Romney says Obama is not a socialist

The Hill ^ | 03 Nov 2008 | Klaus Marre

[BGHater]

While John McCain's campaign has tried to tie its Democratic rival to socialism, one of the Arizona Republican's top surrogates said Barack Obama is not a socialist.

McCain's campaign had seized on Sen. Obama’s statements that he plans to “spread the wealth around” and sought to tie the Illinois Democrat to socialism.

But former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), while arguing that Obama’s economic plan is a “job-killer,” said Monday on CBS’s “Early Show”: “You know, I don’t think Barack Obama’s a socialist. I think a lot of his policies are inspired by the pathway [that] Europe took. I think the idea of having the government take over healthcare and raise taxes on employers is the wrong direction for the country.”

Romney, who was the GOP surrogate tasked with appearing on all of the morning talk shows, also said both candidates are “terrific men,” when asked if the country would be in good hands if the Democrat is elected.

“I’ll be very concerned about the economy for the country. I’ll be concerned that the economy will be in a slow-down or a recession for a longer, deeper period,” Romney stated. “I'll be concerned about long term, about a president who would raise taxes on businesses and, if you will, through this intimidation, impose unions on small businesses.”

[CottonBall]

some even here on FR wanted Romney to be our GOP nominee....

2 things about that: 1) Mitt may have done better in the election since the big issue ended up being the economy and 2) is McAmnesty really that much better? As far as I was concerned, McCain was the bottom of the GOP barrel. Not that I wouldn't rather have him or any other of the GOP runners than the socialist on the other side.

[redgirlinabluestate]

Duh. Romney knows that the path Europe took was one to socialism. He said it throughout his own campaign repeatedly.

I personally think Obama is a Marxist, but I understand why Mitt doesn't feel the need to call him names. Sarah Palin declined to go there as well.

Sometimes, rather than calling names and using ad hominem attacks, it is more helpful to give specifics and to discuss why Obama's policies are wrong-headed and explain how they will hurt our country. That's exactly what Mitt has done consistently in interview after interview.

Mitt is not out there right now trying to energize the base (that's Sarah's job #1). He's out there trying -- not to offend -- but to entice dems and indies in swing states to vote for McCain/Palin - especially when he's talking to a national audience on CBS Early Show(how many conservatives what that show - ever?)

For many people it is more effective to show how someone's actions will lead to a certain result rather than labeling someone and calling them names.

Also, I am sure both he and Sarah would be a tad less diplomatic in a small GOP group unlike when talking to a national audience with plenty of dems and indies listening.

[Earthdweller]

Aim high...pick people that suffer from great self importance... infiltrate the right....these are the people that marxists most want to recruit.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k6KUDv1wzraWhwlBt1

[palady]

Dem-Mitt’s jealous of Sarah’s hair and because McCain chose her as VP.

[Rameumptom]

I disagree with Romney's assessment. Obama is a Socialist/Marxist. Having said that. Romney is just the messenger on this one. He is following orders from McCain, unfortunately. The "not a socialist" line is from the top. Here is McCain saying it. My guess is McCain is trying to appear more moderate. Romney is taking a bullet for McCain on this one.

Oct. 30 video clip McCain says Obama not a socialist

[CottonBall]

I don't know what socialism is supposed to mean now, but when Mitt was in school back in the 1960s it was assumed that socialism meant state ownership of the means of production. By that standard Europe isn't socialist. By Marx's or Lenin's or Castro's or Chavez's standard it isn't socialist either.

I'd forgotten about the formal definition of socialism set forth in The Communist Manifesto. You are right. But you'll be ostracized for that here - this place has gotten as irrational and emotional as the libs at times lately.

Seems that lately instead of proposing an out and out revolution by the proletariat to institute socialism, more nations are having it creep in, by having the government control more and more entities. Having the gov control the means of production has proven to be suicidal (ie., USSR, China before implementing capitalism under Deng Xiaoping in '70).

[CottonBall]

(’70 should’ve been ‘79 - typo)

[ari-freedom]

“Barack Obama calls it spreading the wealth, Joe Biden calls higher taxes patriotic, but Joe the plumber and Ed the Dairy Man, I believe that they think that it sounds more like socialism,” Palin said. “Friends, now is no time to experiment with socialism.”

[Leisler]

Mitt is weird.

Anyways, one of the things, of many, that was in Mitt's negative column, what that he didn't fight. He wouldn't say boo if he had a mouthful.

He really should of run as a Democrat, and pulled the part towards the center. Instead he saw easier path as a liberal in the GOP. And, who can blame him.

[Doohickey]

I used to not dislike this asswipe.

[Leisler]

Palin has more balls that a roomful of Romneys.

[redgirlinabluestate]

PLEASE SEE # 116 AND # 122 TOO.

I am not sure how naive some of these freepers are, but they seem pretty naive right now. Can't say I am surprised about the double standard and special attacks reserved only for Romney though.

It's really sad. He's busting his butt flying around the country for the McCain/Palin ticket ( missing the birth of his new grandchild and we all know Ann is not at 100% health) and, yet, at each and every opportunity (no matter how false) a large contingent on this website, that professes to hold to higher standards, sinks pretty darn low.

[ari-freedom]

what’s really sad is the socialist health plan that Mitt signed into law. That’s why he can’t go after Obama’s socialism

[VOA]

Romney says Obama is not a socialist

Thanks for being clear Mitt.

Now I don't feel quite so sad about your political demise.
Go back to Bain Capital and make more money. Have a happy life.
And let somebody with real convictions like Palin actually get
the job done.

[trisham]

But former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), while arguing that Obama’s economic plan is a “job-killer,” said Monday on CBS’s “Early Show”: “You know, I don’t think Barack Obama’s a socialist. I think a lot of his policies are inspired by the pathway [that] Europe took. I think the idea of having the government take over healthcare and raise taxes on employers is the wrong direction for the country.”

********************

This may be one of the stupidest statements I've ever heard from someone who is ostensibly campaigning for a candidate. How could he say this?

[redgirlinabluestate]

Talk to the HERITAGE FOUNDATION if you don’t like it. They’ll be amused to know you think they support socialism.

[Wyatt's Torch]

Does our side have any freaking clue how to play this game???

[Dick Bachert]

Romney IS correct in that Obamessiah is more a FASCIST, believing in ostensible PRIVATE OWNERSHIP but STATE CONTROL.

It’s just a short leap to STATE OWNERSHIP.

But that leads to the saying among the workers and shopkeepers in the old USSR that “We PRETEND to work and they PRETEND to pay us.”

Better to have the slaves think they OWN or have some interest in the business.

[LibLieSlayer]

This blows the “Mitt is an economic genius” crap out of the water. He is either stupid or wants an invite to what he thinks will be osama DC parties... By Mitt... I will not miss you... never again will I ever contemplate voting for you or donating to your campaign... don't even bother... run as a dim... you think exactly like one.

LLS

[trisham]

PALIN: I'm not going to call him a socialist. But as Joe the plumber has suggested, in fact he came right out and said it, it sounds like socialism to him. And he speaks for so many Americans who are quite concerned now after hearing finally what Barack Obama's true intentions are with his tax and economic plan.

ROMNEY: But former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), while arguing that Obama’s economic plan is a “job-killer,” said Monday on CBS’s “Early Show”: “You know, I don’t think Barack Obama’s a socialist. I think a lot of his policies are inspired by the pathway [that] Europe took. I think the idea of having the government take over healthcare and raise taxes on employers is the wrong direction for the country.”

I see a big difference between these two statements.