Concord Monitor Attacked Reagan and Bush too…
December 26th, 2007 Posted in 1980, Concord Monitor, Early Primary States, George H.W. Bush, John Anderson, Mitt Romney, New Hampshire, Ronald W. Reagan
- The Concord Monitor Editorial Board Recently Personally Attacked Gov. Romney:
UPI Headline: “Liberal N.H. Newspaper Slams Romney.” “Romney campaign spokesman Kevin Madden told CNN the criticisms were taken in stride. ‘The Monitor’s editorial board is regarded as a liberal one on many issues, so it is not surprising that they would criticize Governor Romney for his conservative views and platform,’ Madden said.” (”Liberal N.H. Newspaper Slams Romney,” United Press International, 12/24/07) - FLASHBACK: The Concord Monitor Endorsed Moderate John Anderson In The 1980 GOP Primary:
The Monitor Praised Anderson For His Liberal Positions. “[The] Monitor endorses the candidacy of John B. Anderson… He has proposed a 50-cent-a-gallon tax on gasoline… He favors both the Equal Rights Amendment and the windfall profits tax on the major oil companies.” (Editorial, “For The GOP: Anderson,” Concord Monitor, 2/21/80) - FLASHBACK: The Concord Monitor Personally Attacked Ronald Reagan In 1980:
The Monitor Attacked Reagan’s Ability And Capacity. “Ronald Reagan – The former California governor is simply too old (69), too doctrinaire, too inexperienced in the intricacies of the federal government. We gravely question his capability to withstand the daily physical and emotional battering that the nation’s chief executive must endure.” (Editorial, “For The GOP: Anderson,” Concord Monitor, 2/21/80) - The Monitor Attacked Reagan For Supporting “A 19th Century Economic Philosophy.” “Reagan espouses a 19th century economic philosophy shared by less than one-third of the national electorate. He opposes the Equal Rights Amendment, President Carter’s embargo on grain shipments to the Soviet Union, the proposed windfall profits tax on major oil companies, implementation of the Panama Canal treaties, and he has favored simultaneously additional defense spending and a tax cut.” (Editorial, “For The GOP: Anderson,” Concord Monitor, 2/21/80)
- The Monitor Claimed Reagan Was “On The Side-Lines Of Contemporary American Thought.” “Though personable, [Reagan] is on the side-lines of contemporary American thought, and he could not win a national election if he won the GOP nomination.” (Editorial, “For The GOP: Anderson,” Concord Monitor, 2/21/80)
- FLASHBACK: The Concord Monitor Also Attacked George H.W. Bush:
The Monitor Attacked Bush For Having Most Of The Same Conservative Beliefs As Reagan, Like Cutting Taxes And Increasing Defense Spending. “George Bush – The former director of the CIA, two-term congressman from Texas in the 1960s, onetime Republican national chairman and first U.S. envoy to mainland China has both magnetic appeal and organizational and leadership talents. He is widely regarded as a moderate. He is not. He shares most of Reagan’s political beliefs, his stand on the ERA being one of the notable exceptions. He also favors a tax cut and an increase in defense spending at the same time.” (Editorial, “For The GOP: Anderson,” Concord Monitor, 2/21/80) - The Monitor Claimed That Bush’s Positions Needed Far More Scrutiny. “Bush’s articulation of his positions on major issues is fuzzy and sometimes evasive. He can mesmerize an audience, seeming to say much while actually saying little. Bush has campaigned for the GOP nomination, mostly in New Hampshire, for more than 20 months. Despite this, he needs additional scrutiny.” (Editorial, “For The GOP: Anderson,” Concord Monitor, 2/21/80)
- The Monitor Questioned Bush’s Credentials. “Bush’s highly-vaunted Washington experience is more noteworthy for its breadth than for its depth. He is a shiny new political phenomenon, following the Iowa caucuses, and we want to hear from him a fuller articulation of his positions on a broad range of national issues. We hope he survives the New Hampshire primary and submits his thinking to more searching examination in the primaries to come.” (Editorial, “For The GOP: Anderson,” Concord Monitor, 2/21/80)
December 26th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Ann Marie,
Great find! The past articles from the Concord Monitor certainly put things in perspective. I loved their comment on Reagan - “…he could not win a national election if he won the GOP nomination.” It reminded me of a friend I once had who spoke with great authority but was often wrong.
December 27th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
The Concord Monitor, I thought, was issuing a not so subtle call to Independents/ Liberals to vote in the Republican primary to make sure that Romney doesn’t become the nominee because the paper is afraid he’d win the general election. ” i.e.: He looks like the next president…He must be stopped.”
January 31st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I love Mitt Romney and he has my vote and my family’s vote. He is the best man to win! Go Mitt!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
P. S. Also, I live in New Jersey and they think New Jersey is too Democratic. Not where I live.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Why do I keep hearing in the media, just about McCain’s endorsements. Why don’t we hear Romney’s endorsements? Conservatives better wake up and rally behind Mitt. I really want Mitt Romney to win. Go Mitt!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Mitt Romney did a superb job in the debate Jan. 30. He took command and looked the most Presidential. He not only is intelligent, smart, smiles and maintains a level-head, he is also handsome and speaks so well. I think Huckabee would make a good VP to Romney’s Presidency. Maybe Huckabee could drop out of the race and this would be a good offer.