Difference between revisions of "Mitt Romney"

Revision as of 03:46, November 16, 2018

Willard Mitt Romney
70th Governor of Massachusetts From: January 2, 2003 – January 4, 2007
Predecessor	Jane Swift
Successor	Deval Patrick
Information
Party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Ann Romney
Religion	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Willard Mitt Romney, most popularly known as Mitt Romney, (born March 12, 1947) is an establishment, globalist,^[1] and RINO^[2] American politician. He is also an anti-Christian bigot^[3][4] and a serial liar.^[5] He was the former governor of Massachusetts, a U.S. businessman, and was the Republican nominee for the Presidential Election 2012, losing to the incumbent president Barack Obama. Romney has been observed to not hold any values, instead being an opportunist who takes whatever political position suits him best at the moment.^[6] He has voiced contradicting positions on topics as diverse as abortion, homosexual "rights", illegal immigration, gun control and even support for Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.^[6][7][8] Thus, with good reason, conservatives see Romney's core beliefs as only marginally different from that of globalist Democrats such as Obama.^[9][10]

He was first runner-up for the nomination in 2008. In 1994, Mitt Romney proved to be the most difficult challenger that incumbent Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts ever faced for re-election, causing Kennedy to pour far more money into the race than he expected.^[11]

Before entering politics Romney was a businessman in Boston, having served as CEO of Bain Capital, a management consulting firm known for taking over American companies, laying off employees, and profiting from bankruptcy:^[12]

Romney's political start began during the financially unsteady 2002 Winter Olympics. He gained popularity in Massachusetts, a state known for being extremely liberal, and was elected governor in 2002. As governor, he raised taxes several times. He unashamedly admits creating RomneyCare, which is a complete disaster and forces everyone to buy health insurance and has resulted in long delays for obtaining medical services, such as an ordinary physical, in that state. Ted Kennedy and other liberals supported the bill and probably wrote key parts of it. Romney declined to run for re-election and announced his candidacy for President.

During his campaign for the Republican nomination in 2008, Romney was widely but incorrectly supported as a staunch conservative and ran on his business experience in the private sector. Romney fought a rough battle against Senator John McCain in Florida, Michigan, and other key states, but large losses on the Super Tuesday primaries ended his campaign. Romney dropped out of the race and endorsed Senator John McCain on February 14, 2008. His name was circulated as a potential running mate for McCain as their relationship improved, though Sarah Palin eventually became the vice-president nominee.

Romney had supported many left-wing positions: Romney had a pro-abortion record but has claimed to be "pro-life" since 2005; Romney acknowledges global warming but says that he doesn't know how much is due to human activity; Romney has been criticized for standing behind his 2005 health care plan in Massachusetts whilst pledging to "replace" ObamaCare during his campaign for president in 2012. RomneyCare featured an 'individual mandate' requiring everyone to purchase health insurance, and unlike Obamacare, featured socialized medicine as a backup for those who could not afford to pay. This plan is very similar to the 2010 ObamaCare bill that was adopted on a national level, and Obama claims Romney's people helped craft it.

Personal life

Ann Lois Davies and Willard Mitt Romney

Romney is the scion of an old Mormon family. His grandparents were polygamists who fled the United States in the early 20th century when the Mormon Church repudiated polygamy; his father was born in Mexico. The Romneys returned to the U.S. in 1911 when a violent civil war broke out in Mexico.

Mitt Romney is a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and spent time as a missionary during his youth converting Catholics and agnostics to Mormonism in France. In fact, his time as a student and missionary helped him defer from military service during the Vietnam draft,^[13] but he stated during interviews that "he had longed to join the soldiers in Vietnam and support the war effort." His father had stated in 1967 that he felt "brainwashed" by U.S. officials over the justification of the prolonged Vietnam war. This statement had been very costly in George Romney's 1968 campaign for president against Richard Nixon.

Romney married to his wife Ann, with whom he has five children.

Romney is the son of former Michigan governor and presidential candidate George Romney, a "Rockefeller Republican,"^[14] who amassed a large fortune as an automobile industry magnate during World War II. George Romney was popular among moderates during his presidential run and was well-equipped for victory; many of his political advisors had come from Nelson Rockefeller's 1964 campaign.

Business career

From 1978 to 1984, Romney was a vice president of Bain & Company, Inc. a worldwide management consulting firm, and in 1984, Romney co-founded a spin-off called Bain Capital. He invested in or bought many well-known companies such as Staples, Brookstone, Domino's, Sealy Corporation and Sports Authority. Critics say he advised corporations to cut their U.S. taxes by reincorporating in Caribbean tax havens such as the Cayman Islands while maintaining their operations in the U.S.

Record as Governor

Romney served as governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007), with a generally conservative record that included economic expansion. He balanced the budget every year of his administration without increasing taxes or increasing state dept. Romney turned a $3 billion budget deficit into a $500 million surplus by reducing government spending and added 80,000 new jobs by the end of his term. In 2004, 2005, and 2006 Governor Romney proposed cutting the state income tax from 5.3% to 5.0%.^[15] Although the Democratic supermajority in the state legislator refused to budge. Romney vetoed 844 pieces of legislation, with over 700 overridden.^[16] He vetoed an increase in the minimum wage, saying "there's no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs." ^[17] Under Governor Romney the state abolished a retroactive capital gains tax that would have forced nearly 50,000 taxpayers to pay additional taxes and fees.^[18] Massachusetts Citizens For Limited Taxation Executive Director Barbara Anderson praised Romney, saying "There was no one else out on the horizon and with the legislature almost entirely Democratic, we felt it was necessary to have a grown-up in the corner office. … And we were right to back him. He's been a really good friend to the taxpayers."

However, some of the actions Governor Romney took received criticisms from conservatives, such as supporting moderate fee increases and creating and the nation's first universal health care program. During his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Romney supported abortion, his views evolved and would later take pro-life positions such as vetoing emergency contraception and vetoing stem-cell research that would allow cloning of human embryos. In 2006, Governor Romney testified before the United States Senate to support the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would limit marriage to one man and one woman. Additionally, Romney filed legislation to reinstate capital punishment, but was defeated in the Massachusetts House of Representatives on a 99-53 vote.

Mitt Romney made no pardons as governor, "My conclusion was, if somebody has been convicted by a jury of their peers, and they’ve been prosecuted and the police were able to get the evidence necessary to put them behind bars, why in the world would I step in and reverse that sentence?" ^[19]

On Education Romney called for the privatization of the University of Massachusetts medical school.^[20] In 2004, he established the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program, which rewarded the top 25 percent of Massachusetts high school students with tuition-free scholarship to any Massachusetts public university or college. In August 2006, Governor Romney refused to allow former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, an outspoken opponent of the United States and Israel, state police escorts during his speech at Harvard University.^[21]

In December 2006, Romney signed a memorandum of agreement with the federal government that would allow state troopers to enforce federal immigration laws,^[22] however, was revoked when Democrat Deval Patrick took office as Governor in January 2007.

Political Views

Romney has flip-flopped his stated positions on many issues, including abortion, homosexual "rights," illegal immigration, gun control, as well as his opinion of Reagan and Trump.^[6][7][8] With good reason, conservatives see Romney's core beliefs as only marginally different from that of globalist Democrats such as Obama.^[9] His foreign policy preferences also share numerous similarities with Obama's.^[10]

One position that Romney has been consistent on, however, is his support for globalist policies, having been strongly influenced by neoconservatism and the Council on Foreign Relations.^[1]

During his 2002 campaign to become the 70th governor of Massachusetts, Romney described his views as "moderate" and proclaimed that "my views are progressive".^[23][24] Romney has displayed liberal intolerance, smearing conservative Christians as "religious bigots" for holding theological views based on clear biblical teaching that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.^[3]

Abortion

Currently, Romney claims to be pro-life, but his record is very spotty. At times he has claimed to be pro-infanticide. "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) ^[25]

Despite having a largely pro-life record as governor, 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."^[26]

In his campaign literature for the 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial election, Romney expressed a willingness to defend that State's pro-choice status quo.^[27] He stated in a live, televised debate:^[28]

Civil Unions

Romney claimed to be opposed to the idea of same-sex "marriage", however, he has voiced explicit support for the homosexual agenda. He has advocated for domestic partnership benefits and equal rights for homosexuals, which is gay marriage in everything but name and an easy stepping stone on the vile gay agenda path towards homosexual recruitment.^[29] He also supports adoption for gay couples.^[30]

Economic Agenda

As President, Romney promised to pursue a conservative, pro-growth economic agenda. His number one economic priority would be to grow the economy — helping to create good jobs, raise incomes and preserve American strength. He says he would work to rein in excessive government spending and reform entitlements. To ensure America's continued economic growth, he promises to cut taxes — such as the Death Tax, savings taxes, corporate taxes and marginal tax rates. Despite these claims, he has supported the socialism agenda. He claimed credit for the government bailout of the union controlled car companies.^[31] Also his RomneyCare law started the process of socializing medical care in Massachusetts. He continues to defend this law up to this day, undermining his commitment to repeal the similar and equally atrocious ObamaCare.^[32]

Romney says he would 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.

Immigration

Romney supports higher immigration levels and has taken a soft stance on illegal immigration after his 2012 presidential campaign. For example, he endorsed the 2013 Gang of Eight amnesty bill. and voiced support for amnesty on other occasions.^[33]

This is in strong contrast to Romney's stated positions while he was running for president (though he still called for more legal 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.^[34]

In the 2012 presidential campaign, Romney voiced opposition to illegal immigration to attract conservative voters.^[35] 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."^[36]

Stem Cell Research

Mitt Romney supports the right of scientists to research on embryos created during fertility treatments. Critics consider this to be essentially infanticide.^[37]

Foreign Relations

During the Syrian Civil War, Romney called for arming various rebel groups.^[38] He also said that Russia is America's 'number one geopolitical foe'.^[39] Romney and Paul Ryan said that China is a cheater in global economy.^[40]

Evolution

Mitt Romney believes in evolution and opposes even Intelligent Design.^[41]

2008 Presidential Campaign

For a more detailed treatment, see Mitt Romney 2008 Presidential Campaign.

As a presidential candidate, Romney sought the support of the business community and social conservatives. He reversed moderate positions on abortion and gay rights to take a hardline conservative position on them, and on opposition to illegal immigrants. Opponents charged he changed too often. Romney was a leader in fund-raising, augmented by over $35 million from his own fortune. However he was little known outside of Massachusetts, so his strategy was to play for early wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, then "sling-shot" the momentum into national visibility. Romney won the Michigan primary on January 16, 2008, with 39% of the vote, edging out McCain with 30% and Huckabee with 16%. Romney was favored to win in the state of his birth, where his father, George Romney was governor from 1963-1969. After losing both the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary (to Huckabee and McCain, respectively), Romney won a low-publicized Wyoming caucus. On January 19, Romney easily won the Nevada caucuses by 37 percentage points when there were seven candidates on the ballot, however, on that same day he placed a distant fourth in the South Carolina primary. After a disappointing performance on Super Tuesday, Romney announced the suspension of his campaign on Thursday 7 February. He expressed his wishes not to divide the Republican party and later endorsed Senator John McCain of Arizona. Commentators correctly speculated on his chances for a return effort in 2012.

Fundraising

Mitt Romney had done well in fundraising. During his first fundraiser as a presidential candidate, he raised $6.5 million compared to the claimed original goal of only $1 million. During the first quarter, Romney raised more money than any other Republican presidential candidate with $23 million. However, a substantial portion of his funds ($17 million) came from his own personal wealth. [1]

2012 Presidential campaign

In April 2011, Romney announced his candidacy for President of the United States for the 2012 election, running as a Republican.^[42] Romney was criticized throughout the primary season for being a Republican In Name Only due to his liberal views on social issues as governor and his flip-flops, as well as a controversial business record. His main competitors during the primaries were former conservative Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Pro-Life Senator Rick Santorum, and libertarian Congressman Ron Paul. Romney ended up winning the vast majority of contests, though the race remained close in delegate count throughout. Romney together with Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan ran against President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in the election held on November 6, 2012. During the campaign, Romney was criticized for saying that the 47% of Americans who do not pay income taxes consider themselves to be 'victims'.

Romney led Obama among many key segments of the electorate: "Romney leads Obama 58%–34% among veterans, who make up about 13% of the electorate" and influence many other voters.^[43] 50–43%, in early May.^[44] Other polls show different results,^[45] in swing states like Ohio,^[46] Virginia^[47] and Wisconsin.^[48] Most national polls showed Obama with a lead over Romney later in the summer, but that lead evaporated after Obama's weak performance in the first debate. One national poll showed Romney with a 7-point lead over Obama. Romney then lost the second and third debates by emphasizing neocon rather than conservative positions, and Obama improved in some polls. By Election Day, however, the Gallup and Rasmussen polls showed Romney with a one-point lead.

According to CNN, Romney won by a margin of 67–25% the first presidential debate against liberal incumbent Barack Obama. This debate had the largest television audience for a presidential debate since Ronald Reagan's 1980 classic against Jimmy Carter.^[49]

Romney lost the election to Obama.

Flip-flopping on the issues

Prior to his campaign for president in 2012, Romney was criticized for flip-flopping on key social issues:

• Mitt Romney once changed his positions on gun control. He was originally for it, but recently joined the National Rifle Association, an organization opposed to it.

• Romney changed his position on immigration shortly before the 2012 Presidential Election. He originally supported amnesty for certain illegals and moratoriums on criminal prosecution for drug dealing by illegal immigrants. It was possible that Romney is trying to erode President Obama's support in the Latin community in places like Nevada, where immigration is a hot-button issue and Obama's victory in 2008 was by only a few percentage points.

• Romney persistently flip-flopped on the issue of abortion, depending on which constituency he wanted to charm.^[6]

Romney was defeated in the election. It is speculated that Romney's inability to connect with core conservatives and his history of flip-flopping on many issues (only a few years before his first candidacy for President) cost him the election.

Anti-Trump activism

See also: Opposition to Donald Trump

Romney joined the Never Trump movement during the 2016 presidential election, harshly insulting and criticizing GOP presidential candidate for his conservative America First positions and his anti-establishment posture.^[7] This was despite him begging Trump for his endorsement in the previous election.^[7] He called Trump "a fraud, a phony," and a lier, even though Romney himself flip-flopped on numerous political issues.^[33] Romney also criticized Trump for not releasing his tax returns even though Trump defended Romney in 2012 for not releasing his own tax returns.^[33] Romney did not vote for Trump on election day, 2016, instead writing in his wife's name.^[50][51]

After the election, Romney pretended his insults never took place and flattered the president-elect as he unsuccessfully tried to become Trump's Secretary of State.^[33][52] However, with his efforts having failed, Romney reverted to the anti-Trump position he took in 2016, criticizing Trump for his politically incorrect comments as well as criticizing conservative Roy Moore in the general election against a far-left Democrat.^[7] In August 2017, Romney effectively endorsed the Antifa, a violent left-wing hate group.^[33]

In January 2018, Romney used Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to attack President Trump.^[53][54] On July 1, 2018, Romney refused to endorse President Trump's 2020 re-election campaign when asked.^[55] He criticized President Trump's trade policies and efforts to correct the mistakes of past government officials.^[56] Despite this, in October 2018, he claimed, despite the evidence, that he never led the NeverTrump movement.^[57][58]

In November 2018, Romney attacked President Trump for criticizing the mainstream media for its bias against him.^[59]

U.S. Senate campaign

While he could have run in Massachusetts, the state where he served as governor and where he could have worked to defeat far-left Democrat Elizabeth Warren, Romney chose to run in the solid Republican state of Utah, where him winning would not help the GOP agenda and would actually impede President Trump's conservative agenda.^[60] He was heavily favored by the mainstream media in Utah,^[61] and his opposition to President Trump was noted in the election.^[62] Romney was endorsed by fellow globalist RINO Jeb Bush.^[63][64]

Romney formally announced his campaign on February 16, 2018, doing so by video.^[65] In his announcement video, Romney criticized the Trump Administration's immigration policies, stating that "Utah welcomes legal immigrants from around the world" but that "Washington sends immigrants a message of exclusion."^[66] The GOP establishment rallied around Romney's campaign, with U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, an establishment Republican who was Romney's choice for Vice President in 2012, celebrating the decision as "a terrific day for the United States Senate."^[67]

Rob Anderson, the Utah GOP chairman, criticized Romney for choosing to run in Utah despite him and his children not living there, and he stated that Romney did not represent the state because of this.^[68] Conservatives, including opposing candidate Larry Meyers, criticized Romney for flip-flopping positions and having liberal core values.^[69] Romney's candidacy came about during a fight between the Republican establishment and conservatives over how the Utah Republican Party selects its nominee, with conservatives favoring a party convention over simply holding a primary where any candidate can run as a Republican with enough signatures.^[70]

Once again, Romney flipped on immigration, telling voters that his immigration stances were somehow tougher than those of President Trump's – however, he used the past tense to describe his views, as if he no longer held to them any longer,^[71] and despite claiming to have tough views, he opposed the Trump Administration's zero tolerance border policy because he thought it was too tough.^[72] He also voiced conservative views on ObamaCare and spending to his conservative audience during the GOP primary.^[73] He claimed that he was not running to advance his career.^[74] However, in May 2018, Romney again criticized Trump.^[75] Romney was reported to have been positioning himself to leave the GOP's establishment wing in the Senate and to counterbalance President Trump.^[76] Romney refused to endorse President Trump's conservative agenda.^[77][78]

At the GOP convention, Romney was forced into a primary election after he failed to win over GOP delegates.^[79] In the June 26 Republican senatorial primary, Romney faces the conservative state representative, Dr. Michael Stephen "Mike" Kennedy (born c. 1968), the son of a naturalized citizen. Kennedy practices medicine in Alpine in Utah County. Kennedy had narrowly won the party endorsement at the state convention. Kennedy criticized Romney for flip-flopping on the issues and for being a carpetbagger.^[80]

Romney and Kennedy appeared in a television debate on May 29, 2018. The two expressed agreement on a plethora of issues, including school safety, health care matters, and immigration. Both presented himself as a conservative. One dividing point was the Reverend Robert Jeffress of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, who at President Trump's invitation led a prayer at the dedication of the relocated U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. Jeffress, who supported Romney for President in 2012, has been hostile toward Mormonism: he labeled the denomination "a cult" and questioned the integrity of Mormon founder Joseph Smith. Romney said that he regards Jeffress as a "religious bigot." Romney also noted that he carries Trump's endorsement though Kennedy in the debate repeatedly praised Trump's performance in office. Romney won the Republican primary on June 26, 2018.^[81]

At the general election gubernatorial debate, Romney refused to directly answer questions on his past negative comments on Trump, even as he directly criticized the president's statements and policies.^[82]

See also

• Team Mitt
• Mitt Romney donor list

References