Romney Accuses McCain of 'Dirty Tricks'

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — Republican Mitt Romney accused John McCain of using dirty tricks by suggesting the former Massachusetts governor wanted a deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, in a spirited debate Wednesday night that underscored the intensity of their presidential rivalry.

Coming 24 hours after McCain defeated him in Florida, Romney vented his frustrations over the Arizona senator's claims from last weekend.

"I have never, ever supported a specific timetable" for withdrawing troops, Romney said. McCain's accusation on the eve of Tuesday's primary, he said, "sort of falls into the dirty tricks that I think Ronald Reagan would have found reprehensible."

The debate was held in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., six days before more than 20 states hold primaries or caucuses that could determine who succeeds President Bush as the party's standard-bearer.

McCain stuck to his guns, saying, "of course he said he wanted a timetable" for a withdrawal. McCain had made the allegation in Florida as he tried to shift the debate from the ailing economy, a stronger issue for Romney, a former venture capitalist and businessman.

Last April, Romney said U.S. and Iraqi leaders "have to have a series of timetables and milestones that they speak about" in private.

In Wednesday's debate, Romney said he was not calling for a specific withdrawal date. "It's simply wrong, and the senator knows it," he said. "I will not pull our troops out until we have brought success in Iraq."

For 90 minutes, Romney and McCain sharply challenged each other's conservative credentials and ability to lead the country. But they generally remained civil, and each called the other "a fine man."

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Romney tried to portray McCain, who performs well among political independents, as out of the conservative mainstream as the contest moves toward a cluster of states where only registered Republicans can vote. He said the Arizona senator twice voted against President Bush's tax cuts and pushed campaign finance reforms that restricted fundraising and spending. The Republican establishment embraced the tax cuts and opposed the new campaign law, which many saw as helpful to Democrats.

"Those views are outside the view of mainstream Republican thought," Romney said. He made similar arguments in Florida, but lost to McCain by 5 percentage points.

McCain disputed the claims. "I'm proud of my conservative record," he said.

In a counterpunch, he said Romney left Massachusetts with high taxes and a large debt. "His job creation was the third worst in the country," McCain said, a claim Romney rejected.

The debate allowed McCain and Romney to focus on one another after Florida voters left no doubt that they are the party's two viable contenders. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani left the race earlier Wednesday and endorsed McCain.

During the debate, The Associated Press reported that California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would endorse McCain on Thursday. Schwarzenegger was in the audience, as was Nancy Reagan, widow of the former president.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas also participated in the debate televised by CNN, but largely watched as the two front-runners, who were seated next to each other, trade barbs. Huckabee protested, "this isn't a two-man race."

"If you want to talk conservative credentials, let me get in on that," said Huckabee, who has won no contest since the Jan. 3 Iowa caucus.

Paul reiterated his criticisms of the Iraq war and U.S. monetary policies.

McCain tried to deflect questions on illegal immigration, a sore point with many Republicans who resented his push for a Senate bill, ultimately unsuccessful, that would have granted a path to legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants now in the country.

Asked if he would vote for his bill now, McCain replied, "it won't" come to a vote "because people want the borders secured first." He said he supports new efforts to prevent illegal crossings.

California is one of several states voting on Tuesday that has a large immigrant population.

Romney said McCain opposed Bush's first-term tax cuts because they were tilted largely toward the rich. But Romney defended the cuts, saying, "I believe in getting rates down. I think that builds our economy."

McCain said he opposes tax cuts that are not coupled with spending restraints. Republicans lost congressional seats in 2006 less because of the Iraq war than because of out-of-control spending that alienated conservatives, McCain said.

Comments

[Kanard]

You know, nobody can force you to be free, it is your choice, you can allow them to boil you alive as they turn the heat on slowly, making you feel warm and comfortable, making you feel safe, and then, you are trapped and you are dead...and YOU chose it.

Ron Paul tried to tell you, and you laughed at his face, he patiently showed you how history repeats itself, and you called him a kook, he offered you freedom, and reminded you of the constitution and you mocked it calling it an "old paper", he begged to bring back the forgotten heroes who were sent away from home to fight someone else’s war, and now you are defenseless in the eyes of the enemy who is angry for invading their country without an army to defend you.

You’ll have troubled souls and wounded families, and thousands of handicapped heroes who will be swept away by those who have no need of them any longer.
Your children will be drafted and gone to fight against countries far away, you’ll think of them as heroes, they will feel stripped of dignity and honor forced to kill those who they KNOW are innocent. And you will continue to slobber in front of your TV watching the news believing everything they say, until the day you'll stumble by mistake and you will be tased to death.

[Kanard]

Think about it, RON PAUL has the best deal on ALL issues, and whatever it is that you could possibly not agree in his views, he is saying won't have much effect because he will allow the states to rule on those issues.
His strength as USA leader would be in a great foreign policy, a much better economy by letting you boost it with more money in your pocket, and respect of your human rights and the rights that the constitution grants you.

Who doesn't want to be free, prosperous and safe? WHO DOESN'T? There is nobody who doesn't want to be that.
But there are people who don’t want YOU to be, they want to have all the control, for THEM at the top to have that prosperity and immunity, and your hard earned money.

The media is controlled by them, the elections are being manipulated by them, this blog is promoting it further, and YOU are being left in ignorance of what is really happening.

[Kanard]

Ron Paul won the debate.

Huckabee struggled making his voice be heard in a way that he excluded Ron Paul, "This is not a two man race, there is a man on the end of the table here..."
McCain and Romney stole the attention the same way Obama and Hillary did at the Democratic debate to distance themselves from the other two, it is obvious this was staged, the issues where not relevant or important enough to hurt either one of them, but they stole enough time and attention.

Debates are a joke, they are run like children at the breakfast table trying to win their parents attention and favors by quarreling and hugging the conversation.
If they gave the SAME questions to all, the SAME amount to talk, the SAME UNBIASED Media attention to all the candidates, we would have a better race, we would truly choose the best man for the job, and that would be RON PAUL.

[Kanard]

All that bikering was irrelevant...
Who won the Republican debate tonight Jan 30, 2008?

According to the news and blogs, anyone other than Ron Paul of course.
Some claim Huckabee won, because they want to pump his hopes up and they want Romney OUT; yes the way to do this is keeping Huckabee in the race, that way they compete for the same voters.

They(rich people on the way top)want the worst possible candidate to win the Republican nomination so Clinton can have an easy ride.
They knew Giuliani was weak so they pushed him further, but it didn't really work, he was too weak.
Of the ones left McCain will be the easiest of them all to be beat, Huckabee has some charisma, Romney has the looks and money...but this way they'll cancel each other out; it is a big game of chess, already decided.

Until you wake up.

The thing is Ron Paul's message always resonates, he is a contrast, he is the right among wrong.

Unfortunately the president has been decided already and they want a republican nominee that will be easy to beat by Hillary ...or Obama(same o same o).

If they were to nominate Ron Paul the democrats would lose the presidency for sure.

Ron Paul KNOWS about everything that needs to change, he has the BEST plan of all, so it doesn't matter how much time he's got in the debate, or how funny or not his lines where, he has the best character, he is the most honest and his message is the best therefore he is always THE champion.

[aurelio23]

Bleak 2008 ELECTION YEAR
For an entire year we have been exposed to something similar to physical torture. Everywhere you turned during each and every one of the 365 days of the year 2007 you ran into the faces of 20 candidates for the presidency of the republic, endless TV and Radio commentary, article upon article with pros, cons and did you know?, sensational revelations about the type of toothpaste used by the candidates, videos, U-Tube, U-Save, U-Know, U-Bother Me, and an endless and shapeless diet of nonsense, inanity and so what!
But now, in 2008 we will only have four candidates and toward the end only two. How are we going to substitute the relentless media attacks that have become an organic craving by now?
We could make the election year of 2008 not only interesting but also lively to an extreme. I would start by taking Ralph Nader seriously and letting him get a spot in the line-up. Then I would get Pat Buchanan who can enlighten us with his own versions of our history. We will need Ross Perot to introduce a touch of Western sophistication and promote future wars. Then we must have Al Gore to replace the sleeping pills we take throughout the day. To demonstrate our total absence of racial prejudice we also invite an Asian like Mister Wu, my private nuclear physicist, the Al Sharpton-Reverend Jackson duet, the Mind of Mencia and, of course, Steven Colbert.
How about Bill Clinton? you might ask.
Save him for 2012!

[marksiet]

McCain has become for all intents and purposes the Republican party's PROPHET OF DOOM. Remember this in the coming days. This is what his message will be for America and the world. He smiles when he talks about this DOOM as if only he can prevent it. The truth is only he can bring about this DOOM. Poor Mitt Romney. He just never had a clue. He tries to echo what people want to hear but strangely he lacks charisma and political stamina. Up against the old pro McCain Romney never stood a chance. McCain has no problems lying or talking straight telling you about how messed up things are and how they will keep getting worse. He is planning for this. What else would you expect from America's Prophet of Doom.

[paixa3]

WTF and What a joke. Ronald Reagan would have found some dirty tricks rehensible?

Holy Sweet Geebus, Ronnie the Ray Gun was an absolutely slime ball who made sure the US Hostages in Iran would NOT be released before he took the white house.

WTF???????­??????????­??????????­?????????

[KarenZipdrive]

Those two must have wasted an hour bickering over what Mitts said about Iraqi war withdrawl timetables and what he meant.
Who gives a fuck?
After last night, I'm convinced that neither of them has America's interests at heart.
I wish they would have just compared their man parts and awarded the prize to the "bigger man." Then we could vote for the candidate with the biggest breasts and be done with it.

[denver]

That was the funniest debate I have ever seen.I have to tell you after seeing that I am very comfortable with Hillary or Barack going up against any of these goons,Mcain thought April was a year and and the most unpleasant grin on his face.Romney can on take so much before he spins out of control and runs out of one liners.Huckabee whinned the whole night the he was being ignored...Hello Huck your not going to be the nominee go home dude!!!And Ron Paul was great when he could talk about the injusticew of the continuing war....Loved it best comedy on tv last night

[Independent voter]

I watched part of the debate last night and left with the impression that McCain was an evil, lying little prick. Some of his charges against Romney are just in stark contrast to the facts.

More disturbing to me is the fact that McCain is clueless about the state of the US finacial crisis, the impact of the global economy and the path forward.

It is going to be incredibly hard to vote for this nasty, hate filled little toad if Hillary is the Democratic nominee. But it's McCain or stay home.

[FirstBlowupDollLaura]

"I have never, ever supported a specific timetable" for withdrawing troops, Romney said.

Thanks for clarifying that. In case I'd been considering voting for you, ever.

[Seafarer61]

There was a fleeting moment sometime this week that I actually thought I could cast a vote for McCain, if Hillary was not my party nominee in November. However, after last night's debate performance, I'd rather eat pre-chewed peanut brittle than waste my vote on that angry hothead.
As much as I think Obama 2016 sounds better than Obama 2008, if he gets the nomination, he's my guy. When McCain was confronted with the truth about his horrible distortion of Romney's remarks about timelines, his defense reminded me of Eddie Murphy's skit years back suggesting that when your wife finds you in bed with another woman, you just simply brush it off by repeating ad naseum "wasn't me."
Even AFTER Romney explained he was NOT for timelines, McCain continued to think for him. This is what we can expect from the angry senator in January. When 70% of Americans want out of Iraq, McCain will continue the Bush "head in the sand" approach to governance by saying "no they don't."

[ProfessorDuh]

Republicans love preemptive strikes, and Romney is engaging in one. He intends to use every dirty trick in the book against McCain, so naturally he wants to accuse McCain of using them first. With any luck, they'll destroy each other's reputations.

[davy]

How predictable.

[factotem]

Romney accused McCain of dirty tricks... then he recalled "Oh that's right, we're Republicans. That's all we know."