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Romney on Offense

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December 07, 2007 4:53 PM

ABC News' Matt Stuart Reports: Fmr. MA Gov. Mitt Romney went on the offensive today in Des Moines, IA, speaking in sharp tones with reporters for the first time since his much anticipated "Faith in America" speech.

Romney spoke on strengthening the American military, but for the large press contingent, the questions focused squarely on yesterday's speech and illegal immigration.

"What [did] you mean by 'freedom requires religion'?" a reporter asked as the press availability began.  Romney responded "for a nation like ours to be great and to thrive that our constitution was written for a people of faith, and religion is a very extraordinary element and necessary foundation for our nation. I believe that’s the case.”

When asked later by ABC News if that meant that non-religious people couldn't also be "free" people, Romney responded tersely, "I'm talking about the nation."

Romney was also asked if he thought his speech would put to rest questions among evangelical Christians about his faith.  Romney responded, "That's not what the speech was about."

Another reporter questioned Romney on reports that landscaping and painting companies working on his Massachusetts home used illegal immigrants.  Romney first responded carefully, "What I see is that we have a country where there is not an employment verification system, that allows contractors and allows companies to know who’s in this country legally and illegally."  When the reporter followed up, asking if Romney should be someone "people look to…who would have judgment or take the extra mile," Romney  became noticeably terse, turning the questioning to the reporter, "Tell, me how you'd do that in this country?  So for instance, let's say I go to a restaurant, should I make sure the waiters there are all legal?  How would I do that?"

When another reporter asked about the sacrifices Romney would ask the American people to make for the military, Romney appeared aggravated saying that Americans need to "Do our very best.  Push for excellence.  Insist on our businesses that we work hard, that we do our very best, that we invest in new technologies and innovation…" before the reporter interrupted him to continue his questions. 

After the reporter and Romney both tried to speak over each other, Romney smiled, turned away, and dismissed the reporter, calling on someone else: "Next question."

December 7, 2007 in Palin, Sarah | Permalink | User Comments (14)

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Don't let Mitt happen

Posted by: krahe | Dec 7, 2007 5:15:56 PM

Romney would make a great President.

Posted by: Kevin | Dec 7, 2007 5:32:12 PM

You write this like you are surprised. Romney is a flip flopper has been going back to his Senate run versus Kennedy.

He also doesn't want to spend time with the media because he can spend millions of his own money in advertising and say what he wants without having anyone question him. Finally, in an honest Q&A he can't be polished because he isn't briefed before the question.

Take a look back at John McCain. He's the only one that can beat Hillary Clinton.

Posted by: imwithmmcain | Dec 7, 2007 5:41:45 PM

Here we have a candidate who if you research him has an incredible amount of integrity, a great family, a plethora of leadership skills, and the only dirt people can find on him is he changed his abortion stance and put his dog on the roof on a trip. His religion may seem different to someone who has not investigated it, but I can tell you that it is a commandment of the LDS people to adhere to governemt laws whatever country they may live in. I would think we would be begging this man to represent our country.

Posted by: Dawson Campbell | Dec 7, 2007 5:46:08 PM

This story is a perfect illustration of just how the liberal press seeks to destroy anyone who defends what the founding fathers of this nation layed out in the Declaration of Independence. This is just the kind of attack against religion (by the God-hating liberal press) that Gov. Romney layed out in his speech.

Posted by: One_American | Dec 7, 2007 6:24:59 PM

Romney ran for office and then was elected to a four year stint in Massachusetts. As a now former daily reader of the local papers and a life long resident of the "Peoples Republic"(Majority RC I believe), his Mormon religion was rarely if ever an issue. Certainly he didn't make a big deal of it either. I've heard(and perhaps voiced!) plenty of criticism of him during his tenure as our governor, particularly since he set his sights on higher ambitions. But I have never ever heard anyone taking him to task for or even joking over a beer about his Mormon religion. Us liberals(and moderates and independents) are a fairly tolerant lot. Just don't try to ram your absolute religious beliefs down our throats.

For Mitt to have shown courage, he would have had to confront in some way the bigotry he faces from the right, from his fellow "Christians". Instead, he, rather evasively, deposited half-dissolved bromides about our national traditions and made the big public pander. He used all the little buzzwords his polls and focus group sessions told him he needs to say Evangelicals. To a cynic even this stuff is more "saying anything to get elected." And its shameless the way he makes a bogeyman of the very people who treated him as a respect worthy human being in Massachusetts, whether he was Mormon and something else. He's truly shameless. Its all about winning, not how you win. Sorry, Mitt lacks core integrity.

Posted by: northlite | Dec 7, 2007 7:09:14 PM

Mitt sounds like he's ready to move into the "blame the media" stage for his constantly off message campaign.

Posted by: Richard | Dec 8, 2007 1:04:42 AM

Candidate Romney is the worthy one for President.Not only he is well qualify but he also well verse in the Constitution of the Unitd States and the God given gift of Freedom of Religion.There is a God people especially you anti religion there is a God.Without him we are not.

Posted by: kmjjp | Dec 8, 2007 1:14:15 AM

So, his religion supports pre-emptive war, killing hundrends of thousands of Iraqs. His support is torture is certainly something Jesus would support. Romney should know that anyone will admit to anything when tortured, thus, the info. obtained is worthless. He is just another chickhawk prowar Bush supporter, who never served in the military nor any of his 5 sons. He is opportunist who is trying to buy the election. He pays people to vote mulitple times at the Florida straw poll.

Posted by: Greg | Dec 8, 2007 3:05:21 AM

If Mitt is so "intelligent," why doesn`t he know that the Christian and many other religions thrived in oppressive (that`s non-free, Mitt,)political states. Furthermore, as another Republican neocon that refused to serve in our military, we Independent Viet Nam and other veterans have had enough of your Mormon pontificating. Your speech the other day was in direct contravention of the founding father`s separation of church and state. If you want to live in a Mormon country, go somewhere elce.

Posted by: Luke | Dec 8, 2007 9:59:29 AM

Within Romney's statement is this, "...constitution was written for a people of faith..."

His "faith" speech has hidden meanings.

Where is Romney on the question of who the Constitution represents? If he were president, would he uphold the Constitution for all Americans...or just Americans with faith?

Posted by: newz4i | Dec 8, 2007 11:14:40 AM

Right, can't wait until Mitt sends the DEA feds to arrest all those sick people who upon the advise of their doctors obtain legal prescriptions for marajuana to relieve their pain and suffering. Yes, enforce those Fed laws and the hell with State Rights and individual freedom an liberty.

Posted by: Greg | Dec 8, 2007 2:51:02 PM

The reporters were corrupt liberal members of America's wolfpack press. They went there not to seek ask questions about policies and issues that are important to Americans. There corrupt reporters went there to "attack" Mitt Romney. When the Boston Globe send a reporter to Mitt's home in Boston to wait to see who comes out to maintain his lawn.........that' corruption. When news outlets "cook" their polls numbers, like Newsweek poll from Iowa, ..........that's corruption. FYI our corrupt liberal wolfpack press is working very hard to de-rail Mitt before he wins the GOP nomination. "They" know if they don't stop him now he will be America's 44th President of the USA........ Mitt's the most qualified candidate running from either party in 2008

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