Romney hopes message hits home in time
By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff
STRATHAM, N.H. -- Mitt Romney said today that he is hitting his stride with his new emphasis on his business experience and the need for change in Washington. But with the New Hampshire primary less than 24 hours away, the worry, he said, is that he waited too long to make the case. In Iowa, Romney was putting greater emphasis on social issues such as abortion and gay rights.
"There's not a lot of time left and given an extra couple of weeks, that message could be brought home," Romney told reporters after speaking to employees at Timberland headquarters.
"You know it's an unusual experience running for president," he added. "Haven't done it before, and as time has gone on, the most salient messages that I'm trying to get through, I'm able to do a better job delivering."
Nonetheless, Romney said, "I think the message of my campaign in increasingly penetrating, particularly here among here among voters of New Hampshire."
He said he was gaining on Senator John McCain, who narrowly leads Romney in the latest tracking polls, in part because of his performance in Sunday night's Republican debate.
"My wife told me I did real well last night, and if that's the case, we could be closing that gap and perhaps surging ahead," Romney said. "I certainly hope so, in the waning hours. "
He also said a McCain loss in New Hampshire would end the senator's bid for the White House.
"I think it would probably end Senator McCain's campaign if he were unsuccessful here," Romney said. "This is the state he won in 2000 -- handily won."
He also tamped down expectations for his own campaign, saying he would soldier on even if he lost New Hampshire.
"This is not a one- or two-state campaign," Romney said. "This is a 50-state campaign."
He also argued, as he has since Barack Obama won the Iowa caucuses, that it would be disastrous if McCain were to face Obama in a general election.
"There's no way our party would be successful in the fall if we put forward a long-serving senator to stand up against Barack Obama's message of change," Romney said. "It's going to take a person who is himself an innovator, like myself, who has the experience to bring change to Washington, to be able to go head to head with Barack Obama and win."
I agree with Romney's sentiment. I don't think we would win with Sen. McCain as our candidate.
I also agree that Sen. McCain would not make it in a match up with Obama. Obama represents change and McCain represents more of the same.
Romney on the other hand has more ideas for the United States than Obama and McCain put together. Romney is clearly the best leader for the United States.
Romney is a fraud who changes his position depending on his audience. Anyone who has examined his unsuccessful run for the Senate against Ted Kennedy, his subsequent one term fun for governor, and now his run for president cxan examine how his views change for his audience. He is a majoe league phony.
Governor Big Hair is blowing smoke...his campaign has been based on dumping more and more money into the hopper and hoping to buy the white house...but voters see him as a will 'o the wisp changing his views like some sort of political kaleidoscope...now you see him; now you don't.
I want to see the polls that reflect McCain vs. Obama.
As a conservative, its hard to imagine that McCain is actually leading in NH, since he represents very little of what our party embodies.
I have to think that McCain's lack of details, winking to the camera, feel-good message and flag waving is resonating with Independents...or something like that.
For Republicans, he just not our guy.
Romney is a joke
He doesn't know how to fight - he was a punching bag at the debate
He had zero comebacks - he was awestruck by the attack
WHY -
because Romney has never had to fight for anything in his life
He had it easy...
- which of course is fine - having an easier life BUT he has no understanding for care for others that are not like him
He is also a boring straight corporate white guy
Romney has had zero challanges in life - He talks about the Olympics - who is this country was going to let the Olympics fail!?
Now if he was talking about an organization that had challanging odds than that would be an accomplishment
I am so glad he is blowing all that "hard" earned money...
Mitt Romney is the "flip flopper" of choice. When he said that he stands for a lot of issues, people didn't realize it was for a lot of different issues reguarding the same topic. Flip. Flop......
No thanks. Keep your money and your negative attack ads. You are no better than a high school bully. You think you can pay to make someone look bad? Please, the joke is on you and your children's inheritance you are spending. Your dad gave all that money to you, don't you think your kids deserve some of that cut? Or better yet give some money to the poor, the needy, a good cause.
You wasted 70 million in Iowa. You lost! Mike Huckabee won with 36% to your measly 24% of the vote. He spent 1 buck to your 20, and you said you are willing to spend more. WOW!
We cannot be bought in New Hampshire! We live free or die!
Romney is a giant. He doesn't need to be President but he has put out millions in order to serve. He reeks of service and ability to acomplish the task. I hope the people give him a chance. Too bad Huckabee got in there and spoiled the broth, otherwise, Romney would have been home free.
Romney earned his money the hard way- he worked for it, isn't that the American dream? Lisa, I suggest you read up on Bain Co and Bain Capital and then report back that Mitt you will find that mitt has met every challenge he has faced. Your comment about "boring white guy" seems as though color may be an issue for you.
Romney? Oh ya haven't you heard? He is the candidate of "change" He changes his view every time he is asked.
When confronted he says "there is not anything wrong with changing you mind. What is important is having the right view"
You mean the view the people voting for you have? Candidate of change.
"FLIP FLOPPER" Mitt Romney. He will be whatever you agree with with. Puppet.
Regardless of who you are for in 2008, if you really believe that the Olympics was not a major turnaround orchastrated by Romney then you clearly have no background or experience in management. Democrats and Republicans alike credit Romney for saving the Salt Lake City Olympics. The games were plagued by scandle and $300 M in debt. They ended up with a $100 M surplus.
You also suggest that the money he's made in his career is not hard earned. Not sure what your qualification for hard earned money is - but continually risking major amounts of personal money to invest in small businesses and then working to make sure they become successful big businesses (i.e Staples, Dominos, and Sports Authority) sounds like hard work and dedication to me.
P.S. Everytime you buy something from one of those aforementioned stores, along with many more, you're adding to Romney's pension from his consulting days. Food for though.
Romney, himself in this very article in his own words admits to his pondering to any audience that might win him votes. In Iowa, flip, emphasis on social issues, abortion/gays ect. . New Hampshire, flop, it's business experience and change. Which Mitt do we believe? Is it not clear he says what his target audience wants to hear. What is his real truth? A wolf in sheeps clothing, I say!
McCain, yawn, yawn, yawn, will never beat Obama. Mitt Romney has my vote.
Governor Romney is the only candidate that can make a change in Washington.
The Presidential Forum with Chris Wallace on Fox last night proved that.
Dr Fank Luntz and voters in New Hamshire shared their views on this also and that is MItt Romney is the winner!
Romney was awesome in the FOX debate Sunday night - he blew away the competition! He is presidential and the best candidate we have for the Republican party!! He is caring, sincere, and with the economy maybe going into a recession - he's the best choice for making the tough decisions in the months & years ahead.
Governor Romney is the only candidate that can make a change in Washington.
The Presidential Forum with Chris Wallace on Fox last night proved that.
Dr Fank Luntz and voters in New Hamshire shared their views on this also and that is MItt Romney is the winner!
Romney is the best candidate we have. He is the most conservative and he has CNANGED many things. He turned around failing companies. He turned around the olympics. He turned around Mass. He will change Washington.
McCain is a drian.
Obama lacks experience. What has this guy accomplished besides giving a moving speech.
WE NEED A DOER, NOT A TALKER AND NOT A HAS BEEN. ROMNEY CAN WIN THE WHITE HOUSE.
NEW HAMPSHIRE NEEDS TO SUPPORT ROMNEY.
John McCain is yesterday's news, go mitt!
WHO IS THE BEST CANDIDATE?
John McCain has been in DC for 25 long years. He is a big part of the Washington grid-lock problem. He is aging like a fossil at 71 years old. He has rode his war hero status for a long time with small results in Congress. Military leadership can hardly translated to excellence in real life management, because you only has one acceptable way to respond to your seniors which is "YES SIR!". How can any one believe he can revitalize the country? He should be getting ready to pack up his office and moved to Florida for his retirement.
Reagan changed party and he worked out fine. Pro-life, pro-choice is not the most important issue facing this country. We need some one to win back the leading role in the world economy. Romney has the records of success to show for. He is a proven winner in both the private and public sectors. You need a successful economy to create jobs.
Huckabee had 14 ethnical violations brought against him relating to finances as governor. Shortly before announcing his candidacy for the President of the United States, Huckabee ordered that the drives of 83 computers and 4 servers be destroyed during his transition phase in leaving office. He raised taxes 21 times and granded clemency to 1033 convicted felons, 12 murderers and rapists. Try to improve his tough on crime image with Chuck Norris. (Give me a break! If they sell weight lose machine it would be more convincing!) He has a 2 1/2 year of religious higher education and as a minister selling religion for a living with people's donation for 12 years. Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_huckabee
Check their bios and decided by the facts.
WHO IS THE BEST CANDIDATE?
John McCain has been in DC for 25 long years. He is a big part of the Washington grid-lock problem. He is aging like a fossil at 71 years old. He has rode his war hero status for a long time with small results in Congress. Military leadership can hardly translated to excellence in real life management, because you only has one acceptable way to respond to your seniors which is "YES SIR!". How can any one believe he can revitalize the country? He should be getting ready to pack up his office and moved to Florida for his retirement.
Reagan changed party and he worked out fine. Pro-life, pro-choice is not the most important issue facing this country. We need some one to win back the leading role in the world economy. Romney has the records of success to show for. He is a proven winner in both the private and public sectors. You need a successful economy to create jobs.
Huckabee had 14 ethnical violations brought against him relating to finances as governor. Shortly before announcing his candidacy for the President of the United States, Huckabee ordered that the drives of 83 computers and 4 servers be destroyed during his transition phase in leaving office. He raised taxes 21 times and granded clemency to 1033 convicted felons, 12 murderers and rapists. Try to improve his tough on crime image with Chuck Norris. (Give me a break! If they sell weight lose machine it would be more convincing!) He has a 2 1/2 year of religious higher education and as a minister selling religion for a living with people's donation for 12 years. Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_huckabee
Check their bios and decided by the facts.
Yup, McCain cannot beat Obama! I am very suprised that only now Romney is starting to emphasize this point, which is a very powerful message.
Romney was a part-time Governor what will be his commitment to the Presidency?
Go Romney! Romney honestly flips but he don't flop. It would be scarey to have executive's and politicians who were afraid to change because it might hurt their run for president someday. Mitt is a couragous leader for this very reason and it's the very reason why he will bring change in washington.
Romney was selected for the scandal plagued SLC 2002 Olympics precisely because he had an impecable reputation for honesty. If you notice, McCain only makes personal attacks in the form of jokes and avoids attacking real positions and experience. McCain is trying to keep a negative label going without any basis.
Romney is a phony, super-slick politician who will say whatever is necessary to get elected; compare what he is saying now to what he said in '94 vs. Kennedy and 2000 in the gubernatorial race. Love him or hate him, that is not so with McCain. He's clearly in the wrong (and has been) on Iraq, but he has been out front (as Republicans go) on climate change, campaign finance reform, comprehensive immigration reform, and, above all, torture. He may be a Washington insider, but he's one that has consistently bucked trends. Everyone is overestimating Romney and Huckabee's chances in a general election; McCain is the only Republican who can beat either Clinton or Obama. The country is not as far right as any of the other Republicans; Americans want climate change action, they want the torture to stop, they don't want a tyrannical executive like the one we have now or the one Romney is looking to install.
And as far as Romney's ability to bring "change": running a business is NOTHING like running a government. A government must see to much more than simply the bottom-line. Or do we really need to reexamine the miserable record of the last seven years of the first president with a MBA?
Romney? Oh ya haven''t you heard? He is the candidate of "change" He changes his view every time he is asked.
When confronted he says "there is not anything wrong with changing one''s mind." "And if you want somebody who''s never changed their mind, then you''re going to find somebody who oftentimes sticks to the wrong view.""
You mean the view the people voting for you have? Candidate of change.
By the way, those who watched the debate, Mitt and Huck clashed on whether or not Mitt supported a timed withdrawal. Mitt said he never did. Here is a credible article that shows he did:
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/romney-suppo rts-secret-iraq-timetable-2007-04-04.html
"FLIP FLOPPER" Mitt Romney. He will be whatever he thinks you want him to be. Puppet.
We cannot be bought in New Hampshire! We live free or die!
Romney? Oh ya haven''t you heard? He is the candidate of "change" He changes his view every time he is asked.
When confronted he says "there is not anything wrong with changing one''s mind." "And if you want somebody who''s never changed their mind, then you''re going to find somebody who oftentimes sticks to the wrong view.""
You mean the view the people voting for you have? Candidate of change.
By the way, those who watched the debate, Mitt and Huck clashed on whether or not Mitt supported a timed withdrawal. Mitt said he never did. Here is a credible article that shows he did:
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/romney-suppo rts-secret-iraq-timetable-2007-04-04.html
"FLIP FLOPPER" Mitt Romney. He will be whatever he thinks you want him to be. Puppet.
We cannot be bought in New Hampshire! We live free or die!
I love how McCain and others attack Romney as a flip flopper and then fail to see their own hypocricy when they also attack Romney for airing "negative attack ads."
Mitt Romney stood head and shoulders above all his opponents in the Sunday night debate. He was the most articulate, most intelligent and most reasonable of all the debaters. McCain is stuck in the past and offers no solutions. Huckabee was totally out of his league. Thompson was pretty good but lacked luster. Only Romney could identify succinctly the problems facing America and knows, from his experience how to address these problems. Those that say he is a flip flpper must never have changed their position on anything. Those that call him a phony don't know his actions in government and business and speak out of ignorance. It was not a phony that cleaned up the Olympics and started/strenthed many businesses.
McCain has my vote.
Mitt Romney is a man of integrity. Judge him by his fruits. He has the most important organization in the world in order -- his family. He leads by example. He knows what it takes to move our country forward in all of the important areas. He is dedicated to healing our country, which is so badly needed. He is a dedicated and hard working leader!! Romney has my vote!!! GR January 7, 203 PM
With McCain, after it's all said and done, there's more said than done. Romney is the one who has actually turned out solutions. He brings innovation and real-world experience instead of just rhetoric. Obama would kill McCain in the general. Please, NH, save our party by voting for Romney.
If Obama would kill McCain in November, he'll massacre Romney. What happens when Romney has to tack back to the center from his fringe-right position? Obama is reaching from far left to center-right, and its working. The only Republican who can do that with any success is McCain. Romney will destroy the party, not McCain.
The only ad Romney needs to run from this point forward is a still photograph of McCain and Ted Kennedy shaking hands on the immigration deal they worked on. It appears the republican base needs a reminder.
As someone who usually likes the Democrat candidate, I can tell you there is no way I'd vote Romney for the reasons the supporters here seem to think is a positive. Someone cites him as being the most conservative... How does that help unite such a divided country? Isn't anyone else here sick of the party wars? Can't we just have a president that wants the best for the entire country and is prepared to listen to both sides? I'm not sure that candidate is in the mix, but it sure ain't Mitt.
There are Dems in the line up that I would hate to have as president. If McCain runs oppose any of them, he'll have my vote without question. All the impressions I've got of him are a strong politician with plenty of experience and he's a good LEADER. I'd rather have a good leader than someone that weakly supports what I support. I would just hope McCain wouldn't keel over dead in his 4 years!
There is nothing wrong with emphasizing different issues in different states-- all politicians do that. Romney's not contradicting who he is and what he stands for because he talks about things NH residents care about instead of ethanol and family values etc. Romney explained the change to pro-life perfectly well. He's had a successful life and doesn't need to be Pres. He is the one who has the most breadth of experience and the ingenuity to actually get things turned around in Washington. The Democrats will weaken America. McCain is good on Foreign Policy, but he is a maverick just like Bush. Romney insists on the best people finding the best info. from all sides to make the best decisions. Everyone is trying to keep this attack image and ripping on him being wealthy just because they can't shoot him down on his actual policies. McCain's ads are every bit as "negative", Huckabee has smeared Romney personally and no one (in the media) is appalled at that. Romney could go after them for all the half-truths they say about him, instead, he states his message and his plan.
Remember that the media has a liberal bias??? They all want to push out Romney to make it easier for a Democrat to win in November.
Polls all show that people BELIEVE Romney will be the nominee but it won't happen in a vacuum.
NH-- you have to get out and vote for Romney-- the one who has DONE the things we want our next President to do.
Romney - find any other candidate that is hated MORE by his 'home state' (Massachusetts).... check UTube to see his supporting pro-life causes, when he was elected Gov. he supported gay rights... find out how many of the Brigham Young members are supporting him - and WHERE they're marching orders are coming from (Mormon church - no division of Church/State as required here!)... the man is a ROBOT. Geee gosh! Who really wants a president that CAN'T DRINK, SWEAR, and can have multiple WIFES?!!!!
Romney - find any other candidate that is hated MORE by his 'home state' (Massachusetts).... check UTube to see his supporting pro-life causes, when he was elected Gov. he supported gay rights... find out how many of the Brigham Young members are supporting him - and WHERE they're marching orders are coming from (Mormon church - no division of Church/State as required here!)... the man is a ROBOT. Geee gosh! Who really wants a president that CAN'T DRINK, SWEAR, and can have multiple WIFES?!!!!
Can we please put to rest the idiotic "the media has a liberal bias" BS? If it was so, would the press have been complicit in Bush's lying to get us into Iraq? They took his word as gospel. Come off it, Republicans. Stop crying foul when the majority of the country disagrees with you.
In the big picture we need to pick a candidate that will provide a battle to the Dems. I don't think John McCain is that pick. Mitt is the only electable candidate. Rudy has too much baggage & Thompson isn't interested. Paul is just a fringe candidate that strikes a chord with the young & ill advised......Go Mitt
As a relative newcomer to Utah, having lived much of my life in Ohio and Maryland, I saw Mitt Romney in action during the 2002 Winter Olympics. He gathered an excellent team around him, encouraged volunteerism in a most inclusive and outreaching manner, and persuaded business leaders, government leaders and individuals to contribute in a way that was truly electric. He has a way of lifting people and encourages them to be the best that they can be. He gets people to work together in ways that are collaborative and results oriented. The whole Olympics worked smoothly and beautifully, and almost everyone involved would love to do it again. I think that we need this guy to break down the adversarial barriers that exist in Washington. I personally would rather have a leader who can learn and grow, listen to others and gather information before making decisions, and be willing to admit it when he is wrong, than a guy who is stubborn and entrenched. You know, sometimes a person has to pick his battles; you can't change everything at once. Maybe he wasn’t flip-flopping as much as he was being realistic. We need what Romney brings to the table, especially with the economy, which in case you haven't noticed, is in a mess. Come on New Hampshire, do us all a favor and vote for Mitt Romney.
Not surprising for a democratic state to hate a republican-- many people of MA recognize the good he did for their state.
Romney has never changed his own personal beliefs about abortion/life and homosexual marriage. He has changed his stance on what he believes the Government's role should be in dictating those things. He readily admits this change and if you really listen, it's understandable that what one believes in theory is tested when it comes to having the authority to actually make laws. There are pro-choice members of the LDS church.
The fear that the LDS church is going to run the country is absurd-- no evidence in any of the other elected officials that are Mormon. Of course most students at BYU are going to support a guy who has their same values and they relate to. It's more scary to think of those evangelical blind followers who voted for The Huckster, regardless of his record just because he used to be a minister. Romney at least talks about his record instead of waffling and avoiding the issues like Huckabee does.
Not surprising for a democratic state to hate a republican-- many people of MA recognize the good he did for their state.
Romney has never changed his own personal beliefs about abortion/life and homosexual marriage. He has changed his stance on what he believes the Government's role should be in dictating those things. He readily admits this change and if you really listen, it's understandable that what one believes in theory is tested when it comes to having the authority to actually make laws. There are pro-choice members of the LDS church.
The fear that the LDS church is going to run the country is absurd-- no evidence in any of the other elected officials that are Mormon. Of course most students at BYU are going to support a guy who has their same values and they relate to. It's more scary to think of those evangelical blind followers who voted for The Huckster, regardless of his record just because he used to be a minister. Romney at least talks about his record instead of waffling and avoiding the issues like Huckabee does.
Boston Hippo,
Just for accuracy's sake, Mormons can't have multiple wives or "wifes" for that matter. Hope that helps.
Read National Review again folks. McCain just can't do it. Huckabee will fail. He is far more insincere than Romney, he's just better at it. Besides, if we end up with Huckabee and Obama in the race, Bloomberg will run. That's what he's waiting for. Romney is actually the real deal and that's why National Review picked him. They do know what they're talking about.
Romney is without a doubt a man who has clearly proven that he can make changes for the better. Anybody out there who's never started their own business, or chaired a major event hasn't got a clue has to the complexity of leadership qualifications it takes to do so.
Romney by far is the most well rounded candidate in talking about the individual issues.
Excuse me Jason- Or is it Lisa?
I don't know what kind of dream world you're living in cause it's certainly not the same world as the rest of us. Where do you get off saying that Romney has never had any challenges in his life or that he's never had to fight for anything? You obviously have no experience in the real world. I'd sure like to see you turn a doomed Olympics wrought with scandal and a $300 million deficit into one of the greatest games of all time and a $100 million surplus. Oh i'm sure that was a piece of cake.
He's done the same throughout his life in the business world and as governor of Massachusetts. What have any of these other candidates done to bring about great change and show the essential qualities of leadership? What has Huckabee done who spent most of his life as a preacher and who raised taxes by $400 million as governor done to show that he has the credentials and skills to lead the free world? Thompson? McCain?
Romney is by far the most qualified and most principled of all the candidates and I find it shameful when he is disparaged by people who don't know their facts. And all you people who keep labeling him "flip flopper Romney" better have some actual facts to back that up or you'd best keep quiet and get off the negative labeling bandwagon. Just because a candidate decides to focus more on one particular issue in one state and a different one in another does not make him a flip flopper.
McCain will be 80 years old by the time he completes two terms. If he doesn't plan to run for a second term he will be a lame duck president from the start!!!
Furthermore, though I had spoken positively about him before, after I saw the mean spirited way he acted toward Romney at the ABC debate I could never vote for him. It would be the first time in my fairly long life that I could not vote Republican if he were to become the nominee. We can't have a president who loses his composure in such an ugly way. Romney stayed calm in spite of the attacks.
Governor Romney is the only candidate who can win against Obama. He is a real conservative on all points. An extrememly hard worker he has brought his vast energy and considerable intellect to turn around several failing enterprises.
I really believe that he is running because he loves his country and wants to serve by helping to solve the many problems we face- which he is uniquely qualified to do. He isn't running because he needs power or wealth. He has money because he has a consistent proven record of success. He is willing to spend that hard earned fortune for the highest cause -much like our founding fathers who pledged their money and their lives to make the young government succeed.
Our country will be very lucky if we elect this man. We need someone who knows how to handle economic issues, who wants to control our boarders, who is concerned about energy independence, who wants to cut the federal government like he did the Mass. government, who wants to cut taxes and reduce waste, who knows how to work with people from around the world as he did in the Olympics and in his business enterprises. Someone who "gets it" about the very real threat we face from Jihadist.
Anyone who sees his family knows that there is a man of honor at the head of that household. They are an example for us to emulate here at home, and an example which will bring honor to America from other countries abroad. I would be proud as an American to see him interacting with other world leaders with his articulate grasp of the issues facing world leaders today.
I liked John
but he's just another wise a-s.
the debate changed my impression of John McCain
it left a bad taste in my mouth.
John McCain mismanaged his campaign funds this summer
and Mitt ran Staples
Mitt is no dummy with money.
What's so wrong with being a business man anyways?
I support Mitt Romney in NH
he can pay the bills
I liked John
but he's just another wise a-s.
the debate changed my impression of John McCain
it left a bad taste in my mouth.
John McCain mismanaged his campaign funds this summer
and Mitt ran Staples
Mitt is no dummy with money.
John can't beat Obama
What's so wrong with being a business man anyways?
I support Mitt Romney in NH
he can pay the bills
I liked John
but he's just another wise a-s.
the debate changed my impression of John McCain
it left a bad taste in my mouth.
John McCain mismanaged his campaign funds this summer
and Mitt ran Staples
Mitt is no dummy with money.
John can't beat Obama
What's so wrong with being a business man anyways?
I support Mitt Romney in NH
he can pay the bills
Mit Romney is a conciencious & loving family man. He has money because he is very intelligent and earned it and is a great philanthropist which very few know about as doesn't brag about it. Highly intelligent. Obviously those critics are too lazy to look up the challenges he has had to overcome even though it is on his web. He is the only candidate that is competent to help us as a nation. I predict that if he doesn't win we will be begging him in the next election to run. Also, get your facts right. Why follow a sheep in wolves clothing? I have been the brunt of that bigotry all my life that has been promoted by jealous PAID ministers. Think about it, PAID ministers. Learn the truth and facts from the source.
#3 - Changing your message based upon the audience is called being a good salesperson. What is most important to group A is not necessarily most important to group B. Should you talk about what group A wants to hear when you are talking to group B??? Not unless you want to lose your shirt. The message changes slightly, but the principles remain the same.
McCain's comment about managing vs. leading was rather silly. You hire a manager to take care of a business for you. You hire a leader when you want to turn a business or government around. Manager is another word for caretaker. Those businesses (and the Olympics) that Mitt turned around certainly needed a lot more than a caretaker.
My favorite Mitt video.
http://www.youtube.com/v/akyJYeBVbuM&rel=1
My favorite Mitt video.
http://www.youtube.com/v/akyJYeBVbuM&rel=1
I hope am not to late to this thread....so that no one gets the chance to read this amazing article. Here is some real food for thought about the issue change. Read it and think!
It is clear that most of the Republicans see Mitt Romney as the biggest threat and easier than taking on his positions, just destroy his name. Of course they do wish to enrich themselves by destroying his name, but I can’t help feeling in the long run it will hurt us all. I fear it will make our leaders or potential leaders hesitant to pursue new courses if the old prove ineffective. That can’t be good for our country. Changing your mind in the correct direction is desirable. It shows prudence. It shows ability to discern truth and after that truth is discerned have the humility to admit you were wrong and pursue the truth. I am studying the text book The American Founding and it is simply fascinating how many times people changed their minds regarding the Constitution, changing from position to position over and over. We should all be grateful they did. There are a few changes that are just amazing. First Edmund Randolph who came to the Constitutional Convention and “submitted the Virginia Plan in the first place. He had been at the very center of this nationalist group. Now, with heavy heart, he said, he must withhold his own support of the final product.” Edmund Randolph did not sign The Constitution but later when it came time to debate The Constitution’s ratification, “the stage-handsome governor had undergone a change of heart worthy of Damascus Road. Not only was he for the Constitution, he was for it heart and soul, all ambivalence put aside.” Sam Adams staunchly opposed the Constitution, but latter came to support it. Patrick Henry the most fiery and unrepentant of Anti-Federalists during and after ratification, “ironically, in the last years of his life Henry's fear of the radicalism inherent in the French Revolution caused him to take another look at American republicanism and, fearing it could become too radical, he joined the Federalist party.” Further, “another kind of capitulation occurred on the floors of state conventions after the deciding vote… there were speeches of apology and offers of reconciliation.” All of this change improved, unified and strengthened our country. Finally, on the day Benjamin Franklin signed The Constitution he made this speech:
Mr. President, I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve. But I am not sure I shall never approve them. For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. Most men indeed as well as most sects in religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them it is so far error…. But though many private persons think almost as highly of their own infallibility as of that of their sect, few express it so naturally as a certain French lady, who in a dispute with her sister, said, “I don’t know how it happens, Sister, but I meet with nobody but myself, that’s always in the right.”
Is it such a bad thing to have a presidential candidate who questions his own infallibility? Is it not a good thing to have a candidate who changes his mind when confronted with the truth? Don’t get me wrong I’m a Ron Paul supporter through and through, but the idea that Mitt Romney is a bad person, bad candidate, or can’t be trusted because he has changed his mind is simply ludicrous. Any way maybe I am the only one who finds this interesting, but I think it is a good historical example of why changing minds or positions can be good for our country and does not make someone ineligible to lead. After all James Madison broke with his fellow Federalist Paper authors to become the second Republican president, did that make him a flip-flopper?"
By reader Luke
Romney spoke to the issues at hand in Iowa and did the same to the issues in New Hampshire. That shows he is concerned about the individual. Why would he talk the same to both. The states are not the same. Do parents raise their children exactly the same. We work with people not just ideas
Candidate Research - Know Who You're Voting For ( The Easy Way )
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/entry/candidate_research_know_who_youre_voting_for/
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