Category Archives: Non-Partisan

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!!

Romney Has the Right Stuff – Newsmax 2008 Article Still Rings True Today

Posted on by joemich4mitt

An excellent comprehensive look at Mitt Romney as a Presidential candidate back in 2008 still rings true today.  Ronald Keesler posted an exhaustive article making a strong case for Mitt Romney back in 2008 and it is worth a review by Michigan voters before we all head to the polls tomorrow.  The bottom line is the article makes the same case that Michigan for Mitt blog has been making — Mitt Romney is a full-spectrum conservative leader uniquely experienced and prepared to restore American greatness while earning broad support from republicans, independents and some democrats in Reaganesque fashion.

First he addressed Mitt Romney’s character and core by telling us about the rescue efforts the Michigan for Mitt blog reviewed yesterday.

Then he moved on to talk about Romney’s Reaganesque demeanor:

“The fact that Massachusetts, where only 13 percent of registered voters are Republicans, could elect Romney governor by a five-point margin (50 percent versus 45 percent for his Democratic opponent) underscores his popularity among Republicans and Democrats alike.

“In an hour-long Newsmax interview at Romney’s Boston headquarters, the candidate is Reaganesque: a man with a sunny, positive disposition. On his desk he has a desk plate that states “America Is Never Stuck.”

“Romney speaks with the effortless delivery of the best news anchors…”

Next he addressed the misconceptions about Mitt’s familial fortunes:

“If the family was financially set, it had little impact on Mitt’s upbringing. Like most other kids, he had summer jobs. His sister Jane, an actress in Beverly Hills, remembers that she was allowed to buy only one new dress a year.

“I always hated the word ‘privileged’ and I never thought we were,” she says. “My dad grew up with nothing. His father went bankrupt twice when my father was a kid.”

Then he touched on values & religion:

“George Romney [Mitt's father] died on July 26, 1995, at the age of 88. He imparted deep values to his family, values that the Mormon Church emphasizes – strong families, honesty, giving to charity, respect for human life, hard work, and clean living.

…

“…In 1994, gay marriage had not yet become a serious issue. But in 2003, when the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, in a 4-3 decision, ruled that marriage in the commonwealth would no longer be limited to unions between men and women, Romney pushed for an amendment to the state constitution that would outlaw gay marriage.

“In a recent interview in his corner office at his campaign headquarters, Romney sticks by his position condemning discrimination against gays and lesbians.

“I can tell you this, which is I believe gay individuals should enjoy tolerance and respect,” Romney says. “They should have equal opportunities in housing and employment. We shouldn’t discriminate against people based upon their sexual preference or orientation.

“At the same time, I believe that marriage should be reserved for a relationship between one man and one woman. For me, that’s not a matter of discrimination,” Romney adds.

…

“He feels passionately that the value of human life begins at conception,” says South Carolina state Sen. Jim DeMint, a Republican who supports Romney. “The idea that he might have changed his mind [on Roe v. Wade] is very appealing to me, because we’re not going to win that debate unless people change their minds and think it through.”

“Romney has vetoed bills that authorized embryo farming, therapeutic cloning, and access to emergency contraception without parental consent. He is a critic of liberal judges who legislate from the bench, and he says he would like to see the court return the abortion issue to the people to decide.

Next was Romney’s success in saving the 2002 Olympics, an issue which I personally reflected on last week:

“In 1998, Utah state leaders approached Romney about taking over the scandal-ridden 2002 Winter Olympics. More than $1 million in bribes had been paid to members of the International Olympic Committee organizers. Before the scandal erupted, the Salt Lake Olympics Organizing Committee (SLOC) had a projected shortfall of $397 million.

“Romney accepted the position and asked Fraser Bullock, one of the seven original partners of Bain Capital, to become his chief operating officer.

“Romney traveled all over the world to gather support, as he cut back on SLOC expenses…

“With Romney at the helm, the games ended with a surplus of $56 million. The surplus money went to fund future Olympics.”

Then it was on to review another one of Mitt’s successes, saving the state of Massachusetts from its financial peril:

“With the Olympics success under his belt, Romney ran for governor of Massachusetts in 2002 on a platform of fiscal conservatism, promising to erase the state’s $3 billion deficit.

“As the new governor, Romney consolidated state agencies, cut employees, and closed what he called loopholes in the corporate tax code. He also tackled the most difficult public policy issue of all, health insurance.

“With input from the Heritage Foundation, Romney came up with a way to provide universal health insurance…

“Romney’s bottom line in Massachusetts: He erased the budget deficit he inherited when he took over, just as he’d done with the Olympics.

“When Romney left office on Jan. 4, 2006, the Bay State had a balanced budget plus a “rainy day fund” – all without ever raising taxes.”

He concluded with these points:

“Romney emphasizes four priorities if elected president: defeating the jihadists, competing with Asia, stopping runaway spending, and affirming America’s culture and values.

…

“Romney said he is “very concerned about the America that my grandkids will enjoy, and your grandkids will enjoy. It can be a stronger, more vibrant nation, or it can become the France of the 21st century – starting off as the economic superpower, military superpower, ending still a great nation, but not the world’s superpower. The choices we make today will determine whether America is a more prosperous and secure place for our grandchildren. I can help do that.”

Among former presidents, Romney admires Dwight D. Eisenhower. Besides taking on communism, “He was a person whose leadership during World War II made him someone the entire nation revered and respected,” Romney says. “And there’s nothing wrong with having heroes in positions of prominence.”

Having rescued the commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Winter Olympics, Bain & Co., and his partner’s daughter, Romney could well be talking about himself.”

I invite all Michiganders to reflect on this broad spectrum of attributes that would come with a Romney presidency in contrast to the other candidates and our current President.  As Jack Welch so emphatically stated weeks ago, we are the luckiest people to have this guy running at this time.  It couldn’t seem more clear to me that our country is in dire need of a turnaround and Mitt Romney is uniquely and expertly prepared to lead such an effort.  Michigan’s native is hands-down our best chance at restoring American prosperity and greatness, so let’s get out there and vote for Mitt in the polls tomorrow and take a car full of Mitt voters with us!  

Mitt Romney Saved Boaters and Teenage Girl

Posted on by joemich4mitt

A lesser-known pool of information about Gov. Romney is that he has been credited with having rescued a family (and their dogs) from a sinking boat and also saved a teenage girl.  Here is an excerpt from a story in 2003 that the New York Time published about the rescue:

“Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and two of his sons helped rescue a New Jersey family from a sinking boat over the weekend, a New Hampshire official said today.

“The 19-foot vintage wooden boat with six people and a dog on board started taking on water Saturday evening about 300 yards from the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, in central New Hampshire, Sgt. Eric Robertson of the New Hampshire State Marine Patrol said.

…

”The Romneys took two of the passengers and brought them back to shore,” Sergeant Robertson said. ”There were other people, Good Samaritans, out there, about three vessels including the Romneys’, helping out.”

“The governor’s spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, said today that Governor Romney was vacationing at the lake for a week with his family.

”He’s not looking for any special attention,” Mr. Fehrnstrom said. ”I think he’s just grateful he was in the right place at the right time to be able to offer some assistance.”

“Josh Romney, one of the governor’s sons, told The Boston Herald that he and his brother were cleaning the beach when they heard ”a whole bunch of screaming” from the lake.

…

“Mr. Robertson said the passengers were uninjured and were fine after the rescue, because of the ”good response of the people nearby.”

The following video is a stream from the previous presidential campaign that includes Mitt’s former co-worker crediting Mitt with saving his daughter’s life:

Here is a brief review of what Mitt and his team did to save this girl, taken from the America is Conservative blog and Newsmax posts on the issue:

“Mitt Romney was faced with a crisis in July 1996. The 14-year-old daughter of Robert Gay, a partner in Romney’s new venture capital firm, Bain Capital, had disappeared. As it turned out, she had attended a rave party in New York City and had become high on ecstasy. Three days later, her distraught father had no idea where she was.
“Romney took immediate action. He closed down the entire firm and asked all 30 partners and employees to fly to New York to try to find Gay’s daughter.
“Romney set up a command center in a conference room at the LaGuardia Marriott just outside Manhattan. He hired a private detective firm to assist with the search and established a toll-free number for tips, coordinating the effort with the New York City Police Department, but he still wasn’t satisfied. He raced through his Rolodex and called everyone Bain did business with in New York. He asked them to help his company find their friend’s missing daughter.
“The company’s accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and its law firm, put up posters on street poles with a photo of the missing teenager. Cashiers at Duane Reade Pharmacies, which was owned by Bain Capital, put fliers in the bag of each shopper.
“Romney and others from the Bain Capital posse trudged through every part of New York, even scouring Central Park, and talked with everyone they could – prostitutes, drug addicts – anyone who may have seen her. They also made rounds at the local nightclubs at 3 a.m., hoping someone somewhere could identify her.
“The same day the Romney team came to New York, the hunt made the evening news. Television cameras showed photos of the girl and video of investment banker types prowling through Central Park.
“The next day, a teenage boy she was with phoned in. He asked if there was a reward. But the boy got nervous and quickly hung up. Luckily, the police traced the call to a home in Montville Township, N.J.
“Gay’s daughter, when they found her in the basement of that home, was shivering through detox after a massive dose of ecstasy. Doctors later told Gay that he was indeed fortunate – his daughter probably would not have lasted another day.
“It was the most amazing thing, and I’ll never forget this to the day I die,” Gay says, adding of Romney’s intervention, “I’m not sure we would have gotten her back without him.”

“It is often during a crisis that we gain insight into a person’s real character. Romney’s action demonstrated leadership, loyalty, and selflessness – attributes that Americans just might like to see in a president of the United States.”

Gov. Romney seems to be one not inclined to boast about such matters, so I will do it for him because I believe it is important that our nation’s President represents the values that make America great.  This is just one example among many that speaks to Gov. Romney’s impeccable, selfless, and solid character.  To those who suggest he lacks a core or is somehow out-of-touch with ordinary people I suggest you cast the mote out of your own eye before passing harsh judgment on such a decent man.  The only thing I see in Gov. Romney that my not be “ordinary” like us is his extraordinary resolve to aid those in need, whether they be our country, a state government, a company, or even a single individual in distress such as was the case with this girl.  It is this kind of civic-mindedness that we could use more of in Washington DC.  Michigan is proud to claim Mitt as one of our own.

A Michigander’s Memoir of Mitt Romney’s Olympic Leadership

Posted on by joemich4mitt

Joe at the 2002 Olympics

Ten years ago I had the tremendous once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City and witness the results of Mitt Romney’s leadership.  I want to step back from today’s political rhetoric and talk about my personal reflections of this historic period of American history and what it means for the country if Mitt Romney is elected as our President.

Plagued by scandal, financial distress, and eventually grave security concerns in the aftermath of 9/11, the 2002 Winter Olympics was on the verge of total disaster.  Failure to follow through with our commitment to host a successful games as a result of scandals and financial mismanagement would have been a shameful embarrassment for Salt Lake City and the United States of America, but more importantly it would have dealt a tragic blow to thousands of the world’s athletes who had dedicated years of training and heroically overcome countless challenges and obstacles just to have an opportunity to compete for their country in the Olympic Games.  The troubles of the Olympics weighed heavily on locals while I was attending Utah State University.  Many were convinced the games would be cancelled at worst, or haphazardly and embarrassingly thrown together at best.  Sponsors had little faith in the Olympics becoming a success and the Games were running a deficit to the tune of $379 million.  For some time it seemed we were heading for an Olympic failure.  Action needed to be taken.

Enter Mitt Romney, a businessman with a reputation of having successfully turned around several companies on the brink of collapse.  Hired largely for that reputation, he quickly went to work on the task of leading the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) towards hosting a successful and inspiring Winter Games.  In just a matter of a couple of years things started looking brighter.  Sponsor deals were struck, transportation infrastructure issues resolved, an impressive leadership team was assembled, a new brand and emotion within the organization was established, and the energy from volunteers and locals started to bring new life into the 2002 Olympic movement.

I was one of those volunteers.  By the time SLOC started taking applications for volunteers they were already on the rebound.  I decided to volunteer despite the uncertainty since I felt it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be directly involved in the Olympics.  I wanted to see the athletes, experience the excitement of the Olympics firsthand, witness history, and offer my talents to help however I could.  So I signed up as did tens of thousands more, and I was lucky enough to be selected as a volunteer.  After a few iterations of interviews I was assigned to Media Relations and was expected to offer some Chinese language support as needed when working with international journalists and broadcasters during the Games.  I became part of SLOC’s Team 2002 and lived an experience I will never forget.

I’ve worked in the military, academia and the private sector, but to this day I have never worked for an organization that was more motivational and effectively run than Mitt Romney’s SLOC.  Even down to the detail of providing us with superb uniforms at no cost, Mitt Romney treated all of us volunteers and employees with the highest respect and commendation.  From day one the focus in our training all the way from the top was to put the past behind us and to work with all our hearts to host a great Olympics for the athletes, the spectators, and the world.  It was our time to shine.  And shine we did.  But not without first being challenged by a tragedy that threatened to cancel the 2002 Games altogether.

When terrorists struck the innocent on Sept 11th, 2001, the world changed overnight and fresh doubts over the viability of holding the Olympics emerged.  The psyche of world peace was disrupted.  America along with the rest of the world doubted the feasibility of another peaceful gathering of athletes.  The world had changed.  It lived in fear.  National guardsmen manned airports wearing Kevlar armed with automatic rifles, large-crowd events cancelled, alerts and alarms kept the nation on edge, and there was no more sensational and tempting target for fanatic jihadists to set in their sights than the world’s largest peaceful gathering of athletes and spectators since the 9/11 attacks.  If Mitt was to lead a successful Olympics he would also have to successfully lead the Olympics through America’s largest homeland security operation since 9/11.  He did.

Instead of cowering to the threat of terrorism, Mitt Romney and the entire SLOC team doubled down and worked harder than ever to ensure we hosted a successful Olympics.  For some on our team, including me, our success became a symbol of our defying the terrorists.  Mitt reassured our team that the Olympics would still go forward, and that this was our chance to bring the country and the world together in peace.  Mitt’s motivating tenacity along with all of his staff helped us move forward with a “fire within” (2002 Olympics slogan) to defy the naysayers, the terrorists, and the challenges, and to go down in history as having held a great Games for the world.

And great it was. Admittedly it was much greater than I expected.  I expected terrible traffic problems and congestion, but there was virtually none of that.  I expected light audiences, but they were full, even for curling and biathlon!  Working at the media desk I expected to be spending a lot of time responding to requests for information about problems during the Games, but that was extremely rare.  Instead most of my time was spent providing information about athletes, venues, events and intriguing stories.  As a Civil Air Patrol squadron commander I had some insight into the vast scope of security operations required to ensure a secure Olympics.  Some breeches of security transpired, some threats existed, but the games were secured without major incident.  Our worst fears never transpired.  As a realist I always seem to maintain some degree of pessimism despite my hope and effort to see things through to a success.  My pessimism underestimated what Mitt Romney and our team could achieve.

Mitt’s financial success with the Olympics had a personal impact on my own well being.  After having managed to erase the Olympics’ $379 million dollar deficit, Mitt Romney had another turnaround success under his belt.  This improved bottom line no doubt enabled me the opportunity to be hired a couple of months prior to opening ceremonies by SLOC as a pre- and post-games employee.  Additional help in setting up and taking down part of the Main Media Center was needed and I was hired to help while still serving as a volunteer during the two weeks of the Games. The job came at an important time for me since I was a college student and was struggling to make ends meet while also trying to keep my grades up. The Olympics job was the most generous pay I had ever earned up to that point in my life.  I am convinced that were it not for Mitt Romney’s effective management of the Olympics turnaround, I wouldn’t have been offered a paid position.  Mitt Romney created my job.  To my astonishment I discovered years later that Mitt didn’t take a salary while serving as our CEO, and also donated $1 million of his own money for the cause.  He selflessly served. 

I had the chance to attend the dress rehearsal of Opening Ceremonies and still remember it like it was yesterday.  It was a frigidly cold night (maybe that’s why I remember it so vividly!), but as the Tabernacle Choir sang the national anthem and the World Trade Center (WTC) flag ceremony was rehearsed I could only feel warmth and a strong sense that these Olympics would help unite and heal the country in peace and in celebration of our athletes’ successes.  During the actual opening ceremonies the following night the rest of the world watched the WTC flag memorial and the crowd erupted in cheers as Afghan athletes marched across the stadium.  It was only the beginning of an exciting, successful, memorable, and historic two weeks, but perhaps most importantly it was a symbolic victory over fear and global jihadism.  It was also a symbol of the rebounds that SLOC, Salt Lake City, and the United States of America achieved.  It was one of America’s most important moments of my lifetime, and it was all made possible in large measure by Mitt Romney’s Olympic leadership.  On Closing Ceremonies day, on this exact day, February 24th ten years ago, the world celebrated the finale of what most agreed to be the best Olympics ever held (and I celebrated by proposing to my sweetheart!).

When people ask me why I support Mitt Romney’s presidential pursuit so fervently, these Olympic memories flood my thoughts.  The contrast I witnessed as a local before and during Mitt Romney’s taking-of-the-reins at SLOC are as night and day.  I never met him personally, but the results of his leadership were everywhere.  When I pull out my blue Salt Lake Olympics uniform on occasion I feel a great sense of pride in what we accomplished.  As a communications professional I find myself frequently dusting off the play books that Mitt Romney and his staff so expertly implemented in building such a motivated, energetic and organizationally effective team.  I remember what it was like to be on Mitt Romney’s team and to have him leading an epic turnaround.  I remember what it was like to have a leader so selflessly committed to excellence and achieving greatness.  I remember the successes that were in large measure a result of Mitt Romney’s tireless leadership.  The mark of a leader is the success he leaves behind him.  In Mitt’s case he left behind as much as a $100 million surplus, a memorable and historic Olympic games, a secure multi-national event on a world stage, a symbolic victory over fear and the threat of terrorism, and a country and world united in peaceful competition.  When Mitt Romney was in charge we prospered, we came together as a team, and we achieved greatness; all of which led to our success in running an event that empowered athletes to inspire the world. 

America today is in desperate need of an Olympic turnaround.  We are faced with financial disaster, a divided political environment, lack of effective leadership in Washington DC, a weakened image, and continued security challenges; all similar to the challenges Mitt faced on day one as the SLOC CEO.  Only one man running for President has an unquestionable resume of success in restoring prosperity and greatness during critical and perilous times.  That man is Mitt Romney and it is my sincere hope that America hires him to the task of leading another American turnaround.

To see the WTC flag ceremony at the 2002 Olympics Opening Ceremony, watch the video below:

To read more about Mitt Romney’s involvement in rescuing the 2002 Olympics, see the following resources:

Read Mitt Romney’s book “Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership and the Olympic Games” by purchasing here.

Read an article about Mitt Romney’s success in leading the Olympics here.

Author:  Joseph Burkhead is a Michigan native and resident.  He is Communications Director and Co-Founder of Uncharted, a graduate student in Chinese Studies at University of Michigan, a graduate student in Geography at Western Michigan University, and an Air Force veteran.  He served as a volunteer and employee in Media Relations for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games (SLOC).  He has supported Mitt Romney since the 2008 campaign, authors the www.michiganformitt.net blog, the www.facebook.com/michiganformitt page, and actively volunteers for Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign in Michigan.   

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.

 

Politico: Jon Huntsman Will Drop Out and Endorse Mitt Romney

Posted on by joemich4mitt

Politico and Drudge were reporting tonight breaking news that Gov. Jon Huntsman will leave the 2012 race tomorrow and endorse Mitt Romney for President!  Here are some details from the Politico report:

“Jon Huntsman, the former Utah governor who was seen by Democrats months ago as the potential biggest threat to President Obama in a general election, is dropping out of the race tomorrow and will endorse Mitt Romney, a campaign official confirms to POLITICO.

“A source said that Huntsman’s rationale for backing Romney, who he has criticized for weeks on the campaign trail as lacking a “core,” is that he didn’t want to block the person best prepared in the field to beat Obama, and then to lead the country and grapple with the economy.

“Jon Huntsman is proud of the campaign he ran and the message of restoring trust in Washington,” said a campaign official familiar with his thinking. “He didn’t want to stand in the way of the candidate most likely to beat Barack Obama and turn the economy around. That’s Mitt Romney.”

…

“Sources said there is an 11 a.m. endorsement expected tomorrow, followed a few hours later by a scheduled 2 p.m. meeting for all of Huntsman’s staff.

“Pulling the plug now allows Huntsman to preserve the positives of his third place showing, a result that did reflect momentum that lifted him from single digits in polls less than two weeks earlier. There has been speculation he might run as a third-party candidate, but he has insisted that is not the case – and endorsing Romney would seem to make that impossible.

“And it allows Huntsman to make the case that he was a good GOP soldier as the party reunites once the primary fight ends.”

We welcome all of Gov. Huntsman’s supporters to Mitt Romney’s campaign to restore American greatness!  We hope that many of those best practices that made the Utah economy so competitive and strong under Gov. Huntsman’s leadership will make their way into national decision-making, and this is a great start.  A welcomed endorsement from a highly effective former Governor & Ambassador who places country first.

Video: Mitt Romney’s Victory Speech for New Hampshire Primary, Historic Win

Posted on by joemich4mitt

Mitt Romney delivering victory speech after winning historic New Hampshire primary. Photo credit: Jay Wescott/Politico 2012

Congratulations Mitt Romney on your New Hampshire primary victory!  This accomplishment was historic as it was the first time ever that a non-incumbent republican presidential candidate has won the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary back-to-back!  The win was also by a heavy margin, with 95% of the precincts reporting at the time of this post showing Mitt with a 40% portion of the vote, leading Ron Paul in 2nd place with only 23%.  The following is Mitt Romney’s New Hampshire primary victory speech where he thanks New Hampshire voters and goes on to make an unapologetic defense of America and American free enterprise:

The highlight of the speech was undoubtedly his response to the President, Newt Gingrich, and others who have been criticizing his private sector experience, making a clear contrast between the principles he stands for, and what his critics believe:

“President Obama wants to put free enterprise on trial. In the last few days, we have seen some desperate Republicans join forces with him. This is such a mistake for our party and for our nation. This country already has a leader who divides us with the bitter politics of envy. We must offer an alternative vision. I stand ready to lead us down a different path, where we are lifted up by our desire to succeed, not dragged down by a resentment of success. In these difficult times, we cannot abandon the core values that define us as unique – We are One Nation, Under God.”

Here is the speech in full text provided by Mitt Romney’s campaign:

“Thank you, New Hampshire! Tonight, we made history!

This state has always been a special place for our family.  Ann and I made a home here and we’ve filled it with great memories of our children and grandchildren.  And this Granite State moment is one we will always remember.

Tonight, we celebrate.  Tomorrow, we go back to work.

We remember when Barack Obama came to New Hampshire four years ago.

He promised to bring people together.

He promised to change the broken system in Washington.

He promised to improve our nation.

Those were the days of lofty promises made by a hopeful candidate.  Today, we are faced with the disappointing record of a failed President.  The last three years have held a lot of change, but they haven’t offered much hope.

The middle class has been crushed. Nearly 24 million of our fellow Americans are still out of work, struggling to find work, or have just stopped looking.  The median income has dropped 10% in four years.  Soldiers returning from the front lines are waiting in unemployment lines.  Our debt is too high and our opportunities too few.

And this President wakes up every morning, looks out across America and is proud to announce, “It could be worse.”

It could be worse? Is that what it means to be an American? It could be worse?

Of course not.

What defines us as Americans is our unwavering conviction that we know it must be better.

That conviction guides our campaign.  It has rallied millions of Americans in every corner of this country to our cause.

Over the last six months, I’ve listened to anxious voices in town meetings and visited with students and soldiers.  In break rooms and living rooms, I’ve heard stories of families getting by on less, of carefully planned retirements now replaced by jobs at minimum wage.  But even now, amidst the worst economy since the Great Depression, I’ve rarely heard a refrain of hopelessness.

Americans know that our future is brighter and better than these troubled times.  We still believe in the hope, the promise, and the dream of America.  We still believe in that shining city on a hill.

We know that the future of this country is better than 8 or 9% unemployment.

It is better than $15 trillion in debt.

It is better than the misguided policies and broken promises of the last three years – and the failed leadership of one man.

The President has run out of ideas.  Now, he’s running out of excuses.  And tonight, we are asking the good people of South Carolina to join the citizens of New Hampshire and make 2012 the year he runs out of time.

President Obama wants to put free enterprise on trial. In the last few days, we have seen some desperate Republicans join forces with him. This is such a mistake for our Party and for our nation.  This country already has a leader who divides us with the bitter politics of envy. We must offer an alternative vision.  I stand ready to lead us down a different path, where we are lifted up by our desire to succeed, not dragged down by a resentment of success. In these difficult times, we cannot abandon the core values that define us as unique — We are One Nation, Under God.

Make no mistake, in this campaign, I will offer the American ideals of economic freedom a clear and unapologetic defense.

Our campaign is about more than replacing a President; it is about saving the soul of America.  This election is a choice between two very different destinies.

President Obama wants to “fundamentally transform” America. We want to restore America to the founding principles that made this country great.

He wants to turn America into a European-style entitlement society.  We want to ensure that we remain a free and prosperous land of opportunity.

This President takes his inspiration from the capitals of Europe; we look to the cities and small towns of America.

This President puts his faith in government.  We put our faith in the American people.

He 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 enacted job-killing regulations; I’ll eliminate them.

He lost our AAA credit rating; I’ll restore it.

He passed Obamacare; I’ll repeal it.

When it comes to the economy, my highest priority as President will be worrying about your job, not saving my own.

Internationally, President Obama has adopted an appeasement strategy.  He believes America’s role as leader in the world is a thing of the past.  I believe a strong America must – and will – lead the future.

He doesn’t see the need for overwhelming American military superiority.  I will insist on a military so powerful no one would think of challenging it.

He chastises friends like Israel; I’ll stand with our friends.

He apologizes for America; I will never apologize for the greatest nation in the history of the Earth.

Our plans protect freedom and opportunity, and our blueprint is the Constitution of the United States.

The path I lay out is not one paved with ever increasing government checks and cradle-to-grave assurances that government will always be the solution. If this election is a bidding war for who can promise more benefits, then I’m not your President.  You have that President today.

But 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 am asking for your vote.

I’m asking each of you to remember how special it is to be an American.

I want you to remember what it was like to be hopeful and excited about the future, not to dread each new headline.

I want you to remember when you spent more time dreaming about where to send your kids to college than wondering how to make it to the next paycheck.

I want you to remember when you weren’t afraid to look at your retirement savings or the price at the pump.

I want you to remember when our White House reflected the best of who we are, not the worst of what Europe has become.

That America is still out there.  We still believe in that America.

We still believe in the America that is a land of opportunity and a beacon of freedom.  We believe in the America that challenges each of us to be better and bigger than ourselves.

This election, let’s fight for the America we love.  We believe in America.

Thank you.  God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.”

Welch: Romney is “Most Qualified Leader I’ve Ever Seen Run for the Presidency”

Posted on by joemich4mitt

Jack Welch, a man who started at General Electric as a young engineer on very modest pay and worked his way up to becoming GE’s youngest CEO and among its most transformational and innovative leaders had some strong praise for Mitt Romney’s credentials to be President in the video below.  Welch said “Mitt Romney is the most qualified leader I’ve ever seen run for the Presidency of the United States”:

Here is the bulk of his comments:

“In my lifetime, Mitt Romney is the most qualified leader I’ve ever seen run for the Presidency of the United States…Let’s take him for a minute… Harvard Law School, Harvard MBA.  Starts up Bain Capital, builds it… Bain gets in trouble sometime in 1990s, Mitt comes back to fix it… Bain Capital then has its best years ever.  In ’99, leaves, goes to the Olympics, I was involved in that… we were in deep trouble.  They were losing money, they had a scandal… and then 9/11 comes and everyone wants to cancel it, we’ve got a big commitment.  He goes out there, fixes it totally.  Again, fixes that up, comes back, runs for governor, wins the governorship.  The government [is in debt].  He gets it out and gets a surplus.  Who!?  We haven’t had anybody do all these things!  Do you think Richard Nixon did that?  Do you think Bill Clinton had those credentials!?  Certainly Barack Obama didn’t have those credentials!.. I mean, come on!  We’ve got a guy here who’s a leader, that’s demonstrated beyond anyone we’ve ever had!  Great family.  This is the…!  We’re the luckiest people in the world to have this guy there at this point in time.”

Well said, Mr Welch.  At this point in time this is exactly the kind of leadership that America needs.  America is in trouble, Americans are losing money, Washington is plagued by scandals, America’s debt soars.  Mitt Romney has proven time and time again that he is a dynamic leader that will fix those very problems if hired to the task.  He has a vision and a plan for America that will fix the problems we face, but unlike all other candidates and our current President, he has the credentials, know-how, and successful experiences necessary to follow through with the task of leading America to a more prosperous future.  Indeed, as Welch related, we are lucky to have someone like this running for President.

But now is the time to follow up our luck with action.  We are lucky to have him running for President, but it requires both our vote and our invitation to others to vote to actually see America put Gov. Romney’s skills to task in restoring American greatness.  So share this video and tell people you know about how uniquely qualified Mitt Romney is to lead us to a better future.

And if you haven’t done so already, sign up for a MyMitt account to take action in ensuring the “most qualified leader” becomes our next President, and invite others to join with you.