Romney on the offensive for Michigan Republicans at Mackinac Republican Gathering
http://www.freep.com/news…20_20050924.htm
[Commentary]
If Mr. Romney can get a Republican in the Governors office in 2006 with his influence, then I see no reason why he can’t put Michigan in the red column come 2008. He’s a strong candidate, and the more people see him and his credentials he’s definitely going to be THE nominee in 2008. He’ll then easily win the General Election and be sworn in as our next President of the United States on January 20, 2009.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
BY CHRIS CHRISTOFF
FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU CHIEFMACKINAC ISLAND - Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leveled sharp criticism at Gov. Jennifer Granholm today, saying she’s done little to shore up Michigan’s economy and is beholden to teachers unions at the expense of children.
Romney, a Republican who’s been touted as a possible presidential candidate, took surprisingly pointed jabs at a fellow governor in remarks designed to rev up the Michigan Republican Leadership Conference. The weekend event is viewed as the party’s official kickoff of the 2006 election campaign, particularly the campaign of uncontested gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos.
Romney compared Granholm to a baseball batter who strikes out without swinging the bat.
“You’ve had opportunity after opportunity,” he said, referring to Granholm. “Don’t just form task forces, do something.”
Romney, son of former Michigan Gov. George Romney, said that while he has led his politically liberal state out of recession and into surplus budgets with help from a Democratic Legislature, Granholm and Michigan are still struggling with deficits and the nation’s highest unemployment rate and higher taxes.
He was especially critical of Granholm for not supporting philanthropist Bob Thompson’s $200-million offer to Detroit to build new charter high schools with guaranteed graduation rates for students. Romney suggested that teachers unions squelched the deal, although it was actually Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick who rejected Thompson’s offer.
“It’s time you had a governor who puts kids first and unions last,” Romney said.
Afterward, Romney tempered his remarks to reporters, saying he had no personal animosity toward Granholm, but that the Michigan gubernatorial race is a high priority for Republicans nationwide.
A key component of Granholm’s economic plan is $2 billion for the state to invest in high-tech entrepreneurs, largely in the automotive and health care research fields. About $1 billion of that money would come from the sale of bonds.
That also was criticized by Romney, who said large-scale bond issues defer costs to future taxpayers.
Copyright © 2005 Detroit Free Press Inc. All rights reserved.
