Asked About Global AIDS, Romney Says America Is "First Priority"

By: Scott Conroy
Topics: Mitt Romney

(CBS)

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

MERRIMACK, N.H. -- At a cramped town hall meeting at Thomas More College, Mitt Romney was asked if he would honor President Bush's commitment to fight the global AIDS pandemic and if he would "promise to only fund effective, evidence-based HIV prevention so as to not waste taxpayer money."

Romney chuckled before saying, "I'll tell you, I will look at the topic very closely and care very deeply about what's happening around the world, but I must admit that my first priority is getting America right and making sure that Americans have health care."

Romney went on to tell the crowd of about 110 that he and the American people have big hearts and that he wants to improve the lives of people across the world but that he would not want just to throw money at the problem.

"You see, I tend to be a person who is driven by analysis and data and careful thinking and the input of people with their feet on the ground, rather than just saying, 'Oh, this sounds like a good political posture, let's just jump and say we will do this and send a billion or two dollars off in another direction,'" Romney said.

Romney was also asked what would be the first thing he'd do as president. He said that he would bring together a great team of advisers.

"I love assembling people with different backgrounds, different perspectives," Romney said. "I don't expect everyone to agree with me and to think the same way I do. I want people that have different ideas — different views — that are willing to argue vociferously for the things they believe in."

Scott Conroy
Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.
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by dkaw1 December 27, 2007 11:23 AM EST: Mitt Romney will make conservatives proud he is our President.

Giant Robot and any other Huck supporters, if you are a conservative then you would like to know what Ann Coulter said yesterday about him: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24148; Reply to this comment


by giantrobot2 December 27, 2007 9:57 AM EST: Mike Huckabee is blazing the trails everywhere he goes. Everyone sees how honest, humble, trustworthy and down to earth man he is. He is out their earning everyone''''s respect the good old fashion way.

Mike Huckabee is so exciting he even has the college students out there making cool songs for him. This is the type of guy college students love to rally behind. College students this is your moment in history to make a change in America... Go Go Go Vote for Mike Huckabee!!!

Watch this cool video these college students made for Mike Huckabee!

youtube.com/watch?v=NA4kr5-pU5k

Mike is waving from his Huck-a-Bus saying "All Aboard!!!", let''''s jump on the Huck-a-Bus and take a ride at Huck-a-Boom speed!

GO MIKE GO!!!; Reply to this comment


by wendy731 December 27, 2007 4:41 AM EST: I am glad that Mitt Romney has spent the majority of the year talking about the issues. That is what is very refreshing. He did it while being guestioned over and over again about "none issue" queries from other candidates. It has be trememdous that he has stayed so focused. I Vote for Mitt Romney hands down.; Reply to this comment


by scottfromaz December 27, 2007 3:08 AM EST: I have read much diatribe about Mitt Romneys seemingly unquenchable double speak, and that somehow this habit of his makes it impossible for us trust him. Of course, most of what political types say has never been trustworthy, regardless of what side of the aisle one sits upon.

It is behavior, far more than word, that tells me what is really in the heart of person.Show me the money. Talk is cheap! With a search for behaviors in mind, this is what I found when I went looking for Mitt Romneys actions, more than words

I found a man who has pledged to forego his salary as President of the United States and who refused the same as Mass. Governor. Imagine, the president as a true public servant..I find it supremely refreshing.

I found a man who recently spent a free Saturday morning in October helping San Diego fire victims, without so much as a word to the press? Chopping down trees and cleaning up the neighbor property. That sure makes him hard to trust.

I find a man who once shut down his private business, and paid his staff to search for the missing daughter of one of his employees? No questions or expectations, just lets go find her! No one was watching and no one was listening. What does this say about the man?; Reply to this comment


by bgodley December 27, 2007 12:51 AM EST: I have posting a few comments lately about Political Platitudes. Those are those worn out statements that are all fluff and no substance. You know, things like "America is first", "I am for strong defense", "I am a straight talker", "I am the most fiscally responsible".

Yet with all this fuzzy talk I haven''t seen one major finance reform package and the economy is the number one concern among Republicans. Huckabee has got a sales tax agenda but he wants to double defense spending.

The guy I support, Ron Paul, is the only other one I know of with major reforms but he is getting absolutely viscerated by political critics lately. They are calling him a littany of names, trying to associate him with white supremacists and other wonderful things. Attack, attack, attack. It''s like they would would love seeing this man swinging from a tree. You really have to wonder how a man with a fantastic record and such high ethics could garner such hatred and vitrol.

In the eyes of the common man, I think some of the media does itself no favor with such behavior.; Reply to this comment