Mitt Romney takes a position on tax policy, then his staff says something else. Romney takes a position on Iran, then his staff says something else. Romney takes a position on health care, then his staff says something else. Romney takes a position on his own immigration adviser, then his staff says something else.
This new one, however, is a doozy, even by Romney standards.
Mitt Romney today said no abortion legislation is part of his agenda, but he would prohibit federally-funded international nonprofits from providing abortions in other countries.
"There's no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda," the GOP presidential candidate told The Des Moines Register's editorial board during a meeting today before his campaign rally at a Van Meter farm.
It took all of two hours before Romney's chief spokesperson said the exact opposite, explaining, "Gov. Romney would of course support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life." Asked whether the candidate's position on abortion legislation had changed, Romney's spokesperson would "not answer directly."
Look, even before the predictable walkback, Romney's carefully-worded answer, intended to make him appear less extreme on reproductive rights, was absurd. Romney's platform calls for a constitutional amendment that bans all abortions; Romney said he "absolutely" supports a "Personhood" measure that would ban all abortions and some forms of birth control; and in 2007, Romney boasted that that he'd be "delighted" to sign a bill that would no longer allow abortions "at all, period."
For that matter, Romney intends to fill the federal judiciary with far-right judges who would agree with him on reproductive rights; he would use an executive order to reinstate the Mexico City policy; and he intends to "get rid of" Planned Parenthood by ending the federal aid it's enjoyed with bipartisan support for decades.
As for "legislation," Romney said yesterday that he doesn't see anti-abortion bills as part of his agenda, but if he were in the Oval Office, he'd certainly sign these bills if they were passed by his far-right allies in Congress.
But even putting all of that aside, what are we to make of a candidate who keeps trying to appear mainstream, only to have his aides change the story a couple of hours later?
"It's troubling that Mitt Romney is so willing to play politics with such important issues," Obama campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith said in a statement. "But we know the truth about where he stands on a woman's right to choose – he's said he'd be delighted to sign a bill banning all abortions, and called Roe v. Wade 'one of the darkest moments in Supreme Court history' while pledging to appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn it. Women simply can't trust him."
For those keeping score at home, it now appears that Romney has taken nine different positions on abortion rights over the course of 18 years.
Update: Last year, Romney wrote a piece for the conservative National Review, detailing his "pro-life pledge." Among other things, he vowed to "advocate for and support" anti-abortion legislation.
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The depth of this lie is so staggering... Plus he completely hedged his assertation about the mortgage tax credit position. Worst job in the Romney campaign: following Mitt around and cleaning up the mess, like the circus...
It isn't a bad job -- there are no consequences for lying or changing position. They've clearly shown that they can say anything -- anything at all -- and get away with it.
Thanks, liberal media!
Yes Dude that's the whole story of the Romney campaign,Following behind him shoveling his Bull Sh!t.And if he should happen to win,it would be up to the next President to clean up his Bull Sh!t mess.
How is he getting away with this?
How do people look past this psychopathy and say they will vote for this guy who is the textbook definition of a multiple choice candidate?
http://whateverworks4you.blogspot.com/2012/10/which-mitt.html
Like Ted Kennedy said, on the issue of choice, Willard is Multiple Choice.
Idiot: The problem is that the media can't come off too one sided, but then, that leads to watered down reporting. The second issue is that those pool reporters that ask too 'tough' of a question, will not get to ask more, so they back off! The third thing is that Willard won't do press conferences, and until recently, has not even done one on one's with anyone but Faux news. Willard can go on Faux, and say anything, and no one holds his feet to the fire, and Faux doesn't care.....
Obama minions cant keep thier story straight on Benghazi attack!!
Yes lets talk about those tea bagged republican terrorists who if they can get their way they go around murdering doctors and citizens because it is their god given right to make decision for other people that don't apply to themselves.
dem4robme34: new troll account 10/2012
Wow! robme trolls are really desperate!!!!
LOL
It's hard to remember all the lies, easy to remember the truth....no wonder they are confused with this guy named Romney he hasn't told the truth yet....
Did the extreme Right really buy the story Romney was feeding them. Most sons take after their mothers. Romney really had no intention of changing his views on abortion, he will side with his Mom on this one to his grave. Otherwise, he will be showing disrespect to the memory of his Mother. How far will this monster go, oughta be interesting. Letting your staff do your lieing for you, goes only so far. He should at least do his own lieing, now he has created accessories to his crimes.
Are you kidding? This guy cares nothing for anyone but himself and his glory. he will sign any republican nonsense that comes across his desk. If he gets into the Oval Office he will do everything he can to make sure he gets a second term.
Mitt Romney is bought and paid for:
Mammon is his Master.
Multiple choice Mitt:: Vote none of the above.
http://www.facebook.com/wateva.wurks
Angel: It is scary that his mom's name was 'Lenore,' which is a main character in Poe's 'the Raven.' It is straight out of Hitchcock's 'the Birds' for a relationship story, as it seems Willard will let women have back alley abortions, if it will get him elected. There is no soft side to Willard, and no amount of family involvement will soften him up with the public.
I've figured out who Romney is. He's Zelig. Remember the Woody Allen movie about the man who became whoever he was standing near? If it was a black man, he became black. If it was a Hasidic Jew, he became a Hasidic Jew. Romney becomes whoever he is talking to.
That blastocyst is also flipping and flopping!;
"Dear Jesus, are they gonna save me, are they going to let me be destroyed?! I'm sure I could be a good soldier or at the very least an addled-entitled government benefit sucking socialist 47% lamprey!"
NONE of his serial, rampant, flip-floppery has any effect on the CORE of his candidacy:
"I am WHITE, and I approve this message. Whatever it is, today."
I'll admit to being a
littleOK, a lot cynical, but it seems to me that Romney is appearing on national TV to appear moderate to regular people, then his campaign reassures the base that he's really just as radical as them. With the recent swing in the polls, I'm thinking that maybe it's working? Are we really as stupid as the Romney Campaign thinks we are? Watching TV the last couple of days as the media meme went from "the Romney Campaign is dead" to "The Obama campaign is dead" , I'm really afraid we could possibly be that stupid.Well, there's an important difference between voters being stupid for a week and voters staying stupid for an entire month that has, thus far, eluded the Romney campaign.
Keep in mind the word ratings, a lot of what the T.V. reports is also an effort to keep the arguments alive. I have to shut it off, sometimes all day and concentrate on bringing positive thoughts back into the mix. More goes on behind the scenes then we know about, remember what President Obama was doing during the Whitehouse ceremony, which was later announced as the killing of Osama Bin Laden. There's more where that came from, plenty more.
It's a feature not a bug of his election strategy. Play the moderate on tv in front of millions and then quickly "correct" the record for the base.
He's not moderate, he's modular! He's like a Russell Stover box of chocolates; altogether terrible but each piece contains a stale surprise!
The funny thing is is that a moderate doesn't really stand for anything but moderation. It takes ideas and plans to run a government, along with logistics.
Mitt Romney's policy positions are like an Ohio Valley weatherman's forecast. If you don't like the current weather, wait around awhile and it'll change perhaps to your liking.
Mitt Romney admits Global warming exists:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOLBQxk72NY
Which one admitted it? I guess he's tired of dancing with the Church ladies. Polar bears are more fun to watch.
William, true, but he will let 'Dominion' take care of it, so he can drill oil all the way to hell and back!
So why did he pick Paul Ryan as running mate? There is no daylight between Ryan and Todd Akin on women's reproductive rights, as Ryan proved by co-sponsoring abortion and rape legislation with Akin?
Because the Koch Brothers wanted Ryan - they do not trust Romney because he has numerous epiphanies, but they trust Ryan.
Ryan was bitten by the same venemous spider. He secretly sleeps with the enemy.He is lost searching for the anecdote, Ann doesn't know where it is either.Now, where's that pesky wabbit?
Wisconson, man, Wisconson! Do you think Willard picked Lyin' Ryan for his brains??????
This is Mitt's "Etch-a-Sketch" moment, trying to appeal to independents and moderate conservatives (if there are still such animules). Welcome to elections 2012!
Trust me, there will be plenty more of these flip-flops coming before November 6th.
I guess Etch a sketch man is better than the invisible man!
He's Shapeshifter from Planet Kolob.
Rachel and crew, you have all been looking at this one right? http://chasmcduffee.blogspot.com/2012/10/i-have-been-watching-httpwww.html Romney vs. Kennedy in 1994. I was struck by how many positions taken then are relevant and applicable now. Romney doesn't really flip flop he deals in situation reality. Kennedy forcefully hit back at every opportunity. Debate 3 will need Kennedy's level of focus, drive, and aggressiveness.
What's needed is for Obama and his advisers to look back at how Kennedy hit Romney in those debates, and them implement the 2012 version of the same in these next two debates. Take the gloves off and show America how to deal with a liar.
Let's not mistake this for a candidate bumbling a message that his staff has to clarify later.
This is a very conscious, deliberate strategy of the campaign. The populace, to the extent that they are paying attention, will hear Mitt on the nightly news sounding all reasonable and moderate. With the exception of the committed political news consumer (who has already made up his/her mind and won't be swayed by this pandering) no one will hear the 'correction'. This allows Mitt to project a more moderate stance designed to attract those few feckless undecideds to his cause.
Make no mistake. This is intentional. This is calculated. And when the truth no longer matters, this could win an election.
You nailed it. The Obama campaign should start making ads with clips of Romney saying something and his staff reversing it the very next day.
That the Romney campaign has a plan: Romney appears moderate when the cameras on are, then his staff signals he's still reactionary to the Republican base after most of the cameras are turned off. So, Kid Curve has it slightly wrong. The 'corrections' have an intended audience the campaign expects to be paying attention.
I am a little surprised, however, that they waited until the first debate to really shake the Etch-A-Sketch. Current polling notwithstanding, I have to wonder whether they've left it a little bit late.
Where are the series of ads -- there could be (50) 30-second spots -- with Mitt debating Romney?
Who could ignore those? How could they not be effective?
I agree!
Google "Mitt Romney debates himself" and you will find plenty
atlliberal - the Google is fine for those looking for it, but that won't inform the undecideds who only look to mainstream media (i.e., the TeeVee) in between segments of Survivor or Dancing With the Stars for reasons to decide one way or the other.
Daily Kos got it started for us:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/05/1140797/-Mitt-Romney-debates-himself?detail=email
Oh well. According to the PEW survey women have already forgotten or forgiven Mr. Romney's positions on abortion and on personhood amendments. I guess there is no use talking about it anymore.
That's one of the many parts of the Pew poll that doesn't add up.
An 18 point swing with women after one debate? No way. Other polls suggest a bump for Romney, but that kind of swing with women, in such a short period, is highly unlikely.
That and the oversampling of southern voters. I'll call that Pew poll an outlier.
There was a time in my life that I was a registered Republican, I believed that having a strong military would prevent our country from going to war, while I hate guns my husband was a member of the NRA and so that led us to the Republican side, I was anti-abortion, I believed that making rich people rich would somehow make my life better....sad I know. I grew up, thankfully, I realized with the help of the Bush administration that having a strong military didn't matter, I still hate guns and wish they would magically disappear, while I still would never choose to have an abortion I love that I live in a country where I am free to make that decision for myself and strongly believe in pro-choice and with experience I have also learned that the rich becoming richer only accomplishes one thing, rich people. I am wholeheartedly Democrat now, I guess now I understand better what that means. With the radical way the Republicans have moved I wondered why people still support them so I did a little research and one study showed that people support Republicans because they believe them to be of higher moral standards then liberals. If this is the case, can someone please explain to me why any person seeking higher moral standards would even consider Romney?
Coffeetalk, I have an acquaintance who I consider(ed) to have high moral standards. She is voting for Romney for ONE single issue-abortion. I think that many people have focused on one thing about Mittens and are ignoring everything else.
RM126 my son and his wife are Republican for the same reason but both have decided not to vote at all because they don't like most of the other things Romney has spouted. That really makes me sad because I feel as a voter I need to pick the best person from the choices I have and to not vote at all because you don't like the candidate your party has chosen is crazy. I live in Ohio and it is my understanding that we have the second largest LGBT population in the US, I am waiting for Romney to switch his stance on that as well.
CoffeeTalk: thank goodness your offspring are neutering themselves. See if you can't get them to convince their Republican friends to do the same. :-)
Coffeetalk~ Switch his stance which way? I think he's been on both sides of it at one time or another.
Look--he has to get elected--so we can't have him telling the truth. ...sheeeshhh...
I know I post this line of WW dialogue every time one of these happens, but I mean come on, if he's going to keep doing this...
...what are we to make of a candidate who keeps trying to appear mainstream, only to have his aides change the story a couple of hours later?
That RawMoney will continue to lie to be shown to the ameriKan sheeple as a 'moderate'. With the full expectation that the ConnedServatives will know he doesn't really mean it; that the 'moderates' will hear how 'moderate' Mittens is; and that the corporately owned media will not tell the ameriKan sheeple that his campaign contradicts him and Willard is lying.
I'm grateful for, but I sure as heck don't understand why they bother to "clean up" after twitt. In a way, it's like saying "oh, he's a lier" twice every time he opens his mouth instead of just noteing it once.
Similar to how some repubs disagreed with rummy's not showing his tax returns.. Can't evil people just get along with each other and shut up?
It's like Kid Curve says above; the reason they "clean it up" afterward is that Mitt is trying to move to the middle to get moderate and independent voters, so he states a position that appeals to them but contradicts what he said to the far right last month. Of course this new position makes the extreme wingers look sideways at him. So his staff then comes out and "corrects" his statements to appease the wingers.
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time. Mitt's campaign seeks to maximize each of those.
That he's smart. The "I'm a moderate!" statements get headlines, and the reversals go out on the Wingnut Underground as reassurances.
The result is that those who are looking for a moderate are reassured, and the wingnuts aren't offended.
Dog whistles with alternating sounds! Why didn't I think of that??????? Pray for all women, please.........
Obama minions cant keep their story straight on the Benghazi attack. Meanwhile Obama heads to Las Vegas for some R & R.
Woolard is the Three Musketeers, his all for one and one for all!
Woolard morphs into whatever group he's addressing at the time. So is possible to say with any confidence that he would be on any one certain position if he was president????
Well the only real thing we can go on is what would be best for himself for personal gain. Its the one and only thing that he has ever always stood for. And will run over whoever gets in the way just like the past. If there's a buck to be made or stolen he's all in!
Also he is pro when it comes to kissing corporate ass.
I wish Woolard was more like JFK & RFK.
You want him dead? :) Sorry, my bad!
How can any Conservative ever vote for Romney he's so far to the left....now.