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The Tale of Two Romneys

We don't know which is running: the moderate from Massachusetts, or the conservative philosophically

The Tale of Two Romneys
Mitt Romney and his wife Ann Romney talk to members of the media aboard his campaign plane on March 6, 2012. Photograph: Getty Images

The question going into the general election is: who is the real Mitt Romney? We don't really know which of them is running, the moderate from Massachusetts, as Newt Gingrich never tired of saying, or the conservative mantle bearer who is philosophically to the right of Ayn Rand.

Now that Rick Santorum, the social conservative, has suspended his presidential bid, Romney can rejigger his campaign for the general election. That usually means a candidate turns his attention to the wide middle ground where the coveted independents are awaiting his charms.

Romney isn't doing that. In fact, as a recent appearance at a conference of the National Rifle Association suggests, he is banking to the right even more on issues like immigration, abortion and gun rights. He even endorsed US Rep. Paul Ryan's draconian federal budget, which calls, in effect, for gutting Medicare.

Bob Moser of the American Prospect calls this the Santorum Effect:

 ... [Santorum] helped push Romney to the right of the average general-election voter ... Romney cannot "course-correct" back to the centre — except in completely symbolic ways — with hardcore conservatives warily watching for any hints of apostasy.

This of course depends on the sound memory of the media. As it did with President Obama's hope to implement a new tax on millionaires, the media is beginning to forget all those arch-conservative things Romney had to say to get arch-conservatives to believe he was just as arch a conservative as Santorum. You know, like bombing Iran, repealing health care reform laws and eliminating the Education Department.

Now that the GOP nomination process is essentially over (though former House Speaker Gingrich and US Rep. Ron Paul are still in the running), pundits are now reverting to calling Romney a moderate, mostly because that's what he was during the time of his governorship of Massachusetts and because that's what his genuinely conservative rivals kept calling him.

But is it true? Yeah, probably. Romney works too hard to sound conservative but appears at ease when talking about things like the safety net and the embattled middle class (conservatives never say "safety net" or "class"). Romney also seems to think of himself as a competent manager more than a fire-breathing ideologue. He was, after all, the head of a private-equity firm that made money by cleaning up other people's messes.

Such an attitude toward government has roots in American liberalism and neoconservatism (which is like liberalism sans hope). Such theories generally call for the solving of social problems by identifying and applying the right fix. Politics is more puzzle than worldview. Take away the idea that society is perfectible, and you might have the moderate that Mitt might be.

That, of course, assumes he's not going to enact all those conservative things he says he's going to enact as president. But saying isn't being -- and conservatives know this better than most. Noam Scheiber of the New Republic argues that Mitt is too moderate to beat Obama, only because the GOP's base is going to be second-guessing him from now till November, just as it did with Bob Dole in 1996 and John McCain in 2008. Romney isn't like George W Bush, whose conservative bona fide were unquestioned that he could talk about the poor and without sounding like a candy-ass liberal.

I buy it. You sell conservatives on gays, guns and God, not on rational public policy. If you do, you can't rely on their vote. Romney doesn't have to worry about appealing to independents. He has to worry about his base.
 

15 comments

SherborneMervin's picture

How come third parties aren't allowed in the States? Actually they are. There's a Socialist Senator from Vermont. The Communist Party isn't illegal. There are two Socialist candidates and two Greens running for their party nominations. Instead, what does the MSM talk about? Endless speculation about the hookers in Columbia. The top two parties are essentially the same. Dissent isn't tolerated. The last time Ralph Nader ran, the Democratic National Chairman tried to bribe him to get him out of the race. http://www.squidoo.com/best-dishwashers-for-2012

John Cheese's picture

Connecticut, Delaware, Rhone Island all like the Mitters! The Businessman is coming to clean up the mess!

Dave Francis's picture

Yesterday there was a hearing on the E-Verify system of exposing illegal aliens seeking work. By now most American citizens and greencard holders know they must identify themselves for a job, by the requirement of adding person information to a form I-9, that being authenticated after being hired. Both Parties and the Liberals have downplayed this valuable tool as illegal alien employment is a very profitable enterprise for the business community, and as its seen today a massive majority population who may be future voters for the Democrats and also a deliberate illegal action throughout this sovereign land to let non citizens vote. Two laws have the potential to stop the illegal invasion, which is by the Congress just enacting E-Verify (H.R. 2885) – Chairman Lamar Smith's 'Legal Workforce Act' and the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 (H.R.140).

One amendment and one law have the potential to start a nationwide self removal of foreign nationals. E-Verify which is being upgraded continuously will eventually make it impossible for people who settle here from across our sieve-like border or who overstay visas from other countries, to find work. Under Texas House Representative Smith Mandatory law, businesses who intentionally hire illegal aliens will be heavily sanctioned and could go to prison. Call your federal and state lawmaker and demand these laws today and our right to control our borders and say no, to any clandestine move towards any form of AMNESTY.

TELL MITT ROMNEY TO “--PRACTICE WHAT HE PREACHES”—NOT FLIP FLOP; ENFORCE THE LAWS OF THE 1986 SIMPSON/ MAZZOLI BILL. EVERY AMERICAN WHO ARRIVED HERE LEGALLY NEEDS TO JOIN THE MONOLITHIC GROWING MEMBERSHIP OF THE PEOPL’ES PARTY, THE CONSTITUTIONAL TEA PARTY. THE ONLY WAY TO IMPROVE WASHINGTON SATISFACTION IS TO DRIVE OUT ALL LAW MAKERS, GOVERNORS, MAYORS, POLICE CHIEFS AND OFFICIAL ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE SOFT OR PANDERING TO ILLEGAL ALIENS.

See how this law affects your workplace and how illegal aliens are stealing new born babies Social Security card to get jobs and that can be used to get credit. Everybody SSN is in jeopardy as criminal aliens and our own dishonest citizens are some unknown babies SS number to gain access to collect Tax rebates in the child’s name. It could be years before the obnoxious theft will be revealed, then the parents will spend even more time explaining the situation to banks, the Social Security administration, police and other official agencies.

Statement of the Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement Hearing on Document fraud in Employment Authorization: How E-Verify Requirement Can Help?

Chairman Smith: The Immigration and Nationality Act prohibits the hiring of individuals who are not authorized to work in the United States. And it requires employers to check the immigration status of an employee and make sure that the identification document submitted by the employee “reasonably appears on its face to be genuine.”

That requirement was put in place by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA). Unfortunately the underground market for fraudulent identification documents grew extensively after the enactment of this bill.

Fake documents, which can be obtained cheaply and are produced by the millions, have made a mockery of these identification requirements.

Dishonest employees simply hand employers fake documents that “reasonably appear to be genuine,” and an honest employer has no recourse other than to accept them. And many dishonest employers actually welcome employees who submit counterfeit identification documents so they can pay lower wages or otherwise exploit illegal immigrant employees. Sometimes these dishonest employers themselves actually obtain the documents for the illegal workers.

In response, Senator Alan Simpson and I drafted the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which contains a pilot program to provide employers with an accurate and easy way to determine employment eligibility.

The Basic Pilot Program, now known as E-Verify, is run by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), in conjunction with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Through E-Verify, the Social Security numbers and alien identification numbers of new hires are checked against SSA and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases in order to help employers determine who is eligible to work in the U.S. As this Subcommittee has heard in testimony many times, E-Verify is free, quick and easy to use.

E-Verify can be vulnerable to identity theft. If an employee provides an employer with a stolen Social Security Number and matching identity information, E-Verify will determine that the Social Security number is one that is work-eligible.

USCIS has taken steps to help close the ID theft loophole. For instance, they have incorporated the photo matching tool. This allows an employer to view a picture of the employee--from a greencard, an employment authorization document or a passport--to determine that the employee is in fact the person to whom that Social Security number or alien identification number was issued.

And H.R. 2885, the “Legal Workforce Act,” a bipartisan bill that was approved by the Judiciary Committee last September, gives USCIS and SSA additional tools to help recognize and prevent identity theft.

For instance, the bill requires DHS to allow individuals to “lock” their own Social Security number so that it cannot be used by imposters to verify work eligibility.

It also requires USCIS to “lock” a Social Security Number that shows a pattern of unusual multiple uses. And it imposes significant criminal penalties on employers and employees who engage in or aid identity theft.

In addition, H.R. 2885 requires individuals who have likely been victims of identity theft for work authorization purposes to be notified of that likelihood so they can then take steps to prevent further illegal use of their identity.

As long as the IRCA standard -- whether identification document “reasonably appears on its face to be genuine,” -- is the only requirement for employers, illegal immigrants will be able to easily cheat the system and get U.S. jobs.

With today’s technology, it makes no sense to use a paper-based error-prone system when a successful web-based option is available. It’s time to bring our I-9 system into the 21st century.
American jobs and identities could easily be protected by simply requiring all employers to use E-Verify and by improving E-Verify to help close the identity theft loophole.

Thank you Mr. Chairman and I yield back the balance of my time.

Fortunately the citizen voter can do something about it by calling their Senator or House Representative in Congress and demand change. This America is the land of opportunity, but only if you come here with permission and a work visa. For farmers and agricultural communities, there must be a well regulated system of arrival and departure, not the mess provided now. In furtherance special visas should be expedited for top professionals in Science, Engineering and a whole range of high technology, given us the brain power for a futuristic U.S. But under Obama his potential next term will see an open border and easy access to America for even more immigrants, further complicating our strained energy policies, straining even further our health care system and welfare programs, overwhelmed public schools and the loss of open lands for housing developments.

John Cheese's picture

@mbrecker: 0bama's real goal is a more equal world or "redistributive wealth" by our Fed government, due to the Warren Supreme Court not going far enough in terms of 60's Civil Rights legislation. He feels racisim can never be eliminated with our current form of government, which is rife with embedded racism and favoring caucasians. This is CRT (critical race theory), obama's a believer. See his mentor Derick Bell and jeremiah wright. This Nov election is huge in terms of our Nation's future path. I think many voters did not realize what they were voting for in 2008, they do now...

mbrecker's picture

It doesn't matter. He shouldn't be elected in November. Same thing for Obama.

You've seen/read/heard the endless analysis of this:

How come third parties aren't allowed in the States? Actually they are. There's a Socialist Senator from Vermont. The Communist Party isn't illegal. There are two Socialist candidates and two Greens running for their party nominations. Instead, what does the MSM talk about? Endless speculation about the hookers in Columbia.

The top two parties are essentially the same.

Dissent isn't tolerated. The last time Ralph Nader ran, the Democratic National Chairman tried to bribe him to get him out of the race.

Why can't the left get it's act together? Ego, money and power. Everybody's pushing a book, radio show, lecture tour and endless cable news channel appearances as a "contributor".

What will we see between now and November? Even more racism. The racist Tea Party birther idiots are still pushing their "Obama is a ______ Muslim whatever" garbage. We all know it's racist garbage. Therefore, why does the MSM (and the New Statesman) continue to give them coverage?

Because it's the old "we don't make the news. We just report it" line. If millions are talking about it, it MUST be news. So we could care less what you the average reader thinks.

John Cheese's picture

Thankfully Barry 0bama was spot on during the Columbia trip: 1. Managed his Secret Service well 2. Had a laser focus on protecting the Brits "Maldives" Islands from Argentine invasion 3. Was totally aware Argentine Pres Kircher left the Summit early to go home & "nationalize" Spanish oil company YFP & she gave Spanish Directors 15 minutes to leave their building. He's a World Leader alright!!

jankaas's picture

it doesn't really appear to matter how many times Mitt changes position, contradicts himself, or screws up. for his GOP base all that matters is that he is a White Republican up against a Black Democrat. for them that means 2 good reasons to vote Mitt.

problem is that Mitt isn't all that good with the floating voters who appear not to be as gullible as the GOP base. it will be close, but any betting person would put their stake on an Obama victory.

Jaed Deaj's picture

Get real! Which Mitt Romney is anyone supporting? "The Ultimate Romney Flip-Flop Compilation" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_pgfWK3sxw&feature=youtu.be

Jaed Deaj's picture

Get real! Which Mitt Romney is anyone supporting? "The Ultimate Romney Flip-Flop Compilation" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_pgfWK3sxw&feature=youtu.be

Jaed Deaj's picture

Get real! Which Mitt Romney is anyone supporting? "The Ultimate Romney Flip-Flop Compilation" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_pgfWK3sxw&feature=youtu.be

Jaed Deaj's picture

Get real! Which Mitt Romney is anyone supporting? "The Ultimate Romney Flip-Flop Compilation" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_pgfWK3sxw&feature=youtu.be

John Cheese's picture

A candidate who is successful & has modified more conservative over a 20 year political career doesn't scare me as much as an admitted life-long socialist/communist such as Barry Obama...

Robboid's picture

People are hoping he just pretented to out-moonbat the rightist loonies like Gingrich, Santorum, Bachmann, Cain, and the Texan whose name neither I nor he can remember. But what if he was for real? And what if he gets elected by the most unsophisticated electorate in the western world?

mbrecker's picture

At the very last minute, people will vote for Obama because he's the "lesser of two evils".

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