3/3/2016

ReadMittRomney'sspeechattackingDonaldTrumpLATimes

NATION/NATIONALPOLITICS

Transcript Read Mitt Romney's speech

attacking Donald Trump

MittRomneygivesaspeechonthecampusoftheUniversityofUtahdenouncingDonaldTrumponMarch3.(TomSmart/EPA)

MARCH3,2016,8:56AM

hefollowingisthetextofremarksaspreparedforformerMassachusettsGov.MittRomney,
the2012Republicanpresidentialnominee,foranaddresshegaveThursdayattackingthe
GOP's2016frontrunner,DonaldTrump:

Iamnotheretoannouncemycandidacyforoffice.Iamnotgoingtoendorseacandidatetoday.
Instead,Iwouldliketooffermyperspectiveonthenominatingprocessofmyparty.In1964,daysbefore
thepresidentialelectionwhich,incidentally,welost,RonaldReaganwentonnationaltelevisionand
challengedAmericasayingthatitwasa"TimeforChoosing."HesawtwopathsforAmerica,onethat
embracedconservativeprinciplesdedicatedtoliftingpeopleoutofpovertyandhelpingcreate
opportunityforall,andtheother,anoppressivegovernmentthatwouldleadAmericadownadarker,
lessfreepath.I'mnoRonaldReaganandthisisadifferentmomentbutIbelievewithallmyheartand
soulthatwefaceanothertimeforchoosing,onethatwillhaveprofoundconsequencesforthe
RepublicanPartyandmoreimportantly,forthecountry.
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IsaythisinpartbecauseofmyconvictionthatAmericaispoisedtoleadtheworldforanothercentury.
Ourtechnologyengines,ourinnovationdynamic,andtheambitionandskillofourpeoplewillpropel
oureconomyandraiseourstandardofliving.Americawillremainasitistoday,theenvyoftheworld.
WarrenBuffettwas100%rightwhenhesaidlastweekthat"thebabiesbeingborninAmericatodayare
theluckiestcropinhistory."
TRAILGUIDE:Allthelatestnewsonthe2016presidentialcampaign>>
Thatdoesn'tmeanwedon'thaverealproblemsandseriouschallenges.Athome,povertypersistsand
wagesarestagnant.ThehorrificmassacresofParisandSanBernardino,thenuclearambitionsofthe
Iranianmullahs,theaggressionsofPutin,thegrowingassertivenessofChinaandthenucleartestsof
NorthKoreaconfirmthatweliveintroubledanddangeroustimes.
Butifwemaketherightchoices,America'sfuturewillbeevenbetterthanourpastandbetterthanour
present.
Ontheotherhand,ifwemakeimprovidentchoices,thebrighthorizonIforeseewillnevermaterialize.
Letmeputitplainly,ifweRepublicanschooseDonaldTrumpasournominee,theprospectsforasafe
andprosperousfuturearegreatlydiminished.
Letmeexplainwhy.
First,theeconomy:IfDonaldTrump'splanswereeverimplemented,thecountrywouldsinkintoa
prolongedrecession.
Afewexamples:Hisproposed35%tarifflikepenaltieswouldinstigateatradewarthatwouldraise
pricesforconsumers,killexportjobs,andleadentrepreneursandbusinessestofleeAmerica.Histax
plan,incombinationwithhisrefusaltoreformentitlementsandtohonestlyaddressspendingwould
balloonthedeficitandthenationaldebt.SoevenasDonaldTrumphasofferedveryfewspecific
economicplans,whatlittlehehassaidisenoughtoknowthathewouldbeverybadforAmerican
workersandforAmericanfamilies.
Butwait,yousay,isn'theahugebusinesssuccessthatknowswhathe'stalkingabout?Noheisn't.His
bankruptcieshavecrushedsmallbusinessesandthemenandwomenwhoworkedforthem.He
inheritedhisbusiness,hedidn'tcreateit.AndwhateverhappenedtoTrumpAirlines?Howabout
TrumpUniversity?Andthenthere'sTrumpMagazineandTrumpVodkaandTrumpSteaks,andTrump
Mortgage?Abusinessgeniusheisnot.
NownoteverypolicyDonaldTrumphasfloatedisbad.HewantstorepealandreplaceObamacare.He
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wantstobringjobshomefromChinaandJapan.Buthisprescriptionstodothesethingsareflimsyat
best.Atthelastdebate,allhecouldrememberabouthishealthcareplanwastoremoveinsurance
boundariesbetweenstates.Successfullybringingjobshomerequiresseriouspolicyandreformsthat
makeAmericatheplacebusinesseswanttoplantandgrow.Youcan'tpunishbusinessintodoingthe
thingsyouwant.Frankly,theonlyseriouspolicyproposalsthatdealwiththebroadrangeofnational
challengesweconfront,cometodayfromTedCruz,MarcoRubio,andJohnKasich.Oneofthesemen
shouldbeournominee.
Iknowthatsomepeoplewanttheracetobeover.TheylookathistoryandsayatrendlikeMr.Trump's
isn'tgoingtobestopped.
Perhaps.Buttherulesofpoliticalhistoryhaveprettymuchallbeenshreddedduringthiscampaign.If
theothercandidatescanfindcommonground,Ibelievewecannominateapersonwhocanwinthe
generalelectionandwhowillrepresentthevaluesandpoliciesofconservatism.Giventhecurrent
delegateselectionprocess,thismeansthatIwouldvoteforMarcoRubioinFlorida,forJohnKasichin
Ohio,andforTedCruzorwhicheveroneoftheothertwocontendershasthebestchanceofbeatingMr.
Trumpinagivenstate.
Letmeturntonationalsecurityandthesafetyofourhomesandlovedones.Trump'sbombastisalready
alarmingouralliesandfuelingtheenmityofourenemies.InsultingallMuslimswillkeepmanyofthem
fromfullyengagingwithusintheurgentfightagainstISIS.Andforwhatpurpose?Muslimterrorists
wouldonlyhavetolieabouttheirreligiontoenterthecountry.
Whathesaidon60MinutesaboutSyriaandISIShastogodownasthemostridiculousand
dangerousideaofthecampaignseason:LetISIStakeoutAssad,hesaid,andthenwecanpickupthe
remnants.Thinkaboutthat:Letthemostdangerousterrororganizationtheworldhaseverknowntake
overacountry?Thisisrecklessnessintheextreme.
DonaldTrumptellsusthatheisvery,verysmart.I'mafraidthatwhenitcomestoforeignpolicyheis
very,verynotsmart.
IamfarfromthefirsttoconcludethatDonaldTrumplacksthetemperamentofbepresident.Afterall,
thisisanindividualwhomockedadisabledreporter,whoattributedareporter'squestionstoher
menstrualcycle,whomockedabrilliantrivalwhohappenedtobeawomanduetoherappearance,who
braggedabouthismaritalaffairs,andwholaceshispublicspeecheswithvulgarity.
DonaldTrumpsaysheadmiresVladimirPutin,whilehascalledGeorgeW.Bushaliar.Thatisatwisted
exampleofeviltrumpinggood.
ThereisdarkironyinhisboastsofhissexualexploitsduringtheVietnamWarwhileJohnMcCain,
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whomhehasmocked,wasimprisonedandtortured.
DishonestyisTrump'shallmark:Heclaimedthathehadspokenclearlyandboldlyagainstgoinginto
Iraq.Wrong,hespokeinfavorofinvadingIraq.HesaidhesawthousandsofMuslimsinNewJersey
celebrating9/11.Wrong,hesawnosuchthing.Heimaginedit.Hisisnotthetemperamentofastable,
thoughtfulleader.Hisimaginationmustnotbemarriedtorealpower.
ThePresidentoftheUnitedStateshaslongbeentheleaderofthefreeworld.Thepresidentandyesthe
nomineesofthecountry'sgreatpartieshelpdefineAmericatobillionsofpeople.Allofthembearthe
responsibilityofbeinganexampleforourchildrenandgrandchildren.
ThinkofDonaldTrump'spersonalqualities,thebullying,thegreed,theshowingoff,themisogyny,the
absurdthirdgradetheatrics.Wehavelongreferredtohimas"TheDonald."Heistheonlypersonin
Americatowhomwehaveaddedanarticlebeforehisname.Itwasn'tbecausehehadattributeswe
admired.
Nowimagineyourchildrenandyourgrandchildrenactingthewayhedoes.Willyouwelcomethat?
Haven'tweseenbeforewhathappenswhenpeopleinprominentpositionsfailthebasicresponsibilityof
honorableconduct?Wehave,anditalwaysinjuresourfamiliesandourcountry.
Watchhowherespondstomyspeechtoday.Willhetalkaboutourpolicydifferencesorwillheattack
mewitheveryimaginablelowroadinsult?Thismaytellyouwhatyouneedtoknowabouthis
temperament,hisstability,andhissuitabilitytobepresident.
Trumprelishesanypollthatreflectswhathethinksofhimself.Butpollsarealsosayingthathewilllose
toHillaryClinton.
OnHillaryClinton'swatchattheStateDepartment,America'sinterestswerediminishedineverycorner
oftheworld.Shecompromisedournationalsecrets,dissembledtothefamiliesoftheslain,and
jettisonedhermostprofoundbeliefstogainpresidentialpower.
Forthelastthreedecades,theClintonshavelivedattheintersectionofmoneyandpolitics,tradingtheir
politicalinfluencetoenrichtheirpersonalfinances.Theyembodythetermcronycapitalism.Itdisgusts
theAmericanpeopleandcausesthemtolosefaithinourpoliticalprocess.
ApersonsountrustworthyanddishonestasHillaryClintonmustnotbecomepresident.ButaTrump
nominationenableshervictory.TheaudioandvideooftheinfamousTapperTrumpexchangeonthe
KuKluxKlanwillplayahundredthousandtimesoncableandwhoknowshowmanymilliontimeson
socialmedia.

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ThereareanumberofpeoplewhoclaimthatMr.Trumpisaconman,afake.Thereisindeedevidence
ofthat.Mr.Trumphaschangedhispositionsnotjustovertheyears,butoverthecourseofthe
campaign,andontheKuKluxKlan,dailyforthreedaysinarow.
Wewillonlyreallyknowifheistherealdealoraphonyifhereleaseshistaxreturnsandthetapeofhis
interviewwiththeNewYorkTimes.Ipredictthattherearemorebombshellsinhistaxreturns.Ipredict
thathedoesn'tgivemuchifanythingtothedisabledandtoourveterans.IpredictthathetoldtheNew
YorkTimesthathisimmigrationtalkisjustthat:talk.AndIpredictthatdespitehispromisetodoso,
firstmadeoverayearago,hewillnevereverreleasehistaxreturns.Never.Notthereturnsunderaudit,
noteventhereturnsthatarenolongerbeingaudited.Hehastoomuchtohide.Norwillheauthorize
theTimestoreleasethetapes.IfI'mright,youwillhavealltheproofyouneedtoknowthatDonald
Trumpisaphony.
Attackingmeashesurelywillwon'tprovehimanylessofaphony.It'sentirelyinhishandstoproveme
wrong.Allhehastodoistoreleasehisbacktaxeslikehepromisedhewould,andletushearwhathe
saidbehindcloseddoorstotheNewYorkTimes.
RonaldReaganusedtoquoteaScottishphilosopherwhopredictedthatdemocraciesandcivilizations
couldn'tlastmorethanabout200years.JohnAdamswrotethis:"Remember,democracyneverlasts
long.Itsoonwastes,exhausts,andmurdersitself.Thereneverwasademocracyyetthatdidnotcommit
suicide."IbelievethatAmericahasproventhesedirepredictionswrongfortworeasons.
First,wehavebeenblessedwithgreatpresidents,withgiantsamongus.Menofcharacter,integrityand
selflessnesshaveledournationfromitsverybeginning.Nonewereperfect:eachsurelymademistakes.
Butineverycase,theyactedoutofthedesiretodowhatwasrightforAmericaandforfreedom.
Thesecondreasonisbecauseweareblessedwithagreatpeople,peoplewhoateverycriticalmomentof
choosinghaveputtheinterestsofthecountryabovetheirown.
Thesetwothingsarerelated:ourpresidentstimeandagainhavecalledonustorisetotheoccasion.
JohnF.Kennedyaskedustoconsiderwhatwecoulddoforourcountry.Lincolndrewuponthebetter
angelsofournaturetosavetheunion.
IunderstandtheangerAmericansfeeltoday.Inthepast,ourpresidentshavechanneledthatanger,
andforgeditintoresolve,intoenduranceandhighpurpose,andintothewilltodefeattheenemiesof
freedom.Ourangerwastransformedintoenergydirectedforgood.
Mr.Trumpisdirectingourangerforlessthannoblepurposes.HecreatesscapegoatsofMuslimsand
Mexicanimmigrants,hecallsfortheuseoftortureandforkillingtheinnocentchildrenandfamily
membersofterrorists.Hecheersassaultsonprotesters.Heapplaudstheprospectoftwistingthe
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Constitutiontolimitfirstamendmentfreedomofthepress.Thisistheverybrandofangerthathasled
othernationsintotheabyss.
Here'swhatIknow.DonaldTrumpisaphony,afraud.Hispromisesareasworthlessasadegreefrom
TrumpUniversity.He'splayingtheAmericanpublicforsuckers:HegetsafreeridetotheWhiteHouse
andallwegetisalousyhat.
Hisdomesticpolicieswouldleadtorecession.HisforeignpolicieswouldmakeAmericaandtheworld
lesssafe.Hehasneitherthetemperamentnorthejudgmenttobepresident.Andhispersonalqualities
wouldmeanthatAmericawouldceasetobeashiningcityonahill.
Americahasgreatnessahead.Thisisatimeforchoosing.Godblessustochooseanomineewhowill
makethatvisionareality.
Yourthoughtsonthespeech?TellusonFacebook>>
ALSO
GOPdonorsrampupantiTrumpefforts
Thiswasn'tthewayChrisChristiewantedtomakeheadlines
Editorial:DonaldTrumpisnotfittobepresidentoftheUnitedStates
Copyright2016,LosAngelesTimes

Thisarticleisrelatedto:DonaldTrump,Elections,RepublicanParty,RonaldReagan,TedCruz,Mitt
Romney,JohnKasich

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