DNC Calls on Mitt Romney to Stop Waffling and Tell the American People How He Really Feels About "Cut, Cap, and Balance"

WASHINGTON, July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --In recent weeks, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has once again taken a number of confusing and contradictory positions – this time, on the debt limit negotiations and the House Republicans' "Cut, Cap, and Balance" plan. From refusing to comment on the issue at all, to supporting "Cut, Cap, and Balance," to qualifying his support on the cap, to supporting the House version of the legislation, Romney has been all over the map. With regard to Mitt Romney's contradictory statements, DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse said:

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"The most important question for America's future today is: how do we make sure America's economy works for middle class families while getting our fiscal house in order in a responsible manner? Mitt Romney has proven unable to answer that question – from day to day, he doesn't seem to know where he stands on the issue. As a candidate for president, he should be able to talk clearly about the direction he wants to take our country, and how we address the deficit will have an enormous effect on our nation's course. In typical Mitt Romney fashion, he's stuck his finger in the political winds and hedged his stance no less than six times, now saying he supports the House version of Cut, Cap, and Balance- that is, of course, until he changes his mind again.

"The House Republican Duck, Dodge, and Dismantle plan is irresponsible and reckless. It would gut Social Security and Medicare to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. That Mitt Romney would, for the time being, support the disastrous Cut, Cap, and Balance plan shows once again that he is the worst kind of politician- someone who will run to the politically expedient position and not stand by his principles—whatever they may be."

FIRST, ROMNEY REFUSED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THE DEBT CEILING

Romney "Repeatedly Refused To Answer Multiple Questions From Reporters About Whether The Nation's Debt Ceiling Should Be Raised." "But while Romney pitched his candidacy based on his business background, he repeatedly refused to answer multiple questions from reporters about whether the nation's debt ceiling should be raised." [Los Angeles Times, 6/3/11]

THEN, ROMNEY SIGNED THE CUT, CAP AND BALANCE PLEDGE

Romney Signed The 'Cut, Cap And Balance' Pledge. "Mitt Romney, frontrunner for the Republican 2011 presidential nomination, just signed the newest of the Republican fiscal pledges, the 'Cut, Cap and Balance' vow supported by a coalition of conservative groups. The pledge calls for its signers to oppose raising the debt ceiling unless legislation passes that requires deep spending cuts, enforceable spending caps and a balanced-budget amendment." [NPR, 6/30/11]

THEN, ROMNEY REFUSED TO SAY WHERE HE STOOD

Romney's Campaign "Refused To Say" Where Romney Stood On The Debt Ceiling. "Pressed for front-runner Mitt Romney's views [on the debt ceiling], Romney campaign aides refused to say where the former Massachusetts governor stood. Instead, they forwarded a past statement castigating President Barack Obama 'for frightening new levels of federal spending and deficits.'…" [Wall Street Journal, 7/7/11]

HE CONTINUED TO STAY SILENT

Headline: 'Romney Silent Over Debt Talks' [Wall Street Journal, 7/12/11]

THEN, ROMNEY SAID CUT, CAP AND BALANCE WAS A "LINE IN THE SAND"

Romney Said Cut, Cap And Balance Was "The Line In The Sand." "'The answer for the country is for the president to agree to cut fed spending, to cap fed spending and to put in place a balanced budget amendment,' Romney said in a question and answer session at a meeting Thursday of the Portsmouth Rotary. 'For me, that's the line in the sand. Come on, Mr. President.'" [Washington Post, 7/14/11]

THEN, THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN WALKED IT BACK

Romney Campaign Qualified His Support For Cut, Cap And Balance, Said He Did Not Specify Cap Level. "GOP candidates say they are sticking by the pledge. But a Romney campaign official noted that the version of the cut, cap and balance pledge Mr. Romney signed doesn't specify a level for the federal spending cap." [Wall Street Journal, 7/18/11]

NOW, ROMNEY SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE HOUSE-PASSED CUT, CAP AND BALANCE

Romney Said He Supported The House-Passed Cut, Cap And Balance. At a media availability in Los Angeles, Mitt Romney said, "I think the right course for the president is to accept the cut cap and balance proposal that has been passed by the house." [New York Times, 7/20/11]

SOURCE Democratic National Committee