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

Skip to comments.

The Oysters Come Home to Roast (Romney=Kerry)
National Review Online ^ | 2/6/2008 | Mark Steyn

Posted on 02/06/2008 7:16:47 AM PST by JohnnyZ

I woke up this morning to a ton of e-mail from aggrieved southerners, almost outnumbering the ton of spam for generic Viagra, which I've forwarded to the RNC. Anyway, southern voters resented my (and John O'Sullivan's) assertion that they hadn't voted for Mitt because he was a Mormon. Au contraire, they said they hadn't voted for Mitt because he's a north-eastern liberal. Whatever. I rather enjoyed this Georgia gal's take:

I was one of your "No Mormon, no way, no how" Southerners until someone at a dinner party asked me if I'd support Orrin Hatch for President. And you know what? I would. It's then I realized I just didn't like Romney because he's about as phony as baloney. And I am unnaturally annoyed at how he receives applause from his audiences: toothless smile, looking left tilting chin up, looking right tilting chin up; back and forth.

Oh and by dinner party I mean oyster roast.

Oh, dear. Mitt is beginning to feel like the conservative media's version of John Kerry, the guy the MSM thought they could drag across the finish line. Except we have a tougher problem, to which Lisa and Stanley referred. The default mode of the culture is liberal; the key levers of society are liberal. Bush-era strategists have largely ignored that reality in favor of get-out-the-vote and other organizational techniques. The defects of that approach seem increasingly apparent.


TOPICS: Editorial; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: election; elections; gop; johnfnkerry; liberal; massachusetts; mccain; mccaintheliberal; mittromney
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-159 next last
To: JohnnyZ
I have heard no official talk or otherwise about anti-Mormon bigotry from Romney. I have seen some on these boards...but do not believe it really had any impact omn the race. Romney ran close in the larger southern states. Outside of Arkansas he garnered anywhere from 25% to 31% of the vote with the winners taking 33-35%. I would hardly call that a smashing lopsided vistory. More like very hard fought campaigns.

So, all the name calling and sophmoric "effette" talk ad nausium does not change the fact that a lot of people, including in the south, support Romney and his campaign and are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on his "changes". It is the Christian thing to do because that is precisely what Christ teaches, regardless of how you feel about the man or his campaign.

Personally he was my 3rd choice, as I have said, and I have reservations and would much preferred to see more time go by proving his "changes", but that luxury was not available. But having said that and looked closely at his record, what he said before, what he says now, and what his campaign is now based upon, and in addition to listening to strong conservative voices who have come out in support of Romney...I decided he was the best left in the pack. Not a desirous situation at all, but one we were left with.

Huckabee did very well last night and is clearly got a message that many agree with. There is a lot I agree with him on in his current campaign...and also things I absolutely do not agree with him on. McCain has even more baggage. I still feel that any of those three...with McCain absolutely on the low end of that scale...would be better than any of the democrats.

Anyhow, for all three campaigns it is now time to move forward and see what the following weeks bring. I believe that by the end of the day on March 4th when Texas and other states vote that it will be decided.

21 posted on 02/06/2008 7:33:12 AM PST by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JohnnyZ

****they said they hadn’t voted for Mitt because he’s a north-eastern liberal. ***

My reason exactly.

However, if it comes down to Hillary or Obama against Romeny, I will hold my nose, and vote for him.


22 posted on 02/06/2008 7:37:55 AM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar (Only infidel blood can quench Muslim thirst-- Abdul-Jalil Nazeer al-Karouri)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libbylu
If it is Mcpain/huck i will be campaigning for Hill with Ann.

I'm glad you have found your natural home. I can understand not voting for someone but to campaign for Hillary tells me that you are no conservative.

Mike Huckabee made an excellent point about Ann Coulter (who he didn't name but didn't really need to): if she campaigns for Hillary then it all about herself and not the conservative movement.

23 posted on 02/06/2008 7:38:55 AM PST by CommerceComet (Mitt Romney: Boldly telling the audience whatever it wants to hear.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Deut28

“Was there anti-Christian bigotry in the Utah primary?”

90% going for Mitt; absolute diss of the Huckster (not that I disagree with that) — what do you think?


24 posted on 02/06/2008 7:43:34 AM PST by TheThirdRuffian (Don't blame me; I will write in Thompson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Digital Sniper

Thank you, I wouldn’t really know if it’s always, I do know it’s been that way for at least the last 7 years.

As for Hillary, that woman never misses the opportunity to take a swipe at the republicans, even in her speech last night she was attacking the republicans. She is so divisive, I just can’t see her being good for this country.


25 posted on 02/06/2008 7:45:14 AM PST by psjones (u)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: VeniVidiVici

The fact that Romney was a liberal for 35+ years and conveniently switched to conservatism right before the election gave anyone with half a brain pause.

Romney is NO more of a conservative than McCain.

He’s a complete, utter, lying fake.


26 posted on 02/06/2008 7:45:33 AM PST by TheThirdRuffian (Don't blame me; I will write in Thompson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: JohnnyZ
The South was never going to vote for a liberal Yankee like that

What I was not prepared for was that his own state was not too keen on voting for him. Did you notice that Romney only carried Massachusetts by 10 points? That is very low for the state where he just left the governorship.

For all the talk about the anger against McCain in AZ over immigration(and it's real) he carried the state by 15 points. Hillary and Obama carried their home states by over 20 points.

27 posted on 02/06/2008 7:46:23 AM PST by freespirited (The worst Republican is far preferable to the best Democrat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: A_perfect_lady

No, she’s describing on an emotional level, the body language that makes us aware when someone is a fake.


28 posted on 02/06/2008 7:46:44 AM PST by TheThirdRuffian (Don't blame me; I will write in Thompson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: psjones
The only good that Hillary brings to the table is that she's helping redefine why conservatism, not liberalism, is this nation's saving grace.

Just as the Carter administration laid the groundwork for the great Reagan years, so the Clinton/Obama abomination will clear the RINOs out of our nation's future.

29 posted on 02/06/2008 7:50:01 AM PST by Digital Sniper (Hello, "Undocumented Immigrant." I'm an "Undocumented Border Patrol Agent.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: JohnnyZ
I guess anyone with a full set of teeth, nice hair and no plaid shirt comes over as elite in the south.

The South was never going to vote for a liberal Yankee like that

No, you'll just vote for a liberal like Carter.

30 posted on 02/06/2008 7:51:20 AM PST by dragonblustar (Once abolish the God, and the government becomes the God - G. K. Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VeniVidiVici

Democrats rule in ‘08. Conservatives, that remain, loose. And so does the USA. The Libertarian Party, headed by McCain, lives for another day. Socialism/Communism, radical muslims, and their enablers, continue to expand their role.

Move along and enjoy the ride, no matter how much it hurts. And, slowly we turn.


31 posted on 02/06/2008 7:53:40 AM PST by gathersnomoss (General George Patton had it right.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: VeniVidiVici

Democrats rule in ‘08. Conservatives, that remain, loose. And so does the USA. The Libertarian Party, headed by McCain, lives for another day. Socialism/Communism, radical muslims, and their enablers, continue to expand their role.

Move along and enjoy the ride, no matter how much it hurts. And, slowly we turn.


32 posted on 02/06/2008 7:53:50 AM PST by gathersnomoss (General George Patton had it right.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: JohnnyZ

“Romney was the Republican John Kerry.

Effete flip-flopping French-speaking Massachusetts liberal, except this time pushed by the conservative media rather than the MSM.

The South was never going to vote for a liberal Yankee like that, and the accusations of anti-Mormon bigotry from the Romney folks make them sound just like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson on race, preaching hate and playing the victim card.”

You said it best.


33 posted on 02/06/2008 7:54:30 AM PST by dmw (Aren't you glad you use common sense? Don't you wish everybody did?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libbylu; marinamuffy
I think you listed to FR instead of researching for yourself. Abortion is the only real change, and I read his account of that in 2006.

Abortion, immigration, guns, global warming, taxes, campaign finance, gay rights, stem cell research, foreign policy, Ronald Reagan -- Romney's presidential campaign was a wholesale reinvention of his beliefs.

Mitt is a fraud, and the conservative South called him on it.

34 posted on 02/06/2008 7:55:56 AM PST by JohnnyZ ("Make all the promises you have to" -- Mitt Romney)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: dragonblustar

-—”I guess anyone with a full set of teeth, nice hair and no plaid shirt comes over as elite in the south. “

Classic humor and a true portrayal of the south! Most Californians view people from the south with disdain because they’re so bigoted about so many things (race, religion, etc.)


35 posted on 02/06/2008 7:56:59 AM PST by AlanGreenSpam ("Celebrate Diversity! Look at the world with all it's problems - Isn't "diversity" so beautiful?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Deut28

“Was there anti-Christian bigotry in the Utah primary?”

90% of the republican voters (Mormons) in Utah supported Flip. Come to your own conclusion.

Can you say, Group Think?


36 posted on 02/06/2008 7:58:39 AM PST by dmw (Aren't you glad you use common sense? Don't you wish everybody did?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: JohnnyZ

That was a strange article by a southerner if you ask me.

1. Romney was NOT the recipient of a media push for him. Actually, it was quite the opposite, so I don’t know where this writer gets this idea.

2. The odd thing is McCain is a true Flip-Flopper, but the liberal MSM wanted to foist McSnake on the American people, so they pumped him up any chance they could get.

I’m beginning to think Americans are so stupid.


37 posted on 02/06/2008 7:59:44 AM PST by AlanGreenSpam ("Celebrate Diversity! Look at the world with all it's problems - Isn't "diversity" so beautiful?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marinamuffy

Well, you can look at McCain and say the same thing, now he’s flip flopping on the tax cuts he voted against. NOw he’s all for border security. I think we’ll see more flip flopping from mccain before this is all over. Problem for me is, can we believe McCain, I don’t.


38 posted on 02/06/2008 8:02:17 AM PST by psjones (u)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Digital Sniper
McCain was against the Bush tax cuts, has consistently sided with the pro-abortionists, was behind McCain-Feingold, sought to give amnesty to tens of millions of illegal invaders, and has consistently sided with Democrats against gun owners, yet now he's touting himself as a pro-tax-cut, pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-First Amendment "conservative."

Take away the Bush tax cut and McCain-Feigold references and add socialized health care and you just described Mitt Romney.

39 posted on 02/06/2008 8:02:32 AM PST by Texas Federalist (Fred Thompson 08)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: JohnnyZ
Mitt is beginning to feel like the conservative media's version of John Kerry

Geez, Mark. We've been saying that here on FR for, oh, about a year now.
40 posted on 02/06/2008 8:04:15 AM PST by Antoninus (I survived Roe v. Wade. 40,000,000 of my generation did not.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-159 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