The real Romney?

Originally posted by sh76
He's an excellent debater and I agree with most of what he says in this clip (not affirmative action).

If you're saying that politicians need to change based on whether they're running for the GOP nomination or Senator from Massachussetts... well, sorry, but all I can express is a... duh...

Your point that a politician's positions may change based on his constituency is valid, but it does expose a weakness general to all professional politicians, that they can't be trusted.

Remember Al Gore as long as he was running for office in Tennessee, was strongly a pro gun, 2nd amendment advocate. The moment he was a VP candidate he joined the Brady bunch. Clearly, politician on both sides to the same thing based on focus groups and polls.

The question is can we do better? Are there people running who don't change their minds, and who have core beliefs we can rely on?

Originally posted by Metal Brain
Now I know why Mitt Romney is often called a flip flopper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI

Will these statements in his past debate with Ted Kennedy hurt his chances of winning the republican nomination?

I think the biggest thing that will hurt him is that the TP will force him to run against his own health care plan.

Originally posted by normbenign
Your point that a politician's positions may change based on his constituency is valid, but it does expose a weakness general to all professional politicians, that they can't be trusted.

Remember Al Gore as long as he was running for office in Tennessee, was strongly a pro gun, 2nd amendment advocate. The moment he was a VP candidate he joined the Bra ...[text shortened]... there people running who don't change their minds, and who have core beliefs we can rely on?

Well, a politician can't always be waffling based on polls. A politician has to be decisive and stick to his guns to some extent. On the other hand though, a politician who ignores the will of the people is a fool at best and a dictator at worst.

If Mitt Romney is the governor of Massachusetts and the people obviously want government sponsored healthcare and he can figure out a way to make it work within a sane fiscal statewide budget, then it's his responsibility to make it happen.

That doesn't necessarily mean he has to say that Obamacare is a good thing or that this type of system has to be shoved down the unwilling throats of the country. I really see no inconsistency between Romney's healthcare plan in MA and his opposing Obamacare. On the contrary, I think it demonstrates laudable flexibility in stark contrast to the ideological inflexibility of the Tea Party.

Originally posted by Kunsoo
I think the biggest thing that will hurt him is that the TP will force him to run against his own health care plan.

Yes, that is terribly unfortunate. He shouldn't have to; but I suppose the political reality is that he will.