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TOLEDO, OH -- Mitt Romney on Wednesday pointed to the health care reform law he enacted as governor of Massachusetts as proof of his empathy and care for the American people.
In an interview with NBC News, Romney referenced an element of his record he almost never invokes on the campaign trail to answer a question about how he can better connect with Americans and prove he understands the lives and trials of middle class Americans.
"I think throughout this campaign as well, we talked about my record in Massachusetts, don't forget -- I got everybody in my state insured," Romney told NBC's Ron Allen in an interview before his rally here tonight. "One hundred percent of the kids in our state had health insurance. I don't think there's anything that shows more empathy and care about the people of this country than that kind of record."
A new CBS/New York Times poll shows Obama leading in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Romney is focused on wooing the swing state of Ohio which has been won by every Republican who ever became president. NBC's Ron Allen reports.
Romney's health care law in Massachusetts has long been a lightning rod issue for conservatives, who unfavorably compare it to President Barack Obama's own federal law and as a damning reflection on Romney's conservative bonafides.
The former Massachusetts governor also touched on another portion of his biography that he seldom discusses to connect with average Americans: his time as a Mormon pastor.
"I think people have the chance, who watched our Republican convention, to see the lives that I've had a chance to touch during my life, to understand that as I served as a pastor of a congregation with people of all different backgrounds and economic circumstances that I care very deeply about the American people, people of different socio-economic circumstances," Romney told Allen.
Taking the stage for the final rally of his two-day Ohio bus tour moments later, Romney also spoke about the importance of compassion in his speech and said his interactions with Americans from all lots in life have shown him the greatness of America -- and that everyone has challenges of their own.
"You look around, you see everybody, they look happy, and you think everybody else is doing just fine, and you're the only one with problems. But the truth is, most people that you see have some real challenges in their life of one kind or another. I understand that," Romney said. "And I've seen that inside the heart of the American people, despite our challenges, is a conviction that this nation is the greatest nation in the history of the earth."
Reuters, Getty Images
In the final push in the 2012 presidential election, candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama make their last appeals to voters.
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Obama has given us failed fiscal policy. Failed foreign policy, a failed presidency. 15% in true unemployment, under employment!
Romney/Ryan-2012 and beyond.
you take the risk!
wow! from the ER to insured in a couple of days!! This guy has no core believe system. Akin is radical bigot but at least you know where he stands.
I am constantly amazed at the democrats on here that talk about Romney's flip flopping, while they are completely oblivious to Obama's flip flopping. Obama makes Romney look as solid as the rock of Gibraltar.
really? share what you are smoking, please!!!
Examples?
Put... Enlighten us with references... please.
Maybe people who vote for Obama are sure about what they will get for their vote rather than no sure at all what they are getting with Romney.
It is Romney who has to make his case for a better America as opposed to the President we have in office. Face it! Romney has done a lousy job staking his claim. Hardly any of us know what to expect with Romney.
Gay marriage. Troop reduction, troop surge. Renew some tax cuts, renew all tax cuts. Promote education until the Chicago strike, then claim it's a state issue. Promising change, then saying he didn't promise he'd do everything. Promised he'd never touch Social Security, then reduced funding. Promised he'd never change Medicare, and changes Medicare Advantage.
Debt ceiling, deficit, obama care a tax, not a tax, now a tax, but not a tax, anti lobbyist, now for lobbyists, doesn't want to return to failed Bush policies, but still follows them, Gitmo, doesn't like tax cuts, passes tax cuts, wants transparency, but refuses to be transparent, etc.
Wow, don't you all get it?
Instead of bashing one side or the other, look at where we are. Sure, Obama has made some in-roads on some issues....he did issue the final order to kill Bin Laden. But he didn't follow through...and touts it like that took care of the issue. Bin Laden wasn't the whole...just one of the leaders. Obama and his administration has made some inroads with private job sector growth. How could he not of? We were heading into a depression. Has he learned nothing from history?
Folks, we are on the wrong track. The recovery should have been much faster, our foreign policies have lead the world to believe we are weak. Look at the speeches at the UN this last week, held in our own country. When Egypt should be doing nothing but supporting us...their leader issues a statement that they will not follow us or listen to our ideals. Israel, our ally, doesn't believe in us enough anymore to tell us that they will not tell us in advance if they will fight against Iran; when Iran has made it clear they want to wipe out, incinerate Israel.
Drop in credit scores, and another one coming soon. No plan economically for our country, no budget, no belief from our base, the Americans who drive this country, more head butting in the Senate and House. What did Obama promise? Oh, yes, there was NO Democrats, NO Republicans, just Americans! He's awesome at speeches! But his follow through is NOT effective.
Sorry, I was independent before Obama. Now I have to vote Republican on this one. Obama has been the most ineffectual President in history. I just wished the media was unbiased, so the country could actually see it.
Right Aralee ... NOT. How many years did it take for the US to flounder its way out of The Great Depression? Oh, about 15!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it took a World War to stimulate the economy again.
You Republicans are freaking unbelievable!!! The Republican controlled House of Representatives has not produced one bill since 2010 to stimulate the economy because they have ZERO ideas, and have been blocking Obama's jobs bill and filibustering just about everything else. You people are sick, twisted, and above all, ignorant of reality and the facts.
If you don't like Obama, please move to another country, and don't let the door hit you on the way out!
So let me get this straight.
Obamacare is essentially Romneycare at a Federal Level.
Romney says Romneycare is proof of his compassion, yet he says he wants to repeal Obamacare...
Nope, no way to make this straight...
well, he said he had compassion.
President Obama claimed to have used Romneycare as a model.
Mr. Romney says that instituting Romneycare in Mass is an example of his empathy.
Mr. Romney has also previously stated that Romneycare wouldn't work at the federal level. As it is, the other 49 states subsidize Mass and Romneycare.
Obamacare is different in some regards.
Obama documentary has strong opening
My reply to: No2vaccines
I lived around Mormons through most of my youth in Northern Arizona, and I can say you are not telling the truth, there are greedy monsters in and around the Mormon Church. There are many variations of Mormons, just like there are many variations of Baptist and Pentecostal. You might have a good heart and you may be striving for something greater than other Mormons may, but as a whole, what I experienced was greed ugly greed, the alteration of the Word of God by men who murdered Gods people and manipulated the Word of God to manipulate and control the minds of weak and vulnerable people. Thirst for power and control should not be the motivation of the people of God.
Nurturing and giving strong guidance in the Word of God should be your only motivation anything else is folly, and by what I have seen as far as the deviation from the true Word of God, you Sr. are miss
Veterans' Jobs Bill ...
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) of Alabama led the charge against the Veterans Job Corps Act
The bill needed 60 votes to advance. The final tally was 58 to 40, and all 40 opponents of the proposal were Republicans.
REPUBLICANS ARE ANTI AMERICAN
They been anti American ever since the day the President took office . Every fault republicans lay at the feet of the President can be placed at the doors of congress .
Or maybe they are simply obstructionists in the face of progress led by a democratic administration. GOP and T-baggers don't want to support or give Obama anything!
One day its repeal Obama Care next day its comparing Massachusetts health care to Obama Care man this guy flip flops and flop flips . Nobody knows what to believe from Romney any more .
No one has even read Obama's 13,000 page Obamacare costly fiasco .
still
Yes
Still
Stopped reading the Act after getting to the clause that prevented businesses being purchased for the sole purpose of the healthcare plan.
The fact that the Act anticipated a market for grandfathered plans and banned them told me all that I had to know.
"Everybody plays by the same rules..." Donkey----!!
I can't comment anymore about Romney. I'm starting to somewhat feel sorry for him. It's like he just arrived from another planet. Without understanding anything about everything. Like he's lost on his own words. He need's mental help, I hope he get's it soon. His family should let him lay down and put a warm blanket on him. Telling him it's alright, that they love him.
He did arrive from another planet. It's called Kobol. Do some research on Mormonism. Really...
This is his 100% moment, again! The damage is done, Romney. You picked Ryan the guy who specializes in throwing grammies and grampas's under the bus, not to mention his using his daughter to pander to the NRA, and had tried so hard to distance yourself from your Mass. program - How many times have you said, "I'll repeal Obamacare"?
Show us your tax returns, please.
Ryan said "throw grannie under the bus" ? you must watch too much sesame street channel
I said since in January that if the GOP thought they could win this election on the simple message that it's all Obama's fault then it was doomed to failure. Americans doesn't have that much amnesia to think that Obama caused all this mess. They finally realize that America is sick of their blaming Obama for everything so now they're scrambling with a dimwit of a candidate.
obama did cause this mess it don't take amnesia to forget that
Well I see you DO have the case of GOP amnesia, or you're just plain disingenuous or ignorant.
"... obama did cause this mess..." -- Ask Bush whether he agrees with you, if you can find him. He's laying low because he knows how much mess and what kind of mess he's created. The RNC didn't even invite him or Cheney to their convention party, in case you missed that.
No Rosso3 you are the moron that is brainwashed by your bubba, Obama! What a feeble minded dunce you are.
didn't obama promise peace and prosperity with the middle east back when he was bowing to and eating dog with every sheik and king and dictator in the area ?
Doesn't matter at this point. The best person you and the GOP could find to run against Obama is an inept flip flopper who thinks anyone who isn't rich is a freeloader. Good luck getting people to vote in numbers for that.
Sometimes I wounder if Romney has Alzheimer? This cannot be real! you can make a 2 hour long movies on Romney's flip flop moments on almost every issue.
I think the diagnosis would be closer to a borderline. Borderlines love conflict, say different things, love attention.
This guy lies so much that is why people call him flip flop mitt the twitt
like "I'LL CUT THE DEFICIT IN HALF IN MY FIRST TERM" what a lie that turned out to be
That was before your beloved Dubya screwed us over.
The more he tries to prove it, the worse it gets. Give up. YOU don't care about anyone but your clan. We already know that. And as far as Massachusetts health care, all anyone has to do is search the licensing data base for errant MD's. The list is endless with A-Z suspensions, admonitions, warning letters, restricted licenses and multitudes of medical abuse and incompetence. Empathy? pathological empathy, you mean.
Ohmerghod!!!! What a flip flopping pandering azzhole..........Really Mittens?...really?
great debate skills there
oh leroy the muslim wife beater is here tonite
And you talk about debate skills?
Empathy!? Then, ...Why does he want to repeal The Affordable Health Care Act!? This man is a fool, ...Period!
obama care will force me to buy your birth control
I think you should use it. It should be a crime for dumbass people like you to have kids.
@1reelman
As part of the 1%, you can afford it, right?
.
What a two-faced prick.
He already said he is going end Obamacare on "Day 1" of his Administration.
and you should really endure the bishop, the ladies home visits, the ward teachers,primary school, jesus jumpers and the meadow valley massacre, kinda makes you warm and fuzzy. look long and hard at that background if you really think cults are the way to go. go bishop so many things to be proud of. and then the church's part in bribing the olympic committee go mitt the nitt. go back to utah they don.t even like you there
the morning of 911 i knew it was a terrorist attack . the only ones on the planet that didn't know that was the obama white house
And you probably think they really found WMDs in Iraq.
.
The Obama White House? So Obama was president in 2001 now?
No kemetstry, but smart enough to know they had plenty of time to move them to their ally countries before we ever showed up, toad.
Wow, now these crazy folks are going to blame Obama for the 911 attacks. I bet Pearl Harbor was also Obama's fault, even though they insist that Obama was not born in Hawaii.
Of course this is being read by all the brainwashed morons that follow what NBC has to say. Sheeple! Thats okay, the government will think for you so why bother using your own feeble minds! Mitt 2012! Finally we get the dog dump out of office
That X you're on must be sweet.
.
ONEREAL....I know you're freaking out and I dont blame you. THE WORST CANDIDATE EVER. Mr. Romney has let you down big time, and you sound like you're trying to fight your way out of a wet paper bag.
Game over, sorry.
And how is the LSD working for you twit?
Dumbney is desparate and grasping at straws. He is cracking before our very eyes. GOOD! lol
.
these are the same brain wash that still are doing jazzercise with jane fonda
And Richard Simmons
Most of these morons were dunces in school and never took the hat off. They love their black President soooooo much!