Mitt Romney's Many Homes Bounced Him Off Veep Short List In 2008

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Mitt Romney's Many Homes Bounced Him Off Veep Short List In 2008

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/16/mitt-romney-homes-vice-president-short-list-2008_n_1354734.html



News that Mitt Romney wants to vastly expand one of his six homes -- an expensive sea-view spot in La Jolla, Calif. -- reminded Republican veterans of a key but unreported moment in the 2008 presidential campaign, a moment with resonance this year, too.

Four years ago, Romney was on the short list of possible vice presidential running mates for the winner of the GOP nomination, Arizona Sen. John McCain. But during the very week they were considering whom to pick, McCain created a headache for his campaign by blithely asserting in a press interview that he didn't know how many homes he and his wife owned. It turned out that the correct number was eight.

When Romney's name then came up in the McCain campaign's private veep discussion -- other pre-Palin short-listers included Charlie Crist and Tim Pawlenty -- McCain speechwriter and mavericky alter ego Mark Salter strenuously objected to Romney, according to a fellow campaign staffer, who spoke to The Huffington Post on condition that he not be identified by name.

"Mark pointed out that we couldn't go to the country with a Republican ticket that owned 14 houses between the two of them," the source said. "That knocked Romney off the list right there."

[drm604]

1. I don't understand people like this.

If I was that wealthy, I'd probably want to lie on a beach or go sailing or something. Maybe I'd do some volunteer work or start a foundation or something.

But take on the responsibilities and headaches of the Presidency? Why? I understand that it's about power, but still... why?

[dynasaw]

2. Power Hungry

There are all kinds of greed: Greed for money, greed for power,greed for fame, etc., etc.

For the like of Romney, enough is never enough.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. Power, ego, a sense of "entitlement," crafting a "legacy"

What has Tweety spent MOST of the last YEAR doing?

Pimping his book on JFK.

JFK's been dead for almost five decades, and God only knows how many JFK books entered themarketplace since his Presidency, but Tweety's big accomplishment in 2011 was one more book on JFK.

People like Romney sit back and take notice of this. "I want them to write books about ME."

That's basically it...I don't think Romney gives a rat's ass about being of service or "making a difference." He wants to sit in a room full of fellow suits and look at blueprints for the Mitt Romney PResidential Library.

[drm604]

6. Exactly.

This is one of the reasons we don't want someone like him as President.

[LiberalFighter]

10. What I don't understand is the need for so many houses (not homes)

How does one justify that many houses and not spend enough time living in them?

It is in my opinion poor judgement on his part spending money on houses that are not used enough.

There is a difference with owning a 2nd home that maybe is used during a different season and possibly a cabin for getaway or recreation.

[NNN0LHI]

3. Truth is McCain and every other GOP candidate hated Romney

That is why Romney didn't get the nod.

Someone is trying to rewrite history here.

Don

[Amerigo Vespucci]

5. I hear ya.

Let's call the house thing "a convenient excuse to dump his ass."

But I agree...the "root cause" is the same "root cause" for Romney not breaking 30% in 2012. People don't like Mitt Romney. Especially Republicans.

[Aerows]

7. It's going to be interesting to see how he does today in Missouri

They have their primary voting today. If Romney loses again, I think it's going to make people sit up and take notice.

Romney will most likely be the nominee, but I have the feeling the convention is going to be brokered, which will force him to spend even more money bashing the other Republicans and the other Republicans to take shots at him.

[onehandle]

8. This man will never be President. nt

[bullwinkle428]

9. Wait...doesn't McCain have a shit load of houses as well?

Oh, that's right...they're all in Cindy's name.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

11. Is this guy some kind of gypsy nomad?

Does he actually move around the country from house to house? If so, why? Why does someone need so many?

Or is he a house flipper who speculated and invested in houses during the housing bubble and he's now sitting on some and renting them out because he can't recover his investment with the downturn in home values?

And why haven't we seen his fricken TAX RETURNS for the last ten years as other candidates have produced instead of just last year's return. What's this duplicitous asshole hiding? Why aren't his opponents screaming for that information instead of giving him a pass