Romney: Republicans in Washington need to stop acting like Democrats

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Updated 5:20 p.m. ET

MONROE, Mich.--Mitt Romney told businesspeople here, including two tea party members, that Republicans in Washington have been "acting like Democrats" and he will stop it because he is a different kind of Republican. Later in the day, at a another campaign stop, Romney collected the endorsement of Gov. Rick Snyder.

At the business roundtable in Monroe, Romney did not mention surging rival Rick Santorum at the roundtable, but his critique echoed the charges he's been leveling at Santorum in their pitched battle to win the Feb. 28 primary in the state where Romney grew up.

When the GOP held majorities on Capitol Hill, he said, "Republicans started earmarking like crazy. Republicans spent too much money, way above the rate of inflation. Republicans didn't send programs back to the states. Republicans didn't eliminate programs, we added programs. We were doing exactly what the Democrats have done. And we can't keep doing that."

By contrast, said Romney, "I'm going to Washington not as the next step in my political career, because I don't have a political career. My life was spent in the private sector." He said he would make Midwestern states, including his home state of Michigan and neighboring Ohio, into destinations for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Romney's life has not been exactly devoid of politics. He ran for the Senate in 1994, he was governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007, he ran for president in 2008, and of course he's running again now. His father, George Romney, served as governor of Michigan and ran for president in 1968.

At a stop Thursday in Farmington Hills, Romney picked up the endorsement of the state's present governor, Republican Rick Snyder.

Snyder, who like Romney was in the private equity industry before entering politics, said, "When I look at the challenges of Michigan, one of the greatest things holding us back now is Washington. It's holding us back. It's time for leadership that's going to move us forward."

Snyder commended Romney's economic plan as a "jobs and economic growth plan that I strongly support that talks about more and better jobs, that talks about a tax system that is simple, fair and efficient." He added, "He's a Michigander and that's another source of particular pride."

Neither man mentioned their disagreement over the 2009 federal bailout of hte auto industry, which Snyder supported but Romney opposed.

[loricaliforni]

Mr. Pot meet Mr. Kettle... are you kidding me? Romney's the biggest RINO-acting-like-a-Dem in Washington! Takes one to know one I guess.

[traffikator]

Hypocrites they are. Both him and Rickety one, keep pushing their religious agenda on Americans, yet vociferously oppose Iran because of their "theocracy". I hope some teach him how to use the dictionary. Then they complain about Government intrusion!!! The nerve. Who is forcing women to get probed against their wishes and those of the Doctors? Imagine, Obama did not ask to the women to use contraceptives, just that Health care providers provide access. They do not have to buy it or even use it, just make it available. The emptiest vessels make the most noise. I hope Michelle is ready for 2016. We do not need anymore Reprobates running this country, lest we go back...way back. What a dull moment in time. Imagine a first world nation with slave mentality and they have the temerity to complain about Iran, China and N. Korea?? Priceless.

[dobermantmacleod]

You've got to be kidding me. That RINO will say ANYTHING to get votes.

[expatriate2]

Mitt, if Republicans really acted like Democrats, you wouldn't be a candidate.

[traffikator]

This is the hypocritical fool that the Reprobates can produce to lead this country. Even with GM making the biggest profit in its history as a result of the bailout, and this fool is still insisting it should have been bankrupted. But insist we would go into Iraq again after knowing what we know now.