Mitt Romney.(REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE)(Biography)

"When sperm and egg unite, something goes from inanimate to animate. It is life."--M. Romney.

There can be no doubt about former Governor Mitt Romney's current stance on issues considered "family values"--chiefly abortion and homosexual rights. He's against both. But he admits to having previously been a supporter of both. During a 1994 Senate race against Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), he promoted "safe" abortion while relating the plight of "a dear, close family relative" who died as a result of an illegal abortion. "You will not see me wavering on this issue," he stated. Also in 1994, he wrote a letter seeking the endorsement of the pro-homosexual Log Cabin Republican group based on "the values and vision of government we share." He also agreed that homosexuals should not be excluded as Boy Scout leaders.

His reversals of these once strongly held positions have appeared sincere enough to gain endorsements from Bob Jones III of Bob Jones University, National Right to Life Committee leader John Wilkie, prominent evangelical leader Mark DeMoss, and veteran conservative activist Paul Weyrich. "I believe he has flip-flopped in our direction," said Weyrich, who expects the GOP nomination to be won either by Romney or Giuliani, "and I don't want Giuliani."

A look at Romney's performance in the economic arena shows that he compiled a mixed record as Massachusetts' governor, a somewhat remarkable achievement because he always had to deal with the overwhelmingly liberal Democrat-controlled state legislature that wanted to spend more money. He wants energy independence and questions the claims of many who blame global warming on "human activity." Insisting that he is the more conservative of all the major GOP contenders, he went so far as to claim that he alone spoke for "the Republican wing of the Republican Party." He didn't mention his protestation during the 1994 debate with Ted Kennedy that he didn't want to return to the Reagan years.

Regarding the United Nations, Romney finds fault only with its recent performance, suggesting the world body is "a failure of late" that ought to be replaced by "a coalition of the free nations of the world." Asked if the president needs authorization to go to war, he ignored the Constitution, which assigns to Congress the power to declare war, and advocated letting "the lawyers sort [it] out."

It has long been a fact that the road to the ...