GOP Advisor Glenn Hubbard: An Interview

Human Events

Monday, Jul 23, 2007

"HUMAN EVENTS continues its series of interviews with key advisors to the top GOP presidential contenders."

...

"We talked with Glenn Hubbard, co-chair of Governor Mitt Romney's Economic Advisory Chair. Hubbard is currently the Dean of Columbia University School of Business and previously served as the Chairman of President Bush's Council of Economic Advisers."

...

"Hubbard, a widely respected academician, did not shy away from controversy, pointing out his candidate's strengths and lobbying a rhetorical volley at one of Romney's opponents.

" Why does Hubbard support Romney over other GOP hopefuls?

"He says he thought Romney 'was the smartest' of the contenders and the candidate with the best understanding of the 'big economic problems' which we face. He stresses Romney's executive experience as Governor, Chairman of the Olympic Games and as business executive, remarking that he believes these experiences demonstrate that Romney is a 'practical problem solver' with the skills to implement his policy objectives. He notes that the day before the interview he spent eight hours with Romney, discussing policy and observing Romney absorb information and manage and direct his staff. These skills, says Hubbard, will be essential if a president wants to 'get things accomplished.'

" What would Romney's tax policy look like?

"Hubbard reiterates that Romney will make the Bush tax cuts permanent. He contends that the U.S. corporate tax rate is a 'drain on competitiveness' and that Romney will present during the campaign a specific change to the corporate tax structure. He also says Romney will offer tax incentives for saving for the middle class. As for the Alternative Minimum Tax, Hubbard says reform of this provision will be part of an overall reform of the tax code.

" How would Romney address excessive spending?

"Hubbard points to Romney's speeches advocating that discretionary spending be kept to 1% less than the CPI. However, Hubbard notes that the 'big spending' is in entitlements. Romney believes the entitlement problem is an issue of spending too much, not taxing too little."...

View Entire Article

Candidate Jabs Dems, Outlines Plan

By: Joseph G. Cote

Nashua Telegraph

Monday, Jul 23, 2007

"Judged by a handful of comments and the audience's reaction, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was a hit at Sunday's Nashua Republican City Committee's 'A Summer Luncheon.' That included not pulling punches aimed at his Democratic counterparts, particularly U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

"Romney delighted many Nashua-area Republicans by outlining his campaign points, what he called the 'three-legged stool' of a strong America: a strong military, economy and families.

"'Everything he said was what we wanted to hear,' Merrimack resident Jeanine Notter said.

"'I thought he was right on the money,' Ellen Derby of Peterborough said. 'What hit me is his emphasis on having strong families.'

"'I thought he was pretty awesome all the way through,' Nashua resident Chuck Lothrop said. 'I was pretty impressed with him.'"

...

"Around 200 attended the lunch, overflowing the Crowne Plaza's ballroom. That's about 50 percent more people than last year, according to Liz Christoffersen, the committee's acting chairwoman."

...

"Several times during his remarks, Romney quoted Democratic hopefuls Clinton, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards to illustrate how his approach to the country's problems would be different and, according to him, better. He didn't pass up an opportunity to criticize either.

"He slammed Clinton's comments alluding to changing from an 'on-your-own' society to one that depends on shared responsibility.

"'That's out with Adam Smith and in with Karl Marx,' he said. 'With that platform she couldn't be elected president of France, let alone the United States.'

"He also likened the radical Islamic jihad movement to Nazi Germany and said the solution will take a similar international effort. To help in that he said he would grow the military by 100,000 troops and increase spending by $30 billion to $40 billion for equipment upgrades.

"Romney said his management experience – including private business, Massachusetts and the Salt Lake City Olympics' organizational committee – would be would one of his strongest qualities in Washington.

...

"'I just thought he was really inspiring for the Republican Party here,' Nashua resident Rita Harrington said. 'We went through a lot in the last elections. I liked everything he had to say.'"

View Entire Article

Five Alabama Legislators Backing Mitt Romney

The Associated Press

Monday, Jul 23, 2007

"Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has lined up five lawmakers for his Alabama Legislative Leadership Team, which will help build a grassroots campaign in the state.

"Romney announced Monday that members of the team are Sen. Harri Anne Smith, R-Slocomb; and Reps. Mac Gipson, R-Prattville; Davis Grimes, R-Montgomery; Micky Hammon, R-Decatur; and Benjamin Lewis, R-Dothan.

"'I am honored to have their support and look forward to working with them as we campaign throughout Alabama,' Romney said in a statement.

"Members of the legislative team will help raise money and support for Romney in Alabama, Gipson said.

"The veteran legislator said he was impressed by what Romney was able to accomplish as governor in heavily Democratic Massachusetts and by his personal life."

...

"Romney's support from the five legislators was preceded by State Treasurer Kay Ivey becoming his state campaign chair and by U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt and Mike Rogers, R-Ala., endorsing him."

View Entire Article

Bouchard Endorses Romney

By: Gordon Trowbridge

Detroit News

Monday, Jul 23, 2007

"Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard is endorsing Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nomination, giving the Michigan native another high-profile supporter in a key county for Republicans.

"Bouchard, appointed to the sheriff's job in 1999, won re-election in 2000 and 2004. He was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate last year, but lost to incumbent Debbie Stabenow.

"Bouchard's announcement gives Romney, who grew up in Oakland County, a sweep of the county's top Republican elected officials. County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Prosecutor David Gorcyca had previously announced that they backed Romney, former Massachusetts governor and the son of late Michigan Gov. George Romney. U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Township, has also endorsed Romney." ...

View Entire Article