News
2007-06-01
Romney: Clinton a
European caricature
Republican
presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Thursday criticized
Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as a European
caricature
Republican
presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Thursday criticized
Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as a European
caricature who would turn the United States into a
welfare state.
Speaking to about
200 people in Sioux City, Iowa, Romney said he wanted
to highlight the differences between himself and Clinton,
the front-runner for her party's presidential
nomination.
''Her view is the
old, classic, European caricature that we describe of
big government, big taxation, welfare state,'' said the
former Massachusetts governor.
''She gave a
speech a couple of days ago and laid out her vision for
America. And as I listened to her I figured her platform
wouldn't even get her elected in France,'' Romney, who
was a missionary in France, said to chuckles and
applause.
In the recent
French election conservative Nicolas Sarkozy captured the
presidency, defeating Segolene Royal in her bid to become
France's first woman president.
Romney criticized
Clinton's effort as first lady to enact universal
health care and touted his success in passing a plan in
Massachusetts. Although Romney won bipartisan praise
for his state effort, he hasn't mentioned it much in
his bid for president.
''The first
difference is mine got passed and hers didn't,'' he said.
Romney said the
election of Clinton as president would force the country
to veer off course economically, militarily, and socially.
''I'm convinced
if Hillary were president...that we would see, instead of
a stronger military and a stronger economy and stronger
families, we'd see a weaker military because she
would...be able to spend money on the social programs
that she favors,'' he said. ''We'd see a weaker economy
because she'd raise taxes and we'd have less money going
into the private sector and creating new jobs. We'd
see weaker families as well.''
A Clinton
campaign spokesman declined to respond to Romney's comments.
Contrasting
himself with Clinton, Romney also reiterated his support for
a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Clinton has said she wouldn't support such an
amendment. (Nafeesa Syeed, AP)
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