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Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney sought to pass the torch of leadership in the GOP to a new generation of conservatives in his first major public speech since losing last year's election.
Romney, the failed candidate who challenged President Barack Obama in 2012, heralded a handful of Republican governors and his former running mate — Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan — as the next generation of GOP leadership. And he counseled party activists gathered here at the Conservative Political Action Conference to learn from his campaign's missteps.
"It is up to us to make sure that we learn from my mistakes, and from our mistakes, so that we can win the victories those people and this nation depend upon," Romney told a warmly supportive CPAC crowd.
In his first public appearance since losing the 2012 presidential election to President Barack Obama, Mitt Romney starts off his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference offering "advice" to the president of the United States, stating "do whatever you can to keep America strong, to keep America prosperous and free, and the most-powerful nation on Earth."
"It’s fashionable in some circles to be pessimistic about America, about conservative solutions, about the Republican Party," he added. "I utterly reject that pessimism. We may not have carried the day last Nov. 7, but we haven’t lost the country we love, and we haven't lost our way."
The former Massachusetts governor has kept a deliberately low profile following his lopsided loss versus Obama last November.
Following a campaign in which he was caricatured as out of touch — an image reinforced by his comments about "47 percent" of Americans depending upon government — many Republicans have quickly looked past Romney, who seemed at risk of becoming relegated to footnote status within the GOP.
But Romney used his speech to pledge to remain involved in Republican politics.
"I am sorry that I will not be your president – but I will be your co-worker and I will stand shoulder to shoulder alongside you," he said. "In the end, we will win just as we have won before, and for the same reason: because our cause is just and it is right."
And Romney singled out a handful of Republicans in his speech who could become that next generation of winners.
He hailed South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (who introduced him), and Republican Govs. Rick Snyder (Mich.), Nathan Deal (Ga.), Scott Walker (Wis.), Susana Martinez (N.M.) and Brian Sandoval (Nev.), along with two governors who weren't invited to CPAC because of perceived apostasies against conservatism: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Romney made few references, aside from Ryan, to leaders in Congress. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Rand Paul, R-Ky., or Ted Cruz, R-Texas, did not earn a shout-out from the former GOP nominee.
CPAC has been an important gathering for Romney in the past. He twice won its influential straw poll, and ended his first bid for the Republican nomination at 2008's gathering. Romney called himself a "severely conservative" governor during his speech at CPAC in 2012, a description which Democrats turned against him in the general election.
Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
Former Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney acknowledges supporters as he speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference at National Harbor, Md., March 15, 2013.
Before this gathering of Republican stalwarts, Romney also weighed in on the looming question before the GOP, about whether it should moderate in some respects, or continue to hew to its conservative ideology.
He argued that a "conservative vision can attract a majority of Americans and form a governing coalition of renewal and reform."
It's unclear whether or when the public might expect to hear from again from Romney, who recently joined the executive committee of one of his sons' investment companies. But he struck a wistful note upon reflecting about his failed campaign.
"Thank you again for your help and support along our journey," he said. "Ann and I will treasure these memories all the days of our lives."
This story was originally published on Fri Mar 15, 2013 1:59 PM EDT
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Mitt who ?????
Mitt Romney, a man of integrity who believed and still believes our ever swelling government can be changed for the better. Wake up and stop bleating like a sheep. Obama is one of the 1%, he is a millionaire. Duh. Our congressmen and women and our senators from BOTH sides of the aisle are wealthy!!!!!
actually nancy pelosi is dirt poor. And John Boehner's family just lost their villa.
"Mitt Romney, a man of integrity"....Now THAT'S funny....If he had so much integrity, then why did he not win the Presidential election?...With at LEAST 30 years in politics, and getting NOWHERE, it is time for Mittens to hang up the magic underwear...And after 30 years, they surely need a wash.
Valerie:
America is better off not having Mitt Romney around making decisions for us. His attitude towards almost half the country, exposed in that footage at the private fund-raiser, is all we really needed to know about him.
Oh, and another thing: Obama is a millionaire because he worked hard at getting there. For that, he should be applauded. He epitomizes the American Dream, after all.
We will learn from our mistakes. When we do a fundraiser with people paying fifty thousand dollars a plate with our people. You know the 1% 'wink ,wink'. And we want to speak our harts . Lets make sure is no riff-raff in the place. You know the 47% ,waitress. bartenders, cleaners. teachers. You know riff-raff, with cameras and audio. Then the GOP be ok.
If any of you frigging moronic TEAGAGGERS ARE LISTENING TO ME Do yourself a favor and go to C-Span and listen to the ignorant Louies (Gomer Pyle) Gohmer of Texas. A full fledged TEAGAGGER FOOL THAT YOU LOW IQed religious FANATIC VOTED IN. THAT PIECE OF SH!T CAN'T PUT TOGETHER A SENTENCE OR A THOUGHT.
There is a new wave floating through America.
Its called "You have to lie in order to survive or work a job."
I just took a test at a telemarketing agency where I was told to lie on the exam or I won't pass.
I answered the questions based upon who I am and failed both times.
The Tea Party is destroying America because they are criminals. Only a criminaly needs to lie and promote an air in their business that says a person has to lie.
I was also told that I was too nice too work such a job.
Goes to show the apathy of the unintelligent.
There is a difference between being nice and a .....PROFESSIONAL.
A liar would never know the difference.
Between out of touch Republicans and delusional Democrats this country is on a rocky road. How about trying an intelligent Independent in 2016?
Got one???
Additionally,.. what problem are you specifically trying to solve here???
teapublicans in congress won't work with the current president,. and they wouldn't work with an "independent" president...
Their agenda wouldn't change one bit..
Why would the GOP work with Barry? Is it a good idea to go along with bad ideas? Not really.
He should be one of the politicians that have their tax dollar derived paychecks taken away from him.
Why are Americans paying such politicians retirements when they are worth over $1,000,000 dollars.
Romney is reported to be worth $250,000,000 yet all his time in office he earned a paycheck that comes from American Tax Payer's wallets.
America needs to wake up and put the lies of the politician down. Because all they are doing is getting elected, making laws that force people to listen to message for fear of losing their job just so such people can scam Americans of their money invest it and continue to earn a paycheck that comes from tax payer dollars.
The politician always says that the Middle Class and Poor have to give the most so that they can live in luxury.
That is socialism.
From Monty Python:
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
Riding through the land
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
Without a merry band
He steals from the poor
And gives to the rich
Stupid b**ch
If I remember, he didn't take a salary when he was in office.
Yeah, well, when you make 24 million a year off the interest on your investments that you got from gutting companies and turning out their workforce you can make empty gestures like that.
MDrn - I do believe that they were also trying to save these companies. Some companies weren't savable and had to fold. This was true not only with the companies he was involved with but many others around the world. Also some of the companies were saved and actually increased the work forece.
on this first page we can all most agree we don't like mittens 99% i'd say last laughers we are.
my bad i was swept into page two by a democratic sunami.lol
mike, Romney has 10 time the integrity of Obama. He actually cares about this country unlike Barry. Barry is in it for, Barry.
Yo Mike, Obama is one of the 1 % or didn't you know that? Stop bleating like a sheep and read up, dude.
i agree however,i'm a dem.hack and i know that romonator has his daddy's money,money does not give you integrity,you can see by crack dealers and heroin dealers,that integrity xyzxyfre speaks about is not in any politicians in this country any longer,oh and valerie who don't know that they all have our money,schoolgirl.
Pond scum always comes to the top it appears. Just won't go away unless someone cleans the pond of all these dirtbags. Go away Mittens and spend your money somewhere other than trying to screw up a country that is just coming back from "W", who set us back 50 years.
And where do you think the millionaire Obama will take us? Oh, didn't you know he was a millionaire too? At least Mitt wanted to change our government and realized that we moved away from our founding principles. Obama has just become another Washington crony. He couldn't beat them, so he joined them. Hello, wake up and stop bleating like a sheep.
Maybe if Mitt brought back those millions he hid offshore and invested it in America people would take him more seriously.
"Ann and I will treasure these memories all the days of our lives."
How hard do you think Mitt was gritting his teeth when he said THAT.
Not at all. Romney is a pretty genuine guy. I could not give a crap what any of you sheep say.
As shown by the 47% video...
Yup... a genuine out of touch charter member of the 1%..
You nailed it !!!!! LOL!!!
Romney is "genuinely" contemptuous of 99% of Americans. Are you on his payroll or what?
Quiet everyone, the sheep are speaking! Probably just contemptuous of ignorant folks, well like you Flaming.
Ahhh, THE GOP.. following its current 3 time loser champ: MITT ROMNEY aka "so what my dad was a great guy who did great things and even lived on welfare. I'm not my dad so screw him and look at me!!" It is repulsive that the people who SUPPORT Romney TODAY, HATED him not more than 2 elections ago as the "Elitist Northern Wealthy Robber Baron".. But you know, guys who disrespect their father's, forget their own family history and live lives free of any true care or social responsiblity are GREAT compared to black socialists with Kenyan roots.
I voted for Romney and I'm glad I did. That smooth talking socialist pig we have in the White House is pathetic. You sheep out there that voted for Obama listened to nothing more than empty words of "Hope and Change" and "Forward". You failed to look at the person and his actions behind all the fancy speeches and Blame games. By the time Obama is done in 4 years, this country will be so messed up and broke that another Democrat will not step foot in the White House.
LOL!!!!
Really... Apparently you missed 2001 - 2009..
We know how the last republican left things...
Your childish rant is laughable at best..
UR ARE 100% RIGHT
Roadkill indeed
Roadkill:
Let's see...
Stock market reaching new highs every day
Unemployment steadily dropping since Obama took office
Consumer Confidence index up
Housing starts steadily rising
GDP raising steadily after Obama policies took effect.
Yes, sure looks bleak for the next Democrat to run. Unless it's Hilary, since polls show her beating every Republican they put her up against.
Hello Roadkill.
I realize you Obama haters have such contempt for the man that you are rooting for a national calamity to emerge on his watch, but I prefer to be optimistic. The improving economy is a positive indicator of better times ahead of us, and I choose the road back to peace and prosperity.
It's not that I'm a Obama hater, I just look into the FACTS. The stock market has improved due to the fact that companies are recording record profits, Why? It's because they are increasing the cost of goods and services, laying people off, cutting hours, not hiring and doing more with less. This leads to cost savings and better profits.
I look at a President that has increased the National Debt to 16.7 trillion dollars and no end in sight. He has not passed one Policy in his first 4 years to cut spending. He tried the blame game and scare tactics to keep the recent sequester from happening. He wants to spend, spend and spend.
He has increased Welfare programs by 38%. Almost 50 million people on food stamps. Has taken the Federal assistance phone program from a cost of 800 million a year to 2.2 billion a year.
You look at the drop in unemployment, but fail to realize how many people have dropped out of the workforce and are not being counted because they receive no benefits.
You have failed to look into Obamacare and the TRUE impact it will have on this country. Read it. You will be amazed at all the hidden taxes that will affect everyone with increased Health Care cost when this bill is 100% implemented. I know, my wife is a VP of Benefits and Human Resources.
I could go on and on, but I'm afraid you Sheep just don't get it!!!
What a bunch of mental midgets who seem to ignore the fact that our economic future is in real peril (do you know what that word means?). Government spending is out of control. The Dems have not passed a budget the last 4 years, which violates our constitution. The budget that the Senate just passed adds $7 trillion more to the debt over 10 years according to the CBO. (Do you know what the CBO is?) Our debt has now reached 75% of GDP and is climbing. GDP is not growing near fast enough to keep up with a President who is popular because he promises all things free. Within several years, the INTEREST payment on our debt will exceed our military and education budget. It will be even worse when interest rates rise. And anyone who terms the Republican budget as austerity measures needs to look up the definition of that word as well.
Mr. De-regulation and king of capitalism, how do you love that when you are putting gas in your car and fuel in your oil tank to keep warm. Nice work!Let"s make sure we keep giving breaks to the wealthy because the trickle down has worked so well!
is this supposed to be a news article or an opinion piece? the "journalist" calls Romney a "failed candidate", "a lopsided loss", a campaign characterized as "out of Touch" (by the Obama White House of course). The quotes above are simply a reinforcement of the authors opinion and have no place in a story about a speech.
The headline indicates that the story is about Romney addressing CPAC not what a loser NBC news thinks he is. Please tell me how wrong I am about journalism and how I am a horrible person so my opinion doesn't matter. I know it's coming because you have no objectivity..it's straight out of the liberal handbook, if fact it's the whole liberal handbook!
"Horrible person"???
No..
Just clueless..
Actually "clueless" is what we have sitting in the White House.
how predictable characterize a contrary opinion as clueless or otherwise demonize since you can't refute facts...thank you making my point!
The turkeys keep on trottin'.
you can say what ever about mitt but what has obama done, and what? will he do in the mths to come ...welfare people wants hand outs. what happens when there is no more hand outs ..then the low lives will rob and still take from us hard working americans ..get real get ready its coming down the road are you ready?? to fight to stand up to protect what is yours ??? freedom ...i am
I'm a Democrat and I am not in favor of the legalization of pot, except for medicinal purposes.
For one thing, exposure to marijuana has been shown to increase the risk of schizophrenia in vulnerable people. For another thing, Americans need another substance to degrade their lings and brain with, like they need a hole in the head.
The issue has nothing to do with "need"
It's centered around the effectiveness of a particular policy.... That policy - prohibition of "pot" has proven not to be effective on any level..
Why don't you tell your democraps what to do right???
Registered Democrat in Michigan here.
I don't think Mr.Romney or Mrs.Romney gives one hoot about what we Peasants say about him or her.
I voted the best out of the two evils.Obama he is not the best,wait until he goes back on his word
about Social Security.See what we think about him then.
I see the typical, Democratic whiners are out in force today. If this country is doing so well (as you may think it is) why all the whining? I guess you need someone, or thing to vent your disapproval with. Heaven for bib you might wake up and place blame where it's due!
Mistakes the GOP will definitely repeat are believing that Paul Ryan is:
He is actually none of the above. He is a faux intellectual who can't do simple accounting. He is also disingenuous and hides from the truth.
And what evidence do you have to support your claim?
The fact he failed the miami 201 economics class twice before finally passing it? My grandfather taught at miami university for 31 years and remembered every face of every student, kept a photo album too. Ryan is a moron and my grandfather knew it years ago.
Robert Berry, look him up.
I wouldn't call Romney out of touch. He has been true to his ideals and has great integrity. This is unlike Obama, McCain, Reid, Pelosi, Boehner and their ilk, who very much would like to appear "popular" and "in touch" with the masses. Unlike Romney, the others will agree with whatever way the wind is blowing. The here today and gone tomorrow mentality is very pervasive in our decaying moral society. Naturally, people with ideals, integrity, morality, and courage look out of touch with a society that is more concerned with what is on the outside. They ascribe to the old adage, whatever feels good, do it and we will just ask the people who have successfully earned more, to pay for it.
Yes, Obama captured the majority of voters as per the electoral college, but it was far from a clear mandate. I think that percentage represents the masses who are not aware of how this country works. For your information, yes you the 47%, most of our Congressmen and Congresswomen, Senators, on both sides of the aisle are wealthy!!! Hello, Obama is wealthy! Our system is good (worldwide), but broken. Romney used the blessings he obtained in this life to improve the country and wanted to fix our broken and ever swelling government, but those of us who supported his vision were overtaken by the socialist masses. How sad for our republic.
The sheep can not understand they really won nothing.
Great integrity???
BWAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Would you like a list of what other REPUBLICANS have said about willard, and his "integrity"???
teapublicans - when you just don't have the time for comedy central !!!!
K1200, What you meant to say is "Baaaa Baaaaaa..."
I Don't know why I read this trash. I'm almost feeling guilty for being a 1%er.
Adios Willard ! Just goes to show money can't buy you love.
You'll never know...
I just said I know.
You should do something about that nasty rash.
It's not a rash, it's a sunburn.
Frankly leaving Chris Christie out and putting Palin and Romney at the front along with Ryan's budget proves the real intent here by the "we the rich" not "we the people" party is to make America suffer like it has never suffered before in the following four years of Obama's final term. The GOP's real intent is to tie the American public to the whipping post and beat it like a rebellious slave for having elected a real president that would stand for the middle class and American freedoms instead of electing a GOP puppet president that would let big companies and powerful have their way. Meaning we would let older energy tycoons continue to make a kiilling, literally, with deregulation and added infrastructure (new pipelines) to increase pollution and increase dependency on oil and other dirty energy. As well as letting the rich pay no taxes by offshoring their money and business through a fake office in the Bahamas, all in the name of freedom. Well if you try to tell Americans it's freedom when referring to cheating America out of millions of tax dollars, I would say you are using a "tax loophole" which should be labled a crime and outlawed. Romney would be a pushover, the GOP would probably even be raising taxes right now if he was president, and waging a war as usual for a republican white house, just so people have better things to do than see what's happening on the sidelines during a war, it's the magic that lets the GOP do it's real damage, war. Do not let the GOP make America suffer Mr. President, time to whip out that trillion dollar coin and kick @ss.
America is suffering just fine with Obama. Sheep.
The suffering is..... insufferable !!!
Record corporate profits... Record stock market highs,... falling unemployment....
I can't take it !!!!!! LOL!!!!
OK, put your money where your mouth is...ride a bicycle, not a car....don't fly in airplanes....generate your own electricy...etc....etc..
XYZYX:
Yep, thanks to Boehner and his obstructionists, congress has broken all the records for hurting the country, done less for America than any congress in history, and filibustered more in four years than the last fifty. Thanks for nothing, GOP, it's obvious you are here to hurt, not help us. We are not that stupid no one is going to blame Obama for congress, there's no way this will help elect a GOP president in 2016, just the opposite, we will get the congress democratic majority as well.
maybe they learned that from Obama's response to his sequester...inflict maximum pain and blame it on someone else instead of leading the country to a compromise that the whole country can live with. Divide the country is Mr President's philosophy...nice slave reference?
K12, Just wait for 2014. You can thank me now for the heads up.
PS. I thought you guys hated corporate profits? You really need to choose a side.
murph22:
In case you missed it Obama caved and put things on the table for Boehner but boner missed his chance, the outcry from the rest of us was too much for the president to ignore and he was forced to take medicare/medicaid off the table again. He caved, most of the democrats are now referring to Obama as supporting the GOP. Didn't you get the memo?
Is this the new strategy? To gain votes for your party, you have to BE just like the other party? Wow. Sounds like a "great" plan.
That's like the church saying atheists should be allowed to come in on Sundays to tell everyone how God doesnt exist...and be accepted without opposition no less.
Yes,that is called fredom of speech.
But, would never be allowed and certainly not without opposition. Hell, I'd be kicked out of the church in a second.
The old guard conservative elite GOP have clearly shown themselves to be completely out of touch with America. Their hangups on gay/lesbian, abortion/contraception issues simply illustrates that most Americans feel there are more pressing issues facing this country, especially with monitary policy and deficit/debt issues.
No, it just shows the moral collapse this country has been heading for awhile now.
They are not out of touch, or crazy, just crazy like a fox. They are adopting a stance that will allow them to obstruct and deny all progress and make the country suffer, they aim to teach the American public a lesson: elect our puppet lieing GOP idiot (like a Romney for example) or we make you wish you had.
You don't like his family and financial success. You look down on his religion. You misstate what he said about the 47% (along with the writer of the article, but you can't quit talking about him or the other right leaning conservatives. You Dems are so inclusive. Yeah right!
You must be in favor for the Mexican Cartel.