I helped author and was a signatory to the following letter entitled, “A Stern Warning to the ‘Conservative Elites ‘about Mitt Romney” that is a World Net Daily Exclusive today:
ELECTION 2008
Family leaders call Romney ‘disaster’
Letter criticizes ‘deceptive rhetoric’ around candidate——————————————————————————–
Posted: January 3, 2008
© 2008 WorldNetDaily.comMitt Romney
A coalition of leaders on family issues has released a letter warning about what they describe as the deception being assembled around former Massachusetts governor and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
“Most of us are not allied with any presidential candidate,” the letter says. “But we are troubled by the unethical and Orwellian cover-up of Mitt Romney’s role in catastrophic events in Massachusetts, once the cradle of American liberty.
“Actions he took as governor were beyond the pale,” the letter continued.
Signers include William Greene of RightMarch.com, Ted Baehr of the Christian Film and Television Commission, Linda Harvey of Mission America, Gary Glenn of American Family Association of Michigan, Michael Heath of Christian Civic League of Maine, Ray Neary of Pro-Life Massachusetts and others.
The letter cites seven issues seen as problematic in the Romney campaign, including a “phony pro-life ‘conversion.'”
“Mitt Romney established abortion as a ‘healthcare benefit’ in his own government-run healthcare plan at $50 per abortion – after his supposed ‘pro-life conversion,'” the letter said. “He created a permanent, official government role for an unelected Planned Parenthood representative on the health care board.”
Second, according to the letter, “Romney told Catholic Charities’ adoption and foster agency they had to give children to homosexuals even when normal mother-father families were lined up to give them a home,” the letter said.
rest of World Net Daily Article here
And here is the actual letter:
A Stern Warning to the “Conservative Elites†about Mitt Romney
By silence about Romney’s illegal actions and toxic legacy, the elites are assisting a political cancer that has profound consequences for our children and grandchildren
We write the following because we must oppose the deception of the American people by powerful and influential conservatives. Many in the conservative grassroots no longer trust the “conservative†media, lawyers and leaders, whom they see as serving the GOP establishment regardless of the will of the conservative base, regardless of the truth.
Most of us are not allied with any presidential candidate. But we are troubled by the unethical and Orwellian cover-up of Mitt Romney’s role in catastrophic events in Massachusetts, once the cradle of American liberty. Actions he took as governor were beyond the pale. As Romney twice explained to the homosexual “Log Cabin†Republicans, it would take a Republican to enact their agenda ( www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2006/12/romneys_thought.html ). Attorneys, journalists and pundits must be fearless and selfless watchdogs of politicians and guardians of democracy. This is a sacred trust that is being defiled. Silence about ugly truths, such as the points enumerated below, is a betrayal of the lofty status we claim in a constitutional republic. Pay the price of courage. Tell America the truth.
Phony Pro-Life “Conversionâ€
Issue # 1. Mitt Romney established abortion as a “healthcare benefit†in his own government-run healthcare plan at $50 per abortion — after his supposed “pro-life conversion.†( www.mass.gov/Qhic/docs/cc_benefits1220_pt234.pdf ) He created a permanent, official government role for an unelected Planned Parenthood representative on the health care board.
Issue #2. Romney’s well-timed “pro-life†conversion for the Republican primary pulled a “states’ rights†committment out of nowhere to hedge his political bets. His claim that states’ rights trump the unalienable right to life is inconsistent and unprincipled: he simultaneously opposes an amendment to protect human life, but claims to support one to preserve marriage! What happened to Romney’s committment to “states’ rights?â€
Issue #3. Unforced by anyone, Romney overruled his own Commissioner of Public Health and lied about state law in order to compel Catholic hospitals to issue abortifacient pills — in violation of their freedom of religion enshrined in the United States and Massachusetts Constitutions. Using exactly the crafty political theatre he employed to cover his actions on same-sex “marriage†and homosexual adoption, Romney posed as defender of the very thing he was destroying, gallantly “asking†the legislature to create a special “religious exemption†for Catholic institutions. Even Democrat former governor Mike Dukakis publicly agreed with Romney’s commissioner of public health that state law already grants a “religious exemption.â€
The primaries are intended to vet the candidates to ensure that each party nominates the best qualified candidate. It has been clear to me and many others that Romney is by far the most liberal candidate and the most dishonest and the most unlikely to defeat Hillary or Obama in November. I am glad that voters are increasingly coming to this conclusion as well. Time will tell.
So Fred goes on Fox News today, and Mrs. Roger Goodell asks if he has the fire in the belly, a typical MSM template question. Fred responds well the first time. When she presses him a second time, well, it’s pure Fred magic.
Ok, I’ll confess. I’ve got Fred Fever and the only thing that can cure it is more cowbell.
Blackfive and the wonderful people of Soldiers Angels have been working on a special, unique project, Operation Puppy Love.
Here’s how this all got rolling,
To whom it may concern,
I am a platoon leader for an infantry battalion. On May 19th of this year six of my soldiers were killed during combat operations. One of those soldiers, Alex, enjoyed playing with the dogs on one of our FOBs. His mother found many photos of the animals in his personal effects. She has been trying for some time to get a contractor to bring one of the dogs back to the states. We adopted one of the dogs for force protection at our company outpost. The dog had a puppy. I would like very much to transport the dog back to the states for Alex’s mother. The biggest hurdle is getting the dog out of Baghdad. Is there any help your airline can provide? I am sorry to say that my unit will be returning to the states very soon. I only recently found out about Alex’s mom and her goals and want to help in any way I can.
Very respectfully,
LT Tom
Word reached Blackfive, who contacted Soldiers Angels. When these two get together on something, you just know things are going to get done. Click here to learn more about the fate of this puppy.
A number of my favorite bloggers came out in the past few days with posts speculating why Fred Thompson’s campaign has failed to take off as many people had hoped, myself included. Here’s a review, what do you think?
Fred decided very early that he would not play by other people’s rules. More specifically, that he would not play by the nebulous, self-serving rules laid down by the media, the political consultants, and the rest of the Beltway collective. I think he decided he would either win on his own terms, or lose if the whole process is so rotten that you have to be a McCain/Hillary power-lusting type to win it.
I commend that approach. I’m sick of politics as usual. I’m not in line with Fred on every position he takes, but I like most of what I hear, and I really like the fact that he’s not doing the standard Washington two-step to avoid taking a stand on major and divisive issues. I like the fact that he puts out 16 minute videos to explain what he’s thinking instead of just one minute commercials….But no matter what the outcome, someone needs to be in there experimenting with different ways to campaign and lead. We need that. I would commend even a failed effort by Thompson, because others would learn from what he tried that didn’t work. If Thompson falters, perhaps a Tom Coburn will learn from that and come forth in 2012.
Win or lose, I’m happy Fred’s in the race, and the better he does, the better I will like it.
Thompson is a guy who has laid out detailed positions on all sorts of issues. He never gets dinged for misrepresenting facts in debates. And I like the fact that he’s not consumed by ambition. That’s exactly the sort of person we should want as president.
But our moronic news media, which pretends to disdain overambitious candidates and to care about policies — doesn’t really care about substance. For them, it’s all about the horse race, the gimmicks, and the pizzazz. Big Media editors are every bit as superficial as you voters, if not more so.
Thompson is running the kind of campaign — substantive, policy-laden, not based on gimmicks or sound-bites — that pundits and journalists say they want, but he’s getting no credit for it from the people who claim that’s what they want. It’s like in Tootsie when Dustin Hoffman tries doing the things he’s heard women say they want from men, only to discover that they don’t really want those things at all
Paul Marks at Samizdata
What the media, including Fox News (the only non-leftist news station and, therefore, of vital importance in the Republican nomination process), are saying is that Fred Thompson is too sane to be President. It is not enough to produce detailed policies for dealing with the entitlement program Welfare State (a cancer that is destroying the United States and the rest of the Western World), or producing a new optional flat tax (individuals could continue to use the existing system if they wished to) to deal with the nightmare of complexity that the income tax has become.
It is not even enough to have a long record of service, going back to Watergate and taking down a corrupt Governor of Tennessee in the 1970’s. And having one of the most Conservative voting records in the United States Senate – before leaving it in disgust at how the system did not allow real reform.
No – someone has to enjoy the prospect for office for its own sake, not to reduce the size and scope of government and restore a Federal Republic. One must enjoy the whole process of politics – i.e. be crazy. Or one must pretend to enjoy it – i.e. be a liar.
We are very fortunate to be able to say that retired Lt. Col. Ralph Peters is a friend of the show and a frequent guest. Ralph was absolutely on fire tonight, he was GREAT.
Apparently, Ralph didn’t get the memo laying out the narrative in the wake of this week’s assassination of Benazir Bhutto. She was the savior for democracy in Pakistan, right?
Not according to Ralph, THE BHUTTO ASSASSINATION: NOT WHAT SHE SEEMED TO BE,
She was a splendid con, persuading otherwise cynical Western politicians and “hardheaded” journalists that she was not only a brave woman crusading in the Islamic wilderness, but also a thoroughbred democrat.
In fact, Bhutto was a frivolously wealthy feudal landlord amid bleak poverty. The scion of a thieving political dynasty, she was always more concerned with power than with the wellbeing of the average Pakistani. Her program remained one of old-school patronage, not increased productivity or social decency.
Ralph also talked about domestic politics in the wake of this development, his support of John McCain and his recent trip to visit to the Center for the Intrepid at the Brooke Army Medical Center.
You can donate to the Warrior and Family Support Center project via credit card at ReturningHeroesHome.org or by phone at 1-888-343-HERO.
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UPDATE: Here is an interview with Gen. Petraeus that Ralph had published in today’s New York Post.
All of our interviews are also available for download at iTunes and Podcast Alley via the Pundit Review Radio Podcast.
What is Pundit Review Radio?
Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week Kevin and Gregg give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking†by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to your radio every Sunday evening from 7-10 pm EST on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.
Bill Roggio is one of the best analysts covering the global war on terror and it was a pleasure to welcome him back to Pundit Review Radio. His website, The Long War Journal is an invaluable resource.
The Long War Journal is dedicated to providing original and accurate reporting and analysis of the Long War (also known as the Global War on Terror). This is accomplished through its programs of embedded reporters, news and news aggregation, podcasts, and other multimedia formats.
The Long War Journal is published by Public Multimedia Inc., a nonprofit media company.
You can send financial support to The Long War Journal here.
We talked about some interesting, if not well reported, developments in Iraq, as well as overview of the situation in Pakistan.
All of our interviews are also available for download at iTunes and Podcast Alley via the Pundit Review Radio Podcast.
UPDATE: This morning Bill published a report titled The State of Jihad 2007.
What is Pundit Review Radio?
Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week Kevin and Gregg give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking†by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to your radio every Sunday evening from 7-10 pm EST on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.
Bruce McQuain from QandO joined us for another edition of Someone You Should Know. The Someone You Should Know radio collaboration began as an extension of Matt Burden’s series at Blackfive. Thanks to Matt, Bruce is now on board and we are lucky to have him as part of the show.
Tonight Bruce told us about Army 2LT Mark Daily.
Mark was named the ROTC’s outstanding cadet for 2005 and also a Distinguished Military Graduate, the highest ROTC award. Mark was killed by an IED in Mosul this January. Two small items in an OC Register profile jumped out at me, they demonstrate how mature and wise beyond his years he was.
On his Web site, Mark listed his top interests as family, peace and progress.
He said his heroes were immigrants who risk their lives to achieve better ones.
Bruce told us about something Mark wrote on his MySpace page explaining once and for all why he joined,
This question has been asked of me so many times in so many different contexts that I thought it would be best if I wrote my reasons for joining the Army on my page for all to see. First, the more accurate question is why I volunteered to go to Iraq. After all, I joined the Army a week after we declared war on Saddam’s government with the intention of going to Iraq. Now, after years of training and preparation, I am finally here.
Much has changed in the last three years. The criminal Ba’ath regime has been replaced by an insurgency fueled by Iraq’s neighbors who hope to partition Iraq for their own ends. This is coupled with the ever present transnational militant Islamist movement which has seized upon Iraq as the greatest way to kill Americans, along with anyone else they happen to be standing near. What was once a paralyzed state of fear is now the staging ground for one of the largest transformations of power and ideology the Middle East has experienced since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Thanks to Iran, Syria, and other enlightened local actors, this transformation will be plagued by interregional hatred and genocide. And I am now in the center of this.
Is this why I joined?
Yes.
The full post is here.
All of our interviews are also available for download at iTunes and Podcast Alley via the Pundit Review Radio Podcast.
What is Pundit Review Radio?
Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week Kevin and Gregg give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking†by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to your radio every Sunday evening from 7-10 pm EST on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.