Though classes were not in session and residence halls stood empty, Capital still showed up in full force to greet Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney today in the Harry C. Moore Campus Center. The event was packed with media, students, and community members alike, but Capital provided an overflow area at the bridge overlooking the main dining hall as well as simulcasting the town hall meeting onto a screen placed by the parking lot in front of Cotterman Hall. The meeting began with multiple introductions, including ones made by Mark Smith, the President of Ohio Christian University, Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo, and Ohio Senate President Thomas Niehaus.
Smith wanted to paint Gov. Romney as the next Reagan, saying “We must understand that this is our moment to elect another great leader like Reagan in Mitt Romney. The man that is the leader on all issues is Mitt Romney.”
Smith also tried to appeal to a religious base by talking about the recent health care concerns regarding the coverage of contraceptives.
“This is not a pro-life issue. This is a government mandate issue, taking over our religious freedoms in America,” Smith said.
Mingo, who is also co-leader of the Romney campaign in Franklin County, continued the idea that Gov. Romney is a strong leader. “There is one great need in America right now- strong leadership emanating from the executive branch,” Mingo said.
Niehaus provided the formal introduction, saying “Obama was not qualified to be president, and he has had three years of on-the-job training. I’m here to introduce a man that does not need job training. He will break partisan gridlock and is the next president of the United States of America, Governor Mitt Romney,” Niehaus said.
Capital was the second stop in Ohio for Gov. Romney, who also spoke in Toledo this morning, where he received the endorsement of State Auditor Dave Yost. Gov. Romney entered in true buckeye fashion to the song Hang on Sloopy with his wife, Ann. The crowd rose to their feet in applause to great the pair, and it wasn’t until Gov. Romney insisted that everyone be seated that the applause stopped.
Romney began by talking about his “steady,” his wife. The two met in elementary school and have been married for 42 years. Mrs. Romney also spoke at the event, saying “four years ago I said we’d never do this again…but one year ago when it came time to have this conversation, I sat Mitt down and asked him some questions, and I think he is the only one that can fix [America],” Mrs. Romney said.
When Gov. Romney began in earnest, he started by thanking Capital for hosting and saying “I’m here today to answer your questions. Ask any that you like, even the embarrassing awkward ones.”
Romney also mentioned what he saw as the failures of the Obama presidency and how Obama did not live up to his campaign promises on things like taxes and trimming the debt.
“Capital students are expecting a good job for them when they leave college, and that promise is very much in question today. The president has failed. He is out of ideas, out of excuses, and in 2012 he will be out of office,” Gov. Romney said.
Romney’s plan for his presidency includes putting a hold on all of President Obama’s regulations on day one, and also ending the President’s healthcare reform law. The Governor also discussed how China is cheating the system economically, and that the American government is to blame for letting them do so.
“I don’t blame [China] for cheating. I blame us for letting them. I want your vote. If I’m the nominee, I will beat Barack Obama,” Gov. Romney said. Following that claim, the audience rose to their feet again in applause.
Once the floor was opened for questions, the first audience member chosen asked what Gov. Romney would do to help small business owners.
“If [you’re] lucky enough to be successful, under the current administration, you get taxed at 40%. I want that to be 28% rate so you can hire more people and expand. I can’t make your business succeed, but I can make the conditions that let it grow,” Gov. Romney said. Gov. Romney also mentioned that his plans to allow forms of energy acquisition such as fracking will drive down energy costs and benefit small businesses.
He also answered questions involving students. A woman in law school asked what he would do with unsubsidized loans for grad students, which are being cut by the current government. Gov. Romney answered by saying “We’re going to have to have rates as low as they can be, but we can’t give out free money. If the government gave every student $20,000 to use on tuition, tuition would just go up by $20,000. From my standpoint, we have to compete, and have competition between lenders, and schools will have to learn to live within their means.”
Romney also took a question from Capital student and Chimes editor Adam Schneider, who asked what his number one concern with foreign policy was. Gov. Romney did not hesitate in answering. “Keeping Iran from getting nuclear weapons. It is unacceptable for this nation to allow Iran to have nuclear weapons. We’ve gone so long without crippling sanctions [against Iran], but doing that, supporting dissidents in a covert way, and communication to people that nuclear power is not a good thing [will help avoid a military conflict with Iran]. We must communicate, though, that we have a military capacity. If nuclear power finds its way into the hands of a terrorist organization, we will punish the nation that provided that,” Gov. Romney said.
While he addressed a multitude of topics, from the second amendment to his family life, Gov. Romney stuck to the main ideas of small government and a balanced budget. He ended his town hall meeting by saying “I appreciate the chance to meet you and take your questions today. The future is brighter than the past, but we can’t stay on the road we’re on.” As he walked around to shake the hands of those in attendance, the audience again gave him a standing ovation.
Capital students enjoyed the chance to be a part of the political experience.
“I thought it was a great opportunity for the campus to hear a candidate who actually matters. He talked about college students and I appreciate that,” Ross White, senior, said.
Junior Tyler Warner, who also volunteered to help at the event, said “[Gov. Romney] did a great job. What he said about Iran was important. If I could complain about anything, talk about a fair tax and a flat tax would’ve made me happy.”
