Romney: ‘It is time for the truth to trump hope’
Mitt Romney spoke last night to a packed house at Emory University, promoting his new book and no doubt testing out some lines for the 2012 campaign, which may begin as soon as the mid-terms are over.
After sharing his thoughts about what makes nations great — namely, its values, such as hard work, good education and an emphasis on the family in America — he made the case that the U.S. is the only nation that can lead in the 21st century if liberty and prosperity are to grow. And he spoke of his concern that “these elements of our culture are weakening and are under attack today” from an increasing dependence on government.
“Washington,” he said, “is smothering [our] great spirit…of pioneering and innovation.”
He spoke at length about entitlements — which, combined with the interest on the public debt, he said, account for 60 percent of the federal budget. He said the brand-new middle-class health entitlement will only make things worse. From a businessman’s perspective, he said, “I can’t imagine wanting to invest in anything in the medical field right now, because you don’t know what the government will do.”
But the line of the night, the line you can imagine at the center of a Romney 2012 campaign, was this one: “It is time for the truth to trump hope.”
The line is an unmistakable reference to President Obama, and to the promises that he (and pretty much every other politician) makes but cannot keep. It didn’t sound as if it had been focus-grouped to death, and it may well be refined in the months and years to come; do you really want to say “trump hope”?
But I thought it worked because Romney’s broader message was a hopeful one, not a negative one. He spoke of building America’s greatness and of issuing “no apology” — the title of his new book — for the nation that “has done more to help people enjoy liberty and prosperity” than any other in history. At the same time, he spoke of the need to face facts, such as the unsustainability of those budget-consuming entitlements and a public debt that is projected to reach crippling proportions over the coming decade.
He kept true to this emphasis on truth when asked by an audience member about his health reforms as governor of Massachusetts, and whether RomneyCare was too similar to ObamaCare. (You may recall that I wrote recently that such comparisons would ultimately doom his presidential ambitions.)
To his credit, Romney didn’t dodge. He acknowledged some similarities and stuck up for the programs he had introduced. He argued that it was more appropriate for an individual state, as opposed to the federal government, to implement such a plan, which is fair enough as long as he can convince voters that he would act differently as president than he did as governor. He also said that ObamaCare’s price controls, which he didn’t establish in Massachusetts, were wrong-headed. And he admitted that his plan had flaws which require solutions, while at the same time getting off a good line about the president. Given that so many comparisons between the plans have been made, “Why didn’t he call and ask for my advice? I would have given him some good advice.”
“It’s time for the truth in this country,” he reiterated, perhaps landing on a better formulation of the earlier line, and definitely hitting on a necessary theme for our politics.
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77 comments Add your comment
Churchill's MOM
March 31st, 2010
2:32 pm
Ragnar, Petraeus is probably not electable because he made the Israel 1st bunch mad by telling the truth.. We all know that a Politician should never tell the truth.
ADL vs. Petraeus – Ben Smith: ADL vs. PetraeusMarch 18, 2010
Categories:Middle East.ADL vs. Petraeus
The Jewish Anti-Defamation League — which has been aggressive in defending Benjamin Netanyahu this week — took an unexpected jab at David Petraeus today for his “dangerous and counterproductive” suggestion that the conflict in the Middle East, and the perception of American favoritism, make it harder for the U.S. to work in the region.
Gen. Petraeus has simply erred in linking the challenges faced by the U.S. and coalition forces in the region to a solution of the Israeli-Arab conflict, and blaming extremist activities on the absence of peace and the perceived U.S. favoritism for Israel. This linkage is dangerous and counterproductive.
The subtext here is that critics of Israel’s government have begun making the case that the necessity for a harder line on Bibi is a military one, and citing commanders in the region as allies. This seems to be a warning shot across Petraeus’s bow that, if he even hints publicly at that view, he’s diving into the kind of public debate soldiers tend to avoid
CJ
March 31st, 2010
2:40 pm
“To his credit, Romney didn’t dodge. He acknowledged some similarities and stuck up for the [health care] programs he had introduced. He argued that it was more appropriate for an individual state, as opposed to the federal government,…”
No, Romney didnt’ dodge. He lied.
Romney repeatedly took the opposite position a presidential candidate in 2007 and 2008—telling primary voters that he would expand Massachusetts’ health care reforms, including mandates, nationwide. Romney counts on the fact that most of his audience either doesn’t know or doesn’t remember his statements during the campaign, and counts on the media not to inform them. With this column, Kyle has done his part.
Romney is a flip-flopper of the highest magnitude, and this statement is more evidence of yet another Republican who takes voters for idiots.
Truth?
March 31st, 2010
3:03 pm
Truth? Now there’s a slogan for the ages. Just like other rightist platitudes (Family, Liberty, Prosperity, etc), short on substance, short on specific solutions, short on everything. Pathetic.
WAW
March 31st, 2010
3:24 pm
I would have voted for Romney instead of Obama but his underwear got in the way of the evangelical right. I predict it will again. What he did not do with RomneyCare, the state legislature has gone back and done (cost controls and taxes) so there is little difference today.
No More Progressives!
March 31st, 2010
3:47 pm
The Udder side!!!
March 31st, 2010
2:01 pm
No More Progressives!
March 31st, 2010
1:32 pm
Yeah, instead of bashing Al Gore, Try expaining why RNC execs are dropping a couple grand and the lesbian Dominatrix bar…..
Stop being so angry and try to contribute someting without the foolishness!
Execs? No, it was a low level staffer, who, after being caught, returned the money.
You want angry? Go listen to Ed Schultz & Alan Grayson. What a pair of buffoons.
I Report/You Decide
March 31st, 2010
3:52 pm
RomneyCare will destroy Massachusets (and Romney) the same way ObamaCare will destroy the U.S. (and Obama)
The Udder side!!!
March 31st, 2010
3:54 pm
No More Progressives!
March 31st, 2010
3:47 pm
Schultz and Grayson don’t even movce the anger meter when compared to Hannity, or Beck or Rush the Junkie, or Bohner, of Cantor, or Steele or Sara the Stupid, or Lizard Cheney ( I could do this all day!!!)
I Report/You Decide
March 31st, 2010
3:57 pm
Udder side, the RNC buffoons were playing with money freely donated (as opposed to tax dollars, which are confiscated) and the money would only have otherwise been spent to advance Repoublican politicians, as opposed to going to the hungry, the poor, the elderly, our troops, etc. So try and get a grip, OK? As scandals go, it’s not even CLOSE to being on the same level as Obama’s cabinet members who don’t pay their taxes, speaker Pelosi’s hundred-thousand-dollar flights on military aircraft, etc, etc.
I Report/You Decide
March 31st, 2010
4:00 pm
Udder side…Olberman? Behar? Geithner? Rahm Emanuel? Need more?
Peter
March 31st, 2010
4:01 pm
Hey No More Progressives! ….
No one believes in the Republican party, especially after Bush was named the WORST Fiscal President EVER ! And to top that off…… the Republican’s had the worst two candidates that ran ever in the last election.
You believe what ever you believe…… American’s don’t believe a word of Republican Mantra after Bush and Cheney.
I guess you can sort it out at the Republican Strip Club Convention !
The Udder side!!!
March 31st, 2010
4:15 pm
I Report/You Decide
March 31st, 2010
3:57 pm
My point was not a question of where the money came from, I don’t care!!! But If you are going to beat the American people over the head with your claims of moral postion, they should actually live by the words they speak instead of just passing judgement on everyone else. I don’t defend the nitwits on the left either, but at least they are not claiming the moral Highground while their leaders are walllowing in the muck also knowns as a Lesbian Dominatrix club. The right needs to get off of the high horse and stop lying to the people….
David S
March 31st, 2010
4:16 pm
Ron Paul 2012. He’s been right on everything for 30 years in congress. He’s the only one who respects the constition, a responsible foreign policy, and freedom. He’s also the only one willing to acknowledge the root cause of all of our economic crises – the Federal Reserve – and to call for the abolition of this horrible beast.
Without sound money and sound principles, any other republican hack will just make this country worse off.
Ward
March 31st, 2010
4:34 pm
‘Hope’ is a drunk lining up to buy another lottery ticket… and there are lots more drunks these days than sober realists. Good luck MItt, you’re going to need it.
No More Progressives!
March 31st, 2010
6:50 pm
Peter
March 31st, 2010
4:01 pm
No one believes in the Republican party, especially after Bush was named the WORST Fiscal President EVER ! And to top that off…… the Republican’s had the worst two candidates that ran ever in the last election.
Apperantly you are not old enough to remember 17% interest rates, the misery index, or how Jimmy Cahtah humiliated the nation with his “management style,” botched the Iranian hostage issue, all in the name of “Human Rights?” Not to mention the Church hearings, the Community Reinvestment Act, et al.
No More Progressives!
March 31st, 2010
6:53 pm
The Udder side!!!
March 31st, 2010
3:54 pm
No More Progressives!
March 31st, 2010
3:47 pm
Schultz and Grayson don’t even movce the anger meter when compared to Hannity, or Beck or Rush the Junkie, or Bohner, of Cantor, or Steele or Sara the Stupid, or Lizard Cheney ( I could do this all day!!!)
The Looney Lefties will always tip their hand & tell you who terrifies them. You guys are world class when it comes to character assassination.
GA stuck in MA
April 1st, 2010
8:06 am
As a Georgian stuck in MA, I can tell you that Romney is a fraud. He left MA in lousy shape after his term. Look at the floods now washing out the antiquated infrastructure, the lousy job creation record, the levy of taxes on small businesses.
Romney is a classic case of a guy born on 3rd base who thinks he hit a triple(Son of American Motors Chairman and Michigan Gov).
Oh, and his job creation record? Pretty dubious, given his credentials at Bain Private equity loading up his portfolio companies with debt, slashing payrolls,and selling them off.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/as_bain_slashed_jobs_romney_stayed_to_side/?page=3
He also left behind tax policy in MA that requires startup companies to pay for retraining of laid off workers in dead industries. Brilliant, just brilliant economic policy.
During his term, he presided over the biggest loss of jobs ever in the technology sector in MA, from which the state has never recovered. In the interim, CA has lapped MA in its core competency areas, and key health care industries are hedging their bets by moving south.
Sorry, as one who has inherited this guy’s mistakes, I say this guy is all hat, no cattle…
No More Progressives!
April 1st, 2010
9:00 am
GA stuck in MA
April 1st, 2010
8:06 am
Your post begs an obvious question, Stuck in MA. Why does the Lame Stream Media tout the RomneyCare program in MA? Becuase they’re in the tank for Obama all the way.
“During his term, he presided over the biggest loss of jobs ever in the technology sector in MA, from which the state has never recovered. In the interim, CA has lapped MA in its core competency areas, and key health care industries are hedging their bets by moving south.”
I thought the migration out of MA has been going on for 25 years?
GA stuck in MA
April 1st, 2010
9:20 am
No More Progressives:
Health Care is a separate issue; suffice to say as a MA employer at a certain company size I am required to provide some health care subsidy of employees. In high tech it doesn’t matter, since you either provide health care or lose competitiveness. So, health care for me as an employer is just a cost of doing business, wherever I’m located.
As per the out-migration from MA, yes, in population terms MA has been losing population for a while. However, the massive job loss under Romney is a different thing, since jobs in my sector (technology) increased before Romney, then dramatically dropped during his term. He had a huge opportunity to provide leadership and stewardship, but just took a pass. Similar to what he did as a PE guy; no one can really point to any net job creation in all his years of dealmaking.
Yes, the tech sector went through a massive bubble, but other geographic areas have actually recovered far better than MA. MA used to be neck and neck with CA in this sector; now it’s a very distant 2nd and I wouldn’t be surprised to see another geo take the #2 spot. The largest downward shift in competitive position occurred on Romney’s watch. Drive west of Boston to Rte. 128 and it’s a series of technology ghost towns. Sorry, but America has enough of those already; I shudder at the thought of Gov. Romney’s “Vision” being applied to the larger country. Just my experience and $.02
No More Progressives!
April 1st, 2010
11:28 am
Well, Stuck in MA, you’ve shed some me light on an issue I wasn’t sure about. Perhaps Mit should stick to the private sector and runhis business. The fact that you’re stuck up there, and everbody that left MA is living here (central GA) is just unacceptable!!
Competent Conservative
April 1st, 2010
12:09 pm
The MA health care plan is NOT a disaster as so many in the media have falsely reported on it. Here are the true details: http://thecompetentconservative.com/health-law-costs-are-not-the-problem-in-ma/
The MA mandate: http://thecompetentconservative.com/nationa-review-mitt%E2%80%99s-massachusetts-mandate/
More: http://thecompetentconservative.com/mitt-romneys-massachusetts-health-model-not-obamas-pleases-voters/
Competent Conservative
April 1st, 2010
12:15 pm
GA stuck in MA ,
You said: “no one can really point to any net job creation in all his years of dealmaking.” This is pure dishonestly for you to make this statement. I lived in Crescent City CA for 3 months and met a man from MA who said Romney totally turned the state around. During Mitt’s Governorship MA went from a huge deficit to a surplus.
I have also spoken to many MA residence who talk about how well Romney did, and some of these were Democrats! Also, Mitt saved Dominos Pizza, help start Staples and other businesses and you cannot come up with any job creation on Romney’s part???
STOP TRYING TO DECEIVE PEOPLE on the merits of this good man! If ANYONE can get the job done it is Mitt Romney.
Liz
April 1st, 2010
12:19 pm
I just finished Romney’s latest book. This is the right guy, with the right skill set, with the right values. Truth trumping hope is fine, because honestly, you can’t have hope if it’s not based in truth. The cra* we’re getting now is completely predicated on lies.
No candidate comes close to Romney’s discipline, values, and skill-set.
GA stuck in MA
April 1st, 2010
2:24 pm
Competent Conservative:
I’m not trying to argue with you or deceive people, just giving my opinion and experience as someone actually running a business in MA, actually paying business taxes here now, deeply connected to the VC and PE community, and actually knowing some of the people who really started Staples(btw, it was Bessemer that put the first money in, and not Bain, but no biggee). There IS an ongoing discussion in MA about Romney’s legacy and what the net effect was, not just of his PE days but his time as Gov.
BTW, Newsflash: PE firms don’t create companies; they back the entrepreneurs after they have already proven the business model, are running a profitable venture, and have minimal downside risk. So saying Romney and Bain Capital created Staples is a stretch.
I think I might have a bit more exposure than some random dude you ran into in Crescent City(?) CA who knows a dude who knows a dude…But no matter. Good luck with that.
Randy in Ohio and Waiting for 2012
April 1st, 2010
4:09 pm
Just finished “No Apology” as well. Mitt is without a doubt the leader in the wings most ready to be the next president. He is clearly intelligent, competent, and a truly decent and honest man. America needs an inspiring vision for the future. I have read all the above drivel (incorrect portrayal of MassCare, pathetic class envy, branding an entire state based on Kennedy’s residing there, etc) and name-calling (”fraud,” “liar,” flip-flopper” etc). It doesn’t change my mind or reveal anything new about Romney. It does however reveal the nature and character of the opposition.
Michael, Ph.D.
April 1st, 2010
4:24 pm
Romney is a very reasonable, gifted man. The real deal, sound on all of the issues, and probably one of the most qualified people to step up for public service in many years, maybe even a lifetime. Everyone in both parties recognize this. In the Republican Primaries he was the target from day one and it took a tagteam to take him out by trying to brand him as somebody who changes his position. He changed one time on one issue, the least policy changes of anybody in the whole campaign. And Huckabee and McCain and everybody else, that’s the only thing they had on him and they new. McCain and Huckabee (The American Mullah, disqualified for public service for using religion explicitly to promote his political campaign which is priestcraft)were changing their positions by the week all the while claiming changes in Romney.
Bottom line, Romney is the big dog and everybody knows it. He is a man with a plan. I don’t fault him for taking a historically Republican idea (get all people into the health insurance coverage) and do it without raising entitlements or taxes. In fact, he should be commended for the method in which he governed and the bi-partisan outcome which was innovative and principled. Nor can he be faulted for the entir health system the impacts the original plan. The only other potential Republican candidates out there either did nothing…(Sorry, Sarah Palin wasn’t in office long enough to do anything_) or showed a lacking on some level (Mike Huckabee paroled every prisoner who mentioned the name “Jesus”, Newt Gingrich ran the House like a Contract with the Devil, etc.)
I want a centrist, somewhat Independent, Republican who is right on all the contentious social issues but who can govern a country with diverse people and ideologies, and knows a thing or two about the economy, jobs, and building a country that will survive. Romney stands alone there.
Kay
April 1st, 2010
9:17 pm
You like Romney or you don’t. I have followed him for 3 years now. I like him. I do appreciate the constructive talk that gives us food for thought. Thanks to those who have composure and concrete material.
gene
April 12th, 2010
9:32 pm
GA of Mass. you are such an “blank”or “blank”or maybe both! Mass. was in deep debt when Mitt came on board and that is fact or were you too busy struggling to trim your in- grown toe nails to know that?! And it was out of debt when he left…duh on your part!!! But along came another OBAMA behind him..and ooops look at where you are! Fees are better than
general taxes or you think it is better to tax you if I want a plumbers license! Duh!
I too know people in Mass. and they say all the BS about the HEALTH matter is hyped up they are happy with it! Plus if you don’t like something in your state you can move but try to move from the Federal program…yeah,sure! Also I remember Mitt saying way back it is best
for each state to work out their own program. Do any of these critics stop and think or just shoot their mouth off? For example- the state is about 75% liberal and can over ride a Gov.
that is conservative and they did(Romney) many times!
Romney didn’t start Staples but it was struggling when he came on board.He went to the employees and asked their ideas and applied some…. seems like he is humble to ask the
REGULAR JOES and not be afraid to use their ideas! Plus his own ideas and you folks do know of staples ,right?1