Mitt Romney Closing Statements Important to Residents of Ocean County

Toms River–Two clear paths leading in two different directions were highlighted by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in the candidate’s closing comments in the first debate of the 2012 election.

One path, described by President Obama promises the continuation and expansion of policies and ideas of the past four years.   The other path, presented by challenger Mitt Romney focused on less government and more opportunities for the middle class and small businesses to help revitalize a floundering economy.

“This is  an important election,” Romney said “And I’m concerned about America. I’m concerned about the direction America has been taking over the last four years. I know this is bigger than election about the two of us as individuals. It’s bigger than our respective parties. It’s an election about the course of America — what kind of America do you want to have for yourself and for your children.”

Romney’s message was powerful and provoking, in many cases, he appeared more Presidential and in command than the President himself.  In an article today from Newsmax, Dick Morris, former adviser to President Bill Clinton said  ”Mitt Romney not only won the first presidential debate but it ranks as one of the major wipe outs in a presidential debate that I’ve ever seen.”

Ocean County is traditionally a Republican stronghold in an otherwise Democrat controlled state. Ocean County has historically been behind the party’s candidates at the presidential level.  In 2004, George W Bush defeated Democrat John Kerry by 21.2%.   In 2008 John McCain carried an 18.4% victory over Barack Obama.

“There really are two very different paths that we began speaking about this evening,” Romney said in his closing statement.  ”And over the course of this month we’re going to have two more presidential debates and vice presidential debate. We’ll talk about those two paths. But they lead in very different directions. And it’s not just looking to our words that you have to take in evidence of where they go; you can look at the record. There’s no question in my mind that if the president were to be re-elected you’ll continue to see a middle-class squeeze with incomes going down and prices going up.”

Romney added that he will focus on strengthening the weakened middle class and small business owners.  ”I’ll get incomes up again. You’ll see chronic unemployment. We’ve had 43 straight months with unemployment above 8 percent. If I’m president, I will create — help create 12 million new jobs in this country with rising incomes.”

He also warned of the consequences of Obamacare, a very important issue among senior citizens living in Ocean County.  ”If the president’s re-elected, “Obamacare” will be fully installed,” he said.  ”In my view, that’s going to mean a whole different way of life for people who counted on the insurance plan they had in the past. Many will lose it. You’re going to see health premiums go up by some $2,500 per — per family. If I’m elected, we won’t have “Obamacare.” We’ll put in place the kind of principles that I put in place in my own state and allow each state to craft their own programs to get people insured. And we’ll focus on getting the cost of health care down. If the president were to be re-elected, you’re going to see a $716 billion cut to Medicare. You’ll have 4 million people who will lose Medicare advantage. You’ll have hospitals and providers that’ll no longer accept Medicare patients. I’ll restore that $716 billion to Medicare. ”

Ocean County, which is home to portions of the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst military installation also has a vital stake in the future growth of the United States Military and Defense.

In the 1990′s under Democrat President Bill Clinton, Fort Dix, McGuire Air Force Base and Lakehurst Naval Air Station each saw dramatic reductions, costing jobs in both military and civilian sectors during Clinton’s military cuts.

In that time, Fort Dix was realigned from a primary Army Basic Training base and turned into a National Guard training ground.   In 1997, it was transferred to the Army Reserves.   In Lakehurst and McGuire, the local economy benefited from base closures and re-alignment, but cities such as Plattsburgh, New York lost out when the base in that region was shut down as units and aircraft transferred to McGuire.  At that time, the threat of downsizing at Lakehurst was also on the table, but the plan was overturned.

Future military cutbacks could derail the current growth phase at the Joint Base MDL.

Romney ended his closing comments on the importance of America’s military. “And finally, military. If the president’s re-elected, you’ll see dramatic cuts to our military,” he said.  ”The secretary of defense has said these would be even devastating. I will not cut our commitment to our military. I will keep America strong and get America’s middle class working again.”

In closing statements the President admitted his shortcomings in his first term, but promised to run the country in the same manner over the next four years, if elected.   Obama said, “You know, four years ago I said that I’m not a perfect man and I wouldn’t be a perfect president. And that’s probably a promise that Governor Romney thinks I’ve kept. But I also promised that I’d fight every single day on behalf of the American people and the middle class and all those who are striving to get in the middle class.”

What is your opinion of last night’s debate?

Posted by Ocean County News on Oct 4 2012. Filed under Headline News, Photos, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.