Westerville, Ohio (CNN) - Mitt Romney expanded on his business career and tamped down on the harsh tenor of his recent attacks on President Barack Obama in a speech Friday in the battleground state of Ohio.
Amid calls from some in his party for a more positive message, the presumptive GOP nominee offered an audience at Otterbein University a vision of a conscientious businessman who could deliver results over rhetoric - an oblique reference to his Democratic rival.
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Though he avoided saying Obama's name, Romney suggested that in approaching the 2012 presidential contenders, the audience "consider not just the brilliance of their words, but also the facts of their record and what they’ve done, and that will be the best predictor, I believe, of what they’ll do going forward."
Romney said his experience at a private equity firm had taught him to look at the raw facts in approaching his work.
"The impact of gathering facts, gathering information, learning about the reality behind the words, has proven to me, in the business sector, that facts are more important than words and that results are more important than words," he said. "So as you look at the campaign of 2012, you’re gonna hear a lot of words, but you're going to have an opportunity to also look behind the words at the facts."
As he stood before an audience of mostly students after days of campaign jousting with Obama's re-election effort over the youth vote, Romney spoke more generally about his proposals for economic turnaround.
He did, however, tell of meeting with two successful restaurant entrepreneurs - the owners of Jimmy's Johns sandwich chain and Papa John's pizza - and encouraged the young adults to "take a shot, go for it. Take a risk. Get the education. Borrow money if you have to from your parents."
From CNN Politics
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romney, romney , romney, a meeting with 7 people is not a meeting with Ohio college studends. It's more like a lunch in which romney must have paid for other wise no one would have come.
I love the part when romney said get an education, borrow money from your parents. once again and my god how many times has he said such stupid things. if parents had the money they would be more than happy to give it to their kids for school. But guess what romney, parents don't have the money, unlike your richy rich parents.
ok so this time he did not trash tash talk the food served
The man is a total fake. No substance, no plan, and certainly no solution.
I am crossing over to vote for the other party.
Looking at the photo above, once again Romney doesn't want to sample the local cuisine.
Our last "Businessman As President" was George Bush.
I don't think the students want to listen to Mitt talking (6 years complaining about the president), I am sure they are there for the free lunch. I know once I was a student, we usually get pizza for attending a seminar or a talk takeout lunch would have been way attractive even it comes with Mitten listening. What else is attractive about this man who’s only desired to be a POTUS because of the sec of power or for some legacy trip.
What do we do if our parents don't have money? Bollow from Romney with high interest rates??? What kind of business mind Romney is teaching?
Our last "Businessman As President" was George Bush.
His Presidency began by ignoring warnings regarding the Al Quadea threat, which was soon followed by the attacks on 9/11. His Presidency ended with the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression.
Good thing he had that business background.
Mitt ...borrow money from your parents....jesus like most parents I dont and did not have it to lend. does he really think the middle class has that kind of money? oh i know if we are lucky enough to still be in our houses we should take the equity out and give it to our kids for school...oh no! no equity in our homes!!! please mitt get real would ya!
I cannot not think of a more boring speech to have to listen to and that includes the 60 minute one from the head honchos to the 2300 employees at work this week.
OK Mitt let's look at the facts: Thirty years of trickle down economics has left this country far worse off. Lowering taxes repeatedly and not paying for programs and wars in order to keep that rate low has left this country in a mountain of debt. Income is at the greatest gap it's been since the Great Depression. Are you studying the facts, Mitt or are you just spouting rhetoric in your approach?
"Borrow money if you have to from your parents." That's Romney's advice? Just when I think he can't be any more out of touch he manages to top himself.
Who made the cookies?
It's about jobs. Mitt is the most qualified to take our country to the next level, in order to save us from financial mediocrity that is Europe's.
Romney 2012.
Yes, borrow money from your Parents, cause your government isn't going to help you. No sir!
Awarding in state tuition to illegal aliens is fiscally irresponsible and patently unfair.
Push your state representative to make a change. Google this: NUMBERSUSA .
Once you are registered, go to the "action board" to send free faxes to your state representative .
They are all typed up and ready to go, you just need to click your mouse to send.
and since no one will show up to his speeches his is regulated to giving it in some teachers lounge with four fat nerds that the rest of the campus things are losers.
What a bafoon, in other words, he will cut all student aid if elected , the key word, borrow it from your parents, what a total loser like the rest of the republican party. Give the oil companies 40 billion in tax breaks and screw the students . How do these republican clowns expected to get elected in Nov. Dem landslide coming!!!!!!
Borrow money from your parents? Is he talking to the 1% of students or all students?
He must be talking to the 1%.
Here's where Romney will really struggle. You have to have more than a conversation. You have to be like president Obama. Keep you base emotional. Tell college students th other side is going to raise your loans. Tell minorities they want give you a "fair" shot. Tell women they are taking away your right to choice and health care services. Tell seniors they want to throw you off a cliff.
I agree that the liberal base is the most educated. They sure have figured out how to keep the 99% of the rest of the democrat party under control. Keep them emotional and feel like they need the elite liberal The 1% ers running the party. No doubt about that.
"Conscientious Businessman" is that how they say "Compassionate Conservative" in 2012?
LOL Don't they looked so phony? The body language of the guy on the left speaks volumes.
This "vulture capitalist" certainly knows how to make money off of people"s misfortunes and destroy people in the process. He is part of a malignancy on our society known as the "greed element". It's a shame he is at a college influencing our young people.
Take a risk and borrow money from your parents? Are you kidding me? My parents have just enough to live on for themselves. So either go with higher interest rates for student loans or get money from your folks... My dad was a blue collar welder. Where do you think he got his "millions" Mr. Everyman? mr. romney- you are not like us. stop trying to be.