Mitt and Ann Romney make precaucus swing
By Michele Linck Journal staff writer | Posted: Saturday, December 29, 2007
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa -- Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, stressed the importance of family to the country's future as they made a final precaucus swing through Northwest Iowa Friday.
Their visit included a stop at the Centre Mall in this conservative Christian community of Dutch heritage.
In his 10-minute talk, Romney said America's future lies in how the country handles the challenges of the future: energy without sending $1 billion a day to a country that may not like the U.S., affordable health care through free-market insurance, internationally competitive education and national security in the face of "an asymmetrical foe -- radical, violent jihadists," whom he said were apparently responsible for the assassination Thursday of former Pakistani Prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
He said his experiences have prepared him to lead the country in facing those challenges. And, he predicted the United States will "do pretty darn well," because of being a "God-fearing, family oriented and innovative" people.
The candidate reviewed his own successes in growing a business, turning around an Olympic Games mired in scandal and financial problems and reviving the state of Massachusetts. As governor, he said, he took the state from a nearly $3 billion budget deficit to having a $1 billion rainy day fund. He said he did it by cutting "waste and excess," not through taxation.
Romney credited his success to being raised in a family where he learned strong values. He said his father, George Romney, former head of American Motors, former three-time governor of Michigan and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, cited raising his own four children as his life's greatest accomplishment.
Dutch letters?
Ann Romney addressed the crowd, talking about the good food she's eaten in Iowa. She turned and called to the staff inside Casey's Bakery nearby, asking if they had Dutch letters, an almond pastry.
On the more serious side, she recalled the support she received from her husband, who often traveled as a business consultant, leaving her alone to parent their five sons, who could be "rambunctious" and "naughty." She said he could hear the ruckus in the background when he called home and assured her that she was doing the more important work.
She also talked about the value of his support as she faced the challenges of being newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998, just as they were deciding whether to move to Salt Lake City to work on the Olympic Games. And later, how she was among the many "heroes" chosen to run the Olympic torch across the country, carrying it into Salt Lake City as she celebrated a remission of her MS.
The Romneys began their day in Sioux Falls with a network television appearance, then went via the Mitt Mobile to campaign stops in Rock Rapids, Sioux Center, Le Mars and Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.
Mitt Romney was introduced by three fellow Republicans. State senators David Johnson of Ocheydan and Dave Mulder of Sioux Center preceded U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., in voicing their support for Romney.
Hoekstra -- whose family immigrated from the Netherlands when he was 3 years old -- said that as the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, he has "a bird's-eye view of the threats we face internationally, especially from radical jihadists." He said Romney could provide the right leadership all around.
Hoekstra noted it was his fifth visit to Iowa. "The reason I come to Iowa is I want to meet the presidential candidates," he joked, garnering applause.
Johnson endorsed Romney as the man who can unify the party and the country.
Mulder assured the 200 or so people who turned out for the mid-morning event that Romney is a man of faith. "I know his faith is a little different from ours," he said of Romney's Mormon beliefs. "But he believes in God. He believes in Jesus Christ. He said Jesus Christ is his savior. That's the key."
Romney gains supporters
Heather Mouw of Sioux Center brought her four children -- Miranda, 12; Devin, 10; Kendall, 8; and Sydney, 6 -- to hear Mitt Romney and she said she was pleased with what they heard. She said she liked that he "has kids and puts his family first. His values are in the right spot," she said. She said she especially appreciated hearing how supportive he was of his wife.
Cornelius Van Beek, a Sioux Center business owner, said he has decided to support Romney. "I just like his attitude on everyday life," he said.
Kay Kraai of Sioux Center said, "I liked what he had to say. I'm sure I will be voting for him." She said she will caucus on Thursday.
Kyle Brunsting, 18, of Hawarden, Iowa, said he'll caucus for Romney, too. "I like his views on immigration, his views in general," he said.
Mike Van Den Bosch of Sioux Center said before Romney arrived, "I have an open mind yet." He said he had listened to Fred Thompson and read a lot about all the candidates.
Their visit included a stop at the Centre Mall in this conservative Christian community of Dutch heritage.
In his 10-minute talk, Romney said America's future lies in how the country handles the challenges of the future: energy without sending $1 billion a day to a country that may not like the U.S., affordable health care through free-market insurance, internationally competitive education and national security in the face of "an asymmetrical foe -- radical, violent jihadists," whom he said were apparently responsible for the assassination Thursday of former Pakistani Prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
He said his experiences have prepared him to lead the country in facing those challenges. And, he predicted the United States will "do pretty darn well," because of being a "God-fearing, family oriented and innovative" people.
The candidate reviewed his own successes in growing a business, turning around an Olympic Games mired in scandal and financial problems and reviving the state of Massachusetts. As governor, he said, he took the state from a nearly $3 billion budget deficit to having a $1 billion rainy day fund. He said he did it by cutting "waste and excess," not through taxation.
Romney credited his success to being raised in a family where he learned strong values. He said his father, George Romney, former head of American Motors, former three-time governor of Michigan and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, cited raising his own four children as his life's greatest accomplishment.
Dutch letters?
Ann Romney addressed the crowd, talking about the good food she's eaten in Iowa. She turned and called to the staff inside Casey's Bakery nearby, asking if they had Dutch letters, an almond pastry.
On the more serious side, she recalled the support she received from her husband, who often traveled as a business consultant, leaving her alone to parent their five sons, who could be "rambunctious" and "naughty." She said he could hear the ruckus in the background when he called home and assured her that she was doing the more important work.
She also talked about the value of his support as she faced the challenges of being newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998, just as they were deciding whether to move to Salt Lake City to work on the Olympic Games. And later, how she was among the many "heroes" chosen to run the Olympic torch across the country, carrying it into Salt Lake City as she celebrated a remission of her MS.
The Romneys began their day in Sioux Falls with a network television appearance, then went via the Mitt Mobile to campaign stops in Rock Rapids, Sioux Center, Le Mars and Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.
Mitt Romney was introduced by three fellow Republicans. State senators David Johnson of Ocheydan and Dave Mulder of Sioux Center preceded U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., in voicing their support for Romney.
Hoekstra -- whose family immigrated from the Netherlands when he was 3 years old -- said that as the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, he has "a bird's-eye view of the threats we face internationally, especially from radical jihadists." He said Romney could provide the right leadership all around.
Hoekstra noted it was his fifth visit to Iowa. "The reason I come to Iowa is I want to meet the presidential candidates," he joked, garnering applause.
Johnson endorsed Romney as the man who can unify the party and the country.
Mulder assured the 200 or so people who turned out for the mid-morning event that Romney is a man of faith. "I know his faith is a little different from ours," he said of Romney's Mormon beliefs. "But he believes in God. He believes in Jesus Christ. He said Jesus Christ is his savior. That's the key."
Romney gains supporters
Heather Mouw of Sioux Center brought her four children -- Miranda, 12; Devin, 10; Kendall, 8; and Sydney, 6 -- to hear Mitt Romney and she said she was pleased with what they heard. She said she liked that he "has kids and puts his family first. His values are in the right spot," she said. She said she especially appreciated hearing how supportive he was of his wife.
Cornelius Van Beek, a Sioux Center business owner, said he has decided to support Romney. "I just like his attitude on everyday life," he said.
Kay Kraai of Sioux Center said, "I liked what he had to say. I'm sure I will be voting for him." She said she will caucus on Thursday.
Kyle Brunsting, 18, of Hawarden, Iowa, said he'll caucus for Romney, too. "I like his views on immigration, his views in general," he said.
Mike Van Den Bosch of Sioux Center said before Romney arrived, "I have an open mind yet." He said he had listened to Fred Thompson and read a lot about all the candidates.
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agitator wrote on Jan 1, 2008 7:46 AM:
When he ran for congress in 1992 he pledged he supported term limits and would only serve 4 terms.
He also ran on a platform opposing PAC money and never accepted any - until 2000 anyway. Now he pulls in hundreds of thousands of dollars in PAC money.
2 flip-floppers! "
michael wrote on Dec 29, 2007 11:16 PM:
Julie T wrote on Dec 29, 2007 12:38 PM:
Lisa wrote on Dec 29, 2007 1:26 AM: