Mitt Romney Rocks the House at Eagle Manufacturing in Shelby Twp. Michigan

By Rebel Ross | February 21, 2012 - 1:03 PM | 2012 Election, Gay Marriage, Michigan, Mitt Romney 1 views

This event could hardly have gone any better. The Campaign provided a Paczki to attendees of today’s townhall which has a great touch. Today is fat Tuesday and Paczki’s are a super-fattening and wildly popular polish tradition here in Michigan. People love to indulge in one last snack before they give up sweets or try to lose weight between now and Easter.

A man from Canada asked a question about healthcare and how to care for mentally ill citizens, and during his question, he informed Gov. Romney that the man wouldn’t give Mitt his Canadian health care card. Mitt said with a smile, “I don’t want it.” to huge cheers.

There were a ton of great questions, no disturbances from protestors (perhaps due to the snow prior to the event), and a much bigger crowd than initially anticipated. Campaign generally like to keep townhall events under 250 people to create a bit of a more intimate setting. However, once this event was announced, the campaign was inundated with people wanting to RSVP. As you can see from the pictures, this event had to be greatly expanded to fit everyone in.

The man in the above picture is a 94-year-old veteran of World War II who told a story about George Romney tossing apples up into the crowd at Michigan football games while he was Governor here in Michigan. I thought it was appropriate that Mitt was providing the townhall guests each with a paczki on the day this wonderful veteran (and retired Chrysler worker) reminisced about Mitt’s father George.

The final question was by a woman who said she came into the event undecided and that she was very impressed by the event even though she had attended a Santorum event last week. She said her mind was almost made up to support Mitt, but that she had just one last question. The question was about abortion and gay-marriage and Mitt hit it out of the park.

As full video of the event surfaces, we’ll post it here.

UPDATE: Here is the video link: http://electad.com/videos/mitt-romney-town-hall-at-eagle-manufacturing-shelby-township-michigan-february-21-2012/

Newt Gingrich: A Little More Truth-Letting as He Sells More Books

By Victor Lundquist | February 20, 2012 - 1:06 PM | 2012 Election, Arizona, Georgia, GOP, Michigan, Newt Gingrich, Op-eds, States 1 views

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Frequent visitors to MRC know my thoughts about Mr. Gingrich. His narcissism, self adulation, and condescending style disqualify him from higher office. Most Republicans have resigned themselves to the fact that very few, if any, of Gingrich’s pursuits are noble. He is driven by ambition and revenge.

Oh to know Donald's thoughts about now -- Two peas from the same pod?

Gingrich knows how to sell books and frankly, that is exactly what I think he is all about. As a wealthy man, he seeks to expand his image with power. He would accept power of course, but all he really wanted was a forum to sell more books. So little has been exposed on Gingrich and yet, each time we do a little truth-letting, Gingrich drops like a rock in the polls. What is he now, fourth or fifth in the polls? Oh wait, there are only four candidates left.

Every time I turn around, I keep running into these little gems of truth about Mr. Gingrich. I guess since I have never known any person this arrogant, it fascinates me. The fact he is duplicitous, terrifies me. Candidly, I don’t understand how he gets even one supporter, let alone thousands. Fascinating!

Yesterday, The Washington Post’s Jerry Markon published an article, exposing a few more facts behind the true nature of Mr. Gingrich. My excerpts below are only a glimpse.

The files offer a candid glimpse of the former House speaker, a man who could be charming and self-effacing one moment, ambitious and grandiose the next, an admittedly disorganized manager who viewed his role as nothing less than saving the Western world.

“When I say save the West, I mean that,” Gingrich said in a 1979 address to his congressional staff, preserved in the files. “That is my job. . . . It is not my job to win reelection. It is not my job to take care of passport problems. It is not my job to get a bill through Congress. My job description as I have defined it is to save Western civilization.”
[...]
While Gingrich differed sharply with the Reagan administration on issues such as defense spending and foreign policy, he effusively praised the president for national audiences.

“He is the most articulate, most charming, most aggressive conservative we’ve had, possibly since Theodore Roosevelt,” Gingrich was quoted as saying in a 1983 Associated Press story.

Yet behind closed doors, Gingrich raged at Reagan and other conservatives, especially after House Republicans lost seats in the 1982 elections. And back in Georgia, newspapers quoted him as saying something different. “Really, Reaganomics has failed,” Gingrich said.

The entire Washington Post article is very good. I recommend it highly: CLICK

The Republican Primary Process: For the Prepared, Experienced, & Tested — Mitt Romney!

By Victor Lundquist | February 19, 2012 - 10:01 PM | 2012 Election, GOP, Michigan, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, States 1 views

19 Comments

David Parker contributed an outstanding Op-Ed last week about the importance of substantial executive leadership experience when considering a candidate for President of the United States. His guest post included a chart that compares the four remaining candidates: CLICK

David Parker

I will repeat what I have said before here at MRC. Governor Romney has said since he began his participation as a candidate for the 2012 race that it would be a long race. Since he made those initial comments, the pundits, mainstream media, FOX talking heads, the other candidates, and just about everybody else have tried to set different expectations around Governor Romney. Why? So they could have as much influence as possible in the outcome. I will stress again: Keep your eyes on our file leader, Mitt Romney. His strategy to end up with the winning number of delegates is on course, contrary to what others want you to think. Not one of the other three candidates has even close to the experience as Governor Romney in strategic planning, execution, or executive leadership. None!

By David Parker

Brokered convention, really? All because of Michigan, the ninth contest out of 54? Aren’t we being a little premature, if not irresponsible? We expect it in the biased liberal media, but the conservative media and pundits should be ashamed! Now is the time for conservatives to come together rather than promote division. Think about it — as a Republican Party do we really want to wait until the end of August before knowing our nominee?

Are we so blinded by –

1. The media’s want for a story;

2. The conservative media, pundits and bloggers capitulating to a liberal media agenda of disruption;

3. Adherence to unequivocal absolutes in our ideology (Reagan’s adoption of being 80% agreement as acceptable, even disagreeing on 20%);

4. Rick Santorum’s protestations that it is his social agenda that matters, a social agenda that no one else can match, when they can and do with more substance; (more…)

Adelson Bets Big on Romney — Funds Gingrich to Topple Santorum — Billionaire’s Chess Play as Kingmaker

By Victor Lundquist | February 18, 2012 - 3:37 AM | 2012 Election, Endorsements, GOP, Michigan, Newt Gingrich, Op-eds, Rick Santorum, States 1 views

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Yesterday CBS reported that Sheldon Adelson would again commit $10 million to the Gingrich super PAC “Winning Our Future” — this in addition to $11 million already given to the PAC by the Adelson family.

Sheldon Adelson (photo: AP)

NewsMax also reported yesterday a possible second motive or strategy, first reported by The Wall Street Journal Wednesday of this week. The NewsMax post states, in part:

“Adelson is certainly giving Gingrich one more chance. But given Gingrich’s poll numbers, Adelson’s cash infusion is more about knocking Santorum from the top of the polls than it is about boosting Gingrich’s chances” Republican strategist Ford O’Connell told CNN. “While Adelson supports Gingrich, he is concerned that Santorum could win the nomination over [Mitt] Romney.”

[emphasis added]

Wednesday of this week (2/15/12), Alicia Mundy and Alexandra Berzon, in their WSJ article (p. A4) titled, “Gingrich’s Main Backer Plays Two Angles” the sub-title states: “Casino Mogul Adelson Weighs New Funding to Boost Former Speaker and to Help Romney Keep Santorum at Bay.”

It is widely known that Mr. Adelson’s love of the state of Israel is his main motivation behind any political support he provides. He has a long time friendship with Gingrich who is an ardent supporter of Israel. Governor Romney has also known Adelson for years and he too is obviously a strong supporter of Israel — during the Nevada caucuses they met to discuss the possibility of Adelson throwing his support behind his campaign.

I found this two-pronged strategy fascinating. Reading between the lines, I concluded that Adelson would prefer that Governor Romney as the Republican nominee and that he had concluded that the best way to ensure a Romney win was to bifurcate the support going to Santorum and Gingrich. Absolutely fascinating! Does that mean that had Gingrich continued to win states and delegates that Adelson would have shifted support to Santorum to balance this strategy? That seems unlikely to me based on the long Adelson/Gingrich friendship, but the possibility is fascinating nonetheless.

Excerpts from The Wall Street Journal Article (before Adelson made the commitment public):

Billionaire Sheldon Adelson, by far the biggest financial backer of Newt Gingrich’s presidential bid, is preparing to open his wallet again. But this time, the casino magnate appears to have more than one agenda.

In a bit of political chess, Mr. Adelson is ready to not only directly support the former House speaker in the Republican primary, but to use his cash to push Rick Santorum from his position atop the latest national polls, according to people who have discussed the matter with Mr. Adelson. (more…)

Rick Santorum: Big Government Income; Wealthy; Paltry Charitable Giving — Anemic

By Victor Lundquist | February 17, 2012 - 4:48 AM | 2012 Election, GOP, Michigan, Newt Gingrich, Op-eds, Rick Santorum, States 1 views

7 Comments

What do we see after 20 years of employment in government? Celebrity? Yes. Fame? Yes. Huge speaking fees? Yes. High paid “consulting” fees? Yes. Wealth? Yes. Generosity? You decide.

What is left? Power.

Two days ago, Rick Santorum released his tax returns. Let’s take a peek at them and what we learned from the Santorum’s returns (last four years):

Their effective tax rates were between 25% and 29%
Their most recent contributions to charity equal 1.8% (to a high of 2.6% in 2009)
They are wealthy by almost any standard in America

[source: RIGHT SPEAK]

What about generosity of the wealthy?

The media goes all out to depict Governor Romney negatively by comparison to Gingrich and Santorum. For example, Governor Romney’s latest tax returns indicate he paid around 15% in capital gains taxes. However, rarely does the press mention the obvious: That he had to earn the original money that got invested. Governor Romney’s original income was earned just like you and I earn it. And he would have paid ordinary income taxes on that money, at the time. I’m no accountant, but he would have been taxed originally at 35% I believe. Adding his capital gains taxes to his ordinary income taxes means he paid around 50% in taxes, give or take.

So what? Both Senator Santorum and Governor Romney did what is legally required of them: They paid to Caesar what Caesar demands. No more. No less. They both did what was required of them under the law. Good!

The bigger and more important question is, what did each man choose to do with their “discretionary” incomes? Both are wealthy men by comparison to the vast majority of Americans. Many Americans of modest, even limited means pay far more than 2% of their income to charity (remember the widow’s mite?) — I know many Americans of modest means who contribute far more than the Santorums, as a percentage of income.

By contrast, Governor Romney paid 16% in charitable contributions. Comparing just percentages, Romney paid almost nine times the amount as Santorum. So what? (more…)

Mitt Romney: “He has a Servant’s Heart” — A Super Hero to Some

By Victor Lundquist | February 17, 2012 - 1:07 AM | 2012 Election, Conservatives, Family Values, Michigan, States 1 views

5 Comments

Nate and his Super Hero -- Somewhere over a Western State

You may wonder how this photograph above is relevant to this piece — It isn’t. I just love it, and so I decided to include it. Every photograph tells a story and I love the story being told above!

I wonder if Nate is thinking about politics?

Occasionally, we will republish a comment that you leave in our posts (by the way, THANK YOU for your thoughtful comments; they add so much to our mission!). Yesterday, about 10am, a loyal supporter of Governor Romney’s left a comment that expresses better than I can, the kind of person Mitt Romney is and the kind of President he will be. And none of it is hyperbole.

“Colleen” left this comment at the post: “Mitt Romney: Why People of Great Faith are Voting for the Man”

Thank you Colleen!

A 2-minute video explaining that Mitt forged religious support in Florida across demoninations. Another positive example of Mitt’s leadership abilities — that he can bring people of different sects together as Americas.

I believe his presidency will help America heal from the class and religious warfare engendered by our current president. Mitt believes in the American people, that they are inately good. He may be wealthy but that fact does not color his view of the individual value of all citizens. He has a servant’s heart as evidenced by his past service without pay for the Olympics, government, and his life time years of church service, including his youth as an unpaid missionary in France during a time of anti-American sentiment there.

His ego is strong but does not blind him into seeking personal power as our current president seeks. Instead, he seeks to return America to her greatness under the Constitution, re-establish an unfettered free enterprise economy where people like his famous dad, a man who was without a college education or means, rose to a pinacle of success as a business man and governor.

Mitt is a man we can trust to serve the people of this nation. He’s tough as nails without being uncivil or crude. His polished language and manners may confuse some people who mistakenly call him elitest. Instead, he is a man well prepared to represent and repair this nation.

He is a man of faith and good works who respects your right to pursue your own happiness (under the laws of the land). He can work with people of opposing view points and find consensus and then work from there.

We need a realistic and a pragmatic person, not a dreamer or divider. Will he be perfect? No. Will he be effective and trustworthy? Yes.

Please consider giving him your support as we need a united party and a united country.

[emphasis added along with paragraph breaks]

Thank you to our MRC writer, Jayde Wyatt for this talk by this great supporter of Governor Romney about civility and “speaking with grace” by Mark DeMoss, a prominent Evangelical leader —–> CLICK

Also, his co-authoring (with Lanny Davis) of this Op-Ed piece in the Washington Times

Michigan Leaders Lining Up for Romney

By Jayde Wyatt | February 16, 2012 - 8:46 AM | 2012 Election, Barack Obama, Conservatives, Debt, Deficit Spending, Endorsements, GOP, Michigan, Mitt Romney, Obama Isn't Working, Spending 1 views

5 Comments

MI Atty Gen Mike Cox has endorsed Mitt Romney.

Along with receiving the hearty endorsement of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder yesterday, Governor Mitt Romney has also been given the stamp of approval from MI Attorney General Mike Cox, former MI Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, and 15 additional members of the MI Legislature and MI Republican State Committee:

“I am honored to have such overwhelming support from leaders across Michigan,” said Mitt Romney. “Michigan has been home to me. I remember when Michigan was the envy of the nation – I look forward to working with these leaders to bring jobs back and restore Michigan’s economy.”

“Michigan and the rest of the country can’t afford four more years of failed policies from President Obama,” said former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. “Mitt Romney is the Republican Party’s best chance
Michael Bishop, former MI Senate Majority Leader, is also backing Romney.
to defeat President Obama, repeal Obamacare, cut spending, and appoint Supreme Court Justices who respect the Constitution. Conservatives who are concerned about the direction of our country should join our growing Michigan team in supporting Mitt Romney – four more years of President Obama could be devastating for the country.”

Announcing his support, former Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop said, “Mitt Romney is a conservative businessman – he knows that Washington can’t keep spending more than it takes in and mortgaging our children and grandchildren’s future. As governor, he balanced his state’s budget every year and turned a $3 billion deficit into a $2 billion rainy day fund. That is the exact leadership we need in the White House. It will take someone with Mitt Romney’s lifetime of leadership to bring fiscal sanity back to the federal government.”

(emphasis added)

Elected Officials And Leaders Endorsing Mitt Romney:

State Representative Jeff Farrington
State Representative Deb Shaughnessy
Former State Representative Brian Palmer
Joshua Leatherman, Allegan County Chair
Phillip Goodrich, Ionia County Republican Chair
Juanita Pierman, Oceana County Republican Chair & 2nd District State Committee Member
Rick Shaffer, St. Joseph County Republican Chair
Sandra Hanson, Van Buren County Republican Chair
Allan Filip, 8th District Chairman
John Haggard, 1st District State Committee Member
Paul DeYoung, 6th District State Committee Member
Theresa Stayer, 9th District State Committee Member
Gary Howell, 10th District State Committee Member
Susan Licata Haroutunian, 14th District State Committee Member
Ed Haroutunian

The following individuals join the already released Romney Leadership Team in Michigan (check out this list!):

(more…)

Despite the Best Efforts of the Democrats, Mitt is Welcomed Home in Grand Rapids

By Rebel Ross | February 15, 2012 - 10:44 PM | 2012 Election, Fox News, Media Appearances, Michigan, Mitt Romney 1 views

4 Comments

I just got back from tonight’s Grand Rapids rally for Mitt and it was great! If I had any complaint, it would be that the venue was a bit small. The media is reporting that 700 people were crammed into a space that I suspect was more appropriate for 400. Mitt held a rally in 2008 at this exact venue, and the campaign may have underestimated the amount of support that has grown for Mitt since then. (The thousand e-mails I sent to Michigan supporters I’ve identified since 2008 may have contributed to the larger than expected turnout, but I’ll never know for sure how much I helped).

I should’ve got this on video, but the handful of protestors outside the rally were depressingly ill-informed as they usually are. They were told to come and protest, but didn’t even know for sure what they were supposed to be mad at Mitt about. I don’t know if these protestors were being paid less than these, but I didn’t hear their usual “Hey hey, ho ho…” waste of time chants today. I wonder if they will ever come up with a new tune…

Also, check out our Mitt Romney Central exclusive of Mitt walking to the podium at his Grand Rapids rally:

I was fortunate enough to be interviewed by a reporter from the Grand Rapids Press immediately following the rally. I’ll post the article here if it gets published tomorrow.

Watch Mitt’s interview with the MLive/Grand Rapids Press Editorial Board below the fold. (more…)

HUGE MICHIGAN GET: Governor Snyder Endorses Mitt Romney

By Luke Gunderson | February 15, 2012 - 8:50 PM | Endorsements, Michigan 1 views

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Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Endorses Mitt Romney

Chalk another one up on the long list of Republican governors that are backing Mitt. The [awesome] breaking news comes from The Detroit News:

Gov. Rick Snyder will announce his endorsement of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the GOP nomination in an op-ed piece in The Detroit News on Thursday.

The endorsement comes as both Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum will make multiple campaign appearances in southeast Michigan.

Snyder, a former entrepreneur and moderate Republican,will make the endorsement official at a Romney campaign stop in Farmington Hills on Thursday. In an op-ed column to appear in The Detroit News, Snyder writes: “Our next president must understand how markets work and know how to get our nation back on track. Mitt Romney is the man for the job.”

This big news comes on the heels of several other prominent figures in Michigan endorsing Mitt today!

Mitt Romney today announced the support of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.

I am humbled to have the support of Governor Snyder,” said Mitt Romney. “Michigan is where I grew up. Getting the state back on track is personal for me. Governor Snyder is a businessman like me and understands first-hand how the Obama Administration has stifled job growth and economic expansion in Michigan. Along with the work of conservative leaders like Governor Snyder, we will be able to restore Michigan’s once-thriving economy and help the state lead a national economic recovery.

UPDATE: Read Gov. Snyder’s Endorsement of Mitt below the fold. (more…)

Mitt Romney Writes an Op-Ed for the Detroit News

By Rebel Ross | February 14, 2012 - 8:57 AM | 2012 Election, Michigan, Mitt Romney 1 views

2 Comments

Taxpayers Should Get GM Shares’ Proceeds

By Mitt Romney
February 7th, 2012

I am a son of Detroit. I was born in Harper Hospital and lived in the city until my family moved to Oakland County.

I grew up drinking Vernors and watching ballgames at Michigan & Trumbull. Cars got in my bones early. And not just any cars, American cars.

When the president of American Motors died suddenly in 1954, my dad, George Romney, was asked to take his place. I was 7 and got my love of cars and chrome and fins and roaring motors from him. I grew up around the industry and watched it flourish. Years later, I watched with sadness as it floundered.

Three years ago, in the midst of an economic crisis, a newly elected President Barack Obama stepped in with a bailout for the auto industry. The indisputable good news is that Chrysler and General Motors are still in business. The equally indisputable bad news is that all the defects in President Obama’s management of the American economy are evident in what he did.

Instead of doing the right thing and standing up to union bosses,Obama rewarded them…

Read the rest of the important op-ed here and leave a comment there for Michiganders to read. No doubt the democrats will try to characterize Mitt as someone who hates the auto industry, so it’s up to us to make sure Michiganders are provided the truth.

UPDATE: Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign is making TV reservations in Michigan, starting with the Detroit market. Romney’s super PAC, Restore Our Future, has already purchased a half-million dollars in airtime over the next week, but Romney’s campaign was quiet until this morning. The full size of the flight is yet to be determined.

Here’s Mitt’s ad: