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Text of Mitt Romney's speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference

In case anyone was wondering, this is what a TRUE patriot sounds like.

Mitt, we stand behind you and your decision! A true patriot is exactly what you should be called. Republicans in America will regret not backing you because of your wealth, because of your religion, because you are a clean man. All reasons of ignorance and jealousness. God bless you and your family for making the commitment to run this past year. God please help us out of this self imposed selfishness, society of dishonesty, and flat out laziness that has beset our national beliefs. We deserve what we are about to get handed to us!!!!

Lance Bryce, MD
Phoenix, AZ

I think it's great that he was able to get one last jab at homosexuals in. He left the Mexicans alone, but knelt at the altar of Ronald Reagan. (Remember Reagan's Amnesty program in '86? Why does Mitt hate amnesty? Not very Reagan-like.
Anyhoo, buck up Romney fans! He's changed his mind on every position so far, so it wouldn't be a stretch for him to do it with this as well.

As Bill O'Reilly would say, "Mitt, you are a true Patriot". You are and we know it must have been difficult to come to this decision. We are disappointed but support the reason. We hope this will not be the last time we see your face in the papers and hear of you on the radio and television. You stand for what we believe in..please don't let the nasty people who bad mouth you have any influence in your life. They are just nasty and have to have someone to pick on. We love you Mitt and have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for your courage. May the good Lord bless you and your family in all of your endeavors.

Texas loves you, Mitt. God bless.

This is what a true politician and gentleman is like. You need to do the right thing, and you and Hucklebee get out and BEG Romney to come back in. You know that you are just handing the country over to Obama or Clinton, or both. Wouldn't surprise me to see one of them as vice, just as I'm sure Huckle will be your running mate.

You may think you have won this battle, but we're at war and you won't win. I think if you look into your soul (if you have one) you will see that.

I know Romney doesn't have the experience, but what is the experience we're talking about? Clinton, Obama, and McCain who have been in Washington forever, and the experience of doing things the same way it's been done? We need new blood in there, not more of the "ole boys club".

COME BACK ROMNEY!!!!

Thanks Governor Romney for a great run, an honest effort and capturing the imagination of a nation, who unfortunately suffer from mass attention deficit disorder. May the Lord bless you and your entire family for your sacrifice and efforts this past year and for your service to the good people of Massachussets during your four years as Governor. You always keep your word. Refreshing in today's world. See you in 2012?!!!!

John Jarstad, M.D.
Seattle

Mitt Romney ran a nasty campaign and I am glad that he is now waving the white flag of surrender. Anyone who says we should double the size of Gitmo is a loon, and Mr. Romney is just that. He is not a true conservative and never has been. He would have been an extension of 8 years of failure and that is not what this country needs, we need someone who says what he means and means what he says. If Mitt Romney was not a Mormon he would not have the support of the Mormons because he doesnt represent true conservatism. I find it frightening how so many Mormons are willing to let their faith, not the substance and character of the man dictate how they vote. Romney is a crook, and Im glad he is out!!

Are you listening, McCain? - Check your facts. Obama has been in Washington for less than one term as a Senator. He is hardly one of the "ole boys club." That's exactly why his message of change has substance.

Steve: are you eqaully offended by Hillarys heavy handed destruction machine? Is MaCain a better conservative? Is Obama anything more than fluff? Or is this merely a bitter slam?

I agree with you, and now that Romney is out, my vote, reluctantly will be for Obama. You are right, he has only been there for less than one term, but he's still in the midst of corruption. He just hasn't had time to learn all of the tricks yet, probably just a few. Consider him one of the newest members of the "ole boys club". Give him time.

1. I would love to know where Romney pulls his "We need to put a Washington outsider in the White House" thing from. Someone needs to remind him that 3 of the last 4 presidents were Ex-Governors and "Washington outsiders."

2. What is the Deseret News going to do now that their Golden-boy is gone?

Mitt for VP! If McCain meant what he said in his speech to CPAC... let's unite the Party!

Its too bad that Governor Romney, a man of wide experience, impeccable standards, great ideas and excellent capabilities will not be the next president of our country. What a loss for all of us!

I watched on CNN online J. McCain's speech to the CPAC, about an hour after Romney's. McCain sounded good, but every Republican analyst I've read has watched him for years and emphatically says his actions are mostly opposite to his claims.

I rarely agree with the person who wrote the following, but it actually seems likely....

If Hillary is elected president, we'll have a four-year disaster,
with Republicans ferociously opposing her, followed
by Republicans zooming back into power, as we did in 1980, 1994, and 2000. (And Bill nearby with too much time on his hands? More incidents with interns?)

If McCain is elected president, we'll have a four-year disaster,
with the Republicans in Congress co-opted by their own president, followed by 30 years of [liberal] rule.

"Remember Reagan's Amnesty program in '86? Why does Mitt hate amnesty? Not very Reagan-like."

He does not like amnesty because it didn't work in '86.

NO to McCain--if one checks his actual voting records and not what the media says it is, McCain is barely a Republican, let alone a conservative. Hillary Clinton stands for extreme socialist positions, and Obama, while articulate, young, and fresh sounding, is at least as far toward socialism as Hillary.
We have had most of my life-time watching our government move farther and farther into socialism and the very problems programs were supposed to solve are worse now than they were 40 years ago. We are only about 20 years behind England.
When are we going to wake up? I fear for the America my grandchildren will raise their children in.

Adolph Hitler and Joe McCarthy would be very proud of Romney for this speech.

Doug- I dont like Hillary's machine either, and McCain is certainly not a better conservative. Unfortunatly the half wits in the American public have failed to realize that the only candidate that has run an honest, truthful, and inspiring campaign is Dr. Ron Paul... a REAL conservative. And though I dont agree with him on all issues, he has proven himself over his many years of service to be a man of honor, unlike any of the others. Romney is a crook that made his money by impoverishing others and sending jobs away. Look it up! Google Bain Capital and see what this "good Christian American" is really all about! This is not just a slam, this is the truth.