Romney vs. Romney virtual debate by Scott Lehigh - Boston Globe (taxes/Reagan)

[papau]

The words in quotation marks are real - Moderate Mitt (MM) quotes from 94 Senate and 2000 Governor Runs, while the new conservative Romney, called Romney2008. uses today's running for President quotes.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/01/19/romney_vs_romney/


Romney vs. Romney virual debate by Scott Lehigh - Boston Globe

By Scot Lehigh | January 19, 2007

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Would you sign a no-new-taxes pledge?

MM: As I said in 2002, "I'm not intending to . . . sign a document which would prevent me from being able to look specifically at the revenue needs of the Commonwealth." My spokesman had it right when he called those pledges "government by gimmickry."

Romney2008: Why, I just signed one for Grover Norquist and Americans for Tax Reform. As my campaign spokesman explained: "At a time when Democrats in Washington are using code language about their plans to raise taxes and spending, the governor's pledge makes it clear that he opposes those actions."
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What political leader do you particularly admire?

MM: "I was very close to my dad, and I look at him as a role model, as a mentor, as a person who I would very much like to be like. He . . . was unique in so many dimensions, I can't possibly be as great as he was, but I aspire to be like he was in many ways." As I also said in 2002, "He did exactly what he thought was right without regard to the political consequences."

Romney2008: "Ronald Reagan is . . . my hero. . . . I believe that our party's ascendancy began with Ronald Reagan's brand of visionary and courageous leadership."

MM: May I interject? "I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I'm not trying to return to Reagan-Bush."

Romney2008: Well, you're not running for president.
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