Romney Compares Political Evolution to Reagan

Mitt Romney has developed a line for his speeches acknowledging his "evolving" political views: "On abortion, I wasn't always a Ronald Reagan conservative. Neither was Ronald Reagan, by the way. But like him, I learned from experience."

This is one of the rare occasions when I disagree with Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters; Romney's Reagan reference did not provide "a nice touch." Just the opposite.

I frankly find Romney's attempt to liken himself to Reagan in this area to be a cheap shot which inadvertently attempts to make Reagan's views look as changeable as Romney's. It doesn't bring Romney up to Reagan's stature, it attempts to drag Reagan down to Romney's size, and it certainly doesn't make Romney look any better in my eyes.

As is well known, Reagan's political transition occurred over a period of decades. The evolution of his conservative philosophies was documented, in part, in the brand-new book THE EDUCATION OF RONALD REAGAN.

At the time Reagan ran for President, his views had been well known for a very considerable length of time; they did not change simply because he was running for the Presidency.

Romney, on the other hand, has fashioned his political "beliefs" -- including his position on abortion -- as dictated by political necessity.