comMITTed to Romney!

As we approach the primary voting season, there are more and more new folks finding their way to our humble blog. The information I found on this blog was extremely helpful to me as I assessed the various candidates in search of “the One.” As such, I thought it would be fitting for me to share why I am a staunch supporter of Governor Mitt Romney in his run for the White House.

In a nutshell, Mitt Romney is the only “full-spectrum” Conservative who can rally the support of all three wings of the Reagan coalition, namely, Social, Economic, and Foreign Policy Conservatives.

For a full treatment of Mitt Romney’s positions, I would refer you to his comprehensive policy book “Vision for a Strong America.” Let me summarize here, however, the highlights across the major issues:

• Foreign Policy
o War against Islamic Fascism: We are engaged in a multi-front war which will require using all of our military, economic, and diplomatic might to win; we must defeat the terrorists and those who aid and abet them as well as help the Muslim people enter the 21st century (click here and here)
o Iraq and Afghanistan: The surge is working and we must do what it takes to help Iraq and Afghanistan become stable democratic allies in the war on Islamic Fascism and support our troops (click here and here)
o Iran: Iran must not be allowed to become a nuclear state; diplomacy and economic sanctions are critical, but may not be enough; the military option must remain on the table (click here)
o Military: Need to increase defense spending to a minimum of 4% of GDP to make sure our armed forces have the equipment they need in the field and the support the need back home; the best ally of peace is a strong America (click here and here)

• Economic Policy
o Taxes: We need to keep the Bush tax cuts permanent, eliminate the Death Tax, and cut taxes on capital gains, dividends, and interest to zero for the Middle Class (click here, and here)
o Spending: We need to restrain Federal spending and close the deficit; will veto any budget where non-defense discretionary spending growth exceeds inflation minus 1%; Need to give the President a line-item veto; Strong track record of financial management from Massachusetts where he closed a $3B deficit and turned it into a $1B surplus without raising taxes; carry out a comprehensive review of government spending to increase efficiency and effectiveness (click here and here)
o Entitlements reform: Maintain benefits for current Seniors, but institute fundamental reforms combining slowing the rate of increase for benefits based on income, extending the retirement age, individual retirement accounts, and no tax increases (click here)
o Healthcare: Mitt Romney is the only candidate on either side of the aisle who implemented a universal health care plan; He covered all of the citizens of Massachusetts using market-based insurance without raising taxes; Governor Romney advocates a Federalist state-by-state approach to make health insurance more affordable for everyone (click here)
o Globalization: Continue to trade around the world but make sure we negotiate level playing fields in foreign markets and upgrade American competitiveness through investments in education and innovation (click here and here)

• Culture and Values
o Illegal immigration: Control the border first and turn of the “magnets” that attract illegal immigrants by implementing an employment verification system, no special path for illegal immigrants to become citizens (i.e. no amnesty), no sanctuary cities, increased enforcement by local police agencies (click here, here, and here)
o Traditional marriage: In favor of amending the constitution to keep marriage defined as between a man and a woman; fought the Massachusetts Supreme Court to prevent the state from becoming a destination for same-sex couples looking for marriage licenses (click here and here and here)
o Life: Much has been made of Governor Romney’s switch from being Pro-Abortion to Pro-Life; This is a critical issue for me; I have heard many times why he made this change, and I believe him; I believe that Mitt Romney will fight for the rights of the unborn and be a great leader in supporting Life (click here, here, and here)

The choice of a nominee and President, however, is not strictly a “right-brained” decision based on policy statements and positions. There needs to be something inspirational about a candidate whether it’s the way that they speak to a crowd, interact one on one, or something about their personal story that sets them apart.

Experiencing Mitt through articles and videos really helped seal the deal for me. Below, I have listed some of what I would consider the best of the best articles and videos that helped me come to the decision to support Mitt actively. I’m sure I’m missing some great material, but there is a lot down below. I would encourage you to click through as much of this as you can, and if you have a favorite that wasn’t listed, please leave a link in the comments!

Key videos, speeches, appearances, and articles:
• Articles
o Romney to the Rescue (Newsmax) – Great overview of Mitt Romney
o National Review’s endorsement of Mitt Romney
o The House that Mitt Built (Private Equity International) – Behind the scenes view of how Mitt ran Bain Capital and his leadership style
o The Making of Mitt Romney (Boston Globe) – Reasonably balanced biography of each of the major phases of Mitt’s life starting from his youth through today
o Consultant in Chief (Wall Street Journal) – Interview of Mitt where he talks about how he would fix the Federal Government
o For Romney & Company, Campaign is all Business (NY Times) – How Mitt runs his campaign and what it would mean for his Presidency
o Evangelicals for Mitt statement of support
o Mark DeMoss on why Evangelicals should support Mitt
o Ann Romney Opens Up (People Magazine) – Great interview with Ann; she would be a fantastic First Lady!

• Speeches
o “Faith in America” – Seminal address on the role of religious faith and liberty in our nation
o Address to the Value Voters Summit – Seminal address on culture and value issues
o Iowa Straw Poll victory speech
o Highlights from the Republican debates (click 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th)
o Speech at CPAC 2007 – One of Mitt’s first major addresses to the leading grassroots gathering of Conservatives; one of his best speeches in my opinion
o Presidential Campaign Announcement – Mitt announcing that he’s running and why he’s running

• Campaign videos
o Biographical overview video of Mitt Romney (click part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII)
o “Path to Victory” webcast – Mitt and Meg Whitman (CEO of eBay) discussing the 2007 campaign and discussing the plan for 2008
o Retrospective of Governor Romney’s campaign in 2007
o Online “Ask Mitt Anything” – For those of us who don’t live in an early primary state, Mitt held an online town hall meeting which provides a really good overview of his key positions
o Christmas 2006 – Behind the scenes look at the Romney family and how they made the decision together that Mitt should run for President; cynics have criticized this video as contrived, but I love the fact that he has held his family together while achieving such exceptional success; you can’t fake this stuff

• Media appearances
o Mitt on Jim Cramer of CNBC’s Mad Money – Great interview by Jim Cramer where he calls Mitt the “Best businessman in America”
o Mitt on ABC News talking about Ann – Great interview of Mitt where he discusses what he loves so much about Ann
o Mitt on Meet the Press – Tim Russert throws everything he’s got plus the kitchen sink at Mitt who proceeds to address each point in a clear, classy, and compelling way

• My favorite TV spots
o “Searched” – Compelling true story of how Mitt Romney shut down Bain Capital and moved all the employees to NYC to search for and find the daughter of one of his partners
o “Choice: Judgment” – Striking contrast ad highlighting Mike Huckabee’s 1,033 pardons and clemencies (more than 2x his three predecessors) vs. zero from Mitt Romney
o “Choice: The Record” – Ad contrasting Mitt’s record on illegal immigration vs. Mike Huckabee’s record of supporting tax payer funded scholarships and in-state tuition for illegal immigrants
o “Not Politically Correct” – Mitt’s record supporting life, English immersion education, and traditional marriage
o “Experience Matters” – Ad highlighting the lack of real world, executive experience on the part of Hillary Clinton (and equally applicable to the other Democrats)
o “Ready for Action” – Summary of Governor Romney’s stump speech in 60 seconds; user-generated ad based on a contest that was run back in September
o “Our Home” – Some precious footage of Mitt playing with his children and grandchildren; focuses on the importance of strengthening our families
o “Leadership” and “Energy” – I just love the images of Mitt jogging through the backwoods and the focus on his track record in business; I think he’s the only politician I’ve seen jogging where it looked like he was actually in shape…not just a photo op
o “Ocean” – Ad lamenting the degradation of our culture and Mitt’s thoughts on how he would like to address it; as a parent this one really resonated with me
o “Tested, Proven” – One of his early ads highlighting his track record in Massachusetts
o “I Like Vetoes” – Ad highlights his track record of vetoing excessive spending; no doubt in my mind that he’ll control spending after seeing this ad and other times when he has addressed this topic

Finally, it is one thing to support Mitt with your vote, but I’d like to ask you to consider supporting Mitt in a more active way. Like many of you, I had always followed politics, but never became active in politics (other than voting) until this year in support of Governor Romney.

This year is different. First, this is arguably the most consequential election in over twenty years. The challenges and issues that will be faced by our next President will have far reaching ramifications for our children and grandchildren.

Additionally, we face a set of candidates on the Republican side who represent vastly different positions and perspectives, some of whom threaten to tear asunder the Reagan coalition that has served us so well. Whether it is the socially liberal and sanctuary city defending Rudy Giuliani, the divisive, theocratic, soft on crime and illegal immigration, and fiscally populist Mike Huckabee, or the McCain Feingold, “Gang of 14”, and pro-Amnesty John McCain, there are clear differences in the way that each of these individuals would take the Republican Party.

If you’ve found this persuasive, please do whatever you can to support Mitt Romney’s candidacy. If you’re from Iowa, please caucus for Mitt (get more information here). Winning Iowa is job one between now and January 3.

If you are not from Iowa, please stay informed by checking in here at Elect Romney in 2008 every day. Make a donation to help Mitt win the media air war. Put on a bumper sticker or put up a yard sign (get them here). And most importantly, talk with your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors about why you’re supporting Mitt Romney! Personal testimonials from trusted individuals are by far the most effective ways to gain more supporters for Mitt!

If you still have questions or remain unconvinced, leave a comment and we’ll do our best to answer your question. Or better yet, if you are also a Mitt supporter, leave a comment telling us why! Thank you for reading!

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Once again proving folks that Mr Huckabee is truly NOT a conservative like Mitt Romney

By LISA ROSSI • REGISTER AMES BUREAU • December 15, 2007

Some former Arkansas legislators said Friday in a conference call organized by the Mitt Romney campaign that Mike Huckabee had overspent as governor, which hurt the state’s Republican Party.

More questions about Huckabee’s reputation as governor of Arkansas have been raised since his recent rise to the front of the presidential race in Iowa.
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On Friday, two former legislators and one current one blasted his record on spending while in the Arkansas Statehouse.

“We kind of felt abandoned as fiscal conservatives,” said former Arkansas Rep. Jim Hendren, a Republican. Arkansas Rep. Donna Hutchinson, a Republican, criticized Huckabee for his ideas on immigration while in office.

Jake Files, a former Republican Arkansas legislator, said that during Huckabee’s tenure, government spending more than doubled: From 1996 to 2006, spending increased from $6.6 billion to $16.1 billion, he said.

Files hasn’t endorsed anyone for president. Hendren and Hutchinson both said they were supporting Romney.

The new wave of criticism represents a departure from the brief detente between Romney and Huckabee, who refrained from criticizing each other at The Des Moines Register’s Republican debate this week.

After the debate, Huckabee told reporters he apologized to Romney for remarks he made for a New York Times Magazine article that appeared to challenge Romney’s Mormon religion.

The jabs behind the scenes reignited shortly thereafter.

“It’s amazing that, you know, Romney keeps talking about Ronald Reagan all the time, (but) the second he gets behind the polls, he attacks some of the Republicans, breaking the 11th commandment,” said Eric Woolson, Huckabee’s press secretary in Iowa. The oft-quoted “commandment” associated with Reagan was “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”

Woolson said Republicans who cited increased spending during Huckabee’s administration were citing numbers that included federal Medicaid money, which increased in all states, not just in Arkansas.

Mike Stormes, an administrator in the Arkansas department of finance and administration, said it’s more accurate to judge Huckabee on the budgets for which he actually had influence.

He became governor in July of 1996, while the government was operating in fiscal year 1997. The first budget for which Huckabee offered a proposal was for the years 1998 and 1999 during the state’s biennial budget negotiations.

Under that analysis, spending increased from $8.4 billion in expenditures in 1998 to $16.5 billion in 2007, Stormes said.

He cited inflation, court-mandated money spent on education, higher education spending, more department of human services spending, increased Medicaid dollars, and highway spending as reasons for the increased overall Arkansas government spending.

Huckabee has also been criticized by the fiscally conservative organization Club for Growth, which will air television ads in Iowa and South Carolina critical of tax increases that occurred during his administration.

The Ron Paul campaign has also organized opposition to Huckabee. The campaign paid the travel costs for two Arkansas Republicans — former Rep. Randy Minton and former Sen. Jim Holt — to talk in Iowa this week about Huckabee’s record.

A group of Huckabee supporters from Arkansas was also brought to Iowa to address some of the criticisms, Huckabee’s staff said.

Doug Matayo was among that group. Matayo, a former Republican legislator, said Huckabee’s record showed he was a fiscal conservative.

“Each year, he balanced the budget as he was required to do, but also the governor at the beginning of his tenure was able to push through the first and only broad-based tax cut we’ve had in our state since Reconstruction,” he said.

Matayo also praised Huckabee for his work to improve the state’s infrastructure and roads.

“I think it is conservative and good sound fiscal policy for a governor to focus on infrastructure like he did,” he said.

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Posted in June 2006, CBN’s “The 700 Club” highlighted Romney as the first of the candidates for President. If you look real close you can see what this blog used to look like (amazing how far we’ve come) . I hope you enjoy the video and the read.

http://news.bostonherald….rticleid=145695

Reaching out to the Christian right, Gov. Mitt Romney appeared on televangelist Pat Robertson’s 700 Club to dismiss criticism of his Mormon faith and recall a 1968 near death car wreck in Paris.
In an in-depth interview on the show, which is targeted at fundamentalist and some evangelical Christians, Romney solemnly recalled being falsely pronounced dead at age 21 by French police after the car he was driving was struck head-on by a drunken driver. Romney, who was on a Mormon mission, had four fellow missionaries in the car, one of whom was killed.
The police that arrived on the scene had to get us out with the Jaws of Life, and in my case, they took my passport and wrote “il est mort” - he is dead, Romney recalled.
Romney has said little publicly about the crash but Robertson’s show pointed to the tragedy as a theme in the governor’s life.
Turning around that near-death experience is a theme that has followed him through much of his life. Just when it appears all is lost, he’s able to find an answer, Christian Broadcasting Network host David Brody said of Romney in the segment, which aired yesterday on the “700 Club” and ABC’s Family Channel.

The theatrics of this piece were great, during the “crash sequence” of the story they made Governor Romney’s face like a sepia look, with some black mixed in while he was talking trying to make it look like a bleak moment in his life as it obviously was.

Considered a leading Republican contender in the 2008 presidential race, Romney said he has yet to make a final decision on his political future. He did, though, caution against discounting him because of his Mormon faith.
People said, “Well, gee, can a Mormon win here in a state that’s, what, 50 to 55 percent Catholic? Romney said, referring to Massachusetts. “Well, the answer is yes.”
He added, Could an actor who’d been divorced win as president? Yes. Ronald Reagan was able to do that.
Brody told the Herald the network targeted Romney for its first profile of possible 2008 presidential candidates in part because of the Mormon issue.

He was right on target when answering questions about how his faith would affect whether people would vote for him for President.

“He’s right out of central casting for the presidency. It seems like he may have the whole package that folks potentially could be looking for,” Brody told the Herald.

I truly was stunned to see how positively they played Governor Romney on this network, I definitely would have expected it to at the very least been as neutral as it could have been; but they really in my opinion did a good sell job on Governor Romney being quite like the anyone and dispelled the idea of Mormonism being weird.

Bay State Democrats, who have relentlessly criticized Romney for his out-of-state travels, were quick to pounce once again, accusing the governor of putting presidential aspirations ahead of Massachusetts.
“He’s been a miserable failure in terms of making Massachusetts a great place to live,” said state Democratic party spokeswoman Cyndi Roy. “And it’s unacceptable for him to fly in and out of the state when it fits his campaign schedule.”

Let’s see, miserable failure…Universal Healthcare, a budget turned from a deficit to a surplus without raising taxes, his dedication to education, Melanie’s Law, amongst other “failures”.

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Good old Mike asks:

Don’t Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?”

This new article will be included in the Sunday edition of the NY Times.

I found the AP article here.

Hotair has posted  it here.

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From The Orlando Sentinel

Fred Thompson spoke to a group of GOP activists assembled in Orlando yesterday, apparently he didn’t say much though.

Thompson’s speech was so short — 4 min. and 37 seconds — some people in the crowd mistook his conclusion as just an applause line.

He spoke far less than any of the other candidates at the evening rally. Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney was on stage for about 10 minutes, U.S. Sen. John McCain spoke for about 16 minutes and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani addressed the crowd for almost 22 minutes.

Update:

This comes from The Caucus - Political Blogging From The New York Times

ORLANDO, Fla. — Rudolph W. Giuliani, the first to speak before more than 1,000 Republicans here Saturday night for their annual party convention, worked the crowd into a near frenzy as he lashed out at the specter of a President Hillary Clinton.

Senator John McCain, who spoke next, held the audience rapt as he described the struggle in Iraq, as well as his own experience with war and suffering, in detail and with evident emotion.

Mitt Romney, who focused on the importance of family, brought his wife, Ann, and son, Tagg, on stage: real live family members to show he is a real live family man.

When it came time for Fred D. Thompson, the crowd was primed, having listened to his rivals deliver speeches, lasting about 20 minutes each, that the candidates each obviously thought played to their strengths.

Mr. Thompson walked slowly onto the stage, kissed his wife, Jerri, on the cheek, made a joke or two, claimed to be a “consistent conservative” — and said good night. He spoke for four minutes.

You really have to wonder why this guy decided to run for President. The drive is just not there, why on earth has anyone fallen for him?

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Like all MSM stories, you have to take the good with the bad.

Romney story on Anderson Cooper 360.

Accompanying Articles from CNN:

To understand Romney, you must understand his mission
Majority say Mormonism not an issue

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I’m probably dating myself, but I remember when my Mom used to do daycare and the kids that she watched were constantly watching “Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?”

Reading this story about Fred Thompson reminded me of the show, the difference between Fred Thompson and Carmen Sandiego is that Carmen Sandiego actually went somewhere. Fred Thompson doesn’t seem to go anywhere (at least not as much as a person purportedly running for President needs to go).

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Mitt Romney was in Michigan, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada and then went back to Michigan. Rudy Giuliani visited Florida, Michigan, South Carolina, Alabama, Washington and New Hampshire. John McCain went from Michigan to Iowa to New Hampshire.

But where was Fred, as in Fred Thompson?

Besides participating in his first presidential debate in Michigan last Tuesday, Thompson was missing from the campaign trail. The former Tennessee senator and star of NBC’s “Law & Order” was scheduled to be in New Hampshire this weekend, but canceled.

New Hampshire voters noticed.

Here are a couple observations from those very voters:

“I like him, but he won’t make it,” said Claire Roy, a Manchester Republican who, like most voters, remains undecided. “He started too late to begin with. I don’t think he’s presidential material. That’s the way I look at it.”

Added Ann Essensa, an independent voter from Exeter who visited Giuliani on Sunday: “I don’t know enough about (Thompson) yet. I haven’t seen him yet.”

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Governor Romney in Grand Rapids Michigan today pushed for an effective Employment Verification System to guard against Illegal Immigrant Labor.

From: MLive.

The United States needs an employment-verification system that helps prevent illegal immigrants from getting jobs and punishes employers that knowingly hire them, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Saturday.

He also touted using seasonal visas for tourism based labor shortages while campaigning in Traverse City Michigan earlier in the day.

Tourism is one of the state’s three largest industries, and many Michigan employers have struggled to fill jobs in hotels and restaurants during the summer tourist rush. Romney said more temporary workers should be allowed where there are labor shortages.

“The answer to that is simple, which is issue more visas,” he said. “If our employment sector needs additional immigrant laborers, then issue the visas necessary to provide that work force.”

Federal law permits businesses needing seasonal help to obtain what are known as H2B visas for foreign laborers — if they can prove good-faith efforts to hire locally first.

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Cross Posted at Michiganders for Romney.

Governor Romney seems to be “the favorite of Michiganders” says, Robert Kelly of The Salem News.

Highlights:

Romney’s basic strategy is to do well in the early contests and then to build upon that performance. He leads in Iowa, New Hampshire and Michigan, and he’s competitive in South Carolina, a state that so far favors Giuliani and Thompson.

From this angle, in terms of the early primaries, Romney emerged as the winner of the debate. He may have picked up a few points because of his effective comments to Michigan voters, and the fact that he landed the most effective blow of the night when he pointed to the judicial appointments of Giuliani in New York. That thrust that shot holes in Giuliani’s pledge to appoint strict constructionist judges if elected president.

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The Mitt Report has a story from The Post Chronicle about a potentially positive but dicey situation between James Dobson and Governor Romney. Check out the story. Thanks to The Mitt Report for bringing it to our attention.

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From The Examiner of Louisville, KY

WASHINGTON - Second lady Lynne Cheney, a descendant of Mormons, is defending Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney against what she calls “virulently anti-Mormon” criticism.

“I have been really astounded by the ferocity of some of the statements that people I would not expect to make have made about Mormonism,” Cheney told The Examiner in an interview.

She said Slate magazine published an article by Jacob Weisberg “that was just virulently anti-Mormon.” The December column branded Mormonism a “fraud” and ridiculed Romney for believing in the “whoppers” of church founder Joseph Smith, whom Weisberg called “an obvious con man.”

Cheney, who recounts her Mormon roots in a new book, “Blue Skies, No Fences,” said there is more religious criticism of Romney than there was of his father, the late Michigan Gov. George Romney, when he ran for president 40 years ago.

To read more of the piece click this link.

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The tip to this article came tonight on The O’Reilly Factor when Robert Novak was briefly interviewed. Novak’s lead to his “column” the next day was definitely a tease for the show. His brief comments on the show were basically from the quote at the end of his article below.

You would think from reading this that if/when Gov. Romney gives such a speech, that the idea first materialized in Novak’s mind; that it had never even crossed Gov. Romney’s! [ that smugness is depicted in the little cartoon below and to the left ]

It is fascinating to me how so many pundits are now essentially stating that Gov. Romney is the “real frontrunner” and basically the nomination is his. I even heard this on a nationally syndicated talk show tonight as I picked my son up from football practice. As I have said recently, I do believe that Gov. Romney is emerging quickly to be the Republican standard-bearer. Sure, it is still a bit too early to prove it; but I think it is now happening. We will look back to this time in October as the point at which he turned the corner (but that is just a hunch; nothing more).

One last commentary: The longer Gov. Romney can hold out to give “the speech” the better. Waiting until millions of people are paying attention is the obvious reason to postpone and the reason most cite. My personal opinion is the more valuable reason is that waiting builds clout for Gov. Romney; and it builds real support. The more that political “experts” and pundits and national leaders recommend that Gov. Romney give the speech, the more it appears they want him to succeed and tacitly support him. I seriously doubt Novak would have written this article if he did not like Gov. Romney’s leadership and his chances to win the nomination. Now, if we start to see people like Richard Land, Newt Gingrich, Nancy Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Rush Limbaugh, Dennis Prager, James Dobson, and others of their prominence suggest he give the speech, will he not have received tacit endorsements? This last sentence is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but you get the point.

ROBERT NOVAK: Romney’s Religion

When Mitt Romney appeared last week (via closed circuit from California) before the Council of Retired Chief Executives meeting in Washington, he faced kindred souls: rich Republicans who had managed big enterprises. Yet the second question from the audience inquired whether Romney’s Mormon faith was hurting his quest for the Republican presidential nomination. He replied that about the only people who brought up his religion were members of the news media, an answer that simply is untrue.

Romney is asked about Mormonism wherever he goes. In my travels, I find his religious preference cited everywhere as the source of opposition to his candidacy. His response to the former CEOs that only reporters care about this issue sounded like a politician’s tired evasion. Romney was indicating that either he was too obtuse to appreciate his problem or was stalling because he had not determined how to deal with it. Contact with his advisers indicates the latter is the case.

Although disagreement remains within the Romney camp, the consensus is that he must address the Mormon question with a speech deploring bias. According to campaign sources, a speech has been written, though 90 percent of it could still be changed. It is not yet determined exactly what he will say or at what point he will deliver a speech that could determine the political outcome of 2008.

Romney would seem the near perfect Republican candidate: articulate, handsome, able to raise funds and write his own checks. He has become sufficiently conservative on social issues where he once strayed leftward. He is the only Republican candidate unequivocally opposed to gay marriage and the only one who signed the no tax increase pledge. He is acceptable enough to non-Republicans to have been elected governor of very “blue” Massachusetts and then, unlike three GOP predecessors, actually governed as a Republican.

But last year I began to hear from loyal Republicans that they could never vote for Romney because of his religion. When I asked Romney about this in April 2006, he was in denial. I subsequently wrote on April 27, 2006, that Romney must make “a stronger response than he now envisions” — a declaration that “the imposition of a religious text on U.S. politics is unfair, unreasonable and un-American.” That was disputed by e-mails sent to me by self-professed Republicans who insisted Mormonism is a cult.

Despite his response to the retired CEOs, Romney is no longer in denial. A Newsweek poll shows 28 percent of Americans would not vote for any member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints — demonstrating much greater hostility than to a Jewish or African-American candidate. Mormonism is the only minority category where bias in America has deepened.

This prejudice may explain why Romney trails competitors in national polls. But nobody has emerged as the Republican establishment choice. Rudy Giuliani offends social conservatives. John McCain seems a spent force. Fred Thompson has not yet fulfilled his promise. What’s more, Romney leads in Iowa and New Hampshire, where victories would propel him ahead in national polls and likely nominate him. Will the Grand Old Party find itself with a nominee who cannot be elected because of his religion?

It is certain that sooner or later, Romney will address the nation. His task is vastly more complicated than John F. Kennedy’s was on Sept. 12, 1960, when he told the Greater Houston Ministerial Council that as president he would not take orders from the pope. Romney will no more attempt explaining Mormon theology than Kennedy ventured into Roman Catholic doctrine. He will do what I wrote 17 months ago he must do: deplore a religious test as un-American.

Romney will have but one shot to get it right, with no chance for a mulligan. Some supporters think he should speak (as in the case of JFK) only if and when he is nominated. More likely, it will come earlier. One key adviser sees the optimum time after an early victory in Iowa when he becomes the front-runner. Whenever, it would be the single most important campaign speech for Mitt Romney — or any candidate.

By Robert Novak, at RealClearPolitics

~ Vic

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I will comment later on the piece, as I have not read it completely yet. But, I wanted to get the link out so that all of you can read it Mitt’s Mission

What’s your Analysis, Commentary, and Editorial? The Comments Section awaits!

Addendum:

There’s also a Q&A session.

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HT: Nealie Ride at NY for Mitt

From: The Associated Press

A few highlights:

In a private e-mail obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, Dobson accuses the former Tennessee senator and actor of being weak on the campaign trail and wrong on issues dear to social conservatives.

“Isn’t Thompson the candidate who is opposed to a Constitutional amendment to protect marriage, believes there should be 50 different definitions of marriage in the U.S., favors McCain-Feingold, won’t talk at all about what he believes, and can’t speak his way out of a paper bag on the campaign trail?” Dobson wrote.

“He has no passion, no zeal, and no apparent ‘want to.’ And yet he is apparently the Great Hope that burns in the breasts of many conservative Christians? Well, not for me, my brothers. Not for me!”

Dobson’s strong words about Thompson underscore the frustration and lack of unity among Christian conservatives about the GOP field. Some Christian right leaders have pinned their hopes on Thompson, describing him as a Southern-fried Ronald Reagan. But others have voiced doubts in recent weeks about some of the same issues Dobson highlighted: his position on gay marriage and support for the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform legislation.

In his e-mail addressed “Dear friends,” Dobson includes the text of a recent news story highlighting Thompson’s statement that while he was baptized in the Church of Christ, he does not attend church regularly and won’t speak about his faith on the stump.

U.S. News and World Report quoted Dobson earlier this year as questioning Thompson’s commitment to the Christian faith — comments Dobson contended were not put in proper context. Dobson in this week’s e-mail writes that suppositions “about the former senator’s never having professed to be a Christian are turning out to be accurate in substance.”

Earlier this year, Dobson said he wouldn’t back John McCain because of the Arizona senator’s opposition to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Later, Dobson wrote on a conservative news Web site that he wouldn’t support former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani should he win the Republican nomination. Dobson called Giuliani an “unapologetic supporter of abortion on demand” and criticized him for signing a bill in 1997 creating domestic-partnership benefits in New York City.

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HT to our friends at the always current Mitt Report

From The Deseret News

All that many voters know about GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney is he’s Mormon — something his wife, Ann, said she’s trying to change by hitting the campaign trail herself.

“We find that is all they know about Mitt,” Ann Romney told the Deseret Morning News Tuesday during a fund-raising stop in Salt Lake City for her husband. “That’s just one piece of the puzzle.”

Utahns, of course, know Mitt Romney from his years leading the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and they had contributed nearly $4 million to his campaign by midyear. The majority of Utahns belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

But while Romney is doing well in Utah as well as the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, he trails in national polls. “People don’t know him,” Ann Romney said. “It’s very important for me to be getting out and doing as much as I can.”

Including, sometimes, answering questions about her family’s LDS faith. “We are breaking down — I’m assuming we are — some misperceptions. But that’s part of the job we have to do to break through,” she said.

Since April, she has maintained her own campaign schedule, pitching her husband’s presidential bid to mostly Republican women’s organizations throughout the South as well as in California and other states.

And Ann Romney is convinced there will come a time when the campaign can move on from discussing religion. “That’s exactly what happened in Massachusetts,” she said, referring to her husband’s term as that state’s governor.

“It’s interesting to people if that’s all they know about,” she said. “But when we fill in the dots and they look at the whole picture, it fades and people look at his record, his stands and what his positions are.”

The Romneys, who fell in love in high school and have been married since 1969, have been described as too good to be true. The Boston press has even suggested over the years that they live in a sort of Twilight Zone because they don’t drink, smoke or quarrel.

Ann Romney said she’s not bothered by comments about her marriage, any more than she is by the interest in the size of her family. The Romneys have five sons, all married and all active in the campaign, and 10 grandchildren.

“Our marriage is solid and strong, and we’re proud of that,” she said. “There have been lots of jokes made about it, but we find it kind of funny, too.”

The couple does stand out among the top Republicans competing in the 2008 race.

The GOP front-runner, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, has been married three times. And Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson are both on their second marriages.

Ann Romney, whose career has been wife and mother, does not dispute the label of the most traditional spouse on the campaign trail. She steadfastly declines to identify the political issues where she and her husband disagree.

As first lady, Ann Romney said she would continue working on behalf of at-risk youth as well as helping find a cure for multiple sclerosis. She was diagnosed with the disease shortly before her husband took over the scandal-scarred Salt Lake Olympics in 1999.

“I was really, really sick,” Ann Romney recalled of that time. “I was regaining my health and my strength. That’s what I did those three years I was here. … It was enormously rewarding.”

Today, she said, her health is good despite the rigors of a campaign that’s included nearly 500 events since the start of the year. “I have absolutely loved being on the campaign trail,” Ann Romney said. “It’s been the thrill of a lifetime.”

She spent just over 24 hours in Utah, first visiting son Josh Romney and his family and then hosting a women’s luncheon fund-raiser at the home of Rod Gunnell, co-founder of Health Benefits America, a benefits outsourcing company.

Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve
Napoleon Hill

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