Romney touts credentials for presidency
By Bret Hayworth Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, June 01, 2007
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney returned to campaign in Sioux City Thursday, touting his conservative credentials to assume the presidency in 2009.
In an event that drew more than 200 people to the Clarion Hotel, Romney said "Republicanism, conservatism" is about strength, and he vowed to make a stronger military by adding 100,000 more personnel to the armed forces.
After an introduction by Siouxland Chamber of Commerce president Debi Durham and city councilman Brent Hoffman and a prayer by the Rev. Cary Gordon, Romney ran through several vexing U.S. problems, including a budget with too many entitlements, Americans "using too much oil," schools in need of improvement and 45 million people without health insurance coverage. But Romney said the greatest challenge is dealing with radical Islamists who want "to put in the law of Islam" into governments internationally and also "want to cause our collapse."
Romney, who made other Northwest Iowa stops in Le Mars and Sioux Center Thursday, didn't address the Iraq War directly, but said "a strong military for America" is essential.
In moving to social issues, Romney found strong support from the attendees. At a time when more than half of all babies are born in single-parent homes, he said it is time to "strengthen the American home and family." He said he was "pro-life" on abortion, and would like to see the 1973 Supreme Court ruling on Roe V. Wade overturned by the court in the near future, so that individual states could set abortion laws.
Romney said he was "not anti-gay," citing having had a gay member in his Massachusetts administration. But he said "I am pro-traditional family," so he supports a federal constitutional amendment stating that marriage is between one man and one woman.
Durham said Romney's "leadership and accomplishments" in government and business have proven his ability to lead the nation. Durham said Romney is a "committed fiscal conservative" who is "resolved to defeat terrorists."
During one of the seven questions addressed to Romney, Cheryl Richeal of Sioux City looked beyond the Republican Party battle to the 2008 general election. Richeal asked, "If you win the nomination of the Republican Party and Hillary (Clinton) wins the nomination of the Democratic Party, will you take the gloves off?"
The query was greeted with applause and laughter, and Romney responded, "I'm sure we'll have a good time; the gloves will come off."
He added, "Shudder the thought, if Hillary were president." He said Clinton has a much different vision for America, with the conception of "big government, big taxation, welfare state."
Outside the event on a street corner, an atypical method for dogging a candidate was seen.
A man was dressed from head-to-toe in a dolphin outfit, including flippers. He carried a sign that mocked the Romney event, which was touted as Ask Mitt Anything. The dolphin guy held a sign that had an "Ask Flip Anything" wording, with the other side reading "He'll Tell You Whatever You Want to Hear."
The protester, who at first identified himself as being from "the Atlantic" Ocean before acknowledging he was from Massachusetts, said he has followed Romney around the nation. He said he was neither a Democrat nor Republican, that "I'm not partial to anything, just an angry citizen."
Referring to the flip-flopping charge Democrat presidential nominee John Kerry received in 2004, the man said Romney was another flip-flopper from Massachusetts. He said Romney went from "reliably pro-choice" to "reliably pro-life" on the abortion issue.
As for flipping, a young couple walked by the dolphin/man and smiled at the odd sight -- and the man flipped out his cell phone and took a picture.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
In an event that drew more than 200 people to the Clarion Hotel, Romney said "Republicanism, conservatism" is about strength, and he vowed to make a stronger military by adding 100,000 more personnel to the armed forces.
After an introduction by Siouxland Chamber of Commerce president Debi Durham and city councilman Brent Hoffman and a prayer by the Rev. Cary Gordon, Romney ran through several vexing U.S. problems, including a budget with too many entitlements, Americans "using too much oil," schools in need of improvement and 45 million people without health insurance coverage. But Romney said the greatest challenge is dealing with radical Islamists who want "to put in the law of Islam" into governments internationally and also "want to cause our collapse."
Romney, who made other Northwest Iowa stops in Le Mars and Sioux Center Thursday, didn't address the Iraq War directly, but said "a strong military for America" is essential.
In moving to social issues, Romney found strong support from the attendees. At a time when more than half of all babies are born in single-parent homes, he said it is time to "strengthen the American home and family." He said he was "pro-life" on abortion, and would like to see the 1973 Supreme Court ruling on Roe V. Wade overturned by the court in the near future, so that individual states could set abortion laws.
Romney said he was "not anti-gay," citing having had a gay member in his Massachusetts administration. But he said "I am pro-traditional family," so he supports a federal constitutional amendment stating that marriage is between one man and one woman.
Durham said Romney's "leadership and accomplishments" in government and business have proven his ability to lead the nation. Durham said Romney is a "committed fiscal conservative" who is "resolved to defeat terrorists."
During one of the seven questions addressed to Romney, Cheryl Richeal of Sioux City looked beyond the Republican Party battle to the 2008 general election. Richeal asked, "If you win the nomination of the Republican Party and Hillary (Clinton) wins the nomination of the Democratic Party, will you take the gloves off?"
The query was greeted with applause and laughter, and Romney responded, "I'm sure we'll have a good time; the gloves will come off."
He added, "Shudder the thought, if Hillary were president." He said Clinton has a much different vision for America, with the conception of "big government, big taxation, welfare state."
Outside the event on a street corner, an atypical method for dogging a candidate was seen.
A man was dressed from head-to-toe in a dolphin outfit, including flippers. He carried a sign that mocked the Romney event, which was touted as Ask Mitt Anything. The dolphin guy held a sign that had an "Ask Flip Anything" wording, with the other side reading "He'll Tell You Whatever You Want to Hear."
The protester, who at first identified himself as being from "the Atlantic" Ocean before acknowledging he was from Massachusetts, said he has followed Romney around the nation. He said he was neither a Democrat nor Republican, that "I'm not partial to anything, just an angry citizen."
Referring to the flip-flopping charge Democrat presidential nominee John Kerry received in 2004, the man said Romney was another flip-flopper from Massachusetts. He said Romney went from "reliably pro-choice" to "reliably pro-life" on the abortion issue.
As for flipping, a young couple walked by the dolphin/man and smiled at the odd sight -- and the man flipped out his cell phone and took a picture.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
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IowaMan wrote on Jun 2, 2007 2:32 PM:
IowaBoy wrote on Jun 1, 2007 11:02 AM: