The Official Mitt Romney Candidate Thread

Fire Society is setting up a series of Threads devoted to information about the potential candidates for 2008.

These threads are an area to post news articles about your candidate, his/her beliefs, and upcoming news conferences / appearances.

These threads are not for discussions, debate, or bashing the candidates. Anyone who posts anything in these threads besides news articles, links to information about the candidate, or information about upcoming appearances will be given an immediate 3 day suspension.

Moderators will be monitoring these threads and have my full permission to edit, delete, or move anything that does not belong in them.

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The Official Mitt Romney Candidate Site

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Here is Romney's actual conservative record:

---In the four balanced budgets he signed into law, Governor Romney used the line-item veto or program reduction power to cut spending by nearly $1 Billion. Over the course of four budgets, Governor Romney made over 300 line-item reductions, 350 line-item eliminations and struck language 150 times.

--- Gov. Romney was instrumental in passing a bill abolishing a retroactive capital gains tax in the state that would have forced nearly 50,000 taxpayers to pay an additional $200 million in state taxes and fees

--- 4 years ago --- before the illegals marched in our streets --- Romney opposed a bill that would have allowed illegal aliens to get driver’s licenses. "Those who are here illegally should not receive tacit support from our government that gives an indication of legitimacy," the governor said. (Scott S. Greenberger, "Romney Stand Dims Chances Of License For Undocumented," The Boston Globe, 10/28/03)

--- Romney vetoed a bill in 2004 that would have permitted illegal aliens to pay the same in-state tuition rate paid by citizens at public colleges and universities in Massachusetts.

--- Romney vetoed the bill providing state funding for human embryonic stem cell research

--- Romney vetoed a bill that provided for the "morning after pill" without a prescription because it is an abortifacient and would have been available to minors without parental notification and consent

--- He vetoed legislation which would have redefined Massachusetts longstanding definition of the beginning of human life from fertilization to implantation

--- Governor Romney strongly supported a successful ballot initiative that replaced the state's bilingual program with English immersion. (Romney Vows to Protect English Immersion Law, May 1, 2003)

--- Governor Romney demonstrated his commitment to school-choice by vetoing a bill that would have canceled funding for Massachusetts' charter-school program. (Romney to Veto Charter School Moratorium, June 23, 2004)

--- He supported parental notification laws and opposed efforts to weaken parental involvement

--- He fought to promote abstinence education in public school classrooms with a program offered by faith-based Boston group Healthy Futures to middle school students.

Governor Romney filed and signed into law the most significant expansion of military benefits in recent years. The new law reduced to zero the cost members of the Massachusetts National Guard must pay to attend public colleges and universities, increased twenty-fold the death benefit paid to families of members killed in the line of duty, created a new annuity benefit for Gold Star spouses and boosted the amount paid to Gold Star parents. (Romney Signs Legislation Expanding Military Benefits, November 11, 2005)

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FACT: As Governor Of Massachusetts, Governor Romney Took Action To Enforce Immigration Laws.

ENFORCEMENT: In December 2006, Governor Romney Signed A Memorandum Of Agreement With The Federal Government To Allow State Troopers To Enforce Federal Immigration Laws. "Governor Mitt Romney and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary Julie L. Myers today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ICE, which will give specially trained Massachusetts State Troopers the authority to administer and enforce federal immigration laws in the Commonwealth. " (Office Of The Governor, "Governor Romney, ICE Sign Immigration Enforcement Pact," Press Release, 12/13/06)

IN-STATE TUITION: Governor Romney Vetoed In-State Tuition For Illegal Immigrants. "Romney also vetoed a number of outside sections of the budget, including:...A plan that would have permitted illegal aliens to pay the same in-state tuition rate at our public colleges and universities as Massachusetts citizens." (Office Of The Governor, "Romney Signs $22.402B Fiscal Year 2005 'No New Tax' Budget," Press Release, 6/25/04)

ENGLISH IMMERSION: Governor Romney Fought Efforts To Weaken Massachusetts' English Immersion Law. "But yesterday, Romney press secretary Shawn Feddeman said the governor will fight all attempts to slow the implementation of English immersion, known on the ballot as Question 2. ... 'He will veto anything that weakens or delays English immersion,' Feddeman said." (Anand Vaishnav, "Romney Firm On English Timetable," The Boston Globe, 1/24/03)

- In June 2002, Mitt Romney Said "The Approach Of English Immersion Is One That I Support. ... I Would Make English Immersion The Educational Norm For All Non-Native English Speakers." (John McElhenny, "Mitt Romney Endorses 'English Immersion' Education Plan," The Associated Press, 6/4/02)

DRIVER'S LICENCES: Governor Romney Opposed Efforts To Give Driver's Licenses To Illegal Immigrants. "'Those who are here illegally should not receive tacit support from our government that gives an indication of legitimacy,' the governor said, echoing arguments that opponents have voiced in the Commonwealth and in other states considering similar license measures. 'If they are here illegally, they should not get driver's licenses,' he said." (Scott S. Greenberger, "Romney Stand Dims Chances Of License For Undocumented," The Boston Globe, 10/28/03)

FACT: Governor Romney Would Take Action To Secure The Borders Through Physical And Virtual Fences.

Governor Romney: "In my view, there are several principles that need to be part of our immigration plan. First, to secure the border..." (Governor Mitt Romney, Interview On The Northern Alliance Radio Network, 1/27/07)

Governor Romney: "You've got to have a wall or fence or electronic surveillance. You have got to make sure we secure our border, that's first." (Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor," 9/19/06)

FACT: Governor Romney Supports Strong Reforms To Stop Illegal Immigration And Encourage Legal Immigration.

Governor Romney: "The current system puts up a concrete wall to the best and brightest, yet those without skill or education are able to walk across the border. We must reform the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders, implement a mandatory biometrically-enabled and tamper-proof documentation and employment-verification system, and increase legal immigration into America." (David Yepsen, Op-Ed, "So Far, Romney's Been Most Impressive Republican," Des Moines Register, 7/11/06)

FACT: Governor Romney Opposes The McCain-Kennedy Bill And Any Form Of Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants.

Governor Romney: "McCain-Kennedy Isn't The Answer." "Another aspect of American sovereignty is the security of our borders. The current system is a virtual concrete wall against those who have skill and education, but it's a wide-open walk across the border for those that have neither. McCain-Kennedy isn't the answer. As governor, I took a very different approach. I authorized our state police to enforce federal immigration laws." (Governor Mitt Romney, Remarks At The Conservative Political Action Conference, Washington, D.C., 3/2/07)

FACT: Governor Romney Supports A Strong Employer-Verification System That Includes A Tamper Proof Worker Verification Card.

Governor Romney: "First, to secure the border, number two, have an employment verification system. This would be a card - a biometric card - that people who are not citizens would have and before an employer hires a non citizen they would have to look at the card, type in a number on a computer, and get verification from the federal government that this person is eligible for work in the U.S. If they hired someone not so eligible that company would be fined just like not paying taxes." (Governor Mitt Romney, Interview On The Northern Alliance Radio Network, 1/27/07)

FACT: Governor Romney Supports Empowering Local And State Authorities To Enforce Federal Immigration Laws.

Governor Romney Believes More State And Local Police Agencies Should Work With The Federal Government To Enforce Immigration Laws. "Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said Tuesday that more state and local police agencies ought to consider making deals with the federal government to have their officers trained in enforcing elements of federal immigration law. ... 'I think it's a good idea for us to communicate that we intend to enforce our laws,' Romney said." (Jacques Billeaud, "Romney: More State, Local Police Should Get Immigration Training," The Associated Press, 3/13/07)

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"The Laura Ingraham Show"
September 6, 2007

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY (RECORDING): "... could lead to the violent death of Americans. We need to know about that, track them, follow them and make sure that in every way we can we know what they're doing and where they're doing it. And if it means we have to go into a mosque to wiretap or a church then that's exactly where we're going to go. Because we're going to do whatever it takes to protect the American people. And I hear from time to time people say 'Hey, wait a second. We have civil liberties we have to worry about.' But don't forget, the most important civil liberty I expect from my government is my right to be kept alive."

LAURA INGRAHAM: "I thought that was the best moment of the night for Romney. No doubt about it. Without security or safety the whole debate about civil liberties is much ado about nothing. Okay? Simple as that. If we have to into a mosque, we'll go into a mosque. If we have to go into a prison where they're converting people to Islam we're going to go into the prison. If we have to into Starbucks in Northern Virginia where we apparently have a corridor of suspicious activity then we'll go into the Starbucks. If we have to into the 7-11 parking lot we'll go there too. If we have to hit the day laborer centers where illegal aliens hang out we'll go there. That's what people want to hear in this country. They want to hear about how we can keep this country safe and what measures are you going to take to do it."

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Romney Plan Would Eliminate Some Taxes
By PHILIP ELLIOTT – 1 day ago

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is filling in the blanks in his proposal to eliminate taxes on interest and dividends for families earning less than $200,000 a year.

A former business executive and Massachusetts governor, Romney said the plan would benefit 95 percent of American families — 56 million that earned interest in 2005, 28 million that earned dividends and 23 million with capital gains from real estate, stocks or bonds.

Romney, who previously has talked about his desire to eliminate such taxes, said the plan would encourage saving. He was explaining the details during an appearance Friday in New Hampshire.

"You're creating a dramatic new incentive to save, which is savings will be tax free. ... Your interest, dividends and capital gains will be tax-free, which will allow people to establish pretty substantial nest eggs," said Romney, who previewed his speech in a telephone interview Thursday with The Associated Press.

"Any tax reduction means more money in our pockets to invest in our country, and tax reductions stimulate our economy in general," he said.

Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom, said the proposal would cost $32 billion, to be paid for through economic growth, and by holding non-defense discretionary spending to inflation minus 1 percentage point.

Romney has focused on economic issues during the campaign and especially in New Hampshire, where anti-tax sentiment has kept away a statewide income tax.

Earlier this year, he proposed restoring the three-fifths majority requirement for Congress to raise taxes, and he routinely pledges to fight new taxes. He said the new proposal would further help taxpayers.

"It's a dramatic simplification of the tax process because you're not going to have to worry about the basis of each asset and how long you held it and so forth. So you simplify taxes," Romney said. "Most importantly, you let people save, and save for whatever purpose they like."

Romney said the plan would "help middle class folks save for retirement, for homes, for anything they like — and to stimulate economic investment and growth."

With the mortgage industry facing serious troubles and borrowers finding it harder to get loans, more savings would help, he said.

Romney said the proposal grew out of a a mealtime conversation with his sons, when he asked how many of them were saving for retirement through a 401(k) or a Roth IRA.

"I looked around the table and no one's hand went up. It's like, 'Why don't you have these things?'" he said.

He said the government makes saving difficult by threatening people with financial penalties for tapping their retirement accounts before they turn 65. He said his plan will help people save "without having to sign up for these nanny accounts."

Romney, a multimillionaire venture capitalist, said the plan would not help people like him.

"There may be some tax policies which tend to favor the highest tax payers. This is certainly not one of them," he said. "It is entirely targeted at middle-income and modest-income Americans, allowing the great bulk of our citizens — 95 percent of our citizens — to be able to save their income, tax free," he said.

Romney's top rivals also have weighed in on tax policy.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has pledged to kill the so-called "marriage penalty" and "death tax." Arizona Sen. John McCain has spoken in support of President Bush's tax cuts. He also supported requiring a three-fifths majority vote for Congress to raise taxes, repealing the alternative minimum tax and flattening the tax structure.

By contrast, Democratic candidate John Edwards has proposed raising capital gains rates on families making more than $250,000 a year to 28 percent. He would tax dividends at 39.6 percent, the rate during the Clinton administration.

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ASK MITT ANYTHING  (September 17 at 7:15pm EDT)

Do you have a question for Governor Mitt Romney?

Perhaps you want to know his position on an issue important to you, or maybe you’re curious about what running for President is like each day.

Whatever your question, ask him…during a live, online Ask Mitt Anything.

Mitt has held over 60 Ask Mitt Anything events across the country, and now he’s holding one in your living room, office or wherever you sit down at the computer.

ASK MITT ANYTHING on SEPTEMBER 17 at 7:15pm EDT!

(Please register ahead of time and arrive early. Governor Romney will start promptly at 7:15)

Go to MittRomney.com/AskMitt to submit your question today. Or submit questions during the live event when you join Governor Romney for the Ask Mitt Anything online.

Governor Mitt Romney will take your questions and preview his Strategy for a Stronger America. He looks forward to chatting with you, so start today by submitting your question and then join him on September 17th at 7:15pm EDT at MittRomney.com/AskMitt.

Remember to arrive early!

 

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This post deleted by theSuperPatriot....not a legitimate post for this thread. Please read "official candidate" thread rules on page 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Blabber said:

Romney is a candidate who can beat Hillary especially with his record in governing his state. Hillary is a 'carpet bagger' and went to NYS because she was not wanted in her own state in the south.

With Chavez, we are going to need a leader who will protect us from this side-winder in south America.

Putin is building a factory for automatic military weapons in Chavez's country, plus Iranians are working in his refinery facilities.

Do not buy Citgo gasoline; we are weakening him.

Watch lest Chavez sets up long range missiles pointed at us like Castro of former times. Some say this is the plan.

We do not need a weak liberal President to let this happen in our beloved nation of the United States.

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New's Article?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Governor Mitt Romney On The ICE Raid In Wright County, Iowa

Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid in Wright County, Iowa:

"This incident underscores the pressing need to strengthen the enforcement of our current immigration laws. I strongly disagree with the other candidates in this race who are dismissive of increased enforcement efforts and continue to defend sanctuary city policies that weaken our border security efforts and create zones of protection for illegal immigration. Those policies are wrong and the defense of such policies highlights how a 3 million illegal immigrant problem became a 12 million illegal immigrant problem."

read here

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Bringing The Market To Health Care

By: John F. Cogan And R. Glenn Hubbard
The Wall Street Journal
Saturday, Sep 15, 2007

"Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's recent health-care reform proposals, which rely on free-market principles and federalism, will go a long way to fixing our health-care system's woes.

"The centerpiece of Mr. Romney's plan is to attack the tax code's discrimination against cost-effective private insurance. He proposes to allow individuals to deduct out-of-pocket health-care expenditures from their taxable income, allow individuals who purchase health insurance premiums on their own - rather than through their employer - to deduct health insurance premiums, and to expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) by eliminating the requirement that a qualifying health plan contain a high deductible."

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"The tax preference's impact has been profound. It is the principal reason why nine out of every 10 private health-care plans in the U.S. are purchased through an employer. It is the principal reason why six out of every seven dollars of health-care spending is made by someone other than the person receiving the care. And, it is a key reason for the U.S. health-care system's excessive cost and waste.

"Many economists (including us) have emphasized the large benefits to health care of revoking the tax preference. Yet elected officials have repeatedly failed to enact the change because of strong political opposition."

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"Mr. Romney's proposal to allow individuals to deduct out of pocket medical expenses is a significant advance in this 30-year progression to a level tax playing field between out-of-pocket expenses and insurance. And a more level tax playing field would encourage individuals to choose health plans with lower premiums and higher copayments for their routine health-care purchases. With more 'skin in the game,' individuals would exert more control over their choice of health-care services. The health-care savings would be large. We estimate that a proposal such as Romney's would reduce private health-care spending by 6%."

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"We estimate that making out-of-pocket expenses tax deductible, combined with Mr. Romney's other proposals, will reduce the average premium of employer-provided family health plans by around $2,300 per year. Workers' wages will rise by this amount on average. To be sure, higher out-of-pocket expenses will offset part of this increase – $1,000 of it. But workers will still experience a net increase of $1,300 in (taxable) income. Mainly because of this economic effect, we estimate that the U.S. Treasury's revenue loss will be modest – about $10 billion per year.

"Mr. Romney's proposal also allows persons who purchase health insurance on their own to deduct their premium payments. This tax deduction will make insurance significantly less costly for unemployed persons and workers in firms that don't offer insurance coverage."

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"Mr. Romney's proposal to eliminate the 'high deductible' requirement will allow individuals to establish an HSA regardless of their health plan's deductible. Eliminating the high deductible requirement will maintain the cost-reducing benefits of HSAs."

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"The key to reducing the U.S. health-care system's excessive cost without damaging its ability to innovate is to allow competitive market forces to operate. These forces have worked in every other market to keep costs low and improve quality. There is no reason why they won't work in health care. Attacking the tax code's bias against efficient and cost-effective health insurance is fundamental to creating an economically sound health-care system."

Mr. Cogan, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, was deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Reagan. Mr. Hubbard, dean of Columbia Business School, was chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush. They are both advisers to the Romney campaign.

 

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The Romney 50

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Romney Calls On U.N. to Bar Iranian President
By Michael Luo

Mitt Romney, a Republican presidential candidate, is sending a letter to the United Nations Secretary General tomorrow, calling for him to bar Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from addressing the General Assembly next week and instead hand him an indictment under the Genocide Convention.
Mr. Ahmadinejad is scheduled to give a speech at the 62nd annual meeting of the General Assembly, which begins Tuesday in New York. It will be his third visit to the United States, where he is expected to spend two days, before he departs for Venezuela to meet with President Hugo Chavez.
An array of Jewish leaders, political leaders and others, including John Bolton, the former United States ambassador to the United Nations and Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, gathered last year to call for the United Nations’ International Court of Justice to indict Mr. Ahmadinejad for incitement of genocide. They base their argument on his calls for the destruction of Israel.

The specific statute the officials cite falls under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which includes under its list of prohibitions, incitement to commit genocide.
In President Bush’s nationally televised speech last week on Iraq, he stressed the need to contain Iran as one of the reasons to continue a robust American presence in Iraq. In an interview about his views about Iraq last week, Mr. Romney also highlighted the influence of Iran in the region as a major source of concern.

Read article

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September 23, 2007
Romney is the Survivor on the Island

Mackinac Island, MI-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—September 23, 2007

Gov Mitt Romney won the Michigan Republican Leadership Conference straw poll, receiving 39 % of the 979 votes cast.

Sen. John McCain came in second with 27%, followed by Rep. Ron Paul with 10.8%.

The straw poll, sponsored by the Hotline, was held this Friday and Saturday on Mackinac Island.

Frmr New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was close behind Paul, taking 10.62%. Frmr Sen. Fred Thompson took 7%. All five spoke before conference attendees this weekend, as did Rep. Duncan Hunter, who took 1% of the vote. Mike Huckabee and Sam Brownback were scheduled to appear, but cancelled on Friday.

The Michigan Republican party unofficially certified the straw poll results.

Only conference registrants who were Michigan residents were eligible to vote.

FInal results are below:                                   

S. Brownback                 3 .31%
Rudy Giuliani    104       10.62%
M. Huckabee     25         2.55%
D. Hunter          12         1.23%
J. McCain           260       26.56%
R. Paul               106       10.83%
M. Romney        383       39.12%
T. Tancredo       0
F. Thompson     70         7.15%
Uncomm           16         1.63%

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http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/09/post_219.html

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