Mitt Romney, Hypocrite

stonezone ^

[tsowellfan]

This column is about hypocrisy. As a libertarian, I support marriage equality for gays and abortion rights although I admit I have struggled mightily with the latter and my views have changed after the birth of my grandchildren. I have always been and remain a Second Amendment man.

Mitt Romney once agreed with me. When running for the US Senate in 1994, Romney supported abortion on demand, gay marriage and gun control. That same year he attacked President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George Bush saying "I don't want to take us back to that, to Reagan-Bush."

Now suddenly Mitt Romney wants us to believe he is not only a fiscal conservative but a social conservative who "has always been pro-life" and now opposes same sex marriage. Can you say chameleon?

Romney's boast that he spent 24 years in the private sector creating jobs is a joke. Massachusetts ran third from the bottom of all the states in job creation during his governorship and his main vocation at Bain Capital was consolidating companies and firing workers who didn't fit into his downsizing plans.

Much like his father, Michigan Governor George Romney, Willard Mitt Romney disdains conservatives privately but knows how to sound like one when the occasion requires it. His mother, Lenore Romney, ran for the US Senate a a pro-abortion supporter of the ERA. Romney reminds me of George H.W. Bush who, after being elected President, took the National Review magazine off the coffee table and threw it in the trash replacing it with the Yale Alumni magazine saying "We don't need this shit anymore."

Here then is Mitt Romney's record. Governor Romney says he's "only been in politics the four years he was governor." He'd like us to forget his 1994 race for the US Senate when he ran to the left of Teddy Kennedy (as if there is any room there without falling off the left side of the earth.)

Here then is the real record of Willard Mitt Romney:

1994: Romney backed federal funding of abortion and the codification of Roe v. Wade. "Romney supports a federal health care plan option that includes abortion services, would vote for a law codifying the 1972 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion and backs federal funding for abortions as long as states can decide if they want the money, [a spokesman] said." (Ed Hayward, "Anti-Abortion Group Endorses Romney Bid," Boston Herald, 9/8/94)

1999: Romney said, "When I am asked if am I pro-choice or pro-life, I say I refuse to accept either label." (Glen Warchol, "This Is The Place, But Politics May Lead Romneys Elsewhere," The Salt Lake Tribune, 2/14/99)

2002: Running for Massachusetts Governor, Romney said he was "devoted" to the pro-choice position. "I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose, and am devoted and dedicated to honoring my word in that regard. I will not change any provisions of Massachusetts' pro-choice laws." (2002 Romney-O'Brien Gubernatorial Debate, Suffolk University, Boston, MA, 10/29/02)

2005: Romney Considered Abortion-Rights Supporter By Pro-Life Groups - Aide Claimed His Position Had Not Changed. "[Massachusetts Citizens for Life] considers Romney to be an abortion-rights supporter, as do national antiabortion groups such as the Family Research Council. ... [Romney aide Eric] Fehrnstrom said the governor's position has not changed on either sex education or abortion." (Scott S. Greenberger, "Roe V. Wade Omitted From Proclamation," The Boston Globe, 3/25/05)

2006: Romneycare provides taxpayer-funded abortions. Abortions are covered in the Commonwealth Care program that Romney created as Governor. Under the program, abortions are available for a copay of $50. (Menu of Health Care Services: www.mass.gov/Qhic/docs/cc_benefits1220_pt234.pdf )

2006: Romneycare guarantees Planned Parenthood a seat at the table. Romney's legislation created an advisory board and guarantees, by law, that Planned Parenthood has a seat at the table. Romney's plan established a MassHealth payment policy advisory board, and one member of the Board must be from Planned Parenthood. No pro-life organization is represented. (Chapter 58 Section 3 (q) Section 16M (a), www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw06/sl060058.htm )

Romney used his line-item veto authority to strike eight sections of the bill that he found objectionable, including the expansion of dental benefits to Medicaid recipients. Yet, he did not strike Planned Parenthood's guaranteed Board representation and he did nothing to prohibit taxpayer-funded abortions as part of his plan. ("Romney's Health Care Vetoes," Associated Press, 4/12/06)

2007: Romney now claims he has always been pro-life. "I am firmly pro-life ... I was always for life." (Jim Davenport, "Romney Affirms Abortion Opposition During Stop In SC," The Associated Press, 2/8/07) policy advisory board."

2011: Romney refuses to sign the pro-life Susan B. Anthony Pledge. Romney has drawn criticism for being one of only three Republican presidential candidates to have refused to sign the Susan B. Anthony List's Pro-Life Leadership Presidential Pledge. ( dailycaller.com/2011/06/18/romney-draws-fire-for-not-signing-pro-life-pledge/ )

Mitt Romney also has a record of supporting gun control and has supported anti-second amendment initiatives:

1994: Romney supported the Brady Bill and Assault Weapons Ban, bragging his stance was "not going to make me the hero of the NRA." "[Romney] said he will take stands that put him at odds with some traditional ultra-conservative groups, and cited his support for the assault rifle ban and the Brady gun control law. 'That's not going to make me the hero of the NRA,' he said. 'I don't line up with a lot of special interest groups.'" (Andrew Miga, "Mitt Rejects Right-Wing Aid," Boston Herald, 9/23/94)

2002: Romney praised Massachusetts' tough gun laws, vowed not to "chip away at them" as Governor. "[A]s the GOP gubernatorial candidate in 2002, Romney lauded the state's strong laws during a debate against Democrat Shannon O'Brien. 'We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them,' he said. 'I won't chip away at them; I believe they protect us and provide for our safety.'" (Scott Helman, "Romney Retreats On Gun Control," The Boston Globe, 1/14/07)

2006: Romney explains he signed up for lifetime NRA membership in August 2006 because "I'm after the NRA's endorsement. ... If I'm going to ask for their endorsement, they're going to ask for mine." "Expressing familiarity with and support for gun rights is key among Republican presidential contenders ... It helps explain why Romney joined the NRA last August, signing up not just as a supporter but a designated 'Lifetime' member ... Romney told a Derry, N.H., audience, 'I'm after the NRA's endorsement. I'm not sure they'll give it to me. I hope they will. I also joined because if I'm going to ask for their endorsement, they're going to ask for mine.'" (Glen Johnson, "Romney Calls Himself A Longtime Hunter," The Associated Press, 4/5/07)

Mitt Romney once supported marriage equality. As a libertarian I wish he still did. His overnight switch is opportunistic and transparent. Mitt Romney believes in nothing but getting elected:

1994: Romney told the Massachusetts Log Cabin Club he would be better for gay rights than Ted Kennedy. In a letter to the group, Romney wrote, "As we seek to establish full equality for America's gay and lesbian citizens, I will provide more effective leadership than my opponent." An Oct. 13, 1994 Bay Windows article also quoted from Romney's letter: "For some voters it might be enough for me to simply match my opponent's record in this area. But I believe we can and must do better. If we are to achieve the goals we share, we must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern. My opponent cannot do this. I can and will."

2002: Romney called 2002 amendment banning gay marriage and benefits in Massachusetts too extreme and did not support it. "Mitt Romney's wife, son, and daughter-in-law signed a petition in support of a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban both gay marriage and domestic-partner benefits in Massachusetts - an amendment that Romney himself condemned as too extreme after being told of his family's support for it." (Rick Klein, "Romney Kin Signed Petition To Ban Same-Sex Marriage," The Boston Globe, 3/22/02)

2002: A Romney aide said he felt the amendment was "unnecessary." "Romney's family members signed the petition to put it on the ballot 'without reading the fine print,' [Romney aide Eric] Fehrnstrom said, but he has no reason to believe they do not support it. 'Mitt did not know they signed it, and Mitt does not support it,' he said. 'As far as Mitt is concerned, it goes farther than current law, and therefore it's unnecessary.'" (Rick Klein, "Romney Kin Signed Petition To Ban Same-Sex Marriage," The Boston Globe, 3/22/02)

2006: Romney backed efforts to pass a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Massachusetts. "Just two weeks before lawmakers resume a Constitutional Convention to vote on a proposed ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage, Gov. Mitt Romney will stand with the supporters of the measure to call on the Legislature to back it. Romney will join petition backers in a State House press event today to urge the Legislature to pass the Protection of Marriage Amendment when the Constitutional Convention reconvenes July 12, authorizing a 2008 ballot question asking voters to define marriage as between one man and one woman." (Kimberly Atkins and Kate Gibson, "Mitt Joining Supporters Of Anti-Gay Wed Initiative," Boston Herald, 6/28/06)

Mitt Romney fails the test of three key conservative issues - abortion, gun rights and same-sex marriage. Conservatives who support Mitt Romney also underestimate his weakness in the South, where the Church of Latter Day Saints is viewed with suspicion by evangelical Christians. In my view, these very real problems will haunt him - and spook conservatives - in the months ahead.

[cracker45]

“Sad to say, but the majority of FReepers have already told us they’re rather see 0bama win than to vote for Romney, Christie or Perry. They claim they will stay home unless St. Sarah runs.”

That’s a pretty grandiose statement Jo. How did you ID that “majority” thingy, because nobody asked me about anyone except Romney, and I’ve never said I would just stay home either. Betcha you just made it all up, eh?

JC

[hiredhand]

Romney is a hypocrite... as well as a panderer and a vote seller. ...and you are HISTORY. :-)

ZOT!


We hope you enjoyed the ride while you were here at FreeRepublic!



We know how you must be feeling right about now. :-) ...

[Grizzled Bear]

That’s a pretty grandiose statement Jo.

Remember when McCain was "the only one who can beat Obama?"

Several months ago, someone posted that we had to nominate Romney because "the late night talk show hosts like him." Apparently Letterman and Leno choose our candidate. When did the idiots overrun Free Republic?

[TheOldLady]

So long, steveshoveler (Posting History)

Hat Tip to Graybeard58 and 50mm

This troll was shoveling love at Mithens and found out exactly what it feels like being a pile of Viking Kitty Chow in a land fill




Romney is a lying RINO and no better than zer0



FReepmail TheOldLady to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.

[shield]

The disgusting way the right is acting today...Mittens looks to be the nominee.

[GeronL]

RomneyCare is all we need to know about him to make that decision.

[GeronL]

You are way too subtle!!

[hiredhand]

Oh that’s the “toned down” version. The last one was really over the top rude. :-) I think the current one is adequate. It gets the point across. :-)

[Arrowhead1952]

Pile on time for idiots like you.

[Arrowhead1952]

Pile on time for idiots like you.

[Revolting cat!]

You can say that again!

[Arrowhead1952]

Didn’t even notice the double post. Exact same time too. Hmmmmm.

[Arrowhead1952]

I think there is a software glitch on FR. I noticed one poster had like seven or eight posts that had the same time stamp. There is no way that should happen.

[Revolting cat!]

It’s happened to me when I do know I didn’t click twice.

[cracker45]

“When did the idiots overrun Free Republic?”

They haven’t....yet, but we seem to have an inordinate number of posters who are quick to concede an impending disaster and shout “the sky is falling” without any evidence whatsoever. I try to stay away from those losers!
Hang in there...

JC

[sargon]

As Mark Levin states, he’d vote for an orange juice can over 0bama. And so would I.

I'd vote for an orange juice can over Romney.

And, BTW, Romney is the absolute epitome of a hypocrite. If he were elected, we'd still have 4 more years of socialism, it would just be GOP-flavored.

He's an anti Second Amendment authoritarian, and I, for one, will not hold my nose and vote for him under any circumstances. I believe the owner of this site has similar sentiments, so please spare us the Establishment sermons about unity, when the first primary has not even occurred. Such nonsense is ludicrous at this stage of the process.

A Romney nomination is one of the only scenarios I see which could lead to an Obama re-election...

[Kickass Conservative]

>”A Romney nomination is one of the only scenarios I see which could lead to an Obama re-election”<

Well, IF Romney somehow becomes the Republican Nominee and people give their Vote to Obama by not supporting Romney, your post will be right on.

Can't wait for the Obama nominees for the next two SCOTUS vacancies if you are correct. The USA as we know will end if any of the current Justices who still have respect for the Constitution retire or pass away.

In other words, I'm with Mark Levin and Joann37 on this one.