Romney Joins Race For White House

Former Massachusetts Governor Formally Announces GOP Presidential Bid

(CBS/AP)  In his speech, Romney laid out his vision for the country, saying that the United States must build a brighter future for the American family, transform its role abroad and strengthen itself at home.

On Iraq, Romney reiterated his support for President Bush's policy in the nearly four year old war, although he did not name the president, and said that failure in Iraq "could be devastating" for the United States and could mean "a future with far more military involvement and far more loss of American life."

"So long as there is a reasonable prospect of success, our wisest course is to seek stability in Iraq, with additional troops endeavoring to secure the civilian population," he said.

Seeking to convince conservatives that he is one of them, Romney invoked God and emphasized principles considered the bedrock of the GOP.

"I believe the family is the foundation of America and that we must fight to protect and strengthen it," he said. "I believe in the sanctity of human life."

"I believe that people and their elected representatives should make our laws, not unelected judges," Romney continued. "I believe we are overtaxed and government is overfed. Washington is spending too much money."

"I believe that homeland security begins with securing our borders," he added.

Romney long has been laying the groundwork for a presidential run, and his entrance into the crowded GOP presidential field came as no surprise.

He's a prolific fundraiser who is expected to easily collect the tens of millions of dollars needed for a serious bid. He has built a national campaign organization staffed with top political operatives, and he has strong grassroots support in several important states.

Romney, 59, also has a long record of accomplishment in the private, voluntary and public sectors, effectively turning struggling entities into successful enterprises in each sector.

A businessman, Romney helped found a multibillion-dollar venture capital firm, Bain Capital, that invested in companies like Staples, the office-supply giant.

Later, he stepped in to take over the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. A bribery scandal had threatened to implode the games, but they ended up a success with Romney at the helm.

As governor of Massachusetts, Romney was credited with closing a $3 billion budget deficit without raising taxes and pushing a comprehensive overhaul of health insurance system the state.

He tried to enter politics in 1994 with a failed bid to unseat Democratic lion Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. It wasn't until 2002 that he tried again, running as he did in his first race as a moderate in one of the most liberal states in the country. Now he's having to answer for his statements and positions back then as he tries to campaign as the more conservative candidate to McCain and Giuliani.

During the Senate race, he wrote a letter promising a gay Republican group he would be a stronger advocate for gays and their rights than Kennedy. Nevertheless, he insists he has been an unflinching opponent of gay marriage.

Also, in the two previous campaigns, he said that regardless of personal beliefs, abortion should be safe and legal. Now, he describes himself as pro-life and argues that Roe v. Wade should be replaced with state abortion regulations.

[standlee5]

He's a good man and he'd make a good president. The fact that he's a Mormon is no different than if was a Catholic or Lutheran.

[plowhandle]

The Republiscum Party is DONE in America for at least the next twelve years. This is the legacy their putrid lies and promised broken have brought them.

As far as this cross-eyed Mormon inbred, he can run if he wants to spend some of Holy Church's cash...but it will be for naught. The American people know ENOUGH about his gutter 'religion' to know that they will never be allowed out of the state of Utah.

Just like Tom Cruise and the rest of the followers of 'scientology,' Mormon zealots have NO place in American life.

Go chase your white salamander, Mitt.

[briannorwood]

Hey random_radar:

It's not no morals and no values. It's just not your morals and your values.

[briannorwood]

From moron to mormon. I think not!

[frankly6]

random_radar

Morals and values are just catch words that fit neatly on bumper stickers and help Republicans get elected despite what they really stand for. They've found that using such words that they can get people to actually vote against their own interests. Of course once these people get elected, morals are out the window and the only things they value is power and money.

[random_radar]

"I saw Romney on the today show this morning, and he was talking of morals and values, I think the country has had it's fill of morals and values ever since 2000 election. LOOK WHAT MORALS AND VALUES HAVE BROUGHT US.
Posted by rharrin1 at 08:06 AM : Feb 14, 2007"

So I guess we should try immorality and no values? And I suppose that the Democratic candidates are proposing to do that? Last I checked, all candidates TALK about morality and values. At least until the election is over.

[skyk-2009]

STICK A FORK IN THE REPUBLICANS THEY ARE DONE FOR 08 THEY COULD RUN THE POPE AND HE WOULD LOSE! AMERICA DOES NOT WANT THEIR LIES AND HATRED!
Posted by bluestardad at 09:52 AM : Feb 14, 2007

Done for 08? If the Republican Party continues to have the Religious Reich as their King Makers, they are toast for as long as this generation has memory! Despite what Dobson, Falwell and the rest say, America is NOT Iran and DOES believe in the Seperation of Church and State....always have and always will.

[bluestardad]

STICK A FORK IN THE REPUBLICANS THEY ARE DONE FOR 08 THEY COULD RUN THE POPE AND HE WOULD LOSE! AMERICA DOES NOT WANT THEIR LIES AND HATRED!

[rharrin1]

Republican morals and values that is all we heard out of the coward in office before 2000 election. We really do not need anymore.

[rharrin1]

I saw Romney on the today show this morning, and he was talking of morals and values, I think the country has had it's fill of morals and values ever since 2000 election. LOOK WHAT MORALS AND VALUES HAVE BROUGHT US.