NewWest.Net/Politics

In Montana, Romney Calls for More Troops, More Money for Military

By Greg Lemon, 6-22-07

HELENA—Mitt Romney has a conservative three-point solution to keep America on track.

“Conservatism is a philosophy of strength,” he told Montana Republicans Friday morning in Helena over a breakfast of steak and eggs. “We believe in strong military, strong economy and strong family.”

Romney took time out of a Western-states swing to speak at the kick-off breakfast for the Montana GOP convention at the Red Lion Colonial. The 20-minute speech might be all the direct attention Montana will get from a presidential candidate during this election cycle.

After the breakfast, Romney was head to Portland, and then back to Idaho before spending Saturday in Utah.

Though Romney referenced quotes and sayings from President Ronald Reagan a handful of times, and mentioned President Dwight Eisenhower once, he didn’t mention President Bush at all.

Romney also referred to the problems within the Montana GOP in passing. In the past few days, the state GOP has been in the news again for partisanship by refusing to sell Lt. Governor John Bohlinger two tickets to the state convention.

“I’m coming to a state where I don’t have all the answers,” he said. “I’m not going to suggest how to strengthen the Montana Republican Party”

American people are hardworking, value education, love liberty and freedom, Romney said. The difference between Democrats and Republicans is that Democrats believe the strength of America lies with a strong government.

“The truth is that the source of America’s strength is the American people,” Romney said.

To address his three-part strategy, Romney proposed increasing the military by 100,000 troops and increase spending more than $30 billion.

Romney later said incentives such as college tuition breaks could be used to ramp up the enlistment numbers. 

Focusing on the military is important, because despite with Democratic presidential candidate Jon Edwards says, there still is a War on Terror, he said.

“If I’m president, or if any Republican is president, there will be a war waged on the terrorists,” Romney said to cheers.

But key in the quest to become a stronger military is beefing up the economy.

“You can’t be a tier one military and a tier two economy,” he said.

Lowering taxes, euthanizing the death tax and cutting taxes on savings for middle-income investors, were on his to-do list.

Romney said he is troubled by the state of family values in America, particularly the family structure and children born out of wedlock.

“In many cities today the majority of kids are being born out of wedlock,” he said. “So I think it’s critical that we encourage, once again, marriage before babies.”

More cheers.

HE said the Republican Party is a party of optimism and spoke at length of the optimism he feels for the country.

“We’re a nation that if we’re led with truth, dignity and honor we’ll always be the hope of the world.”

The distinctions between Republicans and Democrats are important to understand, said Montana Senate Minority Leader, Corey Stapleton, R-Billings. Romney detailed those differences without sounding partisan or petty. His is a message that moderates on both sides of the aisle can get behind.

And becoming more accommodating to differing views and moderate members of the party is crucial for the Republicans to continue to win state elections, said state Representative Gary Maclaren, R-Victor.

“I think the general populous is tired of extremism,” he said.

Romney was right to focus his speech his ideas for America and how the Republican Party relies on the citizens not the government for direction and strength, Maclaren said.

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