Sept. 26, 2007
Romney's "Change" Message Examined
washingtonpost.com: GOP Hopeful's Speech Raises At Least As Many Questions As It Answers
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Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney addresses the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference on Mackinac Island, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007. (AP)
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GOP Candidates Go After Votes
Michigan's Mackinac Island is the center of the GOP universe this weekend. Republican candidates are focusing on the Midwest, but might be ignoring other voters. Joie Chen reports.
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Mitt Romney has gingerly picked up the challenge that was laid down to all the Republican presidential candidates recently by Newt Gingrich. In a weekend speech in Michigan, Romney sounded a message of change, telling Republicans they must clean up their own house before they can expect to win back public confidence.
Gingrich believes Republicans will lose the White House next year unless the party's presidential nominee makes a clean break with President Bush and the state of affairs in Washington. Romney's speech -- buttressed by modest newspaper and television advertising -- marked the first attempt to rally support by suggesting just that.
But the new speech raised at least as many questions as it answered, not least of which is whether it delivers on the Romney promise of real change.
Romney's appraisal of his party was hardly a slashing critique of the president himself. When he mentioned Bush specifically, it was to praise him for keeping the country safe and restoring dignity to the Oval Office. But threaded throughout was a critical assessment of what has happened in Washington during Bush's nearly seven year in office.
Romney offered a familiar, if incomplete, litany of Bush's mistakes. They include the administration's woeful response to Hurricane Katrina, the failure by the president to use the veto to check rising federal spending, even the government's failure to prevent the subprime lending crisis. He also scored Washington Republicans for their ethical lapses -- a criticism of the party's congressional wing.
"At this critical time in our nation's history, Washington is failing us," he said. "I think we'd have to admit that the blame doesn't all belong to the Democrats. We Republicans have to put our own house in order."
Romney's takeaway line, which he has used in newspaper and television ads since, is that "change must begin with us." It is based on the campaign's assessment that Republican voters in particular believe the party has lost its way under Bush.
"This message speaks to an understanding among Republican activists that we have to refocus our efforts as a party on our core policy principles and start acting like Republicans again if we're going to win in 2008," Kevin Madden, the campaign spokesman, explained in an e-mail.
He said Republican activists are "frustrated with the way Washington has been conducting business on the core issues of spending, border security and ethical standards."
One unaffiliated GOP strategist said he was impressed with what Romney had to say over the weekend. "Romney is doing the best job developing a message for the GOP to move beyond the Bush era," he wrote in a message. "No other GOP campaign has this strategy as an integral part of their quest for the nomination."
Other Republican strategists were far less complimentary, saying they found the message either confusing or contradictory. One wrote in an e-mail, "Truthfully, it's hard to assess whether this will be an effective message or not because I just really don't get it. I'm not sure what they mean by that phrase and how the campaign might demonstrate it or make it real to people."
Another strategist was even more critical, saying it could become fodder for one of Romney's rivals for a devastating ad turning the change message on its head by reminding voters of Romney's various flip flops on issues. "All his flip flops into one giant change ad," this strategist said.
Romney has adapted his change message to win over Republican voters. Whether he can broaden it for a general election audience -- which would be his goal if he were to win the nomination -- is more problematic.
Like many politicians, he decries the partisanship in Washington. He calls for a return to civility in the political discourse and says he's ready to work with "good Democrats" to change the capitol. "The political atmosphere in Washington has become so toxic, we are in danger of weakening ourselves from within," he said in Michigan. "America needs unifying leadership."
What is his solution? Apparently through brinksmanship and confrontation with those "good Democrats" over spending. "If I am elected President," he said, "I will cap non-military discretionary spending at inflation less one percent. If I get appropriations above that amount, I will veto them. And I like vetoes. I've vetoed hundreds of items already. Let's put some fresh ink in the Presidential veto pen!"
Notably absent from his speech was any mention of the central challenge before the country and the biggest issue of Bush's presidency. Scour Romney's prepared text and you cannot find the word "Iraq" anywhere in it.
He focused on the threat of Islamic jihadism, but offered neither a critique of the administration's management of the war nor any blueprint for the future of Iraq. His silence on that issue -- and his ringing call for victory over Islamic terrorism -- implies a stay the course strategy for Iraq.
Why did he ignore the war? "Iraq is the central front in the war against terrorism and radical Jihad," Madden explained. "Governor Romney purposely talks about the global conflict we're facing as a way to underscore that the threats we face from terrorists are not just limited to Iraq and Afghanistan."
Romney's speech offered an affirmation of the party's conservative values. In that sense, he is no different than the other leading candidates in trying to appeal to the party's base. The language and sound bites in the speech boldly aim to make Romney distinctive within a jumbled GOP field. The specifics make him still one of the pack.
© 2006-2007 The Washington Post Company
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See all 70 Commentsyep. As for the rest of America that will decide who is President and are tired of the lies, the war and the pettiness of votes on news Ads and hip hop---they think they can win with a "more of the same" strategy.
good luck with that.
Gov. Romney has an impressive resume to showcase. When elected governor in 2002 he assumed a monstrous 3 billion dollar deficit and put the state of Massachusetts back in the black without raising taxes. In 2006 Mitt signed into law a bill that provided HEALTH INSURANCE to all the citizens of Massachusetts without raising taxes......wow!
His success in public office mirrors his record in the private sector at Bain Capitol where he reorganized and made household names of companies such as Domino''s Pizza and Staples.
He also bailed out the U.S. Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002, and turned a profit there for 100 million dollars. I have nicknamed Mitt, "the Rominator", for obvious reasons.
Romney has also taken a tough stance on terrorism. Mitt wants to expedite the turn over of security in Iraq and in a June interview with the Associated Press Mitt indicated that he was against permanent US bases in Iraq.
Mitt''s the only top tier presidential candidate who strongly opposed the flawed Senate immigration bill( aka "No alien left behind") architected by Senators McCain and Kennedy.
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Posted by parrots7 at 09:41 AM
........I''m praying parrots7 that you''re a Democrat. We wouldn''t want someone with your hate and views in the GOP. You must be a Democrat.
Have a nice "hate" day you''ve earned it yourself...........really sad.
The Regime''s catamites of the House just voted almost unanimously to increase tensions with Iran by voting for more sanctions--completely unjustified--and all for the sake of Israel.
As President Ahamadinejad pointed out on the David Rose Show, Iran is living up to its solemn treaty obligations under the IAEA...When it depended on Western firms for support in its legitimate quest for
nuclear power under the IAEA, the firms canceled their contracts unilaterally--pressed by the Washington Regime...How can Tehran depend on them to supply nuclear fuel?
This is the same US House that marched off the cliff behind the Zio-Nazi dogs with regard to Iraq and now they are goose-steeping right off another one. If you vote for mainstream candidates--this is what you are supporting...one more toe-tap towards war.
Like Starieo146 said no one is listening to you so dog paddle back to shore if you can otherwise drown.
I hope Mitt wins because he is a good man with a good message.
Ever done business with a Mormon? If you had, you would not be writing with such ignorance. Ever gotten layed by a Mormon chick? Best seks that I''ve ever had with an American girl. Fact is, Mormons are the biggest hypocrits in the USA! They make Southerners seem kinda decent.
The GOP is the party of hate! They get their "values" and "talking points" from the hateful FOX "News", from Rush-to-hatred Limbaugh, from Vile O''Reilly, et.al. The ONLY unifying idea of the GOP is the hatred of Bill (and now, Hilary) Clinton! Oh yeah, and they hate foreigners and they hate the French and they hate Muslims and they hate black people and they hate homosexuals and they hate "liberals" and they hate anyone who dares to suggest that they might be wrong about anything-- They hate everybody! They are the supreme HATERS!
And perception5, republican shill, has the nerve to call Democrats "haters"!!! What a laugh!
NOTHING but ignorance. You are a complete moron. You fit the REpublicon stereotype perfectly.
This guys key word is "change".
Guliani is on "gun rights" today.
Clintons on an "inevitability" trip.
Gingrish is "black forum".
Does anybody really see one of them with a real solution to the problems they broadcast they are champions of?
Not one solution. I guess its inevitable, once a politician, always a politician.
Key words = votes
Politics = Fraud
Romney is a complete political wwhhoorree.
Sorry, ******, but you are completely wrong. This so-called majority hasn''t been able to pass a single piece of their legislation, due to the fact that their "majority" is very slim, the repugs block the votes, and Bush promises to veto everyting that they manage to pass. So you can''t blame ANYTHING that''s going on right now on the Democrats, other than to blame them for being too weak to accomplish anything that the people elected them to do.
For example, they have not stopped the d@mn war in Iraq which is killing our soldiers for nothing, even though 70% of the country wants to get out of Iraq asap. But Bush says, "stay the course" so that''s what we do, and our soldiers stay in Iraq, waiting to die. The repugnant ones even voted against letting our soldiers get a decent break in between war assignments! THATS how they "support the troops"! What charlatans, what ignorant fools, what evil b@stards.
For the past 6 years, Bush and the Repugnants have been BORROWING and BORROWING and SPENDING and SPENDING, running our country into the ground. And you want to blame the Democrats? Get your head out of your a$$, come up for air, at take a look at what''s REALLY been going on in this country!
Posted by ConDumism at 10:32 AM : Sep 26, 2007
I see the negro contingent of the LAMEstream media is awake and at it.
Is that story true?
I hope he beats the odds and becomes the Republican nominee! Even my 85 year old mother could beat this phony!
Who would be a good president for the American people?
**** TAKE AMERICA BACK ****
**** STOP THE WAR & Corporate Corruption****
He has NEVER voted:
* to raise taxes
* for an unbalanced budget
* to raise congressional pay
* for a federal restriction on gun ownership
* to increase the power of the executive branch
He HAS voted:
* against the Iraq war
* against the inappropriately named USA PATRIOT act
* against regulating the internet
* against the Military Commissions Act
He will eliminate the IRS, Wasteful Government Spending & Stop The Iraq War Immediately!
Most importantly, he voted NO on anything in Congress that is not allowed by the Constitution.
He is the only candidate not a member of the CFR!
Shouldn''''t ALL members of Congress uphold the Constitution? Aren''''t they SWORN to uphold it? You can bet Paul won''''t call the Constitution "just a G**D***ed piece of paper" like George Bush is reported to have.
If you want a candidate you can TRUST due to a proven track record, visit ronpaul2008.com and get busy spreading the word. The Mainstream Media is a lagging indicator!!
Join The ReVoLuTiOn In Your City Stand Up America:
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/cities/
Also checkout: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ron+paul
COPY LINK BELOW INTO BROWSER:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ron+paul
That''s because the blame "all" belongs to the Republicans you slimebucket.
Really the damage that conservatives and Republicans and Neocons have done to America is hard to overstate. If the Democrats have any blame at all it''s their going along with the Republican anti-America agenda.
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues
Where Mitt has campained, Iowa, New Hamshire, Michigan, and Nevada he leads all other GOP candidates.
Mitt, who owes his political career to Democrat voters who elected him Govenor of Massachusetts, would make the best person to represent ALL Americans unlike any of the other candidates from either party except for Rudy who was elected Mayor of New York City which is a deep blue city.
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/straw-poll-results
And 60% of Americans don''t know him because he speaks the truth and they are doing a Media Blackout on him! But once America wakes up it will be a ReVoLuTiOn! You watch your poster boy Bush''s and corrupt Democrats won''t last! He is for the People and real freedom not an illusion we live in now.
Posted by radiob
I would like to know too? Do you work for the big Corporations and he did not grant you funding or voted against you? Do you know enjoy you Liberties and Freedom? Oh, I know you work for Diebolt that hacked the Voting Machines with a virus that made Bush win for his neo-cons in the 2000 and 2004 Elections and he cut your funding.. Is this it?
"But anyone listening to WBUR, Boston''s National Public Radio station, yesterday would have been hard pressed to miss news that new data out of the U.S. Department of Education showed Massachusetts kids scored higher than any other state on three out of four National Assessment of Educational Progress exams, and tied for first on number four. The state also won top honors the last time the test was administered, in 2005, when Romney was in office."
Mitt was the first elected American leader to bring HEALTH INSURANCE to all the citizens of Massachusetts "without" raising taxes.
Govenor Romney''s hard work on "education" issues also put his state at the top of all other fifty states.
Proven results in Health Insurance for ALL and Education results that puts his state ahead of all others in achievements.
Does this record and these facts help folks decide who''s the very best candidate from either party?
It''s all about "performance" which is why I''m voting for Mitt Romney in 2008.
Posted by robomadness1
Not being from either party you sure don''t have a good opinion on Dems.
In the spirit of the Bad News Bears, you can take your "big warm chocolate chip cookie" and shove it up your azz.
1. Ron Paul is a Libertarian, pretending to be a Republican. Now, pretending isn''t really so bad, given that the current crop of "republicans" are actually delusional NeoCon liars and fascists, not republicans at all, but I believe he should run as a Libertarian since that''s what he is.
2. Libertarianism. Sigh. They talk a lot about "freedom" and so forth, but they make a very basic error that makes them unfit to run a government: they are fundamentally opposed to the very idea of government.
Libertarians believe that people can and should run their own lives. Now, it seems like no one would disagree with that, except that there are things that individuals can''t do for themselves, things that governments MUST do for them, or else they won''t get done.
For example: Corporations like to make money by selling cheap products for a profit. That''s OK, but what if a product isn''t safe? It''s naive to think that, say, after a few people are poisoned or killed by the product that the people will wise up and the problem will just solve itself. So, some governmental regulation is necessary to prevent the problem.
If government isn''t preventing problems, then that doesn''t mean you should get rid of all government. Instead, you have to get a better government. Libertarians just don''t understand this fundamental idea.
Romney is just polishing the same old Republican turdd. His advisers and focus groups told him to run on change so he''s running on change. He''s flip flopped so many times on key issues that it''s hard to take him seriously. Like most of the candidates in this race, he''s all ambition and no substance.
Ha! How many people running for president claim to be something other than "Christian"? If we embraced religious freedom, we''d see more variety. But there is none.
This country is "supposed to be" a lot of things, but it''s all a sham. Just like the "Christian" president Bush whose "God" told him to murder all the Muslims. He must be delusional, because Jesus said, "Love one another", not "kill all the infidels"!
the south thinks that bush is the best prez ever.
phony christians, crooked republican, ignorant, slave state war making south...
bush country.
nothing good comes out of the south.
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/cities/
He Will Eliminate the IRS!
And Stop The War In Iraq Immediatley!
Restore And Protect America From Illegal Immigration!
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues
Who else is willing to do a fraction of what Ron Paul is doing for the people? Tell me one person. They are all members of the CFR besides Ron Paul... Watch it will be a revolution. You can only supress people for so long before they revolt, history has proven this and so will Ron Paul in 2008!
If he doesn''t win be prepared for "Human Implant RFID Chips" and total control of the corporations hijackign of America and it political System. If he does not win I think I will move to Canada where they have more Freedom than us. America needs to Wake Up and be heard instead of just watching all this corruption happen before their eyes.
1) Refuses to release his income tax returns and
2) States that Scientologist fiction is his favorite book...
How to the Republicans think they can elect him is beyond me...
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