2012 Tuesday: One case (sort of) for Mitt Romney
Here is a case for Mitt Romney, albeit one I don’t expect his campaign to make. And make note of this caveat from the beginning: This post is not an endorsement, only food for thought.
We all know by now one of the conservative knocks on Romney: When campaigning for offices in Massachusetts, he often professed squishy-to-outright-liberal positions on such issues as abortion, guns, gay rights, taxes and immigration, only later to adopt far more conservative positions on those same issues once he decided to run for president. Reverse course on one issue — as Ronald Reagan did regarding abortion — and you can claim a genuine change of heart. Do it on a number of issues, and you get labeled an untrustworthy flip-flopper.
We also know by now one of the other other conservative knocks on Romney: While serving as governor and working with a liberal legislature, he actually acted on some of these squishy-to-outright-liberal positions. His health reform is of course the most prominent example. (Spare me the talking point that some conservatives once favored an individual mandate to purchase health insurance; every time Romney describes his reform as something that was “right for Massachusetts” and still popular there, he is acknowledging that, on the whole, it was a liberal reform for a liberal state.)
So, from a purely cynical standpoint: If the argument is that conservatives can’t trust Romney because he once advocated liberal positions, shouldn’t we also consider that he did act on those liberal positions — and might also be likely to act, alongside a conservative Congress, on the conservative positions he now advocates?
In other words, if we assume Romney will say anything to get elected — and then do what he said so that he can be re-elected — why not assume he will act mostly conservatively if elected president?
Again, that’s not a very high-minded way to look at him, which is one reason his campaign probably won’t make such a case.
But every time I hear or see people referring to Romney’s flip-flopping, I can’t help but think that he didn’t flip-flop until after he decided to leave state office and run for national office. He essentially did then, in Massachusetts, what he’d said he would do then and there. So, even if you believe Romney speaks and acts only in his electoral self-interest, should you not also believe he will find it in his electoral self-interest to govern conservatively after campaigning as a conservative?
The closest I’ve seen anyone come to making this argument was National Review’s Ramesh Ponnuru in his endorsement of Romney, when he contrasts Romney with Obama rather than with other Republicans:
If Mitt Romney becomes president, he will almost certainly be dealing with John Boehner as speaker of the House and Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader. While they, too, have their conservative detractors, they are the most conservative congressional leaders Republicans have had in modern times, and they will exert a rightward influence on the Romney administration. If they send him legislation to repeal Obamacare, cut taxes, or reform entitlements, he will sign it where Obama would veto it. If at some other point in his presidency a liberal-run Congress sends him tax increases, he will veto them where Obama would sign. Compared with President Obama, a President Romney would do more to protect the defense budget.
I see three potential objections to the line of thinking I’ve suggested. The first is very weak: Romney is really a liberal at heart and is just saying conservative things now so that he can get into office and govern liberally. I don’t believe that, and I don’t think many other people do, either. For starters, if Romney’s over-arching goal is to pursue liberal policies, why not wait until after Barack Obama leaves office? (If you believe Romney would be more liberal than Obama, I have nothing to say to you.) And if Romney is really a liberal at heart, why wouldn’t he have run as a Democrat from the get-go, given that he was running in Massachusetts of all places?
The second potential objection is less easily dismissed: In the general election Romney would tack toward the center, thinking there is no situation in which Republicans will abandon him and contribute to Obama’s re-election — and that he will then be more beholden to governing squishily than conservatively. I think Romney would be miscalculating if he believes all that, but I guess it’s possible.
The third potential objection may be the toughest to overcome: Should Congress flip back into totally Democratic hands in, say, 2014, then Romney, lacking a true or strong ideological orientation, will perceive that governing liberally is the best way to win re-election. Now, he would certainly have to expect to be primaried in that event, probably successfully, so I’m not sure he would flip even then. But if you go for the pure electoral self-interest theory, this scenario is at least plausible.
Personally, I don’t think any of those three scenarios is more likely than the case I outlined before them. So, I would expect a Romney nominated by the GOP after campaigning as a conservative to govern like a conservative for the most part — which is as much as can be said for either President Bush, and perhaps a future President Gingrich.
That may not be enough to win him the nomination. And, to reiterate, it’s not enough to win an endorsement from me today. But for those who distrust Romney because of the differences between his words now and his words then, I think it’s worth considering the similarities between his words then and his actions then — and what that may foretell about the impact of his words now.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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200 comments Add your comment
gm
December 13th, 2011
2:12 pm
Good old mitt: the same guy who was for the auto be put in bankrupt, I guess that does not mean much to a bunch of rich greedy rep, who familes would have lost their homes and way of living.
Oh, how stupid are the low middle class rep? backing a guy who would bet $10,000 having fun but would let millions of Americans starve and not save the history of the auto in America, oh and lets not talk about Mass, was last next to last in job creation but this guy is a master in job creation.
Rep party middle class get the weine of the year award because they love the rich to stick it to them, ha ha
carlosgvv
December 13th, 2011
2:14 pm
If Romney is elected President, he will govern according to the makeup of the new Congress. Anyone who is willing to flip-flop this much is obsessed with getting power and, once he gets it, he’ll keep it any way necessary.
Dusty
December 13th, 2011
2:15 pm
NO Mr. Bass 1:59
You cannot fall back on Blame Bush. Bush pulled us together after 9/11 and kept our country safe after that. All reports nailed Saddam with weapons of mass destruction. Iraq is now one of the few countries in the Middle East with a democratic government.
You will have to come up with something better than the usual hate Bush propaganda from Democrats. They wore that one out after using it for eight years.
The big problems now are the failing policies of Obama and the deficit raising results. Haven’t you noticed?
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:15 pm
Gm……”would let millions of Americans starve”….sounds like they need to get of Welfare and get a job….Oh wait, Mr. Obama, where are the jobs?
You do know that if you work really hard you can be rich too. Maybe then you can afford to take some grammar classes.
Hankie Aron
December 13th, 2011
2:18 pm
Ernest T- I will pray for you.
Hankie Aron
December 13th, 2011
2:20 pm
Folks- remember something rich and poor people both are not the enemy
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:21 pm
Hankie…..good point. Thank you.
gm
December 13th, 2011
2:23 pm
UGA 1999
Hey bend over you are the first low middle class who like to take it from the rich, but those people are in unions something hicks like youin Georgia dont understand, do you really think Mitt and Newt care about poor “”"w trash ha, ha.
I want you to drive along rual areas of Georgia and look at some these people living in trailers and on welfare who support Newt and Mitt, no, my friend you are the retard”””
JDW
December 13th, 2011
2:27 pm
@UGA 1999…”Maybe then you can afford to take some grammar classes.”
Good idea…maybe you could recommend a good Private School…
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:28 pm
gm…..Dude…..I will put it this way….I am not lower class. You really should know who you are talking to before you make a comment like that.
What is “youin” hahaha
Please keep posting you are cracking me up!!!!!
Elmer Gantry
December 13th, 2011
2:29 pm
Mit makes the presidency fit
for the Pres chair to sit
It is time for Obam to git
He is no dimwit
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:29 pm
JDW…..you have yet to mention your institution of education?
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
December 13th, 2011
2:30 pm
Anybody who has never changed their beliefs in the face of maturity, life experiences and new information has no business being an elected official, let alone President.
All you people decrying the flip-flopping aspects of anyone need to put your brains in gear and open your eyes to potentially different possibilities.
man behind the curtain
December 13th, 2011
2:32 pm
Today’s episode of “I Wonder”, Kyle’s exercise in pointless speculation, brought to you by Depends, full to the last drop.
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:33 pm
Elmer….nice.
There once was a man named Obama
Who’s wife looked like Aunt Jemima
He tried all of the time
To spend all of our dimes
Now he is caught up in the Demoncrat drama
JDW
December 13th, 2011
2:35 pm
@UGA 1999…I have two one of which you constantly devalue.
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:37 pm
JDW….and that is?
man behind the curtain
December 13th, 2011
2:38 pm
“Who’s wife looked like Aunt Jemima”
How low will you go UGALY? Your degree is showing.
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:39 pm
Man behind…..haha dude it was a joke. Lighten up.
But you have to admit she kind of does!
MB
December 13th, 2011
2:40 pm
Congratulations young Wingfield, you have reached the conclusion (and the correct one at that) that the only candidate on the GOP stage who stands a snowball’s chance in Hades of unseating President Obama next November is Mitt Romney. So, be good little Republicans and do what daddy Rove says. Hold your noses and check the ballot for Mittens.
man behind the curtain
December 13th, 2011
2:40 pm
Finest first lady since Jackie O. And your jokes are about as funny as you political points are unoriginal.
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:41 pm
MB……I would be willing to be any of the candidates would beat Obama next year. With every word our of his mouth the noose just gets tighter.
gm
December 13th, 2011
2:42 pm
UGA 1999
You are not in the 1%, you just love the weine dont you by rich? do you really believe we are going to elect a man like Newt to represent America? with no moral or family values, we will be the country of hypocristy around the world.
Obama will win hand down, wants all the bigots and haters think about it”””’
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:42 pm
Man behind…..finest first lady since Jackie O……wow I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder!! haha.
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:43 pm
man behind…..did you hear that the Zac Brown Band invited Obama on stage to sing “Chicken Fried” and Obama declined,…..I wonder why?
man behind the curtain
December 13th, 2011
2:45 pm
“With every word our of his mouth the noose just gets tighter.”
Now your real sentiments are being revealed. And the real reason for your hatred of the President.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
December 13th, 2011
2:45 pm
Don’t know in what context “finest first lady” is being used, but the best First Lady since Jackie Kennedy was, and remains, Barbara Bush.
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:46 pm
man behind……And what is that?
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
December 13th, 2011
2:47 pm
UGA 1999, there is no call to go down that particular road. Take the high road on this and stick to the issues.
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:47 pm
Tiberius…..Amen, I met her in Atlanta about a year ago and she is absolutely amazing.
Kyle Wingfield
December 13th, 2011
2:47 pm
MB @ 2:40: That’s your conclusion, not mine.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
December 13th, 2011
2:50 pm
Great article on the meaning of state polls vs. national polls and looking at the Electoral College when trying to handicap the upcoming race.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/11/curl-election-2012-by-the-numbers-take-2/?page=all
Road Scholar
December 13th, 2011
2:50 pm
“(Spare me the talking point that some conservatives once favored an individual mandate to purchase health insurance; ..”
Accurate history’s a b!tch, ain’t it Kyle!
“If Mitt Romney becomes president, he will almost certainly be dealing with John Boehner as speaker of the House and Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader.’
WHOA! What’s all the talk from conservatives on term limits??? Only if it fulfills Repubs desires, Kyle?
“..tack to the center..” Hasn’t Romney tacked to the center, then right, then left, then center, etc.? He should have been a slolum skier!
Kyle, have you seen the interview Huntsman did on the View today? He was good! Very good!
man behind the curtain
December 13th, 2011
2:51 pm
Barb really is fine. Love white hair on older women.
Road Scholar
December 13th, 2011
2:53 pm
UGA 1999:”Heh, heh,heh…….Obama………Hitler on meth.!!!!”
Your fat Albert imitation is poor, but not as bad as your statement! Obama? Hitler? Give me a break!
Ernest T. Bass
December 13th, 2011
2:54 pm
Hey Ernest…..here is one for ya. Obama is trailing BOTH Romney and Newt in the swing states…….C ya Hussein!
LOL a Fox News poll huh. LOL
Question for you guys.
Why do Republicans hate America so much they want to see it fail ?
I say love it or leave it. If you don’t love America you can go some where else.
Delta is ready when you are.
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:56 pm
Ernest…..sorry dude, we dont want to see America fail and honestly I dont want to see Obama fail. But his policies and ideas are toxic to America. We are just trying to save it. The election results from the house show that the Dems are out of touch with America. They will be magnified in 2012.
Jefferson
December 13th, 2011
2:56 pm
For those unhappy with the president, you can only blame yourself for supporting an administration that ran the country so far into a ditch he could be elected, you could have voted for Hillary as was the only viable option. You have nobody to blame but yourself.
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:56 pm
Hey Road…why do you not copy and paste the entire post. Oh more half truths from the left. Lies Lies Lies.
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
2:58 pm
Jefferson…..Bush’s term was over you tard. And McCain didnt stand a chance. Although looking back we should have voted for him, with Palin or without her.
Clinton would be a MUCH more viable candidate that Obama!! I would take her any day over this mess.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
December 13th, 2011
2:58 pm
“Why do Republicans hate America so much they want to see it fail ?”
Why do liberals like Ernest T. Bass fall back on this nonsense when they have nothing to argue with facts?
Ernest T. Bass
December 13th, 2011
2:59 pm
Thirty-two of the thirty-three developed nations have universal health care, with the United States being the lone exception
Ask yourself this. All they all wrond and we are the only ones that are right ??
And if so why do they get better results than we do ?
Why do they have longer life expectancy and lower rates of diabetes and heart disease. ?
Im not for Universal Healthcare because Obama says so.
I just look at the numbers and it seems like a no brainer to me.
gm
December 13th, 2011
3:01 pm
Any one notice under this great President in the last 3 years there have been no Americans taken hostage or killed while over seas, under GW Americans were being killed ever week.
Thanks Obama for keeping Americans safe around the world with your class and grace, why would we want to go back to John Wane mentality and get our people killed, oh I forgot when you have people never been out of the athens or Macon this is no big deal.
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
3:02 pm
Enest……Then why do SO many from other countries come to America for their health needs? I have never heard of someone from America flying to France for a medical procedure. America has the best access to healthcare in the world.
What is “wrond”??
Why do they have longer life expectancy and lower rates of diabetes and heart disease……Please site specifics! You cant!
Are you used to “no brainer” decisions?
HDB
December 13th, 2011
3:02 pm
Tiberius – Your lightning rod of hate!
December 13th, 2011
2:58 pm
“Why do Republicans hate America so much they want to see it fail ?”
“Why do liberals like Ernest T. Bass fall back on this nonsense when they have nothing to argue with facts?”
Maybe because prominent CONSERVATIVES publically stated such!
Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage, Krauthammer, et. al.
Maybe becaue prominent REPUBLICANS have ACTED as such!!
Boehner, McConnell, Ryan, Kasich, Walker (Wisconsin), Scott (Florida)……..
The evidence is there…..and speaks volumes!!!
Ernest T. Bass
December 13th, 2011
3:05 pm
But his policies and ideas are toxic to America
Actually they aren’t.
When you follow the worst President in the history of the country its going to take a little time to turn all that bad momentum around.
People conveniently forget that the economy was in free fall when Obama took over.
Unfortunately 8 years of failed policies cant be overturned overnight.
As far as the election in 2012 goes.
Obama is going to win easy against Newt. Wont even be close.
Romney would have a chance but he isn’t a far right nutcase which means he wont get the nomination.
These guys are allot better at predicting elections.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_gingrich_vs_obama-1453.html
Road Scholar
December 13th, 2011
3:05 pm
“Hey Road…why do you not copy and paste the entire post.”
Because I noticed when you read , your lips move! I didn’t want you to get motion sickness! Oh, and by the way, doesn’t a ? usually end a sentence that is a question?
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
December 13th, 2011
3:06 pm
HDB, manufactured evidence is not evidence.
UGA 1999
December 13th, 2011
3:06 pm
GM…..are you serious!!?!?!?!? Good Lord you are a fool. Can you say that was the prime of the Iraqi war. I guess the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1981 was Bush’s fault too??
Odis
December 13th, 2011
3:07 pm
Romney has no core and no soul.