Romney Tanks At Fiscal Conservative Event
Former and future (a.k.a. perpetual) GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney completely tanked at a gathering of fiscal conservative leaders in Palm Beach, Florida over the weekend, delivering what attendees called a ”rehearsed, vacuous speech” full of “standard Republican feel-good talking points.”
Romney then followed up his speech to the national Club for Growth by berating a questioner who dared to ask him about his socialist health care proposals, accusing the man of taking “pot shots.”
Hmmmm … sound familiar to anyone?
Anyway, we wrote about our ongoing distaste for Romney last week, prompting a flood of criticism from his supporters.
Well, it looks like we’re not alone.
Chronicling the fireworks from Florida is Harper’s reporter Ken Silverstein, the man who wrote what many consider to be the definitive account of Romney’s failed 2008 presidential bid.
From Silverstein’s blog, Washington Babylon:
This past weekend’s National Club for Growth annual conference featured three dinner speakers. Thursday night: South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. Friday night: South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint. Saturday night: former Governor Mitt Romney, the early frontrunner for the G.O.P. nomination in 2012. The Club for Growth represents the more conservative wing of the G.O.P. on economic policy. It is especially supportive of cutting taxes and government spending, and heavily funds candidates it supports.
A source who attended the event passed on to me his thoughts about the conference, which appears not to have gone well for Romney. Recall that during last year’s G.O.P. nomination battle, Romney had a hard time convincing the conservative base that he was the real thing.
Silverstein goes on to quote from a source who attended Romney’s speech …
After his comments (during which many in the audience were notably bored, checking Blackberrys, etc.), Mitt asked for questions. The first was a from a man from New York who read from his handheld several lines from a Wall Street Journal editorial that was very critical of “Romney Care” in Massachusetts.
He ended his questioning of Romney with this line: “How do you respond to the Wall Street Journal’s article given all you’ve been telling us about your belief in free markets? How can we believe you when what you did in Massachusetts was (an) expensive government mandate regarding health care?”
Many in the room erupted in applause. A visibly agitated Romney defensively began his reply with the following:“We can disagree without you taking potshots like you did at the end of your question there. That’s the Wall Street Journal’s opinion… I have my opinions too. (No word on how WSJ editorial writer John Fund felt as he sat just yards away in the crowd.)
Yowzers! What a whiny little girl. That’s a legitimate question Romney just went “boo-effin-hoo” on.
Apparently, neither his tone nor his lack of an answer satisfied the masses …
After defending his program by blaming changes on the Democratic Massachusetts legislature, Mitt asked for a second question in the very quiet room. A member from Texas said something along the lines of, “The name of our group is Club for Growth and we think of growth meaning growth in individual liberty. So, how does the fact that your program requires individuals to get government-mandated health insurance fit with our goal of liberty for individuals?”
This led to more and louder applause from the crowd. Mitt then attempted to answer the question while demanding that the questioner “not leave the room” and “don’t turn away from me.” It was more than awkward… the next question was from a Club for Growth staff person who asked a softball… most likely to calm things down.
Mitt’s efforts to be all things to all people continue to cause him problems. Some members also expressed disgust following the speech that Romney refused to endorse Alaskan Lt. Governor Sean Parnell in his Club for Growth-backed bid for Congress against one of the most corrupt incumbents in the nation (Representative Don Young), even though Parnell served as Chair of Romney’s Alaskan campaign. Pathetic.
Jeez. What a mega-bag-o-douche.
Like we’ve been saying, all these people who are convinced that Mitt Romney is the GOP’s ticket out of the wilderness are flat out nuts.
You don’t get out of the wilderness by fakery and whining. Or by sticking your finger in the wind every five minutes.
Seriously, if Mitt Romney received GOP polling data indicating that people wanted to see his wife on fire, he be pouring gas on her within five minutes.
Oh, and let’s not forget who his lead Southern strategist was …
WEB EXTRAS:
Ken Silverstein’s “Making Mitt Romney: How To Fabricate A Conservative” (Harper’s)
Comments
By Pat Hendrix on March 9th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
It’s going to be a long stay in those woods. Very long.
Keep purging anyone that doesn’t hew closely to the movement line. That’s a political winner.
By HeHateMe on March 9th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
I’d support Mitt Romney. For Panderer in Chief.
By Bard of Beaufain St on March 9th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
So, Romney got ambushed in a public forum by Sanford’s thugs…this isn’t a surprise…in fact, it happens ALL THE TIME on the campaign trail. Silly Will Folks, you know that.
Sanford is a clueless, well-tanned face–nothing more. His quest for the presidency in 2012 is an ego-driven pipe dream.
Let’s be honest. Romney accomplished much more for conservatism in one of the most liberal states in America than Sanford accomplished in one of the reddest (in twice the time). For his eight years in Columbia, Sanford will be able to count among his great legislative accomplishments…wait, wait…wait for it…ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
Sanford is the walking definition of vapid Republican leadership that has driven the GOP into the ground over the past several years.
The next time readers set their hopes on this bad apple, re-watch this CNN clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2nNSMZKv_A
By vincent on March 9th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Statutorily he is within his rights to flip flop and be liberal.
Det. Hanna (Badge on file)
By rooofus on March 9th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Ouch! Somebody must have pushed “the Bard’s” button with this post!
I suspect that notorious CNN clip sufficiently torpedoes Sandford’s future political viability. Maybe calling Limbaugh an “idiot” will improve his image…
By Swing Daddy on March 9th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
If Earl Capps was chairman, none of this would be happening. You would all rock together in perfect harmony.
By Spencer on March 10th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Come on people! Avoiding letting your minds get swayed so easily by this article. The same people that are convinced by the negative article are the same ones that the Main Stream Media feat upon.
Club for Growth themselves said that Mitt gave a great speech. Can’t help it if other candidates implant trolls in that place to make Mitt look bad.
Always check your sources and don’t believe the first thing you here.
By Courtney on March 10th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I’ve never heard of fitsnews before, but apparently they subscribe to the Dan Rather school of journalism. If there’s not a story there, just make one up, and don’t ever bother checking sources.
What’s wrong with a mandate anyway, where everyone pays their own health insurance costs? I would much prefer that to our current system, where I’m forced to pay for the health care of the irresponsible members of society.
By Pat Hendrix on March 10th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Courtney,
Shhhhh, this is fitsnews, they like to keep it fact free. Sure, we already pay for every yoyo that shows up at the emergency room. We have double digit inflation in the medical sector and a majority of physcians want to see a move to single payer, but it’s the “gub-ment” mandating it. That’s an automatic disqualification, even if it does make sense.
By Dusk Mccoy on March 10th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Pat,
Most physicians would rather eliminate the HMO system (a creation of Ted Kennedy in the 60’s) and have patients pay us directly for our services. Eliminating the middle man saves the patient money.
Just as important, however, is tort reform. Untold billions are wasted on defensive medicine. Asking our leaders in Washington to enact much-needed tort reform is laughable, as most Congressmen are lawyers and are personally “invested” in the status quo.
By FitsnewsLovestoLie on March 10th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Fitsnews,
Why the lies???? Do some real research for once and check out the source before you post blatant lies. Here is the truth from clubforgrowth.org. So no more lies. We are not all idiots and take lies to be offensive to our intelligence. Just read it for yourself, and do some real reporting…
Club for Growth Winter Conference
Nachama Soloveichik
“…Last, but certainly not least, we closed out our conference with a rousing speech by Governor Mitt Romney. Ever the problem-solver, the Massachusetts Governor offered specific solutions to the problems we face under an Obama administration. Instead of reckless spending, he called for pro-growth tax cuts; instead of bailing out the auto companies, he called for serious restructuring; instead of exploding the federal deficit, he called for government to live within its means.
Our members enjoyed the entire conference, and we appreciate that all of our speakers-who are no doubt very busy-took the time to come speak to us.
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