Snyder: Stop "dwelling" on Romney's auto bailout opposition

By: Rebecca Kaplan
Topics: Campaign 2012

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI - FEBRUARY 16: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (L) shakes hands with Mitt Romney

(Credit: Photo by J.D. Pooley/Getty Images)

DETROIT, Mich. - Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder found himself playing defense over Mitt Romney's opposition to the bailout of the auto industry just hours after he endorsed the former Massachusetts governor's bid for the presidency.

"Instead of spending any time talking about the past, I would rather be asking all the candidates the question, 'What are you going to do to drop the unemployment rate in half?'" Snyder told reporters at the Oakland County Lincoln Day Dinner. "That's what our citizens really care about, not the auto bailout, but, what are we going to do to do more and better jobs for the future?"

Michigan voters, he said, should not spend a lot of time "dwelling" on Romney's vocal opposition to the 2008 bailout.

The government's financial rescue of the domestic auto industry is credited with staving off economic disaster in Michigan, which is heavily reliant on auto manufacturing. Romney has had to defend his opposition to the deal as he tries to eke out a win in the state's Feb. 28 primary. Fortunately for the former governor, his chief rival, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, also opposed the bailout.

Romney can ill afford to lose support in Michigan, where he is trailing Santorum in the polls despite his status as the native son. His father, George Romney, is a former governor of the state and Romney was born and raised there.

Snyder supported the auto bailout and is backing Romney, although he declined to criticize Santorum. "I don't spend time on negatives issues," said Snyder, who like Romney is a former businessman who specialized in corporate takeovers. "I really find common ground issues, and I found a lot of common ground with Governor Romney and that's why I'm supporting him."

Rebecca Kaplan
Rebecca Kaplan covers the 2012 presidential campaign for CBS News and National Journal.
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by The_General_1968 February 17, 2012 2:23 PM EST: Wondering who to vote for after hearing hours of debates and promises of jobs, strong national defense and a strong economy?
Here's an easy way to make an educated choice about who to vote for in November:
Google and watch these youtube documentaries:
"Power of Nightmares" - foreign policy truth BBC documentary
"Money as Debt" - clearly explains who controls the money and power
Google "Michael Scheuer Iran" - ex-CIA head Bin Laden unit explains our foreign policy and fear of Iran
Google and watch "Predictions in Due Time"
Then get out and vote for the only man who has a ghost of a chance of beating Obama.; Reply to this comment


by dj_chi February 17, 2012 11:28 AM EST: People do care about a person's past. Because the past is what defines where a person has been and what formed them into who they are.

The typical candidate routine is to throw out obvious catchphrases to their supporters, saying what the people want to hear to keep their support. You could have embezzled from a string of previous employers, done jail time, or have sued companies into bankruptcy merely to protect your company's market share. But if you stand up and say you are for law and order, job growth and fiscal responsibility, we're supposed to blindly hold you up as the answer to everything we see is wrong with government?

Sorry, the past counts and people are gonna draw their own conclusions, right or wrong, on what that past means. The spin, the PR machine's efforts, or the adamant statements of the strongest supporters can't wipe that away.; Reply to this comment


by ladyang February 17, 2012 5:09 AM EST: Too late - he already spoke!; Reply to this comment


by nearl451 February 17, 2012 12:52 AM EST: Yes, instead pay attention to his Robamneycare position.; Reply to this comment


by smirk5 February 17, 2012 12:21 AM EST: Romney says whatever feels good at the moment. Later, he'll deny that he ever took a particular position if it's not advantageous to him at that time. His favorite phrase is: "What I meant was..."
Romney's only solid position is that he wants to be President. There is no stance he'll stick with if it in any way gets in the way of being President. He's pro-choice, pro-life, pro-mandate, anti-mandate, pro birth control coverage, anti birth control coverage and on and on.; Reply to this comment


by calif7 February 17, 2012 12:18 AM EST: Romney and Snyder are saying "trust us" as Mitt and his friends spend millions on negative untruthful ads.; Reply to this comment


by kansas1946 February 16, 2012 10:39 PM EST: "Instead of spending any time talking about the past, I would rather be asking all the candidates the question, 'What are you going to do to drop the unemployment rate in half?'" Snyder told reporters at the Oakland County Lincoln Day Dinner. "That's what our citizens really care about, not the auto bailout, but, what are we going to do to do more and better jobs for the future?"
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Yeah, let's quit worrying about what an idiot Romney is, just look what at what great haircut he has and how cute he is. Speaking of creating those jobs, you might want to listen to the number of jobs the GM plant is adding in your state. What a putz. Don't worry though. If the folks in Michigan elected you as governor, then they will probably be dumb enough to vote for Romney.; Reply to this comment