(CNN) – Mitt Romney was met with a round of boos Wednesday during his speech at the NAACP convention in Houston, after he voiced his goal to repeal "Obamacare."
"I'm going to eliminate every non-essential expensive program I can find. That includes Obamacare, and I'm going to work to reform and save," he said, before being interrupted by the unhappy crowd.
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
– Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
The presumptive GOP presidential nominee paused for 15 seconds, as he looked out over the crowd hissing and jeering.
Instead of moving on to his next point, Romney went off-script to back up his claim.
Romney mentioned, as the boos began to fade, a survey of 1,500 members of the Chamber of Commerce, in which three-quarters said President Barack Obama's health care plan made them "less likely to hire people."
"So I say again," Romney continued. "If our priority is jobs, and that's my priority, that's something I'd change and I'd replace with something that provides to people something they need in health care, which is lower costs, good quality, a capacity to deal with people who have pre-existing conditions and I'll put that in place."
He then went on to make his next point, as listed in his prepared remarks.
The candidate had a few more boos from those who took issue with some of his positions. However, Romney also received some applause lines, as well as a few bursts of organ music during the remainder of his speech.
After the event, campaign adviser Tara Wall described Romney's reception as favorable, saying, "I'll take three boos out of thunderous applause over and over again."
Pressed by reporters if she really considered the applause "thunderous," Wall quickly walked back her remark.
"Okay, applause in general. I think there was a lot more, as I've said a few times, a lot more applause than there were boos. I will take the fact that there was acceptance overall with his speech," she said.
After the speech, the NAACP released a statement thanking Romney, "We are pleased that Gov. Romney addressed our convention today."
But then Chairman Roslyn Brock criticized Romney's policies, "This morning Gov. Romney laid out his policy agenda for this nation. Unfortunately, much of his agenda is at odds with what the NAACP stands for - whether the issue is equal access to affordable health care, reforming our education system or the path forward on marriage equality. We appreciate that he was courageous and took the opportunity to speak with us directly."
NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous also stated that Romney's plans did not meet the interests of the audience.
"His criticism of the Affordable Care Act– legislation that will improve the access to quality health care for millions - signals his fundamental misunderstanding of the needs of many African Americans," Jealous stated.
– CNN Political Producer Shawna Shepherd contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
That is fine that Romney received boos, that is their right. My question is, if Obama received boos we would be considered racist. The point is there is a double standard and when Obama gets pressured the race card is sometimes thrown out. Personally, I do not care that he his half black/half white (from a priveledged Mercer Island, WA [area where Bill Gates lives] but I do mind when someone objects and is called a racist. So when I complain about Obama from now on, I will say I am complaining about him on the caucasean side of his family lineage.
Romeny's address was not aimed to recruit Black voters. Romney used this platform to address white suburbanites whose votes he hopes to get in 2012. Romney wanted to show these potential white voters that he does care about minorities, even though he is rich and has monies hidden in different countries.
Hey Republican not voting for Romney,
How about you get your head out of your butt. If you don't see the abject failure that is the Obama administration, then I'll sell you a bridge. So you're a Republcian, eh? Nice try, pal.
@Monomial....whatever that means. You cannot back up ANY of what you spewed with actual facts. Do you know what a FACT is?? Please, God, I pray you are sterile.....so your STUPIDITY stops with you.
Amusing responses! Very sad.
The applause came from the white's that he brought along with him. Fake....
Romney should have referred to it as the Affordable Health Care Act. Most in the audience wouldn't have had a clue what he was talking about.
Booing a President is different from booing a presidential candidate. As simple as that.
I'll never understand why Rethuglican, conservative, right-wing, religious fanatics think they can force other normal people to accept their deviant views and lifestyle. They love to tell other people how to live their lives, while their own lives are in shambles. The Christian (esp. Catholic, Mormon, Evangelical, and Southern Baptist) Taliban in this country are going to face a violent wake up call soon if they keep trying to spread their hatred, intolerant views, and intolerant actions on normal Americans. And it is patently unfair that gay Americans and their loved ones should suffer the devastating effects of discrimination while the bigots and their loved ones go about their lives as if nothing is wrong. Anyone coming into contact with Jan Brewer, Mitt Romney, Antonin Scalia, Rick Santorum, Sally Kern, Ken Cuccinnelli, Chris Christie, or their loved ones, should take any action possible to harm them.
"...a survey of 1,500 members of the Chamber of Commerce, in which three-quarters said President Barack Obama's health care plan made them "less likely to hire people."
Mitt says the Affordable Healthcare Act is a job killer, However, the survey Mitt cites isn't a valid survey. He's passing it off as an impressive statistic, but it's from a website using voluntary responses by those motivated to respond. Check it out on FactCheck dot org. Here's a quote.
"A press release from the Chamber of Commerce about the survey carries a large caveat: “This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.” In other words, the chamber can’t be sure it’s a representative sample of small-business executives."
monomial,
Get your facts straight before you blog. There are more whites on welfare than any other race. As far your idiotic statement calling blacks useless, it takes one useless matter to know one. The world would definitely be a better place without the likes of you!
The NAACP is a professional organization in good standing. I was happy to learn that Mitt was addressing the organization but why on earth did he have to go there and talk about repealing ObamaCare? What was he thinking? He had a great opportunity but squandered it. They should have listened to Jon Huntsman. He would have known how to manage himself.
Willard Romney is sounding more and more like a doofus who's on the wrong side of history.
Romney the clown ,the representingative of the Gop republican bafoon party deserves no respect from naacp or any other voter who wants to move forward and not backwards with romney the clown and his bush advisors.we want obamacare and romney care which is law that you claim to uphold if its in your favor .the republican bafoons are doing the same thing they did after they lost the election ,sore losers and black eyes all around . You lost ,get over it morons !!!
ROFLMAO – Way to go to those who boo'ed Mitt Romney...Gotta Love It....LOL !!!!!
He insulted the President of the United States, and alienated every person of Color in that room. Nice way to build bridges, Mittens! Now no black person on the Planet will trust you, and rightly so!
Ginger blacks voted for white presidents their entire life until now!
to vet_in_tex
That's correct.
Because Jill and Michelle aren't running for office. But Mittens is. Spouses and kids should be off limits if the Tea Party circus had any class whatsoever.
Though I'm surprised the Secret Service would let Michelle anywhere near a NASCAR track. A NASCAR track is practically a klan meeting with all the bigoted hillbilly trash it attracts.
Of course he received boos. He's the wrong color. If Obama had spoken to the NAACP, and he was white, he would have heard the boos as well.
Any black person Voting for this empty suit is clearly voting against their own best interests.
Why whould anyone respect Romney. A republican congressman called out Obama during a live session on TV. Congress talks about Obama like he is the devil himself and now we are suppose to give a candiate respect...o please, give me a break. Also, white people, don't be so sensitive. No one calls you a racist just because you disagree with Obama. It's the disrespect factor that I question. Disagree all you want and call him names as that's par for course for all presidents. But you have to admit there is a certain level of disrespect that is going on that has never happened with any other president.
Mitt Romney......for president of Switzerland!
Anyone coming into contact with Jan Brewer, Mitt Romney, Antonin Scalia, Rick Santorum, Sally Kern, Ken Cuccinnelli, Chris Christie, or their loved ones, should take any action possible to harm them.
------------------------------------------------
Sometimes you feel like a nut....
-Padraig
That is fine that Romney received boos, that is their right. My question is, if Obama received boos we would be considered racist. The point is there is a double standard and when Obama gets pressured the race card is sometimes thrown out. Personally, I do not care that he his half black/half white (from a priveledged Mercer Island, WA [area where Bill Gates lives] but I do mind when someone objects and is called a racist. So when I complain about Obama from now on, I will say I am complaining about him on the caucasean side of his family lineage.
************************************************
Can we complain about your moronic analysis based on the fact you repeatedly ignore facts in favor of your questionable opinions? Is that from your mother or father's side of the family?
Tea Party republicans are doing their selves in. The more lies they try to fool the public with, the more foolish they look like. Instead of trying to find jobs and help with that situation, they are going to spend their time still trying to repeal the health care law that the Supreme Court upheld. Do they actually think there is a court higher then the Supreme Court? Hard to admit but they looked less stupid with Palin and McCain. They failed also. Keep up the good luck GOP. Hopefully Democrats will gain control of the house again and finally get something done for our country without the party of NO holding them back!