???? Governor Mitt Romney is attempting to?explain and mitigate the issue of his policy changes on fundamental issues – such as abortion, gay rights, stem cells, and taxes – over the years by claiming that he is now a Ronald Reagan conservative who has changed his ideology over time just like Reagan himself did. If Reagan was allowed to become a conservative later in life and successfully run for higher office as a Republican after doing so, then the same should be allowed for me is the Republican rule Romney suggests – as have?impliedly other GOP luminaries previously, as we shall see.
Fair enough, in the sense that Reagan absolutely evolved from a Franklin Delano Roosevelt New Deal progressive Democrat into a Barry Goldwater conservative Republican before he ran for elective office. The Reagan legacy undoubtedly?proves that?ideological transformation and conversion are possible and productive and should be allowed. But there is a problem with?crafting the Reagan Reformation Rule as broadly as Romney has,?it seems to me.
I am extremely skeptical of recent and purported national Republican leaders who?were ostensibly unable?to support Ronald Reagan in the wake of bona fide liberal alternatives Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale in the early and mid-1980s when Reagan conservatism was at its height of visibility, importance, and influence. My former conservative Congressman, who was a pillar of the Clinton impeachment, was a leading Democrat?in 1980?in his home state; a recent Republican National Committee chairperson was working for a Democrat member of the U.S. House of Representatives and voting as a registered Democrat in 1980; and it certainly appears as if President Reagan?may not have enjoyed in full, if at all,?the support of one Mitt Romney in 1980.
It did not come as a surprise to me when George H.W. Bush and Bob Dole turned out to be problematic in significant respects as Republican heirs to the White House.?For me?it was telling when?these two?ran as Republicans for president in 1980 under the belief that they were better candidates than Ronald Reagan. Support of Ronald Reagan?in 1980 from beginning (primaries and caucuses) to end (the general election) represents a Republican threshold, in my view, that our party has given too many leaders a pass on to our own detriment. Show me someone who cast a vote against Ronald Reagan in 1980 at any stage and I will show you a potential problem in their claim to be a conservative and Reagan disciple.
Jonah Goldberg of?National Review has?persuasively, I think, argued that we are all better off applying political labels that incorporate the names of elected leaders whose specific policies can be reflected in order to hold candidates more precisely accountable and calibrate such labels more finely. Instead of “conservative” and “liberal” we would use terms such as “Reagan conservative” and “McGovern liberal” in their place. And on our side of the aisle, where everyone from Richard Nixon to Gerald Ford to Bob Dole to the Bush presidents claims to be “conservative” when they run for the Oval Office, a good case can be made that voters need to know exactly what kind of a conservative they may be supporting given that there are so many different strains and potential charlatans – evidence of which is that some “conservative” presidents have raised taxes while others lowered them, some “conservative” presidents?have?grown?government while others held the line on its growth, some “conservative” presidents have failed to appoint originalists to the federal bench, etc. Truth in labelling has unfortunately been an issue for the Republican Party at the highest levels in modern times.
What most voters from the far right to the center are looking for in 2008 is a Reagan conservative – someone who?respects individual freedom, limited government, federalism, expanded economic opportunity for all, lower taxes, life, the right to bear arms, traditional marriage, being tough on crime, a color-blind society, and secure borders and prudent immigration that protects and prioritizes American culture. The question voters and the media need to?investigate with?candidates is whether their embracing the term Reagan conservative is borne out of expedience rather than conviction. If someone could not and did not support Ronald Reagan in 1980 when it was most?efficacious to do so, you have to wonder, it seems to me, how genuine their claim to be one of his followers is now. Sure, it is possible that their fidelity to Reagan-style conservatism is now real. But it makes you wonder when a candidate had the opportunity to help the one, true,?and original Ronald Reagan in 1980 and opted for the liberal alternative instead.
Rather than asking GOP presidential candidates about their drug use and sex lives, it might be much more illustrative to ask them about their voting behavior in 1980. Maybe the reason so many Republican candidates have campaigned one way and then governed another recently is because too many of us have bought their campaign rhetoric rather than tested the strength of their beliefs.
I would apply a long, grueling period of scrutiny and probation to Republican candidates and leaders invoking the Reagan Reformation Rule who did not in fact vote for the Gipper in 1980, and require?compelling evidence of their conversion. And all should be tested as to their 1980 votes, or lack thereof, once they claim the mantle of Reagan conservative. We have too often voted for Reagan conservatives only to be provided Nixon liberals once they win and assume office. As President Reagan himself famously opined in a different context – trust but verify.
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January 8th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
I think you’re making a pretty absurd assumption in supposing that Romney did not support Reagan in 1980. He made a pure factual statement during his senatorial campaign, intended to deflect. He said “I was an independent during the Reagan/Bush years” or something to that effect. He didn’t bother to mention that in states with essentially 1 party rule, huge numbers of people are officially independents. It allowed him to avoid assuming the Reagan mantle in a time an unfavorable climate, while saying virtually nothing about his voting tendencies. We know by looking at Romney’s donation history, that he was donating exclusively to Republicans in the 80′s. Perhaps not “Reagan Republicans”, but it certainly serves as a strong indicator that, while Romney may or may not have supported Reagan in the 198 primary, he almost certainly did during the general election.
January 8th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Yes, Matt, because Governor Romney claimed to be an independent during the Reagan years, I assume he did not vote for Reagan in 1980. But the assumption is hardly absurd. Given that Romney is now calling himself a Reagan conservative, had he voted for Reagan in 1980 it would be to his advantage to claim that he was a Reagan conservative during that time period and so he would certainly be doing so (and have the right to) had he cast a vote for the Gipper in 1980. To Romney’s credit, he is honestly letting voters know he was not a Reagan conservative in 1980.
But also keep in mind that I am suggesting the media ask Romney and all GOP presidential contenders the specific question, “Who did you vote for in 1980 for President?” I think my assumption follows logically from Romney’s own statements, as painful as that potential admission of his may be for his 2008 supporters. But there is an easy and quick way to take this whole issue out of the realm of assumption and speculation by asking him directly.
And I am betting that Mitt Romney did not vote for Ronald Reagan in 1980.
January 8th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
I contend to contend that this is an absurd notion. The only statement that Romney has ever made, that I’m aware of, in regards to his voting record was the carefully worded, factual, complete non-entity of a statement relating to his independent status during his 1994 campaign; a campaign where it was specifically to his benefit to refrain from mentioning any ties to conservatives such as Reagan. Of course he wasn’t going to proclaim that he voted for Reagan. And I certainly doubt your assertion that Romney mentioning that he voted for Reagan in 1980, at this juncture, would be anything other then bizarre and unhelpful. Have you ever heard a presidential candidate declare who they voted for in a given election? Have you ever heard any politician do so? I certainly haven’t. And I suspect that, if Romney had in fact voted for Reagan in 1980, it would be decidedly to his benefit to refrain from mentioning it. Because then the question becomes “why did you, in 1994, claim that you weren’t interested in returning us to the days of Reagan/Bush?” He could always tell them the truth. That he’d said it because it was a truth that deflected a potentially damaging question. But it’s the sort of admission that he certainly wouldn’t want to make in the wake of flip-flop charges. My point isn’t necessarily that Romney wholeheartedly supported Reagan in. I think it’s quite plausible to imagine that he didn’t. But even at his most “liberal”, Romney has been a vocal advocate of business, pro-growth, low-tax, free trade policies. And there’s just no reason to suppose that a fiscal liberal in the vein of Jimmy Carter would hold any appeal whatever for that type of individual. Especially when one considers that, at worst, Romney appeared to be relatively unconcerned with social issues during his moderate phase. Again, precisely what in Jimmy Carter’s 1980 platform would appeal to the sort of man who, when he occasionally flirted with Democrats, exclusively flirted with those in the Paul Tsongas, fiscally conservative and socially moderate mold?
January 8th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
So Republius, who would you recommend as a true “Reagan Republican”, and what do you have to back it up? I am guessing it must be someone whose drug use and sex-life hasn’t been the purest.
January 8th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Yes, Matt, I have heard plenty of presidential candidates, starting with Ronald Reagan (the first presidential candiate I ever voted for during the 1976 GOP primary), let voters know who they previously supported for the office they are now pursuing.
I would renew my request to the media and Romney supporters to find out what the Governor’s voting record and political beliefs were in 1980. I think they would illuminate us all. And all GOP candidates should be asked the same question.
I would be even more skeptical of a presidential candidate who refused to answer such a question than I am of one who failed to support Ronald Reagan all the way in 1980.
Finally, I would imagine there are plenty of political candidates who would unfortunately lie about who they voted for previously in elections. To his credit, I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that Mitt Romney is not one of them.
January 8th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Interesting link I found on the topic of personal political donations: http://www.newsmeat.com/washington_political_donations/Mitt_Romney.php
In 1992 Romney donated to Richard Swett ($250, 1992, NH), John Lafalce ($250, 1992, NY), and Douglas Anderson ($1000, 1992, UT). These donations to democrats represent 1.5% of his total donations between 1982 and 2006, during which time $94055 went to Republicans. I’m guessing (absent any evidence) that he was voting with similar habits.
January 8th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
marK, I am honestly open as to who would be the closest thing to a Reagan conservative in 2008 and would eliminate nobody, certainly not Romney, at this juncture. I think the answer is that it remains to be seen and that there is no obvious choice. I will support whichever Republican, by the way, wins the nomination over any Democrat.
Obviously the human tendency is to have fluid pecking orders in their mind as time goes. And I admit to such. But in that respect I differ from my colleagues on this site and am trying to be as objective as possible in posting rather than coming out obviously or explicitly for any one Republican candidate.
When I do settle on a GOP primary candidate, which I must prior to my state’s primary (whose date has not been set in stone), I am not even sure if I will then make such a preference known. I would hope to, again, be able to objectively praise and criticize all the GOP candidates throughout this process as a contributor to this site.
January 8th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
I agree Murphy. I think it’s just nonsensical to assume that a fiscal conservative, any fiscal conservative, who’d donated exclusively to Republican candidates and organizations throughout the 80′s, cast their vote for Jimmy Carter in 1980. The man had obliterated the economy. Voting for Reagan in 1980 didn’t even require that one be a conservative or anything like, so I’m certainly not suggesting that, if Romney did indeed vote for Reagan, he deserves any sort of praise. Reagan won Massachusetts in 80′, for heavens sake. I have to admit as a Romney supporter, I would be worried about the man’s sanity if he cast his ballot for Carter in 1980. Fortunately, there’s simply no reason to suspect that’s the case.
January 8th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Of course the Romney donations cited by Murphy are from 1992, not 1980…
January 8th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
An admitted failing of my citation is that it only extends back as far as 1982. Can anyone find a paper trail farther?
January 8th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Yes. Those were Romney’s only donations to Democrats. Ever. Undoubtedly he cast about attempting to find Demkocrats he could feasibly support, to appear moderate during the 94 race. In the 80′s, his donations went exclusively to Republicans. All-in-all, well over 90% of Romney’s donations were to Republicans.
January 8th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Republius,
Romney threw 1.5% of his total political donations in the past 14 years to three democrats – and in their primaries at that, not even in the general election! – and that casts doubt as to his voting tendencies?
C’mon, there are plenty of things we can talk about in Romney’s past that would make interesting conversation. Trying to claim that he didn’t vote for Reagan based on pure speculation is not one of them.
I can’t seem to find anywhere that lists donations previous to the 90′s, so I’d be willing to bet we will never know who Romney gave money to in the 80s. But something tells me even if Mitt were to come out and say “I voted for Reagan” you still wouldn’t believe him.
January 8th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
“Finally, I would imagine there are plenty of political candidates who would unfortunately lie about who they voted for previously in elections.”
This is exactly the reason why it’s absurd to ask such a question. It’s totally unverifiable and the answer is next to meaningless except in the context of how much faith you already have in said candidate’s word of honor. I don’t see the purpose in opening that can of worms when most of the candidates in the field have a documented record that we can openly explore. It reminds me of the “Did you ever use cocaine?” question. It’s the same type of unverifiable answer and it’s up to the listener to decide for themselves whether they’re lying or not, which depends for the most part on how much trust you already had in the candidate.
Additionally, although I don’t have time to go into major detail here, I have a real problem with you line of reasoning in the post above. The dots just don’t seem to connect well and you’re stretching to make them appear to. Sorry.
January 8th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
That list goes back to 82′ HeavyM. So 3 donations in 24 years. He gave 3000 to the Massachusetts Republican Party and 500 to a Massachusetts Republican House of Representatives candidate in in the 82′ primary. Those are his only donations from the 80′s that appear on that list. So where exactly is the evidence to suggest he didn’t vote for Republican that 4/5′s of the states voted for?
January 8th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Matt, you are absolutely correct. 24 years and exactly 3 donations to Democrats. In primaries, nonetheless.
There’s absoultely nothing but speculation to back up the claim that Romney didn’t vote for Reagan.
January 8th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I’ve got to agree with texas_tyrant8. While Mitt’s word is enough for Republius, generally his supporters will believe him and his critics will doubt.
January 8th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
To be honest, I am not too concerned about 1980 (excepting extreme circumstances of course). Twenty-six years is a long time, and people can definitely change.
That being said (and without myself making any kind of personal judgment regarding the charges), what will be the most problematic for Romney is that he ran against Reagan in 1994. This is after America was already understood to be undergoing the greatest peacetime economic expansion in our nation’s history, as well as the USSR being consigned to the ash-heap of history three years before.
January 8th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Very good, Kavon. Now doesn’t that ten year statute of limitations on stupidity start to look better and better?
January 8th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
A few thoughts.
I, for one, will take Mitt Romney’s word on how he voted in 1980 and why, even though I find his rationale for now being pro-life extremely thin.
And I find it fascinating that the Romney supporters are so afraid of having the question answered by their man as to who he supported for President in 1980. What are you afraid of? Don’t you have confidence in your guy to fashion a cogent explanation?
But, again, I think this question should be asked of all GOP candidates in 2008, especially since they are all claiming to be Reagan conservatives. And I think I am the only one who has pointed out that Sam Brownback originally ran for Congress as a moderate and nothing like what he now purports to be. So this issue isn’t germane only to Romney.
The bottom line is that Nixon, Ford, Bush I, and Dole were not conservatives, despite claiming such all the time. I am for getting at the truth and exposing the hypocrisy.
January 8th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Republius,
I cannot speak for other Romney supporters, but I can speak for myself. 1980 is ancient history as far as I am concerned. I wouldn’t care if Romney was Reagan’s campaign manager that year, nor would I care if he was Carter’s. Romney can state every candidate he voted for that year. So could McCain and Giuliani. It’s all water long gone under the bridge.
As previously mentioned, I have a statute of limitations on stupidity of ten years. If the person in question hasn’t had a repeat of a specific stupidity in the last ten years, then all is forgiven and it is time to move on. If they took drugs, cheated on their wife, voted for a Communist, or applauded Barbara Striesand more than ten years ago, it’s immatterial and has no bearing whatsoever on what they are today.
January 8th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Mitt Romney is nothing more than another northeastern elitist who thinks he can lie and trick his way into the White House by duping flyover country into believing he’s a real conservative. Won’t work.
NO to the Mitt-flopper!
January 8th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Isn’t it our goal as faithful Republicans to convince, through honest debate and educated discussion, as many non-believers as possible to come over to our side? Doesn’t that presume that there may be many Republican candidates (for many offices) in 2008 who theoretically were not Republicans at one time? Isn’t that a good thing that should be celebrtated, not condemned? Even if Romney was a Gus Hall supporting card-carrying member of the Communist Party in 1980, then saw the light and became a faithful member of the GOP, working tirelessly for the party, governing as a good Republican in the most left wing state this side of Pyongyang, and raising millions for fellow GOP candidates, should he still be disqualified for the support of GOP primary voters? I really can’t hold someone’s vote 26 years ago against them, since if it was against Reagan but he’s now “one of us” he did just what we hoped he would do. I agree with marK that we should really look at the past 10 years or so and examine a candidate’s actions today rather than their votes from almost three decades ago.
Having said that, Republius makes a good point here. Most voters (at least in the GOP but also probably many on the other side too) yearn for a Reagan Conservative in the White House again. It’s totally fair game to see how current candidates stand up to the standards Reagan set and how they apply those standards to today’s world and it’s problems. As was mentioned, Reagan was a New Deal Dem. But by the time he was governor, and moreso by the 70s, he had evolved (hmmm bad choice of words) into what we all came to love and admire. Romney (and all the others) will need to prove that they hold the same ideals and strive for the same goals as Reagan if they want to carry that mantle in 2008.
January 9th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
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