Romney 'presumes' Palin vetted, says he's not interested in cabinet job
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Mitt Romney, speaking to reporters before the Massachusetts delegation breakfast in suburban Minneapolis today, said he thought vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin would "strengthen the McCain ticket dramatically."
"I think Sarah Palin connects very, very well with the base of our party and with individuals who are undecided across the country," he said. "I think she's going to bring a lot of moms and dads to our team."
He said he presumed that Palin's vetting process was "just as extensive as anyone else on that list."
On the subject of Palin's teenage daughter Bristol's pregnancy, Romney struck an understanding tone, saying that children don't always do what their parents would like them to do.
"I think anybody who thinks there are families who don't have problems hasn't lived in a family," he said. "I think Barack Obama showed a lot of class by saying, 'You know what? The kids in a family, they're off limits.'"
He added that he had "no interest...whatsoever" in serving in a McCain cabinet.
"I saw my dad serve in the cabinet," he said. "I learned something from that experience. He felt he was kind of soldiered by the young folks in the White House and then there's a big bureaucracy that you try to move, it's hard to do that. I just don't have any interest in a cabinet position."
Insisting that he had not thought about running for elected office again, he said that if McCain wins, he plans to "work from outside the administration" to support McCain and promote his own views.
He said he was "not disappointed... at all" about not being selected for vice president.
"I wish I were the Republican presidential nominee, that's what I fought hard for," he conceded. "But John McCain won fair and square."
A pretty half-hearted endorsement there. He must be beside himself with fury. He's sitting in house planning his 2012 campaign and that's probably all he's going to do.
I do not think there is any reason that the pregnancy of Palin's daughter should be mentioned when writing about McCain's campaign for the Presidency. This was not a problem that need be discussed in a public forum such as the presidential campaign.
Yea, we wish you were the Republican Candidate too Mitt. It's too bad that people are complaining about the senate's inability to get things done and here we have two Senators on the Presidential ticket.
Romney like Paulin as VP pick because it further weakens the GOP ticket and the self absorbed billionaire doesnt care about his party, only his own ambition. Otherwise he would have done something as governor other than run for president. He left the GOP in shatters here to pursue his own thing, and now he is licking his chops at a weak GOP ticket and getting ready to spend another 50 million of his own money to run again.
How well was Palin vetted? Obviously much better than the Democrats vetted John Edwards! His affair and love-child while his cancer-stricken wife was sick, and he was running for President on the Democratic ticket, is disgusting and unforgivable!
Actually, Mitt, he said, "I think people's families are off-limits, and people's children are especially off-limits." It wasn't just the kids he was talking about, but that won't stop your party from attacking Michelle anyway.
Furthermore, based on McCain's "Passed Over" ad, the runner up in the presidential race should be picked for VP. "She won millions of votes. But isn't on his ticket. Why? For speaking the truth." Maybe you shouldn't have said McCain "failed Reagan 101."
As someone who does not like Mitt Romney, I must say that he would have made a much better VP than Sara Palin...
RM- How can you say the Edwards affair is unforgivable? His own wife forgave him almost three years ago. It was people like Drudge and Limbaugh who twisted the story around. Elizabeth Edwards said it was a family matter, and the press wouldn't leave it at that. Funny how now they are so quick to back up the dim Alaska governor and her child who sleeps around in high school. The media is not liberal, if anything it has become more conservative.
At RM,
Yes, Yes and McShame own affair was just nothing, not at all. Same old republican partsain politics, huh RM.
At RM,
Yes, Yes and McShame own affair was just nothing, not at all. Same old republican partsain politics, huh RM.
The only benefit to Romney ever being in the Oval Office is that once there in his second term, he would finally have nothing else to run for and he might show what his real 'principles' (if they exist) are.
To Bob Eustice, When a politician goes on the record as being opposed to teaching sex education to teenagers, including the use of birth control and safe sex, then I'm sorry to say, but yes, it is a relevant issue when her unwed teenage daughter becomes pregnant. Both McCain and Palin support teaching abstinence and are against teaching safe sex. While I sympathize with her daughter, this pregnancy is relevant to Sarah Palin's political views.
you're right, Edwards' behavior was despicable and unforgiving. Yet, Dem voters didn't chose him. And we did that without even knowing. So the comparison can stop there. We're not hypocritically rallying around him now are we? No.
My issue here is the hypocrisy. The conservative social views have driven the Republican party for over a decade now. You rarely hear about the small gov't, states rights party. No, instead you get the "Moral Compass" of America party. They rely heavily on religion, not morality (two different things).
This woman is a stalwart. A champion for the Christian Right. This is why she was picked. This is why she was chosen over Pawlenty, Romney, Lieberman, Ridge...its because she's so ardently right the evangelicals needed this.
So when all of a sudden it comes out that her own family did not abide by the very principles she is trying to LEGISLATE onto the rest of us...well, that I cannot stand.
Comment #5's try at blaming John Edward's issues on the Democrats as a whole is more of the same from the Republicans. Never admit indiscretion, blame 'liberals'.
Edward's was vetted, he didn't get the votes and dropped out AND he is not the candidate for Vice President. I think there is something to be said for this being an off limits subject except that it speaks to both the lack of experience of the Republican candidates and the flimsy morals they bring to the election. As with other things they are willing to enforce abstinence only sex education on our children yet unwilling to be held accountable for their own failings to enforce their moral dogma at home.
We can't afford 8 more years of the Bush morality of convenience, especially when it is used as a distraction from solving the more fundamental damage that is being done to the republic and the environment.
Mark
"Elizabeth Edwards said it was a family matter, and the press wouldn't leave it at that. Funny how now they are so quick to back up the dim Alaska governor and her child who sleeps around in high school. "
The difference is one is the candidate and one is a child. Come on
RM, I agree that Edward's affair was inexcusable, however Edwards is no longer running, and if he was running when his affair came out, you can bet he would have dropped out immediately.. HOWEVER, Edwards affair was not public knowledge.. there is no way anyone at that time other than Edwards and his wife and mistress could have known about his affair.. Sarah Palin's daughter's pregnancy was PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE... McCain should have known about this. Someone dropped the ball in Palin's nomination.
Children often do exactly the opposite of what their parents advise, which suggests that Sarah Palin and her husband were likely guiding their children in ways that are consistent with their conservative views. That her daughter's pregnancy should change people's view of Palin is illogical....a grasping at straws to find something to use against her. She is inexperienced but made of the right stuff. People who support Obama would say the same thing about him.
Mitt needs cash and credibility- He just blew $42 million for no apparent purpose. He needs to buy a struggling company, fire the workers and reap the profits so he can get his GOP street cred back.
My father is a minister and I have not necessarily practiced abstinence since the age of 17 myself. All it takes is one slip-up and someone gets pregnant. This would be a non issue if they had sex and used protection. In fact, I gaurantee you that nearly every politician's children from the ages of 16+ have sex with their partners almost regularly. That's the sad state of this country.
This has nothing to do with a VP's ability to provide a tie-breaking vote in the Senate and be a strong female voice in the whitehouse.
Non Issue.
The Republican party would be far better off if Mitt got his wish and was the nominee for '08. He always exudes competence and grace and has a far better temperment than McCain to be President.
As a life-long Republican, John McCain may force me to vote Democrat for the first time ever. I simply don't think he has the judgement to be President but Romney would've gotten my vote easily.
Krystyn said it best: "So when all of a sudden it comes out that her own family did not abide by the very principles she is trying to LEGISLATE onto the rest of us...well, that I cannot stand. "
Unfortunately for the dimwitted elephant fans defending the choice to pursue an affair is a lot less of a problem than defending the choice a child makes to have a child. This is most definitely a public matter when the woman a heartbeat away from running the world states her daughter had a choice, a choice that she'd immediately outlaw.
Unfortunately for the dimwitted elephant fans defending the choice to pursue an affair is a lot less of a problem than defending the choice a child makes to have a child. This is most definitely a public matter when the woman a heartbeat away from running the world states her daughter had a choice, a choice that she'd immediately outlaw.
The Republican party would be far better off if Mitt got his wish and was the nominee for '08. He always exudes competence and grace and has a far better temperment than McCain to be President.
As a life-long Republican, John McCain may force me to vote Democrat for the first time ever. I simply don't think he has the judgement to be President but Romney would've gotten my vote easily.
Its too bad Mitt didn't win maybe people who work for a living could have actually kept their own money. Oh well I guess we'll try socialism now.
Some of you do not understand how our government works. Neither the Vice President nor the President for that matter can overturn a Supreme Court decision; only the Supreme Court may do that. A President may certainly influence the Court, primarily by whom they submit for membership to the court. I know many people are concerned about Pro Life candidates. Well, GW is Pro Life, yet Roe vs. Wade still stands. I suspect that we could have Republican Pro Life Presidents for the next hundred years and a Woman would still have the right to choose.
To keep on topic, I too would have liked Romney to be involved; he knows business and has been very successful.
Mitt, you flip flopper! Ran in Mass. pro choice and now for president as pro life!
Romney's an empty suit. He says he cut taxes as governor, but he raised fees more than any other governor in our history. He says he's pro-choice; then he says he's pro-life. He says he's a successful businessman, but he's actually a ruthless corporate raider who destroyed jobs and families. The man simply can't tell the truth. Good riddance to him.
Remember, Mitt is a guy who tied his family dog to the roof of a station wagon... e also has a wife with MS and doesn't believe in stem cell research. Not exactly my definition of a loving family man.
At Eunice:
That was the weakest cheap shot on the post.
In general:
Romney was the GOP's best shot. McCain has good qualities, but I am unsure if he can tie his shoes without a teleprompter. Palin worries me more. I suspect McCain couldn't handle someone as VP (Romney) who is smarter and more wealthy than he. Romney would have upstaged McCain's act. Palin dumbs it down to McCain-esque levels.
Prediction: McCain is going to lose by a small margin. Romney will be back in 2012 to run against Obama. By then, he will have campaigned and raised money for most of the GOP, including himself. He will strengthen his positions and have 4 years of Obama mis-steps to use in the election. America will be sick of a Democrat congress and president after 4 years and more ready to elect the GOP. The GOP will be riled up and ready to vote. And hopefully the South (evangelicals) will get over their Mormon bigotry and general stupidity to elect the best candidate (Romney). Romney needs to be slightly less partisan and more personal to appeal to a wider spectrum of voters.
Mitt Romney brings so much intelligence and goodness to this country and to the Republican party. Our country is missing out from not having him serve as President.
Mitt Romney brings so much intelligence and goodness to this country and to the Republican party. Our country is missing out from not having him serve as President.
Romney '12!
For that matter, I might still vote for him in '08.
I am not for Obama and I don't really care for McCain.
For the first time in my life I am apathetic, and I wish there was a box on the ballot that said "Apathetic" so I could express my apathy without staying home.
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