Mitt Romney
An Inside Look at the Man and His Politics
by R.B. Scott


(Click for Amazon book review)

BOOK REVIEW by OnTheIssues.org:

This is the first biography of Mitt Romney written by a Mormon. It's not explicitly about Mormonism at all -- but the author is a Mormon who knew Romney well through church ties, and who evidently did not like Romney very much. Hence it is an unauthorized biography, which to readers means it is more honest than one which must pass muster with the Romney campaign.

The author Ronald B. Scott, is a staff writer for Time Magazine, and a founding editor of People Magazine. He is also a distant cousin to Mitt Romney, noting "It is a classic Mormon arrangement--we share the same great-great-grandfather but different great-great-grandmothers." (p. 246). The author presents a lot of background from Romney's past--they met when both were teenagers--but no big new revelations about Mormonism nor about any family secrets.

Instead, this is a solid background book about Romney's family and personal life, and a solid analysis and review of his issue stances. Those issue stances have evolved over time from his 1993 Senate campaign through his 2002 gubernatorial campaign through his 2008 presidential campaign--as every pundit has expounded upon. This book provides numerous new insights into the evolution of Romney's stances, often focusing on how the Mormon church viewed the issue and how Romney reconciled his views with the church's views.

-- Jesse Gordon, jesse@OnTheIssues.org, April 2012

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     2004: Stem cell research ok, if privately funded.     1993: Personally opposed, but let women decide themselves.     1993: Morning-after pill could make abortions obsolete.     Contraception is a personal choice; but advocate abstinence.

Budget & Economy     2003: $500M budget cuts, including aid to cities.     Stimulus package declares war on free enterprise.     Obama's policies made economy & stock market worse.     America needs less spending and more jobs.

Civil Rights     1994: Supported ENDA to ban anti-gay employer discrimination.     Support gay rights but opposes gay marriage.     1993: Denied ever calling homosexuality "perverse".     2003: Worked with cities to prepare for gay marriages.

Corporations     1994 labor strike: no insurance for part-time employees.     Adopt reasonable compensation incentives for CEOs.     Everything corporations earn also goes to people.

Energy & Oil     Humans contribute to world getting warmer.     Reduce dependence on oil, not just on foreign oil.

Environment     Opposed Cape Cod rail extension, but listened to all sides.     OpEd: Scapegoated head of Mass Turnpike for Big Dig disaster.

Free Trade     If America fails to protect against China, we'll be eclipsed.

Government Reform     2004: Disallowed from appointing Kerry's Senate successor.

Gun Control     2002: I will not chip away at MA's tough gun laws.

Health Care     Over 98% of MA residents now have healthcare.     2008: Individual mandate ok; free ride is not.     2010: Consider single-fee structures, at state level.     My plan right for MA but wrong for rest of country.

Homeland Security     Donates to groups that support the military.     Post-9/11: monitor and wiretap mosques.

Immigration     I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people.     Current system is concrete wall against best & brightest.

Principles & Values     OpEd: Never accepts "no"; but doesn't read people well.     Wife Ann's father was mayor of Bloomfield Hills MI.     1994: Kennedy attacked Mormonism; bishops defended Romney.     OpEd: 1994 race gave Kennedy the scare of his political life.     OpEd: SLOC's real need was fundraising and media relations.     Paid college students 10% of dollars fundraised for him.     2010: Obama passes citizenship test; no more Birthers.

Tax Reform     1996: flat tax is unfair to the middle class.     2002: refused to sign gimmicky "no new taxes" pledge.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Mitt Romney

The above quotations are from Mitt Romney
An Inside Look at the Man and His Politics
by R.B. Scott.

Biographies by and about Paul Ryan: The Path To Prosperity: the Ryan Budget of 2012 Do Not Ask What Good We Do, by Robert Draper Young Guns, joint biography of Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan, and Kevin McCarthy Biographies by and about Mitt Romney: Mitt Romney vs. Barack Obama On the Issues, by Jesse Gordon, Jan. 2012 The Real Romney, by Kranish & Helman, Jan. 17, 2012 The Mormon Faith of Mitt Romney, by Andrew Jackson, Dec. 25, 2011 Mitt Romney vs. Rick Perry On the Issues, by Jesse Gordon, Dec. 2011 Mitt Romney: An Inside Look, by Ronald B. Scott, Nov. 22, 2012 No Apology, by Gov. Mitt Romney, Mar 2, 2010 A Mormon in the White House? 10 Things Every American Should Know about Mitt Romney, by Hugh Hewitt Mitt Romney: The Man, His Values and His Vision, by Lisa Ray Turner and Kimberly Field Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games, by Gov. Mitt Romney 2007 Presidential Primary debates

All material copyright 1999-2022 by Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org Reprinting by permission only. E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org Send donations or submit quotations to: OnTheIssues.org 1770 Massachusetts Ave. #630 Cambridge, MA 02140 OnTheIssues.org Home Page Most recent quotations Archive of books & debates Candidate Matching Quiz

Page last edited: Feb 22, 2019