The Miami Herald reports on a meeting Romney had with Christian Conservatives. It went very well:
Florida's leading religious conservatives grilled Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney on Friday over his changed positions on gay rights and abortion, suggesting the former Massachusetts governor could be a tough sell for the party's influential right wing.
Romney was pro-choice when he twice ran for governor in the liberal-leaning state. When he campaigned for the U.S. Senate against Ted Kennedy in 1994, he told gay activists he would be a stronger advocate for equal rights.
Now, Romney says he is pro-life and against gay marriage. The poised speaker didn't win over Orlando attorney John Stemberger, who is spearheading a referendum on same-sex marriage on Florida's 2008 ballot.
''At this time I am not convinced that he is the best candidate for social conservatives,'' Stemberger said in a written statement. ``I am encouraging Christian leaders statewide to keep their powder dry and wait to hear what other candidates have to say.''
During last year's race for governor, Stemberger and most of Florida's leading religious conservatives preferred Tom Gallagher to the more moderate Charlie Crist, even though Gallagher had once described himself as pro-choice. Some conservatives say Romney compares favorably to U.S. Sen. John McCain, who has tussled with Christian leaders in the past, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who supports abortion rights.
As governor, Romney pushed his state's legislature and high court to put a gay-marriage ban on the ballot.
''He took a stand on same-sex marriage in a very challenging political climate,'' said David Caton of the Florida Families Association, which helped repeal a Hillsborough County ordinance forbidding discrimination against gays. ``He showed his strength and moral fiber in a way that gives me hope that he will be a leader for families and for this country.''
At this early stage in the campaign, Romney and other White House hopefuls are focusing on states with January primaries, such as Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Nearly two years before the general election, donor-rich Florida is generally a stopover for candidates cultivating cash, not votes.
But a fast-moving bill that would move up Florida's primary from March to January -- even earlier than South Carolina's vote -- puts the fourth-largest state in play as never before.
About 35 people met with Romney at the Orlando law office of state Rep. Dean Cannon, who is slated to become the leader of the Florida House in 2010. The candidate fielded tough questions for more than an hour.
''People had very valid questions on how and why his views on social issues had changed over the years.'' said state Rep. Anitere Flores, a Miami Republican. ``These are people that can move and shake a lot of voters in the primary.''
''They were straightforward questions, and he hit them head on,'' said Mark Merrill, a conservative radio show host based in Tampa. ``I was impressed.''
Two Central Florida politicians in good stead with Christian conservatives were asked to participate in the meeting with Romney, a Mormon. U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, who has pushed abortion limits and school prayer, praised Romney via speaker phone from Washington. State Rep. Dennis Baxley, who sponsored legislation to keep the severely brain-damaged Terri Schiavo alive, noted that Romney has been married for more than 35 years and has five sons.
''There are a lot of evangelicals, Christians and value activists who are trying to find their place,'' Baxley said. ``To whom do we go? Who will carry the day? Who can we depend on? [Romney] believes some things that I can't believe, but what we have in common is standing to protect the free expression of faith and traditional families and freedom and decency.''
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
"The easy way to fix any problem is to go to the people and say you have to pay more money, but that's not what the job of management is. The job of management is to find ways to permanently and structurally change the costs of our structure such that we can have a balanced budget without always raising taxes every time people think there's a need."
Governor Mitt Romney, Boston Herald, March 22, 2002
According to Dean Barnett of Townhall.com, the answer is Yes!
The only remaining question is how Mitt Romney will feel about my repeated likening of him to the endearing cartoon character, Yogi the Bear. I got to know Romney pretty well when I volunteered for him on his ’94 Senate campaign; the Yogi the Bear comparison definitely shortchanges him in the gravitas department.
But in the political world, as he was in the business world, Mitt Romney is most definitely smarter than the average bear. While it’s conceivable that Romney’s rivals may be able to close the ground in the fundraising game, the Yogi factor will be Romney’s consistent advantage.
But wait, here's my favorite part:
Disclosure: Dean Barnett volunteered for Mitt Romney’s 1994 Senate campaign.If Team Romney will take him, he will also volunteer for Romney’s run for president.
"A thousand miles north, in South Carolina, Romney won the first county exec. committee straw poll we've seen. Of the 30 members, 11 voted for Romney, 5 voted for Tom Tancredo, 4 voted for Newt Gingrich, 3 voted for John McCain, 2 voted for Tom Coburn, two for Mike Huckabee, and 1 (each) for Pataki, Giuliani and Duncan Hunter. Aiken Co. has 142,000 residents, making it the 4th largest in the state."
I'm sure the DeMint endorsement had a lot to do with this...
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
The new Hotline race ratings are out and if you read between the lines, it's clear that Hotline thinks that Governor Romney has closed the gap and is knocking on the door for the top slot.
1. John McCain 2. MITT ROMNEY 3. Rudy Giuliani 4. Sam Brownback 5. Newt Gingrich 6. Mike Huckabee 7. Chuck Hagel 8. Tommy Thompson 9. Frank Keating 10. Jim Gilmore 11. Duncan Hunter
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) headed by Howard Dean seems to be doing just that. They've been doing their homework on Romney and they don't like what they see. In fact, they are currently attacking Romney more viciously than any other GOP POTUS hopeful (many of which they are completely ignoring). They've even given him a couple of new nicknames "Smooth Talking Mitt" and "Multiple-Choice Mitt."
My hypothesis is that the DNC is scared of losing a general election to Romney. They have seen the recent attacks on Romney from the right and the left and have decided to "pile on" and try to nip his candidacy in the bud. Or, they saw that he pulled in $7 million in a one day fundraiser and realized that he is a force to be reckoned with. Either way, Republicans everywhere should take notice that the DNC doesn't want to have to deal with Romney. That, in my opinion, speaks volumes.
The Evidence:
A simple search of the DNC's website of Press Releases regarding different GOP hopefuls reveals that they're only really attacking two of them: McCain and Romney (with the latter being the latest preferred target.)
ELEVEN DNC press releases in the last six weeks (inlcuding FIVE in the last 3 days!!) are headlined against Romney. Direct and obvious attacks on issues such as Troop escalation, "Flip-flops", Immigration, Romney's Tax record, and GOP governorship losses. Also, back in Sept they include Romney in a long press release about GOP "agents of intolerance" (AKA "Racists") for his proper use of the literary term "tar baby." Also, the use of the nicknames is particularly interesting.
"Multiple Choice Mitt" derives from Teddy Kennedy's accusation during the 1994 Senate debate addressing Romney's stance on abortion.
"Smooth Talking Mitt Romney" seems to be their favorite nickname. They're planning for the future with this one. They're so used to enjoying Bush bumble and jumble his words that they won't be able to tease a President Romney similarly. They know he's articulate and smart, so they spin that into a negative of being "Smooth Talking". Funny stuff!
The DNC's sure giving a whole lot of attention to a guy who is still polling in the single digits . . . I think they have realized something and many Republicans need to realize this too . . . that Romney would be their toughest competition in the general election
McCain has been a long time target of the DNC. This is expected for anyone bearing the "GOP frontrunner" title. He has a long list of anti-McCain DNC press releases to his name. Still, he's only been the headlining subject of two press releases in the last month (and both attacking people he's hired, not him really).
Rudy only gets a couple of DNC press releases against him to his name. He's been fading as Romney's been surging and so the DNC has changed their attack tactics accordingly
Newt's the least likely of these guys to actually get into the race. That, plus the fact that they have lots of "dirt" on him already makes his a target not worth attacking.
Brownback has earned ZERO defamatory Press Releases from the DNC . . . Message from the DNC: "PLEASE, O, PLEASE LET US RUN AGAINST THIS GUY!!!!"
DNC Mike Huckabee Search: Huckabee was initiated into the "the DNC hates me because I'm a republican" club today . . . still, that's hardly close to Romney's 11 in 6 weeks.
Bottom line: The DNC realizes it will be trying to defeat Romney or McCain in the general election. They don't want to face Romney then. They're just plain scared of him already!!
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
Courtesy of the Heritage Foundation, a video of Governor Romney's fascinating and thorough presentation about universal healthcare - managed not through socialist programs like Medicaid but through the free-market system!
Right now, the governor said, his state faces two important but connected problems:
The cost of health care is rising dramatically, making it much more expensive for individuals to purchase care on their own—and individuals spend after-tax money while businesses use pre-tax funds
460,000 Massachusetts citizens lack any sort of health care, and many more lack adequate coverage
“If you can get everybody insured, that has a very positive effect on the cost of health care,” he said. “Part of your insurance premium is paying for the people who don’t have insurance.”
America should work to solve these problems, Heritage Foundation President Edwin Feulner said. While the establishment of Health Savings Accounts in 2003 was a victory for consumer-driven health care, he explained, “there is much work that needs to be done.”
Gov. Romney’s plan, developed in collaboration with Heritage Foundation health analysts Bob Moffit and Ed Haislmaier, includes a three-pronged solution that goes a long way towards solving the problem:
Ensuring that all those eligible for Medicaid are covered, which substantially reduces the costs of providing care to the uninsured
Encouraging those who are uninsured by choice to sign up, by using incentives like lower co-pays and premiums along a sliding scale
Creating an affordable product, designed by private insurance companies and coordinated by an “insurance exchange” to make insurance available to all workers, who pay for coverage before taxes
Expanding government health care to cover the uninsured wouldn’t work, Gov. Romney said. “Medicaid wasn’t built as a broad-based all-citizen insurance program,” he elaborated. “Growing Medicaid and adding new, optional populations to Medicaid is very expensive.” Instead, the state turned to the private health industry to develop solutions.
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
I know this site has already linked to the great Romney appearance on the Glenn & Helen Show podcast, but I was so taken by the Governor's words on foreign policy that I had to transcribe them by hand and relay them here:
"With regards to the broader issue, of the war against the Jihadists and radical Islam, I think we have to stand back and not just react to what's been thrown at us, but also to do what, well, if you will, what Dwight Eisenhower called upon when he was inaugurated in 1952 - he said America has to wage 'all-out peace.' He was referring to a two-step program: one, a very strong, unquestionably capable military; and two, an effort to use our resources to move unaligned nations toward America. Today we've gotta have the same kind of campaign."
"A much stronger military capability, and at the same time, an effort to use the resources of the civilized world to help the world of Islam move toward modernity and moderation. To support those people, and institutions, and governments who are, and which are, moderate and modern. And that's gonna mean everything from making sure their public schools are not Wahabi schools, financial institutions, economic and agricultural policies, and the like, that move these nations towards modernity. That's fundamentally where we have to go. And it's gonna be a long campaign, but it's gonna take a highly strategic plan for every single country to help move these nations in a direction that leads to world stability."
"There was this "'holiday from history,' as George Will called it, when America presumed that the Cold War was over and peace was going to last forever - but that ,unfortunately, has been rescinded, if you will. We now recognize that radical Islam and the spread of nuclear technology suggests a potentially dangerous world. and America needs to be very strong: speaking softly, but carrying a big stick."
Forget how amazingly well-spoken Mr. Romney is for just a moment - is any other candidate offering such a multilateral and comprehensively multi-avenue view of the U.S.'s global role? I think not.
Really, I can't urge you enough to go check out this 30-ish minute interview for yourself. Other highlights: the candidate discusses how his Mass. free-market-based universal healthcare coverage plan could transfer to the national level. He also states, if indirectly, that he doesn't support favoring specific genders or races (a veiled attack on Affirmative Action); the governor reiterates that he is also against discrimination of individuals based on sexual preference.
Also, Governor Romney takes a stance on the "surge" plan: he would have planned better and for more troops before entering Iraq, but given the current situation, he has consulted with many military officials and has concluded that the "surge" as proposed by the President has the potential to be helpful to the Iraqi condition. He states that no option is a guarantee for success, but he believes adding more forces most enhances our chances for success.
"American strength is the best ally for peace in the world, and a strong America has to be our objective." - Mitt Romney
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has snagged another highly regarded Republican operative for his presidential campaign as the fight among the presidential campaigns for brains and bodies slogs on.
This time it is Carl Forti, who served as communications director and independent expenditure director with the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee for nearly eight years. Mr. Forti, 34, will serve as Mr. Romney’s political director, working out of the Boston headquarters.
He brings two key attributes to the Romney campaign: His role in overseeing congressional campaigns across the country gives him intimate knowledge of the political demographics of many key battlefields across the states; he also knows many of the players.
And since his last job involved spending money on advertising to get Republicans elected, there are members of Congress and campaign operatives people who know him – and dare we say, feel indebted to him – in key districts across the country
One of the comments below this article says it all:
Romney is a sleeping giant that is really starting to wake up - I believe the best is yet to come!
— Posted by Wayne in Texas
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
Summary: Please join the RPK for the 2007 Republican Party of Kentucky Lincoln Day Dinner
Reception to be held at 6:00pm- $1000 per person
2007 Candidates Meet and Greet 6:00pm-7:00pm (Free with ticket to dinner)
Dinner to be held at 7:00pm- $75 per person (Reservations for dinner @ $75 per person until COB on Friday January 26th. Last minute reservations at $100 per person)
Keynote Speaker Governor Mitt Romney
Guests will include: US Senator Mitch McConnell US Senator Jim Bunning Congressman Hal Rogers Congressman Ed Whitfield Congressman Geoff Davis State Senate President David L. Williams State House GOP Leader Jeff Hoover
2007 Candidates: Governor Ernie Fletcher Candidate for Governor Billy Harper Sec. of State Trey Grayson Candidate for Attorney General Tim Coleman Candidate for Auditor Linda Greenwell Candidate for Treasurer Rep. Brandon Smith Candidate for Treasurer Melinda Wheeler Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer
(List updated as of 1/10/07)
When: Saturday, February 03, 2007 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Where: Louisville International Convention Center Louisville, KY 40202
Show/Hide 0 Comments | Post a Comment