The Competent Conservative

WEST PALM BEACH — In remarks that had the feel of a 2012 presidential campaign preview, former Massachusetts Gov. and 2008 Republican White House aspirant Mitt Romney today said Democrats have taken the country in the wrong direction, but fed-up voters will “get America back on the right track.”

Romney spoke to a sold-out Forum Club of the Palm Beaches luncheon crowd of about 750.

He’s officially on a 40-city tour to promote his new book, No Apologies: The Case For American Greatness. The tour includes stops in early-primary states Iowa and New Hampshire, but Romney said in an interview he won’t begin thinking about his 2012 plans until after the midterm elections in November.

In a 25-minute speech and an audience question-and-answer session of roughly the same duration, Romney rarely mentioned President Obama or Democrats by name, but made it clear he opposes their agenda.

America’s founders encouraged a spirit of individual liberty and entrepreneurship, Romney said, but, “as I watch Washington I feel that politicians are stripping away that spirit and are smothering the opportunity for growth and for innovation…with the taxes and excessive regulation.”

Romney said he’s confident voters will force change in November.

“I’m convinced…that we’re going to get America back on the right track,” Romney said to applause. “I think the course we’ve been setting has been wrong and the people are recognizing it. I appreciate the fact that the silent majority is less and less silent these days and is speaking out.”

Romney, who pushed universal health care legislation in Massachusetts, criticized the federal health care overhaul being advanced by Obama and congressional Democrats. He also decried escalating federal deficits as “immoral,” said he’s for better pay and incentives for teachers and endorsed free trade “but also trade that is fair and honest.”

In keeping with the theme of his book, Romney said the U.S. is the world’s leading champion of freedom and must not allow Russia, China or “violent jihadists” to weaken America’s position.

In response to an audience question, Romney called the tea party movement “a movement of concerned Americans — Democrats, independents and Republicans — who think America is on the wrong track. I’m hopeful we’ll be able to attract most of them to vote for Republican candidates. Some will vote for others. I think the movement is an indication that Americans are tired of being silent.”

Asked by another audience member about the legacy of former President George W. Bush, Romney sought to steer clear of focusing on individual political figures.

“While it is tempting to become consumed with redissecting President Bush’s legacy and to be consumed with anger towards those things in President Obama’s agenda that we disagree with, while we talk about those things we should really be consumed with the direction America’s taking and how to move ourselves forward.”

After the speech and after signing a few hundred copies of his book, Romney told The Palm Beach Post that Obama’s priorities have been misplaced since he took office.

“The president should have focused his political energy and his attention on the economy and on succeeding in the war against violent jihad,” Romney said. “And he has instead used his time and energy to sell his health care plan and it has fallen flat with the American people.”

As Massachusetts governor, Romney advocated health care reform that included a requirement that all individuals who could afford it buy insurance. The Massachusetts law also includes a penalty for businesses who don’t offer insurance to employees.

But Romney said the Massachusetts plan is different from a “federal one-size-fits-all plan” that includes higher taxes, price controls and reductions in Medicare payments that Democrats say will come from savings but Romney says will force benefit cuts.

Romney said he hopes to “help get good folks elected this November and then after that I’ll think about my future.”

Romney will weigh in on behalf of House and Senate candidates through his Free and Strong America PAC. Asked if the PAC will take sides in Florida’s GOP Senate primary between Gov. Charlie Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio, Romney said, “I’ll watch with interest and I can’t tell you whether I’ll endorse. Usually I stay out of primaries.”

Source of article here.