Californian carries some water for Mitt Romney

BOSTON -- In Iowa, Mitt Romney bashed Mike Huckabee. In New Hampshire, he took on John McCain. Both targets withstood the damage and romped past Romney to victory.

So now, with a three-way battle shaping up in Michigan's Republican primary on Tuesday, will Romney lash out at both? Will he get personal?

Yes and yes, if remarks by a top Romney fundraiser on Wednesday offer any gauge of things to come.

Mark Chapin Johnson, a California co-chair of Romney's Republican presidential campaign, asserted that McCain's temperament and Huckabee's background as a minister made each unsuitable for the Oval Office.

[UPDATE: A Romney spokesman later said Johnson was expressing purely personal views that had not been sanctioned by the campaign.]

Johnson made his comments a few minutes after greeting Romney in Boston at a fundraising event, Johnson called McCain "extremely volatile."

"I like him, but he's got a short fuse," Johnson said in an interview. "He's got a short temper."

As for Huckabee, a Southern Baptist minister ...

... and former governor of Arkansas, Johnson said that Romney, a Mormon, would do a better job of keeping religion out of government.

"He's not running for pastor, he's running for president," Johnson said of Romney. "Huckabee's running for pastor."

Johnson, a San Juan Capistrano medical-company mogul, has raised several hundred thousand dollars for Romney. He described himself as an evangelical.

"A spiritual foundation is an important part of my life. But that's not what the president of the United States should be about."

"How could a pastor become a president of the United States and detach himself from his pastoral roots?" Johnson added. "That's not possible in my mind."

-- Michael Finnegan

Comments

[Debrar]

I agree. McCain is too liberal and old -- he also has roots with Kennedy/Feinstein, and Huckabee is much more liberal than he claims and is running for Baptist Preacher/Baptist President. We need the next American President, which is Mitt Romney.

[Texas]

IF it isn't Ron Paul it better be Romney. Huckee Cheese and McDonkey can try again later. We need someone who doesn't need a gov't job but wants to lead America.

[MikeH]

Michael,
I am not so sure that I (as a Mormon) couldn't vote for a Baptist Minister for president, I do not think I could vote for "This" Minister, Mr. Huckabee. He HAS shown that he cannot seperate religion and politics. The pardons alone prove that.

If there were a clergyman, with a history of being able to separate political and church I can easily see a vote for him. Just knowing the base values are there would be of comfort for me.

[Jeugenen]

MC-CAIN THE NEO-CON CANDIDATE IN THE AMERICAN CULTURAL WAR ---
NEW HAMPSHIRE PODHORETZ NEO-CONS, WHO NOW DOMINATE THE NEWS MEDIA, NARROWLY PREVAILED OVER RONALD REAGAN CONSERVATIVES, BY 37% TO 32%. DOES THIS VICTORY PREDICT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDACY FOR NEO-CON MC-CAIN, THE NOTORIOUS TYRANT WHO SUPPORTS AMNESTY FOR THE 12-20 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS OCCUPYING AMERICA, WOMEN SACRIFICING THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN BY ABORTION, AND THE SACRIFICE OF THE PRECIOUS WEALTH AND PRICELESS OF BLOOD OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN UN-CONSTITUTIONAL WARS ON BEHALF OF ISRAEL; OR, DOES THIS VICTORY PREDICT THE REPUBLICAN FIRING SQUAD? OBSERVE THAT THE NEO-CON SUM OF GUIULIANI 9% PLUS MC-CAIN 37% IS 46%; AND THE CONSERVATIVE SUM OF ROMNEY 31%, PLUS HUCKABEE 11%, PLUS RON PAUL 8% COUNTED + 2% UN-COUNTED, PLUS THOMPSON 1%, PLUS DUNCAN 1% IS A TOTAL OF 54%.

[Kelly Warnick]

If Mike Huckabee had made racial comments about a leading black candidate or
sexist comments about a leading female candidate, he would have been
castigated by the media. How he was able to launch his surge with religious
bigotry is dumbfounding to me. It seems that everyone is oblivious to the
obvious.

In the event that Mitt Romney does not win the nomination, then history will
show that Mike Huckabee pulled off the political crime of the century. It
was Mike Huckabee that raised religious issues among Iowa evangelicals by
comments toward Romney's religion.

As Huckabee's tactics started to show in the Iowa polls, Mitt responded with
his "Faith in America" speech. Romney was then forced to work on damage
control. Romney's efforts in Iowa payed off and he continued to rise back in
the polls but the damage gave him a second in a state he held firmly until
Huckabee's misuse of the public forum.

McCain saw his window and concentrated on New Hampshire while Romney was
being unduely "occupied" in Iowa. Romney was forced to agressively address
things detracting from what his positive messaging had been and did so
famously. Romney then relied on comparison ads to contrast differences.
These ads were constantly referred to as "attack ads" by Huckabee, who
continually portrayed him as "desperate", and "attacking".

Now Huckabee is able to capitalize on such tactics. Because of his use of
the majority evangelical state of Iowa and with the ignorance of the media
toward the Mormon religion, he flew under the radar of a nation that has
worked since Lincoln to erase such bigotry.

A majority of the nation now sees only that Mike Huckabee won the Iowa
caucus and know nothing of the back story. I think it important to present
it. Observe for yourself and pass these perspectives along. We need a TRUE
man for change and a proven record of turning things around in the oval
office.

Vote Mitt Romney

[Citizen]

I am a Black Evangelical Woman who is voting for Romney, because:

1) I believe he has real world economic success that we sorely need & that no other candidate Dem or Republican has.

2) He has a strong sense of traditional family values

3) I believe he could succeed in any situation - which he has proven over & over throughout his career

4) Huckabee's attacks on his Mormon religion were simply not Christ-like and have no place in a democracy

5) Huckabee is beginning to look like McCain's lapdog and that is not a good look on a president or vice president (& might I add neither does Hillary's crying either)

We need someone who can represent our country with authority to world leaders, allies & foes and be taken seriously in broad issues ranging from the economy, trade, security etc...

[Monica]

Talk about a flip flop, Huckabee has done a 180 degree turn on illegal immigration. At least Mitt Romney's happened a couple of years ago, not since he started campaigning. Read the following excerpt from wikipedia's article on him:

[In opening remarks among Hispanic civil rights leaders at a LULAC convention, Huckabee said the nation will need to address the concerns of the Hispanic community because of its growing influence and population base. "Pretty soon, Southern white guys like me may be in the minority," Huckabee said jokingly as the crowd roared in laughter. He told the LULAC delegates that their presence in the state's capital city was very important because Arkansas has one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the nation. "Your gathering is so very significant for our state," Huckabee said.[98] Roy Beck, whose 1.5 million member organization NumbersUSA played a major role in defeating the Senate immigration bill, calls Huckabee "an absolute disaster as governor of Arkansas... Every time there was any enforcement in his state, he took the side of the illegal aliens." Huckabee responded by saying if voters are looking for the toughest guy on immigration, he's not their man.] from {Wikipedia search: Mike Huckabee}.

Huckabee also took so many gifts while he was governor. We need someone who is not swayed by gift-giving. Mitt Romney is a millionaire that never even took a salary while he was the governor of Massachusetts. He also shamed the states congress for trying to increase their salaries while he was governor.

Huckabee's one liner about having a president that is "like the guy they work with, not the guy who laid them off" is so bogus. He is aiming it at Romney, but either he doesn't know what a venture capitol company does, or he is trying to stir up lies. A venture capitol company (VC) buys a company that is failing (like Kmart was) and then restructures it and then makes it profitable. Yes, some jobs are lost, but instead of the company going bankrupt and all the people losing their jobs, some people still have a job and the company can now start a better business that is focused on growth and prospering. Or a VC company funds start up ideas, thus increasing jobs. Bain Capitol during Romney’s time there started start up like Staples, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Brookstone, Domino's Pizza, Sealy, Guitar Center and The Sports Authority. That seems to me to say that Mitt Romney is the guy that helped bright and entrepreneurial people create thousands of jobs. Way to go Mitt!!!

The tax plan that Huckabee wants will never materialize. For one thing, Congress and those employed by the IRS and support roles (i.e. CPA, tax attorneys, ect) would never let the IRS be dissolved. Secondly, if by some miracle it did get dissolved there would be a huge recession that would follow, because the vast amount of people would cut spending because everything would cost at least 23% more. Besides this lets off the really rich guys who save a ton of money (not spending) and make loads more on their investments. They spend a lot, but not in comparison to how much they make. Besides it would increase people going to foreign countries and spending lavishly there, but not here. It would hurt tourism, because people would not come as often because everything would cost at least 23% more. This is a very devastating tax plan. It will let those who can pay a lot off the hook and leave the middle class to take the brunt of the burden.

The tax plan should be simplified and then taxes should be spent only on what the public needs are, not congresses or lobbies wish lists. Romney can get this done. He has the history and experience that can work for everyone’s benefit.

[Strategist]

Who here will not vote for John McCain in the general election (if he is nominated)? Same for Mike Huckabee.

How many people will vote for the democrat just to be sure they loose?

Lastly, how did you vote last election (if you voted?) I'm just curious.

And since I asked, I'll answer first:

I will not vote for either John McCain or Mike Huckabee in general.

Will probably vote Mickey Mouse if McCain, but if Huckabee I'll vote and donated a token $1 for the democrat.

I voted Dole '96, Bush '00 and '04.

[Koskipää]

Mitt Romney is the Bush/Cheney regime's Frankenstein. He's the priviledged son of a wealthy General Motors executive. He's backed by George H.W. and Barbara Bush. The only time he gets passionate in debates is when he rises up to defend big pharmaceutical companies. If you want eight more years of corporatist voter/citizen disenfranchisement, diseducation, pollution, and war he's your next monster.

[Debrar]

I am here to say that I will not vote for either Huckabee or McCain if they are the nominee. I would either not vote, which is the likeliest choice, or vote Democrat.... both situations are suicidal.

However, I hope to cast my vote for the best and most obvious candidate: Mitt Romney!

[Edison]

The last two times I voted were for Bush in '00 and '04, I've grown up with conservative values and have always tried to stay true to those values and believe in good conscience that if McCain or Huckabee were to recieve the nomination I would be forced to just stay home out of protest. Both candidates are conservative in name only and have pandered to the liberals extensively in their careers. Their records show them to be liberals at heart and it's because of this that as a staunch conservative I could never give them my vote. As an Alaskan I plan to vote for Romney come Super Tuesday.

[Dave]

Isn't Romney the guy that tied his dog to the top of his car? That says it all about his character or lack there of.

[Lizzie]

Well stated Monica!
Vote Romney!

[Christina]

People, why is there so much discourse over religion, hot tempers, blah blah blah. . .are you kidding me. I have been watching the debates, and I want a president who will do the BEST job possible for the country. I don't care if he's Christian or Mormon or a Woman or Black. I just don't want a candidate bashing, bickering, he said/she said kind of president. I can't trust those kinds of people. That rules out Romney, McCain, maybe Huckabee (he's much better than the two), Clinton. . .you get my drift. YOu can't trust manipulative people who just want the vote. How is our country ever going to get ahead with those kinds of people.

[Keith Henderson]

Doesn't Romney have enough problems already? I don't think he's gone more than a week this cycle without having to proffer some convoluted explanation of old remarks he made that contradict his current platform. Now he's just taken to saying "stop with the personal attacks" anytime anyone points out his pandering inconsistency. I still have a pretty hard time imagining what kind of people are inspired to vote for him.

On the other hand, I can see why people would vote for Huckabee. I think he's a decent man and he wants to do what he believes to be right. I can't fault him or his supporters for that. I think my mother, who is a midwestern evangelical Christian and whose vote is largely informed by that, summed up my opinion of his candidacy. "He seems like an honorable man, but he has no education in policy, law, economics, or foreign relations. I just don't see why he's at all qualified to run anything."

Mom will probably vote for McCain, even though she doesn't like his perceived "centrist" leanings. I think she's willing to swallow that bitter pill in exchange for an electable candidate. She didn't like his comment about 100 years in the middle east one bit, though. Even my mother -- lifelong republican, Bible Study Fellowship leader, dues-paying NRA member, civilian naval employee -- thinks that our continued military presence in the middle east is insane. Given that, McCain had better rethink the electoral merits of being so gung-ho. I suppose I should mention that my mother is a scientist and an engineer with an upper-middle class salary, so perhaps she is not as demographically representative of the conservative base as I have implied. She hits it on most of the other cylinders though.

These guys can swing at each other all they want. I don't think it will help them any. McCain has survived war, imprisonment, torture, and the 2000 primary. I don't think Romney is really in the same weight class. As for Huckabee, he's seen as such a decent guy that even the undecideds who have ruled him out on the issues rush to defend him when he's attacked on personal qualities. Getting nasty with him is ill-advised.

Romney has done one thing impressively: he has tried out almost every known political tactic in just a few months. Two things if you count his impeccable skin care.

[Brian]

Did anyone mention that Mitt was a bishop in the Mormon faith! What's the difference here?

[todd]

Mitt is impressive.
A year ago I was an employee. I could see the amount of money I was making for the company compared to the inefficiencies, my tight pay, and lack of benefits. I’m now enjoying the opportunities before me as I struggle through the first year of self employment. Although I was a very good employee, I can see that I would have been a better employee if I had first been in my employer’s position. My views as an independent have shifted slightly right.

Being successful in business is not easy. Being responsible in business is not easy. Providing jobs for other people is not easy. Innovating is inherent to successful business and growth. Freedom and fair-play is essential to business success.

Mitt has made a success of everything he’s done. He seems incapable of settling for failure. I expect he will do whatever it takes to make America successful. While I do not completely agree with all his policy—at least he has policy and solutions. His greatest quality is that he is a compromiser (some call it flip-flopping)—not in ethics and morality but in getting things done. If some method does not work he finds a new way.

He sees the real problems and formulates policy. While I agree with Obama on the problems of the common American, I believe Mitt has the solutions:

Jobs—gain back America’s global business edge, stop allowing companies to undercut American labor by paying illegal labor, increase research and development, increase infrastructure, increase the value of the dollar.

Humanity—make jobs, welcome proper immigration, create a way for health care for all, decrease taxes on middle America, feed the American Dream.

Make America work—reduce government inefficiency (not services), decrease dependence on foreign energy (also improving the environment), remove government grid-lock (with compromise), restore foreign respect (he is intelligent, thoughtful, and he compromises)

Our problems need new thinking.