Romney is More Conservative than Reported

I've spent a fair amount of time deconstructing McCain. It should be obvious that I don't like him very much. But nonetheless I will vote for him over Hillary or Obama. (also over Huckabee and Paul). My objections to McCain are based on both personal (I know him personally quite well) and on conservative positions.

Now I should offer my analysis of Romney. I do not know him and I don't believe any one I know is working for him, though I could be wrong on that account. But I have always regarded him as a conservative. I will come to my reasons shortly, but lets provide some background information.

In the American Thinker online magazine, Amy Goldstein offers a list of points of Why They Hate Romney. Key graph:

Why do the Republican candidates hate him? Because they don't have any answers to his challenges. They seek to undermine him by using personal attacks more worthy of a middle school playground than a presidential contest.

.I encourage you to read the whole piece.

This is a little dated, but Club for Growth gave the following appraisal:

"Governor Romney's economic record contains a mixture of pro-growth accomplishments and some troublesome positions that beg to be explained," said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. "While his record on taxes, spending, and entitlement reform is flawed, it is, on balance, encouraging, especially given the liberal Massachusetts Legislature. His record on trade, school choice, regulations and tort reform all indicate a strong respect for the power of market solutions. At the same time, Governor Romney's history is marked by statements at odds with his gubernatorial record and his campaign rhetoric."

They also had this commentary on his economic speech before their organization in February 2007:

“Governor Romney outlined today an economic platform that is, generally speaking, very pro-growth despite the surprising limit he suggests for tax-free savings,” Toomey said. “As the governor develops the specifics of his economic policies, we hope he will boldly build upon the limited government, free-market policies he discussed today.”

“The other presidential candidates should follow Governor Romney’s lead and propose similar, if not more extensive, measures to protect American taxpayers and promote continued economic expansion.”

It appears that supporting a flat tax or a transaction tax heavily colors the views of Club For Growth. While I am supportive of a broad reduction of taxes at all levels and to all payers, I am absolutely opposed to a transaction tax.

Side Note: Club For Growth president, Pat Toomey, said this in an interview with CBS News:

Well, the optimal tax system, first of all, would be one with a very low rate and a very broad base. And one in which the government doesn't pick winners and losers by providing all kinds of loopholes and deductions and credits and all kinds of gimmicks, as the current system does. So, a flat tax would be one way to achieve that. A national sales tax would be another way to achieve that.

I strongly disagree with his last two sentences. Romney appears to disagree on the same points that I do. His economic plan emphasizes rate reduction and elimination, but not an overhaul or an implementation of a national sales tax.

Romney's bona fides on economic conservatism are strong and well documented. But the "Flat Tax"ers just can't seem to abide with anyone who does not adopt their agenda. This whole issue is worthy another post.

[Wife says its time to get to bed. I will continue this post later. For the chance reader, go ahead and rip away at me!]