NYT: Conservatives move against Romney as VP pick

The New York Times ^ | 08/18/08 | Michael Luo

[presidio9]

On the day Mitt Romney bowed out of the presidential race last February, his supporters latched onto something of a consolation prize that appeared to bode well for his political future: the warm embrace of hundreds of conservatives whose seal of approval he had long sought.

-SNIP-

Yet as Mr. Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, is said to have emerged as a top contender to be Senator John McCain’s vice-presidential running mate, a vocal segment of conservative leaders and grass-roots activists have mobilized against him, with some going out of their way to block his path to the Republican ticket.

It is unclear just how large the group of Romney detractors is and how representative it is of the broader conservative movement. Many are evangelicals who flocked to one of Mr. Romney’s rivals in the Republican primaries, Mike Huckabee, the Baptist minister and former Arkansas governor whose own hopes for making a repeat presidential run in 2012 or 2016 could suffer if Mr. Romney were named to the ticket.

Indeed, Mr. Huckabee himself aimed a few jabs at Mr. Romney this week, arguing that he would make an unacceptable vice-presidential pick because of his shifting positions on several issues.

Nevertheless, the determined opposition to Mr. Romney highlights the nagging concerns about his ideological authenticity — and his Mormon religion — that dogged him throughout his primary campaign. It also illuminates the continuing unease Mr. McCain arouses among some evangelicals and other social conservatives who make up an important voting bloc of the Republican base.

-SNIP-

The ultimate danger for Mr. McCain is not necessarily that Christian conservatives will not vote for him if he chooses Mr. Romney, but that they will not be as energetic in turning people out to vote,

-SNIP-

[fieldmarshaldj]

Huckster is in no position to pontificate on Slick Willard. He did the exact same thing in Arkansas that Willie did in Massachusetts. We now have “1” Republican left from AR in federal or statewide office, the same office we had 41 years ago. That’s down from 5 (half the federal delegation and 2 statewide) this decade (so, in other words, Huckster shrank the AR GOP presence by 80%).

[EQAndyBuzz]

McCain needs to choose Govenor Palin of Alaska.

Game, set, match.

[montag813]

But Mormons aren't flying planes into buildings or strapping bombs to their chests.

Look, I said I didn't like it, but there it is. Watch any critique of LDS, watch the South Park ridicule episode. Is it fair? No, but it is indeed a widespread view of Mormons. Heck,there is even the bad luck of the recent FLDS crap to contend with. A Mormon on the ticket is a no-go this time around.

[fieldmarshaldj]

My top two picks are SC Gov. Mark Sanford and RI Gov. Don Carcieri (I don’t necessarily have anything against Gov. Palin, just concern she needs a bit more seasoning — the aforementioned Governors have 6 years of experience each).

[BunnySlippers]

They are trying to divide us.

[ellery]

I guess Romney earned some sort of shot here; but I feel he’d be a liability.

Personally I would like to get away from the GOP approach of picking the guy whose turn it is (i.e., past, failed presidential nominees). I remain one of Fred Thompson's staunchest supporters, but I wouldn't push him for VP, for this reason: if you couldn't unite the party in the primaries, then you shouldn't be offered the post as the future of the GOP (since whomever is VP nominee this time will likely be the presidential nominee next time).

We need fresh, conservative blood -- e.g., Cantor, Coburn, DeMint, Sanford (to name just a few).

[meandog]

There are some still talking McCain down. Its a powerful team and one the DEMS are afraid of.

Some? Dems? There are plenty FReepers C-A-N-Ts (Conservatives Acting as Nauty Trolls) talking him down right here on FR!

[truth_seeker]

“Put a Mormon—a sect which many people also fear—on the ticket, and you dilute that advantage.”

What do many people fear of a Mormon?

I have many Mormon relatives. Two retired career US Army officers. My grandmother. My next door neighbors. All solidly conservative. (no I have never been Mormon, no I don’t live in Utah)

Never tried to convert me. What’s to fear?

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>One thing Slick Willard’s candidacy revealed is that it ended up outing a lot of people we thought were Conservatives that proved to be anything but.

On a certain level, I agree with you. Its tough to accept the fact that so many high profile conservatives were willing to sell out to support liberals and moderates. Calling them weasels is one thing. Abandoning their ideological roots during the GOP primary season, just might warrant a label of traitor to the conservative cause.

[Hawthorn]

> If Romney can swing 3 percentage points to McCain in Michigan <

Ditto for Colorado and Nevada, which have significant Mormon populations and which have been trending recently toward the dhimmis.

[Salvation]

BTTT!

[Canedawg]

Now the NYT is trying to pick the Veep, too??

GTFO

[CitizenUSA]

Mark Levin says Mitt is “acceptable.” That's hardly a ringing endorsement, but why would he even say it? For someone who says conservatives need to rise up and turn things around, it sure looks like a big compromise of principle.

Ann Coulter is another one who has really disappointed me. She's basically written Mitt did and said whatever he had to to get elected in a liberal state. Well, I'll grant he certainly acted liberal enough to fit in, but I'd hardly call that something worthy of admiration.

These so-called leaders of the conservative movement tell us we must battle hard, yet they compromise even when compromise isn't necessary. For example, no one can possibly convince me there aren't better VP picks. Even if Mitt's 100% conservative now, why should we settle for someone who (allegedly) only recently grew a conservative spine?

Many presidents have picked relatively unknown people for VP. This shouldn't be about political calculations to get a few more votes (since no one can really predict where this country will be in three months). The VP is the heir apparent for the 2012 election. That's why I want a conservative!

McCain's VP pick is going to tell us a lot about McCain himself. Will it be a wise choice? Or, will he stick it to conservatives yet again? We shall soon see.

[TitansAFC]

I gotta believe it’s not going to be Romney as Veep. I love the guy, but his negatives are near exponential.

I cannot imagine McCain would pick a guy with no pickup from the middle and a net loss from the right.

When is the last time a Pres candidate picked a Veep candidate who rated the highest in negatives of all candidates in consideration.

I just can’t see it. Only those who see Romney the way Liberals see Obama would even think he’d bring a state into play.

[Amerigomag]

There are some still talking McCain down

A reminder to partisans that this is FreeRepublic, not FreeRepublican.You damn bet you there are Freepers talking McCain down.

My suggestion is to find a group that appreciates McCain's nuances and then settle in.

[Theresawithanh]

So, do you think those conservatives-acting-as-’nauty’-trolls are afraid of Mitt, or can it be possible that we are not trolls, and are not sold on the idea that Mitt’s the new conservative hope for the party, and are using our right of free speech to say so here on FR?

[littlehouse36]

The left is terrified of a McCain/Romney ticket. I say go for it!

[broncobilly]

But a principal advantage we have against Obama is fear and suspicion of his Islamic roots. Put a Mormon—a sect which many people also fear—on the ticket, and you dilute that advantage.

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Name one religion that has been more conservative and more pro-America and pro-constitution than the Mormons.
Comparing them to the Islamics is rediculous.

[broncobilly]

Another thing his condidacy revealed was how some people, supposedly conservative, can be so filled with misinformation and hate.

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

Myth and F***abee are both liberals, as far as I’m concerned.