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lovemydog

(11,833 posts)
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 10:22 AM Apr 2012

Advisor says Romney's public views don't reflect what he privately believes

Tell us more about Romney’s ‘private’ views
By E.J. Dionne Jr.

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece on Thursday, the veteran conservative journalist Fred Barnes offered Mitt Romney some advice for improving his campaign, including the sensible (and one might also say humane) suggestion that on immigration, the presumptive nominee “would be wise to move away from his harsh position in the primaries.” Then Barnes included this fascinating sentence: “According to a Romney adviser, his private view of immigration isn’t as anti-immigrant as he often sounded.”

What exactly does that mean? Does it mean Romney said things that he doesn’t really believe? What are we supposed to make of a candidate who takes certain public positions to court one group of voters — and then tries to reassure an entirely different group of voters by leaking the fact that he doesn’t really believe what he said to win votes from the first group? ....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/tell-us-more-about-romneys-private-views/2012/04/13/gIQA0Jz5ET_blog.html

I wonder what other 'public statements' he plans to change after the republican nomination race is over.
54 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Advisor says Romney's public views don't reflect what he privately believes (Original Post) lovemydog Apr 2012 OP
Which Rmoney are we talking about here? HopeHoops Apr 2012 #1
If Only liberalmike27 Apr 2012 #42
Yeah, this is the worst kept secret in politics. Skinner Apr 2012 #2
But true-believers must swallow and dissemble the entire rotten RW agenda hook, indepat Apr 2012 #34
Headline pretty much nails the problem. HooptieWagon Apr 2012 #3
I think that would depend largely on the Congress he ends up with... Volaris Apr 2012 #36
... shocking absolutely no one. Scuba Apr 2012 #4
means he has no beliefs and will be a shill for anyone/anything on a rotating daily basis NightWatcher Apr 2012 #5
ding a ling a ling. cali Apr 2012 #9
Yep. Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Apr 2012 #39
Which for many Republicans is the perfect candidate. Hissyspit Apr 2012 #41
Another gw bu$h. SammyWinstonJack Apr 2012 #43
romney needs to make up his mind who he is SemperEadem Apr 2012 #6
For me,He's signed far too many right wing "pledges", taken far too much Citizens United money, and emulatorloo Apr 2012 #26
He can shake the Etch-a-Sketch at any time. MineralMan Apr 2012 #7
The enitre mindset comes from having lived in a hierarchical society where he and his enough Apr 2012 #8
When Romney ran for elections in Mass. he was a liberal for them xtraxritical Apr 2012 #11
"Advisor says Romney's public views don't reflect what he privately believes" canuckledragger Apr 2012 #10
"Does it mean Romney said things that he doesn’t really believe? " That's EVERYTHING. DFW Apr 2012 #12
It's no wonder the GOP establishment Mz Pip Apr 2012 #13
Guess he has no beliefs. Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Apr 2012 #14
I guess the GOPs Iliyah Apr 2012 #15
A conservative, a moderate and a liberal walk into a bar. The bartender says: Bluenorthwest Apr 2012 #16
Hahahaha. Love it. dkf Apr 2012 #21
So Proud Liberal Dem Apr 2012 #17
Romney went center to win Governor of Mass. and now he moves far right to win Jefferson23 Apr 2012 #18
Paul will back Romney and has pretty much vowed to never run except as the GOP nominee... Chan790 Apr 2012 #22
If Paul endorses Romney, I think his supporters will be disappointed, to say the least. Jefferson23 Apr 2012 #28
Romney is a political Chameleon WI_DEM Apr 2012 #19
LOL. "yes everything he says is bs". dkf Apr 2012 #20
Anyone who believes that he believes his own "beliefs" will believe any fool thing nt MrScorpio Apr 2012 #23
Romney says what ever he thinks will get him elected Botany Apr 2012 #24
cypher no whore willing to sell cindyperry2010 Apr 2012 #25
Repubs are perfectly okay with lying. EC Apr 2012 #27
Which would be okay, if he was consistant krispos42 Apr 2012 #29
Do the words 'fraud' and 'phony' mean anything? louis-t Apr 2012 #30
He's doing a McCain. progressoid Apr 2012 #31
This is where the danger lurks. A lot of "average" people see Romney as... Bonhomme Richard Apr 2012 #32
I have to wonder if this is meant to console the faithful siligut Apr 2012 #33
They will say this again to the teabaggers shawn703 Apr 2012 #35
We are in the "Etch-A-Sketch" phase of the campaign Motown_Johnny Apr 2012 #37
Obviously Romney Is Giving The Etch A Sketch A Shake DallasNE Apr 2012 #38
Problem with over-used etch-a-sketch machines... mwooldri Apr 2012 #47
I loved Rachel Maddow's take on this deception. Ship of Fools Apr 2012 #40
It's clear to me by now that the GOP plans to "do a Wisconsin" on the entire country. Waiting For Everyman Apr 2012 #44
flippity floppity mittens cindyperry2010 Apr 2012 #45
So Romney's a complete hypocrite and liar. Zoeisright Apr 2012 #46
Barnes is trying to telegraphy to "independents" who Skidmore Apr 2012 #48
the problem with mitten's is: he changes is mind so much... Javaman Apr 2012 #49
A Wall Street baron with no integrity? Gee, didn't see that coming! agentS Apr 2012 #50
How is this not front-page news? Arkana Apr 2012 #51
It's simple. Rmoney's a LIAR. Bake Apr 2012 #52
He's a joke! CobaltBlue Apr 2012 #53
Will R voters forgive him? LiberalLovinLug Apr 2012 #54

liberalmike27

(2,479 posts)
42. If Only
Sun Apr 15, 2012, 10:20 AM
Apr 2012

We could get Republicans to stop pandering to the idiot, prejudiced, bigoted voters in their party, we'd have so much better of a world. But then, too, if we got money out of politics it'd be better.

Skinner

(63,645 posts)
2. Yeah, this is the worst kept secret in politics.
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 10:28 AM
Apr 2012

The guy has lied, pandered, and changed positions so often that nobody knows what he actually believes on anything.

He's just an empty shell. The biggest phony in politics -- and that's saying something.

indepat

(20,899 posts)
34. But true-believers must swallow and dissemble the entire rotten RW agenda hook,
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 02:52 PM
Apr 2012

line, and sinker although facet thereof is known to be bad and a rotten stinkin' lie.

 

HooptieWagon

(17,064 posts)
3. Headline pretty much nails the problem.
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 10:29 AM
Apr 2012

If elected, which Romney do we get? Conservatives dont trust him, liberals dont trust him, and he lies whenever his lips are moving.

SemperEadem

(8,053 posts)
6. romney needs to make up his mind who he is
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 10:40 AM
Apr 2012

and stand in THAT truth and take his ass whippin' for it, instead of flip flopping in order to achieve his political aims and ends.

He is the living embodiment of "bait and switch".

emulatorloo

(44,192 posts)
26. For me,He's signed far too many right wing "pledges", taken far too much Citizens United money, and
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 12:07 PM
Apr 2012

told far to many FreeRepublic style lies about Obama. That is his truth now, do not care what he says tomorrow.

enough

(13,262 posts)
8. The enitre mindset comes from having lived in a hierarchical society where he and his
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 10:46 AM
Apr 2012

ancestors are at the top of the hierarchy. He simply does not have the instinct to even pretend that it matters what he says to the great mass of people below him. He is the rightful headman. Enough said. Of COURSE he has "private views" that are different from what he says outloud. It's all in our best interests. It is meant to be that way, for everybody's good.

 

xtraxritical

(3,576 posts)
11. When Romney ran for elections in Mass. he was a liberal for them
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 10:59 AM
Apr 2012

now that he's running a national campaign he wants to be (all of a sudden) a conservative. I think it's his LDS indoctrination that makes him so malleable with the truth/facts.

canuckledragger

(1,670 posts)
10. "Advisor says Romney's public views don't reflect what he privately believes"
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 10:55 AM
Apr 2012

didn't they used to call this kind of thing lying?

DFW

(54,447 posts)
12. "Does it mean Romney said things that he doesn’t really believe? " That's EVERYTHING.
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 11:03 AM
Apr 2012

He HAS no beliefs, other than that he believes he and his friends should have lots of money, and most others should not.

He says what he deems convenient. Other than that, he doesn't say anything.

Mz Pip

(27,453 posts)
13. It's no wonder the GOP establishment
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 11:04 AM
Apr 2012

is backing him. If he can make it to the White House by appealing to people that don't pay attention then he will be a perfect President for them. He will sign any GOP bill that crosses his desk no matter how draconian. That's what the GOP wants; a lily livered weak assed yes man.

Iliyah

(25,111 posts)
15. I guess the GOPs
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 11:16 AM
Apr 2012

believe that money and suppression of votes will win the elections for them. Thats why Pres O needs to win by a large amount of votes, but then again, I still don't trust the GOP, they think that GAWD has choosen them to do whatever to the American people and the world.

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
16. A conservative, a moderate and a liberal walk into a bar. The bartender says:
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 11:17 AM
Apr 2012

"Good evening, Governor Romeney!"

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,445 posts)
17. So
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 11:24 AM
Apr 2012

Last edited Sat Apr 14, 2012, 12:24 PM - Edit history (1)

what exactly are we supposed to believe are Romney's actual views on things? Aren't we, as citizens of a Democracy supposed to be able to know what our would-be leaders actually believe so that we can make a truly informed decision when we enter the voting booth? Or has it simply become acceptable to allow candidates seeking public office to hide/obfuscate their views until the election is concluded and they have been elected, in Romney's case, potentially to the highest office in the country?

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)
18. Romney went center to win Governor of Mass. and now he moves far right to win
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 11:26 AM
Apr 2012

the primary. But his problems don't end there, most primary winners do not need to
court their base after that win but Romney imo, will still be needing to spend time
and money on the base who still to this day do not trust him. Then he has the
Ron Paul crowd to worry about, I have no idea what Paul will do, if he runs as
an Independent/Third Party that will hurt Romney, if Paul urges his supporters
to vote for Romney, I will be very surprised.

Romney will be hard pressed to sell his far right rhetoric to Independents while
still courting the wacko crazies in his base.

 

Chan790

(20,176 posts)
22. Paul will back Romney and has pretty much vowed to never run except as the GOP nominee...
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 11:48 AM
Apr 2012

personally I don't think he should be allowed to claim to be a libertarian if he won't accept their nomination for public office. Ron Paul is a Republican albeit one who is embarrassed by other Republicans. Most people of integrity do what Linc Chaffee did when their party no longer holds their values and leave.

Everything Ron Paul says is suspect until he renounces the GOP and refuses to run for his House seat or the Presidency as a Republican because Ron Paul is not a man of integrity.

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)
28. If Paul endorses Romney, I think his supporters will be disappointed, to say the least.
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 12:23 PM
Apr 2012

I'm not confident that endorsement will come and if it did, I find it hard to believe the majority
of his base will vote for Romney.

True, he has said he will only run as the GOP nominee but has said recently
when asked, he'll wait until the end of the primary race to state anything
about it.

Ron Paul certainly does not desire to help Obama win, but he may do just that,
regardless.

Is there still time for Paul to run for re-election for Congress if he waits until
the Republican primary is over? I thought he had declared months ago he was
not running.

EC

(12,287 posts)
27. Repubs are perfectly okay with lying.
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 12:10 PM
Apr 2012

As long as it's to the right audience. They don't seem to have any qualms in admitting to only "playing to the audience" or doing "what sells". It's part of that "it's only business" culture.

krispos42

(49,445 posts)
29. Which would be okay, if he was consistant
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 12:33 PM
Apr 2012

I expect a politician to publicly support or oppose an issue based on a lot more things than just "feelings"... science, proven theory, past success, and public opinion, for example.

But I also expect the politician to be reasonably consistent. If a politician that's pro-X see that being pro-X simply doesn't help or even harms his constituents and the American people at large, I expect him or her to say "I would like to be pro-X, but it simply doesn't work. I feel it should, I want it to, and I would love to see it work, but it just doesn't".

I don't want a politician that will decided whether or not to be pro-X based on his best chance for electoral success. And Romney is the current epitome of that kind of politician.

louis-t

(23,297 posts)
30. Do the words 'fraud' and 'phony' mean anything?
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 01:18 PM
Apr 2012

Republicans have to sell their soul to become the nominee. Mc Cain seemed very bitter about this.

progressoid

(49,999 posts)
31. He's doing a McCain.
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 01:50 PM
Apr 2012

He says/does whatever he thinks will get him elected. Sorry Mitty, people don't like to be hoodwinked.

Bonhomme Richard

(9,000 posts)
32. This is where the danger lurks. A lot of "average" people see Romney as...
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 01:55 PM
Apr 2012

a middle of the road guy. I heard my nephew say that he writes all the stuff Romney said during the primaries as just words he didn't mean.
It didn't seem to matter to him. He liked that he was a middle of the road business guy.

siligut

(12,272 posts)
33. I have to wonder if this is meant to console the faithful
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 01:55 PM
Apr 2012

Mormonism is rigid and according to one Mormon on the board, Rmoney's campaign is weighing heavy on them, they don't like the attention. It makes me wonder, if this is really a statement from a Rmoney adviser, if it is meant to appease and mediate between his public persona and his supposedly strong Mormon faith.

shawn703

(2,702 posts)
35. They will say this again to the teabaggers
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 03:58 PM
Apr 2012

Once he starts sounding more "sensible" for the general election.

DallasNE

(7,403 posts)
38. Obviously Romney Is Giving The Etch A Sketch A Shake
Sat Apr 14, 2012, 08:46 PM
Apr 2012

And is drawing a new image for the general election. Will the mainstream media allow him to get away with this makeover? We know that Fox News will because Barnes already has. Perhaps a larger problem is the negatives Romney carries with the public and turning to his wife to bail him out doesn't display leadership. It is a shameless display of desperation.

mwooldri

(10,303 posts)
47. Problem with over-used etch-a-sketch machines...
Mon Apr 16, 2012, 07:51 AM
Apr 2012

After repeated use and shaking, the original pictures are still there to be seen.

Ship of Fools

(1,453 posts)
40. I loved Rachel Maddow's take on this deception.
Sun Apr 15, 2012, 02:22 AM
Apr 2012

It's amazing that Rs are so upfront about this shit. Lying then or lying now, Mittens?
Jeebus--the bumper stickers just write themselves.

Waiting For Everyman

(9,385 posts)
44. It's clear to me by now that the GOP plans to "do a Wisconsin" on the entire country.
Sun Apr 15, 2012, 11:02 AM
Apr 2012

Anything they can say to divert attention from that, works for them. They'll get in and (just like Walker) screw up whatever is left of fairness in the political structure, and loot whatever is left to get. Then they'll dump it in another Dem's lap again to clean up (sort of) in 4 or 8 years. It's what they always do.

It's the "say anything" strategy, and it works (as we have seen too many times before).

What they say or don't say doesn't make any difference. They don't have a "plan" for anything because all they're going to do is steal. That, and pass laws to enable more stealing. They'll disenfranchise and impoverish as many people as possible right off the bat - because while people are busy struggling to survive, they can't resist the attack on them very effectively.

Women, minorities, unions, and all 99% programs are going under the bus right away. That, and I'll bet the older SCOTUS will retire if Mittens wins - and the replacements will be young and even more deranged and corrupt than this bunch.

If the GOPers lose this time, they'll just keep laying their plans for doing it the next time. It's what they do. It's what they have always done, since Nixon at least (that's how long I've been following it).

What Romney and the rest of them, big and small, privately believe is: money, money, money, money, money... That's all they're about. And of course, money buys power, to get more money, and to legalize making people work for them for free, or if not then close to it. Any issue thought of in that light becomes crystal clear.

Every two or four years it's time to "befuddle the voters" into voting for them, so they can get back to their only interest in life... taking whatever they can from whoever they can.


Skidmore

(37,364 posts)
48. Barnes is trying to telegraphy to "independents" who
Mon Apr 16, 2012, 08:57 AM
Apr 2012

are fence sitting because of the extreme policy demands of the right that Romney is really not that bad so it would be okay to vote for him in the general election. Romney is a Trojan horse for the GOP. They will try to get him through the gates and then proceed to open the trapdoor. This crap needs to be nipped in the bud.

Javaman

(62,534 posts)
49. the problem with mitten's is: he changes is mind so much...
Mon Apr 16, 2012, 09:40 AM
Apr 2012

I don't think anyone knows what he believes, even himself.

agentS

(1,325 posts)
50. A Wall Street baron with no integrity? Gee, didn't see that coming!
Mon Apr 16, 2012, 09:47 AM
Apr 2012


Oh, Obama is going have a lot of fun with this in the debates...

Arkana

(24,347 posts)
51. How is this not front-page news?
Mon Apr 16, 2012, 09:50 AM
Apr 2012

Even if it's been true of pretty much EVERY Presidential candidate ever, you don't SAY it. This just reinforces the "Etch-A-Sketch Candidate" meme. They really should know better.

 

CobaltBlue

(1,122 posts)
53. He's a joke!
Tue Apr 17, 2012, 08:49 AM
Apr 2012

Fred Barnes is a joke! He was a fool who, days before the 2008 U.S. presidential election (Nov. 4), compared on air predictions with a Faux News colleague. The colleague predicted Obama, comparatively to other pundits, while Barnes predicted McCain in the 270s. I dismissed Fred Barnes with that … and, four years later, he's just as irrelevant.

LiberalLovinLug

(14,178 posts)
54. Will R voters forgive him?
Tue Apr 17, 2012, 02:04 PM
Apr 2012

Even a couple of months is a long time in politics, and he'll have plenty of time before the General Election to slowly move back towards the center in order to woo the independents and undecided.

Will it matter to traditional R voters if he contradicts his former self? Not really, they'll forgive him anything if it means getting rid of the socialist, marxist, Muslim, black man in the White House. You can bet FAUX News will be glossing over all his positions. But will the rest of the MSM let him get away with it? We'll see.

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