GOP Presidential Race – For the Bottom

Bill Sammon reports on some of the thoughts from Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney opening with a sentiment that I tend to agree with:

Eager to position himself as the most conservative GOP presidential hopeful, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney accused Sen. John McCain Monday of being “disingenuous” on gay marriage … Romney was less charitable to McCain, who on Sunday told ABC News: “I believe that the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the states.” McCain also said, “I believe that gay marriage should not be legal.” Romney seized on the remarks. “That’s his position, and in my opinion, it’s disingenuous,” he said. “Look, if somebody says they’re in favor of gay marriage, I respect that view. If someone says – like I do – that I oppose same–sex marriage, I respect that view. But those who try and pretend to have it both ways, I find it to be disingenuous.”

Why does anyone think John McCain deserves to be referred to as the “straight talk express” given that he has been disingenuous about a lot of things? Whether McCain is a conservative, moderate, or even a liberal is not the point. We have suffered through incredible dishonesty from the White House for the past six years and will likely see even more for the rest of Bush’s term. We don’t need another dishonest President so if Romney wants to be honest with the voters – great. But then we get this:

In an interview with The Examiner, Romney described himself as more conservative than Republican rivals McCain, R-Ariz., and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on a variety of issues. “We’re in a different place on immigration; we’re in a different place on campaign reform; we’re in a different place on same–sex marriage; we’re in a different place on the president’s policy on interrogation of detainees,” Romney said.

If I were a conservative, I would be insulted to be associated with disdain for people from other nations and disdain for gays and lesbians. But it does seem that a prerequisite for the GOP nomination is to show a sufficient level of hate for one’s fellow man. Oh well – at least the Grand Old Party still has all those free lunches of spending more as they pretend to “give you your money back” with all those tax cuts.