comMITTed to Romney!

Chapman University: Ask Mitt Anything

Today I attended an “Ask Mitt Anything” townhall meeting at Chapman University in Orange, CA (where Hugh Hewitt teaches law) with my daughter Bree and friends Paul & Teena Lindorf. The venue was the beautiful Marion Knott Studios, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts building. Our guesstimate was there were 500+ in attendance. Governor Romney was introduced by university president, James Doti to a standing ovation. President Doti told the audience that this was to be the first of a series of townhall meetings to meet the presidential candidates.

[see Orange County Register article and Los Angeles Times article]

The previous events I had attended had all been private fund raisers, closed to the press. At this event were several news organizations; I counted about 11 different news crews covering. There were many dignitaries (no doubt local politicians), but those I recognized from the national campaign included Matt Romney and David Parker, Chairman of the National Outreach Program. David told me there were two more events this day following this one.

Location: Dodge College of Film & Media Arts (Chapman U.)
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It seemed that about half the audience were university students based on the applause President Doti received upon entering the building.

Before turning to questions, Governor Romney gave about a 15-minute speech covering his familiar messages: We are at an ‘inflection’ point in America’s history, Republicans are to blame too and we must cut spending and lower taxes (and “I will do both”), “If I am President, there will be war on the terrorists…”, and he ended by stressing again his intent to strengthen the economy by cutting taxes and spending.

Mrs. Romney & the Governor in townhall forum
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When President Doti invited questioners, about 30 people lined up to the two microphones at the bottom of the aisle stairs. Governor Romney fielded 11 questions in total. A couple were softball questions and one person prefaced his question by addressing Governor Romney, saying, “President Elect Romney, ….”, to which Governor Romney replied, “I like your optimism!”

(AP photograph via The Los Angeles Times)
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Some questions were intended to challenge Gov. Romney, but all who posed questions were most respectful of him and the nature of the event. At the end of the Q/A session, a protester began yelling about four times, “Mr. Romney, a question from the veterans!” Gov. Romney and those with him ignored the shouting. The man was calmly escorted outside where he joined other protesters demanding Gov. Romney bring the troops home.

Leaving the building
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Questions involved how/when to use force against a recalcitrant Iran, whether to abolish Dept. of Education (no), contrast GMR’s health plan to Clinton’s, dealing with North Korea & Iran, gangs and crime, raising the dollar back above the Euro and other currencies, GMR’s reputation for honesty, ethics, etc. (same as Bush) and whether politics will also change GMR in the process. Three questions and answers in particular stood out for their emotion and uniqueness:

1) A woman introduced herself by stating her son just returned from his second tour of Iraq (huge applause). She became emotional saying that our soldiers want to come home, they are tired, etc. and asked GMR how he could request another 100,000 more troops be added. GMR asked her a couple of questions to know more about her son and then answered the question sensitively, but with confidence. He talked about the mistakes that were made and that if we leave precipitously now, we will create safe-havens for the terrorists which will embolden them to continue on the offensive. He said that by bringing the troop levels up worldwide, it would allow more balanced rotation into the field. There was much to his answer that space does not allow here.

2) A man asked if GMR were elected President, how would he ensure his actions would be constitutional. He answered with the obvious by saying he would be sure to have good attorneys and that as an attorney himself, he would sense when something wasn’t right. I think he made big points when he stressed that he has to hear opposing viewpoints around him before making big decisions. He gave examples from his governorship and stressed that by seeking strong opposing viewpoints he has always been well served in decision-making. In front of me were students from the university who were rather sedate until that answer and they looked at one another in obvious approval.

3) A question was asked that went something like, “If you were elected President, tell us what your religion is all about?” (this is an evangelical Christian school). GMR received the strongest applause of the day when he replied that he was not going to distance himself from his faith. He went on to say that his faith promotes the most important values of “humankind.” Those include that human life is sacred, that we all have the same Creator, the sanctity of life is most important, and that all human beings have the God given rights to liberty and freedom.

Matt Romney atop planter seating to capture his father exiting
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Governor Romney took about 20 minutes to leave the building as he slowly exited through the roped off pathway created for that purpose. He took time to sign books and to take photographs.

Romney’s last greeting with friend Teena Lindorf before entering car (photo by Paul Lindorf)
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There was quite a bit more security than I had seen at previous events. It is probably because this was an open event that any person off the street could attend. All the security was from the City of Orange PD combined with uniformed university security.

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My favorite quote from the event was at the end when Gov. Romney quoted a friend who said that “Politics is more of a profession than a duty.” Gov. Romney then stated, “Politics for me is a duty; an opportunity to serve.” (not an exact quote)

~ Vic

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