Mitt Romney

Pros:

Although Romney's positions on most issues tend to be somewhat moderate, I have yet to identify any issue on which he is more libertarian than the Republican mainstream. If you know of one, please let me know.

Cons:

Abortion and Birth Control:
• Opposes Roe v. Wade.
• Believes that abortion should be banned in all cases except rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.
• Vetoed an emergency contraception bill in July 2005.
  However:
  • Has kept campaign promise not to tamper with state abortion laws.
  • Said in 1994: "I had a dear, close family relative that was very close to me who passed away from an illegal abortion ... [W]e will not force our beliefs on others on [abortion]. And you will not see me wavering on that." Romney has in fact wavered on that, but probably more out of political expediency than anything else.
Death Penalty:
• Made a quixotic attempt to reinstate the Massachusetts death penalty in 2005.
Gay Rights:
• Has used strong anti-gay rhetoric in recent years in an apparent effort to distance himself from his state's position in favor of gay marriage.
• Supports the Federal Marriage Amendment.
• Opposes civil unions.
• Has made statements in opposition to gay adoptions.
• Fired an openly gay member of the state appellate tax board, then refused to explain why.
Gun Rights:
• Signed a permanent ban on "assault weapons" in 2004.
• Has a C- rating from the NRA, which is almost unheard of for a Republican.
Immigrants' Rights:
• In 2004, vetoed a bill that would have allowed undocumented immigrants to attend Massachusetts public universities at in-state tuition rates.
• Recently proposed deputizing state troopers to arrest suspected undocumented immigrants, despite the fact that state troopers are not trained in immigration law.
Rights of the Homeless:
• Drastically cut state-run alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs for the homeless.
War on Terror:
• In September 2005, he suggested that the FBI wiretap mosques and spy on new Muslim immigrants.

Tom's Take:

There are candidates less libertarian than Romney, but none more cynical. If Romney ends up in the White House, our best bet is to hope that he lacks the conviction to actually follow through with any of his proposals--a hope that, given his many recent shifts in policy, is probably realistic.