Tuesday, April 3, 2012
9:03 PM
Romney accuses Obama of trying to create a government-centric society
MILWAUKEE -- Mitt Romney Tuesday accused Barack Obama of trying to create a government-centric society in which the government has to do more because the economy does less and tax increases are not just a necessity, but a desired tool for social justice.
Fresh off projections that he would win the Wisconsin primary, Romney lit into Obama for overseeing more job losses than any president since the Great Depression. He also accused him of making mistakes that have made the nation’s economy worse.
“I don’t want to transform America,” Romney said. “I want to restore to America the economic values of freedom and opportunity and limited government that made us the powerhouse of the world.”
Romney, often accused by his critics of being out of touch, lobbed the same charge at Obama, saying the president thinks he’s doing a great job. Actually, Romney went on, Obama thinks he’s doing a historic job, “And, no, he didn’t say that on 'Saturday night Live.'”
“It's enough to make you think that years of flying around on Air Force One, surrounded by an adoring staff of true believers telling you that you're great and you're doing a great job, it’s enough to make you think you might be a little out of touch after that,” Romney said.
Romney did not mention by name former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, his chief rival for the GOP nomination. But he issued a call to the “good people of Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island to join me” in the journey to Nov. 6, the day of the November election, when “we can give a sigh of relief and know that the promise of America has been kept.”
“The dreamers can dream a little bigger, the help wanted signs can be dusted off and put in the front yard, and we can start again, and this time we’re going to get it right,” Romney said.
U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, introduced Romney, telling the crowd "Obama can't run on his record" and would use distraction to divide voters.
"We don't need a campaigner-in-chief," Ryan said. "We need a commander-in-chief."
Ryan thanked Wisconsin GOP politicians who were present, including U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, state Sen. Alberta Darling and former state Sen. Ted Kanavas.
"Tonight, Wisconsinites have spoken," Ryan said. "It's not late to get our country back on a path of prosperity. Guess what? We have a leader who can do that."
-- By Kay Nolan
Labels: 2012 presidential primary
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