Is anyone else confused at former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld’s endorsement of Barack Obama? I’m not confused at Weld endorsing Obama or a Democrat normally as he has always been a very moderate and independent person. What confuses me is that this happens AFTER he endorsed Mitt Romney in the primaries.
Mitt Romney is about as opposite a candidate from Barack Obama as there is. I had always respected Weld as a governor, but was frankly shocked when he endorsed Romney as I felt they were quite the opposite on the social-side of the issues (Weld tends to be more socially liberal). But then I got whiplash to hear him pitch for Obama (Weld tends to be more fiscally conservative). So why BOTH of these shockers in one year? I’m really at a loss…
Filed under: Politics, Presidential Election | Tagged: 2008, Bill, Center, Conservative, Democrat, Election, Independent, left, liberal, Massachusetts, moderate, President, republican, right, Weld, White House, William
Good question. As a MA resident myself who knows a little about Weld, I don’t know why he didn’t endorse Giuliani. The only logical conclusion I can come to is that Weld is altruistic and simply wants an intelligent leader who he feels will govern best. From my knowledge of him, he’s never been the type of politician to turn down good ideas simply out of loyalty to his party (or apparently in the case of Giuliani – loyalty to a friend). I also don’t know him as a vengeful man, he may have been treated badly by the GOP at one time, but it’s not like he went to ruins after – he is and always has been personally successful.
Perhaps this really is all there is to it? I’d like to think so as I’ve always respected Mr. Weld. This of course doesn’t mean his endorsement is universally “correct”, but if my assumption is correct it does show that he’ll put his country first – over party and friendship. Weld 2012! Haha.
I won’t disagree with you in regards to Romney’s performance as governor, but Weld is more complex than to give an endorsement to someone just because they are from the same state.
I believe you may have something behind Weld’s motivation as he was a rising star in that party, but was snubbed in the convention, and blocked as an ambassador for Clinton afterwards… which make me wonder again why he ever endorsed Romney.
I’m not confused by the endorsement at all. Weld probably felt obligated to endorse another Massachusetts Republican in the primary, even one who was such a terribly incompetent governor like Romney.
In the general, Weld had no favorite son and was free to do whatever he wanted. I think part of this was payback. The right wing extremists who control the GOP have treated Weld like dirt for years. He probably has had enough.