When Did You Go Romney?
I realize that not all of us joined the Romney camp. Maybe we're going third party. Maybe we're not big on voting. Maybe we just can't get behind him yet. But as a center-right camp here, most of us have joined Team Romney.
And I'm curious what pushed you over the edge. I was thinking about this because a friend of mine remarked on something he read in Ben Domenech's The Transom today, explaining how he decided to go for Romney. The hook is a Michael Barone column giving examples of how President Obama has listened to his elite donors at the expense of good campaign strategy. There's his decision to support redefining marriage to include same-sex couples. There's his stance on Keystone. And there's this:
The second issue on which Obama seems to have been listening to his money-givers was the health insurance mandate requiring employers to pay for contraceptives and abortifacients.
Many rich liberals feel strongly that women's "reproductive rights" (actually, the right not to reproduce) are so vital that government must ensure they have free access to contraception, even though it is widely available and inexpensive.
That's one view. Roman Catholic bishops and leaders of Catholic institutions feel that such services are sinful and refuse to provide them. They cite the Constitution's guarantee of free exercise of religion, while the other side relies on what courts have called "emanations" and "penumbras" radiating from constitutional texts.
The political point is that, as polling suggests, most Americans don't like government forcing people to violate their religious convictions. That's in line with tradition in a country that exempted those with religiously based conscientious objections from military service in a war in which more than 400,000 Americans were killed.
My friend says that prior this mandate coming out, he was pretty sure he wouldn't vote for Romney. But President Obama's aggressive action pushed him right into the Romney camp as the best means for fighting onerous restrictions on religious freedom.
My friend is most definitely not an evangelical Christian, though he is religious. Still, Domenech's take on this column is apt:
But as Barone notes, the other reason Romney has brought everyone back into the fold is thanks to two decisions on the part of President Obama and his administration since the primary ended which struck directly at the constituency which functioned as the longest Romney holdout: evangelical Christians. Obama's decisions on marriage and the conscience mandate served as an immediate boost to Romney among the die-hard skeptics, the 'faith and freedom' holdouts who kept Rick Santorum's presidential campaign alive long past the point where it was pining for the fjords. My own opinion, as you know, is that Romney will have more problems with independents than conservatives – the former haven’t yet seen the coming thermonuclear negative ad deluge, but the latter follow the old Michael Kelly sandwich dictum at the ballot box. http://vlt.tc/bpb Romney can thank President Obama for reminding the evangelicals of that.
Even if you were already supportive of Romney, did Obama's own goals here make you more committed? Or what moved you?
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Comments:
May '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I went for Romney after Mitch Daniels, Haley Barbour, Chris Christie, and Paul Ryan said they wouldn't run. He had the GOP bundler network behind him as early as 2009 and he has displayed the willingness to engage in the tough give-and-take necessary to bring down a Chicago machine politician like Obama. None of the actual candidates were an ideological fit for me (Perry came the second closest) so I guess it came down to whoever was most likely to knock Obama out of office.
He's not an perfect candidate by any means but I've always subscribed to the theory that a strong, conservative House will keep him ideologically honest. I may very well be wrong but I'm not sure we had a better option.
Nov '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
Romney was my (distant) second choice after Perry so as soon as Perry dropped out I was on board the Romney train. Executive experience, as we have again discovered in this administration, is priceless in a new president.
May '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I went for Romney only after he won Texas' delegates. I voted in Texas against him. I don't much cotton to him still, but I'll vote for any warm heart beat that isn't a democrat at this point.
Apr '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I still can't get excited about Romney. Should he win, the press will beat up on him as they would any Republican for being too cheap and starving the poor, etc. Will Romney have the guts to keep marching forward or will he retreat? I expect retreat. I don't think he's even claiming that he's going to make massive cuts, which is what we need.
Having said that, I hope he wins. If I lived in a state he had a chance of winning, I'd give him my vote. Since he has no chance whatsoever of carrying my state (Minnesota) and my presidential vote will be merely symbolic, I'll be voting for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate.
Nov '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
Jay Nordlinger posted on the Corner a rant decrying Gingrich (whom I had supported up to that point) and Santorum's attacks on Bain Capital, and while reading it I realized that one of his points was dead on; of all the people in the Republican debates no one was as forceful and unapologetic in their defense of capitalism as Mitt Romney. Even Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann came across as more anti-government than pro-capitalist.
That said, Obama's attacks on the Catholic Church (I am Catholic, for the record) did affect me in one way. I have long been an outspoken critic and opponent of Ron Paul whom I consider unrealistic on domestic policy and outright dangerous on foreign policy. In the unlikely event that he won the nomination, that would be the first election I would skip. The HHS fiasco caused me to decide that, yes, Barack Obama was so awful that voting for Ron Paul was a viable option.
Apr '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But, I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley . . . wait! That's not right!
I knew all along that I would vote for whomever had that R behind his name. I mean, even the worst Republican would by far better represent what is important to me than the best Democrat -- and Obama is not even close to the best Democrat. But -- and this is very superficial, but honest -- I first started to feel enthusiastic about Mitt when I found out that his wife, Ann, is a Grand Prix-level dressage rider. Such a dearth of dressage sensibilities we've suffered in the White House! There could be no more interesting and delightful first lady than she. That, and a particular post-primary victory speech (forget which state) Mitt gave that made me think, "Oh. He does get it. Coolio. OK, I'm with ya."
Dec '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
Not to quibble over small trifles, however, we are not a “right of center” camp here, but a “center right camp”. This is an important distinction that allows me to participate with less hand wringing from my significantly better half.
Jun '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
When WILL I go for Romney? Last day of October. It's on my calendar.
May '12
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I think I am politically connected and talk politics with friends and family regularly. I know I am one of the Ricoteer cynics on this topic, but I have not, nor have I spoken to anyone that has 'gone for Romney'. I hear repeated comments like Skyler that it isn't a matter of being for Romney as much as it is being against Obama.
This is my biggest fear of the election. We don't elect people out, we elect someone in, we vote For someone and I am hard pressed to find anyone For Romney.
I think Gov. Romney has a problem with this as well. When Obama went to Ohio this week he went there to talk about himself (and a little about G.W. Bush). Romney also went to Ohio to talk about....Obama.
If all we are ever going to do is talk about Obama, don't be surprised when a bunch of undecided voters wander into a polling place in November and re-elect Obama because that is all they are hearing about.
Jun '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
In 2008 -- and not just because I despise McCain but because I liked Romney and came to see him as a trustworthy, decent and good man.
This time, though, I supported Newt Gingrich until he dropped out and it was an easy transition to Mitt. (And Justine, you are so right about Ann Romney -- she will be a first class first lady.)
I'm still a little worried about Mitt's ability to go head to head with Obama's team. Chickening out early on the Jeremiah Wright issue (when he could have just kept quiet) is a warning bell for me. Two more like that and I will withdraw my support. But, I will still vote for him.
Nov '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
What of you, Mollie?
Edited on June 15, 2012 at 7:07pmApr '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
LOL...
One of the candidates has the appearance of goodness (Obama/Wickham), while the other actually possess the trait (Romney/Darcy).
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
Bluenoser
Not to quibble over small trifles, however, we are not a “right of center” camp here, but a “center right camp”. This is an important distinction that allows me to participate with less hand wringing from my significantly better half. · 27 minutes ago
Ah man, I always get that wrong. I think it's because I identify as libertarian and the "right-left" thing confuses me a bit. I'll fix though!
Jun '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I went with Mitt fairly early, though I was a big fan of Mitch Daniels.
Even though I was an early supporter, I have had reservations. For example, I have a close friend who works for one of the Super-PACs that supports Romney. We're close enough that I've sent him two flame-mails (one on Romneycare, one when he suggested raising the minimum wage).
That said, I would have supported unreservedly any of the Republican candidates. While I think Romney will be much better on the economy (especially with a Republican House and Senate), one of my big issues is foreign policy, where I think Romney will be light-years better. He'll embrace Israel (a huge issue for me) and won't allow Iran and other tin-pot dictatorships to tromp all over us. (John Bolton would be a great Secretary of State).
Even if Romney were, to borrow Jonah's issue, a "feckless crap weasel," Obama governs like a 16-year-old with a fast car and all the whiskey he can drink.
Edited on June 15, 2012 at 6:07pmJun '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
Lady Bertrum: LOL...
One of the candidates has the appearance of goodness (Obama/Wickham), while the other actually possess the trait (Romney/Darcy). · 8 minutes ago
Well, D'Arcy was closed and forbidding in aspect and Mitt is not -- but, I love the allusion and its use here. Kudos.
Jul '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
BrentB67: I think I am politically connected and talk politics with friends and family regularly. I know I am one of the Ricoteer cynics on this topic, but I have not, nor have I spoken to anyone that has 'gone for Romney'. I hear repeated comments like Skyler that it isn't a matter of being for Romney as much as it is being against Obama.
This is my biggest fear of the election. We don't elect people out, we elect someone in, we vote For someone and I am hard pressed to find anyone For Romney.
I think Gov. Romney has a problem with this as well. When Obama went to Ohio this week he went there to talk about himself (and a little about G.W. Bush). Romney also went to Ohio to talk about....Obama.
If all we are ever going to do is talk about Obama, don't be surprised when a bunch of undecided voters wander into a polling place in November and re-elect Obama because that is all they are hearing about. · 25 minutes ago
Definitely this. It's the pragmatism of not splitting the vote to ensure Obama is ousted.
Jan '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I haven't and likely won't. And since I live in Georgia, where he'll certainly win the electoral votes without me, I don't have to. If I end up voting for him, it'll be because I'll have decided, out of laziness, to select the 'straight ticket' option. Heck I might just vote for myself.
Mar '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I went for Mr Romney when it became apparent that the syphilitic camel is not running.
I am feeling better about him as he becomes more aggressive (Mr Romney, that is).
Conservatism may not be his first language, but capitalism is - good enough for me, after the current Mar... um, I mean, liberal in the White House.
Apr '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
Romney won me over when I realized that Santorum really was too disorganized and unprepared for a national election. I think that was in Michigan...I really want us to win this one. I really think we need to.
Frankly Romney grows on me every day and I think that is because I am comparing him to Obama. I am also becoming impressed by the fact that Romney is fighting the O at every turn...
I was a Chris Christie fan and still am. The reason for that is because I like fighters. I am now also a big Scott Walker fan.
"Americans love a winner, and will not tolerate a looser."
George C. Scott (Patton)
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I'm not a Romney supporter. I have no doubt that he fits within the Republican Party but I don't view that as a compliment. I worry about his principles, much less his fidelity to them.
I'm not saying I wouldn't vote for him, or that I can't say nice things about him, but I think his instinct is toward big government and a managerial approach to same. I do not think that is what's needed at this time.
And while in the short run I could see the argument that he's better for the country, I'm inclined to think that in the long run it may be best to not have a managerial Republican overseeing things in the next four years.
And while normally I'd just sit on these thoughts and vote Libertarian or for someone else, I moved from DC to Virginia since the last election, I'm trying to pick the best option.