Governor Mitt Romney

On the record, from around the Web (January 2, 2003 – February 7, 2008)

Examine the record and accomplishments of Mitt Romney while Governor of Massachusetts and you will find that he applied and practiced core conservative principles of fiscal and social conservatism in one of the most liberal states of the U.S. It required courage to take the conservative positions and actions he did in the face of a hostile political environment.

I believe we should care about Mitt Romney's actions while in a position of authority, since taking office in 2003, much more than we care about words he spoke in campaigns years ago. Mitt Romney's record as Governor, when his actions had real consequences, tells the real story about how he would govern as President.

The following information is my latest collection gathered from personal research all around the Web. I hope FReepers will give it an honest look.

Contents:
http://www.freerepublic.com/~unmarkedpackage/#toc
[ Summary of 50 Policy Proposals in Campaign ] [ Romney Economic Stimulus Plan ] [ War on Terror ] [ Iran ] [ China ] [ Free Trade and U.S. Jobs ] [ Guns ] [ Abortion and Sanctity of Life ] [ Strengthening Families ] [ Promoting Adoption ] [ Judicial Appointments ] [ Homosexual Rights ] [ Immigration ] [ Government Spending and Taxes ] [ Campaign Finance Reform ] [ Public Education ] [ Crime and Ethics ] [ Health Care ] [ Environmental and Energy Policy ] [ Labor Unions ] [ Cuba and Latin America ] [ Mitt Romney's Business Résumé and Education ] [ Ann Romney's Biography ] [ Endorsements ] [ Photographs ] [ Miscellaneous Videos ] [ Resources ] [ Human Interest Stories ] [ Rebuttals: MassResistance, Brian Camenker Exposed, Defense of Marriage, Conservative 1994 Platform, Romney's Wealth ] [ Ping List ]

On September 18, 2007, Governor Mitt Romney released his Strategy for a Stronger America, a 68-page compilation of his policy proposals to bring conservative change to Washington and meet the new generation of challenges confronting our nation. In the Introduction of the document, Governor Romney lists some fundamental principles he would use to guide his decisions as President to meet the challenges facing our country:

• Our military superiority cannot be compromised

• Our government must remain federalist and governing should be conducted as close to the people as possible. Washington today is not the solution, it is part of the problem

• Money and resources are best used when they remain in the hands of the people. A competitive America is one where taxes are low and government is small

• Free market principles built the American economy. Unleashing the power of free markets is key to our economic future

• Culture determines the strength of a nation. American values must be cherished and developed in each generation

• Government should be accountable and transparent. Government service is a privilege and government officials should be held to the highest ethical standards

Governor Romney: "The jihadists are waging a global war against the United States and Western governments generally with the ambition of replacing legitimate governments with a caliphate, with a theocracy."
^{(Robynn Tysver, "Romney tours area with an eye on '08," Omaha World-Herald, 1/23/2006)}

Governor Romney: "There is a war being waged by the terrorists. And as long as we have a Republican president, we're going to have a war on terrorists."
^{(Jason Spencer, "Yankee Governor With Southern Values Backs Military And Attacks 'HillaryCare'," The Spartanburg Herald-Journal, 7/20/2007)}

Governor Romney (On the Threat of Radical Jihadism): "In the current conflict, there is only one way to lose, and that is if we as a civilized world decide not to lift a finger to defend ourselves, or our values, and our way of life. I will not be silent, you will not be silent!"

In May 2006, Governor Romney Traveled To Iraq To Meet With The Troops. "Traveling under tight security, Governor Mitt Romney yesterday wrapped up an unannounced, one-day trip to Iraq to visit troops from Massachusetts, and warned against a 'cut and run' pullout from the war-torn country."
^{(Frank Phillips, "Romney Makes Surprise Stop In Baghdad," The Boston Globe, 5/25/2006)}

Mitt Romney supports our troops and their mission in Iraq (watch the video). He supports President Bush's "Troop Surge" plan to stabilize the population in Iraq and bring the conflict to a successful conclusion.

On The Same Day The President Announced The Surge Strategy, Governor Romney Stated That He Supported Additional Troops. "I agree with the President: Our strategy in Iraq must change. Our military mission, for the first time, must include securing the civilian population from violence and terror. It is impossible to defeat the insurgency without first providing security for the Iraqi people. Civilian security is the precondition for any political and economic reconstruction. In consultation with Generals, military experts and troops who have served on the ground in Iraq, I believe securing Iraqi civilians requires additional troops."
^{(Romney For President, "Governor Mitt Romney On Iraq," Press Release, 1/10/2007)}

Governor Romney Would Not Deny Our Military Leaders And Troops The Resources And Time Needed To Succeed In Iraq. "Today, the nation's attention is focused on Iraq. All Americans want U.S. troops to come home as soon as possible. But walking away now or dividing Iraq up into parts and walking away later would present grave risks to the United States and the world. Iran could seize the Shiite south, al Qaeda could dominate the Sunni west, and Kurdish nationalism could destabilize the border with Turkey. A regional conflict could ensue, perhaps even requiring the return of U.S. troops under far worse circumstances. There is no guarantee that the new strategy pursued by General Petraeus will ultimately succeed, but the stakes are too high and the potential fallout too great to deny our military leaders and troops on the ground the resources and the time needed to give it an opportunity to succeed."
^{(Governor Mitt Romney, "Rising To A New Generation Of Global Challenges," Foreign Affairs, July/August 2007)}

Governor Romney Is Committed To Success In Iraq And Afghanistan. "At a minimum, success means not leaving behind a safe haven in Iraq and Afghanistan for Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups, from which they can finance, train and launch devastating attacks on America, Israel, and the world. In Iraq, the Surge's success has been vital to ensuring that Al Qaeda is denied a safe haven from which to launch attacks."
^{(Romney For President, "Strategy For A Stronger America: Defeating The Jihadist Threat," Press Release, 10/17/2007)}

- Governor Romney: "Well, a President Romney is not going to set a specific timeline that would suggest that we don't care whether al Qaeda is playing a major role in that country or not. It is critically important to America and the world that al Qaeda not have a safe haven in the nation of Iraq. And, so, to set an artificial deadline which ignores whether or not al Qaeda is being successful is, in my view, a position which would – which should disqualify someone as a potential president -- president of the country."
^{(Fox News' "Your World," 9/12/2007)}

Gov. Romney Called The Petraeus Report "Good News For Americans And Iraqis." ROMNEY: "Today's testimony from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker confirms the progress being made by our troops in Iraq. This is good news for Americans and Iraqis. The importance of a successful conclusion to Iraq must be weighed in light of the global threat of violent Jihad and terror. America must continue its commitment to the strategy General Petraeus is executing."
^{(Romney For President, "Governor Romney on Today's Iraq Testimony," Press Release, 9/10/2007)}

Gov. Mitt Romney Believes That General Petraeus Is An American Hero And Is Serving His Country Nobly. "I think the American people listened with interest to General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker and recognized that we have true American patriots and heroes here. And they expressed their views openly. ... [T]hey pointed out the good and the bad. The net in both of their testimony was that we are making progress..."
^{(Governor Mitt Romney, "Don Wade & Roma Morning Show," WLS 890 AM, 9/12/2007)}

Governor Romney: "[I] Think It's Time For American Citizens And Politicians To Make A Surge Of Support To Stand Behind Our Troops In Iraq." 'At a time when American families and individuals are making a surge of sacrifice to support this troop surge, I think it's time for American citizens and politicians to make a surge of support,' Romney said Wednesday in Pelham, N.H., a comment he repeated throughout the day.
^{(Glen Johnson, "Romney Donates $25,000 Amid Plea For Patriotic 'Surge'," The Associated Press, 8/02/2007)}

Governor Romney Is Encouraging Americans To Support Military Support Organizations. "A father's concern about U.S. support for the military surge in Iraq has prompted Republican Mitt Romney to both make a $25,000 donation to a variety of military support agencies and urge Americans to engage in a similar display of patriotism. The money will be divided between USO Care Packages, the Fisher House, A Soldiers Wish List, Packages from Home, Operation Thank You, Operation Shoebox and America Supports You. Links to each site have been placed on Romney's presidential campaign Web site, www.MittRomney.com/Surge."
^{(Glen Johnson, "Romney Donates $25,000 Amid Plea For Patriotic 'Surge'," The Associated Press, 8/02/2007)}

Governor Romney Said That The Direction In Which MoveOn Is Driving The Democrat Party Is "Disgusting." GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "And I frankly don't understand why Hillary Clinton hasn't repudiated MoveOn.org at this point. And I'm afraid the truth is that MoveOn.org has purchased the Democratic Party, if you will. That its funding, and the status of this 527, and the voice it has in the Democratic Party is so powerful that it's now calling the shots. And that Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama and John Edwards are afraid to repudiate an ad and an organization which has taken a disgusting course against a great American."
^{(MSNBC's "Morning Joe" with Joe Scarborough, 9/14/2007) Read more in Gov. Romney Calls on Dems to Repudiate MoveOn Attack on General Petraeus}

Governor Romney on the Senate's Vote Condemning the MoveOn.org Ad. GOV. ROMNEY: "Hillary Clinton had a choice. She could stand with our troop commander in Iraq, or she could stand with the libelous left wing of her party. She chose the latter. The idea that she would be a credible commander-in-chief of our armed forces requires the willing suspension of disbelief."
^{(Romney for President, "Governor Romney on the Senate's Vote Condemning the MoveOn.org Ad," Press Release, 9/20/2007)}

Governor Romney: "When Al Qaeda calls into America, we should be listening. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama voted against this common-sense foreign intelligence tool. They are dangerously out of touch when it comes to defending the homeland. Our most basic civil liberty is the right to be kept alive. We must use every reasonable measure to keep America safe."
^{(Romney for President, "The Romney Vision: The Intelligence Gathering Capabilities To Keep America Safe," Press Release, 8/07/2007)}

Governor Romney: "[Y]ou said the person's going to be in Guantanamo. I'm glad they're at Guantanamo. I don't want them on our soil. I want them on Guantanamo ... Some people have said, we ought to close Guantanamo. My view is, we ought to double Guantanamo."
^{(Governor Mitt Romney, Republican Presidential Candidates Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/15/2007)}

Governor Romney: "So long as it remains a vital tool to keep America safe, I will fight to keep Guantanamo Bay open."
^{(Romney for President, "Governor Mitt Romney On Guantanamo Bay," Press Release, 12/05/2007)}

Presidential Campaign Platform

Governor Romney's Four Changes Needed To Meet A New Generation Of Global Challenges:

First, We Need A Stronger Military. Video: On a Stronger Military

• We Must Increase The Size Of Our Military By 100,000 Troops.

• We Need To Dedicate At Least Four Percent Of Our Gross Domestic Product To Defense, Making Up For Critical Gaps In Our Military Modernization, Equipment, Personnel And Health Care Efforts (Additional $30 Billion To $40 Billion Annually For Defense).

• Investing In Our Military, We Need To Ensure Funds Are Used To Address Critical Needs And Support The Men And Women Of Our Armed Forces, Rather Than Political Or Contractor Interests.

Second, America Must Become Energy Independent.

Third, We Must Transform And Strengthen Our Civilian International Efforts To Meet A New Generation Of Challenges.

Fourth, We Need To Strengthen Old Partnerships And Alliances, And Inaugurate A New One, To Address The Threat Of Jihadism.

• Governor Romney Will Build A Global Network Against Terror And Transnational Threats To Link Intelligence From Around The World

• Governor Romney Calls On The United States To Immediately Withdraw From The U.N. Human Rights Council And Build New Efforts With Nations Committed To Freedom

Governor Romney Will Create The Special Partnership Force (SPF) To Mobilize All Elements Of Our National Power In Contested Areas To Defeat Jihadists.

To meet today's challenges, we must mobilize and integrate all elements of national power in unstable areas where traditional civilian agencies cannot operate effectively and traditional military power alone cannot succeed. The Special Partnership Force will integrate all elements of national power under a new force with leadership drawn from a core group of our Army Special Forces trained to work with civilian governments and intelligence personnel to form a new capability that is:

• Focused On Locally-Targeted Efforts To Win Support In The Community While Identifying, Isolating And Eliminating Terrorist Elements.
• Highly Integrated And Able To Mobilize All Elements Of National Power, Including Humanitarian And Development Assistance And Rule Of Law Capacity Building.
• Closely Coordinated In Partnership With Local Governments.
• Intelligence Driven.
• Agile And Flexible In Its Operations.
• A Sustainable Effort In Contested Areas And Sanctuaries Of Jihadist Groups.

- The SPF Will Build On A Long History Of Successful Efforts Against Terrorists And Insurgent Groups. While a new capability, this force draws on the lessons learned from a long history of successful efforts against terrorist and insurgent groups, including U.S. efforts under the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in World War II, post-9/11 efforts in Afghanistan, and recent Special Forces efforts in the Philippines.

From a retired U.S. Army Major:

"Another interesting aspect of Romney's SPF is its heavy reliance on recently updated Army counterinsurgency (COIN) doctrine. The Army COIN Field Manual 3-24 was developed under the watchful eye of General Petraeus during his tenure as Combined Arms Commander at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Just more evidence of Mitt's deep understanding of the issue. If I were still on active duty, I'd be excited to have him as my Commander-in-Chief."

Governor Romney on Combating Nuclear Terrorism Video: On Combating Nuclear Terrorism

• Expanding And Accelerating Actions To Combat Nuclear Terrorism
• Empowering A Senior Ambassador to Lead Efforts To Prevent Nuclear Terrorism
• Making Nuclear Trafficking A Crime Against Humanity
• Creating A Gold Standard For Nuclear Security
• Frank, Direct Efforts With Russia On Containing This Threat
• Removing The Incentive For Dangerous Civilian Nuclear Capabilities

Governor Romney Will Create A Permanent Rapid Innovation Force To Ensure That Our Troops In Harm's Way Have The Equipment And Technology They Need. Governor Romney will establish a Rapid Innovation Force within the military to rapidly deploy the equipment and innovative solutions our troops need for their success and protection.

- The Rapid Innovation Force Builds On Our Experience In The War On Terror. In response to the ever-changing nature of the threat in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq, the Army established a new Rapid Equipping Force that has deployed up-armored humvees, thousands of anti-IED robots and technology that has helped change the dynamics on the ground and save lives.

Governor Romney Will Strengthen Our Alliances Around The World. America's strength is amplified when it is combined with the strength of other nations. We need to expand alliances such as NATO and efforts among the world's leading nations to face the new threat of radical Jihad and increase our homeland security. To make America safer, Governor Romney will:

- Launch A New Type Of Marshall Plan Unifying Non-Military Sources Of Power To Support Moderate Muslims. As President, Governor Romney will call together our Middle East allies and the major nations of the developed world to establish a Partnership for Prosperity and Progress. This Partnership will assemble the resources of all developed nations to assure that threatened Islamic states have public schools, micro-credit and banking, the rule of law, human rights, basic health care, and competitive economic policies.

- Build A Global Network Against Terror And Transnational Threats To Link Intelligence From Around The World. The Global Network will link intelligence and law enforcement capabilities around the world to share data about border crossings, biometric indicators, passport fraud, nuclear and biological threats, criminal patterns, human trafficking and drug trafficking.

Governor Romney Will Strengthen Our Intelligence Community. Today, protecting the homeland must begin far from home. Intelligence and law enforcement efforts able to address threats before they reach our shores must be a priority for U.S. and international action. To make America safer, Governor Romney will:

- Strengthen Our Intelligence Communities By Eliminating Bureaucracy And Moving Resources To The Field. We need to eliminate duplicative efforts, revitalize recruitment and prioritize efforts in the field, expanding human intelligence

- Maintain The Patriot Act. The Patriot Act has given our men and women in the law enforcement and intelligence communities the tools they need to defend America.

- Listen When Terrorists Call Into The United States. Our most basic civil liberty is the right to be kept alive and Governor Romney will use every tool at our disposal to keep America safe.

Governor Romney Will Ensure That The Value Of The Montgomery G.I. Bill Keeps Pace With Rising Educational Expenses. Governor Romney will call for a regular outside review of benefits under the Montgomery G.I. Bill to ensure that our veterans, active duty military, and their eligible spouses and dependents have the resources they need to pursue the educational opportunities they deserve.

Governor Romney Will Ensure Military Dependents Get Access To In-State Tuition At Public Colleges And Universities. Governor Romney will level the playing field for military families by calling on every state to extend in-state tuition benefits to military dependents whose parents are stationed there and, furthermore, to permit the continuation of the in-state tuition rate even if their parents are reassigned and forced to leave the state.

Read about several other action items for the War on Terror from Governor Romney's comprehensive Strategy For A Stronger America: Defeating The Jihadist Threat.

Gov. Romney's Experience And Record Concerning Homeland Security And Support For Our Military

Gov. Romney's experience and credentials in Homeland Security and Disaster Preparedness include:

• Commander-in-Chief of Massachusetts National Guard
• Co-chaired the National Governor’s Association Homeland Security Council
• Member of the Department of Homeland Security’s Advisory Council
• Chaired the DHS’s State and Local Officials Senior Advisory Committee
• Chaired the DHS’s Homeland Security Funding Task Force
• The Boston Globe and Boston Herald reported in 2004 that Romney was being considered as the next Sec. of Homeland Security
• Testified before Congress on three occasions about homeland security related issues. (1, 2, 3)
• Lectured twice at the Heritage Foundation on homeland security issues (1, 2)
• Under Romney’s direction, MA became one of only 10 states to receive the highest grade possible for disaster preparedness.
• He led MA through the worst flooding in the state in the last 70+ years, earning high marks from local and national press.
• The CDC praised Romney’s response plan in MA for the Avian Flu as a model for other states to emulate.
(Matt C, "Romney Gets It On Homeland Security," Race42008.com, 5/14/2007) • (Jeff Fuller, "Romney on Homeland Security: A Leader I'd Want In Crisis," ElectRomneyIn2008.com, 7/04/2006)

Mitt Romney managed the first Olympic Games held in a post-9/11 world just five months after the attacks. Complex and costly security measures were a major part of the challenge of turning around the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics. The budget for security at the Olympic Games was $300 million for the huge international event involving 23,000 volunteers. The very successful Olympics went off without incident, and some of the security measures developed for the 2002 Games are used in other major venues today, for example, the Super Bowl. Romney turned a $379 million deficit for the Olympic Games into a $100 million profit. Romney personally contributed $1 million, and donated his three years of salary ($922,980 total) and his $476,000 severance pay to charity. That counts for something in real world management experience in the War on Terror.

Gov. Mitt Romney created the Commonwealth Fusion Center in Massachusetts to implement recommendations he made to the nation’s governors as Chair of the White House’s Homeland Security Task Force. The core mission of the Fusion Center is to facilitate critical and timely information sharing from the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to municipal police, fire and emergency response agencies to assist in the identification and investigation of possible terrorist activities.
^{(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, "Romney Unveils Commonwealth’s Anti-Terror Fusion Center," Press Release, 5/11/2005)}

Mitt Romney is thought to be the best read among the candidates about the threat of the Jihadist. Romney’s reading list includes the following books among others on the topic:

The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright
American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us by Steven Emerson
Future Jihad: Terrorist Strategies Against America by Walid Phares
America Alone by Mark Steyn
Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq by Michael R. Gordon and Bernard E. Trainor
The Assassin’s Gate: America in Iraq by George Packer

"The old statement 'know thine enemy' is appropriate," Romney told ABC News.

"Romney wants the public to know that Jihadists are not an "armed group of crazed maniacs in the hills of Afghanistan." Rather, Romney says the United States is facing a "far more sinister and broad-based extremist faction" with a "very 8th century view of the world."

"Based on his reading of books such as "American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us," by Steven Emerson, and "Future Jihad: Terrorist Strategies Against America" by Walid Phares, Romney believes the Jihadists want to "retake the ancient Muslim lands and unify umma, or the world of Islam, under a caliphate."
^{(Teddy Davis, "'Know Thine Enemy,' Romney Says of 'Jihadists'," ABC News, 4/30/2006)}

Mitt Romney described the threat of radical Islamic Jihad at the National Review Institute Conservative Summit.

Talk radio host Hugh Hewitt interviewed professor of military history and noted author Victor Davis Hanson who observed Mitt Romney's ability to discuss Middle East foreign policy at length with experts at the Hoover Institution:

Hugh Hewitt: What I like is that he’s a voracious reader, not only your books, but things like The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright, Mark Steyn’s America Alone. I think this is pretty rare these days, to find curiosity at that level, and at that sort of voracious appetite for information. What do you talk about with him?

Victor Davis Hanson: Well, we talk about history just like you and I talk about. We talk about foreign policy, he talked about the plan or the effort to democratize the Middle East, the shortfalls, the problems, the liabilities, and you know what? He [Gov. Romney] came to the Hoover Institution and got in front of 40 senior fellows. And in that room there were Nobel Prize winners, a lot of egos, too. And he held court with them, and there were a lot of hostile questions, and he went for an hour and a half, head to head, with these people. When he walked out of that room, I think everybody was impressed with him. He didn’t pull any punches, and he could argue and was as logical as any Hoover fellow, and I was more impressed with him than I was with my colleagues.
^{(Hugh Hewitt, Interview with Victor Davis Hanson," The Hugh Hewitt Show, 3/13/2007)}

In 2003, Governor Romney Swore In Congressional Medal Of Honor Recipient Thomas Kelley As The State's First Secretary Of Veterans' Services. Gov. Romney elevated the state agency that advocates on behalf of the Commonwealth’s veterans to a cabinet level post in recognition of their contributions to state and country.
^{(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, "Romney Appoints State's 1st Secretary Of Veterans' Services," Press Release, 8/28/2003)}

Governor Romney introduced and signed into law the "Welcome Home Bill," the most significant expansion of military veterans' benefits in recent years. The new law reduced to zero the cost members of the Massachusetts National Guard must pay to attend public colleges and universities, increased twenty-fold the death benefit paid to families of members killed in the line of duty, created a new annuity benefit for Gold Star spouses and boosted the amount paid to Gold Star parents.
^{(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, "Romney Signs Legislation Expanding Military Benefits," Press Release, 11/11/2005)}

Governor Mitt Romney signed legislation that provided disabled Massachusetts veterans with extensive tax exemptions, allowed communities to suspend real estate taxes for active duty National Guardsmen and reservists until 180 days after they return home, and provided financial relief for the families of servicemen and women killed or missing in action.
^{(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, "Romney Expands Tax Benefits For Disabled Veterans," Press Release, 8/14/2006)}

Governor Mitt Romney signed into law a measure to help state employees and their families meet their financial obligations while they are on active military duty. It provided state employees called to active military leave with the differential cost between their military and state salaries and guaranteed employees on active military duty would not lose any seniority, accrued vacation leave, sick leave, personal leave, compensation time or earned overtime.
^{(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, "Romney Lends a Hand to State Employees on Military Duty," Press Release, 11/27/2003)}

Governor Romney signed into law a bill preventing employers from discriminating against current or prospective employees who are enrolled in any of the nation’s Reserve forces including the Air and Army National Guards and the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Naval Reserves. Gov. Romney said, "The American servicemen and women of the Guard and Reserve leave their jobs, their spouses and their children to wear the uniform that defends our country. This selfless commitment should be honored by businesses across Massachusetts as we work to ensure they are treated fairly while they balance their employment responsibilities and obligations to the armed services. No business should ever put the bottom line ahead of America’s front line."
^{(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, "Romney Signs Law Protecting Armed Service Members," Press Release, 9/23/2004)}

Governor Romney Signed Legislation Ending The Practice Of Denying Benefits To Veterans Who Served Only During Periods Of Peace.
^{(Courtney Hollands, "Concerns Over Fate Of Veterans Bill," The [Quincy, MA] Patriot Ledger, 6/16/2004)}

Governor Romney filed a bill enabling Massachusetts prosecutors to seek the death penalty in cases of first-degree murders that were committed as an act of political terrorism, assassination of law enforcement officials, or multiple killings. Massachusetts is one of only 12 states that do not have a capital punishment sentencing option.
(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, "Relying on Science, Romney Files Death Penalty Bill," Press Release, 4/28/2005) • (Read the Death Penalty Testimony of Governor Mitt Romney given on 7/14/2005)

Iran
http://www.freerepublic.com/~unmarkedpackage/#iran

Mitt Romney holds some of the most hawkish, anti-jihadist positions among the presidential candidates; especially against Iran as revealed in his major foreign policy speech delivered at the Seventh Annual Herzliya Conference in Israel on January 23, 2007. Romney was the only candidate who traveled to Israel to attend the conference and speak. While attending the conference, Gov. Romney had private meetings with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, and other Israeli officials and toured the country's borders with Gaza and Lebanon.

Watch the short video clips from his speech about Iran and decide if you like what you hear from Mitt Romney concerning the War on Terror.

Romney: On Why Wishful Thinking on Iran is Wrong
On Confronting the Iran Threat: A 5-Point Plan
Concluding Remarks on the Iran Threat (with comments on Romney's plan from former Ambassador Ronald Lauder)

Transcript of speech at Seventh Annual Herzliya Conference

Excerpts:

"What we should have realized since 9/11 is that what the world regarded as an Israeli-Arab conflict over borders represented something much larger. It was the oldest, most active front of the radical Islamist jihad against the entire world. It was not really about borders. It was about the refusal of many parts of the Muslim world to accept Israel's right to exist - within any borders.

"This distinction was brought into clear focus this summer. The war in Lebanon had little to do with the Palestinians. It had nothing to do with a two-state solution. It demonstrated that Israel is now facing a jihadist threat that runs from Tehran through Damascus to Southern Lebanon to Gaza.

"As Tony Blair quite accurately put it, Hezbollah was not fighting 'for the coming into being of a Palestinian state...but for the going out of being of an Israeli state.'

"Yet I don't think we have still not fully absorbed the magnitude of the change. I think it is critical that we understand that as far as our enemies are concerned, there is just one conflict. And in this single conflict, the goal of destroying Israel is simply a weigh station toward the real goal of subjugating the entire world.

Summary of Governor Romney's Five-Point Plan To Confront The Iran Threat

First, We Should Tighten Economic Sanctions. The Administration deserves recognition for restricting access to banking and credit services. Other nations must act now to follow our lead. In addition, Governor Romney has called for strategic divestment from companies that support the Iranian regime's dangerous actions. As the world's financial center, no state could have a bigger impact than New York. After a new state Comptroller was named for New York, Governor Romney wrote the Comptroller, Governor Spitzer and Senators Schumer and Clinton urging them to join in the effort to stop New York pension funds from aiding Iran's efforts.

Second, We Should Isolate Iran Diplomatically. Their leaders should be made to feel like those of Apartheid South Africa. Until there are indications that high level engagement would do anything other than reward bad behavior, the United States should not engage Iran in direct, bilateral negotiations over their nuclear weapons program. Finally, Iran's President Ahmadinejad should be indicted under the terms of the Genocide Convention for incitement to genocide.

Third, Arab States Must Join This Effort To Prevent A Nuclear Iran. These states should support Iraq's government; turn down the temperature of the Arab-Israeli conflict; stop the financial and weapons flows to Hamas and Hezbollah; and tell the Palestinians to drop their terror campaign and recognize Israel's right to exist.

Fourth, We Must Make It Clear To The Iranian People That While Nuclear Capabilities May Be A Source Of Pride, It Can Also Be A Source Of Peril. If nuclear material from their nation falls into the hands of terrorists and is used, it would provoke a devastating response from the civilized world. The military option remains on the table.

Fifth, Our Strategy Must Be Integrated Into A Broader Approach To The Muslim World. We must work with moderate Muslim communities and leaders to build a lasting Partnership for Prosperity and Progress.

Gov. Mitt Romney denied Massachusetts state police protection to Iran’s former President Khatami when he visited Boston to speak at Harvard and Romney ordered all other Massachusetts state government agencies to decline support for the visit. Gov. Romney thought it was a mistake for Harvard to invite Khatami to the U.S., calling it, "a disgrace to the memory of all Americans who have lost their lives at the hands of extremists, especially on the eve of the five-year anniversary of 9/11."
^{(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, "Romney Denounces Khatami Visit to Harvard," Press Release, 9/05/2006)}

Governor Romney sent a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 9/17/2007 urging "the United Nations to revoke any invitation to President Ahmadinejad to address the General Assembly. The only way he should be greeted in the United States is with an indictment under the Genocide Convention."

In his letter, Governor Romney wrote:

"The Iranian regime under President Ahmadinejad has spoken openly about wiping Israel off the map, has fueled Hezbollah's terror campaign in the region and around the world, and defied the world community in its pursuit of nuclear weapons – capabilities that make these threats even more ominous. As General David Petraeus testified last week, Iran is also supporting Shia militia extremists and violence that is taking the lives of American soldiers and undermining the Iraqi government."

"A failure by the United Nations to take a strong stand against Iran’s President Ahmadinejad would be especially disturbing given the United Nations’ record of failure to prevent genocide in other circumstances and the failure of the United Nations Human Rights Council to confront the Iranian regime and others among the world’s worst human rights abusers. Failure to act would mean that the United States must reconsider its level of support and funding for the United Nations as we look to rebuild and revitalize effective international partnerships to meet 21st century threats."

Governor Romney's Statement To The National Rally To End The Threat Now (statement read at U.N. protest rally in New York City on 9/24/2007 against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to the United Nations and New York City)

Excerpt:

Governor Romney: "We are long past the time for political correctness and accommodation of Ahmadinejad's and his regime's outrageous rhetoric and support for terror. It is time to speak clearly and frankly, to strengthen alliances and build new ones, and to act with unity and decisiveness against a regime that threatens to reintroduce the world to the horrors of nuclear devastation and genocide."

China
http://www.freerepublic.com/~unmarkedpackage/#china

A Primary Factor, NRO Q&A with Kathryn Jean Lopez, December 14, 2006:

Kathryn Jean Lopez: Governor, you recently got back from a trip to Asia. What were you doing there?

Gov. Mitt Romney: I traveled to Japan, China, and South Korea. Two things from my China trip stand out. First, they will be a more powerful economic competitor than we in America recognize. They are hard working, market oriented, and smart. They even have some lower taxes in some areas than we do. Bottom line: They are competing to win. Second, it is important for us as a nation to reach out to China and to chart out a course that is consistent with a free economy and a free society. This goal must be consistent with our own principles.

We also had the opportunity to go to visit the DMZ when we were in Korea. Imagining what goes on behind that border is one thing — but standing there, staring into North Korea is chilling. Communism and the brutal repression there have exacted an extraordinarily heavy penalty on the people of North Korea and the contrast with the exuberance and prosperity of South Korea could not be more stark.

Lopez: China is, of course, a bit of a human-rights disaster too. Did you have qualms going there at all?

Gov. Romney: I believe in building bridges not walls. We specifically addressed the detention of a Massachusetts citizen, Yang Jianli, with Chinese officials and we asked for special attention and consideration for his early release. Working with China on our own security interests — including the isolation of North Korea — must not be at the expense of our commitment to freedom and basic human rights.

Laura Ingraham Interviews Governor Mitt Romney, Laura Ingraham Radio Show, August 28, 2007:

Laura Ingraham: "The human rights violations in China is something you care about, right? This is brutal and it’s not getting freer. It’s getting in many ways more repressive than it was ten, fifteen years ago; more open economically but that doesn’t mean there are more freedoms."

Governor Romney: "No, there are not more freedoms and they’re fearful. In my view, the leadership of the country is fearful that they will have an explosion, if you will, of popular uprising. It has happened before, as you know, in China and they’re fearful of that happening. So they try and repress dissent, and that unfortunately is wrong-headed. That will only make the dissent louder and they don’t quite understand that, at least from our standpoint. But again, are they a potential threat, absolutely. But are they also a potential partner for stability in the world, yes they are, and we need to work very hard to make sure they’re the latter, not the former."

Video interview for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 27, 2007:

Governor Romney: "I think it’s important first for the American people and our leadership to understand that China is not like the Soviet Union of old. The Soviet Union, Khrushchev in particular, wanted to bury us. China doesn’t want to bury us. They want to see us succeed and thrive so we can buy more Chinese products, and they’re a competitor economically. More power to them. We know how to compete.

"We want to make sure the competition is fair and legal and that they protect our intellectual property rights and they have a monetary policy that’s fair. So we’ve got some challenges to make sure that the playing field is level with China. But we can compete. We can be successful with China and I will reach out to them. I’ve already met with their leadership and will do so again if I’m lucky enough to be President.

"Making China a partner for stability in the world will be one of my highest priorities.

"China is really key in many respects as they become a very large economy. Their GNP is going to surpass ours at some point just given the scale of the nation’s population. We have to recognize they’re going to be an economic powerhouse like us. With that reality we need to make sure they are friendly, that we understand each other, that we’re open and communicating and we’re collaborating on important topics like keeping North Korea from pursuing the nuclear armament which they’ve begun and getting Iran to avoid or to abandon their nuclear ambitions.

"China and we together will have a great deal of positive influence for stability if we’re able to work that relationship properly.

Competing with Asia:

Governor Romney: "China and the rest of Asia are on the move economically and technologically. They are a family oriented, educated, hard-working, and mercantile people. We must be ready and able to compete. This means ensuring our children are educated to compete in this new market, our trade laws are fair and balanced, and our economy and tax laws welcome new investment. If America acts boldly and swiftly, the emergence of Asia will be an opportunity. Trade and commerce with these huge new economies can further strengthen our economy and propel our growth. If America fails to act, we will be eclipsed."

"We have to keep our markets open or we go the way of Russia and the Soviet Union, which is a collapse. And I recognize there are some people who will argue for protectionism because the short-term benefits sound pretty good, but long term you kill your economy, you kill the future. What you have to do in order to compete on a global basis long term is invest in education, invest in technology, reform our immigration laws to bring in more of the brains from around the world, eliminate the waste in our government. We have to use a lot less oil. These are the kinds of features you have to invest in, you have to change in order to make ourselves competitive long term."
^{(Governor Romney, Kudlow and Company, CNBC, 3/22/2006)}

Governor Romney Believes The United States Must Continue To Work To Open Markets To American Products. Governor Romney is a strong believer in free trade and opening foreign markets to American products. While continuing to promote free trade, Governor Romney will also work to ensure that free trade is fair and there is a level-playing field for American products.
^{(Read more in Romney Agenda: A New Vision To Open Markets And Help U.S. Workers To Succeed)}

Governor Romney Will Address The Issue Of Embedded Taxes On American Products. In the global economy, American products carry a very heavy load known as embedded taxes. It's estimated that our products face about a $100 billion disadvantage around the world. Because of a WTO ruling, taxes that are embedded in Americans products cannot be refunded to exporters. As President, Governor Romney will fight for a level playing field for American products around the world.

Guns
http://www.freerepublic.com/~unmarkedpackage/#guns

Governor Romney: "Americans should have the right to own and possess firearms as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. I’m proud to be among the many decent, law-abiding men and women who safely use firearms."
^{(Ted Novin, "Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney Visits Firearms Industry's Trade Show," National Shooting Sports Foundation, 1/12/2007)}

Hasn’t Gov. Romney been against the right to bear arms?

No. Governor Romney has always supported the individual right to keep and bear arms. The firearms bills that Governor Romney signed into law (see below) were all endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and/or the Gun Owners' Action League (GOAL), which bills itself as "The Official Firearms Association of Massachusetts."

The NRA gave Mitt Romney a rating of 'B' in the 2002 election race for Governor of Massachusetts.
^{(Scott Helman, "Romney retreats on gun control," The Boston Globe, 1/14/2007)}

Craig Sandler, former Director of General Operations of the National Rifle Association and former Nashua Police Chief, endorses Governor Mitt Romney for President.

In endorsing Governor Romney, Craig Sandler said, "Throughout his career in both the public and private sectors, Mitt Romney has demonstrated exceptional leadership ability, integrity, and commitment to principle. As a New Hampshire resident, former law enforcement officer, and avid sportsman, I am supporting Governor Romney because he is the candidate who will protect our Constitutional rights and strengthen our nation."

Governor Romney On Parker v. District of Columbia:

Governor Romney: “It is my hope that the Supreme Court will reaffirm the individual right to keep and bear arms as enshrined in the Bill of Rights and protect law abiding gun owners everywhere. To further guard this fundamental liberty, as President, I will take care to appoint judges who will not legislate from the bench but will instead strictly interpret the Constitution.”
^{(Romney for President, "Governor Romney On The U.S. Supreme Court's Decision To Review Second Amendment Case," Press Release, 11/21/2007)}

Question for Romney from Human Events editor Jed Babbin: Do you view the second amendment as vesting an individual right to keep and bear arms? I know the Supreme Court is about to consider the Parker v. District of Columbia case. Aside from the legalities: as you personally look at the Second Amendment, do you think that’s the right of the state or is that the right of the individual gun owner?

Governor Romney: “It’s the right of the individual. I believe that our Constitution vests in the citizens of the United States the right to bear arms, to have weapons for their personal protection, for hunting and for any legal and lawful purpose. I’d like to see our gun laws enforced, to see people who use guns in the committing of crimes in jail for a long time, but I believe that individuals have the right to bear arms, and any incursion on that right, I would find in violation of the constitution.”
^{(Editors of Human Events, "Romney's Four Wedge Issues," Human Events, 11/21/2007)}

Governor Romney Believes The Second Amendment Is About More Than Just Self-Defense Or Sport; It's About The Basic Freedom Of Lawful Citizens To Live Their Lives. The Second Amendment was enshrined by the Founding Fathers in our Constitution and our Bill of Rights to protect the rights of our citizens to own firearms. Bumper sticker gun control does not protect the individual but instead takes away protections and penalizes law-abiding citizens. Criminals do not buy guns in stores nor subject themselves to background checks. Law-abiding citizens certainly have a right to protect their homes and their families.

Governor Romney Believes We Need To Focus On Enforcing Our Current Laws Rather Than Creating More Laws That Burden Lawful Gun Owners.

Governor Romney addressed the National Rifle Association in a videotaped message at the NRA's "Celebration of American Values" in Washington, D.C. on 9/21/2007. Gov. Romney discussed his position and record in support of the Second Amendment and his intent to oppose McCain-Feingold legislation, liberal judicial activism and tort claims being used to erode our 2nd Amendment rights. Must See Mitt TV!

Governor Romney Supports The Rights Of Pro-Second Amendment Groups To Be Involved In The Political Process. "And I'll ask Congress to repeal the McCain-Feingold law which sought to impose restrictions on the First Amendment rights of groups like the NRA to advocate for issues we care about. Some parts have already been declared unconstitutional. We ought to get rid of the entire bill."
^{(Governor Mitt Romney, "Remarks To The NRA," Washington, D.C., 9/21/2007)}

Governor Romney Opposes Backdoor Attempts To Ban Guns. "We need tort reform as well. That's the way we fight the backdoor attempt to ban guns by bankrupting manufacturers."
^{(Governor Mitt Romney, "Remarks To The NRA," Washington, D.C., 9/21/2007)}

Governor Romney's Statement On The Second Amendment — Dec 28, 2007

"I believe that the Second Amendment protects a truly fundamental individual right.

"I believe that every law-abiding American has the right to own a firearm for hunting, personal protection, skeet, trap or target shooting, or for any other sporting purpose or as part of a collection.

"I do not support any new gun laws including any new ban on semi-automatic firearms. As president, I will follow President Bush's precedent of opposing any laws that go beyond the restrictions in place when I take office. The laws I do and will support include decades-old restrictions on weapons of unusual lethality like grenades, rocket launchers, fully automatic firearms and what are legally known as destructive devices and would include similar restrictions on new and exotic weapons of similar or even greater lethality.

"I believe in safe and responsible gun ownership. I also applaud the efforts of Second Amendment supporters – particularly in the aftermath of the terrible crimes at Virginia Tech – to support measures to improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System as a screening tool to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and those judged mentally incompetent. I will protect the promise of a fair and instant check and oppose any effort to expand the NICS beyond its original purpose. I was pleased, in fact, that recently, Congress passed the NICS Improvement Act with NRA support and over liberal opposition to finance, improve, and streamline the current NICS system.

"I believe that any discussion regarding firearms and crime control must focus on the criminal. Unfortunately, many in Washington believe that restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners will diminish violent crime. They are wrong. Over the years, the idea that it is possible to curtail crime by banning firearms has run up against a mountain of empirical evidence that forces one to conclude that gun control laws fail because they rely on the cooperation of a very unlikely element – the criminal. Any measure that fails to focus on the criminal and infringes on the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans will be a non-starter for me.

"My message on the Second Amendment is simple: the rights of law-abiding gun owners will be protected in a Romney administration.

"On the other hand, if you're a criminal, here is your warning: I will ask every law enforcement agency across this great land to enforce the gun laws that are already on the books so that those who use guns illegally will know that they will be caught, prosecuted, convicted and jailed.

"I believe the right to keep and bear arms is a cornerstone of our personal freedoms. Should I be fortunate enough to become President, I will stand up and fight against any attempt to weaken or infringe upon our Second Amendment rights. And I will do this without any apology and without any hesitation."

In July 2006, despite a heavily Democratic anti-gun Legislature in Massachusetts, Gov. Romney signed a NRA-backed bill (H. 4552) reversing burdensome regulations for the makers of customized target pistols sold in Massachusetts. The Gun Owners' Action League praised Gov. Romney for his support of H. 4552.

"Governor Mitt Romney today signed legislation approving an exemption for the makers of customized target pistols, who due to a provision within state law have found it increasingly difficult to do business in Massachusetts."

..."Target shooters are an important part of our membership and I know they will be very pleased with this change," said James Wallace, Executive Director of the Gun Owners’ Action League.
^{(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, "Governor Romney Approves Exemption for Target Pistols," Press Release, 7/26/2006)}

Governor Mitt Romney signed legislation aimed at providing one clear definition of a loaded shotgun or rifle for the state's hunting enthusiasts. For years, two competing definitions had existed on the books, leaving law abiding gun owners wondering when and how they can enter or cross a public way with their firearms.

"On behalf of the lawful gun owners of the Commonwealth, I would like to thank Governor Romney and all who took part in the passage of this legislation. We have taken another important step in reforming the 1998 gun laws," said Jim Wallace, Executive Director of the Gun Owners' Action League. "This new law addresses a conflict that had previously caused great concern in those who use traditional muzzle loading rifles and shotguns. Now they confidently know what is expected of them and can enjoy their heritage without the fear of being prosecuted for violating a poorly written law."
^{("Massachusetts Clarifies Muzzleloader Law," Buckmasters, 11/22/2005)}

In 2005, Governor Romney Signed Into Law A Provision Providing Free Replacement Licenses.
^{(Gun Owners' Action League Official Website, "GOAL's Record of Success," Accessed 12/31/2007)}

In 2005, Governor Mitt Romney Suspended 'Administrative Fees' To The Natural Heritage And Endangered Species Fund Of Massachusetts.
^{(Gun Owners' Action League Official Website, "GOAL's Record of Success," Accessed 12/31/2007)}

In July 2006, Gov. Romney signed legislation requiring all new hunters to take a hunter education course. The measure had the strong support of sportsmen and gun owners.

"We are pleased with the passage of yet another correction of Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1998, which created a confusing standard for acquiring a hunting, sporting or fishing license," said James Wallace, GOAL’s executive director. "Prior to the passage of this law some eight years ago, hunter education was mandatory for all first time hunters. While GOAL does not normally support mandatory training, it is our belief that every first time hunter should be exposed to the ethics, safety aspects and laws in Massachusetts regarding hunting before taking to the field for the first time."
^{(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, "Romney Signs Legislation to Promote Hunter Safety," Press Release, 7/06/2006)}

On the 31^st anniversary of the Gun Owners' Action League, Governor Romney declared May 7, 2005 as "The Right to Bear Arms Day" in Massachusetts to honor "the right of decent, law-abiding citizens to own and use firearms in defense of their families, persons, and property and for all lawful purposes, including the common defense."
^{(Scott Helman, "Romney retreats on gun control," The Boston Globe, 1/14/2007)}

Opponents of gun control and critics of Governor Romney point to the fact that he signed firearms legislation in July, 2004 that included a ban of assault weapons in Massachusetts (S.2367). However, the bill only reaffirmed an existing Massachusetts state ban on assault weapons that was enacted as part of sweeping gun control laws passed in Massachusetts in 1998, five years before Romney took office, and didn't ban any additional guns. … The state ban of assault weapons enacted in 1998 was not due to disappear, nor would it have become invalid with the sunset of the federal ban in September, 2004. … The bill was passed in the Senate by a vote of 36 - 1 in favor and the House passed it with no amendments or debate on a "voice" vote. This represented by far the broadest support a reform bill has ever seen in the Massachusetts State House. Only one legislator in the entire building voiced opposition to the bill.
^{(National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action, "Massachusetts - Firearms Reform Bill Sent to the Governor`s Desk," Press Release, 6/29/2004)}

The firearms reform bill signed by Governor Romney in 2004 had the endorsement of the NRA (a MUST READ). It was also supported by the Gun Owners' Action League, law enforcement and Massachusetts gun owners. The Executive Director of GOAL attended the signing ceremony for the bill. The legislation added several measures these groups favored, including a lengthening of the terms of firearm identification cards and licenses to carry, namely;

1) Extending the term of a firearm identification card and a license to carry firearms from four years to six years,
2) Granting a 90-day grace period for holders of firearm identification cards and licenses to carry who have applied for renewal, and
3) Creating a seven-member Firearm License Review Board to review firearm license applications that have been denied.

"This is truly a great day for Massachusetts' sportsmen and women. These reforms correct some serious mistakes that were made during the gun debate in 1998, when many of our state’s gun owners were stripped of their long-standing rights to own firearms."
^{(MA State Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D), Press Release, 7/01/2004)}

"I want to congratulate everyone that has worked so hard on this issue. Because of their dedication, we are here today to sign into law this consensus piece of legislation. This change will go a long way toward fixing the flaws created by the 1998 law. Another key piece to this legislation addresses those citizens who have applied for renewals. If the government does not process their renewal in a timely fashion, those citizens won't be put at risk because of the 90 day grace period that is being adopted today."
^{(MA State Representative George N. Peterson, Jr. (R), Press Release, 7/01/2004)}

"There are a lot of good things in the bill," said Jim Wallace, legislative director of the Gun Owners' Action League, the state's leading pro-gun group. "In all, the bill represents a healing process, or the beginning of the healing process, between lawful gun owners and the Massachusetts Legislature."
^{(Scott S. Greenberger, "State moves on assault weapons ban," The Boston Globe, 6/24/2004)}

The firearms reform bill signed in 2004 prohibited the sale of the same weapons in Massachusetts banned in the 1998 legislation but loosened other restrictions imposed by the 1998 gun bill. Furthermore, it protected Massachusetts' gun owners with a permanent reference to federal definitions that provided them with a list of exempt firearms, numbering nearly 700, which could not be declared "assault weapons." Therefore, after Governor Romney signed the gun bill in 2004, gun owners in Massachusetts had fewer restrictions on gun ownership than at any time since 1998.

Mitt Romney joined the NRA in August, 2006 and signed up for a lifetime membership. Romney said of the NRA, "I think they're doing good things, and I believe in supporting the right to bear arms."
^{(George Stephanopoulos, "Mitt Romney: The Complete Interview," ABC News This Week, 2/18/2007)}

Governor Romney: "I know the NRA does not support an assault weapon ban. So I don't line up on that particular issue with the NRA, either does President Bush. He likewise says he supported an assault weapon ban."

"Today we don't have the Brady bill because we have instantaneous background checks. That's no longer a operative or needed measure."

"But I'm a strong proponent of Second Amendment rights. I believe people, under our Constitution, have the right to bear arms."

"We have a gun in one of our homes. It's not owned by me, it's owned by my son, but I've always considered it sort of mine."

"I've been a hunter all my life, not frequently, but as a boy, when I worked on a ranch in Idaho, we used to go out shooting rabbits, because they were eating all the barley, and I got pretty good with a single shot .22 rifle, and been quail hunting more recently."

"So I'm a hunter and believe in Second Amendment rights, but I also believe that assault weapons are not needed in the public population."
^{(George Stephanopoulos, "Mitt Romney: The Complete Interview," ABC News This Week, 2/18/2007)}

Like President Bush, Governor Romney Would Have Signed The Assault Weapons Ban Extension At That Time (2004) But Will Not Seek To Reinstate The Ban. As Governor Romney stated on CNN and "Meet the Press," had he been President and had the Assault Weapons Ban extension reached his desk, like President Bush, he would have signed it. That bill did not pass Congress. Governor Romney has stated that he would not reinstate that Assault Weapons Ban. In fact, Governor Romney does not support any new gun laws including a ban on semi-automatic firearms. He would consider limitations on weapons of unusual lethality like grenades, rocket launchers, fully automatic firearms and what are legally known as destructive weapons.
^{(NBC's "Meet The Press," 12/16/2007; CNN's "The Situation Room," 11/26/2007; The Des Moines Register, 10/23/2007)}

Campaigning in Indianapolis on Thursday, Romney said he has hunted small game since his youth. "I'm not a big-game hunter. I've made that very clear," he said. "I've always been a rodent and rabbit hunter. Small varmints, if you will. I began when I was 15 or so, and I have hunted those kinds of varmints since then. More than two times."
^{(Emily Udell, "Romney Aims Again to Explain Hunting," The Associated Press, 4/06/2007)}

Abortion and Sanctity of Life
http://www.freerepublic.com/~unmarkedpackage/#abortion

Governor Romney: "I will be a pro-life President. I will appoint and fight for justices who follow the law and the Constitution, who understand judicial restraint and who won't legislate from the bench. But being a pro-life president also means promoting policies that reflect our respect for the sanctity of life. I will oppose taxpayer funding of abortion, oppose partial birth abortion, oppose abortion in military clinics, oppose funding abortion in international aid programs, and I will work to ban embryonic cloning. I will work to increase adoptions by making the adoption tax credit permanent and raising awareness about embryonic adoption, or snowflake babies."
^{(Governor Mitt Romney, "Address to the Family Research Council's Values Voter Summit," Washington, D.C., October 19, 2007)}

Governor Romney was presented with legislation concerning life issues on several occasions from the 85% majority Democrat Legislature in Massachusetts. In every instance he took the pro-life position by vetoing bills or lobbying for the pro-life approach, including the following actions:

He vetoed the bill providing state funding for human embryonic stem cell research
^{(Theo Emery, "Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney Vetoes Stem Cell Bill," The Associated Press, 5/27/2005)}

He vetoed a bill that provided for the "morning after pill" without a prescription because it is an abortifacient and would have been available to minors without parental notification and consent
^{(Governor Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, "Why I Vetoed Contraception Bill," The Boston Globe, 7/26/2005)}

He pledged to veto any bill that would expand access to RU-486, the abortion pill
^{(Hugh Hewitt, "Interview with Governor Romney," The Hugh Hewitt Show, 7/27/2005)}

He vetoed legislation which would have redefined Massachusetts longstanding definition of the beginning of human life from fertilization to implantation
^{(Governor Mitt Romney, Letter To The Massachusetts State Senate And House Of Representatives, 5/12/2005)}

He supported parental notification laws and opposed efforts to weaken parental involvement
^{(John McElhenny, "O'Brien And Romney Spar In Last Debate Before Election," The Associated Press, 10/29/2002)}

He fought to promote abstinence education in public school classrooms with a program offered by faith-based Boston group Healthy Futures to middle school students. Gov. Romney's administration was the first in Massachusetts to use federal abstinence education funds for classroom programs.
^{(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, "Romney Announces Award of Abstinence Education Contract," Press Release, 4/20/2006)}

Governor Romney: "Times of decision are moments of great clarity. Before I was Governor, the life issue was just that, an issue. But when responsibility for life or ending life was placed in my hands, I made the right decision. I chose life."
^{(Governor Mitt Romney, Remarks At The National Right To Life Convention Forum, Kansas City, MO, 6/15/2007)}

Eight prominent leaders of pro-life and pro-family groups in Massachusetts wrote an open letter on January 11, 2007 praising Gov. Romney for his leadership and accomplishments in these important issues and attesting to his commitment to the pro-life and pro-family causes. (This letter is a MUST READ)

Excerpt:

"Since well before 2003, we have been laboring in the trenches of Massachusetts, fighting for the family values you and we share. It is difficult work indeed – not for the faint of heart. In this challenging environment, Governor Romney has proven that he shares our values, as well as our determination to protect them.

"For four years, Governor Romney has been right there beside us, providing leadership on key issues – whether it was politically expedient to do so or not. He has stood on principle, and we have benefited greatly from having him with us.

"It is clear that Governor Romney has learned much since 1994 – to the benefit of our movement and our Commonwealth. In fact, the entire nation has benefited from his socially conservative, pro-family actions in office. As we explained earlier, his leadership on the marriage issue helped prevent our nation from being plunged into even worse legal turmoil following the court decision that forced “gay marriage” upon our Commonwealth.

"For that our country ought to be thankful. We certainly are.

Massachusetts Citizens for Life gave Governor Romney their 2007 Mullins Award for Outstanding Political Leadership recognizing him for consistently seeking to advance the pro-life cause while in office. The award was presented at the MCFL Mother's Day Pioneer Valley Dinner where Gov. Romney delivered the keynote speech.

Ann Romney serves as co-chairman of the Massachusetts Citizens for Life capital campaign.

Massachusetts Citizens For Life Executive Director Marie Sturgis: "Having Governor Romney in the corner office for the last four years has been one of the strongest assets the pro-life movement has had in Massachusetts."
^{(Kathryn Jean Lopez, "An Early Massachusetts Primary," National Review Online, 1/10/2007)}

Massachusetts Citizens For Life Pioneer Valley Chapter Chairman Kevin Jourdain: "Mitt Romney was a great Governor, who served with honor and distinction. But most importantly, he was a pro-life Governor. He vetoed a number of pro-abortion pieces of legislation and made many pro-life appointments. He was always there for us."
^{(Kevin Jourdain, Remarks at Massachusetts Citizens for Life Mother's Day Pioneer Valley Dinner, Agawam, MA, 5/10/2007)}

Governor Romney has received the important endorsement of James Bopp, Jr., a nationally-known constitutional lawyer, leading advocate for the pro-life movement, and author of the Human Life Amendment for the Republican Party Platform. James Bopp reviewed Romney's record as Governor and questioned him personally before giving Romney his endorsement. Bopp later joined the Romney Presidential campaign as a special adviser on life issues, an unpaid position.

James Bopp Jr. wrote about the record of Governor Romney:

"These actions as governor have lead leaders of the most important social conservative groups in Massachusetts, including Massachusetts Citizens for Life, Massachusetts Family Institute, and the Knights of Columbus, to observe that, while previous comments by Romney “are, taken by themselves, obviously worrisome to social conservatives including ourselves, they do not dovetail with the actions of Governor Romney from 2003 until now — and those actions positively and demonstrably impacted the social climate of Massachusetts.” They conclude that Romney “demonstrat[ed] [his] solid social conservative credentials by undertaking” these actions, and has therefore “proven that he shares our values, as well as our determination to protect them.”
(James Bopp Jr., "The Best Choice Is Also a Good Choice - Why social conservatives should support Mitt Romney for president," National Review Online, 2/21/2007)

Governor Romney believes Roe v. Wade should be overturned as a first step, allowing the States to set abortion policy, as a goal that can be achieved more quickly. For a longer range goal after overturning Roe v. Wade, he supports a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution and endorses legislation to make it clear that the 14th Amendment's protections apply to unborn children.

Romney believes that controversial abortion policy should be decided through the democratic process by citizens in the several states and their elected representatives rather than by federal judicial mandate.

Governor Romney: "I understand that my views on laws governing abortion set me in the minority in our Commonwealth. I am prolife. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate."
^{(Governor Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, "Why I vetoed contraception bill," The Boston Globe, 7/26/2005)}

Gov. Romney Praised The U.S. Supreme Court Decision Upholding A Partial-Birth Abortion Ban. "Today, our nation's highest court reaffirmed the value of life in America by upholding a ban on a practice that offends basic human decency. This decision represents a step forward in protecting the weakest and most innocent among us."
^{(Romney for President, "Statement On Supreme Court's Partial Birth Abortion Ruling," Press Release, 4/18/2007)}

Statement from Romney Communications Director Matt Rhoades: "Governor Romney does not believe that abortion legislation should punish women who have abortions. Governor Romney recognizes that we must be sensitive to both lives involved in these situations, the unborn child and the mother. The people who should be held accountable for violations of this nature are the people who perform an illegal abortion, the penalties of which could include anything from disciplinary action to incarceration."
^{(Terence P. Jeffrey, "Romney Open to Incarcerating Abortionists," CNSNews.com, 11/21/2007)}

View video of a portion of a speech delivered by Mitt Romney at the National Review Institute Conservative Summit in which he describes a pivotal event in his life while learning about stem cell research and embryo farming from Harvard research scientists. From a researcher's comment explaining that there wasn't a moral issue at stake in the embryo farming process because the embryos are destroyed after 14 days, Romney was hit hard by the harsh realization that, in his words, "We have so cheapened the value and sanctity of human life in our society that someone could think there is not a moral issue because we kill human embryos at 14 days." Gov. Romney publicly affirmed his pro-life position thereafter.

Governor Romney: "I don't believe that somatic cell nuclear transfer or cloning and embryo farming are appropriate and would not pursue federal funding of those forms of stem cell research."
^{(David A. Lieb, "Romney Wraps Self In Reagan Lingo," The Associated Press, 2/11/2007)}

In August 2006, Gov. Romney imposed a limit on stem cell research, saying that scientists could not use stem cell lines developed in states with less restrictive laws than Massachusetts, which barred the production of embryos for the expressed purpose of scientific exploration. Public health regulators appointed by Romney's successor, Democrat Gov. Deval Patrick, reversed that limit in October, 2007.
^{(Stephen Smith, "Health Council repeals Romney limit on stem cell research," The Boston Globe, 10/11/2007)}

Governor Romney Believes We Can Support Techniques That "Produce The Equivalent Of Embryonic Stem Cells But Without Cloning, Creating, Harming, Or Destroying Developing Human Lives." Governor Romney: "I studied the issue for many months, and entered into conversation with experts from across the nation who were looking for consensus solutions, like Stanford's Dr. William Hurlbut. In the end, I became persuaded that the stem-cell debate was grounded in a false premise, and that the way through it was around it: by the use of scientific techniques that could produce the equivalent of embryonic stem cells but without cloning, creating, harming, or destroying developing human lives."
^{(Governor Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, "A Stem-Cell Solution," National Review Online, 6/15/2007)}

Important Stem-Cell Research Update:

"Ever since the debate of embryo-destructive stem-cell research began in earnest in 1998 when researchers at the University of Wisconsin first isolated human embryonic stem cells, we’ve known that the best overall answer to the ethical impasse would be a solution that both allows the search for stem-cell related cures to go foreword, while doing so without harming or destroying embryonic human life in the process.

"We now have that solution.

"Two major scientific papers published today in Science and Cell offer proof of principle research to show that it is possible to generate patient-matched pluripotent stem cells without human cloning and its attendant moral pitfalls: the need to harvest and use human eggs from female donors and the subsequent destruction of cloned human embryos. Both studies used reprogramming of adult human cells to generate stem cells known as “induced pluripotent state cells” (iPSCs) that have all the properties of human embryonic stem cells.

... "In the highly contentious political battle over federal funding for stem-cell research, one cannot help but note that of all the current presidential candidates, only Governor Mitt Romney embraced an unambiguous and principled stance on the alternatives, incorporating them into his proposed domestic policy."
^{(Father Thomas Berg, "The Future Is Now — Stem-cell debate changes," National Review Online, 11/20/2007)}

Governor Romney On Stem-Cell Research Announcement: "New developments confirm that cutting edge science and ethical principles are not opposed to one another. Scientists have provided a means for producing new cells functionally identical to embryonic stem cells without creating or destroying embryos and without the need to exploit women for their eggs. This is a result the whole public can celebrate. The scientists deserve credit for their genius, but equally, the voices insisting on ethical science and respect for human life provided the incentive for this revolutionary research."
^{(Romney for President, "Governor Romney On Stem-Cell Research Announcement," Press Release, 11/21/2007)}

Read more about the contrasts in policy in a Research Briefing: Promoting A Culture Of Life: The Romney Vision Vs. The Democrat Vision

The influence of family members and events in Mitt Romney's life on matters of abortion are worth considering. They illuminate obstacles he surmounted to adopt pro-life beliefs in his private life. Mitt Romney’s mother, Lenore Romney, advocated a pro-choice position in her unsuccessful 1970 run for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, writing in her campaign platform, "I support and recognize the need for more liberal abortion rights while reaffirming the legal and medical measures needed to protect the unborn and pregnant woman [sic]." Mitt Romney revealed in 1994 that his brother-in-law's sister, a close family friend, died after a botched illegal abortion in the 1960s when Mitt would have been in his teens and early 20s.
^{(Stephanie Ebbert, "Romney releases mother's statement on abortion issue," The Boston Globe, 6/28/2005)}

In a February 14, 2007 appearance on ABC's Good Morning America TV show, Ann Romney talked about her personal struggle with multiple sclerosis and offered her perspective on embryonic stem cell research with a powerful, inspiring message opposing medical experimentation that could conceivably relieve her own suffering. Read a thought-provoking commentary by Alliance Defense Fund constitutional lawyer David French on Ann Romney's strength of character in opposing embryonic stem cell research as seen in the ABC Good Morning America segment.

Gov. Romney made a $15,000 contribution in 2006 to the pro-life group Massachusetts Citizens for Life from the Tyler Charitable Foundation, a joint family trust of Mitt and Ann Romney. They also donated $10,000 to the Massachusetts Family Institute during the same time period.

The Tyler Charitable Foundation has donated more than $2.9 million to more than 40 health care groups, schools, and other charitable organizations since 1999.

Judicial Appointments
http://www.freerepublic.com/~unmarkedpackage/#judicial

When asked to describe the type of justices he would appoint to the federal bench if elected President, Romney responded:

Governor Romney: "I think the justices that President Bush has appointed are exactly spot-on. I think Justice Roberts and Justice Alito are exactly the kind of justices America needs. They’re people who believe that the Constitution is what they’re to follow, not what they’re to depart from; people who do not believe that legislation from the bench is the responsibility or authority of being on the bench. I respect legal scholars of all backgrounds, but those who are going to be on the bench, if I were lucky enough to appoint them, would be people who believe their job is to follow the law and follow the Constitution."
^{(Robert B. Bluey, "Romney on Judges: Follow Bush's Lead," RedState Blog, 2/02/2007)}

Governor Romney: "There's a lot more to being pro-life beyond appointing conservative justices. That, I will do. I like (Supreme Court Chief Justice John) Roberts and (Justice Samuel) Alito, I like (Justice Clarence) Thomas and (Justice Antonin) Scalia. I like that kind of thinking on the bench, and that's the kind of justice I will appoint. You also have decisions as an administration on things like abstinence education, on the morning-after pill, on teaching kids to wait before they have babies, on insisting on parental responsibility for a father who has an out-of-wedlock child. These policies are also important, and will become a major part of my effort to encourage a culture of life rather than the culture of death."
^{(Jonathan Martin, "Romney jabs Giuliani on abortion," Politico.com, 4/25/2007)}

Governor Romney: "As President, I intend to nominate judges who respect the separation of powers, are committed to judicial restraint, and have a genuine appreciation of the text, structure, and history of our Constitution. The judges I nominate will recognize, as I do, that as Justice Scalia once said, the Court ought not take the field as some kind of ‘junior-varsity Congress.’ That would wrongly displace the first-string legislature, drawn from our deepest pool of talent – ‘we, the people.’"
^{(Romney for President, "Governor Mitt Romney On The Beginning Of The U.S. Supreme Court Term," Press Release, 10/01/2007)}

Video: Gov. Romney talks about judges and legislation on life issues, Fox News, Hannity & Colmes, 3/12/2007

Didn't Gov. Romney appoint more Democrat judges to the bench than Republicans, including two gay activists?

Gov. Romney nominated 9 registered Republicans, 13 unenrolled voters, and 14 registered Democrats to fill a total of 36 district court and clerk magistrate positions in the criminal courts of Massachusetts. The positions filled were not in courts that ruled on issues of constitutional law such as those that dominate the federal judicial debate. State court judges at this level have absolutely no influence over abortion rights. Abortion is primarily a matter of federal, not state constitutional law.

The Boston Globe reported in an article on July 25, 2005 that, "Romney said he had not paid a moment's notice to his nominees' political leanings or sexual orientation, or to the impact his choices might have on a future presidential run. He said he had focused on two factors: their legal experience and whether the nominees would be tough on crime. He said most of the nominees had prosecutorial experience."

“People on both sides of the aisle want to put the bad guys away. With regards to those at the district court and clerk magistrate level, their political views aren't really going to come into play unless their views indicate they will be soft on crime, because in that case, apply elsewhere,” Romney said." ...

"The governor said that, so far, he has had few chances to appoint judges to the highest state courts, where his criteria would change to include "strict construction, judicial philosophy." ...

"Some of Romney's nominees do have stellar Republican or conservative bona fides. For example, Romney's pick for Peabody clerk magistrate, Kevin L. Finnegan, is a former two-term Republican state representative. Another choice was Bruce R. Henry, the son-in-law of former SJC Justice Joseph Nolan — whom Romney wanted to represent his administration in seeking a stay of the court's gay marriage ruling."
^{(Raphael Lewis, "Romney jurist picks not tilted to GOP," The Boston Globe, 7/25/2005)}

"Romney also sanitized the judicial selection process, requiring the nominating panel to conduct an initial blind review of candidates without knowing their names, gender, or references. 'The review process was completely apolitical,' said Ralph C. Martin II, who chaired the Judicial Nominating Commission for half of Romney's term."
^{(Brian Mooney, "Taking office, remaining an outsider," The Boston Globe, 6/29/2007)}

Nominations for judicial appointments arrived on Gov. Romney's desk from the Judicial Nominating Commission without the nominee's name attached. The nominees were interviewed by Gov. Romney. If he found the candidate's crime-fighting record and credentials acceptable, the nomination was forwarded to the eight-member Governor's Council for final review and approval.

Regarding the relative number of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats among the judicial nominees by Romney, it is very important to consider that every one of Governor Romney's judicial nominees had to be approved by the Governor's Council in Massachusetts. The Governor's Council is a popularly-elected board that was dominated by Democrats in all eight voting positions on the Council during Romney's term in office. Lt. Gov. Healey, who served ex officio as chair of the Governor's Council, was the only Republican but had no vote.

David French, a Harvard graduate and leading constitutional lawyer working for the conservative, non-profit Alliance Defense Fund wrote:

“Imagine a situation where the President of the United States had to run all of his judicial nominees by a Senate that contained 85% Democrats — most of them of the radical sort. That would change the picture a bit, wouldn't it? I think the best way to think of Governor Romney's track record in nominating judges is that he did the best that he could have done.”
^{(David French, "A Comment from a Romney Opponent (or a ‘Pre-supporter?’)," EvangelicalsForMitt.org, 1/05/2007)}

Homosexual Rights
http://www.freerepublic.com/~unmarkedpackage/#gayrights

Mitt Romney has always opposed same-sex marriage. He diligently lobbied Congress in favor of a Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) to the U.S. Constitution defining marriage to be between one man and one woman. Romney testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the Federal Marriage Amendment, and sent a letter to all 100 U.S. Senators on June 2, 2006 asking them to vote for the Amendment. John McCain and Rudy Giuliani oppose the FMA.

Institute For Marriage and Public Policy President Maggie Gallagher, writing for National Review Online, wrote that the Governor's testimony on the issue before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee was "the single most eloquent and articulate defense of our traditional understanding of marriage I have heard from an American politician."
^{(Maggie Gallagher, "In Defense Of The Family," National Review Online, 6/25/2004)}

Governor Romney: "Some argue that our principles of federalism and local control require us to leave the issue of same sex marriage to the states—which means, as a practical matter, to state courts. Such an argument denies the realities of modern life and would create a chaotic patchwork of inconsistent laws throughout the country. Marriage is not just an activity or practice which is confined to the border of any one state. It is a status that is carried from state to state. Because of this, and because Americans conduct their financial and legal lives in a united country bound by interstate institutions, a national definition of marriage is necessary."
^{("The Importance of Protecting Marriage", Letter from Gov. Romney to U.S. Senators, 6/02/2006)}

Governor Romney: "A lot of people get confused that gay marriage is about treating gay people the same as treating heterosexual people, and that's not the issue involved here."

"This is about the development and nurturing of children. Marriage is primarily an institution to help develop children, and children's development, I believe, is greatly enhanced by access to a mom and a dad."

"I think every child deserves a mom and a dad, and that's why I'm so consistent and vehement in my view that we should have a federal amendment which defines marriage in that way."
^{(George Stephanopoulos, "Mitt Romney: The Complete Interview," ABC News This Week, 2/18/2007) • (Mitt TV Clip)}

Governor Romney: "I oppose discrimination against gay people. I am not anti-gay. I know there are some Republicans, or some people in the country who are looking for someone who is anti-gay and that's not me."
^{(Brendan Farrington, "Romney: I am not anti-gay," The Associated Press, 5/24/2007)}

When the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling in the case of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health legalized same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, Gov. Romney identified and enforced a little-known 1913 state law that forbids nonresidents from marrying in Massachusetts if their marriage would not be recognized in their home state. This prevented gay couples living outside Massachusetts from flocking to MA to be married and then returning to their home states to demand the marriages be recognized, thus opening the door for nationwide same-sex marriage. Implementation of the 1913 law was contested in court by same-sex couples from outside MA, but the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in March, 2006 to uphold the application of the law.
^{(Jay Lindsay, "Mass. high court says nonresident gays cannot marry in state," The Associated Press, 3/30/2006)}

Gov. Romney provided active support for a citizen petition drive in 2005 that collected 170,000 signatures for a state constitutional amendment protecting marriage, breaking a 20-year-old record for the most certified signatures ever gathered in support of a proposed ballot question. He rallied citizens to place pressure on the Legislature for failing, through repeated delays, to fulfill their constitutional obligation to vote on placing the marriage amendment on the ballot. Gov. Romney filed suit in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) asking the court to clarify the legislators’ duty to vote on the issue of the amendment, or place the amendment on the ballot if the Legislature failed to act. The SJC declared that legislators had a constitutional duty to vote on the petition in a ruling handed down on Dec. 27, 2006. The suit was successful in pressuring the Legislature to vote on the issue of the amendment. A vote was taken on January 2, 2007 and the measure passed. Through Governor Romney’s considerable efforts and leadership, a state constitutional amendment defining marriage to be between one man and one woman passed a critical hurdle to get it placed on the 2008 ballot where voters in Massachusetts would have the power to restore traditional marriage in their state.

Update: Democrat Governor Deval Patrick, a proponent of gay marriage, lobbied Massachusetts lawmakers to kill the proposed constitutional amendment. In a vote of the MA Legislature on June 14, 2007 the amendment received 45 votes, failing to get the required 50 votes necessary to place the amendment on the 2008 ballot. The measure needed 50 votes in two consecutive legislative sessions to advance to the ballot, and it had passed with 62 votes at the end of the last session in January. Commenting on the latest vote, former Gov. Mitt Romney said, "Today's vote by the State Legislature is a regrettable setback in our efforts to defend traditional marriage. Unfortunately, our elected representatives decided that the voice of the people did not need to be heard in this debate. It is now even more important that we pass a Constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage. Marriage is an institution that goes to the heart of our society, and our leaders can no longer abdicate their responsibility."
^{(Steve LeBlanc, "No Gay Marriage Vote for Massachusetts," The Associated Press, 6/14/2007)}

Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on the court decision issued August 30, 2007 striking down Iowa's Defense of Marriage Act:

"The ruling in Iowa today is another example of an activist court and unelected judges trying to redefine marriage and disregard the will of the people as expressed through Iowa's Defense of Marriage Act. This once again highlights the need for a Federal Marriage Amendment to protect the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman."
^{(Romney for President, "Governor Mitt Romney On Iowa's Defense Of Marriage Act," Press Release, 8/30/2007)}

Mitt Romney does not favor action at the national level to sanction civil unions and would leave it to the several states to define the permissible contractual relationships between two people. Romney would not seek to impose, at the national level, a prohibition on contractual relationships between two people.
^{(George Stephanopoulos, "Mitt Romney: The Complete Interview," ABC News This Week, 2/18/2007)}

Governor Romney strongly defended the right of Catholic Charities in Massachusetts to deny placing adoptive children in the homes of gay couples; saying it was unjust to require a religious agency to violate the tenets of its faith in order to satisfy a special-interest group. Romney filed "An Act Protecting Religious Freedom" in the Legislature, a bill to exempt Catholic Charities of Boston and other religious groups from the state anti-discrimination law.
^{(Brooke Donald, "Romney files 'religious freedom' bill on church and gay adoption," The Associated Press, 3/15/2006)}

Mitt Romney served on the Boy Scouts of America’s National Executive Board from 1993 to 2002. Whereas Romney believes sexual orientation should not preclude joining the Boy Scouts, he supports the right of local Councils of the Boy Scouts of America to decide and enforce their policy regarding homosexuals in their organization and leadership.

Governor Romney responded to a question about the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and gays in the military during an NRO interview with Kathryn Jean Lopez in December, 2006:

Lopez: And what about the 1994 letter to the Log Cabin Republicans where you indicated you would support the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and seemed open to changing the "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy in the military? Are those your positions today?

Gov. Romney: "No. I don’t see the need for new or special legislation. My experience over the past several years as governor has convinced me that ENDA would be an overly broad law that would open a litigation floodgate and unfairly penalize employers at the hands of activist judges."

"As for military policy and the "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy, I trust the counsel of those in uniform who have set these policies over a dozen years ago. I agree with President Bush’s decision to maintain this policy and I would do the same."
^{(Kathryn Jean Lopez, "A Primary Factor," National Review Online, 12/14/2006)}

Immigration
http://www.freerepublic.com/~unmarkedpackage/#immigration

Governor Romney proposes an Immigration Plan with the following features:

• Secure The Border. Governor Romney will follow through on the Congressional commitment to build a physical and technological fence along the southern border, and secure other points of entry throughout the country. He will also increase border control enforcement and resources.

— Governor Romney: “You’ve got to have a wall or fence or electronic surveillance. You have got to make sure we secure our border, that’s first.”
^{(Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor,” 9/19/2006)}

• Implement An Enforceable Employer Verification System. Issue a biometrically-enabled and tamperproof card to non-citizens and create a national database for non-citizens so employers can easily verify their legal status in this country.

• Hold Employers Accountable. Governor Romney will make it easier for employers to verify legal and work authorization status of non-citizens through a federal database. Employers will be held accountable if they hire illegal immigrants with stiffer fines and penalties.

• Reject Amnesty. No special path to citizenship or permanent residency for those here illegally. People in the country illegally should not get any benefit by being here and should go to the back of the line behind all those who have applied for citizenship. They should return to their home countries under a reasonable attrition program and be replaced in the work force with U.S. citizens and legal immigrants. Gov. Romney opposed each version of the McCain-Kennedy legislation as the wrong approach and a form of amnesty. Amnesty did not work 20 years ago, and it will not work today.

For the 12+ million illegal aliens in the country now, Romney favors immediate deportation of convicted criminal illegal aliens and deportation of illegal aliens who refuse to get off public welfare assistance. For the remaining illegal aliens already in the country, Romney could support offering a temporary work visa, with biometric identification data, to facilitate reasonable attrition in returning the illegal aliens to their home countries. The temporary work visa would be required to remain in the country and employed for a reasonable grace period in order for illegal immigrants to arrange their affairs before exiting the country, and the visa would not be renewable. The illegal aliens who decide to stay and apply for the temporary visa must return to their home country after the term of the temporary visa expires (for example, 6 months). They would be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship from their home country and would enter the process at the back of the line behind all other current applicants.

• End The Magnet Of "Sanctuary Cities." Cut back federal funding to cities that are “sanctuaries” for illegal immigrants and refuse to comply with federal law or aid federal law enforcement. Sanctuary cities tell those who are here illegally that the laws of this country do not matter and become magnets for illegal immigration.
^{(Read more in Romney Record: Governor Romney On Ending Sanctuary City Policies)}

• Oppose Any Special Benefits For Illegal Immigrants. Governor Romney opposes giving driver's licenses or in-state tuition to those here illegally. He believes states should not provide those types of incentives. As President, he will cut back federal funding to states that do so.

• Promote State And Local Partnerships With Federal Immigration Officials. Governor Romney believes more state and local authorities should work with the federal government to enforce immigration laws. This builds off of his experience in Massachusetts where he deputized the State Police to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and enforce federal immigration laws.

• Improve Interior Enforcement. Provide resources to enforce immigration laws throughout the nation, and crackdown on employers who continue to hire illegals with stiffer fines and penalties.

• Teach English In Our Schools. Governor Romney believes we must teach English in our classrooms because to be successful you have to speak the language of America.

• End Chain Migration. Governor Romney believes we should end the policy of chain migration that says if a child is born here to illegal immigrants then, by right, the entire family is brought in based upon that child's citizenship. As a nation we can limit family sponsorships while at the same time promote legitimate family reunification.

• Encourage Legal Immigration. Streamline the system to recruit and retain skilled workers and welcome the best and the brightest from around the world to our universities.

Governor Romney (on H1B visas): "I like H1B visas. I like the idea of the best and brightest in the world coming here. I’d rather have them come here permanently rather than come and go, but I believe our visa program is designed to help us solve gaps in our employment pool. Where there are individuals who have skills that we do not have in abundance here, I’d like to bring them here and contribute to our economy. Ultimately we’re in a competitive battle with the rest of the world; a battle where we need to stay the most powerful nation in the world. And the only way our nation stays ahead forever is with superior technology and innovation. And if we need additional folks who have skills that can contribute to our country then by all means lets welcome them in and if we see that our kids are not competing in certain areas lets help our kids understand what they need to become competitive.

"I would like to see us increase the number of people who receive an H1B visa and can provide skills and experience that we may not have. As to the exact number in my view that would follow a review of a number of things. Number 1: What’s the overall economy doing? What’s happening to the size of our workforce. Number 2: What’s happening to our own capacity in the jobs that are being requested. Number 3: What are the demands from our employers? How many additional folks do they need? You’d have to do an assessment of that on a regular basis, but my overall view is we need more H1B visas, not less."
^{(Michael Arrington, "Interview With Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney On Technology Issues," TechCrunch, 11/01/2007)}

Watch a video clip of Mitt Romney discussing his immigration plans during a townhall meeting in New Hampshire.

Governor Romney Says Cities That Do Not Enforce Federal Immigration Laws Should Not Receive Federal Funds. Governor Romney: "When I hear that there are cities that say 'Hey guess what? We're going to become sanctuary cities for illegal aliens. We're going to instruct our city workers that they're not going to be notifying the federal government of people who are here illegally' and then those same cities ask for millions, if not billions of dollars from the Federal Government. It's like wait a second, we're not going to send you all of the money that you want if you are not going to be willing to enforce and live by the laws of the government."
^{(WRKO's "Howie Carr Show," 8/03/2007)}

Governor Romney (on chain migration): "My view is that we should not have a policy in our immigration structure that says that if a child is born here to illegal immigrants then, by right, the entire family is brought in based upon that child’s citizenship. That does not require a change in law either constitutionally or through other means and can be adopted through policy."
^{(Teddy Davis, "Romney Eyeing End to Birthright Citizenship," ABC News, 7/22/2007)}

Governor Romney (on North American Union): "I think the idea has no merit whatsoever, and if I’m President we will not, in any way, release our sovereignty or diminish it; either by eliminating borders or checkpoints, or by building a superhighway, or entering into treaties like the Law of the Sea treaty that removes some of the most important elements of our sovereignty. This idea has no merit at all. The right way for America to become stronger is not to try and attach some other nation to us or get cheap labor from next door. It’s instead to strengthen our own nation, invest in technology, in productivity."
^{(Glenn Beck Headline News, "Mitt Romney Interview," CNN, 11/14/2007)}

Governor Romney strongly opposes the McCain-Kennedy approach to immigration reform or other amnesty measures offering benefits to those in the country illegally.

Governor Romney: "I strongly oppose today's bill going through the Senate. It is the wrong approach. Any legislation that allows illegal immigrants to stay in the country indefinitely, as the new 'Z-Visa' does, is a form of amnesty. That is unfair to the millions of people who have applied to legally immigrate to the U.S."

"Today's Senate agreement falls short of the actions needed to both solve our country's illegal immigration problem and also strengthen our legal immigration system. Border security and a reliable employment verification system must be our first priority."
^{(Romney for President, "Governor Mitt Romney On The Senate Immigration Agreement," Press Release, 5/17/2007)}

Governor Romney: "McCain-Kennedy isn't the answer. As governor, I took a very different approach. I authorized our state police to enforce immigration laws. I vetoed a tuition break for illegals and said no to driver's licenses. McCain-Kennedy gives benefits to illegals that would cost taxpayers millions. And more importantly, amnesty didn't work 20 years ago, and it won't work today."
^{(Governor Mitt Romney, Remarks at 2007 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Washington, D.C., 3/02/2007)}

Governor Romney: "The immigration bill failed because the politicians in Washington are out of touch with the American people.