FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Mitt Romney: Top Five Ways He is “To the Right” of Rick Santorum

When asked by Fox News’ Neil Cavuto yesterday if he would pick someone “to the right of [him]” to be his running mate and quiet doubts about his ever-changing policy positions, Mitt Romney said that that consideration “would preclude Rick Santorum” because he “is not a person who is an economic conservative to my right.”

These comments were just the latest in a long string of attempts from Romney to appeal to the most conservative elements of the Republican base. From embracing economic policies that would give massive tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires to espousing extreme positions on immigration and women’s health to proudly declaring that he is “severely conservative”, Mitt Romney indeed has moved to the right of Rick Santorum on many of the key issues facing our nation.

ISSUE

CONSERVATIVE RICK

MORE CONSERVATIVE MITT

Title X Funding

While Santorum supported funding for family planning…

Santorum Voted For Title X Funding For Family Planning. “The debate audience boos Rick Santorum after Mitt Romney points out that he voted for Title X. Rick Santorum says he has a moral objection to it, however that he still voted for it. Title X is a federal grant program ‘completely devoted to providing comprehensive family planning and other related preventive health services to individuals.’” [Real Clear Politics, 2/22/12]

Mitt Romney would eliminate it.

Romney Proposed To Eliminate Title X “The Only Federal Program Devoted To Family Planning.” “One part of Mitt Romney’s new fiscal plan that’s gotten less notice is his proposal to eliminate Title X, the only federal program devoted to family planning. This wades into an issue that has challenged congressional Republicans — and one that none of Romney’s competitors have touched.” [Washington Post,11/4/11]

National Right-to-Work Law

While Santorum opposed anti-worker “right-to-work” legislation…

Romney Campaign Attacked Santorum For Opposing National Right-To-Work Legislation.“Mitt Romney is taking an antiunion stance in Michigan, attacking Rick Santorum for his ‘unapologetic defense of big labor’ as part of a new attempt to paint his rival as beholden to a powerful Democratic ally. Romney is seizing on votes Santorum took in the Senate against national right-to-work legislation and in support of the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires government contractors to pay the prevailing wage. Both votes reflected the positions of organized labor.” [Boston Globe,2/17/12]

Politifact: Santorum Voted To Stop A National Right-To-Work Bill In 1996.“On July 10, 1996, the Senate took a ‘cloture’ vote to move toward consideration of the National Right to Work Act of 1995…The cloture vote for the National Right to Work Act of 1995 garnered only 31 yes votes, compared to 68 no votes, meaning that the bill remained blocked. One of those no votes was Santorum’s. So it’s fair to say that Santorum in 1996 helped stop a national right-to-work bill in its tracks.” [Politifact,2/28/12]

Mitt Romney has endorsed it.

2012: Romney Said “My Own View Is That Right To Work Is The Right Way To Go, And I’d Like To See It At The National Level As Well.”[Detroit Free Press Editorial Board Meeting, 2/16/12]

Immigration

While Rick Santorum has adopted extreme and hard-right immigration policies…

Fox News Latino: “Santorum’s Immigration Policy Falls In Line With The General, Hard-Line Stance Held By Most Of The GOP Hopefuls On The Issue.”[Fox News Latino, 1/12/12]

Mitt Romney is the most extreme of the GOP field on immigration.

Romney Is Furthest To The Right Of The Republican Field On Immigration.“But Perry’s first major stumble in the primary race occurred when Romney attacked him from the right on the question of immigration: A generic ‘ideology score’ can’t capture the fact that, for millions of voters (especially Hispanics) who see immigration as a make-or-break issue, it is Romney, not Perry, who is furthest to the right.” [Bloomberg,11/14/11]

· Kansas Secretary Of State Kris Kobach: “All Of The Other Candidates Stand To The Left Of Romney On Immigration.”“‘All of the other candidates stand to the left of Romney on immigration,’ Kobach said. ‘This is an issue that people with weak backbones sometimes have trouble taking a position on, and Mitt Romney has shown some real backbone on this issue.’” [The Hill,1/13/12]

Housing

While Rick Santorum would offer relief to families facing foreclosure…

Santorum Pledged To Help Families Who Are “Underwater” On Their Mortgages.“I’ll submit a plan to Congress to phase out within several years Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s federal housing role, reform and make transparent the Federal Reserve, and allow families whose homes are “underwater” to deduct losses from the sale of their home in order to better get a fresh start in difficult economic times.” [Rick Santorum for President, accessed3/12/12]

Mitt Romney believes that the housing market should “hit bottom”

Romney: “Don’t Try To Stop The Foreclosure Process. Let It Run Its Course And Hit The Bottom.” Romney: “As to what to do for the housing industry specifically and are their things that you can do to encourage housing. One is, don’t try to stop the foreclosure process. Let it run its course and hit the bottom. Allow investors to buy homes, put renters in them, fix the homes up and let it turn around and come back up. The Obama administration has slow walked the foreclosure process [inaudible] that has long existed and as a result we still have a foreclosure overhang.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal,10/17/11]

Justice Sotomayor

While Rick Santorum voted to confirm Sonia Sotomayor for Circuit Court…

Romney Campaign Criticized Santorum For Voting For “Sonia Sotomayor’s Circuit Court Nomination.”Romney spokesman Ryan Williams: “Congressman-turned-Senator Santorum spent a long time in Washington, where he cast votes that defy explanation. For example, Senator Santorum voted against creating the e-Verify system, but voted for Sonia Sotomayor’s circuit court nomination. If Congress is part of the problem, Senator Santorum isn’t part of the solution.” [Romney For President,2/20/12]

Santorum Voted To Confirm Judge Sotomayor To The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court. [U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 295, 105th Congress – 2nd Session,10/2/98]

Mitt Romney believed her nomination to the Supreme Court was “troubling”.

Romney Campaign Criticized Santorum For Voting For “Sonia Sotomayor’s Circuit Court Nomination.”Romney spokesman Ryan Williams: “Congressman-turned-Senator Santorum spent a long time in Washington, where he cast votes that defy explanation. For example, Senator Santorum voted against creating the e-Verify system, but voted for Sonia Sotomayor’s circuit court nomination.” [Romney For President, 2/20/12]

Romney Called Sotomayor Nomination To Supreme Court “Troubling.” In a statement, Mitt Romney said, “The nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court is troubling. Her public statements make it clear she has an expansive view of the role of the judiciary. Historically, the Court is where judges interpret the Constitution and apply the law. It should never be the place ‘where policy is made,’ as Judge Sotomayor has said. Like any nominee, she deserves a fair and thorough hearing. What the American public deserves is a judge who will put the law above her own personal political philosophy.” [Ben Smith’s blog, Politico,5/26/09]