Says Americans don't believe leaders in Washington understand the country's values
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at campaign headquarters for Congressional candidate Ann Marie Buerkle in Liverpool, Monday. Romney endorsed Buerkle in her bid to unseat Congressman Dan Maffei, D-DeWitt.“This is something more,” Romney said while speaking at the Conservative Party Recognition Dinner at the Holiday Inn. Americans think decision makers in Washington are out of touch with what matters most, he said.
“They just don’t understand the values of the country,” he said.
Romney, who ran for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination that was won by Arizona’s U.S. Sen. John McCain, said voters elected President Barack Obama and Democratic majorities to both houses of Congress to fix the economy. Instead, he said, Obama and others used the economy as an excuse to put in place their “liberal agenda.”
This has been costly to Obama, Romney said.
“His first two years in office have been an abject failure,” Romney said.
Romney said tax increases, talk of tax increases and changes in labor rules that he said favor unions have discouraged job creation.
“They have stalled the economy,” he said.
“Who would have thought we’d look back on Jimmy Carter as the good old days?” Romney asked.
However, Romney said, change is coming. Just as Wal-Mart reflects the personality of Sam Walton, Disney World reflected Walt Disney and American Motors reflected his own father George Romney, the United States reflects the founders, people who chose freedom. That spirit, “that love of liberty,” will be victorious this November, he said, and in Novembers to come.
“We have work to do,” Romney concluded to a standing ovation.
Before Romney was introduced, five Upstate New Yorkers were recognized with awards for their service. They were:
Onondaga County Legislator Bernard Kraft: Kraft, who died last year, was remembered for his commitment to lower taxes and smaller government.
St. Lawrence County Conservative Party Chairman Henry Ford: Ford founded the Conservative Party in his county in 1992 and remains its chairman.
Former Cayuga County District Attorney James B. Vargason: Vargason, who called himself “a Ronald Reagan conservative Republican,” now works in the Justice Department in Washington, D.C.
Oswego County Legislator Arthur Ospelt: Ospelt has served in local government since the 1960s, retiring as Oswego County administrator in 1995 then returning to public service two years later when he was elected to the Legislature, where he remains.
Former Assemblyman William Sanford: Sanford, longtime coach of the Syracuse University men’s rowing team, served in the Onondaga County Legislature for 22 years, 14 as chairman. He served one term in the state Assembly.
More than 600 tickets were sold for the $100-a-plate dinner , organizers said and another 75 to 100 attended the $500-per-person reception with Romney beforehand.
Rick Lazio, the Conservative candidate for governor, and Douglas Hoffman, the Conservative candidate for Congress in the 23rd Congressional district, both attended the dinner. The two spoke to each other for several minutes before the speaking portion of the program began.
Earlier in the day, Romney appeared at Liverpool campaign headquarters for Ann Marie Buerkle, endorsing her in her run for the 25th Congressional district. She's facing incumbent Congressman Dan Maffei, D-DeWitt.
Contact Charles McChesney at cmcchesney@syracuse.com.