Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is facing criticism since a judge he appointed as Governor of Massachusetts released a convicted felon who later killed a young couple in Washington state; http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1046531 Will this derail Romney's chances in the Republican primary?
I don't think this will matter. If Mitt had pardoned the person, then that's a different story. Shawn
Agreed, although the fact that we're even talking about this shows how nasty Campaign 2008 is likely to be.... -=Steve=-
I think that it could hurt Romney very badly in the Republican primaries if his opponents can turn it into the capstone for a whole pattern of criminal-friendly policies, decisions and appointments. So it all depends on Romney's larger record. If this was a fluke in an otherwise strong law-and-order record, then it probably won't hurt him very much. If by some chance he gets the nomination and becomes the Republican candidate in the general election, I don't see it hurting him. In that election voters will be comparing him with the Democrats.
Romney was generally a law & order conservative as governor, but he did sign a bill that might come back to bite him. The bill legalized hypodermic needles & syringes, which formally required a prescription, so now any junkie can walk into a pharmacy and buy as many as they want. Consequently, we're seeing them discarded like empty gun wrappers in playgrounds, parks, and schoolyards.
I suppose the issue of whether this will hurt him depends on how sleazy a PR man his opponents can hire.
Unfortunately, there will be a lot of sleaze in this campaign :-( Although I will probably not vote for Romney in the Republican primary, I believe that he is a good person. I am also not pleased with the way his religion is being slung in the mud. (Disclaimer - I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), Shawn
I think Romney's opponents are barking up the wrong tree with the religion issue. Is anyone blaming Giuliani for the clergy sex abuse scandal because he happens to be Roman Catholic?
Can't matter in the long run. Is there any way a Republican can be elected after 8 years of Bush? If anyone makes an issue of the appointment, it's just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
I think that if Hillary becomes the Democratic nominee that there will be another Republican in the White House. She will do more to bring out the Republicans than any of the other Republican candidates. Shawn
I have the same disclaimer. "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States" --U.S. Constitution, Article VI, Section III If Romney's religious faith is used to disqualify him as a candidate for president in 2008, then the time will soon come when any candidate that manifests more than a passive religious affiliation will be disqualified.
No one's suggesting that he shouldn't be allowed to run on account of his religion. There are people who won't vote for him because of it, but that's not the same thing -- while that may be an issue of prejudice or bigotry, it's not an issue of constitutionality. -=Steve=-
I would not vote for anybody merely because they professed to be of the same faith I am. We are not electing a minister so why the faith-based pandering? :::::: Brief Overview of Congressman Paul’s Record: He has never voted to raise taxes. He has never voted for an unbalanced budget. He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership. He has never voted to raise congressional pay. He has never taken a government-paid junket. He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch. He voted against the Patriot Act. He voted against regulating the Internet. He voted against the Iraq war. He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program. He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year. Congressman Paul introduces numerous pieces of substantive legislation each year, probably more than any single member of Congress. ------ Susanna
