Tuesday, February 13th, 2007...7:45 am
Mitt Romney Should Pick Better Heroes
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A bit of controversy this morning as Mitt Romney kicked off his presidential campaign at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Some Jewish groups and writers don’t like the symbolism of Romney announcing at a place dedicated to a person that some call “America’s greatest anti-semite.”
Come on fellas, calm down. This isn’t like Ronald Reagan announcing his campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Romney is just hoping to secure J. D. Hayworth’s endorsement.
6 Comments
February 13th, 2007 at 8:12 am
This is going to be a fascinating primary season for the Republicans. With Mitt Romney, Rudy, and McCain all trying to appeal to conservatives and with Brownback there to remind conservatives of who they REALLY are. I predict that Rudy will be using his tough on crime and economic development record from New York to appeal to conservatives and Romney will just simply look like a fake with little to nothing real about his conservatism. McCain, with name rec. and enough sucking up to conservatives, COULD overcome a Rudy, but it will be tough if the traditional business conservatives come home to roost.
But then…then…there is Brownback. Very pro-life, very conservative. I don’t suspect that he can raise enough money to win, but he can remind Republican voters of where the others stand.
This is a strange strange lot.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:28 am
I don’t think that it is that big a sin/crime/outrage as many want it to be. Yes, Henry Ford had some very f-ed up beliefs, but I think that the point that Rommney wants to make is that the US needs to get back to it’s innovation and industrial leadership. It is interesting that he is chosing to announce it in a place associated with an industry that has NOT been a true leader in innovation in their industry. Face it, America’s automovie industry has been anything but innovative in alt fuels, fuel conservation, etc.
I also think that it is interesting that he did NOT announce his candidacy in his own home state.
I think that folks will be soo burned out on all of the candidates by next January that some upstart, Republican and/or Democrat, will come to the forefront and become their party’s nominee.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:37 am
In fairness to Mr. Romney, there are many things to admire about Mr. Ford, as others have pointed out. The real problem with Hayworth is that he expressed admiration for Henry Ford’s racist views.
Maybe someone should point out to Tedski that his hero William Jennings Bryan, while admirably progressive on so many issues, was also a segregationist.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Who let THAT guy in?
February 13th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
As well as anti-evolutionist, but he was an amazing orator and should be viewed as a whole rather then just a few parts.
February 13th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
I suspect that 1) he wants to remind voters in Michigan that his father was a reasonably popular governor of the state and that he grew up there (he is trying, after all, to win enough states to garner the nomination– and carrying Massachusetts and Utah won’t be enough); and 2) given the recent news story that Ford is losing the equivalent of a new Mustang every minute is hinting that he is the guy who can turn around the manufacturing sector.
I am a Mormon who was raised Jewish. I don’t support Mitt Romney (or any other Republican currently running) for the Presidency (though I’ve recently developed a soft spot for Chuck Hagel since he became the ‘anti-war Republican’). Romney obviously can appeal to some liberals (or he would never have been elected dogcatcher in Massachusetts) but his recent focus on ’see how conservative I can be’ is convincing me he’d keep going down the George W. Bush road to ruin.
That said, I don’t think he ever mentioned or lauded Henry Ford, so I don’t see this venue as anti-Semitic.
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