A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
On the front page of the New York Times this morning, a long story on Mitt Romney's positions on abortion. In both his unsuccessful 1994 senate race and his successful 2002 gubernatorial race, the Times notes, Romney campaigned as unambiguously pro-choice.
Then? "By 2005, with Mr. Romney eyeing a possible presidential bid, he began to distance himself from his abortion rights platform." In an article that June in National Review, Romney stated "[m]y political philosophy is pro-life."
Which brings us to the sentence that made me wince:
That same article quoted his top strategist at the time, Mike Murphy, as saying Mr. Romney had been "a pro-life Mormon faking it as a pro-choice friendly."
"Faking it?" As best I can tell, there really is no other way of construing this. Mike was suggesting that Romney intentionally misled the people of Massachusetts.
Behind-the-scenes politics, as Ronald Reagan once remarked, can be "like seeing civilization with its pants down."
- Comment (142)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (7)
Comments:
Feb '12
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Do you realize that your statement sounds to those of us who oppose Romney as: "Shut up about Romney!" "Resistance is Futile!"
You may not think of yourself as saying that but what else are we to get out of it? We have real problems with him. Peter R articulates those better than anyone that I read or hear. I don't want him to sit down and shut up.
BTW, I hear him carping about the wisdom of accepting Romney more than "how awful the entire Republican field is". I say preach it brother Robinson!
May '10
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Rush quoting you today Peter!
Apr '11
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Busy System Admin
James Of England
Gingrich came out with a lot of anti-Reagan stuff that was anti-Reagan in context, and really, there is no context that makes comparing him to Chamberlain at Munich OK, or calling for a freeze in failed Reaganomics, or accusing him of violating the trust to be fundamentally honest and a strong leader.
But to use a few quotes from a speech, and twist them out of context to imply Gingrich was anti-Reagan as a whole, is clearly a distortion and a false characterization of the man. · 4 hours ago
It's not that Newt was anti-Reagan, it's that Newt had no ally he admired enough not to regularly betray in the most vivid language possible.
Several of those lines, in long form context, are about Newt suggesting that he's not like Reagan and other Republicans shouldn't be either; he didn't talk that way to conservatives, but he played it up when talking to moderates.
I don't think pointing that out is as dishonest as claiming that Nancy Reagan was passing the torch to Newt when she passed it to all Republicans in Congress.
Dec '10
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
James Of England
It's not that Newt was anti-Reagan, it's that Newt had no ally he admired enough not to regularly betray in the most vivid language possible.
Several of those lines, in long form context, are about Newt suggesting that he's not like Reagan and other Republicans shouldn't be either; he didn't talk that way to conservatives, but he played it up when talking to moderates.
I don't think pointing that out is as dishonest as claiming that Nancy Reagan was passing the torch to Newt when she passed it to all Republicans in Congress. · 3 hours ago
And yet if Nancy Reagan had offered the torch to Mitt Romney, he would have (figuratively) taken it from her, screamed, "Burn, witch," and set her on fire with it.
See, I regard as vivid language the following: “I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I’m not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.”
Between Gingrich and Romney, I know which one I trust to follow Reagan's blueprint more closely. And I like Reagan's blueprint.
Feb '12
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Give me the quote where Mitt Romney says he is pro choice. Granted, he finessed the subject to please his electorate, but he never uttered a falsehood.
Apr '11
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Stuart Creque
And yet if Nancy Reagan had offered the torch to Mitt Romney, he would have (figuratively) taken it from her, screamed, "Burn, witch," and set her on fire with it.
See, I regard as vivid language the following: “I was an independentduring the time of Reagan-Bush. I’m not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.”
Between Gingrich and Romney, I know which one I trust to follow Reagan's blueprint more closely. And I like Reagan's blueprint. · 34 minutes ago
You know that the context was one of Mitt defending Welfare Reform, right? Kennedy wanted to change topic to Reagan supposedly breaking up homes and Mitt was saying that his proposals were nothing to do with Reagan, which they weren't. It's not like Mitt was being a liberal, advocating liberal policies, or saying that Reagan or Bush were in some way terrible people or a terrible failures. Just that his welfare reform had nothing to do with them.
Oct '11
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Chris Deleon
As to "surviving" Romney, you're missing my entire point. Most were unable, due to Romney's money advantage, to properly respond to the smears and distortions. That won't be the issue in the general election, where the two sides will be more equally funded. · 8 hours ago
Edited 8 hours ago
Ha. Haha. HAHAHAHAHA...
No, seriously. You're kidding, right?
Oct '11
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
The King Prawn
Defeating Obama is notthe long term goal. Restoring liberty is the long term goal. Defeating Obama is merely a waypoint. · 6 hours ago
Can't restore liberty without defeating Obama! Losing to Obama is not going to lead to liberty!
Oct '11
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Look, all you people saying that you don't like Romney so much that you'll not vote for him, you need to figure out if you're bluffing. I'm going to vote for whomever is the nominee (and thank God it's not going to be Ron Paul).
How far are you willing to take this?
I was a Democrat in 2008. I voted for Hillary Clinton. Obama's policies were (and of course still are) so bad that I swore I would never vote for him. Now, it turns out that I'm a conservative and Hillary's positions weren't (and still aren't) all that different from Obama's. I didn't know that 4 years ago, I just knew that Obama would wreck the country if he were elected. So I voted for McCain in the general.
If you really think Romney is that awful and will be that bad for the country, then you're in the wrong party, just as I was in the wrong party in 2008.
Dec '10
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
James Of England
Stuart Creque
And yet if Nancy Reagan had offered the torch to Mitt Romney, he would have (figuratively) taken it from her, screamed, "Burn, witch," and set her on fire with it.
See, I regard as vivid language the following: “I was an independentduring the time of Reagan-Bush. I’m not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.”
Between Gingrich and Romney, I know which one I trust to follow Reagan's blueprint more closely. And I like Reagan's blueprint. · 34 minutes ago
You know that the context was one of Mitt defending Welfare Reform, right? Kennedy wanted to change topic to Reagan supposedly breaking up homes and Mitt was saying that his proposals were nothing to do with Reagan, which they weren't. It's not like Mitt was being a liberal, advocating liberal policies, or saying that Reagan or Bush were in some way terrible people or a terrible failures. Just that his welfare reform had nothing to do with them.
I missed the part where he said, "I was a welfare-reform independent during Reagan-Bush" or "I parted ways with Reagan on welfare reform."
So context matters, but only when quoting Romney?
Dec '10
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Albert Arthur
The King Prawn
Defeating Obama is notthe long term goal. Restoring liberty is the long term goal. Defeating Obama is merely a waypoint. · 6 hours ago
Can't restore liberty without defeating Obama! Losing to Obama is not going to lead to liberty! · 36 minutes ago
Which is precisely the point of the people who are telling you that Romney is NOT the "most electable" of the GOP candidates in the general election.
Jul '10
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Stuart Creque
Palaeologus
Translation: don't you dare meddle with the adolescent romanticized narrative of this weeks ABR. · 8 minutes ago
As opposed to the adolescent romanticized narrative of Romney? Where whatever he once said he never really meant unless really his having really meant it is crucial to his winning some segment of the constituency this week? · 18 hours ago
We usually call that "pandering" Stuart.
Politicians pander. Mitt may be a bit worse (more transparent) than some, which is a legitimate critique of his skills as a political salesman.
I don't recall many of his supporters waxing poetic about this, however.
Jul '10
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Chris Deleon
Palaeologus
Chris Deleon
Do you deny that Romney* first started running vicious attack ads against Gingrich in Iowa? ...
Face it, if this race has been dirty and damaging to the GOP brand, it's Romney's* fault. Much of the strong antipathy Romney is seeing now is the blowback to his negative attacks; it's not just his lack of conservatism.
Translation: don't you dare meddle with the adolescent romanticized narrative of this weeks ABR.
I see you cannot deny the point, so you've fallen back to insults and projection.
Cannot deny which point? That Romney introduced misleading attacks to this campaign?
Of course I can, because it's a false claim.
The first I can recall (which weren't necessarily the first) were Michele Bachmann's attacks on Perry. They pre-dated Romney's ads.
History doesn't begin anew with the end of each fortnightly stand, regardless of an ABR's wish that it would.
Not that it matters. The entire "Mom! He hit me first!" line of argument strikes me as a pointless one.
They were always going to hit each other. That's what happens in competitive campaigns.
Apr '11
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Albert Arthur
Chris Deleon
As to "surviving" Romney, you're missing my entire point. Most were unable, due to Romney's money advantage, to properly respond to the smears and distortions. That won't be the issue in the general election, where the two sides will be more equally funded. · 8 hours ago
Edited 8 hours ago
Ha. Haha. HAHAHAHAHA...
No, seriously. You're kidding, right? · 2 hours ago
The news, lately, has suggested that Mitt might raise more than Obama. President Santorum could only take his office after achieving a win over astonishing financial odds, but it's more likely to be 3-1 than the 6-1 figure people quote for Florida. Add to that the greater media spin and I'd say that Florida was a pretty good test case, although it's obviously not a friendly one for Santorum (Florida vote: 13.3%). Mitt didn't spend much on the Tuesday elections, and no one spent much attacking Santorum in Iowa, while a lot of money was spent tearing down Santorum's rivals, so I'm not sure that there is a good comparator yet.
Apr '11
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Stuart Creque
James Of England
Stuart Creque
And yet if Nancy Reagan had offered the torch to Mitt Romney, he would have (figuratively) taken it from her, screamed, "Burn, witch," and set her on fire with it.
See, I regard as vivid language the following: “I was an independentduring the time of Reagan-Bush. I’m not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.”
Between Gingrich and Romney, I know which one I trust to follow Reagan's blueprint more closely. And I like Reagan's blueprint. ·
I missed the part where he said, "I was a welfare-reform independent during Reagan-Bush" or "I parted ways with Reagan on welfare reform."
So context matters, but only when quoting Romney? ·
He didn't say he parted ways with Reagan at all, just that he wasn't wanting to return to that era. Reagan would also have wanted to move on. Taking his being an independent out of context would be completely fair; you don't even need the quote. It's not the same as "Chamberlain at Munich", though, is it?
btw, here's a lovely video of Mitt being friendly with Nancy Reagan. Kind words are spoken.
Oct '11
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Stuart Creque
Which is precisely the point of the people who are telling you that Romney is NOT the "most electable" of the GOP candidates in the general election. · 3 hours ago
OK. Great. I'm not suggesting anyone drop out. I'm suggesting that Peter Robinson should be less negative about the field in general. I happen to think Romney's more electable than Gingrich or Santorum, which is why I'm going to vote for Romney. But if one of the other two is the nominee, I'll enthusiastically vote for them in November.
Dec '10
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
James Of England
He didn't say he parted ways with Reagan at all, just that he wasn't wanting to return to that era. Reagan would also have wanted to move on. Taking his being an independent out of context would be completely fair; you don't even need the quote. It's not the same as "Chamberlain at Munich", though, is it?
btw, here's a lovely video of Mitt being friendly with Nancy Reagan. Kind words are spoken. · 2 hours ago
"I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush" explicitly means "I did not stand with Reagan when he was President." It has no qualifier whatsoever about the issues he's speaking of: it's a declaration that he did not choose to be a Republican when Reagan was setting an agenda of freedom and prosperity for America.
It's nice that by 2010 Mitt figured out he had to make a pilgrimage to the Reagan Presidential Foundation. Quite a... change... from 1994, when he was terrified of the association.
Oct '11
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
Let me ask you a simple question Stuart: Whom would you rather have had in the Senate? Mitt Romney, or Ted Kennedy?
Mar '11
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
My biggest fear about Romney is he will destroy the Republican party and the damage that will happen while some sort of conservative collation can put together. Listen there are a lot of professional Republicans who livelihoods depend on Republicans controlling Washington. The number of nice jobs which go to Republican establishment are high when there is an insider Republican president. The managers of the Republican Industry (aka the establishment and there is a whole industry out there) always support the candidate which improves their jobs prospectives the most. They are politicians at heart even if they are working for an sub-industry like corn, so they don't think long term just short.
Cont.
Edited on February 14, 2012 at 3:29pmMar '11
Re: A Sentence I Wish I Hadn't Read
The Republican base can stay with the party when they look out for their own self-interest sometimes. However, when things start to get critical and the Republican Industry can't see past the next 5 years then they basically are alienating their core customer base. The establishment is running the Republican Industry into the ground because they are getting father away and worse about meeting their core customer demands to try to chase the marginal customers (independents) so get the all important largest market share to save themselves. They love Romney and want him as the CEO because his whole business model is stay the course to what has been successfully over the past 2 decades for the managers of the industry. The establishment is so afraid of going back to the dark ages (1920's to 1980's) which will mean loosing their jobs or at least large pay cuts, and thinking things will be a lot worse if they don’t run things. I don’t give the Republican party a lot of hope of Survival over the long term. They are on a path to destruction and I don’t see them changing paths
Edited on February 14, 2012 at 11:33pm