The Romney Vision: Gov. Mitt Romney: Surge Of Support At Home

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007

"We don't just need a surge on the ground in Iraq – we need a surge of support for our troops as well. Democrats say they support the troops, but many don't support the work they are doing to make the surge successful. Representative Clyburn, the third-highest ranking House Democrat, said it would be a 'real big problem' for Democrats if progress is made in Iraq. That's not a problem but good news for all Americans."

– Gov. Mitt Romney

Gov. Romney: A Surge Of Support For Our Troops

THE ROMNEY VISION: LEADERSHIP SURGE NEEDED TO DEFEAT RADICAL ISLAM GLOBALLY

Gov. Romney Blasted Rep. Clyburn's Recent Comments That Good News In Iraq Was Trouble For Democrats. ROMNEY: "We don't just need a surge on the ground in Iraq – we need a surge of support for our troops as well. Democrats say they support the troops, but many don't support the work they are doing to make the surge successful. Representative Clyburn, the third-highest ranking House Democrat, said it would be a 'real big problem' for Democrats if progress is made in Iraq. That's not a problem but good news for all Americans." (Gov. Mitt Romney, 7/31/07)

Gov. Romney Calls Defeatist Talk Of Some Democrats "Inexcusable." "Romney said it was 'inexcusable' for Democrats and others to publicly claim that this nation has lost the war in Iraq while troops remain in that country." (Robynn Tysver, "Romney: Give Iraq War Plan More Time," Omaha World-Herald, 7/28/07)

Gov. Romney: Give The New Iraq War Plan Enough Time To Work. ROMNEY: "Let's give General Petraeus and Prime Minister Maliki enough time to see if it is working. If it's working, great. We'll be able to bring home our troops soon. If it's not working, we'll consider the problem at that point." (Robynn Tysver, "Romney: Give Iraq War Plan More Time," Omaha World-Herald, 7/28/07)

Gov. Romney Stresses The Importance Of Winning In Iraq And Defeating Radical Islam Globally. ROMNEY: "The congressional debate in Washington has largely, and myopically, focused on whether troops should be redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan, as if these were isolated issues. Yet the jihad is much broader than any one nation, or even several nations. ... The jihadist threat is the defining challenge of our generation and is symptomatic of a range of new global realities." (Gov. Mitt Romney, "Rising To A New Generation Of Global Challenges," Foreign Affairs, July/August 2007)

Gov. Romney Warns That Radical Islamists Want To End "Civilization As We Know It." "The former Massachusetts governor has been one of President Bush's staunchest supporters of the war. He routinely talks about the threat of radical Islamists and, he says, their desire to install an Islamic regime around the world. "They want to cause the collapse, the collapse of civilization as we know it," he said." (Robynn Tysver, "Romney: Give Iraq War Plan More Time," Omaha World-Herald, 7/28/07)

THE DEMOCRATS: 'A REAL BIG PROBLEM' WITH SUCCESS IN IRAQ

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) Said A Positive Iraq Report From Gen. Petraeus In September Would Prevent The Democrats From Declaring Defeat. "Clyburn said Monday that a strongly positive report on progress on Iraq by Army Gen. David Petraeus likely would split Democrats in the House and impede his party's efforts to press for a timetable to end the war. ... Clyburn noted that Petraeus carries significant weight among the 47 members of the Blue Dog caucus in the House, a group of moderate to conservative Democrats. Without their support, he said, Democratic leaders would find it virtually impossible to pass legislation setting a timetable for withdrawal." (Dan Balz and Chris Cillizza, "Clyburn: Positive Report by Petraeus Could Split House Democrats on War," The Washington Post, 7/30/07)

Rep. Clyburn: A Positive Report On Iraq Would Be "A Real Big Problem For Us." "'I think there would be enough support in that group to want to stay the course and if the Republicans were to stay united as they have been, then it would be a problem for us,' Clyburn said. 'We, by and large, would be wise to wait on the report.' ... Many Democrats have anticipated that, at best, Petraeus and U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker would present a mixed analysis of the success of the current troop surge strategy, given continued violence in Baghdad. But of late there have been signs that the commander of U.S. forces might be preparing something more generally positive. Clyburn said that would be ' a real big problem for us.'" (Dan Balz and Chris Cillizza, "Clyburn: Positive Report by Petraeus Could Split House Democrats on War," The Washington Post, 7/30/07)

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Claimed The U.S. Has Already Lost In Afghanistan To Al Qaeda And Bin Laden. SEN. HILLARY CLINTON: "We've got to figure out what we're doing in Iraq, where our troops are stretched thin, and Afghanistan, where we?re losing the fight to al Qaeda and bin Laden." (CNN/YouTube, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Proclaimed That The "War Is Lost" Before The Surge Was Even Fully Implemented. "Senate majority leader Harry Reid said yesterday that the war in Iraq is 'lost,' triggering an angry backlash from Republicans who said the top Democrat had turned his back on the troops. ... 'I believe myself that the secretary of state, secretary of defense, and ? you have to make your own decisions as to what the president knows ? know this war is lost and the surge is not accomplishing anything as indicated by the extreme violence in Iraq yesterday,' said Reid, a Nevada Democrat." (Anne Flaherty, "Reid Says War Is 'Lost,' Drawing GOP Rebuke," The Associated Press, 4/20/07)

Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling Endorses Governor Mitt Romney

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007

Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced that Virginia's Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling has endorsed his candidacy for President of the United States. Lieutenant Governor Bolling will serve as the chairman of Governor Romney's campaign in Virginia and will help communicate the Governor's message of conservative change throughout the state.

"I am proud to have the endorsement of Lieutenant Governor Bolling," said Governor Romney. "Washington is in his backyard, and he knows as well as anyone that it needs to be taken apart and put back together by implementing policies that make sense for American families. I look forward to his counsel as our campaign continues."

Announcing his endorsement of Governor Romney today, Lieutenant Governor Bolling said, "I have carefully considered all of the Republican candidates for President in 2008. While they are all good men, I believe that Mitt Romney is the best candidate to carry the Republican banner in the 2008 presidential campaign."

"Mitt Romney also has the right vision for the future of our country. We can trust him to keep America safe at home by defeating the Jihadists abroad; and keep America strong by reigning in government spending, keeping taxes low, protecting the values we believe in, and confronting head on the new generation of challenges currently facing our nation," Bolling continued.

Background On Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling:

In 2005, Bill Bolling Was Elected To Serve As The 40th Lieutenant Governor Of Virginia. In a year that favored Democrats, Bolling received more votes that any other Republican candidate for statewide office. He is widely recognized as one of Virginia's most effective conservative leaders. Prior to his election as Lieutenant Governor, Bolling served for ten years in the Virginia State Senate. He also has experience in local government, serving as Chairman of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors prior to his election to the Senate. Nationally, Bolling serves as Chairman of the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Lieutenant Governors Association.

Governor Mitt Romney Announces National Finance Chairs And Co-Chairs

Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007

Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney named the Romney for President National Finance Chairs and Co-Chairs. These men and women will offer valuable support and counsel to Governor Romney as he travels the country communicating his vision of bringing conservative change to Washington.

"At home and abroad we are facing unprecedented challenges that will test our strength and resolve as a nation," said Governor Romney. "With the help of such committed leaders, we will overcome these challenges and bring innovation and transformation to our nation's capital. I am grateful for their strong support."

For the past seven months, the National Finance Chairs have been leading efforts to build the resources for Governor Romney's national campaign. The Chairs serve as regional leaders of the National Finance Committee. The Co-Chairs are responsible primarily for fundraising efforts in their respective states.

Romney For President National Finance Chairs:

- Christopher Collins – Managing Partner of First Atlantic Capital, LLC, Massachusetts

- Mark Guzzetta – President of Gemstone Development Corp., Florida

- John And Vicki Miller – John Miller is CEO and Founding Member of the National Beef Packing Company, LLC, Kansas/Utah

- David and Patricia Nierenberg – David Nierenberg is the President and General Partner of the D3 Family Funds, Washington

- John and Terry Rakolta, Jr. – John Rakolta, Jr. is the Chairman and CEO of Walbridge Aldinger, Michigan

- Ambassador Mel Sembler – Former United States Ambassador to Italy, Australia, and Nauru and Chairman of the Board of The Sembler Company, Florida

- Thomas R. Tellefsen and Stephanie Spencer – Tom Tellefsen is the Principal of Tellefsen Investments, Inc., California

- Meg Whitman And Griff Harsh – Meg Whitman is the President and CEO of eBay and Griff Harsh is a Professor of Neurosurgery at Stanford University, California

Romney For President National Finance Co-Chairs:

- Scott Baugh – Former California Assembly Republican Leader, California

- Bruce and Marcy Benson – Bruce Benson is the Owner & President of Benson Mineral Group, Colorado

- Governor Matt Blunt – Governor of Missouri, Missouri

- David Bradford – Founder/CEO Galactic Networks and FundingUniverse.com, California

- Ambassador and Mrs. Stephen Brauer – Stephen Brauer is the President and CEO of Hunter Engineering Co., Missouri

- Jonathan and Julie Bullen – Jonathan Bullen is the Owner and President of Provo College, Eagle Gate College, and Evolution Fitness, Utah

- Kelly and Laurie Burt – Kelly Burt is the Chairman & CEO of Price Self Storage, California

- Al Cardenas – Senior Partner at Tew Cardenas, LLC, Florida

- Nancy Heffner Donovan and Steve Donovan – Nancy Heffner Donovan is the President of Ames Travel Service, Ohio

- Spencer F. Eccles – Chairman Emeritus of the Intermountain Region of Wells Fargo Bank, Utah

- David and Jennifer Fischer – David Fischer is Chairman & CEO of The Suburban Collection, Michigan

- John Fish – President & CEO of Suffolk Construction, Massachusetts

- Jeff Fox – CEO of Harbour Group, Missouri

- Jim and Debbie Francis – Jim Francis is the President of Francis Enterprises Inc., Texas

- Kem Gardner – Founder of The Gardner Company, Utah

- Jack Gerard – President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council, Virginia

- Paul and Susan Gilbert – Paul Gilbert is a Partner at Beus Gilbert, PLLC, Arizona

- Terry Graunke – Founder and Chairman of Lake Capital, Illinois

- Bill and Chrissy Hagerty – Bill Hagerty is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Hagerty Peterson and Company, LLC., Tennessee

- Bill Harrison – Chairman of the Board of JPMorgan Chase, New York

- Jon M. Huntsman – Chairman of the Huntsman Corporation, Utah

- Chris Jenny – Senior Partner at The Parthenon Group, Massachusetts

- Darlene and Gerald Jordan – Darlene Jordan is on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Massachusetts

- Shelly Kamins – Co-owner of Blum, Frank and Kamins Companies and of DuVal Development, Maryland

- Hersh Kozlov – Managing Partner at WolfBlock, New Jersey

- Steve Lessing – Head of Client Relationship Management at Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., New York

- Carl H. Lindner, Jr. – Chairman of American Financial Group, Ohio

- S. Craig and Frances Lindner – S. Craig Lindner is the Co-President and Co-CEO of American Financial Group, Ohio

- Hadi Makarechian – Chairman, CEO & President of Capital Pacific Holdings, California

- Bill Marriott – Chairman and CEO of Marriott International, Maryland

- Dick Marriott – Chairman of Host Marriott Corp, Maryland

- Don Miller – Chairman of Axiom International Investments, LLC, Connecticut

- David and Lauren Parker – David Parker is the Managing Partner & Principal at SRS Capital Partners, California

- Craig Pattee – President of Dutko Worlwide, Virginia

- Don and Susan Peay – Don Peay is the Founder of Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife, Utah

- Bob Pence – President of Pence Friedel Developers, Inc., Virginia

- Blake Roney – Chairman of the Board, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., Utah

- Muneer Satter – Partner at Goldman Sachs, Illinois

- Edward A. Schwartz – President of Gregory J. Schwartz & Co., Inc., Michigan

- Wally Schwartz – Director at Gregory J. Schwartz & Co., Inc., Michigan

- L.E. Simmons – Founder and President of SCF Partners, Texas

- Jim Sims – Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Gen3 Partners, Massachusetts

- Boyd Smith – Partner at WSJ Properties, California

- Pete and Cam Starrett – Pete Starrett is with private equity firm, Freeman Spogli, California

- Eric Tanenblatt – Senior Managing Director at McKenna Long & Aldridge, Georgia

- Ted Welch – Owner of Ted Welch Investments, Tennessee

- Frank Vandersloot – President & CEO of Melaleuca, Idaho