FLIP-FLOPS
Northeastern University’s William Mayer: “After Studying Presidential Nominations For 30
Years, I’ve Never Seen Somebody Who Has So Completely Renounced His Past Record When
He Decided To Run For President.” (Jill Zuckman, “Romney’s On A Roll, In The Money And The Polls,” Chicago Tribune, 5/22/07)
TOP ROMNEY TURNAROUNDS
ABORTION: Romney Was Pro-Choice, Then Not Pro-Choice, Then Pro-Choice Again, Then Pro-Life
In 1994, Romney Backed Federal Funding Of Abortion And Codifying Roe v. Wade. “Romney supports a federal health care plan option that includes abortion services, would vote for a law codifying the 1972 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion and backs federal funding for abortions as long as states can decide if they want the money, [a spokesman] said.” (Ed Hayward, “Anti-Abortion Group Endorses Romney Bid,” Boston Herald, 9/8/94)
1999: Romney Claimed “When I Am Asked If Am I Pro-Choice Or Pro-Life, I Say I Refuse To Accept Either Label.” (Glen Warchol, “This Is The Place, But Politics May Lead Romneys Elsewhere,” The Salt Lake Tribune, 2/14/99)
?2002: Running For Massachusetts Governor, Romney Said He Was “Devoted” To Pro-Choice Position. “I will preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose, and am devoted and dedicated to honoring my word in that regard. I will not change any provisions of Massachusetts’ pro-choice laws.” (2002 Romney-O’Brien Gubernatorial Debate, Suffolk University, Boston, MA, 10/29/02)
2005: Romney Considered Abortion-Rights Supporter By Pro-Life Groups – Aide Claimed His Position Had Not Changed. “[Massachusetts Citizens for Life] considers Romney to be an abortion-rights supporter, as do national antiabortion groups such as the Family Research Council. ... [Romney aide Eric] Fehrnstrom said the governor’s position has not changed on either sex education or abortion.” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Roe V. Wade Omitted From Proclamation,” The Boston Globe, 3/25/05)
2007: Romney Now Claims He Has Always Been Pro-Life. “I am firmly pro-life ... I was always for life.” (Jim Davenport, “Romney Affirms Abortion Opposition During Stop In SC,” The Associated Press, 2/8/07)
IMMIGRATION: Romney Once Backed Path To Citizenship, Said McCain Plan Was “Quite Different” From Amnesty, But Now Says He Opposes Path To Citizenship And Attacks McCain Plan As “Amnesty”
In 2006, Romney Said Illegal Immigrants Should Have Path To Citizenship. “Gov. Mitt Romney expressed support ... for an immigration program that places large numbers of illegal residents on the path toward citizenship ... Romney said illegal immigrants should have a chance to obtain citizenship.” (Evan Lehmann, “Romney Supports Immigration Program, But Not Granting ‘Amnesty’,” The Lowell Sun, 3/30/06)
• Romney: “Those [Immigrants] That Are Here Paying Taxes And Not Taking Government Benefits Should Begin A Process Towards Application For Citizenship.” “I don’t believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country ... With these 11 million people, let’s have them registered, know who they are. Those who’ve been arrested or convicted of crimes shouldn’t be here; those that are here paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process towards application for citizenship, as they would from their home country.” (Evan Lehmann, “Romney Supports Immigration Program, But Not Granting ‘Amnesty’,” The Lowell Sun, 3/30/06)
In 2005, Romney Said McCain Immigration Plan Was “Quite Different” From Amnesty And Called Plan “Reasonable.” “In a November 2005 interview with the Globe, Romney described immigration proposals by McCain and others as ‘quite different’ from amnesty, because they required illegal immigrants to register with the government, work for years, pay taxes, not take public benefits, and pay a fine before applying for citizenship. ‘That’s very different than amnesty, where you literally say, “OK, everybody here gets to stay,”‘ Romney said in the interview. ‘It’s saying you could work your way into becoming a legal resident of the country by working here without taking benefits and then applying and then paying a fine.’” (Scott Helman, “Romney’s Words Grow Hard On Immigration,” The Boston Globe, 3/16/07)
• Romney Spoke “Approvingly Of Efforts By McCain And Bush To Solve The Nation’s Immigration Crisis.” “Romney did not specifically endorse McCain’s bill, saying he had not yet formulated a full position
on immigration. But he did speak approvingly of efforts by McCain and Bush to solve the nation’s immigration crisis, calling them ‘reasonable proposals.’” (Scott Helman, “Romney’s Words Grow Hard On Immigration,” The Boston Globe, 3/16/07)
?Today Romney Says He Opposes Any “Special Pathway To Citizenship.” “ think I’m best off to describe my own positions. And my positions, I think I’ve just described for you – secure the border, employment verification and no special pathway to citizenship. I feel that’s the course we ought to take.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 5/22/07)
Today Romney Refers To McCain-Backed Immigration Reform Bill As “Amnesty.” “The crowd at South Carolina’s Republican convention ... cheered as presidential candidate Romney told them: ‘One simple rule: No amnesty.’ During his speech and before his remarks, Romney said a proposed new visa for immigrants amounts to amnesty if it can be renewed indefinitely. ‘If that’s not a form of amnesty, I don’t know what is,’ Romney said. ‘I think we should not call it the “Z visa,” we should call it the “A visa” because it’s amnesty and that’s what it stands for.’” (Jim Davenport, “S.C. Republicans Cheer Romney As He Attacks Immigration Bill,” The Associated Press, 5/19/07)
TAX CUTS: Romney Refused To Endorse 2003 Bush Tax Cuts, Now Makes Them Central Part Of His Campaign
Boston Herald: Romney “Refused To Take A Position On Bush’s Massive, 10-Year Tax Cut Plan.” “[R]omney spoke at the 10th annual legislative conference organized by U.S. Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Lowell) and met with the Massachusetts delegation. ... Congressional sources said that a point of contention arose when Romney refused to take a position on Bush’s massive, 10-year tax cut plan.” (Noelle Straub, “Romney Talks Policy With Bush Staffers, Mass. Delegation,” Boston Herald, 4/11/03)
Romney Said He Wouldn’t Be “Cheerleader” For Tax Relief Plan He Didn’t Agree With. “According to the observer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Romney told the delegation that he ‘won’t be a cheerleader’ for proposals he doesn’t agree with, ‘but I have to keep a solid relationship with the White House.’” (Wayne Washington and Glen Johnson, “Romney Weighs In – Carefully – On Bush Tax-Cut Plan,” The Boston Globe, 4/11/03)
Romney Spokesman Claimed Tax Cuts Weren’t A State Matter. “Shawn Feddeman, Romney’s spokeswoman, said the governor has neither endorsed nor opposed the tax cut plan because ‘it’s just not a state matter.’” (Wayne Washington and Glen Johnson, “Romney Weighs In – Carefully – On Bush Tax-Cut Plan,” The Boston Globe, 4/11/03)
Romney Now Says He Supported The President’s Tax Cuts. “McCain opposed President Bush’s tax cuts, Romney noted. ‘I supported them,’ the former governor said.” (Lee Bandy, “Romney Targeting McCain,” The State [SC], 2/4/07)
NO NEW TAXES PLEDGE: Romney Refused To Sign ATR Pledge Against Raising Taxes In 2002, Eagerly Signed It In 2007
In 2002, Candidate Romney Refused To Sign ATR Pledge Against Tax Increases. “Four years ago, Mitt Romney broke with GOP tradition and refused to sign the [Americans for Tax Reform] pledge [to ‘oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes’].” (Lisa Wangsness, “Healey Will Sign Antitax Pledge,” The Boston Globe, 9/4/06)
Romney “Rebuffed” Calls To Sign Pledge, Drawing Wrath Of Anti-Tax Advocates. “Gubernatorial front- runner Mitt Romney drew the wrath of GOP anti-tax stalwarts ... by refusing a ‘no new tax’ pledge to back his levy-cutting promises. Breaking with the past three Republican governors, Romney rebuffed perennial calls by Citizens for Limited Taxation to sign the vaunted pledge.” (David R. Guarino, “Romney Refuses To Sign CLT’s ‘No New Tax’ Pledge,” Boston Herald, 3/28/02)
• “Romney’s Gubernatorial Campaign Spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, Dismissed Such Pledges At The Time As ‘Government By Gimmickry.’” (Scott Helman, “Romney Finds ‘No New Taxes’ Promise Suits Him After All,” The Boston Globe, 1/5/07)
In 2007, Romney Signed Pledge As His Presidential Campaign Began. “Almost five years after he refused to sign a ‘no new taxes’ pledge during his campaign for governor, Mitt Romney announced ... that he had done just that, as his campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination began in earnest.” (Scott Helman, “Romney Finds ‘No New Taxes’ Promise Suits Him After All,” The Boston Globe, 1/5/07)
• Media Noted Signing Of Pledge Symbolized His Shift In Focus To GOP Primary Voters. “Romney’s announcement about signing the pledge came on his first day out of office, and it symbolized what’s now his
biggest priority: building support from GOP activists and voters, especially in states with early primaries.” (Scott Helman, “Romney Finds ‘No New Taxes’ Promise Suits Him After All,” The Boston Globe, 1/5/07)
• Concord [NH] Monitor Called It “The Latest Shift For Romney.” “In the latest shift for Romney ... he recently signed a ‘taxpayer protection pledge’ sponsored by the Grover Norquist-led Americans for Tax Reform. In 2002 ... Romney declined to sign a written pledge not to raise taxes.” (Sarah Liebowitz and Eric Moskowitz, “Romney Pledges To Run A Different Campaign,” Concord Monitor, 1/9/07)
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM: Romney Now Criticizes McCain-Feingold But Once Called For Abolishing PACs, Implementing Spending Limits And Taxing Political Donations
The Hill: “[R]omney ... Once Touted Dramatic Restructuring Measures Such As Taxing Political Contributions And Placing Spending Limits On Federal Campaigns.” “Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who strongly criticized campaign-finance regulations in a private meeting with House conservatives last week, once touted dramatic restructuring measures such as taxing political contributions and placing spending limits on federal campaigns.” (Alexander Bolton, “Romney’s About-Face On Campaign Funding,” The Hill, 2/8/07)
• Romney Proposed Installing 10 Percent Tax On Private Donations To Political Campaigns. “Mr. Romney campaigned in favor of clean elections, which provides public money to candidates for state office who meet strict fund-raising requirements. But he suggested an alternative funding method. Instead of providing campaign funds from state coffers, his plan would tap 10 percent of the fund raising of candidates who choose to raise money privately.” (Richard Nangle, “Clean Election Advocates Keep Pushing,” Telegram & Gazette [Worcester, MA], 11/14/02)
• Romney Proposed Spending Cap On Congressional Elections. “Romney also said he advocates spending limits on congressional elections, even suggesting that the current race against Sen. Edward M. Kennedy should have a $6 million spending cap.” (Frank Phillips, “Romney, Vowing To Live It, Touts Congress Reform Plan,” The Boston Globe, 7/27/94)
• ?Romney: “I Also Would Abolish PACs ... I Don’t Like Them.” “I also would abolish PACs. You probably have one – I don’t like them. I don’t like the influence of money – whether it’s business, labor or any other group. I do not like that kind of influence. Lobbyists, I want to register, know who they are. I want to make sure gifts are limited. I think we have to really become much more vigilant in seeing the impact on money – and I don’t care how it’s organized – on money on politics.” (Mitt Romney, Remarks To Burlington Business Roundtable, Burlington, MA, 10/11/94)
Romney Now Attacks Campaign Finance Reform, Calling McCain-Feingold “A Terrible Piece Of Legislation.” “Romney noted his foe from Arizona wrote the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law that restricts certain types of contributions. ‘That’s a terrible piece of legislation,’ Romney said. ‘It hasn’t taken the money out of politics. ... (But) it has hurt my party.’” (Lee Bandy, “Romney Targeting McCain,” The State, 2/4/07)
REPUBLICAN AFFILIATION: Romney Was Not Republican Until 1993, Has Donated To Democrats, Voted For Paul Tsongas, Refused To Even Read Contract With America
Romney Voted For Paul Tsongas In ‘92 Presidential Primary. “An Independent until last December, [Romney] publicizes his brief stint as a Democrat to support ex-senator Paul Tsongas in the 1992 presidential primary. ‘I’m not a partisan politician,’ he said.” (David Broder, “Kennedy Tries To Polish Faded Image,” The Washington Post, 10/7/94)
Romney Has Made Campaign Contributions To Democrats. “Belmont businessman W. Mitt Romney ... defended donations to Democratic congressional candidates in 1992. ‘I don’t think they’re mortal sins for Republicans to make contributions to good people and to their friends, irrespective of their party,’ Romney, 46, told reporters...” (Wayne Woodlief, ‘Romney: Religion No Issue In Senate Race,’ Boston Herald, 2/3/94)
?Romney “Warmly Praised” Bill Clinton During ‘94 Senate Race. “[Romney] warmly praised President Clinton. ‘I think the president does a lot of things that make a lot of sense,’ he said. ‘I support him in many ways.’”
(Scot Lehigh and Frank Phillips, “Round 2 – Sound Without The Fury,” The Boston Globe, 10/28/94)
Romney Campaigned Against The Contract With America And The ‘94 Republican Agenda. “Mr. Romney, a venture capitalist who has never held elective office, criticized the Republican campaign agenda, the ‘Contract With America,’ as too partisan. He said he would have gone against the GOP leadership and supported the crime
    3 pages from a book about Romney's flip flops over the years. Is this really the best the republicans can come up with?
   
Book is called the Romney Book.
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