A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Josh Riddle, on the scene in Hanover, asks below if we'd like to suggest questions for the candidates. Here's mine:
Mitt Romney during his 1994 debate with Sen. Edward Kennedy:
Look, I was an Independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.
Mitt Romney, earlier this year:
Ronald Reagan was a transformative president. America entered the Reagan era as one kind of country and exited it another. His mixture of extraordinary personal and political qualities made it possible.
Gov. Romney, you've been accused of hypocrisy and crass political opportunism. Why are these charges unfounded?
Added at 2:30 PM Pacific:
Out of deference to my friend Frozen Chosen, who suggests that the wording of the sentence above is, well, too much, I offer his alternative. (I prefer putting the matter sharply; Frozen Chosen, putting it courteously. Both wordings get the job done.)
Gov. Romney, how do your reconcile your critical statements about Ronald Reagan in 1994 with those you made last year praising him?
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Dec '10
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Where's the dang LIKE button?
Aug '10
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
What possible answer could Romney give to a question like this that would satisfy you, Peter?
Dec '10
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
It's almost the same as "when did you stop beating your wife," but Mitt painted himself into this corner and has to explain himself. With one question you've succinctly summerized the entire conservative problem with Romney.
Dec '10
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Aren't the questions supposed to be focused on the economy?
Hey, where'd my avatar go?
Why does falling toast always land buttered side down?
May '10
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
How about, "Do you see the so-called social issues as being separate from or essentially related to fiscal and economic issues?"
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Ouch. It just gets worse if you watch the whole video.
Feb '11
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Gov. Romney: In Massachusetts everyone now has insurance, but finding a doctor is increasingly difficult. Waiting times are increasing, costs are increasing and doctors are leaving the state. You've already made it clear that you don't favor transplanting the healthcare reform you signed to the rest of the nation. Do you still believe that it was good for Massachusetts?
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Two thoughts, Frozen:
1) Romney could admit that in 1994 he made a terrible, callow mistake. An honest accounting--facing up to his earlier position instead of glibly ignoring it--would count for a lot with me.
2) I may be misreading you, but you seem annoyed that I suggested the question. Why? Romney said what he said. Is it unfair to press him to run an honest campaign?
Sep '10
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Governor Romney:
Former Governor and then President Reagan broke a wildcat strike by air traffic controllers while you were an Independent. For those of us who think only Governor Christie has the backbone to face that kind of challenge down, how unpopular are you prepared to be to rollback the domestic and foreign Leviathans that currently threatens the Republic?
Apr '11
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Adam, it's an attack video of a debate from around the time that Perry was a democrat (and, for that matter, about the same time before his presidential run that Reagan was a democrat). He got rolled in a debate with Ted Kennedy and didn't run again for almost a decade, during which time he grew tremendously. Not in the video, but in the reports of the debate and of the election, are Mitt's concern for small government and generally keen fiscal conservatism. Not having gone through it, I'm not sure if it includes Kennedy's charge that Mitt wasn't really pro-choice, the multiple choice attack that still dominates attacks against him today.
Apr '11
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Peter Robinson
Two thoughts, Frozen:
1) Romney could admit that in 1994 he made a terrible, callow mistake. An honest accounting--facing up to his earlier position instead of glibly ignoring it--would count for a lot with me.
2) I may be misreading you, but you seem annoyed that I suggested the question. Why? Romney said what he said. Is it unfair to press him to run an honest campaign? ·
I can't answer for Frozen, but to me the question seems gratuitously insulting, and as if the insults hide more than they reveal. Asking about the "Independent" quote does seem like a good, tough, question. Adding a pro-Reagan quote seems like a needless gotcha; of course he likes Reagan now (he did, then, too, and voted for him before). Add the "hypocrisy and crass political opportunism" and you're becoming a jerk rather than someone wanting to explore the issue. Particularly given your earlier podcast statements (I think they were yours) about not caring about other candidates being Democrats earlier in their lives, but being offended by Romney.
Oct '10
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Peter Robinson: Gov. Romney, you've been accused of hypocrisy and crass political opportunism. Why are these charges unfounded?
MR: Mr. Riddle thank you for the question. Historians will tell you, and I'm sure Newt can attest to the fact, that history is not static and it is often most relevant when viewed in the context of the present. In that first quote, we were just two years removed from the Reagan-Bush administrations during which I was an independent who had particular issues with (insert some credible policy distinction, immigration?). An additional two decades since that time has given all of us the chance to gain greater perspective, and in the context of our current economic crisis exacerbated by the Obama administration and the threats we face at our borders and abroad, one cannot help but look at Ronald Reagan as transformative. Instead of hypocrisy, I would argue that I have gained important perspective from my years and experience in the private sector and government.
Edited on Oct 11, 2011 at 2:01pmAug '10
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Peter Robinson
Two thoughts, Frozen:
1) Romney could admit that in 1994 he made a terrible, callow mistake. An honest accounting--facing up to his earlier position instead of glibly ignoring it--would count for a lot with me.
2) I may be misreading you, but you seem annoyed that I suggested the question. Why? Romney said what he said. Is it unfair to press him to run an honest campaign? · Oct 11 at 1:19pm
In response to your thoughts, Peter;
1) I agree this would be a good answer
2) it's not your question I object to so much as your phrasing. Perhaps something along these lines would be better; "How do your reconcile your critical statements about Ronald Reagan in 1992 with those you made last year praising him?"
May '10
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
James Of England
Peter Robinson
2) I may be misreading you, but you seem annoyed that I suggested the question. Why? Romney said what he said. Is it unfair to press him to run an honest campaign? ·
I can't answer for Frozen, but to me the question seems gratuitously insulting, and as if the insults hide more than they reveal. Asking about the "Independent" quote does seem like a good, tough, question. Adding a pro-Reagan quote seems like a needless gotcha; of course he likes Reagan now (he did, then, too, and voted for him before). Add the "hypocrisy and crass political opportunism" and you're becoming a jerk rather than someone wanting to explore the issue. Particularly given your earlier podcast statements (I think they were yours) about not caring about other candidates being Democrats earlier in their lives, but being offended by Romney. · Oct 11 at 1:51pm
It is politics not checkers. Peter's question was in order! What is Mitt's response?
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
That would be a good test for any of them. How thoughtful are they? That is what we want to know.
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
James Of England
Adam, it's an attack video of a debate from around the time that Perry was a democrat (and, for that matter, about the same time before his presidential run that Reagan was a democrat). He got rolled in a debate with Ted Kennedy and didn't run again for almost a decade, during which time he grew tremendously. Not in the video, but in the reports of the debate and of the election, are Mitt's concern for small government and generally keen fiscal conservatism. Not having gone through it, I'm not sure if it includes Kennedy's charge that Mitt wasn't really pro-choice, the multiple choice attack that still dominates attacks against him today. · Oct 11 at 1:46pm
It is an edited video, but Romney presents himself as a left-liberal on a whole series of issues: abortion, affirmative action. . . The list is long. If he grew, he owes us an accounting of how he grew and why. I have no doubt that Perry has an explanation for why he became a Republican.
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Oh, gotcha. That's a perfectly fair comment. When asking a question, my training--and, I suppose my natural impulse--is to state the matter as sharply or vividly as possible. Romney is being accused of opportunism--I myself find the charge difficult to refute--so I'd tend to put it to him in just those terms. But in substance there's no difference at all between my phrasing and yours, and I can easily understand why you--and, for that matter, lots of people--would prefer a more polite or courteous way of asking the question. Thanks again, Frozen.
Edited on Oct 11, 2011 at 2:22pmApr '11
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Paul A. Rahe
James Of England
It is an edited video, but Romney presents himself as a left-liberal on a whole series of issues: abortion, affirmative action. . . The list is long. If he grew, he owes us an accounting of how he grew and why. I have no doubt that Perry has an explanation for why he became a Republican. ·
On abortion: He gives the reason for his earlier view in the video, although even then he draws a distinction between his personal views and legality. He didn't spend much time thinking about the issue (hence the half-hearted pro-choice stance that Kennedy attacked him for). As governor, during embryonic stem cell debates a scientific advisor demonstrated a disregard for life that shocked him and persuaded him that legalisation had done more harm than he had realised.
On affirmative action: he was calling for minimal reporting requirements for large companies. He's showing sympathy for the concern while denying real support. As governor one of his first steps was to reduce the affirmative action requirements in Massachusetts (again while declaring support). Compare with Perry's policy of appointing a "mosaic that represents the different cultures".
Dec '10
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
Some follow up questions. Mr. Romney
- why do you continue to advocate for Romneycare and it's individual mandate?
- why did you suggest that Romneycare was a good model for the other 49 states?
- why do you support the discredited left wing agenda of Global Warming?
- why do you continue to advocate for government ethanol subsidies
- why do you advocate actions that would precipitate a disastrous trade war with China
- please list your core conservative principles and explain why they are now different from your previously held core principles?
Sep '10
Re: A Question for Josh to Ask Mitt
I thought your question was tough but fair. I think listeners would get a lot more out of his response to it than to a much toned down version. Isn't the point to challenge?
Peter Robinson
Oh, gotcha. That's a perfectly fair comment. When asking a question, my training--and, I suppose my natural impulse--is to state the matter as sharply or vividly as possible. Romney is being accused of opportunism--I myself find the charge difficult to refute--so I'd tend to put it to him in just those terms. But in substance there's no difference at all between my phrasing and yours, and I can easily understand why you--and, for that matter, lots of people--would prefer a more polite or courteous way of asking the question. Thanks again, Frozen. · Oct 11 at 2:18pm
Edited on Oct 11 at 02:22 pm