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Mitt Romney’s Contemptible Flier

By: Leon H. Wolf (Diary)  |  September 12th, 2011 at 11:15 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Maybe I am just a RINO establishment squish, but I have found myself this election cycle being very comfortable with the idea of Mitt Romney as the GOP Presidential nominee. Granted, I would prefer other options, but if Romney is the nominee I would be very okay pounding sidewalks on his behalf against Barack Obama. I thought he was impressive in last week’s debate and this time around he looks much more comfortable in his own skin than he did in 2008, when he was busy trying to pretend that he was everything to everyone.

A substantial amount of ink has been spilled since the debate concerning the tete-a-tete between Perry and Romney on whether or not Social Security is a “ponzi scheme.” If you have not already read it, I would highly recommend Stanley Kurtz’s excellent piece on the subject which nicely encapsulates where I stand on this particular debate. However, I thought it at least fair political game for Romney to try to make hay out of Perry’s failure to clarify with sufficient force that he was not actually for the abolition of Social Security.

However, in my view, Mitt Romney’s team crossed the line with the flier below, which is reportedly being distributed in Florida:

This level of Mediscare hackery (featuring a citation to the Huffington Post!) is shameful and unbecoming of a GOP candidate for President. In the first place, it dishonestly misrepresents Perry’s position, and hilariously leans (without any appreciable sense of irony) on the logical equivalent of the fact that Rick Perry has never denied beating his wife. It will also serve to diminish the national standing of the GOP in the event that Perry is the ultimate winner of the GOP nomination. This flier in its entirety is frankly more dishonest and sensational than attack materials against Perry that I would expect to see coming from the DNC.

Mitt Romney has plenty of opportunities to test Rick Perry over the next four months. He should leave the worst cheap shots from the Democrat playbook to the Democrats.

COMMENTS

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  • Mensch

    I too am becoming more comfortable with the idea of Romney as a candidate. And I’m realizing it has more and more to do with the fear of Perry getting crucified by the MSM in the general election, a la Sarah Palin, thereby giving Obama a chance he should never have.

    And I agree that this flier is over the top. GOPers shouldn’t act like Dems to get elected. But if Perry were to come out with his “so, therefore…” he could quell a lot of the angst and criticism.. Social Security is a “monstrous lie, so therefore … What, exactly? His USA column did little to address that issue. Perhaps he’ll debut something in tonight’s debate.

    • Aaron Gardner

      according to a new CNN poll:

      Nearly three in ten say that Perry is the candidate who is most likely to fight for his beliefs, with Palin in second place at 23 percent and, significantly, Romney in a distant tie for fourth at just 11 percent.

      But Perry’s biggest strength may be the electability factor, with 42 percent saying he has the best chance of beating Obama next year. Some 26 percent say Romney has the best chance of defeating the president.

      “That may go a very long way toward explaining his rise in the polls, since three-quarters of all Republicans say they would prefer a candidate who can beat President Obama over one who agrees with them on major issues,” says Holland.

      Interesting point in the first graf that people know what they are getting with Perry and know he will fight for it. Not so much for the other two.

      • Mensch

        I place little weight in a poll like that this early in the cycle, Aaron. Outside of Texas and the South, voters barely know who Perry is at this stage. Palin also had great numbers out of the gate.

        • Aaron Gardner

          I?m realizing it has more and more to do with the fear of Perry getting crucified by the MSM in the general election, a la Sarah Palin

          Seems odd that you would bring up electability then act like polls on electability can’t be trusted.

          • Mensch

            But I’m referencing what the future holds, not what voters think in today’s snapshot. Hence my reference to Palin having great numbers out of the gate. Admittedly, this is prognostication on my part, but I don’t think it is unfair.

            We saw what the Couric interview did to Palin, and I fear Perry is in for the same. Fortunately, we should be able to assess that before primary voting starts for Perry, and not after he’s on the ticket (as with Palin and Quayle).

          • Tbone

            for being a Mormon just as soon as he would win the nomination. How long did it take the MSM’s love affair with John McCain to evaporate?

            Anyone who thinks a RiNO is going to treated better by the MSM is a fool.

          • acat

            but the difference between Perry and Romney (and certainly between Perry and Palin) is that Perry has long since figured out how to fight back.

            Romney didn’t appear to have a clue about how to reply to various attacks back in 2008…. and Palin hasn’t actually engaged her opposition since 2009.

            If we didn’t have to go through the election, there are several I like more than Perry, but .. he’s a seasoned campaigner from a hard school – I think he’ll do.

            Mew

          • Mensch

            How much the Mormon thing plays into this is a question mark in my view. It seems that at some point, the public starts to think it’s just rehashing of the same issues in 2008 and earlier in this election cycle (think of the Newsweek cover). I’m probably being naively hopeful, especially since Obama promised to go after Romney’s “weirdness” which is likely code for Mormon religion.

            No argument that the GOP candidate will always be treated worse than the Dem, but if the candidate can avoid looking foolish in response to their “gotcha” attempts, then more the independents are likely to lean toward them, especially in this climate. We’ll see if Perry is up to that task.

          • Common_Cents

            He mentioned Mormon about 10 times in the post debate discussion.

            Gee wonder if he’d talk about a Muslim like that.

          • charlesmartel

            The MSM will do its best to crucify whoever the GOP nominates. Even Huntsman would get destroyed. Frankly, this seems like a dangerously deluded means to determine who you’ll support in the primary.

          • Scope

            Very deluded way of choosing. Mensch says that if Romney can wither the attacks, and remain standing, he will attract alot of votes as our nominee. The problem with that thinking is that the MSM will go after Romney somewhat, and lightly. They won’t cream him through the nomination process. They know that many Republicans just don’t like or support the moderate Romney. If he did gain the nomination, that’s when they will come out with both barrels aimed at Romney’s head. They always try to pick our nominee, just as they did with McCain.

            As Fred Thompson said back in 08. The media loves to build you up as high as they can, just so they have that much farther to take you down.

          • http://nerds4cain.com Brookhaven

            * RomneyCare
            * 49th in job creation at a time when the economy was prosperous (Mass would have been 50th–dead last–if Katrina had not of destroyed LA’s economy).
            * Backdoor tax increases via “closing tax loopholes and increasing user fees.” the exact same wording Obama uses to try and cover up his attempts to increase taxes.
            * Flip-flopping on everything from abortion to Ronald Reagan.

            And the MSM will rightly point out the hypocracy of Tea Partiers being critical of Obama, then turning around a supporting Romney ,whose past political stances and actions are closer to Obama’s than Reagan’s.

          • APA Guy

            Sarah Palin can’t think and speak on her feet. Perry took the best punch Romney could deliver and gave him a roundhouse right in response…on the fly. Consequently, a large portion of GOP and Independents surveyed like him far more than the other candidates.

            I get what you’re saying, but I think it is irrational fear based on what happened to some of our lesser-prepared candidates od the past. Perry looks to be cut from different cloth.

          • Tbone

            “Sarah Palin can?t think and speak on her feet.”

            Palin made Biden look like the fool he is or are you referring to edited interviews?

            Look Sparky, thankfully Palin isn’t going to be the nominee but there is no need to make ignorant, Palin bashing statements. Of course, if you made the statement out of stupidity, we can’t fix that, can we?

          • JSobieski

            The McCain rules of engagement are why she gave some bad interviews. Imagine all of the “don’t say what you really think” exceptions you would have if McCain was the top of your ticket.

          • APA Guy

            Reagan was baited in a similar fashion…Perry was baited in the last debate. I don’t recall either of them bumbling through interviews or other times in front of a mike.

          • aesthete

            to make Biden look like a fool.

          • Tbone

            NT

          • APA Guy

            …by virtue of THIS:

            Someone disagrees with me = “ignorant statement”

            No, “sparky”, it’s called my assessment of her performance versus yours. Mine is different than yours…whcih may be wrong, but not “ignorant”.

            Wise up…are you REALLY so fond of her that you dare insult another conservative while revising history in an attempt to make her shine?

            She wasn’t great in the debate…and she has foot-in-mouth disease, to say nothing of her inability to articulate conservative policy without a script. I think we’ve had enough of that sort of president to last ten lifetimes.

            Comparing Sarah Palin to Rick Perry is a terrible insult..one that you should reconsider.

          • APA Guy

            Sarah Palin can’t think and speak on her feet. Perry took the best punch Romney could deliver and gave him a roundhouse right in response…on the fly. Consequently, a large portion of GOP and Independents surveyed like him far more than the other candidates.

            I get what you’re saying, but I think it is irrational fear based on what happened to some of our lesser-prepared candidates od the past. Perry looks to be cut from different cloth.

          • Aaron Gardner

            But I get what you are saying.

            ;)

          • Mensch

            Perry certainly stood up to Romney well, But I think he did less well responding to the moderator questions — especially in the second half of the debate. I want to see how he does in a one-on-one setting like Meet the Press.

          • easyb

            that he hasn’t done any debates in several years, and that he spent time monitoring the fires in his state rather than drilling for the debate as much as ordinary, I think he did fine.

            There’s room for him to improve, but for a debut performance, he held his own. The true test will be if he gets stronger in debates as the month goes on.

        • APA Guy

          …including a HUGE position on SS, and they want him far more than they want Romney or any of the other candidates subsequent to that point. I think your assertion is not very well supported.

          • Mensch

            But I’m guessing very few of the voters polled by CNN saw the debate. RedStaters pay much more attention than the general public. It’s like the tweet I saw earlier today (paraphrasing): “Romney rolls out Pawlenty endorsement in South Carolina. SC responds, ‘Who’s Pawlenty?’”

          • APA Guy

            Imagine what those numbers would be if they included more Republicans and Independents who DO pay attention!

          • Mensch

            But a lot can/will happen between now and Iowa/New Hampshire. I don’t think a majority of any candidate’s support is very solidified at this point. Voters are still testing the waters, as they should. As am I.

          • acat

            They won’t tune in until sometime in September, 2012.

            Mew

          • Scope

            Then why was there such a major backlash, from everywhere, even with the Democrats, when Obama wanted to have his speech at the same time as the debate?

            I think many many more people than you are giving credit to do in fact watch the debates. Heck even Carville, the liberal, said that he would watch the debate over Obama’s speech.

    • http://jhpruitt.blogtownhall.com/ kipling

      Essentially you are letting the MSM pick your candidate for you.

      They will crucify whoever is the nominee.

      We need to stop being afraid of these people and cowering in fear. Such thinking let to the John McCain debacle.

      • Scope

        And we thought that so many have been woken up to the liberals and MSM games with trying to choose our candidate. You can lead a horse to water…….or, You can fool some of the people all of the time…..

        • Mensch

          As in most national elections, it’s the independents that will decide the winner. I don’t think either Perry or Romney holding the base together alone gets it done.

          Granted, we have much more leeway here given what a horrendous job Obama has done with the economy and otherwise. I just get nervous that Perry’s loose use of rhetoric like “treason,” his Social Security comments without have a “so therefore” plan or follow-up (good grief, even Michele Bachman is going after Perry on SS now!), and with what he showed in the second half of the debate, with his meandering, somewhat incoherent responses, is a sign of things to come, and could turn off a lot of independents (not to mention the Texas/W similarities, as unfair as they may be). But there’s a long way to go, so time will tell, and I’m happy to be wrong on this.

          I understand that RedState is ground central for Perry support, so I expected the pushback, but appreciate y’all letting me air my thoughts.

          • http://jhpruitt.blogtownhall.com/ kipling

            I don’t agree with your conclusions about Perry but I will let that pass and just deal with the Independent issue.

            Are these precious Independents going to run back to Obama simply because someone tells the truth about Social Security? Perry does not support the abolishment of social security. Read his book – not just the portions taken out of context and distributed to the liberal talking heads.

            Where is Romney’s plan for Social Security? We all know it is going to go bankrupt. I recently met with my financial adviser and his stance is to not even consider it a factor in retirement planning.

            Bachmann is going after Perry because she is losing ground. I like Bachmann but it is a dumb move.

          • JSobieski

            Read his book? Do you those same voters read Obama’s book?

            You take the electorate as they are in terms of paying attention, reading, etc.

            Independents are fickle. To think that Obama has somehow lost them permanently is foolish, particularly in light of the stakes involved.

          • http://jhpruitt.blogtownhall.com/ kipling

            No, I don’t expect the independents to read his book. The comment was directed at Mensch who was simply repeating the liberal mantra.

            I do not worship at the altar of the independents nor do I propose to let them choose our nominee.

            Independents are not only fickle but worthless as political allies in the long run. Let us put forward a truly conservative agenda and then let them come on board. To attempt to tailor ourselves to fit them is a fruitless as chasing the wind.

          • JSobieski

            There is a difference between principled AND smart (taking on the issue but being honest with ourselves that it is a difficult issue)

            Vs.

            Principled but tactically careless (i.e. people won’t believe X, Y is no big deal, etc).

            I have consistently argued that we need a candidate who is willing to put forth specific economic plans, including plans for entitlement reform. I do not worship at the alter of independents, BUT I do respect their power. Kind of like the German Panzers or the Russian Migs—fear not, but plan accordingly.

            My point is simply that taking on those issues is a big deal, and I wouldn’t diminish the difficulty. Counting on people to read the book for context is not a defense against the onslaught that will come.

          • Scope

            but from what I’m reading Rush warned Bachmann and Romney to not attack Perry in the debate tonight for his Ponzi scheme comments. Apparently Rush said that he is not endorsing Perry, but that he will go to bat for Perry if Bachmann and Romney start attacking him. I just heard him say yet again, that he isn’t endorsing Perry YET, but has spent quite a bit of time proving Perry correct. Rush doesn’t endorse, but to even add his YET to his comment, many will take that as an endorsement. Go Rush! I’m not a big fan of Beck’s, but it seems that he is really liking Perry also. Levin has spoken positively about Perry. Hannity endorses everyone that sits across from him on his show, even Democrats.

          • Scope

            breaking down some end of Aug. polling of the independents.

            Despite what the media wants us to believe, Obama is way down with the independents. 51% disapprove while only 37% approve. He is also losing support from the unions, people under 30, and women.

            At the same time, Perry was shown polling ahead of Obama. According to the analysis he is on par with Romney with the independents. Since that polling was done a few weeks ago, and Perry is rapidly gaining on Romney, I would suspect that many of those polled were in fact independents that are breaking for Perry.

            There is a link in the article pointing to an article written by Jonathan List, who claims Romney’s biggest problem is that he doesn’t have any core constituency.

          • http://jhpruitt.blogtownhall.com/ kipling

            It will be most interesting to see how things stand after the series of debates.

    • AceInTX

      I’m sick of letting fear of the media dictate who we nominate…I agree with the rest of your point…but seriously…do we want Brian Williams and David Gregory telling us whom we should be nominating?

      • acat

        we got Ronald Reagan.

        Mew

        • http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

          in 1980 the “party landscape” didn’t look like it does now. “unaffiliated” voters were a small percentage, “Democrats” consisted of a vocal liberal minority and “Republicans” were a mix of “Goldwater” and “Rockefeller” types.

          That’s not the mix of today. Indies make up roughly a third or more of the electorate. Republicans are either DC Statists who deal in pork and have been passing themselves off as “conservative” or a mix of pretty to very conservative with a little libertarian tossed in. Dems are now controlled by people who make the idiots who supported Teddy in 79 look like right wingers.

          • AceInTX

            to see what percentage of them are disenchanted Conservatives…I think we assume to much when we start out with the assumption that all independents are center left when I’d be willing to bet the majority of them are center right

          • http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

            They’re from all over the map, and I wouldn’t want to get into a wrestling match over their makeup, although I would guess the smallest group are Cons. I would guess that indies are a libertarian/center left co-mingle.

            Keep in mind though, that Indies went heavily for Obama in 08. Looks like that’s not gonna happen this time.

          • AceInTX

            I meant to compliment and add to your comment…but I know a lot of conservatives in my circle of friends who dropped their registration in 2008 in protest after McNasty got the nomination…and I know a lot who dropped it in 2006 after Harriet Myers and the attacks on conservatives for objecting to Bush’s push on amnesty.

            I’m thinking there is a larger slice of indies who are libertarian/conservative than the conventional wisdom suggests…

            The one caveat to that is what you say on Indies going heavily for Obama…That is true and undeniable…but I would argue that there are two answers to that…first is…Obama acted like a conservative…second is that 2008 was an outlier since people were tired of Bush and a lost of people pinned a lot of hope on Obama with no basis for doing so. I would also venture that turnout among center /left indies will be way down this time out…if not many will have changed their minds after being exposed to Liberalism in all it’s naked and horrific glory!

        • AceInTX

          We got Bush over McCain as well…true Bush was a disappointment in his second term…but he was infinitely better than McCain….

          Can you imagine the shape we’d be in if we had a President Gore?

          I’m almost positive McCain would have lost to Gore if we’d nominated him.

      • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

        If I am going to lose, let me lose with a real candidate, not with a rino.

        • http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

          in both terms. He was a total disappointment in his second.

          And he was 10,000 times better than either Gore, Kerry or McCain.

  • Change Jar Conservative

    While I have a slight preference to Perry over Romney, Romney’s economic plan made me feel comfortable about where this is going.

    Likewise, I think the above is below the belt.

    Pawlenty in his Romney endorsement tried to say that Perry wants to kill Social Security during his Fox News bit today and I thought that was a bit over the top as well.

    Perry nicely explains what he wants to do in today’s USAT …. from here on out if Pawlenty / Romney / Bachmann try to paint him as killing social security then Perry should just trot out something like:

    “Apparently, you and your staff are unable to read well documented and detailed plans that are freely published on the internet.”

    • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

      scare

    • Scope

      read Romney’s more than 100 page, 59 point economic plan? I’d bet very few. I read an excellent criticism of his plan which stated that we are trying to shorten the legislative bills, and make them shorter and easier for the average person to understand, yet Romney writes a book that most won’t even read.

    • AceInTX

      It is anecdotal and I have no proof but I believe to this day that the Roves and the rest of the bunch that wanted to give McCain his turn cut a deal with Romney…that if he’d step aside for McCain…then they’d back him in 12…

      Pawlenty’s endorsement and the attacks by the establishment using Democrat demagoguery has done nothing to dissuade me from that suspicion.

      This is just more of the same…and I guarantee you…if Romney gets the nomination…he’ll likely beat Obama…but in return…we’ll solidify Obamacare for generations…because he’ll issue his waivers…the Supreme Court will through out the suits we have pending because the wivers will do away with the individual mandate…and the executive brnch will get to keep playing with the system because all the legislation congress passed giving them the authority to write regulations will stand…and that will be that.

      Romney will pander and skulk around Harry Ried and the Demoncrats like a whipped curr and won’t do a damned thing to deal with the shortfalls in entitlements…he’ll load up his cabinet with Dick Darman type capitulates…and we’ll end up INCREASING regulations and taxes, not decreasing them.

      He’ll be for Obasma what Nixon was for Johnson…he’ll expand on what Obama has done and he’ll calcify the bureaucracy the same way Nixon did the Great Society…

  • cfoy65

    I have no problem with the candidates debating the issues. In fact, that’s the reason many people are republican, because our party can intellectually discuss ideas…where as the left simply calls people names if they don’t agree with their way of thinking. The person with the best ideas should come away being our nomimee, not the one that falsely trashes another nominee. What I would really love is to be able to vote FOR a nominee and not get stuck holding my nose again. I am sick and tired of candidates that stick their finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing, and find it actually refreshing when a candidate tells the truth. For this reason alone, I admire Rick Perry and will fully support him in the primary.

  • msctex

    . . .who will allow himself to be lied about until the moment in a very public forum where he can point to something like this flier, and force his opponent to defend themselves. In very specific terms. Slowly and methodically pointing out every break with reality, until they are left squirming on a hook of their own making.

    I know we have forgotten what a Conservative who is willing to fight back looks like, but just wait. Living in Texas, I have the luxury of having watched what he did to KBH. She was crucified by her own words and actions. Romney will provide ample opportunities for this technique, and Obama of course offers up a buffet table.

    • carolina

      It is what I (raised in the South) expect from any smart politician. Set ‘em up……. and bring ‘em down.

    • sayoung80913

      It astonishes me that senior campaign advisers have not looked into Perry’s modus operandi. This is classic Perry. His campaign has the only ability to claim truthfully that it took down not Only David Axlerod but ALSO Karl Rove. No true conservative puts a shred of credibility in either Rove or Dick Morris’s theories. They are both influence peddlers and Perry has rebuffed them both. Hence their velvet enclosed not so subtle jabs at him. For those who are not from Tx or who haven’t tuned in to Gov. Perry in action,sit back in your chair and prepare for the show to begin.

      • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

        Morris is a former political operative who is fun to listen to, but is just wrong a whole lot.

        Rove, on the other hand thinks he is still in the kingmaker game and wants to be. He is an old time political hack and a behind the scenes hatchet man.

        He is also a disingenuous hump.

        In case I was too subtle for you, I really really don’t like Mr. Rove.

      • AceInTX

        • luvnthebigsites

          nt

    • AceInTX

      Perry is a master at handing the other guy the rope he will eventually have his neck stretched by…

      Watching Perry systematically dismantle KBH over the course of the last campaign while confounding the Bush/Backer establishment here was a thing of beauty

      • kestrel

        If you and he are correct, this primary is going to be a blast. I hope Bachmann stays out of the trap. (Palin would. She knows Perry and is probably laughing. Note that she also took on entitlements in her speech on Sept. 3.) Maybe RS should hire this guy Yingst, whoever he is:

        “Rick Perry did something very clever. He sees that Tea Party aligned candidates currently have the majority of Republican voters supporting them. He knows a Tea Party favored candidate will win the nomination. So he invited his opponents to run to the establishment side of the Social Security argument. He has enticed them to say things he knows will not sit well with Tea Party oriented voters…

        “Now they will pander to seniors…. They will paint themselves into the establishment corner where there are not enough voters to win the nomination. Then at a time of his choosing Perry can point out if you really listened to what he said in the debate he agrees the promise we made to seniors in the program must be fulfilled. And he said we need a new approach for younger people. He can say I am the one willing to tell you the truth…” — Chuck Yinst (on Byron York’s piece at the Washington Examiner, h/t onemovoter, linked in his diary at right.)

        • AceInTX

          He’ll draw em into a box canyon and then plug up the entrance once they’ve strung themselves out far enough and they won’t have enough groceries to keep fightin.

      • JSobieski

        and tactician. Very good qualities to have.

        • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

          for Fed printing money for IOUs, that the third rail is no more save for making clear, as Perry and all Repubs do, that all current and near retirees will get their promised benefits. The rest of America WANTS the thing changed rather than pay high FICA for crap.

  • Tbone

    John McCain. The MSM hopes they can stick us with another McCain who will keep the conservative home.

    “How can we trust anyone who wants to kill Social Security?”

    How can we trust any candidate who would allow a bold face lie to be published? How can we trust a scumbag that would, in effect, write a flyer that the Democrats will be proud to use in the General?

    I will celebrate when Perry relegates Romney to the Harold Stassen Club of of Perennial Losers.

    • Scope

      Had to get that one in there. It fits.

  • http://dreamsfrommyforefathers.com RoguePolitics

    Much better picture now of “who” he is.

    • rightwingmom52

      Can you say VP choice?

      • http://dreamsfrommyforefathers.com RoguePolitics

        I doubt he gets that.
        Really he doesn’t offer the late endorsement by a nationally popular figure or large critical swing state carry. But maybe a nice ambassadorship, cabinet appointment or perhaps PBS will be firing up Mr Rogers Neighborhood again.
        Obamneycare may need a director.
        Sky’s the limit.

        • AceInTX

          x

      • onemovoter

        he gets behind someone who actually wins.

        Right now I only see one loser endorsing another loser.

        • rightwingmom52

          Just suggesting a motivation behind the endorsement.

      • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

        bailout? smile

        • rightwingmom52

          but not Pawlenty. I have to think more governors will follow Jindal’s lead in endorsing Perry over Romney – at least I hope so.

          Not to threadjack into football, but congrats on the win. Since it’s not likely my Vols will win the SEC East this year, I can get on board with SC getting that far. But next year’s a different story. I think we’re on our way.

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

            in October…

    • AceInTX

      z

  • anjinconsulting

    I think, ultimately this primary should be as much about the character and integrity of the candidate as their individual policy perspectives. Whether or not the flyer was sanctioned by Romney matters not; this kind of behavior does not belong in an honest, factual discussion of policy. It simply categorizes Romney and his campaign as just another RINO preservation effort; an anathema to the conservative party. The same principle applies to the other candidates: if the behavior exemplified by this particular incident is tolerable or excusable as ?politics? then what is to differentiate them from Captain Zero?s party or its minions in the LSM?

    When the primary is concluded and the election campaign begins, I would like to see the primary issue become a referendum on the practice of using race, threats of violence, and political chicanery to foist deleterious regulations upon the country. By that time we will have already clearly and distinctly differentiated the candidate from the incumbent.

  • http://jhpruitt.blogtownhall.com/ kipling

    It appears pretty clear that Romney intends to burn down the party if he is not chosen as the nominee.

    To resort to demagoguery and blatantly dishonest fear-mongering disqualifies him as the nominee in my book.

    • AceInTX

      /

  • septembergurl

    This is a favorite tactic of Mitt’s — he takes a position on an issue that is the opposite of his previous position, then he viciously attacks a rival for holding the same position as Mitt’s original one. Eg, Social Security.

    This is why he is seen as opportunistic and fundamentally untrustworthy. Because he is!

  • texasmom2012

    I just don’t think I can hold my nose again and vote for him. Romney turned negative because he is behind and desperate and now positively despicable. Perry just got a new volunteer. Gig ‘em Aggies!

    • minister_of_war

      It barely amounts to a hit piece at all & I don’t even see anything in the piece that is innacurate. It’s now Perry’s job to hit back. He knows how to take a swing & judging from the last debate, Perry’s not so bad at throwing punches either.

      Either way, this “hit piece” is not a good reason to not support Romney if he ends up beating Perry for the nomination. It’s politics, and the things people say can & will be used against them.

      It’s now Perry’s turn to prove that what he has said about Social Security was right. And it was. Either way, bashing Romney for quoting Perry is counterproductive.

      • Scope

        The flier specifically stated, in bold letters, that Perry wants to “kill” SS. Perry never ever said, at any time, that he wanted to “kill” SS. He siad in the debate that those already on SS, and those close to receiving it won’t have to worry. He wants to “reform” SS, just as Romney said in a debate in the 08 elections.

        Because Romney is losing ground to Perry with every poll, he is getting more and more desperate, and now resorting to LIES. Romney will be on the losing end of the SS battle. Take that to the bank.

        • minister_of_war

          From the debate, I got the implication that Perry wanted to “kill off” Social Security. And I hope that if he gets elected, he does kill off this socialist Ponzi Scheme. There is nothing wrong with wanting to “kill” Social Security. Of course, Perry said the obligatory promises to those currently on Social Security & those close to receiving benefits too. But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with killing off the program entirely & replacing it with something else or nothing at all & keeping the government out of our lives when we become old.

          • minister_of_war

            n/t

          • JSobieski

            There is no rule that requires us to describe our policy goals in the way that makes the public most likely to hollar and scheme.

            Listen to how people like DeMint and Ryan address these sensitive issues. Our side would do well to follow their lead.

            Your way gives the D’s a powerful campaign ad.

      • Jim Tomasik

        is it acceptable to do and say things that would otherwise be totally unacceptable coming from an honest person as long as it is done in the name of politics?

        Most good people would not accept this twisting of words and facts from another member of their family or their church but somehow find it acceptable from an elected official.

        It seems the stature of Christian values is drastically lowered once a person enters politics. This lowering of acceptable standards is not merely the fault of the politician but more so the fault of the voter that allows the politician to get away with it.

      • AceInTX

        This is right out of the Democrat Play book and Romney is showing his two faced nature by attacking Perry for something he’s said in the past himself.

        This is why people says Romney is a used car salesman and he represents what most people HATE about Politicians…because he sees nothing wrong with talking out of both sides of his mouth and thinks we’re all to stupid to figure out when he’s lying…

        Of course…maybe he’s right…I can’t tell when he’s lying because he’s NEVER said anything I can think of where he can’t be found to have said the exact opposite at some point in the past…so…who knows what the truth is as he sees it. So…since there is no basis to determine what he believes…there is no way in hell to determine when he is lying.

        • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

          did he go over to Romney? This looks like his kind of slimy operation.

          • Scope

            “because of health reasons.” He said he had a stroke a year and a half ago, and just can’t keep up with the rigors of a campaign. I ask, wouldn’t he have been aware of that before he signed on with Bachmann? Someone said he has already picked right back up where he left off on CNN. Seems there may be some truth to the claims by former staff members, as they constantly turn over.

  • Glaucon

    “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship.” – Unknown, usually attributed to Alexander Tytler (probably a paraphrase of some sort), and often quoted by Ronald Reagan.

    • acat

      The progression is from monarchy to capitalism to communism. Lenin and Mao tried to shortcut this, but .. I’d say Obama is proof that Marx got it right.

      Mew

      • Glaucon

        When everyone thinks that government is Mommy, Sugar-Daddy and Big Brother, nothing good will result. Communism is the worst offender. Socialism is a close second.

  • luvnthebigsites

    I guess he wants the “establishment” veep spot.

    I hope it gives you comfort, For me? Not so much. ;)

  • AceInTX

    Romney made it to the number two spot on the ballot by dishonestly smearing and tearing down of other candidates in 2008 and this is to be expected from an unprincipled hack with no core philosophy beyond believing should be president because Daddy wanted him to.

    The man is a flip flopper…he’s never had a consistent policy on ANYTHING…until now…when he refuses to say he made a mistake in passing Romneycare in Mass….what does that say about him…that the one place he’s ever decided to stand his ground is on Romnycare of all places.

    To be sure…this flier is contemptible and I’m glad this has opened your eyes…my only question is…What took you so long?

    • AceInTX

      [img]http://smiles.kolobok.us/standart/grin.gif[/img]

      • AceInTX

  • http://jhpruitt.blogtownhall.com/ kipling

    Romney is the establishment candidate.

    He supports two of the major things that conservatives rail against – Romneycare and Man Made Global Warming and the governmental regulation to stop/reverse it,

    His is a failed politician, otherwise he would be a career politician.

    He is a wall street insider. Where does he stand on more bailouts?

    He is a liar and a deceiver. The evidence is his former denouncement of social security as a “criminal enterprise” and his now championing of the status quo.

    Romney failed to beat McCain and now people suddenly tout him as the only electable choice. It makes no sense.

    Romney 2012 will be McCain 2008 – but without all the McCain pizzazz.

    • AceInTX

      since he was for bailing out Detroit before Obama was.

      He said in the Primaries against McCain before bailout fever hit DC that we should bail out Detroit.

      I’ll also point out…he was also for Cap and Trade before it became untenable as a political position

    • http://www4.webng.com/rickbull/lostlucky/ rickbull

      ..

  • Bill S

    This diary says a) At least up til now, I, Leon, wouldn’t pitch a hissy fit if Mitt got nominated, and) this document is a piece of garbage which puts a bit of question into my (Leon’s) brain.

    At least that’s how I read it, Brother Leon… ;-)

    • luvnthebigsites

      No harm no foul I hope. Leon’s Got a heart of gold… But then again so do eggs….

      • Bill S

        I just wanted to be sure his post wasn’t misunderstood.

  • snowshooze

    And Romney just sat himself up for a major blow.
    Unforced error.
    Or was it a setup? Doesn’t much matter I guess.
    If Perry can gather himself up to deliver an uppercut…
    Possibly an outline of a plan to save SS that makes sense, and I am sure he has one…Romney will very soon regret this.
    I can hardly wait for the debate.

  • luvnthebigsites

    Yep… Limbaugh said “Yet”. I will confirm your post, from my own ears. It was a “rare possible endorsement” ;)

    • JSobieski

      i.e. once there is a de facto nominee, Rush will “endorse”.

      That is how Rush rolls!

      • luvnthebigsites

        Limbaugh is very… VERY careful not to endorse early if at all. “Yet” was either a Freudian slip or a plant…

        Yea he is that good.

        • snowshooze

          I can’t see why he should, he takes shots at all of ‘em…

          • luvnthebigsites

            In this silly season… I think Rush will ignore his self imposed endorsement rule (just a prediction)… Yea this election is that important.

          • Scope

            in years, and maybe ever. It is the difference between the country surviving, or going into full blown socialism or worse if Obama remains in office. I’d put money on Rush endorsing this year, and early enough to make a difference.

          • luvnthebigsites

            There are some good points made in this thread… and I’m not going to argue. I will say that Limbaugh has more “Horse Power” than all of us combined, and after listening for 19 years I can tell everyone with certainty that when he say’s (Yet) He is indicating that he is planning to use said “Horse Power” To intentionally “move the needle” ( similar to operation chaos ).

            Yea… Limbaugh’s going all in on this one. Praise GOD.

      • AceInTX

        if Romney and Bachman play like Democrats and use their dirty starving grandma tactics against a fellow Republican…Rush will endorse the besmirched Republican

        • Scope

          if Bachmann and Romney go after Perry for the Ponzi comment, they are doing nothing more than pandering to the media, and giving ammunition to the liberals. I really believe that Rush thinks this so bad, that he will start promoting Perry if they do so. Possibly an endorsement a little later.

          • AceInTX

            ,

      • Scope

        Rush doesn’t endorse. From what I understand he endorsed W back in 2000, but that was a rare endorsement for him. In 08, Rush made the comment that Thompson was the only conservative on the stage the night before (in a debate), but refused to endorse him, as he knew that Thompson may not have the staying power to remain in the race. He was correct, and said as much after Thompson backed out.

        Rush understands the importance of this election, and that we must get rid of Obama. I think that he may not endorse Perry until he proves himself to be worthy of the endorsement, but he said he will go to bat for Perry if Bachmann and Romney declare war on Perry. What do you think his going to bat for Perry will equate to in his listeners minds, and I believe that he has something like 20 million listeners.

        • JSobieski

          In other words, Rush will endorse the Republican nominee when the nomination is wrapped up but not necessarily official. That is what he did in 88, 92, 96, 2000, and 2004. Whether he used the word “endorse” or not is irrelevant—Rush will clearly support the R nominee.

          I don’t think Rush is going to change his policy now. He had every reason to do so in 2008 and he didn’t.

          He clearly expressed scorn for both McCain and Huckabee in 2008, and those two candidates received the most delegates.

          A Rush “endorsement” is less important than how Rush frames the campaign.

          • Scope

            from what he said today, he would be going back on his word in his promise to “go to bat for Perry” if Romney and Bachmann attack Perry tonight on the Ponzi issue. I doubt that Rush would have said what he did, and then walk away from his own words. I do give him more credit than that. We shall see what happens starting in one half hour.

  • LiveStronger

    then he needs to get out of the 2012 kitchen and focus on governing Texas.

    Perry has called social security a Ponzi scheme on numerous occasions. He can either own that remark or he can apologize for it. Crying “He’s picking on me again” is just not presidential.

    • http://jhpruitt.blogtownhall.com/ kipling

      Perry has owned the comment and so far shows no signs of rejecting it.

      Romney lied and sunk to a new low in the process. He can own that and the character that comes with it.

    • AceInTX

      Dirty tricks and double standards don’t apply to your boy Mitt I guess?

      He’s not denying he called it a Ponzi Scheme…and he upped the anti by calling it a colossal lie to our kids…

      that’s not the issue…he’s not denying he said it…he’s confirming it…ROMNEY is the one double dealing here because HE said mush the same thing and now he’s attacking Perry as if he never said it…

  • misty

    Always suspected Romney was a RINO, he is from Massachusetts, invented Obamneycare, and believes in man made global warming. He may be a businessman, but he likes the idea of big government and will not undo the things that Obama has done to over regulate the country.

    I am over 60 and as a teenager I was told that I needed to set money aside for my future because Social Security would not be there for me. Adults knew back then that the number of workers contributing would be less and therefore the money would not be there. Also, Johnson had recently signed a bill that changed the amount of income that could be taxed. Then when I was in my 20′s, Carter changed the fund from being set aside for just that to making it part of the general fund.

    And Rush today talked about how in the past Romney called SS a failed program.

    Perry is not a RINO. Huntsman is also a RINO, we need to stay clear of him also. The rest are not RINO’s, what ever their strengths or weaknesses, they are not big government RINO’s.

  • Marcus_Traianus

    or does Romney’s logo look like a squashed and chopped version of Obama’s?

    Just askin…

    Oh and after the nonsense Romney pulled last campaign, it is pretty obvious nothing is beneath him.