Who is Mitt Romney on the Issues?

Through is political career we have seen Mitt Romney all over the place on the issues.  Depending on the audience and electorate Mitt Romney will change is opinions and answers to questions of the issues.

In 1994 when running for Massachusetts Senator Mitt Romney ran as an alternative liberal to Ted Kennedy.

This following snapshot was take from then Governor Mitt Romney Website in 2002.  This content was from is "Issues" section of the site.  Notice the highlighted areas.  We wonder if he feels the same way today.  Sure looks like he was a democrat.

MITT ROMNEY ON THE ISSUES

On Running for Governor

Mitt Romney is convinced that Massachusetts can translate its extraordinary human and natural resources into better education, better health care and a better environment for our state’s families and citizens. The key is leadership. From his experience in the private sector and in the nonprofit world running the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake, Mitt Romney has the background and management skills to end politics as usual on Beacon Hill and make Massachusetts great.

On Taxes

Mitt Romney is in favor of low taxes and opposes repeal of the voter-approved tax rollback.

On Education

Romney/Healey Unveil Education Agenda for Massachusetts
K-Job PowerPoint Presentation

On Gay Rights

All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual orientation. While he does not support gay marriage, Mitt Romney believes domestic partnership status should be recognized in a way that includes the potential for health benefits and rights of survivorship.

On Abortion Rights

As Governor, Mitt Romney would protect the current pro-choice status quo in Massachusetts. No law would change. The choice to have an abortion is a deeply personal one. Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not the government’s.

On Minimum Wage

The minimum wage is important to our economy and Mitt Romney supports minimum wage increases, at least in line with inflation.

On Gun Control

Mitt Romney supports the strict enforcement of gun laws. He is a supporter of the federal assault weapons ban. Mitt also believes in the rights of those who hunt to responsibly own and use firearms.

On Capital Punishment

In the most grievous cases, Mitt Romney supports the death penalty.

On the Big Dig

Romney/Healey Unveil Plan for Big Dig and Beyond
Big Dig and Beyond PowerPoint Presentation
Mitt's Work Day on the Big Dig

On Housing

Romney/Healey Unveils Innovative Housing Policy
Unlocking the American Dream PowerPoint Presentation

Content from http://www.romney2002.com

IRS Exonerates Newt Gingrich Over Ethics Charges in 1999

A 1999 report from CNN's "Inside Politics" reports of how the Democrats tried to accues Newt Gingrich of Ethics Violations, all of which were later dropped.  

Now Mitt Romney is trying to attack Newt on this same issues.  Read and watch for yourself:

CNN February 3, 1999

NOTE: Of the 84 ethics charges filed (exclusively by Democrats) against Newt Gingrich, 83 were subsequently dropped due to a complete lack of merit or foundation in fact. The remaining charge is the subject of the below video. It too proved to be utterly baseless.

It's always good to keep the record straight.

TRANSCRIPT BELOW beginning with CNN's Brooks Jackson:

JACKSON (voice-over): It was legal after all. Newt Gingrich's oh-so-controversial college course that he started back in 1993, before he was speaker.

Remember how Democrats denounced it?

REP. DAVID BONIOR (D), MICHIGAN: Mr. Gingrich engaged in a pattern of tax fraud.

REP. JOHN LEWIS (D), GEORGIA: We now have a speaker under investigation for lying to the council, investigation his involvement in a massive tax-fraud scheme.

JACKSON: Tax fraud? Well, never mind. After a three-and-a-half year examination, the Internal Revenue Service -- Bill Clinton's IRS -- hasissued an official finding: no violation of tax laws. Critics said the course, which was videotaped and widely distributed, was too political; a scheme to use a tax-exempt educational foundation to promote a Republican agenda and elect Republican candidates.

But in a 74-page memorandum, the IRS said otherwise, quote: "The taught principles from American civilization that could be used by each American in everyday life, whether the person is a welfare recipient, the head of a large corporation or a politician." It said: "The course was not biased toward particular politicians, or a particular party. The facts show the class was much more than a political platform."

There was no comment from Congressman Bonior, who had accused Gingrich of tax fraud, but there was comment from the president of the foundation that sponsored Gingrich's course.

JEFF EISENSACH, PROGRESS AND FREEDOM FOUNDATION: To be vindicated, as we have been by the ultimate authority, really, the InternalRevenue Service, is about as sweet as it gets.

JACKSON: Gingrich issued a statement: "I consider this a full and complete vindication. I urge my colleagues to go back and read their statements and them, with no fact, based on nothing more than a desire to politically destroy a colleague." But ruling comes too late to help much: Gingrich has resigned from Congress, and already paid a $300,000 fine to settle House Ethics Committee charges that he made misleading statements during an investigation of the college course.

(on camera): When he settled those charges, Gingrich also agreed he should have sought better legal advice about the course, but it turns out he was right, and those who accused him of tax fraud were wrong.

Brooks Jackson, CNN, Washington.

Mitt Romney Narrowly Wins the Iowa Caucuses

The Republic Truth has called the Iowa Caucuses.

After a bizarre set of circumstances Mitt Romney will win the Iowa Caucus for the republican presidential nomination by a total of 8 votes.  With over 99% of the  precincts reporting we have called the Republican Iowa caucus race for Mitt Romney, with Rick Santorum and Ron Paul placing second and third. Rick Santorum came back from just single digit support just a few weeks back and finished just short of a victory in Iowa that would have shocked the GOP process.  Any chance of a victory was very unprobable just last week.

After spending over 7 million dollors in Iowa, Mitt Romney used a very negative campaign to win the first test of his presidential bid.  The question of how many people really want Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee is still out standing.  Mitt Romney has failed to break through the 25% threshold that has been his ceiling for over four years now.  Buying TV ads and using Robo calls cannot be the way Mitt breaks through.  He will need to find a way to break through to the American people if he wants the nomination.

Gov. Rick Perry may have had the most disappointing finish of the night.  After spending millions of dollars in Iowa for his campaign he finished a distant 5th with only 10% of the vote.

Ron Paul finished 3rd in the race and it is suspected that he may have lost the votes he needed for a victory in recent days over his views on foreign policy.  Ron Paul has galvanized his base through a fiscal message and an isolationist view of US involvement overseas.  Other candidates would be wise to take hold of his economic message and the fact that many in the country are war weary.

Newt Gingrich who finished in a disappointing 4th with 13% may have the most potential of the 2nd tier candidates in the Iowa caucus results.  While he took a betting from the deceptive campaigning from the Romney camp it may be that this did not hurt him as much as it first appears.  While the Romney advertisement killed the momentum of Newt Gingrich it did not draw support to the Romney campaign.  Newt Gingrich congratulated Rick Santorum on his big night, "He ran a great positive campaign."

Moving on to the New Hampshire primary Mitt Romney may won the Iowa race  but with his false attacks on Newt Gingrich the momentum may have shifted to Ron Paul and Rick Santorum in the Granite state.  Mitt Romney must win New Hampshire to have a shot at the nomination and with Ron Paul riding the wave of momentum this may derail his chances to win New Hampshire and setting up Newt Gingrich to win the South Carolina and Florida primaries.