The Commonwealth Comment

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Flip Flop Mitt in 2008

Mitt Romney kicked off his 2008 Presidential bid today in his home state of Michigan. The former governor of Massachusetts is just one in a crowded field of Republican candidates for the nation's highest office. "Innovation and transformation have been at the heart of America's success," he said. "If there ever was a time when innovation and transformation were needed in government, it is now."

Romney is known for his conservative stances on many issues, and has even been compared to the likes of Ronald Reagan (just look at that hair!). He is also a Mormon, an obstacle that may sway voters against him in his run for office. Romney would be the nation's first Mormon president.

Mitt has indeed left his mark on Massachusetts. There is a new universal health care system going into place, and gay marriage rights hang in the balance. But, if you ask the people of the Commonwealth what they think of Romney, you're likely to get a less than enthusiastic response. He was out of state in 2006 for over 200 days!

Romney has also been criticized for his stances on many issues now as compare to when he ran for the United States' Senate in 1994 against Ted Kennedy. His views then were drastically different than they appear to be now; especially in the realm of gay rights.

Take a look at Romney's debate with Kennedy from 1994.




My opinion: Everyone has been all over the Democratic politicians running for president based on their stance on the war in Iraq, and how they voted. I'm glad to see this apparent shift toward calling of the conservative candidates as well. Mitt has flip flopped just as much as any political figure in the last decade or so. I'll call the GOP nomination now. It won't be Mitt. He has too much working against him. Unfortunately a part of that is his religion, and it shouldn't even begin to be a factor. The rest is his neglect of Massachusetts; the punch line for his jokes, his flip floppiness. Is that even a word? And his extreme conservatism. If the GOP hopes to win the White House in 2008, the had best find a moderate candidate.

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