Will Michigan Save Mitt Romney?

CBSNews.com Reports: After Two Disappointments, GOP Hopeful Looks To Revive Candidacy

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter Brian Montopoli.

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If Mitt Romney can convince Michigan voters he can save their state's economy, they might just save his presidential bid.

The former Massachusetts governor is in a must-win battle with John McCain and Mike Huckabee in today's Michigan primary, according to Republican strategist Dan Schnur.

"Think of Feb 5th, Super Tuesday, like the NCAA Final Four," says Schnur, in reference to the day on which more than 20 states will hold their primaries. "Each of the candidates has a must-win game they need to qualify to get there."

"McCain had New Hampshire, so he's in," he says. "Romney has Michigan, Huckabee has South Carolina, and [Rudy] Giuliani has Florida. Lose those games and they're done."

Huckabee won the Iowa caucuses, but is still perceived as needing a strong showing in South Carolina heading into the Feb. 5th contests.

Romney's strategy was to win early votes in Iowa and New Hampshire and build on the momentum that came from those victories. He finished a disappointing second-place in both states, however, and subsequently pulled television ads in South Carolina and Florida to focus on Michigan. It's the state where he was born and raised and where his father, George Romney, was a popular three-term governor.

Romney vows to continue his presidential bid even if he loses today, but some political observers believe anything other than a win would effectively mean the end of Romney's run.

"Even though he's got the financial resources to continue indefinitely, at a certain point it becomes a matter of plausibility - and a matter of pride," says Schnur.

Michigan leaders moved their primary up to January 15th in violation of Democratic and Republican Party rules. Though the state was punished for doing so - the Democratic National Committee stripped Michigan of all its delegates and made candidates pledge not to campaign there, while Republicans stripped the state of half its delegates - the gambit did succeed in forcing a focus on the state's struggling economy.

Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the country, and in the past year it has lost more than 30,000 residents and 76,000 jobs. Many of these losses have come as a result of the struggles of an automobile industry that was long the state's economic backbone.

"If I am President, I will not rest until Michigan is back," Romney told the Detroit Economic Club Monday, according to prepared remarks of his speech released by the campaign. "Michigan can once again lead the world's automotive industry."

Michigan voters can be skeptical of such claims, according to Michigan-based political analyst Craig Ruff.

"There is such doom and gloom in Michigan after seven years of declines in employment every single year," he says. "There is a lot of anger about it. And there is a lot of anxiety about it. The public doesn't truly believe that there is relief on the horizon. The public does not believe in rosy predictions of a rosy future."

Romney and his campaign have tried to contrast what they characterize as Romney's optimism for Michigan's future with McCain's pessimism. "I've got to give you some straight talk: Some of the jobs that have left the state of Michigan are not coming back," McCain said last week in Grand Rapids. "They are not. And I am sorry to tell you that." McCain has said he will bring "new jobs" to Michigan.

Polls show Romney and McCain neck-and-neck in Michigan, with Huckabee about ten points behind.

"I think McCain resonates here because he's just telling Michigan voters what they already know - that the lions share of factory jobs are not coming back," says Ruff. "People have a healthy respect for that honesty. There is some segment of the public that would like to embrace Romney's optimism that these jobs can return, but there's probably a larger segment that realizes the heyday is over."

What might ultimately decide the election, however, is the particular nature of the Michigan primary. The state's voters can vote in either party's primary, and since the Democratic contest is essentially meaningless - Hillary Clinton is the only major Democratic candidate even on the ballot - Democrats and independents who want to have their say will be drawn the Republican contest. That could help McCain. (Though Democratic activist Markos Moulitsas is leading an online effort aimed at getting Michigan Democrats to vote for Romney in hopes of keeping Romney's campaign alive and prolonging the Republican race.)

"If McCain wins, he can thank Barack Obama and John Edwards for staying off the ballot, which allowed people to cross over and vote for him," says Ed Sarpolus, an independent pollster in Michigan. "Without the crossover vote, John McCain does not win."

Sarpolus says Huckabee is attracting young and religious voters - he calls the former Arkansas governor "the Barack Obama of Michigan." A surprise win in Michigan would be a boost for Huckabee, who has been on the air in the state with an ad in which he says "most Americans want their next president to remind them of the guy they work with, not the guy who laid them off.” On Monday, Huckabee campaigned along with McCain and Romney at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Romney, meanwhile, has been airing an ad stressing his Michigan roots. "I grew up in Michigan when Michigan was the pride of America," he says. "It breaks my heart to see us in a one-state recession."

Ruff suggests the candidate is smart to stress his ties to the state.

"If Mitt Romney was not born and raised here, if his father was not an extremely important political figure, I don't think he'd have a snowball's chance in hell of competing here," says Ruff.

But Romney does have a chance to win today, and in doing perhaps overcome the setbacks he experienced in Iowa and New Hampshire.

"If Romney wins, this race isn't in a much different place than it would have been if he had won Iowa," says Schnur. "If he loses, he's Steve Forbes with better hair."

[lisacamp1]

Will Mitt Romney Save Michigan? Don''t be fooled people, he will no more save Michigan that he did Massachusetts. Mitt actually made the economy in Ma. worse.
Excerpt from the Boston Globe:

%u201CTax rates on many corporations almost doubled because of legislation supported by Romney,%u201D Boston Scientific Corp. Chairman Peter Nicholas wrote in the Jan. 6 Boston Herald. Romney boosted taxes on subchapter S corporations owned by business trusts from 5.3 percent to 9.8 percent. Nicholas called this a %u201Cdisincentive to investment, growth and job creation.%u201D

%u201CImposing business-tax increases is wrong for the people of Massachusetts,%u201D Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Guzzi complained to State House News Service last year: %u201CWe%u2019re down 140,000 jobs since 2001.%u201D

While Romney sped a $275 million capital-gains tax rebate, scored property-tax relief for seniors and secured a two-day, tax-free shopping holiday, he imposed $283 million in business %u201Cloophole closures%u201D and $501.5 million in increased fees on marriage licenses, gun registrations, gasoline deliveries, real-estate transfers and more.

Under Romney, the Tax Foundation calculated, Massachusetts fell from America%u2019s 29th-most-business-friendly state to No. 36.

Don'' let Mitt fool you people of Michigan, he is a self driven CEO that has no business being President of the United States..

[piercetheval]

Romney is dead. Long live the Queen! Go Hillary!

[taotxzen]

Hilary Takes Two from the Swift Boat Playbook:

Classic Karl Rove, attack your opponent on their strongest issue, Obama%u2019s Iraq war vote. Then let your supporters sling the mud, Slick and Rev. Billionaire. She sets perched above the fray while your opponent is taken off message addressing false allegations.

Pay attention to what candidates do not what they say.

[perception5]

For the GOP John McCain represents the "Old Guard"

Washington DC is "broken" badly.

I''m voting for the GOP''s "New Guard"

I''m voting for Mitt Romney .........aka "Mr. Fixer" ......... to save our economy and our country.

..............GO MITT !!

[brianbwb-2009]

"Mit Romney is the most intelligent and professional person running this year and by far the best speaker. With this talent he can help the state of Michigan and the rest of the country."
Posted by commonsence1

If Willard, as he says, thinks Michigan''s problems can be fixed by lowering taxes on the auto industry, he is just another Reaganite trickle downer, who will basically subsidize the expansion of the autofakers'' slave labor plants in south east Asia.

Republicans still haven''t figured it out yet, it doesn''t trickle down, it flows out to slave labor countries.

The autofakers laid off their buyers, and then hiked up the price of their toys while lowering the quality. this is their problem, the free market isn''t in accordance with their wishes, so they want to change the rules. It won''t work, and neither will Romney.

Think about it, every time an autoworker bought a car, he repaid the cost of his labor, and some profit, but the autofakers were so greedy they didn''t recognize a good thing when they had it.

[gkc99]

Romney can''t help the working people, but at least he can help the billionaire class shelter the money they stole from working people in offshore Cayman Island accounts.

That''s what Romney is good for--to continue the pandering to Bushit''s Billionaires.

For everyone else he''s a shape-shifting conjurer.

[radiob-2009]

Will Michigan Save Mitt Romney?


I did not know that "Michigan" was the name of the "saviour" in the Mormon belief. Hmmm I thought it was Jesus.

[gkc99]

"Romney, meanwhile, has been airing an ad stressing his Michigan roots. "I grew up in Michigan when Michigan was the pride of America," he says. "It breaks my heart to see us in a one-state recession." "


But he went to France to hand out the Book of Mormon to lonely French housewives when his country wanted him to serve in Vietnam. I''m sure playing games with French Maids was a lot more fun than slogging through the stinking swamps of Southeast Asia. Romney was real happy to let other people fight a war he supported, however. And Romney''s still happy to have wars that benefit the uber-rich Romney serves as long as he and his sons don''t have to get their hands dirty or take any risks.

[bot14]

The secularists would decimate a Huckabee GOP candidate (the "Christian homophobic Leader") in the general election. Huck is the DNC%u2019s favorite candidate, they have not issued a negative press release on him in 9 months. Mitt is the DNC%u2019s nightmare; the DNC has issued 99 press releases on Mitt. McCain%u2019s the favorite of the Trial Lawyers%u2019 lobby.

Mitt Romney has the right qualifications (the only one with non-governmental (Bain, Olympics) leadership experience, a deep-seated faith, a vision for this country''s future, and an exemplary personal and family life.

Mitt has the organizational skills to run a campaign in the general election and run the country. Huck, McCain, Hillary or Obama have never even run a lemonade stand. Mitt would appeal to the Independents and some Democrats for his unique qualifications to lead our country.

[omega39-2009]

"I''ve got to give you some straight talk: Some of the jobs that have left the state of Michigan are not coming back," McCain said last week in Grand Rapids. "They are not. And I am sorry to tell you that." McCain has said he will bring "new jobs" to Michigan.

I am so sick of hearing the BS of we''re going to get retrained and get the new jobs in (whatever) they see as the new field.

Bush said we were going to get retrained to snap up all the biotechnology jobs, then he vetoed federal funding for Stem cells which would have created those very jobs. The people of Taiwan are now enjoying the majority of those biotechnology jobs.

When they say re-trained and new jobs, that is code for burger flipper and bartender America.

Huckabee did make one point in response to McCain''s claim. He said "well lets change the policies and bring those jobs back"..if only.

[mudrose-2009]

Mitt will do well for the Investor Class. He will keep those taxes on dividends from kicking in so your average wealthy elite can avoid taxes on their income stream. Thank goodness the wealthy have someone to defend their interests in this race for president.

Posted by curse914

Yeah and gee all of the 10% of the wealth which pay 35% and up of income taxes because the poor pay squat and the middle class pays its 15%, 25% will enable the poor and the middle class to flourish in the lap of luxary once they strip the 10% wealth of its hard earned money. Meanwhile, the Democratic elitist class, the likes of Clintoids, Bore''s, Edwards and Soros, all make sure their wealth is kept in the Caymans so they don''t even have to pay anything while they convince you distribution of wealth is in everyone''s best interest exclusive of them. Your class warefare b.s. is a very socialist position as are the candidates who support them.

[mudrose-2009]

Posted by Bot14

I commend you on your point of view with the exception of calling Huckabee a Christian homophobe. It is a bigoted statement. People who do not support the open advocacy of homosexual behavior and the tenets of their new found lobbying appeal based on a trememdous accumulation of wealth they have acquired, does not make him a homophobe. It makes you a bigot. He believes that marriage is between a man and a woman and has the guts to stand up for it. Most people agree whether they are Christian, Hindu, Islam, Jewish or otherwise. It''s a worn out word and of little substance. I doubt Huckabee is afraid of homosexuals. Very poor commentary here.

[merlgrey]

"In an apparent violation of the law, a controversial aide to ex-Gov. Mitt Romney created phony law enforcement badges that he and other staffers used on the campaign trail to strong-arm reporters, avoid paying tolls and trick security guards into giving them immediate access to campaign venues, sources told the Herald.

The bogus badges were part of the bizarre security tactics allegedly employed by Jay Garrity, the director of operations for Romney who is under investigation for impersonating a law enforcement officer in two states. Garrity is on a leave of absence from the campaign while the probe is ongoing.

A campaign source said Garrity directed underlings on Romney%u2019s presidential staff to use the badges at events nationwide to create an image of security and to ensure that the governor%u2019s events went smoothly."

[gkc99]

"Meanwhile, the Democratic elitist class, the likes of Clintoids, Bore''''s, Edwards and Soros, all make sure their wealth is kept in the Caymans so they don''''t even have to pay anything while they convince you distribution of wealth is in everyone''''s best interest exclusive of them. Your class warefare b.s. is a very socialist position as are the candidates who support them. "--Posted by mudrose



Evidence please!

Actually, it''s Romney who has helped many billionaires (probably mostly Repugs) hide their money in the Caymans. That''s one service Bain offered under Romney. We all know it''s Repugniscum who offer the most services to Bushit''s Billionaires.

So what''s wrong with some class warfare? The billionaire class makes war on America''s middle class all the time, even more so since the Darth Bushit regime seized power.

Class warfare is self-defense against predatory thieves.

[ianlou]

Job re-training in Michigan means learning to replace phrases like "I built that" or "I designed that" or "I engineered that" with "would you like frys with that?"

We are becoming a state full of employees who automatically end every conversation with "Thank You, Please come again, have a nice day!!"

Proud citizens of this country must be proud of what they do.

[merlgrey]

Good luck Michigan..

"Labor unions are stepping up charges that Bain and other buyout firms profit at the expense of workers. Two Bain deals have become particular targets of criticism.

One transaction, involving the medical diagnostics company Dade Behring, took place in 1999 as Mr. Romney was leaving the firm, and the other, involving KB Toys, occurred about two years later. Bain and its co-investors extracted special payments of over $100 million from each company, enabling Bain to make a healthy profit even before re-selling the businesses %u2014 a practice known as %u201Cgetting back your bait.%u201D Lenders say Bain is one of the firms that has taken the most in such payments, which companies usually make by taking on additional debt.

Both Dade Behring and KB Toys soon suffered dips in their business. Unable to meet the burden of their debts, each filed for bankruptcy and laid off thousands of workers. Bain Capital spokesmen have said the company did nothing improper."

[perception5]

For the GOP John McCain represents the "Old Guard"

Washington DC is "broken" badly.

I''''m voting for the GOP''''s "New Guard"

I''''m voting for Mitt Romney .........aka "Mr. Fixer" ......... to save our economy and our country.

..............GO MITT !!

[mudrose-2009]

Class warfare is self-defense against predatory thieves.

Posted by gkc99

Class warfare is predatory behavior. It is constructed by hungry, greedy, lazy, thieves who lust for what doesn''t belong to them because they are too ignorant and lazy to work hard and earn it for themselves.

[antoniof123]

Wait a minute here it is the Republicans who were not happy with the choices they had are starting to become happy. They have it all the Jesus freaks, the big business men, the old goats, the mafia. They have it all folks and they mean to sling as much mud as they can to make sure one of there people gets elected.

Only problem is we have seen how the family value party of god does business remember the promise less taxes smaller government.

Check you phone bill and see how much less taxes you are paying from 7 years ago. For those of you in Red states look to see how much your property taxes have increased. Look at you cable bill your Internet bill, and let us not forget about the fees that remained the same for so many years see how they have climbed too.

Thanks to the family value party of god.

[mike71067]

Romney''s campaign is probably over.

And for the idiot who called Huckabee a "Christian homophobe", there''s no such thing as a "homophobe". It a made-up politically correct term to describe someone who does not believe homosexuality is an acceptable moral lifestyle. Nobody has a fear of homosexuals. But perverted behavior should not be tolerated by anybody. And a man bent over the sofa, chewing the stuffing out of a pillow, whilst another man is pounding him in the rectal opening, and possibly performing a rim job, with some minor felching afterward, definately qualifies.

[excoachken]

The headline "save Mitt Romney" seems like a cheesy religious pun, for a professional writer to rely upon. Let''s work a little harder on our creativity.

[mudrose-2009]

Class warfare is predatory behavior. It is constructed by hungry, greedy, lazy, thieves who lust for what doesn''''''''t belong to them because they are too ignorant and lazy to work hard and earn it for themselves. Posted by mudrose

You just described your President and the Republican party.
Posted by nokoolaid

Really. They you better vote for RamaLama and the Billary. They will surely satisfy your appetite for redistibution of wealth so that you can all partake in their great society, while they live in the lap of luxary and you and the other peons can live off government work programs. Hahahaha. Better hurry now so you can watch all that money flowing into their coffers - not yours. You''ll be at the bottom of the heap where you always were only now there will be more sharing your space. Hahahaha.

[micma-2009]

How can the party that created tax incentives for U.S. manufacturers to move their factories overseas revive Michigan''s economy? These Republicans will say anything to get elected and then go right back to serving big moneyed special interests.

[fabdd40]

Go Romney!! The most conservative electable candidate. I hope McCain goes down in flames. He can take his Kennedy views back to Arizona. Time for the nursing home not the White House.

[micma-2009]

fabdd40

You obviously don''t know anything about Romney. He''s flip-flopped on every major issue in his campaign.

[mudrose-2009]

Hahahaha. Posted by mudrose

If you rally want a creepy maniacal laugh, Mudhole, I suggest you check out the front page of your beloved FOX Noise webpage - your President wielding a sword with his good buddy the Saudi king - you know, the guys who really blew up the twin towers. They are coming up with new ways to screw the American consumer at the gas pump.
Posted by nokoolaid

Sure, sure. It''s okay. Take a pill and you''ll be happy. Come on sing Kumbia. Get Ramalama and Hillary to sing along. Come on now. You''ll see how wonderful life is once the dimnowits take over. Hahahaha.

[bdrlnt4rl]

huck says he wants to be a pres that reminds me of the guy i work with, well, heck, he does remind me of the guy i work with, he knows nothing of what he is talking about!

[ekucrew]

Official chauffeur Romney is hoping Oakland AND Wayne counties in MI come out for him big time today....results tonight!

[skyk-2009]

The last person we need leading this nation is a sleazy CEO type. They have already PROVEN beyond a doubt what they are all about and it''s not acceptable. After YEARS now of seeing our best highest paying jobs EXPORTED on a PROMISE from these low life Jerks that IF we allowed them to exploit all that Cheap Labor they would only export the low skilled jobs AND they''d be replaced by High Paying Jobs. It was a lie and it''s time to shift the economy from a "Supply" side back to a "Worker" side. American Workers have been TRASHED by CEO''s, they have been BLACK MAILED by CEO''s, they have abandoned their Unions at the request of these CEO''s and the reward? More profit for them.

[skyk-2009]

Sure, sure. It''''s okay. Take a pill and you''''ll be happy. Come on sing Kumbia. Get Ramalama and Hillary to sing along. Come on now. You''''ll see how wonderful life is once the dimnowits take over. Hahahaha.


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Posted by mudrose at 09:47 AM : Jan 15, 2008
+ report abuse

Is it possibe for you people to post a response that actually address and Issue?? Must it for evermore be this same tired old trash. They are "liberal" so we shouldn''t listen to them! Go to your door stupid... walk outside. I don''t care where you are there are people there who are HURTING... The REASON they are hurting is that YOU folks have LIED and LIED and LIED. Time to let the other guys try for a change wouldn''t you say... Just how much failure is enough??

[skyk-2009]

Why are we talking about THOUSANDS.. NO MILLIONS of American''s who had a good job, living in a creditor nation and we could build a new road or bridge once in awhile. Then along come these freaks like Rommey and McCain and sold us a bridge. Just let the rich have all that money we were told and YOU will get much better off. THATS EXACTLY THE LINE THEY SOLD US!! If we elect ANY of these Republican''s that''s all we can expect the same snake oil in the future. Give these people 8 more years and I wonder what the bill for that debt will be? What is it now? 450 Million a month or something like that. The real kicker is that they were handed a SURPLUS when they started out. Who in their right mind votes for THAT??

[skyk-2009]

You hit the nail on the head Bot14. Mit is the only hope we have in a president this year!


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Posted by commonsence1 at 09:49 AM : Jan 15, 2008
+ report abuse

Who was the last Republican President to actually BALANCE a budget? ROFLMAO Voting for these people after what we now know is beyond rediculous.... it''s INSANE!!

[brianbwb-2009]

What is felching, mike71067, and how do you come to know about it?

[micma-2009]

How can the party that created tax incentives for U.S. manufacturers to move their factories overseas revive Michigan''s economy? These Republicans will say anything to get elected and then go right back to serving big-moneyed special interests.

[cfin5]

It was the summer of 1787. The Constitutional Convention was about to take place in Philadelphia. And George Washington, the former commander-in-chief of the Continental Army was planning to stay at home in Mount Vernon. Only after hearing the compelling call of the people was he persuaded to make the trip.

And how could he not? Not only did Washington attend the convention, but he later accepted the calls to be our first president.

This was not a job that George Washington asked for. But the times called for a strong, wise person to lead our infant nation. And his pride in his country and his devotion to civic virtue left him no choice.

And now it is 2008. Politicians repeatedly ignore the Constitution and reject the principles of our founding fathers. We are a nation clamoring for leadership not from another politician, but from a statesman. We do not yearn for trivial soundbites and empty rhetoric, but for truth and wisdom and understanding.

Can there be any doubt that Ron Paul is who this country needs? A man of the utmost integrity and a man of humility. But most importantly, a man with the right ideas %u2013 of tolerance, of love, of freedom, and %u2013 of course %u2013 of the people.

[micma-2009]

It''s laughable that any Republican can talk about reviving the economy when all they''ve done is wreck it since they''ve been in power? Record deficits, record oil prices, record health care prices, record unemployment, a 2 trillion dollar war, a shrinking middle class, these are Republican acomplishments.

[cfin5]

It''''s laughable that any Republican can talk about reviving the economy when all they''''ve done is wreck it since they''''ve been in power? Record deficits, record oil prices, record health care prices, record unemployment, a 2 trillion dollar war, a shrinking middle class, these are Republican acomplishments.




Posted by micma at 10:24 AM : Jan 15, 2008---------------And most of your democratic LAPDOGS signed off to whatever Bush wanted didn''t they. Go back and clean your own house.

[mudrose-2009]

It''''s laughable that any Republican can talk about reviving the economy when all they''''ve done is wreck it since they''''ve been in power? Record deficits, record oil prices, record health care prices, record unemployment, a 2 trillion dollar war, a shrinking middle class, these are Republican acomplishments.

Posted by micma

It is laughable to assume that any Democrat will restore the economy especially when Clinton gave us NAFTA, GATT, WTO. Proponents of free trade believe every country should be able to manufacture or grow some product much more economically than other countries, and therefore, with free trade, all nations would benefit by receiving the lowest price on every item produced. Though it seems reasonable, it just doesn%u2019t work that way.

One of the major problems is wages. The United States, Canada and European nations pay much higher wages than third-world nations. Since labor is part of production costs, the items would be cheaper in third-world countries. Secondly, some nations, which have surplus commodities, often subsidize their industries and farm products, selling them at a lower price, this is especially true in Europe.

Now in reading this one would think that we should be enjoying much lower prices on the items we import. Have you noticed any major drop in prices? No? So what%u2019s happening to these excess profits?

[cfin5]

Over the past three decades, America in some respects has moved slightly to the Right. Although conservatives have not yet won the wars on political correctness, education, and culture, Americans nevertheless are now more skeptical than they were thirty years ago of big government, high taxes, entitlements, judicial activism and secularism. In these areas, conservatives have proven most successful. The word "liberal" has become a bad word in most states, and consequently many leftists hesitate to label themselves as leftists.

In many states it now rings popular to call oneself a conservative, even if one truly resembles a liberal. As with any popular movement, dilution occurs, opportunists blow with the wind, and pretenders abound. John McCain is one of these pretenders. He is a leftist in disguise, using his popularity and charisma to masque his liberal leanings. In reality, McCain resides as far to the Left as John Kerry. Anyone who thinks otherwise deludes himself.

[mudrose-2009]

If an American factory pays 500 workers an average of $8.00 an hour that%u2019s $4000 an hour or $32,000 a day, which is $640,000 a month (20 day work month), or $7,680,000 a year. Of course this does not include health, social security and retirement benefits, nor does it include safety and pollution measures mandated by our government which would more than double that amount. However, if the factory moves to Indonesia and pays 500 workers $.25 an hour the total wages become $125 an hour, $1000 a day, $20,000 a month, or $240,000 a year, with no benefits nor government oversight. This leaves management well over $7,440,000 to play with. Most of this goes into management%u2019s pockets.

But what these former American industrialists ignore is the fact that their industries were able to start, grow and prosper because they were supported by the American people and the American way of life. And many industries received taxpayer''s money for research and development; consequently much of the technology actually belongs to the American people.

[mudrose-2009]

But not any more! Though the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) made incursions on our right of self-government, these infringements of our Constitution were minor compared to what followed after signing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

Under GATT, the World Trade Organization (WTO) was established. One of the problems with the WTO is that all member nations have one vote. In other words, the Unites States has the same influence on decisions as the island of Haiti, even though there is a great discrepancy in landmass, population, and gross national production between the two.

The WTO has a council in which the United States may not even be represented. Council decisions are rendered in secret and any appeals are also considered in secret. As an example, Mexico and other nations complained that the U.S. position of not importing tuna that does not protect dolphins is unfair. The WTO agreed. Bye bye dolphins! But that is only a minor example.

[mudrose-2009]

At issue are such concerns as pollution, pesticides, health and work standards. Since most third-world nations are more interested in agricultural and industrial development than in pollution, these countries permit industries (often American owned) to defile the entire planet. Pesticides, which are not permitted for use in the U.S., such as DDT, are used freely in many of the countries exporting fruits and vegetables for use in our homes. Nor do you have any idea of what health standards (if any) are enforced on imported meats. And whether the products you buy in the department stores were made by child labor or slave labor is not indicated on the label, but in all cases it was done for a negligible labor cost.

[cfin5]

McCain has most feigned conservatism in his militarism. McCain, a Vietnam veteran, is hawkish and patriotic. These attributes support his political stump. As long as he can play the veteran card and remain pro-war, he can downplay all his other shortcomings. Appearing hawkish, however, does not necessarily constitute conservatism. (Recent history shows that leftists can be militaristic too: Stalin, Mao, Castro). Military force always will remain crucial in many cases, but willingness to use it does not incontrovertibly make one a conservative.

And when one gets beyond McCain''s bellicism, his true liberal character crops up. Outside martial matters, McCain sides with the American Left on most key issues. The greatest irony of McCain''s masquerade is that he packages himself as a principled conservative, one with character, who rises above partisan politics. In reality, however, he is as disingenuous as the Clintons and presently bends whichever the way the wind blows to bolster himself for 2008. Analyze him issue by issue.

[mudrose-2009]

It all comes down to the simple fact that American companies have moved overseas, not out of the goodness of their hearts to help the downtrodden third-world peoples, but to exploit them. It is these industrialists, and the bankers who finance them, who pay off the ruling families and cliques who then permit the abuse of their citizens. Very little money, if any, ever winds up in improving either the standard of living of their citizens or for improvement of the infrastructure of their country.

[micma-2009]

It''s laughable that any Republican can talk about reviving the economy when all they''ve done is wreck it since they''ve been in power.

A legacy of record deficits, record oil prices, record health care prices, record inflation, record unemployment, a 2 trillion dollar war, a shrinking middle class, is all they have to show for 7 years of total majority rule.

[mudrose-2009]

When NAFTA and GATT were proposed, many promises were made that these agreements (they are actually treaties) would help, not hurt the American economy. President Clinton promised that Florida%u2019s tomato and produce growers would be protected against Mexican importsthey weren%u2019t. He promised that there would never be a negative balance of trade with Mexicothere is. He promised that the World Trade Organization would never rob the U.S. of its sovereignty it has. And he was intent on expanding free trade in the Caribbean Basin and South America?

[cfin5]

First, regarding religion, McCain looms as no lover of Christians. Recall his comments about key religious leaders in 2000, calling them "agents of intolerance." And McCain''s vitriolic vilification of Christians was not limited to a single occurrence, for he later said, "I must not and will not retract anything that I said in that speech at Virginia Beach. It was carefully crafted, it was carefully thought out." (Hardball, 3/1/00). More recently, however, McCain, positioning himself for 2008, has repackaged himself as pro-Christian, lauding key religious leaders and duping the devout. (Is this not as reptilian as Bill Clinton''s waffling?)

Second, on the issue of gay marriage, in 2005 McCain opposed a federal gay-marriage ban (Los Angeles Times, 1/25/ and 3/8). Now, however, likely realizing that most Americans think otherwise, McCain says he supports a gay-marriage ban (Meet the Press, 4/2/06). Which is it? Given his penchant for progressive politics, we can only assume the former.

[micma-2009]

Republicans create tax incentives for American manufacturers to move their factories overseas and then, at election time, they talk about reviving the economy. Americans are no longer buying what Republicans are selling. We can''t afford it.

[cfin5]

Then, regarding abortion, McCain most certainly is pro-choice. In the San Francisco Chronicle (8/20/99) McCain sided with the pro-abortion camp, suggesting that overturning Roe v. Wade would lead to illegal abortions. Realizing, however, that he could not inveigle the GOP nomination with such views, McCain more recently has resold himself as pro-life, even saying he would support the South Dakota ban on abortions. What are Americans to believe? He either is pro-choice or lacks any real conviction on the subject.

Furthermore, regarding campaign-finance reform, the McCain-Feingold Campaign Reform Act is perhaps one of the more left-wing acts of Congress in the past twenty years. As recently exposed by Brian C. Anderson, "The Plot to Shush Rush and O''Reilly" in City Journal, McCain-Feingold (which passed with overwhelming Democrat support) is a convenient contrivance to silence conservatives. As noted by a whole host of commentators (George Will, Jonathan Rauch, and even Justice Clarence Thomas), this act poses blatant restrictions on political speech. It especially affects AM Radio and political internet blogs -- the only two spheres of popular media where conservatives can truly compete. Critics remain divided why McCain supported a dictate so damaging to conservatives. Was it perhaps so that he could silence many on the Right whom he laconically loathes?

[cfin5]

Last, but not least, McCain''s liberal tendencies show in the immigration debate. McCain has proven to be farther Left on the immigration issue than even many Liberals. At the very basis of most conservative thought is the idea of law and order, which are essential for the continuity of society. Bypassing tradition and sanity, and slapping in the face those who have come here legally, McCain has sought to sweep aside law and order to engage in the unbecoming business of pandering to ethnicities. (Isn''t this the dominion of Democrats?) McCain''s radical views on immigration threaten numerous components of the wellbeing of the United States and, more generally, Western Civilization: national security, standards of living, and cultural homogeneity, to name a few. McCain has courted the cheap-labor lobby for some fast cash for 2008 and now attempts to convert the U.S. into a third-world country.

McCain''s liberal laundry list goes on and on. Senator Lindsey Graham, another liberal in disguise, comments correctly that the present is a defining moment for the Republican Party, although his underlying analysis is wrong. The choice is between a party of McCain''s vision, a party indistinguishable from the Democratic Party, or a party that at least maintains a modicum of conservatism. If McCain loses, hopefully he will depart for the Democratic Party (where he belongs); but if he wins, expect to see a mass exodus of conservative voters from the GOP, probably over to a third party.