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 candidates is that "he's had only one wife."[1] While Romney himself has only one wife polygamy is very recent in his family history. His great-grandfather had five wives and at least one of his great-great grandfathers had 12.[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 his campaign literature for the 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election Mitt Romney expressed a willingness to defend that States pro-choice status quo.[3]
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.[4]
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. [5]
- Des Moines Register: Romney: Reform Immigration, Allow Students To Stay
- IowaPolitics.com: Romney Touts Strong Stance On Illegal Immigration
Stem Cell Research
Mitt Romney supports the right of scientists to research on embryos created during fertility treatments.[6]
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.
References
External links
- Mitt Romney for President 2008
- Mitt Romney and Mormonism - MormonWiki.org
