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.”

[MHGinTN]

Having tried to institue the ‘european model’ of socialism in Massoftwosh!ts, one can see how Mitt would recognize it in Obama’s plans.

[Snurple]

Mitt who?

[CottonBall]

Uh, Mitt.... the pathway Europe took was toward socialism! Hello!

Exactly what I thought. If Europe wasn't stepping towards socialism all this time, I wonder what Mitt thought they were doing!

[fantom]

Arnold said it at a Ohio Mac rally. Mittens is a big pussy . Like most of the party front men. Palin has more balls than all of these country clubbers com bind .

[SoConPubbie]

Is there any evidence more damning than this that proves the Mittster is not the conservative he and his surrogates on FreeRepublic claim he is?

[TeleStraightShooter]

I don’t think Barack Obama’s a socialist.

That is clearly a uninformed opinion.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I assume all those people claiming Romney has not been undermining McCain at every turn will be here soon to excuse these comments...

[Colofornian]

Hey, what else could he say? I mean he pays a tithe to a church that demands a tithe or else
(a) you won't become a god;
(b) you'll be denied temple access & possibly then won't even be able to see your daughter married in the temple should she be a temple-worthy Mormon.

So his heart is rooted in a mandatory system that mandates that it be able to "spread 10% of the wealth around" of its members.

If this was a voluntary tithe -- or if they didn't hold exaltation (becoming a God)/the Celestial Kingdom/ or temple activities over your head for failure to comply, then it wouldn't come across as a type of forced private taxation.

[Maine Mariner]

I AGREE WITH MITT, OBAMA IS NOT A SOCIALIST!!
MITT IS 100% CORRECT

OBAMA IS A MARXIST-LENINIST LEFT WING FASCIST!!

[Wuli]

I did not pick Romney as my choice in the primaries.

I did defend him in this space, against attacks on his religion; having seen a number of Mormons defend some of the very same constitutional rights as many of us fight for, and believing even a good Mormon can do that - because so many have.

Having said that,

I keep hearing more and more things (rumors) about Romney

(like some of his people that are working with McCain are the one’s spreading rumors of decension between McCain’s people and Palin’s people);

and, my disbelief that he does not understand that Obama is a Marxist - there Romney is (like McCain in the past) playing to the sentiments of his media hosts, and letting them and their sentiments keep him from telling the American people the truth.

His estimation in my eyes gets lower every day.

[PhiKapMom]

Some of us were trashed when we brought up the Romney surrogates that were out dissing Palin and McCain as we didn’t know what we are talking about but now the man himself said this.

Fred Thompson and Rudy Giuliani have been all over for McCain and both are doing red meat events against Obama. You don’t see either of them being wishy washy and praising Obama on anything.

Romney needs to go away like yesterday!

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

The only important difference between Nazi-ism,
Fascism, Communism, Socialism and Liberalism
is the spelling, and that the last group hasn't
got the brains to figure it out.
- Bill Vance

I would add Islamo-Fascism to the above list.

[Marathoner]

Geez, I must repent in sackcloth and ashes. I actually voted for this guy in the (IL)primary. By that time, my 1st choice (Hunter) was gone, and Romney looked like the one person who could stop McCain. Plus, I believed some of his BS.

I promise it won't happen again.

[Schatze]

Mitt is right, Zero is not a socalist, he is Marxist.

Absolutely correct. The Obamessiah does Karl Marx proud.

Only a Marxist needs a civilian security force or is it secret police ...

I believe the correct term is "brown shirts."

[reagan_fanatic]

Idiot.

[Arizona Carolyn]

sounds like he is more bitter, at least McCain pretended to support Bush in the election.

[CaliforniaCon]

Shut up Mitt!

BTW, he’s sort of correct — Obammie isn’t exactly a Socialist — he’s a MARXIST!

[Crystal Cove]

John McCain said Obama wasn’t a socialist when he was asked by Larry King.

[Bobalu]

[b4its2late]

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.”

Socialist.

That's the problem with pubbies. Afraid to call it like it is for fear of being called racists, or bigots or homophobes.