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Romney: McCain Is Another Bob Dole

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February 05, 2008 11:36 AM

ABC News' Bret Hovell and Teddy Davis Report: Republican Mitt Romney responded Tuesday to a pro-McCain letter written by Bob Dole by saying on "Fox and Friends" that the former Senate Majority Leader and World War II veteran is "probably the last person" he would want to write a letter on his behalf.

McCain responded by demanding that Romney apologize to Dole.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

Speaking to reporters on the back of his campaign plane in Newark, N.J., McCain said, "I think Gov. Romney should apologize to Bob Dole for his statement. . . this is no way to end up this campaign by attacking a genuine American war hero."

Since talking about Dole on "Fox and Friends," Romney is softening his words.

On Laura Ingraham's radio show, Romney called Dole "an American hero" and a "terrific guy," while acknowledging that he would like to have every endorsement. But the former Massachusetts governor is sticking to his underlying argument that McCain, like Dole, is a flawed candidate despite being "the anointed choice" and the "next in line."

Romney contends that he would make a better nominee than his older rival because as a former governor and business consultant he can position the G.O.P. as the party seeking change in Washington.

For months, one of the whispers you would hear from Romney advisers is that McCain "is turning into Bob Dole."

And it has nothing to do with being "annointed" or being the person who "waited the longest." They are calling him old, trying to make the Republican nomination fight a generational-type battle.

On Monday, Dole wrote conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh in an effort to quell conservative complaints about McCain being the Republican nominee.

"Rush," Dole wrote, "I was the Republican Leader from January 1985 until I left the Senate voluntarily in June 1996. I worked closely with Senator McCain when he came to the Senate in 1987 until I departed. I cannot recall a single instance when he did not support the Party on critical votes."

February 5, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Palin, Sarah, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (48)

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Erin: You don't know what you're talking
about! Romney is the Hillary Clinton of the Republican Party!
When he ran for office in Massachusetts he said he would be more pro-gay rights than Ted Kennedy!
As governor of Massachusetts he passed and signed a carbon copy of hillary's healthcare plan!
He has only recently converted to being pro-life!
Romney is a Fraud and a Phony, in other words a Democrat! Those are the facts!
c

Posted by: reaganfan | Feb 5, 2008 5:14:04 PM

Those who continue to say that Mitt Romney is not a Christian are fools. You apprently know absolutely nothing about his faith only something you have heard from a non-believer. Get educated!

Posted by: cswensen | Feb 5, 2008 6:08:53 PM

reaganfan: Everyone knows that once Romney changed is position on abortion, he always was on the side of life. Also, he health care plan is completely different from Hillary care. Why isn't anyone talking about McCains flip flops??? He is the true flip flopper because he has changed his positions while running for President.. These are the facts...

Posted by: Will | Feb 5, 2008 6:34:44 PM

reaganfan, what are you smoking?: "Yeah and Mitt Romney is the New George
Romney, you know the Guy who cost
Gerald Ford the 1976 election, by being a horrible VP candidate."

George Romney wasn't Ford's running mate, it was BOB DOLE.

Posted by: ComeOn | Feb 5, 2008 6:41:27 PM

Romney:According to an economic study done of his term in Massachusetts had 3rd Lowest economic growth, 3rd Lowest job growth with 3rd highest Population-decrease. Only the Katrina states did worse.
Huckabee:Wants to amend the Constitution to reflect his beliefs. That is a violation of the 1st Amendment to the Bill of Rights:CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION...
McCain:Wants to continue the fail policies of Bush. Bush stopped going after the real criminals of 9/11, Bin laden, al Qaeda, Taliban. Bush and the Republicans are responsible for al Qaeda and Taliban getting stronger and spreading. Bush led us away from our goal.
Republicans do business with Lobbyists. Lobbyists are foreign oil interests, Hallaburton, major corporations, conglomerates, big businesses, investors and investing firms, banks and financial institutions both foreign and domestic. That is why they stopped going after bin laden, al Qaeda, and taliban.
Hillary has done and will do business with Lobbyists, she will do what thy tell her. She learned well from her republican senator father, Senator Rodan.
Obama does not have lobbyists, he does not have to do what they say. Obama will put us back on the trail of AL QAEDA, TALIBAN, AND BIN LADEN. Obama is hope. YES WE CAN!

Posted by: Angel | Feb 5, 2008 7:00:44 PM

McCAIN SAYS HE WILL BRING BACK THE DRAFT! McCain told a crowd of New Yorkers this morning that he will call a new generation of Americans to service of their country.

Posted by: Derek | Feb 5, 2008 7:02:16 PM

I hear most GOP supporters want "shared" values. Greed,bigotry,wearmongering,torture,deficits forever are just a few of those wonderful shared values. Destruction of the Constitution is another shared value. Ron Paul disavows these warped unAmerican values. Vote Ron Paul,not another Bush clone. Never ever a Born Again talking to God President ever again!

Posted by: AJ | Feb 5, 2008 7:14:18 PM

If you vote for a candidate because your pastor told you so,your a sheeple.You shouldn't be allowed to vote. Sheeples who blindly follow their pastors and Rush should not vote!Sheeples are what put Bush in office.

Posted by: AJ | Feb 5, 2008 7:21:03 PM

I find it hard to support anyone (McCain) who needs to lie and manipulate the voters to win and who admitted to having multiple affairs when married to his first wife, someone that has WEAK views on the economy and immigration. And I also find it hard to support someone (Huckabee) who stays in the race just to take away votes from another candidate. That is NOT American, nor is it respectable or honorable. ***MITT ROMNEY for president. The ONLY one that is a strong conservative, the ONLY one with strong family values, the ONLY one that has the best qualifications/experience to lead this county, and the ONLY one to tell the truth.

Posted by: lynn | Feb 5, 2008 7:59:18 PM

Anyone that puts down anyones religion should be ASHAMED of yourselves. There's a lot to be said of the old saying "treat others as you'd like to be treated" -- as cliche as that is, it's true. People are so critical, stereotypical, and judgemental of things they do not understand. One of the things that America prides itself on is out FREEDOM. Freedom of speech, press, RELIGION... etc. How UNAMERICAN of all the people saying that a Mormon shouldn't be president, or a Southern Baptist shouldn't be president..etc. SHAME ON YOU!!

Posted by: christy | Feb 5, 2008 8:02:01 PM

I finally stopped laughing at all these obsessed fanatics that think its necessary to have a devout christian of the protestant rearing in office. Nevermind he may be a total idiot, subconsciously driving our forces to Armageddon, handing out all the candy to his constituents all the while draining the economy doing it, and will leave the office to another idiot that will only shuffle the dirt around our graves and call it change. Im tired of this sort of mentality; do us ALL a favor and leave your religion in church and home. The White House is not a house of worship.

Posted by: ibedawon | Feb 5, 2008 8:14:03 PM

As a non-Christian, I find all of the revisionist history trying to justify the US as a Christian-only nation deplorable. I love my country. I agree that we are a Christian nation, but also that we're a Muslim nation, a Jewish nation, a Hindu nation, and an atheist nation. Our founding fathers, who are so often misquoted or taken out of context, were trying to govern a nation that was composed of people fleeing religious persecution. They deliberately tried to eliminate religion from consideration for office... "there shall be no religious test..." Read the Constitution - in my mind THAT is the holiest document in the USA, and THAT is the only document that the president swears an OATH to uphold. Evaluate candidate based on their ability to uphold our constitution and keep us a nation of laws, not men. That is working to serve the FOunding Fathers' vision.

Posted by: hamilton | Feb 5, 2008 9:04:46 PM

I'll say it one more time so you all understand. Romney IS a Christian in EVERY sense of the word. To say or imply anything differently means you haven't invested a minute or two to understand his beliefs. He is a member of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints". Why is there even a question?

That said, I agree with others that we should be focused on the issues and their character not their religion. If you lean conservative then vote for Romney. If you lean more to the left then vote for McCain.

Posted by: hp | Feb 5, 2008 9:19:09 PM

This is who Id vote for most qualified to least:

1. Obama
2. Romney
3.

Posted by: andy | Feb 5, 2008 10:46:02 PM

Religion is not the issue, it's about principles and experience as an executive. Mike Huckabee had a great night -- and he represents the conservative choice.

Posted by: Dave J | Feb 5, 2008 11:12:59 PM

Huckabee is the real conservative choice. It's time to stop giving Romney more credit than he deserves, and let him take off that conservative mantel that's been forced on him, that doesn't fit. Huckabee can win if rest of the conservatives get behind him before it's too late. Don't waste your vote on the slick salesman Romney.

Posted by: alan | Feb 6, 2008 12:21:29 AM

McCain is a democrat in republican clothing. Romney has spent more than most americans will ever see in their lifetime to win each delegate, and is still not winning like he should be for that kind of money. He spent 1.16 MILLION PER DELEGATE as reported by Fox News yesterday. Huckabee has not stooped to name-calling or hateful comments like both Romney and McCain have. He is truly conservative, and his record speaks for itself. He did wonders in Arkansas with their budget (200 million deficit to 800 million surplus in 10 years), and will do the same for all of us if we give him a chance.
And who does Romney think he is to say that any candidate has stayed in this race just to take away votes from him. If everyone remember correctly, Huckabee won the first state to hold a primary, and has done pretty well since then. Romney is just mad because he has spent 20 times more money than Huck, and has not done any better than Huck has. Get over it Romney, if Huck had the same resources as you, he would be winning over McCain and stomping you. The people who know about him believe in him completly, which is something you have not been able to accomplish except in Mormon country. Huck has ALL christian denominations/religions backing him. You can't say the same. Time to quit kicking a dead dog. No matter how much money you throw at this race, you won't even win the vice-pres nomination. Save some face and drop out. It would be for your own good. I think you are probably a good man, you just don't have the appeal to most Americans you need.

Posted by: APRIL | Feb 6, 2008 9:58:07 AM

I love to see all you "Nut" Jobs talk. I personally can NEVER vote for another Republicain. I voted for John in 00' but we got stuck with Bush. I am proud I did not vote for Bush either time. He made me a Demo. for live. I live in Ohio and I remember seeing bumper stickers saying "Ohio the state that saved a nation in 04'" Now you see all these used to be Rep.'s talking like they did not vote that #### ### in. We do not need any more Rep. in office this wave that we need someone that reads the same bible as I do it stupid. I love to hear you nuts talk and I hope you keep splitting the vote now. We need a BIG change in direction and we need it yesterday.......

Posted by: Jim | Feb 6, 2008 10:43:44 AM

Huckabee the "minister" has shown his true slimy character in the negative and condescending way he attacks his opponents. He has truly learned and practices the back-stabbing politics of Washington. His huge ego definitely has blurred his understanding of "pride goeth before the fall." His back-biting words are not consistent with what he professes to believe.

Posted by: KS | Feb 6, 2008 12:45:00 PM

Mccain is a moderate republican an is nothing wrong with that, he is old but being all gives him ground for making crucial decisions, and I personally like the calm way around him everytime that he defenses his point, we need a good leader that brings to the board the right people and Mccain has wisdom and because he has been involved in the white House doesn't mean that he has blame on what is happening right now, Clinton sold the industrial economy to China years ago and what is happening right now with immigration is being happening for the past century, the spending that Bush has made on War was important for our national security, but everything that happens right now are the results of many mistakes in the past 25 years...Putin the president of Russia is going to be a problem, just read history book, it repeats all the time, we need a solid president that doesn't become a chicken without head when he manages himself with words, we don't need a church preacher like Obama that the core of his speeches is HOPE and CHANGE, because all we know that it is hope in our hearts and it has to be a change, because the way we are can't continue....

Posted by: Juliana Leach | Feb 6, 2008 2:41:27 PM

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