OBAMA HAS 'GONE FROM JANE FONDA TO DR. STRANGELOVE' (Romney Nails Obama!)

My Way News via Drudge ^ | 07/05/07 | Mike Glover

[Reaganesque]

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Republican presidential contenders sparred over abortion on Sunday but generally agreed the United States must remain in Iraq as part of the war on terror.

"Just come home," countered Texas Rep. Ron Paul, the lone dissenter on a debate stage when it came to Iraq. He said there had never been a good reason to go to war in the first place.

"Has he forgotten about 9/11?" interjected former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

But it was Romney forced on the defensive on the issue of abortion, when Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback defended automated phone calls his campaign had been making that highlight his rival's one-time support for pro-choice policies.

"It's truthful," Brownback said.

Romney called it "desperate, maybe negative," adding moments later, "I get tired of people that are holier than thou because they've been pro-life longer than I have."

The debate unfolded on a Drake University stage, hosted and carried live by ABC, five months before Iowa caucus-goers begin winnowing the field of White House contenders.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Romney, the most prominent contenders, agreed the United States must remain in Iraq.

"I firmly believe that the challenge for the 21st century is a challenge against radical extremism," McCain said. He forecast a battle in the Senate in September in which anti-war critics will try to cut off funds.

"We will win that debate because the American people understand the consequences of failure," he added.

Giuliani saved his sharpest jabs for Democrats. "In four debates, not a single Democrat said the word, 'Islamic terrorists.' Now that is taking political correctness to extreme," he said.

Romney, too, was eager to criticize Democrats. His chosen target was Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, who said recently he would be willing to meet with the leaders of Cuba, North Korea and Iran in his first year in office, and declared in a speech he would order military action to capture terrorists in Pakistan if that nation's president did not.

"I mean, in one week he went from saying he's going to sit down, you know, for tea, with our enemies, but then he's going to bomb our allies," said Romney. "I mean, he's gone from Jane Fonda to Dr. Strangelove in one week."

Polls consistently show the war in Iraq to be the issue uppermost in the minds of the voters. But abortion is a constant concern in Republican presidential contests, particularly in Iowa, where caucuses attract the most fervent party activists.

Moderator George Stephanopoulos opened the debate by asking Romney about Brownback's automated phone calls. Moments later, he asked the former Massachusetts governor about having said last spring that Giuliani was "pro-choice and pro-gay marriage and anti-gun, and that's a tough combination in a Republican primary."

Romney deflected the question, saying, "I'd rather him speak to his own positions rather than me speak for him."

Giuliani said he supports the Second Amendment, which provides for the right to bear arms, and believes marriage should be between a man and a woman.

"And I believe the best way we can have common ground in this debate that you're hearing is if we put our emphasis on reducing abortions and increasing the number of adoptions, which is something that I did as mayor of New York City."

But former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson said, "Any candidate that's pro-choice is going to have a difficulty with the party faithful. ... the Republican Party is a party of pro-life."

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

He is, and I like the way Mitt cites current studies and news articles in his responses. It shows he is current, informed and in touch.

[PGalt]

"I mean, in one week he went from saying he's going to sit down, you know, for tea, with our enemies, but then he's going to bomb our allies," said Romney. "I mean, he's gone from Jane Fonda to Dr. Strangelove in one week."

Hooray Mitt Romney!

[Tanniker Smith]

Okay, I’m using that as a tagline for a week or so!

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Ann looks beautiful. She is so classy. Apparently the cameraman thinks so because he’s focused on her three times :-)

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

4th camera focus on Ann. Are any other candidates’ wives there? LOL

[Paladin2]

Obomba? This guy is going to be hell on the Pakis. (Or so he claims.)

[Tribune7]

That is a good quote. I like Mitt. I can vote for him. If Thompson doesn’t run, he may be my choice in the primary.

[DTogo]

"I get tired of people that are holier than thou because they've been pro-life longer than I have."

Indeed. We don't need a Falwell in the White House, we need a Patton!

[Rameumptom]

Romney was polling higher than Brownback in his homestate of Kansas. Hence Brownbacks reason for targeting Mitt.

I like that Mitt focuses on the DEM's. At least somebody gets Reagan's 11th commandment.

[asparagus]

"I get tired of people that are holier than thou because they've been pro-life longer than I have."

Substitute the word "Christian" (in terms of religious history and tradition) for "pro-life" and you have a similar response to the "Are Mormons Christians?" debate.

[Hoodat]

1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle,[a] and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’[b] 8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Matthew 20:1-15