The Media

The Media

This article says the following:

-In his Senate race, he wrote a letter promising a gay Republican group he would be a stronger advocate for gays and their rights than his liberal opponent, Edward M. Kennedy. Now he emphasizes his opposition to gay marriage and civil unions.

Why does the media keep repeating this lie about Romney? When he ran for governor in 2002, Romney declared his opposition to both same-sex marriage and civil unions. Click here for a link to a 2002 article that explains this.

There is no change. Why is it that the media attacks Romney over non existing flip-flops, but does not attack Hillary of her support, and now opposition to the war?

It often seems that journalist would rather cause problems, than fix them . They don't even try to give an accurate portraits of what Romney believes. But this is not new. Journalist tend to over simplify things. Else why do they summarize the president's speech, when you can read the whole thing online. Why do they have to put it into their own words? Ego?

Edward R. Murrow said; "The line between investigating and persecuting is a very fine one ." I actually disagree with this. I think it is obvious when you have crossed the line into persecution. When you don't follow journalistic standards. When you don't treat all the candidates the same. When you oversimplify someone's position, when you misrepresent someone's position... these are all examples of persecution.

Thomas Jefferson has said; "Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle." This is, of course, an exaggeration, but what would motivate TJ to say this? Newspapers are not motivated by finding truth. They are motivated by selling adds. Controversy sells readers. Newspapers promote controversy (just like Eminem). But it is more than just saying, journalist will have more stories to write about if there is more conflict is in the world . Ads are sold by conflict, but they are also sold by reassuring the reader what they already believe. Thus newspapers in liberal areas tend to attack conservatives, and newspapers in Red States tend to attack liberals. But which came first? The chicken or the egg? Did the liberal newspapers cause liberals to become liberal, or does the newspaper follow the liberals?

Others have observed that the media likes to start fights. H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956) has said; "All successful newspapers are ceaselessly querulous and bellicose. They never defend anyone or anything if they can help it; if the job is forced on them, they tackle it by denouncing someone or something else."

So the newspapers will not help us figure out who we need in 2008. They will never sit down and do a thorough analysis of both sides of each issue. They will just miss-quote and misrepresent each side just enough to keep both sides angry. So what are we to do? We should go around them. We should sit down and figure out for ourselves.

Is Mitt Romney a flip-flopper? In the next two years, you will never see the media try to figure this out. You will just hear them use whatever names they can get to stick. So lets figure it out ourselves. Please help me compile all the reasons to agree or disagree that Mitt Romney is a flip-flopper. I will, unlike the media, present both sides.

http://myclob.pbwiki.com/flip-flop

I look forward to your comments, and will add whatever people tell me to add. I won't silence you, by ignoring your logic (like the media). I will silence you buy bringing up good reasons to disagree with you.

~ Mike

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Governor Mitt Romney Interviews

You know the drill by now. I present the content that I have been able to find so far, and ask if you can help me find more. I did a Google Search for "Mitt Romney Interview Transcript". I assume the first few hits were the best, but I hope I didn't miss anything. Do you have a favorite interview that I missed on my list?

~ Mike

2007

2006

2005

  • 02-28-2005; Washington Post journalists Dan Balz, David S. Broder and Ruth Marcus at the National Governors Association meeting

Videos

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Governor Romney Sends Letters Urging Divestment from Iran

Thursday, Feb 22, 2007

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kevin Madden (857) 288-6390

 

Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney released a letter sent to New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli urging that he pursue "a policy of strategic disinvestment from companies linked to the Iranian regime." Letters urging support for this policy were also sent to New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and United States Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer.

 

In his letter, Governor Romney wrote:

 

"With your new responsibilities overseeing one of America's largest pension funds, you have a unique opportunity to lead an effort to isolate Iran as it pursues nuclear armament. I request that you immediately launch a policy of strategic disinvestment from companies linked to the Iranian regime. Screening pension investments and divesting from companies providing financial support to the Iranian regime or linked to Iran's weapons programs and terrorist activities could have a powerful impact. New investments should be scrutinized as long as Iran's regime continues its current, dangerous course."

 

Governor Romney believes that for the United States, there are few more urgent priorities than standing up to the Iranian government's dangerous actions. Eliminating financial support for this regime is a critical first step and will support future efforts.

 

Today's letters build on the five-point strategy to prevent a nuclear Iran that Governor Romney laid out earlier this year at the annual Herzliya Conference in Israel. As part of that strategy, Governor Romney called for further economic isolation of Iran by pursuing, in part, pension fund divestment. In January 2007, Governor Romney also helped arrange a meeting between former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Massachusetts State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill to discuss divestment of pension funds.

 

Governor Romney's Letters On Iran:

 

Letter To New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli: http://www.mittromney.com/img/pdf/Comptroller_DiNapoli_Letter.pdf

 

Letter To New York Governor Eliot Spitzer: http://www.mittromney.com/img/pdf/Spitzer_Letter.pdf

 

Letter To Senator Hillary Clinton: http://www.mittromney.com/img/pdf/ Clinton_Letter.pdf

 

Letter To Senator Chuck Schumer: http://www.mittromney.com/img/pdf/Schumer_Letter.pdf

 

 

Governor Mitt Romney Names Florida Statewide Finance Committee

Thursday, Feb 22, 2007

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACT: Kevin Madden (857) 288-6390

 

Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced that 77 men and women will be joining the Romney for President Florida Statewide Finance Committee. Serving on the Finance Committee are Romney for President National Finance Co-Chairs Boca Raton developer Mark Guzzetta and former Ambassador Mel Sembler of St. Petersburg.

 

"We have put together an extremely strong finance team that will help build the resources we need to campaign in the Sunshine State and across the nation, and this is just the beginning," said Governor Romney. "Each one of these men and women bring extensive experience to our efforts having worked in business and on numerous campaigns for many different candidates. I thank them for their service and look forward to working with them to provide the new, strong leadership Washington needs."

 

Members Of The Florida Statewide Finance Committee:

 

- Jorge L. Arrizurietta, Akerman Senterfitt, Miami – Chair International Policy Group, Akerman Senterfitt, Coral Gables

- William W. Bain, Founder of Bain & Co., and Co-Founder of Bain Capital, Boston & Naples

- Speaker Allan Bense, GAC Contractors, Panama City

- Ward Blakely, Jacksonville

- Ambassador J. Richard Blankenship, Global Investment Advisors, LLC, Jacksonville

- William O. Brisben, Jupiter Island

- Hoe Brown, Tampa

- M. Anthony Burns, Chairman Emeritus, Ryder System, Miami

- Al Cardenas, Tew Cardenas, Miami

- Dr. Raymond F. Caron, Orlando

- Gary Chartrand, Acosta, Jacksonville

- Herb Collins, Boston & Palm Beach

- J.D. Collins, Jacksonville

- Rod Davies, Stuart

- Henry Dean, Henry Dean & Associates, St. Augustine

- Don DeFosset, Tampa

- Dr. A.K. Desai, St. Petersburg

- J. Thomas Dodson, Ponte Vedra Beach

- Ferdinand and June Duda, Oviedo

- Chris Dudley, Southern Strategy Group, Tallahassee

- Ann Duncan, Vertical Integration, Clearwater

- Earl Durden, Rail Management Corporation, Panama City

- Llwyd Ecclestone, Jr., Palm Beach

- Kenneth Endelson, Kenco Communities, Inc., Boca Raton

- Art Falcone, The Falcone Group, Inc., Boca Raton

- Thomas M. Ferguson, Palm Beach

- Blair M. Fonda, Madison Development Group, Jacksonville

- Michael & Daryl Garfield, Global Medical Research LLC, Winter Park

- Honorable Dudley Goodlette, Coleman & Johnson, P.A./Southern Strategy Group, Naples

- David Graham, Intuition Development Holdings, Jacksonville

- David Griffin, Griffin Consulting, Tallahassee

- Mark Guzzetta, Gemstone Development Corporation, Boca Raton

- Michael & Mallory Harrell, Foley & Lardner, Tallahassee

- William Harrison, Jr., Panama City

- L. Charles Hilton, Jr., Panama City

- Mori Hosseini, ICI Homes, Inc., Daytona Beach

- Rustin Howard, Pensacola

- Lt. Governor Toni Jennings, Orlando

- Jerry & Darlene Jordan, Palm Beach

- Frederick W. Leonhardt, Gray Robinson Law Firm, Orlando

- Ometrius Deon Long, Ometrius D. Long & Associates, P.A., Winter Park

- James MacDougald, St. Petersburg

- Randall McElheney, Panama City

- Stephen J. Mitchell, Squire Sanders & Dempsey, Tampa

- Mitchell R. Montgomery, Montgomery Land Company, Jacksonville

- H. Gary & Renee' Morse, The Villages

- Bill Mullen, Palm Beach

- Lee Munder, Palm Beach

- Duane Ottenstroer, Jacksonville

- Herbert Hill Peyton, Gate Petroleum, Jacksonville

- Sergio Pino, Century Home Builders, Miami

- Honorable Van B. Poole, Dutko, Poole, McKinley, Tallahassee

- John Rakolta, Jr., Walbridge Aldinger Company, Detroit & Palm Beach

- David Rancourt, Southern Strategy Group, Tallahassee

- Jim Rathbun, Rathbun & Associates, Tallahassee

- Marc Roberts, Marc Roberts Companies, Boca Raton

- Pat Roberts, Tallahassee

- Wayne Rosen, Shores Development, Coral Gables

- Rudy Rowe III, Southland Contracting, Tallahassee

- Honorable R.Z. "Sandy" Safley, Tallahassee

- Brent Sembler, The Sembler Company, St. Petersburg

- Ambassador Mel Sembler, The Sembler Company, St. Petersburg

- James M. Seneff, Jr. CNL, Orlando

- Brian Shortsleeve, H.I.G. Capital LLC, Boston and Miami

- Vernon Smith, Ft. Pierce

- James "Jim" Stelling, Stelling Properties, LLC, Seminole County

- Stanley Tate, Tate Enterprises, Inc., North Miami

- Speaker John Thrasher, Southern Strategy Group, Jacksonville

- Ray Velazquez, Terramark Worldwide, Miami

- Dr. R. Vijay, Tampa

- Ken Wright, Shutts and Bowen, Orlando

- Jordan Zimmerman, Zimmerman Advertising, Boca Raton

 

Governor Mitt Romney Announces South Carolina County Chairs

Thursday, Feb 22, 2007

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACT: Kevin Madden (857) 288-6390

 

Boston, MA - Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced the names of his County Chairs in South Carolina. These County Chairs will build the Romney campaign infrastructure in South Carolina and will lead the grassroots effort in the state.

 

"I am honored by the commitment these men and women are giving to our campaign," Governor Romney said. "We are making great progress in building an impressive organization in South Carolina. I am grateful to have them on our team and humbled by their support."

 

Governor Romney's South Carolina County Chairs:

 

Aiken County

June Cannon

Rick Osbon

Betty Ryberg

 

Allendale County

Julie Strong

 

Anderson County

Jane Jones

 

Bamberg County

Susan Rhoden

 

Barnwell County

Dan Ross

 

Beaufort County

Bob Holtzmacher

 

Berkeley County

Cheryl Ludlam

Senator Bill Mescher

Wayland Moody

Steve Querry

Bill Willcox

 

Calhoun County

Richard Sweatt

Ruby Sweatt

 

Charleston County

Daniel Dukes

Councilman Henry Fishburne

 

Cherokee County

Dr. Sam Swad

 

Chester County

Tot Kennedy

Alex Stroman

 

Clarendon County

Moye Graham

 

Colleton County

Joe Murrary

 

Darlington County

Scott Anderson

 

Dillon County

Nevell Rogers

 

Dorchester County

Tianna Keener

Elizabeth Miller

 

Edgefield County

Frank Mauer

 

Fairfield County

Coy Richardson

 

Florence County

Mary Tepper

 

Georgetown County

Paul Hogan

Ricky Horne

Glen O'Connell

 

Greenville County

Dr. Robert Barnes

Marjorie Barnes

Councilman Joe Dill

Joe Haynes

 

Greenwood County

James Gardner

Michelle Oxner

Randy Oxner

 

Horry County

Representative Alan Clemmons

 

Jasper County

Keith Dubose

 

Kershaw County

James D'Alessio

 

Lancaster County

Sara Fleming

Al Simpson

 

Laurens County

Patrick Garrison

 

Lee County

Charlene Privette

 

Lexington County

Dr. Scott Andersen

Representative Nikki Haley

Representative Chip Huggins

Tim Miller

Representative Ted Pitts

Robert Schaeffer

Irby Schultz

Bill Shealy

Verona Shealy

Shirley Smith

Ottis Smith

 

McCormick County

Mid Self

 

Newberry County

Margaret Brackett

Senator Ronnie Cromer

Betty Dominick

Alan Gardner

Charles Simmons

 

Oconee County

Steve Sokol

 

Orangeburg County

Roy Lindsey

Chester Palmer

Barbara Strickland

 

Pickens County

Senator Larry Martin

Johnathan Strange

 

Richland County

Representative Nathan Ballentine

Denise Jones

Wanda Forbes

Grace Rentiers

 

Saluda County

Brandy Shealy

 

Spartanburg County

June Bond

Marlene Saad

 

Sumter County

Jimmy Byrd

 

Union County

Les Anderson

 

York County

Rod Benefield

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Governor Mitt Romney on the Current Environmental Debate

Friday, Feb 23, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kevin Madden (857) 288-6390

Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on the current environmental debate:

"Governor Mark Sanford is right. Unfortunately, some in the Republican Party are embracing the radical environmental ideas of the liberal left. As governor, I found that thoughtful environmentalism need not be anti-growth and anti- jobs. But Kyoto-style sweeping mandates, imposed unilaterally in the United States, would kill jobs, depress growth and shift manufacturing to the dirtiest developing nations."

"Republicans should never abandon pro-growth conservative principles in an effort to embrace the ideas of Al Gore. Instead of sweeping mandates, we must use America's power of innovation to develop alternative sources of energy and new technologies that use energy more efficiently."

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Classic Hack Job on Romney by ABC

Unfortunately I have to add another list to my "Criticism of Mitt Romney" page.

The Criticisms is "Romney is not a true Republican because he voted for Paul Tsongas."

First a clarification. Romney voted for George H. Bush in the General (final) election, but he voted for Paul Tsongas in the primaries.

Every belief has many valid reasons to agree and disagree with it. I created a page for this belief here:

Reasons to disagree (Romney was wrong to vote for Tsongas)

1. Romney was a good republican because he was very practical. In 1992 there was no Republican primary. He had two options. He could sit on the side lines and not vote (like me this last election cycle) or he could vote for the best candidate who would not likely beat Bush in the General election. Romney chose the latter. This does not make him a bad republican.
2. Paul Tsongas was a fiscal conservative.
3. Paul Tsongas was a good guy.
4. I wish every Republican would have registered as independents in 1992 and voted for Paul Tsongus. Bush would have lost anyways, but we would have had Tsongus instead of Clinton. And now Hillary Clinton. Maybe George H. Bush would have won against Paul Tsongus. Two descent guys, that had nothing to do with Hollywood instead of Bill going against H. Bush in 1992.
5. Maybe all Republicans should claim independent, so that we can vote for Hillary in the Primaries and our guys in the general election.
6. There was no GOP primary contest in 92. In 1992 Mitt Romney voted against Bill Clinton twice.
7. I am a Romney fan, but not even I think Romney was smart enough to see that Bill Clinton was a bigger liability than George H. Bush was an asset for our Country. I am not going to attribute Mitt Romney of difficult political calculus. This was very basic addition. Vote once for the guy you like best, or vote twice? Hmm, let me see…

Reasons to agree

1. A good republican would never vote for a Democrat.
2. A vote for a Democrat is a vote for the Devil himself. D is for Devil. Even if it is the just the primary and you vote for George H. Bush (like Romney) in the General election.

But now Dan Rather's ABC is looking for times that Mitt Romney has discussed the same issue on different occasions, and not used the exact same verbatim language. ABC says that according to some (top notch, infallible, always trust worthy) Boston Globe reporters Romney did not give the exact verbatim explanation of why he voted for Tsongas as his explanation on Tomorrow's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos".

According to the Boston Globe reporters, "Romney confirmed he voted for former U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas in the state's 1992 Democratic presidential primary, saying he did so both because Tsongas was from Massachusetts and because he favored his ideas over those of Bill Clinton," the Boston Globe's Scot Lehigh and Frank Phillips wrote on Feb. 3, 1994. "He added he had been sure the G.O.P. would renominate George Bush (was their any question?), for whom he voted in the fall election."

According to ABC this is somehow contradicted when Romney says; "In Massachusetts, if you register as an independent, you can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary," said Romney, who until he made an unsuccessful run for Senate in 1994 had spent his adult life as a registered independent. "When there was no real contest in the Republican primary, I'd vote in the Democrat primary, vote for the person who I thought would be the weakest opponent for the Republican."

Alright. Mitt Romney did not use the same exact verbatim language, so it is apparently time to turn off any logic within your brain and accuse him of changing his story. Way to go ABC.

This article, however, asks if there is any contradiction. Romney liked Tsongas better than Clinton, and didn't think that he would win over Bush. No contradiction.

But ABC twists Romney's words and they accuse him of some Machiavellian scheme to win the election for Bush, by forcing Tongas into the race. Did Romney change his story, or is ABC just trying to make something out of nothing?

Here is a comparison. Why do you love your wife? One day you say, "she is pretty." Someone asks you the next day, "She is nice." To which ABC responds, "Oh! Your a flip-flopper! You changed your story! One day you say that you are physically attracted to her, the next day you say that it is because of the nice things she does for you? It it because you are a misogynist or because you like her slave labor? Which is it?!" It is the same exact thing with Romney. One day he explained that Paul was a Social Conservative. The next day he explained how he didn't think Paul would win Bush anyways.

Dan Rather
We knew that Dan Rather was guilty of Document-gate, but who from CBS put out this hit piece? Don't you like how no one puts their name and takes responsibility? By the way, I've posted a couple of responses, but they do not approve anything that doesn't agree with the DNC party line.

Anyways, here is my analysis of the flip-flopper charge, and here is the analysis of the flip-flopper charge directly as it applies to Romney over voting for Paul Tsongas in the primary and Bush in the General Election.

Please tell me what you think.

~ Mike

PS: MMM has a great piece over here.

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"Why I Support Mitt Romney for President"

 

I would like to create a page with all the explanations of why people support Mitt Romney. Please e-mail me reasons why you support Mitt Romney and I will add it to this page:

http://myclob.pbwiki.com/Why-I-Support-Mitt-Romney-for-President

A

Paul Allen
Congressman Robert Aderholt

B

David M Bresnahan

E

Evangelicals for Mitt


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Examples of Governor Mitt Romney’s Innovations

  1. Redirecting government money formerly spent re-reimbursing emergency rooms, instead paying for health insurance premiums (more}
  2. Modifying the Massachusetts homeless policy of putting new people at the shelter into hotels, and putting those who have been in the shelter the longest into hotels, resulting in millions of dollars saved, and homeless people no longer going to hotels. (more)
  3. Negotiating a system, the only in the country according to my knowledge, that allowed state troopers to help out with illegal immigration. (more)
  4. Governor Mitt Romney supported innovation by leading his state as the only state in the union to adopt the use of only open standard software such as star office. (more)
  5. Governor Mitt Romney also supports innovation by wanting companies to spend more on R&D than lawsuits. "Another burden on our economic future is our out-of-control tort system. Last year, U.S. corporations spent more money on tort claims than they did on R&D."
  6. Mitt Romney is a tireless advocate of raising our school's test scores so that we can have the talent in engineering, math, and science that will allow us to stay competitive. "America and America's youth are less and less competitive. Yes, fixing our schools is a social responsibility. It is also a national economic and national security necessity." Governor Mitt Romney, Oral Testimony of Governor Mitt Romney House Committee on Education and the Workforce
  7. Mitt Romney created the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award that brought attention to innovative small businesses in Massachusetts.
  8. Romney promoted a competition in Massachusetts that rewarded cities with innovative approaches to smart growth. 04-19-2005 Press Release
  9. Mitt Romney had to do some innovative things to turn around Bain, create Bain Capital, save the 2002 Winter Olympics, and balance the budget in Massachusetts without raising taxes. I know he was very methodical at the way that he came in and saved Bain. He made a deal with all of the executives, with kind of an innovative deal that he would only take the CEO position given certain requirements. At the time, the whole field of venture capitalism was very innovative, and I think Romney was a pioneer of the industry. Also the 2002 Olympics had very innovative aspects to it, as far as cost saving methods, and the use of volunteers.
This are just some of the top things that came to my mind. It only took me a few seconds, and I know you will have many more examples. Please help me, I think this is very important.
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Governor Mitt Romney and Innovation

2007 quotes

  • "This place is not just about automobiles; it is about innovation, Innovation that transformed an industry, and in doing so, gave Americans a way of life our grandparents could never have imagined.
    • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 Governor Mitt Romney's presidential announcement

  • "Innovation and transformation have been at the heart of America's success. If there ever was a time when Innovation and transformation were needed in government, it is now.
    • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 Governor Mitt Romney's presidential announcement
  • "It is time for Innovation and transformation in Washington. It is what our country needs. It is what our people deserve.
    • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 Governor Mitt Romney's presidential announcement
  • "Throughout my life, I have pursued Innovation and transformation. It has taught me the vital lessons that come only from experience, from failures and successes, from the private, public and voluntary sectors, from small and large enterprise, from leading a state, from being in the arena, not just talking about it. Talk is easy, talk is cheap. It is doing that is hard. And it is only in doing that hope and dreams come to life."
    • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 Governor Mitt Romney's presidential announcement
  • "We strengthen the American people by giving them more freedom, by letting them keep more of what they earn, by making sure our Schools are providing the skills our children will need for tomorrow, and by keeping America at the leading edge of Innovation and technology."
    • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 Governor Mitt Romney's presidential announcement
  • "Our government has become a weight on the American people, sapping their strength and slowing their climb. We must transform our government – to become a government that is smaller and less bureaucratic, one with fewer regulations and more freedom for our people. The Innovation we need today is to make government more responsive to the needs of everyday American citizens. It's time to put government in its place, and to put the American people first!"
    • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY'S PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
  • "As we look around us in this museum, we see the evidence of American Innovation – airplanes, automobiles, appliances. But these are not America's greatest innovation. America's greatest Innovation is freedom. Without freedom, we have nothing. With freedom, nothing can hold us back."
    • Governor Mitt Romney, 02-13-07 Governor Mitt Romney's presidential announcement

2006 quotes

  • "Charter schools are important centers for innovation, achievement and accountability in education. It is especially important for parents with children in low-performing districts to have an alternative, and I will continue to fight any measure that would restrict this choice or the addition of new charters."

2005 quotes

  • "I want to start by commending the Committee for your decision to engage in what I consider to be the greatest challenge facing our nation – how to remain the world leader in intellectual capital. Slowly, yet systematically, the advantage the United States has in producing and retaining the thought leaders of our world has been eroded. We are, I believe, at an inflection point that will determine whether America remains a strong and viable leader in a global world economy or whether, like Great Britain before us, we will allow other countries to become the drivers of innovation while the United States slowly fades into a nation of shopkeepers."
    • Governor Mitt Romney, 05-17-2005 U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, Hearing on "High School Reform: Examining State and Local Efforts"
  • "We have every reason to believe Massachusetts can offer a lot more good jobs. Last year, we created incentives for new jobs and funding for innovation. We stepped up to the expansion plan at Hanscom and Natick laboratories that has the potential to create thousands of new jobs. We boosted workforce training. And we hit the bricks, selling Massachusetts. We marketed our state to hundreds of employers, many of whom I met personally."
    • Governor Mitt Romney, 01-13-2005, 2005 STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS

2004 quotes

  • "Charter schools provide more alternatives in public education and encourage innovation and excellence. They hold teachers and administration accountable for the educational success of their students and give parents the chance to make choices regarding their children's education."
  • "Massachusetts is a world-class center of innovation. Let's work together to keep our jobs and keep our employers here in our state where they belong."

2003 quotes

  • " So being here this evening with Dr. Vest, Mr. d'Arbeloff, the Deshpandes and other scientists and leaders in the field of innovation and technology is something which I find to be beyond my capability. I want to underscore how important what you are doing is, not just for yourselves, but to our state, to our nation, and I believe to our total global economy and global population. "
  • "Let me come back to something more parochial, which is how our state fits into all of that and how you who are entrepreneurs and investors, financiers, faculty members and others who are associated with the process of innovation fit into, if you will, "our state." I am convinced that this is an extraordinarily attractive place to grow and develop ideas and technology. That this state has many of the features which are unique in our nation and perhaps in our world - the clusters of technology and capability that have assembled here -- means that enterprises that begin here begin with a natural advantage. We have also thought to keep the attractiveness of the, if you will, 'the Petri dish" here for technology innovation very robust and vital. There are some who would suggest we could solve our problems best by, for instance, raising our tax rates and business payroll taxes and so forth. I am afraid of going down the path California is going down. I am afraid that going to an 11% income tax will scare away innovation and scare away jobs. California is a beautiful place. We don't have their weather to compete with, so we have to compete on other bases. For us it's a place where that tax burden is not overwhelming with a 5.3% tax rate - they're going up to an 11% tax rate, with over 9% today. We have to make sure this is a place as attractive for people to come and grow their enterprise - our regulatory structure."
  • Governor Mitt Romney, Deshpande Center IdeaStream Symposium, 05-13-03
  • "The numbers are clear. Small businesses are not just apart of our economy. They are the engine of economic growth and innovation."
  • "Each month, we will present this award to an individual who, like Bernie Goldhirsh, uses innovation and drive to grow small ideas into the businesses that make Massachusetts the leader we are."

  • "I know as well that what you are doing here has impact well beyond my parochial interests in Massachusetts. I think we can all appreciate the broader context of what's involved. On a global basis, I'm convinced that you are seeing - as some have indicated in some recent journals and books -- the civilizations of the world weighing the values, which will be followed by their civilizations and by their peoples. On the one hand, we have the model of the US and other nations of the west -- which is model based upon individual entrepreneurship and individual decision-making and democracy. Everything related to the individual and the innovation and creativity of the individual, and saying the individual given full freedoms and incentives and opportunities for innovation, will create enormous innovation and potential for other people to live and grow from, and that this is the best way for building a civilization and an economy. There are other civilizations in our word that are convinced, that no, that's not the right model. That in fact you are much better under a more authoritarian structure where collectivity of purpose is defined as the objective and that this idea of individuality and innovation by individuals is actually quite counterproductive. And there is a debate between these differing views in the civilizations of the world today."
    • Governor Mitt Romney
  • "There's a common misperception that we do all the innovation and send off the grunt work to people offshore, that somehow American technology does all the high-end work and we send out routine drafting elsewhere. We have the perception we're the best and the brightest but we didn't score as well as others in some studies. We know this market but when our market is no longer the target market in the world, when India and China surpass us, the idea that we'll be innovating and they'll be copying is not an accurate perception."
    • Governor Mitt Romney, Forrester Research executive strategy summit in Boston

  • "Another burden on our economic future is our out-of-control tort system. Last year, U.S. corporations spent more money on tort claims than they did on R&D. If innovation is the key to our long term leadership, then some tort lawyers are cashing out our country's future. I spoke with one member of the plaintiff's bar the other day. He said that the tort lawyers are ok with state reform, but not national reform. You know what state level tort reform means - it means that as long as there is one lawsuit-friendly state, they can sue almost any major, deep-pocketed company in America. No thanks, America needs national tort reform."
    • Governor Mitt Romney,

"Our generation has not had a Sputnik moment…yet. But our Sputnik is on its way. It is coming from Asia. One of the great developments of our time is the economic emergence of China, India, and other nations of Asia. Their poverty is thankfully being reduced. And new opportunities for our employers are opening, but so are new challenges. Asia is not content with making our Christmas tree ornaments: they want to build commercial jets and MRI machines, create software and breakthrough drugs. They are planning for the innovation and technical capital of the world to move from America to Asia."
"And it is on its way. Corporate investment in Asia is exploding. CEO's in my high tech state tell me they plan to transfer major operations there, not for the low cost, but because of the highly educated, highly motivated and plentiful workforce. Bill Gates reports that Microsoft's new ideas come increasingly from Beijing."
"We take comfort in the fact that we spend many times as much as Asian nations on R&D but don't forget that our engineers cost about ten times as much as theirs."
"Two decades ago, American citizens and Asian citizens were awarded about the same number of Ph.D.s annually in physical science and engineering—about 5,000. Today, 4,400 US citizens receive those Ph.D.s compared with 24,900 Asian citizens."
"America and America's youth are less and less competitive. Yes, fixing our schools is a social responsibility. It is also a national economic and national security necessity."
* Governor Mitt Romney, Oral Testimony of Governor Mitt Romney House Committee on Education and the Workforce
 

Press Releases

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Michigan, Iowa, Alabama, and Detroit Photos

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Presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney holds a press conference before speaking to Michigan Republicans during the Michigan GOP Convention in Grand Rapids, Mi. on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Adam Bird)
 
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Former Massachusetts Gov. and Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney, left, and wife Ann listen to the Pledge of Allegiance before his speech at the Missouri Republican Party's 108th Lincoln Days gathering Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Bill Boyce)
 
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Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney addresses members of the Alabama Republican Party, Friday, Feb. 9, 2007, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Kevin Glackmeyer)
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Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney listens to Lawrence Johnson, director of the Center for Crops Utilization Research at Iowa State University, after a tour Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Steve Pope)
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Republican Mitt Romney meets with the media after addressing the Detroit Economic Club in Detroit, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007. Romney used the first major policy speech of his fledgling presidential campaign to promote permanent tax cuts, portable health insurance and free and open markets. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
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Obama, Clinton May Skip Early Debates

Clinton Debate

"Major candidates are complaining that too many states are planning too many debates too early."

What? Too many debates too early? That is the problem with modern politics. We don't have enough debates, soon enough. Also, we don't have the right type of debates.

No one wants to talk to each other; they would rather have their henchmen make 30 second TV commercials about each other. And the debates are not even real debates. They are just scripted formats for them to repeat their campaign slogans. It is a horse and pony show.

How do you tell when a politician is telling lies? His/her lips move. That is why we need to hook politicians onto lie detectors when they debate. If I was a politician I would wear a lie detector. Why should politicians have the right to lie to us? We have the technology to have them hooked up during a debate. You have to pass a lie detector test to go into the CIA, why not to become POTUS?

However, I wouldn't just have a standard lie detector, I would hook the bio-feedback outputs up to the computer that runs the audio and lighting in the debate hall, so it plays atonal experimental academic music and an eerie light show when the candidate is lying.

This will allow honest politicians (like Romney) to REALLY communicate – to really give people a detailed picture of their emotional process. This will make politicians into rock stars. Watching them will be much more entertaining, and educational. Once this becomes mainstream we can start to follow leaders who really say what they believe. There is new cat scan technology that makes lie-detection fool proof. Even the threat of lie detectors will stop people like Hillary from going into politics: like the threat of radar guns stop people from speeding.

If referees in the Super Bowl can use instant replay to ensure that what happens in an un-important (in the big scheme of things) football game, than the people of the United States need technology to help us make the most important decision of the planet's future: who should be the next POTUS.

This product would not be too difficult to make. If the dad in "Meet the Parents" could get a lie detector, I'm sure someone at one of these colleges could bring one by on the night of the debate.

At the very least we need to put the presidential candidates in some sort of "American Political Idle", or "Big Brother - 2008 President"... lock them up and see them duke it out for a week, not for an hour long debate.

Lincoln and Douglas had 7 debates. Each debate had this format: one candidate spoke for an hour and a half, then the other candidate spoke for two hours, and then the first candidate spoke for a half hour. The candidates alternated going first. That is 4 hours each debate, with 7 debates, and a total of 28 hours of debate, for just two candidates . If we only have 4 candidates for 2008, we will need a minimum of 56 hours of debate in order to have each candidate speak as much as Lincoln and Douglas. I will be suppried if there is 12 hours of debate, let alone (my miniumum of) 56. This was just for the Illinois senate seat. Our next election will determine the president of the most powerful country on the face of the planet, in a very difficult time. Much more complicated than 7 score and 9 years ago. The Baby Boomers will start to retire, the deficit will explode. We, as citizens, need to demand at least 56 hours of debate for the 2008 presidency, and everyone who wants to be president needs to show up for each debate. This is a Minimum. I think we also need lie detectors, and need to lock them all in the same building for a month straight, but that is just my opinion.

What do you think? What type of debate would you like to see? What kind of format should we use to determine the next president? What are your feelings about presidential debates? What could we do to improve them? Do you agree, that at a Minimum, we need to have 28 hours worth of debate between the candidates? Do we face more complex questions that Lincoln and Douglas faced when they were trying to be senators for Illinois?

~ Mike

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Obama, Clinton May Skip Early Debates

Clinton Debate

"Major candidates are complaining that too many states are planning too many debates too early."

What? Too many debates too early? That is the problem with modern politics. We don't have enough debates, soon enough. Also, we don't have the right type of debates.

No one wants to talk to each other; they would rather have their henchmen make 30 second TV commercials about each other. And the debates are not even real debates. They are just scripted formats for them to repeat their campaign slogans. It is a horse and pony show.

How do you tell when a politician is telling lies? His/her lips move. That is why we need to hook politicians onto lie detectors when they debate. If I was a politician I would wear a lie detector. Why should politicians have the right to lie to us? We have the technology to have them hooked up during a debate. You have to pass a lie detector test to go into the CIA, why not to become POTUS?

However, I wouldn't just have a standard lie detector, I would hook the bio-feedback outputs up to the computer that runs the audio and lighting in the debate hall, so it plays atonal experimental academic music and an eerie light show when the candidate is lying.

This will allow honest politicians (like Romney) to REALLY communicate – to really give people a detailed picture of their emotional process. This will make politicians into rock stars. Watching them will be much more entertaining, and educational. Once this becomes mainstream we can start to follow leaders who really say what they believe. There is new cat scan technology that makes lie-detection fool proof. Even the threat of lie detectors will stop people like Hillary from going into politics: like the threat of radar guns stop people from speeding.

If referees in the Super Bowl can use instant replay to ensure that what happens in an un-important (in the big scheme of things) football game, than the people of the United States need technology to help us make the most important decision of the planet's future: who should be the next POTUS.

This product would not be too difficult to make. If the dad in "Meet the Parents" could get a lie detector, I'm sure someone at one of these colleges could bring one by on the night of the debate.

At the very least we need to put the presidential candidates in some sort of "American Political Idle", or "Big Brother - 2008 President"... lock them up and see them duke it out for a week, not for an hour long debate.

Lincoln and Douglas had 7 debates. Each debate had this format: one candidate spoke for an hour and a half, then the other candidate spoke for two hours, and then the first candidate spoke for a half hour. The candidates alternated going first. That is 4 hours each debate, with 7 debates, and a total of 28 hours of debate, for just two candidates . If we only have 4 candidates for 2008, we will need a minimum of 56 hours of debate in order to have each candidate speak as much as Lincoln and Douglas. I will be suppried if there is 12 hours of debate, let alone (my miniumum of) 56. This was just for the Illinois senate seat. Our next election will determine the president of the most powerful country on the face of the planet, in a very difficult time. Much more complicated than 7 score and 9 years ago. The Baby Boomers will start to retire, the deficit will explode. We, as citizens, need to demand at least 56 hours of debate for the 2008 presidency, and everyone who wants to be president needs to show up for each debate. This is a Minimum. I think we also need lie detectors, and need to lock them all in the same building for a month straight, but that is just my opinion.

What do you think? What type of debate would you like to see? What kind of format should we use to determine the next president? What are your feelings about presidential debates? What could we do to improve them? Do you agree, that at a Minimum, we need to have 28 hours worth of debate between the candidates? Do we face more complex questions that Lincoln and Douglas faced when they were trying to be senators for Illinois?

~ Mike

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Governor Mitt Romney Speech Transcripts:

I would like to maintain the most comprehensive list of Romney speech transcripts on the internet. If I missed any, and you know the password, please add them to this page:

http://myclob.pbwiki.com/Speeches

Or if I missed any, and you have the info, please e-mail it to me.

2007

  • 01-23-07; Excerpts from Governor Mitt Romney's Remarks at the Seventh Annual Herzliya Conference

2006

  • 09-05-2006; ROMNEY DENOUNCES KHATAMI VISIT TO HARVARD, Declines to provide escort, or offer state support for trip

2005

2004

2003

State of the State Speeches

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