Mitt Romney News, Mitt Romney Pictures
President Obama leads Mitt Romney by 8% in a new poll from the Associated Press. The new AP/GfK poll shows the incumbent President with 50% support compared to 42% for the Massachusetts millionaire.
The poll shows a virtual tie between the candidates on who is better suited to handle the economy, an issue Romney has sought to use against Obama. Obama is more trusted in the poll on taxes, social issues and leads Romney on whether he is a “strong leader” by 11%.
Mitt Romney had a secret meeting with right-wing bloggers in an attempt to get them to back his presidential campaign.
Huffington Post reports that representatives from outlets like “National Review, Daily Caller, American Spectator, Washington Examiner, Right Wing News, Powerline, Townhall, Ace of Spades, Rhiel World View, White House Dossier, and Pajamas Media” were in attendance.
Romney met the bloggers at a private club in Washington, D.C. According to attendees Romney complained about coverage of his campaign from the mainstream press. A study recently showed Romney has received the lions share of positive press so far in the 2012 campaign, exceeding President Obama.
Marco Rubio, who recently paid a fine for improper contributions to his 2010 Senate campaign, is now being asked by the Federal Election Commission to explain irregular contributions to his PAC.
Rubio’s Reclaim America PAC was the subject of an FEC letter asking for details about a contribution over the legal limit, as well as another prohibited corporate contribution.
Rubio’s PAC told the FEC it returned $5,000 to donors who had broken the contribution rules, but reportedly did not address the mysterious prohibited donation from Van Wagner Miami, an advertising firm.
The junior senator from Florida has topped many lists of likely running mates for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, though he has denied interest in the position.
A new campaign ad from the Obama campaign highlights Mitt Romney’s secret offshore Swiss bank account. WATCH:
House Speaker John Boehner, defending the wealth of multimillionaire presidential candidate Mitt Romney, told CNN on Sunday that “the American people don’t want to vote for a loser.”
Boehner’s comments would seem to indicate that not having the enormous wealth of Romney, rumored to be worth $250 million, would classify most Americans as “a loser.”
Romney’s habit of making out of touch comments about his wealth has plagued his campaign. He bragged that he likes being able to fire people who provide services to him.
Romney also told CNN that “I’m not very concerned about the very poor.” And at the Iowa State Fair, Romney told an attendee that “corporations are people.”
A new video released by the Obama campaign highlights a series of lies, myths, and exaggerations from Mitt Romney on foreign policy over the 2012 campaign so far.
A new analysis finds that Mitt Romney outspent his Republican rivals in order to secure the nomination, spending a whopping $126,000 per delegate.
CNN Money crunched the numbers from the Republican primary campaign and found that Romney spent $18.50 per vote, gaining 4.1 million votes and 607 delegates as a result.
While Romney swept all five primary states on Tuesday night, a significant percentage of Republican voters still voted against the de facto nominee, showing that he still has some work to do in order to assure the conservative base of his party.
President Obama has begun the general election phase of the campaign with a strong lead over Mitt Romney in New Hampshire.
In a new poll from WMUR, Obama leads Romney 51% to 42%. In October, Romney had led Obama 50% to 42% in the same poll.
While New Hampshire only has 4 electoral votes, it has been considered a swing state for the last few elections.
Romney was expected to make it more of a contest, since he was governor of nearby Massachusetts.
Mitt Romney’s pattern of hiding information about his background and multi-million dollar fortune is being criticized by the Washington Post.
In an editorial published on Sunday the paper notes the Massachusetts millionaire’s “contemptuous attitude toward the importance of public disclosure.” The Post, who supported the Iraq War, says that “the presumptive Republican is setting a new, low bar for transparency.”
Romney has refused to release multiple years of his tax returns, while his Republican rivals and President Obama and Vice President Biden have done so. Many believe Romney is attempting to take attention away from funds he has hidden in offshore bank accounts in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands.
The Post also takes Romney to task for refusing to disclose big ticket campaign bundlers, even though Presidents Obama and Bush did so.
Likely Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has admitted that he believes in a conspiracy theory that the media is plotting against him.
Speaking to the conservative site Breitbart.com, Romney said, “There will be an effort by the quote vast left wing conspiracy to work together to put out their message and to attack me.”
He continued: “They’re going to do everything they can to divert from the message people care about, which is a growing economy that creates more jobs and rising incomes.”
It is unclear which media stories have prompted the apparently paranoid response from Romney.
Later in the interview, Romney also said, “Many in the media are inclined to do the president’s bidding.”
Senate Republicans blocked the popular “Buffet Rule” today, defending millionaires and billionaires from tax rates paid by average Americans.
The rule, proposed by President Obama and the Democratic party, would tax the investment income of the super-wealthy in order to bring them in line with others.
The senate voted 51-45 for the measure, but it did not gain the 60 cloture votes needed for an up-or-down majority vote.
Currently the top 1% of earners escape higher tax rates thanks to legislation that protects income from investments, often the top source of income for these people.
Both Obama and likely Republican nominee Mitt Romney would face higher rates under the Buffett Rule. Romney opposes the legislation, and has supported extending the Bush tax cuts for the super rich.
A recent poll from CNN showed that 70% of voters support the “Buffett Rule.”
President Obama issued a press release in response to the GOP’s actions: “Tonight, Senate Republicans voted to block the Buffett Rule, choosing once again to protect tax breaks for the wealthiest few Americans at the expense of the middle class.”
“The Buffett Rule is common sense. At a time when we have significant deficits to close and serious investments to make to strengthen our economy, we simply cannot afford to keep spending money on tax cuts that the wealthiest Americans don’t need and didn’t ask for. But it’s also about basic fairness – it’s just plain wrong that millions of middle-class Americans pay a higher share of their income in taxes than some millionaires and billionaires. America prospers when we’re all in it together and everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”
“One of the fundamental challenges of our time is building an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules. And I will continue to push Congress to take steps to not only restore economic security for the middle class and those trying to reach the middle class, but also to create an economy that’s built to last.”
Last week Mitt Romney praised the work of stay at home moms, but new information reveals he didn’t feel the same about poor mothers receiving government assistance.
While he defended his wife, Ann, against suggestions that stay at home mothers didn’t work, in January Romney sung a different tune.
In New Hampshire Romney said, “Even if you have a child 2 years of age, you need to go to work. And people said, ‘Well that’s heartless.’ And I said, ‘No, no, I’m willing to spend more giving day care to allow those parents to go back to work. It’ll cost the state more providing that daycare, but I want the individuals to have the dignity of work.’”
Romney was born into wealth and reportedly has a net worth near a quarter of a billion dollars (Romney has not released his tax returns). For most American families, they do not have the luxury to choose to stay at home as the Romney family did.
Mitt Romney may want to flip-flop on running away from Romneycare, the health care reform he signed in Massachusetts which served as the national model — also known as Obamacare.
As insurance premiums have increased across the country, a new study finds that health care premiums in Massachusetts have dropped 5%.
98% of Massachusetts residents have health care coverage, the most in the nation. The state also ranks 48th in the nation in expenditures on health care.
Romney has often vowed that he would repeal the national care reform law if he is elected president, which would remove vital health care from U.S. citizens who otherwise couldn’t afford it.
In an interview with Telemundo airing today, President Obama says that he “absolutely” believes likely Republican nominee Mitt Romney should release his federal tax returns.
Obama continued: “I think that it’s important for any candidate in public office to be as transparent as possible, to let people know who we are, what we stand for, and you know, I think that this is just carrying on a tradition that has existed throughout the modern presidency.”
Romney has been reluctant to release his returns, despite requests from leaders in both parties. The tradition of releasing tax returns began when Romney’s father, George Romney, ran for the presidency.
Romney’s low tax rate, even though he is a multimillionaire, has become an election issue. Obama and congressional Democrats have pushed for the “Buffett Rule,” which would subject the investment income of the super-rich like Romney to be subject to taxation.
On Friday Romney’s campaign announced that they had filed an extension on Romney’s income taxes, and were unclear when the information would be released. Tax returns were released for both President Obama and Vice-President Biden on Friday.
The Obama campaign also released twelve years of taxes for Obama and Biden. The Romney campaign has been urged to release multiple returns and not just the most recent documents, which could be scrubbed for politically volatile entries.
It was recently revealed that the Romneys had investments which are being held in secretive offshore accounts.
An adviser to Mitt Romney is now claiming that the likely Republican nominee is faking his immigration position.
According to a Weekly Standard report from conservative writer Fred Barnes, an adviser close to the Massachusetts millionaire expressed the sentiment that “[Romney's] private view of immigration isn’t as anti-immigrant as he often sounded.”
During the 2012 nomination campaign, Romney often pandered to the anti-immigrant faction within the Republican party. Romney attacked Texas governor Rick Perry for his comment that anti-immigration hardliners are “heartless.” The creator of Arizona’s controversial anti-immigration law said that he and Romney were “identical” in their approaches towards the subject.
Romney himself claimed that he reacted to a company he hired using undocumented workers by telling them, “I’m running for office, for Pete’s sake, we can’t have illegals.”
An analysis of the electoral college map finds that the general election battleground leans heavily towards President Obama.
A survey by the Associated Press estimates that a combination of states that are solid or lean-Democratic gives Obama 242 electoral votes in the bank. Combining solid and lean-Republican states gives Romney 188 electoral votes.
In order to secure the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency, Romney would need to nearly run the table of swing votes.
The AP identifies those swing states as Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia.
All of those states were won by Obama in 2008.
A new video from the Obama campaign praises Romneycare, the health care reform signed in to law in Massachusetts during Mitt Romney’s term that was the inspiration for the national health care law.
A top Republican donor who recently announced he would be financially supporting Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign made a joke about President Obama being shot at.
Speaking on Fox Business, millionaire Foster Friess — who the Romney campaign has reached out to for financial support — said, “There are a lot of things that haven’t been hammered at because Rick and Mitt have been going at each other, Now that they have trained their barrels on President Obama, I hope his teleprompters are bullet-proof.”
In an ABC News interview, Freiss claimed that he regretted the comment.
This isn’t Friess’ first troubling gaffe in the 2012 campaign. In February he made a sexist joke about birth control during an MSNBC interview.
Speaking at a conservative conference earlier this year, Friess claimed he was discriminated against because of his wealth.
Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign is about to receive financial support from a millionaire now infamous for his sexist commentary.
Millionaire Foster Friess told Politico that he’s “going to be of help in whatever way I can” to the Romney campaign after originally backing Rick Santorum during the Republican primaries.
Friess reportedly may help to bankroll the multi-million dollar campaign against Obama headed by former Bush team member Karl Rove.
Appearing on MSNBC in February, Friess told Andrea Mitchell he didn’t understand the controversy over contraception coverage because “this contraception thing, my gosh, it’s so inexpensive.” He continued: “Back in my days, they’d use Bayer aspirin for contraceptives. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn’t that costly.”
The comment was roundly condemned, even by Santorum who described it as “a bad off-color joke.”
A recent Washington Post/ABC News poll showed a double-digit gap in support from women between Obama and Romney. It remains to be seen if Friess’ support will help that.
President Obama is ahead of Mitt Romney in the key state of North Carolina. A new poll from Public Policy Polling shows Obama with a 5% lead on Romney there.
Democrats have targeted the southern state, where Obama had a narrow victory in 2008, deciding to hold their party convention in Charlotte, its largest city.
Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling, said “Barack Obama’s numbers in North Carolina are the strongest they’ve been in over a year.”
President Obama’s campaign has released a new highlight reel video showcasing some of the right-wing positions adopted by Mitt Romney during the Republican presidential primary. WATCH:
In a rare public appearance failed former President George W. Bush announced that he backs the tax policy of Republicans like Mitt Romney.
Speaking at a conference in New York City put on by the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Bush said he opposed laws that would raise taxes on the “so-called rich.” Mitt Romney, who would be affected by the law like Presidents Obama and Bush, similarly opposes increased taxes for the super-rich.
This week President Obama has renewed calls for the “Buffett Rule,” which would increase the taxes on the 1% of Americans making over $1 million a year. A CBS/New York Times poll showed that 52% of Americans support a law like the Buffett Rule as a way to attack income inequality.
When Bush left office in 2009 he had one of the lowest approval ratings in recorded history while the economy was shedding 800,000 jobs a month and a projected surplus had reverted to a deficit.
Bush’s father, George H.W. Bush, and his brother Jeb Bush have both publicly endorsed Romney for president.
In a news conference today Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum announced he was suspending his campaign, effectively ending it.
Santorum was widely seen as the conservative “alternative” to Massachusetts millionaire Mitt Romney, who is now effectively the Republican nominee.
Santorum successfully countered a multi-million dollar onslaught from Romney in several states, beating or equaling Romney’s well funded campaign in what was seen as a rejection of the “establishment” candidate by the Republican base.
American Crossroads, the shadowy political committee co-founded by Bush strategist Karl Rove is about to unleash a $200 million dollar ad campaign to smear President Obama.
Speaking to the New York Times, Steven J. Law, who currently leads the group said they would attempt to “dislodge” voters from Obama, who currently leads Massachusetts millionaire Mitt Romney in most major polls.
Many of the ads produced by American Crossroads have been described as “mostly false” by watchdogs like Politifact. One recent Crossroads ad manipulated the words of former President Clinton, splicing two separate statements together in order to give a false impression of the meaning of his words.
Newt Gingrich is ready to back a man he described as a “liar” for President. Speaking to Fox News, Gingrich, whose campaign has shed staff and lost a series of primary contests, said he would do “everything I can” to support Romney against Obama in the fall.
In January Gingrich told CBS News that “I don’t think [Romney's] being candid and that will be a major issue.” When asked if he believed Romney was a liar, Gingrich agreed with the interviewer.
A new ad from the Priorities USA Super PAC connects rising gas prices to shadowy ads supporting Mitt Romney over President Obama. Priorities USA is operated by Bill Burton, a former press secretary to the President. Watch:
President Obama is benefitting from the Republican “war on women,” experiencing an 11 point positive swing in USA Today/Gallup’s poll of swing state voters.
The Republican focus on restricting women’s access to abortion and contraceptive care is having an effect on Mitt Romney’s presidential fortunes, giving Obama a lead over the likely Republican nominee of 51% to 42%.
Romney has expressed support for “ending” Planned Parenthood, while President Obama has given his full-throated backing to the women’s health organization.
Among women over 50, President Obama has support of 60% of those voters, compared to 30% for the anti-choice Massachusetts millionaire.
President George W. Bush’s failed presidency is still viewed as a drag on the Republican party, with the 2012 presidential candidates keeping him at a distance.
Even while frontrunner Mitt Romney sought and received endorsements from President George H.W. Bush and his son, Governor Jeb Bush, it has been clear the Massachusetts millionaire would prefer the 43rd president not taint his candidacy.
Speaking to Politico, former Bush flack Ari Fleischer — who played a key role in selling the false intelligence at the heart of the Iraq War — decried what he viewed as shabby treatment of his former boss. “It’s unfortunate,” said Fleischer, who has never apologized for his role in the war that killed thousands for nonexistent weapons of mass destruction.
When he left office in January 2009, Bush had some of the lowest recorded approval ratings in U.S. presidential history and the country was in the midst of a massive recession and two wars.
Mitt Romney is being asked to sign up and support a ban on pornography. The “War on Illegal Pornography Coalition” has sent a letter to Mitt Romney “seeking a meeting to discuss his position on enforcement of federal laws prohibiting distribution of obscene adult pornography.”
The group, notes that they want to “nail down this commitment” from Romney. The anti-porn coalition reports that they have already received commitments from former Senator Rick Santorum and former Speaker Newt Gingrich.
The letter asks Romney to support a ban on the distribution of porn via the Internet, cable/satellite tv, retail and via the US mail.
The conservative group does not explain how enforcing such rules would not be in violation of the first amendment.
Appearing Wednesday night on Fox News’ Hannity, conservative columnist, author, and Mitt Romney backer Ann Coulter said that “maybe it’s time” for conservatives to “go after the Obama children.” Watch:
Coulter was in the middle of claiming that liberals have rhetorically attacked the children of conservatives, but the right has refused to do so. This is false.
In fact, there are several incidents of conservatives going after the children of Democratic presidents.
* In 2010, conservative radio show host Glenn Beck mocked Malia Obama, doing a crude imitation of her voice, then questioning the then 11 year old child’s intelligence.
* A few days later, Rush Limbaugh made the same attack on Malia Obama, using a falsetto impression of her voice.
* In 1992, Rush Limbaugh illustrated a story about Chelsea Clinton with a picture of a dog on his short-lived television show.
* In 2001, conservative writer John Derbyshire wrote a column in National Review titled “I Hate Chelsea Clinton.” In the column, Derbyshire wrote, “Who, in current public life, has been ‘thrown up to us’ so much as Chelsea?” He went on: “Chelsea had now reached the age at which it is acceptable to pass public comment on a woman’s physical appearance.” He concluded with: “Chelsea is a Clinton. She bears the taint; and though not prosecutable in law, in custom and nature the taint cannot be ignored.”
For the last few months, Coulter has made numerous media appearances in favor of Romney, insisting that he was the most viable conservative among Republican presidential candidates.
The man who funded the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads that distorted John Kerry’s war record in the 2004 election is now supporting the campaign of Massachusetts millionaire Mitt Romney.
Texas homebuilder Bob Perry bankrolled the pro-Romney Restore Our Future Super PAC with a $3 million donation last month.
That money is in addition to $1 million Perry gave to the PAC in January, and $2.5 million to Karl Rove’s American Crossroads, which has been repeatedly produced deceptive pro-Republican advertising.
VIA MSNBC
Mitt Romney makes a personal profit based on purchases made by the Chinese government to monitor the lives of its citizens, according to a New York Times report today.
The Times explains that Bain Capital, the private equity firm Romney used to run, has investments in Uniview Technologies, who produces video systems the communist Chinese government uses to monitor university campuses, hospitals, mosques and movie theaters.
Human rights advocates say the system Romney profits from is used to squelch dissent, by monitoring groups at odds with that country’s government.
VIA New York Times
Last Updated: March 21, 2012
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has been running for president since 2007, and in that time he has made a series of gaffes, mistakes, and misstatements on the campaign trail.
Here is the ultimate list of Mitt Romney campaign gaffes from the 2012 campaign cycle:
Romney “Not Concerned About The Very Poor.” In a CNN interview after the Florida primary, Romney noted, “I’m not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I’ll fix it.”
Romney: “I Like Being Able To Fire People.” Speaking to a New Hampshire audience Romney said, “I like being able to fire people who provide services to me.”
Romney: “Corporations Are People, My Friend.” Appearing at the Iowa State Fair, Romney told an attendee that “Corporations are people, my friend… of course they are. Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to the people. Where do you think it goes? Whose pockets? Whose pockets? People’s pockets. Human beings, my friend.”
Romney Campaign: He Can Change Positions “Almost like an Etch A Sketch.” After winning the Illinois primary, a Romney aide told CNN that he could easily change his positions for the fall campaign. “Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all of over again.”
Romney: “There Are Times When I Wondered Whether I Was Going To Get A Pink Slip.” Romney, who has been wealthy all of his life, told a crowd in New Hampshire: “I know what its’ like to worry about whether or not you are going to get fired. There are times when I wondered whether I was going to get a pink slip.”
Romney Claimed $374,000 Was “Not Very Much” Money. Romney, discussing his low tax rate, said “I get speakers fees from time to time, but not very much.” Romney had received $374,000 for speakers fees.
Romney: It’s “Envy” And “Class Warfare” To Talk About The Uneven Distribution Of Wealth In America. Speaking to NBC’s Matt Lauer, Romney said he felt that discussions about the distribution of wealth were “about envy” and “about class warfare.” Romney is worth over $200 million.
Romney: We Should Only Talk About Income Inequality In “Quiet Rooms.” While on the Today Show, Romney was asked about remarks from President Obama on income inequality, to which Romney responded: “I think it’s fine to talk about those things in quiet rooms and discussions about tax policy and the like.”
Romney Tried To Bet Rick Perry “$10,000.” During a Republican debate in Iowa, Romney offered to bet Gov. Rick Perry $10,000 in order to prove Perry was incorrect about his position on health care reform.
Romney Joked: “I’m Also Unemployed.” At a Florida campaign stop, Romney made light of the unemployment situation and told voters that “I’m also unemployed.”
Romney: “I Have Some Great Friends Who Are NASCAR Team Owners.” Attending the Daytona 500, Romney responded to a question about his interest in NASCAR by answering, “Not as closely as some of the most ardent fans. But I have some great friends that are NASCAR team owners.”
Romney: “I don’t want to see [Peyton Manning] at Miami or the Jets. Both owners are friends of mine.” Discussing NFL player Peyton Manning, Romney said, “I don’t want to see him at Miami or the Jets. Both owners are friends of mine.”
Romney Bragged: My Wife Owns “A Couple Of Cadillacs.” Speaking to an audience in Detroit, Michigan, Romney said, “I like the fact that most of the cars I see are Detroit-made automobiles. I drive a Mustang and a Chevy pickup truck. Ann drives a couple of Cadillacs, actually. And I used to have a Dodge truck, so I used to have all three (big automakers) covered.”
Romney Made Fun Of NASCAR Fans: “I Like Those Fancy Raincoats You Bought. Really Sprung For The Big Bucks.” Speaking to NASCAR fans at the rain-soaked Daytona 500, Romney told them “”I like those fancy raincoats you bought. Really sprung for the big bucks.”
Romney Called A Rain Poncho A “Garbage Bag.” Discussing fans who wore rain ponchos to a NASCAR event, Romney told Fox News that “I have worn a garbage bag for rain gear myself.”
Romney: Trees In Michigan “Are The Right Height.” Campaigning in Michigan, Romney said that “the trees are the right height” there.
Romney: “I Am Learning To Say Y’All And I Like Grits.” Campaigning in Mississipi, Romney attempted to pander to a southern crowd and explained that “I am learning to say y’all and I like grits and things.”
Romney: “Never Get Involved In Politics If You Have To Win Election To Pay A Mortgage.” Romney implied that only rich people should run for office. In a debate on NBC he said, “I happened to see my dad run for governor when he was 54 years old. He said never get involved in politics if you have to win election to pay a mortgage. If you find yourself in a position when you can serve, you ought to have a responsibility to do so if you think you can make a difference, and don’t get involved in politics when your kids are still young because it may turn their heads.”
As the Republican party’s presidential nomination process drags on, the negative ratings of the top candidates — Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum — has increased, possibly fatally wounding either of them for a matchup against President Obama.
Against that backdrop, House Republican member Walter B. Jones (NC) has introduced a resolution that would designate actions such as U.S. involvement in defending Libyan citizens as a “impeachable high crime and misdemeanor.”
“High crimes and misdemeanors” is a reference to section 4, article 2 of the U.S. Constitution defining the conditions under which a President can be removed from office via impeachment. Two U.S. presidents have officially been impeached — Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. Both were acquitted in Senate trials. Richard Nixon would have likely been impeached and removed from office, but he resigned.
Jones’ resolution, H. CON. RES. 107, was introduced on Wednesday, March 7. It states:
Expressing the sense of Congress that the use of offensive military force by a President without prior and clear authorization of an Act of Congress constitutes an impeachable high crime and misdemeanor under article II, section 4 of the Constitution.
The resolution would classify efforts like the no-fly zone enforced by the American military over Libya that led to the eventual downfall of the Qaddafi regime as a “high crime.”
In a report to Congress, the Obama administration said the limited nature of U.S. involvement in Libya did not violate the War Powers Act. The War Powers Act requires military action to be terminated 60-90 days after notifying Congress, unless the legislature authorizes further action.
Grover Norquist, a top conservative leader with close ties to Republican leadership, has already threatened that he would support impeachment proceedings against President Obama if he won re-election and allowed tax cuts to expire.
Rep. Jones’ resolution has been referred to the House Judiciary committee.
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is leveling the bombshell claim that Mitt Romney secretly manipulated the GOP primary process in his favor. Appearing on NBC’s Meet The Press on Sunday morning, Santorum claims that “Governor Romney’s been doing this for four years and he worked very hard to make sure that states moved up that were very advantageous to him.”
Santorum goes on to note that he may make an appeal to Republican “superdelegates” to sway the nomination back towards him. Santorum points out that while the Massachusetts millionaire has “outspent [him] about 10 to one,” Romney “can’t close the deal.”
Santorum recently beat Romney in the Kansas primary, while Romney won several delegates from U.S. territories.
Billionaire hedge fund manager Kenneth Griffin is backing Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election, and he says that the ultra-wealthy should have more influence over the country.
Griffin is the head of Citadel, one of the biggest hedge funds in the world. His personal net worth is estimated at $2.3 billion.
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Griffin explained that he didn’t think the 1% had enough power: “I think (the ultra-wealthy) actually have an insufficient influence, those who have enjoyed the benefits of our system more than ever now owe a duty to protect the system that has created the greatest nation on this planet.”
Griffin has donated $150,000 to Restore Our Future, a pro-Romney Super PAC. He has also donated $560,000 to the Republican Governor’s Association, and in the past has donated thousands to Karl Rove’s American Crossroads, a pro-Republican group that has regularly been caught creating grossly inaccurate advertising.
The Tribune also reports that Griffin has donated $1.5 million to Americans For Prosperity, the shadowy front group operated by billionaires Charles and David Koch. Americans for Prosperity has funded much of the “tea party” movement.
In 2005, Griffin was a backer of credit derivatives — the complex financial instruments that helped to cause much of the economic crisis in 2008. He described derivatives as “an entirely new and vital way of spreading risk.” Billionaire investor Warren Buffet described these same tools as “financial weapons of mass destruction.”
VIA Business Insider
Turnout for the Republican party’s primaries and caucuses are lower than in 2000 and 2008 according a new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center. Based on the results from Super Tuesday, Republican turnout so far has been 11.5% of eligible voters. In 2000, turnout was 12.2% and in 2008 it was 13.2%.
The drop in participation is likely very worrying for Republican party bosses. In contrast to the intensity of the 2008 contest between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the Republican field does not seem to be inspiring conservatives.
The tepid primary process appears likely to produce a general election candidate in Mitt Romney who has tepid support within his own party and high negative ratings among the general electorate.
Mitt Romney is probably the richest person to ever run for President in American history, but his wife Ann told Fox News on Monday that “I don’t even consider myself wealthy.”
Speaking on the conservative news network Romney appeared to downplay her family’s wealth, estimated to be as much as $250 million. “We can be poor in spirit, and I don’t even consider myself wealthy, which is an interesting thing,” she said. “It can be here today and gone tomorrow.”
Based on available reports, the Romney fortune is still very much here today. Mitt Romney recently bragged in Detroit that his wife “drives a couple of Cadillacs” while he owns a couple of cars for himself.
In August of 2011 it was revealed that Romney planned to increase the size of his $12 million vacation mansion in La Jolla, CA from 3,009 square feet to 11,062 square feet.
Romney also owns another vacation home in New Hampshire, and a town house near Boston.
A new poll shows Republican candidates doing even worse with Latino voters than they did in 2008. The poll, from Fox News, shows Republicans with no better than 14% support among this growing demographic. This compares to 31% support for John McCain in 2008.
Among Latinos only, the election would be a landslide for the President. He leads 70% to 14% over Mitt Romney and 72% to 14% over disgraced former Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Anti-immigration Arizona governor Jan Brewer recently announced her support for Romney, while Republicans are said to be courting anti-immigrant birther sheriff Joe Arpaio for an endorsement.
VIA Fox News
The cover to the March 12 edition of the New Yorker spoofs Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. The cover shows Romney, who infamously drove cross country with his dog Seamus strapped to the roof, driving his car with Rick Santorum in Seamus’ place.
New Yorker Mitt Romney Rick Santorum Cover
The federal bankruptcy judge who presided over Chrysler’s bankruptcy told ABC News that if Mitt Romney’s advice had been followed, the auto giant would be dead with thousands of jobs lost.
Judge Arthur J. Gonzalez told the network that there “were no other sources of lending” besides the federal government.
Both GM and Chrysler needed money to prop them up, and while Romney argued in the New York Times to “let Detroit go bankrupt” only the federal government was willing to step up to the plate at the time.
Chrysler recently announced a profitable quarter and has repaid most of the federal loan money it used to keep afloat.
VIA ABC News
The Republican party’s primary process is wreaking havoc with the party’s brand, according to a new poll from NBC and the Wall Street Journal. The poll finds that 40% find the ongoing war between Romney, Gingrich, and Santorum is giving them an unfavorable view of the GOP. Only about 10% think the primaries have been good for George W. Bush’s party.
When asked to describe the fight, Republicans responded: “Unenthusiastic,” “discouraged,” “lesser of two evils,” “painful,” “disappointed,” “poor choices,” “concerned,” “underwhelmed,” “uninspiring” and “depressed.”
The poll found that President Obama’s approval rating has rebounded to 50% and he leads Romney by 6% in a head to head matchup.
VIA NBC
Mitt Romney scraped by challenger Rick Santorum to win the primary in his home state of Michigan. Romney, who had once led in the state by a 35% margin, was expected to defeat Santorum by around 3%. In his acceptance speech, Romney noted that “we didn’t win by a lot, but we won by enough.”
Romney also easily won the Arizona primary. WATCH:
VIDEO: Romney Limps To Michigan Win
Mitt Romney has a favorability problem, especially with the conservatives he needs to win the Republican nomination. A new poll from ABC News/Washington Post finds that Romney has suffered a major drop in favorability with very conservative voters, down 14% to just 38% favorable — in a week.
It is the lowest level of favorability the organization has polled for the Massachusetts millionaire.
With Democrats, President Obama has an 83% favorable rating in this poll.
VIA ABC News
A new poll from Politico and George Washington University shows a 9% gain for President Obama’s approval, resulting in 53% support. Polled against Mitt Romney, Obama leads 53% to 43%. Against Romney the President wins 53% to 42%.
Romney performs terribly with independents in the poll. Obama beats him 49% to 27%, and his unfavorability with that key group is a sky-high 51%.
VIA Politico
Mitt Romney once again has shown why he increasingly is viewed as an out of touch, wealthy elitist. Attending the Daytona 500 rally on Sunday, Romney was asked by an AP reporter if he was a fan of NASCAR.
Romney responded: “Not as closely as some of the most ardent fans. But I have some great friends who are NASCAR team owners.”
Not many people are friends with the wealthy elite who are able to own NASCAR teams.
The gaffe comes just a few days after Romney told a Detroit audience that his wife owned a “couple of Cadillacs.”
LISTEN:
VIA Talking Points Memo, @Calchala
The Real RomneyInsiders Call GOP Lurch To The Right “A Fucking Mess,” Fundraiser On Romney Campaign: “Ridiculous”
The Republican party’s move to the right in the 2012 presidential nomination process is “a fucking mess” according to former Reagan strategist Ed Rollins in New York Magazine.
The party faitfhul’s split between Romney and Santorum has come about as the party has grown “whiter, less well schooled, more blue-collar, and more hair-curlingly populist,” according to writer John Heilemann.
A Romney fundraiser, assessing the Massachusetts millionaire’s lackluster campaign and habit of reciting the verses of “America the Beautiful” tells New York: “I have never seen anything more ridiculous or belittling.”
A Republican strategist tells the magazine that Romney’s description of himself as “severely conservatie” was “the most retarded thing I have ever heard a Republican candidate say.”
Cataloguing the various missteps made by the Romney campaign, a campaign veteran notes: “Our guys on Capitol Hill are moving into survival-of-the-fittest, only-worrying-about-themselves mode. They think the damage to Romney may be done and may be irreversible—and now he might not even be the nominee.”
The Fox Effect: How Roger Ailes Turned a Network into a Propaganda Machine
A source tells National Confidential that 26 American cars will be arranged by the United Auto Workers to echo Mitt Romney’s infamous “let Detroit go bankrupt” op-ed when he visits Ford Field on Friday.
The cars will be on top of a parking garage right across from Ford Field where Romney will be giving a speech to the Detroit Economic Club.
UAW President Bob King and other union officials and workers will be attending the event, along with radio host Tony Trupiano.
In a release the union says it hopes to put the spotlight on how Romney “turned his back on an iconic American industry” in a time of crisis.
Romney opposed the government rescue of the U.S. auto industry. The targets of the plan enacted by President Obama – GM and Chrysler – both recently announced a return to profitability.
Mitt Romney’s rhetoric when discussing the Obama administration’s rescue of the domestic auto industry is “utter fantasy,” according to Steven Rattner — the man who administered much of the program.
Writing in the New York Times, Rattner says that Romney “evidently hasn’t felt a need to be consistent or specific as to what should have been done to address the collapse of the auto industry starting in late 2008.”
Countering Romney’s assertion at the time that a “managed bankruptcy” financed by private industry could have rescued GM and Chrysler, Rattner explains that “in late 2008 and early 2009, when G.M. and Chrysler had exhausted their liquidity, every scrap of private capital had fled to the sidelines.”
If the administration had followed Romney’s op-ed that said “let Detroit go Bankrupt,” Rattner writes that “More than a million jobs would have been lost, at least for a time. Michigan and the entire industrial Midwest would have been devastated.”
GM recently announced a 2011 profit of $7.6 billion, while Chrysler is also now profitable.
VIA New York Times
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney served on the board of directors of Marriot while the company pursued a tax avoidance maneuver the Department Of Justice described as a “fictitious” “scheme.”
Romney also served as chairman of Marriot’s audit committee. Bloomberg reports that Marriot hid profits in a Luxembourg-based shell company during this period and was able to pay an effective tax rate of 6.8% (the statutory rate is 35%).
Romney was responsible for oversight of Marriot’s tax planning, according to a statement the company gave to Bloomberg.
VIA Bloomberg
President Obama still has a shot at winning the state of Virginia in back-to-back presidential elections, according to a new poll.
In a new survey by Christopher Newport University/Richmond Times-Dispatch, Obama receives 42% of the result versus 46% for Rick Santorum. In a race with Mitt Romney, President Obama would receive 43% of the vote to Romney’s 46%.
The survey was taken between February 4-13 and was asked of 1,018 registered voters.
In 2008, Obama beat Sen. John McCain in Virginia 52.6% to 46.3%.
Reality TV star Donald Trump is set to push Mitt Romney’s message on Michigan talk radio in the week ahead. ABC News reports that “the Donald” will conduct radio interviews on several stations in order to help push back Rick Santorum’s rising campaign.
Trump’s lawyer told ABC that “Mr. Trump has pledged to assist Governor Romney” in order to win the Republican nomination.
Unlike Romney, Trump supported the government rescue of GM. He told Fox’s Neil Cavuto in 2008: “I think the government should stand behind them 100 percent.” At the time, Romney wrote an op-ed titled “let Detroit go bankrupt.”
VIA ABC News
Bob Lutz, the former vice-chairman of auto giant GM is a Republican, and he’s voting in Michigan for Rick Santorum over Mitt Romney. Lutz tells the New York Times that by writing “let Detroit go bankrupt,” Romney was playing the “same song as Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.”
Lutz says that Romney’s opposition to rescuing Detroit was simply a “political ploy to the right.”
Despite the protest from Romney and others, President Obama engineered the plan to rescue GM. As a result, GM just released 2011 earnings of $150.3 billion and a profit of $7.6 billion.
VIA NY Times
Mitt Romney has once again lost the national lead to another Republican challenging him. A new poll from Gallup shows Santorum with support of 36% of Republicans nationally, followed by Romney at 28%.
Despite his early fundraising advantages, Romney has been dogged by Republican challengers who insist he is not a strong enough candidate to defeat President Obama. Previously, Romney lost the South Carolina primary to Newt Gingrich, and the Iowa Caucus to Santorum.
A top Republican senator told ABC News that if Romney loses in Michigan to Santorum, where Romney’s father served as governor, the party would have to seek an alternative nominee.
VIA CNN
Video of Mitt Romney running for governor of Massachusetts in 2002 shows the candidate vowing to “preserve and protect” a woman’s right to choose. During his presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012, Romney has claimed that he is a “pro-life” Republican who opposes abortion.
Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign is threatening to sue tv stations if they run a pro-Romney Super PAC’s ads in Georgia.
Gingrich’s campaign issued a cease and desist letter blasting ads from the Restore Our Future Super PAC over ads claiming the disgraced former speaker supported funding China’s one-child policy.
The ads have already run in several other states.
Billionaire Sheldon Adelson recently announced he would be pouring millions more into a Super PAC supporting Gingrich.
VIA NY Times
Mitt Romney often touts his successful management of the Winter Olympics as part of his presidential resume, but he now plays down his role in securing a government bailout for the troubled games.
Romney was able to secure hundreds of millions of federal dollars in order to assist the Olympic committee in putting on the games in Salt Lake City in 2002. In his book about the games, Romney notes that he spent “a lot of time in D.C.” lobbying for the federal help.
The multimillionaire candidate reportedly wined and dined politicians at his personal ski chalet while attempting to loosen the federal purse strings.
Romney, who has attacked Rick Santorum for securing congressional earmarks, bragged in 2006 that “I’d be embarrassed if I didn’t always ask for federal money whenever I got the chance” after working with Ted Kennedy and John Kerry to get federal funds for the Big Dig project, according to the Washington Post.
VIA Washington Post
The Republican brand is in trouble, according to a new survey from the Democracy Corps. research group. They report that they have evidence that there is “a collapse of the Republican brand at almost all levels.”
They also found that “negatives associated with the Republican Party have not been this high since right after they lost the country in 2008.”
Their polling found that much of the coalition of voters that took President Obama to victory in 2008 have returned to the fold, after they had dropped away from Obama in 2011. Democracy Corps. also reported that recent Republican-generated fights over birth control are turning off voters, prompting questions of a distraction from real problems like unemployment.
Their results found Mitt Romney on the “edge of political death,” comparing his position in the eyes of voters to that of failed candidate Bob Dole. Nearly half of the people surveyed give Romney a negative rating.
VIA Democracy Corps.
Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign may be facing money trouble thanks to stronger-than-expected challenges from his Republican rivals.
While Romney has outraised the rest of the Republican field, he has been forced to spend millions on negative ads. States like New Hampshire and Florida were once considered slam dunks for Romney, but thanks to the fluid anti-Romney vote, the candidate has had to spend precious dollars.
Romney is now being forced to spend even more money in Michigan, the state where his father served as governor. Recent polls show Rick Santorum quickly closing the gap on the so-called frontrunner.
As he did in 2008, the Massachusetts millionaire may have to tap his vast $250 million fortune to finance his campaign.
Romney’s campaign has relied on rich donors, and has a much smaller base of low-dollar donors than President Obama’s campaign.
VIA Washington Post
Watch Saturday Night Live’s Mitt Romney (Jason Sudeikis) cold open skit from the February 11, 2012 episode.
Mitt Romney has won the Maine Republican caucus with a weak victory. Romney won the caucus with 2,190 votes, nearly 700 votes less than he received when he won that caucus in 2008.
Another warning sign for Romney: His margin of victory over second-place finisher Ron Paul was a mere 194 votes. Paul is viewed widely as a fringe candidate, boosted by many internet-based conspiracy theorists.
Romney also won the straw poll today at the far right CPAC gathering in Washington, D.C.
Recent polls have shown Romney performing weakly against President Obama, losing by 10% in a Rasmussen poll and by 5% in a Fox News poll.
In an appearance on a conservative radio show, Mitt Romney called for the federal government to defund Planned Parenthood.
Romney also agreed with the now-reversed decision by the Susan G. Komen Foundation to stop donations to the organization.
Romney said it was “wrong” for Planned Parenthood to provide abortion services for women in need. But in 1994 his wife, Ann was a donor to the organization.
Ann Romney donated $150 to the group during a period in which Romney — who now claims to be anti-abortion — held a position he once described as “effectively pro-choice.”
When it was revealed in 2007 that his wife had made the donation, Romney claimed that her donations were “for her and not for me.”
Nevada’s Republican caucus has turned out to be another in a series of limp victories for Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney.
While Romney won the contest, he actually did worse than he performed in 2008. In 2008 Romney received 51% of the vote, this Saturday that dropped to 50%.
And there were less voters to pick from. Turnout dropped at the Nevada caucus, a warning sign for Republicans going into the fall elections.
In 2008, President Obama won Nevada against John McCain by 13%.
VIA The Atlantic
A new poll from Washington Post/ABC News shows President Obama with a lead outside the margin of error against Massachusetts millionaire Mitt Romney.
Obama leads Romney by 9 percent, 52% to 43% among all respondents, with the lead narrowing to 6% for registered voters (51% Obama, 45% Romney).
The poll also shows that voters continue to believe Romney is out of touch with their concerns, giving Obama a 15% advantage on the issue.
Massachusetts millionaire Mitt Romney grew up in a “series of bubbles” that cut him off from the life of ordinary Americans, according to the author of a Romney biography.
Michael Kranish, co-author of “The Real Romney” told CBS’ Bob Schieffer on Face The Nation this morning that Romney’s “father was governor; went on a Mormon mission for two-and-a-half-years, and then to Harvard and the world of private equity. So it’s been a series of bubbles.”
Kranish said Romney’s lack of connection with people has been a problem for the candidate all during his political career, and may explain several of his campaign gaffes.
Romney recently had to backtrack from comments that he likes to fire people, and that he isn’t concerned with the very poor.
When it comes to donors under $200 dollars, there’s no competition between Barack Obama’s campaign and Mitt Romney’s. The majority of the money donated so far to President Obama’s campaign — 60 percent — has been in amounts under $200, while only 9 percent of the donations to Romney’s campaign have been under $200.
The average donation to Obama in the last quarter of 2011 was between $100 and $200. For Romney, the average donation was much higher — $900 and $1,000. Yet Obama raised four times as much as Romney, including many repeat donors who have a psychological connection to the campaign, something not yet seen among Romney backers. [Reuters]
Mitt Romney overwhelmingly won the Republican caucus in Nevada on Saturday night, thanks in part to wealthy voters.
The Massachusetts millionaire easily beat back his Republican rivals, beating Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum by double digits.
Exit polls indicate that in the upper class of voters, those earning $200,000 or higher, Romney was even more dominant, receiving 80% of the vote.
Many of them may support Romney due to his tax plan, which independent analaysis has determined will cut the taxes of the very wealthy while increasing the burden on those earning the least.
Romney was recently accused of practicing class warfare after his recent comments that he’s “not concerned with the very poor.”
Las Vegas casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson is preparing to bankroll a smear campaign against President Obama on behalf of Massachusetts millionaire Mitt Romney.
Adelson, who currently is the financial engine behind the pro-Gingrich Winning Our Future Super PAC, reportedly has made contact with Romney in order to plan for the fall campaign.
So far Adelson and his wife have given $10 million in support of Gingrich.
Adelson reportedly has a net worth of $21.5 billion. He and his wife each contributed $250,000 to the re-inauguration committee for George W. Bush.
In 2008 Adelson bankrolled a conservative group called Freedom’s Watch in a failed attempt to stop Democrats from increasing their numbers in the House and Senate.
A Romney insider told the New York Times that Adelson “will do whatever it takes to beat Obama.” [NY Times]
The Swiss bank where Mitt Romney kept millions of dollars was also a hub for tax evasion. Romney had $3 million in an account with Switzerland-based UBS up until early 2010.
Romney earned approximately $1,700 in income from the account in 2010.
In 2009, UBS paid $780 million to the U.S. government in order to settle criminal charges alleging that the bank aided about 17,000 Americans in hiding their assets from the IRS in Swiss bank accounts.
UBS was forced to reveal 4,500 names to the U.S. government as part of the settlement.
Romney’s campaign did not initially disclose the existence of the Swiss-based UBS account, but it was revealed when Romney grudgingly released his 2010 tax returns to the press.
The candidate has not yet released his returns from his tenure at Bain Capital, though he cites that time period as one in which he created jobs.
In an interview with CNN this morning after his Florida primary win, Mitt Romney made the shocking comment that “I’m not concerned about the very poor.”
It was an apparent attempt to claim that the social safety net — which many members of his party and the conservative movement oppose — means that less attention has to be paid to the concerns of “the very poor” and that instead focus should be on the middle class.
Romney also put the “very poor” in the same class as “the very rich,” indicating he believed their concerns were being taken care of.
[video src="http://www.nationalconfidential.com/images/2012/02/romney-poor-20120201.mp4" poster="http://www.nationalconfidential.com/images/2012/02/romney-poor-20120201.jpg" width="640" height="360"]
Multimillionaire candidate Mitt Romney is viewed as out of touch with the concerns of average Americans in a new Pew poll.
According the the results, 48% of those who responded found that Romney does not “understand the problems of average Americans.” 39% thought he does understand those concerns, with 14% responding that they don’t know.
By contrast, President Obama is viewed by 55% as understanding the problems faced by average Americans.
Among independent voters, only 38% saw Romney as in touch, compared to 53% for President Obama. [Pew]
Republicans remain unimpressed with their party’s presidential field. According to a new Pew poll, dissatisfaction with the field has increased over the month of January.
52% of Republicans now rate the GOP field as fair or poor, up from 44% in early January.
In 2008, 68% of Republicans rated the Republican nominees as excellent or good. [Pew]
Mitt Romney’s campaign can now count the conservative Drudge Report as a tool in its multi-million dollar media arsenal.
Reporting from the New York Times has detailed that Romney campaign manager Matt Rhoades used his connection to the gossip-monger to promote damaging material about former Speaker Newt Gingrich.
The Times notes that Rhoades and his staff “spent days dispensing negative information about Mr. Gingrich, much of it finding its way to the influential Drudge Report.”
It is also revealed that the Romney-Drudge connection was so tight that Gingrich’s staff “gave up” on getting their anti-Romney material linked on the tip sheet used by many in the mainstream and conservative press.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Rhoades forged an alliance with Drudge when Rhoades worked at the Republican National Committee, and was the “go-to Drudge guy.”
In addition to regularly posting disinformation about Democrats and liberals, Drudge has also regularly promoted the work of 9/11 conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. [NY Times]
Mitt Romney’s ailing presidential campaign has hired a debate coach, reports the New York Times.
Brett O’Donnell, formerly of the Michele Bachmann campaign, has been hired to bolster the Massachusetts millionaire’s limp debate skills. Romney has been bloodied in recent contests by disgraced former Speaker Newt Gingrich.
The Romney campaign confirmed to the Times that O’Donnell had been hired for debate prep. He also aided John McCain in his debates against Barack Obama in 2008. Post-debate polls in 2008 found that Obama performed better than McCain. [NY Times]
Desperate to sway Republicans after losing the South Carolina primary, a surrogate for the Romney campaign is warning that Gingrich on the ticket would lead Pelosi and House Democrats back to power.
Speaking to the Hill, Romney surrogate Henry Barbour said Gingrich is so unpopular he would “put the House at risk” for Republicans. Barbour went on to describe the disgraced former Speaker as “polarizing.” [The Hill]
Mitt Romney’s chances at winning the Republican presidential nomination took a hit on Friday morning, according to Intrade’s decision market.
The online market, which allows people to buy and sell contracts depending on what they predict the outcome of events may be, saw Romney’s shares tumble from 92 to 78 overnight. The likely reason for the drop is Romney’s poor performance in last night’s presidential debate, which most feel was won by disgraced former Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Romney’s evasive answer to how he would or wouldn’t release his tax returns probably didn’t help his chances either. It remains to be seen if Romney can regain his commanding position.
A new survey of small business owners sees President Obama as the leading candidate who’s election would aid small business.
The poll, by Pepperdine University, found that 29% of respondents said that President Obama would have the most favorable impact on small business among the politicians currently running for the presidency. Trailing the president was Mitt Romney with 24% support and Newt Gingrich, with 15%.
Among wealthier small business owners, support for Romney was higher. [CNBC]
President Obama derided attacks on foreign policy from Mitt Romney and the rest of the Republican field in an interview with Time Magazine.
Obama, who gave the order to kill Bin Laden and presided over the succesful removal of Libya’s Qaddafi, told the magazine that “Overall, I think it’s going to be pretty hard to argue that we have not executed a strategy over the last three years that has put America in a stronger position than it was than when I came into office” and that “I think Mr. Romney and the rest of the Republican field are going to be playing to their base until the primary season is over.”
Several weeks ago President Obama told the press corps to “ask Osama Bin Laden” if his foreign policy and national security policy had been one of “appeasement,” based on attacks from Romney and others in the running for the Republican nomination. [Time]
When he was governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney proposed taxes that would directly take money from blind and mentally handicapped citizens.
According to a 2003 story from the Telegram and Gazette, Romney instituted a tax on Massachusett’s blind citizens in the form of an annual $10 “certificate of blindness” and $15 every four years for a “blind identification card.” Those documents were mandatory, or blind citizens wouldn’t be able to “take advantage of tax abatements, affordable housing programs, health care services, transportation discounts and other benefits.”
Romney also recommended a fee for “some mentally retarded citizens,” according to the Associated Press.
The Republican frontrunner recently admitted that he pays near 15% on his taxes, far less than most Americans. [Business Insider]
The Democratic Party has released a video showing Mitt Romney dodging the questions offered to him during the South Carolina debate. The video shows Romney dodging questions on his taxes, his Super PAC, and hunting.
A new poll from Fox News finds Republicans are tepid in support of likely nominee Mitt Romney. The results from the conservative network find that only 33% of those backing Romney are “for” him while 58% support him simply to oppose Obama.
Among Obama backers, most of them are “for” Obama to the tune of 74% support.
The poll echoes the 2004 election, when much of the support for Democratic nominee John Kerry was not “for” him but “against” incumbent President George W. Bush. President Bush won re-election that year.
The overall results of the Fox poll show the election as a toss up between Obama and Romney.
Mitt Romney appears to have survived the challenge to his front runner status in the Republican nomination process, resulting in a 23 point lead in a new Gallup poll.
The millionaire former Massachusetts governor has seen his lead increase 13% since just before the Iowa caucuses, with 37% of the Republican vote. His closest competitors are Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, both at 14%.
Gallup’s Frank Newport notes that, “History suggests that Romney is now the probable favorite to win the Republican nomination.”
A new CNN poll shows Americans find Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney to be out of touch with their concerns.
The poll found that a majority of those surveyed, 56%, did not believe that the millionaire former Massachusetts governor “is in touch with the problems ordinary Americans face in their daily lives.” For President Obama, only 46% felt that way.
The overall poll results show a toss-up in the election between Obama and Romney.
Mitt Romney has indicated that he would be the first major party presidential candidate in modern history to refuse to release his tax returns. Romney hasn’t explained why, but it could be possible that Romney is attempting to cover-up hiding his fortune offshore.
While at Bain Capital, Romney utiziled offshore havens to shield Bain money from the government.
A 2007 report from the Los Angeles Times revealed that at Bain, Romney attracted multi-million dollar investments by creating shell corporations in the Cayman Islands. Romney then used these dummy corporations — often no more than a post office box — to attract foreign investment in Bain without subjecting investors to U.S. taxes.
Romney was still profiting from the offshore arrangment as the presidential campaign went on in 2007.
The failure to disclose his tax returns have led some to wonder if Romney took advantage of the same offshore tax loopholes that Bain investors used.
The Democratic Party is circulating a graphic showing Mitt Romney’s shifting claims on job creation at Bain Capital. Romney has continually flip-flopped on what jobs — if any — were created during his time as a corporate raider in the private equity industry.
Senator Jim DeMint will not endorse a Republican presidential candidate, he announced in an email to supporters today.
South Carolina Sen. DeMint, a top Tea Party conservative Republican, said that “I have complimented several of our candidates when they spoke out on conservative issues” but “I do not have a favorite in this race and I will not endorse a candidate.”
DeMint’s recent defense of Mitt Romney’s career as a corporate raider at Bain Capital had led some to believe he would endorse the candidate.
DeMint described the effort to reform health care as President Obama’s “Waterloo,” declaring that it would “break” Obama.
Mitt Romney planned to run against President Obama on the message that “Obama Isn’t Working,” but in recent campaign stops the Republican frontrunner has had to admit that the economy is “getting better.”
Since the Republican campaign begun, the economy has added private sector jobs in each month, while the unemployment figure has dropped. This has forced Romney to recalibrate his campaign message and admit that the economy is “getting better.”
Romney was quick to note that the improvements were “in spite of” President Obama and not because of him, pushing the idea that President Obama’s policies haven’t helped to roll back the Bush Recession.
The concession that the economy is improving could prove to be another obstacle to Romney’s run, conceding a key element of what voters regularly describe as the top issue of the 2012 election. [Washington Monthly]
Leaders of the religious far right have anointed Rick Santorum as their chosen anti-Romney candidate.
An alliance of 150 conservative Christian groups announced on Saturday that Santorum had emerged from their meeting as their candidate.
Anti-gay activist Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council announced the decision, indicating that he didn’t originally believe that a consensus choice would ever materialize from the group. South Carolina is widely seen as the stronghold of the religious right within the Republican party.
Many religious conservatives that they have misgivings about Romney’s previous pro-choice record and his Mormon religious affiliation.
Santorum famously claimed that gay marriage would eventually lead to bestiality. [Reuters]
Mitt Romney has often derided the policies of President Obama for encouraging welfare, but he had his hand extended towards the government when he was a corporate raider at Bain Capital.
When Romney’s Bain took over Indiana-based Steel Dynamics, the firm received tax breaks and government subsidies totalling $37 million from the state of Indiana, also known as corporate welfare. Romney has often attacked government investment in business. The county where Steel Dynamics was located also imposed a tax in order to benefit Romney’s company. [LA Times]
A new ad from the Democratic party uses Republican voices to attack Mitt Romney for his time as a corporate raider at Bain.
The ad shows Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich attacking Romney and Bain as “vulture capitalists” and “looters.”
Mitt Romney has spent a lot of time and money in order to sell himself as a traditional “conservative businessman,” but one image could shatter that carefully crafted narrative.
The image shows Romney on an airline tarmac, getting his shoes shined while waiting for a flight (CORRECTION: Alex Seitz-Wald of Think Progress explains that Romney is being scanned by airline security and not getting a shoe shine.). The image evokes thoughts of a wealthy, out of touch, elitist — exactly the image Romney opponents hope to communicate.
Romney Tarmac Picture
A new documentary, “King Of Bain,” produced by a pro-Newt Gingrich super PAC attacks Mitt Romney for activities during his time at Bain Capital.
Romney’s activities as a corporate raider are revealed through interviews with laid off employees and the families of those affected by Romney’s activities. Romney’s role in the dismantling of toy retailer KB Toys is also explored.
King Of Bain Part 1
King Of Bain Part 2
Yet another flip flop has been uncovered from Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney. While Romney recently told Iowa audiences that “corporations are people,” video uncovered by Buzzfeed shows Romney in 2003 attacking that notion.
In comments to the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, Romney said, “There are some, if you will, classical Republicans, and I don’t want to be political here. The classical Republican approach is to say you know what makes America so great is our great corporations.”
“And if we just clear the decks so that corporations can be more successful and give them more money, and make it easier for them to succeed. Well, then we will do even better on the world stage. I don’t happen to subscribe to that traditional Republican caricature.”
VIDEO: FLIP FLOP: In 2003 Romney Didn’t Think Corporations Were People
Multimillionaire corporate raiders are set to defend Mitt Romney from attacks about his time at Bain Capital.
The Private Equity Growth Capital Council, a trade group for the multi-billion dollar private equity industry, reportedly plans to defend their industry and its association to the Republican frontrunner. The push back will take the form of an image campaign, online advertising and a pressure campaign against media outlets who present an unfavorable image of the industry.
The Council has been part of an plot to protect the taxes of its very wealthy members from legislation proposed in congress.
According to data from the Center For Responsive Politics, the Council has spent at least $11 million lobbying congress over the last four years. [NY Times]
Mitt Romney received a $10 million bailout from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in 1991, an event that runs contrary to the multimillionaire’s current anti-bailout position.
Documents obtained by the Boston Globe show that the FDIC negotiated a $10 million forgiveness with Bain & Co. while Romney was chairman and CEO in 1993.
The negotiations were part of a deal designed to reduce the debt load at the company, which was near bankruptcy. The FDIC had been forced to seize Bank of New England, who was a creditor of Bain’s.
In 2008, in a New York Times op-ed titled “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt,” Romney argued that “Detroit needs a turnaround, not a check.”
In May of 2011, Chrysler succesfully paid the U.S. Treasury back $5.1 billion from its federal bailout, while a study found that 1.14 million jobs were saved by the bailout of the auto industry. [Daily Kos]
A new Gallup poll shows conservatives settling for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. The poll of sample of 479 Republican and Republican-leaning independents showed that Romney was the most “acceptable” of the Republican candidates to 59% of conservative voters. He was followed by Newt Gingrich (51%) and Rick Santorum (50%).
Romney did much better than the rest of the field with moderate Republicans, with 59% of them finding him acceptable as the candidate. Gingrich was acceptable to only 36% of them, and 35% found Romney acceptable.
The Democratic Party has released a new web ad highlighting Mitt Romney’s comments that he likes “being able to fire people.” The ad highlights Romney’s remarks on firing, juxtaposed with details of the layoffs he engineered at Bain Capital that added to his vast personal wealth.
Mitt Romney, who made millions after buying companies and laying off employees, admitted today that “I like being able to fire people.” Romney’s comments came during a meeting with the conservative Chamber of Commerce in Nashua, New Hampshire.
The comments, along with Romney’s claim that “corporations are people” are likely to resonate for the rest of the campaign, contributing to the former Massachusetts governor’s emerging image as a well-heeled corporate raider who has made millions while living a lavish life.
At the same time, Romney is being attacked by a Republican PAC for his record of mass layoffs while at Bain Capital in a film called King of Bain: When Mitt Romney Came To Town.
Romney’s full statement: “I want individuals to have their own insurance. That means the insurance company will have an incentive to keep you healthy. It also means that if you don’t like what they do, you could fire them. I like being able to fire people who provide services to me. You know, if someone isn’t giving the good service, I want to say, I’m going to go get someone else to provide this service to.” [Politico]
Mitt Romney may have lied in front of New Hampshire voters about what he knows and doesn’t know about Super PAC ads run in his favor.
During the NBC/Facebook debate on Sunday morning, former Speaker Newt Gingrich attacked Mitt Romney for Super PAC ads run on his behalf that attacked the record of the disgraced former Speaker.
In response, Romney said, “I haven’t seen them.”
Seconds later, Romney went on to discuss “the ad I saw.” He then recited the charges found in the ad. The same ad he claimed he hadn’t seen.
UPDATE: A few days ago Romney admitted that he had raised money for the Super PAC supporting him.
In his defense, Romney surrogate John Sununu told MSNBC that Romney has not seen the ads but read “news clips” of them.
Mitt Romney appeared to indicate that only the wealthy like him should run for elected office.
Speaking at the NBC/Facebook debate on Sunday morning, Romney said his father, former Michigan governor George Romney, told him “Mitt, never get involved in politics if you have to win an election to pay a mortgage.” Romney said his father said, “If you find yourself in a position when you can serve, why you ought to have a responsibility to do so if you think you can make a difference.”
Romney followed that up by discussing his failed Senate run against Ted Kennedy in 1994, noting, “I was happy he had to take a mortgage out on his house to ultimately defeat me.”
Mitt Romney owns several mansions.
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