Posted on 03/20/2012 12:05:13 PM PDT by Wilderness Conservative
March 20, 2012 10:48am 172 Comments Romney schools 'free birth control' student byCharlie Spiering Commentary Staff Writer Follow on Twitter:
Campaigning at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. yesterday, Mitt Romney quickly criticized a student for wanting "free stuff" from the government.
"You're all for like 'yay freedom and all this stuff and yay pursuit of happiness,'" said the college-aged girl. "You know what would make me happy? Free birth control."
"Let me tell you something, if you're looking for free stuff that you don't have to pay for, vote for the other guy," Romney told the student. "That's what he's all about."
Romney continued, "Politicians get up and promise you all kinds of free stuff, more and more stuff that you won't have to pay for and you know what? We get elected that way, in many cases, politicians do, that's not something I subscribe to.
Romney insisted on telling the truth to voters and "demand sacrifices" from people.
"The idea that of borrowing a trillion dollars more than we bring in is not just bad economics, its immoral," Romney said to the crowd.
OK good discussion, ty. I agree it’s not a sacrifice to give up government money.
This reminds me a bit of the town hall debate between Bush and Clinton where some pony-tailed dude stood up and asked them a question about how people looked to the government as sort of a father, and how each of them would fill that role. Clinton, of course, lapped that up. And Bush completely missed his opportunity to draw a distinction by saying that the government is not your father, etc., and just kind of pandered, though less well than Clinton.
I'll take Romney's answer, and not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
I think the difference of opinion among conservatives on those issues revolves around whether those are concepts we should push as private citizens, or whether they are in fact the business of the government, and should be enforced with the power of the government.
Mittens might have told her that all the children in the world want more presents. Presents are great! But somebody has to buy them. It's nice to be comfortably insulated from the labor market and advocate for more gifts. Taking money from working Americans who are then constrained in providing for their own families to give presents to unemployed schoolchildren.
He could have asked her if she would like a free mountain bike too, so she could exercise in her spare time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.