Liberty Groups Rail Against Romney

About 25 members and activists of assorted Tea Party organizations in New Hampshire held a counter-demonstration on Sunday, before the appearance of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, stating that while the candidate was speaking at the rally in Concord, they did not consider him a member of the movement.

, of the Granite State Patriots Liberty PAC, said that neither the candidate nor campaign representatives have met with activists in New Hampshire, despite their requests and invitations.

“A photo op is just that, a photo op,” he said. “I can have my picture taken outside the Supreme Court and that doesn’t make me a Supreme Court justice.”

DeLemus said despite his voting record not being in line with Tea Party activists, they would still like to talk to Romney about why he made the decisions he made while governor.

Tim Carter, a leader within the Lakes Region Tea Party group, meets right near Romney’s summer home in Wolfeboro, said that Romney's record doesn't compare to what the Founding Fathers would want, especially when it comes to the health care plan approved in Massachusetts.

"I think (the Founders) would have some tough questions for Mitt," he said.

, the chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, said Romney’s values were not the Tea Party’s values.

“The Tea Party stands for some very clear, very well defined, very well-articulated over time principles and values,” he said. “They start with a limited government, individual responsibilities, and free markets. Governor Romney, as governor of Massachusetts, his record stands in direct opposition of those principles.”

Hemingway pointed to RomneyCare in Massachusetts, the health care plan which eventually led to ObamaCare nationally, and their individual mandates to buy insurance as well as added governmental expenses brought on by both plans as violations of the principles. He stated that Romney also raised fees and created more regulations as governor.

“The Tea Party stands in direct of opposition to Mitt Romney’s record,” he said.

Before the demonstration, Jackie Bodnar, a representative of FreedomWorks, handed out a seven-page memo outlining problems with Romney’s multiple political positions during his gubernatorial time in Massachusetts and his 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns.