Though national polls continue to portray the Republican presidential race as a toss-up, the consensus is that the division of the conservative vote means it is still Mitt Romney’s to lose. That has led the frontrunner to sometimes act as if he is already running against Barack Obama rather than Rick Perry, Herman Cain and the rest of the GOP field. But while it makes sense for Romney to avoid tilting too far to the right, there is such a thing as playing it too safe. Romney’s statement yesterday about a union reform referendum in Ohio is exactly that sort of a mistake and may come back to haunt him.
While campaigning in Ohio yesterday, Romney stopped by a Republican phone bank where calls were being made to boost support for Governor John Kasich’s referendum that would institute a series of fundamental reforms for government worker unions. But when asked whether he supported the plan, Romney refused to state his position on the matter. That’s a problem not only because civil service reform has become an essential issue for Republicans this year, but also because Romney actually endorsed the measure back in June. So not only does Romney come across sounding like a RINO here, it also brings up the old flip-flop charge that is continually thrown in his face.
Kasich’s referendum is exactly the sort of thing reform-minded GOP governors — including Romney supporter Chris Christie — have been fighting for all over the country. It would ban government unions from bargaining over health insurance, require that all union members pay at least 10 percent of their wages toward their pensions, end seniority rights as the sole factor in layoffs, replace seniority pay raises with merit pay raises, ban these unions from striking, and make union dues voluntary. But it does not abrogate all rights of collective bargaining, as civil service unions would still be able to bargain about many issues including pay and working conditions.
Given these are all now mainstream Republican ideas which are essential to dealing with the impending financial catastrophe that bloated state worker contracts have created, it was hard to know what caused Romney to back off now. Opposing, or at least failing to back Kasich’s plan, would align the candidate with the Democrats in the great struggles over the issue in Wisconsin, New Jersey and other states. Though he subsequently issued a statement declaring that he does back Kasich, this not only gave an opening to Romney’s GOP rivals, it reinforced his image as someone whom conservatives can’t trust. If he wasn’t prepared to back union reform in Ohio now without having to be pushed into it, it’s fair to ask why he should be counted on to fight these battles on the federal level once he’s in the White House.
It’s understandable that the incompetence and incoherence of his main challengers has led Romney to think ahead to the general election. But he has to recognize he is still in a tough fight for the nomination that is far from over. More to the point, he needs to remember that in order to win next November, he needs a united Republican Party and an enthusiastic GOP activist core. More missteps like yesterday’s waffle in Ohio will make his general election strategy a moot point.
We do not need an Obama lite. We need hope and Cain or be merry with Perry.
The worst part isn't that he waffled, we know he's a waffler. nand it isn't because he changed his position again, we know he has no core. n nThis is bad because it shows Mitt is DISLOYAL. Kasich and the institutional GOP was knifed in the back, regarless of what you think of the politics. Even gangbangers are loyal. n nNo virtue is looked upon by Americans as being lower than disloyalty.
Romney answered that he is in support of the referendum. Case closed. Why even right the article.
Where to begin? n n"Why even right [sic] the article?" n nSighhhh n nSoCalMike… CA public schools? nBecause the columnist is making a point about the right? nBecause it was the RIGHT column to WRITE in the situation?
Who knows what and how things transpired yesterday on this issue…. For those familiar with Romney's positions it is pretty clear that he has always been in support of Governor Kasich on this issue and Governor Christie on his battle with the Unions in NJ….____Romney's website clearly point out where he stands on this issue clear back to April of this year.
I give you credit, poyman. No matter how many times Mitt waffles, you are always there to say "who knows what happened" and give Mitt the benefit of the doubt. Yet George Will said Sunday that Romney demonstrates "versatility of convictions" and is the "Dukakis of the GOP." __A few of Mitt's problems: his position on global warming, his position on cap and trade, his change of position on abortion (who would have ever possibly guessed he would be pro-choice given his background), his criticism of the Boy Scouts as intolerant of gays, his refusal to characterize the individual mandate as unconstitutional, his shifting position on immigration, his criticism of Reagan in the 2002 campaign . . . . do you want me to stop yet? I'd love to hear your take on each of these important points. Or perhaps they just another example of "misunderstandings that transpired yesterday . . . "
LOL at the lefty media & irrational reactionaries trying to distort & slander Mitt again. n n"I am not speaking about the particular ballot issues," Romney told reporters at the time. "Those are up to the people of Ohio. But I certainly support the efforts of the governor to rein in the scale of government. I am not terribly familiar with the two ballot initiatives. But I am certainly supportive of the Republican Party's efforts here." n nNow, desperate Romney haters. CAN YOU READ? Are you sober? ROMNEY SAYS HE GENERALLY SUPPORTS KASICH'S EFFORTS ON THIS LABOR FRONT, & THE OTHERS. n nYour slander has just gotten too transparent. I suggest yall try another tactic. Back to bigot bashing his faith? n nOhio & New Hampshire are also VASTLY different states, with VASTLY different work environments. To fail to take this into account when deciding to support labor initiatives in these states is the mark of, frankly, an irrational moron. -COUGH- GEORGE W. PERRY! -COUGH- n nTry again? n nROMNEY 2012.
So we criticize the guy for being cautious before he comments. And of course, don't mention what he said the day earlier about favoring the governor's efforts to reduce government and fight public unions.
I’m trying to have an open mind about Romney, because he’s actually run something bigger than a lemonade stand which is more than I can say for Obama. I’m deeply conservative, but I think we need leadership more than ideology right now. Romney is a true leader, but he’s also a slimy politician and side-stepping this issue does hurt him with people like myself, many of whom aren’t as ‘open-minded’ or squishy people like myself.
I'm trying to have an open mind about Romney, because he's actually run something bigger than a lemonade stand which is more than I can say for Obama. I'm deeply conservative, but I think we need leadership more than ideology right now. Romney is a true leader, but he's also a slimy politician and side-stepping this issue does hurt him with people like myself, many of whom aren't as 'open-minded' or squishy candy-asses like me.
The oft-repeated factoid about needing FL and/or Ohio to win a general election is a patent lie, actually; pure pseudo-statistics:
This issue is a non-issue. However, for a "journalist" needing a headline that the anti-Romneys can flock to and comment on it does provide a day's worth of traction.
The Truth is Romney scares me far worse than John McCain did since McCain lets it all hang out . Even though He is half leftist .What you see is what you get . nWhy does Romney scare me ? He is far brighter and 100 times more allusive than McCain . n I have counted to date 9 major Issues he has held n 3 different positions on each one . 4 on Health care alone .He like Obama say's what you want to hear to "That " Audience . nWhy his complete lack of concrete Believing , thinking . Principles and ethics ? He by nature is a left lending Mass. Centrist who runs as and Republican as did Sen. Scott Brown also of Mass .The Tea party has abandoned for the obvious same reasons .Romney also believes in Global Warming . n His old CO .Bain and Co. He was CEO .He ran for many years is a major Obama supporter .
So, someone is scared because Romney is smart? Yes, having a stupid man in office is soooo much better. Stupid is easier to manipulate. Stupid is easier to confuse. Stupid is easier to control. Yeah, I see why that's so much better. n The fact the Romney is smart enough not to shoot his mouth off is not a bad thing. The fact the he can see beyond simplistic scenarios and solutions to the complexities of an issue is not a bad thing. The fact that he's not so far right that his back is to most of the country is not a bad thing. He's not a RINO. He's a man who can think intelligently on many levels and who believes deeply in the constitution and the principles that this nation was founded on. And that's not a bad thing!
And what is meant by your name? nSo, who is stupid? Cain has an advanced degree in math and worked on Navy missile systems before becoming a successful executive. Newt, nobody has ever accused of stupidity. Perry is harder to defend, but his campaign is in trouble anyway. The others? None seem stupid, some quite accomplished, like Huntsman.
Yep. He's a man who will never support an idea he fears will lose him a single vote . . . even if it's the right thing for the country.
I voted for Kasich. I can say that he shoved that bill down our throats like Obama shoved Obamacare down our throats. He is not the same guy I thought I voted for. I'm a Republican, will vote for a Republican president, but I will not vote at all for the governor of Ohio if Kasich runs again (unless he faces a primary opponent). I'm a cop. This legislation directly affects my family. I know it's popular for Republicans to bash unions, but I can tell you that Ohio cops are very conservative and by-in-large vote for and our unions endorse conservative Republican canidates 9X outta 10. Kasich has lost a ton of votes because he lost a ton of cops and firefighters because of this bill. Vote NO on Issue 2!
I appreciate your service protecting the community, but what you are saying is you don't care if the bill is what's needed to restore fiscal sanity to your state because you think it might affect your pocketbook as a public employee paid with taxpayer dollars. That's the problem with this country. Everyone thinks someone else should pay more taxes, or have their benefits cut to get the budget balance and the debt under control, but of course don't raise their taxes, or put their pay increases or benefts at risk?
For God's sake! Gov Romney was generally supportive of Gov Kasich's efforts in Ohio and took 24 hours to come out in support of the specific initiative in question. I would have been very unhappy if he had come out against it, but HE DIDN'T! He was careful! That's what I expect of a good businessman and a good politician, and someone who wants to be the nominee of my party and the President of our country. Caution, care, and thoughtful decision making. Obama has done so much damage, we need someone careful and solid to start the repairs. I think Gov Romney in on our side and is the best person to defeat Obama and get our economy hiring people and growing again!
Get out the fork.