October 5, 2007
Posted: 10:38 AM ET

Romney is launching a new ad in New Hampshire pledging not to raise taxes.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A day after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney sharply criticized rival Rudy Giuliani for seeking to uphold a commuter tax when he was mayor of New York City, the former Massachusetts governor launched a new radio ad in New Hampshire touting his commitment to a no-new-tax pledge.

"For years, conservative candidates for president signed their name on the dotted line, pledging to oppose tax increases," Romney says in the ad that's set to hit airwaves in the crucial primary state Friday. "I'm proud to be the only major candidate for president to sign the tax pledge. The others have not.

"We've got to get taxes down. And grow our economy," Romney adds. "I believe it's not fair that you have to pay taxes when you earn your money, when you save your money and when you die."

The ad follows a day of back-and-forth between the Romney campaign and the Giuliani campaign over the former mayor's support of a commuter tax on visitors to New York City and over Giuliani's opposition in 1997 to the use of a line item veto.

Speaking on behalf of Giuliani in a conference call with reporters Thursday, former Massachusetts Gov. Paul Cellucci said Romney's criticisms were a move of "desperation," and noted Giuliani has said he supports the line item veto as one of his "12 commitments"

And Friday morning, Steve Forbes, national co-chair of Giuliani’s campaign, also defended the former New York City mayor.

"Results speak louder than rhetoric – that's why Rudy Giuliani's record of cutting taxes and slashing government spending makes him the true fiscal conservative in the race," Forbes said in a statement released by Giuliani’s campaign.

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Filed under: Mitt Romney • New Hampshire • Rudy Giuliani


john k. riggs Eagle Pass Texas   October 8th, 2007 10:27 pm ET

As usual CNN omits the candidate that has won the debates and gotten attention from the Vegas bookies. Your bias against Ron Paul is showing the nation that Murdoch yes men have orders and the fix is in against Ron Paul. Your efforts are backfiring. Its time for honesty and integrity in the whitehouse. Maybe you should change your strategy to a smear campaign or just use flat out lies. Your plan of omission is not working.

Blayze Kohime, Columbus OH   October 8th, 2007 9:49 pm ET

Nice effort, but I have heard too many 'no new tax' pledges that weren't upheld. He can't really promise that unless he is willing to move funds from less important things (ie most of what our government does) to more important things.

E. Elliott, Orlando, FL   October 8th, 2007 4:57 pm ET

No new taxes?
Who the hell do you think is going to pay the $10 billion deficit?
Who do you think will pay for your pending war with Iran?

Posted By Paul C., Palmetto Bay, FL : October 7, 2007 11:07 am

You have the right idea, but your numbers are only the tip of the iceburg that the ship of state is grounded on. The war alone is 2 Billion$ a week. The defict is 300-400 Billion$. The national debt was around 1 trillion when Carter left office. Bush added 3 more by himself. GW is not a conservative. A conservative conserves for the future. GW squanders it in the present for a short term bonanza given the the top 1% in his trickle down pyramid scheme. Those grossly wealthy old white men care nothing for the people that work for a living. King George 1 called them OFU's, one fodder unit. Like father like son.

E. Elliott, Orlando, FL   October 8th, 2007 4:43 pm ET

Oh great. Another Bush. The current one has hidden his head in the sand for 7 years avoiding any real interest in solving the problems with social security, medicare, medicaid ending the domination of the fossil fuel sector or cutting the trade defict with the Communist's in China. Then the twerp adds 3 trillion to the national debt. And 99% iof the 12 million criminal immigrants pay no tax to social security or the income tax. How does this new block head expect to repay the public institutions that Bush has looted without new taxes? He cannot, and obviously thinks he can continue the GOP policy of borrow and spend. This country cannot survive another 4 years of incompetent management. By his statement Romney shows he is clueless. The poor fools in the GOP have only one sane choice – Ron Paul.

Paul C., Palmetto Bay, FL   October 7th, 2007 11:07 am ET

No new taxes?
Who the hell do you think is going to pay the $10 billion deficit?
Who do you think will pay for your pending war with Iran?

Anonymous, Roanoke VA   October 5th, 2007 7:54 pm ET

"No new taxes"…isn't that the same statement that the first Bush used that got him "kicked to the curb?"

Jeff Spangler, Arlington, VA   October 5th, 2007 6:14 pm ET

I have this incredible feeling of deja vu. Where have I heard this brilliant idea before?

Lance in Monrovia CA   October 5th, 2007 5:10 pm ET

Okay George Bush, uh, I mean Nit Rohmney.

If you would have just said, "read my lips," then we really would have been convinced.

Sybil,ny   October 5th, 2007 4:48 pm ET

Remember.." READ MY LIPS ". I've heard that before coming out of another Republican running for president. Guess what…HE LIED

MR, Boston, MA   October 5th, 2007 3:50 pm ET

I propose a tax of magic pajamas and extra wives.

Pat, Huntington, NY   October 5th, 2007 3:05 pm ET

Get rid of the income tax system and replace it with the Value Added Tax system used in England. And think of the money saved by scrapping an entire federal buracracy…the IRS!

Shawn, Denver CO   October 5th, 2007 2:56 pm ET

I'm getting SICK of hearing this tired, empty promise from Republican politicians. Romney is just channeling Bush's lie. GW Bush laments over Congressional attempt to help more at-risk children under CHIP program, and tells them to keep taxes low, a couple weeks after begging them for $190 billion to continue the war. At least the CHIP extension would have only cost $7 billion per year from increased cigarette taxes. Where in the hell are we going to get $150 billion year for Iraq, GW?

Let's see… we've stripped over $40 million from the National Science Foundation to pay for immigration and the war; we've got NASA telling us we're so far behind that China is going to beat us back to the moon; we owe the Chinese so much we have to make special import deals for them, and we're in to Saudia Arabia for able 6%-7% of our GDP; we've got increasing unemployment and more jobs going overseas; and they want Congress to keep taxes low. This is illogical.

xtina – good points about consumption tax. Europeans do it for a reason. Sure, Belgians pay over $100 for a pair of jeans, but they don't complain about it 'cause they get free education AND health care.

Jeff, Apple Valley MN   October 5th, 2007 2:46 pm ET

I've heard this before from my Governor. Tim Pawlenty made the same pledge before his first term because he was facing primary opposition and it was the only way to ensure the Republican nomination.

What happened since, you say? Well, he kept *income* taxes where they were but virtually every other imaginable tax and fee went up in the meantime. Hunting fees. Park fees. The property tax burden went up faster than even the rest of the country because the Local Government Aid that goes from the state to the cities to help pay for education got cut in order to balance the budget. Transportation in MN has been falling apart. I'll wait for the official 35W bridge report before I decide whether money had anything to do with preventing the collapse. However, traffic and road conditions have consistently gotten worse for a long time now.

And to top it all of – when we had a big budget deficit 2-3 years ago, it only got balanced after a government shutdown by the Governors agreement to create a new tobacco "fee". Calling it a tobacco tax would have been illegal due to the earlier tobacco lawsuit settlement with the state so our AG had to waste time and money fighting the tobacco companies in court to explain that it's a FEE and not a TAX. Ridiculous!

dan austin tx   October 5th, 2007 2:24 pm ET

Good idea. Let's take absolutely no corrective action to raise taxes for the wealthy back to a reasonable rate so that an impending economic meltdown can be avoided. This moron, (I mean mormon), sounds like my kind of president.

xtina - chicago IL   October 5th, 2007 2:00 pm ET

Tax raises are never good – for those paying them and for the economy in general .

There's only one or two candidates who are talking about the "no-income tax" idea, but it makes such sense. Under this idea, we would abolish the IRS and people would not pay income tax. Sales taxes on goods and services would rise slightly, but then those who have income but don't file a tax return would be contributing to the fed. revenue. There are many people in cash businesses who avoid paying taxes, and drug dealers, and people dealing in other illegal activities would be paying taxes on what they buy, since they don't pay taxes on what they make.

It's such a simple idea; I don't know all the details, but I believe Bill Richardson is a big proponent of this no-income-tax plan.

Justin, Ada OK   October 5th, 2007 1:37 pm ET

All these "rich" comments reek with ignorance and envy. These candidates have more money than YOU because they manage money better than YOU. They work harder and are more intelligent than YOU. Thank goodness, YOU will never run this country. Go ahead and resent successful people. You're a bunch of lobsters in a pot.

I can't speak for all the candidates, but Romney earned his dough with hard work and his brillant mind. Yet, he still found time to raise 5 honorable sons and a cultivate one successful marriage. He still found time to give 20 hours/week and >10% of all his income to charity.

There is no candidate more capable and worthy to govern this nation. Period.

Don DeLand Florida   October 5th, 2007 12:52 pm ET

I have Heard that before, Let's Here something new!!

HAWK, TEXAS   October 5th, 2007 12:26 pm ET

SURE HE'S SO RICH HE DOSEN'T WANT ALL HIS RICH FRIENDS AND ALL CORPRATE AMERICA TO HAVE TO PAY TAXES. TAXES ARE WHAT KEEPS THIS COUNTRY RUNNING. EXCEPT WITH GEORGE DUMYA, HE JUST PRINTS MORE MONEY AND BORROWS FROM CHINA AND INDIA WHO AND WHEN WILL
THAT HAVE TO BE PAID BACK. BY THE LOWLY WORKING PUBLIC. NOT THESE SUPER RICH REPUBLICANS.

Chris   October 5th, 2007 12:19 pm ET

How about some hair dye for that gray though!!

Ethan, Los Angeles, CA   October 5th, 2007 11:50 am ET

Mitt Romney does not believe in lowering taxes for the majority of us. He wants ti cut taxes by a pittance for a small few.

Ron Paul wants to eliminate the IRS. That is what I call cutting taxes!

seth, Minneapolis, MN   October 5th, 2007 11:45 am ET

How are we going to keep funding our wars if we don't raise taxes though? Run up credit cards? Can we get more sleazy candidates who will say anything to get elected?

StopCensoringMeCNN Columbus, OH   October 5th, 2007 11:44 am ET

"Just say no" to Romney is correct. I will never vote for someone of that particular religion.

Kate, Aurora CO   October 5th, 2007 11:27 am ET

Sorry to say it but none of these candidates can even begin to relate to the working Americans. Each one talks about lowering taxes and fairness meanwhile each one is busy raising millions and millions of dollars while doing the corporations bidding, not the citizens. Each one is a millionaire and has been for years. They have no idea what it is like everyday having to struggle with bills and decide which one can wait and which one needs to be paid immediately. Not one knows what it is like to have to pay out of pocket for medical expense that the insurance companies (who contribute the most to these candidates) refuse to cover despite high plan premimums and deductibles. Not one knows what it is like to decide which is more important, eating or buying the necessary medication, a decision made everyday by our seniors. I do not believe one word anyone of them has to say. I am so jaded when it comes to American politics. I cannot wait for the day when the public gets so sick and tired of one class ruling this country. I for one am not voting this year. Call it ignorant if you will, tell me I have no right to complain..but these past two presidential elections have taught me that my vote doesn't count. He who has the most money wins. Sad.

Bill, Streamwood, IL   October 5th, 2007 11:21 am ET

Jeez Mitt, how about no new ideas.

Same old same old.

A. Roy Olsom, Tucson AZ   October 5th, 2007 11:15 am ET

Heard it all before. I am thoroughly convinced that these politicians consider the voting public incredibly stupid. They are, and have been, so out of touch with the reality of everyday life, that they will say virtually anything and expect folks to swallow it.

Sign me,

Completely disgusted

Rurik, St. Paul, MN   October 5th, 2007 11:12 am ET

Just say 'no' to Romney: No New Idiots!

Shawnie Cannon, Grants Pass OR   October 5th, 2007 11:09 am ET

I thought the "NO NEW TAXES" was pretty lame too, but then thought

"Wait, it's Romney! If anyone could really pull that off, it's him. He is King of eliminating waste and duplication in business."

Let him do it for America.

Pat, Huntington, NY   October 5th, 2007 10:54 am ET

Republicans never learn…"READ MY LIPS…NO! NEW! TAXES!"-George H.W. Bush, 1988 presidential campaign.

The problem with such promises is that you cannot anticipate what may happen in the future. If we get into a major war how can we fund it without new taxes? How can we fund this new monetary committment to protect us from terrorists without some kind of sacrifice from the American People? How can we just stand by and allow our transportation infrastructure crumble under the wheels of our cars without some kind of way of paying for it? Ah yes, the Republican solution to all of this – borrow and spend! Borrow from China, spend it today, and mortgage the future our this nation to foreign interests.

Dan (Columbia, MD)   October 5th, 2007 10:46 am ET

If he or Rudi are serious about taxes then they'll back the Fair Tax Act.

Otherwise we're in for more of the usual blah blah blah and the Washington politicians (Democrats AND Republicans) keep sticking it to the middle class.

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