Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mitt Romney's symbolic appeals to conservative Republicans. Tribal Warfare {FR mentioned]
The New Republic ^ | February 21, 2007 | Rick Perlstein

Posted on 02/21/2007 7:39:36 PM PST by Torie

Mitt Romney is in trouble. In a deeply conservative party, the former governor of Massachusetts is a ghost of Republicanism past: a moderate. His presidential announcement speech read like a tribute to his father, [who was] liberal enough to get elected and reelected governor in a Democratic state, Michigan. ... "We have lost our faith in government--not in just one party, not in just one house, but in government," as if oblivious to the heresy: Rehabilitating government as a good in itself is not the usual way of introducing yourself to voters in today's post-Reagan Republican Party. Maybe Romney's tried to shake it, but he just can't: He carries progressive Republicanism around in his blood.

Which raises certain suspicions about that announcement speech. As the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) immediately observed, its location, the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, is a "testament to the life of ... a notorious anti-Semite and xenophobe." ...

Those memories no longer exist--except to the hair-trigger sensitivities of the likes of the NJDC, which put out their press release and garnered an AP article on the flap. But here's something to consider: The Romney campaign has harvested benefits from that flap, whether it was intentional or not. Consider the sarcastic reflection of this denizen of the right-wing website Free Republic:

Allright, an AP hit piece! The MSM has more acute RINOdar than we. Real RINO's don't get rinky-dink MSM hit pieces such as this. This proves that the MSM believes Romney is a conservative, and therefore must be roughed up.

Translation: I used to suspect that Romney was only a "Republican in Name Only." But now I realize: He bugs the liberal media. By the tribal logic of right-wing identity politics, that is enough--Mitt Romney now can be called a conservative.

...

(Excerpt) Read more at tnr.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; electionpresident; elections; realdeal; romney
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-131 next last
And here I thought FR is crawling with RINO Rubybots these days. Who knew? LOL.
1 posted on 02/21/2007 7:39:38 PM PST by Torie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Torie

Well, there's a year left to go before the Primaries. Maybe by that time we'll have more competitive candidates than the current triumvirate of liberal Republicans pretending to be conservatives.

If not I'll just roll over and go back to sleep.


2 posted on 02/21/2007 7:42:29 PM PST by Seruzawa (Marx's Das Kapital never could compete with the Sears catalog.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Seruzawa
triumvirate of liberal Republicans pretending to be conservatives.

Sickening isn't it?

3 posted on 02/21/2007 7:44:54 PM PST by Graybeard58 (Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Torie
Hope the shills get it all out of their system soon so we can rationally get to the issues before anyone really has to vote on anything.
4 posted on 02/21/2007 7:47:18 PM PST by maui_hawaii (China: proudly revising history for over 2000 years and counting.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Seruzawa

I think Romney is a conservative Republican who was pretending to be a liberal when he ran for office in Massachusetts. He was widely rumored to be pro-life, when he ran in 1994.

Anyway, REAL social conservatives like Jay Sekulow have decided to rally around Romney, despite the loud complaints by the Pat Buchanan/Alan Keyes-supporting wing of FR. I think Romney would be a great president, not only because of his positions, but because of his leadership and management skills.


5 posted on 02/21/2007 7:48:43 PM PST by LtdGovt ("Where government moves in, community retreats and civil society disintegrates" -Janice Rogers Brown)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: maui_hawaii
I suspect about 80% of Freepers are pretty hard wired as to their choice already. Job one around here sometimes seems to be to just make those who favor another candidate from one's own choice as agitated and miserable as possible, just for the sadistic joy of it all. :)
6 posted on 02/21/2007 7:52:20 PM PST by Torie (The real facts can sometimes be inconvenient things)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: LtdGovt

I was about to make a comment about your newbie status, always suspicious when folks like you show up to shill for a liberal like Romney. But on reflection, you smell more like an obvious retread than an actual newbie.


7 posted on 02/21/2007 7:53:04 PM PST by EternalVigilance (The Talented Mr. Romney: It's better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: LtdGovt
I think Romney would be a great president, not only because of his positions, but because of his leadership and management skills.

Last week's, this week's, or next week's?

8 posted on 02/21/2007 7:54:14 PM PST by EternalVigilance (The Talented Mr. Romney: It's better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: LtdGovt
I think Romney is a conservative Republican who was pretending to be a liberal when he ran for office in Massachusetts.

So in other words, you're saying Mitt Romney's a liar, who will say whatever it takes to be elected to office.

In fact, if Romney was actually a closet conservative pretending to be a liberal, in 1994, in 2002 and as recently as last summer, practically every one of his positions was a lie, a fabrication, a falsehood.

What does that say?

9 posted on 02/21/2007 7:54:26 PM PST by Alter Kaker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: LtdGovt
Anyway, REAL social conservatives like Jay Sekulow have decided to rally around Romney

Jay is a long time judicial supremacist. No surprise him going to Romney. Two peas in a pod.

10 posted on 02/21/2007 7:55:28 PM PST by EternalVigilance (The Talented Mr. Romney: It's better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: LtdGovt

Strange that he was really pro life after professing to be pro-choice since 1970. And that he thought since Roe V wade was already decided, we should "sustain and support it".

Plus he's a gun grabber who is now trying to kiss the NRA's butt.

At least with rudy you know you're getting a liberal. With romney you're getting a used car salesman who will say whatever it takes to get elected. In 2004 we called that 'flip flopping' when a certain democrat did it.


11 posted on 02/21/2007 7:55:49 PM PST by flashbunny (<----- Click here if you hate RINOs! 2008 GOP RINO cards!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: EternalVigilance
He's (ltdgovt) not as much a shill for RINO-romney as he is a shill for RINO-rudy.

It's truly sickening.

12 posted on 02/21/2007 7:58:31 PM PST by DocH (Gun-grabbers, you can HAVE my guns... lead first.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Alter Kaker

I base my position on something I read in the NR-Corner a few days ago, where a woman was quoted as saying that in 1994, Romney said to her that he was pro-life, but that he would have to run as pro-choice in Massachusetts. His reputation as a pro-lifer would fit that bill.

As for lying, I don't think what he did is much different from what other politicians do. Politics is a dirty business, and even President Bush has taken some positions that I think are suspect (i.e., I don't think they represent his true beliefs).


13 posted on 02/21/2007 8:01:00 PM PST by LtdGovt ("Where government moves in, community retreats and civil society disintegrates" -Janice Rogers Brown)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Alter Kaker; AFA-Michigan
In fact, if Romney was actually a closet conservative pretending to be a liberal, in 1994, in 2002 and as recently as last summer, practically every one of his positions was a lie, a fabrication, a falsehood. What does that say?

No kidding. And that would make the following Academy Award worthy:

Mitt vociferously defends his support of abortion on demand

14 posted on 02/21/2007 8:02:08 PM PST by EternalVigilance (The Talented Mr. Romney: It's better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: DocH

Frankly, I think they're pushing these guys more to try and move the party left than because they think they can actually win the primaries.


15 posted on 02/21/2007 8:03:39 PM PST by EternalVigilance (The Talented Mr. Romney: It's better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: EternalVigilance

You really only have to look at Romney's handling of the Mass budget and the SLC Olympics to see his management skills at work. Or his business career...

The guy is stellar in that regard. It doesn't matter what you think of his social views.


16 posted on 02/21/2007 8:05:13 PM PST by CheyennePress
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Torie

"Mitt Romney now can be called a conservative. "

Well, apparently the Bush Family and Carol Rove are now backing Romney.


17 posted on 02/21/2007 8:05:30 PM PST by ZULU (Non nobis, non nobis Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts and guns made America great.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EternalVigilance
I just KNEW you would show up on this thread. :P

Meanwhile Rudy is pulling 41% of the GOP primary vote in California, per a very recent poll. I just knew my state was going to be in his corner among GOP voters. Sometimes California gets it right -- sometimes. Cheers.

18 posted on 02/21/2007 8:06:16 PM PST by Torie (The real facts can sometimes be inconvenient things)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: ZULU

I thought they were backing Rudy. What happened?


19 posted on 02/21/2007 8:06:56 PM PST by Torie (The real facts can sometimes be inconvenient things)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: CheyennePress
It doesn't matter what you think of his social views.

Well, it may not matter to you, but it most certainly matters to me.

20 posted on 02/21/2007 8:09:04 PM PST by EternalVigilance (The Talented Mr. Romney: It's better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-131 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson