By MICHAEL BARBARO
A
longtime aide to George W. Romney issued a harshly worded critique of
Mitt Romney, accusing him of shifting political positions in “erratic
and startling ways” and failing to live up to the distinguished record
of his father, the former governor of Michigan.Walter De Vries,
who worked for the senior Mr. Romney throughout the 1960s, wrote that
Mitt Romney’s bid for the White House was “a far cry from the kind of
campaign and conduct, as a public servant, I saw during the seven years I
worked in George Romney’s campaigns and served him as governor.”“While
it seems that Mitt would say and do anything to close a deal – or an
election,” he wrote, “George Romney’s strength as a politician and
public officeholder was his ability and determination to develop and
hold consistent policy positions over his life.”Mr. De Vries’s
stinging assessment was contained in a nearly 700-word essay that he
distributed to a small group of journalists with whom he has spoken over
the past year. He said it was an outline for a book that may or may not
be published. A spokeswoman for the Romney campaign declined to
comment.A registered independent, who said he voted for Barack
Obama in 2008, Mr. De Vries has previously expressed reservations about
Mr. Romney’s political postures in interviews, but never with such
sweep.In a telephone interview, he said he was motivated to write
the essay by “an accumulation” of Mr. Romney’s actions, like his
comment about 47 percent of Americans and his decision to campaign with
Donald Trump.Mr. De Vries said he was annoyed by Mr. Romney’s repeated references recently to his father as inspiration and influence on him.

“I just don’t see it,” he said. “Where is it? Is it on issues, no? On the way he campaigns? No.”

Mr. De Vries continued, “George would never have been seen with the likes of Sheldon Adelson or Donald Trump.”

(Mr. Adelson, a casino magnate, is a major donor to the “super PACs” that support Mr. Romney.)

Mr.
De Vries, who said he wished to the see the Republican Party return to
its moderate roots, said he intended to vote for Mr. Obama on Election
Day.


http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/romney-is-attacked-by-his-fathers-longtime-aide/