Thousands of fans hail Romney in SLC-Many think his book promotion tour is a precursor to a presiden

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | Derek P. Jensen | Derek P. Jensen

[delacoert]

Utah's favorite political son made no apologies Saturday for his conservative cred -- a stance thousands of backers in the Beehive State hope will propel Mitt Romney to the White House.

Speaking at the Salt Palace Convention Center hall, Romney weaved wit, humor and folksy anecdotes around enough anti-Barack Obama broadsides to energize his fawning fans. Most in attendance braved a sloppy snowstorm to hoist campaign-style signs, giving Romney's No Apology: The Case for American Greatness book tour the feel of a 2012 campaign rally.

"I hope he does run," Midway's Bart Kotter said afterward. "The guy is an amazing visionary. He's got a lot of pride in our heritage without the arrogance."

Romney argued America must work harder than ever to keep up with foreign powers such as China and Russia -- a feat that starts in Washington. He railed against Obama for pushing a "crazier than new Coke" health care plan, cap and trade, higher taxes on capital gains and "immoral" deficit spending.

"He has put in place the most anti-growth, anti-jobs, anti-investment strategy that we have seen since Jimmy Carter," Romney said. "And it's been wrong."

Romney's speech was red meat for Republicans, but may have swayed one voter. "I'm actually an independent and voted for Obama," said Kathy Younker, of Salt Lake City. "But I really enjoyed everything he said. He's a true patriot."

"I didn't see a teleprompter," added Dianne Halloran, on vacation from Southern California. "He spoke from his heart. I was proud to be an American tonight."

Romney, who said he will wait to decide about 2012 until after the November midterm elections, said he was dismayed by Obama's "apology tour," telling Arab television the U.S. has dictated to other nations.

"No Mister President, America has freed other nations from dictators," Romney said to the night's biggest applause. He insisted liberal politicians in Washington are "smothering the spirit of America."

When a 12-year-old Bluffdale boy asked if he'll run for president, Romney said, "I'll either be that person, or I'll work my tail off for that person."

Kirk Jowers, whose Hinckley Institute of Politics sponsored the speech, calls Romney the GOP frontrunner. "When we actually get to Iowa and New Hampshire," he said, "neither [Sarah] Palin nor [Mike] Huckabee will be in the top five."

That would please Brian Ranniger, of Heber City, who said Romney seemed like the only "presidential" candidate in 2008. "The only problem he's going to run into is his [Mormon] religion," Ranniger said. "I don't know if Americans are going to get over that."

Romney took the stage with his wife Ann, and the couple praised the state and its residents for a memorable 2002 Olympic experience. Romney's leadership role during the Games helped vault the businessman to political prominence.

He's been mildly criticized for frequent fundraising trips in which Utah has been a virtual ATM. But nobody Saturday thought Romney should apologize.

"I would donate to anyone who has that vision," said Scott Howard, of Pleasant Grove. "He has an understanding of what is embodied in the American spirit."

[delacoert]

Make no mistake, Utah's favorite political son is in campaign mode, now, 2 ½ years out.

As he's out hawking his new book, it's interesting to notice how helpful he's being by raising funds for the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics.

Hinckley?  Where have I heard that name before?

[Berlin_Freeper]

If they support him in Utah then why doesn’t he run for something there?

[Jedidah]

Is this guy tone-deaf? This is no time to be starting a Presidential campaign, and that is surely what he’s trying. Again.

A mormon politician drawing a crowd in Utah is not news.

Romney is wearing thin already.

We are facing critical issues right now. The 2012 race is not one of them.

[EagleUSA]

Are Mormons all that liberal?? Too bad Romney is a RINO. If he were a conservative, he might have a chance. After listening to him try to justify his socialized medicine in Mass., that was the final straw for me. It was a revealing interview — the commentator had to “remind him” that the federal government pays for half of his “successful” program.

What a crock.

[timetostand]

Where’s the BARF alert!

[6SJ7]

This “news article” is just a big ol’ piece of astroturf.

[Diogenesis]

[Vaquero]

Kitten-Mittens is just a stain on the magic underwear of life.

[reaganaut]

Romney’s speech was red meat for Republicans, but may have swayed one voter. “I’m actually an independent and voted for Obama,” said Kathy Younker, of Salt Lake City. “But I really enjoyed everything he said. He’s a true patriot.”

— - - - — -
Right there. Obama voters like Mitt. That says it all.

Pi$$ on Mitt.

[colorcountry]

From the article:

"I would donate to anyone who has that vision,"

Vision? Did someone say vision? Lots of people in Utah donate lots of money to someone who claimed to have had a vision. ;)

[delacoert]

I thought the title was it's own barf alert.

[greyfoxx39]

Kitten-Mittens is just a stain on the magic underwear of life.

OMGROTFL...post of the year!

[greyfoxx39]

Are Mormons all that liberal??

Mormons believe one of their "priesthood holders" is foreordained to "save the country and the Constitution":

“Anyone can look at the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith... Brigham Young and others.... I have always felt that they meant that sometime the question of whether we are going to proceed on the basis of the Constitution would arise and at this point government leaders who were Mormons would be involved in answering that question.”- George Romney, interview in “A Man’s Religion and American Politics: An Interview with Governor Romney,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Autumn 1967, v. 2, p. 25

Religion comes before anything else in this instance.

[Vendome]

“Jowers [Hinckley Institute of Politics executive director] notes Romney was not paid for the event, and all proceeds will go toward Hinckley’s scholarship program. Most attendees paid $25, which included admission and a signed copy of Romney’s book. Some paid $95 to attend a meet-and-greet reception beforehand. The 4,400-seat Salt Palace hall failed to sell out.”

Well that is surprising and I am shocked!! /S

[justiceseeker93]

"Utah's favorite political son"?

I had the impression that to be called a "favorite son" presidential candidate of a state, you had to hold office in that state. Romney's main connections to Utah are that he attended Brigham Young University in his youth and that he was attached to the Salt Lake City Olympics later. But he was born and raised in Michigan (where his father was governor) and spent the bulk of his adult life in Massachusetts. Not exactly a "favorite son" according to the usual meaning of the term.

[rintense]

Too bad his draw was an epic fail in Grand Rapids, MI- his adopted ‘home’ state.

[Venturer]

The bad news is that all of these people back Romney.

The good news is there aint enough of them to elect him.

[bwc2221]

“Jowers notes Romney was not paid for the event, and all proceeds will go toward Hinckley’s scholarship program. Most attendees paid $25, which included admission and a signed copy of Romney's book. Some paid $95 to attend a meet-and-greet reception beforehand. The 4,400-seat Salt Palace hall failed to sell out.”

$25 admission and you get a free autographed copy of his book and Mitt can't sell out a 4,400 seat venue in the Mormon capitol of the world? Last week he drew 450 in Birmingham (an upscale Detroit suburb and Mitt's boyhood home. Not good signs.

[big'ol_freeper]

Piss on Romney and ALL his sycop-fan-tz

[cripplecreek]

A lot of the old timers here in Michigan don’t seem to have a great deal of love for Romney the younger.