Dear LtdGovt,
Human rights/life issues are first and foremost, and abortion is, of course, No. #1 in that group, in that more folks die from abortion annually in the US than any other cause. Thus, the leading cause of death in the US is the human rights abuse of abortion.
Mr. Romney gets a 0%.
So, he fails that entire section of the exam.
In that he's all over the map on the pro-homosexual agenda, he gets a 0% there, too. First he was for ENDA, then he's against. He's against "homosexual marriage," but seems okay with identical civil unions.
Not happy he wouldn't sign a no tax increase pledge when running for governor, although to his credit, he has signed one now. For what that's worth.
He hasn't covered himself in glory on gun rights, although that's certainly further down my own personal list.
However, even before any of these is the fundamental character issue. I know a lot of folks think he's a great guy. He looks like a phony to me.
And if he's a phony, then it doesn't really matter WHERE he says he agrees with the positions on issues with which I agree. As far as I can tell, if he figures out that doing a 180 on an issue will get him this or that many more votes, he's likely to change.
So, I don't really trust him no matter what he says. Now he signs a no tax increase pledge. I'm sure he'll make up some story in mid-2010, or mid-2014 why he has to reverse course on it.
I don't think he's a trustworthy person at all. I don't think I can believe him no matter what he says his views on any given issue might be.
Heck, you admit it yourself:
"I don't believe his consersion, quite frankly (and neither do I Romney's, but he might have been pro-life from the beginning)."
And thus, on the most fundamental issue of all - Can I trust him to stick by his word? - he scores a 0%.
As far as I can tell, I don't think he's a conservative. I'm not sure he's really a liberal. But I AM persuaded that he is, above all, an opportunist.
sitetest
I fundamentally disagree.
I think we would strongly push the pro-life agenda, traditional marriage, 2nd ammendment rights, and conservative judges.
Frankly, if he will push forward our causes, it doesn't matter to me what others or you may think of him. He is a politician like every other candidate, but I do trust him when he says he will be our advocate.