I received the following feedback on one of my posts:

"Romney is a liar and an idiot. How dare he try to amend the Massachusetts Constitution! How do voters feel? It's obvious! Did Romney's Right-wing wish-list Republica win in the 2006 election for governor? OR was it PRO-Gay Marriage and PRO-Equality candidate Deval Patrick? The answer is clear."

"Just a few more days and Romney will be looking for another job. This guy is a loser and nothing but. Spends all his time on gay marriage, can't even run the state...that's why the Democrats now have it! Good Riddance Romney!!"

This is my response:

Why is Romney a "liar" and an "idiot"? If Romney is a "liar" what lie did he tell? If he is an idiot what idiotic thing has he done? Your post tells more about you than it does Romney.

He is not trying to amend the Massachusetts constitution, it is the voters... Do you know anything about this issue? Or do you only read the Boston Globe?

You might want to read this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitt_Romney#Same-sex_marriage

and this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Massachusetts

before you say anything else stupid.

re: "Did Romney's Right-wing wish-list Republica win in the 2006 election for governor? OR was it PRO-Gay Marriage and PRO-Equality candidate Deval Patrick? The answer is clear."

Yes that was one of the issues in the race for Governor. I guess you think the voters have already spoken, but you know there are these things called ballet initiatives that voters can vote on. They get to choose the outcome of one issue at a time. Look into it, it is kind of cool. There were many issues that went into a vote for Governor. Why don't you want to let the people vote? Are you afraid you might loose? I thought you believed in Democracy? Why shouldn't the people be able to vote? When the courts decide and when should the people decide? When ever you don't like the outcome, the process must have been wrong?

Re: "This guy is a loser and nothing but."

Did you see Little Miss Sunshine? You are the loser, man. People who use the word loser are the only losers. We all win and we all loose some times. Those that loose more often than win need our help, not ridicule. Romney is not one of these people.

Alright, you only have two more accusation, and you offer zero reasons to agree with these accusations. I find this typical of Romney detractors. A lot of accusation, and name calling, but no reason, or logic. No reasons to agree with their conclusions that they repeat over and over again. That is why I want to create a forum where people brain storm " Reasons to agree" or disagree with conclusions, and try to put the best reasons to agree with a conclusion at the top of the list. This will force us to have some sort of rational discussion. But I digress. Here are the last two accusations:

1. Romney spends all his time on gay marriage,
2. Romney can't even run the state...

I assume that he means that Romney spends too much time on gay marriage, instead of "all his time". I do not know how much time Romney has spent on Gay Marriage. One way to figure out the relative amount of time he spends on something would be to count the press releases. I count 4 press releases having to do with gay marriage. I see 28 press releases on education, 19 press releases that deal with housing, 15 press releases that have to do with homelessness, 8 press releases that have to do with terrorism, in fact I can't find one issue that has fewer press releases than gay marriage. I'm sure there are. I've been clicking on them from my site, but I'm tired of looking, that is all I can find for now.

Another way to figure this out would be to count the number of words coming out of the office, or his speeches, and figure out the percentage of time devoted to the issue. But I assume you are not interested in really finding the truth.

The last accusation is this. "Romney can't even run the state". Oh, my, gosh. What does someone say to something like this. How are we supposed to have any sort of rational debate when this is the kind of stuff you have on the internet? This is what 90% of the people on the internet are like. No joking. Their nuts! I am going to pretend that this world is sane, and I am going to try to deal with the stupidity that I am surrounded with. OK. How do we measure weather someone can or can not "run the state"? Does a Governor or do the people "run the state"? One part of "running the state" might have something to do with the budget, and taxes. Why don't you look into how well Romney has done on those issues, before we continue this intelligent debate?

~Mike

Mitt Romney on John Edwards

The Boston Globe has another attack add/article, wait, this is a democrat, it is a glowing report...

"PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- The day after formally announcing his presidential campaign, former North Carolina senator John Edwards came to New Hampshire, where he faced an overflow crowd and growing excitement..."

Mitt Romney on John Edwards:

ROMNEY: If you think trial lawyers need more money, our economy needs more law suits, and malpractice costs should go even higher, then send in John Edwards with him.

AUDIENCE: Boo.

ROMNEY: And Senator Edwards, if you don't like hearing that, sue me.

http://myclob.pbwiki.com/Convention

Court can't force gay marriage vote

The Supreme Judicial Court said lawmakers are defying their constitutional duties by not voting, but said it has no authority to force them to act.

Golden business touch would give Romney added lustre

By Rebecca Knight

Published: December 29 2006 02:00 | Last updated: December 29 2006 02:00

Before he was elected governor of Massachusetts, and even before he rescued the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games, Mitt Romney was known in business circles as the venture capitalist with the golden touch.

During his 14 years at the helm of Bain Capital, the Boston-based private equity firm, Mr Romney earned a reputation for an owlish knack for appraising opportunities - spotting start-ups with lucrative potential and taking troubled, undervalued companies and retooling their business models.

Mr Romney, who worked as a consultant for Bain & Co before he founded the spin-off venture capital firm with $37m, helped launch some 180 companies including Staples, The Sports Authority, and Domino's Pizza. He also he made his investors a lot of money: during his reign at Bain the firm's annual rate of return on realised investments exceeded 100 per cent.

As Mr Romney eyes a possible bid for the 2008 Republican nomination, some observers note that his limited experience in public office would be a big liability in the greater Republican party contest. He has only one term as governor under his belt and he managed to court controversy during that tenure - for instance, opposing gay marriage. However, even Mr Romney's detractors concede that his successful record in the private sector has left mostly a string of admirers.

Described by former colleagues as "tough-minded", "analytical" and bearing "Reagan-like leadership" qualities, Mr Romney - who holds degrees from Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School - became well known in the world of venture capital for his ability to parse a lot of information in a short time, his sharp attention to detail and his penchant for poring through facts and figures.

Tom Stemberg was hawking around his business plan to start a chain of office supply stores when he first met Mr Romney in 1985. "It was a long business plan and the only group that had thoughtfully read it and taken it apart was Mitt and his team," he recalls. "There was one firm that laughed and said, 'Who in the world cares about how much they spend on pencils and erasers?' But Mitt paid a tremendous amount of attention to details like that."

Mr Stemberg remembers that, at one point, Mr Romney questioned his calculation that the amount that small businesses spent annually on office supplies was more than $1,000 per employee. Mr Romney said that he had surveyed businesses in Boston and they claimed to spend only about $250 a head. "So I told him that one of the big problems is that companies don't know what they spend. You have to look at the invoices," says Mr Stemberg.

That is exactly what Mr Romney and his Bain colleagues did - a tedious task. Mr Romney discovered that Mr Stemberg's figures were correct and Bain Capital made an initial investment of about $600,000 to start a little company called Staples. Today it has 69,000 employees and a market capitalisation of about $19.5bn (€14.5bn, £9.9bn).

During Mr Romney's career as a buyout specialist he sometimes had to make unpopular decisions - including trimming costs and slashing jobs - and not all of Bain's companies were resounding winners. But that was part of the job. "He is a decision maker and the buck stops with him," said one former colleague.

Bob White, a partner at Bain Capital and a friend of the out-going governor, says that Mr Romney's strength lies in his ability to surround himself with smart, passionate people - and, crucially, people with divergent views. "He believes it's very important to have people that don't all see everything the same way."

Mr White says that one of Mr Romney's finest hours in business came in the late 1980s. Bain & Co had embarked on an employee stock ownership plan by borrowing money to pay founders for shares that the company would then sell to new partners. But the estimated worth of the company was too much and Bain could not meet its debts.

In 1990 the partners asked Mr Romney to return from Bain Capital to oversee a restructuring of the company that entailed complicated negotiations with banks, as well as the company's former partners, to get significant portions of the debts forgiven.

Mr Romney managed to convince all but one of the top partners in the Boston office to go along with him, according to Mr White. "It was exactly the right thing to do," he says.

"The company was potentially weeks away from financial ruin, but he was able to turn it around and today it has done extraordinarily well." The company is today worth about $36bn.

Then came the Olympics. When Mr Romney arrived as its chief executive officer in 1999, the Salt Lake City Winter Games had a $379m fiscal shortfall and had been hit by bribery allegations. "In walks Mitt and the place brightened immediately," recalls Frazier Bullock, who was chief operating officer of the games and also worked with Mr Romney at Bain.

"He understood the big picture right from the beginning and had a road map for how to rebuild."

Mr Romney reworked the organisation's policies, cut budgets and increased fundraising. The games ended in surplus and Mr Romney won national praise for turning them into a resounding commercial success. "Not only is he drop dead smart," says Mr Bullock, who now works at Sorenson Capital, "but he has a leadership quality that you can see and feel."

I recieved this e-mail

I received the following e-mail from an anonymous online person, on one of my blogs. It reads;

"He is wrong on the issue of gay marriage and civil unions. He can't have it both ways. You either support gay rights in every aspect from equal employment opportunities to equal marriage rights or he doesn't. How can people defend marriage like it's some Godly thing when you have people like Kevin Federline and Britney Spears, or the high divorce rate? Just because you are straight doesn't mean you will be a good parent. In any case, just because a country allows gay marriage or civil unions , does not mean that country will have a flood gate of gays marrying. Just look at the statistics of countries like Canada or Holland. I stand by the notion that if you are against gay rights and under that umbrella is gay marriage, then you are inherently prejudice. Doesn't mean you will use a homophobic slur, but inside you have hateful feelings. I have a strong feeling he would go ballistic if he found out any of his kids were gay."

The following is my response to the e-mail. I am posting it hear, as I believe this is the way many people feel, and because this individual did not give me an e-mail address…

"He is wrong on the issue of gay marriage and civil unions. He can't have it both ways. You either support gay rights in every aspect from equal employment opportunities to equal marriage rights or he doesn't."

This totally ignores Mitt Romney's argument, that yes you would come to that conclusion if you looked at Marriage as an institution that is created for the happiness of adults. Marriage was not created so that couples can show their love for each other for everyone to see, and feel good. Marriage is not a way for couples to love each other better, and as a public way for couples to tell each other how much they love each other.

Marriage was created as a legal contract to insure that children have a mother and father. Because marriage does not reform two complete idiots like Britney spears Kevin F into Ward and Judy Cleaver does not mean that it does no good. The institution of marriage provides many children with loving fathers and mothers. Because some fathers are stupid, does not mean that children do not need a father. Because some mothers are stupid, does not mean that children do not need a mother. If Kevin F or Britney Spears ever grow up to be complete individuals, it will probably be because the feel that their children need a good role model.

I think Marriage was created so that fathers and mothers could not easily abandon their children. How can you say that Mitt Romney is wrong and totally ignore any of his arguments? Please explain to me how Romney's arguments are not valid. I need to hear the reasons that Romney is wrong, not just your conclusion.

For those who know nothing (or choose to ignore) what Romney has said about Marriage click here:

http://myclob.pbwiki.com/Marriage

"How can people defend marriage like it's some Godly thing when you have people like Kevin Federline and Britney Spears, or the high divorce rate?"

Sure, most gay couples probably make better parents than Britney spears and Kevin Federline, but does the exception prove the rule? There is a book called the death of common sense. It says that Americans have tried to guarantee that the world is fair, but we don't do very good cost benefit analysis, and that our good effort of trying to make the world fair, often back fires and makes the world a better place. You really have to read the book. It is awesome. But it says that we should stop making the rule by the exception, but that we should use common sesnce and make policies that result in the most good for the most amount of people. Liberals are good hearted. They are motivated by trying to re-work the world and forcing it to be fair. But the world can not be forced, and we often to more good when we don't do a wise cost benefit analysis.

If you want to be simplistic you could look at just the adults and say that if straight couples should be allowed to marry, than gay couples should be allowed to marry. But the world is not simple. There are also the need of children.

In trying to give equality to homosexual parents, you take equality away from children. You create a situation were more children have difficulty relating to one of the sexes. You have more children that will either have deformed, or icomplete relationships with one of the sexes.

There is a problem with not enough male teachers for boys in the public school system. There are a lot of books written about it, that say that wemon teachers do not understand and relate well to the male students.

The ideal is to have both a mother and a father in the home. Because the ideal is never met, does not mean that we should not try.

"Just because you are straight doesn't mean you will be a good parent."

I never said that all straight people are good parents and all gay people are bad parents. I do believe that a child is more likely to grow up with understanding of both sexes if they grow up with both a mother and a father.

"In any case, just because a country allows gay marriage or civil unions, does not mean that country will have a flood gate of gays marrying. Just look at the statistics of countries like Canada or Holland. I stand by the notion that if you are against gay rights and under that umbrella is gay marriage, then you are inherently prejudice."

OK. If everyone who disagrees with you is prejudice, then I can play the same game. You are prejudice, because you disagree with me. Most children want both a mother and a father. If you are advocating that less children get to have both a mother and a father, you must be prejudice against children. Why else would you discriminate against them, and not give them what the majority of them want? You are a child-phobic prejudiced, red-neck, and I'm going to win this argument by repeating this to myself over and over again until I feel better about my decision.

"Doesn't mean you will use a homophobic slur, but inside you have hateful feelings. I have a strong feeling he would go ballistic if he found out any of his kids were gay."

This is not true. Mitt Romney has said the following:

• "This is a subject about which people have tender emotions in part because it touches individual lives. It also has been misused by some as a means to promote intolerance and prejudice. This is a time when we must fight hate and bigotry, when we must root out prejudice, when we must learn to accept people who are different from one another. Like me, the great majority of Americans wish both to preserve the traditional definition of marriage and to oppose bias and intolerance directed towards gays and lesbians."
• Governor Mitt Romney, 06-22-2004 Press Release

• "Preserving the definition of marriage should not infringe on the right of individuals to live in the manner of their choosing. One person may choose to live as a single, even to have and raise her own child. Others may choose to live in same sex partnerships or civil arrangements. There is an unshakeable majority of opinion in this country that we should cherish and protect individual rights with tolerance and understanding. "
• Governor Mitt Romney, 06-22-2004 Press Release

It's a long-forgotten moment, but it was a poignant and revealing one. In the wake of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's discovery of a right to gay marriage that had been long–hidden in the Commonwealth's John Adams penned constitution, Governor Mitt Romney had vigorously protested both the substantive result and the judicial arrogance that led to the result.

On the day the decision went into effect, dozens of gay couples descended on Massachusetts' city and town halls to get married. The TV cameras sought out Governor Romney for his response to the day's events. The media no doubt expected him to toss some red meat to the knuckle-dragging conservatives that Romney was courting in anticipation of a presidential bid. Instead, Romney pleaded that the public and gay marriage critics in particular bear in mind that this was a happy and joyous day for many individuals, and act respectfully and accordingly.

If you saw him deliver that sentiment on the news, you could see it was heartfelt. You could also see that Mitt Romney would not square with the stereotypical (and of course mistaken) view of a gay marriage opponent. He was not a hater and not a homophobe. Rather, he was a decent man who thought the policy of gay marriage was an unwise one and, regardless of the policy's wisdom, was disappointed in the judicial overreach that brought it into being.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT MOMENT in recent Romney history while assorted pundits have been trying to sort through the Romney record when it comes to gay rights issues. Of special interest this week is a 1994 interview Romney gave where he was extremely generous on matters of interest to the gay community. Because I was volunteering for him in 1994 and spent considerable time with him, I think I can help shed some light on this latest "scandal."

When he ran for Senate in '94 against Ted Kennedy, the opinions of Mitt Romney's church was a recurring subject of discussion, thanks largely to the efforts of the Boston Globe. One of the things that the theologians at the Globe noticed is that the tenets of Mormonism regarding homosexuality weren't particularly accepting or tolerant. The Globe kept implicitly pressuring Romney to make the choice – gays or his church. (Oddly, Ted Kennedy's Catholic faith didn't trigger any similar demands or curiosity on the Globe's part.)

 

Romney spent a solid chunk of the '94 campaign expressing his tolerance and acceptance for homosexuals. Naturally, nothing he could say in this regard would satisfy his critics. If he didn't explicitly condemn the teachings of his church, his critics would continue to bray. And bray they did, from practically the first day of his campaign until the last.

It was in this context that Romney made his now-famous comments in a 1994 interview with Bay Windows, a Boston newspaper that caters to the gay community. Among his observations were these:

 

    I feel that as a society and for me as an individual, it's incumbent on all of us to respect one another, regardless of our differences and beliefs, our differences in sexual orientation, in race and that America has always been a place, and should be a place, to welcome and tolerate people's differences.

 

    I personally feel and one of my core beliefs is that we should accept people of all backgrounds and recognize everyone as a brother and a sister because we are all part of the family of man.

Fueling the current controversy is the question, How could so vocal a supporter of gay rights in 1994 be such a prominent opponent of gay marriage in 2006?

FORGET THE PART that in the same interview, Romney also said, "Bill Weld does not feel at this time that he wishes to extend legalized marriage on a same-sex basis, and I support his position." Those looking for a scandal here certainly have.

The question itself regarding Romney's putatively shifting views suggests Romney has a penchant for flip-flopping with such audacity that John Kerry should be envious. There is, however, an answer to the question and it's not a particularly complex one. I spent a decent amount of time with Romney in '94, and got to know him reasonably well. He's not a hater. He's not a bigot. He's not a homophobe. No one who has worked with him or who actually has known him in any capacity says otherwise. And this is a man who has led a prominent and powerful business life.

Romney is also a traditionalist. He does not believe that institutions such as marriage should be mucked with. And he certainly doesn't believe that such institutions should be playthings for a gaggle of unelected officials who happen to wear black robes for a living.

In other words, his opposition to gay marriage is based on good faith differences with gay marriage proponents regarding where a particular legal line should be drawn. And by good faith, I mean that he arrives at his position not out of hate, bigotry or political calculation, but out of a true sense of moral conviction regarding what is best and noblest for our society.

On where the legal line should be drawn on gay marriage, he and I happen to differ. Unlike Romney, and unlike most of the readers of this site, I have no problem with legalizing gay marriage. But unlike Romney's critics, I know that the difference is a good faith one, and not the result of those I disagree with making venal calculations or indulging their prejudiced natures.

The preceding is the part that some narrow-minded gay marriage proponents just can't get. They think that if you're against gay marriage, you are necessarily a hater and by definition a homophobe. That's just not so.

Another thing regarding Romney and gay marriage warrants mentioning: This was not a fight he sought. Even given the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's prior reckless disregard for precedent and the democratic process, no one foresaw the SJC discovering a pre-existing right to gay marriage in the Commonwealth's 220 year old Constitution. Even by the SJC's own lofty standards for such things, it was a stunning piece of judicial arrogance. In short, it was not part of a Romney master-plan to be the anti-gay marriage candidate.

Critics of Evangelicals and Fundamentalists think the key to winning their support is to be the most-narrow minded and hate-filled candidate in the field. These critics chronically lament the bigotry of these specifically identifiable communities while crudely and cruelly caricaturizing them; it is a perverse credit to these critics that they never betray any sense of irony while doing so.

One of the reasons Mitt Romney will be increasingly successful as more people get to know him is because he is the real deal – Mitt is a good, honest and decent man. And those are far from his only virtues. But those are the virtues that Republicans of all religious and ethnic affiliations hunger for most in their '08 standard bearer.

Q&A: Mitt Romney Discusses Iraq War, Reagan's Influence and Gay Marriage

Click here for the interview. Here is the intro:

As he ponders whether to seek the presidency in 2008, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney yesterday took a break from his family vacation in Utah to talk exclusively to HUMAN EVENTS about the War on Terror, his conservative beliefs and the role bloggers are playing in politics. He also clarified his views on abortion and gay marriage and addressed concerns about his healthcare plan.

Romney's term as governor ends on January 4, 2007, and he's expected to announce his future plans shortly thereafter. Recently he's reached out to conservatives, including National Review Online and talk-show host Hugh Hewitt to discuss his political views.

A complete transcript of our interview follows. It is also available to download in .mp3 format or via Windows Media.

~~~Mike

Hugh

Hugh

Posted by Mike on 12/28/06

Romney was on Human Events and Town Hall yesterday. Here is the link to the Hugh Hewitt transcript.

A blogger from the most conservative state in the country...

... Is now supporting the soon to be former governor of the most liberal state in the country...

http://idahoansformitt.wordpress.com/

He/she seems pretty cool.

Photos

This photo provided by the Massachusetts governors office shows Gov. Mitt Romney, left, meeting with a Massachusetts Army National Guard member assigned to Aviation Task Force, Camp Buehring, in Kuwait in this May 23, 2006 file photo, before visiting Iraq. (AP Photo/United States Air Force, Lt. Col. Martin Moerschell, File)

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at fundraiser for the Republican Party of Orange County in Irvine Calif. in this June 17, 2005 file photo. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney gestures while speaking to a Republican Women's club in Concord, N.H. in this March 18, 2006 file photo. (AP Photo/Jim Cole, File)

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney gestures while speaking to the Republican's at the 4th annual Ronald Reagan Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, in this Oct. 16, 2004 file photo. (AP Photo/Steve Pope, File)

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a holiday reception in Manchester, N.H., Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006. Romney will step down from office next month and is considered a possible 2008 presidential candidate. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney shakes hands with former state Speaker of the House Donna Sytek at a holiday reception in Manchester, N.H., Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006. Romney will step down from office next month and is considered a possible 2008 presidential candidate. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney greets guests at a holiday reception at a holiday reception in Manchester, N.H., Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006. Romney will step down from office next month and is considered a possible 2008 presidential candidate. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?ei=UTF-8&p=mitt+romney&c=&fr=&c=news_photos

Yahoo News

• 
  Romney set for presidential announcement AP - Sat Dec 23, 12:21 AM ET

  BOSTON - Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is making plans for his campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination in two phases early next month, a top adviser told The Associated Press on Friday.

Ted Haggard

What does Ted Gaggard think of Mitt Romney's Mormonism?

"Pastor Ted Haggard, [at the time] president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NEA) in Colorado Springs, CO said:

" 'We evangelicals view Mormons as a Christian cult group. A cult group is a group that claims exclusive revelation. And typically, it's hard to get out of these cult groups. And so Mormonism qualifies as that'."

http://www.religioustolerance.org/lds_crit.htm

He is more liberal than Mitt Romney, in that he supports civil unions for gays.

Although Haggard opposes same sex marriage, he has suggested that there should be civil unions for homosexual couples. <sup>[16]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Haggard#Teachings_on_homosexuality

Ted Haggart supports civil unions, while Mitt Romney, "</sup>When he ran for governor in 2002, Romney declared his opposition to both same-sex marriage and civil unions. ^[67] "Call me old fashioned, but I don't support gay marriage nor do I support civil union," said Romney in an October 2002 gubernatorial debate. He also voiced support for basic domestic partnership benefits for gay couples."

But their are other differences between Mitt Romney and Ted Haggard:

Sex and methamphetamine scandal

[edit] Allegations

On November 1, 2006, Mike Jones alleged that Haggard (whom Jones knew as "Art"; Haggard's middle name is Arthur) had paid for sex with him on an almost monthly basis over the previous three years. Jones contends the relationship was strictly physical, not emotional, and that he was typically paid a "couple of hundred dollars" but sometimes Haggard would pay him extra. ^[24] Jones also stated "[Haggard] had told me he loved snorting meth before [he] has sex with his wife" and that Haggard had also revealed a fantasy he had of having an orgy with "about six young college guys ranging from 18 to 22 in age." ^[25]

Jones claims Haggard had often used drugs in front of him,^[24] but he said he never actually sold drugs to Haggard but instead introduced him to someone he could purchase it from.

About two years ago he asked, "Hey, Mike, what do you know about meth? I don't do it personally, but I know people who do." I told him that some people think it enhances their sexual experience. He asked if I could help him get some. I located someone he could connect with. After that, he got it on his own. The last time he saw me, he was trying to get some and couldn't, which resulted in him sending me money through the mail in August, postmarked Colorado Springs. He wrote "Art" on the corner of the envelope. I just read that his middle name is Arthur....^[26]

Jones said he made his outing allegations against Haggard in response to Haggard's political support for a Colorado Amendment 43 on the November 7, 2006 Colorado ballot that would ban same-sex marriage in that state. Jones told ABC News, "I had to expose the hypocrisy. He is in the position of influence of millions of followers, and he's preaching against gay marriage. But behind everybody's back [he's] doing what he's preached against."^[25] Jones hoped that his statements would sway voters. ^[27]

Jones volunteered to take a polygraph test on a KHOW radio show hosted by Peter Boyles, where Jones first made the allegations. However, Jones' responses during the section of the polygraph test about whether he had engaged in sex with Haggard indicated deception. Haggard responded by saying "We're so grateful that he failed a polygraph test this morning, my accuser did." Jones was not asked questions about drug use. The test administrator expressed doubt about the accuracy of the test because of Jones's recent stress and resulting inability to eat or sleep. Jones says he doubts he will retake the test.^[28]

Voice analysis expert Richard Sanders has compared the voice of Haggard from a television interview to that of the voicemails released by Jones and announced preliminary results stating that the voice on the voicemail is most likely that of Haggard. According to an article from KUSA, "Sanders makes his decision by comparing the resonance of the voice, the play of one's tongue and the inflection of vowel sounds."^[29]

[edit] Rumors prior to the Jones allegations

Greg Montoya, editor of Out Front Colorado, a Denver GLBT newspaper, told the Colorado Springs Gazette that "rumors about Haggard's love life have circulated through Denver's gay community for the past year. 'But we didn't know it involved Mike Jones.'"^[30]

Montoya's disclosure was paralleled by Lou Sheldon, chairman of the anti-gay Traditional Values Coalition and a self-proclaimed friend of Haggard, who told New York's The Jewish Week that he and "a lot" of other people had been aware of Pastor Haggard's same-sex behavior "for awhile... but we weren't sure just how to deal with it.... Ted and I had a discussion. He said homosexuality is genetic. I said, no it isn't. But I just knew he was covering up. They need to say that." ^[31]

[edit] Response to allegations

Haggard initially claimed he had never heard of his accuser and denied having ever done drugs and stated "I have not, I have never had a gay relationship with anybody."^[32] Many evangelical leaders initially showed support for Haggard and were critical of media reports. James Dobson issued a news release stating, "It is unconscionable that the legitimate news media would report a rumor like this based on nothing but one man's accusation. Ted Haggard is a friend of mine and it appears someone is trying to damage his reputation as a way of influencing the outcome of Tuesday's election – especially the vote on Colorado's marriage-protection amendment – which Ted strongly supports."^[33]

Later however, Haggard resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals. ^[34] He went on administrative leave from his position as senior pastor of New Life Church, saying "I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity. I hope to be able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date. In the interim, I will seek both spiritual advice and guidance."^[35]

On November 2, 2006, senior church officials told Colorado Springs television station KKTV that Haggard has admitted to some of the claims made by Jones.^[36] In an e-mail to New Life Church parishioners sent on the evening of November 2, Acting Senior Pastor Ross Parsley wrote, "It is important for you to know that he [Haggard] confessed to the overseers that some of the accusations against him are true."^[37]

Haggard admitted on November 3 that he had purchased methamphetamine and received a massage from Jones, but he denied using the drugs or having sex with Jones. "I called him to buy some meth, but I threw it away. I bought it for myself but never used it." Haggard claimed in a radio interview, and added, "I was tempted, but I never used it."^[38]

As it became apparent that some of the claims were true, and that Haggard's denials were false, some evangelical leaders such as Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell sought to downplay Haggard's influence on religious conservatives and also deny that the NAE is very important." ^[39] On his television show, "The 700 Club" Robertson said, "We're sad to see any evangelical leader fall" and also said the claim that the NAE represents thirty million people "just isn't true... We can't get their financial data. I think it's because they have very little money and very little influence." During a CNN interview, Jerry Falwell would go on record saying, "[Haggard] doesn't really lead the movement. He's president of an association that's very loose-knit... and no one has looked to them for leadership."^[40] White House spokesman Tony Fratto sought to downplay Haggard's influence on the White House by saying that Haggard was only occasionally part of the weekly calls between evangelical leaders and the White House and had visited there only "a couple" of times.^[41]

James Dobson, however, issued another public statement saying he was "heartsick" of learning about Haggard's admissions and that "the possibility that an illicit relationship has occurred is alarming to us and to millions of others." He also stated that "[Haggard] will continue to be my friend, even if the worst allegations prove accurate" and "nevertheless, sexual sin, whether homosexual or heterosexual, has serious consequences."^[42]

[edit] Admission and removal from job

The "Overseer Board of New Life Church" released a prepared statement on the afternoon of November 4, 2006 that stated: "Our investigation and Pastor Haggard's public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct." The board cited the bylaws of the mega-church and said his conduct compelled them to remove him from his job.

During a New Life Church service on Sunday, November 5, 2006 another pastor read a letter from Haggard that stated:

	I am so sorry for the circumstances that have caused shame and embarrassment for all of you.... The fact is I am guilty of sexual immorality, and I take responsibility for the entire problem. I am a deceiver and a liar. There is a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I've been warring against it all of my adult life.... The accusations that have been leveled against me are not all true, but enough of them are true that I have been appropriately and lovingly removed from ministry.
	— Ted Haggard, letter to New Life Church [43]

Haggard went on to say that his removal was permanent, and that until a new senior pastor could be found, Ross Parsley, the Associate Senior Pastor, would hold that position.

Haggard is to be counseled by a team including Jack Hayford and Tommy Barnett who intend to "perform a thorough analysis of Haggard's mental, spiritual, emotional and physical life", including the use of polygraph tests .^[44] The team was to include James Dobson, who later stepped aside, citing time constraints.^[45]

Coast Guard mission to be retained with state and National Guard support

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Department State House Boston, MA 02133 (617) 725-4000 MITT ROMNEY GOVERNOR KERRY HEALEY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 22, 2006 CONTACT: Eric Fehrnstrom Felix Browne (617) 725-4025 Scott Carr (USCG) (617) 223-8515 Win Danielson (NGMA) (508) 958-3187 ROMNEY, COAST GUARD, NATIONAL GUARD SIGN MMR AGREEMENT Coast Guard mission to be retained with state and National Guard support Governor Mitt Romney, National Guard Bureau Lieutenant General Steven Blum and U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Timothy Sullivan today signed a historic agreement that will allow the Coast Guard to maintain its presence at the Massachusetts Military Reservation despite the impending loss of a flying mission for the Massachusetts Air National Guard, which operates MMR's airfield. Beyond fulfilling its core missions of maritime safety and security from MMR, the Coast Guard currently provides housing that is open to all MMR tenants, operates the base infirmary and provides MedEvac service to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.  The 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission recommended realigning Otis Air National Guard Base and relocating the 102nd Air National Guard Fighter Wing.  In the absence of a flying mission for the 102nd Fighter Wing at MMR, the Coast Guard would, under the terms of the agreement, assume the cost of operating the MMR's runways, which they currently use at no cost. "Thanks to the combined efforts of a resourceful team, the Coast Guard's presence and mission on Cape Cod are secure," said Governor Romney.  "Continued airfield operations are also critical to the readiness and response capabilities of the Massachusetts National Guard as they work to train the Commonwealth's next generation of soldiers." "This agreement ensures that the Massachusetts National Guard will remain ready, accessible and available to answer the calls of the Governor and the President and to respond across the full spectrum of operations from domestic missions here at home to full scale combat operations overseas.  It is right for America, Massachusetts and the Guard," said Lieutenant General Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau. "This Memorandum of Agreement enables the Coast Guard, Massachusetts National Guard and Commonwealth of Massachusetts to open a new chapter on the Massachusetts Military Reservation that allows us to continue our long-standing mutual cooperation and unity of effort with our partners well into the future," said Admiral Sullivan.  "This agreement enables the Coast Guard to most effectively serve mariners, boaters and the general public along the North Atlantic Coast by keeping our aircraft in the optimum staging point in the Northeast for airborne search and rescue and homeland security operations." "I welcome this agreement, which secures the Coast Guard's presence and serves as a foundation for the future of the Massachusetts Military Reservation," said Senator Edward Kennedy.  "We know the special importance of this base to our national security. We're all very grateful for the Coast Guard that patrols our shores and the Air Guard that patrols our skies." "The United States Coast Guard, the National Guard Bureau and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have forged an important alliance for the common good and the security of Massachusetts and our entire country," said Senator John Kerry. "I'm pleased that the hard work of our military leadership has concluded with the successful completion of this uniquely cooperative effort." "The BRAC report gives us real hope for Otis, the Coast Guard, our Air Guard and all the other vitally important missions at the Massachusetts Military Reservation," said Congressman William Delahunt.  "It is a reaffirmation of the critical importance of the base as a regional center for homeland security." Following the relocation of the 102nd Fighter Wing, the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Guard Bureau and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will jointly assume responsibility for base operations and management of the MMR as follows: Airfield Management: Within three months of the departure of the last Air National Guard aircraft, the Air Force will transfer the Otis airfield to the U.S. Coast Guard by means of a permit for its use and for use by others.  The Coast Guard will provide airfield management services at a level necessary to support Coast Guard operations.  Other tenants and state agencies would have access to the airfield on an as-needed basis. Utilities: The Air National Guard will operate and maintain electricity, water and sewer and telecommunications, much of which they currently provide. Emergency Services: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will facilitate and ensure the maintenance, operation and support of a fully functional fire department at the MMR to provide fire and emergency services to local, state and federal users of the reservation. The agreement signed today will remain in effect for at least two years after the last of the 102nd Fighter Wing aircraft depart the air base, and continued partnership going forward will be dependent upon each party's agreement. For nearly 40 years, the National Guard Bureau, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have been key stakeholders and partners on the MMR.  Currently, the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Otis Air National Guard Base, and Camp Edwards operate on nearly 20,000 acres of contiguous Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense land and facilities at the MMR.   ###

JACOB WEISBERG'S TIRESOME CONDESCENSION

David French, has a great article here http://www.evangelicalsformitt.org/front_page/jacob_weisbergs_tiresome_conde.php about "Jacob Weisberg's Tiresome Condescension" David says, "Hold on there, chief. Is it really true that mainstream Christianity and Judaism are acceptable only because we've turned "their myths into metaphor?" "On their face, these claims are pretty fantastic (and Mormons believe them too, by the way). And this illustrates a point we have long made here at EFM: if we evangelicals allow reasoning like this to derail the candidacy of a brilliant, faithful, man of integrity like Governor Romney, is there any assurance -- any assurance at all -- that the very same reasoning won't be turned on us?" This reminds me of a great line from "A Man For All Seasons": William Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law! Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil? William Roper: Yes, I'd cut down every law in England to do that! Sir Thomas More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man's laws, not God's! And if you cut them down, and you're just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake! It also reminds me of this: First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me. by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945 Jews, Catholics, and Protestants everywhere that want to be judged as individuals not by religious bigotry need to stand up to religious bigots like Jacob Weisberg. Closet religious bigotry is one thing, but Jacob Weisberg is proud of the fact that he is willing to judge people by their religion, as apposed to on an individual basis. If you don't stand up for Mitt right to be judged on his individual accomplishments and characteristics, you will be judged that much more, because of what group you belong to. Click here for the article. ~~~Mike

More great info from slate!

Citgo Petroleum Corporation or Citgo, a subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., the Venezuelan state-owned petroleum company.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/citgo.asp

Slate part II

This from Bandon, "Unfortunately Slate has a large audience. This guy believe it or not is an editor of Slate. This would be plastered all over the MSM for a week if he said similar things about a Muslim, because they believe in the return of the Imams; or a Catholic because they believe in transubstantiation. His logic about time moderating faithful views is flawed in so many ways. What he doesn't realize is that Christians, Muslims, Jews, and most of the world's religions believe in miraculous (he would call them dogmatic, irrational, and absurd) events in the past PRESENT and FUTURE. He made a cowardly attempt to distinguish the Mormon-held miracles from those of other religions."

"Folks, we need to get this on the MSM. Email O'reilly, Hannity, anyone who you think might pick up this story. This guy needs to be fired."

New Montana for Mitt Website

Here is the link:

http://montanansformitt.com.westernromancecompany.com/

Jacob Weisberg of Slate

Jacob Weisberg of Slate

Posted by Mike on 12/21/06

Jacob Weisberg of Slate says the following: "But if he gets anywhere in the primaries, Romney's religion will become an issue with moderate and secular voters—and rightly so. Objecting to someone because of his religious beliefs is not the same thing as prejudice based on religious heritage, race, or gender." http://www.slate.com/id/2155902/ How did Jacob get his Job at slate? Did someone ask him what religion he was, or did someone ask what experience he had? Perhaps someone asked to see his Resume. Jacob Weisberg said, "Such views are disqualifying because they're dogmatic, irrational, and absurd. By holding them, someone indicates a basic failure to think for himself or see the world as it is." Jacob can pre-judge religious people based solely on their religious beliefs? He does not need a Resume. He does not want to look at their IQ, ACT scores, or accomplishments to judge them. All he needs to know is what religion we belong to in order to classify us as "dogmatic, irrational, and absurd". Jacob actually said, "by holding them (these beliefs), someone indicates a basic failure to think for himself or see the world as it is." Is that how Jacob Weisberg got a job at slate? They asked him for a Resume, and he said, "don't worry, I'm an atheist". And the head-honcho at Slate, said, "Good, I don't have enough time to look at people's qualifications. I hate Résumé's with all those stupid things like, 'graduated from Harvard Business and Law School Cum Laude. Valedictorian. These don't really mean anything. All I need to do is hear a profession of faith (testimony), or lack thereof, depending on what is fashionable in this day and time. By proclaiming your religious beliefs or lack there of you have told me everything I need to know about you. Welcome to Slate.'" No, I assume that Jacob had to show some qualifications maybe even a Resume. It would have been against federal law for his boss to ask him what religion he was, wouldn't it? Jacob thinks that he should be able to disqualify individuals because of their religious beliefs when they run for president. I wonder if that is how he runs things at slate. Has Jacob ever hired someone who was not an atheist, or is that a pre-requisite at slate? You know, we don't know what is going on over their at slate, but the rest of the world, Jacob, does not just look at a religious litmus test. There is at least some talk of qualifications. If that is all you need in order to be disqualified to be president, if it is that obvious that Mormons do not deserve any respect, no matter how hard they work or what they accomplish, why should they be allowed into college? All Mormons and the other religions that Jacob should be mentioned should be outlawed from college for the reasons that Jacob outlines. He says; "Such views are disqualifying because they're dogmatic, irrational, and absurd. By holding them, someone indicates a basic failure to think for himself or see the world as it is." Sorry Mitt, we are going to have to take away your degrees from Harvard Law and Business school. You are an irrational, dogmatic, and absurd Mormon. You do not deserve them. Jacob says, "By the same token, I wouldn't vote for someone who truly believed in the founding whoppers of Mormonism." Is that so Jacob? If you owned a business would you hire a Mormon? They have obviously proven to you that they are stupid. Do you want stupid people working for you? Do you feel comfortable admitting to the world that you are a bigot? Jacob says that Mitt Romney is an "Elder" in the church. If Jacob would have spent 30 seconds talking to someone from the church, he would have realized that Romney is not an Elder. I think it is great that Jacob wants America to be more like Northern Ireland and Iran were people are judged based on which religion they belong to. I'm glad that Jacob can take a short cut to intellectualism. He doesn't have to debate Mitt Romney, he doesn't have to read the Old Testament, New Testament, or Book of Mormon. He doesn't have to do better in school, on the ACT's, SAT's or in life than Mitt Romney in order to be smarter than he is. All he has to do is reject Mormonism, and therefore he is smarter than Mitt Romney, and deserves more than Romney does, to be president. Forget that Romney balanced the budget without raising taxes; forget that he came up with a new way corralling people away from the emergency rooms and into insurance plans. None of that Matters. Jacob Weisberg is more qualified to be president, in his view, because he is not a Mormon. Then Jacob says about the stupidest thing I have ever heard. It is his only argument that he brings to the table besides that Mormons are too stupid to be president. The rest of his article is him parading around in his naked bigotry. But here is the only argument that he bring to the table and it makes me wonder how he got a job working anywhere, even at slate magazine. He says, "Perhaps Christianity and Judaism are merely more venerable and poetic versions of the same [transparent fraud]. But a few eons makes a big difference. The world's greater religions have had time to splinter, moderate, and turn their myths into metaphor." So according to Jacob every other time there was a religious movement were people left one church and joined another, it was healthy. It was good, because it was a reformation. But when my ancestor, George Laub, who was a Baptist preacher left his church to become a Mormon it was not part of this refining process? He does not think that Mormonism had anything to draw my grandparents to it? It was not a healthy splintering or moderation? Why are all the other new religions good, but Mormonism was bad? Jacob does not tell us. He wants us to judge mitt Romney, without looking at any of the details of his life, and he wants us to agree with him (that religious bigotry towards Mormons is good) without giving us any reason to agree with him. No substance. No reasons to come to his conclusion. No logic. No independent way of judging Mitt. No use of a Resume. No looking at his skills or experience. And Jacob gives us no reason to agree with him, except other religions have been around longer, and for some reason their leaders that started new churches were good, and our leaders were not. We are just supposed to jump to his side without any substance, without any reason besides his self righteous mockery. I would like to see Jacob Weisberg's Resume, and I can get Mitt Romney's resume, and we can see who America thinks is smarter. ~~~Mike This is kind of a rough draft. I got my degree in electrical engineering, and I don't write very well. Could someone who can use words better than me take a stab at this?

Barak

Obama Record,

Voted NO on confirming Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice.
Vote on the Nomination -- a YES vote would to confirm Samuel A. Alito,
Jr., of New Jersey, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of
the United States.
Reference: Alito Nomination; Bill PN 1059 ; vote number 2006-002 on
Jan 31, 2006

Voted NO on confirming John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Vote on the Nomination (Confirmation John G. Roberts, Jr., of
Maryland, to be Chief Justice of the United States )
Reference: Supreme Court Nomination of John Roberts; Bill PN 801 ;
vote number 2005-245 on Sep 27, 2005

Abortion

For almost a decade, Obama has been a leader in the Illinois
legislature in the battle to protect a woman's right to choose and
promote equal economic rights and opportunities.

Source: Campaign website, ObamaForIllinois.com May 2, 2004

Abortions should be legally available in accordance with Roe v. Wade.
Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test
Jul 2, 1998

Spending

Vote to pass a bill that reduces federal spending by $40 billion over
five years by decreasing the amount of funds spent on Medicaid,
Medicare, agriculture, employee pensions, conservation, and student
loans. The bill also provides a down-payment toward hurricane
recovery and reconstruction costs.
Reference: Work, Marriage, and Family Promotion Reconciliation Act;
Bill S. 1932 ; vote number 2005-363 on Dec 21, 2005

African-Americans vote Democratic because of issue stances

I don't think the Democratic Party takes the African-American voters
for granted. I'm happy that the president spoke at the Urban League.
He should have spoke at the NAACP. I want Republicans to compete for
the African-American vote. They're not getting the African-American
vote not because African-Americans aren't open-minded, but because
Democrats have consistently championed those issues-civil rights,
voting rights, concern for working families-that are of greatest
concern to African-American voters. Source: Meet The Press, NBC News
Jul 25, 2004

Supports affirmative action in colleges and government
Indicate the principles you support concerning affirmative action.
Should state government agencies take race and sex into account in the
following sectors?
Q: College and university admissions? A: Yes
Q: Public employment A: Yes
Q: State contracting? A: Yes.
Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998

Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.
Voting YES implies support for amending the constitution to ban
same-sex marriage. This cloture motion to end debate requires a 3/5th
majority. A constitutional amendment requires a 2/3rd majority. The
proposed amendment is:
Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man
and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any
State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal
incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of
a man and a woman.

Reference: Marriage Protection Amendment; Bill S. J. Res. 1 ; vote
number 2006-163 on Jun 7, 2006

Voted NO on reforming bankruptcy to include means-testing & restrictions.
Amends Federal bankruptcy law to revamp guidelines governing dismissal
or conversion of a Chapter 7 liquidation (complete relief in
bankruptcy) to one under either Chapter 11 (Reorganization) or Chapter
13 (Adjustment of Debts of an Individual with Regular Income). Voting
YES would:

Reference: Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of
2005; Bill S 256 ; vote number 2005-44 on Mar 10, 2005

Battles legislatively against the death penalty
Obama?s most significant contribution has been his legislative battles
against the death penalty, and against in the criminal justice system.
In Illinois, it's been a series of shocking exonerations of innocent
people who are on death row. He was involved very intimately in
drafting and passing legislation that requires the video taping of
police interrogations and confessions in all capital cases. And he
also was one of the co-sponsors of this very comprehensive reform or
the death penalty system in Illinois, which many people say may
trigger the retreat on the death penalty in many other states.
Source: Salim Muwakkil and Amy Goodman, Democracy Now Jul 15, 2004

Battles legislatively against the death penalty
He was involved very intimately in drafting and passing legislation
that requires the video taping of police interrogations and
confessions in all capital cases. And he also was one of the
co-sponsors of this very comprehensive reform or the death penalty
system in Illinois, which many people say may trigger the retreat on
the death penalty in many other states.
Source: Salim Muwakkil and Amy Goodman, Democracy Now Jul 15, 2004

Supports alternative sentencing and rehabilitation
Principles that Obama supports to address crime:
Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate
inmates during and after their prison sentences.
Provide funding for military-style "boot camps" for first-time juvenile felons.
Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998

Voted YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's AMWR.
To remove the establishment of an oil and gas leasing program in the
Alaskan Coastal Plain. The original bill allows for an oil and gas
leasing program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Voteing
YES on this amendment would remove that section, hence barring leasing
in ANWR.
Reference: Bar Oil and Gas Leasing amendment; Bill S Amdt 2358 to S
1932 ; vote number 2005-288 on Nov 3, 2005

Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Vote to adopt an amendment that would strike a provision in the
concurrent resolution that recognizes revenue from oil drilling in the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The amendment says: "To ensure
that legislation that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,
other federal lands, and the Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling
receives full consideration and debate in the Senate under regular
order, rather than being fast-tracked under reconciliation procedures;
to ensure that receipts from such drilling destined for the federal
treasury are fairly shared with local jurisdictions; and does not
occur unless prohibitions against the export of Alaskan oil are
enacted."
Reference: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge anti-drilling Amendment;
Bill S AMDT 168 to S.Con.Res. 18 ; vote number 2005-52 on Mar 16, 2005

Voted NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade.
Approves the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States-Free
Trade Agreement entered into on August 5, 2005, with the governments
of Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua (CAFTA-DR), and the statement of
administrative action proposed to implement the Agreement. Voting YES
would:
Progressively eliminate customs duties on all originating goods traded
among the participating nations
Preserve US duties on imports of sugar goods over a certain quota
Remove duties on textile and apparel goods traded among participating nations
Prohibit export subsidies for agricultural goods traded among
participating nations
Provide for cooperation among participating nations on customs laws
and import licensing procedures
Recommend that each participating nation uphold the Fundamental
Principles and Rights at Work
Urge each participating nation to obey various international
agreements regarding intellectual property rights
Reference: Central America Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act;
Bill HR 3045 ; vote number 2005-209 on Jul 28, 2005

Ban semi-automatics, and more possession restrictions
Principles that Obama supports on gun issues:
Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.
Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998

Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.
A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or
continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers
of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief
resulting from the misuse of their products by others. Voting YES
would:
Exempt lawsuits brought against individuals who knowingly transfer a
firearm that will be used to commit a violent or drug-trafficking
crime
Exempt lawsuits against actions that result in death, physical injury
or property damage due solely to a product defect
Call for the dismissal of all qualified civil liability actions
pending on the date of enactment by the court in which the action was
brought
Prohibit the manufacture, import, sale or delivery of armor piercing
ammunition, and sets a minimum prison term of 15 years for violations
Require all licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers who engage
in the transfer of handguns to provide secure gun storage or safety
devices
Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S 397 ;
vote number 2005-219 on Jul 29, 2005

Believes health care is a right, not a privilege for the few
Obama believes health care is a right for everyone, not a privilege
for the few. He has made affordable health care a priority - he
delivered coverage to an additional 20,000 children and 65,000 parents
in Illinois and sponsored a bill to protect the uninsured from price
gouging. He has proposed a detailed health plan that covers every
child in America, allows those near retirement to buy into Medicare,
and ensures coverage for those losing jobs through no fault of their
own.
Source: Campaign website, ObamaForIllinois.org, "On the Issues" Sep 28, 2004

Voted NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision.
Vote to invoke cloture on a conference report that extends the
authority of the FBI to conduct "roving wiretaps" and access business
records. Voting YES would recommend, in effect, that the PATRIOT Act
be extended through December 31, 2009, and would makes the provisions
of the PATRIOT Act permanent. Voting NO would extend debate further,
which would have the effect of NOT extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap
provision.
Reference: Motion for Cloture of PATRIOT Act; Bill HR 3199 ; vote
number 2005-358 on Dec 16, 2005

Extend welfare and Medicaid to immigrants
Obama supports the folowing principles regarding immigration:
Continue to extend state-funded welfare benefits for legal immigrants.
Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998

Spent time in both Muslim and Catholic schools
In Indonesia, I'd spent 2 years at a Muslim school, 2 years at a
Catholic school. In the Muslim school, the teacher wrote to tell
mother I made faces during Koranic studies. In the Catholic school,
when it came time to pray, I'd pretend to close my eyes, then peek
around the room. Nothing happened. No angels descended. Just a parched
old nun and 30 brown children, muttering words. Sometimes the nun
would catch me, and her stern look would force my lids back shut. But
that didn't change how I felt inside.
Source: Dreams from My Father, by Barack Obama, p.142 Aug 1, 1996

Problems with current Israeli policy
Obama will speak before a Jewish audience and talk about his problems
with Israeli policy in a way that inspires trust, rather than the kind
of disagreement that you often find when that happens.
Source: Salim Muwakkil and Amy Goodman, Democracy Now Jul 15, 2004

In Case You Missed It: Romney Interviews

In Case You Missed It:  Romney Interviews

Governor Romney on Fox News In case you missed it, Governor Mitt Romney recently discussed several issues with Fox News' Carl Cameron.  Here are some excerpts of what Romney said.  On Life Issues: "Upon a full examination of the sanctity of life and when life begins, there is no question, when you put together all the DNA, you've got life and it's human. And I recognize that every civilized society respects human life. And on that basis, I came out and said, look, I am pro-life. Let there be no ambiguity." On Gay Marriage: "I want gay individuals to have equal rights in housing and equal rights in education. I don't believe in discrimination and I don't believe the American people do. That's a fundamental principle. At the same time, just as fundamental is the principle that marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman. And to suggest somehow that those two things can't co-exist, that respecting rights of people who think differently and make different choices in their life that that can't go together with preserving marriage is just not right." On Religion: "The name on my church is actually the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I do believe in Jesus Christ is the son of God. But of course there are many others in our country that don't believe that  They believe in other faiths and whether that's the Jewish religion or Muslim religion or others and they are entitled to do that. Look, the sixth article of the Constitution of the United States got it right. It said no religious test shall ever be required for qualification for office or public trust in these United States." Governor Romney Interviewed by National Review's Kathryn Jean Lopez Governor Mitt Romney recently discussed some issues with National Reviews' Kathryn Jean Lopez. Below is a partial transcript; see the full interview Lopez: What did you make of the Iraq Study Group report that was released last week? Gov. Romney: The members of the Iraq Study Group deserve credit for their hard work. But their recommendations read like the product of a flawed process — one more focused on reaching consensus for the sake of reaching consensus. There were a few recommendations that I found especially striking: Suggesting that somehow the Israel-Palestine conflict is a root of sectarian and insurgent violence in Iraq is just wrong. Sunnis are killing Shia and vice versa. Pressuring Israel won't change that. Proposing that we negotiate with terrorist regimes like Syria and Iran — without a rigorous analysis of how our incentives could ever be aligned — is just counter-productive. I have no quarrel with talking, especially if it yields valuable intelligence and insight about an adversary. But that's a far cry from actually negotiating with Iran, which sponsors Hezbollah, has nuclear ambitions, and has been clear in its intention to wipe our ally Israel off the map. And Syria is systematically undermining the sovereignty of Lebanon and funding and arming terrorists. Any suggestion that we might trade something for their help or forbearance is out of the question. When considering a negotiation, one must ask what kind of leverage we have, and recognize that there are situations where we have more to lose than gain by negotiating. Finally, inferring that our troops may be withdrawn from combat positions before Iraq is secure runs counter to my view and to the views I have heard from some of America's most accomplished military leaders. I am not suggesting that there are simple solutions for Iraq. But it is clear to me that some of these recommendations will not meet our objectives in Iraq, or in the broader long war America is fighting today. Lopez: As you know, in recent days the Boston Globe and the New York Times, as well as the Boston newspaper, Bay Windows, have run pieces about your 1994 race against Ted Kennedy and your run for governor that appear to be in conflict with your current position against gay marriage. Are they? Gov. Romney: These old interviews and stories have frequently been circulated by my opponents ever since I took a stand against the Massachusetts supreme-court ruling on same-sex marriage. This being the political season, it is not surprising this old news has appeared again. But I have made clear since 2003, when the supreme court of Massachusetts redefined marriage by fiat, that my unwavering advocacy for traditional marriage stands side by side with a tolerance and respect for all Americans. Like the vast majority of Americans, I've opposed same-sex marriage, but I've also opposed unjust discrimination against anyone, for racial or religious reasons, or for sexual preference. Americans are a tolerant, generous, and kind people. We all oppose bigotry and disparagement. But the debate over same-sex marriage is not a debate over tolerance. It is a debate about the purpose of the institution of marriage and it is a debate about activist judges who make up the law rather than interpret the law. I agree with 3,000 years of recorded history. I believe marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman and I have been rock solid in my support of traditional marriage. Marriage is first and foremost about nurturing and developing children. It's unfortunate that those who choose to defend the institution of marriage are often demonized. Lopez: And what about the 1994 letter to the Log Cabin Republicans where you indicated you would support the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and seemed open to changing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military? Are those your positions today? Gov. Romney: No. I don't see the need for new or special legislation. My experience over the past several years as governor has convinced me that ENDA would be an overly broad law that would open a litigation floodgate and unfairly penalize employers at the hands of activist judges. As for military policy and the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, I trust the counsel of those in uniform who have set these policies over a dozen years ago. I agree with President Bush's decision to maintain this policy and I would do the same. Lopez: In a 1994 debate with Senator Kennedy, you said "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my Mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a U.S. Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it." Further confusing matters, the Boston Globe reported in 1994 that "as a Mormon lay leader [you] counseled Mormon women not to have abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or where the mother's life was at risk." Governor: What is your position on abortion today? On Roe? How do you account for what is obviously a change — certainly publicly — on the issue? Gov. Romney: My position has changed and I have acknowledged that. How that came about is that several years ago, in the course of the stem-cell-research debate I met with a pair of experts from Harvard. At one point the experts pointed out that embryonic-stem-cell research should not be a moral issue because the embryos were destroyed at 14 days. After the meeting I looked over at Beth Myers, my chief of staff, and we both had exactly the same reaction — it just hit us hard just how much the sanctity of life had been cheapened by virtue of the Roe v. Wade mentality. And from that point forward, I said to the people of Massachusetts, "I will continue to honor what I pledged to you, but I prefer to call myself pro-life." The state of Massachusetts is a pro-choice state and when I campaigned for governor I said that I would not change the law on abortion. But I do believe that the one-size-fits-all, abortion-on-demand-for-all-nine-months decision in Roe v. Wade does not serve the country well and is another example of judges making the law instead of interpreting the Constitution. What I would like to see is the Court return the issue to the people to decide. The Republican party is and should remain the pro-life party and work to change hearts and minds and create a culture of life where every child is welcomed and protected by law and the weakest among us are protected. I understand there are people of good faith on both sides of the issue. They should be able to make and advance their case in democratic forums with civility, mutual respect, and confidence that our democratic process is the best place to handle these issues. And yes, as a private citizen I have counseled women not to have abortions. Lopez: Does that mean you were "faking it" — as one former adviser has suggested — as a pro-choicer in your previous political campaigns? Why should anyone believe you're really pro-life now? Gov. Romney: I believe people will see that as governor, when I had to examine and grapple with this difficult issue, I came down on the side of life. I know in the four years I have served as governor I have learned and grown from the exposure to the thousands of good-hearted people who are working to change the culture in our country. I'm committed to promoting the culture of life. Like Ronald Reagan, and Henry Hyde, and others who became pro-life, I had this issue wrong in the past. Lopez: Will an exposé on Mormon Christmas celebrations hurt you in the primaries? Gov. Romney: This may sound strange to some, but my grandchildren will be eagerly awaiting presents to be delivered to their homes by a bearded man in a red suit led by a pack of flying reindeer. The lead reindeer, by the way, has a red light bulb for a nose — certainly a YouTube scandal waiting to happen. Lopez: Read anything good lately? Gov. Romney: A few of my current favorites are: The Cube and the Cathedral by George Weigel, The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright, America Alone by Mark Steyn, The Places in Between by Rory Stewart, and The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, Bill Bryson's latest book.

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