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September 06, 2006

Mitt Romney - profile in morality

No appeasement here

Governor Mitt Romney declared yesterday he would not allow any state resources to be used to protect a former Iranian president during his visit to the Boston area this weekend, and he sharply criticized Harvard University for inviting Mohammed Khatami to speak on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

``There are people in this state who have suffered from terrorism, and taking even a dollar of their money to support a terrorist is unacceptable," Romney, a potential candidate for the Republican Party's 2008 presidential nomination, said in a telephone interview yesterday.

Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, which invited Khatami to speak on Sunday, issued a statement yesterday saying it was ``surprised and disappointed" by Romney's stance.

``We can understand and often share his disagreement with the positions of Khatami, the school nonetheless believes that active and open dialogue are a critical part of effective education and policy," the statement read.

Don't you love the chutzpah of Harvard holding forth on "open dialogue" when they still ban ROTC from its campus? Where the few conservative speakers brought to campus are interrupted and harassed with no consequence?

Let's see the Harvard audience reaction to this Islamist speaker and find out just where its morality resides.

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Posted by Darleen at September 6, 2006 07:17 AM

Comments

Just political grandstanding on Romney's part.

In fact, he has no authority over most police agencies in his state.

Does he mean if a riot develops, the authorities are going to stand by and do nothing?

Like I say, meaningless grandstanding.....

Posted by: Carl W. Goss at September 6, 2006 08:07 AM

Where the few conservative speakers brought to campus are interrupted and harassed with no consequence?

Yeah, like Harvey Mansfield. Harvard hates him so much they gave him tenure.

Posted by: Josh at September 6, 2006 09:17 AM

Who is going to riot over Khatami, Carl? The same offended Jews that rioted over Iran's anti-semitic cartoon contest?

Khatami's personal safety is the State Dept.'s purview. Not one MA state dime for "welcoming" ceremonies or police escorts.

I guess Harvard was just feeling a little behind Yale's own pet Taliban, so they decided to fete another infamous Islamist.

Posted by: Darleen at September 6, 2006 12:47 PM

Who is going to riot over Khatami, Carl? The same offended Jews that rioted over Iran's anti-semitic cartoon contest?

Khatami's personal safety is the State Dept.'s purview. Not one MA state dime for "welcoming" ceremonies or police escorts.

I guess Harvard was just feeling a little behind Yale's own pet Taliban, so they decided to fete another infamous Islamist.

Posted by: Darleen at September 6, 2006 12:47 PM

For a governor to abdicate his responsibility to protect the safety of an individual within his jurisdiction simply because he doesn't agree with that individual's politics is shameful. Especially so in this case, because, as Carl points out, Romney is clearly playing politics for the GOP primary.

Posted by: Josh at September 6, 2006 03:09 PM

He gets full support from me on this one. Harvard, with all of its endowments, should pick up the tab if they feel strongly about it. This is not a former head of state that simply has philosophical differences. This is a former head of a country that backs terrorism. His country is one of the greatest threats to world peace. He supports the destruction of a country and race of people.

If a former stated dept. head - that endorsed apartheid and the torture of blacks - were to come and speak we would probably all see it the Gov's way. He would be right to not spend a dime of my / our money on him, and he's right to not spend a dime on this ... person.

It is shameful and hurtful that on the eve of the 9-11 tragedy Harvardd would grandstand to get press by sacrificing the memories of those who died at the hands of men who believe as this person does.

Fortunately we have a leader in this state that will not make the rest of us pay for it.

Posted by: Ed at September 8, 2006 07:20 AM