Romney says he was 'severely conservative' governor
Romney tells activists on the right at a convention that he was a "severely conservative" governor of Massachusetts.
Romney says he was 'severely conservative' governor
Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Politics Writer
WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney defended his conservative bona fides Friday at a convention of right wing activists, portraying his career as a businessman and Massachusetts governor as a struggle for the ideals they hold dear.
“I know conservatism, because I have lived conservatism,” Romney told a jammed ballroom at the Conservative Political Action Committee here. To be sure to emphasize the point, he used the word “conservative” or “conservatism” 24 times in a 20-minute speech. At one point, Romney even described himself as a “severely conservative” governor.
Romney’s appearance was highly anticipated since he lost three states to Rick Santorum earlier in the week, renewing concerns that the putative frontrunner has not been able to reassure conservative voters concerned that he has been too moderate, particularly on abortion and gay marriage.
He was interrupted by standing ovations six times.
In Democrat-dominated Massachusetts, Romney said, he cut taxes 19 times, balanced the budget every year and vetoed 800 bills.
And he stressed how he had fought for a stay to block implementation of the Massachusetts Supreme Court’s decision in 2004 legalizing same-sex marriage. Then, Romney said, he led the fight for an amendment to the state constitution banning it, and prohibited out-of-state couples from taking advantage of the law to get married in Massachusetts.
“On my watch we fought hard and kept Massachusetts from becoming the Las Vegas of gay marriage,” Romney said.
He also talked about vetoing a bill that, he said, would have led to “embryo farming” for human cloning and fought against bills that would have allowed young girls to have access to “morning after” contraceptive pills, which Romney called “abortion inducing drugs.”
“I was fighting against big odds in a deep blue state, but I was a severely conservative Repbulicn governor,” Romney said.
So did these folks at CPAC buy his story?— CommonSense in Philly
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Sounds like you were easily indoctrinated.— ganjoka - Comment removed.
- Buffoon? What the hell do you call the guy who occupy the White House for the previous eight years?— phillytransplant
- That's easy, George "Herbert Hoover" Busch. — ganjoka
- Romney is such a joke I hope the Repubtards run him. Conservative? He was Pro Abortion as governor. He invented Romneycare. Gay rights? He loved it. However, he wants to be president SO bad he can taste it so he's lying his head off and spending his billions to attack Gingrich and Santorum. He is trying to BUY the White House. Repubs can't stand him - why would Independents or Reagan Democrats vote for his this phony?— Foxclove5
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- Mitt is bleeding "severely."— Boru
Romney is a phoney. Santorum is a religious fanatic. Newt has too much baggage. Ron Paul can't be taken seriously. Republicons can kiss 2012 goodbye. Maybe they can find an actor to run in 2016.
You know, like Reagan?— wokmaster- Comment removed.
- Romney is embarrassing. Damm man have a little self-respect & pride, it's so pitiful to see a grown man beg..— ClarkU
- If you don't like cigarettes, it's your choice to abstain from smoking. If you don't like alcohol, you can choose to abstain from drinking. Those who don't like gay marriage can opt not to be involved in a gay wedding. Those who are against abortion, you guessed it, can choose not to have them. All these Republicans seem to want to do is TAKE AWAY rights that people have or should have, and it's a major reason why I won't be voting for any of them in November.— justinnachod
Look I dont care who wins, Can someone please shut Sarah Palin up?— LEEinc
You can reach Tom Fitzgerald at 215-854-2718 or tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
Reach Thomas at tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
