Mitt Romney

==Political positions==
{{Further|Political positions of Mitt Romney}}
[[File:P112912PS-0444 - President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in the Oval Office - crop.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Romney meeting with [[Barack Obama|President Obama]] after the [[2012 United States presidential election|2012 presidential election]].|alt=Romney and Obama shaking hands]]

In addition to calling for cuts in federal government spending to help reduce the national debt, Romney proposed measures intended to limit the growth of entitlement programs, such as introducing [[means test]]ing and gradually raising the eligibility ages for receipt of [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] and [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]].<ref name="detroitecon">{{cite news|last=Jennings|first=Natalie|title=Mitt Romney speaks to Detroit Economic Club|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/mitt-romney-speaks-to-the-detroit-economic-club-live-video/2012/02/24/gIQAX5vxXR_blog.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=February 24, 2012}}</ref> He supported substantial increases in military spending and promised to invest more heavily in military weapons programs while increasing the number of active-duty military personnel.<ref name="cnndefenspend">{{cite news|last=Riley|first=Charles|title=Defense spending to spike $2.1 trillion under Romney|url=https://money.cnn.com/2012/05/10/news/economy/romney-defense-spending/ |work=[[CNN]]|date=May 10, 2012}}</ref><ref name="milspend">{{cite web|title=Romney to Legion: I will not cut defense|url=https://www.legion.org/news/211310/romney-legion-i-will-not-cut-defense |work=[[American Legion]] |date=July 19, 2012 |access-date=February 6, 2020 }}</ref> He was very supportive of the directions taken by [[The Path to Prosperity|the budget proposals of Paul Ryan]], though he later proposed his own budget plan.<ref>{{cite news|last=Burns|first=Alexander|title=Romney endorses Ryan budget|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/03/romney-endorses-ryan-budget-118079 |newspaper=[[Politico]] |date=March 20, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Landler|first=Mark|title=Budget author, a Romney ally, turns into campaign focus|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/us/politics/ryan-architect-of-gop-budget-in-election-focus.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405183234/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/us/politics/ryan-architect-of-gop-budget-in-election-focus.html |archive-date=April 5, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 4, 2012}}</ref>

Romney pledged to lead an effort to repeal the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] ("Obamacare") and replace it with a system that gives states more control over [[Medicaid]] and makes health insurance premiums tax-advantaged for individuals in the same way they are for businesses.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2012-mar-23-la-pn-romney-healthcare-anniversary-20120323-story.html |title=Romney vows to repeal and replace 'Obamacare' on law's anniversary|first=Alana |last=Semuels |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 23, 2012}}</ref> He favored repeal of the [[Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act]] and the [[Sarbanes–Oxley Act]] and intended to replace them with what he called a "streamlined, modern regulatory framework".<ref>{{cite news|last=Riley|first=Charles|title=JPMorgan and the politics of financial reform|url=https://money.cnn.com/2012/05/11/news/economy/politics-jpmorgan-regulation/ |publisher=[[CNN]]|date=May 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lerer|first=Lisa|title=Romney calls for caution on regulations after JPMorgan loss|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-16/romney-says-regulators-must-be-cautious-after-jp-morgan-loss.html|publisher=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|date=May 17, 2012}}</ref>

He also promised to seek income tax law changes that he said would help to lower federal deficits and would stimulate economic growth. These included reducing individual income tax rates across the board by 20%, maintaining the [[Bush tax cuts|Bush administration-era tax rate]] of 15% on investment income from [[dividend]]s and [[capital gain]]s (and eliminating this tax entirely for those with annual incomes less than $200,000), cutting the top tax rate on corporations from 35% to 25%, and eliminating the [[Estate tax in the United States|estate tax]] and the [[Alternative Minimum Tax]].<ref name="romneytaxplan">{{cite news|last=Romney|first=Mitt|title=Mitt Romney delivers remarks in Detroit, Michigan|url=http://www.mittromney.com/blogs/mitts-view/2012/02/mitt-romney-delivers-remarks-detroit-michigan|access-date=August 10, 2012|publisher=MittRomney.com|date=February 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224235218/http://mittromney.com/blogs/mitts-view/2012/02/mitt-romney-delivers-remarks-detroit-michigan|archive-date=February 24, 2012}}</ref><ref name="cnnmtaxcut">{{cite news|last=Riley|first=Charles|title=Mitt Romney's plan to cut your taxes |url=https://money.cnn.com/2012/02/22/news/economy/romney_taxes/index.htm |publisher=[[CNN]]|date=February 22, 2012}}</ref> He promised that the loss of government revenue from these tax cuts would be offset by closing loopholes and placing limits on tax deductions and credits available to taxpayers with the highest incomes,<ref name="cnnmtaxcut" /> but said that that aspect of the plan could not yet be evaluated because details would have to be worked out with Congress.<ref>{{cite news|last=Easley|first=Jonathan|title=Romney says his tax plan 'can't be scored' because it lacks details|url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/108001-romney-says-his-tax-plan-cant-be-scored-because-it-lacks-details/ |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=March 7, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309213220/http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/801-economy/214647-romney-says-his-tax-plan-cant-be-scored-because-it-lacks-details|archive-date=March 9, 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Mitt Romney and Amy Coney Barrett.jpg|thumb|250px|Romney said he would support President [[Donald Trump]]'s [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] nominee [[Amy Coney Barrett]]]]
Romney opposed the use of [[emissions trading|mandatory limits]] on [[greenhouse gas emissions]] to deal with global warming.<ref name="cbs-shifting" /> He stated that he believed climate change is occurring, but that he did not know how much of it could be linked to human activity.<ref name="cbs-shifting" /> He was a proponent of increased domestic oil drilling, [[hydraulic fracturing]] ("fracking"), building more nuclear power plants, and reducing the regulatory authority of the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]].<ref name="romenergy">{{cite news|last1=Mufson|first1=Steven|last2=Eilperin|first2=Juliet|title=Romney energy plan shows candidate's changing views, draws questions on job claims|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/romney-energy-plan-shows-changing-views-draws-questions-about-job-claims/2012/06/08/gJQAnPANOV_story_2.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 8, 2012}}</ref><ref name="njfrack">{{cite news|last=Huisenga|first=Sarah|title=Romney goes after Obama on fracking|url-status=dead|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/romney-goes-after-obama-on-fracking-20120405|newspaper=National Journal|date=April 5, 2012|access-date=August 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730094816/http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/romney-goes-after-obama-on-fracking-20120405|archive-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref> He believed [[North American energy independence]] could be achieved by 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/123382-romneys-campaign-seeks-energy-jolt-ahead-of-tampa-gop-convention/ |title=Romney's campaign seeks energy jolt ahead of Tampa GOP convention|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=August 25, 2012|first=Ben|last=Geman}}</ref>

Romney called Russia America's "number one geopolitical foe",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/mitt-romney-says-russia-no-1-geopolitical-foe-214249733--abc-news.html|title=Mitt Romney Says Russia Is No. 1 Geopolitical Foe|first=Emily|last=Friedman|work=[[ABC News]]|date=March 26, 2012}}</ref> a position many ridiculed him for,<ref name="mediaite.com"/> including former secretary of state [[Madeleine Albright]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://talkingpointsmemo.com/election2012/madeleine-albright-dismisses-romney-s-foreign-policy-speech-as-light-on-ideas|title=Madeleine Albright Dismisses Romney's Foreign Policy Speech As Light On Ideas|date=October 8, 2012|website=Talking Points Memo|first=Evan|last=McMorris-Santoro}}</ref> who later publicly apologized to him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/mitt-romney-russia-putin-madeleine-albright-1344831|title=Madeleine Albright apologizes to Mitt Romney for underestimating Putin: "We forget we're dealing with a KGB agent"|date=February 26, 2019|website=[[Newsweek]]|first=Cristina|last=Maza}}</ref> He has asserted that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear capability should be America's "highest national security priority".<ref>{{cite news|first=Joshua |last=Mitnik|title=Romney's Israel speech: Iran will be 'highest national security priority'|newspaper=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|date=July 29, 2012}}</ref> Romney stated his strong support for Israel.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ayhan |last=Simsek |url=https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-watching-us-elections-closely/a-16341914 |title=Turkey watching US elections closely|publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]]|date=October 30, 2012}}</ref> He planned to formally label China a [[currency manipulator]] and take associated counteractions unless China changed its trade practices.<ref name="ontheissues.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.ontheissues.org/Mitt_Romney.htm |title=Mitt Romney on the Issues |publisher=Ontheissues.org |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> Romney supported the [[Patriot Act]],<ref name="Patrio">{{cite news|last=Lorentzen|first=Amy|title=Romney backs interrogation, Patriot Act|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2007-07-20-3000222386_x.htm|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=July 20, 2007}}</ref> the continued operation of the [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]], and use of [[enhanced interrogation techniques]] against suspected terrorists.<ref name="Patrio" /> He described same-sex marriage as a "state issue" while running for Senate in 1994 and opposed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politifact.com/article/2007/oct/05/romneys-nuances-gay-issues/ |first1=Miranda |last1=Blue |first2=Ryan |last2=Kelly |title=Romney's nuances on gay issues |work=[[PolitiFact]]|access-date=May 22, 2018 |date=October 5, 2007 }}</ref> Romney opposed [[same-sex marriage]] and [[civil union]]s, but favored domestic partnership legislation that gives certain legal rights to same-sex couples, such as hospital visitation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Barbaro|first=Michael|title=Romney reaffirms opposition to marriage, or civil unions, for gay couples|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/us/politics/romney-reaffirms-opposition-to-marriage-or-similar-for-gay-couples.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510010928/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/us/politics/romney-reaffirms-opposition-to-marriage-or-similar-for-gay-couples.html |archive-date=May 10, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 9, 2012}}</ref> In 2011, he signed a pledge promising to seek passage of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.<ref>{{cite news|last=Montopoli|first=Brian|title=Mitt Romney pledges opposition to gay marriage|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitt-romney-pledges-opposition-to-gay-marriage/ |url-status=live |work=[[CBS News]] |date=August 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923122857/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20088274-503544.html |archive-date=September 23, 2011}}</ref> In 2022, Romney reversed his previous position on federal marriage, and was one of 12 Republicans voting to advance legislation to [[Respect for Marriage Act|codify same-sex marriage]] into federal law.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Trish |title=Historic same-sex marriage bill advances in Senate |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-poised-pass-historic-sex-interracial-marriage-bill/story?id=93293889 |access-date=November 18, 2022 |website=[[ABC News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=LeVine |first=Marianne |title=Same-sex marriage protections clear critical Senate hurdle |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/16/same-sex-marriage-bill-senate-gop-support-00067104 |access-date=November 18, 2022 |website=[[Politico]]|date=November 16, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv-Yafo, October 2023 (GPOHZ0 1847).jpg|thumb|250px|Romney and [[Chuck Schumer]] with Israeli President [[Isaac Herzog]] in Tel Aviv during the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war|Israel–Hamas war]] on October 15, 2023]]
Since 2005, Romney has described himself as "pro-life".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2007/09/romney_and_abortion.html |title=The Fact Checker: Romney and Abortion|date=September 21, 2007|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Glenn |last=Kessler}}</ref> That year, he wrote: "I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/07/26/why_i_vetoed_contraception_bill/ |title=Why I vetoed contraception bill|date=July 26, 2005|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|first=Mitt |last=Romney}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Romney's cited exceptions regarding abortion are in line with those of the LDS Church,<ref name="nyt-bishop" /> which allows it in cases of rape, incest, when the mother's health is seriously threatened, or when the fetus cannot survive past birth.<ref name="vf-excerpt" /> When Romney was a bishop in the 1980s, there was a case where a woman in his congregation with four children was advised by her doctor to terminate her pregnancy because she had a potentially life-threatening blood clot. Romney strongly advised her not to, but she did anyway.<ref name="vf-excerpt" /><ref name="nyt-bishop" />|name="nb-abor"|group="nb"}}{{#tag:ref|Romney also amended his position on [[embryonic stem cell research]]: having once supported it broadly, he changed to being against [[therapeutic cloning]] of embryos for scientific research, insisting that "surplus embryos" from fertility treatments should be used instead.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/03/06/the_problem_with_the_stem_cell_bill/|title=The problem with the stem cell bill|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=March 6, 2005|first=Mitt |last=Romney |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318032053/http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/03/06/the_problem_with_the_stem_cell_bill/|archive-date=March 18, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2007/02/11/romneys_stem_cell_view_may_upset_the_right/|title=Romney's stem cell view may upset the right|author=Helman, Scott|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=February 11, 2007}}</ref>|name="nb-stem"|group="nb"}} During his 1994 Senate campaign, Romney had said, "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country", a stance he reiterated during his 2002 campaign for governor.<ref name="cbs-a-views"/><ref name="ft">{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/79246dac-1284-11e2-b9fd-00144feabdc0 |url-status=live |title=Romney says abortion law not on his agenda |newspaper=[[Financial Times]] |first=Stephanie |last=Kirchgaessner|date=October 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012035527/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/79246dac-1284-11e2-b9fd-00144feabdc0.html|archive-date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> While Romney would prefer to see passage of a constitutional amendment that would outlaw abortion, he did not believe the public would support such an amendment;<ref>{{cite news|last=Rowland|first=Darrel|title=Romney wants states to repeal abortion|url=http://dispatchpolitics.dispatch.com/content/blogs/the-daily-briefing/2012/10/12-october-2012---abortion.html|newspaper=[[The Columbus Dispatch]]|date=October 11, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121142711/http://dispatchpolitics.dispatch.com/content/blogs/the-daily-briefing/2012/10/12-october-2012---abortion.html|archive-date=January 21, 2013}}</ref> as an alternative, he promised to nominate Supreme Court justices who would help overturn ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'', allowing each state to decide on the legality of abortion.<ref name="judges">{{cite news|last=Parker|first=Ashley|title=Romney tries to reassure socially conservative audience|url=https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/08/romney-tries-to-reassure-socially-conservative-audience/ |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 8, 2011}}</ref> His earlier [[Abortion-rights movements|pro-abortion rights]] stance in particular and support for some gay rights and gun restrictions as governor of Massachusetts earned him the criticism of some conservatives; the conservative magazine ''[[Human Events]]'' labeled him one of the top ten [[Republican In Name Only|RINOs]] in 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://humanevents.com/2005/12/27/top-10-rinos-republicans-in-name-only/ |title=Top 10 RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) |work=Human Events|access-date=May 29, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529203052/http://humanevents.com/2005/12/27/top-10-rinos-republicans-in-name-only/|archive-date=May 29, 2018|url-status=live }}</ref>

Romney said he would appoint federal judges in the mold of [[U.S. Supreme Court]] justices [[John Roberts]], [[Clarence Thomas]], [[Antonin Scalia]], and [[Samuel Alito]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Camia |first=Catalina |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2012/10/01/obama-romney-supreme-court-vacancy/1606025/ |title=Who would Romney appoint to Supreme Court? |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=October 1, 2012}}</ref><ref name="huck-video">{{cite video |url=https://video.foxnews.com/v/1308577783001 |title=Romney Weighs in on Top Campaign Issues |publisher=[[Fox News]] |date=December 4, 2011 |time=7:34}}</ref> He advocated [[judicial restraint]] and [[strict constructionism]] as judicial philosophies.<ref name="huck-video" /><ref>{{cite news |last=O'Neill |first=Tyler |url=http://nation.foxnews.com/pro-life/2012/07/03/obamacare-ruling-energizes-pro-life-movement |title=Obamacare Ruling Energizes Pro-Life Movement |publisher=[[Fox News]] |date=July 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123113118/http://nation.foxnews.com/pro-life/2012/07/03/obamacare-ruling-energizes-pro-life-movement%23ixzz28qLoUlIe |archive-date=January 23, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Romney declared his support for the [[Black Lives Matter]] international human rights movement by attending the rally,<ref name="BoorsteinNatanson">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/06/07/romney-protest-black-lives-matter/|title=Mitt Romney, marching with evangelicals, becomes first GOP senator to join George Floyd protests in D.C.|first1=Michelle|last1=Boorstein|first2=Hannah|last2=Natanson|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> and then joining the ''Faith Works''<ref name="christianitytoday">{{Cite web|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/june/mitt-romney-dc-march-thabiti-anyabwile-christians.html|title=Mitt Romney Joins Evangelical Racial Justice March in DC|first=Jack|last=Jenkins|website=Religion News Service|date=June 7, 2020 |via=christianity today}}</ref> march, on June 7, 2020,<ref name="andrewsolender">{{cite news|first=Andrew |last=Solender |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/06/07/mitt-romney-says-black-lives-matter-at-protest-against-police-violence/#32d791d409e8 |title=Mitt Romney Says 'Black Lives Matter' At Protest Against Police Violence|work=[[Forbes]]|date=June 7, 2020}}</ref> from southeast Washington,<ref name="christianitytoday"/> past the [[Old Post Office (Washington, D.C.)#Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C.|Trump International Hotel]],<ref name="BoorsteinNatanson"/> and [[Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool]],<ref name="BoorsteinNatanson"/> over the [[murder of George Floyd]].<ref name="andrewsolender"/><ref name="BoorsteinNatanson"/><ref name="christianitytoday"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/06/07/mitt-romney-marches-black/|title=Mitt Romney marches in Black Lives Matter protest in Washington |first1=Josh |date=June 7, 2020 |last1=Newman|website=Salt Lake Tribune}}</ref>

In July 2020, Romney, along with [[Pat Toomey]], was one of two Republican U.S. Senators who condemned Trump's decision to commute the sentence of [[Roger Stone]], which Romney described as “Unprecedented, historic corruption: an American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president.”<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/11/republicans-denounce-roger-stone-commutation-357259|title=Historic corruption': 2 Republican senators denounce Trump's commutation of Stone|first=Andrew|last= Desiderio|publisher=[[Politico]]|date=July 11, 2020|access-date=July 12, 2020}}</ref>