Posted on 07/11/2012 2:02:47 PM PDT by Kaslin
GOP Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney just wrapped up his speech to the NAACP convention in Houston, focusing mostly on the economy and education reform. Right out of the gate, Romney received laughs from the crowd after cracking a joke about President Obama.
“I appreciate the chance to speak first – even before Vice President Biden gets his turn tomorrow. I just hope the Obama campaign won’t think you’re playing favorites."
Romney framed his speech in general economic terms and tailored parts of it specifically to the African-American community. He focused on the family and defended traditional marriage, which received applause. President Obama supports same-sex marriage.
“If equal opportunity in America were an accomplished fact, black families could send their sons and daughters to public schools that truly offer the hope of a better life. Instead, for generations, the African-American community has been waiting and waiting for that promise to be kept. Today, black children are 17 percent of students nationwide – but they are 42 percent of the students in our worst-performing schools. Our society sends them into mediocre schools and expects them to perform with excellence, and that is not fair. Frederick Douglass observed that, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Yet, instead of preparing these children for life, too many schools set them up for failure. Everyone in this room knows that we owe them better than that.“I’m hopeful that together we can set a new direction in federal policy, starting where many of our problems do – with the family. A study from the Brookings Institution has shown that for those who graduate from high school, get a full-time job, and wait until 21 before they marry and then have their first child, the probability of being poor is two percent. And if those factors are absent, the probability of being poor is 76 percent.
"Here at the NAACP, you understand the deep and lasting difference the family makes. Your former executive director, Dr. Benjamin Hooks, had it exactly right. The family, he said, “remains the bulwark and the mainstay of the black community. That great truth must not be overlooked.”
"Any policy that lifts up and honors the family is going to be good for the country, and that must be our goal. As President, I will promote strong families – and I will defend traditional marriage."
"As you may have heard from my opponent, I am also a believer in the free-enterprise system. I believe it can bring change where so many well-meaning government programs have failed. I’ve never heard anyone look around an impoverished neighborhood and say, “You know, there’s too much free enterprise around here. Too many shops, too many jobs, too many people putting money in the bank.”
What you hear, of course, is how do we bring in jobs? How do we make good, honest employers want to move in and stay? And with the shape this economy is in, we’re asking that more than ever.
Free enterprise is still the greatest force for upward mobility, economic security, and the expansion of the middle class. We have seen in recent years what it’s like to have less free enterprise. As President, I will show the good things that can happen when we have more – more business activity, more jobs, more opportunity, more paychecks, more savings accounts.
Romney also addressed the importance of being at the NAACP convention, despite 95 percent of blacks voting for Obama in 2008.
“With 90 percent of African-Americans voting for Democrats, some of you may wonder why a Republican would bother to campaign in the African American community, and to address the NAACP. Of course, one reason is that I hope to represent all Americans, of every race, creed or sexual orientation, from the poorest to the richest and everyone in between.But there is another reason: I believe that if you understood who I truly am in my heart, and if it were possible to fully communicate what I believe is in the real, enduring best interest of African American families, you would vote for me for president. I want you to know that if I did not believe that my policies and my leadership would help families of color -- and families of any color -- more than the policies and leadership of President Obama, I would not be running for president,” Romney said. “I am running for president because I know that my policies and vision will help hundreds of millions of middle class Americans of all races, will lift people from poverty, and will help prevent people from becoming poor. My campaign is about helping the people who need help. The course the President has set has not done that – and will not do that. My course will.”
Romney also offered the audience new information he hasn’t publicly touted, his father George Romney, was a strong supporter of the Civil Rights movement.
Yet always, in both parties, there have been men and women of integrity, decency, and humility who called injustice by its name. For every one of us a particular person comes to mind, someone who set a standard of conduct and made us better by their example. For me, that man is my father, George Romney.It wasn’t just that my Dad helped write the civil rights provision for the Michigan Constitution, though he did. It wasn’t just that he helped create Michigan’s first civil rights commission, or that as governor he marched for civil rights in Detroit – though he did those things, too.
More than these public acts, it was the kind of man he was, and the way he dealt with every person, black or white. He was a man of the fairest instincts, and a man of faith who knew that every person was a child of God.
Romney’s speech made it clear he wasn't at the NAACP convention to pander or preach at the audience. He simply presented a slew of facts and straight talk. Some topics he touched on, like repealing ObamaCare, received boos, but overall Romney received applause throughout his speech and it was reported by NBC that many in the audience gave Romney standing applause at the end of his remarks. It was clear he had a positive impact although the media will choose to focus only on the opposition to his remarks.
Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Cleaver said Romney should not have criticized President Obama in front of a black audience but dispproved of audience booing.
You can watch the entire speech here.
“...Can only imagine the crap McCain would have pulled too...”
That being said, I don’t think McCain would have passed McCainCare... Nor do I think he would he have ended DADT and let the deviants openly flaunt it in the military...
He would have been lousy - but I don’t think he’d have been as subversive an asswipe as we currently have.
I could be wrong, though... kinda moot point now.
There was no such thing as a charter school where and when I went to school. We had 40 kids to a classroom and buildings from the 30s built by the WPA and falling apart.
I think they have charter schools in every district and they have waiting lists because there are enough who do want an education that can’t get it with the thugs.
I don’t feel sorry for the kid who won’t / can’t learn. I feel sorry for the kid who is trying to learn and is neglected because of time wasted on kids that are wasted.
Again, nothing will change until there are serious consequences for failure. The pseudo poverty we have now isn’t serious enough. It just creates more dependents.
In the 30’s kids saw other kids go hungry and turn into sticks and get sick and die. The survivors swore they would not let that happen to them or their own. It just scared the hell out of them.
LOL. so again, nothing at all on the speech and just more mitt hatred, with a dose of tattle tale like behavior to boot. nice.
Question, is there anything at all that could sway you?
Do you really believe (as opposed to think) that any topic that involves the activities of Romney is now a forbidden topic?
Seriously?
ROTFLMAO!
“Question, is there anything at all that could sway you?”
Nothing! Romney is forever unacceptable as in Obama.
“o you really believe (as opposed to think) that any topic that involves the activities of Romney is now a forbidden topic? Seriously?”
What I “think” is that Jim Robinson called a “truce” for persons to express an ABO position....Persons that normally would oppose Romney and ONLY support him because of fear of more years of an Obama administration.
However, I have been following his posts. As I understand him, of course I could be wrong, when someone goes beyond merely being ABO to “campaigning” for Romney...that violates Jim Robinson’s declared “truce.”
Many on this thread are spreading “pro-Romney” material, NOT the ABO material Jim Robinson called a “truce” over. I don’t his intentions are to allow “pro-Romney” posts, only Romney is bad, but better than Obama - a true ABO position.
That is what I “think.”
“LOL. so again, nothing at all on the speech and just more mitt hatred, with a dose of tattle tale like behavior to boot. nice.”
What the abortionist, homosexualist, statist Romney has to say is irrelevant. His record pretty clear, and he is a known serial liar. Just like Obama, when he is talking, there is a 99.99% chance he is lying or misrepresenting the truth.
BTW - What is wrong with Mitt hatred? Seems perfectly the conservative/right way to be.
you are a coward and an infant with running to JR. I asked you for a refutation of the speech on the merits, not a tired worn out diatribe like all of is have heard thousands of times.
I have one goal , oust Obama from office, what is yours?
when mittens acts like a RINO it’s perfectly fair to attack him. today was not one of those days.
Do you know if they ever replaced the ‘Plains’ in the White Plains High School margee that were broken in the race riots?
“you are a coward and an infant with running to JR. I asked you for a refutation of the speech on the merits, not a tired worn out diatribe like all of is have heard thousands of times.....I have one goal , oust Obama from office, what is yours?”
I do not think you are being truthful. You are FOR Romney being in office, NOT just againt Obama being reelected. Also, how is it “cowardly” to let the site owner know that potentially Pro-Romney material is being posted? IF that is NOT the case....why should it even remotely concern you? Sounds to me like someone that knows they have been busted?
My “goal” is to make sure that the RNC gets a VERY CLEAR message that Romney (or future Romney’s) are NO LONGER acceptable candidates for the GOP nomination. IF they want to get my vote for a presidential candidate, they MUST move to the right and put up a “Not Welcome” sign to Romney types. My “goal” is to get a conservative POTUS in 2014. My goal is to get a very conservative Congress in 2012 & 2014. IMO, getting a super majority of conservatives in the House and Senate is MORE important than the POTUS election of 2012.
I also desperately want Obama to be ousted. But, I WILL NOT do so by selling out core values. Romney is NO BETTER THAN OBAMA. The “tired old arguements” about Romney being a liar and swindler ARE TRUE. It doesn’t matter SQUAT what he may say at a particular event...his long term behavior is that of a liar. So, posting material about a particular speech...and praising it, is going beyond a mere ABO position. A true ABO position is about how bad Obama is, NOT about how good Romney is.
When you come up with a credible plan that can get Obama ousted from office I will listen.
Right now there is only one way to do that.
I did not vote for Romney in the primary, he was my last choice. But for now - it is what it is.
So tell me your plan to oust obama?
And grow up BTW. How old are you running to the mods w every post? You think JR has nothing better to do than to monitor your posts?
I don't believe this. I just about can't stand Romney but he grew on me a little bit yesterday. As for blacks, they're not all crazy. There's a small but significant subset of them who heard Romney yesterday and were moved. On some level they knew his ideas made sense and appreciated that he got up there and made his case sincerely but without pandering. I'm not saying they're going to go out and vote for him but they won't feel as dire a need to vote for Obama.
“So tell me your plan to oust obama?”
The same as Jim Robinson. Congress, congress, & congress. Control the House and Senate, and we can oust Obama without having to vote for Romney.
Romney just isn’t a solution, he is part of the GOPe problem.
And if people like yourself depress enough gop voters to stay home guess what happens?
You think there is enough depressed gop voters to make that distinction at that point?
By helping obama get a second term, which you want, it wont matter if we have more seats in the congress
I ask me the plan to oust Obama. Here is what Jim Robinson wrote in a post on another topic that is germane. I’m tired of dealing with sell out sophistry like you keep peddling about Romney. Eveything that follows (unedited) was written by JR:
You either defend life and liberty or you don’t.
I’m sworn to defend it from all enemies foreign and domestic and an oath is forever.
Obama believes in the power of the state. Romney believes in the power of the state. Both have records of abortionism, homosexualism, progressivism, statism. Neither defends the constitution or life and liberty.
Those who line up with either are lining up to give unlimited powers to the state and place severe limitations on liberty and individual freedom.
I’m very sorry to have to report to you, my dear friends, that barring a miracle we pro-life and liberty conservatives have already lost the battle for the presidency. With either one of these two statists in power and with the current frame of mind of the SCOTUS, we have witnessed the end of constitutional government in America.
Our only prayer will be that we elect a majority of constitutionally minded conservatives into a majority of the legislative bodies all across this great land so that we the people can we re-assert our sovereign powers and impeach/recall/expel/fire and otherwise remove, rescind, overturn, repeal, abolish, close down and shutter all the corrupt usurping executives, legislators, judges and their corrupt usurping decrees, acts, amendments, treaties, decisions, departments, agencies, commissions, regulations, etc, and fully restore the constitution, restore the limits on government power and restore our God-given Liberty!!
Short of civil war, that’s how you mend it.
You just can’t help yourself can you?
Don’t you think JR has better things to do than to get in the middle of every discussion you are involved in?
I have a five-year-old, who when in her bratty mood, desperately appeals to grown-ups less often than that.
Stop posting Pro-Romney nonsense. You asked for a “plan” and I provided it - quoting the forum owner. Read what JR says again. Stop using FR as a means to facilitate the destruction of the country and conservatism by promoting Romney. Eveything that follows (unedited) was written by JR:
You either defend life and liberty or you don’t.
I’m sworn to defend it from all enemies foreign and domestic and an oath is forever.
Obama believes in the power of the state. Romney believes in the power of the state. Both have records of abortionism, homosexualism, progressivism, statism. Neither defends the constitution or life and liberty.
Those who line up with either are lining up to give unlimited powers to the state and place severe limitations on liberty and individual freedom.
I’m very sorry to have to report to you, my dear friends, that barring a miracle we pro-life and liberty conservatives have already lost the battle for the presidency. With either one of these two statists in power and with the current frame of mind of the SCOTUS, we have witnessed the end of constitutional government in America.
Our only prayer will be that we elect a majority of constitutionally minded conservatives into a majority of the legislative bodies all across this great land so that we the people can we re-assert our sovereign powers and impeach/recall/expel/fire and otherwise remove, rescind, overturn, repeal, abolish, close down and shutter all the corrupt usurping executives, legislators, judges and their corrupt usurping decrees, acts, amendments, treaties, decisions, departments, agencies, commissions, regulations, etc, and fully restore the constitution, restore the limits on government power and restore our God-given Liberty!!
Short of civil war, that’s how you mend it.
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