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Politics creates strange bedfellows as Mitt Romney distancs himself from George W. Bush and president 'defends' him
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-- to move us along here's Susan Katz.
Who has a question governor it's -- up.
Governor Romney.
I -- undecided voter because I'm disappointed.
With the lack of progress I've seen in the last four years.
However.
I do attribute much of America's economic and international problems to the failings and missteps.
Of the Bush Administration.
Since both you and President Bush are Republicans.
I fear a return to the policies of those years.
Should you win this election.
What is the biggest difference between you and George W.
Bush.
And how do you differentiate yourself from George W.
Bush it.
Thank you and I appreciate that question -- I I just wanted to make sure that I think I was supposed to get that last answer but I want to point out that.
I'd I don't believe it's okay I'm not I don't believe it sure are a -- -- -- -- time the time.
Keepers are all working and I'll tell -- that the last part.
It's it's it's -- for the two of you to talk to -- another -- isn't quite as orders that you think but go ahead and use this two minutes anyway you'd like to the -- the question is on the floor.
I just note that I don't believe that bureaucrats in Washington should tell someone whether they can use contraceptives or not.
And I don't believe employers should tell some of whether they could have contraceptive care not every woman in America should have access to contraceptives.
And -- the -- the president's the statement of my policy is completely and totally wrong governor let me come back and and and answer your question.
That the President Bush and I are are different people and these are different times and that's why my five point plan is so different than what he would have done.
Mean for instance we can now by virtue of new technology actually get all the energy we need.
In North America without having to go to that the Arabs of the venezuelans or anyone else that wasn't true and this time that's why my policy starts.
With a very robust policy to get all that energy in North America become energy to secure number two trade.
I'll crack down on China President Bush didn't.
I'm also gonna dramatically expand trade in Latin America -- going about 12% per year over -- -- time I want to add more free trade agreements so we have more trade.
Number three.
I'm gonna get us to balance budget.
President Bush didn't.
-- Obama was right he said that that was outrageous to have deficits as high as half a trillion dollars into the bush years he was right.
But they put in place deficits twice that size for every one of his four years.
And is forecast for the next four years is more deficits almost -- march.
So that's a Dexter had different than President Bush and then let's take the last -- championing small business.
Our party has been focused on big business too long.
I came through small business I understand how hard it is to start a small business that's -- everything -- do.
Is designed to help small businesses grow.
And add jobs I want to keep their taxes down on small business.
I want regulators to see their job as encouraging small enterprise not crushing it.
And the thing I find most troubling about obamacare well it's a long list but one of the things -- five most troubling yes.
That when you go on and talk to small businesses and ask them what they think about it they tell -- it keeps them from hiring more people.
My priority is jobs.
I know how to make that happen.
And President Bush had a very different path.
For a very different time my path is designed in getting small businesses to grow and -- First of all I think it's important.
Tell you that.
We did come and during some tough times we're losing 800000 jobs month when I started but.
We had been digging our way out of policies.
That were -- placed and focused on the top doing very well.
And middle class folks not doing well.
Now we've seen thirty consecutive 31 consecutive months of job -- five point two million new jobs created.
And the plans that I talked about will create even more.
When governor Romney says that he -- very different economic plan.
-- centerpiece of his economic plan are tax cuts that's what took us from.
Surplus to deficit.
What he talks about getting tough on China.
-- keep in mind that.
Governor Romney invested in companies that were pioneers of outsourcing.
To China.
And is currently investing and countries.
In in companies that are building the surveillance equipment for China this -- some folks.
That's that governor you're the last person is gonna get tough on China.
And what we've done when it comes to trade it is not only signed three trade deals to open up new markets but we've also set up a task force for trade.
That goes after anybody who is taking advantage of American workers or businesses not creating a level playing field we've brought twice as many cases.
Against unfair trade practices than the previous administration and we've won every single one that's been the site.
When I said.
That we had to make sure that China was not flooding our domestic market with cheap tires.
Governor -- so I was being protectionist.
But it wouldn't be helpful to American workers.
-- fact we saved a thousand jobs and that's the kind of tough.
Trade actions that are required.
But the last -- I wanna make is this.
-- there are some things -- governor Romney is different from George Bush.
At George Bush been proposed turning Medicare into a voucher.
George Bush embraced comprehensive immigration reform.
He didn't call for self deportation.
George Bush never suggested that we eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood.
So there are differences between governor Romney and George Bush but they're not on economic policy.
In some ways he's gone to a more extreme place when it comes to social policy and I think that's a mistake that's not how we're gonna move -- coming forward.
