Why Is The Republican Establishment So Anti-Romney?

[Yavin4]

Sure, I totally get why the fundie Republicans don't like him, but Wall Street/Country Club Republicans? I don't get it. Romney is pro corporate greed. What's the issue with him?

[polichick]

1. Maybe because of his healthcare policy as Gov?

[TwilightGardener]

4. He tried to do something useful, once. He's been regretting it, and paying for it, since.

[littlewolf]

11. a couple of reasons ....

1. Healthcare .....
2. flipped on Abortion ....
3. flipped on Taxes ....

those are 3 that I have heard ....

[no_hypocrisy]

2. He's coherent.

You may not agree with him, but you can understand him.

[TygrBright]

3. Underwear. Seriously. They are shit-scared of the underwear factor...

...and its effect on the fundy wackjob voter base.

helpfully,
Bright

[JustAnotherGen]

5. I have no clue

I'd never vote for him - but he's palatable. I don't even get the issues with him being a Mormon. But eh? I don't get the issue with a pol being Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic, Christian Scientist, Orthodox Jew, any host of religions either. Doesn't matter to matter to me anymore than the color of someone's skin or how by birth someone loves. . . maybe that's the answer? I don't get blind bigotry at all - and those on the right do? As in - they live it!

[Mz Pip]

6. I don't think the establishment GOP

would lose their lunch if Romney were the nominee. He'll make a respectible sacrificial lamb and gives the appearance of someone who isn't off the rails with the crazy. They aren't running to dump money into his campaign since it would just be a waste - just enough to keep him ahead and be taken as serious.

[DrToast]

7. Huh? They love him

Where do you think he's getting all his donations from.

[Yavin4]

9. Then Why The Flirtations with Rick Perry and Chris Christie?

Why not throw their support behind Romney?

[onenote]

10. Because some establishment repubs worry that Romney won't be acceptable to the Tea Partiers

And they think that Perry or even Chistie might be. But that's a far cry from them being "anti-Romney"

[Cosmocat]

17. He is clearly the default candidate ...

as others have alluded to, most business republican types are OK with him.

The ones know who don't like him don't like that he has transitioned to the far right as opposed to starting there.

I think the other issue is, he has a bit of a "geek" factor to him, like Al Gore and John Kerry, and these types are a little more into the man's man kind of leader than someone a bit stiff like him.

They will go with him with the field as is because there is no other candidate with business gravitas, but they would prefer Perry or Christie because as governors they get to run the "executive experience" card AND these guys will tighten up the support within the party/

IMO, it is a two horse race between Mittens and Perry.

Perry will siphon off 90% of Bachmann's support and some of the other fringe people and some of Mittens and be near tied to Mittens within a month of announcing. He will bring the party together and as governor they will make him legit in the "liberal media." They gussied up Bush Jr., and Perry is not as incompetent, but is a lot more fringier. That is the only thing that could keep him from getting past Romney. The "liberal media" will wash his history like Jr.s, but Perry is a lot more liable to say something that is a problem than Jr. - saying stupid shiit was OK for Jr. he was the guy you would like to have a beer with. But, Perry is more likely to say the kind of really crazy wing nut crap that a bachman might say that Jr. never did.

[Raine1967]

15. For the win! eom.

[Enrique]

8. i see him as their candidate

i've heard rw radio hosts argue with their callers about him. The callers hate him, the hosts are pushing him.

[BlueMTexpat]

12. Who cares? nt

[Armstead]

13. I think some of them realize he is a phony who is not to be trusted

[banned from Kos]

14. They're NOT! That is Willard's 25% support - and he done.

The fundies, aborto-freaks, neocons, teabaggers, and bigots all hate Romney (75% of GOP).

[blm]

16. Establishment GOP loves Romney - they just know he can't win unless they steal even BIGGER this go

round, and they need to save that surefire trick for the next Bush.

[Proles]

18. One of Romney's greatest regrets,

was having done ONE good thing for the people he represented. Kinda sad isn't it?

[AtomicKitten]

19. He's considered a moderate and the barking loon teabaggers aren't having any of it. nt

[and-justice-for-all]

20. Mormonism...nt