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DAVENPORT, IA - Returning to Iowa for just the fourth time this year, Mitt Romney stayed tightly on message at two campaign stops today; selling his deficit cutting plan and keeping his sights set on President Obama, whose defeat in 2012 he said was vital for America's future.
"This is a critical time for us. I don't want to wake up a year from now and turn on my TV and have it say 'President Obama reelected' because I know what that means. It means a weaker America," Romney told an audience of roughly 200 supporters this morning in Dubuque. "I want to see a new president that will take America in a great tradition and a new tradition, one that makes America the best place in the world to be middle class again. I will be that president."
"Now there is a different alternative of course. We turn on our TV and the TV says 'Mitt is it.' Now that's what I'm planning on with your help," Romney said in Davenport tonight.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney continues to stump in Iowa, touting his plan for reviving the economy. NBC's Garrett Haake reports.
Romney, who did not take questions from the press or the public at either event, used both speeches as opportunities to sell three of the primary tenets of his deficit plan: cutting unneeded programs, sending others back to the states, and improving government's efficiency by cutting waste.
The former Massachusetts governor promised to slash federal subsidies for Amtrak, send Medicaid back to the states, and cut the federal workforce by attrition, while attempting to bring their pay scale more in line with the private sector. Shaking hands after the first event, he was repeatedly asked by voters if he would also defund Planned Parenthood, which he said he would.
He did not, however, spend time discussing the more controversial elements of his deficit plan: adding a "premium support" option to Medicare, with which seniors could buy private insurance instead of relying on traditional Medicare, and gradually raising the eligibility age for social security.
Despite only making two stops today, Romney got his money's worth visually. Both events were elaborately staged, with a huge steel Romney sign in the shape of the state of Iowa behind him at the first, and an even larger, backlit "Romney: Believe in America" sign backing him at the second. A multi-camera film crew with a jib and high-end lighting gear were highly visible at each event, and when asked by NBC, campaign officials did not deny that they were shooting a television commercial. Several of Romney's rivals, including Texas Governor Rick Perry, have already aired television ads in Iowa, but the Romney campaign has not.
Tomorrow, Romney travels to Chicago, before his next public appearance, at Wednesday night's CNBC debate in Michigan.
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'President Obama reelected' because I know what that means. It means a weaker America," says Romney
Three very frightening words for America, let's don't let it happen! Romney 2012!
Mr. Seldom below, might want to consider the ALEC/Koch/Norquist 'backroom politics' that have been going on for decades in the name of corporate greed & are now devastating our country.
Deficits: The President is working hard to create jobs for Americans. Job creation grows the economy and puts revenues back in the Treasury.
Fact: The American Jobs Act is assessed by independent economists to create 1.9 Million jobs.
After running on JOBSJOBSJOBS last November, GOP senators blocked 3 jobs bills even prior to blocking the President's American Jobs Act.
Besides blocking those three bills, Republican congressionals have now repeatedly blocked the AJA and have not permitted it to come up for debate:
1. As a whole- they refused to permit debate. 51 votes, but not the 60 votes McConnell demands for everything.
2. Part 1 - they refused to permit debate. Ditto above.
3. Part 2 - they refused to permit debate. Ditto above.
The veteran jobs element of the Bill is now up for debate. Common sense tax credits for businesses who hire veterans are in the proposal.
Let's see the GOPtp machine do the right thing by those they happily sent off to Iraq and Afghanistan.
www.whitehouse.gov/economy/jobsact
Let's see, we have "cutting unneeded programs" and "improving government's efficiency by cutting waste." The difference is unclear. But this is not a new idea or an idea not already offered by the Dems.
Then we have sending programs back to the states like Medicaid. The red states should be against this since most of the states that send in less to the Federal government than they receive (i.e., subsidized by blue states) are red states. But we all know that's the same as cutting or ending Medicaid because states don't have the funds.
And then we have bringing the federal workforce's "pay scale more in line with the private sector." Since federal employees earn about 3.5% less than the private sector, that would increase the deficit.
The topper of course is privatizing Medicare and raising the age for Social Security. Just come out and say it Willard, that you want to destroy entitlements, and therefore have NO concern for the middle class just like the rest of your ilk. I didn't see the end of the Estate Tax (death tax) that Romney want as well.
It's simple people. Just made the tax code fairer, end corporate welfare, reinstate the "transaction tax" on Wall Street, stop the wars and if you start a new one require War Bonds. Most of all raise the current cap on FICA for Social Security from $110,000 to $500,000. With people in their 50s out of work and no 401ks or home equity remaining, raising the age for Social Security would be disastrous. But the bigger issue is Social Security is NOT a part of deficits Willard, and there's an IOU sitting in the trust fund box.
Damn Teapublicans, they are so @#$%&! in the head.
I forgot to say when cutting the federal workforce's pay, look at the Teapublican House first. Apparently they feel they deserve full pay for part-time work.
To add to your posts, TruePatriot:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-pay-gap-widens-report-says/2011/11/04/gIQArDeFnM_story.html?wprss=rss_business&wpisrc=nl_wonk
Romney in a working man's shirt~!!! He trying to look like a working man.
I'll bet anyone that the shirt was poll tested...otherwise it would have been a different one.
The guy promising Hope and Change and a promise to end 'backroom' politics either lied to the public, or forgot many of his promises, or plainly is just not up to the task of truly making a change! I like Newt over Romney, but either one can do a much better job than the current occupant of the Oval Office!
s s s colorado newt sure would be a real good change. i can really trust a guy like newt. ask his x wifes about trusting newt. yes newt really up to the task of making change. lol lol lol get a grip & i don't mean of yourself, or maybe its time to let go.
You people are idiots if you think mittens will actually work for you.
Does anybody actually buy these absurd "middle class" lines from Romney?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-pay-gap-widens-report-says/2011/11/04/gIQArDeFnM_story.html?wprss=rss_business&wpisrc=nl_wonk
Send Medicaid back to the states - it's already a state program with federal guidelines. Send it back to the states is code for eliminating the program. If Mitt plans to adopt the private market pay scale for federal workers, I trust he realizes that the VA will cost much more when he has to pay the doctors and nurses. And what's the equivalent to a federal prison guard - the part time private security guard that you see at the mall?