Campaign 2010

Oct 06, 2010

Which Mitt Romney Is In Vegas Tonight - And For Which Joe Heck?

Tonight, Mitt Romney is headlining a fundraiser for Senator Joe Heck – which is perfect considering both have engaged in extreme hypocrisy and legendary flip-flops. So the question is, which Mitt Romney is in Vegas tonight and which version of Joe Heck will he support?

Mitt Romney attacked health insurance reform even though it is based on the very Massachusetts model he championed as governor.  He talked tough on cracking down on illegal immigration, but was caught employing illegal immigrant labor.  And although he pledged support for a woman’s right to choose while running for governor, he switched it up during his presidential campaign.

Senator Heck used to be considered “reasonable” and “moderate” – but as he “adopt[s] the rhetoric of all these crazies” it’s clear there’s a different Joe Heck on the ballot this year. It’s obvious Heck can do either, so which is Mitt Romney more comfortable with?

Heck recently alleged, “I’ve never said that I support privatizing social security.”  But tonight it might be the Joe Heck who said in May that he does support privatization.

Will tonight’s event feature the Joe Heck that balked at signing the Americans for Tax Reform pledge, or the one that bellied right up to the table and signed on the dotted line?

Even on health insurance reform – will the Senator Heck who wants to repeal what he calls “this horrible bill” show up, or will it be the one who “supports some parts of health reform?”

“Mitt Romney is a perfect match for Senator Joe Heck given that both of them are perfectly comfortable with the art of the flip-flop,” said Andy Stone, Western Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  “In fact, tonight will make for some interesting theater as Heck decides whether to be the Social Security privatizer and health reform repealer in order to match Romney.”

Background

  • Senator Joe Heck told the Rebel Yell, “I’ve never said that I support privatizing Social Security.” [Rebel Yell, 9/23/10]
  • Heck conducted an interview with Nevada News and Views in which he responded to a question about how to reform Social Security by saying, “I believe that any individual should have the right to voluntarily take their portion of Social Security withholding and invest it as they deem appropriate.” [Nevada News and Views, 5/4/10]
  • On Nevada public affairs show ‘Face to Face,’ Joe Heck said, “Well, Jon, I don’t think you’ve ever heard me say let’s repeal the whole bill…” [Face to Face, 3/22/10]
  • Joe Heck pledged on his web site on March 20, “You have my word that when I'm in Congress I will do everything possible to repeal this horrible bill…” [www.Heck4Nevada.com, accessed 3/20/10]
  • After initially refusing to sign the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge because “voters elect politicians to make the right decision based on the circumstances,” Heck signed the ATR pledge with Rep. Pete Sessions as his witness. [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 3/17/09; Heck’s Facebook Page, 11/03/09]

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