Romney defends his shifts on issues (AP)

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Romney defends his shifts on issues

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer
44 minutes ago

STRATHAM, N.H. - Republican Mitt Romney on Thursday defended
his series of shifts on issues, arguing that his top rivals for the GOP
presidential nomination also have histories of switching positions.

"I served as governor for four years and my record is consistent
and clear," the former Massachusetts governor told The Associated
Press in an interview. "I'd also note that everybody in this race
that I know has changed their mind on certain positions and they've
done so as they gained more experience."

He singled out Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) of
Arizona and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, both of whom
lead Romney in national polls.

"Senator McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts. Now he's for them.
He was opposed to ethanol. Now he's for it. He said he was opposed
to overturning Roe v. Wade. Now he's for overturning Roe v. Wade,"
Romney said, adding: "that suggests that he has learned from
experience."

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070426/ap_on_el_pr/romney_ap_interview_7

[OlderButWiser]

1. How many different issues

has he changed positions on? The only one that comes to mind is that he now says he is a hunter or gun owner or something that will attract the NRA type voters.

[southpaw]

3. For starters...

gay rights, abortion, stem cell research, tax cuts...

there are probably more.

To run as a republican for the governorship of liberal Mass., he had to come off as a moderate/centrist repug with liberal leanings. To run as a republican for the presidency, he is forced to realign his stances to appeal to the red-staters.

He's an opportunist whose stated stances change with the situation...who knows what he really believes.

[Eugene]

5. Abortion...

gay rights and gay marriage, emergency contraception,
gun control, cleaning up the GOP-run Big Dig mess...

In 2002, Mittens ran for Governor as a moderate fiscal
reformer. He governed as a right-wing BushBot.

[OlderButWiser]

6. So which is he

the moderate that he ran as or the right winger that he governed as. Hmmm... I think I answered my own question.

[southpaw]

2. That's great, Mitt...

Why is it when a Democrat changes their stance, it's called flip-flopping?

The repugs beat Kerry to death with the flip-flopper label in '04... Mitt and co. better get ready to have their own sword used against them.

[bluerum]

7. Dems switch positions for crass politics or economics. Mitt switches

after having a one on one with god and getting the real scoop on what the country and the world need right now. He does not change course without consulting a higher power.

[Beaverhausen]

4. Oh good- the repukes are eating their own

first, McCain went after Rudy yesterday, now Romney goes after McCain. Sweet!