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All of the Republican Presidential Candidates are Fatally Flawed: Mitt Romney |
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In February I took a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the republican field at that time. I concluded:
The Republican party does not appear to have a politically viable candidate that is able to motivate the conservative base. While McCain, Giuliani, and Romney can all be considered top tier candidates with a chance to win the general election, none of the three has the conservative credentials or record to get the full support of the conservative movement. Truly conservative candidates, such as Sam Brownback of Kansas and others, have the conservative credentials and voting record, but lack the name recognition necessary to compete on the national level.
The field has changed considerably since then, with Newt Gingrich officially not running and Fred Thompson effectively joining the race (and the first tier) this spring. The other major developments include several scandals and both Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee knocking on the door of 1st tier status.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll go over the fatal flaws of Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Fred Thompson, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul. I have decided not to include Tom Tancredo (he only talks about immigration) and Duncan Hunter (he has been polling at 1% for months).
Mitt Romney
Despite falling behind to Mike Huckabee in the latest Rasmussen Iowa poll, a plurality (34%) of likely republican caucus goers in that state still believe he will be the GOP nominee. Nationally, he has slipped to fifth place.
- As Pam Spaulding points out, many evangelicals don’t consider Romney a Christian. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, embodies this belief: “Even though he talks about Jesus as his Lord and savior, he is not a Christian. Mormonism is not Christianity. Mormonism is a cult.”
- According to USA Today, only 72% of Americans would consider voting for a Mormon. For comparison, 92% would consider an African American and 88% would consider a woman.
- He was Pro-Choice before he was Pro-Life.
- He was for gun control before he was against it.
- He was for gay causes before he was against them.
- He was Anti-Reagan before he was Pro-Reagan.
- Only 13% of Republican voters consider Romney honest and trustworthy.
- In 2004, Romney introduced a “reform team” of 131 Republican candidates for the Massachussetts State Legislature. The GOP ended up losing three seats in the legislature that year.
- He may be worth as much as $250 million.
He is completely opposed to medical marijuana, while 70% of Americans support it.
This is not meant to be a comprehensive list. If you know of better examples, please let me know here in the comments.
I think Romney would be more viable than Giuliani, but I think you’re analysis is right. It would be fundamental to paint Romney as a flip-flopper or someone without a whole lot of good ideas.
Robert Jeffress’s characterization of Romney as a non-Christian is highly questionable. When Romney speaks of Jesus as Lord and Savior he means it just as sincerely as any other believer does. The real question is how narrowly Jeffress is defining Christianity: Is a Christian someone who believes in Jesus as their Savior, or does a Christian have to believe in God as defined in the Nicene Creed? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_versions_of_the_Nicene_Creed_in_ current_use)
Mormons do not believe in the Nicene Creed. (http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-775-15,00.html) Labeling them as a cult is false and insulting–clearly Jeffress does not know any Mormons. Most of them are good, decent people who believe in Christ and are upstanding citizens.
Well, are his beliefs sincere? Is the mormon religion a cult? Christian? Those are some questions. A more relevant one may be that I don’t think many people have a clue what mormons believe. The sacred underwear, the three levels of heaven with various spouse requirements, God living on a different planet in this universe, the baptising of ancestors, the “interesting” views on black people and Native Americans … Mormons don’t trumpet this, they seem to want to be seen as yet another solid conservative church. But they aren’t. Seeing it as a separate religion from Christianity is perfectly justifiable, in the same way Christianity is separate from Judaism.
Once and if people find out all the weird things mormons do (which other Christians don’t), Romney’s campaign will be in trouble. Only 70-something% will consider voting for a mormon? I suspect that can only get worse!
As a Ron Paul supporter it bothers me that he is not talked about in the media nearly as much as what is considered the top tier candidates. I am happy that you will be taking a look at him. However I have a request that doesn’t involve Ron Paul. I would like you to also take a look at Tancredo, and Hunter. Despite whatever misgivings you have about it they are Presidential candidates, and the voter should be as knowledgeable as possible about ALL the candidates. Even the ones whom are seen as unable to win.
I think it is hard for Romney to be honest about anything if he can’t be honest about his own name. I am not positive but pretty sure it is Willard Milton Romney.
If your parents are mexican immigrants whether born of U.S. citizens or not you need to take a stand. More of a stand if your people left America for Mexico to practice polygamy. This is not love of family, or is it?
It wasn’t Romey who saved the Salt Lake City Olympic games any more than it was Hitler who saved the Munich Olypic games.
I strongly believe the voters in America need to know the truth about Romney.
Sure, I’d be willing to do that. I will probably combine them though, because unlike the others, I do not consider them serious candidates with serious ideas.
The piece on Huckabee is next, should be ready tomorrow.
That is exactly the point of this discussion. What is the importance of Romney’s full name to you?
I think you have some problems reading polls. “Only 13% of Republican voters consider Romney honest and trustworthy.” Really? Because the poll you cite to asks Republican-leaning voters who, of the Republican candidates, do you think is THE MOST honest and trustworthy. 13% though Romney was more honest and trustworthy THAN THE OTHER CANDIDATES. That does not mean 87% find him dishonest and untrustworthy, as your statement implies. And how is his net worth a “fatal flaw”? Regarding medical marijuana, is anyone making this a national issue? Is there any evidence that a presidential candidate’s view on medical marijuana would have any effect whatsoever on his/her chances of getting elected? A little analysis would be helpful here.
Ah, you are correct. The poll shows that Republican voters consider Romney half as honest as both Giuliani and McCain. That’s much more flattering!
His net worth, and past as a private equity fund founder, show just how out of touch he is with the American people.
On medical marijuana, it is generally a bad thing to be in opposition to 70% of the country. The way he dealt with that young voter also displayed his lack of compassion.
Seriously, you seem to have a really hard time reading and understanding a simple poll. It’s not a straight, up-or-down, “Do you think Mitt Romney is honest” type of poll. But you are trying to read it that way.
As for Romney’s net worth, I assume you believe Edwards (net worth around $30 million, worked for a hedge fund) and Clinton (Net worth estimated to be up to $50 million) to be out of touch as well. How about John Kerry in 2004 ($164 million)? A high net worth doesn’t necessarily mean you are out of touch. FDR was loaded and he did a heck of a lot for the poor.
And while it might be generally a bad thing for a candidate to oppose something 70% of the country supports, it has no bearing on an election where the electorate doesn’t consider the matter to be an important one. And I didn’t see a lack of compassion in that video (which was a clear attempt at a “Gotcha” moment - “Are you just going to walk away from a man in a wheelchair?”). In a crowd of people vying for Romney’s attention, he stopped and listened to the man, explained that he was opposed to medical marijuana, and moved on. Would compassion require that he change his views when confronted with a man in a wheelchair?
Its very very difficult to believe that he is really prolife because of his “flip flop” compared to his history. I probably won’t vote for him on this alone. And its all too obvious that his position change occurred when he went for the presidential candidate opportunity.
Where are the honest, extremely strong backbone politicians who arn’t full of lies and one who is Real. The older I get the more they lie and deceive and don’t get it!
I was raised with various exposure and involvement in many christian churches and a for a short time I studied Hebrew with my friend as he was prepared to be a man.
After 3 years sober in a self help program I decided to find out more about God as man understands him/her/it.
I joined the LDS church and met a group of very good people but, they are just people. After 10 years of being very active I stopped abruptly because I realized that Jesus was just a man who understood true principles; we are all sons of God. The power of religion is in the dollars.
One of our great freedoms is the right to select and practice our own beliefs of God to include changing our mind as we mature in our understanding.
I wondered how the people of the USA would view a “Morman” as president. It has been interesting to witness how small people can be.
Mitt just hapens to be brave enough to be in this contest and embrace a strong religious commitment.
Before I go looking for the speck in the eye of another I try to check first if it is not the lense I am looking through.
I love the voice of the group . I am grateful that I have come past the fear that requires judgement.
A final opinion, They are all actors and the directors are behind the dollar curtain.