Mitt Romney needed to make a convincing case for new leadership in America: his leadership. In accepting the Republican nomination for president Thursday night, he did just that – and then some. Romney spoke directly to the millions of voters who were genuinely filled with “fresh excitement” by President Obama’s election four years ago – and who are now sorely disillusioned by his non-leadership. “‘Hope and change’ had a powerful appeal,” Romney noted – but “there’s something wrong … when the best feeling you had was the day you voted for him.” Indeed. It was Romney himself who gave voters fresh reason to regain the hope they’d lost: “The time has come to turn the page,” he said. “Now is the time to restore the promise of America.” Sure, the commentators and pro-Obama media were busy picking nits in Romney’s words, just as they’ve done for months. But it was Mitt Romney up there accepting the nomination – defiantly. – New York Post
Mitt Romney took his turn at blasting and belittling Barack Obama on Thursday night, working too hard on twisting “hope and change” into a weapon rather than offering ideas to woo the disappointed to his side. In his speech accepting the GOP nomination for the presidency, Romney tried to cozy up to those who once backed the current president and now feel disaffected and are hurting financially. Choose me, he said, and let me get the unemployed to work and end the divisiveness that tears at our nation. But Romney, in his workmanlike speech, never presented a convincing case for how he would solve the nation’s steep challenges. More troubling: the misstatements, omissions and deceit. Romney promised no higher taxes on the middle class, overlooking the tax breaks middle-class families experienced during Obama’s tenure. While he praised immigrants, he neglected to mention his position favoring self-deportation and against the DREAM Act. – Kansas City Star
