The Senate is likely to vote today on the anti-contraception Blunt Amendment, championed by Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt (R), which would allow all private-sector employers to deny any health services that businesses might find morally objectionable. Despite the controversy surrounding the measure, Mitt Romney hadn't taken a position on the bill.
Yesterday, that changed. Jim Heath, a reporter with the Ohio News Network, asked the Republican presidential candidate about the anti-contraception proposal, and got an unexpected response.
It was pretty straightforward. Heath even explained what he was referring to: "Blunt-Rubio is being debated, I believe, later this week. It deals with banning or allowing employers to ban providing female contraception. Have you taken a position on it? He [Santorum] said he was for that. We'll talk about personhood in a second, but he's for that. Have you taken a position?"
Romney said, "I'm not for the bill," and proceeded to argue that presidential candidates shouldn't get into "questions about contraception."
For all of the shameless pandering Romney has done to the far-right Republican base, this unambiguous answer appeared to reflect remarkable bravery on the candidate's part. Republicans have been hyperventilating for weeks about the issue, and here was the likely GOP presidential nominee announcing, on camera, his opposition to his party's legislative remedy.
Like too many of Romney's positions, it didn't last.
Just one hour after saying he's "not for" the Blunt Amendment, the presidential hopeful announced, "Of course I support the Blunt Amendment." Romney added that he "didn't understand" Heath's question, and his campaign spokesperson issued a statement, complaining that the question was "confusing."
As the afternoon progressed, Romney backers even began complaining that reports documenting the candidate's actual words were somehow unfair -- as if quoting what presidential candidates say on television is now evidence of irresponsible reporting.
If we're being charitable, we can note that Heath's question combined measures from Blunt and Marco Rubio, which is mistaken -- they're two separate proposals -- but that hardly explains Romney's bizarre dissembling. The reporter explained what the measure is about; Romney said he's against it; and then Romney said he's for it.
Indeed, the explanation is incoherent. When Romney said, "I'm not for the bill," what bill was he referring to? If he was confused, why not ask for clarification? From Romney's own perspective, was he announcing his opposition to a proposal he knew nothing about?
The whole afternoon became a multi-tiered mess. First, Romney took a position wholly at odds with his party's base. Second, within an hour, he flip-flopped, reinforcing one of his most glaring weaknesses.
And third, while Romney had successfully steered clear of the odious Blunt Amendment, he was forced to offer his enthusiastic support for the proposal, putting him on record endorsing a right-wing plan that could allow employers to cut off everything from contraception to STD screenings, prenatal care to mental health coverage.
If self-inflicted wounds were an Olympic sport, Romney would be a gold medalist.
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Some people can't hold down a job. Romney can't hold down a position. See? He *can* sympathize with the unemployed! Sort of.
Romney is the new G O P's Pinochio. You know who will be pulling the strings as they try to make him into a "real" person...the "real" far right.
It will be the story of G. O. Petto and Romnochio, and his nose will begin to grow when he lies.
All the Republican candidates, but especially Romney, have an amazing unawareness about political issues. And Romney avoids committing to anything specific. The anti-union bill in Ohio that he went there to endorse? The debt ceiling hostage crisis? Libya? Health care? OK, he did take a pretty firm stance on moon bases.
A brief glimmer of him having testicles,,, and then Poof! Gone again!
Sounds like he was neutered.
"If self-inflicted wounds were an Olympic sport, Romney would be a gold medalist."
Another fantastic phrase Steve!!!
When you hear a republican politician talking about government in DC being broken, just remember that they are not complaining; they are bragging about what they have accomplished!
I've always said that voters respect candidates who speak honestly and forcefully for their views even if they don't always agree with the views. Frankly, that's one of Santorums's strengths (and obviously one of Romney's most glaring weaknesses). Think about how much stronger a candidate Romney would be if he stood by his original remark. Sure, it would anger some of the base, but it would energize more people who would see a leader. Romney is not alone in being fearful of disapproval instead of championing what they believe.
There's no question that a lot of people admired Sarah Palin because she "said what she really thinks", even though no intelligent person could believe the things that came out of her mouth.
...championing what they believe.
This presumes that Mittens actually believes anything that would not seriously offend virtually everyone other than Mormons and the ultra-wealthy.
Nonsense. This is the Romney wink to independents.
Oh, but Benen has a brilliant theory instead. He recognizes:
Benen's conclusion? Romney's discursive presentation of a moderate position in response to the top most predictable question of the week was inadvertent. Romney is George W. Bush. He is either stupid like Palin, Caine and Perry, or he has mental diarrhea like Gingrich.
The Right has "commentators" that push the line that Obama is stupid and cannot give a speech without a teleprompter. This analysis is the same baloney.
Try to grasp this Benen. If you underestimate your opposition, you die.
Discursive presentation of a moderate position? I'm pretty sure Steve didn't call it that. Can't see how anyone would. It was more of a discursive avoidance, followed by a briefly prepared pander.
A wink to independents??? It's just another flip flop.
Leave the analyzing to Steve. He knows what he's talking about.
Exactly it is a flip flop, but he is taking what appears to be a weakness and turns it to his advantage. So no. You don't understand the Romney wink.
A moderate independent can look at this incident and instead of think that Romney is the same kind of reasonable moderate he was as a Mass. Governor. It is very easy to believe this is how he really thinks and he is just being forced to say a bunch of balderdash in order to get the right wing loonies off his back during the primaries.
It is quite cynical and it could be very effective with GOP leaning independents.
It IS quite cynical, but I doubt it is effective. The atmosphere is so poisoned at this point that ANY statement up to and including "the sun rises in the east" will be parsed and painted to the worst possible conclusion.
But assume you are correct, this IS a "wink" to the independants. Santorum and Obama are going to jump on this like a duck on a june bug. Flip-flop will be the most respectful of things that will be said. And independants won't get the chance to have a good feeling glow before forgetting the actual message.
Nah, this was just Romney talking without thinking. Again.
Respectfully disagree. Ambiguity is highly effective in politics, and independents who want a pass to vote against Obama need to convince themselves that Romney IS a Flip Flopper, and that he means nothing about what he is saying. That he secretly is a reasonable person- a right of center moderate like them, but is forced to occasionally light his hair on fire.
In this incident, Romney's performance telegraphed that exact message.
Romney once again proves he is not presidential timber. He is used to sitting in a board room being presented with work product generated by underlings who actually work for a living and passing judgement on their recommendations. He is incapable of making a coherent and considered decision on his own. And what is worse is he doesn't seem to know better than to shut up if he is unsure of something, or perhaps ask for clarification if he is unclear about what is being asked. To blame the press afterwards is very weak. He also has no political savvy. This bill is garbage and by distancing himself from it he could only help his candidacy, but in another unforced error he turns around and steps in it.
Wow, what a great bill, well thought out, fair to all persons, constitutionally referenced...
Now we see that corporations are not only people, but apparently those entities also have "moralistic" feelings upon which they may soon be able to stick...er, apply to their employees. Not that jobs are scarce and an employee is "forced" to work for such a spiritually-minded corporation. God would be proud of how the Republicans take full advance of a down-turned economy.
Many commenters do not understand "Situational Nuance" in Politics.
For example, addressing a crowd in Boston, Mitt would say, "I hope the Reds win the Pennant."
Addressing a similar crowd in New York, Mitt would say, "I hope the Yankees win the pennant."
And in Chicago, "How 'bout them Cubs!"
(For the folks in Rio Linda, he's running for president, for Pete's sake!)
an hour. he took a position for a whole hour, before he flip-flopped.
wow.
in a debate in the house of commons, winston churchill recalled when as a youth he accompanied his parents to a fair where there was a freak show. one of the exhibits was 'the boneless wonder', supposedly a man born with no skeleton. his parents refused to let him go in, as they deemed it too terrible a sight for an impressionable child to look upon. churchill always wondered at what he had missed. in the debate, he said his dreams had come true as he looked upon his opponent, a true boneless wonder. somehow, mitt brings that story to mind.
Just curious, under the Blunt Amendment, if I have a moral objection to Republicans, could I, as an employer, deny them health care, while covering Democrats and Independents? Seems as though I could.....
proceeded to argue that presidential candidates shouldn't get into "questions about contraception."
EXACTLY
GO MITT. AMEREICA NEEDS YOU.
I could say "What a Bozo", but that would be offensive to Bozos. I think Romney's giving himself multiple concussions by switching sides as quickly as he does. He's about as firmly rooted as a ping-pong ball in a tornado.
How long before Obama switches on Keystone? Not too long I bet.
If you paid attention during the Keystone issue, contessa, you know that the Obama administration wanted more time to evaluate alternative routes fpr Keystone other than through the Ogalala aquifer. Repubs insisted on an answer, so the answer was no. Once they reapply and offer up some alternatives, then yes Obama may say okay. That's not flip-flopping; that's a different response to a more responsible proposal.
I think this little vignette proves the point of what Grover Norquist said. “We just need a president to sign this stuff. We don’t need someone to think it up or design it.” Any sane person KNOWS that this is despicable stuff. They KNOW it is ridiculous and the majority of people in this country don't agree with it. So Romney (as basically sane) says of course, he's not for it. Then his aides send out a retraction because the 'money men' behind Romney tell him that OF COURSE, he MUST support any stupid moronic thing a Republican does.
Norquist may be on to something. Romney is too dumb to parse any bill. Some one has to be constantly whispering in his ear.
Why do'nt Mitt Robme just do what senator Jon Kyl does?Just say that his answers are'nt intended to be factual.
I'm beginning to think that even a robotic fool like Romney can protected by Teflon. How can the GOP be so deaf, dumb, blind, and, yes, stupid and consider picking this egotistical, lying loser?
That man is HOPELESS.
Will the REAL Mitt Romney please stand up!!!! Remember that old show?
To tell the truth I doubt mitt could qualify as a guest.
Yeah, it was, What's My Line, and in the case of Romney even he doesn't know what his line is. Still he's better than Santorum who knows his line but it stinks to high heaven.
Paul is right. It was "To Tell The Truth." Well, we KNOW Mitt couldn't last long on THAT show.
If the Republicans nominate this man for president I think a mandatory IQ test should be required for all republicans. It's getting down to the wire either you vote for an intellegient man who has worked hard to bring this country back from a near depression or you vote status quo as a republican for a man who lies about everything maybe alot of Republicans were not affected by the policies of Bush I lost my home my husband lost his job. They need to stand beside other Americans and not stand beside their Conservative values because if they look real hard they will see that Democrats are now more conservative. Republicans are not the republicans of old they are quitting the Senate The new improved Republican race is now derived on rascism and greed get out while you can it's a sinking ship at least abolish the Tea Party who have destroyed the human dignity that used to be the Republican Party
Conservative values as presented currently is an oxymoron. If George W. can sleep after facilitating the killing and maiming of over a hundred thousand people in his bogus Iraq war, I imagine Mitt is somehow at peace with his conscience despite this latest b s contradicting his churches position on contraception. With the majority of his party not so covertly hoping the economy falters, to gain office, values is an enormous distortion of what they are proposing.
I don't think it was bravery. He's just the one who is smart enough to understand that women AND men on both sides of the aisle are against it. He wants to stand out as the one who isn't crazy, and the one who is more for the people.