|
Governor Mitt
Romney's
Presidential
Announcement
Tuesday, Feb
13, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Dearborn, MI -
In his
announcement,
Governor Mitt
Romney made the
case that he has
the experience
and the ability
to transform the
U.S. Government
so that it is
innovative and
effective.
Governor Romney
addressed the
need to build a
New American
Dream by calling
on the strength
of a free
American people.
Below Are
Governor
Romney's Remarks
As Prepared For
Delivery:
"I am happy to
be in Michigan
this morning.
I'm happy to
have my brother
Scott and Sister
Lynn here. And
I'm proud to
have all my
children and
grandchildren
here too.
"Michigan is
where Ann and I
were born. It is
where we met and
fell in love. I
still love Ann.
And I still love
Michigan!
"During my
parents'
campaigns, I
visited all 83
Michigan
counties, doing
my best to
convince
Michiganders
that Romneys and
Republicans
could lead the
state back to
prosperity.
"You know my
father as a
business leader,
a governor, and
as an advocate
of volunteerism.
But he came from
humble roots. He
labored with
lath and
plaster. He
never graduated
from college.
But like many
other Americans,
he made his
dreams come
true.
"And he made a
difference. My
father worked
here to improve
Detroit Schools.
He worked to
write a new
state
constitution.
And he worked as
your governor
for six years to
get Michigan on
the move. His
character and
integrity left
an impression
that has lasted
through the
decades.
"It was Mom who
did the lion's
share of raising
Lynn, Jane,
Scott and me.
Dad said, that
as a successful
Mom, she had
accomplished
more than he.
Later she worked
in charities, in
foster care, in
music and the
arts, and in
volunteerism.
She even ran for
U.S. Senate.
"I always
imagined that I
would come back
to Michigan
someday. That's
why I took the
bar exam here. I
hadn't imagined
it would happen
this way, but I
sure have come
back to Michigan
today.
"I chose this
site for a
number of
reasons. It's
filled with cars
and memories.
Dad and I loved
cars. Most kids
read the sports
box scores. Dad
and I read
Automotive News.
We came here
together, him
teaching me
about cars that
were built
before my time.
"The Rambler
automobile he
championed was
the first
American car
designed and
marketed for
economy and
mileage. He
dubbed it a
compact car, a
car that would
slay the
gas-guzzling
dinosaurs. It
transformed the
industry.
"This place is
not just about
automobiles; it
is about
innovation,
innovation that
transformed an
industry, and in
doing so, gave
Americans a way
of life our
grandparents
could never have
imagined.
"The DC 3 above
us was the first
true commercial
airliner. It
transformed
aviation from a
luxury to a
standard mode of
transportation.
"Next to us is a
Ford hybrid. It
is the first
giant step away
from our
reliance on the
gasoline engine.
It is already
changing the
world of
transportation.
"Just outside is
Thomas Edison's
laboratory.
There,
electricity that
Benjamin
Franklin
discovered was
transformed from
a novelty into a
necessity.
"Innovation and
transformation
have been at the
heart of
America's
success. If
there ever was a
time when
innovation and
transformation
were needed in
government, it
is now.
"We have lost
faith in
government, not
in just one
party, not in
just one house,
but in
government.
"We are weary of
the bickering
and bombast,
fatigued by the
posturing and
self-promotion.
For even as
America faces a
new generation
of challenges,
the halls of
government are
clogged with
petty politics
and stuffed with
peddlers of
influence.
"It is time for
innovation and
transformation
in Washington.
It is what our
country needs.
It is what our
people deserve.
"I do not
believe
Washington can
be transformed
from within by a
lifelong
politician.
There have been
too many deals,
too many favors,
too many
entanglements
... and too
little real
world experience
managing,
guiding,
leading.
"I do not
believe
Washington can
be transformed
by someone who
has never tried
doing such a
thing before, in
any setting, by
someone who has
never even
managed a corner
store, let alone
the largest
enterprise in
the world.
"Throughout my
life, I have
pursued
innovation and
transformation.
It has taught me
the vital
lessons that
come only from
experience, from
failures and
successes, from
the private,
public and
voluntary
sectors, from
small and large
enterprise, from
leading a state,
from being in
the arena, not
just talking
about it. Talk
is easy, talk is
cheap. It is
doing that is
hard. And it is
only in doing
that hope and
dreams come to
life.
"This Christmas,
Ann and I
gathered my five
sons and five
daughters-in-law
to ask them
whether I should
run for
President.
"We talked about
the special time
this is in the
history of
America - the
challenges and
the
opportunities.
We talked about
the qualities
that are needed
in our leaders.
They were
unanimous. They
know our hearts.
They know our
values. They
know my
experience
innovating and
transforming, in
business, in the
Olympics, and in
Massachusetts.
And they know we
love this
country.
"And so, with
them behind us,
with the fine
people of
Michigan before
us, and with my
sweetheart
beside me, I
declare my
intention to run
for President of
the United
States.
"It has been
said that a
person is
defined by what
he loves and by
what he believes
and by what he
dreams.
"I love America
and I believe in
the people of
America.
"I believe in
God and I
believe that
every person in
this great
country, and
every person on
this grand
planet, is a
child of God. We
are all sisters
and brothers.
"I believe the
family is the
foundation of
America – and
that we must
fight to protect
and strengthen
it.
"I believe in
the sanctity of
human life.
"I believe that
people and their
elected
representatives
should make our
laws, not
unelected
judges.
"I believe we
are overtaxed
and government
is overfed.
Washington is
spending too
much money.
"I believe that
homeland
security begins
with securing
our borders.
"I believe the
best days of
this country are
ahead of us,
because ... "I
believe in
America!
"At this
critical time,
we must 1)
transform our
role in the
world, 2)
strengthen our
nation, and 3)
build a brighter
future for the
American family.
"Today, as we
stare at the
face of radical
violent Jihad
and at the
prospect of
nuclear
epidemic, our
military might
should not be
subject to the
whims of
ever-changing
political
agendas. The
best ally of
peace is a
strong America!
"Our role in the
world must be
defined not only
in terms of our
might, but also
by our
willingness to
lead, to serve,
and to share. We
must campaign
for freedom and
democracy in our
own hemisphere,
now threatened
by a second
aspiring
strongman. We
must extend our
hand to Africa's
poor and
diseased and
brutalized. We
must lead the
world's
civilized
nations in a
partnership that
will support
moderate Muslim
nations and
peoples, to help
them embrace
principles of
modernity and
defeat violent
Jihad. We must
link arms with
all responsible
nations to block
Iran from
realizing its
nuclear
ambition.
America must
never engage and
negotiate with
Jihadists who
want to destroy
us, destroy our
friends, and
destroy our way
of life!
"Across the
nation, there is
debate about our
future course in
Iraq. Our desire
to bring our
troops home,
safely and soon,
is met with our
recognition that
if Iraq descends
into all-out
civil war,
millions could
die; that Iraq's
Sunni region
could become a
base for Al
Qaeda; that its
Shia region
could be seized
by Iran; that
Kurd tension
could
destabilize
Turkey; and even
that the broader
Middle East
could be drawn
into conflict.
The possible
implications for
America and for
American
interests from
such
developments
could be
devastating. It
could mean a
future with far
more military
involvement and
far more loss of
American life.
For these
reasons, I
believe that so
long as there is
a reasonable
prospect of
success, our
wisest course is
to seek
stability in
Iraq, with
additional
troops
endeavoring to
secure the
civilian
population.
"And no matter
how Iraq is
resolved, we
must honor and
care for the
veterans who
risked their
lives, and for
the families
whose loved ones
made the
ultimate
sacrifice. Our
nation has a
sacred pact with
those who defend
freedom. It is a
pact we must
never break!
"America must
regain our
standing in the
world. Our
influence must
once again match
our generosity.
Over the entire
20th century, no
nation gave
more, shed more
precious lives,
and took less
for itself than
America. Our
sacrifice for
freedom and for
human dignity
continues
unabated. But
this is not the
way it is seen
by others.
America's
goodness and
leadership in
the world, must
be as bright and
bold as our
military might!
"America can
also overcome
our challenges
and seize our
abundant
opportunities
here at home,
but only if we
follow the right
course.
"There are some
who believe that
America's
strength comes
from government
- that
challenges call
for bigger
government, for
more regulation
of our lives and
livelihood, and
for more
protection and
isolation from
competition that
comes from open
markets.
"That is the
path that has
been taken by
much of Europe.
It is called the
welfare state.
It has led to
high
unemployment and
anemic job
growth. It is
not the path to
prosperity and
leadership.
"I believe the
American people
are the source
of our strength.
They always have
been. They
always will be.
The American
people: hard
working,
educated,
innovative,
ready to
sacrifice for
family and
country,
patriotic,
seeking
opportunity
above
dependence,
God-fearing,
free American
people. When we
need to call on
the strength of
America, we
should
strengthen the
American people,
not the American
government!
"We strengthen
the American
people by giving
them more
freedom, by
letting them
keep more of
what they earn,
by making sure
our schools are
providing the
skills our
children will
need for
tomorrow, and by
keeping America
at the leading
edge of
innovation and
technology.
"Our government
has become a
weight on the
American people,
sapping their
strength and
slowing their
climb. We must
transform our
government - to
become a
government that
is smaller and
less
bureaucratic,
one with fewer
regulations and
more freedom for
our people. The
innovation we
need today is to
make government
more responsive
to the needs of
everyday
American
citizens. It's
time to put
government in
its place, and
to put the
American people
first!
"At America's
core are
millions of
individual
families:
families of
children and
parents, aunts
and uncles and
cousins,
grandparents,
foster parents.
There is no work
more important
for our nation's
future than the
work done in the
home.
"But the work
done in the home
isn't getting
easier. Values
and morals that
have long shaped
the development
of our children
are under
constant attack.
In too many
cases, schools
are failing. For
some, healthcare
is inadequate.
Family expenses
and government
taxes take a
larger and
larger bite.
America cannot
continue to lead
the family of
nations if we
fail the
families at
home.
"How is the
American family
made stronger?
With marriage
before children.
With a mother
and a father in
the life of
every child.
With healthcare
that is
affordable and
portable. With
schools that
succeed. With
taxes that are
lower. And with
leaders who
strive to
demonstrate
enduring values
and morality.
"This was the
agenda I pursued
as Governor of
Massachusetts.
This is the
agenda I will
pursue if
elected
President.
"When I was a
boy, the
American dream
meant a house in
the suburbs. The
American dream
today must mean
more than a
house. The new
American dream
should include a
strong family,
enduring values,
excellence in
education,
dependable and
affordable
healthcare,
secure
employment and
secure
retirement, and
a safe and
prosperous
homeland. It's
time to build a
new American
dream for all of
America's
families.
"How will this
new American
dream be built?
Our hopes and
dreams will
inspire us, for
we are an
optimistic
people. But hope
alone is just
crossing
fingers, when
what we need is
industrious
hands. It is
time for hope
and action. It
is time to do,
as well as to
dream!
"As we look
around us in
this museum, we
see the evidence
of American
innovation -
airplanes,
automobiles,
appliances. But
these are not
America's
greatest
innovation.
America's
greatest
innovation is
freedom. Without
freedom, we have
nothing. With
freedom, nothing
can hold us
back.
"Freedom has
made the
American dream
possible.
Freedom will
make the new
American dream
possible. And
with the work,
sacrifice, and
greatness of
spirit of the
American people,
freedom has made
America - and
will keep
America - the
greatest nation
on earth. God
bless America." |
