Globe Reporter Leads Lecture on New Book, 'The Real Romney'
Boston Globe reporter Scott Helman spoke to Framingham residents about presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, the subject of his new biography, co-authored by Michael Kranish.
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Dubbing Massachusetts “the liberal foil” for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a Boston Globe investigative reporter led a lecture on the narrative of the former governor’s life last night in Framingham.
Romney has gone through a shocking evolution over the course of his campaigns since 1994, Scott Helman said, adding that the politician’s current political profile in the national election “is remarkably different” from the man who ran for the senate in 1994.
Helman is a co-author of the new biography, “The Real Romney”, and a staff writer for the Boston Globe. He spoke Thursday night to an audience of around 50 people at the Framingham Public Library, answered audience questions, and signed a handful of copies of his book.
Helman spoke of everything from the surprising insight he and his co-author, Michael Kranish, gained from compiling the book, to the predicted defining features of the next steps of Romney’s campaign. He also addressed the markers of Romney’s strategic thinking as a businessman turned politician, and the deep influence of Romney’s religion on his character.
When Romney ran for governor of Massachusetts in 2002, he carried much success in the suburbs of Boston like Framingham, so it will be curious to see what people here think of him now, Helman said. Voters will ask themselves “is this the person I voted for in the state? Is this the same Mitt Romney?” he said.
Helman described healthcare as one of the issues that will define the next stage of Romney’s campaign. As governor, Romney spent months trying to make the individual mandate happen, a success that defined him as a great leader and as a big figure to democrats, Helman said.
Particularly in light of the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold the national individual mandate, it is striking to see a present-day Romney that won’t answer questions regarding an issue he once championed on a state level, Helman said.
Romney is a thinker “who loves wallowing in the data,” Helman said, describing this reliance on data and specific questions as “the Bain way.” As a businessman turned politician, Romney changes himself to whatever he needs to be, Helman said, calling this strategic analysis both “a pragmatic outlook,” and “a calculating approach.”
In the current campaign, Romney is running to be a civil president and not a religious leader, Helman said. The Republican nominee often keeps his religious and cultural background from view to emphasize his image as a politician, Helman said, adding that consequently, voters don’t always feel as though they can connect with him.
In fact, Romney maintains “a big religious commitment,” Helman said. The politician is heavily involved with the affairs of his religious community and his ancestry is deeply entwined in the history of Mormonism itself, Helman said.
Helman and Kranish's book is a Boston Globe project that relies on information compiled by Globe reporters since Romney stepped onto the political scene almost 20 years ago. The Globe “has tremendous institutional knowledge” of Romney, Helman said, adding that his task was to turn his and co-workers’ newspaper work into a narrative of Romney’s life.
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Jim Rizoli
10:01 am on Monday, July 2, 2012
I put Romney and all the other Flash in the pan politicians up to snuff on this
introduction by Lee Iacocco
Politicians are just a reflection of the people that vote them in.
http://ccfiile.com/Social_Awareness.html
Jim@ccfiile.com
Joe Rizoli
3:07 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Romney seems to have a different set of values than most politicians, especially against the laughable Barney Frank.
So as to morals and living a virtuous life, you really can't beat him. BUTTT... Romney is a Mormon and his running for President is a fulfillment of Mormon prophecy called the "White Horse Prophecy". Don't argue this with me it is a fact.
As to Romneys stand for America First that is a joke. He has alingned himself with the AIPAC and other pro Israeli organizations that have an Israeli agenda which is going to be the downfall of America.
In other words his innermost people on foreign policy is the same people we have had for fifty years Democratic or Republican. Being aligned with Israel and its murderous, out of control Policies towards the Palestinians is beyond evil. We would STOP sending money to any other country that has done the evil Israel has. But Israel gets away with this hypocrisy.
So basically Romney if elected will head Amerca into another World War because he has aligned himself with Israel.
Joe Rizoli
Walt Magee
3:31 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
So I get it Joe, you don't like Jews. But Palestinians have killed as many Palestinians as have Isrealis.
Walt Magee
3:37 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
But getting back to Barack "the annointed one", who are you going to vote for in this upcoming election? Mickey Mouse isn't running & Pluto was born in Kenya( Oh, wait a minute that's not a disqualifier anymore) Gene Autry is dead. So who?
Jim Rizoli
3:39 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Walt....This has to do with Israeli policy, and it isn't good for America.
Lets not make this a personal thing.
Hopefully the American Jews see what is happening and have the heart to speak out against what Israel is doing.
There are many Jews that don't agree with what is going on there, and would agree with us on this one.
Of course there are many that won't and that is their choice.
But getting back on track.....most of the politicians are in Israels hand on this one, sad to say. Time to elect a politician who isn't but there isn't one. You won;t get elected if you don't side with Israel. Now that is power wouldn't you say?
3% of the population controls our Govt. So I guess the murders will continue.
Jim@ccfiile.com
Jim Rizoli
3:48 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Ron Paul, if not him no one. And we sink lower in the abyss......
Jim@ccfiile.com
Joe Rizoli
5:19 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Walt, don't put words in my mouth. I never said I didn't like Jews. This is how trouble starts on the Patch.
I ONLY mentioned that an attachment to Israel is going to cause problems for Romney and America. We are living through it through other blowback. We shouldn't be in ANY of these foriegn wars. George Washington was right sorry to say.
As to Your comments about Israel and the tit for that killings...Nonsense. Israel's sins against America entails spying, terrorism, a major link to the 911 murders, a major slave trafficking pipeline, selling peoples organs, AND,
A major supplier in the worlds illegal drugs:
http://buykamagra.blogsome.com/2009/11/23/israelis-prominent-in-selling-counterfeit-or-illegal-drugs-online/
I could go on and on. Romneys siding with this evil will cost America major blowback now and in the future.
Americans need to speak up and stop siding with this country. But he, like All players in this political game, will not be elected unless he bows down to Israel .
Joe Rizoli
Kira Gagarin
12:02 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
You don't have to say that you don't like them. This is common knowledge. I don't know why you try to argue otherwise. Quotes of you calling Jews and whoever else all sorts of names are not hard to find... Just leave that as "fact" and move on. Again, you can have any opinion, just own up to it.
Jim Rizoli
11:43 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Here is a good article to show where it all went wrong.
Lets go back to the beginning.
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2012/05/27/memorial-day-time-to-ask-why/
Hopefully you will read this and really think about what is being said.
Remember I didn't write the article.....
Jim@ccfiile.com
David Nolta
11:05 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
The last post, and above all the article to which it is linked, blatantly violates most of those rules provided as examples by The Patch "Terms of Use". And neither the post nor the link have any clear relationship to the original article. I will add that I had no idea that General Patton was so curvy.
Susan Petroni
12:10 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Jim & Joe: Why do I feel like I have to treat you like 2 5-year-old you can't leave alone for 5 minutes.
Please avoid comments about religious groups or groups of people.
I would have allowed a discussion of Mormons or Obama's religion on this post - but as neither candidate for President is Jewish and the article was not discussing foreign policy - posts on that topic will not be allowed anymore.
As you know I can't watch everyone who posts 24 hours a day 365 days a year, but if you feel a post is inappropriate please flag it.
And if you believe it is in violation or so offensive, feel free to email me.
I am now headed back to writing articles for Tuesday.
Jim Rizoli
12:21 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
So curvy? Good article though.
Getting back to Romney.....No different than anyone else in regards to his far right alliances and that's the point we're trying to make. Those with far right beliefs can be more dangerous than those with far liberal beliefs. In fact the last 100 years or so have shown what happens when those with a far right agenda ( war mongers) and religious fanatics run the show.
In fact I'd rather be under a more liberal rulership than far right, because I can deal with people who have loose morals, the everything you do is good mentality, but those who want to kill ya in the name of religion can be tough to deal with.
Jim@ccfiile.com
Joe Rizoli
12:39 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
My ORIGINAL post here is on topic perfectly. I would also imagine that the Mormon "White Horse Prophecy" is probably something MOST of you people never knew. So deal with my original post. It was on topic, It showed on this topic my concerns that had everything to do with the topic. Also Susan I said NOTHING in my original post that you claim. Go re read the post. Find out WHO did it, it wasn't me. Lastly, what does Kira's post have to do with Romney? Her post is just nonsense and another effort to start trouble.
Joe Rizoli
Jim Rizoli
12:44 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Kira....seems like you are trying to shipwreck this topic.
It has to do with Romney....didn't see anything about him or related to him in your post. You should know better.
Jim@ccfiile.com
Jim Rizoli
11:02 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The Riz man is right again.......
Guess where Romney is going? All candidates make a "pilgrimage" there, if not they won't get in. That's the way it is.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/03/us/politics/romney-plans-trip-to-israel.html
So you think putting a Right ringer is going to solve our problems?
Same issues different face, but same backers.
Dave.....I hope you read the Veterans today article by Gordon Huff.
Pretty much explains where I'm coming from, and why I think the way I do today about the military and our war mongering policies.
Jim@ccfiile.com
Joe Rizoli
11:37 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Apparently a lot of people don't know how to connect the dots here with political candidates and what country they all visit to show obedience to who really runs the show here.
It is almost like a rite of passage as to who controls our politics in America, similar to NASCAR Drivers when they win a race, they're all going to Disneyworld. You people just don't get it, or you're to embarrassed to admit it.
Another big rite of passage is appearing before AIPAC.
Our political pundits have to make a show there too.
Romney sad to say will change nothing if elected. If the candidate strays too far from the "Truman Show" controllers then he or even she, is taken out or is assassinated. JFK was the perfect example as history proves.
Joe Rizoli