RICHE$T Speaker of the House in History!
Funny how the LameStream Media doesn't shove the inspect probe up this Democrat who hates unions working in her wine fields.
Posted on 03/11/2007 11:00:12 AM PDT by wagglebee
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is the richest man in the presidential race.
Presidential candidates are not required to disclose their net worth, and Romney has not. But analysts who track compensation in Romney’s business field said it was likely to exceed $500 million, according to a report in Saturday's New York Times.
Romney built his fortune with the Boston-based Bain Capital, a venture and buyout firm. In 1984, Romney began investing Bain’s $40 million venture fund that eventually grew to billions. Romney’s fund was the first investor in Staples, the office supplies store.
The Times also suggests that Romney has been using his personal wealth to woo conservative support for his presidential bid.
Examples include:
The Times report noted that coming on the eve of his presidential campaign, Romney’s contributions might create the appearance of a conflict of interest for groups often asked to evaluate him.
For example, Romney critics have already zeroed in on a $15,000 donation to Massachusetts Citizens for Life — arguing that he is trying to buy the group’s support.
Additionally, Romney-watchers have pointed out that the contributions listed above are to groups to which he had never contributed before.
The paper noted that in 2002 Romney ran the most expensive race for governor in Massachusetts history -- spending about $6 million of his own money on a campaign that rang in at a hefty $9.4 million.
Meanwhile, Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said that Romney’s donations simply demonstrated his convictions. "He has donated his time and his effort and whatever resources he can to help advance their causes,” Madden said.
Public financial disclosure forms completed by presidential candidates do not reveal net worth. Madden added that the campaign had not yet decided whether to release Romney’s tax returns.
Ping
Unless the Republicans nominate a hobo, the media will use his wealth to destroy him. They already act like George Bush is some megalomaniacal tycoon when he prefers staying at a small ranch in the middle of nowhere in Texas.
If Romney were to somehow become the nominee, the press would use this to destroy him.
Why? They didn't go after Forbes. He made money the american way, he earned it. How can the press attack someone that is successful? Because he hasn't given most of it away to the poor? Then again, the press can attack him for anything. maybe the food in his basement.
They would certainly try, even as John Kerry's, or rather his wife's, wealth was not an issue to them at all.
Staples is also invested in Algores Generation Investment Management....FWIW
Steve Forbes DID NOT earn his money, he inherited a publishing empire from his father and the press did not make a big deal out of it because they never gave him a real shot at the nomination.
How can the press attack someone that is successful?
As long as they have an "R" after their name, they're fair game.
You mean he didn't inherit his wealth? Don't you just hate people who earn millions through their own hard work? Who wants someone like that in the White House?
BTW - The press will try to destroy whoever the Republican nominee is. That is unavoidable.
If this is true, it doesn't sit too well. It's not having wealth that is a problem but to use it to influcence others to gain power shows where the heart is. In elections, it's either someone truly wants to make a change for the good of USA or merely wants power. It's up to us to sort it out. One thing for sure, the biased media wants to sort it out for us.
"If Romney were to somehow become the nominee, the press would use this to destroy him."
Of course. Kerry was worth as much, but did it by marrying into it. The press was so on his case about that. (/sarc)
Romney actually engaged in individual accomplishment and achievement, and that is strictly forbidden! How dare someine be an example of American material success for others to emulate!
I really dont think it matters... whoever the GOP nominee is, the press will destroy - they will point out that by breathing, the GOP nominee is emitting CO2 and causing global warming, hence is responsible for hurricanes and drought ....
I *wish* I was kidding about it!
Huh? The press is filled with whores. If you have the money, and you pay them, they will lavish praises upon you. If you don't pay them, their other customers will get them to print lies about you at half the price. The press doesn't give a crap about the poor working stiff. They're just trying to fill your brain with swill.
They'll use it against him, but it won't "destroy" him. Personally, I wish he'd adopt me.
Hey, if Romney earned it honestly without harming others, more power to him!
Romney and his supporters also contributed about $10,000 to a nonprofit group affiliated with the National Review.
He can't run now.
HE CAN'T!!!!!!!
"If this is true, it doesn't sit too well. It's not having wealth that is a problem but to use it to influcence others to gain power shows where the heart is."
Wow. Rudy has been campaigning for other candidates and is calling in chits. McCain is calling on 'friends' who've helped eachother. Hillary is out there practically buying South Carolina supporters. Obama OTOH is letting himself *get bought by others*.
"n elections, it's either someone truly wants to make a change for the good of USA or merely wants power."
Romney donated to conservative causes for the good of USA. I appreciate his efforts there and don't see anything wrong with it at all. It would be worse if he *DIDNT* support conservative causes!
"Steve Forbes DID NOT earn his money, he inherited a publishing empire from his father and the press did not make a big deal out of it because they never gave him a real shot at the nomination."
Correct.
Romney is the most successful 'self-made' candidate we've had in a long time.
I agree completely. However, what we will hear is "unconfirmed reports" of unfair business practices, etc.
Just wait for "unconfirmed reports" of this.
Remember his Senate run in 1994. He was in serious striking distance of taking down Kennedy. At the eleventh hour, the Kennedys dug up a handful of workers in Indiana who had lost their jobs after Bain Capital took over their company. They ran a full court press of critical ads in Mass.,and the sheeple fell for it hook, line, and sinker. The untold story was that Romney's firm took over a troubled firm on the verge of bankruptcy, implementd a solid business plan, made the tough decisions, and saved the jobs of many. We need that kind of leader in Washington.
Are you suggesting he bought KLo?
If he did she is doing one heck of a job for him!
:)
Of the "extremely wealthy" presidents we've had, nearly all inherited the bulk of their wealth. Of the truly wealthy, only two (Andrew Jackson and Herbert Hoover) could really be considered self-made.
Sorry, Mitty.
You can't buy conservatism after all that sh!t you pulled in Massachusetts.
Since money is power in the presidential race, I belive the clear message from the Romney campaign is, "In additional to all the funds Romney can raise, he's willing to tap into a personal fortuine in excess of $500 million. You can't win."
*from the Romney campaign to other candidates
This ignores the money that Romney inherited from his ridiculously wealthy Daddy. Romney's a billionaire.
Actually, Romney did inherit his wealth. He invested it wisely, but Romney's Daddy was the fabulously wealthy long-time CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
Mitt Romney is the GOP's answer to John Kerry. Liberal flip-flopping billionaires from Massachusetts both... thanks but no thanks.
I welcome attacks like that by the media. better to defend good solid american values against silly charges than to defend immorality based on true charges.
Oh yeah, this guy Romney is really just a slacker born into wealth.
In truth, Mitt Romney is one of the most brilliant executive managers and venture capitalists in this country in the last 50 years. Now, why would the American people want a brilliant manager in the White House who has successfully managed and optimized budgets of billions of dollars many times in the past?
It's pretty clear that Romney is an opportunist. But no serious organization endorses a candidate just because he gave them a fairly small amount of money. This isn't bribery, just contributions as a form of recognition that conservative groups are important. I see it as pretty benign.
What bothers me is that, if the NYT story is to be believed, Romney, although very rich, never gave to conservative causes until the last couple of years. That's something I don't like at all.
This is the same logic put forward by Ross Perot back in 1992 and 1996 and nobody bought it then either because it's a meaningless argument.
Harry Truman was a total failure as a businessman and is regarded by both Republicans and Democrats as one of the best presidents of the 20th Century.
I didn't say he was. But turning 1 million into 5 million takes hard work. Turning 100 million into 500 million is inevitable.
Romney just sped up the inevitable. His Dad gave him money and investors, that helped Mitt out a heck of a lot.
Why would the American people want a position-shiting RINO, one who makes John Kerry seem like a bedrock of principled, steadfast conservatism? A one-term Governor who campaigned twice as a liberal's liberal, a 30-year liberal who had a conservative "epiphany" about 18 months ago, just as he was starting his campaign for President.
I detect a little jealousy!
Willard "Mitt" Romney, Republican; BA, Brigham Young University, class valedictorian; Harvard University, doctor of laws and master of business administration;
Bain & Company, vice president and CEO, Boston, seven years total; Bain Capital, founder, Boston.
The $40 billion investment firm launched such Wall Street titans as Domino's Pizza, Staples and Brookstone.
Salt Lake City Winter Olympics Organizing Committee CEO, turning a $379 million operating deficit into a $100 million profit; Massachusetts governor, 2003 to 2007
I say Romney earn his $500 million from his good work!
"This ignores the money that Romney inherited from his ridiculously wealthy Daddy. Romney's a billionaire."
Romney may well be a billionaire, but its not because of his "Daddy". First off, George Romney wasn't nearly as wealthy as people suppose. Secondly, Romney gave his ENTIRE inheritance to charity.
Look, I'm sure Romney's a good businessman, but my point is that it's a bit disingenuous to call him a self-made man, given that (a) his Dad gave him hundreeds of millions of dollars and (b) was himself a nationally-known RINO politician and presidential candidate who provided young Mitt with all the connections he could possibly need.
Mitt Romney may well be a good businessman, but I'd like to see him pull himself up from his proverbial boostraps before I'd go around labelling him "self-made" anything.
Unsing naughty word, Alter Kaker shame on you!
He wasn't?
Secondly, Romney gave his ENTIRE inheritance to charity.
Even if that's true (you have proof?), then so what? George Romney fronted Bain Capital's startup capital. That's a little more significant than, say, a measely inheritance. Again, Mitt Romney may be a good businessman, but he's no self-made man.
Let me get this straight:
Romney donates 5,000 dollars to a charity that National Review likes which constitues less than 1/2 of a percent of the budget and that means he has brought favorable treatment????
What do you make of this review from Rich Lowry? Mitt was offensive? Oh boy that is a favorable!? NOT!
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NTU0NzEyZjIzMTI5YzZiYjgxMjY3MTM4YTIzMjY4NTA=
I can't believe you guys believe any premise the NYT puts out there about Republicans.
Whoops! I believe that's what's known as a Freudian Schlip. :-)
You don't think George W Bush did not had to prove himself too?
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