November 9, 2007

HIGHER ETHICAL STANDARDS IN WASHINGTON

"We can't have ethical standards that are a punch line for Jay Leno. When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses." – Governor Romney (Governor Mitt Romney, Remarks At The Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, Mackinac Island, MI, 9/22/07)

Governor Romney Believes Officials In Washington Should Live Up To Higher Ethical Standards:

Governor Romney Has Proposed A New Ethics Law That Would Strip Those Who Violate The Public Trust Of Their Government Pensions. "Saying it's time to clean up the ethics in Washington, Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney today said he is proposing to strip pension benefits of any elected official or federal government employee who is convicted of a felony for violating the public trust." (Rod Boshart, "Romney: Time To Shore Up Ethics," Cedar Rapids Gazette, 8/2/07)

Governor Romney: "There are a lot of things about Washington that give me real pause. One, by the way, is just watching the scandalous behavior that has been alleged on both sides of the aisle, but frankly I'm particularly disappointed in our own. … We'll see how many are accurate, but I think we're going to have to find a way to demand a higher standard. There is no excuse for unethical conduct on the part of people who go to Washington to serve this country. One thing I'd like to add, if I'm lucky enough to be President, I will fight for a provision, for a law, which says that if you're convicted of a crime as a government employee or an appointee – you're convicted of a crime that involves violation of the public trust, you've done some kind of abuse of your position – that you get stripped of your pension. A lot of people go to Washington for pensions. We're going to take away their pensions if they violate our trust." (Governor Mitt Romney, Remarks At An Ask Mitt Anything, Urbandale, IA, 8/2/07)

To view Governor Romney's full remarks, please see: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5atXttLzW0

Governor Romney Will Prohibit Family Members Of Cabinet And Senior Staff Members From Lobbying The Executive Branch. GOVERNOR ROMNEY: "Presidents lead by example. And so, if I'm elected President, one of my first acts will be to issue an Executive Order prohibiting the immediate family of my Cabinet and Senior Staff from lobbying the Executive Branch. The standard for high ethical conduct has to be set at the top." (Governor Mitt Romney, Remarks At The Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, Mackinac, MI, 9/22/07)

Governor Romney's Record Of Bringing Higher Ethical Standards To Government:

Governor Romney's Administration "Virtually Scandal Free And Restrained In The Exercise Of Patronage." "Romney's obsession with maintaining a pure image annoyed many Beacon Hill regulars, but it produced an administration that was virtually scandal free and restrained in the exercise of patronage." (Brian Mooney, "Taking Office, Remaining An Outsider," The Boston Globe, 6/29/07)

In January 2003, Governor Romney Issued An Executive Order Requiring Those Applying For Executive Branch Positions To Identify Family Members Working In State Government. "Romney also issued an Executive Order putting in place so-called 'sunshine provisions' requiring new employees to identify family members working in state government. The 'sunshine provisions' in Romney’s Executive Order require individuals applying for positions within the Executive Branch to disclose in writing the names of all immediate family members as well as people related to immediate family members by marriage who serve as employees or elected officials of the Commonwealth. The information will be available to the public upon request." (Office Of Governor Mitt Romney, "Romney Names Professional Human Resources Director," Press Release, 1/9/03)

The Boston Herald: "Gov. Mitt Romney moved yesterday to let the sunshine in on the murky world of state hiring practices – a critical element in restoring public trust in Massachusetts government." (Editorial, "Gov Lets The Sunshine In," The Boston Herald, 1/10/03)

Governor Romney: "Sunshine has a way of clearing up potential ills." (Yvonne Abraham, "Romney Spotlights State Job Kin Ties," The Boston Globe, 1/10/03)

Governor Romney Abolished The Chief Secretary Position, Which In The Past, Had Been Charged With Placing Political Supporters In Jobs Throughout Government. "Governor Mitt Romney today announced the appointment of Ruth N. Bramson as Director of Human Resources. … The move follows the abolition of the position of Chief Secretary. Previously, the chief secretary was the individual in charge of placing political supporters in jobs throughout state government." (Office Of Governor Mitt Romney, "Romney Names Professional Human Resources Director," Press Release, 1/9/03)

American values are at the heart of America's historic rise to world leadership. These include, among others, respect for hard work, sacrifice, civility, love of family, respect for life, education and love of freedom. To remain a superpower in the world we must continuously and vigorously reaffirm these key components that have led to America's greatness as a country.

"America cannot continue to lead the family of nations around the world if we suffer the collapse of the family here at home."
- Governor Romney, UPI, February 26, 2005

"What is the culture of this country, what are our underpinnings? We respect hard work ... We are self reliant, we respect human life, we are a religious people... We are a purpose-driven people founded on the family unit. I think every child deserves to have a mother and a father."
- Governor Romney, Union Leader, March 19, 2006

"Last year the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court struck a blow against the family, as I'm sure you know. The court forgot that marriage is first and foremost about nurturing and developing children. Its ruling meant that our society is supposed to be indifferent about whether children have a mother and a father."
- Governor Romney, Boston Globe, March 2, 2005

"What is it about America's culture and values that makes us such a successful nation and society? Part of that is we love liberty, we love our country, we're patriotic," Romney said. "I believe it's also because we are a people who love God and look for a purpose greater than ourselves in life."
- Governor Romney, Boston Globe, May 18, 2006

"I am pro-life. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate."
- Governor Romney, Boston Globe, Op-Ed, July 26, 2005

In The News

Feb 10, 2007; Romney Says He'll Lead With Values

Governor Mitt Romney and Values

Governor Romney: "America cannot continue to lead the family of nations around the world if we suffer the collapse of the family here at home."

(UPI, February 26, 2005)

Governor Romney: "What is the culture of this country, what are our underpinnings? We respect hard work ... We are self reliant, we respect human life, we are a religious people... We are a purpose-driven people founded on the family unit. I think every child deserves to have a mother and a father."

(Union Leader, March 19, 2006)

Governor Romney: "Last year the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court struck a blow against the family, as I'm sure you know. The court forgot that marriage is first and foremost about nurturing and developing children. Its ruling meant that our society is supposed to be indifferent about whether children have a mother and a father."

(Boston Globe, March 2, 2005)

Governor Romney: "What is it about America's culture and values that makes us such a successful nation and society? Part of that is we love liberty, we love our country, we're patriotic," Romney said. "I believe it's also because we are a people who love God and look for a purpose greater than ourselves in life."

(Boston Globe, May 18, 2006)

Governor Romney: "I am pro-life. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate."

(Boston Globe, Op-Ed, July 26, 2005)

Major Speeches

09-22-2006; Values Voter Summit 2006, Washington, DC, Democracy in action transcript
10-05-2006; Governor (MA) Mitt Romney: Liberty Sunday Address

Quotes from Governor Mitt Romney on values.

"America is under attack from almost every direction. We have been attacked by murderous terrorists here in this great city. Our employers and jobs are threatened by low-cost, highly skilled labor from abroad. American values are under attack from within."

"American values are at the heart of America's historic rise to world leadership. These include, among others, respect for hard work, sacrifice, civility, love of family, respect for life, education and love of freedom." - Mitt Romney

2006

"Well, I think people in this country want a person of faith to lead them as their governor, as their senator, as their president. I don't think most people care what brand of faith they have. And I don't believe that that's been an issue for me in my race for governor. It wasn't an issue, I believe, serious, for John Kennedy when he ran for president. People said oh, gosh, Ronald Reagan, he's been an actor who's been divorced, you can't elect him. Those things, I think, get swept away as people get to know the individual, understand their character, their vision, their values, and I think that's true regardless of a person's faith if they are a faithful person."
- Governor Mitt Romney, 02-27-2006 Interview with CHRIS WALLACE on FNS

"Now some people say wait, when you talk about culture, Governor, that's not of the same order of magnitude as the things you just mentioned: jihadists and the emergence of Asia, spending too much money, using too much oil. And I disagree. There was a book written some years ago by a fellow named David Landis; he's a Harvard professor. The book was given to me. It's called The Wealth and Poverty of Nations. The jacket cover included an endorsement by John Kenneth Galbraith. I said, oh boy, this is going to be some liberal diatribe. I read through it and found it pretty scholarly. And after about 500 pages, he concludes with roughly these words: If anything can be learned from the history of economic development in the world, it is this--culture makes all the difference."
- Governor Mitt Romney, Values Voter Summit 2006, Washington, DC, 09-22-2006

"Now when I say foundation--we use those words frequently--when I say foundation I want to underscore the fact that a foundation is essential for something to stand. Our society stands on the basis of the family unit."
- Governor Mitt Romney, Values Voter Summit 2006, Washington, DC, 09-22-2006

"But today there are some people who are trying to establish one religion: the religion of secularism. They not only reject traditional values, they reject the values of our founders and they cast aside the wisdom of the ages."
- Governor (MA) Mitt Romney: Liberty Sunday Address, 10-05-2006

"Massachusetts is on the frontline of marriage, but unless we adopt a federal amendment to protect marriage, what's happening here will unquestionably enter every other state. This spreading secular religion -- and its substitute values -- cannot be allowed to weaken the foundation of the family, or the faith of our fathers who "more than life, their country loved."
- Governor (MA) Mitt Romney: Liberty Sunday Address, 10-05-2006

2005

"And I thought about what is it that brings the culture of the United States in such relief that it lifts America. Well we're a people that's used to hard work. We're a people who believe in a Creator or if not we believe in a purpose greater than ourselves, in purpose-driven lives as Rick Warren has pointed out. We're a people who are self-reliant and independent. We're a people who take care of those who are truely in need. We're a people also who fundamentally respect the value of human life. and at the foundation of our society is of course the familiy. The familiy has always been the structure from which we pass along our values and ideals to the next generation."
- Governor Mitt Romney, 06-03-2005 NH Federation of Republican Women's Lilac Dinner

"It's an honor to be here with you, to fight together for the things we believe in, to fight for Republican values. Let's do it again and again and again. Thank you so much."
- Governor Mitt Romney, 06-03-2005 NH Federation of Republican Women's Lilac Dinner

"We've got a liberal activist court . . . and I have now seen firsthand the perils of a court that decides to substitute its values for that of the founders."
- Governor Mitt Romney, 12-31-2005, JAMES TARANTO, OpinionJournal.com

2004

There’s one more thing I’ve seen in the people who swim in the deep waters of life. They don’t fashion their values and principles to suit their self-interest; they live instead by enduring principles that are fundamental to society and to successful, great lives. I learned important lessons about those principles from some of the Olympians I saw in Salt Lake City, like bobsledder Vonetta Flowers.

Vonetta was brakeman on USA sled two. All the attention, however, was on sled one, the sled that had taken the World Cup and was a lock for the Olympic Gold. But just before the Olympics, the pilot of sled one dropped her partner and invited Vonetta Flowers to join her.

Vonetta had a tough decision. On sled one, she’d get a gold medal for sure – the first Olympic gold to be won by an African American in the Olympic Winter Games. Those of us rooting for US metals hoped she would jump to sled one. She didn’t. She decided that friendship and loyalty to her longtime teammate on sled two was more important than winning the gold.

Of course, sled one did well. But when sled two beat them all, coming in first, the crowd went nuts. And tears dripped off Vonetta’s cheeks. Friendship and loyalty above gold.

Governor Mitt Romney, 05-23-2004, COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS TO THE STUDENTS OF SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY

2003

“With the help of the council members, my Administration will work hard to foster a culture of inclusion that values diversity. We want Massachusetts to be recognized as a great place for people from all backgrounds to work and raise a family.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 09-26-2003 Press Release

“In his more than 30 years of service to the Commonwealth both by leadership and by example, Judge Daher has compiled a track record of unblemished integrity and unflinching dedication to the values of honest and ethical government,”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 10-14-2003 Press Release

“With the help of the council members, my Administration will work hard to foster a culture of inclusion that values diversity. We want Massachusetts to be recognized as a great place for people from all backgrounds to work and raise a family.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 09-26-2003 Press Release

"I know as well that what you are doing here has impact well beyond my parochial interests in Massachusetts. I think we can all appreciate the broader context of what's involved. On a global basis, I'm convinced that you are seeing - as some have indicated in some recent journals and books -- the civilizations of the world weighing the values, which will be followed by their civilizations and by their peoples. On the one hand, we have the model of the US and other nations of the west -- which is model based upon individual entrepreneurship and individual decision-making and democracy. Everything related to the individual and the innovation and creativity of the individual, and saying the individual given full freedoms and incentives and opportunities for innovation, will create enormous innovation and potential for other people to live and grow from, and that this is the best way for building a civilization and an economy. There are other civilizations in our word that are convinced, that no, that's not the right model. That in fact you are much better under a more authoritarian structure where collectivity of purpose is defined as the objective and that this idea of individuality and innovation by individuals is actually quite counterproductive. And there is a debate between these differing views in the civilizations of the world today."
- Governor Mitt Romney, 05-13-2003, Deshpande Center IdeaStream Symposium

2002

"My dad is someone who I've subconsciously patterned my life after. He was someone who had a very strong sense of public service, which is something that, as I've gotten a little older, seems to have sprung up in me as well."
- Governor Mitt Romney, Quoted in Harvard Law Bulletin, Spring/02 Mar 1, 2002

Quotes from other's on Governor Mitt Romney's Values:

“I was particularly impressed that when the Governor called me he did not ask for political affiliation or suggest an agenda to pursue with regard to the University. He just said he wanted an established academic on the board that would follow the values and ideals that are consistent with the reputation of UMass.”
- Dr. John DiBiaggio, former president of Tufts University, 10-04-2003 Press Release

2001

"With 15 years of venture capital under my belt, I'm a convert to the power of persistence, ambition, hard work, and foresight. But I'm also convinced that when it comes to making money or earning fame, more than a fair amount of serendipity is at play. There is, however, a brighter way. If you give yourself for great things, you will not be subject to serendipity. Giving your life for great things generates as much satisfaction in the effort as it does in the achievement."
- Governor Mitt Romney, Commencement Speech, Westminster College, UT Jun 2, 2001

"Giving yourself to great things is the only sure path for successful living. I have spoken of some of those choices. To them I might add family and children, faith, scholarship, exploration, healing, teaching, athletics, and creation."
- Governor Mitt Romney, Commencement Speech, Westminster College, UT Jun 2, 2001

Quotes from Governor Mitt Romney on other's Values:

“In his more than 30 years of service to the Commonwealth both by leadership and by example, Judge Daher has compiled a track record of unblemished integrity and unflinching dedication to the values of honest and ethical government. Judge Daher’s courage, his willingness to stand up and speak out about injustice, to cross the political power structure and to take on the insiders make him the best possible choice for this important position.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 10-14-2003 Press Release

Schools can teach family values, not religion or prayer. (Aug 1994)

Other

Three years ago, with the 2002 Winter Olympics mired in controversy and facing serious financial crisis, Mitt was asked to become President and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. Although the challenge seemed daunting, he was compelled to assume the task by both the urgings of his wife, Ann, and by the memory of his father, George Romney, who had been a successful businessman, four-term Michigan Governor and tireless advocate of volunteerism.

In his three years in Salt Lake, Mitt erased a $360 million operating deficit, organized 23,000 volunteers, galvanized community spirit, oversaw an unprecedented security mobilization to ensure public safety and led one of the most successful Olympics in our country's history.

Source: Campaign web site, Romney2002.org Mar 20, 2002

http://reason4romney.blogspot.com/search/label/Values

Guest host Judy Woodruff: …Religion really played a role sense JFK, do you think it would play a role if you ran?

Mitt Romney: Oh, I think initially. Some people would say, Gosh, I don't know much about your faith, tell me about it. And I'd probably outline the fundamentals. I'm a religious person. I believe that Jesus Christ is my Savior. But then as you get into the details of doctrines I'd probably say look time out, let's focus on the values that we share. And fundamentally the values of my faith are very much like the values of other Judeo-Christian tradition values. And I think Americans want to have a leader who is a person of faith, but their not going to get terribly involved in the differences of doctrine, as long as the values we share are common.

American values are at the heart of America’s historic rise to world leadership. These include, among others, respect for hard work, sacrifice, civility, love of family respect for life, education and love of freedom. To remain a superpower in the world we must continuously and vigorously reaffirm these key components that have led to America’s greatness as a country.

America's values have change.

Romney in the Value News

Feb 10, 2007; Romney Says He'll Lead With Values

values

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