REUTERS/Brian Snyder
In a far-reaching interview on Fox News Sunday, Mitt Romney pointed to the health care reforms he enacted as Massachusetts governor to defend the oft-leveled charge that he's weak on women's issues.
"Look, I'm the guy who was able to get health care for all the women and men in my state," the presumptive Republican presidential nominee told host Chris Wallace in the interview, which was pre-taped while Romney was on the campaign trail in Michigan earlier this week.
"We actually did something and we did it without cutting Medicare and without raising taxes...I'm very proud of what we did."
Of course, Romney's Massachusetts health care reforms have also been something of a political liability this election season, as in many ways, "Romneycare" was the blueprint for President Obama's own health care reform package—a law which is loathed on the right.
When Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul recently had positive things to say about Romneycare, she triggered a furious backlash among conservatives. Romney's new comments suggest his campaign has decided that the benefits of talking about the law, as a way to reach out to women and swing voters, outweigh the downsides.
Further defending his record on women's rights, Romney said he recognizes that Americans "should have a right to use contraceptives." On abortion, Romney tried to cast the issue as one that transcends gender: “It’s not just men who think one way, women also in many cases are pro-life. There are two lives at stake: the unborn child and the mom, and I care for both of them.”
And Romney again skewered the GOP's Missouri Senate nominee, Todd Akin, over his factually incorrect claim that women rarely get pregnant from "legitimate rape." Romney called the remarks "offensive" and "outrageous," adding, "I've asked him to get out of the race. I think I've distanced myself from the thing that he said as far as I can."
Wallace also brought up the famously wealthy Romney's financial interests in the Cayman Islands, and a $3 million Swiss bank account that appeared on his 2010 tax returns. The Fox newsman asked Romney why he didn't get rid of them eight years ago—when he first started running for president—to "clear the decks politically."
"I could have said, 'Don't make investments in any foreign companies, in any foreign bonds, in any foreign currency—only U.S. entities," Romney said. "By the way, I don't buy any foreign products, don't have any Japanese TVs, foreign cars. Yeah, I could have done that. But you know I did lead my life...I'm not going to try to hide who I am and try to manipulate my life to try to avoid the truth."
Fox also aired a second interview with Romney—this one pre-taped at the family's vacation home in New Hampshire. Romney, who is eager to better connect with voters after largely being defined in the public eye as lacking the common touch, was seen flipping pancakes, showing off a family "chore wheel" and talking about his love for Costco shirts that come in money-saving three-packs.
Wallace asked Ann Romney about the perception that her husband doesn't understand most Americans. "I wish everyone could see him how I see him," she said.
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Yeah, Ann, I honestly would prefer to never see Mitt as you see him.
I concur, it makes me sick on how this etch-a-sketch machine operates.
Ugh. What I don't get is the oft-repeated idea that 'offshoring' is good for American companies. So, let me get this straight. 1) it takes jobs and their accompanying salaries away from Americans. 2) It invests the profits gained in foreign companies--to make the income from those investments not taxable in America 3) it takes those profits and offshores them in foreign bank accounts to shelter them from taxes paid to the USA...
So what actual good does offshoring do America, which loses jobs and taxes twice over (no taxes from workers' salaries, and none from their bosses)? Can someone explain.
Mitt's doesn't buy foreign goods, he says? He has to be lying. What television sets are really made in America and not at least assembled in Mexico or owned by Japanese, Dutch or Korean companies and 'assembled' in the USA?
And that comment: ""I could have said, 'Don't make investments in any foreign companies, in any foreign bonds, in any foreign currency—only U.S. entities," Romney said. "By the way, I don't buy any foreign products, don't have any Japanese TVs, foreign cars. Yeah, I could have done that. But you know I did lead my life...I'm not going to try to hide who I am and try to manipulate my life to try to avoid the truth." What a farce.
Thank you!! Romney did not put America first when he was busy sending our jobs to China and India. Romney did not care about supporting American when putting his money in Swiss bank account and Cayman Island. Romney does not care what Americans think when he refuse to show his tax returns. Romney did not care about women when he was ask to endorse the Lilly Bedbetter Fair Pay Act. Romney did not care about women when he ask one of the most extreme radical Paul Ryan to be his VP. Now, all of a sudden, he has been re-invented. Sorry, but no thanks.
evan martha stewart did time. how can he run for preisdent,when in fact he should be behind bars
It's a weird little thing to be lying about, but unless he's talking about undershirts, Costco shirts don't come in 3-packs. I shop there all the time and wear Costco shirts most of the time.
It seems like a weird, small think for Mitt to be lying about, but unless he's talking about undershirts, Costco shirts are not sold in three-packs, at least not in NY. I wear them all the time and they are inexpensive, but not sold in three-packs.
Mr Romney needs to make up his mind on what he stands for. Firstly, Romney has accused Obama about his healthcare policy which is the same as Mitt's. The GOP crucified Andrea Saul for giving credit to Romneycare and now Mitt is basically doing the same thing she did. So will the real Mitt Romney stand up? Are you proud of your accomplishments or not? As far as I see, this man is worse than Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin was a novice but he is a bigger novice than she was. Romney make Sarah Palin look like she is a scholar.lol If America ever make the mistake and vote in Mitt/Ryan, people would have to leave America by the ship load and you can look for the return of Jesus just around the corner.
This man is a yoyo. A fool is someone that does not have a mind of his/her own. And one thing I know God will not put a fool in the white house unless he wants to destroy that nation. America is one the most blessed country in the world, so I don't believe God will put someone there that does not have the capability to run the country and maintain it's global standing in the world.
His plan to get elected is so far removed from what he will do in office, The lies just roll off his tongue, much like a baby drools
One thing that the Romney campaign has not made any effort to get around is that they have consistantly put out a rather clear collection of undefendable lies about what has been done and what hasn't been done by the Obama Administration. This is a serious reflection of the ethics of this campaign. If it were politics, the comments would be about a different approach or a different evaluation of an action, but, all based, at least on accepted facts. This campaign simply has too many "pants-on-fire" statements, to be treated with respect. As to the personal issues of the Romneys', that is an abstract summation to be developed by each voter, individually.
Romney has stated that he would support Personhood Laws. The Ryan /Aikin Personhood Bill would have CRIMINALIZED BIRTH CONTROL. Though it failed narrowly many Republicans voted for it. Romneys has sold out to the extremists!!!! If you are a women or if you love a women you should be afraid of Romney and the republicans running in the smaller state races...!
Romney is not only practices of tax evasion, he pretty good at truth evasion.
Didn't Al Gore make a documentary about Romneycare Called "An Inconvenient Truth"?
Since Obama Care is based on Romney Care why aren't the Republicans applauding it? Because they don't want to admit Obama got a win. Same goes for the stimulus bill. If that hadn't happened we really would be in a full blown depression and I for one might have been out on the street, or at least lost my house.
Hey Offshore Willy, the Japanese can't even buy Japanese made TVs, and if you can buy an American made TV, please let us know. We all want to be good American Patriots, just like you. You are so out of touch. Maybe your handlers can give you a lesson on just what products are manufactured where.(hint: electronics are mostly manufactured in China)
Romney of the Week Special Offer. Anybody buying?
I can hardly wait to see just what will happen if Romney by chance is actually elected. Can you immagine the outsourcing that will begin anew ? Can you imagine the dregultion of industry that will begin.....can you even consider just what kind of pay scales will be around under a Romney presidency and republican control ? You can hardly see Atlanta now with the smog there..and that is with at least some regulations in place. Take away the rgulations..and Atlanta will become unseeabe in the future. Only then it will become country wide.
I have to really wonder jusy why Romney wants to be president at all? His money is in other country's....his compay Bain outsourced many jobs for so called cheap labor and igher profits..yet he maks the claim of being for the USA...I wonder when ?