Romney pledges salary to charity if elected president

"When I got started, I went to school and I never anticipated that I'd be as financially successful as I was, and then my business went far better than I expected it would," Romney, a former venture capitalist, told a woman who asked him how the country's political system could be corrected if most of the presidential candidates are millionaires.

Romney's assets makes him the wealthiest of all the presidential candidates, Democratic or Republican.

"I wouldn't disqualify somebody by virtue of their financial wealth or their financial poverty," Romney said after ticking off his public service work. "I would instead look at their record, what they've done with their life and whether they can make a difference, whether the things they have learned will enable them to be an effective leader."

Later, speaking with reporters, Romney said he would likely accept the presidential salary of $400,000 annually but donate the money. While governor, Romney declined his $135,000 annual salary.

"I haven't really thought ahead that far," Romney said at first. "There are some questions I haven't forecasted, perhaps because that would seem presumptuous of me."

Then, he added: "I presume I would take the salary and then I would donate at least that amount -- or more -- to charity."

cnn.com

Mitt Romney Ad: Tested, Proven

Mitt Romney sprints ahead of presidential competitors

"The Des Moines Register poll shows Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, is the top choice of 30 percent of those who say they definitely or probably will attend the leadoff Iowa caucuses in January."

Republican caucusgoers place a premium on a candidate who has experience as a governor, with 60 percent saying they are more likely to support a person with that experience on their resume.

“Just being elected out east, where the hard core of the Democrats are, speaks pretty highly of” Romney, said poll participant Edward Green, 57, of Davenport.

“He’s got a good family and his children are on the right track,” said Green, a minister who does missions work for Assemblies of God International.

desmoinesregister.com

Governor Mitt Romney On The Senate Immigration Agreement

Boston, MA - Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on today's U.S. Senate agreement on immigration reform:

"I strongly oppose today's bill going through the Senate. It is the wrong approach. Any legislation that allows illegal immigrants to stay in the country indefinitely, as the new 'Z-Visa' does, is a form of amnesty. That is unfair to the millions of people who have applied to legally immigrate to the U.S.

"Today's Senate agreement falls short of the actions needed to both solve our country's illegal immigration problem and also strengthen our legal immigration system. Border security and a reliable employment verification system must be our first priority."

Videos of GOP Presidential Primary Debate

If you missed the debate, you can watch it at FoxNews.com

Fox News Poll: Romney wins Debate with 29%

You Decide GOP Primary Poll Results

— 29% Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney

— 25% Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas

— 19% Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani

— 8% Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee

— 5% Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. Hunter

— 4% Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

— 3% Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.

— 1% Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.

— 0% Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore

— 0% Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson

TIME cover story

Now, read what they said about his father in 1962.

Don't forget to watch the debate tomorrow

A few months ago I mentioned to a friend to wait and see what happens when Romney starts to debate the other candidates. Ever since the first debate took place, there is hardly a day when Mitt Romeny isn't mentioned on the websites of the leading news agency. It will just keep on snowballing as the debates continue.

The debate is scheduled to air at 9pm EDT on FOX News Channel

Governor Romney's Genuine Conversion

By: Representative Pete Hoekstra (R-MI)
Human Events
Friday, May 11, 2007

"In all my years in the pro-life movement, I have always believed that our goal was not only to change laws, but to change minds - and we have changed many minds. Ronald Reagan, Henry Hyde, and countless others who at one point supported abortion rights later came to understand that human life at its very beginning moments must be protected.

"We take pride in the work of these individuals, because in their changes of heart, they proved that the mission of the pro-life community is not only sacred, but it is also capable of winning new adherents and allies.

"I can think of no better example of this change of heart than Governor Mitt Romney. He has traveled down a path of discovery, and explored the philosophical and scientific basis for the pro-life position. Now, he counts himself among the millions of Americans who oppose abortion on demand and scientific experimentation with human embryos.

"I have watched Governor Romney's journey, and I believe he is sincere in his change of heart. But you don't have to trust me on that count; you merely have to look at what Governor Romney said and did on life issues when it counted."

...

"Time after time, when pressed by a very liberal legislature to approve laws liberalizing the use of abortion and experimentation on embryos, Governor Romney has consistently chosen life. In his constancy, Governor Romney has proven himself a staunch ally in our effort to change hearts and change minds. He has shown that someone leading a state with a liberal electorate can govern as a pro-life leader.

"And most importantly, he has shown an understanding of the pro-life movement. We are not a single issue movement. We do not simply seek to end the Roe v. Wade era. We seek to raise America's consciousness of the nature of life at its earliest moments - fragile, weak, and completely dependent for protection and sustenance.

"We will accomplish this goal by supporting leaders such as Governor Romney." ...

View Entire Article

Romney: Sharpton remark on faith was bigoted

Al Sharpton, left, said "those that really believe in God" will defeat Mitt Romney, right, a Mormon.

"It shows that bigotry still exists in some corners," Romney said. "I thought it was a most unfortunate comment to make."

Asked if he thought Sharpton is a bigot, the former Massachusetts governor said, "I don't know Rev. Sharpton. I doubt he is personally such a thing. But the comment was a comment which could be described as a bigoted comment.

"Perhaps he didn't mean it that way, but the way it came out was inappropriate and wrong."

Watch on Cnn.com

Mitt Romney on Hannity & Colmes

Governor Romney Has A Proven Record Of Accomplishment And Conservative Leadership.

As Governor of one of the nation's most liberal states, Governor Romney based his agenda on proven conservative principles: smaller government, lower taxes, defending the traditional family, and keeping our citizens safe and secure:

• Balanced Budgets. Without raising taxes or increasing debt, Governor Romney closed a $3 billion budget deficit his first year in office with a heavily Democrat legislature. Each year, Governor Romney filed a balanced budget without raising taxes. By eliminating waste, streamlining government, and enacting comprehensive economic reforms to help spur growth, Governor Romney helped the state achieve a surplus totaling nearly $1 billion in 2005.
  

• Lower Taxes. In the bluest of blue states, Governor Romney kept taxes down. Under his leadership, the state abolished a retroactive capital gains tax that would have forced nearly 50,000 taxpayers to pay additional taxes and fees. 
  

• Unemployment Lowered. When Governor Romney took office, Massachusetts was losing thousands of jobs every month. Today, the unemployment rate is averaging more than a full percentage point lower, and the state has added approximately 60,000 jobs in the last two years.
  

• A Commitment To Traditional Marriage And Family. Governor Romney believes marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman.  He has fought activist judges who imposed same-sex marriage on Massachusetts and testified before Congress in support of the Federal Marriage Act.  When Governor Romney has addressed life issues he has sided on life.  These have been his positions in Massachusetts and will be his positions as President.
  

• Strengthened Education. Under Governor Romney's leadership, Massachusetts' fourth and eighth grade students ranked first in reading and tied for first in mathematics. In 2004, Governor Romney helped ensure more students received a higher education by establishing the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program to reward the highest performing Massachusetts high school graduates with a four-year, tuition-free scholarship to state universities or colleges. In three years, more than 14,000 top-scoring high school seniors have been awarded these scholarships.  
  

• More Affordable Healthcare. Bringing the best minds together, including experts at the conservative Heritage Foundation, to address healthcare costs, Governor Romney signed into law a plan affording every citizen health insurance without raising taxes or creating a massive government-controlled system.

GOP Debate Highlights

Mitt Romney on Jay Leno

Who Won the GOP Debate?

According to TIME, Mitt Romney

Passed his first high-profile test with aplomb. Showed the sunny-side-up optimism, smoothly relaxed demeanor and mechanically thorough preparation that have won over donors and talk show hosts alike. Never rushed his answers or got flustered. Deftly told a Ted Kennedy joke and closed with a stone cold hit on Hillary Clinton/Harry Reid/Nancy Pelosi. Voters getting their first real look at Romney probably liked what they saw. Still has to explain his shifted positions and return harder foreign policy volleys.

— Mark Halperin