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AP
Mitt Romney (R) officially announced his 2012 White House bid from Bittersweet Farm in Stratham, N.H.
The thrust of Mitt Romney's presidential announcement speech in New Hampshire today was jobs and the economy, as well as a full-throated denunciation of Obama's presidency.
"Barack Obama has failed America," the Republican former Massachusetts governor said.
But Romney also picked up Tea Party rhetoric. Examples:
"Instead of recognizing the states’ rightful authority to solve problems, [Obama] seizes power from them and rams through a disastrous national health care plan. This president's first answer to every problem is to take power from you."
"We are only inches away from ceasing to be a free-market economy."
"I will insist that Washington learns to respect the Constitution, including the 10th Amendment. We will return responsibility and authority to the states for dozens of government programs."
"We will return responsibility and authority to the states for dozens of government programs -- and that begins with a complete repeal of Obamacare."
Those comments are in stark contrast to when Romney announced another presidential bid – in Michigan in 2007 – when he emphasized his social-conservative credentials.
"I believe in God, and I believe that every person in this great country ... is a child of God."
"I believe the family is the foundation of America."
"I believe in the sanctity of human life."
"I believe that people and their elected representatives should make our laws, not unelected judges."
The shift is perhaps a recognition of what could be his biggest stumbling block in his race for the GOP presidential nomination: a lack of conservative support, especially with the Massachusetts health-care legislation he signed into law (that's very similar to President Obama's).
The language on abortion, family, and religion, of course, were designed to pick up conservative grassroots support, but from a different leg of the stool in a different state – social conservatives in Iowa.
Leave a Comment:
"Go to school leona...you sound dumb, stay away from Fox news and research your own sources, sounds like your listening to your fat hubby too."
I have an advanced degree, have worked hard and payed taxes for the last 28 years, put 2 kids through college, listen mostly to CNN ( a more moderate take on things) and my husband is thin. What are your credentials?
Talk about a "flip-flop". There are only two things Romney has done well: being born into money, and learning how to keep his family money.... So now he's decided to drop his previous position on almost everything he's stood for and join forces with those extremist in the Tea Party. What a loser!!! He would do well to remember that most of the Tea Party members are ultra-conservative protestants who believe that Mormons are members of a cult. Try that one on for size, Mitt...... Will he next denounce his religious beliefs?
Obama = Rommy
Both the same! Sad!! sell outs to the biggest wallet!!!
Ron Paul!!! 2012...Don't Fear Freedom!!!!
Please check this cat out!!!! Dr. Paul!!!
I Want my country back!!!!! Damm it!!!
"I want my freedom back!" they shout. Odd, for I haven't lost one of my freedoms. Please explain, in detail, as a mature adult, what freedoms have been taken away.
"I want my country back!" they demand. This GOP slogan only makes weaker-minded people afraid. Is that the slogan's purpose? Maybe the GOP slogan should be, "I want a Republican president!" instead. It's clear, direct, with no fear or hatred. What do you all mean that you want your country back?
"Don't fear freedom" is something that millions of people around the world are showing their countries, and 1000s of brave men, women, and children are being killed for it. We lucky Americans take our many freedoms for granted.
President Obama and his many successes (so far) should be applauded and supported. But for the people who for whatever reasons will not nor cannot admit it, the hatred and fear - that the GOP is wanting you to feel - is what's ruining your lives.
Memo to Mitt Romney: It's the economy - stupid. There they go again! The TEA party rhetoric is more radical the Social Conservative rhetoric! The GOP/TEA party is no longer run by sane people, but rather by radicals, people who think it's better to let the bomb go off than to let the Evil Government do anything to disarm it, and they're willing to sacrifice the American economy, American jobs, American credibility and American security in order to get their way. Romney is green lighting corporate goals rather safeguarding the people’s interest. Those who threaten to block the debt ceiling will follow the corporate whistlers. Our situation was not created by the people who have lost jobs, houses, and are now being threatened over a debt, but by Wall Street's de-regulatory nosedive. Romney has lost my vote by choosing the more radical TEA party planks! Here's the real question: Who told these GOP/TEA party-ers that they could force their narrow-minded religious beliefs onto all Americans. This GOP/TEA Primary is going to be a duzzie!