have NO bone to pick with Romney as long as he never employs Madden and posse again. Post-election, I want to see them and their type out the GOP. They’re the “poison spreading like cancer.”


256 posted on 11/01/2008 7:45:21 AM PDT by AmericanGirlRising (SAVE OUR COUNTRY! McCain is the only choice Tuesday.)
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To: greyfoxx39
Hail, hail the gangbangers are all here, I see. Like the Leftists, you just can't go at it one on one. Hey, I well know how Saul Alinsky and his followers operate. You can stop it with the lessons now!

When you learn how to respond like true conservatives, then perhaps I'll read your posts and take them seriously. : )

257 posted on 11/01/2008 8:26:22 AM PDT by TAdams8591 (McCain/Palin ' 08)
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To: TAdams8591
Mitt Romney is not a conservative, is he?

Mr. Romney LIED, so they died (by murder).


258 posted on 11/01/2008 8:37:21 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: TAdams8591
A pet rock is much more conservative (and honest) than Myth Romney.

If Romney was so conservative, why would he get caught (twice) using illegal aliens on his mansion ‘illegal alien sanctuary’?
If Romney was so conservative, why would he get caught (twice) using fake troopers with fake badges in two states?
If Romney was so conservative, why would he get caught (multiple times) flip-flopping like a flounder?
If Romney was so conservative, why would he PANDER to Democrats while running for GOP Presidential candidate?
If Romney was so conservative, why would he get caught (multiple times) making ultra-bad judgement calls (eg. gay marriage, socialized medicine, liberal murderer-releasing judges, etc. etc.)?


259 posted on 11/01/2008 8:39:38 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: Diogenesis

What a lovely young couple...

What happened to them ???


260 posted on 11/01/2008 9:08:45 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana (McCain/Palin Now that's a ticket that deserves a tagline)
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