Posted on 07/22/2007 6:54:32 PM PDT by Victor
NASHUA, N.H. - Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney took aim at Democratic rivals on Sunday, calling them all unprepared to lead the country and comparing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's economic plan to that of Socialist Karl Marx.
"It would be helpful to have a person leading the country who understands how the economy works and has actually managed something," the former Massachusetts governor told reporters after a GOP fundraiser. "In the case of the three Democratic front-runners, not one of them has managed even a corner store, let alone a state or a city."
Romney, who leads Republicans in New Hampshire, has focused his criticism in recent weeks on Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards rather than rival Republicans. It's a strategy he hopes will help him maintain his lead over Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
"I wanted to focus on the Democrats," he said. "By and large, the best way to further my interest is to let people know what I would do and to distinguish that from what the Democrats would do."
His prime target was Clinton.
"Hillary Clinton just gave a speech the other day about her view on the economy. She said we have been an on-your-own society. She said it's time to get rid of that and replace that with shared responsibility and we're-in-it-together society," Romney told the crowd. "That's out with Adam Smith and in with Karl Marx."
A Clinton spokeswoman shot back, challenging Romney's record.
"Given how often Romney flip-flops, tomorrow he will be touting his membership in the Communist Party," Kathleen Strand said.
Romney also repeated his criticism of Sen. John Edwards.
"To have someone like Senator Edwards stand up and say there's not a war on terror, that it's a Bush bumper sticker" is unacceptable, he said. "There is a war being waged by the terrorists. If I or any other Republican president is running this country, there will be a war waged on the terrorists."
An Edwards spokeswoman said Romney's own vacillations should give voters pause.
"It seems the only thing that Governor Romney has chosen to stand firm on is the misguided, out-of-touch belief that we should continue with George Bush's failed foreign policy in Iraq," Kate Bedingfield said.
Romney also attacked Obama's health care plan.
"Barack Obama said we're going to have to have the government take over health care. He at least had the integrity to say he wants to raise your taxes," Romney said. "The right answer is not a government takeover, it's not socialized medicine. It's not Hillarycare."
At a town hall meeting in Exeter later Sunday, he said, "I don't want the guys who ran the (Hurricane) Katrina cleanup running my health care system."
Earlier Sunday, Romney was in Washington courting Hispanic voters by extolling the virtues of faith, family values and immigration.
"If you say, name people who are hardworking, seek education, love God, love their families and value freedom — it's Hispanic-Americans, just like other Americans," Romney told a crowd at the Republican National Hispanic Assembly's annual convention.
"I want to make sure we continue an open door in immigration that welcomes people who come here with those kinds of values," he said.
During an Iowa visit last week, Romney struck a hard line on illegal immigration. He criticized Giuliani for making New York "a sanctuary city for illegal aliens" by failing to enforce the immigration laws on the books. Romney also noted that as governor, he had deputized state police to enforce immigration laws and denied driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
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Hey good job by Mitt here.. some great hard hitting lines. I thought of a baseball slugger smashing the softballs!
Good one!
During an Iowa visit last week, Romney struck a hard line on illegal immigration. He criticized Giuliani for making New York "a sanctuary city for illegal aliens" by failing to enforce the immigration laws on the books. Romney also noted that as governor, he had deputized state police to enforce immigration laws and denied driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
The first quote sounds an awful lot like Bush's open border policy, despite his record in Mass. I'd rather support a candidate that says he's going to "slam the immigration door," to all of those who violate our immigration laws.
Wow, what a poor response. Like a bunch of schoolyard kids that got caught doing something wrong (Marxism) and now the only comeback they have is to accuse Mitt of membership in the Communist party?
Amazing....and so revealing of their adolescent nature.
What a misleading and abusive headline! How about: "Romney Points Out Democrats' Weaknesses!"
Governor Romney: "McCain-Kennedy isn't the answer. As governor, I took a very different approach. I authorized our state police to enforce immigration laws. I vetoed a tuition break for illegals and said no to driver's licenses. McCain-Kennedy gives benefits to illegals that would cost taxpayers millions. And more importantly, amnesty didn't work 20 years ago, and it won't work today." (CPAC 2007 Speech, March 2, 2007)
Governor Romney proposes an immigration plan with the following features:
1. Strong border and internal enforcement and security. Romney strongly supports a wall, fence or other effective restraint along the U.S.-Mexico border. (Romney calls for border barrier, The Dallas Morning News, April 12, 2007)
2. An enhanced, fair and workable employee verification system with tamper proof, biometric ID for non-citizens that eliminates the burden and uncertainty of the current workplace enforcement system. Employers that hire workers without the proper credentials are subject to fines.
3. No special privilege or special pathway to citizenship for those here illegally.
Romney's Specific Immigration Solution
"The immigration bill failed because the politicians in Washington are out of touch with the American people. The voice of the people is loud and clear - secure the border, enforce the law and no special deal for permanent residency or citizenship for illegals. America will always welcome legal immigration, but as a nation we also insist on the rule of law." ~~Mitt Romney
Romney has never been afraid to speak out against liberal nonsense. He went right for the jugular with Pelosi, Reid, and Edwards. He went after Obama on education and now Hillary on the economy.
And he is usually one of the first to speak out on the issue, as well.
Should he win the nomination, we’re not going to see a replay of W the Punching Bag, it would seem. And I call that very good news.
Bump this thread.
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