Romney steps up Obama attacks
February 1st, 2011
09:05 AM ET
4 years ago

Romney steps up Obama attacks

(CNN) – Mitt Romney’s “worst fears about the president have come true,” the likely presidential candidate writes in a newly released edition of his book, “No Apology.”

In the new paperback edition that appears perfectly timed ahead of a potential presidential bid, Romney writes the president’s policies are “smothering the American dream.”

“Rather than focusing his energy and political capital on solving the economic crisis, he exploited it to promote his extreme liberal agenda,’’ writes Romney, first provided to the Boston Globe.

Romney also takes the opportunity to jab the president’s health care plan, despite criticisms from some Republicans over a similar plan the former Massachusetts governor signed into law five years ago.

“They have enacted 2,000 pages of health care legislation, and while the politicians did not take the time to read it before they voted, small businesses will have no choice but to read and comply with every one of its new mandates and provisions,’’ Romney says.

Filed under: Mitt Romney
soundoff (59 Responses)
  1. Justin

    And that will be Romney's downfall... You can't join your party calling Obama "socialist" when the insurance plan you forced onto your state is so close to the federal one you are now bashing. Blatant hypocrisy may have been ignored before, but now that the Tea Party crowd is showing a tendency to not "fall into line" as the GOP had hoped, it will prove problematic.

    February 1, 2011 09:16 am at 9:16 am |
  2. kyle

    It seems like Mitt only wants Government run healthcare for his state only, screw the rest of America.

  3. Darth Vadik, CA

    At least Ralph Nader, who popps up every 4 years to run for President does work in between elections, has Romney had a job in the last 8 or 10 years? And this freak thinks he knows what to do to fix America???!!! I guess his magic underwear will help him, or so he thinks...

    February 1, 2011 09:23 am at 9:23 am |
  4. Indie Woman in Denver

    Oh, geez, who cares what this guy has to say this week? Next week he'll flip to whatever viewpoint he thinks will get him elected. And forget about his record in Massachusetts! He didn't really mean to put in that mandate in his healthcare law.

    February 1, 2011 09:24 am at 9:24 am |
  5. USA401

    That’s funny cause the economy has improved since the downfall during the Bush administration. And Im pretty sure he doesn’t supply any real evidence of the President 'destroying the American dream'. This is nothing more than more hot air for the ideological Lemmings.

    February 1, 2011 09:27 am at 9:27 am |
  6. Total truth

    how long was your bill Romney.... u are too funny!!!

    February 1, 2011 09:28 am at 9:28 am |
  7. BatMan

    Wow the REPUBs are back at it tryn to fill folks minds that that President wants to destroy the American Dream...sounds familiar huh..well lets see...seems the President has done something NO OTher president has...Made it RIGHT to FIGHT the INSURANCE Companies!!! wow MITT REALLY "Smothering the American Dream" what STANDING UP for those of US who are the HAVE NOTS!!!!! Like lets say POOR people....Minorities , LATINOs, instead of giving the RICH more tax breaks and keeping the Insurance Industry POCKETS FULL of money and not paying ANY CLAIMS!!!!! Well here we go again....are they serious to think ALL Americans are stupid...but they do get the RUSH, BECK, PALIN, and the crazy nut from Montana going on their soap boxes....WAKE UP AMERICAN ...OBAMA has been the best thing for this country since CLINTON...he's just beginning to CLEAN UP GW's MESS...lets call it like it is for a chance!!!!!

    February 1, 2011 09:29 am at 9:29 am |
  8. I can see russia from my house

    Lol takes one to know one...he has a health care plan his self... I don't understand why idiots in America don't support health care have they not seen Americans without it? Man I hear about people with lupus or with cancer who can't afford to go to the doctor? Why would you want them to suffer? If some of the poorest countries in the world can do it why can't we do it?

    February 1, 2011 09:32 am at 9:32 am |
  9. carrotroot

    Extreme liberal agenda? I guess Romney was following an extreme liberal agenda when he passed Romneycare in Massachusetts before it became Obamacare for the rest of the country.

  10. Marcus

    Romney... forget it.
    Suppose that you come out with a viable alternative to the ACA, something well crafted and with few (and easily workable) points that may cause trouble politically speaking...
    Or that you have an alternative for the budget cuts that will work...
    In either case your party will STILL prefere a 'more Christian' dude for the nomination.
    Your pleas (for a nomination as the next GOP candidate for POTUS) will always fall in deaf ears...
    Regardless of how much you say what they want to hear (and you know that it is not true).

    February 1, 2011 09:37 am at 9:37 am |
  11. Oldie in TampaBay

    Just another one that loves to hear himself talk! Blah blah blah and saying nothing of any interest except the same ole same ole GOP rhetoric.

    February 1, 2011 09:38 am at 9:38 am |
  12. diridi

    He is a totally an the nation...because of wearing Tie and suit, he think he is great....what a dumb...does he know as to where the Egypt is...?????? Talks no sense to me, absolutely of whatsoever.....o.k....he wants to be president of USA....he is going to put this nation to out...this idiot....

  13. johnmccain

    Flip flop, flip flop... Make up your mind, pretty boy.

    February 1, 2011 09:39 am at 9:39 am |
  14. Cascadoux

    ...And he and the GOP kill whatever joy and hope left.

    February 1, 2011 09:43 am at 9:43 am |
  15. Robert

    "Worst fears." Yawn. Typical Republican messaging. Generating "fear" is their favorite way to influence voters. And they throw in some bland, boilerplate, meaningless terms like "extreme liberal agenda." As as Massachusetts resident who had to endure Mitten's horrible, hypocritical governorship, I hope voters will see through his slick veneer to the hollow core. He' a political weathervane who will say and do whatever will make his poll numbers go up. No convictions whatsoever.

    February 1, 2011 09:46 am at 9:46 am |
  16. Republicans = Fascists

    Mitt "The Hypocrite" Romney slamming his healthcare bill. The economic crisis was averted by the President. If we would have had the fascist republican way, the unemployment numbers will be alot hire than they are now and we probably wouldn't have a car industry anymore.

    February 1, 2011 09:47 am at 9:47 am |
  17. ModMike

    No disrespect Mr. Romney but did'nt you pass leglislation a few years ago like this????? LOL!

  18. patty

    Smothering the American Dream for who? The corporations and fat cats or normal Americans. Seems the greedy corporations have already done in the normal people.

    February 1, 2011 09:48 am at 9:48 am |
  19. Mike

    First of all, I would like to thank Romney for establishing RomneyCare in Massachusetts. It actually works and we have near 100% coverage, protection from loss of coverage due to pre-existing conditions, and the ability to cover our children after college until they can get settled on their own. Second, Romney is being hypocritical because the "extreme liberal agenda" in health care was written, certified and validated by Romney himself. You shouldn't be criticizing it Mitt, you should be taking the credit for a job well done.

    February 1, 2011 09:49 am at 9:49 am |
  20. Wire Palladin, S. F.

    Romney is just another sad excuse for a GOP candidate. While he is getting his marching orders from the Kochs, remember it was the republicans who destroyed our economy and the American dream with their unfunded tax cuts, unfunded wars, unfunded drug programs, unfunded TARP program, and unfunded unprecedented government growth.

    February 1, 2011 09:52 am at 9:52 am |
  21. T'sah from Virginia

    Romney is a failure in his own state and should keep his mouth shut like he's been doing for the past month or so.

    Let's continue to support our current leader, President Obama, instead of listening to EMPTY rhetoric from a person that has done the SAME as President Obama and now wants to criticize it!! Even though Romney may be the BEST candidate the RepubliCAN'Ts have to offer and his EYES SMILE (which is a good thing), he is NOT going to win in 2012!!

    February 1, 2011 09:53 am at 9:53 am |
  22. proud mother of soldier

    How right he is about small businesses complying with a health care plan our congressmen did not read. My husbands company is struggling as they take on the burdon of providing coverage for children to age 26 (who may have jobs with benefits but prefer the plan of parents), the additional taxes Obama has imposed and the threat of closing because they can no longer be profitable. Obama is smothering the american dream and creativity of the same people who create jobs. Talk to these people dems and learn the other side of all these handouts!

    February 1, 2011 09:54 am at 9:54 am |
  23. Wire Palladin, S. F.

    Mittens needs to be reminded that it was the job killing republican party that voted against every job creating bill and voted against every American worker since the onset of the Bush/republican near depression.

  24. Lynda/Minnesota

    I'd forgotten how unbelievably shallow Romney is. He's going to have to come up with some of his own accomplishments that aren't a mirror of Obama's if he is going to get others to vote for him. Other than this constant criticism of President Obama, Romney hasn't much to go on. For someone who has been running for president 4 years now, Romney's got nothing - including a job. Might just as well add Romney to the Christine O'Donnell category of professional candidate wannabee.

    February 1, 2011 09:55 am at 9:55 am |
  25. alybaba

    More dirty politics from another dirty politician.
    Dosen't anyone run on their merits?

    February 1, 2011 09:56 am at 9:56 am |
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