I was watching the YouTube debate and I found it interesting that the Democrats kept singling out Mitt. I don't remember them mentioning any of the other Republican candidates. To me this is a sign of who really scares them. I saw a graphic Jonathan Martin at the POLITICO mentioned depicting that most of the attacks from the DNC were aimed at my dad too:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0707/Charting_the_DNC_attacks.html

Posted at 2007-07-24 05:43:03 by Matt Romney

The Romney Vision: Seeing Is Believing - The Romney Agenda Trumps Dem Liberal Debate Pandering

Tuesday, Jul 24, 2007

"[Democrats] think about big government, big taxes and Big Brother. That's the same course Europe has taken over the last couple of decades that has led to a level of growth far below our own." – Gov. Mitt Romney (Lisa Rossi, "Romney Blasts Obama, Others," The Des Moines Register, 7/21/07)

Romney's Vision Of A Stronger Defense Vs. Defeatist Democrats

Gov. Romney Stresses The Importance Of Winning In Iraq And Defeating Radical Islam Globally. "The congressional debate in Washington has largely, and myopically, focused on whether troops should be redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan, as if these were isolated issues. Yet the jihad is much broader than any one nation, or even several nations. ... The jihadist threat is the defining challenge of our generation and is symptomatic of a range of new global realities." (Gov. Mitt Romney, "Rising To A New Generation Of Global Challenges," Foreign Affairs, July/August 2007)

But Sen. Hillary Clinton Claims The U.S. Has Already Lost In Afghanistan To Al Qaeda And Bin Laden. SEN. HILLARY CLINTON: "We've got to figure out what we're doing in Iraq, where our troops are stretched thin, and Afghanistan, where we're losing the fight to al Qaeda and bin Laden." (CNN/YouTube, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

While Sen. Barack Obama Would Jump At The Chance To Meet With Dictators In Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba And North Korea. YOUTUBE QUESTION: "...would you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that divides our countries?" ... SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: "I would. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration -- is ridiculous." (CNN/YouTube, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

Romney's Vision Of A Stronger Economy Vs. Tax-And-Spend Democrats

Gov. Romney Believes Lower Taxes Lead To A Stronger American Economy. GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "Raising taxes will slow down the economy, will make it more and more difficult to create jobs here. It's the wrong direction. The right direction is always to bring tax rates down. If you believe that the strength of America flows from government, then you want more taxes. But if you believe that the strength of America flows from the American people, you want to hold their taxes down for themselves and for the employers that employ them." (Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes," 4/4/07)

But Sen. Joe Biden Would Raise Taxes, Rolling Back The Bush Tax Cuts. SEN. JOE BIDEN: "First of all, change the tax structure. We are giving people tax breaks who don't need it. The top 1 percent got an $85 billion a year tax break. It is not needed. My dad used to have an expression -- don't tell me what you value; show me your budget. And the budget we have here is we all dance around it. We need more revenue to be able to pay for the things the governor and everybody else talks about. And there's only one way to do it. You either raise taxes or take tax cuts away from people who don't need them. I'd take them away from people who don't need them." (CNN/YouTube, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

While Sen. John Edwards Would Create A Big Government-Run Health Insurance Program, Paid For By Taxpayers. SEN. JOHN EDWARDS: "No, because the only way to provide universal coverage is to mandate that everyone be covered. But I want to say, you know, I came out with a universal plan several months ago. A couple of months later, Senator Obama came out with a plan. He's made a very serious proposal, and I'm not casting aspersions on his plan. I think it's a very serious proposal. It just doesn't cover everybody. The only way to cover everybody is to mandate it." (CNN/YouTube, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

Romney's Vision Of Stronger Families Vs. Out-Of-The-Mainstream Democrats

Gov. Romney Believes A Stronger American Family Leads To A Stronger America. GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "How is the American family made stronger? With marriage before children. With a mother and a father in the life of every child. With healthcare that is affordable and portable. With schools that succeed. With taxes that are lower. And with leaders who strive to demonstrate enduring values and morality." (Gov. Mitt Romney, Presidential Announcement, Dearborn, MI, 2/13/07)

But Sen. Barack Obama Supports Sex Education For Kindergarteners, And Wrongly Claimed That Gov. Mitt Romney Does, Too. CNN's ANDERSON COOPER: "Senator Obama, Mitt Romney has accused you this week of saying that 5-year-old children should be getting sex education. Was he right?" SEN. BARACK OBAMA: "Ironically, this was actually a proposal that he himself said he supported when he was running for governor of Massachusetts. ... I've got a 9-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old daughter. And I want them to know if somebody is doing something wrong to them, encroaching on their privacy, that they should come talk to me or my wife. And we've had that conversation, but not every parent is going to have that conversation with their child, and I think it's important that every child does, to make sure that they're not subject to the sexual predators." (CNN/YouTube, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

- In Fact, Sen. Obama Specifically Called For Sex-Ed In Kindergarten, Which Gov. Romney Did Not Support. "The Romney campaign is saying there is a difference here. Kevin Madden, Romney's national spokesman says, 'Obama specifically advocated sex-ed for small children in kindergarten.' Undaunted today, Romney said the following in South Carolina about Obama: 'Senator Obama is wrong if he thinks science-based sex education has any place in kindergarten.'" (David Brody, "Kindergarten Cop: Romney Versus Obama," CBN's The Brody File, www.cbn.com/CBNnews/198676.aspx, Posted 7/19/07) 

- The Legislation Sen. Obama Voted For In Illinois Went Even Further – Calling For STD Prevention To Be Taught In Kindergarten. Illinois Senate Bill 99, which Obama supported in the 93rd Assembly (2003-2004), reads, in part: "...whenever such courses of instruction are provided in any of grades K through 12, then such courses also shall include age appropriate instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV." (IL General Assembly Website, www.ilga.gov/legislation/, Accessed 7/24/07)

How Edwards And Thompson Are Just Alike

By RICHARD COHEN | Posted Monday, July 23, 2007 4:30 PM PT

 

Fred Thompson has stepped out of character. To much of America, he is Arthur Branch, the district attorney he portrays on the TV series "Law and Order." Branch is a straight shooter, a no-nonsense kind of guy who says what he means and means what he says. In contrast, the actor who plays him can be quite a different man. I don't think Arthur Branch would vote for Fred Thompson.

Branch's problem, as well as my own, is that Thompson does not always tell the truth. He clearly did not when it was revealed that, back when he was a lobbyist, he worked for a family planning outfit. Such honorable work is, of course, verboten to most Republicans, and so, for understandable but inexcusable reasons, Thompson — through a spokesman — lied.

There are nicer words, I know, but when you give the impression that what is true is false, that is a lie. Arthur Branch would understand.

"Fred Thompson did not lobby for this group, period," spokesman Mark Corallo said in an e-mail to the Los Angeles Times. A bit later, Thompson himself tried the old disparagement dodge: "I'd just say the flies get bigger in the summertime. I guess the flies are buzzing.'" Arthur Branch would see through this folksy piece of evasion and note not only that Thompson now denies nothing, but that flies buzz around BS.

It hardly matters to me that Thompson once lobbied for the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association. But the issue is not abortion, but truthfulness, candor, honesty — call it what you will. The impression we're entitled to take away from this episode is that when faced with some unpleasant truth, Thompson fibs. It ain't nice. It certainly ain't presidential.

Lest you think I am some sort of partisan hack, I have similar misgivings about John Edwards and his $400 haircuts. Here, too, the issue is not what he paid his barber, but his apparent willingness to trim the truth. He can't (I can't stop myself) brush that away.

Not that Edwards hasn't tried. His spokeswoman, Colleen Murray, also attempted the old disparagement trick, comparing the haircut imbroglio to matters of cosmic importance. "Breaking news — John Edwards got some expensive haircuts and probably didn't pay enough attention to the bills," she said. "He didn't lie about weapons of mass destruction or spring Scooter Libby; he just got some expensive haircuts."

Yes, he did. And he got them over and over again, sometimes summoning hairstylist Joseph Torrenueva of Beverly Hills to appointments on the campaign trail. When that happened, Edwards not only had to pay for the haircut, but for Torrenueva's airfare and hotel. A session during the 2004 race cost $1,250. On at least one occasion, Edwards paid the $400 personally.

Contrast this detailed account of Edwards' relationship with Torrenueva with the candidate's initial explanation. Edwards said he had no idea that the haircuts were so expensive and that — in a reprise of Bill Clinton's reference to Monica Lewinsky as "that woman" — called Torrenueva "that guy." You do not talk about your hairstylist like that. "When he called me 'that guy,' that hit my ears. It hurt," Torrenueva told the Washington Post's John Solomon.

Both Edwards and Thompson have something in common: They are all image. Neither has accomplished very much in public life. They are both ex-senators whose names are attached to no famous pieces of legislation.

They have built no constituencies on the basis of their legislative records, and so they apparently feel they cannot afford to admit an inconsistency — pro-choice lobbying by a proclaimed pro-lifer, or Euro-trashy indulgence by the proclaimed avatar of the poor.

FDR was a Hudson River patroon and Robert F. Kennedy had his mansion at Hickory Hill, but both had earned the trust of the poor by their evident sincerity and good works. Edwards ain't there yet. As for Thompson, he may be a good man, but for the moment he's more famous as an actor on television than as the champion of conservatives everywhere.

All presidents lie sooner or later. But Thompson and Edwards are not trimming for any noble purpose of state; they are just trying to protect a political persona that is somewhat concocted in the first place. Their rebuttals don't inspire trust or strength, and give us reason to worry.

It's a long campaign, and there's time for both men to prove that they are of sterling character. In the meantime, though, they both hit the counter with the hollow sound of a counterfeit coin.