With Mitt Romney Voters May Not Get What They Expect

Mitt Romneys father, George Romney, was a success as Michigans governor. He served three consecutive terms. Unlike George, Mitt served one arguably unsuccessful term as Governor of Massachusetts. Nevertheless, as a candidate in contention with Richard Nixon for his partys 1968 presidential nomination, George Romney withdrew his candidacy two weeks before the New Hampshire primary. Georges weakness in foreign policy, his initial lack of clarity on Vietnam and yet later taking a strong stance against the War, are the reasons most cited for the abdication of his candidacy. Mitt, too, is weak on foreign policy. He takes a strong stance for war as a substitute for diplomacy. Unlike his father, Mitt is the Republican choice to compete against Barack Obama for the Oval Office, winning by being the ideological opposite of his father. President Nixon appointed George Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. As Secretary he proposed open housing to facilitate desegregation and increases in housing for the poor. Unlike Mitt, his dad was not a Republicans kind of Republican. As a matter of fact Mitt Romney joined the Republican Party in October 1993. Prior to 1993 he was registered as an independent. He had given money to Democratic candidates and in the 1992 Democratic Primary casted his vote for Paul Tsongas. Romney shifted from his supposedly noncommittal political position in order to challenge incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy. A position he did not have to take since he could have run as an independent as Senator Scott Brown did in winning Kennedys Senate seat on the occasion of his death. Perhaps influenced by his fathers success as governor in the Democratic state of Michigan, Mitt Romney became governor in the Democratic state of Massachusetts. This is the only legitimate comparison that can be made between Mitt and George. Mitts father was a moderate with progressive views, who in 1964 strongly rejected the extremism of Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. George walked out of the 1964 Republican National Convention over the issue of civil rights. Governor Romney won passage for Michigans first income tax. He opposed states rights; supported mandated racial integration; and was antiwar. Unlike his son, Mitt, George was willing to produce twelve years of his federal tax returns in his bid for the presidency.

In 2002, Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Romney said, I think people recognize that I'm not a partisan Republican, that I'm someone who is moderate, and my views are progressive. But in February Romney said that as governor he was severely conservative. At the 1964 Convention, George Romney remarked, Policies designed for the benefit of the dominating group bring harm and hardship for those who live outside the border of privileged circles. That certainly isnt a statement I would expect from Mitt Romney. With no substantial change in facts that might make it logically reasonable for Mitt Romney to change his mind, Mitt Romney has shifted his position (flip-flopping, shape-shifting) on some key issues. Unlike his father, Mitt Romney, who a year ago was considered by many not so conservative, now embraces positions that are in lockstep with Republicans and their Tea Party Coalition. With Paul Ryan as his choice of running mate, Romney has starkly marked a position that is the complete opposite of his father and President Obama. In George Romney voters knew exactly who they were voting for. The fact is that with his son, Mitt Romney, for whatever the reasons might be, we simply dont know what is in his heart of hearts or what he will support as President. Sources: Michael Kranish, The political evolution of Mitt Romney, Boston.com David Frum, Mitt Romney's 'severely' bad moves, CNN Chris Moody, Mitt Romneys CPAC speech: I kept Massachusetts from becoming the Las Vegas of gay marriage, Yahoo! News | The Ticket Nicholas Carlson, Meet Mitt Romney's Hero: His Surprisingly Liberal Dad, Business Insider Michael Brendan Dougherty, 14 Bald-Faced Mitt Romney Flip-Flops That Were Dug Up By John McCain, Business Insider