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What Do You Get When You Add Mitt Plus Flip-Flops?
A
Mitt Romney, the Ultimate Flip-Flopper
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Roe v. Wade / Abortion:
'I respect and will protect a woman's right to choose.' - 29 October 2002
'I never really called myself pro-choice.'
'I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I
have since the time when my Mom took that position when she ran in 1970
as a U.S. Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it, and I
sustain and support that law and the right of a woman to make that
choice.'
- 1994 Senatorial debate
'The right next step in the, in the fight to preserve the sanctity of life is to see Roe v. Wade overturned.' - 16 December 2007
'I respect and will fully protect a woman's right to choose. That
choice is a deeply personal one, and the women of our state should make
it based on their beliefs, not mine and not the government's.' - 2002 GOP acceptance speech
Gubernatorial candidates Shannon O'Brien and Mitt Romney sparred over who was the strongest abortion rights supporter by touting endorsements from abortion rights groups and challenging each other's records on the issue...
"There isn't a dime of difference between Mitt Romney's position on choice and [NARAL-endorsed] Shannon O'Brien," said Kerry Healey, Romney's running mate.
Lynn Grefe, director of the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition, applauded Romney's "commitment to family planning and protecting a woman's right to choose" in a letter.
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Health Care:
'Well, that’s what we did in
Massachusetts, and that is, we put together an exchange, and the president’s copying that idea. I’m glad to hear that.' - 24 June 2009
'It was something crafted for a state. And I've said time and again,
ObamaCare is bad news. It's unconstitutional. It costs way too much
money, a trillion dollars. And if I'm president of the United States, I
will repeal it for the American people.' - 18 October 2011
'I think it's unconstitutional on the 10th Amendment front.' - 8 April 2010
'I’m proud of what we’ve done. If Massachusetts succeeds in implementing it, then that will be a model for the nation.' - 2 February 2007
'What works in one state may not be the answer for another.' - 22 March 2011
Mitt Romney defends individual mandate as "fundamentally a conservative principle":
Veterans' vouchers: Mitt Romney Flip-Flops on Veterans' Vouchers:
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Immigration:
MR. RUSSERT: Would you then be in favor of a mandatory prison term for any employer who hired an illegal immigrant?
GOV. ROMNEY: Of course not.
'I don’t believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at
gunpoint from our country. With these 11 million people, let’s have
them registered, know who they are. Those who’ve been arrested or
convicted of crimes shouldn’t be here; those that are paying taxes and
not taking government benefits should begin a process towards application for citizenship, as they would from their home country.' - 29 March 2006
'The wrong answer is amnesty. We tried it twice
before. Amnesty only led to more people coming into the country 'cause
they say, 'Oh gosh, look if you get in illegally, ultimately they'll let
you stay.' That's the wrong message.' - 3 September 2007
'We need to begin a process of registering those people, some being
returned, and some beginning the process of applying for citizenship and
establishing legal status.' - 29 March 2006
'We do not give instate tuition credits to
people who come here illegally. That only attracts people to come here
and take advantage of America's great beneficence. And with regards to
giving driver's licenses to people that are here illegally, that creates
a patina of legal status. There are sanctuary cities in some parts of
the country.' - 12 September 2011
'One of the things I did in my state was to
say, look, I'm going to get my state police authorized to be able to
enforce immigration laws and make sure those people who we arrest are put in jail, to find out they're here illegally, we're going to get them
out of here.' - 12 September 2011
'One simple rule: no amnesty.If that [Kennedy-McCain bill] is not a form of amnesty, I don’t know what is.' - 4 June 2007
'One simple rule: no amnesty.If that [Kennedy-McCain bill] is not a form of amnesty, I don’t know what is.' - 4 June 2007
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on the Economy:
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Ronald Reagan:
'Look, I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I’m not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.' - 25 October 1994
'The principles that Ronald Reagan espoused are as true today as they were when he spoke them. - 25 May 2010
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Payroll Tax Cut:
'I believe the tax on capital gains should be zero.' - 24 April 2007
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on the Flat Tax:
The problem with the Forbes flat tax is that it isn't flat at all -- it's a zero tax on the wealthy and a 17 percent tax on working Americans," Romney said yesterday. "I'm hoping that by running these ads voters will realize the Forbes flat tax is a gimmick, a phony, and not what it pretends to be." The ads note that Forbes' plan would tax wages at 17 percent, but would not tax income from dividends, interest and investment profits. "The Forbes tax isn't a flat tax at all!" - 21 January 1996
'I love a flat tax.' - 8 August 2011
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Climate Change:
'My view is that we don't know what's causing climate change on this planet.' - 27 October 2011
'I believe the world is getting warmer, and I believe that humans have contributed to that.' - 3 June 2011
'Republicans
should never abandon pro-growth conservative principles in an effort to
embrace the ideas of Al Gore.' - 23 February 2007
PLUS
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on the Recovery Act / Stimulus / Bailouts / TARP:
'I think there is a need for economic stimulus. Americans have
lost about $11 trillion in net worth. And government can help make that
up in a very difficult time.' - 4 January 2009
'Let's
not make this a Christmas tree of all of the favors for various
politicians who have helped out the Obama campaign, giving them
special projects. That would be wrong. You'll see Republicans fight that
tooth and nail if that happens. Let's do what's right for the economy,
and let's not do what's a political expedient move.' - 4 January 2009
'I
have never supported the President's recovery act. No time, nowhere, no
how have I ever supported the President's stimulus.' - 28 September
2011
'The TARP program... was nevertheless necessary to keep banks from collapsing in a cascade of failures.'
'When government is... bailing out banks... we have every good reason to be alarmed.'
'The
all-Democrat stimulus that was passed in early 2009 will accelerate the timing of the start of the recovery...' - "No Apology,"hardback version
'The all-Democrat stimulus passed in early 2009 has been a failure.' - "No Apology," paperback version
'I hear people say, ‘It’s gone, those jobs are gone, transportation’s
gone, it’s not coming back. I’m going to fight for every
single job. I’m going to rebuild the industry. I’m going to take burdens off the back of the auto industry.' - 13 January 2008
'Detroit needs a turnaround, not a check.' - 18 November 2008
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Government Investment in Green Energy:
'[The Massachusetts Green Energy Fund is]
"an opportunity to capitalize on two emerging trends: the growing level
of investment interest in clean energy and the importance of
Massachusetts' academic and corporate R&D in forming clean energy
technology companies.' - 2003
'[T]he U.S. government shouldn't be playing venture capitalist. It's not merely that government bureaucrats are bad at picking winners. The very process invites cronyism and outright corruption.' - 24 October 2011
'[T]he U.S. government shouldn't be playing venture capitalist. It's not merely that government bureaucrats are bad at picking winners. The very process invites cronyism and outright corruption.' - 24 October 2011
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Occupy Wall Street:
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Unions:
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on the Minimum Wage:
“I think the minimum wage ought to keep pace with inflation.” - 17 October 1994
“There’s no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs.” - 25 July 2006
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Gay Marriage
'Mitt does not support
[Amendment to the COTUS banning gay marriage] ...As far as Mitt is
concerned, it goes farther than current law, and therefore it's
unnecessary.' - Romney spokesman, 27 March 2002
'When I was Governor, we took every conceivable step within the law to
stop, block or slow down this unprecedented court decision.' - 15 June 2007
'As a result of our discussions and other interactions with gay and
lesbian voters across the state, I am more convinced than ever before
that as we seek to establish full equality for America’s gays and lesbian citizens, I will provide more effective leadership than my
opponent.' - 1994
In 1994, he opposed the Federal marriage amendment and promised to help
establish "full equality for America's gays and lesbians."
In 2002, he provided legal recognition to same-sex couples in Massachusetts, even though he was not required to do so under a state Supreme Judicial Court ruling, as he has suggested.
Then, in 2007, he supposedly had a Road to Damascus moment and started to support the Federal marriage amendment.
In 2002, he provided legal recognition to same-sex couples in Massachusetts, even though he was not required to do so under a state Supreme Judicial Court ruling, as he has suggested.
Then, in 2007, he supposedly had a Road to Damascus moment and started to support the Federal marriage amendment.
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Stem Cell Research:
'I am in favor of stem cell research. I will work and fight for stem
cell research. I'd be happy to talk to
[President Bush] about this, though I don't know if I could budge him an
inch.'- 13 June 2002
'In the end, I became persuaded that the stem-cell debate was grounded in a false premise.'- 15 June 2007
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Muslim Cabinet Members / Politicians:
'Based on the numbers of American Muslims... I cannot see that a cabinet position would be justified.'- November 2007
'A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.' - 6 December 2007
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Gun Control / the NRA:
'We should check on the backgrounds of people who are trying to purchase
guns. We also should keep weapons of unusual lethality from being on the
street. And finally, we should go after people who use guns in the
commission of crimes or illegally, but we
should not interfere with the right of law-abiding citizens to own guns,
for their own personal protection or hunting or any other lawful
purpose. I support the work of the NRA. I’m a member of the NRA. But do
we line up on every issue? No, we don’t." - 16 December 2007
'I would have supported the original assault weapon ban. I signed an
assault weapon ban in
Massachusetts governor because it provided for a relaxation of licensing
requirements for gun owners in Massachusetts, which was a big plus. And
so both the pro-gun and the anti-gun lobby came together with a bill,
and
I signed that. And if there is determined to be, from time to time, a
weapon of such lethality that it poses a grave risk to our law
enforcement personnel, that’s something
I would consider signing. There’s nothing of that nature that’s being
proposed today in Washington. But I would look at weapons that pose
extraordinary lethality.'
- 16 December 2007
'I don't support any gun control legislation.' - 4 February 2008
‘I
don’t think (the waiting period) will have a massive effect on crime
but I think it will have a positive effect.' - 1 August 1994
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Hunting:
'I've been a hunter pretty much all my life.' - 5 April 2007
'Any description of my being a hunter is an overstatement of capability.' - October 2007
"I'm not a big-game hunter. I've made that very clear. I've always been a
rodent and rabbit hunter. Small varmints, if you will." - April 2007
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Campaign Finance Reform:
"These kinds of associations between money
and politics in my view are wrong. And for that reason, I would like to have campaign spending limits ... I also would abolish PACS ... I don't like
the influence of money, whether it's business, labor or any other
group, I do not like that kind of influence. Lobbyists I want to
register, I want to know who they are, I want to ensure that gifts are
limited ... I think that contributions are fine, I just don't want them to
be larger and larger...The kinds of demands that are being placed on
the economics of running a campaign suggest an increasing power on the
part of money, and I think it's wrong and we've got to change it." - 7 July 1994
'The American people should be free to advocate for their candidates and their positions without burdensome limitations.' - 29 May 2007
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Seeing Martin Luther King March:
'I saw my father march with Martin Luther King.'
'I did not see it with my own eyes.'
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Social Security:
'I'm not in favor of privatizing Social Security or making cuts.'
'Social Security's the easiest and that's because you can give people a personal account.'
'I don’t think you go back and rewrite the contract the government has with people who’ve retired.' - 17 October 1994
'Personal accounts would be a big plus.' - 7 June 2007
'I don’t think you go back and rewrite the contract the government has with people who’ve retired.' - 17 October 1994
'Personal accounts would be a big plus.' - 7 June 2007
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Vietnam:
'I was not planning on signing up for the military. It was not my desire to go off and serve in Vietnam.' - 2 May 1994
'I longed in many respects to actually be in Vietnam and be
representing our country there and in some ways it was frustrating not
to feel like I was there as part of the troops that were fighting in
Vietnam.' - 6 June 2007
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Dog Kennel on Top of Car:
'This is a completely airtight kennel mounted on the top of our car.'
'They're not happy that my dog loves fresh air.'
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Catching Bin Laden:
'It's not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person.' - 26 April 2007
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Fannie and Freddie:
Mitt Romney Flip-Flopping on Flip Flopping:
'I changed my position.' - 10 March 2010
'I think you'll find that I've been as consistent as human beings can be as I look at those issues and as I try and apply those principles to government." - 3 November 2011
'If you're looking for someone who's never changed any positions on any policies, then I'm not your guy." - 16 December 2007
'I think you'll find that I've been as consistent as human beings can be as I look at those issues and as I try and apply those principles to government." - 3 November 2011
'If you're looking for someone who's never changed any positions on any policies, then I'm not your guy." - 16 December 2007
=
A KERRY-KLONE
____________________________________________________________________
Update #1:
Faux Bamboo Bill, who is evidently a starfish since he was able to regrow
the leg he "lost in service to his country during the Vietnam War" in
order to become a Top Gun "fighter pilot in the Persian Gulf War,"
wrote:
Yes, let's look at MittCare:
It has the highest number of insured persons as a percentage of population: 97.4%.
It also has the highest insurance premiums and longest wait times in the country.
In
2008, the cost projections were revised. The new estimates indicated
that the plan was to cost $869 million dollars in 2009 and $880 million
dollars in 2010, an upwards increase of nearly 20%. MittCare has done
nothing to bend the cost curve down.
Since 2006, the cost of the state’s insurance programme has increased by 42% or almost $600 million dollars.
According to an analysis by the Rand Corporation, “in the absence of
policy change, health care spending in Massachusetts is projected to
nearly double to $123 billion in 2020, increasing 8% faster than the
state’s gross domestic product (GDP).”
Medicaid costs have risen $7.5 billion to an estimated $9.2 billion.
Of the 407,000 newly insured, only 32% have paid for their insurance entirely on their own.
The remaining 68% have been either partially or wholly subsidised by the taxpayers.
Only 5% of newly insured Massachusetts residents, who are not receiving any taxpayer benefits, obtained their coverage through the state's "Connector" health care exchange.
Medicaid costs have risen $7.5 billion to an estimated $9.2 billion.
Of the 407,000 newly insured, only 32% have paid for their insurance entirely on their own.
The remaining 68% have been either partially or wholly subsidised by the taxpayers.
Only 5% of newly insured Massachusetts residents, who are not receiving any taxpayer benefits, obtained their coverage through the state's "Connector" health care exchange.
Although the ratio of
primary care doctors to population is higher in Massachusetts than in
other states, the wait time for a general practitioner is 50-100 days
with the nationwide average being 20 days.
On average the wait in the US to see a medical specialist is 20.5 days. In Massachusetts, it is 55 days.
In Boston, it takes 70 days to see an obstetrician/gynecologist, 63 days
to see a family physician, 54 days to see a dermatologist, 40 days to
see an orthopedic surgeon, and 21 days to see a cardiologist, according
to the survey. All wait times are the longest in the nation.
Almost
half of internal medicine physicians having closed their doors entirely
to new patients. 40% of doctors in Massachusetts will not treat
Medicare patients and 55% of doctors in Mass will not see Medicaid
patients. Both are higher than the national average.
Despite the
enactment of nearly universal health insurance that some hoped would
reduce expensive emergency department use, Massachusetts emergency rooms
have reported a 9% increase in volume.
Higher premiums.
Higher medical costs.
Higher costs to the state.
Higher medical inflation.
A greater number of ER visits.
Longer wait times.
Fewer doctors.
A governor now threatening price controls, which always leads to rationing.
And, you can't blame any of this on those mean, old, "profits-before-people" corporations because the insurers are non-profits.
http://dailycaller.com/2010/01/10/massachusetts-health-program-a-model-for-obamas-national-reform-strains-state-budget/#ixzz1AP3iCFI7
http://www.thehealthcareblog.com/the_health_care_blog/2009/02/mass-doctors-say-singlepayer-or-bust-noon-embargo.html
http://www.erikseninsurance.com/blog/massachusetts-health-care-insurance-reform-law/
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/health/policy/27care.html
http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2008/09/22/across_mass_wait_to_see_doctors_grows/
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2010/July/06/Hospital-Issues.aspx
http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/content/PHY-232600/Boston-Leads-Nation-in-Physician-Wait-Times##
What
one learns from systems like the NHS is that health insurance or even
"free" government health care does not necessarily translate into
medical treatment.
______________________________________________________
Update #2
Gallup: Gingrich, Romney the only candidates seen by Republicans as “acceptable” nominees
Gingrich: 62 / 34
Romney: 54 / 41
Perry: 45 / 33
Bachmann: 37 / 38
Cain: 40 / 28
Paul: 30 / 43
Huntsman: 23 / 38
Santorum: 31 / 18
http://www.gallup.com/poll/151325/Republicans-Gingrich-Romney-Acceptable-Nominees.aspx?utm_source=alert
______________________________________________________
Update #3:
Google:
1. Republican Main Street Partnership
2. George Soros
3. Mitt Romney
4. 2007 (and maybe later)
______________________________________________________
Update #4:
2. Romney couldn't crack 50% when elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002.
3. By the end of his first and only term, he had a 34% approval rating and a 65% disapproval rating.
4. Survey USA ranked Mr. Romney’s popularity 48th out of the 50 governors.
5. The supposedly electable Mitt Romney walked away rather than face the voters - even though he had just signed the - supposedly - wildly popular and successful MassCare legislation with its mandate into law in April of that year.
6. During his time as governor, Massachusetts ranked 47th in job creation in the private sector.
But, don't worry! Romney is gonna trounce Obama!
______________________________________________________
That's the problem with you and YOUR CANDIDATE. You are more concerned about appearance than substance.
It's why Mitt can't close the deal. No one trusts him.
______________________________________________________
Update #2
Gallup: Gingrich, Romney the only candidates seen by Republicans as “acceptable” nominees
Gingrich: 62 / 34
Romney: 54 / 41
Perry: 45 / 33
Bachmann: 37 / 38
Cain: 40 / 28
Paul: 30 / 43
Huntsman: 23 / 38
Santorum: 31 / 18
http://www.gallup.com/poll/151325/Republicans-Gingrich-Romney-Acceptable-Nominees.aspx?utm_source=alert
______________________________________________________
Update #3:
Google:
1. Republican Main Street Partnership
2. George Soros
3. Mitt Romney
4. 2007 (and maybe later)
______________________________________________________
Update #4:
Let's review:
1. Before Barack Obama trounced John McCain in 2008, McCain
trounced Romney.
2. Romney couldn't crack 50% when elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002.
3. By the end of his first and only term, he had a 34% approval rating and a 65% disapproval rating.
4. Survey USA ranked Mr. Romney’s popularity 48th out of the 50 governors.
5. The supposedly electable Mitt Romney walked away rather than face the voters - even though he had just signed the - supposedly - wildly popular and successful MassCare legislation with its mandate into law in April of that year.
6. During his time as governor, Massachusetts ranked 47th in job creation in the private sector.
But, don't worry! Romney is gonna trounce Obama!
______________________________________________________
Update #5:
Faux Bamboo Bill, who is evidently a starfish since he was able to regrow
the leg he "lost in service to his country during the Vietnam War" in
order to become a Top Gun "fighter pilot in the Persian Gulf War,"
wrote:
"Bret Baier failed to ask important questions, and was jealous because he looked too portly next to Romney."
"Romney found his failure to break through frustrating. “It’s not fair,” he said to his aides. He was being defined as a flip-flopping Mormon—or a Mormon flip-flopper. He couldn’t fathom why the caricature of him was sticking, had no ability to see himself as others might.
When Romney’s staff showed him the devastating YouTube video [showing his flip-flopping over the years], his first reaction was,
“Boy, look how young I was back then.”
"Romney found his failure to break through frustrating. “It’s not fair,” he said to his aides. He was being defined as a flip-flopping Mormon—or a Mormon flip-flopper. He couldn’t fathom why the caricature of him was sticking, had no ability to see himself as others might.
When Romney’s staff showed him the devastating YouTube video [showing his flip-flopping over the years], his first reaction was,
“Boy, look how young I was back then.”
That's the problem with you and YOUR CANDIDATE. You are more concerned about appearance than substance.
It's why Mitt can't close the deal. No one trusts him.
"That guy will say anything. I don’t think Romney has a soul.”
- Gov Mike Huckabee
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