Romney throws first punch in Florida
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, campaigns at Allstar Building Materials in Ormond Beach, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. / AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, campaigns at Allstar Building Materials in Ormond Beach, Fla., Jan. 22, 2012.
/ AP Photo/Charles DharapakORMOND BEACH, Fla. - In the opening round of what promises to be a slug fest in Florida, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Sunday called rival Newt Gingrich a "failed leader" and influence-peddling lobbyist while suggesting it's now a three-way contest for the GOP nomination - a strategic assessment that favors his own chances of winning the state's Jan. 31 primary.
At a campaign rally after his disappointing loss in the South Carolina primary Saturday, Romney gave a biting assessment of Gingrich's record as House speaker and later as a business consultant to companies seeking access to Capitol Hill power brokers.
"At the end of four years (as speaker), it was proven that he was as failed leader. And he had to resign in disgrace. I don't know whether you knew that," Romney said, referring to a 1997 House reprimand of Gingrich for ethics violations, which also resulted in a $300,000 fine.
"Well, what's he been doing for 15 years? He's been working as a lobbyist, yeah. He's been working as a lobbyist and selling influence around Washington. He's been working for Freddie Mac. Heard of those guys?" Romney said, in a state where housing foreclosures, including some presided over by the mortgage giant, have left the economy in tatters.
He called on Gingrich to release the records of his contract with Freddie Mac, which paid him more than $1.6 million over eight years. "What was his work product there? What was he doing at Freddie Mac? Because Freddie Mac figures very prominently into the fact that people in Florida have seen home values go down. It's time to turn that around!" Romney said.
In his remarks, Romney also pointedly described the Jan. 31 primary as three-way race pitting him against Gingrich and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. Each candidate has now won one contest each - Santorum the Iowa caucuses by a handful of ballots, Romney the New Hampshire primary and Gingrich the South Carolina primary.
Although Gingrich is widely perceived as the main threat to Romney, a three-way contest would benefit Romney if it succeeds in splitting the conservative and populist wing of the party and allowing him to win on the strength of moderate, establishment support. Rep. Rand Paul of Texas is also still in the contest.
"There are three of us that have each won a contest so far -- Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina. You're going to have to make a decision. Which of the three should become our nominee?" he said.
In introducing her husband to the crowd, Ann Romney made a rare reference to the controversy over his reluctance to release tax returns. "I understand Mitt's going to release his tax forms this week. I want to remind you of where we know our riches are. Our riches are with our families," she said, perhaps as a way of bracing supporters for the expected release Tuesday of the documents, which will reveal details of the couple's tremendous wealth.
Referring to their five sons and 16 grandchildren, she said, "That is where our values are. That is how we measure our wealth, through those children."
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Mitt Romney Focuses on Housing Crisis is an example of Mitt Romney's virtue of " Creative Destruction " in his exploitation of the working man and women. Mitt Romney says let the middle class and the 99% ers lose their homes so the 1% can buy them cheap and rent them back to the 99%.
http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/35sd3y/
Ron Paul has been in politics longer than anyone running and what has he accomplished. We don't need more rhetoric we need someone that can influence which apparently Newt can even after being out of office for 15 years.
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He was run out of office by the ethics committee. Run by republicans.
To me he doesnt have to stomp on the press when they ask questions he doesnt like. He could just state he doesnt think the question is valid and why and be done with it.
I especially thought he was a buffoon when David Gregory asked about his lobbying years for the bank. Like anyone believes they hired him as a historian.
Outside of the other day of protest, do you not have Google access, or are you just another lazy republican, full of hatred for all the wrong reasons?
Personally, I'd like to see willard's tax returns from the 1990's.
Come back when you can prove you have at least a high school education, especially since Barack Obama was only a state senator from 1997-2004 and a U.S. Senator from 2005-2008 -- hardly a career POLITICIAN, and has ACCOMPLISHED much in his 3 years as President, considering the complete obstruction and hatred for his moderate views from the far-right republican party of dittoheads!
Hey meg -- you're truly confused, but I guess you really like all the GOP clowns smearing President Obama and spewing endless LIES about him, since he has released all his tax returns, unlike the top 0.1% willard.
I do think that ALL "super PACS" should be outlawed, and that ALL candidates should ONLY be able to promote their past accomplishments and their vision for the future -- with any personal attacks on any other candidate drawing hefty fines and possible elimination for LIES.
Yes, ron paul the professional politician as a U.S. representative for 35 years, has ONE piece of legislation out of 620 introduced, and only 4 making it to a vote, that was signed into law for a 0.16% rate.
What a hilarious cast of clowns in the 2012 GOP 3-ring circus -- the establishment flip-flopper of the top 0.1%; the outright bomb thrower darling of the far-right dittoheads; the true social conservative of the religious right; and the libertarian isolationist.
What a cast of characters Hollywood could never invent!
It is quite hilarious, since the slimy salamander's anger is completely misplaced on the media, and should be directed towards the republican establishment that is definitely supporting willard romney.
But the far-right, rabid dittoheads just love the newt's attacks on both the corporate media that they distrust as well as all his opponents.....the bomb thrower newt hasn't changed since the 1990's.
and by the way......"Rep. Rand Paul of Texas is also still in the contest."
You just have to love this republican slugfest, now between the establishment flip-flopper -- willard romney -- and the far-right flamethrower and lobbyist -- the slimy salamander, newt -- but you still cannot forget the others -- santorum and paul that have no chance of ever getting the GOP nomination.
LOL!
If their children and grandchildren were REALLY how the Romneys measure "their riches" then why do they have an account in the Cayman Islands? And why not give much of their fortune away like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet? And why the need for 13 houses?
I believed Warren Buffet when he gave away 90% of his wealth and gave 10% to his kids with the stipulation that they each have to give away 90% of what he leaves them.
Romney ran in 19 elections since 1994 and only won 6 of them. He did not release his taxes in the Presidential campaign or for Governor of New Hampshire twice. Matter of fact , he has NEVER released his taxes in ANY campaign and never planned to this time......until he got his butt kicked in South Carolina!
Now after 10 years and losing in S.C.- he is releasing them in 2 days. That is a fast turn 180 deg. turn around!