Romney basks in debate afterglow at surprise CPAC visit

Mitt Romney speaks at a Colorado Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) meeting in Denver, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012. / AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

DENVER - Basking in the afterglow of a strong performance in the first of three presidential debates, Mitt Romney made an unannounced stop at the Colorado Conservative Political Action Conference and received a standing ovation from a surprised Republican audience.

"Last night I thought was a great opportunity for the American people to see two very different visions for the country," Romney told the crowd Thursday. "And I think it was helpful to be able to describe those visions. I saw the president's vision as trickle-down government and I don't think that's what America believes in. I see instead a prosperity that comes through freedom. We have two very different courses for America - trickle-down government or prosperity through freedom."

The Republican nominee first used the term "trickle-down government" during last night's debate, when he said the phrase described "government thinking it can do a better job than people pursuing their dreams." He told the CPAC audience that free enterprise and lower taxes -- not "trickle-down government" -- would create jobs and bring down the cost of energy.

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Romney: Debate showcased two different visions

Romney also continued to attack the Democratic ticket for Vice President Joe Biden's remark Tuesday that middle class has been "buried for the last four years." Biden said later they'd been buried by pre-Obama-administration policies supported by Romney, but the damage was done.

"If we continue down his path," Romney said Thursday of President Obama, "there's no question that the middle class, which the vice president noted has been buried, will continue to be buried with higher and higher expenses for gasoline, for food, for utilities, for health insurance."

It was not Romney's first appearance before the conservative grassroots organization this election season. In February he addressed the national conference in Washington, D.C., where he described himself as a "severely conservative Republican governor." At the time, Romney was struggling to rally support from conservatives while fending off challenges from Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and others.

Romney's visit to the conservative group here came after a debate performance that appeared designed to appeal to independent voters. The Republican nominee said he would work across party lines to break through Washington gridlock, and he embraced the health care law he signed as governor of Massachusetts as an example of such collaboration.

"I like the fact that in my state, we had Republicans and Democrats come together and work together," Romney told Obama during the debate. "What you did instead was to push through a plan without a single Republican vote."

[protecourrights]

I find it surprizing that Mit used the phrase trickle down government. Reagan use the phrase, " Feed the horses grain and what ever falls to the ground will be taken care of. " Bush senior repeated that phrase and Bush Jr repeated that phrase time and time again. It ment give the money to rich and some how it will vunnel down to the working people. Now they are using their own negative statement and trying to use this statement against Obama?????? This is where the GOP will stoop to and low level to deflect the truth about their lying statements.

[bluejacket2-2009]

I'm hearing the right is saying the first debate was a game-changer!It seems to me Romney trashing 47% of the nation is still being discussed, if Obama wins that will be the game-changer...

There is nothing worse than a flip-flopping used car salesman, you know, the types that say what you want hear to your face then say the opposite behind your back.. that defines Mitt Romney.

[JV1970]

No, bluejacket2-2009, you're wrong! There is something worse! What's worse is a fast talking snake oil salesman/Harvard law professor who voted for late term abortions (murder) when he was a state senator in Illinois and promised hope and change four years ago. Who was against gay marriage and gays serving openly in the military and has now flip-flopped on all of it except for the late term abortions. And instead of concentrating on creating jobs for the last four years, he spent three years forcing his socialist, un-American Obamacare on us THAT WE DID NOT WANT!

[wfw3536]

You had to feel sorry for Obama, as it was clear he was out of his league with Romney making him look like a student who didn't do his homework. Romney showed he is the type kind of leader we need as he decribed how he worked with 87% Dems in his state to pass the health care law. Obama response was to talk about how important it was to say no, either the concept of working together went over his head or he just doesn't get what his biggest problem is as a leader. For Obama being such a good speaker with a written speech that he can read, Obama needs to do something about his constant----uh uh uh uh uh. In Obama's conclusion to the debate he said uh uh so many times that whatever message he want to get out turned out to be a mess.

[JV1970]

In some ways Obama's like a spoiled child. He does fine in situations where there's no one in the room that's going to dispute him and as long as he has a teleprompter to read.

Judging from his actions and facial expressions Wednesday night, it was very obvious that he can't stand it when someone actually has the gall to dispute him to his face!

[DOGthesavage]

I understand, that this is pearls cast before swine.... And none so blind as those who choose not to see, but I just have to point out a few things.
it's real easy for Rmoney to make all those promises with no pain for anyone and don't care if they are lies , because his position will be different in 4 days. how can he promise us 12 million new jobs as president of our federal gov't when he next says he will reduce federal spending and fed gov reach?

rmoney sounds good, but then everything is a secret because we are all to stupid to understand math and it sounds too good to be true; if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is...too good to be true
hmm, grade the schools then let parents choose schools for kids? that might mean moving to a different district and we can all afford to sell our homes to move to a new district. stupid idea. What he meant to say is send your kids to private schools and if you cannot afford it too bad, as public schools are socialist and will be shut down.[ I heard all kinds of crap when Chicago teachers went on strike...but when NFL officials go on strike we just HAD to get them back for any price, where are our priorities?]
i dont know about your state, but texas grown in pop greatly, ppl looking for jobs here, now of 26 mil people, 6 mil live in poverty. and a red republican state don't give a sht about their healthcare or anyone's heathcaRE FOR THAT MATTER.
the problem facing healthcare is every study regarding it is done by insurance or pharmaceuticals and they have a vested interest in skewing the data in favor of how they make money- and the panel in obama care uses healthcare professionals to figure out a way to save money without hurting the patient. The problem with Rmoney is he has too many holes in his story, and his persona is a fictional character in a script written by the Grand ol liars of the GOP. Even a good con man had numbers and statistics to sell if nothing else, Rmoney won't even give us that. a vote for him makes you the top of marks

[TimeToEvolve]

Unfortunately Robbed Me is all style with no substance. The Real Mitt Robbed Me was not even on the stage last night. The one on stage lied the entire time. He and his party are a disgrace to America.

[nearl451]

There was never such a made up and false term as "trickle down Government" when the government gives money to the masses fir sustenance it is in fact "trickle up"; when itgives tax breaks tothe wealthy or hires corporations to facilitate it's work itis "trickle down". You could even look at block grants to States as "trickle down".

Quite frankly all Romney has is word games and funny math tricks.....and he pretends that it is somehow intelligent or clever.

[Eugene2012]

Romney's new camapign theme song: Liar Liar (The Castaways)

[TimeToEvolve]

We FINALLT found out what Robbed Me is good at: Lying. He lied about his position on the banks, on tax cuts and his economic plan. Robbed Me is a disgrace.

[Mike239239]

Some one should tell Romney we have the lowest taxes in decades and a free enterprise system and it drove us to the worst economy since 1929

[nearl451]

Come to think of it...the rules were pretty loose in 1929 as well.

[cubscout09]

Love's sweet lies, and the afterglow, but, will Mitt call us the next day?