Deseret News | Josh Romney mulling politics

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Josh Romney mulling politics

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Some of your are real ignorant. | 10:08 a.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Back in the day, where there was not a choice and young men were drafted, my brother was drafted. He is a very sensitive and non-combative person, lucky for him he didn't go to Nam, he was stationed in Germany and that caused him to have a nervous breakdown. They had him living off the base and gave him an assignment as a cook assistant, that was the only way he could survive where he was without killing himself. We do not force every 19 year old boy in the LDS church to serve a mission and like the LDS church, our country right now does not force every man to enlist. It is a personal and private matter about who chooses to enlist, it is none of any of your business, so give it a rest. It is your business who you choose to serve as your political leaders, there you can take the pros and cons of each person, even the things that have nothing to do with the job and vote. I do not agree with trying to force a young man to serve his church or his country, so let them all choose for themselves.

Spanky | 10:12 a.m. Feb. 25, 2008

RE: Some of you are real ignorant

Mitt and his sons came out in favor of the war in Iraq. If you're in favor of a war, then you better be willing to fight it instead of having "the little people" fight it for you. In other words, if you support war and violence, then being non-combative isn't an excuse for being a war promoter, while being unwilling to serve. That's what people refer to as a chickenhawk. And, if young Josh wants to be in the political limelight and run for office, then it is VERY MUCH every voters business.

Uh Spanky | 10:24 a.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Unlike you, I served in the military for 20 yrs. I'm now 'retired' and raising my family. I support the war on terror. I also support children who are adults, make their own decision if they should serve in the miltiary or not.

Obama never served.

Hillary never served.

Huckabee never served.

Mitt never served.

Don't see why it's a big deal. If my sons want to serve,and they are adults making big boy decisions about their lives, then I will support them. These men and women who serve are NOT Childen, but adults, who think for them selves, and sign the paper and raise their little hands all on their own. At least respect their ADULT decisions.

Comments continue below

Ryan Arnell | 10:31 a.m. Feb. 25, 2008

He graduated from BYU and earned an MBA from Harvard-not an easy accomplishment! Josh is a great guy and has my full support.

Romney08 | 10:39 a.m. Feb. 25, 2008

I am so excited I forwarded this story to all my ward members! St. George has been waiting for someone strong to run against Matheson, and Josh appears to be our man!!! He went to Harvard and is now a successful real estate executive, not to mention he has been around politics his entire life, and after helping run his fathers campaign probably knows more about the our country's issues than Matheson hands down.

As soon as you officially file Josh you can expect a check from me and my husband!

Matsonrun | 10:41 a.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Oh god, not another one.

Wealth or the lack thereof | 10:37 a.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Anybody looked at the founding fathers lately? Hmm, plantation owners, gentleman farmers, wealthy businessmen... yes, some of them worked hard for what they have - many started out with inheritences. They expended that wealth establishing our freedom, but also in the education and study that created our Constitution and the institutions that supported it. Wealth isn't the enemy people, it's the means required for many great enterprises. How many of your children would have college loans, if you had the means to pay for their education? I keep reading people call Romney's kids "trust babies" - hmm, they don't ACT like trust babies. They all have educations and careers and stable families. They are all clean cut, hard working, scandal free. What evidence do any of you have that Daddy did anything other than normal support for college and missions?

Ken Baguley | 10:48 a.m. Feb. 25, 2008

I'm not a quitter...I'm still holding out for Mitt as VP or even President depending on McCain's outcome. McCain is not complete without a guy like Mitt who can handle what McCain cannot.

Raymond Takashi Swenson | 10:54 a.m. Feb. 25, 2008

The discrepancy between the number of critical comments posted and the votes in support of Mitt Romney in the recent primary reflects that this is not a representative sample of voters.

We have had an all-volunteer military for 35 years since Congress decided to make military service an attractive career rather than a form of minimum-wage involuntary servitude. If you had to prove your bona fides as a patriot by military service, why even allow non-veterans to vote or run for office?

Does someone who supports an effective police force have to be a police officer? Does someone who wants effective medical care have to go to medical school? Does someone who wants good schools have to get a teaching certificate? Do you have to graduate from law school before you criticize the courts? Should you live overseas before expressing views on foreign policy?

The answer is no. Your right to run for office is part of your heritage as an American citizen.

I am a Lt. Colonel, an attorney and prosecutor, a college instructor, and worked in Japan. I'm more qualified than most of you on many topics but I don't try to shut you up on that basis.

mukeiken | 11:28 a.m. Feb. 25, 2008

I would suggest that Josh Romney first run for school board, city council, or some other entry-level position so he can learn about working with people at a local level on real problems. Then he can look at the possibility of the state legislature and, after that, representing hundreds of thousands of Utahns in Washington.

Driving a Winnebago in another state is not preparation to represent Utah, anymore than being married to an office holder prepares someone to parachute into a state in which one has never lived, in order to run for the Senate. Campaigning for a relative has little to do with the actual work a legislator does. Do some real community work in your own community first.

Anonymous | 11:58 a.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Another person running on the family name. Seems to be the trend these days. Mitt Romney to some extent ran on his father's name, particularly in Michigan, the only significant state he won. Of course then there's the Bush family, the Clinton family, the Kennedy family, the Huntsman family, the Matheson family, etc., etc.

Mick Stockinger | 12:04 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Mitt just spent 40 million dollars to go from an unknown to a household name. He also won a record 90% of the Republican primary vote. If Josh has a fraction of the business sense of his Dad, he won't leave money on the table.

The reality of modern politics is that this is the kind of capital you need to get elected. Would Jim Matheson have been elected if dad Scott hadn't been the governor? Sen. Bennett also exploited his family's name recognition as have dozens and dozens of politicians in both parties.

For the whiners complaining about it--this is America--go get rich and famous and then run yourself, otherwise button it.

Anonymous | 12:12 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Why canï¿½t a privileged son of a wealthy, well-connected politician join the military? Iï¿½m tired of these hypocritical Republican hate mongers that waste our tax dollars on needless oil wars in the Middle East.

UT | 12:07 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

It is a sad state of affairs when we have to get all our worms from just one can.

Jun | 12:22 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

I'm quite tired of the Deseret news running any story with the name Romney in it.

Chris Laurence | 12:40 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Josh Romney would be crazy not to run. He has the campaign issues, the slogans, the money, the connections, and a population that went 94% for his dad in the Republican primaries. Matheson is winning by cross-over votes -- Republicans voting for him. Josh could squash Matheson. Try running without money and connections, it won't get you far. The chickenhawk argument won't fly in Utah. If we are to succeed in the war on terror, it will take civilian support here at home. Learning on the campaign trail is extremely valuable as well. He will not have a better opportunity that this one now. He can achieve what has eluded both his father and grandfather: federal elective office. Opportunities this good don't often return. Seize the day, Josh! ;)

Wondering | 12:52 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

I wish Josh would tell us what Mitt Romney's principles are, and why he thinks they're so different than McCain's. His dad didn't do a good job of explaining them. I'm sure Romney has principles, however he ran as a conservative, but promised a multi-billion dollar bailout for Michigan, farm subsidies for Iowa, he ran to McCain's left on prescritption drugs in Florida, and his health care plan is a proposal for individual mandates that it basically what Hillary Clinton is proposing.

Does Josh like the National Review Mitt Romney, or the Massachusetts "I Don't Want to Go Back to Bush-Reagan" Mitt Romney. Something in between? I honestly don't know. Some people act as though they know Romney's principles with certainty, and I honestly don't see how they know this. Maybe they know that he's a Mormon Republican and that's good enough.

"we elect people who are good at campaigning vs. those who are good at leading and governing."

Exactly.

shadow | 12:59 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Did anyone not see this coming?

Only the deceased missed this one.

Will he make it? Yes.

Yes, because of the name. Nothing else matters.

His record? ha ahha haha ahahh ahahhah a real estate development dude. 3 kids. a wife. Oh, did I mention his daddy's name? Again, no military service. so what... look at my name everybody!!

Who could have missed this one coming?

The Shadow Knows.

russ | 1:00 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Josh is talented. He can drive a van. Host a party. Have children. And get into real estate development.

Good enough for me, and the other sheep.

Bahhhhhh!!

WesternGOP | 1:07 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

"If John McCain's campaign continues to falter..."

What? Because of the Times story? Right. I'm sure the LDS bias of this paper, plus the liberal wack jobs in New York would LOVE to see Romney become the nominee IF McCain continues to "falter." There is only one problem...Republican primary voters already spoke. They didn't choose your guy. Its called democracy and it works. This story is a fluff piece and more nothing but more sour grapes from the Romney camp. Get over yourself Mitt and Co.

McCarroll | 1:16 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

*McCain's campaign has been hurt by a report that implied he had an improper relationship with a female lobbyist.*

Hurt? You gotta be kidding. The NYT did McCain a big favor with that piece of tripe. You're letting your liberal flavor show a bit too much in this hit piece.

Mike Maz | 1:22 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

personally I dont see what the big deal is by not voting for someone who has a certain religious belief, so his comment to the person who said he could never vote for a Mormon was off base. I am sure there are plenty of religions people follow that would preclude someone from voting for them. Would all of you vote for a Muslim? A Scientologist? Someone who practices witchcraft?

Im an athiest.. do you think Josh would be able to overlook that religious freedom and vote for me?? Of course not. It was a silly comment showing his naivete.

Religious freedom means that we all have the right to practice or not practice our religion. It does not mean we have to vote for someone if we do not believe in their religion if we dont want to.

DanOregon | 1:18 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

"faltering McCain campaign?" Huh?

Rob | 1:27 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Hopefully some of Romney's sons can sign up for the war that their father and they support - apparently - as long as others actually do the fighting.

Why should he sign up? Simple - it is easy to be a cheerleader while nice and safe - its another to be a supporter and actually be willing to put one's body on the line for the belief.

If a war isn't worth the effort of even one of Romney's sons, the family should really review their priorities regarding the importance of the war in Iraq. After all there are plenty of soldiers in Iraq who have children back here in the states.

Jim | 1:29 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

I wouldn't vote for him. Why should I?

I work just as hard, probably harder than him. I worked my way through college, and now I'm working hard by day, including nights and weekends, and I'm still poor as dirt. I look for jobs and go to work. I pay taxes. I could never be congressman now. I don't have any coat tails to ride like Romney Jr.
What I do know, however, is that if I get laid off, the Romney's think I'm poor because I'm lazy and the government shouldn't help me.

Keep the incumbent in office. We don't need more spoiled rich kids in Washington.

Is Josh Romney un-American? JK. | 1:30 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

According to the article, "Only a few times, he said, did he hear voters say they couldn't support a Mormon candidate for president. "I said, 'That's a very un-American thing to say.' I mean, this is a country that based on religious freedom,"

What kind of person calls someone else un-American for expressing their sincerely held views? It's not the kind of peron who will get my vote. I think Mr. Romney needs to apologize for his comments. I too am Mormon and I don't like it when people express their view that they can't vote for a Mormon but it's their right.

It's as much their right to not vote for a Mormon, as it's to not vote for any person for any reason and it is more un-American to call someone un-American for choosing to exercise their right to vote as they choose than it's un-American not to vote for someone based on your opinions of a person's religion, lack of religion, or their position on moral issues such as same-sex marriage, abortion or the countless other factors that caused many people to vote for Romney.

So Josh Romney needs to get a clue and stop the double-standard!

jer | 1:35 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

What is this envy of Romney's wealth? I'm hardly wealthy (I'll be making a car payment today, 25 days late) but I'm tired of such pettiness. Why is success a bad thing? Or is it just easier to attack a minority group (the wealthy) since they will always be a small number?

able to read | 1:36 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

heres a key line from the story:
"Josh Romney told the Deseret Morning News that after a year of campaigning across country for his father, he's been approached to run as a Republican against 2nd Congressional District Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah."

he was asked to run by an operative who obviously thought he could win. Why don't you ask him what his positions are, maybe you'll like him?

John | 1:45 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Too bad Josh Romney ended his interview with a weak attack on Senator McCain. Perhaps he would have a different opinion of the good Senator if he had ever served in the Nation's defense.

Senator McCain beat your father fair and square. And, if you did some serious research, you would learn that your Father (a very good man also) and Senator McCain share most policies in common.

What happended to good polite Utah conduct. Shame on you Josh. I know that I would not vote for you.

Josh -- Please don't | 1:44 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

We're "Romneyed out" as it is. Enough is enough.

I'd vote | 1:52 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

FOR Josh, if he were running against Hatch, I think it's time for him to go.

Jud | 1:47 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Why do we keep electing these Huntsmans and Mathesons and now Romneys who were all born with silver spoons in their orifices? What qualifies them other than accident of birth? Matheson's done nothing. Huntsman's scorecard is empty -- what has he actually achieved? These are just pretty rich boys married to various Barbies who consider high office their personal sandbox. Can't we find someone who can actually do something?

David | 1:50 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

For the people mad about Iraq, that one is almost wrapped up now. The surge has worked and things are a lot quieter now. Especially as more Iraqis are stepping up and taking roles, now that they know the US has their back they are taking it to the bad guys.

I've heard Democrats say that Romney's Mormonism hurt him but not many Republicans. With Republicans I think what happened was a fractured field on the conservative side. Romney did OK but couldn't catch McCain. I wish him the best, he got my vote in the primary here in New Jersey.

Joe airman | 1:52 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

I was just wondering...How many of you recommending enlistment in the military are veterans? My guess is few or none. So, unless you've been there...shut up..

Norm | 1:54 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Just what the country needs, another political dynasty family. We have the Kennedy's,the Bush's,the Clinton's, the Dodd's, the Bayh's, the Cuomo's and I'm sure many others. What makes any of them uniquely qualified to assume the reins of power other than being their father's sons or husband's mate?

What makes Romney's young son believe that his recent experience supporting his dad's election efforts bestows upon him the wisdom, relevant experience and intellecutal fortitude to do anything other than conduct a political campaign for office? It does not.

One of the reasons that this country is not moving forward on important, substantive issues is that the thinking of our "leaders" in government is a re-hash of all of the old partisan ideas that their fathers' or husband's had before them. Even worse,once elected (God forbid) there is so little time spent by them on activites not related to re-election that the business of intelligent direction and guidance of our nation is severly short-changed. Sometimes, like now, to our evelasting detriment.

It's time for leaders who put the country's best interests first, and not the furtherance of a family political dynasty.

Gordo | 1:56 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

For Romney to complain about voters being "UnAmerican" for voting against a Mormon is absurd. In Utah he will count on people voting against anybody who is NOT mormon. What goes around comes around.....

Utah Dem | 2:02 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Well, if anyone wants to run against Rob Bishop in District 1, I would be happy. I can't as I am a federal employee.

Charlie C | 2:08 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

I guess if Hillary had legs like Obama, she'd wear a dress once in a while.

LD$ | 2:03 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

I'm one of those pockets of bigotry Josh is talking about. After living in Utah for two years, I would never, ever vote for a Mormon or any party. I just don't trust you people.

VOTE McCain | 2:03 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Josh Romney is a father of young children and to ask that he join the army is stupid. This war is justified and we will win with McCain and lose with Obama or Hillary. Mitt Romney will be chosen as VP much in the same way that George H.W. Bush was select to be VP after that nasty primary between him and Reagan. Just like Dole picked Kemp in 1996. They recognized their weakens and picked up a strenght. Romney will be a great VP for the next four years and then after McCain retires (he promised to serve only one term) Romney will make a great President.

JT | 2:08 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

This is one Mormon who knows that Mitt Romney flip-flopped on his positions, doesn't like that fact. . . and yet thinks he is the best of the major candidates who are or were in the race. Rudy Giuliani? John "I'm only winning because Rudy stayed out of my way and Huckabee wouldn't get out of Mitt's way" McCain? Mike Huckabee? Hillary Clinton? Even Barack Obama, who seems like a generally nice guy, is even more liberal than Hillary, so he is out. No, I'm not crazy about Mitt Romney, and have seen other candidates in the past who would get my vote instead if they were able to run. But his experience both in business and as a governor leaves him as my best choice out of a poor field.

RobertMD | 2:08 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

If Obama loses will he say it was because he is black?
If Hillary loses will he say it was because she is a woman?
If McCain loses will he say it is because he is 71?

Romney did not lose because he was a Mormon. He lost because sometimes he was, and sometimes he wasn't, at least when it comes to Mormon moral beliefs.

Each of the above, if they lose, will lose due to their own personal faults, and not their age, race, gender or religion. Just another sign of whining.

Bobbi | 2:12 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

SPANKY: It is envious people like you in our country that really gripe me. So what if Mitt worked and strived to build his own business to the extent of being able to send his children to any school he wanted to! Right now, Michelle Obama is making 400K a year.....do you think her children will be going to the schools of their choice and will probably never have a job? Please give me proof that Josh did not work to earn his way. You sound like a really bitter person! You are probably living off the government!

Bill | 2:14 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Mitt didn't lose because he's a Mormon. He lost because he was too slick, and because his newfound conservatism was found to be inconsistent with positions he occupied as recently as 5 years ago.

Pandering never wins in the long run.

fubar | 2:24 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Why doesn't this coward enlist along with his brothers.

wilbur | 2:21 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

All this talk of serving gives me an idea. I think only those that serve should be allowed to vote. After all they have contributed. I think this will clear out some of the issues dont you?

mj | 2:21 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

I do not understand why everyone gives the Romneys so much grief about the kids not being in the military. That is rediculous to expect his kids to be in the military to qualify for office. If you think it is such a great idea, why dont you join?

Minorkle | 2:22 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

I really liked George Romney back in the day/

tim from Michigan | 2:25 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Don't kid yourself; Huckabee played a role in the anti-Mormon prejudice that surrounded Governor Romney's campaign. The sly "Eddie Haskell like" crack about Jesus and Satin being brothers.

He could have done much to temper the anti-Mormon bias. Sadly; it is my opinion that he encouraged it.

Bill | 2:26 p.m. Feb. 25, 2008

Do Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers?

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2 photos

Mike Terry, Deseret News

Josh Romney, son of Mitt Romney, stands in the kitchen of his Millcreek home with his wife, Jen, and his three children, from left to right, Gracie, Wyatt and Owen, Friday. Josh Romney says he's been approached to run for Congress in the 2nd District.

Gallery (2 photos)