I'm not a "conspiracy theorist" but I'm afraid that this article's main objective is to convince Christian conservatives that Mitt Romney is not a conservative. The fact that he is listed first, that he has more "Bads" listed than anyone else (even with Pataki, McCain, and Giuliani on the list . . . now how did they get such short "bad" lists?!?!), and that nearly all of his strong conservative credentials were "left off" the list make me wary and suspect that this "objective list" of conservative credentials is a way to debase Gov. Romney.

Now, many Christians may have a problem with Romney's religion (being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) and so might be more inclined to "look for the bad" in Romney. I fear that many who dislike him/his religion will hide behind the labels of "RINO" or "abortion Flip-flopper" when their real objection is doctrinal. However, those that really look at the issues will realize that Mitt Romney IS a strong conservative . . . both on fiscal and on social/moral issues.

Conservative credentials:

1--Turned $3 billion deficit into a $400 million surplus within one year without raising taxes and by cutting pork projects and needless "feel good" social programs

2--Most articulate and outspoken supporter of traditional marriage (i.e. anti-gay marriage) in the nation.

3--He is pro-life (see below for a discussion of this issue)

4--Vetoed Stem Cell Research bill in Mass.

5--Vetoed bill seeking to lower age of parental consent for abortions.

6--Vetoed bill seeking to approve the "moring after pill"

7--Strong on Homeland Security and War on Terror (suggested wire-tapping Mosques that have been know to promote terroist activities)

8--Managed to get Abstinence Education in ultra-liberal Mass

9--Supports drilling in ANWR

10--Strongly supports charter schools and voucher programs.
In rebuttal to the "Bad" list in the article:

1) "Personally against abortion, but pro-choice as governor" See below for discussion . . . has voted on the side of life on every bill that came to his desk as governor.

2) "Supports RU-486 the, “morning after pill”"--This is flat out wrong. He vetoed the morning after pill siting that such a pill is not contraception, but killing of an embryo . . . http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/07/26/why_i_vetoed_contraception_bill?mode=PF

3) "Does not support gay marriage but support benefits of marriage to gay partners"--Again, not true. He is the most outspoken political opponent of gay marriage in the nation! http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZmViZGQ2NjVhMGUxNTgwZGYxNjBhMDkxNDBkMjVkOWY= He is also against civil unions. He has supported some domestic benefits in the past for gay couples . . . like being able to visit a "partner" in the ICU, but nothing to put them "on par" with the benefits of married couples.

4) "Supports Universal Health Care"--This is a shameless attempt to paint things as they are not. The Mass healthcare plan has the support of most conservatives and he worked with The Heritage Foundation to nail out many of the great details of the plan. Research the plan . . . this is anything but "HillaryCare" http://jjfuller72.redstate.com/story/2006/5/29/0030/34495

5) "#8 on Human Events' list of Top Ten RINOs"--Finally something that is correct on the list . . . however, being put on such a top 10 list is a matter of opinion rather than a matter of fact. Someone could have an ax to grind with Romney . . . I personally spoke with #10 on that list, Jim Leach, my congressman about it and he was flaberghasted that Romney was on the list . . . saw it as a political ploy by someone to hurt Romney's presidential aspirations.

***********
My question is this: Should Conservative Republicans altogether give up hope for turning around liberal states like Massachussetts?

Mitt Romney is a courageous politician. He is willing to take on liberals on their own turf.

Were he the Governor of Arkansas or Texas, or a Senator from Tennessee or Utah, he would have a perfect track record on all of these issues for ROMNEY IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN AGAINST ABORTION AND GAY MARRIAGE. No, Romney didn’t have the luxury that most GOP frontrunners have of governing a conservative state though he is, and has always been a moral and fiscal conservative.

Being a politician in the bluest of blue states, Romney has accomplished much that conservatives should be proud of (balancing the budget, no new taxes, trying to decrease the income tax rate, vetoing the morning after pill, vetoing a decrease in the age requiring parental consent for an abortion, etc . . .). But to get all of this accomplished, he has had to “shelf” certain issues, like abortion.

He had to communicate to the electorate that he would “shelf” these issues. This necessitated public declarations that he would protect the current laws (which, unfortunately, do protect a woman’s “right” to choose) and not add to nor take away from current laws.


A few quotes below strengthen my argument.

In a recent National Review article it stated: “Romney has done his best to defend the culture of life on what is probably the most inhospitable terrain in the country.”

Maggie Gallager, The President of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy said: “Mitt Romney is a brave man. While the GOP glitterocracy attended the first gay wedding of one of their own, Gov. Romney was in Washington, D.C., making the single most eloquent and articulate defense of our traditional understanding of marriage I have heard from an American politician.”

Kris Mineau from the Massachusetts Family Institute stated: “On marriage and cloning, he has provided aggressive leadership as a positive, pro-family governor”

Charles Colson, a promient evangelical leader has also said: “I could in very good conscience support Romney as a fellow social conservative on most of the issues we care about.”

Kathryn Lopez, a Townhall.com columnist says:
"As more Americans meet Mitt Romney, I think they'll see beyond the handsome exterior and see not just a good salesman, but a thoughtful (and, yes, conservative) leader."

Hugh Hewitt--Conservative Radio Talk Show Host: "Romney is a true conservative, both fiscally and socially, and has the charisma and personality that reminds you of a younger Ronald Reagan. In fact, he might just be the perfect candidate."

Barbara Anderson, Citizens for Limited Taxation - Massachusetts: "We couldn’t be happier with him. Without Romney, we would have been slapped with a lot of new taxes."

Cal Thomas calls Romney "a Conservative" http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=36&url_article_id=16929&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2

CHECK OUT THE NEW SITE--"EVANGELICALS FOR MITT"! http://www.evangelicalsformitt.org/
 

I have no agenda in listing these facts; and they are facts derived from statements and votes.

It was more of a personal quest to find out who I like and don't like for 2008. I let the facts stand for themselves and fervently reject your conspiracy theory.

Most of my facts were derived from:

www.ontheissues.org

Have a look.
 

Regarding Mitt, here is some supporting material:

"Endorsed legalization of RU-486, the abortion-inducing drug." Boston Globe review of 1994 campaign issues Mar 21, 2002

Romney was asked to clarify his position on abortion. Romney's stance appeared to have changed between his 1994 campaign against Sen. Kennedy and when he moved to Utah. He recently told a Salt Lake City newspaper that he preferred not to be labeled "pro- choice."
"On a personal basis, I don't favor abortion," he said. "However, as governor of the commonwealth, I will protect a woman's right to choose under the laws of the country and the commonwealth. That's the same position I've had for many years."
Source: Erik Arvidson, Lowell Sun Mar 20, 2002

Romney disclosed that he became committed to legalized abortion after a relative died during an illegal abortion. The disclosure came after Romney, who said he is personally opposed to abortion, was asked to reconcile his beliefs with his political support for abortion rights. "It is since that time that my family will not force our beliefs on that matter," He said the abortion made him see "that regardless of one's beliefs about choice, you would hope it would be safe and legal."
Source: Joe Battenfeld in Boston Herald Oct 26, 1994

All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual orientation. While he does not support gay marriage, Mitt Romney believes domestic partnership status should be recognized in a way that includes the potential for health benefits and rights of survivorship.
Source: Campaign web site, www.romney2002.com, "Issues" Sep 17, 2002
 

JR, Your quotes sounds pretty sound to me.

I gather from your article that your lists are not exhaustive. Maybe that helps.
 

Admittedly, I probably went too far with the claims of an agenda/conspiracy. I'm sorry if it came across as any kind of personal attack.

However, I find your reaction to my information as odd. If you were unknowingly just going to an outdated and incomplete website (www.ontheissues.org--who I've written to update Romney's stances on many of these categories . . . they must be too busy with 2006 issues I guess?) to get this information then I am sorry about any accusations I seem to have made. But your response was not one of an "honest seeker of truth." I would have expected an "I appreciate the clarifications" or "your information is interesting, I will try to verify ", or "I'm glad that Romney has done these important things in support of conservative causes."

Instead, you seem to have dug deeper into your opinions and not recognized the facts that I presented.

On the quotes you presented above in rebuttal:

1) RU-486: You seem more taken by a 12-year old opinion (before he realized that it was not a "contraceptive", but really, an abortifactant) than with the well-know fact that he vetoed it’s use. Which is more important? A 12 yr. old opinion during an election, or documented political record with action on the "side of life" (in ultra-liberal Massachusetts under vicious political attacks I should add)?

2) On abortion: From the Boston Globe article July 26th, 2005 "Why I vetoed the contraception bill":
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/07/26/why_i_vetoed_contraception_bill/

"I will honor the commitment I made during my campaign: While I do not favor abortion, I will not change the state's abortion laws. I understand that my views on laws governing abortion set me in the minority in our Commonwealth. I am prolife. 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."

Romney's political views have "evolved" (his word) to being just personally "pro-life", to being a “pro-life” politician (compared to 1994). Bottom line, even if he was pro-choice in the past, he, like Reagan and Bush 41, has moved firmly into the Pro-life camp.

3) On Gay-Rights: As Governor he has not proposed or supported any legislation expanding gay rights. He is strongly against gay marriage and civil unions. The kind of benefits he feels gays should be entitled to are being able to visit a "partner" in the ICU (only family members allowed) and stuff like that. He is VEHEMENTLY HATED in Massachusetts by the pro-gay rights groups. That should at least tell you something!

Any conservative who wants to see the Marriage Protection Amendment passed through should strongly consider supporting Romney . . . he may be the only one who is able to convince enough congress members to support it!
 

Romney doesnt need anyone to convince Christian conservatives he's not a conservative. His record does it quite well. Here's what Romney isnt telling you about his record.

1) Romney: "as we seek to establish full equality for America's gay and lesbian citizens, I will provide more effective leadership than my opponent (Ted Kennedy)."

2) Won Republican Gov. William Weld's endorsement and said he was in step with the famously pro-gay governor on many issues, including same-sex marriage.

3) Continued Weld's tradition of appointing openly gay people to key positions in his administration.

4)Offered political and financial support to two openly gay Republican candidates for state representative in 2004. Both candidates were promoted as part of the “Romney Reform Team.”

5) Proposed doubling the funding for the “Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth” for fiscal year 2006.

6) Has passed over GOP lawyers for three-quarters of the judicial vacancies he has filled, instead tapping registered Democrats or independents -- including two gay lawyers who support expanded same-sex rights and a 2005 district court appointment of a man who served on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association.

7) In a Planned Parenthood questionnaire, asked if he supported “the substance of the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade,” he answered “yes.” Asked if supported “state funding of abortion services through Medicaid for low-income women,” he answered “yes.” Asked if he supported “efforts to increase access to emergency contraception,” he answered “yes.”

He ended his response to the questionnaire by stating, “I respect and will protect a women’s right to choose…the truth is no candidate in the Governor’s race in either party would deny women abortion rights.”

8) He is weak on the Second Amendment as an open supporter of the assault weapons ban contained in a congressional crime bill, and supporter the Brady bill.