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The New Romney Dynasty
Jason Reed / Reuters
As talk of another presidential run for Mitt Romney heats up, his son Josh is looking to jump into Utah politics. A new dynasty may be in the making.
Forget about Romney 2012. Let’s talk Romney 2028.
Out in Utah, Mitt Romney’s son Josh, a 33-year-old real-estate developer, seems to be attracting a whole lot of interest. Barack Obama’s decision to draft Gov. Jon Huntsman as his ambassador to China has opened up some space at the top of the Utah state Republican Party, and, with Lieutenant Governor Gary Herbert preparing to move into the big office, Romney Jr. may be selected to fill Herbert’s position. An even more likely scenario involves Romney Jr. campaigning as lieutenant governor with Herbert’s main rival in the special election set for 2010.
“He’s a bright guy, impressive in his own right,” Rolly said. “And then he’s got the name.”
It’s not the first time Josh Romney’s name has come up in Utah politics. Back in February, he stirred interest by saying he might challenge Rep. Jim Matheson, Utah’s only Democratic congressman, for his seat representing the 2nd District.
“I’m pretty young,” Romney Jr. said at the time, “but I’ve had good experience on the campaign trail.”
He cut his political teeth stumping for his father’s failed 2008 presidential run. At the wheel of a Winnebago, dubbed the “Mitt Mobile,” Romney fils visited all 99 counties in Iowa. The Romney brothers shone particularly brightly during the campaign, their 500-watt smiles and too-perfect families providing a stark contrast to Rudy Giuliani’s troubled brood. Their group blog on the Romney campaign Web site dripped with the family’s gee-whiz charm.
Josh Romney decided not to run against Matheson, but he’s been more vocal in expressing his interest in the lieutenant governorship. “I’ve learned a lot. This is a position I could handle,” he said of the job on June 1.
And even if Herbert doesn’t pick him for the post, Romney Jr. could find himself on the ticket of Kirk Jowers, the director of the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics, a year from November. Jowers’ law firm represented Mitt Romney in the 2008 campaign, and the election-law expert may want the younger Romney at his side next year. The two are already appearing together, recently joining Rep. Jason Chavetz for an ice-cream social. Salt Lake Tribune columnist Paul Rolly writes, “GOP sources are buzzing” about the plan to put Jowers and Romney Jr. together in 2010.
Should Romney Jr. appear on a ticket, his name will go a long way: His father sowed tremendous goodwill in the state by lifting the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City out of debt and avoiding international embarrassment. Last year, Romney Sr. won nearly 90 percent of the vote in the Republican primary—a number unrivaled by any candidate in either party during the competitive part of the election season. And as members of the Church of Latter-day Saints, the Romneys have particular appeal in Utah. “The Romney name is very magical,” Rolly said in an interview with The Daily Beast.
The Romney name may also provide political cover for either Herbert or Jowers, each of whom will face criticism from the conservative wing: Herbert will need to come out from the shadow of Huntsman, who took moderate positions on the environment and civil unions, while Jowers has been critical of the Republican-orchestrated redistricting of Utah in 2001.
“In the Utah Republican Party,” Rolly said, “moderate is actually a dirty word.”
Romney Jr.’s done nothing so far to suggest that he’s anything but a true-blue conservative. Of course, critics might point out that he's done nothing at all in state politics. That’s the thing about a name, though. Mitt benefited from being a son of George Romney, the governor of Michigan and 1968 presidential candidate. And Josh Romney fits the family mold: Boston prep school beginnings, BYU undergraduate training, finished off with the requisite Harvard MBA polish. Add successful businessman, and you’ve got yourself a Romney. Romney Jr.’s flirtation with politics hints at the arrival of a third generation of Romney politicos, which would land the family in the first league of American political dynasties.
“He’s a bright guy, impressive in his own right,” Rolly said. “And then he’s got the name.”
Samuel P. Jacobs is an intern at the Daily Beast. He has written for The Boston Globe, The New York Observer, and The New Republic Online.
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Samuel P. Jacobs is a staff reporter at The Daily Beast. He has also written for The Boston Globe, The New York Observer, and The New Republic Online.
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aDCBeast
If I were Josh Romney . I would change my last name. No reason to be associated with his father who tried to buy the Republican nomination and failed miserably.
xbainx
Republicans have a long history of overstating their popularity. The like to use words like "40 Year Majority" and "Dynasty".
But America hates Romney. You have to win a few times before you get the dynasty title.
Josh-Narins
After all, the Bush "dynasty" worked so well for America, why not another?
semolinapilchard
The day America elects a president who believes the Book of Mormon is the day humanity is officially dead.
KateTheGreat
*sigh* The Romney's were long a fixture (and many still are) in Michigan -- and while they are nice people, they are completely out-of-touch with regular folks. Something bothers me about a family who thinks it's a great idea to hire $350/person caterers for a 6-year-old child's birthday party (there were 30 or so kids there) -- not for the kids to eat the food, but for a gigantic food-fight (they had special, expensive, outfits custom made just for the fight...tiny painter's overalls with appliques etc.) and the kids spent an hour destroying thousands of dollars worth of food in a huge, specially-made, tent. Lots of nannies and maids to clean up the horrendous, wasteful mess afterward...while the kids went out with their $1000 gift bags to another venue. Fine - kids like to make messes and have fun, ever hear of whipped-cream and paper plates? No, it had to be $350/person catered food - it's not "fun" unless you really waste money and food...you'd think that a family so entrenched in religion and conservative values would refrain from instilling such Roman Excesses in their kids.
flyoverland
End political royalty in America.
Hawnzz
We don't often agree... (actually we agree more then not) BUT PRAISE JESUS! NO KIDDING!
If I have to live through another political family dynasty I am going to CRY! They are almost always rich, affected and untalented. NO THANKS!
flyoverland
I am in favor of a Constitutional amendment banning children of politicians from running. Its getting that bad. Between political royalty and the professional political class (political science majors not smart enough to major in accounting), this country is sinking into the abyss.
xbainx
We keep trying but you idiots just keep voting for Bushes and Romneys and other scum bags.
flyoverland
And you keep electing the Kennedy's, Clintons, Bayh's, Carnahans
jds8181
"In the Utah Republican party moderate is actually a dirty word." Ugh. Just we need, more hyper-partisan politics. In the land of Mormons daddy might be able to buy elections, but as he found out the reach of the church ends at the borders of Utah. I actually feel bad for Mitt Romney because he actually thinks Evangelical Christians might give him a shot at the nomination. Even with his grasp of economic issues, if it looks as though he might actually win there will be 527's blaring what the Church of Latter Day Saints actually believes and it will scare the hell out of the voters.
Bunx05
Totally agree. He hasn't experienced the real feel of religious discrimination yet. When someone starts asking him how he can be okay with plural marriage (though I believe he is LDS and not Morman Fundametalist so it probably wouldn't reflect his personal views) and not gay marriage, he'll be backed into a corner. Or if someone asks how he plans to advance civil rights when the mormon faith has a very sketchy track record of how to treat non-white members of the faith, he'll have issues.
I point this stuff out because these are the questions his fellow repubs and democs will be asking in order to stop his candidacy.
biglover
Yeah and why he and none of his other brothers ever felt the need to serve their country. These boys are the male version of the stepford wives
co-intheknow
Hahaha - wait, isn't this one of the sons who was SOOOOO patriotic that he didn't volunteer to serve in Iraq but chose to serve "patriotically" instead by being a go-fer on his dad's campaign?
Bwaaaahahaha - another magic underwear, used-car salesman type - yep, the Republican Party is really going somewhere with their 'dynastic' families.
larryaz
I wonder if you would write another magical beanie wearer about a Jewish politician or do you limit your bigoted religious slurs.
Ritarita
The real test is
Will TV sets across the country
Be turned off when 'son of Romney'
makes an appearance-
The same way they are when Dad comes on.
maddy48
"The Romney name is magical" (?) . This child & heir of insipid values & convictions hasn't a prayer. His unwillingness to serve his country won't spin even among many Mormons. Boring college resume, entitled life, nothing to work with here.
SantaFromTheNorth
wonder if the son wears the magic underoos too! sorry, but if you wear supposedly magical underwear, no one outside of Utah, Ohio, Arizona, & maybe Michigan will vote for you.
misteranthony
This Romney "dynasty" is a joke. No offense, but how is being the son and the grandson of two guys that could not even get the Republican nomination something to be hanging your hat on?
Willard Mitch and George "Dubya" Romney weren't exactly John and John Quincy Adams or even the Georges.
At least the Bushes could get into the White House. I actually think that the first Bush was an okay president. The second Bush.....not so much. I honestly believe that If George W Bush didn't turn out to be one of the worst Presidents in US history, Jeb would have been a serious contender for president in the future. To bad George W totally annihilated Jeb's (or any Bushs') chances. Jeb probably would have been a decent president.
But getting back to Josh Romney.......get real man. He should get into television or real estate instead and save himself any future political embarassment.
rollyb
It never fails in any mention of Romney that the incredibly witty magical underwear comments have to appear. I never read magical beanie comments in an article about a Jewish person but religious bigotry against Mormons is always welcome by people who would never think to insult a Muslim woman for wearing a scarf because you are enlightened non bigots when in fact you are self important bigots who attack Mormons because you believe incorrectly that all Mormons are conservative and therefore unworthy of your respect.
VinnyB
Quite frankly, the United States isn't ready (and doesn't deserve) an honest politician with morals who's self-made, family oriented, and with a proven track record. For some reason, people on the left AND right do not like Mormons, and in this case faith works against him. Of course, the press had no problem probing into the extremes of Mormonism while looking the other way on Islam and Rev. Wright's Church.
misteranthony
Are you serious? You must have a short memory. Those Rev. Wright ("God D**n America") rants were on a 24-hour loop on all the cable news networks for months. The media was totally was obsessed with it. It must eat you up knowing that America didn't care about Rev Wright as much as you and Sean Hannity did.
Concerning Mitt's religion, I don't really care about his "Magic Underwear" or that other kooky stuff that Mormons believe in. What does concern me is the fact that Mormons were taught that for a hundred years that Black people didnt have souls and only stopped teaching that around thirty years ago. I was in 2nd grade thirty years ago. Mitt, on the other hand, was a grown man that knew better yet still embraced those racist teachings.
In any case, Mitt Romney put a ton of money into his 2008 presidential campaign. If he could not even beat John McCain and finished behind MIKE HUCKABEE (neither of which had a pot to pee in) for the nomination in 2008, how do you expect him to beat an incumbent Barack Obama in 2012? Mitt had his golden opportunity in 2008 and failed miserably. Do you think that Mitt Romney wants to get demolished in a debate with Huckabee (who will probably run again in 2012) like he did in 2008? Huckabee handed Mitt's ass to him. I almost felt bad tor Romney. He was way out of his league.
Add that to the fact that there is a great Youtube video where Ted Kennedy opens a can of whupp-ass on Mitt when he tried to take Ted's Senate seat in 1994. In that video, Romney famously proclaims that he is PRO CHOICE.
Face it, Mitt Romney is a phony, a flip flopper, and us now unelectable.
Also being a son of the Governor of Michigan and American Motors executive isn't exactly being "self made". Well maybe it is to you if you also believe that George W Bush and John Mccain were "self made" as well.
larryaz
In what universe did Huckabee destroy him a debate. Huckabee is a quipster but his answers have no depth and understanding. Huckabee got more delegates only because he stayed in longer. Your claim that Mormons are racist is a tired attack and simply untrue.
biglover
Oh year, the media looked the other way on Reverend Wright alright. I seem to remember two weeks of 24/7 non-stop coverage to say nothing of it still being covered by Fox News. Hey VinnyB. Are you one of dem italy boy racists. I know all about your kind VinnyBoy.
AmericaRocks
Sam, nice piece. America's cultural comfort with political legacies is an interesting phenomena. I find it strange just how many times I've spoken to folks who think Jeb should run in 2012. It's seems so contradictory to the american ethos of an independent and self-made leader. Has the idea of "root hog or die" been lost on our generation?
Vinny B: moral character aside, Mitt's son is not a self-made. Not unlike a Kennedy, a Bush, or even a McCain he's had opportunities that 99.99% of Americans wont enjoy. We can continue to debate the merits of political inheritance but we should at least admit that these figures have an unusual amount of opportunity bequeathed to them.
Let's see what Josh does with his opportunity. Third try's a charm?
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