Posted on 02/19/2010 7:46:41 AM PST by rabscuttle385
When Mitt Romney, candidate for president, came to the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2007, he was a fresh-faced over-eager student of Republican politics: He won cheers for a newfound social conservatism, and won a straw poll amid charges he’d packed the hall.
Romney ended his candidacy in an emotional speech to CPAC the next year, and in 2009 he used the forum to open a critique of President Barack Obama that he spent the next year refining. The new Romney, received Thursday as the favorite son at the gathering of conservative activists, is a more constant, seasoned, and comfortable figure, one whose applause lines match up more closely with his record, and whose protégé – Senator Scott Brown – is his party’s hottest star.
His fundamental weakness in 2008 was his seeming discomfort in his public skin. He’s more at ease now, though part of his past – his role in reforming health care in Massachusetts while he was governor – could still raise questions about his real political identity. But his aides believe he’s successfully cast himself as a mature political figure, and the “adult” among potential Republican challengers to Obama in 2012.
“In 2008, people had this perception of Mitt Romney as this kid sitting in the front of the classroom with his hand up,” said Gary Marx, a conservative adviser to Romney’s ’08 campaign. “Now he’s taking a low key approach – picking and choosing his spots to make his voice heard, and it’s worked very well for him. I think you’ve seen the full embrace of the conservative movement from Governor Romney.”
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
We had a real CPAC — the Tea Party Convention in Tenn. But, so many FReepers had to trash that because EEEEEvil money was involved.
Why exactly do you think the country is swinging back to the right?
It would not have were that Ahole mclame elected.
Get over the party over principle ideology, its for losers like your pal mclame.
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Why, oh why, do we keep getting Conservatism mixed up with Republicanism?
They are NOT the same thing!
Mitt Romney is NOT a Conservative. John McCain is NOT a Conservative. The majority of the Republicans are NOT Conservative.
In fact, very few Republicans ARE Conservative. They are mostly Liberal-Lite.
CPAC and the Tea Party are probably run by Republicans who are capitalizing on the term 'Conservative'. Who ARE the leaders of the Tea Party, anyway?
When are people going to see that Conservatives and Republicans are not the same thing??
Mitt crowning himself Mr. Conservative.
I like that phrase! Good picture, too!
I do not like Mclame.
Then who? (it must be someone with a real chance of winning)
The New Mitt Romney = The New Jan Brady.
I like it...
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