Romney: Clinton Is A "European Caricature"

GOP Presidential Hopeful Says Democratic Rival Would Turn The U.S. Into A European-Modeled Welfare State

(AP)  Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Thursday criticized Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as a European caricature who would turn the United States into a welfare state.

Speaking to about 200 people in Sioux City, Romney said he wanted to highlight the differences between himself and Clinton, the front-runner for her party's presidential nomination.

“Her view is the old, classic, European caricature that we describe of big government, big taxation, welfare state,” said the former Massachusetts governor.

“She gave a speech a couple of days ago and laid out her vision for America. And as I listened to her I figured her platform wouldn't even get her elected in France,” Romney, who was a missionary in France, said to chuckles and applause.

In recent French elections, conservative Nicolas Sarkozy captured the presidency, defeating Segolene Royal in her bid to become France's first female president.

Romney criticized Clinton's effort as first lady to enact universal health care and touted his success in passing a plan in Massachusetts. Although Romney won bipartisan praise for his state effort, he hasn't mentioned it much in his bid for president.

“The first difference is mine got passed and hers didn't,” he said.

Romney said the election of Clinton as president would force the country to veer off course economically, militarily and socially.

“I'm convinced if Hillary were president ... that we would see instead of a stronger military and a stronger economy and stronger families, we'd see a weaker military because she would ... be able to spend money on the social programs that she favors,” he said. “We'd see a weaker economy because she'd raise taxes and we'd have less money going into the private sector and creating new jobs. We'd see weaker families as well.”

A Clinton campaign spokesman declined to respond to Romney's comments.

Contrasting himself with Clinton, Romney also reiterated his support for a constitutional amendment against gay marriage. Clinton has said she wouldn't support such an amendment.

[pepperp1]

ohhhhhhh the flipper called Hillary a french fry liberal.....

[stezzer]

As a Brit, or "European" as Mr Romney would have it, I must say I think he's great. I think he would make a superb President.

There's something about the chap I like. He has a steely determination mixed with an awful lot of class.

[pakaal]

At least Romney acknowledges evolution, which makes him less of a complete idiot than the rest of the Republican candidates.

Of course that's the best I can say about him, so there ya go.

[pepperp1]

And oh by the way Flip pandering to the right promising a divisive constitutional amendment that you can not possibly deliver makes you ineligible to be a Statesmen entrusted with the well being of this country and its interest. Soldiers are dying Flip, at the tune of 3 a day, our trade deficit is threatening to pull this country into decline, and we are spending 3 billion every two weeks on Iraq on our grandchildren%u2019s dime, and guess what its not that they just hate and fear ***, blacks and immigrants they do not like Mormons either, reap what you sow as the good book says. To late anyway Watergate Fred is in the race, Flip bow out now pocket the cash.

[tuckerndfw]

Hillary Clinton has no realistic chance of winning a national election. People who hate her are far more energized than her supporters. And, are more numerous.

Hillary's campaign is based on her own ego and vanity and has no chance of success.

[Syndicate]

I'm middle class and Bush's tax cuts helped me out alot. Thanks Mr. Bush. Now the Democrats are talking about taking them away. So I have to ask: who wants to hurt the middle class?

[jn122736]

Romney is using the age-old republican strategy of accusing the Democratic Party and/or candidates of having a tax-and-spend policy.

Why don%u2019t the democrats hit back with the simple truth.

The republicans have, starting with Reagan, been the %u201Cborrow-and-spend party.
Republicans have, in effect, raised our taxes to the tune of $400+ Billion Dollars annually (interest on the national debt)

From 1988 through April 2007, taxpayers have paid a total of%u2026 $6,316,222,982,524.01%u2026 (that%u2019s TRILLION) in INTEREST ALONE On the national debt and, if we had had to pay interest on the $3 trillion %u201Cborrowed" from social security and other government programs the total would matched the current national debt itself.(nearing $9 Trillion).
When would the republicans start to pay off the national debt and save all that interest for other needed projects, like the betterment of the average American, for instance?

[pepperp1]

%u2026%u2026.your tax cut is a parlor trick, Bush didn%u2019t cut spending he increased it by 300 percent and is just putting in on the credit card, your other friend is also mistaken, we don%u2019t care if you dislike Hillary and you obviously do not understand how much we are energized and dislike those of you whom we believe are responsible for the continued support of this President that is killing our soldiers, it%u2019s a matter of degree I suppose but I can assure you we are energized to drive your myopic interest and corrupt butts out of power, and there are many more of us than you%u2026and if I have to take the Tax and Spend party over the Tax and Steal party trust me easy choice and you loose..........

[bm6005]

cbscrash07

Obviously you haven't started AMT yet where they take away your deductions cause you work hard. I'm like aintaken, I haven't seen a nickles worth of tax relief and I made 30% more than aintaken. Your drinking the koolaid fool. The only tax cuts went to the super wealthy, trust me!! Like Boosh said" My kind of people, the haves and the have mores"!!

[homespunlady]

Well, Mitt must really hate the Prez. George seems to have suddenly discovered a conscience too little, too late and we'll see if it isn't just more smoke and mirrors. African Aid, Global Warming, and a a wave of the Iraq Study Group's book - on air of course. Has he become a Democrat???

RON PAUL is still the best chance for the Republican Party and he still has a snowball's chance in a Hitler's paradise.

Can't wait to see the Republican "conversions" to "helping the Middle Class" as the current economic STAGNATION rolls on into a RECESSION and they fight to hold off the upcoming ECONOMIC DEPRESSION as the fallout from the DRUNKEN REPUBLICAN SPENDING AND THIEVING SPREE comes home to roost.
The worst of the thieving CONS have already made arrangements to LEAVE THE COUNTRY taking their ill-gotten gains with them. Their lackeys will be next.

[mgpm-2009]

Hillary Clinton would have been too polarizing to have been electable IF Bush hadn't screwed this country up so badly. Now she's nearly a shoe in because we want and desparately NEED to get as far away from anything resembling GWB or Rove as we can get.

Not only that but by electing her we get Bill back in some capacity and he was a very popular president. Perhaps they both can bring some sanity back to the White house will be the thinking.

[zorlacskates]

what do you bet if "welfare state", "tax and spend", blah-blah, democrats win the presidency they'll be able to reduce the deficit and help out the middle-class? what an absurb, warped logic the right has been able to get away with, pretending that bush has done a *** thing for ordinary americans and ignoring the massive deficit we'll be paying off long after bush is gone. the right needs to be called on this nonsense at every opportunity.

[kansas1946]

I am no fan of Hillary, but Romney is an idiot. The usual nonsense scare tactics. He must of take a page right out of Rove's book. Throw out the mose outrageous bunch of poop at someone and hope some of it sticks. Disgusting politics.

[norcalruss]

Romney said: %u201CI'm convinced if Hillary were president ... that we would see instead of a stronger military and a stronger economy and stronger families, we'd see a weaker military because she would ...

This is just more right wing preaching to the choir. Look at the mess that we are in because of Bush: record federal and trade deficits, a depleted military because of a stupid war, and 40 million people without health care coverage. It is doubtful that Clinton would make things any worse.

[rafterman1]

Why do Republicans keep insisting that they are the party of small government when they clearly aren't? Under Bush, the government has doubled in size. Actions speak louder than words.

[rafterman1]

===Hillary's campaign is based on her own ego and vanity and has no chance of success.===

What candidate isn't vain? No one believes any candidate wants to be president to "help the people". Please.

After what will be eight years of Bush incompetency, if she can look even half-way competent and make no major mistakes, she can win. The truth is, people who hate Hilary can't say why. Repubs who hate her won't admit she's a moderate and even sides on them with a number of issues. Dems just think "doom and gloom" because of what happened to Bubba.

As a NY Senator (I'm from NY), she's done a good job. Even many Repubs have said she's willing to reach across the aisle to work with them. The guy who ran Bubba's impeachment proceedings in the house even said he has worked well with Clinton and had good things to say about her. If this kind of stuff gets out, Repubs will be in a panic.

[antoniof123]

cbscrash07 you must not understand taxes very well, because if you did then you would know that the average American saved only about $300 dollars per year. That is $25 dollars per month. So an average family of four (4) can go out to McDonalds an extra time a month.

But wait you phone tax went up so did you energy tax and you gas tax and a lot of other taxes. So in reality the average family lost in the so called tax break. But the rich the one who saved $100,000 dollars in taxes well those extra taxes didn't really hurt them because guess what, they save more then those small taxes went up.

It just goes to prove my point some people should not be able to know when to breath the air.

[boatdocster]

Mitt

Get a grip on reality. Who has almost tripled our dept and given huge tax breaks to the rich; given millions to billions more to organizations only because they are faith based (and not because of real credentials); created the Homeland Security department and grossly inflated government and regulations; and now wants to give a free pass to illegal immigrants? It's not the Democrats but the new "tax and spend Republicans".

Who has seriously weakened our military to the breaking point? George Bush
Who is pushing family give away programs? George Bush
Who gave away the bank that will require those taxes in the future (to pay for his totally unchecked spending)? George Bush

Sorry, but your message of doom and gloom just does not work anymore. Come to the table with real poker cards or go home.

[boatdocster]

Typo and I'm sorry - that should be tripled our DEBT (not dept).

I'm so sick and tired of the Republican scare machine. They need to go home for good.

[hypnotoad72]

And Romney is a caricature of a caricature. He has no plans for America or its infrastructure. All his tv ads meander on, in hard cadence and inflection, about being the world's sole military superpower. Why? For what? Can't other countries protect themselves too?

Worse, with the predominant attitude the world's countries have against the US right now (or at least what it's purport to be, which I don't entirely believe either - not when they take jobs from American corporations), who's going to think we, as a country, is credible with such a task? Romney needs to prove he's got sense behind his brave, yet loud noise. Best of luck.

[sparks224]

More nonsense from the Retardican party.

[drwooly]

Granted, we're in a big mess now, but W is a Republican in Name Only. He's no more conservative than Ted Kennedy. In trying to curry favor with both parties, he becomes a man of no party. The Party of The People is a party for those people IN POWER, not you or me. The only way to truly fix the socio-economic mess we're in is to elect a Conservative that will act, not try to get along and get nothing in return. I don't know who that is, yet, but it ain't Queen Hillary.

[hypnotoad72]

NorcalRuss - don't forget what Bill O'Reilly said on TV a couple nights ago when somebody wrote into him talking about national health care. (it was a boring, typical rant about how nobody owes anybody anything and the usual "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" jingo.) Pity not everybody can talk so smoothly as Bill, otherwise we could all be successful as opinion-based, light-entertainment show hosts.

It's also Bill's mindset, which must've originated from Margaret Thatcher's schizophrenic comment on society, which is why nobody is enlisting: "There is no such thing as society. Only individual men and women, and families." And once the family structure is broken, it'll be individual men or women. (anarchy?!) Individuals who have no concept of society or the very Christian act of helping their fellow man. In service or in hospital care or anything else. We're seeing a cherrypicked version of "Christianity" which overlooked quite a lot of what God (and Jesus!) would hold true. More reason why when Bill says the "C"-word, he's preaching to the wrong Christ and that is a cardinal sin. The one from the parallel version that upheld greed over compassion.

To Bill, read the New Testament which is Jesus' life and values written on paper. And you decide. You talk of a male-led Christian environment the liberals are trying to destroy. Yet it's clear you don't know the FULL truth.

[tumbleweedin]

The best candidate in the run from either party (which I don't play party game anyway) is republican RON PAUL. Hands down! Despite the downplaying of RON PAUL by the mainstream media he in reality is leading by quite a large margin in most all of the polls, and has been since the first debate. Why some outlets insist on saying Romney is ahead, I have no clue. RON PAUL is way out in front of ALL the candidates in the GOP. RON PAUL has more than twice as many new subscribers at YouTube than all the rest of the republican candidates combined. And more than twice as many than the next runner up Obama. Google his sites and check his record. He IS the CONSTITUTIONAL candidate. And he will get my vote in 2008 without hesitation. I have never felt this sure of casting my vote in thirty years.

[processor2]

Whatever happened to the DEMOCRAT party concept of:

"Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather what YOU can do for your country"

Sounds like Hillary is plagarizing "the communist manifesto"

...

[huanaco]

ROMMEY IS WRONG, QUITE WRONG.BVUSH,S POLICIES AND SPENDING ( SPECIALLY IN IRAQ ) ARE THE PROOF THAT NO REPUBLICAN OUGHT TO BE TRUSTED WITH ANOTHER TERM . OUR HEALTH SYSTEM IS A SHAME , 40 MILLIONS WOTHOUT COVERAGE,SMALLER COUNTRIES COULD TEACH US HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CITIZENS , HERE IN CHILE , WHERE I RETIRED EVERYBODY HAVE THE RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE. HOW MUCH IT COST ME ? 10 BUCKS EVERY OTHER MONTH , THIS JUST BECAUSE I AM A FOREIGN PERSON. COME HERE ROMMEY AND LEARN

[yamuttya]

Republican arrogance and stupidity is the reason America is universally hated. Why would anyone in their right mind listen to anything they say ?
W. has nailed their coffin. It's long overdue.
Back to reality !

[raouldix]

These are wonderful responses to a ridiculous set of assertions on the part of Mr. Romney. The nerve to call Hillary vain. By definition, he considers himself a Saint. Taxation is a joke. The middle class pays taxes to the government, which under Bush is the biggest ever, and also pays de facto taxes in the form of higher costs for energy, health care, food, transportation, and everything else. We are six years into a massive transfer of wealth to a miniscule percentage of the population, at the expense of everybody else.

[sparks224]

Whatever happened to the DEMOCRAT party concept of:

"Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather what YOU can do for your country"

...
Posted by processor2

First of all its "Democratic party" (keep your RNC talking points to yourself).

And yes, I agree, JFK was a great LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.

[hazelknows]

O-mitt Romney, typical reaction of someone trying to get noticed, make all others look bad to cover your own sorry @$$. America is sliding into the $#!+ er, tell us what YOUR plans are for the future of the country or shut your cake hole.

[fairandbal]

Hillary was totally correct to refuse to comment on these tired and well scripted comments. Is it not possible for any GOP candidate to think for themselves as opposed to taking the same talking points? Seems not.
The GOP platform for years has been "kill Iraqis', 'cut taxes for the top 1%' and 'blame Clinton'. And throw in talk of anti flag burning and anti gay constitutional amendments in just to keep the right wing religious folk on their side.
The only sad thing is the MSM buys into these talking points and keeps repeating them as if they're facts and 'the news'.

[yamuttya]

What is the socio-economic mess we're in ????????????? Are you joking ??????

[sharncedar]

What an odd comment - comparing Hillary Clinton to a European. It's so off, it makes me wonder about Romney. She is a base woman without class, she was some pushy New York liberal girl who married a yokel from Arkansas, they are rude plebians who stormed the castle and stole the silverware. They still act like yokels - yuk yuk yuk I'm Hill'ry Clint'n!

She is a very provincial and dumb woman, an Arkansas nobody. A power-hungry country woman who will do anything for anybody rich or powerful to be allowed to stay in the White House again, probably to steal more furniture.

Where is the European part? Do Europeans have such provincial areas as Arkansaaaaw ... do they have politicians so rude and country they actually steal stuff from the White House, take any and all bribes, and act like gee whiz look at me ma idiots all over Washington?

What made everyone mad about the Monica Lewinsky thing was what a fat and low-class woman Bill was doing it with. Would European politicians be caught with a fat and sleaz-y woman who just came from the fried chicken store? A woman who caint spake regler Ainglish? With her fat pork-eating mouth dripping grease?

I doubt romney has ever met the Clintoons.

[cozzicon]

I'm tired of any politician tearing apart another politician with buzz words and garbage.

Some people *think* they have an idea of what Europe is like, and think they understand the politics in Europe. This is of course based on what others say.

Europe is doing just fine folks. Let them handle their own countries.

However here we seem to be denigrating ideas based on where they come from. It's both parties. They both need to come back to center.

Marxism doesn't work. But Marx had a few good ideas. A whole bunch of Jefferson's ideas turned out historically to be bad, but a few were wonderful.

We have got to stop pigeonholing ideas simply because one party or the other came up with them.

Then maybe we could get Republican Small government, with a nice mix of Democratic Social Programs, a better health care system, and better relationships with other countries (among many other important things).

THIS is a character issue. And we can control it by letting candidates know that these types of attacks- no matter what side- will not be tolerated.

Show me government that works, lay off the wedge issues (abortion, gay marriage, and whatever else sharply divides us) and give me a functional government.

Because this government, and most of these candidates are *not functional*.

[tuckerndfw]

Posted by SharnCedar at 11:19 PM : May 31, 2007

That was pretty funny but Hillary is from Chicago, not New York.

Monica Lewinsky is a little fat Jewish girl from Beverly Hills (Hollywood), California, not Arkansas. Her fat Jewish daddy is a rich dentist. She attended an exclusive private school and is probably better educated than Bill and Hillary combined.

The European part is the comparison between her idea of the government under her dictatorship. . . oops, presidency, and Europe's typical socialist governments.

However, the bottom line is that Hillary is little different than George Bush. She is a self-serving, amoral liar and megalomaniac. She would likewise treat the US Constitution as toilet paper and government agencies as her personal assistants.

Fortunately, she has no realistic chance of winning a general election.

[bellal-2009]

I tend to agree with Mitt Romney that Hillary Clinton does not have the answers for America. She is playing the European playbook, just listen to her. I find it shocking that in less than two weeks she's promised universal health care and universal day care. What? And she also supports the immigration bill. So basically we're all going to be taxed upwards of 35-40% with no hope of increased wages.

[robertr121]

First of all its "Democratic party" (keep your RNC talking points to yourself).

And yes, I agree, JFK was a great LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.
Posted by sparks224 at 10:37 PM : May 31, 2007

Thank you sparks for setting this moron, loyal Bushie straight.

[tbweb]

Mitt Romney, it walks, it talks, it looks like a cute little toy but can it fight?

[nottellin1]

Why is anyone wasting time or money on Hilary? I may love her, don't, but there is not way that the US is yet ready for a woman pres. Sorry, but that is the way it is and she can court Viarigaga all she wants, does anyone really beleive that the macho hispanic man (meant with complete respect for this genuine male) would vote for a woman leader. Hopefully some day, but I doubt in 2008.

[xzavierbrown]

****We may make fun of European Nations all we want. The fact remains that they [European Nations] have been around for thousands of years. They have accomplished that by keeping the "corporate wh*o*r*e*s" out and value their citizens.
Let's see if our country can live that long and measure up to them.
If we want to honest with ourselves, perhaps it might be a good idea to look at these nations. Who knows, we might learn a thing, or two.
Posted by nikosk1 at 01:22 AM : Jun 01, 2007
+ report abuse***

I think you forgot that for centuries they been ripping each other's head off over greedy issues..which they are still doing so..remember the EU????the euro???

as a matter of fact..there would be NO EUROPE if it was not for this country. It would had been one huge Germany

[zorlacskates]

hey, tuckerndfw, you freakin' idiot. hillary has a law degree from yale, as does her husband. monica lewinski is better educated that the clintons? that ****** stain on her dress was brighter than you are. stop trying to sound like you know what you're talking about; if you don't have the sense to get the most basic facts straight, why should anybody read your nonsense? "she has no realistic chance of winning a general election" - yea, you just keep telling yourself that, wise sage.

[xzavierbrown]

you know you are dealing with a Clinton zombie when thier start using personal insults as the content debate strategy..

[zorlacskates]

xzavierbrown, your ignorance of history is simply amazing. "greedy issues," eh? brilliant.

[cbs_fan2]

t?t :?~ :?:

[zorlacskates]

ouch, clinton zombie! does that count as name-calling? i wouldn't want you to contradict yourself. first, however, you might want to include historical accuracy in your "content debate strategy"

[tuckerndfw]

Posted by zorlacskates at 01:31 AM : Jun 01, 2007

A law degree is a specialized degree and does not confer upon the recipient a broad based education.

But, given your demonstrated ignorance, that would be beyond your ability to know.

If you seriously believe Hillary Clinton is a serious contender to win a national US election, you are not only ignorant, you are delusional.

[randalds]

Romney is sounding more like a crass smartas*s everyday. His old man was one when he was Michigan's governor when I was younger, but nothing like the slick, used car salesman talk of his kid. Mitt is the kind of talker where, even if you want to agree with him, you feel "dirty" and used, like after you just bought the proverbial car from the little old lady who only drove it on Sunday. He's like Rove. When he walks through a room he leaves little pools of oil behind him. He's just too "slick" to be believed.

[ramos937]

A message to Rommy - You forgot. Hilliary is not
your opponent yet. The other Rep candidates are.
In football, business, etc. the first rule is
never look past your immediate goal such as the
next game. In any event, due to your position
on immigration, you cannot win the Hispanic vote
and thus cannot win in the general election if
you get that far.

[adian1-2009]

If I had any doubts, which I did not, about Ms. Clinton being the best candidate amongst all from both parties, Mr. Romney would have wiped them out with his characterization of Ms. Clinton as a European caricature. I bet that Romney does not know anything about Europe. Maybe he has never visited Europe. Romney should answer how come that Europe has gone ahead in so many areas, economic area first, while we have been declining precipitously during the last 20 years. The Euro is right now approximately $1.35. Two years ago it was about 85 cents of a dollar. Romney would not be able to explain that. He does not know anything about economy. Life in Europe is significantly more oriented towards enjoyment of life than to asset possessions. The humanistic formation of Europeans leaves a lot to be desired in the formation of our professionals. Naturally, we must keep in mind what a French president said many years ago when he visited Canada and supported the secession of Quebec: Vive le Quebec libre! When he was criticized he responded: European culture is 2,000 years ahead culturally! Romney is no doubt an ignoramus and trying to diminish Ms. Clinton, for those of us who are familiar with Europe and the European ways of life, has merely given her another merit on top of all the others she has.

[adian1-2009]

Does Romney know where is Europe located? Or is it that he, like Bush, is going to start to travel when and if he becomes president? Just like Bush, isn't it?