I Don't Think So

Paul Johnson of Power Line, responding to an American Spectator article on Governor Mitt Romney's success courting some evangelicals, suggests "The Mitt Begins to Fit."

Respectfully, I disagree.

I don't find Romney particularly conservative and am baffled by those (including the Evangelicals for Mitt) who describe him as such. As recently as 2002, Romney ran as a pro-choice candidate. Given that, I don't have a great deal of confidence that Romney is solidly pro-life.

Romney's mandatory health insurance plan, which he claims is a "conservative" idea ("insisting that individuals have responsibility for their own health care"), is the essence of big government interference in the free market. Forcing people to buy something reduces personal freedom and leads to higher prices, as the market has less need to compete for guaranteed buyers.

Given these philosophies, particularly his very recent pro-choice position, what kind of judicial appointments could we expect from Romney?

Romney does have some conservative credentials, such as support of traditional marriage, but I don't know if that will be enough to win over skeptics.

George Allen's recent verbal goofiness has dimmed his star for the time being, so the race seems wide open for a truly conservative candidate should one decide to run. But who?