# What's so bad about Mitt Romney? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 22, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710 "2011-11-22T02:50:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/41 "2011-11-23T02:23:44Z")
> [@Scotty Mo](#): > > Let me start by saying I am by no means an expert in all things politics. But I know enough to see the obvious flaws in most of the GOP candidates. And, perhaps this is my ignorance showing, but I haven’t seen why a lot of people are so opposed to Mitt Romney. > > Some things I gathered as to reasons why: (possibly) > > - he’s a flip-flopper (I don’t have specific examples but it’s been said enough) > - he’s a Mormon > - he holds a lot of the same views as the other candidates in the field > > What am I missing here? He flip-flops, but isn’t that pretty common? Is being a Mormon really that big of a deal-breaker, and why? > > It just seems to me like he gets a pretty bad wrap but I’m not quite sure why? His flip flops are massive in particular on health care and abortion, ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/42 "2011-11-23T04:00:32Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > He holds the same views as every candidate in every party, depending on what day of the week it is. That’s why the right hates him. > > That’s why, if by some misfortune we end up with a Republican president, I hope it’s Romney. He is not ideologically committed to the the craziest of the right wing bullshit, so perhaps he will do less damage. Remember those words when the cops make a random stop on you to make sure you’re wearing the underwear. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/43 "2011-11-23T04:19:00Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Remember those words when the cops make a random stop on you to make sure you’re wearing the underwear. No problem, I’ll be making a mint running bootleg cappuccino down from Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/44 "2011-11-23T06:56:59Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > He’s like the Mormon Clinton, constantly checking a focus group to determine what he believes in. Except that Clinton had an overabundance of charm and energy, and Romney really doesn’t. In the interest of fairness he evidently doesn’t have some of Clinton’s character flaws. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/45 "2011-11-23T07:21:51Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Since you didn’t limit your question to why Republicans don’t like Romney, listen to this: > > You know what’s bad about Romney? Well, he just pulled a Fox News, claiming Obama said something when the president was actually quoting someone else. > > [Democrats Say Romney Ad Distorts Obama's Comments - The New York Times](http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/romney-strikes-at-obama-in-new-hampshire/) This needs to have its own Pit thread, particularly the way they’re [defending](http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/11/romney-camp-defends-distorted-obama-quote.php?ref=fpnewsfeed)it: > [@](#): > > Romney senior New Hampshire adviser Tom Rath tells CBS News the ad is “exactly what we want.” > > “They were using McCain’s words to make fun of McCain. And we’re using the exact same technique,” he said. > > Pressed on whether it was unfair to lop off the top of Mr. Obama’s comments — which would show the president was quoting the McCain camp — Rath said, “He did say the words. That’s his voice.” The technology is out there to make a fairly seamless sound collage. No matter what it said, it would still be true that the candidate “did say the words.” Fucking evil. I was neutral/ambivalent towards Romney before; this was a turning point for me. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/46 "2011-11-23T07:49:55Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Remember those words when the cops make a random stop on you to make sure you’re wearing the underwear. And don’t forget the Mormon version of Dirty Dancing - the boy and the girl are only half a Book of Mormon apart. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/47 "2011-11-23T07:59:26Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > In the interest of fairness he evidently doesn’t have some of Clinton’s character flaws. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/48 "2011-11-23T09:14:30Z")
Well, I’m not sure which flavor of GOP careerist he is. He might be a more pragmatic kind of Republican, in the vein of Bob Dole and the elder George Bush, in which the usual gang of suspects will scream blue murder that he’s not helping the super-rich loot the country fast enough. Or he might be a stuffed suit with no convictions of his own, who does what his advisors tell him, in which case we could be looking at another administration like the younger George Bush’s. I don’t trust him, he says things that he couldn’t possibly believe. ETA: > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Conservatives are going to worry that Romney doesn’t mean it when he says he’s a conservative. Moderates and liberals are going to worry that he does mean it. In short. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/49 "2011-11-23T09:35:43Z")
\*in which case ---
**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/50 "2011-11-23T10:03:34Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Um…Gary Hart was a Democrat. Um…Yeah, so? ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/51 "2011-11-23T13:36:41Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Except that Clinton had an overabundance of charm and energy, and Romney really doesn’t. In the interest of fairness he evidently doesn’t have some of Clinton’s character flaws. Both are absolutely true. If Mitt wanted to cheat with an intern, he’d prepare a 54-page PowerPoint presentation. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/52 "2011-11-23T14:39:58Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > The technology is out there to make a fairly seamless sound collage. No matter what it said, it would still be true that the candidate “did say the words.” > > Fucking evil. I was neutral/ambivalent towards Romney before; this was a turning point for me. Fortunately, the good folks at ThinkProgress [have already turned this particular table on the Mittster](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjJorv8HBU4&feature=player_embedded). It has video of Mitt saying: “We should just raise everybody’s taxes.” “There’s nothing unique about the United States.” “Government knows better than a free people how to guide an economy.” “Fiscal responsibility is heartless and immoral.” “Let us just raise your taxes some more. We just need a little bit more.” “America’s just another nation with a flag.” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/53 "2011-11-23T14:53:54Z")
Oh yeah - he [can’t even tell the truth about his own name](http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_11/its_willard_mr_romney_if_youre033679.php)! Silly, I know, but telling in its way. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/54 "2011-11-23T17:11:23Z")
> [@Scotty Mo](#): > > Is being a Mormon really that big of a deal-breaker, and why? For me being a republican in this day and age is that big of a deal breaker, but for me I wouldn’t vote for anyone who thinks black skin is a curse from God, which has no place in a position of power over those same people. That is what Mormons believe which is why I would not vote for one. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/55 "2011-11-23T17:34:41Z")
> [@rogerbox](#): > > For me being a republican in this day and age is that big of a deal breaker, but for me I wouldn’t vote for anyone who thinks black skin is a curse from God, which has no place in a position of power over those same people. > > That is what Mormons believe which is why I would not vote for one. But in 1978 God changed his mind about black people 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/56 "2011-11-23T17:38:29Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > But in 1978 God changed his mind about black people 😃 Of cooooourse he/she did. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/57 "2011-11-23T20:35:42Z")
> [@rogerbox](#): > > For me being a republican in this day and age is that big of a deal breaker, but for me I wouldn’t vote for anyone who thinks black skin is a curse from God, which has no place in a position of power over those same people. > > That is what Mormons believe which is why I would not vote for one. The Mormons have changed their mind on the issue and while I believe Mormonism is a false religion as Martin Luther said its better to have a good Turk that a foolish German as a leader. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/58 "2011-11-23T21:01:30Z")
So it’s a flip-flopping religion! That explains a lot. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/59 "2011-11-23T21:12:05Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > The Mormons have changed their mind on the issue I don’t believe this to be the case, I think they see that it would staunch their growth (the purpose of all religions) to continue to be bigots _publically._ ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710/60 "2011-11-23T21:39:29Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > So it’s a flip-flopping religion! That explains a lot. Hee [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-bad-about-mitt-romney/603710.md?page=4)