A 200-page file on Mitt Romney has been released online. The file is comprehensive in its coverage of Romney’s political positions – as of 2008 anyway – on a wide variety of topics. It is rumored to be materials compiled by John McCain’s 2008 Presidential campaign as research on McCain’s opposition. There has been no confirmation of this, and there may not ever be since McCain has endorsed Romney’s current run.
There is a general timeline of Romney’s personal life, business and political careers, including such details as:
* June 1968 – While in France, Romney is injured in a serious car accident (caused by a drunk driver) that kills the wife of his mission’s leader; for a time, Romney’s family is under the impression he has been killed.
* October 1993 – Switches party affiliation from Independent to Republican in anticipation of running for political office in 1994.
* Summer 2000 – Ann Romney’s multiple sclerosis goes into remission.
There is a bulleted list of highlights of Romney’s political positions, and subsequent changes, that the McCain campaign thought were worthy of having in hand. A few highlights:
* Romney health insurance plan expanded access to abortion, required Planned Parenthood representative on state panel.
* In 1994, Romney called “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy first step toward having gays and lesbians “able to serve openly and honestly in our nation’s military” and said he would provide “more effective leadership” on gay rights issues than Ted Kennedy.
* In 2007, Romney praised gay parent who confronted him over gay marriage issue, but in 2005 remarked to South Carolina audience that some gay couples “are actually having children” and called it “wrong.”
* In 1994 Senate race, Romney backed Brady bill and assault weapons ban, saying “I don’t line up with the NRA” and “that’s not going to make me the hero of the NRA.”
* Romney bragged about being member of the NRA but later revealed he didn’t join until August 2006, just before launching his presidential campaign.
* Romney refused to endorse the Bush tax cuts in 2003, telling the state’s all-Democrat congressional delegation he wouldn’t be a cheerleader for the plan.
* In 1994, Romney opposed the Contract with America without even reading it.
* Romney appeared in 2003 TV ad endorsing Democrat Rocky Anderson – who has been outspoken in calling for President Bush’s impeachment over Iraq war.
* Romney was an independent until deciding to run for the Senate in 1994. He voted for Paul Tsongas in the 1992 Democratic presidential primary.
There is then a comprehensive rundown of Romney’s positions on many issues, including how his stances have changed over time, or even abruptly. These topics include:
* Abortion
* Stem Cell Research
* Gay Rights
* Second Amendment Issues
* Judicial Issues
* Taxes
* Bush Tax Cuts
* Jobs and Economy
* Iran
* Iraq
* Terrorism
* Campaign Finance Reform
* Immigration
* Health Care
* Energy and Environment
* Education
* and many others
Each issue is quite detailed and includes footnotes with references where applicable. The original apparently had links to videos and audio of Romney appearances before various audiences where his positions and statements changed, almost from town to town.
At 200 pages, it is quite a read. And, it provides lots of fodder for any opponent – GOP or Democrat – to use against Romney. Peruse through the file below.