Romney Touts Business Experience In Calif.

Former Governor Contrasts Himself With "Washington Politicians" During Town Hall Meeting

(AP)  Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney cast himself as more businessman than politician Sunday, as the one-time venture capitalist tried to differentiate himself from his rivals during his first townhall meeting in California.

Taking questions from an audience of 500 in a conservative tract area just south of reliably Democratic Los Angeles, the former Massachusetts governor repeatedly contrast himself with "Washington politicians" and said he has the distance from the Beltway to be a uniter, not a divider.

"I'm not in this race for the next step in my political career. I don't have a political career, to tell you the truth," Romney said during a stop at Chapman University. "I've only been in politics four years as a governor. I loved the experience, but my life is my wife and my family. My career was building an enterprise, a business, with some other fellows."

Without naming names, Romney argued that his experience sets him apart from politicians such as Sens. John McCain and Hillary Rodham Clinton, two fellow presidential contenders, as well as former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who leads GOP presidential polling nationally.

Romney also believes his record distinguishes him from former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, whose accomplishments Romney advisers routinely question.

"I haven't been uniformly successful - I've tried to be successful - but I believe that experience will be helpful to America," said Romney.

While decrying the partisan tone in the capital, including both parties' focus on last year's midterm elections, Romney failed to note that during that time, he served as chairman of the Republican Governors Association and ran an aggressive effort not only to hold onto a Republican majority in the nation's statehouses but also to stave off the GOP's midterm losses.

Afterward, Romney left for two fundraisers in Orange County, a conservative hotbed. During a five-day swing through California, Romney planned to raise money and make public appearances in Santa Clara, near the Bay Area, as well as Bakersfield, just north of Los Angeles, and Long Beach, just to the south.

During his Chapman appearance, Romney was confronted by a high school teacher, Pat Alviso of Huntington Beach, who said her son had just completed his second Marine tour in Iraq and was suffering from a variety of physical and mental ailments.

She asked Romney why none of his sons was in the military, and she accused him of favoring sending 100,000 more troops to the war-torn country.

Romney did not directly Alviso's question about his sons, a query he answered in Iowa in August by saying his sons were serving their country by assisting his campaign. He later said the comparison was a mistake.

But Romney told Alviso he did not favor adding more troops to Iraq. Instead, he said he supported a Pentagon plan to remove a brigade a month as Iraqi forces take control. He also said he supports adding 100,000 troops to the U.S. military to reduce the need for quick troop redeployments such as that experienced by her son.

[undermyboot]

We need more Republicans like Bush!

Latest News: Congresswoman Harman (Chairwoman of House Terrorism subcommittee) revealed today that BUSH THREATENED CONGRESS with a bogus "terrorist threat" in order to scare Congress into voting for more dictatorial powers for Bush (It worked). On Aug. 2, just before Congress agreed to give Bush the power to spy on Americans without FISA warrants, Bush officials told Congress (in secret session) that CONGRESS was a target of an "IMMINENT ATTACK" and that the powers he wanted them to give him were needed to protect Congress from attack. Bush''s monkey in the Senate (Trent Lott) said, "Disaster could be at our doorstep". The intelligence agencies already knew that there was NO THREAT, but the truth only came out AFTER the vote. I guess Bush thought he could get away with this and no one would dare break silence (calling the lie a "state secret"). Too bad for him that at least one patriot told America what its petty dictator tried and lied about this time.

Can you smell a rat? A big, fascist, dictatorial, un-American, "Presidential" rat? This "King" is nothing more than a petty dictator-wannabe. He (and his cabal) should be tried and shot for crimes against our country, laws, and our Constitution. NOW! If Congress and the courts do not soon grow a pair our liberty and way of life are doomed.

REFERENCE: The Chairwoman spoke today at a FISA forum. Reported on MSNBC and http://thinkprogress.org/?p=16390&sortby=toprated

[jacksteen1]

Mutt Romney went mute when asked by a veteran''s Mother about his layabout sons'' inactivity when it comes to military service. How very mormon cultish.

These inbred Salamander-followers believe that marrying dozens of child-brides and knocking each of them up, coupled with two-year stints as ''missionaries'' for the cult is the same as serving a greater good.

This is why this charlatan multiple-marriage promoter will NEVER gain national office.

The bible-banging base of the Republishit Party will NEVER allow this rube to be the front runner.

Here endeth the Lesson.

[glossypan]

Flip.
Flop.

[akoeppen]

Whoever wrote this articles needs to go back to grammer school. What a poorly written, error ridden article!

I like this Romney guy though!

[voteronpaul3]

Ron Paul has it all. http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about

**** TAKE AMERICA BACK ****
**** STOP THE WAR & Corporate Corruption****

Ron Paul has it all.

He has NEVER voted:
* to raise taxes
* for an unbalanced budget
* to raise congressional pay
* for a federal restriction on gun ownership
* to increase the power of the executive branch

He HAS voted:
* against the Iraq war
* against the inappropriately named USA PATRIOT act
* against regulating the internet
* against the Military Commissions Act

He will eliminate the IRS, Wasteful Government Spending & Stop The Iraq War Immediately!

Most importantly, he voted NO on anything in Congress that is not allowed by the Constitution.

He is the only candidate not a member of the CFR!

Shouldn''''t ALL members of Congress uphold the Constitution? Aren''''t they SWORN to uphold it? You can bet Paul won''''t call the Constitution "just a G**D***ed piece of paper" like George Bush is reported to have.

If you want a candidate you can TRUST due to a proven track record, visit ronpaul2008.com and get busy spreading the word. The Mainstream Media is a lagging indicator!!

Ron Paul Revolution: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ron+paul

Get Active join a meetup.com group today!

Also checkout http://video.google.com search for Federal Reserve Fraud