Romney reverses himself, supports anti-union law in Ohio

[bigtree]

After refusing to comment on a controversial effort by Ohio Gov. John Kasich to limit public employees’ collective bargaining rights, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Wednesday delivered an enthusiastic endorsement of the measure.

“I’m sorry if I created any confusion,” Romney said Wednesday at a campaign event outside a GOP office in Fairfax, Va. “I fully support Gov. Kasich’s – I think it’s called Question 2, in Ohio – fully support that.” He later added that he is “110% behind” the measure.

Similar measures have been pushed by the GOP in other states, including in Wisconsin, where the effort sparked weeks of demonstrations earlier this year. In Ohio, the measure has become especially controversial. A recent poll found that 57% would repeal the law, which is currently on hold pending approval by referendum.

read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-romney-ohio-20111026,0,7728700.story


Gov. Rick Perry quickly pounced.

"As a true conservative, I stand with Gov. Kasich in promoting S.B.5 for fiscal responsibility and job creation in Ohio," Perry said in a statement to CNN Tuesday. "Gov. Kasich and the Republican leadership of Ohio are to be commended for their efforts."

"I am not speaking about the particular ballot issues," Romney said Tuesday, only after repeated questions from reporters. "Those are up to the people of Ohio. But I certainly support the efforts of the governor to reign in the scale of government. I am not terribly familiar with the two ballot initiatives. But I am certainly supportive of the Republican Party's efforts here."

. . . on my website, I think, back as early as April, I laid out that I support Question 2 and Gov. Kasich’s effort to restrict collective bargaining in Ohio,” he said.

“But what I was referring to is, I know there are other ballot questions there in Ohio, and I wasn’t taking a position on those,” he said. “One of them, for instance, relates to health care and mandates. I’ve said that should be up to individual states….I don’t want to tell them what I think they ought to do in that regard – that’s up to them.”

read: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/26/romney-takes-sides-in-ohio-union-fight/


related:

Majority Of Americans Back Public Employee Union Rights And Benefits
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/majority-of-americans-back-public-employee-unions-rights-and-benefits.php

[sharp_stick]

1. I'm surprised Romney's not dizzy yet

I mean Kerry was pretty much crucified for his ability to be on both sides of an issue but I sure don't remember him being on both sides of pretty much every issue brought up.

[WCGreen]

2. I seriously think he was asked a random question and wasn't quiet

sure about the answer so he didn't want to look like a jack ass...

For all he knew, Issue 2 could have been a bat shit crazy attempt to prevent labor to organize and so use collective bargaining in order to get the best deal they can from the government, a sort of partnership between labor and management, a way to address grievances, if you will, in an equal manner where both labor and management would have a say...

[KamaAina]

3. The official footwear of the Romney campaign