14 Bald-Faced Mitt Romney Flip-Flops That Were Dug Up By John McCain

[Penny Lane 8,159]

#1 On Immigration - For A Path To Citizenship, Then Against

FLIP: “Gov. Mitt Romney expressed support ... for an immigration program that places large numbers of illegal residents on the path toward citizenship ... Romney said illegal immigrants should have a chance to obtain citizenship.” (Evan Lehmann, “Romney Supports Immigration Program, But Not Granting ‘Amnesty’,” The Lowell Sun, 3/30/06)

FLOP: “ think I’m best off to describe my own positions. And my positions, I think I’ve just described for you – secure the border, employment verification and no special pathway to citizenship. I feel that’s the course we ought to take.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 5/22/07)

#2 On George W. Bush's Tax-Cuts

FLIP: “[R]omney spoke at the 10th annual legislative conference organized by U.S. Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Lowell) and met with the Massachusetts delegation. ... Congressional sources said that a point of contention arose when Romney refused to take a position on Bush’s massive, 10-year tax cut plan.” (Noelle Straub, “Romney Talks Policy With Bush Staffers, Mass. Delegation,” Boston Herald, 4/11/03)

FLOP: "McCain opposed President Bush’s tax cuts, Romney noted. ‘I supported them,’ the former governor said.” (Lee Bandy, “Romney Targeting McCain,” The State [sC], 2/4/07)

#3 Anti-Reagan then, now Pro-Reagan.

FLIP: “I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I’m not trying to return to Reagan- Bush,” Mitt Romney said during a debate with Ted Kennedy

FLOP: "'Ronald Reagan is one of my heroes,' Romney said as he praised Reagan’s strategy for winning the Cold War: ‘We win; they lose.’” (Michael Levenson, “Romney Links Gay Marriage, US Prestige,” The Boston Globe, 2/26/05)

#4 On The National Rifle Association And Gun Laws

FLIP: “[Romney] said he will take stands that put him at odds with some traditional ultra- conservative groups, and cited his support for the assault rifle ban and the Brady gun control law. ‘That’s not going to make me the hero of the NRA,’ he said. ‘I don’t line up with a lot of special interest groups.’” (Andrew Miga, “Mitt Rejects Right-Wing Aid,” Boston Herald, 9/23/94)

FLOP: Romney told a Derry, N.H., audience, ‘I’m after the NRA’s endorsement. I’m not sure they’ll give it to me. I hope they will. I also joined because if I’m going to ask for their endorsement, they’re going to ask for mine.’” (Glen Johnson, “Romney Calls Himself A Longtime Hunter,” The Associated Press, 4/5/07)

#5 On Whether He Even Owns A Gun (This story changed within just a few days)

FLIP: "I have a gun of my own. I go hunting myself. I’m a member of the NRA and believe firmly in the right to bear arms," Romney said. (Glenn And Helen Show, www.glennandhelenshow.com, 1/10/07)

FLOP: "Asked by reporters at the gun show Friday whether he personally owned a gun, Romney said he did not. He said one of his sons, Josh, keeps two guns at the family vacation home in Utah, and he uses them ‘from time to time.’” (Scott Helman, “Romney Retreats On Gun Control,” The Boston Globe, 1/14/07)

#6 Is the planet warming? Mitt probably agreed with you at one time or another.

FLIP: "I think the global warming debate is now pretty much over and people recognize the need associated with providing sources which do not generate the heat that is currently provided by fossil fuels ...” (Jack Coleman, “Massachusetts Governor Urges Use Of Alternative Energy,” Cape Cod Times, 3/14/03)

“I concur that climate change is beginning to [have an] effect on our natural resources and that now is the time to take action ...” (“Romney OK With Plan On Emissions,” Boston Herald, 7/24/03)

FLOP: “I have to tell you with regards to global warming that that’s something, which, you’re right, the scientists haven’t entirely resolved, but no question about one thing, it’s getting warmer, and a lot of good reasons for us to use less energy, to use it more efficiently and to develop sources here in this country that could allow us to be more independent of foreign sources.” (CNBC’s “Kudlow & Company,” 2/7/07)

“Unfortunately, some in the Republican Party are embracing the radical environmental ideas of the liberal left. As governor, I found that thoughtful environmentalism need not be anti-growth and anti-jobs. But Kyoto-style sweeping mandates, imposed unilaterally in the United States, would kill jobs, depress growth and shift manufacturing to the dirtiest developing nations. Republicans should never abandon pro-growth conservative principles in an effort to embrace the ideas of Al Gore.” (Romney For President, Press Release, 2/23/07)

#7 Don't Ask Don't Tell? Don't Ask Mitt Romney

FLIP: In 1994 “[Romney] called President Bill Clinton’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ military policy ‘the first of a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation’s military.’” (Dan Balz and Shailagh Murray, “Mass. Governor’s Rightward Shift Raises Questions,” The Washington Post, 12/21/06)

FLOP: “[Romney] defended his policy switch on gays in the military. He said when he first heard the phrase ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ he thought it was ‘kind of a silly phrase that didn’t make a lot of sense.’ But the last 10 years have convinced him that the policy is working and there is no reason to change it, he said.” (Alexa Aguilar, “Romney Campaigns In Chicago,” Chicago Tribune, 4/12/07)

#8 Has your position on same-sex marriage changed? So has Mitt Romney's.

FLIP: When a 2002 Constitutional Amendment was proposed to ban same-sex marriage, Romney opposed it. “Romney’s family members signed the petition to put it on the ballot ‘without reading the fine print,’ [Romney aide Eric] Fehrnstrom said, but he has no reason to believe they do not support it. ‘Mitt did not know they signed it, and Mitt does not support it,’ he said. ‘As far as Mitt is concerned, it goes farther than current law, and therefore it’s unnecessary.’” (Rick Klein, “Romney Kin Signed Petition To Ban Same-Sex Marriage,” The Boston Globe, 3/22/02)

FLOP: “Just two weeks before lawmakers resume a Constitutional Convention to vote on a proposed ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage, Gov. Mitt Romney will stand with the supporters of the measure to call on the Legislature to back it. Romney will join petition backers in a State House press event today to urge the Legislature to pass the Protection of Marriage Amendment when the Constitutional Convention reconvenes July 12, authorizing a 2008 ballot question asking voters to define marriage as between one man and one woman.” (Kimberly Atkins and Kate Gibson, “Mitt Joining Supporters Of Anti-Gay Wed Initiative,” Boston Herald, 6/28/06)

#9 On embryonic stem cell research, Romney's still developing a fully-formed position.

FLIP: “Speaking at a bioethics forum, GOP gubernatorial hopeful Mitt Romney yesterday endorsed embryonic stem cell research ... [Romney] endorsed embryonic stem cell research, saying the controversial science might one day help treat his wife’s multiple sclerosis in addition to numerous other degenerative diseases. ... Romney spoke extensively about his position on stem cell research, which also involves embryo destruction.” (Raja Mishra, “Romney Endorses Stem Cell Research, Is Silent On Cloning,” The Boston Globe, 6/14/02)

FLOP: ...On Feb. 10, 2005 ... Romney came out strongly against the cloning technique ... He vowed to press for legislation to criminalize the work. Romney’s opposition stunned scientists, lawmakers, and observers because of his past statements endorsing, at least in general terms, embryonic stem cell research.” (Scott Helman, “Romney’s Journey To The Right,” The Boston Globe, 12/17/06

#10 Favorite Book? Well, that depends.

FLIP: FOX NEWS’ MARTHA MCCALLUM: And an interesting response to his favorite novel. ROMNEY: “Actually the one by L. Ron Hubbard, I hate to think ... I’m not in favor of his religion by any means, but he wrote a book called ‘Battlefield Earth’ that was a very fun science fiction book.” (Fox News’ “Fox & Friends,” 4/30/07)

FLOP (Maybe just a hedge): "Asked about his comments during a Fox News interview Monday that L. Ron Hubbard’s 'Battlefield Earth' is his favorite novel, Romney said Huckleberry Finn is his favorite fiction and that the book by Hubbard, who founded Scientology, is his favorite science fiction reading.” (Mary Anne Ostrom, “Education Should Determine Immigrants’ Legal Status, Mitt Romney Says,” The [san Jose, CA] Mercury News, 5/1/07)

#11 His Own Health-Care Initiative. He's Not Sure About That Either.

FLIP: "In a Colonial-era hall, with a fife-and-drum corps marching in with him, Gov. Mitt Romney ® signed a bill Wednesday requiring all Massachusetts residents to purchase health insurance -- portraying the measure as a historic solution to health-care costs, even as questions emerge about whether the state can afford it. The signing [was] staged with a near-presidential attention to theatrics and slogan-bearing banners...” (David A. Fahrenthold, “Mass. Marks Health-Care Milestone,” The Washington Post, 4/13/06)

FLOP: "As governor of Massachusetts he signed a bipartisan law intended to ensure that every resident has coverage. Romney touted it as an innovative free-market solution. Yet these days, Romney ... is much more likely to present his state’s universal coverage law as not a model to copy but an example for other states to learn from. He’s now a critic of his own biggest achievement.” (Sean Higgins, “Ex-Gov. Romney Keeps Distance From His Own Mass. Health Plan,” Investor’s Business Daily, 3/7/07)

#12 Tax Pledges are beneath Romney, until the presidency was in front of him.

FLIP: “Four years ago, Mitt Romney broke with GOP tradition and refused to sign the [Americans for Tax Reform] pledge [to ‘oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes’].” (Lisa Wangsness, “Healey Will Sign Antitax Pledge,” The Boston Globe, 9/4/06)

“Romney’s Gubernatorial Campaign Spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, Dismissed Such Pledges At The Time As ‘Government By Gimmickry.’” (Scott Helman, “Romney Finds ‘No New Taxes’ Promise Suits Him After All,” The Boston Globe, 1/5/07)

FLOP: “Almost five years after he refused to sign a ‘no new taxes’ pledge during his campaign for governor, Mitt Romney announced ... that he had done just that, as his campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination began in earnest.” (Scott Helman, “Romney Finds ‘No New Taxes’ Promise Suits Him After All,” The Boston Globe, 1/5/07)

#13 Money in politics? Sometimes it's good, sometimes it is bad.

FLIP: “Romney also said he advocates spending limits on congressional elections, even suggesting that the current race against Sen. Edward M. Kennedy should have a $6 million spending cap.” (Frank Phillips, “Romney, Vowing To Live It, Touts Congress Reform Plan,” The Boston Globe, 7/27/94)

"[Mitt Romney] once touted dramatic restructuring measures such as taxing political contributions and placing spending limits on federal campaigns.” (Alexander Bolton, “Romney’s About-Face On Campaign Funding,” The Hill, 2/8/07)

FLOP: “Romney noted his foe from Arizona wrote the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law that restricts certain types of contributions. ‘That’s a terrible piece of legislation,’ Romney said. ‘It hasn’t taken the money out of politics. ... (But) it has hurt my party.’” (Lee Bandy, “Romney Targeting McCain,” The State, 2/4/07)

#14 NOW THE BIG ONE: During his 1994 Senate Run, Mitt Romney argued that he was more pro-choice than Ted Kennedy

FLIP: “When Kennedy called him ‘multiple choice,’ Romney demanded an extra rebuttal. He revealed that a close relative died of an illegal abortion years ago and said, ‘Since that time, my mother and my family have been committed to the belief that we can believe as we want, but we will not force our beliefs on others on that matter, and you will not see me wavering on that.’” (Joan Vennochi, “Romney’s Revolving World,” The Boston Globe, 3/2/06)

“I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it.” (Joan Vennochi, “Romney’s Revolving World,” The Boston Globe, 3/2/06)

#14 CONTINUED When he went to conservative Utah, that tune changed.

FLOP: “When I am asked if I am pro-choice or pro-life, I say I refuse to accept either label.” (Glen Warchol, “This Is The Place, But Politics May Lead Romneys Elsewhere,” The Salt Lake Tribune, 2/14/99)

#14 CONTINUED But I'm running for office in Massachusetts again, so I'm pro-choice again!

FLIP: “I will preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose, and am devoted and dedicated to honoring my word in that regard. I will not change any provisions of Massachusetts’ pro-choice laws.” (2002 Romney-O’Brien Gubernatorial Debate, Suffolk University, Boston, MA, 10/29/02)

In 2002, Romney Offered His Completed NARAL Questionnaire, Filled Out With “Mostly Abortion-Rights Positions,” To The Media Even Before Returning It To NARAL. “Yesterday, Romney also aimed to head off confusion about his stance on abortion rights by answering a Mass National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League questionnaire with mostly abortion-rights positions. He offered the questionnaire to the press even before he returned it to MassNARAL...”

Then he started thinking of national office as a Republican. And he happened to have a revelation

FLOP: "Romney said he had a change of heart on the issue after speaking with a stem-cell researcher, Dr. Douglas Melton. Romney claims Melton said ‘Look, you don’t have to think about this stem cell research as a moral issue, because we kill the embryos after 14 days.’

‘It hit me very hard that we had so cheapened the value of human life in a Roe v. Wade environment that it was important to stand for the dignity of human life,’ Romney says.” (Karen Tumulty, “What Romney Believes,” Time, 5/21/07)

Source

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Another great website for endless Romney flip-flops:

http://mittromneyflipflops.com/

[X Factor 1,112]

Politicians are just being politicians. You ask them what is their favorite color and they say plaid, instead of giving you a straight up answer like "red". They want to not offend anyone and give you an answer that they think would offend the least.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Just being poltiicians? Tell that to the group here who absolutely lost their minds at the idea of Obama 'evolving' on his stance on gay marriage. Turns out, Romney's evolved too. More than once.

Edited August 24, 2012 by Evylin

[X Factor 1,112]

Just being poltiicians? Tell that to the group here who absolutely lost their minds at the idea of Obama 'evolving' on his stance on gay marriage. Turns out, Romney's evolved too. More than once.

It seems that people have to wise-up and pick the candidate that would evolve the least, since the all do it

Edited August 24, 2012 by kennard

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I don't mind if opinions change. People grow older, they learn from experiences, their world view tends to change. What I hate is people whose opinions change at the drop of the hat depending on who they're talking to at the time.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I don't mind if opinions change. People grow older, they learn from experiences, their world view tends to change. What I hate is people whose opinions change at the drop of the hat depending on who they're talking to at the time.

[X Factor 1,112]

I don't mind if opinions change. People grow older, they learn from experiences, their world view tends to change. What I hate is people whose opinions change at the drop of the hat depending on who they're talking to at the time.

In other words folks that don't have a backbone ...

[SMOKE 1,426]

damn. i tried to post some of obama's flip flops. but, it was dragging the server down.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/rulings/promise-broken/?page=1 5 pages on this one.

http://www.therightsphere.com/2012/04/president-flip-flop-barack-obamas-broken-promises-policy-reversals-and-continuous-flip-flops/

Edited August 24, 2012 by SMOKE

[Penny Lane 8,159]

How did I know a response like that was coming?

It seems most people here can't defend Romney without slamming Obama, and people can't defend Obama without slamming Romney.

What a stellar "choice" Americans have to make.

[SMOKE 1,426]

How did I know a response like that was coming?

It seems most people here can't defend Romney without slamming Obama, and people can't defend Obama without slamming Romney.

What a stellar "choice" Americans have to make.

because today isn't your first day here.

same for obama supporters

inorite..we're stuck w/ 'the lesser of the two evils'

Edited August 24, 2012 by SMOKE

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

whichmitt.com

On Flip-Flopping

Which of the following statements has Mitt made?

“I think you'll find that I've been as consistent as human beings can be as I look at those issues and as I try and apply those principles to government.”

“If you're looking for someone who's never changed any positions on any policies, then I'm not your guy.”

X All of the above

On Climate Change

Which of the following statements has Mitt made?

“I believe the world's getting warmer. I can't prove that, but I believe based on what I read that the world is getting warmer. And number two, I believe that humans contribute to that.”

“My view is that we don't know what's causing climate change on this planet.”

X All of the above

On a Flat Tax

Which of the following statements has Mitt made?

“So there are some tax proposals that are called a flat tax that I don't agree with because they end up being huge breaks for the highest income Americans of which I happen to have been one, still am, and I'm not looking for a tax break for me.”

“I love a flat tax.”

X All of the above

On Health Care

Which of the following statements has Mitt made?

“At the time I crafted the plan in the last campaign I was asked is this something you would have the whole nation do, and I said no. This is something that was crafted for Massachusetts. It would be wrong to adopt this as a nation.“

In Massachusetts, “ was able to put in place a plan that helped get health insurance premiums down, and gets all of our citizens insured. If we can do that nationally, we help ... the entire nation.“

X All of the above

On Roe V. Wade

Which of the following statements has Mitt made?

“I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years that we should sustain and support it. And I sustain and support that law and the right of a woman to make that choice.”

“And that is why, as a pro-life Republican, I am in favor of having the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade.”

X All of the above

On The Recovery Act

Which of the following statements has Mitt made?

“I think there is need for economic stimulus. Americans have lost about $11 trillion in net worth … And government can help make that up in a very difficult time.”

“I have never supported the President's Recovery Act... No time, no where, no how have I supported the President's stimulus.”

X All of the above

On How President Obama Handled The Recession

Which of the following statements has Mitt made?

“He didn’t create the recession, but he made it worse, and longer.”

“I didn't say that things are worse.”

X All of the above

On President Reagan

Which of the following statements has Mitt made?

“I was an Independent during the time of Reagan/Bush. I'm not trying to return to Reagan/Bush.”

“The right way for America to proceed when we face the kind of challenges we face is to pursue the strategy which Ronald Reagan pursued when we faced the challenges of the last century.”

X All of the above

Mitt is like jellyfish - no backbone whatsoever.

[JohnR! 5,495]

How did I know a response like that was coming?

It seems most people here can't defend Romney without slamming Obama, and people can't defend Obama without slamming Romney.

What a stellar "choice" Americans have to make.

What I find worrying is that after putting abortion front and center of the discussion, abortion is the one subject he will forbid reporters to inquire during interviews.

He is trying to pander to the fringes of his party and may end up losing the moderate center.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

What I find worrying is that after putting abortion front and center of the discussion, abortion is the one subject he will forbid reporters to inquire during interviews.

He's doing the Sharon Angle thing here. You know, he wants the media to ask only those questions that he wants to answer.

[JohnR! 5,495]

He's doing the Sharon Angle thing here. You know, he wants the media to ask only those questions that he wants to answer.

It is more than that.

If you want to interview the candidate who may become the next president of the US you must not ask questions about abortion or tax returns.

As a candidate for the position of leader of the free world, he denies the press freedom of speech.