Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan Deliver Pro Business Speeches in Historic Manassas
Posted
Stacy Shaw
To the excitement of many, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney announced Paul Ryan as his running mate early Sat. morning in Norfolk, Va on Aug 11. That afternoon in the City of Manassas, eager Republicans filed in and around the Harris Pavilion in the city’s historic district to hear the Romney and Ryan speak on their plan for the country. Virginia was a prominent stop along Romney’s “blue” state tour, in which the presidential nominee visited battleground states to mainly highlighting his views on the economy. In Romney’s Manassas speech he outlined a five point plan for the United States, addressing energy and resources, skills to succeed, trade, cutting spending and reducing the national deficit, but chief amongst all he stressed championing small businesses. [caption id="attachment_8194" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Mitt Romney said, "It was a good day for him." George Allen, Anne Romney and Paul Ryan pictured. (Credit: Stacy Shaw, Bristow Beat)"]Paul Ryan gives a spirited speech endorsing candidate Romney. Virginia officials praised Ryan for his successes in the "blue" state off Wisconsin. Mitt Romney and Va Governor Bob McDonald also pictured. (Credit: Stacy Shaw, Bristow Beat.)
Governor Romney called out President Obama for his comments about small businesses, criticizing his comments that, “If you have a small business, you didn’t build that, someone else did that.” “I guess he thinks that government should somehow take responsibility for all the achievements of people in this country,” Romney said about President. In addressing the difficulty small businesses are having in the current economic climate, Romney called “Obamacare” a black cloud hanging over small businesses. “(Small business owners are) worried about the cost of healthcare. We’re going to get rid of Obamacare and replace it with something that works for the American people,” Romney said.
[/caption] Romney also criticized President Obama for his statement on success in America in relation to a collective effort. He recited the lines, “If you think it is because you are smart, well, a lot of people are smart. And if you think it is because you worked hard, well a lot of people worked hard.” “We welcome and celebrate people who work hard,” said Romney. “America was founded on a principle that our rights did not come from government, our rights came from the creator. Among those rights were life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” In addressing education he said we need to build our skills, and said, “the teachers' union is going to have to take a back seat.” At the beginning of his speech, Romney also praised his new running mate Paul Ryan as a “leader,” who lost his father as a child and grew to become a man with integrity and strong mid-western values.
He said that Ryan, “tried to reach across the aisle.” Romney also tried to distinguish himself as the person who could pull America out of a recession. “America’s going to have a choice. They’ve seen the product of the Obama plan. It has been executed over the past four years. It didn’t work. We don’t want America to become Europe.” Paul Ryan addressed similar issues, calling Mitt Romney the man of the hour and the person who can turn America around. He said America has a choice in the coming election. “President Obama had all his policies in place, and they’re not working,” Ryan said. He accused Obama of facilitating the “biggest debt in 70 years.”
Other elected officials spoke favorably of Romney and criticized Obama for a national debt and for being a divisive figure in America. The mood of the event was very patriotic. Veterans were praised for their service, and the audience responded well to themes to God, country, capitalism, military strength and a bright future through a return to better times in the past eras. George Allen promised drilling off the cost of Virginia, and referred to oil and coal, as our “God-given resources.” In referring to the economy Delegate Jackson Miller called these, “dark times” in America. Delegate Frank Wolf commented on the rising national debt and why Obama was not talking about Syria. Noticeably absent in all of the speeches was any type of social agenda. None of the politicians mentioned such hot button issues as gay marriage, women’s rights or family values.
Paul Ryan gives a spirited speech endorsing candidate Romney. Virginia officials praised Ryan for his successes in the "blue" state off Wisconsin. Mitt Romney and Va Governor Bob McDonald also pictured. (Credit: Stacy Shaw, Bristow Beat.) 
[/caption] Romney also criticized President Obama for his statement on success in America in relation to a collective effort. He recited the lines, “If you think it is because you are smart, well, a lot of people are smart. And if you think it is because you worked hard, well a lot of people worked hard.” “We welcome and celebrate people who work hard,” said Romney. “America was founded on a principle that our rights did not come from government, our rights came from the creator. Among those rights were life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” In addressing education he said we need to build our skills, and said, “the teachers' union is going to have to take a back seat.” At the beginning of his speech, Romney also praised his new running mate Paul Ryan as a “leader,” who lost his father as a child and grew to become a man with integrity and strong mid-western values. 
