Republican Frontrunner Mitt Romney: “Corporations Are People”

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, clinging to a small lead over his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, addressed a fiery crowd at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines today, and showed his true-blue (red?) conservative colors:

“We have to make sure that the promises we make in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are promises we can keep, and there are various ways of doing that,” Mr. Romney said. “One is we can raise taxes on people.”

“Corporations!” the protesters shouted, suggesting that Mr. Romney, as president, should raise taxes on large businesses. “Corporations!”

“Corporations are people, my friend,” Mr. Romney responded, as the hecklers shouted back, “No they’re not!”

“Of course they are,” Mr. Romney said, chuckling slightly. “Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to people. Where do you think it goes?”

This Citizens United line of thinking — where the Supreme Court held that speech by corporations is just as sacred and worthy of protection as that by individuals — permeates the Republican Party and the conservative movement generally right now.