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:
Jun '12
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
At risk of sounding the bigot here, my primary objection to Romney is not his pasty Jimmy Olsen, "gosh Miss Lane!" demeanor, or even his alacrity for testing political winds and successfully positioning himself to benefit from full sails (it's more a zig-zag than a flip-flop, which I find somehow less disheartening.) And, to borrow from Lady Bertram's allusion above: it's not even that he's so, so, rich; after all, "the poor man can't help it." No, it's the simple fact that he is Mormon. I'll gladly leave the delicate question of the salvation of his immortal soul in the capable hands of Him with Whom we Have to Do, yet I must question the judgement of anyone who self identifies with the occult practice and scandalous origin of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Much as I would question the sanity of a man who sincerely believed he could flap his arms and fly to the moon, I find Mitt's adult participation in the Mormon Church troubling.
When it's time to vote, however, I'm for anyone who is not Barack Hussein Obama.
Dec '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I'm still not there, but I don't think any politician is the solution to our problems. I am, however, all for not making the pain any worse than it already is, and Obama is like chewing on tin foil while shaving your head with a cheese grater.
May '12
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
Romney = no cheese grater?
Dec '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
BrentB67
Romney = no cheese grater? · 2 minutes ago
To loosely quote Jonah Goldberg, it's better like when your proctologist takes off his watch...
Nov '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
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.
Okay. Just making sure.
Nov '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
December. (Though I gave Santorum a second look before voting.) He seemed more likely to enact a Ryan-style Medicare reform than anyone else. If it had not been for Romneycare, I would have gone for him sooner; that issue made me look at all the others very closely.
I believe he loves capitalism and the things that are best about America. I do not think our enemies will see him as a weak president. He has a competent businessman's aversion to deficits. He'll make solid appointments to the Supreme Court. I expect him to work well with conservatives in Congress. The issue of Obamacare repeal depends heavily on the Senate.
Romney won't be set on discovering new ways to violate the Constitution, to restrict freedom of speech and religion, or to take control of as much of the private sector as possible. If we think four more years of such actions by Obama can be undone, or will discredit liberalism more than it already is, I'm afraid we're deluding ourselves. We should try to preserve what we have left now -- not hope for a better chance later.
Edited on June 15, 2012 at 7:27pmAug '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
March 23, 2012. I wrote about it here.
The money line.
I enthusiastically support him now and I am truly enjoying watching Team Romney outmaneuver Team Obama and "The Smartest President There Ever Was - Ever(tm)"
Edited on June 15, 2012 at 7:15pmMar '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I hate when I do that.
Mar '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I liked Romney better than McCain last time.
This time I could not commit to any of the candidates. They all had great moments and painful moments.
I went for Romney just the second he wrapped up the Republican nomination. I am not a Republican but would vote for my dog before I voted for Obama
May '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I worry about how effectively Romney will be able to govern. I would have had more confidence in Paul Ryan or others, but I must say I am enjoying how well he seems to be sticking it to Mr. Obama.
Jan '12
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I wish I had your integrity. I'll probably send him some cash sometime in late September or early October. Rich as he is, he'll need help in dealing with whatever evil scheme Axelrod will brew.
The moment Romney takes office, I'll be sending a much bigger check to the Allen West 2020 campaign HQ.
Jun '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
gnarlydad:
... No, it's the simple fact that he is Mormon. I'll gladly leave the delicate question of the salvation of his immortal soul in the capable hands of Him with Whom we Have to Do, yet I must question the judgement of anyone who self identifies with the occult practice and scandalous origin of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Much as I would question the sanity of a man who sincerely believed he could flap his arms and fly to the moon, I find Mitt's adult participation in the Mormon Church troubling.
...
You have much to learn about religion.
Mar '12
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
What am I? I left the Republicans because I no longer believed that they wanted to support positions I arrived with, and I am now registered as an independent. I have contacted my House member on some issues, so the Republicans are mailing me looking for donations.
Last presidential election McCain, that maverick, made me so ill that I did not plan to vote for the presidential slot at all. I was enamored about Palin and voted the McCain/Palin ticket, but was not surprised when it failed. The new Messiah won the election in 2008.
I did vote for Gingrich in the primaries, and he did win in this state.
I won't vote for O'Bama for reasons so numerous I'd have to start a new thread, so at this junction my vote is Romney's to lose. I do dislike voting for moderates but I do loath Democrats.
Nov '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
Well said.
Jun '12
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
Larry Koler
gnarlydad:
... No, it's thesimple fact that he is Mormon. I'll gladly leave the delicate question of the salvation of his immortal soul in the capable hands of Him with Whom we Have to Do, yet I must question the judgement of anyone who self identifies with the occult practice and scandalous origin of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Much as I would question the sanity of a man who sincerely believed he could flap his arms and fly to the moon, I find Mitt's adult participation in the Mormon Church troubling.
...
You have much to learn about religion. · 59 minutes ago
Probably true, if I take your meaning correctly. I'm fairly certain my faith looks quite as outlandish to others as the Mormon faith looks to me, as nearly any Protestant denomination we could name was at one time considered a cult. Perhaps I ought not to have brought it up here.
Jul '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
Yep, sounds like a bigot.
-E
Apr '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
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.
Do you have a non-Romneycare problem with his principles as Governor of Massachusetts? Can you distinguish between Romney's "managerial" approach to entitlement reform and Ryan's?
For me, incidentally, the answers are 1: January 27th, 2007, 2: Obama's missteps made me feel more hopeful, but did not significantly change my degree of commitment and 3: My commitment is based on a belief that Romney is effective at, and interested in, actually delivering on limited government, and preserving America's social fabric and military power. The strongest reinforcement is objection to "MBA-style" reforms, when that is what it takes to cut.
Apr '11
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
gnarlydad
Larry Koler
gnarlydad:
...
You have much to learn about religion. ·
Probably true, if I take your meaning correctly. I'm fairly certain my faith looks quite as outlandish...... Perhaps I ought not to have brought it up here. ·
I think that if CandE's comment hurts you, you should avoid controversial statements, but that Ricochet is a vibrant and worthwhile community in part because we do not shame those who hold politically incorrect views. Rather, we learn from people who hold them. There are all kinds of unpopular claims that have been made here, but often a poster making an unusual claim will support it with an interesting argument, and even if we don't end up believing the claim, the debate leaves us better and more informed citizens.
Do you think, for instance, that Mitt's beliefs are likely to make him generally irrational on substance, such that making sound appointments, effective budgets, etc., would be difficult? Did some exception allow him to excel at these in business?
Alternatively, do you think he would be unable to persuade congress or the electorate as a result of his beliefs? How does his poor judgment manifest?
Aug '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
Well - now that you've smeared 14 million people - welcome anyway, brother.
May '10
Re: When Did You Go Romney?
I initially supported Newt for his big-picture vision and his comprehensive grasp of government, and I still think he would have been the best. But that is history. I think I finally became a supporter of Romney because of Reagan. Pining for a Reagan-like candidate I asked myself, What made him great? And I concluded that, more than anything else, it was his moral character and his cheerful disposition. At that point I realized, Romney just might be the Reagan I was seeking. Nobody's perfect, especially on policy. But it is the fool who allows the perfect to be the enemy of the good. Character counts, and Romney beats Obama in spades on that score.