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Romney Receives Standing Ovation for Straight Talk at NAACP Convention
Townhall.com ^ | July 11, 2012 | Katie Pavlich

Posted on 07/11/2012 2:02:47 PM PDT by Kaslin

GOP Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney just wrapped up his speech to the NAACP convention in Houston, focusing mostly on the economy and education reform. Right out of the gate, Romney received laughs from the crowd after cracking a joke about President Obama.

“I appreciate the chance to speak first – even before Vice President Biden gets his turn tomorrow. I just hope the Obama campaign won’t think you’re playing favorites."

Romney framed his speech in general economic terms and tailored parts of it specifically to the African-American community. He focused on the family and defended traditional marriage, which received applause. President Obama supports same-sex marriage.

“If equal opportunity in America were an accomplished fact, black families could send their sons and daughters to public schools that truly offer the hope of a better life. Instead, for generations, the African-American community has been waiting and waiting for that promise to be kept. Today, black children are 17 percent of students nationwide – but they are 42 percent of the students in our worst-performing schools. Our society sends them into mediocre schools and expects them to perform with excellence, and that is not fair. Frederick Douglass observed that, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Yet, instead of preparing these children for life, too many schools set them up for failure. Everyone in this room knows that we owe them better than that.

“I’m hopeful that together we can set a new direction in federal policy, starting where many of our problems do – with the family. A study from the Brookings Institution has shown that for those who graduate from high school, get a full-time job, and wait until 21 before they marry and then have their first child, the probability of being poor is two percent. And if those factors are absent, the probability of being poor is 76 percent.

"Here at the NAACP, you understand the deep and lasting difference the family makes. Your former executive director, Dr. Benjamin Hooks, had it exactly right. The family, he said, “remains the bulwark and the mainstay of the black community. That great truth must not be overlooked.”

"Any policy that lifts up and honors the family is going to be good for the country, and that must be our goal. As President, I will promote strong families – and I will defend traditional marriage."

"As you may have heard from my opponent, I am also a believer in the free-enterprise system. I believe it can bring change where so many well-meaning government programs have failed. I’ve never heard anyone look around an impoverished neighborhood and say, “You know, there’s too much free enterprise around here. Too many shops, too many jobs, too many people putting money in the bank.”

What you hear, of course, is how do we bring in jobs? How do we make good, honest employers want to move in and stay? And with the shape this economy is in, we’re asking that more than ever.

Free enterprise is still the greatest force for upward mobility, economic security, and the expansion of the middle class. We have seen in recent years what it’s like to have less free enterprise. As President, I will show the good things that can happen when we have more – more business activity, more jobs, more opportunity, more paychecks, more savings accounts.

Romney also addressed the importance of being at the NAACP convention, despite 95 percent of blacks voting for Obama in 2008.

“With 90 percent of African-Americans voting for Democrats, some of you may wonder why a Republican would bother to campaign in the African American community, and to address the NAACP. Of course, one reason is that I hope to represent all Americans, of every race, creed or sexual orientation, from the poorest to the richest and everyone in between.

But there is another reason: I believe that if you understood who I truly am in my heart, and if it were possible to fully communicate what I believe is in the real, enduring best interest of African American families, you would vote for me for president. I want you to know that if I did not believe that my policies and my leadership would help families of color -- and families of any color -- more than the policies and leadership of President Obama, I would not be running for president,” Romney said. “I am running for president because I know that my policies and vision will help hundreds of millions of middle class Americans of all races, will lift people from poverty, and will help prevent people from becoming poor. My campaign is about helping the people who need help. The course the President has set has not done that – and will not do that. My course will.”

Romney also offered the audience new information he hasn’t publicly touted, his father George Romney, was a strong supporter of the Civil Rights movement.

Yet always, in both parties, there have been men and women of integrity, decency, and humility who called injustice by its name. For every one of us a particular person comes to mind, someone who set a standard of conduct and made us better by their example. For me, that man is my father, George Romney.

It wasn’t just that my Dad helped write the civil rights provision for the Michigan Constitution, though he did. It wasn’t just that he helped create Michigan’s first civil rights commission, or that as governor he marched for civil rights in Detroit – though he did those things, too.

More than these public acts, it was the kind of man he was, and the way he dealt with every person, black or white. He was a man of the fairest instincts, and a man of faith who knew that every person was a child of God.

Romney’s speech made it clear he wasn't at the NAACP convention to pander or preach at the audience. He simply presented a slew of facts and straight talk. Some topics he touched on, like repealing ObamaCare, received boos, but overall Romney received applause throughout his speech and it was reported by NBC that many in the audience gave Romney standing applause at the end of his remarks. It was clear he had a positive impact although the media will choose to focus only on the opposition to his remarks.

Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Cleaver said Romney should not have criticized President Obama in front of a black audience but dispproved of audience booing.

You can watch the entire speech here.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: blackvote; booed; katiepavlich; naacp; romney2012; romneynaacp
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1 posted on 07/11/2012 2:02:51 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

In the interest of keeping things even-handed, will Obama appear before the Ku Klux Klan?


2 posted on 07/11/2012 2:10:01 PM PDT by Kenton
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To: Kaslin

“Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Cleaver said Romney should not have criticized President Obama in front of a black audience...”

So Obama should not criticize Romney in front of a white audience?


3 posted on 07/11/2012 2:12:41 PM PDT by chuckee
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To: Kaslin

Despite this effort I would expect 96% of the blacks who turn out to vote for Obama in November. In about 50 years, when back leaders look back on this behavior, this lock-step allegiance to the Democratic Party, they will realize what a foolish thing it was. If they only voted even 55-45, they would get much more meaningful response from their government. The Hispanic voting block will have completely eaten their lunch by that time. Save a chapter in “Greatest Ongoing Political Blunders in History” for this blind commitment.


4 posted on 07/11/2012 2:12:56 PM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: Kaslin
...those who graduate from high school, get a full-time job, and wait until 21 before they marry and then have their first child, the probability of being poor is two percent. And if those factors are absent, the probability of being poor is 76 percent...

I love the statement. It reaches the audience; and, it's the polar opposite from what they hear from Mister Obama, "black leaders", and the Dems.

And, it's an easy connection of dots to realize that (sadly) the Dems seem to want to keep black folks on a "poverty plantation".

.

5 posted on 07/11/2012 2:15:53 PM PDT by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never...except to convictions of honour and good sense. W. Churchill)
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To: Kenton
will Obama appear before the Ku Klux Klan

No, he'll send MooseChelle to another Nascar race LOL

http://www.politico.com/blogs/click/1111/Some_NASCAR_fans_boo_Michelle_Obama.html

6 posted on 07/11/2012 2:18:04 PM PDT by nascarnation
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: Wally_Kalbacken

Mittens did well today. I give him a ton of credit for going into the vipers’ den and telling them the truth without pandering to the lowest common denominator.


8 posted on 07/11/2012 2:19:42 PM PDT by GlockThe Vote (The Obama Adminstration: 2nd wave of attacks on America after 9/11)
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To: CaptainKrunch

I watched his speech and it was not pandering at all.

It was sober, mature, serious, and well delivered.


9 posted on 07/11/2012 2:25:20 PM PDT by GlockThe Vote (The Obama Adminstration: 2nd wave of attacks on America after 9/11)
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To: Kenton

Why would he need to campaign to a Democrat institution?

They’ll either hold their noses and vote for him because he’s the Democrat, or refuse to because he’s a n


10 posted on 07/11/2012 2:26:10 PM PDT by ExGeeEye (Romney Sucks. Mutiny Now,!)
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To: GlockThe Vote

He does deserve credit for it


11 posted on 07/11/2012 2:26:21 PM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: Kenton
will Obama appear before the Ku Klux Klan?

Why not? They're democRATs. And he's half WHITE.

12 posted on 07/11/2012 2:27:35 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate Republicans Freed the Slaves Month.)
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To: CaptainKrunch

Don’t you see it, he would have been called a racist had he not gone


13 posted on 07/11/2012 2:27:40 PM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: Kenton
In the interest of keeping things even-handed, will Obama appear before the Ku Klux Klan?

Yep, he can tell them it's his white-half.
14 posted on 07/11/2012 2:29:59 PM PDT by ForAmerica (Texas Conservative Christian Black Man!)
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To: CaptainKrunch

“...Why is Romney pandering to the...”

Because they vote.

And every vote we can take away from the commie assh*les is one less vote they get.

Pretty much sums it up.


15 posted on 07/11/2012 2:30:53 PM PDT by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: Kaslin

Romney’s move showed strength today and exposed some of those clowns for thwat they are, but he also exposed the communist left for being the race baiters they are w their fake suck up accents like obama, biden, hillary, and the rest of thugs use.


17 posted on 07/11/2012 2:31:41 PM PDT by GlockThe Vote (The Obama Adminstration: 2nd wave of attacks on America after 9/11)
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To: Kaslin

The only thing I have taken away from Romney going to the NAACP is that the only person that came off as an adult was Romney.

I have NEVER been a big Romney fan and at first I thought that what he was doing by speaking in front of these people was a mistake. I was wrong about that. Romney pulled no punches and on top of that he was able to make some of these people show their true colors. Yea, pun intended.

At the end of the day the president is the president of everyone. Obama or whatever that fakes real name is does not care about that. The only thing I can see that he cares about is destroying this country. At least Romney is not out to trash America.

Romney’s stock went up a lot today in my book! My view is that he outsmarted the racists.


18 posted on 07/11/2012 2:32:17 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (Sharia? No thanks!)
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To: isthisnickcool

Very well said


19 posted on 07/11/2012 2:34:42 PM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: CaptainKrunch

Believe every Republican Presidential candidate from the past also spoke at the NAACP.


20 posted on 07/11/2012 2:35:58 PM PDT by seekthetruth (I want a Commander In Chief who honors and supports our Military!)
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