Former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney gave a stirring campaign-style foreign policy speech Friday – fanning speculation he may have his eye on the White House despite repeated denials of wanting to take another run at it. Opening his annual conference of donors, supporters, and former campaign aides at Park City, Utah, Romney told 300 attendees its the failing of the White House leadership that concerns me, and thats got to change. I lost the election, we lost an election, but I and we will continue to fight, he vowed. As his public profile has increased, so have whispers he could launch another presidential run. Advisers insist Romneys sole focus is helping other Republicans and introducing his top donors to new GOP leaders. Many of that new generation — some of them with their own presidential aspirations — were also set to address the conference, including Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, Romneys running mate in the failed 2012 race; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul; and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Romneys rousing 15-minute speech was the only one open to the media — and he took full advantage, blasting the foreign policy agenda of President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as a monumental bust. Tragically, all weve fought for in Iraq, all that 4,500 American lives were shed to gain, is on the cusp, potentially, of vanishing, Romney said. He also pointed to crises that have flared under Obamas watch, including the civil war in Syria, North Koreas testing of nuclear missiles, and Russias capture of Crimea. He needled Clinton for once presenting Russias top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, with a red button labeled reset to symbolize the thawing of U.S.-Russian relations, and then recently declaring Russian President Vladimir Putin might not like her new book. Please, Romney said. This was from the woman who was gushing with smiles when she presented the minion of Vladimir Putin with that reset button. Its time to stop and reflect, and reshape American foreign policy, he said. And thats part of the discussion that were going to have over the next couple of days. At one point, I said, Mr. President, would you mind if I offered my suggestions, Romney said, going off his prepared speech. And so I said, Look, if I had the chance to be president, I would ask myself what is it that has led America to become the most powerful nation … what is it thats led America to lead the world? Then slipping into the present tense about the 2012 campaign, he said, Now Ive come away from this campaign, more optimistic about America.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 07:00:19 +0000
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