Mittideology

First of all, I am not supporting Mitt Romney for President, I am supporting Newt Gingrich. The intent of this article is the closely examine Mitt Romney's record and flip-flops, some of which are real, others imagined by members of the media and polarizing figures. First, the record. In business, few dispute Mitt Romney has a positive record, and he was a job creator. His company helped start up household names like Staples and Dominos Pizza. Romney is also credited with helping to make sure the 2002 Olympic games were a success. Romney than ran for Governor of Massachusetts, and won. When examining the Romney record while he was Governor, one will see some flaws, some successes, and other times where the liberal legislature stood in the way of reform. As Governor, Mitt Romney successfully cut spending to erase a deficit, he reduced taxes on business, he reversed a capital gains tax increase, he reformed welfare, he enforced immigration laws and opposed benefits to illegals, he opposed a regional cap and trade program, and he increased the "welcome home package" for our brave soldiers returning from overseas. However, Romney's record in Massachusetts also consisted of his health care law, one that has a few flaws. Romney's health care law is still not Obamacare, for it does not raise taxes, cut medicare, or violate the constitution. Furthermore, Massachusetts citizens seem to like the law, where as polling has shown public disapproval for Obamacare. What is problematic about Romneycare is, like Obamacare, it has an individual mandate, and it does not contain cost. Therefore, Romneycare is fundamentally flawed. Romney's record as Governor is certainly a mixed-bag, for he accomplished certain things for the state from a financial and economic standpoint, but his health care law and the fact that he closed corporate "loopholes" leads one to pause. In terms of overall economic growth, while he did enact policies that were job friendly (under his watch, the state added nearly 50,000 new jobs after having lost jobs) the state also ranked 47th in economic growth. Since his first run for public office in 1994, Mitt Romney has evolved, or has been accused of evolving, on a variety of issues. Clearly, he changed some positions. Running for the U.S. Senate in 1994 and for Governor in 2002, Romney stated he was pro-choice despite his personal feelings on abortion. However, he switched his view in 2005 claiming that embryonic stem-cell research compelled him to stand up for life. In 1994, Romney opposed ethanol subsidies, but when running for President in 2007 and again now, he supports those subsidies, perhaps as a means to win the Iowa caucus. Also, Romney's view on campaign finance reform has changed, he was for it in 1994 but has since criticized McCain-Feigngold. On public mandates, he switched from supporting them (and believing the nation should follow Massachusetts on health care) to opposing them, though in his defense Romney opposed Obamacare from day one and has accurately pointed out the differences between the Obama and Romney plans. While on abortion, ethanol, campaign finance, and public mandates Romney has switched views, he has also been unfairly accused of doing the same on other issues. First, gay rights. In 1994, Romney did state he was more pro-gay rights than the late Edward Kennedy. However, Romney is never on record for having supported gay marriage, and in fact he tried to get congress to pass a federal marriage ban in 2005. Therefore, Romney's views on gay rights are consistent; he opposes marriage for same-sex couples, but he also does not want discrimination. On gun laws, Mitt Romney has also remained relatively consistent. Romney supports the right to bear arms and back round checks. In 2007, on NBC's Meet the Press, Romney stated he believed the Brady Bill changed over time, so he did indeed change his view on that. When assessing all of these things, I have come to the conclusion that while republicans and independents should be weary of some of Romney's evolving perspectives, they should also realize that he has remained consistent in many areas. A successful businessman, Romney knows how to sell something to people and he is proven to be competent. If elected President, there should be no doubt Mitt Romney would be pro-free market and pro-business, but one should also note that he is not a gun owners best friend, nor is he really focused on social issues, or so it seems. That being said, social conservatives can trust Romney to appoint judges, and gun owners can rest assured that chances are, Romney won't be a "gun-grabber." What he will be is, focused on the economy and foreign affairs.