Romney takes heat for attack ads, clarifies word ‘felon’ during live debate
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 1:57PM By Jonathan McFadden
mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com
When Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney rallies at campus on Wednesday, he will be rest assured that a cluster of Winthrop’s College Republicans will be on hand to offer an assist.
College Republicans President Timothy Kroboth reports that six students have agreed to volunteer at the event.
After Monday night’s Fox News debate, Romney may enjoy speaking in less-adversarial company.
Romney will come to campus at 3:30 and speak to students and York County residents two days after girding his reputation during a heated debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The trip to Rock Hill comes three days before the Palmetto State’s decisive first-in-the-South primary, perhaps best known for being the critical juncture for many presidential hopefuls.
Political analysts and reporters have noted that Romney’s four contenders have focused their campaigns on attacking the Mormon candidate, whose policies while governor of Massachusetts were more moderate than staunchly conservative.
During the heated debate, Romney found himself answering for attack ads constructed by his own super PAC (Political Action Committee) against Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, and Rick Santorum, former senator of Pennsylvania.
PACs are private groups that organize in an effort to advance the cause or result of a certain political issue, legislation or candidate. Super PACs formed in 2010 as groups that are able to raise unlimited sums of money from other groups, corporations, unions and individuals.
One Super PAC ad suggests that Santorum voted on a measure allowing felons to vote from prison.
So, Santorum bit back, asking Romney if he considered citizens who served their time and exhausted their parole and probation should be given the right to vote.
Romney’s answer was that the super PAC should steer away from presenting any inaccurate information in their commercials.
Santorum, though, was relentless and goaded Romney into eventually answering that he doesn’t believe those who were once incarcerated should have the right to vote once completing their sentences.
Santorum came back claiming that while Romney was governor of Massachusetts, state law said that “violent” felons could vote after completing their sentences while parolees and individuals on probation could also vote.
Romney answered that during his tenure as governor, he had to contend with a Democrat-dominated legislature that geared many of the decisions.
Romney came back and told Snatorum that he had no involvement with the PAC and began to decry the financial system that puts “these super PACs in power,” even if they say things the candidates themselves don’t agree to or with.
After the debate, Romney spoke with Fox News talk show host Sean Hannity and defended the use of the word “felon.”
Those convicted of a crime, he said, are still felons.
“Someone who’s been in jail is a felon,” Romney said.
Also speaking with Hannity post debate, Santorum called Romney out on a lack of integrity because of the governor’s refusal to admit connection or responsibility with his super PAC.
In Santorum’s view, Romney’s response should be one of action.
Doing nothing is “not what presidents do. If you find something that is wrong [in an ad]…you should take it off the air,” Santorum said. “He [Romney] doesn’t want to do that.”
Romney also found himself defending quips from Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who criticized Romney for failing to release his income tax returns. He also made mention of Bain Capital LLC, a venture capital firm Romney co-founded, which “swept” into Georgetown, S.C. and helped destroy the town’s steel mill industry, along with many jobs.
Doors at Wednesday’s event will open at about 3 p.m., Kroboth posited. In the event of an overview, live feed of the event will be available in Dina’s Place in the DiGiorgio Campus Center.
Students interested in volunteering at the Romney rally should contact Timothy Kroboth, president of College Republicans, at krobotht2@winthrop.edu.
Be sure to check out mytjnow.com/gopprimary2012 on Wednesday night for coverage of the event. Also, if you can’t make the event, check the website for live tweets and on-the-spot updates from news editor Jonathan McFadden.
