Mitt Romney
Willard "Mitt" Romney (born March 12, 1947), served as the governor of Massachusetts from 2002 to 2006 and is a Republican candidate in the 2008 presidential election. If elected, he would become the first Mormon president.
Contents
Personal
Currently, Romney is gaining popularity because his stable marriage attracts conservative audiences who are unhappy with John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Newt Gingrich's many divorces. The irony that the Mormon has been married the least times of all the candidates was pointed out by Romney's wife, Ann, who said the difference between her husband and the other Republican candidates is that "he's had only one wife."[1] While Romney himself has only one wife, polygamy is in his family history. His great-grandfather had five wives and at least one of his great-great grandfathers had twelve.[2]
Romney is the son of former Michigan Governor and presidential candidate George Romney, a "Rockefeller Republican," according to Lisa McGirr, in the book Suburban Warriors, Copyright 2001, Princeton University Press, p. 141, 222. Many Massachusetts Republicans do not connect the father's politics with the son's, much like Presidents George Herbert Walker Bush and George Walker Bush.
Political Views
Abortion
"I am pro-life. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate." (Boston Globe, Mitt Romney Editorial, July 26, 2005)
[3]
In a 1994 debate with Senator Edward Kennedy, Romney said that abortion should be legal, declaring that "regardless of one's beliefs about choice, you would hope it would be safe and legal." "Many years ago, I had a dear, close family relative that was very close to me who passed away from an illegal abortion", Romney said. "It is since that time my mother and my family have been committed to the belief that we can believe as we want, but we will not force our beliefs on others on that matter. And you will not see me wavering on that." [3]
In his campaign literature for the 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election Mitt Romney expressed a willingness to defend that States pro-choice status quo.[4]
Civil Unions
Romney is opposed to the idea of gay marriage, however he has voiced support for domestic partnership benefits and equal rights for homosexuals.[5]
Economic Agenda
As President, Governor Mitt Romney will pursue a Conservative, Pro-Growth Economic Agenda. Governor Romney's number one economic priority will be to grow the economy — helping to create good jobs, raise incomes and preserve American strength. He will work to rein in excessive government spending and reform entitlements. To ensure America's continued economic growth, he will fight to cut taxes — the Death Tax, savings taxes, corporate taxes and marginal tax rates.
Governor Romney will also promote trade, bring market forces to bear in health care, pursue national tort and liability reform, eliminate excessive regulations that put a burden on our economy and strengthen American families.
Overall Economic Priorities
- Lowering Taxes: Proposes lowering tax rates for all Americans.
- Spending: Believes Washington's focus should be on cutting spending.
- National Tort Reform: Supports nationwide reforms to our tort system.
- Union Card Check Legislation: Supports the rights of workers to decide whether to join a union or not.
- Regulatory Reform and Sarbanes-Oxley: Believes the Washington regulatory burden is too high.
Immigration
Immigration has been an important part of our nation's success. The current system, however, puts up a concrete wall to the best and brightest, yet those without skill or education are able to walk across the border. We must reform the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders, implement a mandatory biometrically enabled, tamper proof documentation and employment verification system, and increase legal immigration into America. [6]
- Des Moines Register: Romney: Reform Immigration, Allow Students To Stay
- IowaPolitics.com: Romney Touts Strong Stance On Illegal Immigration
- On 5/24/07, Romney spoke about how he was tolerant about Gays and then he discussed the current illegal immigration bill before Congress:
He expressed less tolerance for illegal immigrants, and said he and President Bush have a difference of opinions on a bill that would provide a path toward legalization for an estimated 12 million people unlawfully in the country."He has his view, and other people have their views and I have my own," Romney said. "This is for all intents and purposes a form of amnesty in that everyone who is here illegally today will be able to stay under this bill."
The bill is unfair to people who are trying to come to the country legally, he said. People here illegally should be able to apply to come to the United States, but under the same terms as everyone else and behind those who have already applied.
"I don't think that we're going to round up 11 or 12 or however many million people and bus them out of the country. That's not what I'm talking about," Romney said. "Those who committed felonies, of course, would be deported. Those who require government assistance to stay here would surely need to get off government assistance and ultimately could not remain here on government assistance."[7]
Stem Cell Research
Mitt Romney supports the right of scientists to research on embryos created during fertility treatments.[8]
Criticism
Romney's critics attack his inconsistent track record on issues such as abortion and gay marriage to the point where he has gotten the nickname "Multiple Choice Mitt." A man dressed as a dolphin calling himself Flipper has appeared at some recent conservative gatherings to bring attention to Romney's inconsistent stands on abortion and gay marriage. Although Romney now identifies himself as pro-life and anti-same sex marriage, he claimed to be pro choice and supported same-sex rights as late as 2002. These swaps coupled with his Mormon affiliation puts him at odds with much of the Evangelical right, but a PollingReport.com chart from March 3, 2007 indicates that Mitt was still polling at approximately 7% within the GOP primary forecasts.
Mitt Romney also changed his positions on gun control. He was originally for it, but recently joined the NRA, an organization opposed to it, despite having hunted only twice in his life at the time.
Is Romney's Faith Christian?
While Romney is trying to make points on that "Jesus is my Saviour" and he doesn't speak for his church, or his church for him, the fact is that his beliefs are not Christian. Mormons believe that the Book of Mormon is a better revelation than the Bible (which has many mistakes), that God has a body of fless and blood, and he is married to the Queen of Heavens; that the leaders of the church receive direct revelations from God; that you have to be baptized for your deceased ancestors.
References
External links
- Mitt Romney for President 2008
- Mitt Romney and Mormonism - MormonWiki.org
