Romney's Courage and Conviction in His NAACP Speech Missed by Most of the Media

By Keith A Fournier
7/15/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

I was disappointed by the slanted coverage this solid speech received from many in the media

I believe that if you understood who I truly am in my heart, and if it were possible to fully communicate what I believe is in the real, enduring best interest of African American families, you would vote for me for president. I want you to know that if I did not believe that my policies and my leadership would help families of color - and families of any color - more than the policies and leadership of President Obama, I would not be running for president. The opposition charges that I and people in my party are running for office to help the rich. Nonsense. The rich will do just fine whether I am elected or not. The President wants to make this a campaign about blaming the rich. I want to make this a campaign about helping the middle class.

Mitt Romney addressing the NAACP

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WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - I write this article without any title. I write as a private citizen deeply concerned about a presidential campaign which I have concluded is the most important in my lifetime. I write for an integrated media network named Catholic Online which, seeing the ominous clouds of hostility toward people of faith gathering years ago, prudently structured itself as a for profit company so that it would not be restricted in speaking out in the political arena. However, what I am writing is my personal position. It will also not be my last article of this type. The stakes in the upcoming US Presidential election are just too great.

Those who have read my articles over the last year know I was a strong supporter of the former Senator from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum, during the primary campaign for the Republican nomination. I still follow the Senator's work and am glad that this gifted public servant is still assisting the Nation he loves through Patriot Voices. Patriot Voices is a grassroots and online community of Americans from across the country committed to promoting faith, family, freedom and opportunity in accordance with the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Rick Santorum is my friend. I know his gifted wife Karen. I have been deeply inspired by their family. I know he would become an outstanding President at this time in his life. He has matured well with time, allowing it to become the tutor it is meant to be. I am glad the Senator is still young and I sincerely hope he appears again on the National Political scene. When he does, no matter how old I am, I will do all I can to assist him. Our Nation needs men of courage and conviction like him in public office.

The Republican Party now has a nominee, the former Governor of my home State as a boy, Massachusetts. I must vote to discharge my duty as a faithful Catholic citizen. I will not waste my vote. I cannot vote for the current President. I will do everything I can to see he is not reelected. His leadership in the White House has demonstrated he is no friend of life, marriage and the Family and the society founded upon it, Religious Liberty and many other foundational causes to which I have dedicated my life. In fact, I worry for the future of our Nation, and the freedom of my Church, if he is reelected. So, I have been following Mitt Romney very closely since his nomination became a foregone conclusion.

In May, I wrote about Mitt Romney's commencement address at Liberty University in an article entitled Mitt Romney: Mormon Candidate at Baptist Liberty University Moves Catholic Editor I noted my pleasure at the quality of his speech. I wrote the "fact that a Mormon, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, would be the commencement speaker at the Baptist University founded by Dr Jerry Falwell speaks to the urgency of the hour. Add to this the fact that this Catholic Editor in Chief of Catholic Online would consider the speech important enough to make it the lead article, and the point is made even clearer."

Then in June, I wrote again about Governor Romney's superb address to the Latino Coalition which gathered at the end of May in Washington, DC. The article was entitled "Romney is Right, Time to Parentize Not Privatize Education through School Choice" The speech was based upon a larger policy statement contained in a white paper which explains the reforms Romney will implement if elected entitled "A Chance for Every Child" which can be read in its entirety here. It is an excellent proposal for a major overhaul in our Nations educational policy. It should be read by anyone concerned about authentic educational reform.

It is July and I am back again; this time to commend the courage of Mitt Romney. I write about Mitt Romney's address to the NAACP on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. If you have read many media reports you were fed propaganda posing as journalism. Before the speech could even be digested, the usual sources were panning, mocking, and berating the candidate. They accurately noted that his comments opposing the Affordable Care Act met with boos. However, they did not mention the applause he received at other points of the address, or at the end. Though I normally only post short portions of video clips before my articles, I am posting the entire address for my readers. Listen to it; it will be worth your while.

Mitt Romney showed courage, poise, and grace in both accepting the invitation to speak before this historically ...

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1 - 6 of 6 Comments

Sum Nemo
10 months ago
Because I refuse to support either of the current candidates, the following would apply to Obama equally. The word "courage" has been bandied about in such a fashion that it has lost all of its effect. In today's context, going to work every day to face a boss who is an absolute bully makes me courageous. Romney did not demonstrate courage; he simply faced an audience that was not agreeable to his political views which is roughly equivalent to a stand-up comedian facing a hostile audience. We really need to reserve the word "courage" for those who are truly courageous, not those who are simply in an uncomfortable situation.
Mary
10 months ago
Here in PA the proper path is clear. Vote for a pro-life and conservative Senator to defeat the current pro-life in name only and ridiculously liberal Casey, and send him to Washington along with Romney to help him keep his campaign promises. Keep placing genuinely conservative people into office all around the Presidency, and it becomes an obvious mandate of the People to regain our footing as a nation.
Romney's speech was wonderful and inspiring, and it is not surprising that the media does not want the citizens to hear it. I say the prayer to St Michael for him every day, that he may become the man our country and our Church needs, both during the election cycle and after.
Theresa H.
10 months ago
Thanks, Deacon Keith, for your article. Though I, too, favor Rick Santorum over Mitt Romney, Rick is no longer a viable candidate--Mitt is. So, as I see it, we must go with Mitt--if President Obamba is to be defeated--and he must be defeated! Given Obama's "agenda," the "Change" and "Tranformation" of our country that he ran on during his first election, given what we have already heard him say and seen him (and his chosen Team) do, I believe we will see the total demise of the USA and our Founding Principles if he is re-elected--And THAT could lead, sooner or later, to a new American Revolution....I sure hope it does not have to come to THAT, but the situation is grave, very grave. Indeed, unity, liberty and justice for all cannot continue for long when respect for God and the Ten Commandments is removed from the public (and individual) consciousness of a people. After all, only "the fool says in his heart: 'there is no God'" and I fear there are too many of us in the USA who live/act "as if God does not exist"--even if we do not say it.... May God have mercy on us and save us!
ccs
10 months ago
Romney has no discernible courage, no honesty, and no core. He does not have even 1% of my support. He merely has my coerced vote.
David Carlon
10 months ago
Will God use a Mormon Samaritan as his rod and staff to guide this depraved nation from the brink of the spiritual abyss? God's will be done.
Rob
10 months ago
Deacon, I think a lot of people were duped by fancy speeches and the like in the last election cycle. For me it was pretty easy. Obama just didn't have the depth of experience that I felt a president needed. And while I had to hold my nose with Palin on the ticket, I knew voting for McCain was the right call....I didn't even have to get to the life issues. Today I find myself still clueless about what Romney will actually do. Will he live up to the speeches or is he going to be a schill for the extreme element of his party? Will he lead the gaggle we call the house and senate, or will he just sign what is presented to him as Grover Norquist proclaimed at cpac? While I think Romney is evolving in the right direction, that guy has been on about every side of every issue. I can't shake the feeling that he'll be and say whatever he has to say to get this job. I get what you are saying about no wasting your vote, but I am beginning to understand why people don't vote. But maybe getting Obama out is sufficient to get these idiots to work together before they bring the entire country down?

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