What do I think of Mitt Romney? I hope he'll be our next President. For 8 years. I think he's incredibly intelligent, a voracious student, deliberate, and data-driven. I think he's shown himself to be a devoted, faithful, steady husband and father and has helped to raise--with his beloved wife Ann--a pretty darn good family.
I first began learning about Mitt Romney when he was asked to take over the Winter Olympics here in Utah. Boy, at the time, the Olympic Committee with its almost daily revelations of bribes, fraud, corruption, insurmountable debt burdens, behind schedule construction of venues, and massive in-fighting...well, it was a HUGE embarrassment to all of us in Utah, and I didn't like the inevitable broad-brush strokes that were painting a picture of Olympic failure = LDS church failure. The Olympics didn't succeed because of the LDS church, and they wouldn't have failed because of the LDS church. But that's another story, and another post. So I digress.
Anyway, Mitt was asked to come in and takeover the Olympics. He didn't want to. He knew the situation was a wreck. He questioned the possibility of a turnaround. But when he decided to take on the challenge, he took over. And he LED! The ultimate result was a spectacular 2002 Winter Olympics. I still didn't really pay attention to Mitt Romney at that time. I did start paying attention later that year when he ran for Governor...as a Republican...in Massachusetts. Having grown up in Connecticut, and knowing his Conservative platform, I didn't think he had a prayer. But he won! And the first video clip I ever saw of Mitt Romney was of his inaugural address to the Massachusetts legislature. He was BOLD! He pulled no punches. He spoke about the state's massive debt and deficits. He didn't minimize the tough journey ahead. And under his leadership, in just one-term, the fiscal recovery of Massachusetts was HUGE. The turnaround to the tune of BILLIONS was impressive! Not to mention necessary. He engaged and confronted critics, he encouraged and involved cynics, he educated the ignorant, and put into place policies that rescued the state from fiscal oblivion. And THAT impressed me.
I later studied a lot about Mitt Romney. I read a book by Hugh Hewitt--a non-Mormon--entitled: "A Mormon In the White House? 10 Things Every American Should Know About Mitt Romney" and became thoroughly impressed with the newly-announced candidate for President of the United States.
On a personal note, me also being a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (otherwise known as the LDS Church, or The Mormon Church), and learning--from Hewitt's book no less--that Romney had twice been a Bishop and later a Stake President in our Church...IMMEDIATELY gave me a trust and confidence level in him that can't possibly be explained to anyone not of my faith. It's something that must be experienced. Think of a Mormon Bishop as the local LDS (Latter-day Saint, or Mormon) congregation's pastor, or Rabbi, or priest. He receives member's confessions, and is ultimately responsible to care for the physical and spiritual needs of each member in the congregation. The local congregation--typically called a "ward" in Mormon nomenclature--is usually comprised of a few hundred members, and a "stake" is comprised of anywhere from 5-10 wards. Thousands of members! So, as a member of the Church, and knowing his VOLUNTEER responsibilities in our Church, I immediately dismissed ANY suggestion that Mitt was--in essence--"a pompous, sheltered, detached, disconnected, apathetic, spoiled, rich guy" with no compassion for the plight of the impoverished, the needs or perspectives of the regular Joe, or the concerns of the average American. In fact, quite the opposite! Knowing that he had--for many years-- dealt deeply and personally with the physical, economical, spiritual, and familial needs of hundreds, and then thousands of LDS Church members convinced me then, and does now, that he is uniquely qualified to understand the consequences of drafting, negotiating, and implementing public policy. He is no Professor in an ivory tower. He knows all too well the weight of the varied needs of the masses, has seen the effects of unemployment, reached out on a one-by-one basis to give to those in need, and dare I say, prayed earnestly and regularly on behalf of those who struggle, and has--in so many ways--done all he could to provide for their overall well-being. It's pure hog-wash to me to when I hear accusations that he is "unfamiliar" with regular Americans.
I think he's got weaknesses to be sure. He's not as PUBLICLY down-home folksy and affable as was Ronald Reagan. But he's done better over the years becoming more accessible. A work in progress. But aren't we all? In my personal interactions with him, I find him friendly, genuine, and deeply reverent when it comes to his principles, his faith, his family, his friends, and this nation. I've personally met and spoken with him repeatedly, I've met his wife, I've met some of his sons and their families, I've had dinner with Ann's brothers and worked side-by-side with them on the 2008 campaign, I've met Mitt's brother, had extensive conversations with statewide finance directors, met and spoken at-length with his personal campaign counsel, and endorsing Senators and Congressman. All speak to his integrity, his capability, his hard-work, his competence, and his devotion to faith, family, and country. I'll do all I can to help him get elected, and believe he'll be one of the great Presidents.
Throughout the coming 2012 Presidential campaign (we ALL know it's coming) I'm sure I'll have much more to say about him, and about how THIS American Mormon sees the issues surrounding him. And I'll throw out a few policy opinions of my own!
Here's one of his powerful speeches (and, for me, perhaps the most compelling part of it is the introduction of his wife of 42 years):
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