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February 21, 2007
The End of Romney?
While we're on the subject of 2008, I just don't see how Mitt Romney survives this video:
That's not a qualified defense of choice. It's a full-throated, self-righteous defense of his long-standing, totally immutable belief that women should be able to control their reproductive health. And this isn't from 1993, it's 2002 -- post-9/11, still in the Bush-era. Such a total transformation on such a high-profile issue within five or so years just isn't very credible. Either he was lying then, is lying now, or lacks any convictions to lie about at all. But that video, juxtaposed with his current statements on abortion, will create an ad easily able to sink his candidacy.
February 21, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
what's the alternative? there are three viable GOP candidates- all three have "issues" on this front.
Posted by: akaison | Feb 21, 2007 11:07:32 AM
Ezra, Ezra, the man has had an epiphany. He's converted. He's seen the light.
Get it?
Just the dry-drunk, drug addict that ran nothing but failed businesses, Romney has changed for the better and that is all that counts.
It will be interesting if the base buys this crap.
Posted by: ice weasel | Feb 21, 2007 11:12:47 AM
Akaison, McCain's a pretty sold antichoicer, as is the Newtron bomb, as is Hagel, who's gonna make some noise when he announces (I'm convinced he will given that on Press the Meat he was bragging about his support for Bush's policies. Btw, CQ ranked him as the Senate's Number One Bush supporter.)
As for Romney, what's weird is that he thought he could easily escape his past. I mean, this isn't some grainy home movie video of an offhand remark. This is a monologue on a televised gubernaorial debate moderated by freakin Tim Russert. Did they think we're gonna sneak that one by us?
Posted by: david mizner | Feb 21, 2007 11:23:19 AM
It is less of a big deal than we think. In the primaries, maybe that is an issue. In the general election, where else are the fundies going to go? They can stay home, and see a sweep, or they can accept that Mitt has been converted. Denial is one of the right wings best things.
Posted by: Salmo | Feb 21, 2007 11:23:56 AM
I'm sorry for all the typos and errors. I will forewith preview my remarks.
Posted by: david mizner | Feb 21, 2007 11:24:33 AM
"Either he was lying then, is lying now, or lacks any convictions to lie about at all."
It's the third one. I tend not to buy into the "politicians will say anything" trope, or at least I usually think it's overstated. But the sheer number of reversals from this guy -- total, unqualified reversals in many cases -- is truly astounding.
Posted by: jhupp | Feb 21, 2007 11:38:47 AM
It is less of a big deal than we think. In the primaries, maybe that is an issue. In the general election, where else are the fundies going to go?
I think EK meant that it would doom him in the primaries, not the general. You're right that this is only a problem in the primaries; in the general, you wonder who would even run the ad. Certainly not the Democrats -- why would they want to point out that Romney might really be pro-choice, given that most voters are too. Yeah, it makes him look like a 'flip-flopper' but it also makes him look like a closet pro-choicer, which the Dems would not want to suggest.
Posted by: Jason | Feb 21, 2007 11:40:43 AM
He will be Born Again -- you just wait!
Posted by: Gore/Edwards 08 | Feb 21, 2007 11:50:37 AM
Youtube: Presidential candidate killer since 2007.
Posted by: Korha | Feb 21, 2007 12:15:35 PM
Repubs have mastered the avoidance of Inconvenient Truths - being for something after being against something (or vice versa).
Note that all 3 of the leading GOP candidates have this propensity to reverse course depending on which electorate they are appealing to.
I hope they chew each other up with bringing past positions to the fore as they debate and campaign, but contradictions are something that GOP spinning long ago learned how to deal with.
Romney is smooth, talks well, and doesn't come across as a mean, crazy, vindictive SOB like most Repubs, so I consider him the most dangerous of the three once past the primaries, so I'm hoping his position-reversals and his religion lead to his rejection in the primaries. But as has been remarked, the nutcase base and corpcons have no other choice but to overlook their pasts (all three candidates).
My guess is that Romney has less built-in enmity from the southern base than McCain and Guliani.
Posted by: JimPortlandOR | Feb 21, 2007 12:35:34 PM
As for Romney, what's weird is that he thought he could easily escape his past.
Depends on how Romney handles it. If he runs from this, it's a problem. If he stands up proudly and explains that he has changed, then he will be forgiven.
If Robert Byrd can be and active recruiter (Kleagle) for the Ku Klux Klan and then have liberals forgive him, anything is possible.
Posted by: Fred Jones | Feb 21, 2007 1:34:21 PM
but the only one exciting the base is romney- mccain's numbers are tanking, guilani is considered too liberal, and being that this is the GOP, I doubt anyone else will surprise us since that's not how GOP primary works. sure there are others running, but only these three are considered credible.
Posted by: akaison | Feb 21, 2007 1:47:02 PM
You're going to give KLo a heart attach.
Posted by: Tim | Feb 21, 2007 2:27:33 PM
Ezra, Ezra, the man has had an epiphany. He's converted. He's seen the light.
Yeah, but the man has been a lifelong member of the Latter Day Saints. He can't have too dramatic a conversion moment, because he was already presumably devout. This is not "youthful indiscretions," followed by a walk on the beach with Billy Graham, followed by more decades of being a foul-mouthed, dry-drunk, bullying sociopath with Jeebus in his heart. What has been Mr. Romney's Road to Damascus? He was enjoying his usual evening snack of caviar, when it suddenly hit him that fetal rights do trump a woman's bodily autonomy?
Heck, I'd actually be interested how he became so strongly pro-choice to begin with, if it wasn't just to win elections in Massachusetts. Granted, I'm not sure if the soul that God creates by intercourse with one of his celestial wives gets implanted at conception, which might allow opposition to only late-term abortion, but that's not what he was espousing.
Anyway, the real fundagelical money is on Governor Huckabee. Why, he's so down-to-earth, and has a charming Southern accent, which will be enough for all those people who aren't paying attention.
Posted by: mds | Feb 21, 2007 2:36:20 PM
Depends on how Romney handles it. If he runs from this, it's a problem. If he stands up proudly and explains that he has changed, then he will be forgiven.
I have to say, I think Fred just might be right about this.
Posted by: fiat lux | Feb 21, 2007 2:44:28 PM
I have to say, I think Fred just might be right about this.
Again, what's the context in which Mr. Romney could have such a "Come to Jesus" moment, since he literally "came to Jesus" decades ago? What made him change? As Mr. Klein notes, he can't even blame it on how "9/11 changed everything," the most recent popular excuse for kowtowing to those in power. Senator Clinton is doing everything possible to wiggle out of admitting "I had poor judgment on a major issue in 2002"; how will Mr. Romney get away with it? Oh, wait, never mind.
Posted by: mds | Feb 21, 2007 3:54:50 PM
This is the reason that I think Romney's Mormonism is basically irrelevant. The attack ads made from this and the fifteen other similar tapes will, frankly, be totally lethal. The one of Romney trying to out-pro-gay Ted Kennedy in 1994 is also really good for this.
Posted by: NBarnes | Feb 21, 2007 4:01:54 PM
It is less of a big deal than we think. In the primaries, maybe that is an issue. In the general election, where else are the fundies going to go?
They stay home and don't vote. The ad comparing this to his current position will crush evangelical enthusiasm like nothing else.
Posted by: Col Bat Guano | Feb 22, 2007 12:25:12 AM
In the general election, where else are the fundies going to go?
I like the way you speak. It makes the evangelical vote seem so silly, so insignificant. The reality is the evangelical vote is powerful medicine when it feels strongly about a candidate. Yes, those Americans get to vote.........sorry.
Posted by: Fred Jones | Feb 22, 2007 8:32:47 AM
Yes, those Americans get to vote.........sorry.
We don't want to deny them the vote, just make them not want to.
Posted by: Col Bat Guano | Feb 22, 2007 3:19:51 PM
Teachers must be paid based on performance
Posted by: drink beer with my girl | Aug 11, 2007 3:23:45 AM
I haven't been up to anything. That's how it is. Not much on my mind right now. I can't be bothered with anything recently, not that it matters. It's not important.
Posted by: beer cooler draft kegerator | Aug 11, 2007 3:41:24 AM
More or less nothing seems important. It's not important. Shrug. Whatever. I've just been hanging out doing nothing, but eh. I can't be bothered with anything lately.
Posted by: bakersfield book california phone | Aug 12, 2007 5:30:17 AM
Google Stillstand? Seit gut einer Woche taucht kein einziger Artikel, den wir schreiben, in den Index aufgenommen. Hat jemand ahnliche Erfahrungen? Normalerweise dauert das nur 1-2 Tage bis Google die Artikel im Index auffuhrt. Gehts es anderen auch so?
Posted by: wholesale old time candy | Aug 13, 2007 4:27:09 PM
I feel like a fog, not that it matters. I've pretty much been doing nothing , but eh. Today was a loss. I haven't gotten much done for a while.
Posted by: vinyl tote bag | Aug 14, 2007 3:04:08 PM
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