The political nature and moral ambiguity of Mitt Romney

When Mitt Romney was the governor of Massachusetts, he pursued decidedly moderate policies. As the Republican governor of a liberal state, it was politically essential for him to be pragmatic and open-minded.

At one time, Romney was in favor of abortion rights and universal health care.

As governor, Romney requested a waiver from the federal government regarding welfare requirements.

The waiver would allow the state to tweak federal welfare standards to fit its own population’s welfare needs, thus streamlining the federal bureaucracy within the welfare system.

This request of a welfare waiver might seem apolitical and non-controversial, and that’s because it is.

There isn’t anything wrong with giving the states more control of welfare requirements. Most governors and state legislators are more familiar with the needs of the less fortunate in their own state than federal bureaucrats and politicians.

However, last week, Romney accused President Barack Obama of taking the “work out of welfare.” Romney claimed that Obama removed work requirements for welfare recipients and that now people can sit at home and receive welfare checks without contributing to society through work.

Romney’s accusations refer to Obama’s continuation of a certain federal policy allowing states to request waivers for flexibility in welfare requirement. Sound familiar?

Romney reproached Obama for continuing a waiver program that Romney himself participated in as governor of Massachusetts, just as he has slammed Obama for Obamacare. Frankly, Obamacare could be referred to as “Obamneycare” because it is so similar to Romney’s universal health care plan in Massachusetts.

I have a serious question for Romney: Why are you choosing to ignore your past job as a public servant while running for the most high-profile public servant job in the country?

It’s not like your policies and decisions as governor were unpopular — they were actually quite successful and well-liked by your constituents. You have shifted to both sides of several critical issues, and it would be nice to know where you truly stand on them.

Abortion rights. Universal health care. Welfare waivers for states. Do you have a personal opinion regarding these issues?

Is your public policy entirely based on the wants and needs of your particular constituents of the day, or does your gut moral compass shape anything you do?

What do you truly believe in?

Who are you, Romney?

­— sydhoffe@indiana.edu