Romney to Tea Party movement: No third party bids!

CNN ^ | 03/9/2010 | By: CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby

[Jim Robinson]

Washington (CNN) - Mitt Romney has a message to Tea Party candidates nationwide: If you lose your Republican primary bids, stay on the sidelines.

The former Massachusetts governor on Monday warned the grassroots movement not to mount third party efforts in general elections, which he said would siphon votes from Republican nominees.

"If there is a conservative candidate that runs in the general election, then obviously, divide and fail is the result," Romney said in an interview with the conservative Web site Newsmax. "Hopefully Tea Party candidates will run in respective primaries and they will either win or lose. And if they win, they will go into the general. If they lose, they won't, and they will get behind the more conservative of the two finalists."

Romney explained that "dividing our conservative effort in the general elections" would "basically hand the country to Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, and that would be very sad indeed."

[yldstrk]

you and whose army Romney

[Las Vegas Ron]

IBTZ!

Hope you’re doing great Jim!

FUMR!

[Grunthor]

“If there is a conservative candidate that runs in the general election, then obviously, divide and fail is the result,” Romney....”

Romney flat out admitting that he is NOT a conservative.

[70th Division]

OH, MITTY, SHUT UP! ! !

[rightwingextremist1776]

not a day goes by this bench warmer doesn’t stick his foot in his mouth.....bye bye Romney RINO.....

[FewsOrange]

I suspect that those who initially opposed Bush and then backed him in the general election, and then opposed McCain and said they would never back him but ended up backing him in the general election will end up backing Romney if he wins the Republican nomination.

[Balding_Eagle]

A Romney nomination would be a strong signal for a third party movement to materialize.

[rockinqsranch]

So who made Romney the Rule Maker?

[iceskater]

And if a Tea Party person wins the primaries are the establishment guys going to support the Tea Party? So far, the establishment support of the Tea Party has been tepid at best.

BTW, I’m not voting for you Romney, you flip-flopping RINO.

[Sir Napsalot]

>>> Romney explained that “dividing our conservative effort in the general elections ....”

This I gotta see. Romney now a conservative.

Wait, stranger things could happen, I guess.

[tiger-one]

Mitt the minute Palin announces you are toast, and you can move back to Mass.

[BenLurkin]

What? Who is he kidding?

[sillsfan]

OMG.
What an idiot.

What clever FReeper is keeping track of all the Romneyisms in just the last two weeks?
I’ve lost count already.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“So who made Romney the Rule Maker?”

CNN

[PapaNew]

If you lose your Republican primary bids, stay on the sidelines...If there is a conservative candidate that runs in the general election

Whoa, looks like we're confusing Republican with conservative again. If Romney is the GOP nominee, looks like the rest of what he says doesn't apply...

[GeronL]

Romney explained that "dividing our conservative effort in the general elections" would "basically hand the country to Barack Obama

He still thinks he is a conservative??

[Las Vegas Ron]

Yeah, I'm fully expecting a couch photo with Nancy any day now.

He and newt should join up for a “How to sink a Presidential Candidacy in Five Days or Less” book.

[LegendHasIt]

Bite me, Mittens.
I’m halfway tempted to vote third party just because of your arrogance in telling me not to.

[dhs12345]

Ya. Sucks, doesn’t it.

[repentant_pundit]

Romney to Tea Party movement: No third party bids!

Tea Party to Romney: No nomination bud !

.

[Jim Robinson]

Romney a conservative? Who would have ever guessed? Abortion “rights,” gay “rights,” gun grabbing, socialized health care, etc, are NOT conservative positions. Romney’s positions are no different than Ted Kennedy’s or Hillary’s or Obama’s.

If Romney is the nominee, Obama is guaranteed a second term.

If Romney is the Republican nominee, a Tea Party run would not be a third party, it would be a SECOND party!

FReep U, Mitt Romney!!

[DrewsMum]

Who the heck does he think he is? Moron. Of course if we have a conservative on the ticket, we won’t go 3rd party. But if we have 2 liberals, I’m voting for 3rd party or writing in someone..... I would rather have obama 4 more years than someone who will continue give the Repubs a bad name. Period.

[Americanexpat]

After living in Central America for many years I can see first hand the results of multi party politics. None of them can win by themselves so they have to form alliances and share the rule.

[Peter W. Kessler]

Tea Party and Other Conservatives to Romney:

Shut the Hell Up.

[curth]

Romney will be the biggest reason why a 3rd party emerges.Mitt, if you don’t want a third party movement to take place, get out. Now!

[Tennessee Nana]

Mitt Romney has a message to Tea Party candidates nationwide: If you lose your Republican primary bids, stay on the sidelines.
_________________________________________________

Nana has a message to Williard Mitt Romney : When you lose your Republican primary bid, go stay on Democrat lines.

[prisoner6]

Romney, you are a POMPOUS RINO A$$!

[Jim Robinson]

Some will, but not me! Never again!! I’ve sworn off suicide.

[Antoninus]

Keep saying it, Mitt. If you are the nominee, there won't be a conservative 3rd party, there will be a conservative 2nd party--because the GOP will have gone liberal.

See tagline. Enough is enough.

[MayflowerMadam]

“So who made Romney the Rule Maker?”

Good question. I wonder if anyone has let Krauthamer and Rove know that they’re not dictating the rules any longer.

[Lazamataz]

Mitt, you and your establishment buddies -- Karl Rove, George Will, Krauthammer, Gingrich -- should read the Chinese Calligraphy:

We don't want your Socialism, as opposed to Democrat Communism.

[nascarnation]

My fear is that Dems will get Mitty nominated (via open primary states: Op Chaos II) and a three way election will result in Baraq winning with a Clintonian plurality.

[ex-snook]

"If there is a conservative candidate that runs in the general election, then obviously, divide and fail is the result," Romney said in an interview with the conservative Web site Newsmax"

Note Romney said CONSERVATIVE candidate, obviously he is excluding himself. Conservative is not another name for Republican.

[cardinal4]

Whatever, Mitt, you are just a McCain with a hair stylist..

[demshateGod]

If I’m in the polling place then I might as well cast my vote. He’ll lose though. No one will be excited about his campaign cept a few folks in Utah.

[2ndDivisionVet]

[Jean2]

In other words; he wants a squishy check-pants RINO like himself.

[SueRae]

He’s got it a bit backwards, doesn’t he?.. In recent past, (Hoffman, O’Donnell) won the primaries and it was the establishment GOP crybabies that DIDN’T back the winner, split the votes and even endorsed the Democrat.

Shut up Mitt.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

...or else what, Mitt?

[gunnyg]

[Vaquero]

Romney..the worst of the lot....NO WAY IN HELL, there Mittens...

I will be a lot happier when Bachmann and/or Palin declare their candidacy....

[nomoremods]

Nice try, Mitt. Every conservative knows that you RINO’s won’t respect the same rules should a conservative win. It’s the RINO’s who cut and run and whine; the conservatives stay and fight.

[Lazamataz]

I suspect that those who initially opposed Bush and then backed him in the general election, and then opposed McCain and said they would never back him but ended up backing him in the general election will end up backing Romney if he wins the Republican nomination.

So, how's that working for us?

[Minus_The_Bear]

This assclown Romney doesn't get that HE is the 3rd party! He is no conservative & has no business telling us what we should or shouldn't do.

[RobRoy]

I’m glad to hear Romney is not going to run as a third party candidate. He could have been a spoiler.

[Sybeck1]

He is taunting us.

[alstewartfan]

Milt, if you run a fair campaign and win, I will begrudgingly support you, despite your horrendous record and positions on issues. But, if you stack the deck, rig the system worse than it already is rigged, I GUARANTEE that someone is going to challenge you from the right. Conservatives will no longer be shoved to the back of the bus. Bob

[2ndDivisionVet]

Or George H.W. Bush with weird underwear and not a day in uniform.

[ZX12R]

I will not do it again. No way, no how.