Romney Meets With Mass. Republicans

By WBUR News & Wire Services
Jan 28, 2011, 3:38 PM
3 Comments

BOSTON — Former Gov. Mitt Romney shared lunch Friday with the Massachusetts House Republican delegation as he sought to build hometown support — and tamp down potential backyard opposition — while he progresses toward a possible second White House campaign.

The expected 2012 White House contender maintained there was no political agenda to Friday’s meeting.

“I’m just here for lunch and to talk to some friends and see what’s going on,” Romney said. “I love this delegation and to catch up. I care very deeply about this team, and they’re doing great work.”

Yet some attendees said Romney spoke of national themes, saying the country needed a new direction after two years of Democratic leadership under President Obama.

He also distinguished the Massachusetts health care law he signed as governor from the national one enacted last year by Obama. Romney said states — not the federal government — should be free to design their own plans for covering the uninsured.

Republicans hold just four seats in the 40-member state Senate. But the party gained 16 seats in the 160-member state House, pushing them over 30 members for the first time since 1996.

Some were backed by tea party activists, with whom Romney has maintained an arm’s-length distance.

Please follow our community rules when engaging in comment discussion on wbur.org.

Eparker

Every report on Mitt Romney and Massachusetts should refer to how he publicly trashed the state he governed. His behavior should never be accepted or forgiven.
Guest

RomneyCare should be the first word out of the mouths of each of Romney’s opponents. For Romney to justify his socialist medical scheme on the the grounds of “state’s rights” is laughable. Does Romney also think that states should be free to set their own drug policies?

Romney is no 10th Amendment fighter. He is a spineless snake, a plastic man. You’re damn right that he avoids the tea parties – he knows that they can recognize a fake conservative when they see one. Give it up, Mitt – your ship has sailed. No neocons need apply in 2012!
Anonymous

Every meeting should have a title.This shall be known as the Meeting of the Arrogant and Stupid.If we had snowfall here like Romney’s chances of being President,we’d only be seeing snow in a Christmas movie.Romney,your dreams of being President are going to crash an burn…Like the Hindenburg.I hope you burn thru you kids(and grand kids) trust funds just to see your egotistical wish (our nightmares) of higher office blow out like a candle in a hurricane.