• Nov 02, 2007; In The News Republican Romney Says President Should Have Renewed Foreign Trade Authority
• Nov 02, 2007; Press Releases The Romney Vision: A Nuclear Iran Is "Unacceptable"
• Nov 02, 2007; Press Releases Romney For President Launches New Television Ad, "Experience Matters"

Republican Romney Says President Should Have Renewed Foreign Trade Authority

By: Amy Lorentzen

The Associated Press

Friday, Nov 02, 2007

"Republican Mitt Romney said Thursday that Washington must act to open more foreign markets to American products and the president should have new authority to negotiate such trade agreements.

"The presidential candidate proposed what he called a 'Reagan Zone of Economic Freedom' that would include U.S. free-trade partners such as Europe that commit to opening up markets and 'playing by the rules.' Such an alliance could operate inside and outside the World Trade Organization to push for trade agreements as well as labor, environmental and other reforms.

"Romney released his trade proposal Thursday and spoke about some of his ideas during a campaign stop at Luther College in Decorah.

"'How else do you strengthen the economy? You open up markets for American goods. If there are markets that won't let our goods in on a fair basis, you push them in there,' he told a crowd of about 400 people. 'Keep those doors open, don't block off our ability to compete with the rest of the world, let us get into other markets.'

"Romney challenged China and others who shut the U.S. out of agreements, and he said that as Asian countries grow and develop they will bring new trade opportunities."

...

"Romney, a former Massachusetts governor who amassed a vast personal fortune as a venture capitalist, said that a president who is going to expand the economy through new trade agreements needs his kind of experience.

"'Governors tend to have experience running something, and the government of the United States is the largest enterprise in the world,' he said. Of his Democratic rivals, he said: 'Not one of them has ever run a corner store.'"

...

"Romney says the president should have the trade promotion authority because the U.S. cannot afford to be cut out of any more deals. He says the U.S. is excluded from more than 300 trade agreements globally.

"'Democrats don't want to give (the president) that authority, because frankly they're afraid that America can't compete,' Romney said at a stop later in the day in Mason City. While there, he gave a slide presentation that included charts and figures on his plan. One slide showed photos of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards."

...

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Friday, Nov 02, 2007

A NUCLEAR IRAN

IS "UNACCEPTABLE"

A Policy Of Strength, Not Dining With Dictators

"We are long past the time for political correctness and accommodation of Ahmadinejad's and his regime's outrageous rhetoric and support for terror. It is time to speak clearly and frankly, to strengthen alliances and build new ones, and to act with unity and decisiveness against a regime that threatens to reintroduce the world to the horrors of nuclear devastation and genocide." – Gov. Mitt Romney (Romney For President, Press Release, 9/24/07)

THE ROMNEY VISION: DEFEATING THE JIHADIST THREAT THROUGH STRENGTH

Gov. Romney Supports All Options To Prevent A Nuclear Iran:

Gov. Romney Believes It Is "Unacceptable" For Iran To Have Nuclear Weapons. "[Gov. Romney] added: 'That's an option that's on the table. And it's is not something which we'll spell out specifically. I really can't lay out exactly how that would be done, but we have a number of options from blockade to bombardment of some kind. And that's something we very much have to keep on the table, and we will ready ourselves to be able to take, because, frankly, I think it's unacceptable for Iran to have nuclear weapons.'" (Glen Johnson, "Romney: 'Bombardment' Of Iran Must Be Option To Stop It Getting Nuclear Weapons," The Associated Press, 10/25/07)

• Gov. Romney: "If For Some Reasons They Continue Down Their Course Of Folly Toward Nuclear Ambition, Then I Would Take Military Action If That's Available To Us." (Glen Johnson, "Romney: 'Bombardment' Of Iran Must Be Option To Stop It Getting Nuclear Weapons," The Associated Press, 10/25/07)

Gov. Romney Has A Comprehensive Plan To Prevent A Nuclear Iran:

Gov. Romney Is The Only Presidential Candidate Who Has Proposed A Comprehensive Plan To Prevent A Nuclear Iran. "In January 2007 at the Herzilya Conference In Israel Governor Romney outlined a plan that will tighten economic sanctions against the Iranian regime, isolate Iran diplomatically and indict Iran's President Ahmadinejad for inciting genocide, enlist Arab states to join our efforts, make clear to the Iranian people the peril of acquiring nuclear capabilities, and maintain the military option." (Romney For President, "Defeating The Jihadist Threat," Press Release, 10/17/07)

• Click Here To Read Governor Romney's Remarks On His Iran Strategy.

SEN. OBAMA: TAKE OPTIONS OFF THE TABLE, SIT DOWN WITH DICTATORS

Sen. Barack Obama Would Not Take A Strong Stance On Stopping A Nuclear Iran:

Sen. Obama Suggests He Doesn't Support Regime Change In Iran. "Senator Barack Obama says he would 'engage in aggressive personal diplomacy' with Iran if elected president and would offer economic inducements and a possible promise not to seek 'regime change' if Iran stopped meddling in Iraq and cooperated on terrorism and nuclear issues." (Michael R. Gordon and Jeff Zeleny, "Obama Envisions New Iran Approach," The New York Times, 11/2/07)

Sen. Obama Said He Would Talk To Iran Without Preconditions. "Making clear that he planned to talk to Iran without preconditions, Mr. Obama emphasized further that 'changes in behavior' by Iran could possibly be rewarded with membership in the World Trade Organization, other economic benefits and security guarantees." (Michael R. Gordon and Jeff Zeleny, "Obama Envisions New Iran Approach," The New York Times, 11/2/07)

• Sen. Obama Said The Talks Would Be Done To Show "Good Faith." "'We are willing to talk about certain assurances in the context of them showing some good faith,' Obama said in the interview at his campaign headquarters here. 'I think it is important for us to send a signal that we are not hellbent on regime change, just for the sake of regime change, but expect changes in behavior. And there are both carrots and there are sticks available to them for those changes in behavior.'" (Michael R. Gordon and Jeff Zeleny, "Obama Envisions New Iran Approach," The New York Times, 11/2/07)

Sen. Obama Has Repeatedly Said He Would Meet With Leaders Of Rogue Nations:

Sen. Obama Said One Of The First Things He Would Do If Elected Is Meet With Leaders Of Rogue Nations. OBAMA: "And I think that it is a disgrace that we have not spoken to them. We've been talking about Iraq -* one of the first things that I would do in terms of moving a diplomatic effort in the region forward is to send a signal that we need to talk to Iran and Syria because they're going to have responsibilities if Iraq collapses." (CNN/YouTube Democratic Presidential Debate, 7/24/07)

• Sen. Obama: "I Would. And The Reason Is This, That The Notion That Somehow Not Talking To Countries Is Punishment To Them – Which Has Been The Guiding Diplomatic Principle Of This Administration – Is Ridiculous." (CNN/YouTube Democratic Presidential Debate, 7/24/07)

Romney For President Launches New Television Ad, "Experience Matters"

Friday, Nov 02, 2007

Boston, MA – Today, Romney for President launched its newest television ad, "Experience Matters." The ad highlights Governor Romney's belief that our nation's leader must have the experience "to run the largest enterprise in the world." Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) does not have that experience and our nation cannot afford a leader who needs on-the-job training. Governor Romney has led businesses, the 2002 Winter Olympics and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In each case, he brought change and turned around institutions. As President, he will do the same for our government.

The ad will begin airing as part of the campaign's rotation today in New Hampshire. Script and viewing links are below.

Script For "Experience Matters" (TV:30):

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "Hillary Clinton wants to run the largest enterprise in the world. She hasn't run a corner store. She hasn't run a state. She hasn't run a city.

"She has never run anything. And the idea that she could learn to be President as an internship just doesn't make any sense.

"I have spent my life running things. I've learned how to run a business. I've learned how to run a state. I ran the Olympics. In each case, I've brought change.

"And if there's ever been a time we needed change in Washington to bring strength to America, it's now.

"I'm Mitt Romney and I approve this message."

To watch "Experience Matters," please see: http://mitt-tv.mittromney.com/?showid=451202

AD FACTS: Script For "Experience Matters" (TV:30):

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "Hillary Clinton wants to run the largest enterprise in the world. She hasn't run a corner store. She hasn't run a state. She hasn't run a city. She has never run anything. And the idea that she could learn to be President as an internship just doesn't make any sense."

• U.S. World & News Report's Mort Zuckerman: "Hillary Clinton Doesn't Exactly Have That Much Executive Experience..." ZUCKERMAN: "I'm just saying that if you want to talk about experience, what really is critical is executive experience. And on this particular criteria, even Hillary Clinton doesn't exactly have that much executive experience..." (MSNBC's "Tucker," 8/21/07)

• Former Governor Mark Warner (D-VA) Contrasted His Executive Experience With Senator Clinton's Lack Thereof. "Mark Warner ever so quietly and carefully made the case why he might be a more pragmatic option than Mrs. Clinton. 'I think there is something different about somebody who has had executive experience,' said Mr. Warner, who wore a blue shirt and yellow tie. 'Oftentimes for a legislator, the end of the battle is once you've passed the bill--the facts are that's just the beginning. Once legislation is passed, that doesn't mean the problem is solved; that's the actual beginning.'" (Jason Horowitz, "Can Mark Warner Find Some Money Hillary Dropped," New York Observer, 9/25/06)

• Senator Clinton Has Less Experience As An Elected Official Than Barack Obama. "I was never very good in math, but I do know how to add. If you add up Barack Obama's years in elective office the total is 10. If you add up Hillary Clinton's years in elective office, it is six. Maybe neither of them is qualified for the presidency, but considering the numbers, why is Mr. Obama's lack of experience more of an issue than Mrs. Rodham Clinton's?" (Chuck Goudie, Op-Ed, "It's Time To Come Clean About The Players In The Super Poll," Chicago Daily Herald, 2/5/07)

CHYRON: "The U.S. Government ... 14.6 Million Federal Workforce ... $2.4 Trillion Revenue"

• The Federal Government's Workforce Is Made Up Of 14.6 Million People. "Paul Light, a professor of public service at New York University, estimates the true size of the federal work force at 14.6 million, including 7.6 million contractors, 2.9 million grantees and 1.9 million civil servants – the biggest it has been in more than two decades. The rest of the work force consists of 1.4 million military personnel and 0.8 million postal employees." (Elise Castelli, "Contractor And Grant-Funded Employees Outnumber Feds 5.5-To-1," The Federal Times, 10/17/06)

• The Washington Post: "According to a recent study, not only is the number of federal civil servants on the rise, but so are the numbers of employees working for government-funded contractors and for organizations that receive government grants. Roll all of those together – and mix in the numbers of postal workers and military personnel on the federal payroll – and the 'true size' of the federal government stands at 14.6 million employees, said Paul C. Light, the study's author and a government professor at New York University. That compares with 12.1 million employees in 2002, said Light, who has tracked the growth of government for years and has data for as far back as 1990. The latest increase is almost entirely due to contractors, whose ranks swelled by 2.5 million since 2002, Light wrote in his 10-page research brief." (Christopher Lee, "Big Government Gets Bigger," The Washington Post, 10/6/06)

• In Fiscal Year 2006, The U.S. Government Collected $2.4 Trillion In Revenue. ("The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2008 To 2017," Congressional Budget Office, Link, 1/07)

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "I have spent my life running things. I've learned how to run a business. I've learned how to run a state. I ran the Olympics. In each case, I've brought change. And if there's ever been a time we needed a change in Washington to bring strength to America, it's now. I'm Mitt Romney and I approve this message."

• Governor Romney Has "A Solid Reputation In The Business Community For Turning Companies Around." CNN's RHONDA SCHAFFLER: "Romney had a solid reputation in the business community for turning companies around, like Staples, Domino's Pizza and the Sports Authority." (CNN's "Business Unusual," 1/27/02)

• The Boston Globe's Robert Gavin And Sacha Pfeiffer: "In time, Romney would lead the shaky start-up from a staff of seven people managing $37 million to 115 people managing $4 billion in assets. During Romney's 15-year tenure, Bain Capital would post an astonishing record, on average doubling its return on realized investments every year." (Robert Gavin and Sacha Pfeiffer, "Reaping Profit In Study, Sweat," The Boston Globe, 6/26/07)

• Bloomberg's Heidi Pryzbyla: "Romney's business record is unmatched by the current crop of leading candidates." (Heidi Pryzbyla, "Romney Finds Classmate Bush's Management Lapses Unlikely Hurdle," Bloomberg, 7/1/07)

• The Associated Press: "Romney took over as head of Salt Lake's Olympic organizing committee in February 1999 after it was revealed Salt Lake organizers doled out more than $1 million in cash and gifts to members of the International Olympic Committee to win the 2002 bid. Under Romney's leadership, the Games were lauded as a critical success, a model of post-Sept. 11 security and turned a $100 million profit. Romney, a successful venture capitalist before the Games, wrote a book after titled 'Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership and the Olympic Games.'" (Debbie Hummel, "Utah's 'Adopted Son' Returns To State For Presidential Fundraiser," The Associated Press, 2/21/07)

• At The 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Governor Romney Turned A $379 Million Deficit Into A $100 Million Profit. "As early as 1999, a financial crisis was looming: The Games were mired in a bribery scandal and were running a $379 million deficit. Romney was asked to step in, and he immediately slashed budgets and boosted sponsorships. And since the Games were held just months after Sept. 11, 2001, he oversaw a huge security apparatus. He now says it was one of the most difficult things he'd ever done, comparing it to 'arranging 17 Super Bowls a day for 17 days.' The Games ended up with a $100 million profit." (Marcia Vickers, "The Republicans' Mr. Fix-It," Fortune Magazine, 6/27/07)

• In Massachusetts, Governor Romney Closed A Nearly $3 Billion Shortfall Without Raising Taxes. "When Mitt Romney became governor of Massachusetts in 2003, the state had a budget gap of almost $3 billion and was losing thousands of jobs a month. In Mr. Romney's four-year tenure, the deficit was eliminated without raising the sales tax or the income tax, and since the labor slump hit bottom in December 2003, the state has gained 81,000 jobs." (Pam Belluck, "Romney Candidacy Puts Massachusetts Economy In Spotlight," The New York Times, 3/16/07)

• The Weekly Standard's Terry Eastland: "As governor, Romney has scored another turnaround, conservative in both ends and means. Told during the campaign that he would inherit a deficit of between $500 million and $1.5 billion, Romney discovered upon taking office a $650 million deficit in fiscal 2003 and an anticipated one of $3 billion in fiscal 2004. Romney balanced the 2003 budget, and he finished 2004 with a $700 million surplus. A reviving economy helped, but Romney didn't tax or borrow, and he reduced spending through government consolidation and reform." (Terry Eastland, "In 2008, Will It Be Mormon In America?" The Weekly Standard, 6/6/05)

To watch "Experience Matters," please see: http://mitt-tv.mittromney.com/?showid=451202