2012 Presidential Candidate Comparison Chart

See how Buddy Roemer stacks up against the others

1. Romneys plan to end deficit spending would put a hard cap on spending, but lacks specifics. See Mitt Romney for President (available at http://www.mittromney.com/issues/fiscal-responsibility). 2. Cains plan indicates a willingness to cut costs, but provides no details on what would be cut or how. He simply says that nothing should be off the table, including entitlements. See Herman Cain for President (available at http://www.hermancain.com/the-issues). 3. Gingrichs calls for reduced spending come across as disingenuous, given his recent calls for increased spending on health care, ethanol subsidies, housing subsidies, and cap and trade legislation. See Gingrichs spending call irritates his base, Washington Times (available at http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/16/gingrichs-spending-call-irritates-his-base/).See also Gingrich opposes panel to find cuts in spending, Des Moines Register (available at http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/08/05/gingrich-opposes-panel-to-find-cuts-inspending/). Gingrich has also been paid a substantial amount of money to lobby for big government. See Gingrich received over $300k to work for an ethanol lobbying group, National Review (available at http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/265555/gingrich-received-over-300k-ethanollobbying-work-katrina-trinko). 4. Perrys economic plan gets a failing grade from most independent think tanks because it cannot pay the bills. One of the biggest problems is reducing taxes on corporations, which, as Governor Roemer recently said, benefit from the U.S. Marines just like you. They are lucky to be in America, just like you. Why should GE (with $5 billion in profits in 2010) pay less in taxes than the average family of four? See Rick Perrys tax and spend conundrum, CNN (available at http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/31/news/economy/rick_perry_economic_plan/index.htm). 5. Whether we think it possible or not, Paul has proposed a plan to reduce federal spending by $1 trillion. See Ron Paul proposes $1 trillion in spending cuts, USA Today (available at http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/10/ron-paul-spending-cuts-/1). 6. Huntsman has been criticized for his record in Utah as being a big spender, and the Club for Growth recently issued a 12 page whitepaper calling his approach to spending inexcusable. See Club for Growth: Jon Huntsman inexcusable on spending, Politico (available at http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/57505.html).

7. Obama has been ineffective at reducing deficit spending. See The one sentence solution to job creation, Huffington Post (available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lloyd-chapman/the-one-sentence-solution_b_1085192.html) for an discussion of Obamas meaningless cuts. 8. Cain calls for an across the board reduction in taxes and less regulation. It is debatable as to whether 9-9-9 is a reduction. 9. Gingrich calls for corporate income tax reduction, repeal of Sarbanes-Oxley, Dodd-Frank, and other hurdles to small business growth. See Newt Gingrich for President (available at http://www.newt.org/solutions/jobs-economy). 10. Newts experience has largely been as a career politician (20 years in the federal government). See Newt Gingrich for President (available at http://www.newt.org/meet-newt). 11. Although it is worth nothing that Romney was the principal author of Obamacare, so Americans will be rolling the dice on reduced federal intervention in health care if Romney is elected President. 12. Cain proposes repealing and replacing Obamacare by instituting tort reform, loosening restrictions on health savings accounts, and allowing the deductibility of health insurance premiums. See Herman Cain for President (available at http://www.hermancain.com/the-issues). 13. Gingrich has proposed a Patient Power Plan. See Newt Gingrich for President (available at http://www.newt.org/solutions/healthcare). 14. Perry is remarkably light on health care. While he believes that Obamacare is a misguided, unconstitutional and unsustainable government takeover of our health care, he does not have a plan to replace it. See Rick Perry for President (available at http://www.rickperry.org/issues/healthcare/). 15. Pauls plan to simply let the private market regulate healthcare is out of touch with mainstream, independent-minded voters. 16. Huntsman does not make health care a priority. Huntsman has also claimed that universal health care is a right. He gets low marks from conservative organizations on government run health care. See Club for Growth: Jon Huntsman inexcusable on spending, Politico (available at http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/57505.html). 17. Not only did Governor Roemer decline bailout money as the head of a community bank, he has consistently spoken out against corporate corruption and has worked to create jobs for Main Street America. 18. Romney defended the Wall Street bailouts, at the expense of Main Street taxpayers. See GOP Debate: Mitt Romney defends wall street bailouts, LA Times (available at http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/11/news/la-pn-romney-bailouts-20111011). 19. Cain was in favor of the Wall Street Bailouts, particularly the TARP program, when he was head of the Kansas City Federal Reserve. See Cains TARP talk, praise of the Fed could hurt him with conservative voters, The Hill (available at http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/187519-cainstarp-talk-praise-of-the-fed-could-hurt-him-with-conservatives). 20. Gingrich has been very vocal in calling for the repeal of Dodd-Frank and the end of too big to fail. See To create jobs, repeal the Dodd-Frank law immediately, by Newt Gingrich, Human Events (available at http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=44957). However, Gingrich was also a lobbyist for Freddie Mac, the failed housing giant that killed the U.S. housing market through the TARP program. He earned $300,000 for his advice. See Eliminations, National Review (available at http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/282835/eliminations-terence-p-jeffrey). 21. Perry includes too big to fail rhetoric in speeches as part of his overall anti-Washington theme, there is not much substance available. See In Rick Perrys speeches, a growing anti-Washington theme, New York Times (available at http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/inrick-perrys-speeches-a-growing-anti-washington-theme/). 22. Huntsmans WSJ OpEd details his opposition to too big to fail and bailouts. See Too Big to Fail is Simply Too Big, by Jon Huntsman, Wall Street Journal (available at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204346104576635033336992122.html). 23. All we have heard so far is rhetoric, but its authenticity is in question. 24. It is clear that Cain does not understand the economic threat from communist China. He barely understands China at all. See Herman Cain: China indicated its trying to develop nuclear capability, Huffington Post (available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/herman-cainchina-indicat_n_1070725.html). 25. Newt Gingrich believes we can improve China by trading with them and exposing them to the Western world of freedom. See Gingrich position on China 2012 Republican Candidates (available at http://2012.republican-candidates.org/Gingrich/China.php). 26. Perry has not unveiled his plan for dealing with communist China. 27. Paul is a free trader, who does not appreciate the threat from rival communist China. He is quoted as saying I think were much better off talking to the Chinese and trading with the Chinese, and they have an interest in staying peaceful with us, as we have an interest on them, even though we have our differences on some of the trade and why do our companies go to China? And in some ways, they embarrass us, because theyre more Capitalistic than we are. Its easier for our businesses to go to China than it is to stay here. That aggravates me. But I blame ourselves for that. See Ron Paul for President (available at http://www.ronpaul.com/2011-06-23/ron-paul-on-afghanistan-china-gop-candidates/). 28. Huntsman favors increased trade liberalization. See Jon Huntsman for President (available at http://www.jon2012.com/index.php/issues/foreign-policy-trade). 29. Served 20 years as representative from Georgia in Congress. Newt Gingrich for President (available at http://www.newt.org/meet-newt). 30. No other candidate has made campaign finance reform a priority. 31. Romney is in favor of transparency, but not limits. See Romney on Campaign Finance Reform courtesy CNN (available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEPd2spelcY). 32. I support the subsidy of ethanol, he told an Iowa voter. I believe ethanol is an important part of our energy solution for this country. Iowa leads the nation in the production of corn, a main source of ethanol. Romney Hearts Ethanol Subsidies, Wall Street Journal (available at http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/05/27/romney-hearts-ethanol-subsidies/). 33. Calls for an end to subsidies, but doesnt really have a plan for energy independence. He just hints at market based solutions. 34. Gingrich originally voted for ethanol subsidies in 1984 and has even backed them in the 2012 campaign, before his Iowa campaign staff resigned. Now, apparently, hes against them. See Ethanol Subsidies Find GOP Foes, Omaha World-Herald (available at http://www.omaha.com/article/20111102/NEWS01/711029885). Gingrich has also been paid off by the ethanol industry, receiving $300,000 to lobby for Growth in Energy in 2009. See Afternoon Fix: Newt Gingrich took money from ethanol lobby, Washington Post (available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/afternoon-fix-newt-gingrich-took-money-from-ethanollobby/2011/04/25/AFLglYkE_blog.html). On energy independence, Gingrich supported a cap and trade plan with Nancy Pelosi. It was funded by a non-profit created by Al Gore. See Gingrich feels the heat for appearing in global warming ad with Nancy Pelosi, FoxNews.com (available at http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/12/gingrich-feels-heat-global-warming-ad-pelosi/).

35. Even though Perry opposes ethanol subsidies, he has not proposed a plan to become energy independent. See Ethanol Subsidies: GOP Candidates Voice Views at Iowa Forum, Huffington Post (available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/ethanol-subsidies-gopcandidates_n_1072376.html). 36. While Paul opposes ethanol subsidies, he apparently also opposes government intervention in the energy markets. Short of scrapping the federal Department of Energy, he has not proposed a plan to become energy independent. 37. Huntsman has a fairly strong plan on breaking the oil monopoly and diversifying, yet ending subsidies for all sources of energy. See Jon Huntsmans Energy Policy Speech, Center for Environment, Commerce & Energy (available at http://cenvironment.blogspot.com/2011/11/jonhuntsmans-energy-policy-speech.html).