Romney-Ryan

The historical importance of Barack Obama being sworn in as the 44^th president of the United States cannot and should not be ignored. A gifted speechmaker and energetic personality, the country’s first black president promised an era of change. Some even predicted the return of the “Camelot” era.

Unfortunately for this country, after four years of President Obama’s ineffective leadership, that promised change has been either nonexistent or change for the worse. It has seemed at times that the country’s desperate need for economic improvement has been subjugated to the president’s narcissistic need to drive social change. Therefore, at the end of the president’s first term we find ourselves, in the words of country music legend Tennessee Ernie Ford, “another day older and deeper in debt.”

Gov. Mitt Romney, on the other hand, has been steadfast in sending a consistent message that the nation’s economic woes are his first and most pressing priority. While Gov. Romney’s social agenda has been difficult to quantify at times, his “Five-Point Plan” proves that he has a pragmatic and actionable grasp on the need for this country to revitalize its economic standing.

It is primarily for this reason that West Newsmagazine endorses Mitt Romney as the next president of the United States.

In the nearly four years of President Obama’s administration, our federal debt burden has grown by more than $5 trillion and our economy continues to sputter. It is difficult if not impossible for us to believe that would change with another four years under the same leadership.

In 2012, Gov. Romney is the change we need.

In Massachusetts, Gov. Romney was able to work with a Democrat-controlled legislature to close a $3 billion budget deficit without having to increase taxes. Romney also showed strong leadership as head of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

However Romney’s most relevant experience is his successful leadership of Bain Capital. That type of practical, real world business understanding will be critical in leading this country back in the proper direction.

The financial machinations of our country’s largest companies have been a source of great frustration and disagreement over the last half-decade. TARP and “too big to fail” are familiar scapegoats, but real solutions will involve complexity, nuance and sound business judgment – the type of judgment that only comes from experience, and not “community organizer” experience.

Mitt Romney is not without faults. He has regularly changed positions on social issues, such that it makes it difficult to have confidence on where he will ultimately land.

Romney claims this is indicative of his open-minded approach. We believe it is the political tendencies of a man who is ultimately a moderate to the core. After four years of progressive extremism, however, we feel that a practical moderate may be the best course.

President Obama and our nation’s military certainly deserve credit for ridding the world of Osama Bin Laden. Beyond that however, President Obama’s foreign policy leadership has been a particularly troubling area. The Benghazi fiasco and “fast and furious” are the most high profile issues, but the most concerning one really should be what the president’s intent is if re-elected.

In March of this year, President Obama was caught on an open microphone stating that he would have “greater flexibility” in regard to missile defense after the election. The message was meant as a confidential communication to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. It is difficult for us to imagine any positive connotation to this promise, and creates very, very real concern for what President Obama’s intentions might be.

Romney, on the other hand, has demonstrated a deft hand in creating leverage during international business negotiations. He also showed the ability to deal with foreign politics during his leadership of the 2002 U.S. Olympic committee. But our support of Romney still hinges on his ability to set in place an economic turnaround. Our best foreign policy directive, after all, will be to greatly enhance our domestic financial strength.

Mitt Romney is a thoughtful, practical man with a strong resume in business, finance, and general leadership. He is an effective communicator who is comfortable enough with his own position to accept the counsel of his advisors. He has demonstrated the sensibility to compromise when called on, and the strength to impose his will when required.

Mitt Romney is the right man to serve as 45^th president of the United States.