| Revision as of 17:19, 26 February 2008 view sourceAddshore (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Administrators55,329 editsm Reverted edits by 206.207.175.140 (talk) to last version by 21655← Previous edit | Revision as of 17:20, 26 February 2008 view source 71.213.89.169 (talk) ←Replaced page with 'Mitt Romney is an American politician of Mexican decent. His dad was a multi millionaire govenor. His grand father a mexican plural married mormon. Mitt got all...'Next edit → | ||
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| Mitt Romney is an American politician of Mexican decent. His dad was a multi millionaire govenor. His grand father a mexican plural married mormon. Mitt got all his money to start his career from his super rich family. He has never had to work a day in his. | |||
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| {{Infobox_Governor | |||
| |name=Mitt Romney | |||
| |image=Mitt Romney, 2006.jpg | |||
| |caption= | |||
| |order=70th | |||
| |office= Governor of Massachusetts | |||
| |term_start= ], ] | |||
| |term_end= ], ] | |||
| |lieutenant= ] | |||
| |predecessor= ] (acting) | |||
| |successor= ] | |||
| |birth_date= {{birth date and age|1947|03|12}} | |||
| |birth_place= ], ] | |||
| |nationality= ] | |||
| |spouse= ] | |||
| |children= Five | |||
| |alma_mater=]<br>] | |||
| |party= ] | |||
| |religion= ] | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Willard Mitt Romney''' (born ] ] in ]) is an American ] and ]. Formerly the ], Romney unsuccessfully ran for the ] nomination in the ]. | |||
| Romney, formerly the ] of ], a ] firm, and the co-founder of ], a ] investment firm. After his business career and serving as the CEO of the ], Romney was elected as the 70th Governor of Massachusetts in 2002. Romney served one term and did not seek re-election in 2006; his term expired ], ].<ref>Phillips, Frank and Helman, Scott. ''The Boston Globe'', ], ]), retrieved ], ].</ref> | |||
| ==Early life and education== | |||
| Romney is the son of former Michigan Governor and ] ], and 1970 Michigan U.S. Senatorial candidate ]. He was named "Willard" after hotel magnate ], his father's best friend.<ref name="willard">Wheaton, Sarah. "" ''The New York Times'', ] ].</ref> Mitt, his middle name, comes from his father's cousin Milton Romney{{Fact|date=February 2008}}, who played quarterback for the ] from 1925 to 1929.<ref>, Chicago Bears.</ref> Mitt Romney has three older siblings: Lynn Romney Keenan; Jane Romney Robinson; and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/373/000044241/|title= Mitt Romney|publisher=nndb.com|accessdate=2007-12-01}}</ref> He has been involved in politics from an early age, having joined his father in civil rights marches.<ref>David Kirkpatrick, , ''New York Times'', ] ].</ref> | |||
| Romney graduated from the ] in ] in 1965 <ref name="bgseries1">Neil Swidey and Michael Paulson, , '']'', ]. Retrieved ].</ref> and earned a perfect score on his SAT. After attending ] for two quarters, Romney served in ] for 30 months as a ] for ].<ref>Miller, John J. "" ''National Review, ] ].- </ref> | |||
| After his mission service, Romney attended ], where he graduated as ], earning his ] ] '']'' in 1971. Romney received a deferment from the ] as a “minister of religion” while in France, and three years of deferments while a student. When he became eligible for military service in 1970, his high number in the annual draft lottery meant he would not be drafted.<ref>Michael Kranish, , ''Boston Globe'', June 24, 2007</ref> | |||
| In 1975, Romney graduated from a joint ]/] program coordinated between ] and ]. He graduated '']'' from the law school and was named a ] for graduating in the top five percent of his business school class.<ref>Hugh Hewitt, ''A Mormon in the White House?: 10 Things Every American Should Know about Mitt Romney'', Regnery Publishing, March 2007, ISBN 978-1596985025</ref> | |||
| ==Business career== | |||
| After graduation, Romney remained in Massachusetts and went to work for the ], where he had interned during the summer of 1974.<ref>Lewis, Raphael and Helman, Scott. ''Boston Globe'', ] ], retrieved ], ].</ref> From 1978 to 1984, Romney was a vice president of ], Inc., another ] firm based in ]. In 1984, Romney left Bain & Company to co-found a spin-off ] investment firm, ].<ref>Pappu, Sridhar. , ''The Atlantic Monthly'', September 2005, retrieved ], ].</ref> During the 14 years he headed the company, Bain Capital's average annual ] on realized investments was 113 percent,<ref name="MrPowerPoint" /> making money primarily through ].<ref name="howmakemoney">{{cite news |first=David|last=Kirkpatrick|title=Romney’s Fortunes Tied to Business Riches |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/politics/04bain.html?ex=1338609600&en=55a03ad8230fe973&ei=5088 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-08-18 }}</ref> He invested in or bought many well-known companies such as ], ], ], ] and ].<ref> from BizJournals.com</ref> | |||
| In 1990, Romney was asked to return to Bain & Company, which was facing financial collapse. As CEO, Romney managed an effort to restructure the firm's employee stock-ownership plan, real-estate deals and bank loans, while increasing fiscal transparency. Within a year, he had led Bain & Company through a highly successful turnaround and returned the firm to profitability without layoffs or partner defections.<ref name="MrPowerPoint"> Rees, Matthew. ''The American'', ], ], retrieved ], ].</ref> | |||
| Romney left Bain Capital in 1998 to head the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games Organizing Committee.<ref> ''Commonwealth of Massachusetts'' (Official web page of Governor Romney) (no date) via ''The Internet Archive'' (retrieved ], ]) Mitt Romney</ref> He and his wife have a net worth of between 250 and 500 million ].<ref name="personalworth">{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Kuhnhenn |title=Romney Worth As Much As $250 Million |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6847438,00.html |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-08-13 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.redpills.org/?p=846</ref> , not including Romney`s blind trust in the name of their children, which is valued at about $100 million.<ref>http://romneytracker.typepad.com/files/romney_and_wealth/index.html</ref> | |||
| ==CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympics== | |||
| <!-- Unsourced image removed: ] torch to ] ] at the State Department.]] --> | |||
| Romney served as president and CEO of the ] held in ]. In 1999, the event was running $379 million short of its revenue benchmarks. Plans were being made to scale back the games in order to compensate for the fiscal crisis.<ref>{{cite news | first=Steve | last=Carp | coauthors= | title= Romney's efforts credited for saving Salt Lake Games |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2001/July-22-Sun-2001/news/16571104.html | work=Las Vegas Review Journal | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref>{{Dead link|date=February 2008}} The Games were also damaged by ] involving top officials, including then Salt Lake Olympic Committee (SLOC) President and CEO Frank Joklik. Joklik and SLOC vice president ] were forced to resign.<ref> ''CNN.com'', ], ], retrieved ], ].</ref> | |||
| On ], ], Romney was hired as the new president and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.<ref name="Fire Within"> Call, Jeff ''BYU Magazine'', Winter 2002, retrieved October 28, 2006.</ref> Romney revamped the organization's leadership and policies, reduced budgets and boosted fundraising. He also worked to ensure the safety of the Games following the terrorist attacks of ] by coordinating a $300 million security budget.<ref> Rice, Lewis. ''Harvard Law Bulletin'', Spring 2002, retrieved October 28, 2006.</ref> Despite the initial fiscal shortfall, the Games ended up clearing a profit of $100 million, not counting the $224.5 million in security costs contributed by outside sources.<ref>{{cite news |date=], ]| title= SLOC has plenty to fund security, organizers say |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/oly/view/0,3949,30000033,00.html| work=Deseret News | author=Derek Jensen | accessdate=2007-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title= SLOC plotting how to dole out Olympics profits | |||
| |date=], ] | publisher= ESPN | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1433186&type=news | work=Associated Press | pages= | accessdate = 2007-12-12 }}</ref> | |||
| Romney contributed $1 million to the Olympics, and donated the $825,000 salary he earned as President and CEO to charity.<ref>Eastland, Terry ''The Weekly Standard'' June 6, 2005, retrieved October 28, 2006.</ref> He wrote a book about his experience titled '']''.<ref>Mitt Romney and Timothy Robinson. ''Turnaround: crisis, leadership, and the Olympic Games'' (2007), ISBN 978-1-59698-514-8.</ref> | |||
| ==Massachusetts political campaigns== | |||
| ===Campaign for United States Senate, 1994=== | |||
| {{main|United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 1994}} | |||
| In 1994, Romney won the Massachusetts Republican Party's nomination for ] after defeating businessman ] in the primary.<ref>Gizzi, John ''Human Events Publishing,'' May 17, 2004; retrieved October 29, 2004</ref> Some early polls showed Romney close to Senator ]. One '']''/]-TV poll taken after the ], ] primary showed Romney ahead 44 percent to 42 percent, within the poll's sampling ].<ref>Gordon, Al. ''Newsday'' (Nassau and Suffoklk edition), pg. A04, ], ]; retrieved ], ].</ref> Kennedy, who typically faced only "token" GOP opposition for his senate seat was more vulnerable than usual in 1994, in part because of the unpopularity of the Democratic Congress as a whole and also because this was Kennedy's first election since the ] in Florida, in which Ted Kennedy had taken some public relations hits regarding his character. ] ] traveled to Massachusetts to campaign for Kennedy.<ref>Ruth Marcus, | |||
| , ''Washington Post'' (]): “Clinton stumped for a group of Massachusetts Democrats but concentrated his efforts on Kennedy, who is in the closest race of his career. His challenger is Republican businessman Mitt Romney.”</ref> | |||
| After Romney touted his business credentials and his record at creating jobs within his company, Kennedy ran campaign ads showing an Indiana company bought out by Romney's firm, Bain Capital, and interviews with its union workers who had been fired and criticized Romney for the loss of their jobs, one saying, "I don’t think Romney is creating jobs because he took every one of them away."<ref>{{citenews | first=Mike | last=Hall | title= Romney’s ‘Business Experience’: Firing Workers, Hiring Them Back at Lower Wages |date=], ] | publisher= AFL/CIO Blog| url=http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/05/31/romneys-business-experience-firing-workers-hiring-them-back-at-lower-wages/ | work=AFL/CIO | accessdate = 2007-06-17 | language = English }}</ref> Romney claimed that 10,000 jobs were created because of his work at Bain, but private detectives hired by Kennedy found a factory bought by Bain Capital that had suffered a 350-worker strike after Bain had cut worker pay and benefits.<ref name="Barone772">{{cite book |title=The Almanac of American Politics |last= Barone |first= Michael |authorlink= |coauthors= Grant Ujifusa |year= 1999 |publisher= National Journal |location= Washington, DC |isbn= 0-8129-3194-7 |pages= 772}}</ref> Although both Kennedy and Romney supported the ] rights established under '']'', Kennedy accused Romney of being "multiple choice" on the issue, rather than "pro choice."<ref>R. W. Apple Jr., , ''New York Times'' (]).</ref> Romney is now pro-life and opposes ''Roe''.<ref></ref> According to figures in ''] 1996'', which relies on official campaign finance reports, Romney spent over $7 million of his own money, with Kennedy spending more than $10 million from his campaign fund, mostly in the last weeks of the campaign (this was the second-most expensive race of the 1994 election cycle, after the ] vs. ] Senate race in ]).<ref>{{citenews | first=Jerry | last=Miller | coauthors= | title= Record Fundraising |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Try=No&Page=\Politics\archive\200004\POL20000424d.html | work=CNSNews | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref> In a September poll, Romney had a 43% to 42% lead.<ref name="Barone771">{{cite book |title=The Almanac of American Politics |last= Barone |first= Michael |authorlink= |coauthors= Grant Ujifusa |year= 1999 |publisher= National Journal |location= Washington, DC |isbn= 0-8129-3194-7 |pages= 771}}</ref> A month later, however, Kennedy led in the polls 50% to 32.<ref name="Barone772"/> Kennedy won the election with 58 percent of the vote to Romney's 41 percent, the smallest margin in Kennedy's nine elections to the Senate through 2006.<ref>Taranto, James ''The Wall Street Journal'' Saturday, ], ]; retrieved ], ].</ref> | |||
| ===Campaign for Governor, 2002=== | |||
| {{main|Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2002}} | |||
| In 2002, Republican Lieutenant Governor ] was expected to campaign for the governor's office. Swift had served as ] after Republican Governor ] resigned upon being appointed ]. Swift was viewed as an unpopular executive, and her administration was plagued by political missteps and personal scandals.<ref>Associated Press. ''The Daily Texan'', ] ]; retrieved ], ].</ref> Many Republicans viewed her as a liability and considered her unable to win a general election against a Democrat.<ref>Frank, Mitch. ''Time Magazine,'' March 21, 2002; retrieved ], ].</ref> Prominent GOP activists campaigned to persuade Romney to run for governor.<ref>Berwick Jr., Bob and Roch, Lisa Riley. '']'', ], ]; retrieved ], ].</ref> One poll taken at this time showed that Republicans favored Romney over Swift by more than 50 percentage points.<ref> ''Cable News Network,'' March 19, 2002; retrieved October 30, 2006.</ref> Swift decided not to seek her party's nomination. | |||
| ] officials claimed that Romney was ineligible to run for governor, ]. The ] requires seven consecutive years of residency prior to a run for office. Romney claimed residency in ] from 1999 to 2002, during his time as president of the Salt Lake City Olympic Committee. In 1999 he listed himself as a part-time Massachusetts resident.<ref><!--review for best method to handle AP sources-->Mcelhenny, John (Associated Press) {{Dead link|date=February 2008}} ''Portsmouth Herald", Tuesday, June 18, 2002, retrieved November 1, 2006.</ref> The Massachusetts Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission, which eventually ruled that Romney was eligible to run for office. The ruling was not challenged in court.<ref> Belluck, Pam. ''New York Times'' (Abstract) (Page A-17, Col. 4), ], ], retrieved ], ].</ref> | |||
| Supporters of Romney hailed his business record, especially his success with the 2002 Olympics, as that of one who would be able to bring a new era of efficiency into Massachusetts politics.<ref> ''PBS Online News Hour'' (No Date); retrieved ], ].</ref> Romney contributed $6.3 million to his own campaign during the election, at the time a state record.<ref> Brian C. Mooney ''Boston Globe''; ], ], Retrieved ], ]. </ref> Romney was elected Governor in November 2002 with 50 percent of the vote over Democratic candidate ], who received 45 percent of the vote.<ref> 'CNN.com''; retrieved ], ].</ref> | |||
| ==Governor of Massachusetts, 2003–2007== | |||
| {{main|Governorship of Mitt Romney}} | |||
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| ] in September of 2005, after filing education reform legislation.]]Romney was sworn in as the 70th governor of Massachusetts on ], ]. Upon entering office, Romney faced a projected $3 billion deficit, but a previously enacted $1.3 billion capital gains tax increase and $500 million in unanticipated federal grants decreased the deficit to $1.2 billion.<ref>, Factcheck.org, July 9, 2007</ref> Through a combination of spending cuts, increased fees, and removal of corporate tax ]s, by 2006 the state had a $700 million surplus and was able to cut taxes.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9441455 | title=Mr Smooth of Massachusetts | work=The Economist |date=2007-07-07}}</ref><ref name="Telegram">Kevin Landrigan. , Nashua Telegraph, (]).</ref> | |||
| Romney supported raising various fees by more than $300 million, including raising fees for driver's licenses, marriage licenses, and gun licenses.<ref name="Telegram" /> Romney increased the state gasoline tax by 2 cents per gallon, generating about $60 million per year in additional tax revenue.<ref name="mooney"/> Romney also closed tax loopholes that brought in another $181 million from businesses over the next two years.<ref name="mooney"/> | |||
| The state legislature with Romney's support also cut spending by $1.6 billion, including $700 million in reductions in state aid to cities and towns.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/18/property_taxes_still_on_rise_in_mass/?page=full | title = Property taxes still on rise in Mass. | work =Matt Viser, Boston Globe | December 18, 2005 | accessmonthday = December 7| accessyear = 2006 }}</ref> The cuts also included a $140 million reduction in state funding for higher education, which led state-run colleges and universities to increase tuition by 63%.<ref name="mooney"/> Romney sought additional cuts in his last year as Massachusetts governor by vetoing nearly 250 items in the state budget. All of those vetoes were overturned by the legislature.<ref>{{cite news | title= Romney's vetoes seldom stood| work=DANIEL Barrick, Concord Monitor| date=2007-05-03| url=http://concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/REPOSITORY/705030311}}</ref> | |||
| The combined state and local tax burden in Massachusetts increased during Romney's governorship.<ref name="mooney">{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part6_main/?page=full |title=Taking office, remaining an outsider |last=Mooney |first=Brian |date=June 29, 2007 |accessdate=2007-07-03 |work=Boston Globe}}</ref> According to the ], that ] burden was 9.8% in 2002 (below the national average of 10.3%), and 10.5% in 2006 (below the national average of 10.8%).<ref>, Tax Foundation (]).</ref> | |||
| On ], ], Romney signed the ] which requires nearly all Massachusetts residents to buy health insurance coverage or else face a substantial penalty in the form of an additional income tax assessment. The bill also establishes means-tested state subsidies for people who do not have adequate employer insurance and who make below an income threshold, by using funds previously designated to compensate for the health costs of the uninsured.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/200606u/nj_crook_2006-06-27 |title=The Massachusetts Experiment |last=Crook |first=Clive |work=The Atlantic |date=2006-06-27 |accessdate=2006-11-21}}</ref><ref> Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Acts of 2006 (Session Laws), Chapter 58. Retrieved ], ].</ref><ref> Dembner, Alice. Boston Globe. ], ]. Retrieved ], ].</ref> He vetoed eight sections of the health care legislation, including an employer assessment<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/11/04/house_approves_healthcare_overhaul/ | title=House approves healthcare overhaul: Tax at odds with plans by Romney, Travaglini | author=Scott S. Greenberger | publisher='']'' | date=2005-11-04 | accessdate=2007-11-24}}</ref> and provisions providing health coverage to senior and disabled legal ]s not eligible for federal Medicaid.<ref></ref><ref></ref>{{Dead link|date=February 2008}} The legislature overrode all eight vetoes. Romney's communications director Eric Fehrnstrom responded saying "These differences with the Legislature are not essential to the goal of getting everyone covered with insurance." | |||
| At the beginning of his governorship, Romney opposed same-sex marriage and civil unions.<ref> | |||
| McElhenny, John. ''Daily Collegian'' October 16, 2002. Retrieved ], ].</ref><ref> ''Romney for Governor 2002.'' Retrieved ] ]</ref> Faced with the dilemma of choosing between same-sex marriage or civil unions after the November 2003 ] decision legalizing same-sex marriages ('']''), Romney reluctantly backed a state constitutional amendment in February 2004 that would have banned same-sex marriage but still allow civil unions, viewing it as the only feasible way to ban same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/ |title=Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire |last=Phillips |first=Frank |date=February 23, 2005 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work= }}</ref> In May 2004 Romney instructed town clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but citing a 1913 law that barred out-of-state residents from getting married in Massachusetts if their union would be illegal in their home state,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://writ.news.findlaw.com/grossman/20060410.html|title=Will the State of Massachusetts Ever Permit Same-Sex Out-of-Staters to Marry?|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/specials/gay_marriage/articles/2004/05/21/history_suggests_race_was_the_basis/ |title=History suggests race was the basis |last=Greenberger |first=Scott S. |date=May 21, 2004 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work=The Boston Globe }}</ref> no marriage licenses were to be issued to out-of-state same-sex couples not planning to move to Massachusetts. In June 2005, Romney abandoned his support for the compromise amendment, stating that the amendment confused voters who oppose both same-sex marriage and civil unions. Instead, Romney endorsed a petition effort led by the Coalition for Marriage & Family that would have banned same-sex marriage and made no provisions for civil unions.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/06/17/romney_backs_new_effort_to_prohibit_gay_marriages/ |title=Romney backs new effort to prohibit gay marriages |last=Lewis |first=Raphael |date=June 17, 2005 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work= }}</ref> In 2006 he urged the U.S. Senate to vote in favor of the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mass.gov/Agov2/docs/20060602_Marriage_Letter.pdf |title=Letter to the US Senate |last=Romney |first=Mitt |date=June 2, 2006 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work=mass.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?id=1234&wit_id=3608 |title=Testimony of Honorable Mitt Romney, Governor, Massachusetts |date=June 22, 2004 |accessdate=2006-12-08 |work=US Senate Committee on the Judiciary}}</ref> | |||
| On ], ], Romney announced that he would not seek re-election for a second term as governor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/12/14/romney_to_announce_he_wont_seek_re_election/ |title=Romney to announce he won't seek re-election |last=Phillips |first=Frank |date=2005-12-14 |accessdate=2006-11-21 |work=Boston Globe}}</ref> Romney left office with a favorability rating of 43%.<ref></ref> Romney filed papers to establish a formal exploratory presidential campaign committee the next to last day in office as governor.<ref>Estes, Andrea; and Helman, Scott. | |||
| ''Boston Globe. ], ]. Retrieved ], ].</ref> This solidified suspicions that had been circulating as early as 2005 that Romney would attempt to run for President. This also intensified criticism that Romney was not taking his govenorship seriously (spending 219 days out of state in 2006), and using his office as a springboard to greater political ambitions. Romney's term ended ], ]. | |||
| ==Campaign for the Republican nomination for President, 2007-2008== | |||
| {{main|Mitt Romney presidential campaign, 2008}} | |||
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| Since the ], Romney had been discussed as a potential 2008 presidential candidate.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5831818 | title=Is Romney ready for the big time?: Mass. Gov. gets plum prime-time speaking spot during convention | author=Nina Bradley | publisher=''MSNBC'' | date=2004-08-29 | accessdate=2008-01-01}}</ref> On ], ], two days before he stepped down as governor of Massachusetts, Romney filed to form a presidential ] with the ].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?_27039324113+0 | title = FEC statement of candidacy | accessdate=2007-10-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/us/politics/04romney.html | title=Romney Takes Step Toward an ’08 Run | publisher=''New York Times'' | date=2007-01-04 | accessdate=2008-01-01}}</ref> Romney formally announced his candidacy for the 2008 Republican nomination for president on ], ]. | |||
| In the January 2008 ], the first contest of the primary elections, Romney received 25% of the vote and placed second to ], who received 34%.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22484066/ | title=Obama turns back Clinton to win Iowa caucuses | publisher=MSNBC.com | date=2008-01-04 | accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/03/all_eyes_on_iowa/ | last=Milligan | first=Susan | title=For GOP in Iowa, a test of whether money talks | publisher=The Boston Globe | work=boston.com | date=2008-01-03 | accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> A few days later, Romney won the ].<ref>{{cite news | last=Clymer | first=Adam | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/us/politics/05cnd-wyoming.html | title=First G.O.P. Delegate Goes to Romney | publisher=The New York Times | work=NYTimes.com | date=2008-01-05 | accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> Romney finished in second place behind ] in the ] on ], ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://abcnews.go.com/politics/elections/state?state=NH | title=Primary Results: NEW HAMPSHIRE | publisher=''ABC News'' | date=2008-01-08 | accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> In the ] ], Romney won with 39% of the vote, followed by McCain (30%), Huckabee (16%), and others.<ref>{{cite news | last=Kuhnhenn | first=Jim | coauthors=Johnson, Glen | url=http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=213&sid=1323567 | title=Romney decides to pull ads in S.C., Fla. | publisher=''Associated Press'' | work=WTOPnews.com | date=2008-01-10 | accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> On ], Romney won the ], but placed fourth in the ]. Romney then came in second behind John McCain in the Florida primary on ], and came in first ahead of John McCain in the Maine caucuses on ], giving McCain an overall 97-92 lead over Romney in delegates to the ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#val=R | title=Election Center 2008] | publisher=''CNN'' | accessdate=2008-01-27}}</ref> According to US election polls, going into Super Tuesday, Mitt Romney led in California (40% - 32% John McCain), Massachusetts (55% - 23%), Colorado (43% - 24%), and Utah (65% - 6%).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.usaelectionpolls.com/2008/super-duper-tuesday-polls.html | title=USA election polls | publisher=USAElectionPolls.com}}</ref> McCain led in 12 states and was 21 points ahead of Romney in national polls.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/04/gop.super.tuesday/ | title=McCain gets last-minute boost in New York | publisher=CNN.com | date=2008-02-04 | accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> | |||
| Romney partly financed his campaign with his own personal fortune, contributing over $35 million of the $90 million raised by his campaign, as of ], ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.asp?ID=N00000286&Cycle=2008%20Mitt%20Romney |work=OpenSecrets.org |publisher=Center for Responsive Politics |title=2008 Presidential Election: Mitt Romney Campaign Money |accessdate=2008-02-07 }}</ref> | |||
| Following the results of the ] primaries, Romney suspended his campaign for the presidential nomination on ], ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Romney suspends presidential campaign |work=CNN |date=2008-02-07 |first=John |last=King |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/07/romney.campaign/index.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Romney to Quit Race |first=Mark |last=Halperin |work=The Page |publisher=Time Magazine |date=2008-02-07 |url=http://thepage.time.com/2008/02/07/sources-romney-to-quit-race/ }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Governor Mitt Romney Addresses CPAC |publisher=Romney for President, Inc. |date=2008-02-08 |accessdate=2008-02-08 |url=http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/CPAC_Address}} | |||
| </ref> | |||
| He stated that by staying in the race he would only "forestall the launch of a national campaign and frankly I'd be making it easier for ] or Obama]] to win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror." He went on to say "I am convinced that unless America changes course, we will become the ] of the 21st Century - still a great nation, but no longer the leader of the world, no longer the superpower." <ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7233537.stm | title=Romney suspends White House bid | publisher=BBC News | date=2008-02-08 | accessdate=2008-02-14}}</ref> | |||
| Romney won 11 states primaries and caucuses, 4.2 million votes and 291 delegates.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#R</ref><ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/republican_delegate_count.html</ref> | |||
| Romney endorsed McCain for President on ], ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5542108.html | title=Romney throws his support behind McCain | last=Sidoti | first=Liz | publisher=Houston Chronicle | accessdate=2008-02-14 | date=2008-02-14}}</ref> | |||
| ==Religious background== | |||
| {{seealso|Mitt Romney's Mormonism}} | |||
| Mitt Romney is a member of ], colloquially known as the Mormon church. His great-great-grandfather, ], was among the first leaders in the ] in the early 19th century. Mitt’s wife Ann converted to the Church of Jesus Christ before they were married in 1969.<ref>Ronald Kessler, , ], ]. Accessed ].</ref> In addition to his missionary work in France, Romney has served as a part-time lay minister, called a ], and has also been a ] in his church (stake presidents preside over several congregations).<ref name="ProudlyMormon">{{cite news | url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0809/p01s01-uspo.html | title=Mitt Romney: proudly, quietly Mormon | author=Linda Feldmann | publisher=Christian Science Monitor | date=2007-08-09 | accessdate=2007-12-13}}</ref> As part of his religious practice, Romney abstains from ] and ].<ref>, ''60 Minutes'', CBS News, May 13, 2006 (retrieved December 3, 2007).</ref><ref>Jill Lawrence, , ''USA Today'', March 12, 2007.</ref><ref>Tim Jones, , ''Chicago Tribune'', ], ].</ref> | |||
| Religion played a major role in ], with polls indicating that a quarter of Republican voters were “less likely” to vote for a presidential candidate who was a ].<ref name="speech"/><ref>Scott Keeter and Gregory Smith, , ''The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life'', ], ].</ref> However, some ]s and ] criticized Romney for not being enough of a Latter-day Saint regarding social policy.<ref name="Nasaw">Daniel Nasaw, , ''The Guardian'', ], ].</ref><ref>George Bennett, , ''Palm Beach Post'', ], ].</ref> He avoided speaking publicly about specific church doctrines, and pointed out that ].<ref name="speech">Linda Feldmann, , ''Christian Science Monitor'', ], ].</ref> Declining to discuss details about his religion also reduced the risk that ] would alienate evangelical Christian voters.<ref name="Nasaw"/> Romney instead addressed religion in general, saying that as president he would have needed “the prayers of the people of all faiths” and that he would have served “no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.”<ref name="speech"/> | |||
| ==Political positions== | |||
| {{main|Political positions of Mitt Romney}} | |||
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| ]Some of Mitt Romney's political positions have changed over the course of his political career. He says that he has learned from experience, and that people can rely on him to keep his campaign promises.<ref>Hope Yen. , ''Associated Press'' (]).</ref> As a candidate for the Republican nomination for President, Romney has increasingly expressed views in line with traditional conservatives on social issues.<ref> {{citenews|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6362249.stm |work=BBC|title=Profile: Mitt Romney |date=2007-02-15}}</ref><ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Romney_Agenda_10.15.07 |work=Mitt Romney.Com|title=The Romney Agenda: The Three-Legged Republican Stool |date=2007-10-15}}</ref> | |||
| Romney was filmed participating in a Pro-Choice Planned Parenthood fundraiser in 1994 in conjunction with a $150 family contribution,<ref> {{citenews|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/romney-attended.html |work=ABC News|title=Romney Attended Planned Parenthood Fundraiser in 1994 |date=2007-12-18}}</ref> and has made many ] comments in the past. Romney says he has changed positions, "acknowledged my error" and is therefore ].<ref>, MittRomney.com (]). Retrieved ].</ref><ref name="affirming">, MittRomney.com. Retrieved ].</ref> Romney says that he believes that '']'' should be overturned, that "abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother," and that "states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate."<ref name="affirming" /> As a candidate for office in Massachusetts, Romney claimed to hold liberal or moderate views on abortion; he explains his changing views as a process of evolution, contending that he has gradually come to agree with the conservative position on abortion.<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17023959/ |work=MSNBC|title=Mitt Romney says he opposes abortion |date=2007-02-07}}</ref><ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/11/_a_republican_g.html |work=Boston Globe|title=GOP group to slam Romney on abortion |date=2007-11-28}}</ref> Critics of Romney are less flattering and portray him as an opportunist. For example, Democratic ] ] of ] once said, "The real Romney is clearly an extraordinarily ambitious man with no perceivable political principle whatsoever. He is the most intellectually dishonest human being in the history of politics," to which a Romney spokesman replied that "We’ve never really paid much attention to what Barney Frank is saying, and we see no reason to start now."<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/daily_briefing/index.php/2007/06/11/ |work=Boston Herald|title=Congressman Frank blasts the 'real Romney' |date=2007-06-11}}</ref> | |||
| Romney has been a strong supporter of gun control legislation and enforcement, backing the ], a five-day waiting period on gun sales, and a ban on certain assault weapons, and he still backs the ban on assault weapons.<ref>Scott Helman , Boston Globe (]).</ref> Romney has also supported some legislation that was endorsed by the ] and the ].<ref></ref> Romney also says he believes that the ] protects an individual right to keep and bear arms, rather than merely protecting a right of states.<ref>, ''Human Events'' (]).</ref> | |||
| Romney welcomes increased ] and supports giving "a biometrically-enabled and tamperproof card to non-citizens and ... a national database for non-citizens" in order to reduce ].<ref></ref> Romney's lawn care company had ] working at his private residence for nearly a decade and Romney had them fired after the fact was revealed to him during his current campaign for President.<ref></ref> | |||
| ], ]; ], ]]] | |||
| Romney is a proponent of ], heterosexual marriage.<ref>Douglas Kmiec, , ''National Review'', ] ]. To quote Romney: "There is nothing more awful, in my view, than the violation of the marriage covenant that one has with one’s wife. The practice of polygamy is abhorrent, it’s awful, and it drives me nuts that people who are polygamists keep pretending to use the umbrella of my church....My church abhors it, it excommunicates people who practice it, and it's got nothing to do with my faith."</ref> As a candidate for governor in 2002, Romney said: "Call me old fashioned, but I don't support gay marriage nor do I support civil union."<ref name="Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire" /> During that 2002 campaign, he also supported hate crimes legislation and opposed discrimination against gays, while supporting some partner benefits for gays,<ref name="Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire" /> and he also opposed amending the state constitution to codify only traditional marriage because he believed the draft amendment would have outlawed other partner benefits.<ref>Rick Klein. , ''Boston Globe'' (]): “Romney opposed that amendment as a gubernatorial candidate in 2002. At the time, Romney said he felt the amendment went too far because it would have outlawed domestic-partner benefits for gay couples, as well as gay marriage, and said he would vote against it.”</ref> When the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in favor of legalized ] in 2003, Romney lobbied for a state constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage but allow ].<ref name="Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire"/> Romney explained in 2005: "From day one I've opposed the move for same-sex marriage and its equivalent, civil unions....I am only supporting civil unions if gay marriage is the alternative."<ref name="Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire"> {{citenews|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/23/romneys_stance_on_civil_unions_draws_fire/ |work=Boston Globe|title=Romney's stance on civil unions draws fire |date=2005-02-23}}</ref> Romney continues to oppose both marriage and civil unions between people of the same sex.<ref name="NYTgay"> {{citenews|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/us/politics/08romney.html |work=New York Times|title=Romney’s Tone on Gay Rights Is Seen as Shift |date=2007-09-08}}</ref> Romney's tone on gay rights has been viewed by some as fluctuating, though he supported Bill Clinton's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy" in 1994, and continued to do so in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/us/politics/08romney.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|title=Romney’s Tone on Gay Rights Is Seen as Shift|author=Michael Luo|publisher=''The New York Times''|date=2007-09-08|accessdate=2007-11-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/18/AR2007021801218.html | title=Romney Supports 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' | author=John Solomon | publisher=''Washington Post'' |date=2007-02-19 | accessdate=2008-01-01}}.</ref> | |||
| Romney supported the invasion of Iraq,<ref>{{citenews | first=Amy| last=Lorentzen| coauthors= | title= Romney:U.S. is angry about Iraq|date=], ] | publisher= Houston Chronicle| url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5007252.html | work=American Spectator | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref>{{Dead link|date=February 2008}} and supports the "]."<ref></ref> Upon hearing the ] of ], Romney reemphasized his agreement with current policy in Iraq and has called for a "Surge of Support" for the military. Romney has called for increased military spending to at least 4 percent of the United States ] and wishes to increase the size of the military by at least 100,000 troops.<ref></ref> | |||
| Romney has focused on tax relief for "middle income Americans," and has advocated eliminating the ] for all those who earn less than $200,000 per year.<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=200399-1&tID=5 |work=CSPAN|title=Mitt Romney Iowa Straw Poll Speech |date=2007-11-08}}</ref> Romney has also advocated eliminating the ],<ref>{{citenews |publisher=Boston Globe| date=2007-08-10|title = Romney rolls through business plan in hopes of winning Iowa | http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/10/romney_rolls_through_business_plan_in_hopes_of_winning_iowa/}}</ref> signed a pledge to oppose "any and all efforts" to increase income taxes,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2007/01/05/romney_finds_no_new_taxes_promise_suits_him_after_all/ |title = Romney finds 'no new taxes' promise suits him after all | last = Helman | first = Scott | work = Boston Globe | date= 2007-01-05}}</ref> and promises to control spending by Congress. | |||
| Romney supports the ], ]s, and sentencing under the ].<ref>{{citenews | first=Raphael | last=Lewis | coauthors= | title= Romney files death penalty bill |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/04/29/romney_files_death_penalty_bill?pg=full | work=Boston Globe | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref><ref>{{citenews | first=Maria | last=Sacchetti | coauthors= | title= Romney plan would greatly boost charter schools |date=], ] | publisher= | url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/01/romney_plan_would_greatly_boost_charter_schools/ | work=Boston Globe | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref><ref>{{citenews | first= | last= | coauthors= | title= Mitt Romney on crime |date=, ] | publisher= | url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Crime.htm | work=OnTheIssues | pages= | accessdate = 2007-04-20 | language = }}</ref> Romney opposes the use of "]";<ref> {{citenews|url=http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=200399-1&tID=5 |work=CSPAN|title=Mitt Romney Iowa Straw Poll Speech |date=2007-11-08}}</ref> however, he supports the limited use of "]," which he believes are not torture.<ref></ref> | |||
| ==Personal life== | |||
| In ] ], Romney was involved in a serious ] while driving fellow missionaries in ]. A Mercedes hit the ] Romney was driving;<ref>, '']'', January 23, 2008</ref> the fault for the accident, which left one person dead, has been attributed to the driver of the other vehicle. <ref>Paulson, Michael. "" ''Boston.com News, ] ].- </ref> | |||
| ] | |||
| Soon after his return from missionary work in France, Romney married high school girlfriend ] on ], ].<ref name="mitttalks">, Excerpts from November 2006 speech. Mittromney.com. Retrieved ].</ref> They have five sons—Tagg, (b. 1970), Matt (b. 1971), Josh (b. 1975), Ben (b. 1978) and Craig (b. 1981)<ref name="bgseries4">Neil Swidey and Stephanie Ebbert, , '']'', ]. Retrieved ].</ref>—and eleven grandchildren.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/08/AR2007060802781.html|title=Romney brothers dish on Dad|author=Jose Antonio Vargas| publisher='']''|page=A01|date=2007-06-09|accessdate=2007-11-24}}</ref> | |||
| Their first son, ], was born in 1970<ref name="bgseries4">Neil Swidey and Stephanie Ebbert, , '']'', ]. Accessed ].</ref> while both were undergraduates at Brigham Young,<ref name="bg2002">Jill Radsken, , '']'', ]. Accessed ].</ref> living in a $75-a-month basement apartment.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/15/us/politics/15romney.html | title=Romney, Searching and Earnest, Set His Path in ’60s | author=] | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2007-11-16}}</ref> Ann Romney's work as a ] enabled her husband to pursue his career, first in business and then in politics.<ref name="saddle">{{cite news |title=Ann Romney: From the Saddle to the Campaign Trail |url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=3477592&page=1 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-08-19 }}</ref> | |||
| Ann Romney was diagnosed with ] in 1998. She is in remission and has been active in his 2008 presidential campaign.<ref>Faye Fiore, {{Dead link|date=February 2008}} Los Angeles Times (]).</ref> | |||
| Mitt and Ann Romney have three homes, one in ] in the Boston suburbs, a lakeside house in ], and a wood-beamed ski house in ], ].<ref>, ''Associated Press'' (]).</ref> | |||
| ==Josh Romney's Possible Congressional Bid== | |||
| On February 25, 2008, ] told the Utah newspaper "Deseret Morning News" that he was called to run for the Utah congress, and that he "hasn't ruled it out," and said, "I'm pretty young, but I've had good experience on the campaign trail." He would run on the Republican party, against incumbent Democrat ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Lisa |last=Riley Roche |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Josh Romney mulling politics |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695256036,00.html |work=Deseret Morning News |publisher= |date=February 25, 2008|accessdate=2008-02-25 }}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| * '']'' | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{Sisterlinks|Mitt Romney}} | |||
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| {{Mitt Romney}} | |||
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| {{United States presidential election, 2008}} | |||
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Revision as of 17:20, 26 February 2008
Mitt Romney is an American politician of Mexican decent. His dad was a multi millionaire govenor. His grand father a mexican plural married mormon. Mitt got all his money to start his career from his super rich family. He has never had to work a day in his.