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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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higher Massachusetts estate taxes because of the state’s efforts to retain the ‘death tax’ even as the federal
government moves to eliminate its levy. … The change in the state’s death tax, which takes effect Jan. 1, initially
affects estates worth more than $700,000, according to the Revenue Department. It’s that level that is the key
difference between the old and new rules, because $700,000 is below the federal standard, meaning that estates
that may be exempt from the federal tax will still owe the state. Under the old rules, the state and federal
exemptions were the same. The average taxable estate could end up paying tens of thousands of dollars in
additional charges under the new rules, which break the link between the state and the federal tax.” (Charles A. Jaffe,
“Residents Face Higher Estate Taxes,” The Boston Globe, 11/15/02)
Change In Estate Tax Law Meant $30 Million To $40 Million In Higher Taxes Each Year. “The Massachusetts
Department of Revenue estimates that a rule change – made as part of last summer’s budget bill – will mean an
additional $30 million to $40 million in estate tax revenues will flow into state coffers during fiscal 2004, the first
full year in which the new rules are in play.” (Charles A. Jaffe, “Residents Face Higher Estate Taxes,” The Boston Globe, 11/15/02)
Romney Took “No Position” On Estate Tax Issue. “In Massachusetts, the move was made as part of the
budget bill passed last summer, but the new rules were not issued until late October. Governor-elect Mitt
Romney disagreed with the tax and budget approach taken by the Legislature, but a spokesman for his office
said he has no position on the estate tax issue.” (Charles A. Jaffe, “Residents Face Higher Estate Taxes,” The Boston Globe,
11/15/02)
Rules Change “Will Keep State Estate Tax Revenues Flowing And Growing.” “The change will keep state
estate tax revenues flowing and growing. During fiscal 2003, which began July 1, the DOR expects to collect $125
million in estate tax revenues; that will increase to as much as $165 million in fiscal 2004 – the first full year under
the new rules – and go up to $190 million by fiscal 2006.” (Charles A. Jaffe, “Residents Face Higher Estate Taxes,” The Boston
Globe, 11/15/02)
Salem Tax Attorney Paul Bernstein: “People who have done estate planning need to prepare for this
change, or they’ll be caught with an unpleasant surprise, owing taxes when they thought they were protected
…” (Charles A. Jaffe, “Residents Face Higher Estate Taxes,” The Boston Globe, 11/15/02)
Boston Estate Tax Planning Attorney Stephen Ziobrowski Said Rules Change Could Lead To
Massachusetts Residents Fleeing State To Avoid Estate Tax. “‘You don’t see much advice suggesting people
leave Massachusetts anymore,’ said Ziobrowski, ‘but maybe attorneys will just re-draft those old letters and
suggest that their clients move to Florida. … That’s where people used to go to avoid Massachusetts’s estate tax,
and it may be what they start doing again.’” (Charles A. Jaffe, “Residents Face Higher Estate Taxes,” The Boston Globe, 11/15/02)
As Governor, Romney Signed Into Law 50% Increase In State Cremation Fee, Called By Some A “New
Hidden Tax On The Dead”
Romney Signed “Hidden Tax On The Dead” Into Law, Raising State Fee For Cremation Services By 50%.
“The state has quietly increased the fee for cremations by 50 percent to raise money for the embattled Office of
the Chief Medical Examiner, prompting outrage among funeral providers over a ‘new hidden tax on the dead.’ …
Under the new law, passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Mitt Romney, the current fee of $50 – which
was being paid directly to medical examiners when they approved bodies for cremation – will go up to $75. The
fee could go up again at the discretion of the Romney administration.” (Tom Mashberg, “Cremation Fee Increase Called ‘Tax
On The Dead,’” Boston Herald, 1/21/04)
“[A]ny Body That Is Cremated Must First Be Cleared By A Medical Examiner, Which Carries A $75
Fee.” (Jack Dew, “The Final Price,” The Berkshire Eagle, 3/25/07)
Boston Herald Questioned Romney’s Obsession With Fee Increases In Light Of Cremation Fee Hike. “Gov.
Mitt Romney is coming perilously close to deserving the reputation of a politician who’ll slap a fee on anything that
moves – and sometimes that which doesn’t move. Such is the case with the administration’s new higher fee for
cremation.” (Editorial, “Here A Fee, There A Fee,” Boston Herald, 1/23/04)
Herald: Cremation Fee “Makes The Disguised Tax Argument Ever Easier To Make.” “The cremation fee
increase, coming on top of some $500 million in fees supported by the governor and Legislature last year,
makes the disguised tax argument ever easier to make. We hope Romney’s budget proposal released next
week doesn’t add fuel to this fire.” (Editorial, “Here A Fee, There A Fee,” Boston Herald, 1/23/04)
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Cremation Fee Estimated To Raise $1 Million Per Year. “The crematories will be asked to collect the added
money and send it directly to the M.E.’s Office. The state expects the income from the fees, reflecting some
14,000 cremations a year, to reach $1 million.” (Tom Mashberg, “Cremation Fee Increase Called ‘Tax On The Dead,’” Boston
Herald, 1/21/04)
Higher Cremation Fee’s Usefulness Was Widely Questioned, Attacked As Tax On The Poor
Funeral Consumers Alliance Of Eastern Massachusetts’ Byron E. Blanchard: “This is another rip-off … It
represents a sizable portion of the cost of a cremation. It’s a boondoggle.” (Tom Mashberg, “Cremation Fee Increase Called
‘Tax On The Dead,’” Boston Herald, 1/21/04)
Tax On The Poor: “The state has said it will use the revenue to increase pay to pathologists. But Blanchard
and others question the value of any cremation ‘viewing’ fee altogether. They call it a tax on the poor because
it boosts the price of an affordable cremation from about $200 to $275.” (Tom Mashberg, “Cremation Fee Increase
Called ‘Tax On The Dead,’” Boston Herald, 1/21/04)
Graham Putnam Funeral Home’s Peter Steffan: “Since when does the government care about poor families?
They could raise the fee to $100 and the cost would just be passed along.” (Tom Mashberg, “Cremation Fee Increase
Called ‘Tax On The Dead,’” Boston Herald, 1/21/04)
Anonymous Medical Examiner: “They’ve Put A New Fee On The Backs Of The Public…” “[A]t least one
veteran examiner from Central Massachusetts, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the new fee and
paperwork could prompt pathologists to decline doing cremations, raising the specter of bodies being left to await
available medical examiners. ‘They’ve put a new fee on the backs of the public without even consulting with the
medical examiners first about whether it makes sense,’ the examiner said.” (Tom Mashberg, “Cremation Fee Increase
Called ‘Tax On The Dead,’” Boston Herald, 1/21/04)
Then-Chief Medical Examiner Was On Record As Calling Cremation Fee “Ridiculous.” “In a 1995 article in
the Boston Globe, controversial Chief M.E. Richard F. Evans, who is facing an ethics probe into his handling of
the office over the past decade, derided the cremation fees as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘unnecessary.’” (Tom Mashberg,
“Cremation Fee Increase Called ‘Tax On The Dead,’” Boston Herald, 1/21/04)
Under Romney, Homeowners Saw Property Taxes Rise To Highest Level In Decades
Massachusetts Property Taxes At Highest Level In 25 Years. “Geoffrey C. Beckwith, executive director of the
Massachusetts Municipal Association, which represents cities and towns, said property taxes are soaring
statewide. Because of cuts in state aid, towns collect more from property taxes than they have in 25 years, he
said. … ‘Not only have property taxes gone up, but residents are paying more and getting less,’ said Beckwith.”
(Matt Carroll, “The Tax Lowdown,” The Boston Globe, 1/11/07)
Median Property Taxes Have Increased 42 Percent So Far This Decade With No Relief In Sight.
“Massachusetts property taxes, which have shot up 42 percent, on a median basis, so far this decade will
continue to rise for most homeowners this year despite the softening real estate market. … Indeed, not only have
property taxes grown sizably all across Massachusetts, the increases have been steady, without interruption, in
each year of the decade so far. Statewide the average single-family property tax bill has grown to $3,703, from
$2,577 in fiscal 2000. The 42 percent median increase in property taxes compares to a 27 percent increase in
median household income for roughly the same period.” (Thomas Caywood and Andrew Caffrey, “Prices Down, Bills Up,” The
Boston Globe, 10/22/06)
Romney Cut State Aid To Cities And Towns, Forcing Property Tax Increases Throughout The State
Massachusetts Experienced Largest Property Tax Increase In A Dozen Years. “Massachusetts residents
experienced the largest two-year increase in property taxes in a dozen years as cities and towns struggled to
make up for a slowdown in state aid between 2001 and 2003, according to a study released … by the
Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Property Taxes Leap As State Aid Falls,” The Boston Globe,
10/29/03)
“Per-Capita Property Taxes Climbed An Average Of 3 Percent A Year In Fiscal 2002 And 2003, Which
Translates Into An Increase Of $73 For Every Man, Woman, And Child In The Commonwealth.” (Scott S.
Greenberger, “Property Taxes Leap As State Aid Falls,” The Boston Globe, 10/29/03)
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Property Tax Caps Increased By Up To Six Times Due To Financial Stress On Localities. “In another sign of
the financial stress on cities and towns … residents in 39 communities voted to override the annual property tax
limit in 2003, approving a total of $48 million in new revenue. That amount is twice as much as what was adopted
in 2002 and more than six times the average between 1994 and 2000.” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Property Taxes Leap As
State Aid Falls,” The Boston Globe, 10/29/03)
Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation’s Michael Widmer: “Clearly the cuts from the fiscal crisis have had
a direct impact in producing higher property taxes.” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Property Taxes Leap As State Aid Falls,” The
Boston Globe, 10/29/03)
Property Tax Increases “Likely To Accelerate” Because Of Romney Cuts In State Aid. “In fiscal year
2003, [state] aid decreased by about 3 percent, the first decline in more than a decade. The property tax trend
is likely to accelerate … because Romney … made even deeper cuts in state aid in the current fiscal year,
2004, which isn’t covered in the report.” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Property Taxes Leap As State Aid Falls,” The Boston Globe,
10/29/03)
Experts Agree Romney’s Local Aid Cut Forced Property Tax Increases
“Particularly Painful For Poorer Communities…” “Many local officials say Beacon Hill’s approach is
particularly painful for poorer communities reliant on state help. Compared with income taxes, property taxes
place a disproportionate burden on lower-income residents, retirees on fixed incomes, and the unemployed.” (Scott
S. Greenberger, “Property Taxes Leap As State Aid Falls,” The Boston Globe, 10/29/03)
Fall River Mayor Ed Lambert: “There’s no question that what is happening at the state level is a shifting of
the burden onto the backs of people who are less able to afford to pay for services. … For the governor to
raise his hands and say he doesn’t support increasing taxes on the backs of working people totally ignores
what has to happen at the city level and the town level.” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Property Taxes Leap As State Aid Falls,”
The Boston Globe, 10/29/03)
“Geoffrey Beckwith, Executive Director Of The Massachusetts Municipal Association, Said Huge Cuts In
Local Aid In 2003-04 To Cope With The Fiscal Crisis Continue To Strain Local Budgets And Tax Bases.”
(Brian C. Mooney, “Analyst Puts Increase In Fees, Taxes At $700m,” The Boston Globe, 9/27/06)
Beckwith: “The cuts were so deep in 2003 and 2004 that there are still 113 cities and towns [out of 351]
today that still receive less local aid than they did in fiscal year 2002, and that’s without adjusting for inflation.”
(Brian C. Mooney, “Analyst Puts Increase In Fees, Taxes At $700m,” The Boston Globe, 9/27/06)
Beckwith: “All of this is happening in the context of thousands of people being laid off, larger class sizes,
fewer police officers and firefighters, and the stopping of routine maintenance on buildings … So we have
both an increase in the local property tax burden and a reduction overall in the full range of local services that
are provided.” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Property Taxes Leap As State Aid Falls,” The Boston Globe, 10/29/03)
Now Running For President, Romney Signed ATR’s “No New Taxes” Pledge But Refused To Sign It In
2002 And Did Not Guarantee He Would Hold The Line On Taxes
Romney Signed Pledge As His Presidential Campaign Began. “Almost five years after he refused to sign a ‘no
new taxes’ pledge during his campaign for governor, Mitt Romney announced … that he had done just that, as his
campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination began in earnest.” (Scott Helman, “Romney Finds ‘No New
Taxes’ Promise Suits Him After All,” The Boston Globe, 1/5/07)
Media Noted Signing Of Pledge Symbolized His Shift In Focus To GOP Primary Voters. “Romney’s
announcement about signing the pledge came on his first day out of office, and it symbolized what’s now his
biggest priority: building support from GOP activists and voters, especially in states with early primaries.” (Scott
Helman, “Romney Finds ‘No New Taxes’ Promise Suits Him After All,” The Boston Globe, 1/5/07)
Romney’s 2002 Refusal To Sign Pledge “Broke With GOP Tradition.” “Four years ago, Mitt Romney broke
with GOP tradition and refused to sign the [Americans for Tax Reform] pledge [to ‘oppose and veto any and all
efforts to increase taxes’].” (Lisa Wangsness, “Healey Will Sign Antitax Pledge,” The Boston Globe, 9/4/06)
“Romney’s Gubernatorial Campaign Spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, Dismissed Such Pledges At The
Time As ‘Government By Gimmickry.’” (Scott Helman, “Romney Finds ‘No New Taxes’ Promise Suits Him After All,” The
Boston Globe, 1/5/07)
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Romney “Rebuffed” Calls To Sign Pledge, Drawing Wrath Of Anti-Tax Advocates. “Gubernatorial front-
runner Mitt Romney drew the wrath of GOP anti-tax stalwarts … by refusing a ‘no new tax’ pledge to back his
levy-cutting promises. Breaking with the past three Republican governors, Romney rebuffed perennial calls by
Citizens for Limited Taxation to sign the vaunted pledge.” (David R. Guarino, “Romney Refuses To Sign CLT’s ‘No New Tax’
Pledge,” Boston Herald, 3/28/02)
Citizens For Limited Taxation’s Barbara Anderson: “It bodes ill for him to understand a lot of things he will
need to understand in order to govern effectively in Massachusetts … You have to have that tool, that club to
the Legislature, to survive.” (David R. Guarino, “Romney Refuses To Sign CLT’s ‘No New Tax’ Pledge,” Boston Herald, 3/28/02)
In 2002, Romney “Deflected” Question Asking If FY02 Budget Should Have Been Balanced Without Tax
Hikes. “But Romney deflected a question about whether he thinks this year’s budget should have been balanced
without new taxes, saying that if he had been governor, the state would have been spending far less and would
have had a larger rainy day fund on hand to close a budget gap.” (Rick Klein and Yvonne Abraham, “Romney Faults O’Brien
On Taxes,” The Boston Globe, 10/4/02)
“[W]hile He Reiterated His Commitment To Rolling Back The Recent $1.2 Billion Tax Hike Within Four
Years, He Refused To Rule Out Support For Further Tax Increases.” (Rick Klein and Yvonne Abraham, “Romney Faults
O’Brien On Taxes,” The Boston Globe, 10/4/02)
Romney: “I Can’t Give You A Guarantee” On Not Raising Taxes. “My position on taxes is very clear: I’m going
to fight taxes … [but] I can’t give you a guarantee. We could have a monster come out of the deep and grab
Beacon Hill.” (Rick Klein and Yvonne Abraham, “Romney Faults O’Brien On Taxes,” The Boston Globe, 10/4/02)
STATE FEES
Romney Imposed Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars In Fee Increases, Affecting Virtually Everyone In
Massachusetts, While Insisting They Were Not New Taxes
Romney Imposed Over $500 Million In Fee Hikes During His First Year In Office – More Than Any Other
State That Year. “Massachusetts has picked up another dubious distinction: It has imposed more fee hikes than
any other state this year…Of the 30 states the National Conference of State Legislatures found raised fees this
year, only nine are bringing in $100 million or more from those fee hikes. Massachusetts $500 million boost even
topped the $367 million fee increase in New York, which has a much larger budget.” (Editorial, “We’re No. 1,” Sunday
Telegram, 7/27/03)
Romney Insisted Fees Were Not Taxes: “Practically no one is spared from dozens of new and increased
state fees proposed Thursday by Gov. Mitt Romney, who insisted they are not taxes.” (Ken Maguire, “Governor
Says Proposed New, Higher Fees Are Not Taxes,” The Associated Press, 2/27/03)
Romney’s Fees Cut Into The Benefits Ordinary Citizens Received From President Bush’s 2003 Tax Cuts.
“If the Bush tax cuts revive the stalling economy they will do so in spite of the large fee increases levied by states
across the U.S. with Massachusetts leading the way. If anything, these state fee increases not only diminish, but,
for some people, even eliminate, the tax cuts passed by Congress and signed by the President.” (Christopher Boyd,
“Fees Put A Crimp On Tax Cuts,” Beacon Hill Institute’s NewsLink, Vol. 8, No. 1, Fall 2003)
Boston Globe: Romney’s Fee Increases “May Have Enhanced [Massachusetts’] Reputation As
‘Taxachusetts.’” “This time it’s fees, not taxes. Still, Massachusetts may have enhanced its reputation as
‘Taxachusetts.’ A survey of states grappling with spending crises has found that Massachusetts imposed more
fee hikes than any other state in the nation this year - at least $500 million. Governor Mitt Romney and the
Legislature, faced with a multibillion dollar shortfall, made it more expensive to get a marriage license or a
divorce, file a court case, buy a house, renew a driver’s license, or tap into a host of other state services.” (Rick
Klein, “Mass. Is Called No. 1 In Fee Hikes,” The Boston Globe, 7/24/03)
Massachusetts Called “The Most Fee-Happy State In The Nation.” “With Massachusetts emerging as the
most fee-happy state in the nation, lawmakers and advocates for groups targeted by fee hikes are lining up to
push for some reversals. One bill would make the $100 fee for carrying a firearm valid for life, instead of having to
be renewed every four years. ‘It’s ridiculous,’ James L. Wallace, a spokesman for the Gun Owners Action League
in Northboro…” (Shaun Sutner, “Fee Foes Begin Giant-Sized Fight In Legislature,” Telegram & Gazette [Worcester, MA], 7/29/03)
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Romney Claims He Raised Fees By Only $260 Million In His First Year As Governor – A Claim Not
Endorsed By His Then-Lieutenant Governor And Disputed By Experts And Media Outlets
In 2006, Romney Claimed He Only Raised Fees On Massachusetts Residents By $260 Million During His
First Year As Governor. “After his record was questioned in a televised debate, Gov. Mitt Romney yesterday
plunged into the heat of a gubernatorial campaign he has largely avoided … [Romney] was referring to
accusations by Patrick that the Romney-Healey administration’s fiscal policies have resulted in $900 million in
new fees. ‘What planet does that come from?’ Romney asked, quickly handing reporters a spreadsheet showing
fees were hiked $260 million under his administration.” (Casey Ross, “Mitt Rages Against Debate Accusations,” Boston Herald,
9/27/06)
Romney’s Own Lieutenant Governor “Declined To Endorse” The Claim. “[Healey] called Patrick’s charge
that the Romney-Healey administration raised taxes and fees by $985 million ‘ridiculous,’ although she declined to
endorse a $260 million figure cited Tuesday by Gov. Mitt Romney.” (Casey Ross, “Gov Rivals Spar Over Taxing Topic,”
Boston Herald, 9/28/06)
Boston Herald: Romney Figure “Does Not Account For The Full Amounts…” “Romney’s $260 million figure
does not account for the full amounts raised by all the Kerry-Healey fee changes, which included hikes in
licensing and court costs and other levies.” (Casey Ross, “Gov Rivals Spar Over Taxing Topic,” Boston Herald, 9/28/06)
Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation’s Michael Widmer Also “Disputed Romney’s Figure Of $260
Million.” “Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, disputed Romney’s figure of
$260 million and agreed with Cato. Widmer recently served on Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick’s transition team,
but he has also advised Republican governors.” (Alexander Bolton, “Romney’s Tax Record Gets A Closer Look,” The Hill, 3/28/07)
Romney’s Campaign Continues To Use $260 Million Figure During Presidential Race, Adding That Data
For Later Years Is “Not Available.” “Kevin Madden, Romney’s spokesman, said his boss raised fees by only
$260 million … Another Romney aide said the $500 million figure used an inflated Democratic estimate from
2003. The aide said fees actually increased only $260 million between 2003 and 2004 but that data for later fiscal
years were not available.” (Alexander Bolton, “Romney’s Tax Record Gets A Closer Look,” The Hill, 3/28/07)
Romney Denied Increased Fees Were Equivalent To New Taxes, But Experts Disagree
Romney Claimed Higher Fees Do Not Equal Higher Taxes, Saying Fees Are Levied In Return For Specific
Services. “Romney makes a distinction between taxes and fees by describing fees as charges that are levied in
return for specific services. Since the amount of the fee often covers the cost of a service, the governor has said
he views fees as distinct from – and preferable to – broadly applied taxes on income or the sales of goods.” (Rick
Klein, “Survey Results Call Massachusetts No. 1 In Fee Hikes,” The Boston Globe, 7/24/03)
While Romney Closed Budget Gap Without Raising Marginal Rates, “Some Tax Specialists … Have
Argued That Romney Effectively Raised Taxes” By Boosting Fees And Closing So-Called “Loopholes.”
“Through trimming state government, raising fees on certain services, and ending corporate tax loopholes,
Romney closed a budget gap of roughly $1.7 billion. He boasts that he did so without raising taxes, but some tax
specialists and other observers have argued that Romney effectively raised taxes by boosting the fees and eking
more money out of corporations.” (Scott Helman, “Mixed Legacy: Health Plan, Jobs, Fee Hikes,” The Boston Globe, 1/4/07)
Beacon Hill Institute: “Raising Fees While Denying They Are Tax Increases Is A Political Sleight Of Hand.”
(Christopher Boyd, “Fees Put A Crimp On Tax Cuts,” Beacon Hill Institute’s NewsLink, Vol. 8, No. 1, Fall 2003)
Factcheck.org: Romney’s Claim He “Did Not Raise Taxes” Is “Misleading.” “Mitt Romney said he ‘did not
raise taxes’ when he was governor of Massachusetts, when in fact he increased state fees by hundreds of
millions of dollars … Technically, this is true, but it’s also misleading. Romney did not raise anything called a tax
during his tenure as governor, but he did increase state revenues by raising various types of fees.” (“GOP Candidates
Debate, Round 2,” www.factcheck.org, 5/16/07)
Boston Herald’s Thomas Keane: Fee Increases “Amount To Unwanted Impositions On Citizens.” “The
Romney budget really does contain $1.4 billion of … ‘revenue enhancements.’ And each of those enhancements
will end up coming out of someone’s pocket. Government fees, taxes or whatever you wish to call them amount to
unwanted impositions on citizens.” (Thomas M. Keane, Jr., Op-Ed, “Semantics Aside, You Still Pay For It,” Boston Herald, 3/5/03)
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Keane: Some Of Romney’s Fees Were “Broadly Based And Touch Virtually Everyone.” “Some of those
charges … are so narrowly drawn and so directly related to what’s provided that we might view them in the
same way we view charges for goods and services from the private sector. But others are broadly based and
touch virtually everyone.” (Thomas M. Keane, Jr., Op-Ed, “Semantics Aside, You Still Pay For It,” Boston Herald, 3/5/03)
Romney Hiked Gun Licensing And Identification Card Fees
Romney Signed Budget Quadrupling Gun Fees: “Also drawing criticism is quadrupling of fees charged to gun
owners this year. Under the budget, fees will rise from $25 to $100 for both a firearms identification card and a
license to carry firearms, which are required by state law.” (Casey Ross, “Fee Hikes More Than Nickels And Dimes,” The Patriot
Ledger [Quincy, MA], 7/9/03)
Romney Originally Proposed Tripling The Gun Fee. “Lawmakers, besides approving about $80 million in fee
hikes proposed by the governor -- including the gun fee, which they raised from the $75 floated by the governor --
tacked on another $74 million of their own.” (Shaun Sutner, “Fee Foes Begin Giant-Sized Fight In Legislature,” Telegram &
Gazette, 7/29/03)
“The Fee Increases … Will Make Massachusetts One Of The Most Expensive Places In The Nation To
Own A Gun…” (Casey Ross, “Fee Hikes More Than Nickels And Dimes,” The Patriot Ledger [Quincy, MA], 7/9/03)
Gun Owners React: “It’s A Tax On An Individual’s Right To Bear Arms In Massachusetts … Basically,
We’re Being Robbed.” “The Gun Owners Action League said a proposed firearms registration fee increase … is
a tax. ‘It’s not a fee. It’s a tax on an individual’s right to bear arms in Massachusetts,’ said Jim Wallace, a lobbyist
for the group. ‘Basically, we’re being robbed.” (Ken Maguire, “Governor Says Proposed New, Higher Fees Are Not Taxes,” The
Associated Press, 2/27/03)
Gun Owners Advocate: Government “Passing The Buck … It Just Shows They Don’t Have Any Answers.”
“‘In general, the government has failed to meet its obligations and now it’s passing the buck,’ said Michael Yacino,
executive director of the Gun Owners Action League, which has opposed the fee increases. ‘It just shows they
don’t have any answers.’” (Casey Ross, “Fee Hikes More Than Nickels And Dimes,” The Patriot Ledger [Quincy, MA], 7/9/03)
Romney Increased Fees on First Responders
Romney Proposed A New Fee On Volunteer Firefighters, Charging Them $100 Fee For Flashing Vehicle
Lights. “In another move, opponents of a $100 biannual fee that Gov. Mitt Romney slapped on volunteer
firefighters last spring have succeeded in getting the administration to rescind the fee. The charge, for the flashing
blue and red lights that volunteers affix to their vehicles to identify themselves as emergency workers, will now
only be charged if volunteers have more than one vehicle they use to get to incidents.” (Shaun Sutner, “Fee Foes Begin
Giant-Sized Fight In Legislature,” Telegram & Gazette [Worcester, MA], 7/29/03)
State Doubled Certification Fees For Emergency Medical Personnel And Ambulances. “In April, the state,
looking for new ways to raise revenue, doubled fees for EMT certification from $75 to $150 per person.
Certification must be renewed every two years. Rates for certifying an ambulance equipped for basic life support
doubled from $200 to $400. That certification must renewed every two years. For an ambulance that offers
advanced life support, the fee climbed from $300 to $600, and that certification must be renewed each year. The
fee to have either of these vehicles inspected also doubled, going from $100 to $200.” (Clare Leschin-Hoar, “Paying The
Price For Safety,” The Boston Globe, 7/24/03)
“The Fee Increases For Emergency Medical Units Apply To The Costs Of Certifying Ambulances As
Well As EMTs.” (Clare Leschin-Hoar, “Paying The Price For Safety,” The Boston Globe, 7/24/03)
Romney Proposed Increasing Fees On Hospitalized Veterans
State Sought To Increase User Fees For Long-Term Care At The Chelsea Soldiers’ Home. “Gov. Mitt
Romney is vehemently opposed to raising taxes. Yet new fees proposed in his budget would hit a broad spectrum
of people … The changes include … increasing user fees for long-term care at the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home.”
(Jennifer Fenn, “Romney Budget Raises Fees, Which Democrats Say Are Taxes In Disguise,” Lowell Sun, 2/28/03)
The Chelsea Soldiers’ Home/Quigley Memorial Hospital Is A State Run Veterans’ Hospital With Acute,
Long Term Care And Domicilary Units. “Eligible veterans are provided a dorm style room with full meal
service. As Veterans need more care, they may progress to supervised programs with 24 hour nursing care
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or may become eligible for Skilled Nursing Care placement on one of the eight inpatient skilled nursing units.
We also have a secure Alzheimers’ and Dementia Unit. End of Life care planning is multidisciplinary and
individualized to meet the varied needs of the resident.” (MA Commission on End Of Life Care,
www.endoflifecommission.org, Accessed 2/9/07)
Romney Increased Fees To Record Common Real Estate Transactions
Increased Fees 337% For Recording Mortgages: “Last week, Governor Mitt Romney signed legislation that he
filed to dramatically boost registry fees. Romney had asked for the fee hike to help cut the state budget gap and
alleviate registry waiting times. Starting March 15, the fee to record a mortgage will go from $40 to $175…”
(Thomas Grillo, “Deeds Office Extends Hours Due To Refinancing Boom,” The Boston Globe, 3/9/03)
Increased Fees 178% To Record Deeds: “[I]t will cost $125 to record a deed, up from $45…” (Thomas Grillo, “Deeds
Office Extends Hours Due To Refinancing Boom,” The Boston Globe, 3/9/03)
Increased Fees 650% To Record Trusts: “[A] declaration of trust will increase from $30 to $225…” (Thomas Grillo,
“Deeds Office Extends Hours Due To Refinancing Boom,” The Boston Globe, 3/9/03)
Increased Fees 200% To Record Homestead Declaration: “[F]iling a homestead declaration to protect a
homeowner’s equity from creditors will increase from $10 to $30.” (Thomas Grillo, “Deeds Office Extends Hours Due To
Refinancing Boom,” The Boston Globe, 3/9/03)
Romney Doubled Fees For Birth, Death And Marriage Certificates
Using Governor’s Emergency Powers, Romney Doubled The Cost For Copies Of Birth, Marriage And
Death Certificates. “[C]opies of birth, death and marriage certificates from the state Registry of Vital Records and
Statistics in Boston will jump from $6 to $12, while copies over the phone or the Internet go from $19.50 to $39.”
(Dan Ring, “Fees: Romney Proposal Not Pleasing To Payers,” Springfield Union News, 2/8/03; Yvonne Abraham, “Seeking Revenue,” The
Boston Globe, 1/31/03)
Romney Imposed Fee On Blind Citizens
Romney Charged Fee For Being Blind. “It now costs to be blind in Massachusetts. The state’s approximately
35,000 blind and legally blind residents must now pay $10 annually for a certificate of blindness and $15 every
four years for a blind identification card. Without the formerly free documents, blind people cannot take advantage
of tax abatements, affordable housing programs, health care services, transportation discounts and other
benefits. … The fees originated in February, in Gov. Mitt Romney’s budget proposal for fiscal 2004.” (Shaun Sutner,
“Advocates Fight Fees For The Blind,” Telegram & Gazette, 8/5/03)
Romney Also Proposed Imposing A Fee On The Mentally Retarded. “The committee will also accept most of
the fee recommendations made by Romney, Rogers said, but would not endorse … a new fee for some mentally
retarded citizens…” (Jennifer Peter, “House Leaders Agree With Romney’s Plan To Eliminate Urban Park Agency,” The Associated
Press, 4/16/03)
Romney Advocated Higher Fees On Tuberculosis Testing
Romney Proposed New Fee For Tuberculosis Testing – And An Even Higher Fee For Testing Positive. “In
Massachusetts, Gov. Mitt Romney (R) has proposed charging $50 for tuberculosis tests – and wants to charge a
$400 fee when someone tests positive.” (Michael Powell and Christine Haughney, “Wary Of Higher Taxes, Officials Boost Fees,”
The Washington Post, 4/7/03)
Romney Proposed Higher Fees On Host Of Recreational Activities
Golf, State Parks, Ice Skating And Summer Cottages Targeted. “Under Governor Mitt Romney’s new user fee
proposal, players at Canton’s Ponkapoag Golf Course, owners of pondfront cottages in Plymouth and Carver’s
Myles Standish Forest, and visitors to Easton’s Borderland State Park would help the state raise $60 million to
help cover its budget shortfall in the next fiscal year.” (Judith Forman, “State Fee Plan Targets Golfers, Park Visitors,” The
Boston Globe, 3/13/03)
Proposed New Parking Fee At State Parks. “Among the dozens of proposed fee increases is a $2 parking
charge being added at 10 state parks, including Borderland State Park, which sits on the Sharon-Easton line,
where the parking had been free.” (Judith Forman, “State Fee Plan Targets Golfers, Park Visitors,” The Boston Globe, 3/13/03)
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Golf Season Passes And Daily Fees Increased. “IAccording to Cahill, various season passes are set to be hit
with increases ranging from $50 to $150. Daily golfing fees also would increase either $5 or $10. The fee hikes
should take effect early next month, at the start of the golf season.” (Judith Forman, “State Fee Plan Targets Golfers, Park
Visitors,” The Boston Globe, 3/13/03)
Costing More To Play Eighteen Holes: “Romney has raised golf fees as part of his fiscal year 2004 budget
package … Weekday fees now range from $17 to $22 for 18 holes, and $15 to $17 for nine holes. Weekend
fees are $25 for 18 holes, $17 for nine.” (Judith Forman, “Legislature Overrides Veto, Restores Ponkapoag Funding” The
Boston Globe, 7/13/03)
Group Skating Fees Were Also Eyed. “Hourly group skating fees at MDC rinks – including in Quincy,
Weymouth, and Milton – also would rise between $15 and $40.” (Judith Forman, “State Fee Plan Targets Golfers, Park
Visitors,” The Boston Globe, 3/13/03)
Proposed Doubling Of Cottage Fees. “Some of the fee changes, such as the proposal that targets pond-front
cottages within Myles Standish State Forest, are steeper. Cahill said the current cottage fees (last set in 1989),
which range from $810-$1,900 per season (Patriots’ Day to Columbus Day), are set to double.” (Judith Forman, “State
Fee Plan Targets Golfers, Park Visitors,” The Boston Globe, 3/13/03)
Romney Proposed Fee Increase On Driver’s Permits
Romney’s Plan: Double The Cost Of A Driving Permit. “Some fees would impact a small percentage of the
state’s citizens; others are more widespread. The governor would increase inmate phone charges at prisons from
86 cents to $2, and hike the cost of a driving permit from $15 to $30. (Jennifer Fenn, “Romney Budget Raises Fees, Which
Democrats Say Are Taxes In Disguise,” Lowell Sun, 2/28/03)
Romney Proposed Hiking State Campus Tuition And Fees
Proposed $50 Million In Fee And Tuition Hikes. “As part of an effort to save $150 million in the state education
budget, the administration has proposed raising $50 million in new revenues from higher college fees and tuitions,
and saving $100 million in administrative costs through consolidations.” (John Monahan, “Cuts Would Run Gamut,”
Telegram & Gazette, 2/27/03)
“Romney Estimated That Tuition Would Rise Between 5 And 15 Percent…” (Michael Norton, “Romney Lays Out His
Priorities In Budget That Barely Boosts Overall Spending,” State House News Service, 2/26/03)
In 2003, Romney Vetoed Annual Registration Fee For Sexual Offenders And Up To $750,000 To Cut Down
On Backlog Of Sex Offenders Not Classified By State
Romney Vetoed New $75 Annual Fee For Sex Offender Registration – His Veto Was Overturned By The
House. “Beacon Hill lawmakers overturned Gov. Mitt Romney’s veto of $23 million in additional state aid to cities
and towns … House lawmakers also overturned Romney’s veto of a new $75 annual fee for sex offenders when
they renew their listing on the state’s sex offender registry. … Romney vetoed the fee, saying it would discourage
sex offenders from renewing their registration.” (Steve LeBlanc, “Legislature Restores State Aid To Local Communities, Sex
Offender Fee,” The Associated Press, 7/8/03)
Romney Also Vetoed Up To $750,000 In Funding Aimed At Cutting Down Backlog Of Sex Offenders Not
Yet Classified By State – Veto Overturned By House. “Another section of the budget, also vetoed by Romney,
would use up to $750,000 collected from the new [sex offender] fees to cut down on the current backlog of sex
offenders yet to be classified by the state. The House overturned that veto too.” (Steve LeBlanc, “Legislature Restores
State Aid To Local Communities, Sex Offender Fee,” The Associated Press, 7/8/03)
Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey (R) Disagreed With Romney Vetoes On Sex Offender Registration Fee And
Classification Backlog Funds. “[Healey] said she disagreed with Romney’s decision in 2003 to veto a $75 fee
that would have been imposed on convicted sex offenders. She also said she disagreed with another veto to
spend $750,000 collected from the fees to reduce a backlog of sex offenders waiting at the time to be classified
by the state. The Legislature overrode those vetoes. … ‘No, I did not,’ Healey said when asked if she supported
Romney’s vetoes.” (Glen Johnson, “Healey Signs Sex Crimes Statute Extension Into Law,” The Associated Press, 9/21/06)
In November 2003, Investigation Found State Had Lost Track Of One-Third Of Worst Sex Offenders. “The
Romney administration plans to conduct a monthlong ‘intensive sweep’ for unregistered sex offenders using the
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state police’s fugitive hunting squad, officials said yesterday. … [The] announcement comes in the wake of an
investigation by Boston Herald and Fox 25 that found about one-third of Massachusetts’ high-risk offenders –
categorized as Level 3 – are skirting the sex offender registry law by providing phony or outdated addresses to
the state’s Sex Offender Registry Board.” (Jack Meyers and Jonathan Wells, “Round ‘Em Up,” Boston Herald, 11/7/03)
Legislature Immediately – And Unanimously – Overturned Romney Veto Of $240,000 In Funding For Sex
Offender Registry Board. “Authorities would get an extra $240,000 this year to help track the state’s worst sex
offenders, under a measure approved Thursday by the House, whose Democratic leaders took issue with
criticism from Gov. Mitt Romney. The unanimous vote was an override of one of Romney’s vetoes … The vote
comes days after an investigation by Boston Herald and WFXT-TV showed that Massachusetts has lost track of
about one-third of its worst sex offenders because of false or outdated information about their home and work
addresses.” (Ken Maguire, “House Approves Funds To Track Sex Offenders,” The Associated Press, 11/6/03)
Romney Vetoed Provision Requiring Sexual Offenders To Pay $75 Registration Fee. “Gov. Mitt Romney
signed the state’s $23.8 billion budget into law on Thursday, but vetoed about $110 million dollars in spending
that he deemed ineffective or wasteful. … Romney also got rid of a $75 fee that sexual offenders would have
been required to pay when they registered with the state.” (Theo Emery, “Governor Signs Budget, But Strips About $110
Million,” The Associated Press, 6/30/05)
State Legislature Upheld Romney’s Veto. “Lawmakers let stand Romney’s veto of a $75 fee that sexual
offenders would have been required to pay when they registered with the state. The administration said the fee
would have discouraged offenders from registering.” (“House And Senate Override Romney Budget Vetoes,” The Associated
Press, 7/20/05)
Weeks Before Leaving Office, Romney Again Cut The Budget Of The Sex Offender Registry Board. “In a
final splash before leaving the corner office, Gov. Mitt Romney yesterday slashed $425 million from the current
year’s budget, saying the Legislature’s irresponsible spending left him no choice. … Included in Romney’s cuts
are several items that Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey -- who ran for governor on public safety issues -- would likely have
objected to prior to Election Day: funding for the state police crime lab, the Sex Offender Registry Board…”
(Rebecca Fater, “Romney Slashes State’s Spending,” The Berkshire Eagle, 11/11/06)
BUSH TAX CUTS
Romney Refused To Endorse Bush Tax Cuts, Now Embraces Them
After Refusing To Endorse Bush Tax Cuts, Romney Now Making Them “A Central Part Of His Presidential
Campaign.” “After refusing to endorse President Bush’s tax cuts when he was governor, Mitt Romney has now
made them a central part of his presidential campaign, stirring accusations that he is changing his position to
appeal to GOP primary voters.” (Casey Ross, “Mitt Changes Tax-Cut Tune,” Boston Herald, 2/8/07)
Romney Claims “I Supported” Bush Tax Cuts. “McCain opposed President Bush’s tax cuts, Romney
noted. ‘I supported them,’ the former governor said.” (Lee Bandy, “Romney Targeting McCain,” The State [SC], 2/4/07)
Boston Herald: Romney “Refused To Take A Position On Bush’s Massive, 10-Year Tax Cut Plan.”
“[R]omney spoke at the 10th annual legislative conference organized by U.S. Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Lowell)
and met with the Massachusetts delegation. … Congressional sources said that a point of contention arose when
Romney refused to take a position on Bush’s massive, 10-year tax cut plan. Lawmakers told him that the state is
unlikely to get the additional homeland security funds they and the governor are requesting because the money
will go to the tax cut. But Romney would not discuss the matter, sources said.” (Noelle Straub, “Romney Talks Policy With
Bush Staffers, Mass. Delegation,” Boston Herald, 4/11/03)
Romney “Stunned” Massachusetts Congressmen In 2003 “Telling Them That He Would Not Publicly
Support Bush’s Tax Cuts.” “In 2003, Romney stunned a roomful of Bay State congressmen by telling them
that he would not publicly support Bush’s tax cuts, which at the time formed the centerpiece of the president’s
domestic agenda. He even said he was open to a federal gas tax hike.” (Casey Ross, “Mitt Changes Tax-Cut Tune,”
Boston Herald, 2/8/07)
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA): “I was very pleased [Romney did not endorse the tax cuts] … Here you have a
freshman governor refusing to endorse a tax cut presented by a Republican president at the height of his
wartime popularity.” (Wayne Washington and Glen Johnson, “Romney Weighs In – Carefully – On Bush Tax-Cut Plan,” The Boston
Globe, 4/11/03)
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Romney Said He Wouldn’t Be “Cheerleader” For Tax Relief Plan He Didn’t Agree With. “According to the
observer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Romney told the delegation that he ‘won’t be a cheerleader’ for
proposals he doesn’t agree with, ‘but I have to keep a solid relationship with the White House.’” (Wayne Washington
and Glen Johnson, “Romney Weighs In – Carefully – On Bush Tax-Cut Plan,” The Boston Globe, 4/11/03)
“Shawn Feddeman, Romney’s Spokeswoman, Said The Governor Has Neither Endorsed Nor Opposed
The Tax Cut Plan Because ‘It’s Just Not A State Matter.’” (Wayne Washington and Glen Johnson, “Romney Weighs In –
Carefully – On Bush Tax-Cut Plan,” The Boston Globe, 4/11/03)
“Since Taking Office … Romney Has Been Reluctant To Voice Support Or Opposition To The President’s
Tax Cut Proposals.” (Wayne Washington and Glen Johnson, “Romney Weighs In – Carefully – On Bush Tax-Cut Plan,” The Boston
Globe, 4/11/03)
Romney Said He’d Let All-Democrat Congressional Delegation “Sort That Out.” “Pressed further, [Romney]
said, ‘I don’t wade into national politics. I will let our delegation sort that out.’” (Wayne Washington and Glen Johnson,
“Romney Weighs In – Carefully – On Bush Tax-Cut Plan,” The Boston Globe, 4/11/03)
JOBS AND ECONOMY
Under Romney, Massachusetts Dramatically Underperformed The Nation In Terms Of Job Growth
Massachusetts Added Roughly 32,000 Jobs During Romney’s Tenure. Employees on seasonally adjusted
nonfarm payroll increased from 3,225,900 when Romney took office in January 2003 to 3,258,000 in December
2006 – a net of approximately 32,100 more jobs, which represented an increase of slightly under 1.0% from
Romney’s first month. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics Website, www.bls.gov, Accessed 5/29/07)
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS ‐ Geographic Area: Massachusetts; Industry: Total Nonfarm; Time Frame: 2003‐2006 (in thousands)
Year Description Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2003 TOTAL NONFARM 3,225.9 3,209.6 3,203.9 3,201.1 3,203.5 3,196.2 3,194.8 3,193.2 3,196.9 3,188.4 3,187.1 3,178.9
2004 TOTAL NONFARM 3,182.3 3,185.7 3,190.7 3,193.3 3,193.5 3,193.6 3,201.6 3,197.6 3,199.8 3,199.9 3,199.3 3,199.9
2005 TOTAL NONFARM 3,196.8 3,206.1 3,196.9 3,209.1 3,209.1 3,208.4 3,216.6 3,216.8 3,219.7 3,214.0 3,221.4 3,223.3
2006 TOTAL NONFARM 3,230.5 3,232.2 3,236.0 3,236.8 3,237.9 3,245.5 3,246.1 3,247.4 3,247.2 3,249.2 3,256.0 3,258.0
During Same Time Period, The Rest Of The Country Added Over 6.9 Million Jobs – Roughly Five Times
The Rate Of Massachusetts. From January 2003 through December 2006, the U.S. economy grew from roughly
130,256,000 nonfarm jobs – seasonally adjusted – to roughly 137,167,000 jobs, an increase of 6,911,000 jobs, or
5.3%. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics Website, www.bls.gov, Accessed 5/29/07)
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS ‐ Geographic Area: National; Industry: Total Nonfarm; Time Frame: 2003‐2006 (in thousands)
Year Description Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2003 NONFARM 130,256 130,103 129,907 129,859 129,826 129,850 129,860 129,818 129,899 130,075 130,130 130,298
2004 NONFARM 130,412 130,443 130,786 131,073 131,342 131,444 131,503 131,610 131,780 132,130 132,195 132,363
2005 NONFARM 132,458 132,693 132,817 133,157 133,345 133,610 133,937 134,139 134,244 134,351 134,702 134,904
2006 NONFARM 135,110 135,410 135,659 135,803 135,906 136,030 136,252 136,438 136,636 136,745 136,941 137,167
Former Gov. Michael Dukakis (D) Far Exceeded Romney’s Record On Creating Jobs
Massachusetts Added Roughly 407,600 Jobs During Michael Dukakis’ Final Two Terms In Office, An
Increase Of Nearly 16%. Employees on seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll increased from 2,580,100 when
Dukakis took office in January 1983 to 2,987,700 in December 1990 – a net of approximately 407,600 more jobs,
which represented an increase of roughly 15.8% from Dukakis’s first month. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics Website,
www.bls.gov, Accessed 5/29/07)
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS ‐ Geographic Area: Massachusetts; Industry: Total Nonfarm; Time Frame: 1983‐1990 (in thousands)
Year Description Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1983 NONFARM 2,580.1 2,592.7 2,625.4 2,662.3 2,692.9 2,726.3 2,696.5 2,693.3 2,747.7 2,760.2 2,778.4 2,801.7
1984 NONFARM 2,736.4 2,759.2 2,785.0 2,823.1 2,856.5 2,897.4 2,862.3 2,880.8 2,895.4 2,906.8 2,925.0 2,942.1
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1985 NONFARM 2,848.7 2,861.2 2,887.8 2,919.4 2,945.2 2,974.3 2,925.3 2,936.0 2,945.1 2,962.8 2,977.3 2,990.9
1986 NONFARM 2,911.0 2,923.1 2,943.4 2,982.0 3,004.4 3,025.4 2,989.7 2,995.9 3,012.0 3,024.3 3,038.3 3,055.1
1987 NONFARM 2,966.7 2,984.5 3,004.6 3,052.6 3,078.8 3,115.4 3,083.8 3,085.9 3,093.2 3,111.8 3,126.0 3,150.6
1988 NONFARM 3,049.0 3,069.2 3,102.3 3,124.4 3,141.3 3,181.7 3,142.7 3,142.0 3,161.8 3,165.2 3,179.4 3,199.6
1989 NONFARM 3,090.0 3,098.3 3,116.4 3,125.8 3,143.4 3,183.3 3,125.4 3,108.7 3,113.8 3,095.6 3,101.1 3,116.0
1990 NONFARM 2,985.0 2,989.2 3,000.5 2,998.9 3,024.9 3,040.3 2,975.9 2,969.8 2,986.5 2,966.6 2,960.7 2,953.9
ROMNEY ON MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET
Romney Often Touts Achievements On Budget Issues In Massachusetts, Fails To Tell Whole Story
A Staple Of Romney’s Stump Remarks: “Mr. Romney, who said he inherited a $3 billion deficit when he
became governor of Massachusetts, said he balanced the state budget without raising taxes or increasing debt.”
(Betsy Gilliland, “Romney Talks Of Challenges, Strengths,” The Augusta [Ga.] Chronicle, 1/30/07)
Boston Globe: Romney Boasts About Budget Record “Incomplete And, In Some Ways, Inaccurate.” “It is
the first line on Governor Mitt Romney’s resume as a potential presidential candidate. He closed Massachusetts’
$3 billion budget gap by cutting government waste instead of by raising taxes, he tells Republican audiences from
New Hampshire to California. He says he saved money by shrinking the public workforce and eliminating
superfluous agencies. And, Romney boasts, he protected education from the budget ax. … But his pitch includes
some assertions and omissions that leave his audiences with an incomplete and, in some ways, inaccurate
picture of what really happened here.” (Scott Greenberger, “Romney Often Casts Himself As Budget Hero,” The Boston Globe,
10/24/05)
Romney’s “$3 Billion Deficit” Never Materialized
Romney’s Oft-Referenced $3 Billion Deficit Never Materialized. “[T]he $3 billion budget gap Romney cites
never materialized. It was a prediction the administration and lawmakers made shortly after Romney took office in
January 2003.” (Scott Greenberger, “Romney Often Casts Himself As Budget Hero,” The Boston Globe, 10/24/05)
Eventual Revenue Numbers Show Romney Faced A Deficit Almost Half The Size He Claims. “Even before
Romney unveiled his budget proposal at the end of February 2003, the state Department of Revenue and outside
analysts said the $3 billion figure was rooted in revenue projections that were much too low. Before the year was
up, a windfall in capital gains taxes helped cut the $3 billion shortfall by about $1.3 billion.” (Scott Greenberger,
“Romney Often Casts Himself As Budget Hero,” The Boston Globe, 10/24/05)
Romney Left State Budget Unbalanced, Saddling His Successor With “Whopping” $1.3 Billion Deficit
Romney Left Massachusetts With $1.3 Billion Deficit After His Term In Office. “The [Patrick Administration’s]
budget also resolves the whopping $1.3 billion deficit left by the Romney Administration.” (Adrian Walker, Op-Ed, “A
Numbers Roadshow,” The Boston Globe, 3/1/07)
In November 2006, Romney Aides Were Privately Telling Incoming Governor To Expect Deficit As High As
$1.1 Billion. “Patrick aides said Romney administration officials had been painting a grim picture of state finances
in private meetings last month and this month. In the Nov. 27 presentation to Patrick’s budget advisers, Romney
aides projected a budget deficit for fiscal 2008, which begins in July, of between $400 million and $1.1 billion.”
(Andrea Estes and Michael Levenson, “State Could Face $1b Deficit In ‘07,” The Boston Globe, 12/30/06)
Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise On Romney: “Precious Few Accomplishments … Looks Like State
Lawmakers Will Face Another Deficit.” “[H]e promised to finish the job he started. But in the end, he failed to
live up to that promise. … There’s no doubt Romney will tout his record as the Commonwealth’s chief executive,
but he has precious few accomplishments to point to. The biggest thing Romney did was balance the state
budget, even though it looks like state lawmakers will face another deficit in fiscal year 2008.” (Editorial, “Romney
Hasn’t Proven He Could Be President,” Sentinel & Enterprise [Fitchburg, MA], 1/7/07)
Romney’s Government “Reforms” Panned As Largely Ineffective
Romney’s Vaunted Consolidation Of State Agencies “Saved Relatively Little Money.” “In his out-of-state
speeches, Romney suggests that the consolidation of state agencies was a major factor in closing the budget
gap. But those changes saved relatively little money: Folding 16 human-services agencies into four, a change
Romney often cites outside the state, saved about $7 million, according to the administration. Eliminating the
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Metropolitan District Commission saved about $3.5 million, according to the Massachusetts Taxpayers
Foundation, a business-funded nonprofit group that monitors state spending.” (Scott Greenberger, “Romney Often Casts
Himself As Budget Hero,” The Boston Globe, 10/24/05)
Michael Widmer Of The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation: “No Romney reform has saved any
meaningful money. It’s all on the margins. The have no connection to the closing of the [budget] gap…” (Scott
Greenberger, “Romney Often Casts Himself As Budget Hero,” The Boston Globe, 10/24/05)
Romney’s Supposed “$2 Billion” In “Waste And Inefficiency … Didn’t Really Exist.” “One year into his four-
year term, Governor Romney has a long way to go to deliver on most of his campaign promises. Not long after
taking office, he had to admit that the $2 billion in ‘waste and inefficiency’ he decried so often during the campaign
didn’t really exist. And while he won the fight with the Legislature over holding the line on taxes, fees went up
$500 million.” (Tom Benner, “Romney Promises Collide With Reality,” The Patriot Ledger [Quincy, MA], 12/27/03)
STATE ECONOMY FALTERED UNDER “C.E.O. GOVERNOR”
Massachusetts Was Only State With Three Straight Years Of Shrinking Labor Force From 2003-05
Massachusetts Labor Force Contracted By 1.7% Between 2003 And 2005 – Only State In Nation With
Three Straight Years of Decline – While National Labor Force Expanded By 3.1%. “In the most recent three
years (2003-2005), the Massachusetts labor force contracted by 1.7%, and it was the only state in the nation to
decline each year during this time period. The nation’s labor force expanded by 3.1%.” (MassINC and Center For Labor
Market Studies Report, “Mass Economy: The Labor Supply And Our Economic Future,” 12/06)
From 2000-05, Massachusetts Labor Force “Did Not Grow At All.” “From 2000 to 2005, the
Massachusetts resident labor force did not grow at all, while the national labor force grew by nearly 5%. On
this measure, Massachusetts ranked 48th lowest among the 50 states.” (MassINC and Center For Labor Market
Studies Report, “Mass Economy: The Labor Supply And Our Economic Future,” 12/06)
State On Track For Fourth Consecutive Year Of Shrinking Labor Force, “Unprecedented For
Massachusetts In The Post-World War II Era.” “The most recent data suggest that the state might be heading
for its fourth consecutive year of a shrinking labor force, which would be unprecedented for Massachusetts in the
post-World War II era.” (MassINC and Center For Labor Market Studies Report, “Mass Economy: The Labor Supply And Our Economic
Future,” 12/06)
Massachusetts Is Only State In New England With No Labor Force Growth Since 2000. “Since 2000, the
labor force experiences of Massachusetts have contrasted sharply with the rest of New England. The
Massachusetts labor force was the only one not to grow, while the labor forces in all the other New England
states grew between 4.6% (CT) and 6.0% (VT).” (MassINC and Center For Labor Market Studies Report, “Mass Economy: The
Labor Supply And Our Economic Future,” 12/06)
Massachusetts Was Only State To Lose Population Two Years In A Row In Early Part Of Decade
2003-05: Massachusetts Lost 120,000 Workers And 233,000 Residents. “Between 2003 and 2005,
Massachusetts exported 120,000 workers to other states. … From 2000 to 2005, the state lost, on net, 233,000
residents to other states. In relative terms, the state lost 3.6% of its 2000 population. Relative to our state’s
population, this level of outmigration was the 2nd highest in the nation, trailing only New York.” (MassINC and Center
For Labor Market Studies Report, “Mass Economy: The Labor Supply And Our Economic Future,” 12/06)
“According To US Census Bureau Estimates, Massachusetts Is The Only State In The Nation To Lose
Population For Two Years In A Row.” (CommonWealth Magazine Website, “CommonWealth Agenda 2006: Demographic
Change,” www.massinc.org, Accessed 2/4/06)
Massachusetts’ Leadership Of Modern Innovation Economy Threatened
December 2006 Report Found That Massachusetts “Continues To Lose Its Grip As One Of The Nation’s
Leaders” In Innovation Economy. “Despite some promising signals of improvement, the Bay State innovation
economy continues to lose its grip as one of the nation’s leaders, beset by competition from other states and
outpourings of key workforce demographics, a new report finds. The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s
innovation economy index says flattening federal assistance for research and development combined with the
venture capital industry veering away from risky start-ups have reduced cash flow into the state’s economy, at the
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same time that other states work harder to compete for the same fund.” (Jim O’Sullivan, “Study: Workforce Needs Still A
Challenge For Innovation Sectors,” State House News Service, 12/18/06)
High-Tech Sector Lagging Behind: “[T]he new report warns that Massachusetts lags in restoring high-wage
jobs lost in the technology bust early this decade in key industry sectors. It also suggests that migration out of
the state is undermining the size and quality of the high-technology workforce – leaving Massachusetts poorly
equipped to capitalize on new technologies.” (Robert Weisman, “Report Calls Mass. A New-Jobs Laggard,” The Boston
Globe, 12/18/06)
Massachusetts’ Job Growth In Technology “Is Alarmingly Slow.” “[E]ven though there are recent signs of a
modest jobs recovery in some key clusters, the growth in employment in the majority of these clusters is
alarmingly slow when compared to the other [leading technology states].” (Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, “Index
Of The Massachusetts Innovation Economy,” www.masstech.org, 12/06)
Massachusetts Innovation Economy “Is Burdened By Stagnant Employment Growth In Key Industry
Clusters, Persistent Emigration, And A Progressively Limited Workforce.” “The Massachusetts Innovation
Economy is burdened by stagnant employment growth in key industry clusters, persistent emigration, and a
progressively limited workforce. Massachusetts has rebounded more slowly than competing [leading technology
states] in the aftermath of the 2001 economic downturn. The after effects of the post dot-com downturn have
finally fully cleared and there is some promising evidence of an ongoing recovery. Yet this progress may prove to
be fleeting unless the Commonwealth can respond to the challenge by maintaining adequate human resources
with the skills to sustain and augment this growth.” (Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, “Index Of The Massachusetts
Innovation Economy,” www.masstech.org, 12/06)
Massachusetts Innovation Economy “Is Jeopardized By Pervasive Population Loss And A Genuine
Concern About The Loss Of Key Skill Levels As Critically Important Demographic Groups Continue To
Migrate Out-Of State.” “The Massachusetts research and innovation infrastructure of world-class institutions and
universities is steadfast, the venture capital community thrives, and emerging global markets hold great promise.
But the fundamental element that has traditionally sustained the Massachusetts economy in times of uncertainty –
a highly capable and available workforce – is jeopardized by pervasive population loss and a genuine concern
about the loss of key skill levels as critically important demographic groups continue to migrate out-of state. As a
result of this thinning workforce, Massachusetts may find itself sub-optimally equipped to capitalize on the next
economic wave, whether fueled by advances in nanotechnology, the life sciences, the Web 2.0 and e-commerce,
renewable energy, or other emerging industries or clusters.” (Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, “Index Of The
Massachusetts Innovation Economy,” www.masstech.org, 12/06)
Romney “Has Fallen Short” On Issues Of Economic Development And Job Creation
“Paul Harrington, An Economist At The Center For Labor Market Studies At Northeastern University,
Agreed That Romney, With A Strong Business Background, Has Fallen Short On The Issue Of Economic
Development.” (Brian C. Mooney, “Criticizing Romney On Jobs, Patrick Often Stretches The Truth,” The Boston Globe, 10/25/06)
Harrington: “We elected a business guy, but he did not undertake the economic business of the state…”
(Brian C. Mooney, “Criticizing Romney On Jobs, Patrick Often Stretches The Truth,” The Boston Globe, 10/25/06)
Harrington: “I think you’ve got to just say that on the development side, we didn’t get the job done in the
state.” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Bay State Exodus Second Only To New York,” The Boston Globe, 4/20/06)
Harrington: “We’re among the poorest performing states in the country in terms of our ability to recover
[economically]. The state of Rhode Island did pretty well over this period of time. They had a governor down
there that worked hard at the business of job creation …” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Bay State Exodus Second Only To New
York,” The Boston Globe, 4/20/06)
Waltham Daily News Tribune: “For All Mitt Romney’s Capitalist Credentials, His Administration Didn’t
Bring Home Many Jobs.” (Editorial, “Patrick Tabs A Permitting ‘Ombudsman,’” The [Waltham] Daily News Tribune, 1/25/07)
Nation Has Added Jobs At Four Times Rate Of Massachusetts Since Third Quarter Of 2003. “Since the third
quarter of 2003, the nation has added jobs at four times the rate Massachusetts did, said [Northeastern University
economist Paul] Harrington.” (Stephanie Ebbert, “Bay State Exodus Second Only To New York,” The Boston Globe, 4/20/06)
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Massachusetts Has “Become An Underperformer In Job Creation.” “Massachusetts remains a magnet for
research funds and venture capital, but it’s become an underperformer in job creation. And while the state
continues to lead in many categories of research and development, other technology-oriented states are closing
the gap. Those were some of the conclusions from the 10th annual Index of the Massachusetts Innovation
Economy, set to be released today by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s John Adams Innovation
Institute, a state-chartered group focused on the knowledge economy.” (Robert Weisman, “Report Calls Mass. A New-Jobs
Laggard,” The Boston Globe, 12/18/06)
Under Romney, Massachusetts Lost Major Employers Like Gillette And Fleet While Others Cut Jobs
Romney Blasted For Not Living Up To Campaign Promises As Major Employers Left State. “[Romney]
bragged as CEO he’d bring corporations and jobs to Massachusetts and belittled Shannon O’Brien for not
knowing what he knew. While Mr. CEO was governor, major employers such as Gillette, Hancock, Fleet, Reebok
were bought by out-of-town goliaths.” (Dan Payne, Op-Ed, “Memo To Candidates For Governor, Re: Debate,” The Boston Globe,
5/18/06)
During 2002 Campaign, Romney Said “I Speak The Language Of Business,” Pledged To Meet With
CEOs And “Fight For Every Job.” “‘I speak the language of business,’ Mitt Romney assured voters on his
campaign stops. This candidate said he would hit the road, reaching out to his fellow titans of commerce. He
would meet with CEOs. He would sell the Massachusetts business climate. He would ‘fight for every job.’”
(Adrian Walker, Op-Ed, “Jobs Pledge Looks Broken,” The Boston Globe, 3/22/04)
Romney In 2002: “I’m Looking Forward To Being The State’s Most Active Salesman.” “My background
in business means that most of my career I’ve been out asking companies for money – buy my product, buy
my service, be my sponsor at the Olympics … I’m looking forward to being the state’s most active salesman,
out there banging on doors, come to Massachusetts, look what we have for you, come use our convention
center, come locate your factory here, here’s how we’ll get you in here.” (Tom Benner, “Campaign 2002,” The Patriot
Ledger, 5/29/02)
Boston Herald: “No Longer Can Boston Be Called A True Corporate-Headquarters Town. … The Reason:
There Are Simply Too Few Of Those Jobs Around. And Too Few Large Companies.” “That’s it. Yesterday’s
announcement that Adidas is buying Reebok – after a slew of other takeovers of major Hub-area public
corporations – marks a ‘paradigm shift’ in Boston’s historic economic profile and the very nature of its work force,
economists and business leaders agree. No longer can Boston be called a true corporate-headquarters town. No
longer is it as attractive a place for many university graduates to stay if they aspire to middle-management and
top-echelon executive jobs – from human resources to accounting positions – within major public corporations.
The reason: There are simply too few of those jobs around. And too few large companies.” (Jay Fitzgerald, “Paradigm
Shift For Boston’s Economy,” Boston Herald, 8/4/05)
In 2006, Boston-Based Fidelity Investments Announced It Would Move 1,500 Jobs Out Of Massachusetts.
“Fidelity Investments said yesterday it plans to move up to 1,500 jobs out of Massachusetts by 2008, a step likely
to reignite a regional development rivalry among New England states. Fidelity spokeswoman Anne Crowley said
the mutual-fund giant told roughly 800 employees of its personal investments group that their jobs will move to
locations in Rhode Island in stages by 2008.” (Ross Kerber, “Fidelity To Shift Jobs From State,” The Boston Globe, 1/6/06)
In 2005, Cincinnati-Based Procter & Gamble Bought Gillette, 6,000 MA Job Cuts Expected. “Cincinnati-
based Procter & Gamble’s $57 billion deal to buy Gillette, a century-old corporate mainstay in Boston, has
brought together such brands as P&G’s Tide detergent, Crest toothpaste and Pampers diapers with Gillette’s
razors and Duracell batteries. The deal, which closed Oct. 1, is expected to lead to 6,000 job cuts across the
combined company’s work force of 140,000, with some of the reductions likely to come at Gillette’s Boston
headquarters.” (Mark Jewell, “Dealmaking Continued To Dominate State’s Business News In 2005,” The Associated Press, 12/26/05)
Romney Reacts: “That’s Very Unfortunate.” “I understand that there are going to be a lot of job losses.
That’s very unfortunate … I wish I had the power to prevent this acquisition from occurring. I don’t.” (Ann E.
Donlan, “Biz-Savvy Gov: Merger Is ‘Real Shame’ For Workers,” Boston Herald, 2/29/05)
In 2003, Charlotte-Based Bank Of America Bought FleetBoston. “Boston will lose its last major hometown
bank once a $47 billion deal made public yesterday closes and Bank of America walks off with FleetBoston
Financial Corp. That rattled political leaders from City Hall to the State House yesterday, while rumors of major
job cuts quickly began circulating inside Fleet. Bank of America, of Charlotte, N.C., said it had agreed to buy
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Boston-based Fleet, New England’s largest bank, for $45 a share, a nearly 42 percent premium over Fleet’s
closing price of $31.80 Friday.” (Jon Chesto, “Fleet Sale Surprises Hub,” Boston Herald, 10/28/03)
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FOREIGN POLICY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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.
EXPERIENCE
Romney’s Foreign Affairs Resume Is Extremely Thin, Leading To Credibility Problems
Romney “Lacks Any Background In The Military Or Foreign Policy.” “Though Romney has devoted
considerable time in the campaign to national security – including a major speech Thursday in New York City on
the threat of nuclear terrorism – the one-term governor lacks any background in the military or foreign policy.”
(Jonathan Martin, “McCain Hits Romney On Bin Laden Comment,” Politico.com, 4/28/07)
Romney Traveled Extensively In 2006 – Including Self-Funded Asian Trip – To Burnish Foreign Policy
Credentials. “Earlier this month [Romney] made a political trip through the South, before using personal money to
fund a fact-finding trip to Japan, South Korea and China. He added to his foreign credentials this year with trips to
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Iraq and Afghanistan.” (Glen Johnson, “Romney Set For Presidential Announcement,” The Associated
Press, 12/22/06)
In December 2006 Trip To China, Romney “Stumbled Over Relatively Straightforward Geopolitical
Issues,” Did Not Know Value Of Chinese Currency. “The students asked Romney about his potential
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presidential run, his views on Iraq, and banking and trade issues. At times, Romney stumbled over relatively
straightforward geopolitical issues: Romney had to ask the US Embassy staff accompanying him the value of the
Chinese renminbi to the US dollar, despite the fact that this is one of the hottest economic issues between
Washington and Beijing.” (Jehangir S. Pocha, “Romney Tries Political Hand In China,” The Boston Globe, 12/9/06)
The Associated Press Noted “Perilous Results” Of Romney’s “Checklist” Approach To Foreign Policy.
“As Mitt Romney transitions from one-term governor to presidential candidate, he has been ticking through a
presidential checklist, sometimes with perilous results. Where he lacked foreign policy experience, his staff
arranged one-day visits to Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Check, check, check.” (Glen Johnson,
“Romney Finds Peril As He Works Through Presidential Checklist,” The Associated Press, 3/25/07)
Romney Refers To Current Affairs Books He Has Read When Discussing His Evaluation Of Iraq War.
“[W]e had major problems in the way we managed the war … It was underplanned, underprepared, understaffed,
too low a level of troops, undermanaged. … [I]f you read Cobra II and Assassins Gate and Looming Tower and
some of the reports of events leading up not only to 9/11 but to the conflict itself, there’s a sense that we weren’t
ready for the post-major conflict period. And that has resulted in a blossoming of the sectarian violence, of
insurgents…” (ABC’s “This Week,” 2/18/07)
The Economist Noted No Enthusiasm For Foreign Policy Speech At Bush Presidential Library,
Suggesting Romney “Think About Sending Every Registered Voter A Dollar.” “Mr Romney’s campaign has
so far failed to bewitch Republican primary voters. This much was clear at a speech on April 10th at the
Annenberg Presidential Conference Centre in College Station, Texas. George Bush senior was there to introduce
Mr Romney to a sympathetic audience. The candidate spoke well and looked nicely presidential, but his reception
was merely warm. Right now Mr Romney needs attention and fans more than money. Perhaps he should think
about sending every registered voter a dollar.” (“Mitt The Moneymaker,” The Economist, 4/12/07)
Romney Received Vietnam Draft Deferment Due To Mission Abroad And Subsequent Student Exemption,
Then Drew High Number Before Student Deferment Expired
Romney Received 30-Month Deferment Due To Mormon Mission Plus Three-Year Student Exemption – He
Insisted His Father, Then Governor Of Michigan, Had No Influence Over His Status. “GOP Senate candidate
W. Mitt Romney received a two-and-a-half year draft deferment as a Mormon missionary, in addition to a nearly
three-year student exemption, during the Vietnam War, federal records show. … There is no evidence that
Romney, whose father was governor of Michigan from 1962-68, received any special treatment to avoid the draft,
or to procure the two-and-a-half year missionary assignment in France.” (Joe Battenfeld, “GOP Senate Hopeful Romney Got
Draft Deferment For Vietnam,” The Boston Herald, 5/2/94)
Romney: “Nothing Wrong” With The Deferments. “I didn’t go on a mission to avoid the draft … There was
nothing wrong with (the deferments). I followed the process like any other kid … I never asked my dad in any
way to be involved with the draft board.” (Joe Battenfeld, “GOP Senate Hopeful Romney Got Draft Deferment For Vietnam,”
The Boston Herald, 5/2/94)
“Romney Said He Initially Believed The Vietnam War ‘Was Being Fought For The Right Purposes,’ He
Later Realized ‘I Was Wrong.’” (Joe Battenfeld, “GOP Senate Hopeful Romney Got Draft Deferment For Vietnam,” The Boston
Herald, 5/2/94)
Romney “Acknowledged He Did Not Have Any Desire To Serve In The Military During His College And
Missionary Days.” “Romney, however, acknowledged he did not have any desire to serve in the military during
his college and missionary days, especially after he married and became a father. ‘I was not planning on signing
up for the military,’ he said. ‘It was not my desire to go off and serve in Vietnam, but nor did I take any actions to
remove myself from the pool of young men who were eligible for the draft. If drafted, I would have been happy to
serve, and if I didn’t get drafted I was happy to be with my wife and new child.’” (Joe Battenfeld, “GOP Senate Hopeful
Romney Got Draft Deferment For Vietnam,” The Boston Herald, 5/2/94)
As Presidential Candidate, Romney Now Says He “Felt Guilty About The Draft Deferment” He
Received For Going On Religious Mission To France. “The closest he has ever come to a personal
religious crisis, he recalls, was when he was in college and considering whether to go off on a mission, as his
grandfather, father and brother had done. Mitt was deeply in love with Ann, his high school sweetheart and
future wife, and couldn’t bear to spend more than two years away from her. He says he also felt guilty about
the draft deferment he would get for it, when other young men his age were heading for Vietnam.” (Karen
Tumulty, “What Romney Believes,” Time, 5/21/07)
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Romney Became Eligible For Draft In 1969 But Drew High Number. “Romney became eligible for the
Selective Service’s first draft lottery in Dec. 1969, and received number 300, virtually ensuring he would not be
drafted when his student deferment expired in Dec. 1970. Only those who got up to 195 were taken for service.
Without the missionary exemption, Romney’s undergraduate deferment could have expired in 1969, several
months before the lottery was held. But Romney said the missionary deferment had no effect on his draft status
because after receiving his undergraduate degree, he would have continued on to law school, resulting in more
deferments.” (Joe Battenfeld, “GOP Senate Hopeful Romney Got Draft Deferment For Vietnam,” The Boston Herald, 5/2/94)
Romney’s Exempt Status Expired In Late 1970, But High Draft Number From Previous Year Ensured He
Would Not Go To Vietnam. “Romney’s five-year exempt status expired in late 1970, but he was not drafted
because he had drawn a high lottery number the previous year, according to Selective Service records. …
Romney, who had a student deferment as a freshman at Stanford University, got a ‘4-D’ deferment, as a ‘minister
of religion or divinity student,’ in July 1966 when he entered the missionary program, Selective Service records
show. He returned from his missionary assignment in late 1968 and got another student deferment in 1969 when
he enrolled at Brigham Young University.” (Joe Battenfeld, “GOP Senate Hopeful Romney Got Draft Deferment For Vietnam,” The
Boston Herald, 5/2/94)
IRAQ
Romney Has Generally Been Described As A Supporter Of President Bush’s Iraq Policy
Romney Declines To Say Iraq Invasion Was Correct Course Of Action, But Added “I’m Not Going To
Second Guess The Decision.” FOX’s SEAN HANNITY: “So your position on Iraq, it was right to go in. …”
ROMNEY: “Well, I’m not going to second guess the decision going in, based on what we knew at the time. We
believed they had weapons of mass destruction. We were almost certain they did. And it turns out that apparently
they didn’t. So we put that aside. … Then began the process of trying to bring stability to the country and that we
didn’t do so well.” (Fox News’ “Hannity & Colmes, 4/4/07)
“Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, A Potential Republican Presidential Candidate, Said … He
Supports The Way President Bush Has Carried Out The War In Iraq.” (“Romney Backs Bush Handling Of Iraq
War,” Boston Herald, 12/21/06)
Romney Slammed Senate Democrats’ 2007 Proposal To Defund The Iraq War. “[I]t’s a terrible idea. …
No one likes the fact that we’re still in Iraq. Everybody wants our troops home as soon as they possibly can be
home. But people who have studied it very carefully and put politics aside recognize that if we simply withdraw on
a precipitous basis, we open a risk of a very substantial nature to America’s interests. … These are the
consequences of improper departure from Iraq, and so we have to make sure that we manage to the extent
humanly possible this process to maintain order and a decree of stability we don’t let this country to fall in
complete and total collapse.” (Fox News’ “Hannity & Colmes, 4/4/07)
Romney Said “We Made A Lot Of Mistakes” In Iraq, Calling Current Situation A “Mess” But Affirming
Necessity Of Keeping Troops There. “The people in Congress, and the people of America have to recognize
that you’ve got to separate our disappointment and, in some cases, anger with where we are in Iraq. We made a
lot of mistakes. … [T]he war has not been conducted perfectly by any means. We are, to a certain degree,
responsible for the mess we find ourselves in. But as long as there’s a reasonable probability that a pathway
exists for us to maintain a central government in Iraq, with a central military, albeit with strong sub-states, that’s a
pathway which is in the best interest of America.” (Fox News’ “Hannity & Colmes, 4/4/07)
April 2007: Asked If We Are Winning In Iraq, Romney Said “It Depends On How You Define That.” “Asked if
we are winning the war, Romney said that ‘it depends on how you define that.’ He described the current phase of
the conflict as nation building.” (Mary Beth Schneider, “Romney Blasts Reid For Remarks On Iraq,” Indianapolis Star, 4/21/07)
June 2007: Asked If Iraq Invasion Was Mistake Knowing What We Now Know, Romney Called The
Question “A Non-Sequitur … Or A Null Set” And An “Unreasonable Hypothetical,” Adding: “We Did What
We Did.” QUESTION: “Governor, thank you, but the question was, knowing what you know right now – not what
you knew then, what you know right now – was it a mistake for the United States to invade Iraq?” ROMNEY:
“Well, I answered the question by saying it’s a non-sequitur. It’s a non – null set kind of question, because you
can go back and say, ‘If we knew then what we know now, by virtue of inspectors having been let in and giving us
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that information, by virtue of if Saddam Hussein had followed the U.N. resolutions,’ we wouldn’t be having this
discussion. So it’s a hypothetical that I think is an unreasonable hypothetical. And the answer is: We did what we
did. We did the right thing based on what we knew at that time. I think we made mistakes following the conduct or
the collapse of Saddam’s government.” (Mitt Romney, CNN Republican Presidential Candidates Debate, Manchester, NH, 6/5/07)
In June 2007, Romney “Increased His Criticism” Of Bush Administration Policy In Iraq
Romney “Rejected” Bush Administration’s Vision Of Long-Term Troop Presence In Iraq As Being Similar
To South Korea, Saying It Sent The Wrong Message. “Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on
Thursday rejected the Bush administration’s vision of a decades-long U.S. troop presence in Iraq akin to South
Korea and suggested a need for public benchmarks to gauge progress. … Romney said the comparison sends
the wrong message. ‘We have communicated to the people in the region and the country that we’re not looking to
have a permanent presence in Iraq and I don’t think we want to communicate that we were just kidding about
that,’ he said.” (Liz Sidoti, “Romney At Odds With Bush Administration On Decades-Long U.S. Presence In Iraq,” The Associated Press,
6/8/07)
Romney: “Our objective would not be a Korea-type setting with 25-50,000 troops on a near permanent basis
remaining in bases in Iraq … I think we would hope to turn Iraq security over to their own military and their
own security forces, and if presence in the region is important for us than we have other options that are
nearby.” (Liz Sidoti, “Romney At Odds With Bush Administration On Decades-Long U.S. Presence In Iraq,” The Associated Press,
6/8/07)
“[Romney] Has Increased His Criticism Of How The Administration Waged The War And Handled The
Invasion’s Aftermath.” (Liz Sidoti, “Romney At Odds With Bush Administration On Decades-Long U.S. Presence In Iraq,” The
Associated Press, 6/8/07)
Romney Noted U.S. Bases In Nearby Countries While Saying We Should Maintain “Presence In The
Region” While Avoiding Specter Of Occupation. “Romney noted that the U.S. has bases in Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait and Qatar, and said: ‘We can have a presence in the region, but I think that at this time we need to
exercise care not to communicate to insurgents something that they can use to say “Ah ha! America does intend
to be an occupier forever!”‘“ (Liz Sidoti, “Romney At Odds With Bush Administration On Decades-Long U.S. Presence In Iraq,” The
Associated Press, 6/8/07)
In April 2007, Romney Came Under Fire For Advocating “Secret” Withdrawal Timetable Similar To
Proposal By Democrat Senator
In Early April, Romney Endorsed A Private “Series Of Timetables And Milestones.” ABC’S ROBIN
ROBERTS: “Do you believe there should be a timetable in withdrawing the troops?” ROMNEY: “Well, there’s no
question but that the president and Prime Minister Maliki have to have a series of timetables and milestones that
they speak about. But those shouldn’t be for public pronouncement. You don’t want the enemy to understand how
long they have to wait in the weeds until you’re going to be gone.” (ABC’s “Good Morning America,” 4/3/07)
Romney: “[O]f Course You Have To Work Together To Create Timetables And Milestones, But You
Don’t Do It With The Opposition.” (ABC’s “Good Morning America,” 4/3/07)
Romney’s Plan “Bears Some Striking Similarities To An Idea Hatched And Endorsed By Democratic
Senator Mark Pryor, D-Arkansas.” “[Romney’s] call this morning for a set of timetables for withdrawal from Iraq
– private timetables unknown to the public – bears some striking similarities to an idea hatched and endorsed by
Democratic Senator Mark Pryor, D-Arkansas.” (Z. Byron Wolf, “ABC News Political Radar” Blog, “Echoes Of Pryor In Romney
Plan,” abcnews.go.com, 4/3/07)
Pryor Has “Been Alone” And “Drawn Skepticism.” “Pryor has been alone in his calls for a classified
timetable and has drawn skepticism from the reporters who wrote about them, as well as his Democratic and
Republican colleagues who would not support them.” (Z. Byron Wolf, “ABC News Political Radar” Blog, “Echoes Of Pryor In
Romney Plan,” abcnews.go.com, 4/3/07)
Presidential Candidate Duncan Hunter (R) – Former Chairman Of House Armed Services Committee –
Blasted Romney’s Comments. “Romney is absolutely wrong in recommending a secret timetable. … Secret
timetables are bad because in the end they all become public and the enemy uses them to estimate the limit on
America’s endurance.” (Teddy Davis, “ABC News Political Radar” Blog, “Romney ‘Absolutely Wrong’ On ‘Secret’ Timetables, Hunter
Says,” blogs.abcnews.com, 4/3/07)
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Romney Says Bush & Cheney Were Wrong About Saddam’s Weapons But Told The Truth “As They
Understood It”
Romney Said America And The World Were “Wrong” About Weapons Of Mass Destruction. “Clearly
we were very, very surprised by the fact that there weren’t weapons of mass destruction, apparently. Did we
make a mistake? Absolutely. We thought there were weapons of mass destruction there. When I say we, I’m not
just talking about our intelligence resources. I’m talking about those around the world. We were wrong.” (MSNBC’s
“Hardball,” 12/12/05)
Romney: “I Supported The President At The Time That He Entered Into Iraq And Believed That He
Had The Kind Of Information He Needed To Have To Make That Decision.” (Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,”
2/26/06)
Romney: President And Vice President Acted In What They Believed Were Best Interests Of The
Country. “I believe that Dick Cheney and the president told the truth as they understood it and have done what
they believe is in the best interest of the American people without exception. They are doing what they think is
right in the country.” (MSNBC’s “Hardball,” 12/12/05)
Romney Said Post-War Planning Was Not Done Effectively And There Were Not Enough Troops
Romney Is Critical Of Post-War Planning In Iraq, Citing Too Few Troops And “Failures Of Our Own
Preparation.” “I think the place where we really fell down in our planning was in preparation for what would
happen after we knocked down Saddam Hussein. I think we underestimated the kind of mayhem that might ensue
once insurgency started from surrounding nations, once people within Iraq itself began the sectarian violence …
But those kinds of developments would have suggested that we needed more troops. … And so, I think we were
underprepared, underplanned, understaffed, certainly undermanaged with regards to the prison situation. We find
ourselves in a very difficult situation, in part because of the failures of our own preparation.” (Fox News’ “On The
Record,” 4/23/07)
Romney: “Planning Level And The Troop Strength Level Were Not Adequate For The Need.”
“[F]ollowing the collapse of the Hussein government, we found that the planning level and the troop strength level
were not adequate for the need. But we are where we are now. And problems arise. And surprises occur in major
international conflict.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 10/17/06)
Romney: “I Don’t Think We Were As Fully Planned As We Needed To Be For Taking Over The
Country. I Don’t Think We Had Enough Military Manpower In Place To Manage The Country Effectively.”
(Fox News’ “Your World,” 10/26/06)
Romney Bemoaned Failure To Send Enough Troops, Protect Oil Infrastructure. “We probably didn’t
have enough troops there. We were not prepared for taking over the country and trying to stabilize it, get it
secure. And they saw people come into the country from other countries, insurgents. We didn’t protect the oil
fields or the pipelines very well.” (Fox News’ “Your World,” 8/31/06)
Romney: “We Haven’t Had Sufficient Troops.” “I think also that we haven’t had sufficient troops
following the period of major conflict, and so those are not new or novel observations. I think the president
would agree there’s a benefit that comes with hindsight.” (Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” 2/26/06)
Romney: “Well, I Don’t Think We Did An Adequate Job Explaining To The American People All The
Reasons For Entering Iraq. There Were Obviously Intelligence Failures.” (Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” 2/26/06)
Romney: “[T]here’s No Question It’s An Enormous Disappointment, From What Our Expectations
Were.” (Fox News’ “Your World,” 10/26/06)
Romney Felt Administration Had Ineffective Plan And Too Few “Boots On The Ground.” “Secondly,
what our responsibility is at this stage, given the fact that we went in, we toppled the government, I don’t think we
had as effective a plan in place as we needed to have, or enough boots on the ground to secure the country, but
that’s over now.” (Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor,” 11/23/06)
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Romney: “We Didn’t Do A Particularly Fabulous Job” In Period Immediately Following Saddam’s
Ouster. “But I also think there’s a -- a recognition that -- that the conduct of the conflict, post the period of
major conflict, when -- when Saddam fell, the period after that, we didn’t do a particularly fabulous job. And
that’s to say the least. A lot of mistakes were made.” (Fox News’ “Your World,” 8/31/06)
Romney: “It Has Been A Lot Tougher Than The American Public Was Prepared For.” “I think people, all
of us, are very concerned that Iraq didn’t proceed as we had expected it would. We thought it would be a quick
takedown, and then a replacement with an Iraqi government. It has been a lot tougher than the American public
was prepared for.” (Fox News’ “Your World,” 10/26/06)
Romney Called Abu Ghraib Scandal “Unfortunate.” “I think the prison abuse scandal is something which
has been unfortunate.” (Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” 2/26/06)
Romney Hedged On Endorsing Troop Surge And Has Been Criticized For Not Talking About Iraq
April 2007: American University Professor Said Romney Had Yet To Articulate “A Specific Iraq Policy.”
“Richard Semiatin, an assistant professor of government at American University, said that Romney, if he’s going
to be a leading candidate, will have to articulate a true plan for the war. ‘If he’s going to compete here, he’s really
going to have to come up with a specific Iraq policy,’ Semiatin said. Otherwise, he said, ‘he’ll get cut up in
debates.’” (Scott Helman, “Romney Urges More Be Spent On Defense And Energy Research,” The Boston Globe, 4/11/07)
Republican Legislator From New Hampshire Said Romney Has Not “Zeroed In” On The Issue Of Iraq. “A
local Republican last night issued a stern warning to Mitt Romney that he must resolve the issue with Iraq if he
expects to win the race for the White House. ‘You have not zeroed in on the main issue that’s bothering voters in
New Hampshire – especially independents in New Hampshire – and that’s the Iraq war,’ state Rep. Bob Elliott, R-
Salem, said during a Romney campaign event at a local Bickford’s near the Massachusetts border.” (Margo Sullivan,
“Romney Gets Earful Over Iraq,” The Eagle-Tribune [Lawrence, MA], 4/26/07)
Romney’s Response Did Not Impress His Questioner. “[Elliott] said he was unimpressed with Romney’s
performance. ‘I don’t think he handled it well at all,’ Elliott said, adding that he plans to continue asking
Romney the same question as the campaign progresses.” (Margo Sullivan, “Romney Gets Earful Over Iraq,” The Eagle-
Tribune [Lawrence, MA], 4/26/07)
Romney’s Failure to Mention Iraq In January ‘07 National Review Summit Speech Called “Bizarre And
Just Wrong And Almost Offensive In My View” By Editor Rich Lowry. “Put aside how rambling and
unfocused [the speech] was. Maybe that can be chalked up to a bad night or fatigue. But to speak for 50 minutes
or so and not to talk about the Iraq war before a conservative audience at a crucial moment in that war is bizarre
and just wrong and almost offensive in my view. This doesn’t seem like an oversight. [Romney] went out of his
way to check off every conservative box – except the one that is politically risky at the moment.” (Rich Lowry, “The
Romney Speech,” National Review’s “The Corner” Blog, corner.nationalreview.com, 1/29/07)
Late December 2006: Romney Deferred When Asked About Surge, Saying “I’m Still A Governor.” “I’m not
going to weigh in. I’m still a governor. I’m not running for national office at this stage. I’m not going to weigh in on
specific tactics about whether we should go from 140,000 to 170,000. That’s something I expect the President to
decide over the next couple of weeks and announce that to the nation. I want to hear what he has to say.” (Robert
Bluey, “Q&A: Mitt Romney Discusses Iraq War, Reagan’s Influence And Gay Marriage,” Human Events Website, www.humanevents.com,
12/28/06)
December 2006: Romney “Avoided” Controversial Issues Like Iraq, Instead Delivering “Brief But Upbeat
Remarks About How People In Asia Like Americans.” “[R]omney avoided many of the controversial issues
that have arisen in his campaign in recent weeks [like] abortion, gay marriage and the Iraq war. Instead, he
delivered brief but upbeat remarks about how people in Asia like Americans…” (David Pitt, “Romney Says He Backs
Bush’s Iraq War Policies,” The Associated Press, 12/20/06)
Romney “Declined To Discuss” His Stance On Troop Surge. “[Romney] said Wednesday he supports the
way President Bush has carried out the war in Iraq, but he declined to discuss specifics about whether more
troops should be sent. … When asked if he supported a surge in troops, one of the options Bush is said to be
considering, Romney declined to discuss such details.” (David Pitt, “Romney Says He Backs Bush’s Iraq War Policies,” The
Associated Press, 12/20/06)
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In November 2006, Romney Admitted He Didn’t Have A Plan For Iraq. FOX NEWS’ BILL O’REILLY: “Do you
have a plan in Iraq?” MITT ROMNEY: “Well, I wouldn’t presume to present a plan different than the president, but
I can tell you that I believe he was right to take the war on terror on an aggressive front.” (Fox News’ “The O’Reilly
Factor,” 11/23/06)
In January 2007, Romney Finally Came Out In Support Of President Bush’s Troop Surge Proposal
Romney Issued Press Release On January 10, 2007 Stating His Agreement With President’s Troop Surge.
“I agree with the President: Our strategy in Iraq must change. Our military mission, for the first time, must include
securing the civilian population from violence and terror. … In consultation with Generals, military experts and
troops who have served on the ground in Iraq, I believe securing Iraqi civilians requires additional troops. I
support adding five brigades in Baghdad and two regiments in Al-Anbar province. Success will require rapid
deployment. This effort should be combined with clear objectives and milestones for U.S. and Iraqi leaders.”
(Romney Exploratory Committee, Press Release, 1/10/07)
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer: “Here’s where Governor Romney stands on some of the top campaign issues. He
supports President Bush’s position on Iraq, opposes an early troop withdrawal.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,”
1/3/07)
Romney: “We Should Not Turn Around And Walk Out Of Iraq. That Would Be A Mistake.” (“Romney Backs Bush
Handling Of Iraq War,” Boston Herald, 12/21/06)
Romney: “[W]e’re in a setting which is very challenging. But simply turning around and walking out now
could lead to a humanitarian disaster.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 10/17/06)
Romney: “I think very few responsible Democrats, including people like Hillary Clinton, say just turn
around and get out. We all want to get out as soon as we can. But we recognize that Iraq is simply a front on
the war on terror. Terror is going to continue. The jihadists are trying to take over modern Muslim nations.”
(CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 10/17/06)
Romney: “This is going to be a long effort. It hasn’t been perfectly run so far – that I will give you. But the
idea of just turning and running out has huge humanitarian consequences, potentially geopolitical
consequences for our nation and for the world.” (Fox News’ “The Big Story,” 11/17/06)
Romney Stated His Agreement With McCain That Surge Was “The Only Way To Go.” “Well, we
[Romney and McCain] both agreed that the troop surge makes sense. Walking away from Iraq at this point would
present some very serious challenges and risks in country that we don’t want to take, potentially a massive open
civil war, potentially even a regional conflict which could draw us back into the region. So, the troop surge is the
only way to go.” (Fox News’ “The Big Story,” 4/3/07)
Romney Feels Surge Yielding Early Signs Of Progress On The Ground, Yet Called Urge To Withdraw
Troops “Very Tempting”
Romney Has Said There Are “Very Early Signs That Progress Is Being Made.” “There are early signs,
very early signs, that progress is being made. If those signs continue to hold and if we see the kind of
improvement in the capability of the Iraqi military, that’ll be very, very encouraging. But, at this stage, the signs are
positive and it’s a lot better than it would have been had we continued the old policy or if we just walked away.”
(Fox News’ “The Big Story,” 4/3/07)
Romney: “We’re Seeing The Troop Surge Is Beginning To Show Signs Of Working.” “[M]y view is that
right now the right step for us to take is to support the commander in chief by putting in additional troops to make
sure that al Maliki’s government is taking the lead. We’re seeing the troop surge is beginning to show signs of
working. Now I’m not wild about keep any troops there any longer than we have to. But I think dividing the country
in parts and getting out or simply getting out presents some risks to America.” (CNN’s “Larry King Live,” 3/15/07)
“The Idea Of Pulling American Troops Out Of Iraq Is ‘Very Tempting,’ Romney Said, But Doing So Would
Lead To A Larger Conflict In The Region.” (Mike Glover, “Romney Says Stressed Military Needs More Troops,” The Associated
Press, 5/30/07)
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Romney Has Made Favorable Comments On Plan Offered By Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) To Split Iraq Into
Thirds
Romney Said Sen. Biden’s Plan To Partition Iraq Into Thirds Deserves Thought If Surge Fails. “‘I want to
see what the result is from the troop surge,’ Romney said. ‘I think we’re going to know whether this is working
within months, not years.’ Should that fail, he said, other options need consideration – including Delaware
Democratic Sen. Joe Biden’s plan to split Iraq into thirds.” (Jason Cato, “Romney Wants Competition, Partnership With China,”
Pittsburgh Tribune Review, 4/28/07)
Romney Would Leave All Options On Table Regarding Iraq, Including Biden Plan. “On Iraq, Romney
continued to voice support for the ‘surge’ strategy in Iraq, but said when he becomes president all possible
strategies are on the table. ‘All the options that are being spoken of today, for instance, Joe Biden says let’s divide
the country up and leave. That option will still be available 6 months from now.’ (Jake Tapper and Matt Stuart, “Romney
On Offense,” ABCNews.com, 5/19/07)
Romney Claimed Biden Plan “Made Sense To Him,” Saying “At Least … He Puts A Plan Forward That Has
Some Prospect Of Success.” “One argument that he said made sense to him was pushed by U.S. Sen. Joe
Biden, D-Del., who advocated dividing Iraq into three separate regions dominated by Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis.
‘At least in the case of Sen. Biden, he puts a plan forward that has some prospect of success,’ Mr. Romney said.
‘But the challenge with that plan is it adds an additional risk, a risk which is not incurred if a central [Iraq] and a
government remains. A central government can maintain its borders against Iran and quell al-Qaida. You have to
have a central government for that to happen.’ With that in mind, he said, he’d prefer to see how the current U.S.
troop surge works before exploring other options in Iraq.” (Dan Majors, “Romney Pays Visit Seeking Support,” Pittsburgh Post-
Gazette, 4/28/07)
Intentionally Or Not, Romney Called For Larger Troop Surge Than President Bush
President’s Surge Included Five Brigades To Baghdad Plus One Regiment Of 4,000 Troops To Al Anbar
Province. “So I’ve committed more than 20,000 additional American troops to Iraq. The vast majority of them –
five brigades – will be deployed to Baghdad. … I have given orders to increase American forces in Anbar
Province by 4,000 troops.” (President George W. Bush, Remarks In Washington, DC, 1/10/07)
Regiment Is Between 3,000 And 5,000 Troops. “Prompted last month by Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld to consider ways to make more personnel available for duty in Iraq, the Marine Corps is advancing
a proposal to increase its overall size by 3,000 to 5,000 Marines … The bid for an additional infantry regiment
follows inquiries about available forces made last month by Rumsfeld and Gordon England, the deputy
defense secretary.” (Jason Sherman, “Marines Want Another Infantry Regiment,” Military.com, 11/7/06)
Analyst Fred Kagan Says Bush Administration Planned To Send “One Regiment Into Al Anbar …
Around 4,000 Troops.” “The Bush administration … [is] briefing a surge of as many as five brigades into
Baghdad and one regiment into al Anbar … They are saying that five brigades contain around 17,500 troops,
and the regiment around 4,000 troops, for a total surge of around 21,500 soldiers and Marines.” (Frederick W.
Kagan, “Numbers Games,” The Weekly Standard, 1/17/07)
Romney Called For Adding Two More Regiments In Anbar Province – One More Regiment Than President
Bush Called For. “In consultation with Generals, military experts and troops who have served on the ground in
Iraq, I believe securing Iraqi civilians requires additional troops. I support adding five brigades in Baghdad and two
regiments in Al-Anbar province.” (Romney For President Exploratory Committee, Press Release, 1/10/07)
During GOP Presidential Debate In South Carolina, Romney Incorrectly Claimed Weapons Inspectors
Were Not Allowed To Enter Iraq Before 2003 U.S. Invasion
During The Third GOP Presidential Debate, Romney Claimed That Saddam Hussein Had Not Opened Iraq
To Weapons Inspectors From The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). “In the first minutes of
Tuesday’s debate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney claimed that the war in Iraq was the fault of Saddam
Hussein. Specifically, Romney said that the war could have been averted if Hussein had “opened up his country”
to inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.” (Michael Scherer, “Romney On Those Gaffes,” Salon.com, 6/9/07)
Romney: “If You’re Saying, Let’s Turn Back The Clock And Saddam Hussein Had Opened Up His
Country To IAEA Inspectors … [H]e Didn’t Do Those Things.” “The question [about whether going to war in
Iraq was the right decision] is, kind of, a non sequitur ... If you’re saying, let’s turn back the clock and Saddam
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Hussein had opened up his country to IAEA inspectors and they’d come in and they’d found that there were no
weapons of mass destruction, had Saddam Hussein therefore not violated United Nations resolutions, we
wouldn’t be in the conflict we’re in. But he didn’t do those things, and we knew what we knew at the point we
made the decision to get in. I supported the President’s decision based on what we knew at the time.” (“Romney
Clarifies Iraq Statements,” Orange County Register, 6/12/07)
Three Days Before U.S. Invasion Of Iraq, Two Organizations Were Conducting Inspections Inside Iraq –
Both Were Advised To Leave Prior To Military Conflict. “Mohamed El Baradei, head of the U.N.’s International
Atomic Energy Agency that has been investigating whether Iraq has resumed any nuclear weapons production,
confirmed in a Monday report to his agency’s board of governors that his inspectors were advised to leave. ‘Late
last night...I was advised by the United States government to pull out our inspectors from Baghdad,’ El Baradei
said in a statement. He added that the U.N.’s Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, headed by
Hans Blix, was given similar advice.” (“UN Secretary General Orders Inspectors, Staff To Leave Iraq,” The Online News Hour,
3/17/03)
September 2002: Saddam Informed The U.N. He Would Allow “Unconditional Return” Of U.N.
Weapons Inspectors. “16 September 2002: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says he has received a letter
from the Iraqi Government offering to allow the unconditional return of weapons inspectors.” (“Timeline: Iraq
Weapons Inspections,” BBC News, 11/18/02)
November 2002: U.N. Inspectors, Led By Hans Blix, Entered Iraq To Begin Inspections. “18 November
2002: Hans Blix leads UN inspectors back to Baghdad to start their mission.” (“Timeline: Iraq Weapons Inspections,”
BBC News, 11/18/02)
The Orange County Register Called Romney’s Assertions “Naïve At Best,” Pointing Out That That IAEA
Inspectors Were In Iraq Prior To US Invasion, And Left The Country Only At President Bush’s Request.
“That statement suggests that Gov. Romney didn’t know or had forgotten that prior to the war Saddam Hussein
did allow UN weapons inspectors in, that the inspectors were able to visit most of the sites they wanted to, that
they asked U.S. intelligence agencies for more information on specific sites where weapons were expected to be
and inspected them, finding no weapons of mass destruction … it was President Bush, not Saddam Hussein, who
informed the IAEA that it would be prudent to end the inspections, since, as we soon discovered, the United
States had already decided to invade Iraq.” (“Romney Clarifies Iraq Statements,” Orange County Register, 6/12/07)
Annenberg Public Policy Center Called Romney’s Claim One Of “The Biggest Factual Fouls” Of The
Debate. “Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney committed the biggest factual fouls of the night, misleadingly
asserting … that we went to war in Iraq because Saddam Hussein refused to allow weapons inspectors to come
in.” (“Third Time Around For GOP Hopefuls, FactCheck.org, 6/8/07)
The Washington Post’s Howard Kurtz: Romney’s Statement Was “Completely Untrue.” “Former
Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney said in this debate this week that Saddam Hussein kicked out the U.N.
weapons inspectors before the Iraq war started. Well, that’s completely untrue, and yet almost no news
organization remarked on that.” (CNN, “Reliable Sources,” 6/10/07)
After His Statements Were Called Into Question, Romney Refused To Concede His Error. “On Wednesday,
Romney was asked to expand on his remarks about Hussein at an ‘Ask Mitt Anything’ town hall in Manchester,
N.H. The candidate stuck to his guns, again blaming Hussein’s resistance to IAEA inspections for the invasion. ‘It
was his choice not to allow the kind of inspections that would have communicated to the world that there were not
weapons of mass destruction,’ he said. ‘And that was an error, obviously an error that was very costly.’” (Michael
Scherer, “Romney On Those Gaffes,” Salon.com, 6/9/07)
Romney Criticized Iraq Study Group Report, Said Recommendations “Will Not Meet Our Objectives” In
Iraq
Romney Called ISG Report “Product Of A Flawed Process.” “The members of the Iraq Study Group deserve
credit for their hard work. But their recommendations read like the product of a flawed process — one more
focused on reaching consensus for the sake of reaching consensus.” (Kathryn Jean Lopez, “A Primary Factor,” National
Review Online, 12/14/06)
Romney: “There were a few recommendations that I found especially striking: Suggesting that somehow the
Israel-Palestine conflict is a root of sectarian and insurgent violence in Iraq is just wrong. Sunnis are killing
Shia and vice versa. Pressuring Israel won’t change that.” (Kathryn Jean Lopez, “A Primary Factor,” National Review
Online, 12/14/06)
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Romney Criticized ISG’s Recommendation To Enter Dialogue With Regimes Like Iran And Syria.
“Proposing that we negotiate with terrorist regimes like Syria and Iran — without a rigorous analysis of how our
incentives could ever be aligned — is just counter-productive. … I have no quarrel with talking, especially if it
yields valuable intelligence and insight about an adversary. But that’s a far cry from actually negotiating with Iran,
which sponsors Hezbollah, has nuclear ambitions, and has been clear in its intention to wipe our ally Israel off the
map.” (Kathryn Jean Lopez, “A Primary Factor,” National Review Online, 12/14/06)
Romney Said Removing Troops From Combat Positions Before Iraq Was Secure Was Poor Idea.
“[I]nferring that our troops may be withdrawn from combat positions before Iraq is secure runs counter to my view
and to the views I have heard from some of America’s most accomplished military leaders. … I am not suggesting
that there are simple solutions for Iraq. But it is clear to me that some of these recommendations will not meet our
objectives in Iraq, or in the broader long war America is fighting today.” (Kathryn Jean Lopez, “A Primary Factor,” National
Review Online, 12/14/06)
Romney Spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom: “To Pull Out Troops Precipitously Now Would Lead To A
Humanitarian Disaster In Iraq.” (Brian MacQuarrie, “Referendum Against Iraq War Gaining Ground,” The Boston Globe, 11/8/06)
IRAN
Romney Has Staked Out Early, Aggressive Position On Confronting Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions While
Seeming To Rule Out Option Of Military Action
Romney Accused Sen. Hillary Clinton Of “Timidity” For Suggesting Diplomatic Engagement With Iran.
“[W]e do have interest in making sure that they do not develop additional nuclear technology and, in my view,
that’s where Sen. Clinton has gone off the right track. She’s suggesting engaging with Iran. That’s a timidity that’s
not right. This is a time to tighten our sanctions, economic, because they’re having an impact, and to increase our
diplomatic isolation of Iran.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 2/16/07)
Romney: “[N]egotiation And Engaging With The Iranians At This Point Is Not The Way To Go And
Neither Is Invading Them.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 2/16/07)
Romney Said U.S. Military Action Against Iran Is “Not Going To Happen.” “I think the president has
whatever authority is necessary to protect this country and protect our troops. I think [the] Iranian military has
been involved in the conflict in Iraq. Iranians have supported the attack on our soldiers. But I don’t think for a
minute that this president is intent on attacking Iran. That’s not where we’re aiming. That’s not going to happen.
We have no interest in going into Iran.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 2/16/07)
Romney Wants To Punish President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad With Diplomatic Sanctions, Genocide
Indictment
Romney Backs Tough Diplomatic And Economic Sanctions On Iranian Government. “Iran is not acting
like a very civilized member of the world society. Iran’s sins go well beyond taking these hostages. They go to a
nuclear program which has far more reaching implications for the world and it’s time for us to truly tighten down
the screws economically on Iran, to put in place diplomatic sanctions which make it very clear to all the people in
Iran, that they’re a rogue state, that they are a pariah and then to work with local or surrounding moderate Islamic
states to get them to get on our side to also pressure Iran.” (Fox News’ “The Big Story,” 4/3/07)
Romney: “The World Needs To Come Together Here And Treat These Folks Just As Bad Or Even
Worse Than We Treated The South Africans During The Days Of Apartheid.” (Fox News’ “The Big Story,”
4/3/07)
Romney Supports Indicting Ahmadinejad Under Genocide Convention. “[F]rom a diplomatic standpoint, I
think we ought to indict him under the genocide convention … This is a person who, the world should understand,
and the people of Iran should understand, is not someone who should be leading a country and I think that’s
something that we’re beginning to make progress in doing.” (Fox News’ “The Big Story,” 4/3/07)
As Governor, Romney Refused To Provide State Security For Former Iranian President During Visit To
Harvard
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In September 2006, Romney Refused To Offer State Police Protection To Harvard Guest Speaker And
Former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, Calling Him A “Terrorist.” “Governor Mitt Romney declared
yesterday he would not allow any state resources to be used to protect a former Iranian president during his visit
to the Boston area this weekend, and he sharply criticized Harvard University for inviting Mohammed Khatami to
speak on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. ‘There are people in this state who have
suffered from terrorism, and taking even a dollar of their money to support a terrorist is unacceptable,’ Romney
[said].” (Farah Stockman and Scott Helman, “Romney Bars State Security For Iranian’s Harvard Visit,” The Boston Globe, 9/6/06)
Romney Called Harvard’s Invitation To Khatami “A Disgrace” To The Memory Of Terrorism Victims.
“[A]fter Romney issued a statement yesterday outlining his position in which he called Harvard’s invitation ‘a
disgrace to the memory of all Americans who have lost their lives at the hands of extremists’ the Boston
Police Department said it would step in. ‘We were asked by the State Department to assist in protecting a
guest of the United States, and the Police Department plans to oblige,’ spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said.”
(Farah Stockman and Scott Helman, “Romney Bars State Security For Iranian’s Harvard Visit,” The Boston Globe, 9/6/06)
Romney’s Condemnation Of Khatami Met Resistance From Human Rights Groups And Academics, Who
Contradicted Some Of His Assertions. “Leading human rights groups and academics yesterday disputed
aspects of Governor Mitt Romney’s high-profile accusation that Iran’s former president, Mohammed Khatami, was
responsible for ‘the torture and murder’ of democracy activists and student protesters. The groups said Khatami
was a moderate among Iranian leaders who worked largely in vain to expand political freedoms in Iran … The
violent crackdowns on democracy protesters during Khatami’s time as president 1997 to 2005 were believed to
have been initiated by rivals of the president and approved by Iran’s ruling clerics, they said.” (Farah Stockman,
“Romney’s Accusation On Khatami Disputed,” The Boston Globe, 9/9/06)
Academics Took Issue With Romney’s Characterization Of Khatami’s Presidency. “In his statement to the
media explaining his decision to revoke State Police protection for Khatami, Romney accused Khatami of acting
in concert with the hard-liners, luring students into protesting only to crack down on their activities. … But
academics across the political spectrum took issue with that account.” (Farah Stockman, “Romney’s Accusation On Khatami
Disputed,” The Boston Globe, 9/9/06)
George Mason University Professor Of Middle East History: “Shaul Bakhash, professor of Middle East
History at George Mason University and a prominent Iran specialist, said Romney’s assertion does not
‘accord with the facts. ‘To say of Khatami that he oversaw the arrest and torture implies that he was directly
complicit. I don’t think anyone believes that’s the case … You might argue that he was not firm enough or that
he did not have enough backbone, but it is hard to argue that he was complicit. … I don’t think the facts really
are in dispute.’” (Farah Stockman, “Romney’s Accusation On Khatami Disputed,” The Boston Globe, 9/9/06)
American Enterprise Institute Scholar And Khatami Critic: “Michael Rubin, a scholar at the conservative
American Enterprise Institute who is a vocal critic of Khatami, also took issue with Romney’s characterization.
‘What is factually correct is to say he turned a blind eye’ to the crackdown, said Rubin, who was in Iran during
the July 1999 crackdown. ‘He didn’t oversee it.’” (Farah Stockman, “Romney’s Accusation On Khatami Disputed,” The
Boston Globe, 9/9/06)
Middle East Specialist At Congressional Research Service: “‘That is not the view of most Iran experts,’
said Kenneth Katzman, a Middle East specialist at the Congressional Research Service, a research arm of
Congress. ‘I think most experts on Iran would say that Khatami attempted to stop many human rights abuses
but did not prevail politically.’” (Farah Stockman, “Romney’s Accusation On Khatami Disputed,” The Boston Globe, 9/9/06)
Groups Like Human Rights Watch And Amnesty International Also Disputed Romney’s Remarks About
Khatami. “Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the New Haven-based Iran Human Rights
Documentation Center three leading groups monitoring human rights abuses in Iran all disputed aspects of
Romney’s depiction of Khatami’s offenses, as did many academic specialists on Iran.” (Farah Stockman, “Romney’s
Accusation On Khatami Disputed,” The Boston Globe, 9/9/06)
ROMNEY’S FORMER COMPANIES HAVE BUSINESS TIES TO IRAN
After Romney Urged Divestment From Iran, It Was Revealed His Former Firms Had Business Dealings
There
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In February 2007, Romney Urged States – Specifically New York – To Divest Pension Funds From
Holdings Doing Business With Iran. “During the past two months, Romney has challenged Massachusetts and
other New England states to pull their pension funds from companies doing business in Iran. On Thursday,
Romney expanded his divestment call to New York. He sent a letter to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., a
fellow presidential candidate, urging her to support his effort.” (Glen Johnson, “Company’s Links To Iran Undercut Romney’s
Call For Divestment,” The Associated Press, 2/23/07)
French Oil Company Total SA Has Deep Ties To Iran – In 2002 Bain Capital Purchased Total’s Chemicals
Business, Including Its Office In Tehran
Associated Press Noted New York State Pension System Invests French Oil Conglomerate Total SA. “Dan
Weiller, a spokesman for New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, said Friday that New York’s $150 billion
state pension system has holdings with companies that have dealings with Iran or in that country. Among them is
Total SA, a French oil giant. As of March 2006, the state system had about $166 million worth of Total stock.”
(Glen Johnson, “Company’s Links To Iran Undercut Romney’s Call For Divestment,” The Associated Press, 2/23/07)
Total Has Been Doing Business In Iran Since The 1950s And Recently Resisted U.S. Calls For Isolating
The Regime. “Total won the South Pars [Iran] contract in 1997 as part of an international consortium, including
Russia’s Gazprom, Malaysia’s Petronas and Iran’s state-owned NIOC. The French group has been in Iran since
the 1950s, though recently it resisted pressure from the US to isolate the Islamic state over its controversial
nuclear enrichment programme. Total gave its 40 per cent stake in the South Pars project back to NIOC in 2004
under the terms of the deal. But it still has rights to a share of production from the gas field, equivalent to 18,000
barrels this year, below 1 per cent of its global production.” (Martin Arnold, “Total Faces Investigation Over Dollars 2bn Iran
Contract,” Financial Times, 12/20/06)
Total Is Under Investigation For Bribery In Landing 1997 “South Pars” Iranian Gas Project. “A Paris
judge has launched an investigation into allegations that Total, the French oil and gas group, paid bribes to
win a Dollars 2bn gas contract in Iran almost a decade ago. … The latest investigation stems from the
discovery of SFr100m (Dollars 82m) in two Swiss bank accounts, allegedly paid by Total to an Iranian
intermediary to help the French company’s consortium win the South Pars contract.” (Martin Arnold, “Total Faces
Investigation Over Dollars 2bn Iran Contract,” Financial Times, 12/20/06)
Total Describes Itself As “Foremost Oil Company In Partnership With Iran.” “The South Pars gas field is
the Iranian portion of what is probably the largest gas field in the world. The other part of the field, in Qatari
waters, is known as North Field. With the South Pars project, TotalFinaElf has become the foremost oil
company in partnership with Iran and has bolstered its position in the Middle East…” (Total Website, www.total.com,
Accessed 2/23/07)
October 29, 2002: Bain Capital Agreed To Purchase Chemical Subsidiary SigmaKalon From Total SA For
A Rumored €1 Billion. “French oil giant TotalFina Elf SA agreed Tuesday, Oct. 29, to sell SigmaKalon, Europe’s
second-biggest decorative paint maker, to Boston private equity firm Bain Capital as TotalFina’s chemicals unit
refocuses. Although a price was not disclosed for the deal, a source close to the situation said it was about euro1
billion ($980 million) … Bain beat a number of rivals in a hotly contested auction to acquire SigmaKalon.” (Nicola
Hobday, “TotalFina Sells Paints Unit,” The Daily Deal, 10/30/02)
SigmaKalon Created In 1999 Merger Between Total And Petrofina. “[SigmaKalon] was created in 1999
when Total and Petrofina merged to create TotalFina and combined their respective paint businesses, Kalon
and Sigma Coatings. TotalFina later acquired Elf Aquitaine to create TotalFinaElf, and the merged company’s
chemicals business was named Atofina. The SigmaKalon business includes both decorative and industrial
paints and coatings.” (Bill Schmitt, “Atofina’s Sale of SigmaKalon May Be Close,” Chemical Week, 10/2/02)
“Since March 2003 Bain Capital Is Owner Of SigmaKalon.” (SigmaKalon Website, www.sigmakalon.be, Accessed
2/20/07)
SigmaKalon Has An Office In Tehran, According To Its Company Website. “Sigma Paints Iran, General
Office; Shahid Beheshti Ave, Tehran; +98 21 88514873.” (SigmaKalon Website, www.sigmakalon.be, Accessed 2/23/07)
Bain Capital Is Expected To Put SigmaKalon Up For Sale In 2007. “Europe’s second-biggest paint supplier,
SigmaKalon … is expected to be put up for sale next year in a £1.3 billion deal. … Bain Capital bought
SigmaKalon from French oil giant TotalFinaElf for £505 million in 2002. Insiders say it has performed well ahead
of expectations, allowing Bain to refinance the business and look for an exit. Though advisers have not yet been
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appointed, it is thought that a trade sale is more likely than a stock market float.” (Lucinda Kemeny, “£1.3bn Tag On Paints
Company,” Daily Mail [London, UK], 12/17/06)
In 2004, Bain & Company’s Italian Branch Inked Consulting Deal With Iran’s State-Run Oil Company
Italian Branch Of Bain & Co. – 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. “Republican Mitt
Romney is urging state pension systems to divest from Iran, yet the presidential contender’s former employer and
the company he started have links to recent Iranian business interests or deals. Romney joined Boston-based
Bain & Co., a management consulting firm, in 1977 and worked there until 1985. … Bain & Co. Italy, described in
company literature as ‘the Italian branch of Bain & Co.,’ received a $2.3 million contract from the National Iranian
Oil Co., in September 2004. Its task was to develop a master plan so NIOC – the state oil company of Iran – could
become one of the world’s top oil companies, according to Iranian and U.S. news accounts of the deal.” (Glen
Johnson, “Company’s Links To Iran Undercut Romney’s Call For Divestment,” The Associated Press, 2/23/07)
TERRORISM
April 2007: Romney Said Catching Usama Bin Laden Would Yield Only Marginal Increase In Safety, Not
Worth Cost
Romney Said Capturing 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. “[Romney] said the country would be safer by only ‘a small percentage’ and would see ‘a very
insignificant increase in safety’ if al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was caught because another terrorist would
rise to power. ‘It’s not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person,’
Romney said. Instead, he said he supports a broader strategy to defeat the Islamic jihad movement.” (Liz Sidoti,
“Romney Says Rivals Switch Positions, Too,” The Associated Press, 4/26/07)
One Day Prior To Romney’s Comments, Senior Al Qaeda Official Said Bin Laden Was Orchestrating
Terrorist Operations in Iraq And Afghanistan. “Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is orchestrating militants’
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, a senior commander of Afghan Islamist group Taliban said in remarks
broadcast on Wednesday. … ‘He is drawing plans in Iraq and Afghanistan … Praise God he is alive,’ Mullah
Dadullah told Al Jazeera television.” (“Bin Laden Overseeing Iraq, Afghanistan Ops: Taliban,” Reuters, 4/25/07)
Bin Laden Allegedly Directed 2007 Attack Targeting V.P. Cheney. “Dadullah said bin Laden ordered the
attack on February 27 at the U.S. Bagram base during a visit by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney to
Afghanistan. ‘Do you remember the martyrdom operation inside the Bagram base which targeted a senior
American official … this operation was the result of blessed plans put by him,’ Dadullah said.” (“Bin Laden
Overseeing Iraq, Afghanistan Ops: Taliban,” Reuters, 4/25/07)
National Review’s Byron York: “Perhaps Romney Should Watch The Tape Of The Planes Hitting The
Towers Again.” “[J]ust speaking as one taxpayer, I would say a) we have already spent billions and gone to a lot
of effort to try to get bin Laden, and b) it would be worth still more money and still more effort to kill the man
behind 9/11. I can’t imagine any serious Republican candidate for president would say otherwise. Perhaps
Romney should watch the tape of the planes hitting the towers again.” (Byron York, “Mitt Romney On Osama Bin Laden,”
National Review’s Corner Blog, 4/27/07)
As Salt Lake Organizing Committee President, Romney Downplayed Bin Laden Threat To 2002 Winter
Games
After 9/11, Romney “Downplayed Any Threat Posed By” Bin Laden To Winter Olympics, Saying Real
Threat Lay With Homegrown Animal Rights Activists. “After hijacked jetliners smashed into the World Trade
Center towers and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, Utahns began openly wondering if the 2002 Winter Games might
become a target of Islamic terrorists. But Salt Lake Organizing Committee President Mitt Romney, in a meeting
with the Deseret News shortly after the attacks, downplayed any threat posed by Osama bin Laden, explaining
instead that the real threat of terrorism against the Winter Olympics lay with home-grown terrorists acting under
the flag of animal rights.” (Jerry Spangler, “Animal Activists Still A Top Threat,” Deseret News, 11/18/01)
Top Romney Adviser Wanted Bin Laden’s Head “In A Box Filled With Dry Ice” In Wake Of 9/11 Attacks
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Romney Adviser Cofer Black, Two Days After 9/11: “I Want Bin Laden’s Head Shipped Back In A Box
Filled With Dry Ice. I Want To Be Able To Show Bin Laden’s Head To The President.” “Two days after the
[9/11] attack, Cofer Black of the Counterterrorist Center asked [CIA’s Gary] Schroen to lead a small team of CIA
officers to lash up with the Northern Alliance; he accepted on the spot. Osama bin Laden and his deputies were
not to be merely captured or ‘rendered’ to justice, Black ordered: ‘I want to see photos of their heads on pikes. I
want bin Laden’s head shipped back in a box filled with dry ice. I want to be able to show bin Laden’s head to the
president.’” (Warren Bass, “Into Al Qaeda’s Lair,” The Washington Post, 5/29/05)
Black Has Recently Downplayed Need To Capture Bin Laden, Saying Terrorist Has Been “Isolated” And
“Neutralized In Terms Of His Effectiveness.” NPR’s MARY LOUISE KELLY: “If the search for bin Laden has
arrived at a stalemate, Cofer Black, for one, suggests that’s not the end of the world. Black was Gary Schroen’s
boss. He ran the CIA’s counterterrorist center from ‘99 to 2002. He’s now with the security company Blackwater
USA. Black argues that catching bin Laden remains important for symbolic reasons, but he says there are more
pressing concerns today for US national security.” BLACK: “The leader of al-Qaeda spends, you know, most of
his time hiding. This guy has been, I think, significantly isolated as a real player. So what are we talking about
here? To a certain extent, he has been neutralized in terms of his effectiveness.” (NPR’s “Morning Edition,” 5/3/05)
Romney Has Cited Bin Laden Threat When Discussing Homeland Security
Romney Specifically Cited Bin Laden Threat In Discussing Security Plans For ‘04 Democratic National
Convention In Boston. QUESTION: “You mentioned security preparations based on intelligence. How confident
are you about the quality of intelligence about homeland security?” ROMNEY: “We get regular briefings. We have
no difficulty getting information, but the information is limited. We don’t have people who have infiltrated Al Qaeda
around the world. We don’t have people telling us what [Osama bin Laden] is planning on doing. We don’t even
know where he is. That is the nature of intelligence. It is seen through a glass darkly.” (John Maggs, “Romney: ‘A
Chance To Serve,’” National Journal, 7/25/04)
Romney Wants To Double Size Of Guantanamo Bay Facility, Prompting Observers To Label The Idea
“Weird”
Romney Says He Wants To “Double” Size Of Guantanamo Detention Facility. “I’m glad [the terrorists
are] at Guantanamo. I don’t want them on our soil. I want them on Guantanamo, where they don’t get the access
to lawyers they get when they’re on our soil. I don’t want them in our prisons. I want them there. Some people
have said, we ought to close Guantanamo. My view is, we ought to double Guantanamo.” (Fox News Republican
Presidential Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/15/07)
Regarding Romney’s Plan To Double Size Of Guantanamo, National Journal Commented On “How Weird
That Idea Sounds, Even To Conservative Supporters.” “Remember in the debate when Romney promised to
double Gitmo’s size? His campaign crowed about how he distinguished himself from the rest of the field, but what
it didn’t realize – we think – is how weird that idea sounds, even to conservative supporters. Sometimes, Romney
reminds us of our younger brother who, just because we were New York Giants fans, announced he loved the
San Francisco 49ers.” (“White House 2008 Rankings: The Republicans,” NationalJournal.com, 5/18/07)
Romney Disagreed With 2006 Supreme Court Ruling That Military Tribunals At Guantanamo Bay Violated
Geneva Conventions. “Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts said Thursday that the U.S. Supreme Court ruling
on Guantanamo Bay detainees was just another reason why the nation should elect a Republican president again
in 2008 to get more conservative judges on the high court. … The court declared 5-3 that the trials for 10 foreign
terror suspects violate U.S. law and the Geneva conventions.” (Ed Shearer, “Mass. Governor Disagrees With Ruling On
Detainees In Cuba,” The Associated Press, 6/29/06)
Romney: “To apply the Geneva accords is very strange in my view … It’s hard to understand how a party
who’s not a nation comes under the Geneva convention.” (Ed Shearer, “Mass. Governor Disagrees With Ruling On
Detainees In Cuba,” The Associated Press, 6/29/06)
Romney Supports “Enhanced Interrogation Techniques” For Detainees, Linking Himself To President
Bush And Against Sen. McCain
Romney Supported President Bush And Opposed John McCain On Treatment Of Detainees. “Likewise, he
[Romney] differs with McCain’s stance against the U.S. military using interrogation techniques that McCain called
‘cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment’ on enemy detainees. ‘I supported the president on that and did not back
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the senator’s perspective on that,’ Romney said.” (Paul Giblin, “Romney Testing Ariz. Political Waters,” East Valley Tribune,
11/14/06)
Romney: “I Am Foursquare Behind The President” On Detainee Treatment. “[Romney] said in an
interview that he disagreed with Mr. McCain, and offered a forceful endorsement of Mr. Bush. ‘I am
foursquare behind the president on this,’ Mr. Romney said. ‘I believe that we should do everything possible to
support those people at the front line who are responsible for enforcing the war on terrorism.’” (Adam Nagourney,
“Mccain, In New Hampshire, Gets An Earful From The Right,” The New York Times, 9/18/06)
Romney Declined To Say Specifically What Forms Of Interrogation He Feels Are Acceptable Or
Unacceptable. “Bush argued that forceful interrogation techniques are important in fighting terrorists. McCain
countered that torture should be unacceptable by U.S. personnel. Romney declined to say specifically what forms
of interrogation he feels are acceptable or unacceptable.” (Paul Giblin, “Romney Testing Ariz. Political Waters,” East Valley
Tribune, 11/14/06)
Romney Said He Was “In A Different Place” Than McCain And Giuliani On Interrogation Of Detainees.
FOX NEWS’ CHRIS WALLACE: “Romney tried to separate himself from McCain and Giuliani this week in a
newspaper interview. And let’s put up on the screen what he said. He said, talking about McCain and Giuliani,
‘We’re in a different place on immigration. We’re in a different place on campaign reform. We’re in a different
place on same-sex marriage. We’re in a different place on the president’s policy on interrogation of detainees.’”
(Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” 11/26/06)
Romney Stated That In Extreme Scenario, The President – And Not CIA Interrogator – Must “Make The
Call” To Use “Enhanced Interrogation Techniques,” But “Not Torture.” “[T]here is no question but that in a
setting like that, where you have the ticking bomb, that the president of the United States, not the CIA
interrogator, the President of the United States has to make the call, and enhanced interrogation techniques have
to be used. Not torture, but enhanced interrogation techniques, yes.” (Mitt Romney, Fox News Republican Presidential
Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/15/07)
CHINA
In December 2006, Romney Visited Tsinghua University, Audience “Snickered” At His Remarks. “Governor
Mitt Romney’s weeklong trip to Asia took him to the renowned Tsinghua University here yesterday, where he
fielded questions from a sometimes skeptical audience of students and sketched out his views on China’s
emergence as a world power. … ‘The question is, for China, how will you use that power? And it is our hope that
that power will be used to encourage peace and stability in the world,’ Romney told a small group of mostly
business school students. ‘And ... my experience with my own country is this: We make mistakes as a country;
every country does. Mistakes in information, mistakes in judgment. But never mistakes in purpose. America’s
purpose, I believe, has always been to help people, to expand their freedom, and to expand their prosperity and
their hope.’ But the audience snickered.” (Jehangir S. Pocha, “Romney Tries Political Hand In China,” The Boston Globe, 12/9/06)
Romney’s Trip To Asia Was Seen As Effort To Boost Foreign Policy Credentials For Presidential
Campaign. “Romney, a one-term governor who is likely to seek the GOP presidential nomination in 2008, is
traveling to China, Japan, and South Korea on a trip widely seen as an attempt to add to his foreign policy
credentials.” (Jehangir S. Pocha, “Romney Tries Political Hand In China,” The Boston Globe, 12/9/06)
Under Romney, Massachusetts Maintained Office And Consultant In Shanghai. “The state is among more
than 20 with an office in China, and the Bay State employs a consultant based in Shanghai. But the consultant
also works with Mississippi, Wisconsin and Minnesota, suggesting a potential dilution of resources at the state
level.” (Mark Hollmer, “Mass. Risks Missing Boat To China,” Boston Business Journal, 11/20/06)
As Governor, Romney Focused On China To Get Foreign Policy Experience For Campaign. “Some political
observers view Romney’s interest in Asia through the prism of presidential politics. Romney, like many governors,
is short on foreign policy experience. In the post-Sept. 11 world, it may be especially important for Romney to plug
that hole in his resume, and speaking publicly and confidently about China might help him do it.” (Scott S.
Greenberger, “Romney’s Focus On China Fuels Political Guessing,” The Boston Globe, 5/31/05)
“Romney Said The United States Should Protect Intellectual Property Rights, Persuade China To Float Its
Currency, And Push Beijing To Eliminate Trade Barriers That Block American Products.” (Scott S.
Greenberger, “Romney’s Focus On China Fuels Political Guessing,” The Boston Globe, 5/31/05)
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Romney Made Veiled References To Human Rights Abuses During Visit To Massachusetts By Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao. “Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao praised growing trade ties between Chinese and
Massachusetts companies and sampled farm-fresh vanilla ice cream during a series of appearances with state
politicians and executives around the region yesterday, including a stop on behalf of China’s largest shipping line
as it begins talks to renew an agreement with the port of Boston. … Officials including Governor Mitt Romney and
Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino made some veiled references to human rights issues, such as when Romney
mentioned the ‘brisk exchange of goods and ideas’ between the two nations at the luncheon.” (Ross Kerber, “Premier
Embraces Ties With State,” The Boston Globe, 12/11/03)
Romney Made “Extraordinary Plea” To International Olympic Committee To Consider China For Olympic
Games Despite Human Rights Abuses. “Salt Lake City’s chief Olympic organizer made an extraordinary plea
Wednesday for Olympic officials to consider Beijing’s bid to host the 2008 Games on its technical merits and not
be swayed by critics of China’s human-rights policies. Salt Lake Organizing Committee president Mitt Romney
said the International Olympic Committee should take advantage of a ‘very unique time in history’ when
superpowers are at peace by helping to open China to the world.” (Larry Siddons, “Salt Lake City Olympic Organizer Urges
IOC To ‘Build Bridges’ With China Bid,” The Associated Press, 7/11/01)
Romney: “The Olympics are about building bridges, not building walls … We should not build walls that block
communication with other countries, even if we vehemently disagree with their practices.” (Larry Siddons, “Salt
Lake City Olympic Organizer Urges IOC To ‘Build Bridges’ With China Bid,” The Associated Press, 7/11/01)
Romney: “They have practices, as reported in the media, that violate my sense of human rights, but we
should not build walls even if we vehemently disagree with many of their practices … Building bridges
increases the possibility for spreading the ideas of civil societies.” (Margaret Coker, “In Home Stretch, Beijing Remains
Front-Runner For 2008 Games,” Cox News Service, 7/12/01)
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Criticized Romney’s “Naivete” On Policy Toward China, Calling Him “Romney
Of The Rose-Colored Glasses.” “After a trek to Asia, Mr. Romney is convinced Chinese officials do not aspire to
bury us, as did the former Soviet Union. China counts on a strong U.S. economy as a market for its goods, he told
the Trib. But might Romney of the rose-colored glasses entertain the possibility that the new China, still inhabited
by dedicated Marxists, has learned a lesson from the old Soviet Union’s errors? That cajolery, flattery and
economic war are the preferred weapons against a superpower? The ‘competition’ between the U.S. and China is
framed by sharply inconsistent worldviews and hence is deeply political and strategic. … Against this backdrop,
however, Mitt Romney says we can engage the Chinese in a partnership for peace. Peace? On whose terms?”
(Editorial, “The China Equation: Romney’s Naivete,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 5/2/07)
CUBA/VENEZUELA
Romney Backs U.S. Embargo On Cuba, Refers To Fidel Castro And His Regime As “Monsters”
Romney Supports The Current U.S. Embargo On Cuba. “Romney declared he supported the current U.S.
embargo on Cuba to avoid enriching Cuban President Fidel Castro, a Communist dictator he accused of
disrupting peace and stability in the region.” (Glen Johnson, “Romney Airs Spanish-Language Ad In Advance Of Florida Visit,” The
Associated Press, 3/6/07)
“‘I Look Forward To The Day When The Stain Of Castro Is Finally Washed From The Soil Of Cuba,’
Romney Said.” (Erik Schelzig, “Fred Thompson Urged To Make ‘08 Run,” The Associated Press, 3/10/07)
Romney Wants To Have A Latin American Strategy To Improve Economic Ties and Rebuild Trust With
Cuba. “At a dinner for Miami-Dade County Republicans, the former Massachusetts governor spoke about
supporting the U.S. embargo with the island nation. He also called for a ‘Latin American strategy’ to improve
economic ties, rebuild trust with countries in the region. (Erik Schelzig, “Fred Thompson Urged To Make ‘08 Run,” The
Associated Press, 3/10/07)
Romney Called Castro “A Monster.” “Targeting his message to the Latin American and Cuban-American
Republicans who dominated the crowd, he called Cuban leader Fidel Castro ‘a monster.’” (Brian E. Crowley, “Romney
Launches Early Fla. Push,” Palm Beach Post, 3/10/07)
Romney: “As President, I Will Stand Side-By-Side With The Members Of This Community In Fighting
The Menace Of The Cuban Monsters.” (Beth Reinhard, “Romney Dodges Immigration Issue In South Florida,” McClatchy
Newspapers, 3/10/07)
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In March 2007, Romney Incorrectly Used Slogan Made Famous By Fidel Castro In Miami Speech To
Cuban-American Activists
Romney Mistakenly Invoked Trademark Castro Phrase “Patria O Muerte, Venceremos” As Belonging “To
A Free Cuba.” “People chuckled when presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a Mormon raised in Michigan and
elected in Massachusetts, bungled the names of Cuban-American politicians during a recent speech in Miami. But
when he mistakenly associated Fidel Castro’s trademark speech-ending slogan – Patria o muerte, venceremos! –
with a free Cuba, listeners didn’t laugh. They winced. Castro has closed his speeches with the phrase – in
English, ‘Fatherland or death, we shall overcome’ – for decades.” (Beth Reinhard, “Presidential Candidate Bungles Speech In
Miami,” Miami Herald, 3/19/07)
“The Phrase, Which Means ‘Fatherland Or Death, We Shall Overcome,’ Was Bellowed As A Political
Speech Sign-Off By The Dictator For Decades.” (Dave Wedge, “Mitt’s Commie Phrase Sparks Rage,” Boston Herald,
3/20/07)
WSVN-TV’s Dave Kartunen: “Actually, That Phrase Belongs To Fidel Castro.” WSVN’s DAVE
KARTUNEN: “McCain shared a familiarity with the [Bay of Pigs] vets that was painfully lacking two weeks ago
when former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney made his play for Cuban hearts and votes while addressing
the Miami-Dade Republican party.” ROMNEY: “Hugo Chavez has tried to steal an inspiring phrase. Excuse me
with my pronunciation: ‘Patria o muerte, venceremos.’ It does not belong to him, it belongs to a free Cuba.’”
KARTUNEN: “Actually, that phrase belongs to Fidel Castro.” (WSVN’s “Channel 7 News At 5:30,” 3/21/07)
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer: “When Cuban-American Republicans Heard Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney
Speak In Miami, Many Say They Thought They Were Listening To Fidel Castro.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,”
3/21/07)
Associated Press Noted That “Unlike Romney, Castro Would Switch To English” To Deliver Trademark
Line. “In truth, the phrase does not belong to free Cubans. It has been the trademark speechmaking sign-off of
their most despised opponent, Fidel Castro. And unlike Romney, Castro would switch to English to declare,
‘Fatherland or death, we shall overcome.’ The mistake pointed up Romney’s newness to the scene and the
freshness of some of his positions.” (Glen Johnson, “Romney Works Through Checklist,” The Associated Press, 3/26/07)
CNN’s Mary Snow: Romney Made Impression On Cuban-American Group By Using Castro’s Catch
Phrase, “Just Not The Kind He Wanted.” “Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney was trying to make an
impression with Cuban-American Republicans in Miami earlier this month. He made one – just not the kind he
wanted. After using a communist catch phrase made famous by Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, the crowd took
notice.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 3/21/07)
Snow: “Romney Was Speaking To A Packed House, But His Attempt To Sound Familiar, Say
Some Cuban-Americans, Fell Flat.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 3/21/07)
Invocation Of Castro Slogan Was Not The Only Mistake Romney Made During Speech
Romney Called Florida State House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) “Mario.” “At another point in the speech to the
Miami-Dade Republican Party, Romney bungled the names of prominent Cuban GOP politicians, referring to
Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio as ‘Mario.’” (Dave Wedge, “Mitt’s Commie Phrase Sparks Rage,” Boston Herald, 3/20/07)
Romney Also Mispronounced The Names Of U.S. Reps. Lincoln And Mario Diaz-Balart (R). “State Rep.
Rene Garcia, for one, said he was ‘unimpressed.’ The Hialeah Republican grimaced when Romney called the
state House Speaker ‘Mario Rubio’ – his first name is Marco – and mispronounced the names of U.S. Reps.
Mario and Lincoln Diaz-Balart. ‘He used the Cuba issue way too much,’ Garcia said. ‘I don’t want to judge a man
based on one speech alone, but it bothered me that he didn’t get the names right.’” (Beth Reinhard, “Presidential
Candidate Bungles Speech In Miami,” Miami Herald, 3/19/07)
Romney “Punctuated” His Speech With Line Made Famous In Movie “Scarface,” Prompting Concerns
Over Stereotyping Of Cuban Immigrants. “Romney punctuated his speech with ‘Libertad, libertad, libertad!’ to
show his support for freedom in Cuba. But to some, he was echoing a line from Scarface, a movie notorious for its
stereotyped portrayal of Cuban immigrants.” (Beth Reinhard, “Presidential Candidate Bungles Speech In Miami,” Miami Herald,
3/19/07)
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Local Activists Were Not Pleased By Romney’s Error-Filled Remarks
Cuban-American Activists Described As “Steaming Mad” Over Romney’s Botched Speech In Miami.
“Cubans in Miami are steaming mad at former Gov. Mitt Romney for shooting his mouth off in stumbling Spanish,
mispronouncing names and erroneously associating a notorious Fidel Castro-spewed Communist catch phrase
with freedom fighters. Politicians in South Florida have lashed out at the former Massachusetts governor and
2008 presidential hopeful for describing the socialist saying ‘Patria o muerte, venceremos’ as ‘inspiring’ and for
claiming the phrase was swiped from liberty-seeking Cubans by leftist admirers of Castro.” (Dave Wedge, “Mitt’s
Commie Phrase Sparks Rage,” Boston Herald, 3/20/07)
“Ana Navarro, A Miami-Based Former United Nations Ambassador Who Was At The Event, Called The
Quote ‘A Mistake’ By ‘An Empty Suit.” (Dave Wedge, “Mitt’s Commie Phrase Sparks Rage,” Boston Herald, 3/20/07)
Navarro Called Romney’s Remarks “Wrong … Offensive … Inappropriate.” “[Romney] was just
parroting words that had been prepared for him, and he obviously does not know enough to know that these
words are wrong and are offensive and are just inappropriate.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 3/21/07)
State Rep. Rene Garcia (R) Said Romney Needed To Be “A Little Better-Prepared” And Had “Left A
Negative Taste.” “[State Rep. Rene] Garcia said Romney was ‘ill-advised’ to mention the saying at all, especially
speaking in Miami, the epicenter of the Cuban-American struggle. ‘When you come into our community, you
should be a little better-prepared,’ Garcia said, adding that the incident ‘left a negative taste with local officials.’”
(Dave Wedge, “Mitt’s Commie Phrase Sparks Rage,” Boston Herald, 3/20/07)
Prominent Cuban-Americans Strenuously Disagreed With Repeated Assertion By Romney And His Aides
That Phrase “Belongs To A Free Cuba”
Days After Speech, Romney Campaign Still Maintained Phrase “Belongs To A Free Cuba.” “Romney
spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said of the flap: ‘The point is, the phrase belongs to liberators, not oppressors. It
doesn’t belong to Fidel Castro. It doesn’t belong to Hugo Chavez. It belongs to a free Cuba.’” (Dave Wedge, “Mitt’s
Commie Phrase Sparks Rage,” Boston Herald, 3/20/07)
“Cuban Politicians Fumed That The Term Was Coined By Castro’s Regime And Has Always Been A
Communist Catchphrase.” “Romney said the phrase ‘does not belong’ to Castro and should be returned to ‘a
free Cuba.’ … Despite Romney’s explanation, Cuban politicians fumed that the term was coined by Castro’s
regime and has always been a Communist catchphrase. ‘Whoever prepared him or advised him on this particular
subject didn’t do a good enough job,’ [Hialeah City Council President Esteban] Bovo said.” (Dave Wedge, “Romney
Takes Heat In Florida,” Boston Herald, 3/21/07)
The Phrase “Has Always Been A Communist Rallying Cry … It Represents The Very Essence Of Fidel
Castro’s Oppressive Regime.” “‘Hugo Chavez has tried to steal an inspiring phrase - Patria o muerte,
venceremos,’ Romney said. ‘It does not belong to him. It belongs to a free Cuba.’ But scholars and prominent
Cubans contend the saying has always been a Communist rallying cry and that it represents the very essence of
Fidel Castro’s oppressive regime.” (Dave Wedge, “Mitt’s Commie Phrase Sparks Rage,” Boston Herald, 3/20/07)
University Of Miami Professor Jaime Suchlicki: “It Belongs To Fidel … I Don’t Know Where [Romney]
Got That.” “‘Hugo Chávez has tried to steal an inspiring phrase – Patria o muerte, venceremos,’ Romney
said. ‘It does not belong to him. It belongs to a free Cuba.’ No, it doesn’t, said University of Miami Professor
Jaime Suchlicki. ‘It belongs to Fidel,’ said Suchlicki, an expert on Cuban history. ‘I don’t know where
[Romney] got that.’” (Beth Reinhard, “Presidential Candidate Bungles Speech In Miami,” Miami Herald, 3/19/07)
State Rep. Rene Garcia (R): “It Means Communism. It Means Fidel Castro … It’s A Communist Catch
Phrase.” (Dave Wedge, “Mitt’s Commie Phrase Sparks Rage,” Boston Herald, 3/20/07)
Cuban Scholar Sandra Levinson: “[It] Was Never A Cry Of The Old Cuba.” “Sandra Levinson, executive
director of the Center for Cuban Studies in New York City, said the Castro quote ‘was never a cry of the old
Cuba’ and was coined by Castro and his supporters.” (Dave Wedge, “Mitt’s Commie Phrase Sparks Rage,” Boston Herald,
3/20/07)
Activist Ana Navarro: “It’s A Fidel Castro Phrase. I’ve Never Heard It From Anyone Other Than Fidel
Castro Or Members Of His Government.” (Dave Wedge, “Mitt’s Commie Phrase Sparks Rage,” Boston Herald, 3/20/07)
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Romney Praised Plan By Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez To Provide Low-Income Massachusetts
Residents With Discounted Heating Oil, Declined To Criticize Chavez
In 2005, Romney Praised Plan By Venezuelan Government And Hugo Chavez To Provide Americans With
Subsidized Oil. “The first deliveries of cheap Venezuelan heating oil to cash-strapped Massachusetts residents
will not arrive for weeks, but the deal involving President Hugo Chavez already is generating political heat on both
sides. … Tensions have run high recently between Bush and Chavez, a self-styled socialist who assails
American-style capitalism and has branded Bush a ‘madman.’ … Venezuela’s Citgo Petroleum Corp. promoted its
plan to offer 12 million gallons of cut-rate oil this winter with the headline: ‘How Venezuela is Keeping the Home
Fires Burning In Massachusetts.’” (Andrew Miga, “Venezuela’s Deal To Provide Cheap Oil To Some In Mass. Draws Heat,” The
Associated Press, 12/1/05)
At The Time, Romney Pronounced Himself “Delighted” With Plan, Declined To Criticize Chavez. “Governor
Mitt Romney yesterday hailed the accord, though he declined to discuss Chavez. ‘I’m delighted to hear we’ll be
able to purchase oil at a lower price than the market for our citizens,’ he said.” (Raja Mishra, “Fuel Pact Defended At Local
Signing,” The Boston Globe, 11/23/05)
Romney Offered Thanks To “All Of Those Around The World Working To Get Lower-Priced Energy To
Us.” “Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican like President Bush, cheered the agreement during a Statehouse
news conference, saying, ‘I want to say thanks to Congressman Delahunt and all of those around the world
working to get lower-priced energy to us.’” (Mark Jewell, “Venezuela To Provide Discounted Heating Oil To Massachusetts,”
The Associated Press, 11/22/05)
Plan Called “Political Move” By Chavez “Designed To Compromise The White House’s Domestic
Position” And Extend His Influence In The World. “The plan in Massachusetts is ‘eminently a political move’
designed to compromise the White House’s domestic position, said Patrick Esteruelas, an analyst with the New
York-based Eurasia Group. He said it was also a way to emphasize what Chavez has long cited as the failings of
U.S. policy. The initiative is part of a larger effort by Chavez to use Venezuela’s surging oil wealth to extend the
country’s influence.” (Mark Jewell, “Venezuela To Provide Discounted Heating Oil To Massachusetts,” The Associated Press, 11/22/05)
Chavez Is Accelerating Energy Showdown With United States Over Venezuela’s Massive Oil Reserves
Chavez’s Plan To Seize Control Of Venezuelan Oil Projects From Western Companies Augurs Potential
“Showdown” Over Energy Fields. “With President Hugo Chávez setting a May 1 deadline for an ambitious plan
to wrest control of several major oil projects from American and European companies, a showdown is looming
here over access to some of the most coveted energy resources outside the Middle East. … [T]his confrontation
could easily end up with everyone losing. the biggest energy companies could be squeezed out of the most
promising oil patch in the western hemisphere.” (Simon Romero and Clifford Krauss, “High Stakes: Chávez Plays The Oil Card,”
The New York Times, 4/10/07)
Energy Consultant Michael J. Economides: Chavez Bigger Threat To U.S. Energy Security Than
Saddam Hussein Ever Was. “We are on a collision course with Chávez over oil … Chávez poses a much
bigger threat to America’s energy security than Saddam Hussein ever did.” (Simon Romero and Clifford Krauss, “High
Stakes: Chávez Plays The Oil Card,” The New York Times, 4/10/07)
Chavez Currently Spearheading Government Takeover Of Oil Field So Large “It Could Give The Country
More Reserves Than Saudi Arabia.” “Mr. Chávez recently decreed that Venezuela would take control of heavy
oil fields in the Orinoco Belt, a region southeast of Caracas of so much potential that some experts say it could
give the country more reserves than Saudi Arabia. The United States Geological Survey describes the area as
the ‘largest single hydrocarbon accumulation in the world,’ making it highly coveted despite Mr. Chávez’s erratic
policies.” (Simon Romero and Clifford Krauss, “High Stakes: Chávez Plays The Oil Card,” The New York Times, 4/10/07)
GENERAL ISSUES
April 2007: Romney Echoed John Kerry’s Past Calls For International “Summit” On Islamic World
Romney Said One Of His First Acts As President Would Be “Summit Of Nations” On State Of Islamic
World. “As one of my first acts as President, I would call for a Summit of Nations. In addition to the United States,
the convening countries would include moderate Islamic states and other leading developed nations. The
objective of the Summit would be to create a worldwide strategy to support Muslim nations and peoples, in their
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effort to defeat radical, violent Jihad.” (Mitt Romney, Remarks At George Bush Presidential Library Center, College Station, TX,
4/10/07)
John Kerry In 2003: “I Will Immediately Convene A Summit” To Discuss “A Long-Term Strategy To Build
Bridges To The Islamic World.” “As president, I will work aggressively to rebuild the relationships frayed and
shredded by the Bush administration, particularly with our NATO allies. I will immediately convene a summit with
European and world leaders to discuss a common anti- terrorism agenda, including a collective security
framework and a long-term strategy to build bridges to the Islamic world.” (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks To Council On
Foreign Relations, New York, NY, 12/3/03)
Kerry: “I know I can do a better job in Iraq, where I have a plan to have a summit with all of the allies,
something this President has not yet achieved, not yet been able to do to bring people to the table.” (Sen. John
Kerry, Presidential Debate, Coral Gables, FL, 10/1/04)
Kerry: “I’m going to hold that summit. I will bring fresh credibility, a new start, and we will get the job done
right.” (Sen. John Kerry, Presidential Debate, Coral Gables, FL, 10/1/04)
Kerry: “The President should convene a summit meeting of the world’s major powers and Iraq’s neighbors,
this week, in New York, where many leaders will attend the U.N. General Assembly.” (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks In
New York, NY, 9/20/04)
Kerry: “What we need now is a President who understands how to bring these other countries together to
recognize their stakes in this. … But this President hasn’t even held the kind of statesman-like summits that
pull people together and get them to invest in those stakes.” (Sen. John Kerry, Presidential Debate, Coral Gables, FL,
10/1/04)
April 2007: Romney Called For Nuclear Trafficking Initiative That Resembled Proposal By Liberal
Princeton Scholar
Romney Wants To Appoint Ambassador At-Large For Nuclear Proliferation. “Republican Mitt Romney would
appoint an ambassador-at-large to prevent nuclear terror if elected president, arguing that avoiding a terrorist
attack with unsecured nuclear weapons should take on heightened urgency in the United States. The Republican
candidate … says such a person would have the authority and resources to cross agency and departmental
boundaries, ensuring nonproliferation strategies are coordinated at home and abroad.” (Glen Johnson, “Romney Favors
Ambassador To Deter Nukes,” The Associated Press, 4/25/07)
Romney Would Push International Effort To Make Nuclear Trafficking “A Crime Against Humanity, On A
Par With Genocide And War Crimes.” “Further, I would promote an international initiative to develop a new
body of international law that would make nuclear trafficking a crime against humanity, on a par with genocide
and war crimes,’ according to a text of Romney’s remarks provided to The Associated Press. ‘By allowing for
universal jurisdiction, charges can be brought up in any court preventing traffickers from hiding in complicit or
weak countries.’” (Glen Johnson, “Romney Favors Ambassador To Deter Nukes,” The Associated Press, 4/25/07)
Princeton Graduate School Dean Anne-Marie Slaughter, In March 3 Op-Ed: Nuclear Trafficking Is “Crime
Against Humanity” That “Merits A Place … Alongside Genocide And Other Evils.” “[W]e should make the
illegal transfer of nuclear materials a crime against humanity triable by international tribunals and by national
courts in every country … Making nuclear transfer a crime against humanity captures the enormity of the offense
and would dramatically increase the cost of getting caught. Nuclear transfer threatens the lives of millions of
people. It merits a place in infamy alongside genocide and other evils.” (Anne-Marie Slaughter and Thomas Wright, Op-Ed,
“Punishment to Fit the Nuclear Crime,” The Washington Post, 3/2/07)
Speculation Exists That Slaughter “Could Become Secretary Of State In A Democratic
Administration.” “In a recent speech in San Diego, retired Adm. Bobby Inman said President Vladimir Putin
seized control of the Yukos oil firm not just because its owner engaged in politics, but because Putin wanted
the Russian state to control the energy industry. … Also speaking was Anne-Marie Slaughter, a Princeton
dean, who some say could become secretary of state in a Democratic administration.” (David Gaddis Smith,
“Russia Superpower Status Linked To Oil, Ex-CIA Official Says,” The San Diego Union-Tribune, 3/4/07)
Slaughter Donated $1500 To Barack Obama’s Presidential Campaign In March 2007. “Democratic
presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, a graduate of Columbia and Harvard Law School, is thus far the
most popular candidate for donations from University employees. … Obama received $2,250 from a total of
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four contributors, including Dean of the Wilson School Anne-Marie Slaughter ‘80, who donated $1,500 in late
March…” (Angela Cai, “Obama Has Most Faculty Donations,” The Daily Princetonian, 4/20/07)
Slaughter Has Recommended Setting Withdrawal Deadline In Iraq. “Slaughter recommended setting a
withdrawal deadline – perhaps the end of 2008, as Democratic candidate Barack Obama has suggested, to
spur Iraqis to ‘end this civil war.’” (Cris Barrish, “Biden Supports Three-Part Iraq Split,” The News Journal [Wilmington, DE],
3/4/07)
Romney: “By allowing for universal jurisdiction, charges can be brought up in any court preventing traffickers
from hiding in complicit or weak countries.” (Glen Johnson, “Romney Favors Ambassador To Deter Nukes,” The Associated Press,
4/25/07)
Slaughter: “[A]s a matter of international law, crimes against humanity are subject to universal jurisdiction.
That means that any nation, including the United States, could prosecute nuclear traders anywhere in the
world. … Failing states would no longer provide safe haven for rogue individuals.” (Anne-Marie Slaughter and
Thomas Wright, Op-Ed, “Punishment to Fit the Nuclear Crime,” The Washington Post, 3/2/07)
Romney: “Romney says the acts of black marketeers trying to sell so-called loose nukes ‘should not be
dismissed with the kind of nonchalance that accompanies routine violations of the law.’” (Glen Johnson, “Romney
Favors Ambassador To Deter Nukes,” The Associated Press, 4/25/07)
Slaughter: “Creating a nuclear transfer taboo would strip away feigned protestations of innocence and
illusions of a victimless crime. It would stigmatize black-market financiers and other facilitators of nuclear
transfers as the ultimate merchants of death.” (Anne-Marie Slaughter and Thomas Wright, Op-Ed, “Punishment to Fit the
Nuclear Crime,” The Washington Post, 3/2/07)
In 1994, Romney Changed His Mind On Military Intervention In Haiti, First Saying It Should Be Option
Then Declaring Total Opposition
July 1994: Romney Said Military Option In Haiti Should Be On The Table If Diplomacy Failed. “Republican
US Senate candidate Mitt Romney, who is now attacking Sen. Edward M. Kennedy for supporting an invasion of
Haiti, said two months ago he ‘would not take it off the table’ as an option for restoring democracy there. Speaking
at a July 12 reporters’ breakfast in Washington, Romney said, ‘I favor a multilateral approach to Haiti, and I would
not take off the table any of the options’ including military action. ‘I don’t believe that our first option by any means
should be military. I believe that we should offer diplomatic solutions prior to those. But if nothing worked . . . the
other course would be military,’ Romney said.” (Peter Howe, “Invasion ‘Option’ Cited By Romney,” The Boston Globe, 9/18/94)
September 1994: Romney Declared Total Opposition To Military Action In Haiti. “Accusing US Sen. Edward
M. Kennedy of ducking the issue, Republican US Senate hopeful Mitt Romney yesterday declared his opposition
to an invasion of Haiti and called on Kennedy to make his own position clear. … Romney said he was opposed to
an invasion because he felt that no ‘substantial US interest like our national security, the safety of our citizens or
the security of our economy’ is at stake.” (Scot Lehigh, “Romney Assails Kennedy On Haiti,” The Boston Globe, 9/17/94)
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DOMESTIC POLICY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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
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.
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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.
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.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Romney Frequently Attacks McCain-Feingold, Promising He Will Fight To Repeal It
At CPAC In 2007, Romney Said “I Will Fight To Repeal McCain-Feingold.” “Time and again, judges add
things that aren’t in the Constitution, and they take away things that are in the Constitution. And in that regard,
they let the campaign finance lobby take First Amendment rights. If I’m elected president, I will fight to repeal
McCain-Feingold.” (Mitt Romney, Remarks At Conservative Political Action Conference, Washington, DC, 3/2/07)
February 2007: Romney Called McCain-Feingold “A Terrible Piece Of Legislation … It Hasn’t Taken The
Money Out Of Politics ... (But) It Has Hurt My Party.” “Romney noted his foe from Arizona wrote the McCain-
Feingold campaign finance reform law that restricts certain types of contributions. ‘That’s a terrible piece of
legislation,’ Romney said. ‘It hasn’t taken the money out of politics. ... (But) it has hurt my party.’” (Lee Bandy,
“Romney Targeting McCain,” The State, 2/4/07)
Meeting With House Conservatives In 2007, Romney Got “Biggest Applause Line” By Calling McCain-
Feingold “One Of The Worst Things In My Lifetime.” “While several Republicans who attended the Republican
Study Committee (RSC) retreat greeted Romney’s remarks on abortion with skepticism, his condemnation of
changes to campaign-finance rules struck a positive chord with the entire audience. Romney specifically criticized
the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act sponsored by his rival for the GOP presidential nomination, Sen. John
McCain (R-Ariz.). ‘Referring to the bill, [Romney] called it “one of the worst things in my lifetime,”‘ one
conservative Republican said. ‘The place erupted. That was by far the biggest applause line.’” (Alexander Bolton,
“Romney’s About-Face On Campaign Funding,” The Hill, 2/8/07)
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Romney, In November 2006: “I’m Not In Favor Of McCain-Feingold.” “I’m not in favor of McCain-Feingold.
The campaign finance reform provisions didn’t do what they were intended to do. There’s more money in politics
and it’s more hidden, not more open.” (Phil Riske, “Interview With Mitt Romney: Governor Of MA,” Arizona Capitol Times, 11/17/06)
Romney Praised McCain’s Reform Message Just Months After McCain-Feingold Was Signed Into Law
Concord Monitor: Romney “Praised McCain For His General Reform Campaign When The Arizona
Senator Came To Massachusetts” To Campaign In 2002. “Romney also praised McCain for his general reform
campaign when the Arizona senator came to Massachusetts to stump with Romney just before Romney's 2002
election victory in the governor's race. ‘He has always stood for reform and change. And he's always fought the
good battle, no matter what the odds,’ Romney said at the time. ‘Those are my values.’” (Eric Moskowitz, “Romney,
McCain Spar On Campaign Finance,” Concord [NH] Monitor, 4/27/07)
October 2002: Romney Praised McCain’s Fight For “Reform And Change,” Saying “Those Are My Values”
And “That’s What I Want To Do As Governor.” “One of the reasons the people of America honor Senator
McCain and why I’m so proud to have him standing with me today is that he has brought American values to the
debate on the issues we care about. He has always stood for reform and change. And he’s always fought the
good battle, no matter what the odds. Those are my values. That’s what I want to do as Governor.” (Mitt Romney,
Remarks At Campaign Rally, http://web.archive.org, 10/30/02)
In 2002, Congress Passed McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform, Was Signed Into Law By
President Bush. “President Bush quietly signed into law Wednesday an overhaul of campaign-finance laws
intended to limit the influence of money in races for the White House and Congress. … The low-key signing was
an anticlimactic denouement to a high-profile, seven-year quest for reform by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and
Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and their House allies, Republican Christopher Shays of Connecticut and Democrat Marty
Meehan of Massachusetts.” (Laurence McQuillan and Jill Lawrence, “Bush Signs Campaign-Finance Bill,” USA Today, 3/28/02)
In 1997, Romney Attended McCain Speech On Campaign Finance Reform, Praised McCain’s “Integrity”
And Independent Voice”
In 1997, Romney Attended McCain Speech On Campaign Finance Reform At Harvard And Praised
McCain’s “Integrity” And “Independent Voice.” “With the bill he is co-sponsoring with Senator Russell
Feingold (D-Wis.) scheduled to go to the Senate floor today, McCain argued the need for reform to a crowd of at
least 800 college and graduate students, Kennedy fellows, and guests. Among those in attendance were
Massachusetts Senator John F. Kerry, a Democratic supporter of the McCain Feingold bill, and W. Mitt Romney,
who challenged Democratic Senator Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56 of Massachusetts in Kennedy's 1996 re-election
bid. In an interview with The Crimson, Romney mentioned his esteem for McCain's integrity and his wartime
service, calling him an ‘independent voice among Republican leaders.’ ‘I think the years he spent in a Hanoi
prison taught him to be impatient and get to the truth,’” Romney said.” (Jacqueline Newmyer, “McCain Urges Reform at
Forum,” The Crimson, 10/7/97)
Romney Once Supported Taxing Political Donations and Imposing Spending Caps
The Hill: “[R]omney … Once Touted Dramatic Restructuring Measures Such As Taxing Political
Contributions And Placing Spending Limits On Federal Campaigns.” “Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt
Romney, who strongly criticized campaign-finance regulations in a private meeting with House conservatives last
week, once touted dramatic restructuring measures such as taxing political contributions and placing spending
limits on federal campaigns. Romney’s past positions on campaign-finance regulation, anathema to many social
conservatives who believe such rules place unconstitutional limits on free speech, could complicate his ongoing
efforts to court conservative leaders.” (Alexander Bolton, “Romney’s About-Face On Campaign Funding,” The Hill, 2/8/07)
“A Review Of Romney’s Public Statements From His 1994 Senatorial And 2002 Gubernatorial Campaigns
Reveal That He Once Touted Stringent Campaign-Finance Modifications.” (Alexander Bolton, “Romney’s About-Face
On Campaign Funding,” The Hill, 2/8/07)
National Review’s Ramesh Ponnuru: Romney Has Taken Positions That “Place Him To The Left Of
McCain-Feingold.” “Romney, it turns out, has – surprise, surprise – been on both sides of campaign-finance
reform. In his 1994 race, Romney came out for banning political action committees, limiting spending on federal
races (something the Supreme Court has not allowed), and opposed allowing larger contributions. All told, those
positions place him to the left of McCain-Feingold, which doubled the allowable size of individual donations to
candidates.” (Ramesh Ponnuru, “The Candidates On Campaign Finance,” National Review’s The Corner Blog, 3/6/07)
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Washington Post Editorial Noted Romney’s “Dramatic And Wrongheaded Turnaround” On Campaign
Finance Reform, Saying “Massachusetts Romney Had It Right.” “Mr. Romney has turned campaign finance
reform into one of his stump villains – which represents a dramatic and wrongheaded turnabout from his days
running for office in Massachusetts. … No doubt, the current campaign finance system is flawed; no doubt, some
spending has been shifted into areas exempt from disclosure. But if Mr. Romney thinks the system was less
corrupt when lawmakers were able to phone up special interests and ask them for seven-figure checks, he is
wrong. If he thinks the system was less corrupt when corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals could
spend unlimited amounts on campaign commercials barely disguised as ‘issue’ advertising, he is wrong about
that as well. Massachusetts Romney had it right.” (Editorial, “Campaign Finance Flip,” The Washington Post, 5/25/07)
The Hill’s A.B. Stoddard Called Campaign Finance Reform “Another One Of Mitt’s Murky Issues.”
“Romney thinks he has found a winner in campaign finance reform. … Unfortunately, one can readily access
enough contradictory statements from Romney’s pre-conversion period of his career to find that campaign finance
reform is indeed another one of Mitt’s Murky Issues.” (A.B. Stoddard, “No Momentum For Mitt,” The Hill’s Pundits Blog, 4/26/07)
Romney Campaign Response: “1994 Was 15 Years Ago.” “Kevin Madden, Romney’s campaign spokesman,
declined to comment about campaign finance proposals his boss made in 1994 and 2002. ‘He believes there
ought to be transparency and disclosure in a way so the public knows who’s raising money and who’s contributing
money,’ said Madden. ‘Right now I can say we make every effort that the campaign adheres to the disclosure and
transparency requirements of campaign finance law now; 1994 was 15 years ago.’ Madden reiterated Romney’s
belief that the 2002 campaign law hindered public participation.” (Alexander Bolton, “Romney’s About-Face On Campaign
Funding,” The Hill, 2/8/07)
Family Research Council’s Tom McClusky: “[T]his was Mitt Romney in 2002. Who knows? He might have
changed his mind on that … He always seems to want to come back to the table.” (Alexander Bolton, “Romney’s
About-Face On Campaign Funding,” The Hill, 2/8/07)
Center For Individual Freedom’s Jeff Mazzella: “We’re Adamantly Opposed To The Idea Of Taxing
Campaign Donations, Or Eliminating PACs Or Any Abridgement Of The People’s Right To Assemble Or
Speak.” “Jeff Mazzella, the president of the Center for Individual Freedom, another conservative advocacy group,
has published harsh criticisms of McCain because of his support for various campaign regulations. He was
surprised to hear of Romney’s past positions. ‘I was not familiar [with] Romney’s positions referenced in the
articles you stated,’ Mazzella said in an interview. ‘We’re adamantly opposed to the idea of taxing campaign
donations, or eliminating PACs or any abridgement of the people’s right to assemble or speak.’” (Alexander Bolton,
“Romney’s About-Face On Campaign Funding,” The Hill, 2/8/07)
In 2002, Romney Pushed Plan To Tax Campaign Contributions To Publicly Fund Campaigns
Romney Proposed Installing 10 Percent Tax On Private Donations To Political Campaigns. “Mr. Romney
campaigned in favor of clean elections, which provides public money to candidates for state office who meet strict
fund-raising requirements. But he suggested an alternative funding method. Instead of providing campaign funds
from state coffers, his plan would tap 10 percent of the fund raising of candidates who choose to raise money
privately.” (Richard Nangle, “Clean Election Advocates Keep Pushing,” Telegram & Gazette [Worcester, MA], 11/14/02)
“Romney Said … He Would Impose A 10 Percent Tax On Campaign Contributions And Use The Money
To Pay For Publicly Funded Campaigns.” (Tom Benner, “Candidates Differ On Public Funding,” The Patriot Ledger,
10/15/02)
Romney Touted His Plan As Funding Solution For State’s Clean Elections Law. “The people of
Massachusetts approved the Clean Elections law, but funding for this program has been low on the list of
state priorities … I have a plan to shift part of the financing costs to politicians, which will spare taxpayers the
burden of shouldering the entire expense of this program.” (Tom Benner, “Candidates Differ On Public Funding,” The
Patriot Ledger, 10/15/02)
“Romney’s 10% Tax On Free Speech Would Have Applied Even To Money That Candidates Paid Out Of
Their Own Pockets Into Their Own Campaigns.” (Deroy Murdock, “Mitt Romney’s Swett Problem,” HumanEvents.com, 3/6/07)
Reform Advocates Were Skeptical Of Romney’s Plan. “Clean Elections supporters call the Romney plan
unworkable and unconstitutional. … Romney remains committed to funding the Clean Elections law, said his
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spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom. He also said Romney believes his alternative funding scheme will work.” (Tom Benner,
“Candidates Differ On Public Funding,” The Patriot Ledger, 10/15/02)
Romney Reiterated Support For 10% Tax On Political Contributions After Signing FY2004 Budget. “During
the campaign, [Romney] proposed a way to shift the burden off of the taxpayers and onto the politicians
themselves. Under his plan, political candidates who do not abide by the spending and fundraising limits would
transfer 10 percent of their receipts in order to subsidize qualified candidates who abide by the limits.” (Gov. Mitt
Romney, Press Release, 6/30/03)
In 1994, Romney Proposed Capping Spending On Elections, Abolishing PACs And “Tightening
Regulations”
Romney Proposed Spending Cap On Congressional Elections. “Romney also said he advocates spending
limits on congressional elections, even suggesting that the current race against Sen. Edward M. Kennedy should
have a $6 million spending cap.” (Frank Phillips, “Romney, Vowing To Live It, Touts Congress Reform Plan,” The Boston Globe,
7/27/94)
Romney: “Political Institutions Must Respond To Real People. If They Don’t, It’s A Slap At
Democracy.” (Frank Phillips, “Romney, Vowing To Live It, Touts Congress Reform Plan,” The Boston Globe, 7/27/94)
Romney Called For Abolishing PACs, Tightening Regulations. “As for campaign finance reform, Romney
called for abolishing political action committees and tightening regulations of the process by which limits on
campaign contributions to individuals can be legally bypassed.” (Frank Phillips, “Romney, Vowing To Live It, Touts
Congress Reform Plan,” The Boston Globe, 7/27/94)
In 1994, Romney Railed Against Influence Of Money In Politics And Attacked Special Interest Groups
Romney Decried That Politicians Were “Forced To Cozy Up … To All The Special Interest Groups” To
Raise Campaign Contributions. “I am personally of the belief that money plays a much more important role in
what gets done in Washington than we believe. I personally believe that when campaigns spend the kind of
money they’re now spending – this race I understand Ted Kennedy will spend about $10 million to be reelected –
he’s been in 32 years, $10 million. I think that’s wrong because – and that’s not his own money, that’s all from
other people. And to get that kind of money you’ve got to cozy up as an incumbent to all the special interest
groups who can go out and raise money for you from their members. And that kind of relationship has an
influence on the way you’re gonna vote.” (Mitt Romney, Remarks To Burlington Business Roundtable, Burlington, MA, 10/11/94)
Romney: “The kinds of demands that are being placed on the economics of running a campaign suggest
an increasing power on the part of monied interests – and I think it’s wrong and we’ve got to change it.” (Mitt
Romney, Remarks To Burlington Business Roundtable, Burlington, MA, 10/11/94)
Romney: “Associations Between Money And Politics … Are Wrong.” “Read the papers this morning –
there’s an article in there about a contribution from Federal Express. Does that have any relationship to the
campaign? I don’t know. I saw that the American Trial Lawyers Association and lawyers in general have
contributed I think well over $1 million to Ted Kennedy’s campaign. Well, does that have anything to do with the
fact that he was unwilling to cut off a filibuster for product liability reform? Who knows. But these kinds of
associations between money and politics in my view are wrong.” (Mitt Romney, Remarks To Burlington Business Roundtable,
Burlington, MA, 10/11/94)
Romney Proposed Campaign Spending Limits “Because Otherwise I Think You Have Money Playing
Far Too Important A Role.” Romney: “And for that reason I would like to have campaign spending limits. And to
say we’re not going to spend more than this in certain campaigns – in a campaign for Senate or US
Representative and so forth. Because otherwise I think you have money playing far too important a role.” (Mitt
Romney, Remarks To Burlington Business Roundtable, Burlington, MA, 10/11/94)
Romney: “I Also Would Abolish PACs … I Don’t Like Them.” “I also would abolish PACs. You probably
have one – I don’t like them. I don’t like the influence of money – whether it’s business, labor or any other group. I
do not like that kind of influence. Lobbyists, I want to register, know who they are. I want to make sure gifts are
limited. I think we have to really become much more vigilant in seeing the impact on money – and I don’t care how
it’s organized – on money on politics.” (Mitt Romney, Remarks To Burlington Business Roundtable, Burlington, MA, 10/11/94)
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Romney: “I Think Contributions Are Fine, I Just Don’t Want Them To Be Larger And Larger.” Romney:
“I think contributions are fine, I just don’t want them to be larger and larger. Look, it’s $10 million this year. My
guess is that six years from now you know the race will be 15 and after that … I mean, did you hear, California
Congressman Huffington – $25 million going into that race?” (Mitt Romney, Remarks To Burlington Business Roundtable,
Burlington, MA, 10/11/94)
IMMIGRATION
Romney Has Been Criticized For Sending “Mixed Message” And Having “Seemingly Inconsistent”
Positions
Palm Beach Post: Romney Offered “Mixed Message On Illegal Immigrants … Saying He Supports
Allowing Them To Apply To Become Permanent Residents But Opposes Current Legislation That Would
Allow Them To Do Just That.” “Mitt Romney offered a mixed message on illegal immigrants Thursday, saying
he supports allowing them to apply to become permanent residents but opposes current legislation that would
allow them to do just that. … While Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, said he would ‘not deny’
illegal immigrants the ‘opportunity to apply for permanent residency or citizenship,’ he would not say how he
would change the proposed legislation to make such application acceptable.” (Brian Crowley, “Romney Skirts Solution To
Immigration Issue,” Palm Beach Post, 5/25/07)
St. Petersburg Times: “Facing Scrutiny In Florida On Immigration, Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt
Romney Shed Little Light On His Policy During Campaign Stops Thursday.” (David DeCamp, “Romney Offers Little
On Immigration,” St. Petersburg Times, 5/25/07)
St. Petersburg Times: Romney “Did Not Provide Many Details About How He Would Deal With Illegal
Immigrants Already In The Country.” “Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, opposes the
immigration bill in Congress supported by key Floridians, including Gov. Charlie Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez,
both Republicans. The bill would give an estimated 12-million illegal immigrants a route to legal residency and
citizenship. Romney, however, did not provide many details about how he would deal with illegal immigrants
already in the country.” (David DeCamp, “Romney Offers Little On Immigration,” St. Petersburg Times, 5/25/07)
Tampa Tribune: Romney “Sent Vague And Seemingly Inconsistent Messages” On Immigration. “As
immigration reform continues to divide the candidates in the Republican presidential primary, Mitt Romney sent
vague and seemingly inconsistent messages on the issue in a campaign swing through Florida Thursday. In a
gathering of reporters before his appearance at a Polk County Republican Party fundraising dinner, Romney said
he opposes the current reform package in the Senate, but wouldn’t say what it would take to fix it.” (William March,
“Romney Vague On Immigration,” Tampa Tribune’s “March On Politics” Blog, 5/25/07)
Tampa Tribune: Romney “Didn’t Explain” How His Ideas On Immigration Would Avoid Giving Illegal
Immigrants An Advantage In Applying For Residency. “Romney said he would allow illegal immigrants ‘to
apply for citizenship and permanent residency, but I would not give them an advantage relative to those who
have already applied, relative to those who are staying in their home countries.’ But he didn’t explain how that
application process would work so as to avoid giving illegal immigrants ‘an advantage.’” (William March, “Romney
Vague On Immigration,” Tampa Tribune’s “March On Politics” Blog, 5/25/07)
Tampa Tribune: “In The Past, Romney Has Appeared To Support Allowing Illegal Immigrants To Apply
For Citizenship Without Having To Leave The Country First.” (William March, “Romney Vague On Immigration,”
Tampa Tribune’s “March On Politics” Blog, 5/25/07)
Miami Herald: Romney’s Statements “Suggest He Actually Agrees With Major Tenets” Of Plan He Claims
To Oppose. “Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said he ‘strongly opposes’ an immigration plan also
denounced by his party’s conservative wing, yet his public statements suggest he actually agrees with major
tenets of the proposal in Congress.” (Beth Reinhard and Lesley Clark, “Romney’s Immigration Stance At Odds With State GOP
Leaders,” The Miami Herald, 5/24/07)
Romney Repeatedly Called Immigration Deal “Amnesty” While In South Carolina, But Refused To Label It
“Amnesty” During Appearance In Florida
In South Carolina, Romney Repeatedly Labeled The Immigration Deal As “Amnesty.” “The crowd at South
Carolina’s Republican convention … cheered as presidential candidate Romney told them: ‘One simple rule: No
amnesty.’ During his speech and before his remarks, Romney said a proposed new visa for immigrants amounts
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to amnesty if it can be renewed indefinitely. ‘If that’s not a form of amnesty, I don’t know what is,’ Romney said.”
(Jim Davenport, “S.C. Republicans Cheer Romney As He Attacks Immigration Bill,” The Associated Press, 5/19/07)
Romney In South Carolina: “I think we should not call it the ‘Z visa,’ we should call it the ‘A visa’ because it’s
amnesty and that’s what it stands for.” (Jim Davenport, “S.C. Republicans Cheer Romney As He Attacks Immigration Bill,” The
Associated Press, 5/19/07)
Watch Romney Speak To South Carolina Audience On Immigration
But In Florida, Romney “Refused to Use The Word ‘Amnesty’” To Describe Immigration Deal. “Although he
refused to use the word ‘amnesty,’ as other opponents of the current immigration bill have, Romney said he
doesn’t mind if illegal immigrants apply for legal work visas, but not before those who have obeyed the law by
staying in their own country to apply have done so first.” (Bill Rufty, “Romney Speaks To County Republicans At Dinner,”
Lakeland Ledger, 5/25/07)
Romney In Florida: “There are some who get involved in whether it is technically amnesty or not, and I’m not
really trying to define what is technically amnesty, I’ll let the lawyers do that.” (Mitt Romney, Interview With The [Lakeland,
FL] Ledger, www.theledger.com, Accessed 5/25/07)
Watch Romney Speak To Florida Reporters On Immigration
But In November 2005, Romney Said McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Was “Quite Different Than”
Amnesty, Called Bill “Reasonable”
In November 2005, Romney Spoke “Approvingly Of Efforts By McCain And Bush To Solve The Nation’s
Immigration Crisis,” Saying McCain-Kennedy Was “Quite Different” From Amnesty, Called Proposal
“Reasonable.” “In a November 2005 interview with the Globe, Romney described immigration proposals by
McCain and others as ‘quite different’ from amnesty, because they required illegal immigrants to register with the
government, work for years, pay taxes, not take public benefits, and pay a fine before applying for citizenship.
‘That’s very different than amnesty, where you literally say, “OK, everybody here gets to stay,”‘ Romney said in
the interview. ‘It’s saying you could work your way into becoming a legal resident of the country by working here
without taking benefits and then applying and then paying a fine.’ Romney did not specifically endorse McCain’s
bill, saying he had not yet formulated a full position on immigration. But he did speak approvingly of efforts by
McCain and Bush to solve the nation’s immigration crisis, calling them ‘reasonable proposals.’ Romney also said
in the interview that it was not ‘practical or economic for the country’ to deport the estimated 12 million immigrants
living in the US illegally. ‘These people contribute in many cases to our economy and to our society,’ he said. ‘In
some cases, they do not. But that’s a whole group we’re going to have to determine how to deal with.’” (Scott
Helman, “Romney’s Words Grow Hard On Immigration,” The Boston Globe, 3/16/07)
Romney In November 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. They require people signing up for a
– well, registering and receiving a, if you will, a number – a registration number. Then working here for six
years and paying taxes – not taking benefits. Health, Medicaid, food stamps and so forth, not taking benefits.
And then at the end of that period, registering to become a citizen, or applying to become a citizen and paying
a fee. And those are things that are being considered. And I think that that’s – that those are reasonable
proposals.” (Linked Audio: www.boston.com, Scott Helman, “Romney’s Words Grow Hard On Immigration,” The Boston Globe,
3/16/07)
Listen To Romney Speak On Immigration In 2005.
Today, Romney Says He Opposes Immigration Reform Compromise Because It Creates “Special Pathway
To Citizenship”
Romney Says He Opposes Any “Special Pathway To Citizenship.” “[I] think I’m best off to describe my
own positions. And my positions, I think I’ve just described for you – secure the border, employment verification
and no special pathway to citizenship. I feel that’s the course we ought to take.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 5/22/07)
Romney Campaign Says Romney Opposes “Special Pathway To Citizenship.” “In fact, [Romney aide Kevin]
Madden concedes, there are parts of the compromise bill that Romney supports. Their particular problem is that
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the measure – and particularly the ‘Z visa’ – presents a ‘special pathway to citizenship,’ Madden says.” (Jonathan
Martin, “The McCain-Romney Battle Comes Out Of The Shadows,” Politico.com, 5/24/07)
But In March 2006, Romney Supported “Path Toward Citizenship” For Illegal Immigrants, Said
Republicans Who Broke Ranks With President Bush “Made A Big Mistake”
“Gov. Mitt Romney Expressed Support … For An Immigration Program That Places Large Numbers Of
Illegal Residents On The Path Toward Citizenship … Romney Said Illegal Immigrants Should Have A
Chance To Obtain Citizenship.” (Evan Lehmann, “Romney Supports Immigration Program, But Not Granting ‘Amnesty’,” The Lowell
Sun, 3/30/06)
Romney: “I don’t believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country …
With these 11 million people, let’s have them registered, know who they are. Those who’ve been arrested or
convicted of crimes shouldn’t be here; those that are here paying taxes and not taking government benefits
should begin a process towards application for citizenship, as they would from their home country.” (Evan
Lehmann, “Romney Supports Immigration Program, But Not Granting ‘Amnesty’,” The Lowell Sun, 3/30/06)
“[M]assachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Has Made It Known That He Supports The President’s Immigration
Position, Saying That Republicans Who Have Broken Rank With Bush ‘Made A Big Mistake.’” (Liz Sidoti,
“McCain May Alienate Some Conservatives,” The Associated Press, 9/20/06)
Romney Refuses To Say What He Would Do With Illegal Immigrants In Country Today
Romney “Did Not Provide Many Details About How He Would Deal With Illegal Immigrants Already In The
Country.” “Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, opposes the immigration bill in Congress supported by
key Floridians, including Gov. Charlie Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez, both Republicans. The bill would give an
estimated 12-million illegal immigrants a route to legal residency and citizenship. Romney, however, did not
provide many details about how he would deal with illegal immigrants already in the country.” (David DeCamp,
“Romney Offers Little On Immigration,” St. Petersburg Times, 5/25/07)
The Politico: “Romney Continues To Punt On What To Do With The 12 Million Illegal Immigrants In The
Country.” (Jonathan Martin, “The ‘A’ Word,” The Politico, 5/25/07)
Now And In Recent Past, Romney Says We Shouldn’t “Round Up” And Deport Illegal Immigrants
Romney In May 2007: “I Don’t Think That We’re Going To Round Up 11 Or 12 Or However Many Million
People And Bus Them Out Of The Country. That’s Not What I’m Talking About.” “I don’t think that we’re
going to round up 11 or 12 or however many million people and bus them out of the country. That’s not what I’m
talking about … Those who committed felonies, of course, would be deported. Those who require government
assistance to stay here would surely need to get off government assistance and ultimately could not remain here
on government assistance.’” (Brendan Farrington, “Romney Says His Opposition To Same-Sex Marriage Isn’t Intolerance,” The
Associated Press, 5/24/07)
Romney Aide Said He Wouldn’t Necessarily Favor Deporting All Illegal Immigrants, Claiming “That’s
Something We’re Willing To Work On.” “So would Romney suggest deporting the 12 million illegal
immigrants now in the country? Not necessarily. ‘That’s something that we’re willing to work on,’ says
[Romney aide Kevin] Madden.” (Jonathan Martin, “The McCain-Romney Battle Comes Out Of The Shadows,” Politico.com,
5/24/07)
Romney In March 2007: “I don’t believe we’re going to round up the 12 or 20 million people and deport them. …
[Romney said he is] not in favor of widespread roundups …” (Carla Marinucci, “Romney Says Illegal Immigrants Should
Register,” San Francisco Chronicle, 3/16/07)
Romney In March 2006: “I don’t believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our
country …” (Evan Lehmann, “Romney Supports Immigration Program, But Not Granting ‘Amnesty’,” The Lowell Sun, 3/30/06)
Romney In March 2006: “The 11 million or so [illegal immigrants] that are here are not going to be rounded up
and box-carted out of America.” (Heidi Przybyla, “Romney Shifts On Immigration, Sharpening Contrast With McCain,” Bloomberg,
3/29/07)
In Florida Romney Said “He Supports Allowing [Illegal Immigrants] To Apply To Become Permanent
Residents But Opposes Current Legislation That Would Allow Them To Do Just That”
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In Florida, Romney Offered “Mixed Message On Illegal Immigrants … Saying He Supports Allowing Them
To Apply To Become Permanent Residents But Opposes Current Legislation That Would Allow Them To
Do Just That.” “Mitt Romney offered a mixed message on illegal immigrants Thursday, saying he supports
allowing them to apply to become permanent residents but opposes current legislation that would allow them to
do just that. … While Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, said he would ‘not deny’ illegal immigrants
the ‘opportunity to apply for permanent residency or citizenship,’ he would not say how he would change the
proposed legislation to make such application acceptable.” (Brian Crowley, “Romney Skirts Solution To Immigration Issue,”
Palm Beach Post, 5/25/07)
Romney Refused To Say “How He Would Deal With Illegal Immigrants Already In The Country.” “Romney,
a former governor of Massachusetts, opposes the immigration bill in Congress supported by key Floridians,
including Gov. Charlie Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez, both Republicans. The bill would give an estimated 12-million
illegal immigrants a route to legal residency and citizenship. Romney, however, did not provide many details
about how he would deal with illegal immigrants already in the country.” (David DeCamp, “Romney Offers Little On
Immigration,” St. Petersburg Times, 5/25/07)
Romney In Florida: “You know I haven’t laid out the specific provisions of where they apply, do they go
home, do they stay, are they allowed to stay for some period of time. There’s a lot of negotiation and give and
take on issues of that nature. For me the central issue is that people who are here illegally should be able to –
should not be prohibited – should be able to apply for permanent residency or citizenship, that should not be
prohibited, but that they should not receive any special advantage in being granted those status relative to
people who have applied legally. So that’s for me the touchstone principle and then we can talk about ‘should
they go home, should they stay, do they pay a fine, can they stay here temporarily.’ These are all issues that
can be worked out in negotiated legislative process, but for me the central issue is as I’ve described.” (Mitt
Romney, Interview With The [Lakeland, FL] Ledger, www.theledger.com, Accessed 5/25/07)
But At Recent South Carolina Debate, Romney Said He Would Tell Illegal Immigrants To “Go Home”
Romney: “I Am Going To Tell Them To Go Home.” ROMNEY: “My view is this: people should have no
advantage by having come here illegally.” FOX NEWS’ CHRIS WALLACE: “But you are not telling them to go
home, sir.” ROMNEY: “I am going to tell them to go home. They can begin the process of applying for citizenship
or applying for permanent residency.” (Fox News Republican Presidential Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/15/07)
Romney Claims “All” Illegal Immigrants “Would All Be Qualified” To Stay In U.S. “For The Rest Of Their
Lives,” But Actual Senate Proposal Does Not Support His Assertion
May 29, 2007: Romney Claims “All Those That Are Here Illegally Today Would All Be Qualified” To
Receive “Z” Visa And “Stay Here For The Rest Of Their Lives.” ROMNEY: “[T]he Senate bill which is
currently being considered in Washington says that all those that are here illegally today would all be qualified to
get what is known as a ‘Z’ Visa and to stay here for the rest of their lives under this visa. That in my view, while it
may or may not be technically amnesty, is an amnesty-like provision that I don’t support.” (Mitt Romney, Remarks In
Dover, NH, 5/29/07)
“Z” Visa Requires Applicants To Admit Breaking Law, Pay Fine, Pass Criminal Background Check,
Remain Employed And Maintain Clean Record. “In order to obtain a Z visa granting temporary legal status,
workers in the country before January 1, 2007, must acknowledge that they broke the law, pay a $1,000 fine,
pass criminal background checks, remain employed, and maintain a clean record.” (The White House, “Fact Sheet:
Border Security And Immigration Reform Agreement Overcomes 1986 Mistakes,” White House Website, www.whitehouse.gov, 5/22/07)
Wide Range Of Crimes Extending “Into The Thousands” Disqualifies Potential Applicants From Being
Granted “Z” Visa. “The range of crimes that disqualify applicants from the Z visa program extends into the
thousands and includes: Any felony; Any three or more misdemeanors; Any serious criminal offense; Crimes
involving moral turpitude (with narrow exceptions for certain misdemeanors such as those committed before
age 18); Violations of a law relating to a controlled substance.” (The White House, “Immigration Fact Check: Responding
To Key Myths,” White House Website, www.whitehouse.gov, 5/25/07)
Top Romney Advisor Recently Said Romney Would Put Forward “An Immigration Proposal,” But Romney
Refuses To Offer Any Proposals Or Solutions As He Criticizes Senate Compromise
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Former Florida GOP Chairman Al Cardenas, A Key Romney Adviser, Said “I Am Confident That He Will
[Put] Forward An Immigration Proposal That Floridians And Hispanics Alike Will Find Fair.” “Romney
advisor Al Cardenas, a Cuban-American lawyer and former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, said:
‘The criticism he has received has been over the top and unfair. … I am confident that he will [put] forward an
immigration proposal that Floridians and Hispanics alike will find fair.’” (Beth Reinhard and Lesley Clark, “Romney’s
Immigration Stance At Odds With State GOP Leaders,” The Miami Herald, 5/24/07)
In Florida, Romney Declined To Say “How He Would Specifically Change” The Immigration Deal, Saying
“I’m Not A Legislator.” “Asked at a news conference in Lakeland how he would specifically change the
language, Romney said, ‘I’m not, here, going to describe language of a piece of legislation. I’m not a legislator, at
least not currently, so I’m not going to give you legislative language.’” (Brian Crowley, “Romney Skirts Solution To
Immigration Issue,” Palm Beach Post, 5/25/07)
The Hotline Reported That “No Specific Proposals Are Forthcoming” From Romney On Immigration. “By
the way: if you’re wondering precisely what Mitt Romney … would actually do with the 11-12m illegal immigrants
already here, well, you’ll have to wait a while. No specific proposals are forthcoming, we are told.” (“McCain Is A Lone
Wolf On Immigration,” The Hotline’s “On Call” Blog, 5/23/07)
ROMNEY AT ODDS WITH LEADING FLORIDA REPUBLICANS ON IMMIGRATION
Romney Is At Odds With Top Florida Republicans Over Immigration As He Places Heavy Emphasis On
State In Quest For Nomination
ABC News: “[R]omney’s Position On Immigration Could Cost Him Crucial Political Support In Florida”
Because His Position Is At Odds With Florida Republican Leaders, Including Former Gov. Jeb Bush, Gov.
Charlie Christ And Sen. Mel Martinez. ”But with Romney seeking to distance himself from his rivals by
opposing the Senate immigration bill, Romney’s relationship with Jeb Bush could suffer. The former Florida
governor has voiced strong support for the type of immigration reform that’s now before the Senate, viewing it as
an important priority of his brother’s – and the right type of approach to a complicated issue. … [R]omney’s
position on immigration could cost him crucial political support in Florida, which, with the state’s move to hold its
primary Jan. 29, is poised to play an outsize role in the presidential nominating process. Aside from the former
governor, the Senate bill is being supported by current Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican, and Senator Mel
Martinez, a Cuban immigrant who is chairman of the Republican National Committee and has been intricately
involved in crafting the immigration bill. Martinez said on CNN Sunday that the immigration bill ‘could be the
saving of the Republican Party, frankly.’” (Rick Klein, “In Key State, Romney’s Relationship With Gov. Jeb Bush Strained,” ABC
News, 5/22/07)
Romney Immigration Stance “Is At Odds” With Prominent Florida Republicans Like Sen. Mel Martinez,
Gov. Charlie Crist And Former Gov. Jeb Bush. “[Romney’s] immigration stance is at odds with some of the
state’s most prominent Republicans, including Sen. Mel Martinez, who helped craft the legislation, and Gov.
Charlie Crist, who supports allowing illegal immigrants to earn citizenship. Former Gov. Jeb Bush – whom
Romney has name-dropped as a potential running mate – has told friends he is ‘disappointed’ with Romney’s
position.” (Beth Reinhard and Lesley Clark, “Romney’s Immigration Stance At Odds With State GOP Leaders,” The Miami Herald, 5/24/07)
Romney Campaign Sees Florida Primary As Crucial To Hopes Of Winning Nomination. “Republican
presidential candidate Mitt Romney has all along bet on an early Florida primary and continued his push for
support here Monday … He left no doubt that the talk of moving up the Florida primary is part of his overall
strategy in winning the presidency.” (Brendan Farrington, “Romney Betting On Early Florida Primary,” The Associated Press, 4/24/07)
Romney: “I Want To Be In Florida As Often As I Can Be.” “There’s no question that the focus on Florida is
importantly the result of having an early primary … Florida is going to have a big say in who is going to be the
nominee in each of the parties so I want to be in Florida as often as I can be.” (Brendan Farrington, “Romney Betting On
Early Florida Primary,” The Associated Press, 4/24/07)
Former Governor Jeb Bush Reportedly “Disappointed” In Romney’s Position On Immigration, As Other
State Republican Leaders Voice Support For Compromise
Former Governor Jeb Bush Reportedly “Disappointed” That Romney Has Attacked The Immigration
Compromise And Begun Running Ads Against The Bill. “[A]na Navarro, a Florida Republican activist and
fundraiser who has worked with Jeb Bush on immigration issues in the past, said the former governor told her last
weekend that he is ‘disappointed’ that Romney has denounced the immigration bill in television advertisements.
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‘It’s one of the biggest policy and legacy issues of his brother’s administration, but more than that, Jeb believes in
this,’ said Navarro, who is supporting Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for president. ‘I don’t speak for Jeb, but I know
where his heart is on this issue.’” (Rick Klein, “In Key State, Romney’s Relationship With Gov. Jeb Bush Strained,” ABC News,
5/22/07)
In April 2007, Former Gov. Jeb Bush Criticized Politicians For “Pounding Their Chests,” Creating “The
Perception That All Immigrants Are Bad,” In A Way Which Is “Hurtful” To His Hispanic Wife. “Accusing
politicians of ‘pounding their chests’ on immigration for short-term political gain, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said
Tuesday that the tone of the debate had been ‘hurtful’ to him and his Mexican-born wife, Columba. Bush, the
younger brother of President Bush, reserved some of his sharpest criticism for conservatives in his own
Republican Party, calling it ‘just plain wrong’ to charge illegal immigrants with a felony, as a provision passed
by the Republican-led House would do. He also opposed ‘penalizing the children of illegal immigrants’ by
denying them U.S. citizenship, an idea backed by some conservatives but not included in the legislation. ‘My
wife came here legally, but it hurts her just as it hurts me when people give the prception that all immigrants
are bad,’ the Florida governor wrote in an e-mail exchange with The Times.” (Peter Wallsten, “Florida Gov. Bush Calls
Tone Of Immigration Debate ‘Hurtful,’” The Los Angeles Times, 4/5/07)
Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) On Immigration Deal: “I’m Encouraged By It.” “In Florida, McCain is most in line
with the Republican leadership. ‘I’m encouraged by it. I think it’s the concept that Sen. Martinez likes,’ Gov.
Charlie Crist said of the immigration bill, and referring to Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, who is also general chairman
of the Republican National Committee.” (Adam C. Smith, “Immigration Criticism Becomes Vague In Florida,” St. Petersburg Times,
5/27/07)
State GOP Chairman Jim Greer: Framework Is “Realistic But Also Imposes The Rule Of Law … Quite
Often People Don’t Understand The Entire Issue And Are Unrealistic When They Want To Simply Send
Everyone Back.” “State Republican Party chairman Jim Greer also spoke up for the immigration plan in a
Political Connections interview airing today on Bay News 9. ‘I think the Republican leadership, working with
Democrats in Congress, have found a middle ground that is realistic but also imposes the rule of law through
sanctions and other things,’ Greer said. ‘I think quite often people don’t understand the entire issue and are
unrealistic when they want to simply send everyone back.’” (Adam C. Smith, “Immigration Criticism Becomes Vague In Florida,”
St. Petersburg Times, 5/27/07)
Former Florida GOP Chairman Al Cardenas, A Key Romney Adviser: “I am confident that [Romney] will [put]
forward an immigration proposal that Floridians and Hispanics alike will find fair.” (Beth Reinhard and Lesley Clark,
“Romney’s Immigration Stance At Odds With State GOP Leaders,” The Miami Herald, 5/24/07)
Romney’s “Public Statements Suggest He Actually Agrees With Major Tenets Of The [Immigration]
Proposal In Congress.” “Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said he ‘strongly opposes’ an
immigration plan also denounced by his party’s conservative wing, yet his public statements suggest he actually
agrees with major tenets of the proposal in Congress. The record shows Romney has repeatedly demanded
stronger border security. A campaign ad calls for tamper-proof identification cards. And in a debate last week, he
said illegal immigrants need to go back to their home country and ‘‘get in line’’ before they can become citizens.
‘That’s exactly what’s on the table. All of those things are part of the immigration package,’ said Marshall Fitz,
spokesman for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, a nonpartisan organization of lawyers and
professors.” (Beth Reinhard and Lesley Clark, “Romney’s Immigration Stance At Odds With State GOP Leaders,” The Miami Herald,
5/24/07)
Marshall Fitz, Spokesman For The American Immigration Lawyers Association: “Romney and the other
candidates who continue to beat their chests against this legislation are just playing to the conservative base.”
(Beth Reinhard and Lesley Clark, “Romney’s Immigration Stance At Odds With State GOP Leaders,” The Miami Herald, 5/24/07)
Hispanic Leaders: Romney’s Attempts To “Reinvent” His Position Will “Hurt His Chances” In Florida
Sergio Massa, President Of The Latin-American Voters League: “As Mitt Romney tours our diverse and great
State of Florida he should know better that his efforts to reinvent his position on immigration reform will definitely
hurt his chances of reaching out to a significant voter-block in our state.” (Hispanic Leaders, Press Release, 5/23/07)
Nora Sandigo, Director Of The Latin-American Voters League: “The Hispanic community in Florida puts a
great deal of emphasis on values, and transforming on a position as crucial to voters as immigration is not a
value that is likely to attract much support. Whether it has been the successful elections of Governor Jeb Bush,
Governor Charlie Crist or President George W. Bush our State has consistently proven that we support leaders
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who will approach this issue in a creative, reasonable, realistic and compassionate manner and Mitt Romney’s
position is unfortunately inconsistent.” (Hispanic Leaders, Press Release, 5/23/07)
Jose Lagos, Vice President Of The Latin-American Voters League: “His interest in putting politics over a real
immigration solution, and his willingness to change positions in just the span of a year largely discounts his
candidacy in a number of important Florida Republican circles and also at large. … We call upon Governor
Romney to reconsider his position and with all due respect to prove his leadership by working now not after the
election in a bi-partisan manner the approval in Senate and Congress of a Comprehensive Immigration Reform
which is not an amnesty.” (Hispanic Leaders, Press Release, 5/23/07)
Media Reaction: What They’re Saying About Romney’s Immigration Stance
New York Sun’s Ryan Sager: “Is Mitt Romney Hurting Himself With Jeb Bush (Not To Mention George W.)
By Opposing The Immigration Compromise? The Quick And Dirty Answer Would Have To Be Yes.” “Soren
Dayton asks an interesting question: Is Mitt Romney hurting himself with Jeb Bush (not to mention George W.) by
opposing the immigration compromise? The quick and dirty answer would have to be yes. Jeb Bush is quite
outspoken on immigration – earlier this year at the National Review Institute’s conference in Washington, D.C., he
was emphatic about the good immigrants do and the fact that they are a net social good, not a cost. There had
been theories that Mr. Romney was the tacit favorite of the Bushes – at least of Jeb’s, as some of his staff went
with Mitt. This seems likely to change that picture. Though, it’s not as if Mr. Romney is likely to take Florida from
Rudy Giuliani, anyway.” (Ryan Sager, “Romney: Hurting Himself In Florida?” New York Sun’s Politics Blog, www.latestpolitics.com,
5/22/07)
Townhall’s Matt Lewis Cites ABC News Piece On Romney’s Immigration Stance Hurting Him In Florida,
Noting That Los Angeles Times Quoted Jeb Bush As Saying Tone Of Immigration Debate Was “Hurtful”
To He And His Wife, Columba. “This ABC News piece speculates that Romney’s immigration position might be
straining his relationship with Jeb Bush: ‘Jeb Bush did not respond to a request for comment. But Ana Navarro, a
Florida Republican activist and fundraiser who has worked with Jeb Bush on immigration issues in the past, said
the former governor told her last weekend that he is ‘disappointed’ that Romney has denounced the immigration
bill in television advertisements. ‘It’s one of the biggest policy and legacy issues of his brother’s administration,
but more than that, Jeb believes in this,’ said Navarro, who is supporting Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for president.
‘I don’t speak for Jeb, but I know where his heart is on this issue.’ Yesterday, Peter Wallsten quoted Jeb Bush as
saying, ‘the tone of the debate had been ‘hurtful’ to him and his Mexican-born wife, Columba.’” (Matt Lewis’ Townhall
Blog, “Romney And Jeb,” www.townhall.com, 5/22/07)
Eye On ‘08 Blog: “ABC just wrote about the damage that Mitt Romney’s pandering on immigration will do to him
in Florida. It even quotes Jeb Bush as ‘disappointed’ in Romney.” (Eye On ‘08 Blog, “Does Florida’s Advance Foreground
Immigration?” www.eyeon08.com, 5/22/07)
NPR’s Mara Liasson: Romney “Has Yet To Develop A Kind Of Intellectually Coherent Position On The
Immigration Bill,” Adding “Now That It’s Gotten More Draconian, He’s Decided It’s Amnesty.” “I do think
that [Romney] has yet to develop a kind of intellectually coherent position on the immigration bill, something that
he supported a more lenient version of last time it was up – now that it’s gotten more draconian, he’s decided it’s
amnesty. But last night he said for instance that the answer to the problem of the 12 million illegals in the country
is to merely enforce the current law. The fact that it’s not being enforced – or can’t be – is why we have this new
legislation in the Senate now.” (Fox News’ “Special Report,” 6/6/07)
Roll Call’s Mort Kondracke: “The Whole Idea That Romney Is Now Gonna Basically Try To Force Out
12 Million People Is Simply Ridiculous.” (Fox News’ “Special Report,” 6/6/07)
ROMNEY “APPEARED TO MISCHARACTERIZE” FORMER GOV. JEB BUSH’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES
Romney “Appeared To Mischaracterize” Former Gov. Jeb Bush’s Immigration Policies
Romney: “I Deputized, As Did Governor Bush Here, My State Police To Be Able To Enforce
Immigration Laws.” (Mitt Romney, Interview With The [Lakeland, FL] Ledger, www.theledger.com, Accessed 5/25/07)
St. Petersburg Times: Romney “Appeared To Mischaracterize Bush’s Position,” As Bush Approved Small
Pilot Program Focused On Terrorism. “[I]n Polk County last week, Romney sought to invoke Bush on
immigration – and appeared to mischaracterize Bush’s position. ‘I deputized, as did Gov. Bush here, my state
99
police to be able to enforce immigration laws,’ Romney said in an interview with the Lakeland Ledger. But Bush
approved a small pilot program in 2002, which the governor stressed was limited to a few officers and intended to
focus on suspected terrorists, not all illegal immigrants.” (Adam C. Smith, “Immigration Criticism Becomes Vague In Florida,” St.
Petersburg Times, 5/27/07)
Program Agreed To By Former Gov. Bush In 2002 Was Limited Strictly To Terrorism Investigations By
Florida’s Domestic Security Task Force. “The state and federal governments are about to sign an agreement
that will give 35 members of Florida’s Domestic Security Task Force power to enforce immigration laws during
terrorism investigations. The agreement will solve, at least for a year, frustrations the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement has expressed about not having the ability to detain a suspected terrorist for violating immigration
laws.” (Brendan Farrington, “State Officers Will Have INS Powers In Terrorism Investigations,” The Associated Press, 6/6/02)
Bush: “I Would Have A Lot Of Trepidation If … Our Duties End Up With Local Law Enforcement
Becoming The Immigration Cops Of The Country.” “Gov. Jeb Bush … said he is comfortable with the
program because it is limited to just a few officers already assigned to domestic security. ‘I would have a lot of
trepidation if … every police officer was going to be a sworn INS officer and our duties end up with local law
enforcement becoming the immigration cops of the country,’ Bush said. ‘That would give me a lot of trouble.’”
(Brendan Farrington, “State Officers Will Have INS Powers In Terrorism Investigations,” The Associated Press, 6/6/02)
Former Florida Department Of Law Enforcement Commissioner Tim Moore: “It’s Targeted Only To
Terrorist Investigations – Not Checking Green Cards And Work Camps.” MOORE: “It’s targeted only to
terrorist investigations – not checking green cards and work camps … We don’t want there to be any
misunderstanding about this. We are not attempting in any way of assuming the responsibilities of INS - that’s not
our job, that’s not our responsibility and we’re not equipped to do it.” (Brendan Farrington, “State Officers Will Have INS
Powers In Terrorism Investigations,” The Associated Press, 6/6/02)
ROMNEY ON IMMIGRATION IN MASSACHUSETTS
Romney Employed Illegal Immigrants For Landscaping Duties On His Personal Property
For More Than A Decade, Romney Used Services Of Company Heavily Reliant On Illegal Immigrant Labor
To Perform Landscaping Duties At His Home. “As Governor Mitt Romney explores a presidential bid, he has
grown outspoken in his criticism of illegal immigration. But, for a decade, the governor has used a landscaping
company that relies heavily on workers like these, illegal Guatemalan immigrants, to maintain the grounds
surrounding his pink Colonial house on Marsh Street in Belmont. … Romney never inquired about their status,
they said. In addition to maintaining the governor’s property, they also tended to the lawn at the house owned by
Romney’s son, Taggart, less than a mile away on the same winding street.” (Jonathan Saltzman et al, “Illegal Immigrants
Toiled For Governor,” The Boston Globe, 12/1/06)
Romney Reportedly “Never Inquired About” Legal Status Of Workers On His Property, But Occasionally
Greeted Them By Calling Out “Buenos Dias.” “The Globe recently interviewed four current and former
employees of Community Lawn Service with a Heart, the tiny Chelsea-based company that provides upkeep of
Romney’s property. All but one said they were in the United States illegally. … The workers said they were paid in
cash at $9 to $10 an hour and sometimes worked 11-hour days. Romney never inquired about their status, they
said. … The workers who had landscaped Romney’s property seemed unaware of the governor’s support for
stricter controls on illegal immigration. Several described casual encounters with Romney over the years and said
he had never expressed any curiosity about their status. Rosales recalled Romney sometimes waving as they
tended to the grounds, which include a tennis court and swimming pool. Romney occasionally called out, ‘buenos
dias,’ drawing good-natured laughter from the workers. Ann Romney was friendly, Rosales said, and he said she
brought them water on one particularly hot day.” (Jonathan Saltzman et al, “Illegal Immigrants Toiled For Governor,” The Boston
Globe, 12/1/06)
“Asked By A Reporter Yesterday About His Use Of Community Lawn Service With A Heart, Romney …
Said, ‘Aw, Geez,’ And Walked Away.” (Jonathan Saltzman et al, “Illegal Immigrants Toiled For Governor,” The Boston Globe,
12/1/06)
While Romney Was Governor, State Awarded Contract To New Bedford, MA Firm Raided In 2007 For
Massive Immigration Law Violations
Michael Bianco Inc. Was Awarded State Contract Worth $66,250 In Early 2003. “The New Bedford
manufacturer raided by federal agents last month for allegedly employing illegal immigrants won approval for
$111,150 in state grants over the last four years to hire and train employees, as part of the company’s expansion.
… In early 2003, Michael Bianco, which then employed 87 people, was awarded a $66,250 grant to hire and train
80 new stitchers and machine operators, and to develop an in-house training program for entry-level workers.”
(Scott Helman, “State OK’d Grants To Firm,” The Boston Globe, 4/9/07)
Romney Administration Also Approved Special Tax Break That Saved Michael Bianco Over $50,000.
“According to New Bedford officials, the company also received a five-year tax break from the city in 2004 that
had already reaped Michael Bianco more than $50,000 in tax savings as of last month. That tax break, which
was approved by the state, required that approximately half of the new jobs generated by the company be
given to city residents, in exchange for a total of $80,000 in savings by 2010.” (Scott Helman, “State OK’d Grants To
Firm,” The Boston Globe, 4/9/07)
In March 2007, Federal Authorities Raided Michael Bianco’s Headquarters And Arrested Hundreds Of
Illegal Immigrants. “The owner and three managers of a New Bedford leather manufacturer that’s won more
than $91 million in U.S. military contracts were arrested Tuesday for allegedly hiring illegal immigrants. The
company, Michael Bianco Inc., hired illegal aliens as it tried to meet deadlines to supply backpacks and other
products to the military, federal officials said in a court filing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers
raided the company Tuesday morning.” (Jay Lindsay, “Co. Raided, Accused Of Hiring Illegals,” The Associated Press, 3/6/07)
As Many As 350 Michael Bianco Workers Were In The U.S. Illegally. “The ‘deplorable’ New Bedford
sweatshop shuttered by the feds yesterday squeezed illegal aliens for every second of their workday, fining
them $20 for spending more than two minutes in the bathroom and firing them for talking twice while on the
clock. … As many as 350 of the company’s 500 workers – including single mothers and husbands and wives
– are now facing deportation.” (Laurel Sweet, “Feds Nab Five In Sweatshop Raid,” Boston Herald, 3/7/07)
“Federal Prosecutors Allege The Company Deliberately Recruited Illegal Immigrants Instead Of Legal
Workers, Believing They Were Desperate Enough For Jobs That They Would Tolerate Substandard
Working Conditions.” (Scott Helman, “State OK’d Grants To Firm,” The Boston Globe, 4/9/07)
Top Michael Bianco Officials Allegedly Helped Illegal Workers Procure False Social Security Cards. “In
an affidavit, investigators claimed that owner Francesco Insolia, plant manager Dilia Costa, payroll manager
Ana Figueroa and office manager Gloria Melo allowed an undercover officer who told them she was an illegal
immigrant to continue working at the plant, and Figueroa advised her how to obtain a fake Social Security
card.” (Jay Lindsay, “Co. Raided, Accused Of Hiring Illegals,” The Associated Press, 3/6/07)
Romney’s Successor – Not Romney – Signed Order Requiring State Contractors To Verify Employees’
Immigration Status. “At the time both grants were approved, the state did not require employers to verify
workers’ immigration status, Walsh said. Now, under an executive order signed by Governor Deval Patrick in
February, the state will require all such grant recipients to certify that their employees can legally work in the
United States, she said.” (Scott Helman, “State OK’d Grants To Firm,” The Boston Globe, 4/9/07)
Romney Aide Says Grant Money Awarded By Romney Administration To Michael Bianco Should Be
“Refunded” To Taxpayers. “A spokesman for Mitt Romney, the former governor whose administration awarded
the 2003 grant, said Patrick should seek to get the money back if it was used to train illegal workers. ‘Mitt
Romney’s view is if that grant was not used for legitimate purposes -- if it was used to train illegal aliens, for
instance – then that money should be refunded to the taxpayers of Massachusetts,’ said spokesman, Eric
Fehrnstrom.” (Scott Helman, “State OK’d Grants To Firm,” The Boston Globe, 4/9/07)
Michael Bianco Spokesman Alleges State Official Helped Company Write Its Own Grant. “A spokesman for
Michael Bianco, Doug Bailey, said Insolia didn’t even know such state assistance was available until New Bedford
officials informed him during a visit to the factory. The state eventually sent a representative to meet with Insolia
and helped him write the grant, Bailey said. Questions about workers’ immigration status never came up, he said.”
(Scott Helman, “State OK’d Grants To Firm,” The Boston Globe, 4/9/07)
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