Mitt Romney Wants To Re-Tool Washington

Mike Wallace Interviews The Contender For The GOP Presidential Nomination

(CBS)  Romney’s political career began in 1994, when he made a bid for the Senate in Massachusetts.

"Well, you were a horse’s ass to run against Ted Kennedy," Wallace remarks.

"A white, male, Mormon, millionaire was not gonna beat Ted Kennedy in Massachusetts, but someone deserved to go out there and give him a real run for his money," Romney replies.

"And he killed you," Wallace replies.

"But I learned a lot," Romney says.

In order to make a credible run for the senate in liberal Massachusetts, Romney positioned himself as a moderate on many social issues, most notably abortion which he has always personally opposed.

"I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country," he said during the 1994 debate. "I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years, that we should sustain and support it. And my personal beliefs, like the personal beliefs of other people should not be brought into a political campaign."

And he maintained that position when he ran for governor in 2002.

"I will preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose and am devoted and dedicated to honoring my word in that regard," he said during the gubernatorial debate.

But two years later, he changed his mind about abortion rights, concerned he says that procedures like embryo cloning for stem cell research were diminishing the value of life.

"I believe that we have cheapened the value of human life. And that it is important to allow states to enact reasonable, reasonable pro-life legislation. And I am pro-life. And favor that legislation," Romney said.

What about the woman's right to choose?

"Let each state make their own choice," Romney says.

If that sounds like a flip-flop, it’s not the only issue Romney has changed his mind about lately. Now that he’s running for president he calls himself a social conservative. Just last August he signed on as a lifetime member of the NRA.

"Back in 1994 you said 'I supported the Brady Bill and a ban on assault weapons. That’s not gonna make me the hero of the NRA. But then I don’t line up with the NRA.' And now you’re a member of the NRA,'" Wallace remarks.

"Well, we still don’t line up 100 percent," Romney says.

"I know, but you’re a member of the NRA?" Wallace points out.

"I believe in the right of people to bear arms," Romney says. "And support the work that the NRA is doing to protect the second amendment, but do we line up 100 percent on everything? Of course not."

And then there’s his current pledge, when he’s president, not to raise taxes.

"In 2002 you said 'I’m not intending to sign a document, a no new taxes pledge.' You said your spokesman was right when he called those pledges 'government by gimmickry,'" Wallace remarks. "Now that you say that you’ve signed a no new taxes pledge for Americans for tax reform. Really? Did you?

"Oh yes. Absolutely," Romney says.

Why did he change his mind?

"Well, I didn’t change my mind. I was running for governor of Massachusetts," Romney explains. "And now I'm running for a different office. And I wanna make it very clear, I won’t raise taxes."

"Who said that? Wasn’t it a fellow by the name of Bush?" Wallace asks.

What happened?

"He changed his mind. And the tax pledge that I’ve looked at is very carefully drafted, it’s narrow and on that narrow basis it was something I agreed with and was comfortable signing," Romney explains.

"Some critics say about you that you’re a poster child for what they call 'chameleon politics.' That you lack core beliefs, that you’ll do whatever it takes to get elected. What about it?" Wallace asks.

"You know, if you look at anybody who’s a political statesman, they’d better learn how to change their mind when they realize they’re wrong. I don’t criticize Senator McCain for saying he voted against the Bush tax cuts, now saying he’s for the Bush tax cuts. He made the change that I respect," Romney says.

"Mayor Giuliani has made some pretty significant changes as well with regards to abortion and funding of abortion and gun laws and so forth. But you know what? That’s learning from experience," Romney adds.

This savvy, pragmatic politician says he’s not worried about the national poll numbers. His strategy, he says, is to go after victories in the early primary states—Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.

"Look, if I do well in those first three and get the momentum from those wins, well that carries me to the nomination of my party," Romney says.

[k76923]

Mike Wallace is a nearly 90 year old "old windbag".

[sattriplets]

Harry Mason Reid (born December 2, 1939) is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party.

Reid is the U.S. Senate Majority Leader in the 110th Congress. He assumed majority leadership after the Democratic Party won seated majority of the Senate in the 2006 congressional elections. Reid is the first Mormon to serve as Senate Majority Leader.[1]

WOW! You anti-LDS better start lining up to have him recalled because he's LDS. Remember, he takes orders from Pres. Hinkley. Don't forget about all the other LDS's in office too!

Mitt Romney IS a successful business man and has what it will take to get America back on track!

I guess all you leftist, anti-mormon folks here better start a campaign real quick to get Senate Majority Leader, Democrat, AND MORMON HARRY REID out of office since he's under the directive of the church and all it's 'crazy' teachings. He is very dangerous and must be stopped!

Just another glaring example of the bigotry and hipocrisy of the left and the left-wing media. You don't see Harry Reid being asked those questions or being treated that way, do you? Again, the liberals showing their tolerance and open-mindedness... as long as you think exactly as they do.

Reid is a great example that mormons won't vote for someone just b/c they are mormon and an obvious example that he is not getting directions from salt lake... as evidenced by his own comments and votes against many things the church stands for.

[sioux-falls]

What was that! I was not an interview thats for sure . Mrs.Romney should have slapped his face!
I want to know his views on issues of importance not his *** life . Asking his kids about serving in the war irrelevent .I think our Senator Tim Johnson is the only one with a son in harms way. Good for him for being a good mormon . He has true family values! My husband is a mormon (I am not) His family is first in his life . He respects his family .And they are instilled with the ability to keep their pants zipped .
Mitt is a smart businessman We need someone who is smart and can say NO to the waste in big gov. and not worry about his religion .

[bobjohnny]

I listened to your interview of Mitt Romney last Sunday and his remarks on Polygamy, which made it seem to appear that it was merely a tool used in the western migration because of the preponderance of women. Polygamy is, as far as I know, an Ordinance of the LDS Church, being described in the Doctrine and Covenants. Mormons never disavowed Polygamy, only its practice, through a manifestation, which is not the same as a revelation and to say it was merely a solution to a historical problem is being very, very disingenuous if not out right deceitful.
If Mr. Romney is this evasive about something that is so basic to the ordinances and endowments of the LDS Church, something he supposedly believes so whole heartedly in, how can one know when he is being truthful and when he is merely being self-serving.

Further as a member of the LDS Church holding the Melchizedek Priesthood his first allegiance is to the president of the church in his position as prophet, seer and revelator, and should the president tell him something under this authority, even if he were President of the US, he would be duty bound to follow it or face sanctions all the way up to excommunication. Perhaps this is why he has changed his mind so many times over the last years.

[bobjohnny]

I listened to your interview of Mitt Romney last Sunday and his remarks on Polygamy, which made it seem to appear that it was merely a tool used in the western migration because of the preponderance of women. Polygamy is, as far as I know, an Ordinance of the LDS Church, being described in the Doctrine and Covenants. Mormons never disavowed Polygamy, only its practice, through a manifestation, which is not the same as a revelation and to say it was merely a solution to a historical problem is being very, very disingenuous if not out right deceitful.
If Mr. Romney is this evasive about something that is so basic to the ordinances and endowments of the LDS Church, something he supposedly believes so whole heartedly in, how can one know when he is being truthful and when he is merely being self-serving.

Further as a member of the LDS Church holding the Melchizedek Priesthood his first allegiance is to the president of the church in his position as prophet, seer and revelator, and should the president tell him something under this authority, even if he were President of the US, he would be duty bound to follow it or face sanctions all the way up to excommunication. Perhaps this is why he has changed his mind so many times over the last years.

[rahps]

When interviewing Mitt Romney, Mike Wallace set a new precedent that he needs to maintain when interviewing all other candidates. If you ask one candidate if they had premarital ***, then you must ask them all. If you ask one child why he did/didn't serve in the armed forces, then you need to ask them all!

[shaungirl]

To jnik 23260,
You and all of the other miss informed bloggers are breeding that which you say you hate. Half of the comments made about Mitt Romney are not about Mitt Romney, but are about the LDS/mormon church. It would be one thing if you all were stating true LDS/mormon doctrine, but you spread lies! The idea that blacks could not reach heaven unless they served whites is against mormon doctrine, and is no where to be found in any religious document of the LDS/mormon church. To the other fellow who went on a anti-mormon blogging fest, Zoar? You seriously need to check your facts about the LDS/mormon church. The more people talk about Mitt Romney, the more bigots I see come out of the wood work. Apparently racism, believing a person is below you because of the color of their skin, is unacceptable, but bigotry, believing mormons are below you because of their religious beliefs, is perfectly acceptable!
By the way, I referd to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the mormon church for all of you uniformed people who can't get the name of the church correct. LDS is the ak.

[danbro0811]

Before you make too big a hero out of Mighty Mitt for balancing the budget in Massachusetts every year, you should note that the governor is required by law to do so. Of course Romney did have plenty of input into what was cut, which resulted in the decimation of numerous social services programs aimed to help the least fortunate residents of Massachusetts. (Fortunately Deval Patrick has already reversed many of the damaging cuts Romney made.) I%u2019d also like to know why a guy who is so eager to send an additional 100,000 troops into a meaningless hell is apparently unwilling to send his own five sons, all fighting age, to the front lines. Romney instead goes on to say in response to a question about marriage, %u201CI must admit I can%u2019t imagine anything more awful than polygamy." Which clearly indicates the guy lacks an imagination as well as a heart. As for his combative attitude toward Congress, isn%u2019t that just what we need in this country %u2014 another bull in a china shop causing even more division?

[perimogi]

Mike Wallace, you are an absolutely reprehensible person, you asked a question of Romney only because of his religion. Have you asked that question of Clinton, Obama, Edwards, or anyone else? No, but you had the audacity of hopelessness to ask such a question of Romney. How dare you? You had better get on the phone right now and call ALL other presidential candidates the same moronic question. I am not Mormon, but you have showed your bigotry.

[kansas1946]

"You can't simply label him "Mormon" and know everything about the man. There is something special about this guy."
***************************
I could care less if the guy is a Mormon or an athiest. What I do care is where he stands on issues. There is something special, alright. He can't make up his mind about anything. He supported stem-cell research, now he doesn't. He supported a woman's right to choose, now he doesn't. He supported civil unions, now he doesn't. He is a "life-long" hunter (but has only been a couple of times)
So it looks like, for now anyway, Mitt cares only about the far-right kooks. Forget women, ***, and sicke people. Those aren't really Americans anyway. He is weak, indecisive, a suck-up, and a liar. We have had one of those for the last six years. We don't need another.

[toldyouso21]

To get elected, it is not enough for Republicans to vote for him--that only gets through the primary and I doubt this man can win the general election. The strongest GOP candidate with the most cross over appeal is Guiliani. it used to be McCain before he sold his soul to Bush and became a big, fat liar. I don't like Guiliani either (adulterer) and think he would be vindictive. Obama is too inexperienced, Hilary too cold and calculating. I wish Hagel would run or even Gore--I saw him in "An inconvenient truth" and for the first time, actually paid attention to the man. I think he is sincere and very electable. If he ran, maybe he could count on 7 from the Independent category--then again if he is for amnesty of illegals--maybe not.

[sattriplets]

susanhelit, well said. He has what it takes to get things done correctly.

BTW jwhitman, Romney didn't LIE about anything to Sharpton. Sharpton is nothing but an opportunist and NOT a man of God. He's a racist and cares only about blacks.

You got it backwards...

[stevex47]

Veteran 71,

I agree. The best chance the "right" has, is to do the right thing.

Run no one in 08. Apologize to the world. Then maybe in 100 years they may have a shot.

[susanhelit]

'Flip-flopper' is the most abused term - changing your mind when new evidence comes along is a good thing. Nuanced positions are a good thing. Realizing you were wrong, and having the guts to say so is a good thing - and all of these are being labelled as 'flip-flopping'.


Now someone who claims whatever position they think will get them the most votes -that's bad - but still, when I hear 'flip flopper', the odds seem to be that it'll be for good reasons, rather than bad.

[lestb35]

I think globalization and internationalism should be the most important issue of the election. Are we going to continue to be sold out or someone going to step up to the plate and protect Americans.

Romney is just another corporate creature...when he gets in, he'll be beholden to the same special interests as Bush. His negative stance on stem cell research to please the right-to-life movement is sickening. His about-face on many issues tells us exactly the kind of man he is...an ambitious politician willing to sing any tune to get elected. Because of his allegiances, he is not to be trusted to serve all of America. He will be the patsy for the right-wing elements who will have put him in place.

[j-whitman]

e_cartman999,,
--- Romney's allready sold his soul to the GOP ----- He lied to your face about the Sharpton interview without blinking an eye.

[j-whitman]

e_cartman999,,
--- Romney's allready sold his soul to the GOP ---- He lied to your face about the Sharpton interview without blinking an eye.

[j-whitman]

perception5,,, Get real dude..

Rudy can't get elected -- Rudy had no millions untill 9/11 then he had multi-millions from profiteering & White House/GOP connections.

Romney -- Lied about the Sharpton interview & quotes scriptures ----- We don't need another ideaological phony or hyprocrite.