Category Archives: Michigan Issues

Video – Mitt Romney Michigan Victory Speech

Posted on by joemich4mitt

Below is the video of Mitt Romney’s victory speech in Michigan.  The full text of the speech is also provided below the video.  Once again, congrats to Mitt Romney, his campaign, supporters, voters, and Michigan!  Now it is time to seal the nomination and start focusing on helping Mitt win Michigan in the general election.  MICHIGAN STANDS WITH MITT!!

And here is the full text of Mitt Romney’s Michigan victory speech:

“Thank you, Michigan. And thank you, Arizona! A week ago the pundits and the pollsters were ready to count us out. But across Michigan and Arizona I kept meeting moms and dads, students and grandparents, all concerned about what was happening to this great country. I was confident that we would come together today and take a giant step toward a brighter future.  Tonight, their efforts have brought our cause a great victory.
Tonight is all the more special because we’re celebrating in the state where I was born, surrounded by Michiganders we consider family. Ann and I want to thank all of you who knocked on doors, made calls, and went to the polls.
And in Arizona, we want to thank Governor Brewer and Senator McCain who are celebrating with our two sons, Craig and Matt.
Our campaign is about restoring the promise of America. Last week, I unveiled a bold economic plan that will jumpstart this economy and help get Michiganders and Americans back to work.
Americans are crying out for more jobs, less debt, and smaller government – and I will deliver.
You know, a lot of people say that if you’re running for office, you can’t speak honestly with the American people.  Well, I did – and I will – because this is a decisive moment that requires real leadership.
Times are tough. And we need leaders who will live with integrity, who have the courage to tell the truth, and who have the experience to get our economy back on track. That’s the kind of leader I am. And that’s the kind of President I will be.
Our campaign is about more than replacing a President. It’s about restoring America’s promise.
From generation to generation, Americans have always known that the future would be brighter and better.  Americans have always believed in a tomorrow full of possibility and prosperity.
That’s what it means to be a land of opportunity. In America, if you work hard, you can build a better life. If you teach your kids the right values and help them make the right choices, you know their future will be prosperous and secure.
That deep confidence in a better tomorrow is the basic promise of America. Today, that promise is being threatened by a faltering economy and a failed presidency.
Four years ago, we warned that the Presidency was no place for on-the-job training. Today, we have an economy to prove it.
This President likes to remind us that he inherited an economic crisis. But he never mentions that he also inherited a Democratic Congress. With majorities in the House and Senate, President Obama was free to pursue any policy he pleased.
Did he fix the economy? Did he tackle the housing crisis? Did he get Americans back to work?  No. He put us on a path toward debt, deficits, and decline. It is time to get off that path and get back on the path to prosperity.
These days, when he’s not spending our money or infringing upon our rights, President Obama is busy running for re-election. He believes he ranks among the top four presidents in history.
He thinks he deserves a second term. He keeps saying, “We can’t wait.” To which I say, “Yes, we can.”
Today, we’re $15 trillion in debt. Real employment stands at 15%.
You’ve heard the saying, “I need a vacation from this vacation?” Well, we need to recover from this so-called “recovery.”
Americans survived a Great Depression. We weathered two world wars. We’ve made it through tough times before.  And we have not come all this way to give up now.
We still believe in the hope, the dream, and the promise of America. We know our future is better and brighter than these troubled times.
That unwavering conviction guides our campaign. It has rallied millions of Americans to our cause. And it’s the message we will take to every corner of this country – from Ohio and Idaho to Georgia and Tennessee.
We’ve seen enough of this President over the last three years to know that we don’t need another four. President Obama believes he is unchecked by our Constitution. He is unresponsive to the will of our people. In a second term, he would be unrestrained by the demands of re-election. If there is one thing we cannot afford, it is four years of Barack Obama with nothing to answer to.
His budget foreshadows what lies ahead. Runaway spending and record debt were just the warm-up act.  For an encore, he wants to raise taxes on job creators and small businesses and families. We will not let him!
In this campaign, I am offering a real choice and a new direction. I have a plan that will restore America’s promise through more jobs, less debt, and smaller government.
President Obama is making the federal government bigger, burdensome, and bloated. I will make it simpler, smaller, and smarter.
He raised the national debt. I will cut, cap, and balance the budget.
He passed Obamacare. I’ll repeal it.
He lost our AAA credit rating; I’ll restore it.
He rejected the Keystone Pipeline. I’ll approve it. I will open up our lands for development, so we can finally get the energy we need at a price we can afford.
When it comes to the economy, my highest priority will be worrying about your job, not saving my own.
President Obama wants to raise your taxes. I will cut them. That starts with an across-the-board, 20% rate cut for every American. I will repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax and abolish the death tax.
He’s proposed tax increases on small businesses and job creators. I will lower the corporate tax rate to 25%. I will make the R&D tax credit permanent to foster innovation. And I will end the repatriation tax to return investment to our shores. Let’s finally have a tax plan that puts people to work.
President Obama’s budget raises taxes on savings and investment. I will help America’s middle class families save and invest tax-free.
President Obama has yet to offer a single serious proposal for saving Medicare or Social Security. I have a plan to save both – and, unlike him, I have the courage to put my plan on the table.
My plans will help create jobs and raise wages. They will strengthen entitlement programs for future generations.  And they will not add to our deficit – they will abolish it.
I have a plan to get our citizens back to work – and I have the experience to get our economy back on track. I spent 25 years in business.  I have been the steward of an Olympics and the leader of a state.  I’ve cut taxes 19 times.  I’ve turned a budget shortfall into a windfall.  I know how government kills jobs – and, yes, how it can help.  And I stand ready to lead our Party to victory – and our nation to prosperity.
This is our time for choosing – and this is a choice we must get right. I have said it before – and I firmly believe – that this campaign is about saving the soul of America.
This election will come down to two very different visions for our future.
It’s a choice between becoming a nation of and by Washington … and remaining a nation of and by a free people.
A choice between an entitlement society … and a land of opportunity.
A choice between squandering America’s promise … and restoring that promise for future generations.
If you want to make this election about restoring American greatness, then I hope you will join us.
If you believe the disappointments of the last few years are a detour, not our destiny, then I need your support.
I’m asking you to get out and vote. I’m asking you to go to mittromney.com and pledge your support.  I’m asking you to join in the fight for our freedom – and ensure that tomorrow will be better than today.
This election, let’s restore America’s promise. Let’s fight for the country we love.
Thank you. And God bless America.”

Mitt Romney Wins Michigan!!

Posted on by joemich4mitt

Mitt Romney Michigan victory speech. Photo credit: CNN

Michigan has spoken and with a loud, clear voice Michigan has nominated Michigan native Mitt Romney to be the next President of the United States of America!!!  

To all Michigan Mitt supporters, volunteers, campaigners, and most importantly Michigan voters, thank you for your votes and hard work!  This is a great victory for Gov. Romney and his campaign to restore American prosperity and greatness. 

After all the events, talking with friends and family, phone calls, sacrifices of hard-earned money and sacrifices in time, and other campaign work we have all put into this primary, this is one sweet victory for us all to enjoy. 

Not only are we celebrating victory here in Michigan, but also in Arizona where Mitt won the winner-take-all primary, and also a running lead continuing in the ongoing Wyoming caucus!

Time to do what we can to help Gov. Romney seal the nomination and win in the general election, but first we celebrate tonight!  Enjoy the moment and feeling.  Remember what this is like, because just imagine how incredble it will be to be celebrating a Mitt Romney victory in the general election a few months from now, and witnessing a President Romney being sworn into office in just under a year from now.  WAY TO GO MITT ROMNEY AND THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN!  MICHIGAN STANDS WITH MITT!!

Mitt Romney Newspaper Endorsements Sweep Across Michigan

Posted on by joemich4mitt
Mitt Romney’s tidal wave of newspaper endorsements swept across Michigan yesterday from east to west!  Early in the morning it was the Detroit News ringing their support, then Oakland Press, and later with the Kalamazoo Gazette and Grand Rapids Press to follow.  Here are some golden nuggets from their editorial boards that explain why they feel Mitt Romney is the best suited Republican candidate to lead the country into the future.  Bolded emphasis is mine.

The Detroit News had these supportive words to say about Mitt’s candidacy:

“On leadership, the Michigan native and former Massachusetts governor has the strongest resume of the four remaining Republican candidates. He has not only successfully run a state, but also has deep experience in turning around private companies. America today is the ultimate turnaround project.

…

“Romney has a refreshing free market vision for restoring the nation’s prosperity. He sees a return to our entrepreneurial roots, freeing individuals to reach for their dreams, take risks and strive for gain with minimal government encumbrances.

“He would reverse the rush toward a government-controlled economy and allow the free marketplace to do what it has always done — pull the nation back to its feet.

“His focus on the campaign trail has been on job creation. That’s an area where he has considerable credibility, having created thousands of jobs as a partner with the private equity firm Bain Capital. While at Bain, Romney helped revive failing companies, rescue businesses from bankruptcy and save jobs that would have otherwise been lost to mismanagement. Count Ann Arbor’s booming Domino’s Pizza chain as among Bain’s most notable success stories.

“Romney knows how government policies affect private sector decision making. He understands the consequences of actions that raise business costs. And he gets that business is not the problem in America — a bloated and wasteful government is. He knows how to encourage the former and deflate the latter.

“Romney has been criticized by his opponents for downsizing troubled companies and firing workers. He acknowledges that those are often wrenching decisions. But if America is to avoid financial catastrophe, the next president must be willing to downsize government, jettison some of its operations and slash a federal work force that has grown by 12 percent over the past four years. Romney is best equipped for that task.

…

“Santorum is stirring on the campaign stump. But the deposed former Pennsylvania senator has already been rejected by the voters who know him best — he lost his seat in the Senate by an epic landslide in 2008. Nothing in his background suggests he has the skills to unify Americans behind his banner and become the leader of the free world.”

“Romney, on the other hand, worked with a Democratic legislature in Massachusetts to enact a remarkable slate of bipartisan reforms. That’s exactly the sort of cooperative governing that Washington needs today. 

“Mitt Romney stands alone among the Republican primary field as the candidate capable of winning the White House, and more importantly, of leading the nation to a prosperous future.”

Here is what the Grand Rapids Press had to say:

“Romney’s leadership credentials — former governor of Massachusetts, Winter Olympics turnaround maestro and prominent businessman — stand apart from the other candidates. His free-market, entrepreneurial emphasis provides a legitimate ideological counterpoint to Obama Administration reforms of the past four years.

“West Michigan voters should opt for Romney — with his free-market principles and focus on the issues. He is the most electable of the field, the most relevant alternative to President Barack Obama and the most likely to engage the President in meaningful debate leading to the November general election.”

And finally here is what the Kalamazoo Gazette editorial board had to say:

“He is the party’s only viable choice. He brings to the campaign a strong background in business and political experience that speaks to a needed ability to work across the aisle.”

…

“Romney’s Michigan roots as the son of former Gov. George Romney are an added plus for our state’s Republicans. Indeed, Michigan will likely play an important role in the November general election and Romney’s presence on the ballot could heighten the state’s prominence by putting it in play even more as a swing state.

“In our view, Mitt Romney is the best choice, the most logical choice, for Michigan’s Republican voters on Tuesday.”

Gov. Rick Snyder Explains why Mitt Romney is the Best Choice for Michiganders

Posted on by joemich4mitt

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, “One Tough Nerd”, has laid out in a Detroit News op-ed why he has made one big endorsement of Mitt Romney and why Gov. Romney is the best choice for Michigan voters on the 28th (bolded emphasis is mine):

“A little more than a year ago, Michigan voters put their trust in a businessman to serve as their governor. They were looking for someone who understands the private sector and has a plan for reversing the economic decline that had befallen our great state.

Our reinvention of Michigan is under way, and the future of the Great Lakes State is bright. But our state is not an island unto itself. The American economy as a whole remains in difficult straits. 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.

Let’s start with one important fact. Our country has never elected a president born and raised in Michigan. Mitt Romney was born in Detroit. His father served with distinction as governor. Before that, he was president of American Motors. Mitt grew up with the prospects of the auto industry and of Michigan discussed around the dinner table.

He has deep ties to our state. Mitt understands the challenges confronting Michigan as few Americans do.

Mitt Romney is not a career politician. He stands alone among the candidates, Democrat and Republican alike, with his extensive experience in business, having spent two decades helping to start companies and turn around failing ones. Most important, he has a credible plan for jumpstarting the economy and putting it on the path of sustained growth.

…

In contrast to Michigan’s blueprint, Washington is still at the drawing board. Deficit spending continues to run rampant. For the first time since World War II, the nation’s total debt burden exceeds the size of our entire economy. With Washington running trillion-dollar annual deficits, our nation’s recovery has been the slowest since the 1930s.

Washington is not on a sustainable course. Mitt Romney will change the direction.

What Gov. Romney is proposing is not a wish list drawn in the air, but something that can actually be accomplished collaboratively with Congress. As governor of Massachusetts, he balanced the budget while cutting taxes 19 times, even as he was working with a Legislature that was overwhelmingly Democratic.

Upon taking office, his state had a $3 billion deficit. By the end of his term, it had accumulated a $2 billion “rainy day” fund. Both in the public and private sectors, Mitt Romney has a remarkable record of getting things done.

As president, Gov. Romney has pledged to work in partnership with states so they have the freedom to devise their own health policies.

He will move immediately to reduce non-defense discretionary spending by 5 percent. He also sees a clear path to bring spending below 20 percent of Gross Domestic Product in four years, which is in line with historical precedent.

The country can’t afford to do business as usual. It’s time for collaboration, fiscal courage and innovation to take root in Washington. Given his accomplishments, background, character, experience, ideas and intellect, Mitt Romney has what it takes to build a foundation for America’s success in this global economy.

I hope all Michiganians will join me in supporting the candidacy of this favorite son of our great state.”

You can read Gov. Snyder’s full endorsement article here.

Mitt Romney’s Approach to China

Posted on by joemich4mitt

Today we wake up to another op-ed from Gov. Mitt Romney, this time outlining in the Wall Street Journal how he will approach the case of China.  US-China relations are a critical factor for Michigan’s economy.  Fair trade, fair currency policy, open markets to export Michigan-made goods, and the protection of Michigan companies from China’s unfair trade practices are all chronic issues that remain to be solved by Washington D.C. and continue hampering Michigan’s economy.  Mitt’s article makes clear that he places high priority on solving these problems in order to boost the American and Michigan economies, and he also demonstrates a depth in understanding economic issues that the President and Mitt’s republican challengers fail to possess.  Without further adieu, here are some of the key points Gov. Romney made (bolded emphasis is mine):

“Should the 21st century be an American century? To answer, it is only necessary to contemplate the alternatives.

One much bruited these days is that of a Chinese century. With China’s billion-plus population, its 10% annual average growth rates, and its burgeoning military power, a China that comes to dominate Asia and much of the globe is increasingly becoming thinkable. The character of the Chinese government—one that marries aspects of the free market with suppression of political and personal freedom—would become a widespread and disquieting norm.

But the dawn of a Chinese century—and the end of an American one—is not inevitable. America possesses inherent strengths that grant us a competitive advantage over China and the rest of the world. We must, however, restore those strengths.

That means shoring up our fiscal and economic standing, rebuilding our military, and renewing faith in our values. We must apply these strengths in our policy toward China to make its path to regional hegemony far more costly than the alternative path of becoming a responsible partner in the international system.

We must change course.

In the economic arena, we must directly counter abusive Chinese practices in the areas of trade, intellectual property, and currency valuation. While I am prepared to work with Chinese leaders to ensure that our countries both benefit from trade, I will not continue an economic relationship that rewards China’s cheating and penalizes American companies and workers.

Unless China changes its ways, on day one of my presidency I will designate it a currency manipulator and take appropriate counteraction. A trade war with China is the last thing I want, but I cannot tolerate our current trade surrender.

We must also maintain military forces commensurate to the long-term challenge posed by China’s build-up. For more than a decade now we have witnessed double-digit increases in China’s officially reported military spending. And even that does not capture the full extent of its spending on defense…

…

…I am determined to reverse the Obama administration’s defense cuts and maintain a strong military presence in the Pacific. This is not an invitation to conflict. Instead, this policy is a guarantee that the region remains open for cooperative trade, and that economic opportunity and democratic freedom continue to flourish across East Asia.

A nation that represses its own people cannot ultimately be a trusted partner in an international system based on economic and political freedom. While it is obvious that any lasting democratic reform in China cannot be imposed from the outside, it is equally obvious that the Chinese people currently do not yet enjoy the requisite civil and political rights to turn internal dissent into effective reform.

I will never flinch from ensuring that our country is secure. And security in the Pacific means a world in which our economic and military power is second to none. It also means a world in which American values—the values of liberty and opportunity—continue to prevail over those of oppression and authoritarianism.

The sum total of my approach will ensure that this is an American, not a Chinese century. We have much to gain from close relations with a China that is prosperous and free. But we should not fail to recognize that a China that is a prosperous tyranny will increasingly pose problems for us, for its neighbors, and for the entire world.”

You can read the full article here.  For more information about Gov. Romney’s foreign policy, see his foreign policy page here.

 

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to Endorse Mitt Romney for President

Posted on by joemich4mitt

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder

It appears “One Tough Nerd” is making one big endorsement in the great state of Michigan tomorrow.  An AP source has revealed Michigan’s Governor Rick Snyder will officially announce his endorsement of Mitt Romney for President!  Mitt-mentum in Michigan continues to roll.  This endorsement will come one day after Mitt received endorsements from numerous other Michigan conservative leaders including former Attorney General Mike Cox and former Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop.

Here is part of the report from AP (emphasis is mine):

“Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder plans to endorse Mitt Romney’s presidential bid Thursday.

Snyder will announce at an event in Farmington Hills, Mich., that he’s backing Romney, a Republican official told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

…

Snyder, who like Romney is a former venture capitalist, was elected in 2010 after campaigning as an outsider with business experience. He plans to argue that Romney has a conservative fiscal record and a bold plan to cut spending.

Snyder’s backing caps Romney’s significant establishment support in the state, where dozens of local officials have already signed on to back him. Romney spent his childhood in Michigan and won the GOP primary in 2008, and a decision from Snyder to back a rival or to stay out of the presidential contest would have been a blow.

Romney plans to address a Livonia Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday, and Snyder is expected to appear with him. “

This is especially welcome news to all of us who support Gov. Mitt Romney since Gov. Snyder’s leadership in Michigan has contributed to starting a positive economic turnaround in Michigan.  Looking forward to what Gov. Snyder will have to say tomorrow when he makes his endorsement!

More Michigan Endorsements – Cox, Bishop and more

Posted on by joemich4mitt

Another wave of Michigan endorsements for Mitt Romney came in today, here’s the press release from the campaign (bolded emphasis is mine):

“Mitt Romney today announced the endorsements of former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, former Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, and additional members of the Michigan Legislature and Michigan 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 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.”

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 press release then presented a very long list of Michigan leaders who had already endorsed Mitt Romney.  Support for Gov. Romney here in his native state keeps expanding!