Mitt Romney sat down with members of the New Hampshire Eagle Tribune editorial board last week. They shared about an hour together.
The Gov spoke about the economy, foreign policy, Obamacare and MA private-market insurance, Social Security and Medicare, national defense, and trade. He also spoke about wisdom gained from political losses…
Mitt Romney gets down to business
Oct 2, 20121 – By John Toole
Romney wants to help business. In helping business, he thinks the United States will grow jobs and find its way out of the current economic mess.
“I understand how business works and am intent on making this the most attractive place for enterprise, small and large,” Romney said. “I want America to be the most pro-business, pro-investment, pro-jobs nation in the world.”
Romney, 64, is the former governor of Massachusetts, a man who once led the Olympic games in the U.S. He met with The Eagle-Tribune editorial board for more than an hour last week to talk about his run for president.
Romney admits he is a different candidate than the one who lost to John McCain four years ago in the 2008 race for the Republican nomination.
“You learn from losses,” Romney said.
He learned not only from his loss to McCain, but also his loss in a Senate race to Ted Kennedy, he said.
“I’m one of those hard learners,” Romney said. “I’ve got to lose once or twice to figure out what to do right.”What he’s learned is that, unlike business, a lot of what happens in politics is out of your control. He’s learned, too, to deliver a clear message. Romney said a candidate has to say what he believes, express his convictions, describe his experience.
“If the American people want that group of qualities, then you get elected,” Romney said. “If they don’t, you don’t.”
The political lessons have enabled him to, in his words, be a little more calm. He knows he has a great life, a great wife, children and grandchildren who love him. There’s always business, too.
“I’m focused on telling people what I believe, honestly and directly,” Romney said. “If they like it, wonderful.”
Besides, Romney thinks the time is right for him.
“Today the issue America cares about most is the economy,” Romney said. “It’s a time which is more geared to someone for whom the economy is their wheelhouse, like me.”
Romney said he is worried about the country’s future.
“I’m really concerned for my grandkids,” Romney said. “Kids in their early teens and younger. What will America be like for them? Will there be jobs there?”Mitt and Ann Romney with some of their grandchildren, Dec 2010. (click to enlarge)
There are tough challenges ahead, he said, but the American people not only are up to the challenges, they will welcome the sacrifices to meet them. That means working together, working longer and harder, taking risks, he said.
“As a people, we like being called to do something great,” Romney said. “Politicians have been getting elected by promising free stuff. …
Romney said he believes the people are looking for a leader to restore America to greatness.
On the Obama economy:
“I think they are badly disappointed with this president,” Romney said. “He’s been a disappointment. Both internationally he’s failed and domestically.”
Unemployment is extremely high and in one term President Obama has stacked up as much debt as all other presidents combined, Romney said.
“It’s a presidency that is now casting about to blame somebody,” Romney said.
He has no use for a second stimulus from Obama.
“It’s too late for a stimulus,” he said. “We need a fundamental restructuring of America’s economy to make sure we’re a competitive economy that attracts employers, investment, entrepreneurs and jobs.”
Romney would build economic recovery around seven categories, what he describes as “the seven habits of highly effective economies.”He would lower taxes on business.
“I’d bring our corporate employer tax rates down at least to the level of competing nations,” Romney said.
He would loosen regulation to encourage free enterprise, rather than burden it.
“Streamline, update, modernize regulation and get regulators to see business as their friend and their ally,” Romney said.
CEOs have told Romney that paying taxes and complying with regulatory policies, as well as energy expenses, cost them nearly 18 percent more here than doing business in foreign countries.
On foreign trade:
Romney wants more foreign trade, agreements with other nations to open more markets. He wants to crack down on competitor nations that unfairly undercut America.
“China is cheating,” Romney said. “You have to say, ‘stop.‘”
(emphasis added ) Read the entire interview here.
► Jayde Wyatt
Nice. He looks very comfortable in what he’s saying .. I like his attitude that you be yourself & if you have what the people want, you’ll be elected; if not, you won’t. It does make him more calm & confident.