1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BIOGRAPHY AND TIMELINE .............................................................................................................................................. 3
BRIEF OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3
BIOGRAPHICAL TIMELINE ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
TOP HITS .......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
SOCIAL ISSUES ................................................................................................................................................................ 13
ABORTION .............................................................................................................................................................................. 14
STEM CELL RESEARCH ............................................................................................................................................................ 23
GAY RIGHTS ........................................................................................................................................................................... 26
SECOND AMENDMENT ISSUES .............................................................................................................................................. 31
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 36
JUDICIAL ISSUES ..................................................................................................................................................................... 38
CONFEDERATE FLAG/SOUTHERN ISSUES ............................................................................................................................... 44
ECONOMIC ISSUES ......................................................................................................................................................... 45
SPENDING .............................................................................................................................................................................. 45
TAXES ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
STATE FEES ............................................................................................................................................................................. 54
BUSH TAX CUTS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 59
JOBS AND ECONOMY ............................................................................................................................................................. 60
FOREIGN POLICY ............................................................................................................................................................ 66
EXPERIENCE ........................................................................................................................................................................... 66
IRAQ ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 68
IRAN ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 75
TERRORISM ............................................................................................................................................................................ 78
CHINA..................................................................................................................................................................................... 80
CUBA/VENEZUELA ................................................................................................................................................................. 81
GENERAL ISSUES .................................................................................................................................................................... 84
DOMESTIC POLICY .......................................................................................................................................................... 87
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM ............................................................................................................................................... 88
IMMIGRATION ....................................................................................................................................................................... 92
HEALTH CARE ....................................................................................................................................................................... 100
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................................................................................. 110
EDUCATION.......................................................................................................................................................................... 118
CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY ................................................................................................................................................. 121
SOCIAL SECURITY ................................................................................................................................................................. 131
VETERANS ISSUES ................................................................................................................................................................ 133
BUSINESS RECORD ....................................................................................................................................................... 135
GENERAL BAIN OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................................. 135
BAIN CAPITAL AND DREXEL BURNHAM ............................................................................................................................... 138
BAIN & CO. AND IRAN .......................................................................................................................................................... 139
DAMON CLINICAL LABORATORIES ....................................................................................................................................... 140
AMPAD ................................................................................................................................................................................ 142
HAIER GROUP AND MAYTAG ............................................................................................................................................... 143
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STREAM INTERNATIONAL, INC. ........................................................................................................................................... 147
MODUS MEDIA, INC. ............................................................................................................................................................ 154
DDi CORP. ............................................................................................................................................................................ 160
ALLIANCE LAUNDRY SYSTEMS ............................................................................................................................................. 161
IMAGITAS INC. ..................................................................................................................................................................... 163
GS INDUSTRIES, INC. ............................................................................................................................................................ 165
FLIP‐FLOPS ................................................................................................................................................................... 168
TOP ROMNEY TURNAROUNDS ............................................................................................................................................ 168
ANALYSTS ON ROMNEY’S SHIFTING VALUES ....................................................................................................................... 175
POLITICAL ISSUES ......................................................................................................................................................... 179
QUESTIONABLE REPUBLICAN CREDENTIALS ........................................................................................................................ 179
ROMNEY VS. HIS ADVISERS .................................................................................................................................................. 184
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR’S ASSOCIATION ........................................................................................................................... 189
CAMPAIGN ETHICS ............................................................................................................................................................... 190
BOSTON VIDEO ARCHIVE .............................................................................................................................................. 195
VIDEO CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR USE .............................................................................................................................. 195
VIDEO WAITING TO BE COPIED ........................................................................................................................................... 196
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BIOGRAPHY AND TIMELINE
BRIEF OVERVIEW
Full Name: Willard Mitt Romney
Born: March 12, 1947, Detroit, Michigan
Family: Wife Ann (married 37 years); five sons, ten grandchildren
Residences: 171 Marsh Street
Belmont, MA 02478
2005 assessed value: $3.162 million
87 Claflin Road
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
2006 estimated value: $5 million
The Boston Herald noted Romney’s “$5 million Lake Winnipesaukee estate … features a
three-story, six-bedroom, 3-bathroom house, a sprawling $200,000 stone boathouse and
a recently renovated $500,000 carriage house with guest quarters.”1
Vacation home
Deer Valley, UT
2006 estimated value: $5.2 million2
Education: The Cranbrook School, Bloomfield Hills, MI (1965)
Stanford University (1965-66, departed for 30-month mission after freshman year)
B.A., Brigham Young University (1971)
M.B.A., Harvard Business School; J.D., Harvard Law School (1975)
Employment: Consultant, Boston Consulting Group (1975-77)
Consultant, Bain & Company, Inc. (1977)
Vice President, Bain & Company, Inc. (1978-84)
Co-founder and managing general partner, Bain Capital, Inc. (1984-99)
Interim CEO, Bain & Company, Inc. (1991-93)
President and CEO, Salt Lake Organizing Committee (1999-2002)
Political Career: Republican nominee for U.S. Senate from Massachusetts (1994)
Governor of Massachusetts (2003-07)
Chairman, Republican Governors Association (2005-06)
BIOGRAPHICAL TIMELINE
March 12, 1947 Romney is born in Detroit, MI, youngest of four children of future Michigan Gov. George
Romney and his wife Lenore.
Spring 1965 Graduates from the Cranbrook School, an exclusive, all-male prep school in Bloomfield
Hills, MI.
August 1965 Enrolls at Stanford University, where he spends only one year.
June 1966 Departs for France on a Mormon mission that will last 2½ years.
1
The Boston Herald, 7/29/05
2
Deseret Morning News, 12/24/06
4
June 1968 While in France, Romney is injured in a serious car accident (caused by a drunk driver)
that kills the wife of his mission’s leader; for a time, Romney’s family is under the
impression he has been killed.
December 1968 Returns to the United States from his mission in France.
March 21, 1969 Marries Ann Davies, his girlfriend of four years.
1969 Transfers to Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, enrolling as a sophomore.
1970 After four years of deferments through student and missionary status, Romney draws
high draft number and avoids conscription and service in Vietnam.
Spring 1971 Graduates as valedictorian with highest honors from Brigham Young University.
Fall 1971 Enrolls at Harvard Law School.
1972 Enters joint program at Harvard that combines law and business degrees in one program.
Spring 1975 Graduates with joint M.B.A./J.D. from Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School;
was Baker Scholar at business school and earned cum laude honors from law school.
Summer 1975 Joins Boston Consulting Group as a consultant after graduating from Harvard.
1977 Joins Bain & Company, Inc. as a consultant.
1978 Promoted to vice president at Bain & Co.
1984 Bain & Co. founder Bill Bain asks Romney to head a new private equity spin-off unit
called Bain Capital, Inc.; serves as managing general partner at Bain Capital until 1999.
October 29, 1990 Bain & Co. announces Romney will take over as “worldwide managing director” in the
near future; Bill Bain asks Romney to return on an interim basis to engineer turnaround of
the flagging company.
January 1991 Takes over as interim CEO at Bain & Co., serving a two-year stretch and rescuing the
company from a dire financial situation; continues to serve as managing general partner
at Bain Capital.
October 1993 Switches party affiliation from Independent to Republican in anticipation of running for
political office in 1994.
November 1993 Informs GOP activists he is likely to run for the U.S. Senate.
February 2, 1994 Formally declares his candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
September 20, 1994 Wins Republican U.S. Senate primary over businessman John Lakian by an 82-18%
margin.
November 8, 1994 Loses U.S. Senate race to Sen. Ted Kennedy (D) by a 58-41% margin.
1995 Flirts with idea of running against Sen. John Kerry in the 1996 Senate race, but ultimately
foregoes another run and backs then-Gov. Bill Weld (R).
Spring 1995 Co-chairs “The Task Force on Emerging Companies,” a 13-member business panel
formed by the Weld Administration and charged with recommending ways to foster
growth of new companies.
July 26, 1995 George Romney, Mitt’s father, dies in Michigan at age 88.
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September 12, 1995 Attends White House event and is praised by President Clinton for supporting the
beleaguered AmeriCorps program, which was under assault from congressional
Republicans.
1996 Bain Capital acquires 11 firms in various transactions throughout the year; Romney earns
an estimated $22 million, according to FinancialWorld magazine.
November 13, 1996 After poor Republican showings in the 1996 election, the Boston Herald calls on Romney
to step forward and become state GOP chairman.
November 14, 1996 Bain Capital and a partner firm complete sale of Experian to a British company, turning a
$200 million profit for Bain in less than three months.
1997 Bain Capital acquires at least 17 firms throughout the year, according to Boston Globe
reporting.
April 16, 1997 Bain Capital pledges $1 million through various charities to help Boston’s youth.
April 27, 1997 Attends the “Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future,” a Clinton Administration initiative
to promote volunteerism initially spearheaded by George Romney just before his death.
July 7, 1998 Lenore Romney, Mitt’s mother, dies at age 89.
December 1998 Ann Romney diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
February 11, 1999 Hired as president and CEO of Salt Lake Organizing Committee, tasked with running the
business side of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games; ultimately erases organization’s $379
million deficit and turns a profit.
April 9, 2000 Confirms he is considering a run for governor in Massachusetts following the 2002 Winter
Olympics.
Summer 2000 Ann Romney’s multiple sclerosis goes into remission.
August 21, 2001 While professing interest in another run for office, Romney declares he will not challenge
any GOP incumbent in Massachusetts in 2002, saying he would back acting Gov. Jane
Swift (R) if she decided to run.
February 24, 2002 Winter Olympics concludes.
March 19, 2002 Hours after Gov. Swift announces she will not seek a full term in 2002, Romney declares
his intention to run for governor of Massachusetts.
April 24, 2002 Steps down as head of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.
September 17, 2002 Wins Republican nomination for governor.
November 5, 2002 Elected governor of Massachusetts by a 50-45% margin over state Treasurer Shannon
O’Brien (D).
January 2, 2003 Sworn in as 70th governor of Massachusetts.
November 18, 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rules same-sex marriage is protected in the
Massachusetts Constitution.
May 17, 2004 Same-sex marriages begin in Massachusetts.
August 2004 Publishes “Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership and the Olympic Games,” a book recounting
his time at the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.
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June 21, 2005 Acknowledges publicly he is considering a run for president in 2008; insists he still plans
on seeking reelection as governor but promises decision in the fall.
December 1, 2005 Elected chairman of the Republican Governors Association.
December 14, 2005 Announces he will not seek re-election as governor in 2006.
April 12, 2006 Signs into law a comprehensive health care reform package designed to provide
insurance for all Massachusetts residents by mid-2007.
July 10, 2006 A ceiling collapse in Boston’s I-90 connector tunnel kills one woman and sparks a series
of events affecting the entire “Big Dig” project; Romney takes large investigative role and
earns much media attention throughout.
December 1, 2006 Boston Globe reports Romney has used illegal immigrants to perform maintenance work
at his home.
January 3, 2007 Announces he will form a presidential exploratory committee, files papers with the FEC.
January 4, 2007 Leaves office as his gubernatorial term ends.
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TOP HITS
SOCIAL ISSUES
Abortion
Romney says he changed his mind on abortion meeting with Harvard stem cell researcher – Romney claims
the doctor said scientists “kill” embryos after 14 days, but doctor later said Romney “mischaracterized my
position.”
Months after his “conversion,” Romney stated his commitment to upholding Massachusetts’ abortion laws and
appointed pro-choice judge to state district court.
In October 2005, Romney signed bill expanding family planning services, including abortion counseling and
morning-after pill.
In December 2005, Romney “abruptly ordered his administration to reverse course … and require Catholic
hospitals to provide emergency contraception medication to rape victims.”
Romney health insurance plan expanded access to abortion, required Planned Parenthood representative on
state panel.
Romney endorsed legalization of abortion pill RU-486 access during his 1994 Senate race and backed
federal funding of abortion, saying “I think it’s important that people see me not as a pro-life candidate.”
In 1994 and 2002, Romney confirmed his support for Roe v. Wade decision and forcefully positioned himself
as pro-choice in 1994 Senate race, saying “you will not see me wavering on that.”
Romney has refused to comment on bill pending in South Carolina legislature requiring that abortion doctors
offer pregnant women option of viewing ultrasound.
Gay Rights
Romney endorsed Rep. Barney Frank’s Employment Nondiscrimination Act in 1994.
In 1994, Romney called “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy first step toward having gays and lesbians “able to serve
openly and honestly in our nation’s military” and said he would provide “more effective leadership” on gay
rights issues than Ted Kennedy.
In 2003, The Washington Times reported Romney “would support a Vermont-style civil union law in
Massachusetts.”
As governor, Romney said health coverage benefits and hospital visitation rights should be provided to gay
couples.
Romney promised to make gay partnership benefits a “hallmark of my leadership as governor” and has said
he would attend gay weddings if invited.
Romney publicly opposed Boy Scouts’ ban on homosexuals in 1994 and 2002 campaigns.
In 2002, Romney backed hate crimes legislation that included sexual orientation provisions.
In 2007, Romney praised gay parent who confronted him over gay marriage issue, but in 2005 remarked to
South Carolina audience that some gay couples “are actually having children” and called it “wrong.”
Gun Control
8
In 1994 Senate race, Romney backed Brady bill and assault weapons ban, saying “I don’t line up with the
NRA” and “that’s not going to make me the hero of the NRA.”
Romney called Clinton crime bill “a big step forward.”
As governor, Romney quadrupled gun licensing fees and vowed not to “chip away” at tough gun laws
In 2004, Romney signed permanent state-level ban on assault weapons that was mirrored after federal
assault weapons ban.
In January 2006, Romney said he owned a gun – then two days later admitted he did not and the gun
belonged to his son.
Romney bragged about being member of the NRA but later revealed he didn’t join until August 2006, just
before launching his presidential campaign.
Romney recently said he’s “been a hunter pretty much all my life” but later admitted he hunted only twice in
his life, later clarifying remarks by claiming he has hunted “small varmints … more than two times.”
In 2006 press conference, Romney claimed he had been hunting “many times” after returning from quail hunt
in Georgia.
ECONOMIC ISSUES
State spending increased at well over rate of inflation under Romney’s watch, estimated at 24% - more than
$5 billion – over Romney’s final three years.
Under Romney, Massachusetts dramatically underperformed the rest of the nation in terms of job growth.
Romney has been criticized by experts for failing to deliver on issues of business development and economic
growth after selling himself as the “CEO governor.”
2006 report issued by quasi-public Massachusetts Technology Collaborative warned the state was losing its
grip as leader in “innovation economy” and that tech job was alarmingly slow.
Romney left his successor to fill a budget deficit exceeding $1 billion.
Romney raised state fees and taxes more than $700 million per year, according to independent experts.
Romney raised fees by roughly $500 million in his first year alone, a figure that was highest in the nation.
Romney quadrupled gun licensing fees and raised fees on first responders, real estate transactions, the blind,
golfers and many others.
Massachusetts’ state and local tax burden rose more than 7% during Romney’s administration.
Romney refused to endorse the Bush tax cuts in 2003, telling the state’s all-Democrat congressional
delegation he wouldn’t be a cheerleader for the plan.
Romney implemented three rounds of tax changes (which he referred to as “closing loopholes”) which
increased business taxes by an estimated $400 million per year.
Massachusetts’ corporate tax climate now ranks 47th in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation.
Romney proposed – then backed away from – a new internet tourism tax that would levy higher taxes on
users of sites like Orbitz and Travelocity.
Romney enrolled Massachusetts in multistate compact aiming to end moratorium on internet sales taxes.
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Romney took no position on estate tax issue in 2002 and signed 50% increase in state cremation fee, which
observers called “hidden tax on the dead.”
FOREIGN POLICY
Romney has no foreign policy experience.
Though generally described as a supporter of the president’s policy in Iraq, Romney came under fire in April
2007 for advocating “secret” withdrawal timetable similar to proposal by Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR).
In June 2007, Romney stepped up his criticism of the Bush Administration’s Iraq policy by publicly
denouncing the White House’s comparison of future troop presence in Iraq to our current presence in South
Korea.
Romney hedged on endorsing troop surge and has been criticized for not talking enough about Iraq.
During June 2006 presidential debate, Romney incorrectly claimed weapons inspectors were not allowed to
enter Iraq before the 2003 U.S. invasion.
When Romney finally endorsed the president’s troop surge proposal, he unintentionally endorsed larger surge
than was proposed by calling for extra regiment in Anbar province.
Romney said capturing Osama bin Laden would result in “very insignificant increase in safety” for America
and such effort was “not worth moving heaven and earth and spending billions of dollars” to catch one person.
After calling for economic divestment from Iran, Romney was embarrassed by revelation that the Italian
branch of Bain & Company – firm where Romney started as young consultant and served as CEO in early
‘90s – received $2.3 million contract from National Iranian Oil Company in 2004.
Bain Capital, the private equity firm that made Romney his fortune, currently owns a chemicals and paint
company called SigmaKalon that operates an office in Tehran.
Romney has made favorable comments about plan offered by Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) to split Iraq into thirds.
Romney has proposed doubling the size of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and supports “enhanced
interrogation techniques.”
Romney called Cuban president Fidel Castro a “monster” and has taken hard line against the dictator, but
mistakenly employed signature Castro slogan while speaking to largely Hispanic audience in Miami this year.
Romney praised 2005 plan by Citgo Petroleum Corp. – ultimately controlled by the Venezuelan government
and President Hugo Chavez – to provide low-income Massachusetts residents with discounted heating oil.
DOMESTIC POLICY
Campaign Finance Reform
In 2002, Romney proposed installing 10 percent tax on private donations to political campaigns.
Romney praised McCain at campaign rally shortly before 2002 election, saying he shared McCain’s “values”
Romney once proposed capping spending on elections, abolishing PACs and “tightening regulations.”
National Review’s Ramesh Ponnuru said Romney once held campaign finance positions “to the left of
McCain-Feingold.”
Immigration
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In November 2005, Romney said McCain immigration plan was “quite different” from amnesty and called plan
“reasonable.”
Romney in 2005: “I think an amnesty program is what – which is all the illegal immigrants who are here are
now citizens, and walk up and get your citizenship. What the president has proposed, and what Senator
McCain and Cornyn have proposed, are quite different than that.”
In March 2006, Romney supported “path toward citizenship” for illegal immigrants.
Romney in 2006: “Those that are here paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a
process towards application for citizenship.”
Romney in 2006: “The 11 million or so that are here are not going to be rounded up and box-carted out of
America.”
Romney’s current immigration stance is at odds with top FL Republicans like Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist and Mel
Martinez as he places emphasis on Florida in quest for GOP nomination.
Romney mischaracterized former Gov. Jeb Bush’s immigration position, comparing his own initiative to let
state police arrest illegal immigrants to a more limited, terrorism-focused program initiated by Bush in wake of
9/11 attacks.
Romney has failed to clearly articulate any plan for dealing with the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in
the U.S.
For more than a decade, Romney used services of company heavily reliant on illegal immigrant labor to
perform landscaping duties at his home.
While Romney was governor, state of Massachusetts approved government contract for New Bedford firm
raided in early 2007 for massive immigration law violations.
Environment and Energy
In 2003, Romney said, “I think the global warming debate is now pretty much over.”
As governor, Romney was open to “regional cap and trade” system to address global warming – saying “now
is the time to take action” – but later pulled Massachusetts out of regional agreement on same day he
announced he would not seek reelection.
In 2004, a Romney press event announcing new state policy to combat global warming was marred by his
refusal to admit global warming is actually happening.
As candidate for governor, Romney proposed increasing excise taxes on vehicles with high gas mileage –
otherwise known as an “SUV tax.”
Romney has been open to raising the federal gas tax in the past and has not ruled it out in the future.
In 2007 television appearance, Romney refused to rule out a carbon tax or carbon caps if elected president.
Romney teamed with Sen. Ted Kennedy to oppose renewable energy project on Cape Cod known as “Cape
Wind.”
Health Care
Romney changed positions on importing cheaper prescription drugs from Canada – first supporting it, now
opposing it.
Romney called rate of growth of prescription drug costs “outrageous” and said Medicare drug benefit passed
in 2003 was too expensive and criticized the Bush Administration for failing to enact broader reforms.
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Romney’s health insurance reform plan has been assailed by conservative health care experts as “a gourmet
recipe for runaway spending” and praised by Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.
Romney once called his state’s health insurance law a “once in a generation” achievement.
Wall Street Journal said Romney oversold virtues of healthcare plan, imposed government mandate and now
distances himself from own policy.
Plan is encountering higher costs and more bureaucracy than Romney promised, as officials warn costs must
be controlled or the program will be unsustainable.
Plan will cost millions more than anticipated while exempting 20% of uninsured from coverage mandate.
Romney health plan expanded access to abortion, required Planned Parenthood representative on state
policy panel.
BUSINESS RECORD
Romney spent most of his business career as CEO of private equity firm Bain Capital – as of June 2007 he
maintained an investor’s stake in the company.
Bain Capital has been criticized for relentless focus on bottom line at expense of workers and jobs.
Romney describes himself as a “business legend” in his campaign ads and once said of himself: “I’m basically
in the investor’s Hall of Fame.”
Bain Capital and Bain & Co. employees donated at least $171,000 to Romney’s presidential campaign in Q1
2007 and gave tens of thousands more in support of his previous political activities.
Bain Capital financed 1988 buyout with junk bonds issued by Drexel Burnham – when SEC filed charges
against the firm and CEO Michael Milken, Bain Capital maintained their business relationship; Romney later
reminisced about “the glorious days of Drexel Burnham.”
In 2004, Bain & Co. received a multi-million dollar contract from the National Iranian Oil Company.
Romney sat on board of directors of Bain portfolio company Damon Clinical Laboratories, which in 1996 was
fined over $100 million for Medicare fraud committed during Romney’s tenure.
Bain Capital owned company named Ampad that purchased an Indiana paper plant, fired its workers and
offered to bring them back at drastically reduced salary and benefits – the firings became an issue in the 1994
Senate race when workers blamed Romney for their situation and appeared in Kennedy campaign ads.
After Romney became governor, Bain Capital teamed up with Chinese appliance maker Haier Group in 2005
in effort to purchase Newton, IA-based Maytag Corp. and send jobs overseas.
At least two Bain Capital companies – Stream International and Modus Media – focused on outsourced
technical support services, expanding facilities abroad while contracting operations in the United States.
Bain Capital operated steel company called GS Industries which went bankrupt in 2001 after years of labor
strife, closing a plant in Kansas City and laying off over 700 workers.
POLITICAL ISSUES
In late 2002, Romney described himself as “a progressive-on-social-issues governor of Massachusetts.”
Romney left the state GOP weaker than when he took over as governor, with the party described as being “at
its weakest point in years.”
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During 1998 panel on urban issues, Romney addressed need for Boston business communities to work
together and claimed “Hillary Clinton is very much right, it does take a village.”
In 1994, Romney opposed the Contract with America without even reading it.
Romney has made political contributions to Democratic candidates, saying he places friendship above
politics.
Romney appeared in 2003 TV ad endorsing Democrat Rocky Anderson – who has been outspoken in calling
for President Bush’s impeachment over Iraq war – for reelection as Salt Lake City mayor; Romney featured
an Anderson testimonial in his own TV ads while running for governor in 2002.
Romney proclaimed he wasn’t a Republican during the Reagan years, saying “I was an independent during
the time of Reagan-Bush. I’m not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.”
Romney was an independent until deciding to run for the Senate in 1994.
Romney voted for Paul Tsongas in the 1992 Democratic presidential primary.
Romney has surrounded himself with policy advisers – like Gregory Mankiw, Vin Weber, Kerry Healey, Bill
Weld and more – who do not share his beliefs on key issues.
Top Romney campaign aides and surrogates have ties to several recent Washington ethics scandals.
Romney’s spending decisions as chairman of the Republican Governors Association during 2006 election
cycle “raised eyebrows” in light of his presidential aspirations.
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SOCIAL ISSUES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Abortion
Romney says he changed his mind on abortion meeting with Harvard stem cell researcher – Romney claims
the doctor said scientists “kill” embryos after 14 days, but doctor later said Romney “mischaracterized my
position.”
Months after his “conversion,” Romney stated his commitment to upholding Massachusetts’ abortion laws and
appointed pro-choice judge to state district court.
In October 2005, Romney signed bill expanding family planning services, including abortion counseling and
morning-after pill.
In December 2005, Romney “abruptly ordered his administration to reverse course … and require Catholic
hospitals to provide emergency contraception medication to rape victims.”
Romney health insurance plan expanded access to abortion, required Planned Parenthood representative on
state panel.
Romney endorsed legalization of abortion pill RU-486 access during his 1994 Senate race and backed
federal funding of abortion, saying “I think it’s important that people see me not as a pro-life candidate.”
In 1994 and 2002, Romney confirmed his support for Roe v. Wade decision and forcefully positioned himself
as pro-choice in 1994 Senate race, saying “you will not see me wavering on that.”
Romney has refused to comment on bill pending in South Carolina legislature requiring that abortion doctors
offer pregnant women option of viewing ultrasound.
Gay Rights
Romney endorsed Rep. Barney Frank’s Employment Nondiscrimination Act in 1994.
In 1994, Romney called “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy first step toward having gays and lesbians “able to serve
openly and honestly in our nation’s military” and said he would provide “more effective leadership” on gay
rights issues than Ted Kennedy.
In 2003, Washington Times reported Romney “would support a Vermont-style civil union law in
Massachusetts.”
As governor, Romney said health coverage benefits and hospital visitation rights should be provided to gay
couples.
Romney promised to make gay partnership benefits a “hallmark of my leadership as governor” and has said
he would attend gay weddings if invited.
Romney publicly opposed Boy Scouts’ ban on homosexuals in 1994 and 2002 campaigns.
In 2002, Romney backed hate crimes legislation that included sexual orientation provisions.
In 2007, Romney praised gay parent who confronted him over gay marriage issue, but in 2005 remarked to
South Carolina audience that some gay couples “are actually having children” and called it “wrong.”
Gun Control
14
In 1994 Senate race, Romney backed Brady bill and assault weapons ban, saying “I don’t line up with the
NRA” and “that’s not going to make me the hero of the NRA.”
Romney called Clinton crime bill “a big step forward.”
As governor, Romney quadrupled gun licensing fees and vowed not to “chip away” at tough gun laws
In 2004, Romney signed permanent state-level ban on assault weapons that was mirrored after federal
assault weapons ban.
In January 2006, Romney said he owned a gun – then two days later admitted he did not and the gun
belonged to his son.
Romney bragged about being member of the NRA but later revealed he didn’t join until August 2006, just
before launching his presidential campaign.
Romney recently said he’s “been a hunter pretty much all my life” but later admitted he hunted only twice in
his life, later clarifying remarks by claiming he has hunted “small varmints … more than two times.”
In 2006 press conference, Romney claimed he had been hunting “many times” after returning from quail hunt
in Georgia.
ABORTION
During His Political Career, Romney Has Been Pro-Choice, Then Not Pro-Choice, Then Pro-Choice Again,
Now Claims To Be Pro-Life
Romney Forcefully Positioned Himself As Pro-Choice In 1994 Senate Race, Saying “You Will Not See Me
Wavering On That.” “When Kennedy called him ‘multiple choice,’ Romney demanded an extra rebuttal. He
revealed that a close relative died of an illegal abortion years ago and said, ‘Since that time, my mother and my
family have been committed to the belief that we can believe as we want, but we will not force our beliefs on
others on that matter, and you will not see me wavering on that.’” (Joan Vennochi, “Romney’s Revolving World,” The Boston
Globe, 3/2/06)
In 1994, Romney Claimed He Supported Legalizing Abortion Before Roe v. Wade Decision. ROMNEY:
“I joined my mother in 1970 when she said she was in favor of legalizing abortion.” (Scot Lehigh, “Romney Labeled
A ‘Pretender’ On Abortion Rights,” The Boston Globe, 10/12/94)
Romney, During 1994 Debate: “I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have
since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that
since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it.” (Joan Vennochi, “Romney’s
Revolving World,” The Boston Globe, 3/2/06)
As Romney Considered Run For Office In Utah In 2002, He Told Local Paper He Did Not “Wish To Be
Labeled Pro-Choice.” “After Romney lost the Senate race, he decamped to Utah to run the Winter Olympics.
When it was rumored he might seek political office there, he wrote this in a letter to the editor of the Salt Lake City
Tribune: ‘I do not wish to be labeled prochoice.’” (Joan Vennochi, “Romney’s Revolving World,” The Boston Globe, 3/2/06)
Romney: “When I am asked if I am pro-choice or pro-life, I say I refuse to accept either label.” (Glen Warchol,
“This Is The Place, But Politics May Lead Romneys Elsewhere,” The Salt Lake Tribune, 2/14/99)
Announcing For Massachusetts Governor In 2002, Romney Reaffirmed His Pro-Choice Position. “[A]s
Governor of the Commonwealth, I will protect the right of a woman to choose under the law of the country and the
laws of the Commonwealth.” (Joan Vennochi, “Romney’s Revolving World,” The Boston Globe, 3/2/06)
Romney: “I will preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose, and am devoted and dedicated to
honoring my word in that regard. I will not change any provisions of Massachusetts’ pro-choice laws.” (2002
Romney-O’Brien Gubernatorial Debate, Suffolk University, Boston, MA, 10/29/02)
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“Romney … Said He Was Pro-Choice When He Ran For Governor Of Massachusetts.” (Michael Goot,
“Romney On Campaign Trail,” Foster’s Daily Democrat, 4/27/07)
In 2002, Romney Offered His Completed NARAL Questionnaire, Filled Out With “Mostly Abortion-Rights
Positions,” To The Media Even Before Returning It To NARAL. “Yesterday, Romney also aimed to head off
confusion about his stance on abortion rights by answering a Mass National Abortion and Reproductive Rights
Action League questionnaire with mostly abortion-rights positions. He offered the questionnaire to the press even
before he returned it to MassNARAL…” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Romney Pushes Education At Campaign Stop,” The Boston Globe,
4/10/02)
Romney Now Insists He Has Always Been Personally Pro-Life. “I’ve always been personally pro-life. … For
me, the role of government (on that issue) was what was uncertain.” (AnnMarie Timmins, “Romney Tells Voters: Ask Away,”
Concord Monitor, 4/4/07)
Former Adviser Mike Murphy, On Romney’s Pro-Life Position: “He’s been a pro-life Mormon faking it as a
pro-choice friendly.” (John J. Miller, “Matinee Mitt,” The National Review, 12/14/05, www.nationalreview.com, Accessed 4/30/07)
Romney Says He Changed His Mind On Abortion After 2004 Meeting On Stem Cell Research With Harvard
Doctor, Who Later Said Romney Mischaracterized Their Conversation
Romney Says He “Simply Changed His Mind” On Abortion One Day In November 2004. “On abortion,
Romney says he simply changed his mind. He recalls that it happened in a single revelatory moment, during a
Nov. 9, 2004, meeting with an embryonic-stem-cell researcher who said he didn’t believe therapeutic cloning
presented a moral issue because the embryos were destroyed at 14 days. ‘It hit me very hard that we had so
cheapened the value of human life in a Roe v. Wade environment that it was important to stand for the dignity of
human life,’ Romney says.” (Karen Tumulty, “What Romney Believes,” Time, 5/21/07)
Romney’s “Epiphany” Came After Meeting Harvard Stem Cell Researcher – Romney Claimed The Doctor
Said Scientists “Kill” Embryos After 14 Days. “Romney says he changed his mind in November 2004, when
he met with a scientist from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Romney claimed in a June 2006 interview that the
researcher had told him: ‘Look, you don’t have to think about this stem cell research as a moral issue, because
we kill the embryos after 14 days.’ Romney went on to say that both he and his chief of staff had an epiphany,
recognizing that embryonic stem cell research cheapened respect for human life.” (Scott Helman, “Romney’s Journey To
The Right,” The Boston Globe, 12/17/06)
The Doctor, Harvard’s Douglas Melton, Claimed Romney “Mischaracterized My Position.” “Governor
Romney has mischaracterized my position; we didn’t discuss killing or anything related to it. … I explained my
work to him, told him about my deeply held respect for life, and explained that my work focuses on improving the
lives of those suffering from debilitating diseases.” (Scott Helman, “Romney’s Journey To The Right,” The Boston Globe,
12/17/06)
Spokesman For Harvard Stem Cell Institute: “The words ‘kill’ and ‘killing’ are not in Dr. Melton’s
professional vocabulary, a vocabulary used to discuss finding cures for diseases in order to save lives.”
(Jennifer Rubin, “Mitt Romney’s Conversion,” The Weekly Standard, 2/5/07)
National Review’s Rich Lowry: Romney’s Conversion Story “Isn’t Very Compelling.” “[Romney’s] account
of how he came to change his view on abortion – through the issue of stem-cell research – isn’t very compelling
and he would probably be better off not talking about it at all. Fairly or not, people aren’t going to believe it.” (Rich
Lowry, “The Romney Speech,” National Review’s “The Corner” Blog, http://corner.nationalreview.com, 1/29/07)
Romney Ran For Senate And Governor “Promising To Protect Abortion Rights, But Disavowed That View
As He Began Preparations For A Presidential Run.” “Romney’s shifting positions on abortion have become a
major flashpoint in the Republican presidential campaign. He ran for Senate in 1994 and governor in 2002
promising to protect abortion rights, but disavowed that view as he began preparations for a presidential run.” (Rick
Klein and Jake Tapper, “Romney’s Pro-Life Conversion: Myth Or Reality?” ABC News, 6/14/07)
Six Months After His Abortion “Epiphany,” Romney Still Said He Was “Absolutely Committed” To
Upholding Abortion Laws In Massachusetts
Romney: “When I First Ran For Office ... I Concluded, Wrongly, That I Would Support The Law As It Was
In Place ... And So I Publicly Acknowledged My Error, And Joined With You To Promote The Sanctity Of
Human Life.” “As you know, when I first ran for office ... I concluded, wrongly, that I would support the law as it
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was in place – effectively, a pro-choice position. ... And I was wrong. And so I publicly acknowledged my error,
and joined with you to promote the sanctity of human life. And you know that my words were matched with my
actions.” (Mitt Romney, Remarks To Massachusetts Citizens For Life Mother’s Day Dinner, Agawam, MA, 5/10/07)
Romney: “I believe every speck of human life is a divine speck that comes from God and as a result of that,
that forms a great deal of my sense of responsibility to the people of this nation and the of the world.” (Fox
News’ “The Big Story,” 4/3/07)
In May 2005, Romney Still Claimed He Was “Absolutely Committed” To Maintaining Pro-Choice Laws
In Massachusetts. ROMNEY: “I am absolutely committed to my promise to maintain the status quo with regards
to laws relating to abortion and choice and so far I’ve been able to successfully do that and my personal
philosophical views about this issue is not something that I think would do anything other than distract from what I
think is a more critical agenda ...” (Mitt Romney, Press Conference, 5/27/05)
Republican Strategist Keith Appell Said Romney Airing Pro-Choice Views After Abortion “Epiphany”
Begs Question: “How Many Epiphanies Have You Had?” “If he was still taking actions that appear to reflect
his old, ‘pro-choice’ views after November 2004, it raises an important question for Republicans, Appell said. ‘It’s
part of Romney’s challenge: How many epiphanies have you had?’ he said.” (Rick Klein and Jake Tapper, “Romney’s Pro-
Life Conversion: Myth Or Reality?” ABC News, 6/14/07)
Before His Recent Conversion, Romney Had Long Pro-Choice Public Record
March 2005: Romney Considered Abortion-Rights Supporter By Pro-Life Groups – Aide Claimed His
Position Had Not Changed. “Marie Sturgis, legislative director of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, said she
hasn’t detected any change in Romney stance. The group considers Romney to be an abortion-rights supporter,
as do national antiabortion groups such as the Family Research Council. … [Romney aide Eric] Fehrnstrom said
the governor’s position has not changed on either sex education or abortion.” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Roe V. Wade
Omitted From Proclamation,” The Boston Globe, 3/25/05)
Romney In 2002 NARAL Questionnaire: “I respect and will protect a woman’s right to choose. This choice is a
deeply personal one … Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not mine and not the
government’s.” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Clarity Sought On Romney’s Abortion Stance,” The Boston Globe, 7/3/05)
Romney: “[A]s Governor of the Commonwealth, I will protect the right of a woman to choose under the law of
the country and the laws of the Commonwealth.” (Joan Vennochi, “Romney’s Revolving World,” The Boston Globe, 3/2/06)
Romney: “I do not take the position of a pro-life candidate. I’m in favor of preserving and protecting a
woman’s right to choose. … It’s an issue that’s important. I’ve established my view very clearly.” (Mitt Romney,
Gubernatorial Candidates Debate, Boston, MA, 10/29/02)
“On A Questionnaire Planned Parenthood Gave To The Gubernatorial Candidates In 2002, Romney
Answered ‘Yes’ To The Question, ‘Do You Support The Substance Of The Supreme Court Decision In Roe
V. Wade?’” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Roe V. Wade Omitted From Proclamation,” The Boston Globe, 3/25/05)
In 2002, “Romney Also Professed Support For State Funding Of Abortion Services For Low-Income
Women, [Planned Parenthood Spokesperson Erin] Rowland Said.” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Roe V. Wade Omitted From
Proclamation,” The Boston Globe, 3/25/05)
Romney in 2002: “This state does provide Medicaid funding for abortions, and that’s something which I
would keep in place.” (“Changing Statements On The Right To Choose,” The Boston Globe, 324/02)
In 1999, Romney Said “We Have Choice. Whether You Are Pro Or Against Abortion Is Irrelevant.”
ROMNEY: “We have choice. Whether you are pro or against abortion is irrelevant. The question is what is the
choice. I am in favor of the women of America having the opportunity to make the right choice by providing
support and care for those who want to take the child to full term and put it up for adoption. And providing
information and counseling to people trying to make that decision.” (Glen Warchol, “This Is The Place, But Politics May Lead
Romneys Elsewhere,” The Salt Lake Tribune, 2/14/99)
In 1994, Romney Claimed He Had Been Pro-Choice For Nearly 25 Years. “I believe that abortion should be
safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US
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Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support
it.” (Joan Vennochi, “Romney’s Revolving World,” The Boston Globe, 3/2/06)
Romney Campaign Accused Ted Kennedy Of Flip-Flopping On Abortion, Saying “Mitt Has Always
Been Consistent In His Pro-Choice Position.” “Citing a 1971 letter written by Kennedy, [Romney campaign
consultant Charles] Manning responded, ‘I think the reason they don’t trust Ted Kennedy is that he flip-
flopped on abortion. He was pro-life before Roe v. Wade and now he’s changed. Mitt has always been
consistent in his pro-choice position and that’s why the group respects him.’” (Bruce Mohl, “Mass. Antiabortion Group
Backs Romney,” The Boston Globe, 9/8/94)
Romney In 1994: “I Think It’s Important That People See Me Not As A Pro-Life Candidate.” “Republican
U.S. Senate hopeful W. Mitt Romney further distanced himself from anti-abortion forces at the start of the GOP
state convention in Springfield, saying he does not want to be labeled a ‘pro-life’ candidate. Anti-abortion
delegates are expected to caucus before today’s convention vote, but Romney said he will not meet with them.
‘I’m not seeking their endorsement,’ said Romney, who remains the clear favorite to win the party’s endorsement
today. ‘I think it’s important that people see me not as a pro-life candidate.’” (Joe Battenfeld, “Romney Assumes Role Of
Favorite,” Boston Herald, 5/14/94)
Romney Also Backed RU-486 Access During His ‘94 Race. “GOP Senate hopeful W. Mitt Romney, who has
been accused of waffling on abortion, came down more firmly in the abortion rights camp yesterday, voicing
support for the RU-486 ‘morning after’ abortion pill and a bill to ensure clinic access.” (Andrew Miga, “Romney Leans
Toward Abort Rights Camp,” Boston Herald, 5/19/94)
“[Romney] Has Won Praise From Abortion Rights Groups … For Endorsing The Legalization Of RU-
486, The Abortion-Inducing Drug Used In Europe.” (Scot Lehigh, “Romney Admits Advice Against Abortion,” The Boston
Globe, 10/20/94)
Romney, On RU-486: “I think it would be a positive thing to have women have the choice of taking the
morning-after pill … I would favor having it available.” (Andrew Miga, “Romney Leans Toward Abort Rights Camp,” Boston
Herald, 5/19/94)
In 2002, Romney Filled Out Questionnaires Supporting Abortion Rights, State Funding For Abortions And
Was Endorsed By Pro-Choice Groups
Romney Professed Support For Roe v. Wade, Public Funding Of Abortions. “On a questionnaire Planned
Parenthood gave to the gubernatorial candidates in 2002, Romney answered ‘yes’ to the question, ‘do you
support the substance of the supreme court decision in Roe v. Wade?’ Romney also professed support for state
funding of abortion services for low-income women, [spokesperson Erin] Rowland said.” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Roe V.
Wade Omitted From Proclamation,” The Boston Globe, 3/25/05)
Romney, In NARAL Questionnaire: “I respect and will protect a woman’s right to choose. This choice is a
deeply personal one … Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not mine and not the
government’s. The truth is, no candidate in the Governor’s race in either party would deny women abortion
rights. So let’s end this argument that does not exist and stop the cynical, divisive attacks made only for
political gain.” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Clarity Sought On Romney’s Abortion Stance,” The Boston Globe, 7/3/05)
Romney Bragged Of Being Pro-Choice Since Before Roe v. Wade. “I don’t think it’s NARAL’s position to say
who’s pro-choice and who’s not pro-choice … I joined my mother in 1970 when she said she was in favor of
legalizing abortion. I guess they’d say she wasn’t pro-choice because we didn’t have those items to vote for.” (Scot
Lehigh, “Romney Labeled A ‘Pretender’ On Abortion Rights,” The Boston Globe, 10/12/94)
Romney Argued He Was Most Pro-Choice Candidate In 2002 Election. “Gubernatorial candidates Shannon
O’Brien and Mitt Romney sparred … over who was the strongest abortion rights supporter by touting
endorsements from abortion rights groups and challenging each other’s records on the issue.” (John McElhenny,
“O’Brien, Romney Tout Abortion Rights Credentials,” The Associated Press, 10/3/02)
“Romney … Was Endorsed By The New York-Based Republican Pro-Choice Coalition.” (John McElhenny,
“O’Brien, Romney Tout Abortion Rights Credentials,” The Associated Press, 10/3/02)
In 2002, Romney Opposed Mandatory Counseling And Waiting Periods
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Boston Magazine, Circa 2002: Romney Opposed “Any Curtailment Of Existing Abortion Rights, Including
The Anti-Abortion Movement’s Attempts To Impose Mandatory Counseling And Waiting Periods.”
“According to [Romney’s] written response to an abortion-rights group questionnaire, Romney supports a ban on
partial-birth abortions but otherwise opposes any curtailment of existing abortion rights, including the anti-abortion
movement’s attempts to impose mandatory counseling and waiting periods.” ( Jon Keller, “Latter-Day Complaints,” Boston
Magazine, 6/02)
Romney Affirmed His Support For Roe v. Wade Decision In Both Of His Previous Campaigns
1994: Romney Said He Would “Sustain And Support” Roe v. Wade. “I believe that abortion should be safe
and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US
Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support
it.” (Joan Vennochi, “Romney’s Revolving World,” The Boston Globe, 3/2/06)
2002: Romney Confirmed His Support For Roe v. Wade Decision In Planned Parenthood Questionnaire.
“On a questionnaire Planned Parenthood gave to the gubernatorial candidates in 2002, Romney answered ‘yes’
to the question, ‘Do you support the substance of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade?’” (Scott S.
Greenberger, “Roe V. Wade Omitted From Proclamation,” The Boston Globe, 3/25/05)
Romney Has More Than Once Become “Firmer” In His Position On Abortion
1994 Romney Spokesman: “As Mitt has studied the issues with regard to choice more and more and talked with
a lot of people about them, he has become firmer in his position.” (Scot Lehigh, “Romney Takes More Heat On Abortion,” The
Boston Globe, 9/10/94)
2007 Romney Spokesman: “[T]his was clearly an issue where the governor realized he was wrong in the past
and is clearly and firmly dedicated to advocating the position of protecting life.” (Glen Johnson, “Romney’s Abortion Views
First Shaped By Personal, Then Clinical,” The Associated Press, 2/7/07)
Romney Became More Pro-Choice As 1994 Senate Race Went On, First Opposing – Then Backing –
Federal Funding Of Abortion
February 1994: Romney Claimed He Opposed Medicaid-Funded Abortions. “[Romney] also said he would
oppose spending public money for Medicaid-funded abortions. ‘I am not in favor of government funding of
abortion,’ he said. ‘I don’t think government should either promote or prevent abortion.’” (Scot Lehigh and Frank Phillips,
“GOP’s Romney Declares, Says Kennedy Out Of Date,” The Boston Globe, 2/3/94)
Later In The Campaign, Romney Changed Positions And Backed States’ Rights To Offer Medicaid-Funded
Abortions. “More recently, Romney … has also said that he would leave the decision about Medicaid abortions
to the states.” (Scot Lehigh, “Romney Takes More Heat On Abortion,” The Boston Globe, 9/10/94)
Spokesman: Romney “Would Leave To The States The Decision On Whether To Use Federal Funds
For Abortion.” “Manning said Romney wants to leave health care abortion coverage to the consumer, would
support the Freedom of Choice act as long as went no further than codifying Roe v. Wade, and would leave to
the states the decision on whether to use federal funds for abortion.” (Scot Lehigh and Frank Phillips, “Lakian, Romney
Try Finger-Pointing,” The Boston Globe, 9/9/94)
“Asked How [Ted] Kennedy And Romney Differ On The Abortion Issue, [Romney Aide Charles]
Manning Said, ‘It’s Tiny Nuances.’” (Bruce Mohl, “Mass. Antiabortion Group Backs Romney,” The Boston Globe, 9/8/94)
By September 1994, Romney Was For Abortion Coverage In Federal Health Plans, Codifying Roe v. Wade
And Federal Abortion Funding. “Romney supports a federal health care plan option that includes abortion
services, would vote for a law codifying the 1972 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion and backs federal
funding for abortions as long as states can decide if they want the money, [a spokesman] said.” (Ed Hayward, “Anti-
Abortion Group Endorses Romney Bid,” Boston Herald, 9/8/94)
Romney’s Wife Contributed To Planned Parenthood
Romney’s Wife Ann Made Contribution To Planned Parenthood In 1994, Check Written “From The
Romney’s Joint Checking Account.” “As abortion continues to define the Republican presidential primary, Mitt
Romney’s campaign said yesterday that Romney’s wife, Ann, made a $150 contribution to Planned Parenthood in
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1994, the year Romney ran for Senate as a candidate supporting abortion rights. Romney spokesman Kevin
Madden said Ann Romney does not remember whether it was a straight donation to the abortion rights group,
which supports abortion rights, or whether she wrote the check as an admission fee for an event. … Madden
confirmed the payment in response to a question from the Globe asking whether Romney or his wife had given to
the organization. He said the check was written from the Romneys’ joint checking account …” (Scott Helman,
“Romney’s Wife Made Contribution To Planned Parenthood,” The Boston Globe, 5/10/07)
ROMNEY ON ABORTION AS GOVERNOR
Romney Says That During His As Governor Tenure He Was “Consistently … Pro-Life,” But His Actions
Dispute Such A Claim
Romney Now Says He Was Effectively A Pro-Life Governor. ROMNEY: “You don’t have to take my word for it.
You can look at what I did as a governor. And as a governor I came down on the side of life.” (Fox News’ “Hannity &
Colmes,” 5/7/07)
Romney Claim: “You Can See In My Record As Governor That I Have Consistently Been Pro-Life.”
ROMNEY: “[Y]ou can look at my record as governor, and you can see in my record as governor that I have
consistently been pro-life. Every piece of legislation that dealt with life…” CNN’s JOHN ROBERTS: “Even though
you were effectively pro-choice?” ROMNEY: “You know, as governor, all the decisions I made as governor and all
the bills that came to my desk were – I came down on the side of life. So when I ran for office, I was effectively
pro- choice. I didn’t call myself pro-choice, but I said I would keep the law the way it was. But the first time as
governor that I saw a piece of legislation that dealt with life, I came down on the side of life.” (CNN’s “American
Morning,” 6/18/07)
ABC News: “Several Actions Romney Took Mere Months After” His Abortion Epiphany “Call Into
Question How Deep-Seated His Conversion Truly Was.” “Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has long
cited a November 2004 meeting with a Harvard stem-cell researcher as the moment that changed his long-held
stance of supporting abortion rights to his current ‘pro-life’ position opposing legal abortion. But several actions
Romney took mere months after that meeting call into question how deep-seated his conversion truly was.” (Rick
Klein and Jake Tapper, “Romney’s Pro-Life Conversion: Myth Or Reality?” ABC News, 6/14/07)
Romney Appointed Pro-Choice Judge Just Two Months After His Abortion “Conversion”
“Within Two Months Of His Epiphany On This Issue, Romney Appointed To A Judgeship A Democrat Who
Was An Avowed Supporter Of Abortion Rights.” (Rick Klein and Jake Tapper, “Romney’s Pro-Life Conversion: Myth Or
Reality?” ABC News, 6/14/07)
Romney Appointed Matthew Nestor To The Somerville District Court In January 2005. (Mitt Romney, Letter To
The Executive Council, 1/18/05)
Nestor Is Pro-Choice, A Position He “Stressed” During State House Campaign. “Nestor was born in Lynn,
grew up in Randolph and graduated from Wesleyan University and Boston College Law School. … In the
campaign, he has stressed his support for the death penalty and welfare reform as well as a pro-choice stance on
abortion, issues on which he and Jones agree..” (Andy Dabilis, “Jones, Nestor Lock Horns In 21st Middlesex Contest,” The Boston
Globe, 10/16/94)
Republican Strategist Keith Appell: “This would appear to be evidence that he bowed to political pressures
instead of following his supposed judicial philosophy, and that’s what the conservative base of the Republican
Party is very leery of … If you espouse a certain judicial philosophy, your appointments should reflect it.” (Rick Klein
and Jake Tapper, “Romney’s Pro-Life Conversion: Myth Or Reality?” ABC News, 6/14/07)
Romney Health Care Plan Expanded Access To Abortion, Required Planned Parenthood Representative
On State Policy Panel
October 2006: Romney Took Credit For “Officially” Launching Commonwealth Care, Calling It “Key
Component” Of RomneyCare. “The following information was released by the Massachusetts Office of the
Governor: Governor Mitt Romney today officially launched Commonwealth Care, an innovative health insurance
product that will allow thousands of uninsured Massachusetts residents to purchase private health insurance
products at affordable rates. Commonwealth Care is a key component of the state’s landmark healthcare reform
law approved by the Governor in April. ‘We are now on the road to getting everyone health insurance in
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Massachusetts,’ said Governor Romney. … ‘Today, we celebrate a great beginning.’” (“Romney Unveils First New
Healthcare Reform Product,” States News Service, 10/2/06)
Romney: “Earlier this year, I offered a plan called Commonwealth Care that opens the market to much lower-
cost insurance than is now available.” (Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, “Health-Care Reform Gets A Fair Shake,” Boston Herald, 6/21/05)
Under Commonwealth Care, State Pays For Coverage For Those Earning Less Than Federal Poverty
Level And “Subsidizes” Insurance For Those Making Up To Three Times Poverty Level. “For individuals …
earning less than the federal poverty level of $10,210, the state created a new program called Commonwealth
Care to offer essentially free coverage. The state already has signed up 63,000 of the estimated 140,000 of its
poorest residents. … For those making slightly more up to three times the federal poverty level or $30,630 for an
individual the state requires payments between $18 and $106 a month in premiums depending on their income,
but still subsidizes a portion of the cost.” (Steve LeBlanc, “Massachusetts Celebrates Anniversary Of Landmark Health Care Law,”
The Associated Press, 4/11/07)
Commonwealth Care, Which Is “Funded By The State,” Provides Access To Abortion Services.
“Commonwealth Care is run by the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority and funded by the
state. … Commonwealth Care health plans include: outpatient medical care (doctor’s visits, surgery, radiology
and lab, abortion, community health center visits) …” (MassResources Website, www.massresources.org, Accessed 2/5/07)
As Of June 1, 2007, Commonwealth Care Enrollment Had Reached 79,000 People. “Enrollment in
Commonwealth Care, the subsidized program for people with income not exceeding 300 percent of the federal
poverty level ($30,630 for an individual and $61,950 for a family of four), spiked to more than 79,000 as of June 1.
This marks an increase of 10,000, or 15 percent, over the previous month.” (Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector
Authority, Press Release, 6/4/07)
Section 3 Of The Health Care Reform Bill Romney Signed In To Law Requires That One Member Of
MassHealth Payment Policy Board Must Be Appointed By Planned Parenthood Of Massachusetts. From
Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006: “SECTION 3. Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting
after section 16I the following 6 sections: . . . Section 16M. (a) There shall be a MassHealth payment policy
advisory board. The board shall consist of the secretary of health and human services or his designee, who shall
serve as chair, the commissioner of health care financing and policy, and 12 other members: … 1 member
appointed by Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts …” (Massachusetts General Court Website, www.mass.gov,
Accessed 2/5/07)
In June 2007, Romney Denied His Bill Included The Planned Parenthood Mandate. QUESTION: “I
noticed some of the conservative groups back in Massachusetts, they complain about there’s a Planned
Parenthood rep mandate to be on the planning board for the health care plan. Is that something you just had
to deal with in negotiating with the legislature?” ROMNEY: “It’s certainly not something that was in my bill.”
(Eric Krol, “Full Text Of Romney Interview,” [Arlington Heights, IL] Daily Herald, 6/17/07)
Romney Signed Bill Expanding Family Planning, Morning-After Pill Distribution In Massachusetts
In October 2005, Romney Signed Bill Expanding Family Planning Services, Including Abortion Counseling
And Morning-After Pill. “Governor Mitt Romney has signed a bill that could expand the number of people who
get family-planning services, including the morning-after pill, confusing some abortion and contraception foes who
had been heartened by his earlier veto of an emergency contraception bill. … The services include the distribution
of condoms, abortion counseling, and the distribution of emergency contraception, or morning after pills, by
prescription …” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Romney Signs Bill On Family Planning,” The Boston Globe, 10/15/05)
Law Called For State To Seek Federal Waiver To Expand Number Of Low-Income Residents Eligible
For Family Planning Services By Estimated 88,000 People. “The new law calls for the state to seek a
federal waiver to expand the number of low-income people eligible for comprehensive family-planning
services statewide. If the federal government approves the waiver, an estimated 88,000 more people would
be eligible, said Richard Powers, spokesman for the state’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services.”
(Stephanie Ebbert, “Romney Signs Bill On Family Planning,” The Boston Globe, 10/15/05)
Romney Had Previously Argued That Morning-After Pills “Cause Abortions.” “In July, Romney vetoed a bill
to expand the use of the morning-after pills by requiring hospitals to offer them to rape victims and requiring
pharmacists to dispense them without prescriptions. At the time, the governor embraced opponents’ argument
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that the pills not only prevent pregnancies, but cause abortions. The Legislature overrode the veto in September.”
(Stephanie Ebbert, “Romney Signs Bill On Family Planning,” The Boston Globe, 10/15/05)
In July 2005 Boston Globe Op-Ed, Romney Argued That Morning-After Pill Plan B Would “Terminate
Life After Conception.” “Yesterday I vetoed a bill that the Legislature forwarded to my desk. Though
described by its sponsors as a measure relating to contraception, there is more to it than that. The bill does
not involve only the prevention of conception: The drug it authorizes [Plan B emergency contraception] would
also terminate life after conception.” (Mitt Romney, “Why I Vetoed Contraception Bill,” The Boston Globe, 7/26/05)
Romney Communications Director Eric Fehrnstrom “Suggested That The Decision Was Not
Controversial.” “The administration did not publicize the waiver request. Yesterday, the governor’s
communications director, Eric Fehrnstrom, suggested that the decision was not controversial.” (Stephanie Ebbert,
“Romney Signs Bill On Family Planning,” The Boston Globe, 10/15/05)
Fehrnstrom: “The Commonwealth already provides these health services to low-income women, and we
have no objection to the Legislature’s directive that we seek a waiver to expand the eligible population to
women with a slightly higher income …” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Romney Signs Bill On Family Planning,” The Boston Globe,
10/15/05)
“[R]omney’s Move Has Left Some Conservatives Across The Country Confused …” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Romney
Signs Bill On Family Planning,” The Boston Globe, 10/15/05)
Joseph M. Scheidler, Pro-Life Action League: “The guy’s not coming around … If he’s trying to win prolife
folks, he won’t get the hardcore. … If he were consistent, he would have vetoed that …” (Stephanie Ebbert,
“Romney Signs Bill On Family Planning,” The Boston Globe, 10/15/05)
As Governor, Romney Ordered Catholic Hospitals To Distribute Emergency Contraception
In December 2005, Romney “Abruptly Ordered His Administration To Reverse Course … And Require
Catholic Hospitals To Provide Emergency Contraception To Rape Victims.” “Gov. Mitt Romney abruptly
ordered his administration to reverse course yesterday and require Catholic hospitals to provide emergency
contraception medication to rape victims. In a turnaround that foes derided as politically motivated, Romney
directed his Department of Public Health to scrap rules that exempted the Catholic institutions from a new law
governing the medicine.” (Kimberly Atkins, “Romney Flip Nixes Hospital Exception On Post-Rape Drug,” Boston Herald, 12/9/05)
Romney: “It’s the right thing for hospitals to provide information and access to emergency contraception to
anyone who is a victim of rape.” (Dave Wedge, “Merry Christy,” Boston Herald, 12/11/05)
Romney: “My personal view in my heart of hearts is that people who are subject to rape should have the
option of having emergency contraceptives or emergency contraceptive information …” (Kimberly Atkins, “Romney
Flip Nixes Hospital Exception On Post-Rape Drug,” Boston Herald, 12/9/05)
Romney Had Initially Supported State Ruling Allowing Hospitals To Opt Out On Moral Grounds. “The
decision overturns a ruling made public this week by the state Department of Public Health that privately run
hospitals could opt out of the requirement if they objected on moral or religious grounds. Romney had initially
supported that interpretation…” (Scott Helman, “Romney Says No Hospitals Are Exempt From Pill Law,” The Boston Globe, 12/9/05)
Boston Herald Called It “An Olympic-Caliber Double Flip-Flop.” “Flip, flop, flip. Yes, Gov. Mitt Romney has
now executed an Olympic-caliber double flip-flop with a gold medal-performance twist-and-a-half on the issue of
emergency contraception. … It’s no secret Mitt Romney would like to be president. But who would have thought
he’d take John Kerry as his campaign role model?” (Editorial, “Politics On Display The Morning-After,” Boston Herald, 12/9/05)
ROMNEY ON ABORTION IN 2007
In Early 2007, Romney Gave South Carolina Audiences Conflicting Answers On His Abortion Position
Romney In South Carolina, January 29: “Over the last multiple years, as you know, I have been effectively pro-
choice … I never called myself that as a label but I was effectively pro-choice and that followed a personal
experience in my extended family that led to that conclusion.” (Bruce Smith, “Romney Campaigns In SC With Sen. DeMint,”
The Associated Press, 1/30/07)
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Romney In South Carolina, February 8: “I am firmly pro-life … I was always for life.” (Jim Davenport, “Romney Affirms
Abortion Opposition During Stop In SC,” The Associated Press, 2/8/07)
Romney Refused To Comment On South Carolina Legislation That Would Require Pregnant Women To
Be Offered View Of Ultrasound Image Of Fetus Before Choosing An Abortion
Romney “Refused To Comment” On Bill Pending In South Carolina Legislature Requiring That Abortion
Doctors Offer Women Option Of Viewing Ultrasound. “In a campaign stop in South Carolina at the end of last
week, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney refused to comment on a bill pending in the South Carolina
legislature that is a new trend in reducing abortions. The measure would require abortion practitioners to allow
women a chance to see an ultrasound. … It follows on research showing that a high number of abortion-minded
women who see ultrasounds at pregnancy centers decide to keep their baby.” (Steven Ertelt, “Mitt Romney Won’t
Comment On South Carolina Abortion-Ultrasound Bill,” Life News, 4/17/07)
“Romney Appeared To Sidestep The Question” When Asked If He Supported The Measure. “The
legislation enjoys the support of other top GOP presidential candidates, but Romney appeared to sidestep the
question when asked whether he backed it. ‘I would like to see each state be able to make its own law with
regard to abortion,’ Romney told AP when asked a question about his stance on it. ‘I think the Roe v. Wade
one-size-fits-all approach is wrong.’” (Steven Ertelt, “Mitt Romney Won’t Comment On South Carolina Abortion-Ultrasound Bill,”
Life News, 4/17/07)
“[Romney] Declined Friday To Weigh In … [T]he Former Massachusetts Governor Said States Should
Make Their Own Abortion Laws.” (Meg Kinnard, “Romney Sidesteps Ultrasound Viewing Requirement For Abortion,” The
Associated Press, 4/13/07)
Huckabee, McCain, Brownback All Support Ultrasound Bill. “Other candidates were more specific on the
measure in interviews with the newspaper. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who has signed pro-life bills
into law as governor in his state, says he backs the idea. … Arizona Sen. John McCain says he, too, favors the
abortion-ultrasound requirement. … Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback said he supported the bill as well.” (Steven Ertelt,
“Mitt Romney Won’t Comment On South Carolina Abortion-Ultrasound Bill,” Life News, 4/17/07)
Pro-Life Groups, Pro-Choice Groups And Romney’s Own Advisors Have Been Confused About His
Abortion Stance
Romney Advisor James Bopp, Circa 2007: “I’m Really Not Sure Where [Abortion] Will Ultimately Fit In His
Agenda. He’s Still On A Journey.” “Will any of these candidates really advocate to end abortion, or are they just
paying lip service on an important issue to the base? … ‘I don’t know yet about Romney,’ [Romney advisory
James] Bopp admits. ‘I’m not really sure where [abortion] will ultimately fit in his agenda. He’s still on a journey.’”
(Jonathan Martin, “Abortion Wars (Cont.),” Politico, www.politico.com, 2/21/07)
In 2005, Confusion Reigned Over Romney’s Abortion Beliefs. “Advocates on both sides of the abortion
debate say they are confused over Governor Mitt Romney’s position on abortion and are seeking to understand
the meaning of recent comments he has made, in light of the positions he outlined during the 2002 gubernatorial
campaign.” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Clarity Sought On Romney’s Abortion Stance,” The Boston Globe, 7/3/05)
2002: Romney Declined To Fill Out Massachusetts Citizens For Life’s Questionnaire. “[Massachusetts
Citizens for Life’s Marie Sturgis said] ‘We honestly don’t know where he stands on this issue.’ … When he ran for
governor in 2002, she said, her group considered him an abortion rights supporter; Romney declined to complete
the Citizens for Life questionnaire.” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Clarity Sought On Romney’s Abortion Stance,” The Boston Globe, 7/3/05)
New York Sun’s Ryan Sager, On Romney And Massachusetts Citizens For Life: “[D]uring his 2002
campaign for governor, Mr. Romney ran away from the group’s endorsement at a televised debate like a dog
from a vacuum cleaner.” (Ryan Sager, “Political Video Of The Day: Romney And Mass. Citizens For Life,” New York Sun’s Politics
Blog, 5/9/07)
In 2005, Massachusetts Citizens For Life Still Considered Romney To Be An Abortion Rights Supporter.
“[Sturgis] said she hasn’t detected any change in Romney’s stance. The group considers Romney to be an
abortion-rights supporter, as do national antiabortion groups such as the Family Research Council.” (Scott S.
Greenberger, “Roe V. Wade Omitted From Proclamation,” The Boston Globe, 3/25/05)
Romney In Early 2002: Don’t Call Me Pro-Choice Or Pro-Life. His position on abortion is already an issue
because Romney insists on not being labeled either pro-life or pro-choice. ‘People have to look at my views piece
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by piece, and they can decide what to call me,’ he said. … ‘I do not favor the choice of abortion,’ he said. ‘I do,
however, if I am elected governor, believe that is it my responsibility to protect the right of a woman to make that
choice herself.’” (Lisa Riley Roche, “At Peace In Massachusetts,” Deseret News, 4/28/02)
Romney In Late 2002: “I Do Not Take The Position Of A Pro-Life Candidate.” (David Guarino, “Last Brawl,”
Boston Herald, 10/30/02)
In Early 2005, Romney Refused To Say Where He Stood On Abortion In Any Other Context Than
Governor. “Asked in an interview with Washington Post reporters in February 2005 whether he favored making
abortion illegal, he replied: ‘I’m telling you exactly what I will do as governor of Massachusetts, but I’m not going to
tell you what I’d do as mayor of Boston or a congressman or any of those positions.’” (Dan Balz and Shailagh Murray,
“Mass. Governor’s Rightward Shift Raises Questions,” The Washington Post, 12/21/06)
Romney Falsely Claimed President Bush Was Pro-Choice Before He Became Pro-Life
Romney Recently Claimed President George W. Bush “Was Pro-Choice Before He Became Pro-Life.”
“Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said this week that President Bush ‘was pro-choice before he became
pro-life,’ an assertion the Romney campaign now acknowledges was inaccurate. The remark was based on a
magazine article Romney had read, his campaign said.” (Mike Allen, “Romney Misstates Past Bush View On Abortion,” The
Politico, www.politico.com, 2/25/07)
White House Responded That President Bush Has Always Been Pro-Life. “The White House said Bush has
always been ‘pro-life.’ During the presidential race of 2000, Dan Bartlett – then a spokesman for the Bush
campaign, now the White House counselor – was asked about a quotation from a Texas newspaper in 1978
suggesting Bush’s position had been unclear. Bartlett told The Washington Post: ‘The governor was pro-life
before he ran for Congress, during his run for Congress and after he ran for Congress.’ A White House official
said Friday that Bartlett’s quote is still accurate today.” (Mike Allen, “Romney Misstates Past Bush View On Abortion,” The
Politico, www.politico.com, 2/25/07)
Romney Campaign Said Romney’s Remark Was “Off The Cuff” And Based On One Op-Ed Column.
“Romney’s campaign said the comment was off the cuff and was based on a National Review article, which
remained on Romney’s Web site Saturday morning, asserting that “George W. Bush ran as a pro-choice politician
in his 1978 congressional campaign.” (Mike Allen, “Romney Misstates Past Bush View On Abortion,” The Politico, www.politico.com,
2/25/07)
STEM CELL RESEARCH
Romney Was Once Emphatically In Favor Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research
June 2002: Romney “Spoke Extensively” About His Support For Embryonic Stem Cell Research At
Bioethics Forum. “Speaking at a bioethics forum, GOP gubernatorial hopeful Mitt Romney yesterday endorsed
embryonic stem cell research … [Romney] endorsed embryonic stem cell research, saying the controversial
science might one day help treat his wife’s multiple sclerosis in addition to numerous other degenerative
diseases. … Romney spoke extensively about his position on stem cell research, which also involves embryo
destruction.” (Raja Mishra, “Romney Endorses Stem Cell Research, Is Silent On Cloning,” The Boston Globe, 6/14/02)
Romney Promised To “Work And Fight For Stem Cell Research,” Criticized President Bush’s 2001
Policy. “‘I am in favor of stem cell research. I will work and fight for stem cell research,’ [Romney] said,
adding, ‘I’d be happy to talk to [President Bush] about this, though I don’t know if I could budge him an inch.’
Last summer, Bush set tight limits on taxpayer-funded embryonic stem cell research…” (Raja Mishra, “Romney
Endorses Stem Cell Research, Is Silent On Cloning,” The Boston Globe, 6/14/02)
In 2004, Romney Reiterated Support At Biotech Conference, Saying He Didn’t Want “Any Impediment To
Doing Research In Massachusetts.” “In his remarks, Mr. Romney also said he supported stem cell research …
‘We don’t want there to be any impediment to doing research in Massachusetts, any impediment that would take
you to another state,’ Mr. Romney said.” (Lisa Eckelbecker, “Leaders Deride Drug Imports,” Telegram & Gazette [Worcester, MA],
4/30/04)
As Of February 2005, Romney Took A “More Liberal Position Than The President’s” On Stem Cell
Research. “Under a Bush administration policy announced Aug. 9, 2001, researchers can only use federal
funding on batches of embryonic stem cells created before that date. Romney said that scientists should be able
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to work with those embryonic stem cells, but also with embryonic stem cells created after that date, as long as
they have been made from embryos generated for fertility clinics that otherwise would have been discarded. This
represents a more liberal position than the president’s.” (Gareth Cook, “Stem Cell Research Holds Promise Against Many
Illnesses,” The Boston Globe, 2/11/05)
Romney Later “Stunned” Scientists And Observers By Trying To Criminalize Form Of Embryonic Stem
Cell Research That Creates Embryos For Scientific Purposes
In 2005, Romney Vetoed Legislation That Allowed Research On Eggs Created Via “Somatic Cell Nuclear
Transfer.” “Romney vetoed the legislation, in part, because it allowed somatic cell nuclear transfer, or
“therapeutic cloning” -- using human eggs specifically for research. … ‘It is wrong to allow science to take an
assembly line approach to the production of human embryos, the creation of which will be rooted in
experimentation and destruction,’ Romney said in a May 27, 2005, letter to lawmakers explaining his veto.” (Glen
Johnson, “Healey Splits With Romney And Favors Stem Cell Research,” The Associated Press, 2/27/06)
“Romney’s Opposition Stunned Scientists, Lawmakers And Observers…” “At a campaign appearance
at Brandeis University in June 2002, Romney strongly endorsed stem cell research. At that event and in
several instances since, he declined to offer an opinion on embryo cloning … But on Feb. 10, 2005 …
Romney came out strongly against the cloning technique … He vowed to press for legislation to criminalize
the work. Romney’s opposition stunned scientists, lawmakers, and observers because of his past statements
endorsing, at least in general terms, embryonic stem cell research.” (Scott Helman, “Romney’s Journey To The Right,”
The Boston Globe, 12/17/06)
Romney Has Actively Worked To Curtail And Even Outlaw Embryonic Stem Cell Research In
Massachusetts. “[L]ast year, [Romney] said that human embryos should never be created for the purpose of
scientific research. … Last year, Massachusetts lawmakers supported a bill that would allow scientists to use
human embryos created for research, overriding Romney’s veto. In August, the spat between Romney and
lawmakers resurfaced when Romney-appointed regulators imposed new guidelines for stem cell research that
critics deemed more restrictive than the state’s stem cell law.” (Sarah Liebowitz, “Romney Reaching To Right,” Concord
Monitor, 12/10/06)
Six Months After His November 2004 Conversion On Life Issues, Romney Endorsed Federal Legislation
That Provided Funding For Research On Surplus Embryos From In Vitro Fertilization Procedures
In May 2005 – Six Months After His Supposed “Conversion” On Life Issues – Romney Stated His Support
For Federal Bill That Provided Funding For Research On Surplus Embryos From Fertility Clinics. “In
response to a question then, Mr. Romney drew a distinction between the House bill and the state measure. ‘The
United States House of Representatives voted for a bill that was identical to what I proposed,’ Mr. Romney said.
‘They voted to provide for surplus embryos from in vitro fertilization processes being used for research and
experimentation. That’s what I said I support.’” (Michael Luo, “Romney Faces Another ‘Flip-Flop’ Question: Has He Changed On
Stem Cells?” The New York Times, 6/15/07)
Romney Called Congressional Bill “Identical To What I Proposed … What The U.S. House Of
Representatives Is Doing Is Exactly What Gov. Romney Proposed.” “‘The United States House of
Representatives voted for a bill that was identical to what I proposed … They voted to provide for surplus
embryos from in vitro fertilization processes to be used for research and experimentation. That’s what I have said
I support. That’s what they have just supported. … What is done in Washington is consistent with what I have said
I support which is using surplus embryos from fertilization processes. … So it would be helpful if people pointed
out that in fact what the U.S. House of Representatives is doing is exactly what Gov. Romney proposed.” (Rick
Klein and Jake Tapper, “Romney’s Pro-Life Conversion: Myth Or Reality?” ABCNews.com, 6/14/07)
“Scarcely Two Years Later, Former Gov. Romney Now Said He Would Oppose That House Bill.” (Rick Klein
and Jake Tapper, “Romney’s Pro-Life Conversion: Myth Or Reality?” ABCNews.com, 6/14/07)
Romney Currently Opposes Government Funding For Embryos From In Vitro Fertilization Processes
But Supports Allowing The Research To Go Forward. “[I]n a little-noticed moment at the first Republican
presidential debate, last month in California, Mr. Romney was asked whether he would encourage broader federal
financing. When he did not directly answer that question, he was pressed on whether scientists should be able to
do research at all on embryos that fertility clinics would otherwise discard anyway. Mr. Romney said he would be
‘happy to allow that,’ then stopped himself and said: ‘I shouldn’t say happy. It’s fine for that to be allowed, to be
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legal. I won’t use our government funds for that.’” (Michael Luo, “Romney Faces Another ‘Flip-Flop’ Question: Has He Changed
On Stem Cells?” The New York Times, 6/15/07)
Romney Said He Had No Ethical Problem With Using Surplus Embryos From Fertility Procedures For
Stem Cell Research
In May 2005, Romney Said He Had No Ethical Problem With Surplus IVF Embryos Being Used For
“Research And Experimentation.” FOX’s CHRIS WALLACE: “[S]pecifically, you don’t see, as I understand it,
the use of these leftover embryos in fertility clinics as destroying life?” ROMNEY: “That’s right. I believe that when
a couple gets together and decides that they want to bring a child into the Earth, and they go to a fertility clinic to
do so, and if they’re going to be through that process a leftover embryo or two, that they should be able to decide
whether to preserve that embryo for future use or to destroy it; to have it put up for adoption or potentially to be
used for research and experimentation, hopefully leading to the cure of disease. And so for me, that’s where the
line is drawn. Those surplus embryos from fertility clinics can be used for research.” (Fox’s “Fox News Sunday,” 5/22/05)
Romney: [I] can’t imagine politics or ambition for anyone would stand in the way with doing what they think is
right for the family of humankind on an issue like this.” (Fox’s “Fox News Sunday,” 5/22/05)
Romney Has Been Criticized By Conservatives For Trying To Have It Both Ways On Stem Cell Issue
2007: Romney Campaign Told Conservative Blog Romney Supports Research Methods “That Do Not
Destroy The Embryo.” “Here’s what [Romney’s] press office told me as to what his official position is: ‘Governor
Romney supports using adult stem cells and other alternative methods that do not destroy the embryo. Governor
Romney supports stem cell research but opposes scientifically creating life “cloning” for medical research.’” (David
Brody, “Romney on Stem Cells,” The Brody File Blog, www.cbn.com, 1/16/07)
Claim: Romney Has Opposed “Embryo Destructive Research.” “Governor Romney supports adult stem
cell research but has opposed efforts to advance embryo destructive research in Massachusetts and he has
not supported public funding for embryo destructive research.” (Romney For President Exploratory Committee, Press
Release, 2/5/07)
But Romney Supports Research On Surplus Human Embryos From In-Vitro Fertilization, Which Destroys
The Embryo. “Stem cell research does not require the cloning of human embryos. Some stem cells today are
obtained from surplus embryos from in-vitro fertilization. I support that research, provided that those embryos are
obtained after a rigorous parental consent process that includes adoption as an alternative.” (Mitt Romney, Op-Ed,
“The Problem With The Stem Cell Bill,” The Boston Globe, 3/6/05)
Group Founded By Phyllis Schlafly Noted Romney’s “Mixed Signals” On Stem Cell Research.
“Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is being touted by some as a potential 2008 presidential candidate. Again,
we have a politician who has recently sent mixed signals as to where he stands on the life issues. He likes to say
he is ‘pro-life.’ However, while he says he opposes the cloning of human embryos, he supports using embryos
generated in IVF clinics for experimentation – a distinction without a difference. An embryo is an embryo, period!”
(Republican National Coalition For Life, “RNC For Life Report,” Spring 2006)
Republican National Coalition For Life: “Mitt Romney’s Position On Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is Not
Pro-Life, And No One Should Say That It Is.” (Republican National Coalition For Life’s “Fax Notes,” 2/3/07)
Boston Globe Noted Romney’s Tendency To Want It Both Ways On Stem Cell Issue. “Governor Mitt
Romney’s national fund-raising operation sent a mass mailing to Republican Party leaders and elected officials in
17 states this month … The letter … highlights his opposition to the ‘human cloning’ provision of the stem cell bill
the Legislature recently approved, without noting that Romney himself supports research on surplus embryos
from fertility clinics, which anti abortion groups oppose.” (Scott Greenberger, “Committee Promotes Romney Record,” The
Boston Globe, 6/17/05)
Romney Flip-Flopped On Importance Of Stem Cell Research To Massachusetts Biotech Industry
In 2002, Romney Spokesman Claimed Biotech Industry Depended On Stem Cell Research. “‘Mitt Romney
supports stem cell research,’ said Eric Fehrnstrom, the governor-elect’s spokesman. ‘He believes the growth of
our biotech industry at least partially depends on this type of research…’” (Jeffrey Krasner, “Bill Aims To Foster Stem Cell
Work,” The Boston Globe, 12/4/02)
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In 2005, Romney Claimed Biotech Industry Did Not Depend On Stem Cell Research. “Some fear that,
without cloning, Massachusetts biotech could fall behind other states. That is not the case. Only 3 percent of the
biotech companies nationwide are doing stem cell research of any kind. The figure is even smaller in
Massachusetts.” (Mitt Romney, Op-Ed, “The Problem With The Stem Cell Bill,” The Boston Globe, 3/6/05)
GAY RIGHTS
Romney Is Strong Opponent Of Gay Marriage, Claims States Should Have Ultimate Say
Romney “Favors States Being Able To Define Marriage As Being Between A Man And A Woman.” “He later
told reporters that, while he favors states being able to define marriage as being between a man and a woman, he
wouldn’t tell them what to do when it comes to domestic partner benefits. ‘I don’t have a problem with gay people
being able to visit one another in the hospital,’ he said.” (Jim Davenport, “Romney Affirms Abortion Opposition During Stop In
SC,” The Associated Press, 2/8/07)
In 2006, Romney Called McCain “Disingenuous” For Saying Gay Marriage Should Be Decided By The
States. “McCain … on Sunday told ABC News: ‘I believe that the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the
states.’ … ‘That’s his position, and in my opinion, it’s disingenuous,’ [Romney] said. ‘Look, if somebody says
they’re in favor of gay marriage, I respect that view. If someone says – like I do – that I oppose same–sex
marriage, I respect that view. But those who try and pretend to have it both ways, I find it to be disingenuous.’” (Bill
Sammon, “Romney: ‘I’m A Conservative Republican,’” The Examiner, 11/21/06)
In 2007, Three Of Romney’s Own Massachusetts Supporters Voted Against Sending Gay Marriage Ban To
Voters In Form Of Constitutional Amendment
Three Massachusetts State House Republicans Who Have Endorsed Romney Voted Against Sending Gay
Marriage Ban To Voters. Romney supporters and State House Reps. Bradley Jones, Bradford Hill and Richard
Ross voted against sending gay marriage ban to Massachusetts voters. (Romney For President, “Massachusetts Leaders
Endorse Governor Mitt Romney,” Press Release, www.mittromney.com, 2/15/07)
Romney Supporter Rep. Richard Ross Switched Vote From Supporting Gay Marriage Ban In January
2007 To Opposing It In June. (“2nd Roll Call Vote On Ballot Question Proposing Gay Marriage Ban,” The Associated Press,
1/2/07)
Former Gov. Bill Weld, Who Has Endorsed Romney, Lobbied Against Sending Gay Marriage Ban To
Voters
Former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld Endorsed Romney For President In January 2007, Serves As
Campaign’s New York State Co-Chair. “Former Massachusetts governor William F. Weld has emerged as a
major backer of Mitt Romney, despite a long friendship with Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former New York City mayor
who is a potential Romney rival in the race for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. … Weld is
cochairman of Romney’s campaign in New York state.” (Brian C. Mooney, “Weld Backs Romney For Oval Office,” The Boston
Globe, 1/9/07)
Weld Participated In Romney’s Debate Prep For June 5 New Hampshire Debate, Is Pictured In
Wolfeboro With Romney And Top Advisors. (Romney For President Website, http://fivebrothers.mittromney.com, 6/5/07)
Weld Strongly Opposed Putting Gay Marriage Ban On Ballot, Calling It A “Distraction.” “Former Gov.
William F. Weld … said Tuesday he hoped legislators would vote this week to kill a proposed constitutional
amendment banning gay marriage in Massachusetts. Weld, in the Statehouse on behalf of Lehman Brothers, an
investment banking firm, said: ‘I hope it doesn’t go on the ballot.’ He said if a constitutional convention votes
Thursday to allow the measure on the November 2008 ballot, ‘I think it’s going to be a distraction for the next 18
months.’ Weld was an avid supporter of gay rights while serving as governor from 1991 to 1997, and he later
attended the wedding of his former chief of staff, Kevin Smith, who is gay.” (“Former Governor Weld Says He Hopes Gay
Marriage Ban Defeated,” The Associated Press, 6/12/07)
Weld Lobbied GOP State Legislator Against Amendment Allowing Voters To Decide On Gay Marriage In
State. “With the Constitutional Convention just hours away, a proposal to allow voters to decide the future of
same-sex marriage in Massachusetts was hanging by a thread in the Legislature last night. … Some unexpected
movement could come in the Senate, where an overwhelming majority, 32 of 40 members, voted last year to
block the amendment from the ballot. Two more senators, Democrat Michael Morrissey of Quincy and Republican
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Robert Hedlund of Weymouth, are now saying they are reconsidering and may oppose sending the amendment
to the voters. … Some of the state’s major political figures have joined with Patrick, DiMasi, and Murray. US
Senator Edward M. Kennedy has placed calls to Democratic legislators. Former governor William F. Weld, a
Republican who was an early advocate of gay rights, also reached out to at least one GOP lawmaker, placing a
call to Hedlund.” (Frank Phillips, “Tight Vote Looms On Same-Sex Marriage Lobbying Intense On Both Sides,” The Boston Globe,
6/14/07)
Weld, Who Supports Gay Marriage, Appointed Judge Who Wrote Opinion Legalizing Gay Marriage In State
Weld Appointed Judge Who Wrote Opinion Legalizing Gay Marriage In Massachusetts, Said He Was
“Proud And Happy” With Her Stand On Gay Marriage. “Weld said he was ‘proud and happy’ Supreme Judicial
Court Chief Justice Margaret Marshall, whom he appointed, took a stand backing gay marriage so ‘we could all be
here today.’” (Ann E. Donlan, “GOP: Gay Old Party,” Boston Herald, 6/23/04)
Weld “Supports Abortion Rights And Gay Marriage.” (Michael Gormley, “Weld Drops Out Of New York Governor’s
Race,” The Associated Press, 6/6/06)
Weld Endorsed Goodridge Decision, Later Officiated At Gay Marriage. “In 2003, shortly after the state
Supreme Judicial Court delivered the ruling that led to the practice of gay marriage here, Weld endorsed the
decision, and later officiated at a same-sex marriage.” (Statehouse News Service, 6/12/07)
Romney Has Changed Positions On Several Gay Rights Measures, Including Gays In The Military And
Employment Nondiscrimination Legislation
In 1994, Romney Claimed “You Will Not Have Me Taking Different Positions In Different Places.” “Outlining
[‘94 GOP Senate candidate John] Lakian’s shifting positions [on gay rights] on Wednesday, Romney essentially
accused his rival of talking out of both sides of his mouth. ‘You will hear me say the same thing again and again
and again and you will not have me taking different positions in different places,’ he said.” (Scot Lehigh and Frank
Phillips, “Lakian, Romney Try Finger-Pointing,” The Boston Globe, 9/9/94)
That Year, Romney Endorsed Rep. Barney Frank’s Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA). “When he
challenged Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., in 1994, Romney endorsed Rep. Barney Frank’s, D-Mass., Employee
Non-Discrimination Act which would have prohibited employers from making decisions about hiring, firing,
promoting, or compensation based on sexual orientation.” (Teddy Davis, “Romney Draws Fire For Shift On Gay Rights,” ABC
News’ Political Radar Blog, 4/23/07)
Romney: “I am aware of the legislation that Barney Frank proposed and do support that and would vote in
favor of that.” (Chris Muther, “Romney: I’ll Be Better Than Ted For Gay Rights,” Bay Windows, 8/25/94)
Romney Now Opposes ENDA. “My experience over the past several years as governor has convinced me that
ENDA would be an overly broad law that would open a litigation floodgate and unfairly penalize employers at the
hands of activist judges.” (“A Primary Factor,” National Review Online, 12/14/06)
April 2007: Romney Is Criticized By Log Cabin Republicans After Reversing Prior Support For ENDA. “Mitt
Romney’s shifting stance on gay rights drew fire Monday from the president of the Log Cabin Republicans in
advance of Tuesday’s re-introduction of the Employee Non-Discrimination Act -- gay rights legislation whose main
provisions Romney once supported but no longer does. ‘Gov. Romney has some explaining to do about why he
suddenly and dramatically changed his position on this issue,’ Patrick Sammon, the president of the Log Cabin
Republicans, tells ABC News. ‘It really raises the question about whether you can trust Mitt Romney. Whether the
issue is guns, gays, abortion, or other issues, his views seem to be constantly shifting and changing.’” (Teddy Davis,
“Romney Draws Fire For Shift On Gay Rights,” ABC News’ Political Radar Blog, 4/23/07)
In 1994, Romney Called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy First Step Toward Having Gays And Lesbians “Able
To Serve Openly And Honestly In Our Nation’s Military.” “One issue I want to clarify concerns President
Clinton’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue’ military policy. I believe that the Clinton compromise was a step in the
right direction. I am also convinced that it is the first in a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and
lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation’s military.” (Mitt Romney, Letter To Log Cabin Republicans Of
Massachusetts, 10/6/94)
Romney Now Opposes Gays Serving Openly In The Military. “[Romney] called President Bill Clinton’s ‘don’t
ask, don’t tell’ military policy ‘the first of a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able
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to serve openly and honestly in our nation’s military.’ Romney has since backed away … from his previously
expansive position on gay people in the military. On that issue, he told National Review Online, he now defers to
military leaders.” (Dan Balz and Shailagh Murray, “Mass. Governor’s Rightward Shift Raises Questions,” The Washington Post, 12/21/06)
Romney Says He Would “Trust The Counsel Of Those In Uniform.” “As for military policy and the ‘don’t ask,
don’t tell’ policy, I trust the counsel of those in uniform who have set these policies over a dozen years ago. I
agree with President Bush’s decision to maintain this policy and I would do the same.” (“A Primary Factor,” National
Review Online, 12/14/06)
Romney Has Expressed Past Support For Civil Union-Like Benefits For Gay Couples
In 2005, Log Cabin Republicans Asked: “What Happened To The Mitt Romney Who Ran For Governor
Supporting … Civil Union-Like Benefits For Gay Couples?” “The Log Cabin Republicans, a national gay
advocacy group, said the Romney who preached tolerance during the 2002 gubernatorial campaign is fading from
view. ‘What happened to the Mitt Romney who ran for governor supporting employment non-discrimination, hate
crimes legislation, domestic partnerships, and civil union-like benefits for gay couples?’ said Log Cabin
Massachusetts president Ken Sanchez.” (Steve LeBlanc, “Massachusetts’ Romney Is The Latest Republican Governor With A
Wandering Political Eye,” The Associated Press, 3/3/05)
Roll Call’s Mort Kondracke: “[Romney] pretty clearly was in favor of something like Vermont-style civil
unions, which he now denies that he was in favor.” (Fox News’ “Special Report,” 12/13/06)
In 2003, Washington Times Reported Romney “Would Support A Vermont-Style Civil Union Law In
Massachusetts.” “Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said yesterday he was ready to work with lawmakers to
craft a ‘civil union’-style law to give some marriage rights to homosexual couples, even though he also supports a
constitutional amendment to preserve traditional marriage. … Mr. Romney yesterday told TV news stations that
he would support a Vermont-style civil union law in Massachusetts…” (Cheryl Wetzstein, “Romney Pursues Law On Gay
Unions,” The Washington Times, 11/20/03)
2003: Romney Said Health Coverage Benefits And Hospital Visitation Rights Should Be Provided To Gay
Couples. “The governor denounced the court ruling and came out strongly against gay marriage, promising to
support the Defense of Marriage Act … He repeated his position yesterday to a far wider audience on NBC’s
‘Today’ and ABC’s ‘Good Morning America.’ … A few hours later, Romney seemed to modify his position, telling
reporters that he believes the court would allow some version of civil unions to be approved instead of outright
gay marriage. He has not provided a full list of what rights and benefits he believes the civil unions should carry
with them, but has said health coverage and hospital visitation rights should be included.” (Rick Klein, “Image On The
Line, Romney Treads Carefully,” The Boston Globe, 11/20/03)
In 2002, Romney Promised To Make Gay Partnership Benefits “Hallmark Of My Leadership As Governor.”
“Romney, who opposes both civil unions and gay marriage, said he will make domestic partner benefits a
‘hallmark of my leadership as governor.’” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Romney: Religion Should Not Be Campaign Issue,” The Boston
Globe, 10/18/02)
“Republican Mitt Romney Opposes Civil Unions, But Supports Domestic Partnership Laws That
Would Give Gay Couples Access To Health Benefits And Survivorship Rights.” (Joanna Weiss, “Reich
Supports Gay Right To Marry,” The Boston Globe, 6/22/02)
Fox News’ Carl Cameron, Circa 2002: Romney Supports Civil Unions. CAMERON: “[Shannon] O’Brien, the
state treasurer, also says she is personally opposed to gay marriage and will instead push to legalize so-called
civil unions, which are now only recognized in neighboring Vermont. The Republican candidate also supports civil
unions, but billionaire businessman Mitt Romney, chief of the last Winter Olympics, says O’Brien wants it both
ways.” (Fox News’ “Special Report,” 10/16/02)
Romney Indicated Support For Gay Couples Raising Children – Calling It Example Of “The American
Way” – But Two Years Ago Expressed Horror That “Some Are Actually Having Children Born To Them”
June 2007: When Confronted By Frustrated Gay Parent Over His Opposition To Gay Marriage, Romney
Told Her He Was “Delighted That You Have A Family … That’s The American Way,” Adding “I Welcome
That.” “A New Hampshire woman, frustrated with Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s opposition to
gay marriage, made a point Wednesday of telling him about her personal experience. … Romney paused, asked
[gay parent Cynthia] Fish about her children and then praised her. ‘Wonderful,’ Romney said. ‘I’m delighted that
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you have a family and you’re happy with your family. That’s the American way. … People can live their lives as
they choose and children can be a great source of joy, as you know. And I welcome that.’” (“N.H. Woman Challenges
Romney On Gay Marriage,” The Associated Press, 6/6/07)
Romney Said Scenario Such As “Gay Couples Raising Kids” Was “The American Way, To Have
People Have Their Freedom Of Choice.” “The former Massachusetts governor acknowledged other
scenarios that raise children. ‘There are other ways to raise kids that’s fine: single moms, grandparents
raising kids, gay couples raising kids. That’s the American way, to have people have their freedom of choice,’
he said.” (“N.H. Woman Challenges Romney On Gay Marriage,” The Associated Press, 6/6/07)
Romney Previously Expressed Support For Gay Parental Rights In June 2005. ROMNEY: “There will be
children born to same-sex couples, and adopted by same-sex couples, and I believe that there should be
rights and privileges associated with those unions and with the children that are part of those unions.” (Mitt
Romney, Press Conference, 6/15/05)
But In February 2005, Romney Railed Against Gay Parents In Speech To SC Republican Audience, Saying
“Some Are Actually Having Children Born To Them … It’s Not Right On Paper. It’s Not Right In Fact.” “On
gay marriage, Romney vilified the Supreme Judicial Court for striking ‘a blow against the family.’ ‘Today, same-
sex couples are marrying under the law in Massachusetts,’ Romney said, stressing the word ‘marrying.’ ‘Some
are actually having children born to them.’ To thunderous applause from the Spartanburg Republican audience,
he said, ‘It’s not right on paper. It’s not right in fact. Every child has the right to have a mother and a father.’” (David
Guarino, “Mitt’s Gay-Wed Stance Hits Carolina Chord,” Boston Herald, 2/22/05)
Romney In South Carolina, Circa February 2005: “Today same-sex couples are marrying under the
law in Massachusetts. Some are actually having children born to them. We’ve been asked to change their
birth certificates to remove the phrase mother and father and replace it with parent A and parent B. It’s not
right on paper. It’s not right in fact.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 2/18/07)
National Journal: “[Romney] has used the specter of gay parents to play up to conservative audiences.”
(Marc Ambinder, “Journey To The Right,” National Journal, 2/10/07)
February 2007: Romney Would Not Answer Question On Whether Or Not He Supported Gay Adoption.
ABC’s GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: “[I]n 2005 in South Carolina you actually seemed to mock the idea of
gays and lesbians adopting and bearing children. … Are you for [gay adoption]?” ROMNEY: [T]here are gay
couples that are having – that are having children of their own. And that’s – obviously, that’s their right. But my
belief is that the ideal setting for a child is where there’s a mom and dad.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 2/18/07)
Romney Has Said In Past He Would Attend Gay Marriages Himself If Invited
In 2004, Romney “Said He Would Attend Gay Weddings If Invited.” “Even so, there wasn’t much opponents
could do to stop this week’s weddings. Gov. Mitt Romney – a Republican who leans conservative on social
issues, even in this most Democratic of states – fought the November court decision approving same-sex
marriages. He then pushed for a constitutional amendment to ban them. … A weary Romney seemed resigned to
the inevitable last week: he said he would attend gay weddings if invited.” (Debra Rosenberg, “The ‘Will & Grace’ Effect,”
Newsweek, 5/24/04)
Romney Claims To Find Discrimination Against Gays “Offensive” But Reportedly Called Homosexuality
“Perverse” At Church Gathering Prior To His 1994 Senate Race
In 1994, Romney “Went Out Of His Way” To Court Homosexual Community. “One group [Romney] went out
of his way to court [in 1994] was the gay rights community. While he noted that he opposed same-sex marriage,
Romney said that ‘certain benefits and privileges should be offered to gay couples and lesbian couples.’
Acknowledging that Kennedy had a strong record on sexual-orientation issues, Romney said his GOP identity
gave his words extra weight. … He said he would push gay rights issues if elected. ‘I think the gay community
needs more support from the Republican Party, and I would be a voice in the Republican Party to foster anti-
discrimination efforts,’ he said then.” (Dan Balz and Shailagh Murray, “Mass. Governor’s Rightward Shift Raises Questions,” The
Washington Post, 12/21/06)
Romney Claimed He’d Have Been More Effective On Gay Rights Than Ted Kennedy. “Twelve years ago,
Romney boasted that he would be more effective in fighting discrimination against gay men and lesbians than
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Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.)… “ (Dan Balz and Shailagh Murray, “Mass. Governor’s Rightward Shift Raises
Questions,” The Washington Post, 12/21/06)
Romney: “As We Seek To Establish Full Equality For America’s Gay And Lesbian Citizens, I Will
Provide More Effective Leadership Than My Opponent.” (W. Mitt Romney, Letter To Log Cabin Club Of
Massachusetts, 10/6/94)
In 1999, Romney Said “Any Discrimination Against Homosexuals … I Find Offensive And Should Be
Eradicated.” “Regardless of how I think about my own personal and moral decision and my religion, I completely
endorse the right of others to make their choices and to be entitled to equal protection under the law … Any
discrimination against homosexuals, for instance, I find offensive and it should be eradicated. I do not, however,
favor same sex marriages.” (Glen Warchol, “This Is The Place, But Politics May Lead Romneys Elsewhere,” The Salt Lake Tribune,
2/14/99)
In November 1993, Romney Allegedly Called Homosexuality “Perverse” During Church Gathering.
“Speaking last fall to a Mormon Church gathering, Mitt Romney, then on the verge of launching a bid for a US
Senate seat, expressed dismay at reports of homosexual behavior in the group and denounced homosexuality as
‘perverse,’ according to several people present at the meeting. Romney’s alleged comments on homosexual
practices were part of a 20-minute address he delivered on November 14 to the Cambridge University Ward,
which numbers about 250 to 300 single Mormons.” (Scot Lehigh and Frank Phillips, “Romney Allegedly Faulted Gays In Talk To
Mormons,” The Boston Globe, 7/15/94)
Romney Admitted Calling Homosexuality “Wrong” But Denied Calling It “Perverse.” “The GOP
candidate said in an interview on Wednesday that he was merely emphasizing church teachings that any sex
outside of marriage is immoral. ‘I specifically said they should avoid homosexuality and they should avoid
heterosexual relations outside of marriage,’ Romney said. ‘I did not use the words perverse or perversion. I
just said it was wrong. . . . That is what my church believes.’” (Scot Lehigh and Frank Phillips, “Romney Allegedly Faulted
Gays In Talk To Mormons,” The Boston Globe, 7/15/94)
In 1994, Romney Endorsed Gays In The Boy Scouts – In 2002, An Aide Said Romney Favored Letting
Local Troops And Councils Decide The Issue For Themselves
Romney Reprimanded By Boy Scouts Of America For Endorsing Gays In Scouts. “Romney came in for
some fire of his own, not from the Kennedy camp but from an organization on whose executive board he sits – the
Boy Scouts of America. A Boy Scout spokesman said the Republican candidate may have run afoul of the group’s
strict rule that board members support Boy Scout policies, including its ban on homosexuals.” (Peter G. Gosselin,
“Kennedy, Romney Continue Trading Charges Over Facts,” The Boston Globe, 10/27/94)
Romney: “I feel that all people should be allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts regardless of their
sexual orientation.” (Mitt Romney, U.S. Senate Candidates Debate, Boston, MA, 10/25/94)
Boy Scouts Spokesman: Romney Statement Not “Consistent” With Group’s Policy. “Asked about the policy
in Tuesday’s debate, Romney said, ‘I support the right of the Boy Scouts of America to decide what it wants to do
on that issue.’ But he then added, ‘I feel that all people should be allowed to participate in the Boy Scouts
regardless of their sexual orientation.’ ‘From where I’m sitting, that doesn’t appear to be a consistent statement,’
said Richard Walker, the Boy Scouts’ national spokesman. ‘His second statement seems to be inconsistent with
our policy and as a member of the executive board he is expected to support our policy.’” (Peter G. Gosselin, “Kennedy,
Romney Continue Trading Charges Over Facts,” The Boston Globe, 10/27/94)
In 2002, Romney Aide Said Romney Had Let His “Views Be Known” On The Issue, Saying Romney
Believed Local Troops Should Make Their Own Decisions On Allowing Gays. “Romney, who has said he
opposes the Boy Scouts’ policy of exclusion, has sat on the 71-member national executive board since 1993. His
spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, said he has let his ‘views be known,’ but would not detail how he did so. …
Fehrnstrom said that Romney has made his opposition clear. ‘The Boy Scouts of America are well aware of Mitt’s
position that local troops and councils should make their own decisions,’ he said. He said Boy Scout officials
could look to statements Romney made on the campaign trail in 1994, when he challenged US Senator Edward
M. Kennedy.” (Stephanie Ebbert, “On Boards, Silence On Gay Concerns,” The Boston Globe, 10/18/02)
Romney Has Backed Hate Crimes Legislation That Included Sexual Orientation
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In 2002, Romney Supported Hate Crimes Legislation Including Sexual Orientation Provision. “On gay
rights, Romney supports hate crimes legislation which provides added penalties for crimes committed against a
person because of their sexual orientation, race or religion. He does not support gay marriage, but believes health
and other workplace benefits should be extended to domestic partners, [Romney aide Eric] Fehrnstrom said.” (Erik
Arvidson, “Romney’s Running Mate Could Leave Him In Tight Spot,” Lowell Sun, 3/30/02)
Massachusetts Log Cabin Republicans’ Ken Sanchez, In 2005: “What happened to the Mitt Romney who ran
for governor supporting employment non-discrimination, hate crimes legislation…” (Steve LeBlanc, “Massachusetts’
Romney Is The Latest Republican Governor With A Wandering Political Eye,” The Associated Press, 3/3/05)
SECOND AMENDMENT ISSUES
In 1994 Senate Race, Romney Backed Brady Bill And Assault Weapons Ban, Saying “I Don’t Line Up With
The NRA”
In 1994, Romney Backed Brady Bill. “[Romney] said he will take stands that put him at odds with some
traditional ultra-conservative groups, and cited his support for the assault rifle ban and the Brady gun control law.
‘That’s not going to make me the hero of the NRA,’ he said. ‘I don’t line up with a lot of special interest groups.’”
(Andrew Miga, “Mitt Rejects Right-Wing Aid,” Boston Herald, 9/23/94)
Romney, In 1994: “I Don’t Line Up With The NRA.” (Scott Helman, “Romney Retreats On Gun Control,” The Boston
Globe, 1/14/07)
Romney Called Clinton Crime Bill “A Big Step Forward.” “Correction: Because of a reporting error, a story in
yesterday’s Metro/Region section about the taping of a debate between Republican gubernatorial candidates
incorrectly attributed to John Lakian a quote about the federal crime bill. It was Mitt Romney who said: ‘This
legislation isn’t perfect. But if we think we’re going to go to Washington and only vote for things that are perfect, I
think we’d be making a big mistake. This bill is a big step forward.’” (“Correction,” The Boston Globe, 8/28/94)
“Romney Said He Supports The Ban On 19 Assault Weapons Included In The Bill…” (Scot Lehigh,
“Kennedy’s Rivals Say Crime Bill Was Too Weak For Them,” The Boston Globe, 8/13/94)
Romney Criticized Republican Opponent, Defended Ted Kennedy’s Support For Crime Bill. “Lakian, who
denounced the crime law as ineffective and costly to local communities, criticized Romney’s support for the
measure. But Romney countered, ‘There is nothing dishonorable or un-Republican to vote for that just because
Ted Kennedy supports it.’” (Scot Lehigh and Frank Phillips, “Romney, Lakian Debate Crime, Tax And Abortion,” The Boston Globe,
9/7/94)
Romney Later Blamed Kennedy For Watering Down A “Perfectly Good Bill.” “Mitt Romney charged that
Kennedy had helped water down a tough [crime] bill to the point where it should not have been passed. ‘I
think the House did the right thing in saying, “Let’s fix this bill,”‘ Romney said of the House’s 225-210 decision
not to bring the $33 billion conference committee bill to the floor for a vote. … Romney blamed Kennedy for
what he saw as flaws in the bill. ‘What was a perfectly good bill when it came out of the Senate was taken into
the conference committee and, behind closed doors, Ted Kennedy made some big mistakes,’ Romney said.”
(Scot Lehigh, “Kennedy’s Rivals Say Crime Bill Was Too Weak For Them,” The Boston Globe, 8/13/94)
In 1994, Romney Backed Assault Weapons Ban And Brady Bill, Boasting “That’s Not Going To Make Me
The Hero Of The NRA.” “[Romney] said he will take stands that put him at odds with some traditional ultra-
conservative groups, and cited his support for the assault rifle ban and the Brady gun control law. ‘That’s not
going to make me the hero of the NRA,’ he said. ‘I don’t line up with a lot of special interest groups.’” (Andrew Miga,
“Mitt Rejects Right-Wing Aid,” Boston Herald, 9/23/94)
Romney In 1994: 5-Day Waiting Period Won’t Have “Massive Effect On Crime But … Will Have A
Positive Effect.” “The candidate reiterated his support for an assault weapons ban contained in Congress’
crime bill, and the Brady law which imposes a five-day waiting period on handgun purchases. ‘I don’t think
(the waiting period) will have a massive effect on crime but I think it will have a positive effect,’ Romney said.”
(Joe Battenfeld, “Herald Panel Grills Romney On Crime,” Boston Herald, 8/1/94)
As Governor, Romney Quadrupled Gun Licensing Fees And Vowed Not To “Chip Away” At Tough Gun
Laws
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Romney, In 2002: “We Do Have Tough Gun Laws In Massachusetts. I Support Them. I Won’t Chip
Away At Them. I Believe They Help Protect Us And Provide For Our Safety.” (Gubernatorial Candidates Debate,
Springfield, MA, 9/24/02)
Watch Video: Romney Voices Support For Massachusetts’ “Tough” Gun Control Laws.
Romney Raised Gun Licensing Fee By 400 Percent. “Gun owners [are] upset that the cash-strapped
Legislature and Romney administration raised the [firearms license] renewal fee from $25 to $100 in this year’s
budget.” (Lane Lambert, “Gun Permit Renewal Delays Frequent,” The Patriot Ledger [Quincy, MA], 9/17/03)
Gun Owners Action League’s James Wallace Called Romney’s Action A Tax On All Gun Owners. “James
Wallace, spokesman for the Gun Owners Action League, said his organization considers the state firearm
registration fee – which Romney proposes raising … to be a tax on the 200,000 state residents who hold firearm
identification cards.” (Joanna Weiss, “Romney Proposals On Fees Draw Fire,” The Boston Globe, 2/28/03)
Wallace: “It’s a tax on an individual’s right to bear arms in Massachusetts … Basically, we’re being robbed.”
(Ken Maguire, “Governor Says Proposed New, Higher Fees Are Not Taxes,” The Associated Press, 2/27/03)
In 2004, Romney Signed Permanent State-Level Ban On Assault Weapons
Romney Signed State-Level Assault Weapons Ban That Was Mirrored After Federal Assault Weapons
Ban. “[P]erhaps the most significant gun legislation Romney signed as governor was a 2004 measure instituting a
permanent ban on assault weapons. The Legislature mirrored the law after the federal assault weapons ban,
which was set to expire. According to activists at the time, the bill made Massachusetts the first state to enact its
own such ban, and Romney hailed the move. … [T]he NRA and many local affiliates do not support assault
weapons bans, arguing that the arms are rarely used in crimes and have a legitimate purpose in hunting, target
shooting, and self-protection.” (Scott Helman, “Romney Retreats On Gun Control,” The Boston Globe, 1/14/07)
Romney: “These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense … They are instruments of destruction
with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people.” (Scott Helman, “Romney Retreats On Gun Control,” The Boston
Globe, 1/14/07)
Gun Owners Of America’s Erich Pratt: Romney’s Assault Weapons Ban Was “Draconian.” “[Romney]
signed a draconian ban on common, household firearms that are owned by millions of americans across the
nation.” (Erich Pratt, “Will The Real Romney Please Stand Up?” Human Events Online, www.humanevents.com, 1/22/07)
In April 2007, Romney Said He Would “Consider” Supporting Renewal Of Federal Assault Weapons Ban.
TOWNHALL.COM’s MARY KATHERINE HAM: “[Y]ou supported an assault weapons ban in Massachusetts. This
[Virginia Tech] tragedy is being used to push the renewal of the federal assault weapons ban. What would your
stance be if that comes up again?” ROMNEY: “Well, you know, the weapon used here was not an assault
weapon, so I’m not sure what the relevance is. … You know, if there’s a weapon that puts our police at risk, like
machine guns, of course, then that’s something I would, of course, consider.” (Mary Katherine Ham, “Townhall.com Sits
Down With Gov. Romney,” TownHall.com Blog, 4/20/07)
Romney’s 2003 Proposal To Divert Hunting Fees To General Fund Angered Hunters, Jeopardized Federal
Aid
Hunters Banded Together To Oppose Romney Proposal To Divert Fees From Wildlife To General Fund.
Men and women who hunt and fish in the region are banding together to oppose a proposal by Governor Mitt
Romney to use money raised by hunting and fishing licenses for the state’s general fund. Historically, the money
raised by sporting fees - what amounts to more than $8 million each year statewide - is deposited into a fund
dedicated to preserving wildlife. … Romney, however, has proposed a budget for 2004 that calls for the
environmental money to be consolidated into the general fund to reduce the deficit.” (Trudy Tynan, “Proposal To Divert
Hunting And Fishing License Fees Could Prove Costly,” The Associated Press, 2/4/03)
League Of Essex County Sportsmen’s Club’s Tom Walsh: “This money is being raised by us, not the
general taxpayers. It’s a lot of money, money we raise. It should be going right back into wildlife.” (Trudy Tynan,
“Proposal To Divert Hunting And Fishing License Fees Could Prove Costly,” The Associated Press, 2/4/03)
Romney Proposal Jeopardized Federal Aid For Wildlife. “A proposal by Gov. Mitt Romney to divert more than
$1.3 million in hunting and fishing license fees and federal wildlife funds into the cash-strapped state’s general
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fund could cost Massachusetts millions of dollars in federal aid, U.S. wildlife officials said.” (Trudy Tynan, “Proposal To
Divert Hunting And Fishing License Fees Could Prove Costly,” The Associated Press, 2/4/03)
Federal Aid Requires State License Fees To Be Used Solely For Fish And Wildlife Agency. “The federal
money comes from the state’s share of federal excise taxes on guns, fishing tackle and motorboat fuels … Under
the programs, which date back to the 1930s, states must agree to use hunting and fishing license revenue solely
for their fish and wildlife agency … States are also prohibited from using the lands acquired for wildlife protection
for other purposes…” (Trudy Tynan, “Proposal To Divert Hunting And Fishing License Fees Could Prove Costly,” The Associated Press,
2/4/03)
In January 2006, Romney Said He Owned A Gun, Then Two Days Later Admitted He Did Not
Romney Told Conservative “Glenn And Helen” Show That He Owned A Gun. “I have a gun of my own, I go
hunting myself...” (Glenn And Helen Show, www.glennandhelenshow.com, 1/10/07)
Romney Appealed To Gun Owners For Support, Claiming To Be One Of Them. “[Romney said] he hopes
states would continue to ease regulations on gun owners, and he expressed enthusiasm for guns and
hunting. ‘I have a gun of my own. I go hunting myself. I’m a member of the NRA and believe firmly in the right
to bear arms,’ Romney said. … He now touts his work as governor to ease restrictions on gun owners. He
proudly describes himself as a member of the NRA – though his campaign won’t say when he joined.” (Scott
Helman, “Romney Retreats On Gun Control,” The Boston Globe, 1/14/07)
Two Days Later, Romney Admitted That He Did Not Own A Gun. “On Wednesday, Romney said on an
Internet podcast, ‘The Glenn and Helen Show,’ that he hopes states would continue to ease regulations on gun
owners, and he expressed enthusiasm for guns and hunting. ‘I have a gun of my own. I go hunting myself. I’m a
member of the NRA and believe firmly in the right to bear arms,’ Romney said. Asked by reporters at the gun
show Friday whether he personally owned the gun, Romney said he did not. He said one of his sons, Josh, keeps
two guns at the family vacation home in Utah, and he uses them ‘from time to time.’” (Scott Helman, “Romney Retreats
On Gun Control,” The Boston Globe, 1/14/07)
Romney Brags About NRA Membership But Didn’t Join Until August 2006
Romney Bragged About Being Member Of The NRA. “I’m a member of the NRA and believe firmly in the right
to bear arms.” (Glenn And Helen Radio Show, www.glennandhelenshow.com, 1/10/07)
Romney Later Revealed He Didn’t Join NRA Until Last August, Just Before Presidential Campaign Began.
“Mitt Romney, who has touted his support of gun owners since launching his presidential campaign, yesterday
acknowledged he did not become a member of the National Rifle Association until last August, campaign officials
said.” (David Abel, “Romney Joined NRA In August,” The Boston Globe, 2/19/07)
Romney Declined Comment On Whether Or Not He Still Supports “Tough” Gun Laws
In January 2007, Romney Refused To Say If He Still Supports Gun Control Laws. “Romney says he still
backs the ban on assault weapons, but he won’t say whether he stands by the Brady Bill. And after the gun show
tour, his campaign declined to say whether he would still describe himself as a supporter of tough gun laws.” (Scott
Helman, “Romney Retreats On Gun Control,” The Boston Globe, 1/14/07)
Today, Romney Maintains Support For Assault Weapons Ban. “I know the NRA does not support an assault
weapon ban, so I don’t line up on that particular issue with the NRA, neither does President Bush. He likewise
says he supported an assault weapon ban.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 2/18/07)
Romney Says Because Of Instant Background Checks, Brady Bill Not Needed. “Today we don’t have
the Brady Bill because we have instantaneous background checks, that’s no longer an operative or needed
measure.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 2/18/07)
ROMNEY’S HUNTING BACKGROUND
In April 2007, Romney Told New Hampshire Audience He’s “Been A Hunter Pretty Much All My Life” And
Previously Said He Owned A Gun
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Romney: “I Purchased A Gun When I Was A Young Man. I’ve Been A Hunter Pretty Much All My Life.”
(Glen Johnson, “Romney Calls Himself A Longtime Hunter,” The Associated Press, 4/5/07)
Romney Has Spoken Of His Hunting Prowess “On Several Occasions.” “The Republican presidential
contender has told audiences on several occasions, most recently this week in gun-savvy – and early voting –
New Hampshire, that he has been a longtime hunter.” (Glen Johnson, “Romney Calls Himself A Longtime Hunter,” The
Associated Press, 4/5/07)
Romney Repeatedly Claimed He Owned A Gun And Went Hunting Himself. “[Romney] expressed
enthusiasm for guns and hunting. ‘I have a gun of my own. I go hunting myself. I’m a member of the NRA and
believe firmly in the right to bear arms,’ Romney said.” (Scott Helman, “Romney Retreats On Gun Control,” The Boston Globe,
1/14/07)
“I Have A Gun Of My Own, I Go Hunting Myself...” (Glenn And Helen Radio Show, www.glennandhelenshow.com,
1/10/07)
Romney’s Pro-Gun Campaign Rhetoric Noted By Media. “To hear Mitt Romney talk on the campaign trail, you
might think the Republican presidential candidate had a gun rack in the back of his pickup truck.” (Glen Johnson,
“Romney Calls Himself A Longtime Hunter,” The Associated Press, 4/5/07)
Romney Forced To Admit He Hunted Only Two Times In His Life And Does Not Own A Gun
Romney Later Admitted He Has Been Hunting Only Twice In His Life – Once Nearly Fifty Years Ago, Once
At “Fenced Game Preserve” On 2006 Retreat For Political Donors. “[T]he former Massachusetts governor’s
hunting experience is limited to two trips at the bookends of his 60 years: as a 15-year-old, when he hunted
rabbits with his cousins on a ranch in Idaho, and last year, when he shot quail on a fenced game preserve in
Georgia. Last year’s trip was an outing with major donors to the Republican Governors Association, which
Romney headed at the time.” (Glen Johnson, “Romney Calls Himself A Longtime Hunter,” The Associated Press, 4/5/07)
Romney’s Recent Hunting Experience: RGA Quail Hunt In Sea Island, Georgia. “According to his
campaign, Romney spent a summer as a 15-year-old hunting rabbits in Idaho and didn’t hunt again until last
year, when he attended a quail hunt in Sea Island, Ga., sponsored by the Republican Governors Association.”
(Scott Helman, “Romney’s Record On Guns Questioned,” The Boston Globe, 4/5/07)
After Professing He Owned A Gun, Romney Admitted The Gun Was Not His But Maintained He Went
Hunting “From Time To Time.” “Asked by reporters at the gun show Friday whether he personally owned the
gun, Romney said he did not. He said one of his sons, Josh, keeps two guns at the family vacation home in Utah,
and he uses them ‘from time to time.’” (Scott Helman, “Romney Retreats On Gun Control,” The Boston Globe, 1/14/07)
“Even Romney Acknowledges That The Single Gun In One Of His Homes Isn’t His; It Belongs To His
Son.” (Editorial, “Modified Mitt,” Lowell Sun, 2/22/07)
“[Romney] Does Not Own A Firearm, Despite Claiming To Earlier This Year.” (Glen Johnson, “Romney
Defends Lack Of Hunting License,” The Associated Press, 4/7/07)
Voter Who Asked Initial Question Said Of Romney: “I See Another John Kerry Coming Down The Road”
Joe Feuer, Who Asked Romney Initial Question: “I See Another John Kerry Coming Down The Road.”
FOX 25 BOSTON’S JOE BATTENFELD: “Do you view this as sort of one more, kind of…” JOE FEUER: “Flip
flop? Yeah, I see another John Kerry coming down the road.” (Fox 25 News, www.youtube.com, 4/11/07)
Watch Feuer Comment On Romney’s Hunting Remarks.
A Day Later, Romney Revised His Remarks, Saying He’d Hunted “Small Varmints” And “Rodents” More
Than Twice
Romney Revised His Remarks The Next Day, Saying He Has “Always” Hunted “Rodents” And
“Varmints.” “Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is taking a second shot at describing his hunting
experience. … Campaigning in Indianapolis on Thursday, Romney said he has hunted small game since his
youth. ‘I’m not a big-game hunter. I’ve made that very clear,’ he said. ‘I’ve always been a rodent and rabbit hunter.
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Small varmints, if you will. I began when I was 15 or so and I have hunted those kinds of varmints since then.
More than two times.’” (Emily Udell, “Romney Aims Again To Explain Hunting,” The Associated Press, 4/6/07)
Boston Herald’s Brett Arends: “Varmints? Rabbits? Hello, Elmer Fudd.” “‘I’ve always been a rodent and
rabbit hunter. Small varmints if you will,’ the hapless ex-governor said last week following his claim that he
had been ‘a hunter all my life.’ Varmints? Rabbits? Hello, Elmer Fudd.” (Brett Arends, Op-Ed, “Mitt Shoots Holes In His
Credibility,” Boston Herald, 4/11/07)
Romney “Was Not Trying To Mislead Anyone,” Claimed His Aides. “An aide said Wednesday that Romney
was not trying to mislead anyone, although he confirmed Romney had been hunting only on those occasions in
his life.” (Glen Johnson, “Romney Calls Himself A Longtime Hunter,” The Associated Press, 4/5/07)
Romney Spokesman Kevin Madden: “I Think This Is Probably A Lot Of Quibbling Over The Term
‘Lifelong.’” (MSNBC’s “Live News,” 4/5/07)
Lowell Sun Called Romney’s Claim To Have Longtime Passion For Hunting “More Than A Little Weak.”
“Romney and his spokesman are working overtime to convince gun enthusiasts the former governor didn’t switch
his position just to appeal to gun owners, but it is a tough sell. His argument that he has been a hunter ‘all his life,’
because as a boy working on a ranch in Idaho he shot rabbits that were eating the barley and that he has recently
been quail hunting, is more than a little weak.” (Editorial, “Modified Mitt,” Lowell Sun, 2/22/07)
Washington Post: Romney’s Hunting Gaffe Serves As Lesson That Money Can’t Buy Authenticity. “There
are things in politics that money can’t buy, and chief among them is the quality of authenticity: the ability to
convince voters that a candidate is more than the sum of positioning by his or her handlers. Last week, former
Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney was the latest to discover that truth.” (Editorial, “Killer Rabbits,” The Washington
Post, 4/10/07)
“Mitt Romney Tried To Look Like A Hunter – And Ended Up Shooting Himself In The Foot.” (Editorial,
“Killer Rabbits,” The Washington Post, 4/10/07)
TheHill.com’s Brent Budowsky: “Now Mitt Romney Lies About Hunting.” “Now Mitt Romney lies about
hunting. The former Massachusetts governor said he had been a hunter for just about all his life. Almost
immediately his staff reminded him he had only been hunting twice. Presumably Mr. Romney forgot about all the
times he never hunted.” (Brent Budowsky, “The Republicans’ Pinocchio Problem,” The Hill’s Pundits Blog, 4/5/07)
Newsweek: Romney’s “Varmints” Explanation “Sounded Stiff And Lame.” “Romney tried to explain that he
had not been a ‘big game’ hunter but rather shot at varmints and smaller game … But the explanations sounded
stiff and lame – one more example of Romney’s trying to pander to true-blue conservatives and getting called out
for it.” (Evan Thomas et al, “Is Mitt Romney Ready For Prime-Time Politics?” Newsweek, 4/16/07)
Flashback: Romney Admitted Only One Prior Hunting Experience In 2003 Remarks
In Late 2003, Romney Admitted He Had Only Been Hunting Once In His Life. “His only hunting experience
was shooting rabbits at a ranch in Idaho with a .22-caliber rifle and he acknowledged he has struggled when he
tried fly fishing in the past.” (John J. Monaghan, “Romney OKs Funds For Wildlife Programs,” [Massachusetts] Telegram & Gazette,
11/1/03)
No Evidence Exists Romney Has Ever Taken Out A Hunting License
Romney Has Never Procured A Hunting License, According To Officials In Four States Where He Has
Lived. “Officials in the four states where Mitt Romney has lived say the Republican presidential contender, who
calls himself a lifelong hunter, never took out a license. Romney says that’s because he has seldom hunted
where he needed one. … Hunting certain small game there doesn’t require a license. … [T]he Associated Press
asked wildlife officials in Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Utah for any documentation verifying
Romney had been a registered hunter.” (Glen Johnson, “Romney Defends Lack Of Hunting License,” The Associated Press, 4/7/07)
No Record Of Romney License In Michigan, Massachusetts Or New Hampshire – Utah Does Not Allow
Access To License Records. “Officials from Michigan, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, where a license is
necessary to hunt such small game, said they could not immediately locate any license for Romney. An official in
Utah said a change in state law last year blocked public access to license records.” (Glen Johnson, “Romney Defends
Lack Of Hunting License,” The Associated Press, 4/7/07)
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Romney’s Handling Of Gun Issue Compared To Similar Efforts By John Kerry In 2004
Associated Press Report: Criticism Of Romney Evokes Echoes Of Kerry. “Critics said it was the latest
example of a White House aspirant willing to say anything to reach the Oval Office. … The charge echoed with
similarities to the criticism the Republican National Committee used to level against another Massachusetts
politician running for president, Sen. John Kerry, who was his party’s 2004 nominee.” (Glen Johnson, “Romney Calls
Himself A Longtime Hunter,” The Associated Press, 4/5/07)
Eye On 08 Blog: “Mitt Romney Has A Problem With Gun Owners, And It Is That He Is Like John
Kerry.” (“Romney On Guns: More Mitt-Representations,” Eye On 08 Blog, www.eyeon08.com, 4/4/07)
American Spectator’s Philip Klein: “This Is Al Gore/John Kerry-Type Stuff, And Completely
Unnecessary.” (Philip Klein, “Romney The Rodent Hunter,” American Spectator’s “AmSpec” Blog, 4/6/07)
Lowell Sun: “Let’s Recall That Sen. John Kerry … Was Pilloried” For Trying To Court Gun Owners With
Staged Hunt. “Let’s recall that Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., was pilloried by his political foes, and the media, when
he tried to court gun owners by joining a duck hunt – in brand-new camouflage duds. No one believed a guy
normally spotted skiing or windsurfing was a hunting enthusiast, and no one should believe Romney is, either.”
(Editorial, “Modified Mitt,” Lowell Sun, 2/22/07)
MSNBC’s Norah O’Donnell Asked Campaign Adviser If Romney’s Hunting Remarks Could Be Compared
To John Kerry’s Duck Hunt From 2004. O’DONNELL: “[Y]ou may recall the 2004 presidential race. John Kerry
was widely ridiculed when there was video of him on a hunting trip and after that came this tide of criticism,
painting Kerry as this flip flopper, like, ‘Look at him out there, he’s trying to prove he is a huntsman and he’s not.’
Are you concerned that Romney could get portrayed as a flip flopper in the same sort of way?” (MSNBC’s “Live News,”
4/5/07)
Boston Globe Columnist Compared Romney’s Gaffe With Kerry’s “Can I Get Me A Hunting License”
Comment. “Of course, Romney is not alone when it comes to trying to woo the hunting crowd. During the 2004
campaign, John Kerry asked store owners in Ohio, ‘Can I get me a hunting license here?’ He was further
lampooned after he emerged from a cornfield, wearing a camouflage jacket and holding a dead goose. But Kerry
actually owns guns.” (Joan Vennochi, Op-Ed, “Guns, Trust, And Romney,” The Boston Globe, 4/8/07)
Globe Columnist: “Leave It To Mitt Romney To Shoot Himself In The Foot With A Gun He Doesn’t
Own.” (Joan Vennochi, Op-Ed, “Guns, Trust, And Romney,” The Boston Globe, 4/8/07)
Boston Herald Drew Parallels Between Romney’s “Pandering” To Gun Owners And Kerry’s ‘04 Efforts.
“Why pandering to the National Rifle Association requires actually invoking some kind of hunting expertise is still a
mystery. There are no real rules about pandering, after all. And if Romney doesn’t believe that, there’s a once-
used L.L. Bean hunting outfit John Kerry might lend him.” (Editorial, “Let The ‘Varmint’ Hunt Begin,” Boston Herald, 4/7/07)
Washington Post’s Dana Milbank: “He’s Getting A Little Bit Of A Kerry Problem.” “He doesn’t call them
small animals, he calls them varmints. It sounds like Yosemite Sam here… ‘Say your prayers, varmints.’ Does it
recall or bring to mind something that happened about this time in the 2004 cycle with John Kerry and his
hunting? It’s curious that these two from Massachusetts seem to have this sort of ‘I voted for the $87 billion before
I voted against it’ problem going on here, just as Mitt Romney is rising to prominence in the Republican field, he’s
getting a little bit of a Kerry problem.” (MSNBC’s “Countdown,” 4/9/07)
Romney Joined NRA For Blatantly Political Reasons Months Before Forming Presidential Exploratory
Committee
Romney Explains He Signed Up For Lifetime NRA Membership In August 2006 Because “I’m After The
NRA’s Endorsement. … If I’m Going To Ask For Their Endorsement, They’re Going To Ask For Mine.
“Expressing familiarity with and support for gun rights is key among Republican presidential contenders … It helps
explain why Romney joined the NRA last August, signing up not just as a supporter but a designated ‘Lifetime’
member … Romney told a Derry, N.H., audience, ‘I’m after the NRA’s endorsement. I’m not sure they’ll give it to
me. I hope they will. I also joined because if I’m going to ask for their endorsement, they’re going to ask for mine.’”
(Glen Johnson, “Romney Calls Himself A Longtime Hunter,” The Associated Press, 4/5/07)
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
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Romney Once Advocated That Public Companies And Government Agencies Be Required To List Women
And Minority Employees By Salary Level To Identify And “Break Through” Glass Ceiling
In 1994, Romney Wanted Companies To Report Numbers Of Women And Minorities Hired In Order To
“Break Through” The Glass Ceiling. “Asked about affirmative action and discrimination, Romney said that there
definitely was a ‘glass ceiling’ holding back women and minorities and that ‘I believe that public companies and
federal agencies should be required to report in their annual 10K the number of minorities and women by income
group within the company so we can identify where the glass ceiling is and break through it.’” (Jonathan Last,
“Romney: Seriously Great, But With Baggage,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/21/07)
Romney’s Bain & Co. And Bain Capital Did Not Have Affirmative Action Programs. “Romney
acknowledged that Bain & Co. and Bain Capital do not have affirmative action programs or an organized
outreach to minorities and women. He said the Bain consulting firm in particular recruited from the elite
business schools, which, he said, graduate only a handful of minorities and women.” (Frank Phillips, “Romney Is Yet
To Be Tested In Politics,” The Boston Globe, 5/9/04)
As Governor, Romney Issued Executive Order Expanding But Renaming State Office Of Affirmative
Action, Which Critics Claimed Effectively Watered Down The Office’s Mission
In 2003, Romney Issued Executive Order Renaming Office Of Affirmative Action And “Broadening Its
Mission To Include The Creation Of A Work Force Reflective Of Massachusetts’ Demographics.” “Gov. Mitt
Romney issued an executive order Tuesday expanding the state Office of Affirmative Action and broadening its
mission to include the creation of a work force reflective of Massachusetts’ demographics and ‘responsive to the
Commonwealth’s citizens.’ The renamed Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity will be charged with creating a
workplace ‘that welcomes, respects and values people of abilities, cultures, nationalities, religions, races,
genders, sexual orientations, ethnic background and veteran’s status.’” (“Governor Creates New Office To Improve Work
Force Diversity,” The Associated Press, 6/17/03)
Romney: “My administration is committed to assembling a state government workforce that reflects the fabric
of our community … We will work hard to ensure that our administration recruits and retains talented
individuals for all backgrounds at every level of government.” (“Governor Creates New Office To Improve Work Force
Diversity,” The Associated Press, 6/17/03)
Romney Executive Order: “Whereas securing diversity, non-discrimination and equal opportunity shall be
the policy of the Executive Branch of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in all of its decisions, programs
and activities…” (Gov. Mitt Romney, “Governor’s Diversity And Equal Opportunity Initiative,” Executive Order)
Romney Executive Order: “Whereas, the Executive Branch of State Government recognizes the importance
of Affirmative Action, equal opportunity and diversity in State employment and State business…” (Gov. Mitt
Romney, “Governor’s Diversity And Equal Opportunity Initiative,” Executive Order)
Romney Executive Order Eliminated Office Of Affirmative Action And Created Office Of Diversity And
Equal Opportunity. “Romney’s executive order eliminates the state’s Office of Affirmative Action, putting its
functions in a newly created Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity. He said in a statement released in June
that the move was aimed at broadening the mission of the state’s outreach efforts.”(Rick Klein and Yvonne Abraham,
“Affirmative Action System Overhauled,” The Boston Globe, 8/28/03)
After Criticism, Romney “Promised To Reinstate Elements Of The State’s Longstanding Diversity
Policies.” “Seeking to quell harsh criticisms of his affirmative action overhaul, Governor Mitt Romney yesterday
promised to reinstate elements of the state’s longstanding diversity policies that he effectively eliminated by
executive order earlier this summer. Romney, in his first public comments on the executive order he signed two
months ago, said he never intended to water down the affirmative action guidelines, some of which were
established 20 years ago by then-governor Michael S. Dukakis.” (Yvonne Abraham, “Romney Says He Will Alter Diversity
Plan,” The Boston Globe, 8/29/03)
Romney Spokesperson Nicole St. Peter: “The governor has had a strong commitment to affirmative
action.” (Yawu Miller, “Coalition Calls For Changes To Romney Affirmative Action Plan,” Bay State Banner, 7/1/04)
Romney: We’re Trying To Increase “The Number And The Percentage Of People From All Backgrounds
And Ethnic Heritages In State Government.” ROMNEY: “If there’s anything in the regulation which was issued
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that needs to be amended with old language from the prior regulations, we’re happy to do that … There’s nothing
we’re trying to eliminate. We’re only trying to build upon what’s been done in the past with a new, more effective
effort in increasing the number and the percentage of people from all backgrounds and ethnic heritages in state
government.” (Yvonne Abraham, “Romney Says He Will Alter Diversity Plan,” The Boston Globe, 8/29/03)
Romney Executive Order Eliminated Punitive Measures For Failure To Follow Laws, Ended Role Of
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination In Disputes. “Romney’s order nullified earlier governor’s
orders calling for punitive measures, such as hiring freezes and closer supervision, against state departments that
do not use hiring practices consistent with the goals of affirmative action. It eliminated the explicit role of the
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination in state employee hiring disputes. It also replaced the state
Office of Affirmative Action with a new Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity.” (Yvonne Abraham, “Romney Says He
Will Alter Diversity Plan,” The Boston Globe, 8/29/03)
Romney Order “Superseded” Dozens Of Other Affirmative Action Regulations. “The Romney order also
revoked requirements that departments provide ongoing diversity training programs. His order includes no
discussion of how affirmative action must be applied in the awarding of contracts by the state; it revoked a
requirement that all private health care facilities licensed by the state comply with nondiscrimination policies in
patient admissions. Dozens of other affirmative action regulations were also superseded.” (Yvonne Abraham, “Romney
Says He Will Alter Diversity Plan,” The Boston Globe, 8/29/03)
Romney: “I Welcome The Opportunity To Recommit The Commonwealth To Affirmative Action And The
Bedrock Principles Of Fairness And Equality.” “As governor, I welcome the opportunity to recommit the
commonwealth to affirmative action and the bedrock principles of fairness and equality. With these principles as
our guide, the promise of Massachusetts will remain unlimited for years to come for all of our citizens. If genuine
diversity and equality are to thrive in the executive branch, it will be because the right climate has been created.
We want to move beyond simply valuing diversity to understanding that diversity is valuable.” (Howard Manly, Op-Ed,
“To Mitt, `Minority’ Means Republican,” Boston Herald, 6/1/04)
Romney Campaign Claims He Now Opposes “Quotas And Preferences”
In May 2007, Romney’s Campaign Said He Did Not “Support Quotas Or Preferences.” “Most recently, in
Michigan in 2006, Connerly set out to prove the Supreme Court ‘got it wrong’ in 2003 when it upheld the
constitutionality of the University of Michigan Law School’s use of race ‘as one of many factors’ to achieve student
diversity. … Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has not spoken publicly on the Michigan initiative, but
his campaign says he ‘does not support quotas or preferences.’” (Jennifer Rubin, “Propositioning The States,” The Weekly
Standard, 5/7/07)
JUDICIAL ISSUES
Romney Selected From Pool Of Nominees Forwarded To Him By Nonpartisan Judicial Nominating
Commission, After Which Governor’s Council Voted Nominee Up Or Down
State’s Nonpartisan Judicial Nominating Commission – Reformed And Centralized By Romney Himself –
Forwarded Romney Resumes From Which To Select Nominees. “Romney won praise in the legal community
when he replaced regional judicial nominating committees that were viewed as politically tainted with a centralized
Judicial Nominating Commission. The commission considers applicants using a ‘blind’ first phase of the selection
process that removes names from applications in an attempt to ensure the candidates will be judged on their
merits.” (Raphael Lewis, “Romney Jurist Picks Not Tilted To GOP,” The Boston Globe, 7/25/05)
Nominees’ Qualifications Also Rated By Joint Bar Committee. “[A]ll of Romney’s nominees have been
submitted to a Joint Bar Committee on Judicial Nominations, which rates candidates as qualified, well-qualified, or
unqualified and each has been found to be either qualified or well-qualified.” (Raphael Lewis, “Romney Jurist Picks Not
Tilted To GOP,” The Boston Globe, 7/25/05)
After Romney Picked Nominee, Candidate Needed Approval From Democrat-Dominated Governor’s
Council. “After Romney nominates the candidate, the pick must be approved by the Governor’s Council, where
Democrats hold eight of nine seats.” (Raphael Lewis, “Romney Jurist Picks Not Tilted To GOP,” The Boston Globe, 7/25/05)
Romney Issued Executive Order Designed To Combat Patronage – Then Later Waived It
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Romney Waived His Own Executive Order To Appoint Unapproved Judge. “Gov. Mitt Romney has named a
lawyer to the Juvenile Court without approval from the current Judicial Nominating Commission, bypassing a
complex system that was designed to combat patronage and favoritism in judicial picks…Romney nominated
Springfield attorney Henry L. Rigali for a seat on the Hampden County Juvenile Court, waiving a provision in his
own Executive Order 466 that would have required Rigali’s approval by the JNC within the last 18 months in order
for the nomination to be allowed.” (Melissa A. Murphy, “MA Governor Bypasses Selection Process With Judicial Pick,” Massachusetts
Lawyers Weekly, 8/1/05)
Romney Issued Executive Order Late In Term To Restrict Role Of Judicial Nominating Commission
Romney “Seized Control Of The Way Judges Are Nominated” And Weakened Power Of 35-Year-Old Non-
Political Panel As He Prepared To Run For President. “With an abundance of judicial vacancies likely this
year, Governor Mitt Romney has seized control of the way judges are nominated in Massachusetts, weakening a
35-year-old panel intended to evaluate candidates without regard to politics. In a series of executive actions,
Romney has stripped the Judicial Nominating Commission, a panel of 21 lawyers, of its long-held power to
evaluate candidates’ fitness for the bench, restricting their role to a cursory review of educational and professional
experience. The changes strengthen Romney’s ability to put his own stamp on the state’s judiciary, as he
prepares a possible run for president in 2008.” (Michael Levenson, “Romney Curtails Judicial Vacancy Panel,” The Boston Globe,
4/9/06)
Romney’s Action Was Reversal Of Pledge For “Squeaky Clean” Nominating Process. “Romney’s
actions have stunned lawyers and judges in Massachusetts because the governor made a point of elevating
the role of the Judicial Nominating Commission when he came to office in 2003, invoking John Adams as he
pledged a ‘squeaky clean process that has no room for politics and favors.’” (Michael Levenson, “Romney Curtails
Judicial Vacancy Panel,” The Boston Globe, 4/9/06)
Romney Broke Pledge Not To Make Lame Duck Judicial Nominations
Despite Vowing Not To Make Lame Duck Nominations After November 8, Romney Nominated 15 People
To The Bench After His Self-Imposed Deadline. (“Massachusetts News In Brief,” The Associated Press, 12/21/06)
In First Two And A Half Years Of His Term, Romney Picked Democrats & Independents 75% Of The Time
July 2005: Romney “Passed Over GOP Lawyers For Three-Quarters Of The 36 Judicial Vacancies” He Had
Faced At That Time. “Governor Mitt Romney, who touts his conservative credentials to out-of-state Republicans,
has passed over GOP lawyers for three-quarters of the 36 judicial vacancies he has faced, instead tapping
registered Democrats or independents including two gay lawyers who have supported expanded same-sex rights,
a Globe review of the nominations has found.” (Raphael Lewis, “Romney Jurist Picks Not Tilted To GOP,” The Boston Globe,
7/25/05)
Romney’s Picks By The Numbers: “Of the 36 people Romney named to be judges or clerk magistrates, 23
are either registered Democrats or unenrolled voters who have made multiple contributions to Democratic
politicians or who voted in Democratic primaries, state and local records show. In all, he has nominated nine
registered Republicans, 13 unenrolled voters, and 14 registered Democrats.” (Raphael Lewis, “Romney Jurist Picks
Not Tilted To GOP,” The Boston Globe, 7/25/05)
During His Full Term, Romney Chose Left-Leaning Jurists At Least 50% Of The Time
At Least 46 Registered Democrats Or Democrat Donors: A study of Romney’s 80 nominations to the bench
shows that Romney chose at least 46 nominees who were registered Democrats or independent voters who had
contributed to Democratic campaigns.
PROBLEMS WITH SPECIFIC NOMINEES
Romney Chose Two Openly Gay Lawyers For State Bench
Romney Nominated Candidates Who Are Strong Advocates Of Gay Rights. “Governor Mitt Romney, who
touts his conservative credentials to out-of-state Republicans, has passed over GOP lawyers for three-quarters of
the 36 judicial vacancies he has faced, instead tapping registered Democrats or independents including two gay
lawyers who have supported expanded same-sex rights, a Globe review of the nominations has found.” (Raphael
Lewis, “Romney Jurist Picks Not Tilted To GOP,” The Boston Globe, 7/25/05)
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Romney: “I’ve appointed approximately 60 judges, one or two of whom... one of whom I’m quite confident is
gay, the other may be gay as well. I think he probably is, and there may be more for all I know.” (Interview with
Marc Ambinder, “Romney Explains Himself,” National Journal, 2/9/07)
[Marianne] Hinkles Is An “Openly Gay” Judge. (Laura Kiritsy, “Romney Fires Another Gay,” Bay Windows, 7/20/06)
Hinkles Is A Member Of Dignity/USA, An Organization Of Gay And Lesbian Catholics. (Raphael Lewis,
“Romney Jurist Picks Not Tilted To GOP,” The Boston Globe, 7/25/05)
o DignityUSA Vision Statement: “DignityUSA envisions and works for a time when Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual and Transgender Catholics are affirmed and experience dignity through the integration of their
spirituality with their sexuality, and as beloved persons of God participate fully in all aspects of life within
the Church and Society.” (DignityUSA Website, www.dignityusa.org, Accessed 2/21/07)
[Stephen] Abany Is An “Openly Gay” Judge. (Laura Kiritsy, “Romney Fires Another Gay,” Bay Windows, 7/20/06)
Abany Is A Former Board Member Of The MA Lesbian And Gay Bar Association. (Raphael Lewis, “Romney
Jurist Picks Not Tilted To GOP,” The Boston Globe, 7/25/05)
Abany Organized Opposition To Bill That Would Have Outlawed Same-Sex Marriage. In May, Romney
selected for a district court judgeship Stephen S. Abany, a former board member of the Massachusetts
Lesbian and Gay Bar Association who organized the group’s opposition to a 1999 bill to outlaw same-sex
marriage. (“Republican Governor Leans To Dems When Selecting Judges,” The Associated Press, 7/25/05)
o Romney Noted Liberal Tilt Of State Bench Days Before Nominating Abany. Two days before
nominating Abany, Romney “was lamenting the liberal tilt of the state’s bench, telling Fox News that, ‘our
courts have a record here in Massachusetts, don’t they, of being a little blue and being Kerry-like.’”
(Raphael Lewis, “Romney Jurist Picks Not Tilted To GOP,” The Boston Globe, 7/25/05)
Abany Told Man To Obey Police And Then “Sue The Pants Off Them.” “Even if you are being treated
unfairly by police, Judge Stephen Abany told Richard Sorell, you must still obey the officers – but then ‘you
sue the pants off them.’” (Julie Manganis, “Bewitched Statue Protester Files Civil Rights Suit,” Salem News, 7/28/06)
Romney Appointed Commissioner Of Controversial State Agency To Judgeship
Romney Appointed Department Of Youth Services Commissioner Michael Bolden – Who Repeatedly
Defended Troubled Agency – To Seat On Boston Municipal Court. “Gov. Mitt Romney nominated the state’s
youth services commissioner Wednesday to become an associate justice at the Boston Municipal Court, after
three years leading an agency that often found itself caught up in controversy. If approved by the Governor’s
Council, Michael Bolden will become a judge in the court’s Roxbury division.” (“Massachusetts News In Brief,” The
Associated Press, 12/8/04)
Department Record: 100 Attempted Suicides In Two Years By Teens In Agency’s Care. “In March,
Bolden found himself defending the agency after a published report revealed that 100 teenagers in the care of
his department had attempted suicide in the preceding two years, and two had succeeded. Bolden said that
his staff is trained to prevent suicides, but cannot prevent all of them.” (“Massachusetts News In Brief,” The Associated
Press, 12/8/04)
One Employee Was Allowed To Remain On The Job After Strip Searching 13-Year-Old Boy. “In July,
the issue was a DYS employee who was allowed to continue working in a Worcester juvenile jail for nearly
two months after he allegedly conducted a sexually humiliating strip search on a 13-year-old boy.”
(“Massachusetts News In Brief,” The Associated Press, 12/8/04)
Bolden Allowed Release Of 130 Juvenile Offenders To Make A Political Point. “The short-lived decision
by the Department of Youth Services to release 130 offenders on the alleged grounds of budgetary
insufficiency without telling [Gov. Jane Swift’s] office was, calculated or not, a huge insult. She was
negotiating a $6.4 million supplemental appropriation with cooperative legislative leaders to cover the money
gap, and her staff says the leadership of DYS knew it. Commissioner Michael Bolden and his boss, Health
and Human Services Secretary Robert Gittens, apparently wanted us to believe that money was so short they
immediately had to close 164 beds, 14 percent of residential capacity. But to order 130 kids let loose with 88
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percent of the fiscal year remaining, and roughly that much of the available money unspent, is an insult to
everyone’s intelligence…” (Editorial, “DYS Fiasco Insults Our Intelligence,” Boston Herald, 8/16/02)
During ‘02 Campaign, Boston Herald Urged Romney To Fire Bolden If He Won Office. “If Mitt Romney
wins the Corner Office, he should tell these two [Bolden and former HHS Secretary Robert Gittens] not to
submit resumes.” (Editorial, “DYS Fiasco Insults Our Intelligence,” Boston Herald, 8/16/02)
Romney Appointed Woman Who Called State Police “Storm Troopers”
Romney Appointee Renee Dupuis Called State Police “Storm Troopers.” “But now Gov. Mitt Romney,
preparing to run for president as a conservative Republican, is trying to appoint as a judge a woman who in a
sworn 2001 deposition referred to the Rhode Island State Police as ‘storm troopers…’ This is from Renee
[Dupuis’] statement: ‘All he did was scream and yell and rant and rave that he was showing up . . . with the Rhode
Island state police. . . . He called my mother, who is 67 years old, and terrorized her that he was going to show up
with the storm troopers from Rhode Island.’” (Op-Ed, Howie Carr, “Mitt’s Pick Courts Controversy,” Boston Herald, 8/7/05)
Dupuis Allegedly Threatened She Would Shoot Her Ex-Husband, Saying She Would Be Better Off If He
Was Dead. “A top Bristol County prosecutor up for a juvenile court judgeship allegedly recently told her ex-
husband she should ‘just shoot’ him as their bitter custody battle rages in Plymouth Probate and Family Court,
records show. State police Sgt. Barry J. Domingos claimed that his ex-wife, former homicide prosecutor Renee
Dupuis, said: ‘We would be better off if you were dead. I should just shoot you’ according to a June 6 affidavit
reviewed by the Herald.” (Maggie Mulvihill, “Claims Probed In Judge Pick; Appointment On Hold,” Boston Herald, 8/9/05)
Romney Waived His Own Executive Order For “Emergency” Nomination Of Previously Rejected Judge
Claiming Emergency Vacancy, Romney Waived His Own Executive Order To Appoint Henry Rigali To
Juvenile Court. “Gov. Mitt Romney has named a lawyer to the Juvenile Court without approval from the current
Judicial Nominating Commission, bypassing a complex system that was designed to combat patronage and
favoritism in judicial picks. Citing a vacancy that was ‘seriously hampering the court’s ability to keep up with its
caseload,’ Romney nominated Springfield attorney Henry L. Rigali for a seat on the Hampden County Juvenile
Court, waiving a provision in his own Executive Order 466 that would have required Rigali’s approval by the JNC
within the last 18 months in order for the nomination to be allowed.” (Melissa A. Murphy, “MA Governor Bypasses Selection
Process With Judicial Pick,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 8/1/05)
Rigali Already Had Been Rejected For Superior Court Judgeship In The Past. “Rigali, who has already been
rejected for a superior court judgeship, has been slammed for a lack of experience and for wrongfully convicting a
Springfield man. His nomination also has been questioned because Romney waived some application rules for
him.” (Dave Wedge, “Objections Raised Vs. Romney Bench Nominees,” Boston Herald, 8/10/05)
Rigali Nomination Was Eventually Withdrawn Over Controversy Surrounding Romney Bypassing
Nomination Process. “When Rigali’s well-publicized nomination was later withdrawn amid controversy that the
governor had bypassed the judicial nominating process, most assumed that another candidate would be named
shortly. But now, almost 20 months after the position first opened, the judgeship remains unfilled…” (David Frank,
“Vacancy On Hampden Juvenile Court Has Lawyers And Judges Miffed,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 2/13/06)
Romney Nominated Lawyer Who Defended Drunk Driver And Child Rapist
Dominic Paratore Called Sentence Of Six Years For His Client, A Drunk Driver Who Killed Standout High
School Student, “A Little Bit Harsh.” “A high school dropout whose drunken death-defying dash up Route 1 on
Christmas night 2001 killed one of the top high school students in the country was sentenced yesterday to spend
at least the next six years behind bars ... ‘I think it’s a little bit harsh,’ defense attorney Dominic Paratore said. The
maximum sentence [Brendan] Murphy could have received was 15 years. ‘He was celebrating with friends and
made a bad choice,’ Paratore said.” (Laurel J. Sweet, “Wakefield Man Gets Six Years For DUI Death Of Star Student,” Boston
Herald, 3/17/03)
Paratore Also Defended An Accused Child Rapist, Calling Him “A Hard-Working Kid.” “A Wilmington man
pleaded innocent yesterday to charges he raped two girls repeatedly, sexually assaulted a third and fed alcohol
and drugs to a fourth over the past six years. ‘He’s a hard-working kid who’s never been in trouble with the law
before,’ [Andrew] Ventre’s attorney, Dominic Paratore, said. ‘His employer supports him. His mother and family
are supporting him.’” (Jose Martinez, “Man Pleads Innocent To Child Rape Charges,” Boston Herald, 1/15/00)
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Romney Appointed Judge Seen As Easy On Criminals
Mitchell Sikora Sentenced Woman Whose Speeding Car Killed A Police Officer To Probation And
Community Service. “After Garland pleaded guilty yesterday to negligent motor vehicle homicide, speeding and
driving to endanger, Sikora continued her case without a finding for four years. During that time, she will be on
probation and will be required to perform 2,000 hours of community service.” (David Weber, “Driver Who Killed Cop Could
Drive In Six Months,” Boston Herald, 4/6/02)
Sikora Allowed Same Woman To Reapply For Her Driver’s License In Six Months. “In 2002, Sikora
cleared the way for a woman who pleaded guilty to running down and killing Medfield police officer Daniel
McCarthy, 38, to reapply for her driver’s license in six months. Rita Garland served no prison time for motor
vehicle homicide and reckless driving.” (Laurel J. Sweet And Howie Carr, “Nominee Faces Judgment Day,” Boston Herald,
11/21/06)
Sikora Acquitted Man Accused Of Killing Woman With Date Rape Drug. “In 2004, Sikora engendered the
wrath of the family of a Carver woman, Jacqueline O’Donnell, when during a bench trial he acquitted the man
accused of accidentally killing her with a date-rape drug.” (Laurel J. Sweet And Howie Carr, “Nominee Faces Judgment Day,”
Boston Herald, 11/21/06)
Romney Nominee Failed To Disclose Past Sexual Harrassment Reprimand, Asked Female Coworker For
Lap Dance
Housing Court Magistrate Nominee Stephen Carreiro Was Reprimanded For 2 Incidents Of Sexual
Harrassment, A Fact He Withheld From The Judicial Nominating Commission. “A nominee for the lifetime
post of Southeast Housing Court clerk-magistrate was hammered by the Governor’s Council yesterday for failing
to disclose he’d been written up for sexual harassment. The two incidents, which Carreiro also withheld from the
Judicial Nominating Commission, allegedly occurred six years ago in the Housing Court’s Brockton office. A
female housing specialist, who continues to work with Carreiro, first assistant clerk-magistrate, complained in
writing to her supervisor that in the presence of two other male assistant magistrates, Carreiro, who is 52 and
married, ‘indicated he would like me to accompany him to the Foxy Lady . . . at lunch time.’ ‘Mr. Carreiro further
suggested that I should perform either a “lap” or “table” dance at this establishment,’ the woman wrote. Less than
a month after that alleged encounter, on Oct. 23, 2000, she said Carreiro again invited her to join him at the strip
club. After investigating, now retired Clerk Magistrate Carlton Viveiros stuck a reprimand in Carreiro’s file.” (Laurel
J. Sweet, “Blast From Past Hits Magistrate Nominee,” Boston Herald, 12/6/06)
Romney Withdrew Carreiro’s Nomination Without Comment. “Governor Mitt Romney abruptly withdrew his
nomination of a Freetown lawyer for a top magistrate’s position in the Housing Court yesterday, hours before a
scheduled confirmation vote. In recent days, Romney had refused to say whether he stood by Stephen G.
Carreiro, his nominee for clerk magistrate of the court’s Southeast Division, after disclosures that Carreiro had
been reprimanded for asking a female court employee to give him a lap dance.” (Michael Levenson, “Romney Withdraws
Court Nomination Pick Was Cited For Sexual Remark,” The Boston Globe, 12/14/06)
Romney Nominated Well-Connected Candidates, Many Of Whom Had Liberal Credentials
Romney Nominee Marianne Hinkle Served As An Aide To Former Gov. Michael Dukakis (D). (Mitt Romney,
Letter To The Executive Council, 1/12/05)
Romney Superior Court Nominee Merita Hopkins Served As Chief Of Staff To Boston Mayor Tom Menino
(D). (Russell Nichols and Kathleen Burge, “Romney Names 4 Women To Bench,” The Boston Globe, 4/27/06)
Hopkins Received Letter Of Recommendation From Sen. Ted Kennedy. (Sen. Ted Kennedy, Letter To The
Governor’s Council, 5/15/06)
Romney Nominee C. Jeffrey Kinder Listed Involvement In Association Of Trial Lawyers Of America
(ATLA) On His Resume. (Mitt Romney, Letter To The Executive Council, 7/19/06)
Kinder Also Contributed To MoveOn.org In 2004. (Mitt Romney, Letter To The Executive Council, 7/19/06)
Romney Nominee James J. McGovern Listed Involvement In Association Of Trial Lawyers Of America
And The Massachusetts Trial Lawyers Association On His Resume. (Mitt Romney, Letter To The Executive Council,
7/19/06)
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Nominee D. Lloyd McDonald Formed Republican Group Backing Democratic Legislative Candidate In
1994. “In another case of cross-party support, Suzanne Ianella and D. Lloyd Macdonald have formed a
Republicans for Demakis committee in support of the Democrat, Paul Demakis. A total of 24 Republicans in the
8th Suffolk District have signed on. In a joint statement, Ianella and Macdonald said Demakis would ‘provide
forceful leadership on the quality-of-life issues affecting our neighborhood – issues that are neither Democratic
nor Republican, nor liberal nor conservative.’” (Michael Kenney, “18th Suffolk Race: A Lost Choice,” The Boston Globe, 10/30/94)
Romney Nominee Andrew Grainger Was Business Consultant With Ties To Bain & Co. “Andrew R.
Grainger, 58, of Boston, who hasn’t tried a case since 1996, also worked as a consultant for Bain & Co. Inc., a
business where Romney was an executive. Bain … hired Grainger’s firm, Centerline Consulting Inc., which he ran
between 1996 and 1998, to advise them on legal expenses … Romney selected Grainger after passing over a
lineup of experienced Massachusetts lawyers and judges in 2004 even though they had been approved by
Romney’s Judicial Nominating Commission. (Maggie Mulvihill, “Skipper Passes Mitt’s Muster,” Boston Herald, 3/17/06)
FEDERAL BENCH RECOMMENDATIONS
Romney Submitted Former Clinton Impeachment Defender For Federal Judgeship
Romney Recommended Lawyer Henry Moniz, Who Defended President Clinton During Impeachment, For
Spot On Federal Bench. “Governor Mitt Romney has recommended 13 Massachusetts candidates, including
several with strong Democratic backgrounds, for consideration by the White House for a federal judgeship in
Boston. … The list includes … Henry T. A. Moniz, a lawyer of Cape Verdean descent with the Boston firm
Bingham McCutchen, who helped represent President Clinton during the impeachment proceedings…” (Frank
Phillips, “Romney Sends White House 13 Choices For US Judgeship,” The Boston Globe, 4/11/03)
“[Moniz] Was One Of Only Seven Attorneys Nationwide Chosen To Join The Democratic Counsel To
The Judiciary Committee Of The U.S. House Of Representatives During The Inquiry Of President
Clinton’s Impeachment.” (“40 Under 40: Henry T.A. Moniz,” The Boston Business Journal, 11/2/01)
“Moniz Advised And Assisted Democratic Members Of Congress During The Inquiry On The
Impeachment Of Former President Clinton.” (Georg Szalai, “Viacom Stresses Radio Standards,” The Hollywood Reporter,
2/20/04)
Moniz Worked For Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Who Now Advocates Impeaching President Bush. “Seeing
the country headed toward preimpeachment hearings … Moniz wrote to Conyers, the ranking member of the
Judiciary Committee. ‘I begged for an interview,’ he said later … ‘Being someone who’s not politically connected, I
feel very fortunate to have this position and I owe it all to Congressman John Conyers,’ Moniz said.” (Jean Laquidara
Hill, “Local Prosecutor Lands Hearings Role,” Telegram & Gazette [Worcester, MA], 12/20/98)
Romney Also Appointed Moniz To A Special Gubernatorial Panel On Capital Punishment. “After months of
research and deliberation, a panel appointed by the governor has come up with a way that capital punishment
can be instituted in Massachusetts without the risk that an innocent person could be executed, Romney
administration aides say. The Governor’s Council on Capital Punishment is in the final stages of preparing its
report, the aides said. … The panel includes … Henry T.A. Moniz, a lawyer with Bingham McCutcheon in
Boston…” (Frank Phillips, “Report To Back Death Penalty,” The Boston Globe, 4/22/04)
Romney Recommended Prominent Democrat Donor For Seat On Federal Bench
In 2003, Romney Suggested Worcester Attorney Michael Angelini For A Federal Judgeship. “President
Bush is looking for a nominee for a federal judge who could be the next one to sit on the bench in U.S. District
Court in Worcester. Michael P. Angelini, chairman of Bowditch & Dewey, is the only Central Massachusetts
lawyer on a list of 14 names the governor has sent to Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry. … While Mr.
Romney reaches out to Democrats, there is a question whether President Bush would overlook Mr. Angelini’s
contributions to Democratic candidates over the years.” (Lee Hammel, “Angelini On Short List For Judgeship,” Telegram &
Gazette [Worcester, MA], 4/3/03)
Angelini’s Political Donations (Federal Candidates, 1992-2006)
Date Amount Recipient Date Amount Recipient
10/20/2003 $200 McGovern, James P 3/17/1999 $200 McGovern, James P
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4/8/2004 $250 McGovern, James P 12/2/1997 $200 McGovern, Jim
6/26/2002 $200 McGovern, James P 6/25/1999 $500 Kerry, John
6/26/2002 $200 McGovern, James P 10/2/1996 $500 Dem. Natl. Committee
3/7/2006 $500 Forward Together PAC 6/19/1996 $1,000 Kerry, John
7/18/2005 $250 Kennedy, Edward M 2/16/1994 $500 O’Sullivan, Kevin
6/30/2001 $250 Kerry, John 10/19/1994 $500 Kennedy, Edward M
6/30/1997 $500 Kennedy, Joseph P II 10/19/1994 $300 O’Sullivan, Kevin
2/7/1997 $300 Kennedy, Joseph P II 10/31/1994 $200 O’Sullivan, Kevin
6/28/1997 $500 McGovern, Jim 9/30/1996 $500 McGovern, Jim
10/19/1998 $500 McGovern, Jim 10/11/1996 $222 McGovern, Jim
7/22/1998 $250 McGovern, Jim 9/9/1992 $1,000 Early, Joseph D
6/28/1999 $250 McGovern, James P 2/16/1992 $250 Tsongas, Paul
6/12/2000 $250 McGovern, James P 10/30/1992 $250 Early, Joseph D
(Source: Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 2/7/07)
Romney Appointed Strong Democrat As Berkshire County District Attorney
Romney Considered Republicans, Ultimately Chose Democrat To Fill Berkshire County Vacancy.
“Republican Gov. Mitt Romney on Friday appointed career prosecutor David Capeless, a Democrat, to be interim
district attorney for Berkshire County, replacing Gerard Downing, who died suddenly in December. … Romney,
who had also considered Republican candidates, said Capeless would provide continuity for the office, which
currently has three first-degree murder cases pending.” (“Romney Appoints New Berkshire District Attorney,” The Associated
Press, 1/30/04)
CONFEDERATE FLAG/SOUTHERN ISSUES
Romney Said Confederate Flag In South Carolina Is A State Issue To Be Decided By Local Officials
Romney Believes Flag Controversy Is State Issue. “A former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, has
rarely faced the flag question on the campaign trail so far, but a campaign spokesman confirmed yesterday that
Mr. Romney believes it is a state issue.” (Russell Berman, “Flag Of Dixie Divides GOP Candidates,” New York Sun, 4/12/07)
“Confederate Flag: [Romney] Said It’s A State Issue That Should Be Decided By South Carolinians.”
(“Where The Candidates Stand,” The State, 2/11/07)
Romney Would Accept Invite To Speak At Bob Jones University
Romney Would Be “Happy” To Speak At Bob Jones University. “Romney sat down with WPDE-TV in Myrtle
Beach, SC 11/28. … Romney also said he would accept an invite to address Bob Jones University if invited.
Romney: ‘I’m happy to speak to virtually any audience that’s willing to listen to me.’” (The Hotline, 11/29/06)
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ECONOMIC ISSUES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
State spending increased at well over rate of inflation under Romney’s watch, estimated at 24% - more than
$5 billion – over Romney’s final three years.
Under Romney, Massachusetts dramatically underperformed the rest of the nation in terms of job growth.
Romney has been criticized by experts for failing to deliver on issues of business development and economic
growth after selling himself as the “CEO governor.”
2006 report issued by quasi-public Massachusetts Technology Collaborative warned the state was losing its
grip as leader in “innovation economy” and that tech job was alarmingly slow.
Romney left his successor to fill a budget deficit exceeding $1 billion.
Romney raised state fees and taxes more than $700 million per year, according to independent experts.
Romney raised fees by roughly $500 million in his first year alone, a figure that was highest in the nation.
Romney quadrupled gun licensing fees and raised fees on first responders, real estate transactions, the blind,
golfers and many others.
Massachusetts’ state and local tax burden rose more than 7% during Romney’s administration.
Romney refused to endorse the Bush tax cuts in 2003, telling the state’s all-Democrat congressional
delegation he wouldn’t be a cheerleader for the plan.
Romney implemented three rounds of tax changes (which he referred to as “closing loopholes”) which
increased business taxes by an estimated $400 million per year.
Massachusetts’ corporate tax climate now ranks 47th in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation.
Romney proposed – then backed away from – a new internet tourism tax that would levy higher taxes on
users of sites like Orbitz and Travelocity.
Romney enrolled Massachusetts in multistate compact aiming to end moratorium on internet sales taxes.
Romney took no position on estate tax issue in 2002 and signed 50% increase in state cremation fee, which
observers called “hidden tax on the dead.”
SPENDING
On Romney’s Watch, State Spending Increased At Rate Well Above Inflation
Under Romney, State Spending Increased By More Than 24% (Over $5 Billion) In Only Three Years – An
Annual Increase Of 8%. Total FY2007 spending is projected by the state to reach roughly $26.85 billion, an
increase of 24.2% from the roughly $21.6 billion spent in FY04, Romney’s first full fiscal year in office. (State Of
Massachusetts Website, “Historical Spending,” http://budget.mass.gov, 4/4/07)
MASSACHUSETTS STATE SPENDING: FY04-FY07
Year FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07-projected
Outlays $21,620,073,992 $22,337,339,709 $24,590,214,418 $26,850,718,837
Prior Yr Increase -- 3.3% 10.1% 9.2%
Total Spending Increase: 24.2%
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Romney Has Criticized The Bush Administration For Not Controlling Spending. “In his speech, Romney
gave a backhanded criticism of the current Republican administration, saying there is too much spending in
Washington and that such spending should be vetoed, something President Bush has not done. But he also
called for increased tax cuts coupled with increased spending on the military.” (Mary Beth Schneider, “Romney Blasts Reid
For Remarks On Iraq,” Indianapolis Star, 4/21/07)
To Close Budget Gap And Fund New Spending, Romney Increased Fees And Taxes By Roughly $700
Million Per Year, According To Independent Experts
Independent Analysis Found Romney Raised More Than $700 Million Per Year In Fees And Taxes. “Fees
and taxes have increased more than $700 million a year under Governor Mitt Romney and Lieutenant Governor
Kerry Healey, a leading budget specialist said yesterday. Michael J. Widmer – president of the Massachusetts
Taxpayers Foundation, which closely tracks state finances – said the state has raised roughly $740 million to
$750 million per year by increasing fees and corporate taxes gained from what the Romney administration
describes as ‘closing loopholes.’” (Brian Mooney, “Analyst Puts Increase In Fees, Taxes At $700m,” The Boston Globe, 9/27/06)
“[R]omney … Approved Hundreds Of Millions In Higher Fees And Fines Including Raising The Cost Of
Getting A Marriage License, Filing A Court Case, Buying A House Or Renewing A Drivers License.” (Steve
LeBlanc, “Romney, In Change Of Heart, Signs No-New-Taxes Pledge,” The Associated Press, 1/5/07)
Romney Fee Hikes Compared To 1980s Policies Of Then-Gov. Michael Dukakis (D). “Politicians turning to
fees when taxes are not an option is nothing new in Massachusetts history. In the early 1980s, then-governor
Michael S. Dukakis swore off tax hikes, but proposed a set of fees under a package he called the Revenue
Enhancement and Protection Program.” (Joanna Weiss, “Romney Proposals On Fees Draw Fire,” The Boston Globe, 2/28/03)
“A 2003 Survey Of States By The National Conference Of State Legislatures Found Massachusetts
Imposed At Least $501.5 Million In Fee Hikes, Far More Than Any Other State In The Nation That Year.”
(Steve LeBlanc, “Romney, In Change Of Heart, Signs No-New-Taxes Pledge,” The Associated Press, 1/5/07)
Taxpayer Watchdog Group: Romney Disguised Tax Hikes As Fee Increases. “[Citizens for Limited Taxation]
is planning a lawsuit to challenge some of the $500 million in hikes they say are tax increases disguised as fees.
They include a boost in the gun permit fee from $25 to $100, and a new $3,000-a-year fee on nursing home ‘self-
payers,’ or residents who are not on Medicaid.” (Tom Benner, “Romney Promises Collide With Reality,” The Patriot Ledger
[Quincy, MA], 12/27/03)
Roughly 100 Days Into Romney’s Tenure, A Boston Herald Editorial Noted His “Over-Reliance” On Fee
Hikes And Business Tax Increases. “Romney’s over-reliance on new and higher fees, though, undermines his
case that government is riddled with waste, and imposes a burden on working people. And this businessman’s
willingness to embrace corporate tax hikes, in the guise of closing tax loopholes, could undermine the state’s
economic recovery.” (Editorial, “Romney’s 100 Days A Good Beginning,” Boston Herald, 4/11/03)
TAXES
Total State And Local Tax Burden Increased More Than 7% Under Romney And Massachusetts’ Corporate
Tax Climate Is Among The Nation’s Worst
State And Local Tax Burden Increased By Over 7% While Romney Was Governor. According to the Tax
Foundation, Massachusetts’ state and local tax burden was 9.8% in 2002 – the year before Romney took office –
and rose to 10.5% in 2006, an increase of 7.1%. (Tax Foundation Website, http:/www.taxfoundation.org, Accessed 4/6/07)
Recent Study Found Massachusetts’ Corporate Tax Climate Ranks 47th In The Nation. In the Tax
Foundation’s rankings of state-by-state business tax climates for 2007, only three states in the entire country were
found to have a worse corporate tax climate than Massachusetts. (Tax Foundation Website, www.taxfoundation.org,
Accessed 6/15/07)
To Address State Budget Gap, Romney Implemented Three Rounds Of Tax Changes That Increased
Business Taxes By Roughly $400 Million A Year, According To Most Analysts
Romney Implemented Policies To Close “Corporate Loopholes” – Changes Widely Described As Tax
Increases. “Mr. Romney says he did not raise taxes, but some critics say that is not entirely accurate. There was
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no broad-based tax increase – no change in the income tax, sales tax or gas tax – but Mr. Romney did increase
some fees, and he instituted changes that he called closing corporate tax loopholes, which some consider a
euphemism for raising corporate taxes.” (Pam Belluck, “Romney Candidacy Puts Massachusetts Economy in Spotlight,” The New
York Times, 3/16/07)
Boston Globe: “In All, Three Rounds Of Corporate Tax Changes Produced About $400 Million In New
Revenue Annually, According To State Officials.” “Four years ago, with Massachusetts facing a $3 billion
deficit and struggling economy, Romney avoided raising income or other broad-based taxes by aggressively
going after what he described as tax loopholes and by raising fees. In all, three rounds of corporate tax changes
produced about $400 million in new revenue annually, according to state officials. Eventually, Romney pulled
back on some $85 million of corporate tax changes when the business community objected loudly and the
economy began improving.” (Steve Bailey, “Patrick Eyes Corporate Tax Changes,” The Boston Globe, 2/16/07)
Romney’s Policy Changes “Raised The Business Income Tax About $400 Million A Year.” “Politicians,
Paul Tsongas used to warn, too often treat the business sector as though it’s an ATM machine, tapping it
constantly for cash without worrying about replenishing the account. That’s a pretty fair description of what’s
been happening here in the last few years. Mitt Romney started it, closing so-called loopholes that raised the
business income tax about $400 million a year.” (Scot Lehigh, Op-Ed, “Business Climate Will Suffer With Rise In Tax
Burden,” The Boston Globe, 3/6/07)
In Early 2006, A “Chastened” Romney Had To Scale Back Plan To Raise $170 Million In New Business
Taxes After Corporate Community Warned Such Changes Could Hurt The Economy. “Chastened by an
outcry from business leaders, Governor Mitt Romney abandoned yesterday his proposal to raise $170 million by
closing corporate tax loopholes and sent legislators a stripped-down version. ‘We’ve heard very broadly from the
business community that some of these tax law changes would impact jobs in the state, and we can’t afford that
right now,’ said Romney’s spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom. ‘Governor Romney is a good listener, and he’s open to
making adjustments in his budget where they are warranted.’” (Scott Greenberger and Janette Neuwahl, “Romney Scales
Back Tax Bill On Businesses,” The Boston Globe, 3/26/05)
Romney’s Plan “Prompted A Loud Outcry From Fiscal Conservatives Nationally And The Business
Community.” “In the first two years as governor, the Legislature has approved his proposal to close other
corporate loopholes … This year, he again proposed to eliminate what he called ‘flaws and outdated
provisions’ in state tax law. But, as he tested the waters for a presidential campaign, his latest effort prompted
a loud outcry from fiscal conservatives nationally and the business community, an important constituency for
him.” (Scott Greenberger and Janette Neuwahl, “Romney Scales Back Tax Bill On Businesses,” The Boston Globe, 3/26/05)
Beacon Hill Institute’s David Tuerck Confirms Romney Did Raise Taxes As Governor. WALL STREET
JOURNAL’S PAUL GIGOT: “The governor claims that he closed a $3 billion fiscal gap, budget deficit without
raising taxes. So did he raise taxes to do that or not?” TUERCK: “Well, he did. He raised some taxes in the form
of closing corporate loopholes, as he called them.” (Fox News’ “Journal Editorial Report,” 3/31/07)
Tuerck: “You can call this closing a loophole if you want … what it really is is a tax hike.” (Charles Stein, “The
Selling Of A State Tax Loophole,” The Boston Globe, 4/17/03)
Tax Expert Joseph Crosby “Said It’s Hard To Discern The Difference Between Romney’s Changes And
Tax Increases.” “The new governor also collected an additional $255 million from businesses by closing what he
called tax loopholes. … But Joseph R. Crosby of the Washington-based Council on State Taxation, which
monitors tax policy for 575 corporations, said it’s hard to discern the difference between Romney’s changes and
tax increases.” (Scott Greenberger, “Romney Often Casts Himself As Budget Hero,” The Boston Globe, 10/24/05)
Associated Industries Of Massachusetts’ Eileen McAnneny: “Tough To Characterize” Romney’s Actions
“As Anything But A Tax Increase.” McANNENY: “In our estimation, it’s tough to characterize [Romney’s plan to
close ‘loopholes’] as anything but a tax increase … They’re not loophole closings – they are policy changes.” (Scott
S. Greenberger and Matthew Rodriguez, “Governor’s Fiscal Plan Targets Tax ‘Loopholes’,” The Boston Globe, 3/4/04)
Boston Herald: “It’s A Tax Increase.” “We take the logical view that if a policy change requires more taxes to
be paid, it’s a tax increase. But no one can disagree that the end result of Romney’s plans will drive up the cost of
doing business.” (Editorial, “Closing ‘Loopholes’ Just A Tax Hike,” Boston Herald, 1/10/05)
National Taxpayers Union’s John Berthoud: “That’s A Tax Increase.” “John Berthoud, president of the
National Taxpayers Union, retorted, ‘Closing tax loopholes and not cutting rates concurrently – that’s a tax
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increase. The loopholes business is sometimes patina to make it seem like it’s not really an increase.” (Alexander
Bolton, “Romney’s Tax Record Gets A Closer Look,” The Hill, 3/28/07)
Experts, Business Groups And Elected Officials Agree Romney Increased Taxes As Governor
Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation’s Michael Widmer: Romney Policies Resulted In Higher Taxes.
“[O]fficials from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation say Romney has yet to come clean with national
conservatives. … Foundation president Michael Widmer said several of Romney’s policies while governor
resulted in higher taxes, including local aid cuts, fee hikes and changes to corporate tax codes.” (Casey Ross and
Dave Wedge, “It’s official: Mitt’s In Mix For ‘08,” Boston Herald, 2/7/07)
Widmer: “[S]aying that he didn’t raise taxes is an incomplete picture.” (Casey Ross and Dave Wedge, “It’s official: Mitt’s
In Mix For ‘08,” Boston Herald, 2/7/07)
Widmer: “Many of the changes last year, and a number of these in this package, are clearly tax increases in
our view.” (Scott Greenberger and Matthew Rodriguez, “Governor’s Fiscal Plan Targets Tax ‘Loopholes’,” The Boston Globe, 3/4/04)
Cato Institute: Romney’s Rhetoric On Taxes “Mostly A Myth.” “[R]omney will likely also be eager to push the
message that he was a governor who stood by a no-new-taxes pledge. That’s mostly a myth. His first budget
included no general tax increases but did include a $500 million increase in various fees. He later proposed $140
in business tax hikes through the closing of ‘loopholes’ in the tax code.” (Stephen Slivinski, “Fiscal Policy Report Card On
America’s Governors: 2006,” Cato Institute, 2006, p. 26)
Cato Awarded Romney A “C” For His 2006 Fiscal Performance. Romney received a worse score from
CATO than Democrats Phil Bredesen (TN), John Lynch (NH) and Bill Richardson (NM). (Cato Institute Website,
www.cato.org, Accessed 1/21/07)
Cato Gave Romney A “C” For His Overall Tenure. (Cato Institute Website, www.cato.org, Accessed 1/21/07)
Cato’s Stephen Slivinski: “If The Spirit Is To Save Money Before You Increase Revenues, I Don’t Think
Romney Has Held To The Spirit Of The No-New-Tax Pledge.” “‘Romney’s people are trying to spin this by
saying he kept his “No new taxes” pledge,’ said Stephen Slivinski, director of budget studies at Cato. ‘I guess if
you consider only personal income taxes and sales taxes, he’s within bounds. If you take a broader view, he is
not.’ ‘The spirit of [anti-tax pledges] is to force governors to find more innovative ways of funding government,’ he
added. ‘If the spirit is to save money before you increase revenues, I don’t think Romney has held to the spirit of
the no-new-tax pledge.’” (Alexander Bolton, “Romney’s Tax Record Gets A Closer Look,” The Hill, 3/28/07)
National Taxpayers Union’s John Berthoud: “Once The Dollar Amount Of The Fee Exceeds Cost Of
Service, We Categorize It As A Tax Hike.” “It is legitimate for government to charge a fee for services … Once
the dollar amount of the fee exceeds cost of service, we categorize it as a tax hike. When you look at those
aggregate numbers it’s hard to imagine the dollars being raised for folks didn’t exceed the cost of service.”
(Alexander Bolton, “Romney’s Tax Record Gets A Closer Look,” The Hill, 3/28/07)
House Taxation Committee Chair Rep. Paul Casey (D): “It’s certainly, positively, without a doubt an increase
on taxes in certain categories … What the governor wants to call it is just a semantic battle.” (Scott S. Greenberger and
Matthew Rodriguez, “Governor’s Fiscal Plan Targets Tax ‘Loopholes’,” The Boston Globe, 3/4/04)
Former State Party Chairman Jim Rappaport (R): “The Romney-Healey [administration’s] … biggest public
relations/administrative problems [are] the Big Dig and its fee and tax increases.” (Kimberly Atkins, “The Monday Morning
Briefing,” The Boston Globe, 10/2/06)
American Thinker’s Selwyn Duke: “[R]emember this when Romney touts his credentials as a fiscal
conservative. While he may boast of his steadfast refusal to raise taxes, it rings hollow when he turns around and
mandates citizen expenditures and levies fines.” (Selwyn Duke, “Mitt Romney: A Massachusetts Liberal For President,” The
American Thinker, www.americanthinker.com, 1/9/07)
In 1994, Romney Had Supported An Inflation-Indexed Minimum Wage Hike – Which Would Have Burdened
Businesses Even Further
Romney Backed Indexing Minimum Wage To Inflation, Drawing Charges Of Flip-Flopping. “Republican
Senate candidate Mitt Romney, who has been hammered by incumbent Democrat Edward M. Kennedy for
allegedly opposing a 30-cent increase in the $4.25 minimum wage, said yesterday on national television that he
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would support boosting it by even more through indexing it to inflation. Romney’s comments, made on the ABC-
TV program ‘This Week,’ brought charges of flip-flopping by Kennedy spokesman Rick Gureghian, who called it ‘a
double somersault. He’s desperately trying to remake himself because people now know he’s the candidate for
the rich and privileged, not the working men and women of the commonwealth.’” (Peter Howe, “Romney Recasts His
Minimum-Wage Plan,” The Boston Globe, 10/17/94)
Romney Would Have Raised Minimum Wage 50 Percent More Than Ted Kennedy. “Inflation has risen
about 11 percent since the beginning of 1991, so Romney’s plan would raise the minimum wage by about 45
cents, or 50 percent more than the Kennedy-proposed increase that Kennedy asserts Romney opposes.”
(Peter Howe, “Romney Recasts His Minimum-Wage Plan,” The Boston Globe, 10/17/94)
Romney: Minimum Wage “Ought To Be Updated … An Inflationary Increase Is Appropriate.” “Questioned
by ABC newsman Sam Donaldson, Romney said, ‘I think the minimum wage ought to keep pace with inflation. I
think the minimum wage is a good thing to have in our economy and I think it ought to be updated. We’ve had
some inflation since the time it was set at $ 4.25 in April 1991, so I think an inflationary increase is appropriate.’”
(Peter Howe, “Romney Recasts His Minimum-Wage Plan,” The Boston Globe, 10/17/94)
Romney Proposed – Then Backed Away From – Plan To Implement “Internet Tourism Tax” On Users Of
Online Travel Booking Sites Like Expedia And Travelocity
In 2005, Romney Backed Away From His Plan To Implement An “Internet Tourism Tax” After Being
“Spooked By Even The Suggestion He Might Raise Taxes.” “Governor Mitt Romney, spooked by even the
suggestion he might raise taxes, has backed away from precedent-setting legislation that would have changed
the way travelers pay hotel occupancy taxes when they get rooms from companies like Hotels.com, Expedia, and
Hotwire. The rationale for the legislation was fairly simple: State and local occupancy taxes should be assessed
on the rates consumers actually pay for their hotel rooms. That’s the way it works now only when a traveler buys
a room directly from a hotel. When the traveler purchases a room through a third-party website, taxes are
assessed on the lower wholesale rate the website paid for the room.” (Bruce Mohl, “State Backs Off Adjusting Online
Occupancy Tax,” The Boston Globe, 2/13/05)
Plan Would Have Raised $12-18 Million In New Taxes. “[The proposal] would have raised an estimated $12
million to $18 million a year for the state by making consumers who book rooms here through travel websites pay
more in state and local hotel occupancy and convention center taxes.” (Bruce Mohl, “State Backs Off Adjusting Online
Occupancy Tax,” The Boston Globe, 2/13/05)
Romney’s Proposal “Worried Many Hotel Operators Here Who Feared They Might Get Caught In The
Middle.” “The proposed legislation worried many hotel operators here who feared they might get caught in the
middle. The hotels feared the Department of Revenue might come after them for the additional tax money if the
online resellers refused to voluntarily pass it along. Hotel operators worried they might have to chase the websites
for the money or, worse, collect it from customers at check-in.” (Bruce Mohl, “State Backs Off Adjusting Online Occupancy
Tax,” The Boston Globe, 2/13/05)
Boston Herald Called Romney’s Plan “Pennywise And Pound Foolish.” “Bureaucratic quibbling aside,
consumers will be stuck paying higher taxes if a proposed Internet hotel tax becomes law. That sure sounds like a
textbook tax increase to us. In a state where tourism is the third biggest industry with an economic impact of some
$11 billion a year, it is pennywise and pound foolish to raise taxes on hotel rooms booked through Web sites like
Expedia.com or Travelocity .com for the relative pittance of $18 million.” (Editorial, “Hotel Tax ‘Loophole’ Sham,” Boston
Herald, 7/9/04)
Romney “Got Cold Feet” And Dropped The Plan To Raise Taxes On Internet Tourism After Opposition
From Low-Tax Advocates. “The state Department of Revenue last year sought to tax all rooms the same way,
no matter how they were purchased. The hotel industry blocked the measure, deriding it as an ‘Internet tourism
tax.’ The department was ready to try again this year when Romney got cold feet and deleted it from a loophole-
closing package. Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney’s communications director, said the governor dropped the initiative for
two reasons. First, it failed to pass last year and its chances this year were considered slim. Second, Barbara
Anderson, executive director of Citizens for Limited Taxation, objected to it. ‘She thought it was a tax increase,’
Fehrnstrom said.” (Bruce Mohl, “State Backs Off Adjusting Online Occupancy Tax,” The Boston Globe, 2/13/05)
Romney Proposed And Instituted Sales Tax On Downloading Software
Romney Proposed The New Tax On Downloaded Software. “A recent proposal by Gov. Mitt Romney to tax
software downloaded from the Internet has drawn mixed reactions from legislators and industry organizations.
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Consumers must pay a 5 percent sales tax when they buy software in stores, but do not need to pay it when
shopping online. The bill would tax programs downloaded from the internet with the state’s standard 5 percent
sales tax.” (Andrew Shapira, “Romney To Support A Sales Tax On Downloaded Software,” [Boston University] The Daily Free Press,
4/25/03)
Sales Tax Applied To Downloaded Software For The First Time. “Software that is delivered to the end user by
download will, for the first time, be subject to Massachusetts sales tax starting next month. The same goes for so-
called ‘load-and-leave’ delivery, through which a software maker installs the program on your computer.
Lawmakers estimate the annual windfall to be somewhere along the lines of $50 million.” (Op-ed, Cosmo Macero Jr.,
“Download This: No More Free Ride On Net Software Buys,” Boston Herald, 3/7/06)
New Tax Approved “With The Full Support Of Romney.” “The quiet tax hike was included in a package of
‘loophole’ closing legislation approved last year with the full support of Romney.” (Op-ed, Cosmo Macero Jr., “Download
This: No More Free Ride On Net Software Buys,” Boston Herald, 3/7/06)
Software Sales Tax Expected To Impact Businesses The Hardest. “[A]ccording to Department of Revenue
spokesman Tim Connolly, the tax would not significantly affect the average consumer because most of the
revenue would come from corporations rather than individuals.” (Andrew Shapira, “Romney To Support A Sales Tax On
Downloaded Software,” [Boston University] The Daily Free Press, 4/25/03)
Romney Signed Multistate Pact And Passed Law To Allow For Internet Sales Tax In Massachusetts
Massachusetts Originally Opposed Internet Tax To Be Seen As A “High-Tech Friendly State.” “To foster a
reputation as a high-tech friendly state, Massachusetts took the lead in supporting a congressional moratorium on
such taxes, which was extended in 2001 to November of 2003 with the support of President George W. Bush.
Where some Main Street businesses saw unfair competition, state leaders saw the almost boundless potential of
the Internet to open new markets, and Massachusetts as an incubator for new cyberspace technology.” (Editorial,
“Internet Sales Tax Shortsighted Move,” Boston Herald, 3/19/03)
Romney Endorsed Plan That Would End Moratorium On Internet Sales Tax For 35 States, Including
Massachusetts. “Now, Romney has signed onto a plan for Massachusetts to join the Streamlined Sales Tax
Project, with more than 35 other states to simplify sales tax rules and ultimately clear the way for all online
merchants to collect taxes and return them to the coffers of the proper jurisdiction.” (Editorial, “Internet Sales Tax
Shortsighted Move,” Boston Herald, 3/19/03)
Romney Signed Law To Enroll Massachusetts In The Multistate Collaborative. “A new law signed by Gov.
Mitt Romney enrolls Massachusetts in a multistate collaborative looking for a better way for states to collect taxes
on Internet sales.” (Steve LeBlanc, “New Law Could Pave Way For Internet Sales Taxes In Massachusetts,” The Associated Press,
3/16/03)
Romney Signed Bill To Help Balance Budget. “Romney spokeswoman Nicole St. Peter said the governor
signed the bill after a suggestion from the legislature. ‘It was part of the budget balancing bill for the fiscal year
‘03,’ St. Peter said.” (Dennis Mayer, “Internet Sales Should Be Taxed, Romney Says,” [Boston University] The Daily Free Press, 4/25/03)
Romney’s Republican Predecessors Both Opposed Internet Sales Tax. “Former Gov. Paul Cellucci and
former acting Gov. Jane Swift both opposed Internet sales taxes. Swift last year vetoed the same bill Romney just
signed.” (Steve LeBlanc, “New Law Could Pave Way For Internet Sales Taxes In Massachusetts,” The Associated Press, 3/16/03)
Today, Mitt Romney Says He Will “Fight To Permanently Abolish The Death Tax” But Took “No Position”
On State Estate Tax Hike In 2002
Romney Now Supports Permanent Elimination Of Death Tax. “As part of his agenda to lower the tax burden
on the American people, Governor Romney has proposed permanently eliminating the Death Tax. Governor
Romney believes you strengthen the American people by letting them keep more of their own money, and not
taxing their families at death.” (Mitt Romney, “Policy Briefing: Abolishing The Death Tax,” Press Release, 4/19/07)
Romney: “I believe that it’s simply unfair to tax people when they earn their money, then again when they
save their money, and then again when they die.” (Thomas Beaumont, “Eliminating Federal Estate Tax Good For Iowans,
Romney Says,” Des Moines Register, 4/20/07)
In 2002, Massachusetts Changed Estate Tax Rules So That “Average Taxable Estate Could End Up Paying
Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars In Additional Charges.” “Thousands of Bay State residents will soon face
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