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The real Mitt must stand up
New York Daily News ^ | March 4, 2012 | Dan Schnur, director Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the USC, former GOP pol strategist

Posted on 03/04/2012 3:28:37 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

[SNIP].............The key to making this work is for Romney to be upfront about the other key piece of his personal biography: his religious faith. Because of suspicions toward the Mormon religion among both evangelical Christians and secular liberals, Romney’s campaign has avoided the topic whenever possible.

But despite the numerous differences between Mormonism and other mainstream religions, his faith requires a significant amount of time and attention toward the less fortunate from its members. Realizing that voters for whom his religion is a disqualifier are going to be aware of the fact that he is a Mormon whether he talks about it or not, Romney has little to lose by explaining to voters why his faith has helped him understand the plight of the economically disadvantaged in a way that provides a leavening complement to his business background.

Romney has taken the first tentative steps in this direction in the days since the Michigan primary, telling an Ohio audience this week that his duties as a lay pastor “took about 20, 30, 40 hours a week in some week. So besides my regular job, I was pastoring people in my congregation — and people of different backgrounds, different nationalities and different circumstances of life.”

In Joe Klein’s excellent book: “Politics Lost: How American Politics Was Trivialized By People Who Think You’re Stupid,” he recounts a conversation he had with several of Al Gore’s top advisors from the 2000 presidential campaign. Klein pointed to the energy and passion that Gore displayed in talking about global warming and climate change issues in his post-political career and wondered why Gore had devoted so little time and attention to them when running for President.

Gore’s advisors explained that they had convinced their candidate to avoid this type of discussion, given the potential political damage that a strident environmental message could cause in key swing states like Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, leaving Klein and the reader to ponder whether a candidate who withheld such a critical part of himself from the voters could ever hope to emotionally connect with them..............

Full article


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: campaign; gopprimary; romney2012
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Voters are uncomfortable with Mitt because he is uncomfortable honestly discussing who he is.

Interesting parallel between Romney and Gore. Gore's handlers believed that "global warming" was a vote loser.

The conclusion then must be that Romney's money and religion is a vote loser?

Why put someone like that on the top of our ticket against Obama and his army of "99%"?

1 posted on 03/04/2012 3:28:45 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
This comment by the author near the beginning of the story shows that he does not fundamentally understand the issue:

But Romney’s most significant challenge is not ideological, but biographical.

This is patently false. Ideology is the problem most Republicans have with Romney. They fear that he is a stealth liberal. He neither embraces nor understands true conservatism. They also dislike his refusal to acknowledge that Obama is NOT simply "another Democrat taking his turn in office" but a radical leftist ideologue, determined to destroy American society.

That's what we hate about Romney. Can he convince us otherwise? He hasn't really tried to do so to date and if he skates on to the nomination, he won't.

2 posted on 03/04/2012 3:36:15 AM PST by Cincinatus (Omnia relinquit servare Rempublicam)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
There is an underlying suspicion that there are simularities with Mormonism and the Masons in that; they both have "secrets" that are only for the devotee' and they "take care of each other" in many areas of life, especially business and money matters.

Romney just may buy the nomination, but it will be no different than the blacks voting for zero or the New York Jews for HILLARY !

It's no wonder the "democratic" form of government is so bandied about and popular over Republicanism ... the mob(s) have been directing America's path for quite some time.

3 posted on 03/04/2012 3:46:23 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Voters are uncomfortable with Mitt because he is uncomfortable honestly discussing who he is.

Voters don't want mitt because his record, his ONLY record of governance indicates he's a bigger leftist than Jimmy Carter.

4 posted on 03/04/2012 3:48:33 AM PST by Caipirabob (I say we take off and Newt the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure...)
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To: Caipirabob; Cincinatus
Voters don't want mitt because his record, his ONLY record of governance indicates he's a bigger leftist than Jimmy Carter.

Ideology is the problem most Republicans have with Romney. They fear that he is a stealth liberal. He neither embraces nor understands true conservatism.

I agree. It appears he wants to re-tool or ignore what he is but 65% of the GOP sees right through it.

5 posted on 03/04/2012 3:57:49 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: knarf

The GOP-e is “demanding” Mitt Romney be their leader in 2012 because they are comfortable with the status quo and do not want it further disturbed by the conservative base that roared in 2010. Or, as has been advanced, the GOP-e believe a Romney loss to Obama is survivable for 4 more years as long as they control Capital Hill. They will tweak but not roll back Big Government. Preferring instead to protect their power and influence from K-Street to Wall Street.


6 posted on 03/04/2012 4:05:07 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Contrary to what some believe, Mitt Romney does understand conservatism, and rejects it.

Romney was a student of true Constitutionalist Cleon Skousen, and has obviously rejected Skousen’s message.


7 posted on 03/04/2012 4:05:51 AM PST by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: jjotto
Why do people get their panties all wrapped up about Romney's religion when Buckwheat flat out is a muslim. Why isn't that being pushed hard in the media? This IS and will stay a crhistian nation UNLESS we, you and I stand up to the muzzies (Buckwheat included) and take this country back to a christian nation. Buckwheat stopped our National Day of Prayer because he didn't want to offend anyone and replaced it with a muslime day of prayer. Well dammit he offened ME and millions more like ME (What about you?)

Romney's religion is not his biggest fault and should not play into his credential to be President. What about Buckwheats? You wanna go after his religion......Unfortunately, I guess not.

8 posted on 03/04/2012 4:39:30 AM PST by DaveA37
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To: jjotto
Why do people get their panties all wrapped up about Romney's religion when Buckwheat flat out is a muslim. Why isn't that being pushed hard in the media? This IS and will stay a Christian nation UNLESS we, you and I stand up to the muzzies (Buckwheat included) and take this country back to a christian nation. Buckwheat stopped our National Day of Prayer because he didn't want to offend anyone and replaced it with a muslime day of prayer. Well dammit he offened ME and millions more like ME (What about you?)

Romney's religion is not his biggest fault and should not play into his credential to be President. What about Buckwheats? You wanna go after his religion......I guess not.

9 posted on 03/04/2012 4:41:00 AM PST by DaveA37
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
WILLARD's trashed everone in the party.
Read how desperate the "Establishment Republicans" are: Look at the "winners" the "Establishment Republicans" have picked before:
The "Establishment Republicans" rate a



Let me add this article:



The only way Newt will lose to the Kenyan Turd is IF the "Establishment Republicans" REFUSE to support the Republican Nominee.
Now the "Republican Establishment's" hatred for conservatives is well known.
Jon Bershad wrote about Rush's analysis of their PANIC.


How many times has the "Republican Establishment" treated us to one lecture after the other on the need for “compromise” and “patience.”?
After we elect and RE-elect the "Republican Establishment", they conduct themselves with none of the confidence and enthusiasm with which they expressed themselves on the campaign trail.
It may be worth it for the GOP to lose some elections - if it means that conservatives—and the country—will ultimately win.

If we didn’t know it before, WE ... the Tea Partiers, now knows that accepting short-term loss in exchange for long-term gain is the essence of compromise, the essence of politics.

Ironically, we can thank the "Republican Establishment" for impressing this so indelibly upon us!!!
I'm fresh out of "patience", and I'm not in the mood for "compromise".
"COMPROMISE" to me is a dirty word.
Let the RINO's compromise their values, with the conservatives, for a change.

My dislike for the Democratic Party is second to none.
But my ... LOATHING ... for the "Establishment Republicans" ... is even stronger!
The "Establishment Republicans" can go to hell!
10 posted on 03/04/2012 4:50:29 AM PST by Yosemitest (It's simple, fight or die!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

“In Joe Klein’s excellent book: “Politics Lost”

Liberal crap..


11 posted on 03/04/2012 4:50:42 AM PST by VU4G10
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
You can read the first two chapters of Tricia Erickson's "Can Mitt Romney Serve Two Masters?" at Amazon. Know several people who have changed their minds just with this short reading.
12 posted on 03/04/2012 4:53:12 AM PST by hoosiermama (Stand with God and Sarah, the Gipper and Newt will be standing next to you.)
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To: Progov

To the sanctimonious selfrighteousists, their holier than thou view is supremely important. The Messiah’s lack of religion is not threatening to their self righteous view


13 posted on 03/04/2012 4:54:10 AM PST by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 ..... Crucifixion is coming)
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To: Progov

Romney’s political problem isn’t Mormonism, which seems almost as elastic as Catholicism. Especially considering evangelicals embrace of Santorum and Gingrich (and the pious Lewinsky Calista), all of whom I would have expected to be quietly snubbed as tools of the Whore of Babylon.


14 posted on 03/04/2012 4:56:58 AM PST by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Voters are uncomfortable with Mitt because he is uncomfortable honestly discussing who he is.

Reminds me of Obama sealing his college records.

When a person hides something, it's because...well, you know.;-)

Romney is hiding his very person...and we have to wonder what it is about him he doesn't want us to know?!

OTOH, some have suggested that the reason why those digging deeply into the Romney persona are coming up empty handed is not because Romeny is hiding anything...it's just that there's nothing deep about Romney.

He's just a shallow person.

15 posted on 03/04/2012 5:29:46 AM PST by RoosterRedux (Newt: Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less. Barack Obama: Have Algae, Pay More, Be Weird.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

16 posted on 03/04/2012 5:33:07 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Mater tua caligas gerit ;-{)
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To: RoosterRedux

I’d rather know a candidate’s warts and see how they’ve dealt with them (or changed) than being fed a bill of goods that a candidate HAS none.


17 posted on 03/04/2012 5:34:29 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: JoeProBono

18 posted on 03/04/2012 5:35:46 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Yep!

Romney reminds me of Eddie Haskell. He's sneaky!

19 posted on 03/04/2012 5:36:24 AM PST by RoosterRedux (Newt: Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less. Barack Obama: Have Algae, Pay More, Be Weird.)
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To: Yosemitest

I agree with all of this Yosemitest.

But after watching the analyses last night, it is apparent that the fix is in for Mittens.

We can cry, scream, gnash our teeth, protest, write letters to the editor or send nasty messages to each other here on FR to try to make ourselves feel better, which makes no sense...But barring a significant act of God, I believe that Romney is going to win the nomination and Tuesday will be his waterloo.

And believe me, I am just as depressed as everyone else. But I am also not in denial, like many who post here. We are hungry for justice and for there to be someone to stand up for us..and send Mittens back to Massachusetts for good. We truly believed that Romney would lose if only Newt or Rick did this or that right. It is now apparent that however much they did or didn’t do.. would not have been enough to defeat the Romney machine.

Mittens has been running for seven years. His organization is stellar and his fund raising and war chest unmatchable. And probably most significantly, the GOP-E and the media like FNC are behind him 100%.

We need to go to Plan B folks. And vitriol and lashing out at each other won’t help us.
Praise the Lord but pass the ammunition.
We may lose this battle but we must win the war.


20 posted on 03/04/2012 6:32:51 AM PST by Mountain Mary ("This is OUR country and WE will decide"... Mark Levin)
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