Romney Concerned About "Flip-Flopping"

Campaign Memo Reveals Vulnerabilities That Concern GOP Presidential Contender

(AP)  An internal document shows Mitt Romney's presidential campaign is concerned about his vulnerability to charges of flip-flopping, while suggesting he can differentiate from President Bush with a single word: "intelligence."

Campaign advisers even fret that the former Massachusetts governor has too-perfect hair, according to the 77-slide PowerPoint presentation, a copy of which was obtained by The Boston Globe.

The document also outlines plans for positively branding the Republican contender, negatively framing rivals John McCain and Rudy Giuliani, and allaying voter concerns about his record and Mormon faith.

One idea for dealing with the religious question is to address it head-on, perhaps as John F. Kennedy did in a 1960 speech amid concerns about his relationship to the Catholic Church.

The document appears to raise the possibility of Romney speaking at the presidential library of Bush's father, George H.W. Bush. It is located outside Houston, the same city where Kennedy delivered his speech.

The blueprint, dated Dec. 11, was drafted in part by Alex Castellanos, Romney's media adviser. It is similar to one for Giuliani that was recently obtained and published by the New York Daily News.

McCain is described as a war hero and maverick with a compelling narrative and a reputation for wit, authenticity, and straight talk. But he's also seen as "too Washington," "too close to (Democratic) Left," an "uncertain, erratic, unreliable leader in uncertain times." "Does he fit The Big Chair?" the document asks.

Giuliani is called an outside-the-Beltway rock star and truth-teller who earned the nation's trust for his leadership of New York City's response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. But he is also described as a one-dimensional Lone Ranger whose social views — he supports abortion rights and civil unions for gay couples — could destroy the "GOP brand."

"We can't disqualify Dems like Hillary (Rodham Clinton) on social issues ever again" if Giuliani is the nominee, the document states.

Romney spokesman Kevin Madden declined to verify the document's authenticity in response to a request from The Associated Press.

"Outside consultants routinely offer input and analysis — both solicited and unsolicited — on the dynamics of a political campaign all the time," Madden said. "But we cannot and will not verify any documents that are not marked Romney for President Inc."

[jsilver2th]

Now let's see here how can we get our boy to be pres?

McCain is ... "too close to (Democratic) Left"
Right! Uhhhh?

Then "We can't disqualify Dems like Hillary on social issues ever again" if Giuliani is nominated...

Now let's see this is the guy that was pro-life and pro-gay rights up until he needed to change his spots...

I'd love to see what they'd do if Hillary announced she'd turned pro-life and anti-gay - I'm sure Romney would call her a political opportunist of the most evil nature.

Sure he's never been to Washington but not because he didn't want to get there- his "home" state refused to send him to DC that's why.

I still like the way he stares down flying saucers though. Don't you think some of his shots look like Ralph Nader?

[scott4261]

I don't think Mitt Romney's superficial changes in his positions on the social issues will be enough to overcome the queasiness many Republican voters already feel over his Mormonism.

The Republicans are dead in the water for 2008.

[imprisonbush]

Scott4261 wrote: "I don't think Mitt Romney's superficial changes in his positions on the social issues will be enough to overcome the queasiness many Republican voters already feel over his Mormonism."

With all due respect, it's hard to see how you can characterize his flip-flops to be "superficial." He is trying to suck up to the conservative neo-cons who consider abortion and gay marriage two of the most important bedrock issues. On both of these crucial issues, Romney has flip-flopped very recently. He tries to explain this by pointing out the Reagan changed his position on abortion. However, when you add his recent flip-flops to his Mormon religion, I would say Mr. Romney has got insurmountable problems with the conservative Repugs. His only possible saving grace is that the other two leading Republicans (i.e. McCain and Giuliani) also have similar problems (i.e. flip-flopping and lack of long term support for the litmus test issues required by neocons). It's very difficult to see who the Republicans can stand behind strongly. I think McCain is already alienated nearly all of those independent voters and some republicans who thought he was a straight talker. Once people realize Guiliani is far more complex than he appeared during his strong 9/11 performance, he might lose his current glow. It will indeed be interesting in any event.

[scott4261]

I am really enjoying the Republican implosion!

[us_infidel]

Wonder why you NEVER see a story about dems flip-flopping? The bias against republicans is incredible!!!!! CBS = Communists Bolsheviks Socialists!!!!

[us_infidel]

I am really enjoying the Republican implosion!
Posted by scott4261 at 03:30 PM : Feb 27, 2007

Which implosion is that? Oh, you mean the Hitlery/Osama mud fest. Yeah, you're right. We're really enjoying that! :)

[scott4261]

If the GOP would purge the party of the religious loons and the neo-con warmongers, I MIGHT give it a second look. Until then, I will NEVER vote GOP!

[scott4261]

And just so you know, US_Infidel, not all of us in the Democratic Party support Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. My money's on John Edwards.

And anyway (and you may even agree on this point), I'm so sick of this "rock star" coverage that Hillary and Obama are getting. What has happened to real reporting? I could care less whether Obama is "black enough." I would like to hear about the real issues.

[us_infidel]

And anyway (and you may even agree on this point), I'm so sick of this "rock star" coverage that Hillary and Obama are getting. What has happened to real reporting? I could care less whether Obama is "black enough." I would like to hear about the real issues.
Posted by scott4261 at 03:46 PM : Feb 27, 2007

You're right, I do agree. Unfortunately, I believe the days of real news, like it was up until about '79, are all over - probably for good.

[anvilheadsix]

Call me a bigot if you like but Mormons are nuts. Magic underwear, multiple wives, inbreeding. He would turn this country into Jonestown.

[anvilheadsix]

You're right, I do agree. Unfortunately, I believe the days of real news, like it was up until about '79, are all over - probably for good.
Posted by US_Infidel at 03:53 PM : Feb 27, 2007

I can't believe that this guy said something I actually agree with.

[jsilver2th]

Really if it's Hillary vs. Mitt she ought to just flip-flop on abortion & gay rights- ha ha

[scott4261]

You're right, I do agree. Unfortunately, I believe the days of real news, like it was up until about '79, are all over - probably for good.
Posted by US_Infidel at 03:53 PM : Feb 27, 2007

I can't believe that this guy said something I actually agree with.
Posted by anvilheadsix at 04:03 PM

-------

anvilheadsix,

I know! Can't you feel the love?

[anvilheadsix]

Scott,
It's strange but he makes a great point. This whole sound byte/news magazine/tabloid/Couric culture of news oversimplifies the news.

I see the biggest practitioner of this type of news as Fox.

[scott4261]

It is all fodder. From FOX to CNN to MSNBC. ABC, CBS, and NBC all regurgitate the talking points. No one does any real reporting anymore. The only way to really get the news is to have several bookmarked sources to check every day on the www.

[us_infidel]

CNN digs deep to find Romney's great, great grandfather was a poligymist, but Gore never got touched on his senetor dad voting against the civil rights act of '64.

I tell you, you can walk on the bias it's so thick.

[anvilheadsix]

It is all fodder. From FOX to CNN to MSNBC. ABC, CBS, and NBC all regurgitate the talking points. No one does any real reporting anymore. The only way to really get the news is to have several bookmarked sources to check every day on the www.
Posted by scott4261 at 04:35 PM : Feb 27, 2007


Please email those links to [e-mail]

[scott4261]

anvilheadsix,

I'll have to do that when I get home. I'm at work now and I cannot use my company e-mail for such a purpose.

[anvilheadsix]

I'll have to do that when I get home. I'm at work now and I cannot use my company e-mail for such a purpose.
Posted by scott4261 at 04:57 PM : Feb 27, 2007

Understood. I won't be able to view it until I get home as I cannot access email and would likely not be bale to view such sites at work due to a business filter.

[plowhandle]

This ugly inbred Moonchild would do better to save his cash (and that of the 'chosen' "church") and go fight ignorance and oppression in Colorado City, Utah, where his cousins, the Jeffs Clan, make their camp.

He doesn't have a fiddler's chance in Hell to be elected to anything except Dogcatcher on the Abortionist ticket.

[huskerarmy]

&***quot***;***CNN*** ***digs*** ***deep*** ***to*** ***find*** ***Romney***'***s*** ***great***, ***great*** ***grandfather*** ***was*** ***a*** ***poligymist***, ***but*** ***Gore*** ***never*** ***got*** ***touched*** ***on*** ***his*** ***senetor*** ***dad*** ***voting*** ***against*** ***the*** ***civil*** ***rights*** ***act*** ***of*** '***64***. ***I*** ***tell*** ***you***, ***you*** ***can*** ***walk*** ***on*** ***the*** ***bias*** ***it***'***s*** ***so*** ***thick***.&***quot***;

***Most*** ***of*** ***us*** ***on*** ***the*** ***left*** ***knew*** ***how*** ***Al*** ***Gores***'***dad*** ***voted*** ***on*** ***the*** ***Civil*** ***Rights*** ***Act*** ***and*** ***said*** &***quot***;***so*** ***waht***, ***that***'***s*** ***not*** ***him***.&***quot***; ***And*** ***I*** ***don***'***t*** ***think*** ***anyone***'***s*** ***going*** ***to*** ***hold*** ***polygamy*** ***against*** ***Romney***. ***His*** ***used*** ***car*** ***persona*** ***and*** &***quot***;***flip*** ***flopper***&***quot***; ***reputation*** (***blame*** ***Carl*** ***Rove***) ***is*** ***going*** ***to*** ***be*** ***his*** ***downfall***. ***And*** ***if*** ***you*** ***really*** ***looked*** ***into*** ***it***, ***you*** ***would*** ***see*** ***that*** ***the*** ***Civil*** ***Rights*** ***Act*** ***wasn***'***t*** ***a*** ***slam*** ***dunk*** ***by*** ***any*** ***means***. ***In*** ***fact***, ***your*** ***beloved*** ***Barry*** ***Goldwater*** ***and*** ***John*** ***Tower*** ***voted*** ***against*** ***it***. ***The*** ***issues*** ***have*** ***to*** ***be*** ***evaluated*** ***in*** ***context*** ***of*** ***the*** ***times***. ***Poligamy*** ***has*** ***never*** ***been*** ***viewed*** ***all*** ***that*** ***favorably*** ***among*** ***most*** ***Americans***...***at*** ***any*** ***time***.

[huskerarmy]

&***quot***;***CNN*** ***digs*** ***deep*** ***to*** ***find*** ***Romney***'***s*** ***great***, ***great*** ***grandfather*** ***was*** ***a*** ***poligymist***, ***but*** ***Gore*** ***never*** ***got*** ***touched*** ***on*** ***his*** ***senetor*** ***dad*** ***voting*** ***against*** ***the*** ***civil*** ***rights*** ***act*** ***of*** '***64***. ***I*** ***tell*** ***you***, ***you*** ***can*** ***walk*** ***on*** ***the*** ***bias*** ***it***'***s*** ***so*** ***thick***.&***quot***;

***Most*** ***of*** ***us*** ***on*** ***the*** ***left*** ***knew*** ***how*** ***Al*** ***Gores***'***dad*** ***voted*** ***on*** ***the*** ***Civil*** ***Rights*** ***Act*** ***and*** ***said*** &***quot***;***so*** ***waht***, ***that***'***s*** ***not*** ***him***.&***quot***; ***And*** ***I*** ***don***'***t*** ***think*** ***anyone***'***s*** ***going*** ***to*** ***hold*** ***polygamy*** ***against*** ***Romney***. ***His*** ***used*** ***car*** ***persona*** ***and*** &***quot***;***flip*** ***flopper***&***quot***; ***reputation*** (***blame*** ***Carl*** ***Rove***) ***is*** ***going*** ***to*** ***be*** ***his*** ***downfall***. ***And*** ***if*** ***you*** ***really*** ***looked*** ***into*** ***it***, ***you*** ***would*** ***see*** ***that*** ***the*** ***Civil*** ***Rights*** ***Act*** ***wasn***'***t*** ***a*** ***slam*** ***dunk*** ***by*** ***any*** ***means***. ***In*** ***fact***, ***your*** ***beloved*** ***Barry*** ***Goldwater*** ***and*** ***John*** ***Tower*** ***voted*** ***against*** ***it***. ***The*** ***issues*** ***have*** ***to*** ***be*** ***evaluated*** ***in*** ***context*** ***of*** ***the*** ***times***. ***Poligamy*** ***has*** ***never*** ***been*** ***viewed*** ***all*** ***that*** ***favorably*** ***among*** ***most*** ***Americans***...***at*** ***any*** ***time***.

[shingles1]

&***quot***;***McCain*** ***is*** ***described*** ***as*** ***a*** ***war*** ***hero*** ***and*** ***maverick*** ***with*** ***a*** ***compelling*** ***narrative*** ***and*** ***a*** ***reputation*** ***for*** ***wit***, ***authenticity***, ***and*** ***straight*** ***talk***.&***quot***;

***Except*** ***that*** ***this*** ***reputation*** ***is*** ***undeserved***. ***It*** ***persists*** ***despite*** ***his*** ***serial*** ***flip***-***flopping*** ***and*** ***pandering***.

***Why***? ***Because*** ***journalists*** ***and*** ***pundits*** ***LOVE*** ***McCain***. ***No*** ***one*** ***else*** ***does***.

[frankly6]

***Romney*** ***is*** ***a*** ***Flip*** ***Flopper*** ***and*** ***his*** ***hair*** ***is*** ***too*** ***perfect***.

[plowhandle]

Mutt Romney's garbage-can 'faith', mormonism, will, thankfully, keep him from ever serving in public again.

People are rightfully leery of a cult that promotes talking white salamanders and visits in downtown Salt Lake City office buildings by God (on a regular basis).

Go suck a book of mormon, you ugly inbred.