Romney to Endorse McCain . . . Today–3PM in Boston
February 14th, 2008 Posted in Mitt Romney
AP broke the news a few minutes ago.
Discussions on Fox News are saying that this makes Romney a favorite for VP (helps with unifying the right and talk-radio folks, helps in Michigan and the west, helps with potenially drawing upon Romney’s money).
Also speculation that Romney’s delagate going to McCain get him close to the magic 1191 that will be when Huckabee drops out . . . so this could be the move that makes Huck get out of the race . . . ah, sweet justice.
Jeff Fuller
February 14th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Mitt, Please don’t do this. Your name should never be used in the same sentence as McCain.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Good!
February 14th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Hi Ya Bruce and Steve, I am not that savvy when it comes to politics, I believe this news release will make Mitt the Vice President, at least it should. I have mixed feelings. I am like Bruce and Steve both shaken up together. Live a good life, pray always and God will take good care of us. He is higher than politics, God Rules!!!!
February 14th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Sorry, his “endorsement” won’t do it for me. I have too many differences with John McCain. This idea that the Republican Party trumps principles is wrong in my view. The whole RNC is messed up and has caused this idiotic “primary” system we have. I have been a nice little compliant “republican” for over 40 years but don’t think I can vote for McCain “for the sake of the party”.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Country is more important than party. I think this is a bad move. I believe Mitt Romney who says “we need someone outside of Washington to change Washington” has just sold out his principles and values to “Washington” for power. Tsk tsk tsk. We are in trouble. We don’t have a true conservative representing us
I’m an independent thinker and will not support McCain and will not support Mitt If he runs in 2012. Mitt’s decision is a low blow to his supporters.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
A little disappointing but not that all surprising. Mitt is a man that doesn’t hold grudges and I think it was wise of him to delay his endorsement until McCain came begging for it, which I’m sure happened. I hope McCain was big enough to apologize to Mitt for that
dirty trick he pulled in Florida. I still support Mitt all the way, but also still can not vote for McCain. He still hasn’t earned my respect or my vote.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Remember that guy in Iowa that called a press conference to endorse Mitt, then didn’t (yeah, pretty forgettable, right). Hmmm, now isn’t that a good idea…
But Governor Romney’s too classy to pull such a ruse.
I too am disappointed, but we have ourselves to blame. As we continue our anti McCain diatribes here, and if Romney was serious about bowing out to consolidate against the Dems, then if he has been tracking our musings he had to do this to comply with his stated purposes. Just more evidence that he meant what he said at CPAC.
Not sure how I feel about the VP idea, but at least that would keep us in the national conversation and give us a pulpit to air our conservative views (Huckabee is fading fast, but didn’t really represent ALL my conservative views anyway). Plus, I would look forward to the VP debates
February 14th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Obama/Clinton vs McCain/Romney = Far left/Left of Center vs Right of Center/Far Right
The left brained mathematician in me just loves the symmetry of that statement. Unfortunately my right brain still isn’t on board.
I realize there are those that may disagree with Romney’s Far Right label above, preferring rather to call him a liberal from a liberal state. But on this site we know better. I’ll side with Ann Coulter: Give me a conservative that fought for liberal votes from a blue state than a maverick that fought for conservative votes in a red state any day.
At the end of the day, Romney’s pragmatism was a strong selling point for me (meaning, I may have to discontinue my delusional war cry). But I don’t want to. A colleague asked me yesterday if I would vote for a McCain/Romney ticket, and I told him I would always vote FOR Romney. So, I would have to seriously consider this: am I more FOR Romney than I am AGAINST McCain. When I say it that way. Yep. Still don’t like it though, as the order is clearly backwards…
February 14th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I don’t like McCain but he is the lesser of the “evils” currently presented to us. Also, it looks like we will have the ‘charming’, sweet-talking and ‘dream’ peddler Obama as the possible DEM presidential nominee. Do we really want him there? Carter was bad but this one will probably be worse? Check out this article _ Obama proposes $210 billion for new jobs - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080213/ap_on_el_pr/obama;_ylt=Aras3ECxZOMk5bUjZrsUT1ayFz4D … He reportedly declared that this agenda is paid for and how? Well, he explained that “the money for his spending proposals will come from ending the Iraq war, cutting tax breaks for corporations, taxing carbon pollution and raising taxes on high income earners”. I don’t know what he is thinking but this does not bode for America. I hate the war but ending it prematurely will further or simply weaken Iraq and the surrounding Arab nations and, consequently, compromise America’s national Security. A weakened Iraq can easily become a haven/sanctuary for terrorists zealously plotting to annihilate America and her allies. Take Pakistan with its nuclear arsenal, it would be insane to make this country openly vulnerable to radical jihadists and subversive regimes like Iran. Are we that naive? America can’t exist in isolation … and certainly cannot pretend to be oblivious of the problems in the Middle-East: a problematic and chaotic Middle-east is a threat to America’s freedom and security. 9/11 was not a random tragic event _ it came to our shores with a decidedly evil purpose - to annihilate our existense. And as regards ‘cutting tax breaks, raising taxes for the high income earners’, these policies will further weaken the economy. Tax-based benefits will result in diminishing earning power specifically for the lower-income as this is tied with the wage-payer’s P/L statement or ‘profit margin’. What’s worse, the poor’s ‘spending’ power is weakened because of the inflationary effect of these taxes on the cost of living, and the rich? Well, they get richer, they address their economic situation by passing the tax burden back to the consumers who are comprised largely by the disadvantaged. Take those utilities/energy-based taxes, we think this impact mostly the high-income earners and business sector, if truth be told, these group, particularly the former, tend to be oblivious of the negative effect; the low-income bear the brunt of these ill-conceived economic solutions. The costs (always!) get passed back to the consumers _ majority of whom are low-income earners. Every time I refuel my gas tank, I feel the burden because my policy-makers and executors have unwittingly involved me in sharing the cost of these socalled tax-breaks for the poor …. often parading in disguise - environment-friendly, etc. Unfortunately, our lawmakers seem to equate economic stability only with increased taxes for rich. And the American electorate’s idea of ‘good candidacy’ is the ‘Obamas’ who think that ‘change’ and ‘dreams’ are enough to justify their fitness for leadership positions. Obama isn’t ‘John Kennedy’ _ these two are polar opposites: the latter espoused conservative economic practices _ he was for tax-cutting/breaks particularly for the the capital sector and advocated hawkish foreign policies. Also, he believed in involving America in the education of the least privileged in our neighboring countries hence ‘The Peace Corps’. This man was a Democrat but he was more conservative than our presumptive nomimee _McCain. I am not exactly a Kennedy admirer but he was ‘Camelot’ in the sense that Obama is not! “There’ll be great Presidents again,” his widow said, “but there’ll never be another Camelot again … it will never be that way again.” I share her sentiment but Romney would have become that and probably better because he is not only a man of great accomplishments but he’s integrity personified. Contrary to what the Huckabees or McCains of the world say of his conviction …. he stands tall as the man of real vibrant conviction and we don’t have to probe deeper _ we simply look at him and his family …. He embodies what the American family should be like….
Anyway, my point is, if the report is true, I applaud Romney for setting aside his pride … to get out of his comfort zone and endorse the lesser evil. We don’t want another Carter running this country ….
February 14th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
The only way I can see Mitt accepting VP is if the following were to happen.
1.) McCain told Mitt he was serving one term.
2.) McCain would actually give Mitt some say in his administration.
3.) McCain would allow Mitt to be vocal about policy differences.
4.) I would love to see a debate between Barack and Mitt, if Obama was VP under HRC
Sadly, I think we are going to lose in this election cycle if Obama is the dem’s nominee. Hanitty last night mentioned Barack Obama was filling arenas for his speeches. McCain as far as I recall has yet to win a debate and he looks like establishment vs. the fresh faced Obama who is bringing ‘hope’. At least with Mitt, who has actually accomplished something we would have had a strong chance to winning in the fall. Also, I believe Mitt would have had Condi Rice as his VP to focus the debate on the issues; not race or gender.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I hate Mitt just filling the VP slot but to stop Obama, we need to strengthen McCain’s chance to assume the Presidency. I think Mitt’s presence will provide the ‘balance’ and with his background, he’ll be great for him.
Anyway, I’d rather have McCain than Obama whose very liberal views give me hives. And if McCain is smart, he’d allow Mitt to take front and center in the economics arena. He provides the ‘foreign policy’ face and Mitt’s _ the Economics’! Hopefully, that when he ascend to the Presidency, he’ll allow the stateman (if it is there) in him to preside the oval office.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I didn’t mind Obama so much until the last month when he started pandering to his base. Actually i liked mitt even more before he started pandering. Interestingly i like McCain a little more since he started pandering. I like Hillary only on the things she refuses to pander on.
(rolls eyes) what a goofy world politics is.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Mitt showed us that he has been very unselfish by doing good for our party. He can be very influential for McCain Administration. Mitt is very brilliant guy that I would support whatever decision he made would be good for America. We can doing our part by voting true republicans who are running for any offices.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Well, shiggz, it comes down to whether or not we are in the group being pandered to. Romney’s got McCain on his knees, and that’s a humble attitude that becomes him more than the smugness we’ve seen all last year.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
warning rusty history context below
When Neville Chamberlain appointed Winston Churchill to his government, Churchill temporarily muted his criticism of his Chamberlain and supported him until neville was thrown out and then Churchill came out the roaring “bulldog”.
Churchill was a man who knew how to pick his battles. Had he attacked neville his party probably would have lost and Churchill would be footnote rather then a hero. Churchill did what none else could have done held back nazi advance for months on end when everyone else folded. Buying time for the rest of the world to wake up to the nazi threat and joined the battle.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
anyone else watching the live feed from fox, why does it look like hes in some sorta basement or… a bunker! … oh crap are we on code red!!! jk, but seriously
February 14th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
McCain/Romney 08 is the best alternate pathway toward Romney 2012! GO MITT!
February 14th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Thanks for the tip Shiggz. It is an odd set up. Not sure if it’s already over though.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Like the History lesson Shiggz.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I hope Romney does not become, or even is suggested as the McCain VP.
1) If McCain wins, that would saddle Mitt with all the McCain liberal policy decisions in 2012.
2) We all know that McCain is going to loose, possibly a land slide, to Obama. I don’t want Mitt to be any more a part of that than the “good of the party” move he’s making today.
We all know how much Mitt disagrees with McCain’s policies! He’s doing this ONLY to stop Hillary/Obama from a disasterous pull-out from Iraq… period. He does not agree with McCain on more than two or three issues (cut spending, earmarks, and military strength). I hate how all the pundits (I’m watching FIX - oops, I mean FOX) are spinning this as Mitt loosing with conservatives by supporting McCain against the dems. McCain’s the man right now! There is no chance for any other to become the nominee! Mitt has to support the Republican nominee because the dems would be “a disaster” (Mitt’s own words).
I firmly believe that Mitt is doing this solely to get Huck out of the way so McCain can start concentrating on beating Hillary/Obama … though I see that as a long shot … but Mitt’s doing whatever he can to defeat them at this point. Not necessarily to curry favor with McCain or to gain a VP spot.
It’s not so much supporting McCain, as it is doing all he can to stop the dems.
For the record, I fully agree with John Cronin’s post…
http://www.committedtoromney.com/2008/02/14/i-am-pumped-by-our-chances-in-the-election-no-not-2008-2012/
…and I think we’re going to have 4 years of the first black president. I think it will be a terrible 4 years and that the country will wake up to, Mr. Fix-it, the best candidate to ever run in 2012.
P.S. On the racial front… I think it’s a GREAT thing that the country is at a place that an African-American can be elected President. Though I REALLY wish that it was Condolizza instead of Barak! - two birds with one stone (black & female), and much better stone.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
The speach was ALL NATIONAL SECURITY! No mention of where he disagrees. Capable of leading at time of war. etc. etc. All about Iraq.
This is solely to defete dems & save us from surrender in Iraq.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Well, that was something to watch. I had to laugh when the reporter asked about their personal relationship.
February 14th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
I have made promises to never vote for McCain. I recant. This not a flipflop, it is merely a change in a reasoned position due to a change in circumstances. Go Mitt, Go McCain.
February 14th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I am torn…
I am not a republican (well, technically I am now since I had to register to vote for mitt in the caucuses in our state), and as such I have no particular loyalty to the party. I have negative (as in mathematics not emotions) loyalty towards John McCain, and will not be voting for him as long as Mitt is not on the ticket. To this end, I hope he does not agree to be on the ticket, but think he will if offered because he see’s it as his duty to the country to keep the dems out. Fair enough. But I think he would be severely damaging his political career if he did, for these reasons:
1) I think the dems are going to win this year. I don’t like it, but I see little we can do to stop it. Enthusiasm in their party is HUGE, and this will be the real factor this time around, not issues, certainly not McCain ONE issue. Mitt should not saddle himself to this disaster waiting to happen.
2) In the event of a political miracle (though I don’t think God will have any hand in it, so I use the term miracle very lightly) and John McCain wins (with Mitt on the ticket), Mitt will NOT likely have much influence over McCain. Have the last 20+ years of public record of JM’s actions and attitude in congress not taught us anything about this man? He is truelly a maverick, and does not listen to others, especially those in his party. What makes us think he is going to start listening to Mitt, a man he likely only selected as VP because he thought it would help towards getting conservative support and eventually the election?
3) Again, in the event JM is elected, even if he only serves 1 term (which I think is unlikely as long as he is alive, given his stubborn streak), do you really think a republican, no matter how good is going to beat the dem next time around? After a miraculous upset this time, plus 4 years of likely mediocre (at best) leadership from JM, added to the 8 years of luke warm at best and downright sad at worst leadership of GWB? Parties cycle through the whitehouse, voter become fatigued by the party in power. It takes an extraordinary leader to overcome this. Reagan was able to overcome it for GHWB, but he could not hold it and lost to a young upstart in Clinton. And he was a sitting president. GWB is not a great leader, so does he have a nest egg of good will to leave for McCain, to be able to overcome party fatigue and get him elected? No. And if McCain is somehow elected, will he be a great enough leader to garner enough good will with the electorate to pass on to his next in line, for an unprecedented 3 consecutive presidents from the same party (I don’t know if it is truely unprecidented, my point is that is so extremely rare and inplausible), two of which were not so good? We know the answer is no.
In conclusion, I respect GMR for his recent choices. I think they are noble and probably the right choices for our country right now. But at some point he needs step back a little. I know he loves his country and wants to serve it in the best way he can. In this I wholeheartedly trust. But I do not believe that he would be able to serve his country in the best way by being VP to McCain. I think he should endorse him, and therefore ensure him the nomination, and leave it at that. The conservative movement (of which I consider myself a part of, even though I am an independent) needs him as it’s leader right now, and he wouldn’t be able to effectively do this as VP. So add this to all the reasons above, and I think Romney should not, under any circumstances (even McCain vowing to only serve 1 term) take the VP spot. I will not vote for McCain, but if Mitt is on the ticket, my loyalty to him and his vision may trump my utter disdain for McCain, and I may have to vote for him.
This is my dillema.
Sorry for being so long winded about it, that’s just how I am when I comment. Stream of conciousness.
February 14th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
It may just be me, but the “endorsement” didn’t seem very warm and fuzzy.
February 14th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I like that Chamberlain analogy. Thanks shiggz.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Since Mitt suspended his campaign, I have said repeatedly that I, my friends and family WOULD NOT vote for John McCain UNLESS Mitt were VP - I truly hope that McCain wises up and has or will offer him the position. As far as Mitt’s career - remember his words - “This was NEVER just about me” ” I entered this race because I love America”. I believe that his decisions are based on what is good for the country and not Mitt Romney. He is a true statesman and a good man. I do not trust John McCain, alone, but if Mitt were there to watch over things, I can accept it. I pray that he will be the VP nominee and then it is up to us to rally the conservatives and the crowds to drown out Obama AND Hilary - we simply cannot subject the security and the future of our country to the Democrats. Time for us to follow Mitt’s lead and “heal” our wounds so that we can be strong for the real fight that lies ahead.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
I disagree - I think Huckabee is the one I am going to vote for. I think the moral values he stands for are closer to Mitt’s than McCains.
If Mitt sruck a deal that’s fine. But until I see it all play out, I will not vote for McCain.
I am going for Huckabee………..
February 15th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Renna,
Fair enough, but as a supporter of his, his becoming president and “the good of the country” are one and the same to me. He may not see it this way, but I do. Nontheless, whatever he does, I trust him, and will support him. He has a way of convincing me even when I was previously skeptical (like his healthcare plan which I now think was brilliant). We will just have to wait and hope, and see.
February 19th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Try this on for size. Mitt as President and Condy Rice as V. P. Lets get Romney back into the race. I think we may be closer than we even think. I just wanted to write that to cheer myself up. This is the saddest, most scariest election year I have ever known. My church has always said since I was a little child to educate yourself in matters like this so that you may make the best choice for those that are running in elections. My church never ever tells us or encourages us to vote for any particular party or person.