Philadelphia (CNN) – The seated statue of Benjamin Franklin towered over Mitt Romney in the marbled rotunda but the White House hopeful stood tall as he reflected on becoming the Republican presidential nominee.
“Yeah there are challenges and there are days that you get beat up in the newspaper and you don’t worry about it because you don’t read them – ha ha,” Romney said at a Tax Day Tea Summit, hosted by the Independence Hall Tea Party Association.
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Acknowledging the unrelenting news cycle of his second White House run, Romney signaled his campaign was transitioning from primary election mode facing GOP opponents to the general election against his sole Democratic opponent President Barack Obama.
“This campaign is just getting going. It’s going to be fun,” he told hundreds gathered at the Franklin Institute on Tuesday night.
Romney spoke out against one of Obama's signature economic initiatives, known as The Buffett Rule, which would have required anyone earning more than $1 million to pay a minimum tax rate of 30%.
"His big idea now is this Buffet Rule, which is – someone calculated by the way, that the taxes he would raise from his Buffet Rule would pay for 11 hours – would pay for 11 hours of the government, alright? This is not exactly a grand idea. This is a man who is out of ideas, he's out of excuses and in 2012 we're going to make sure he gets put out of office," Romney said as the audience stood up and chanted his first name.
He did not acknowledge the news from Capitol Hill, which occurred less than an hour before he appeared in Philadelphia, where Senate Republicans blocked the measure from receiving the 60 votes necessary to allow the Senate to open debate.
With 10 months of campaigning behind him, Romney remained optimistic despite a tough slog ahead.
"I had not expected to have the great privilege of doing this and I find myself having the time of my life,” he said.
Obama re-election team increases fundraising haul
Buffett Rule would barely dent debt but fits nicely into Obama's theme
"I had not expected to have the great privilege of doing this...". Really? Getting the nomination the second time around caught you by surprise? You went into it assuming you would lose? No se.
Why doesn't the story mention the tens of people there to hear Mitt McCain shamelessly pander in his awkward manner.
This is REALLY going to be fun reacting and watching to this
Me to Romney and Obama: "I'll watch you" (two fingers on eyes then to them)
Your numbers are so bad right now that I would quit before starting the race but somebody has to carry the teapublikan taliban we hate women torch.
BTW – I read an article that says you don't want to make the same mistakes the mccain campaign did with the she devil from AK. Don't worry, flip flopper, there is NOT one single teapublikan out there that can do anymore harm than you have done yourself to your campaign. Remember, virginia is for lovers but you can't use contraceptions and even though they did away with probing pregnant women they still want you to have an ultrasound if you are thinking abortion, remember, that is what you were for before you were against it! Just reminding you what a louse you are.
This loser will never be president of USA, maybe Somalia where the republican morons share similar values on healthcare and the economy,thanks teaparty Dem landslide coming in Nov. I have never seen such loser republican canadates in my 50years .
It's gonna be "fun" in a tie your dog to the roof of your car and send 'em up the car elevator while firing people kind of way.
This idiot is crazy. Obama2012.
►Romney ready for November fight: “It’s going to be fun”◄
Yep, so much fun Romney will pop and enjoy all of the bottles of rum
And party just a little too much because he "thinks" he's got it made
Forgetting about all of his "flip-flops" that will hit him like a grenade!!!
Obama 2012 – The Only Trusted Way Forward!!
Yes, I agree it will be fun watching all the Mitt Romney before and after statements. Which Romney will be running? Will it be the "severe conservative?" Will it be the Romney who was to be to the left of Ted Kennedy?
As for the 30% minimum tax on millionaires, I would say that they don't do anything with their wealth that supports the country. If the really wealth had formed a non-profit health care insurance company that would support the poor around the country so the poor could get health care at a reasonable rate, that would be something that I could be okay on lowering the rates because of that.
and there are days that you get beat up in the newspaper and you don’t worry about it because you don’t read them – ha ha,” Romney said
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You don't read the newspapers???!
That's what you said. I know what you MEANT to say, but that's what you actually SAID.
Yet another reason not to have you anywhere near the most important job in the land, you're NOT an effective communicator. Furthermore with your evident disconnect from regular folks I'd think you'd want to plug into what they think about you. Whatever.
Obama 2012. Seriously America.
Mittens says its going to be fun, but even Rick Perry and Rick Santorum almost made him cry. Maybe having a billion dollars from the Kochs, the turdblossom Rove and the swift boaters for negative ads will make him feel like a real man.
He did not acknowledge the news from Capitol Hill, which occurred less than an hour before he appeared in Philadelphia,
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That's becasue he wasn't AWARE of the news.
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"I had not expected to have the great privilege of doing this and I find myself having the time of my life,” he said.
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Having the time of his life! Wow! This is serious business runing for the presidency especially with the country delicately recovering from a 1-2-3 economic punch. Yet this guy is having "the time of his life"! No plans, no ideas, but plenty of fun, fun , fun!!!!
Yeah Mittens. Dork.
Obama 2012. Seriously America
I can hear the crescendo of the Romney 2012 Overture: WHINE !!!!!
IIf you knew anything about Ben Franklin, you would know that Romney's choice to stand under his statue was hilarious.
Looks like the Tea Party is ready to get in line. I knew they would. They would vote for Lucifer before they would for President Obama. A sad country we live in.
OBAMA 2012!
"Romney said as the audience stood up and chanted his first name." Did they really chant Willard?
I don't think "fun" describes what lies ahead for you, Mitt.
Of course you don't read newspapers.
"It’s going to be fun” – I guess that will be true right up to the hiney whipping he's going to get on November 6, Reelection Day. Obama 2012 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's right, you "don't worry about it because you don't read them – Ha Ha!" ! Thank you for making it clear that you don't care what concerns people have about your polices or views. Why read views that are different from yours? You already have a very good idea how you want to do to the American people. Unfortunately for you the American people DO read! We pay attention to what your saying and how often you change your 'views and policies'! And thanks to the reporter overhearing the speech you gave to private donors in Florida we now have an idea of what you are telling them.
So yes Mr Romney, the fun is just beginning. And remember – we ARE paying attention.
This is not the grand idea but is of course first step towards the right right direction for the tax code reform where rich have to pay their fair share. What is happening now is money is flowing from poor to rich and that's wroooooong.
Mitt Romney thinks that this race is going to be fun, he had better think again. The women are going to wipe that smile off of his face come Novenber. Go President Obama stick to your message, and we will see you will be laughing this fall. OBAMA 2012!
Are you sure it was his first name they were chanting? Not what he is full of? The symbol for the republican party with Romney as it's "leader" should be a bull.
when obama was running against macain religon was brought up every day-not this round
It will be fun for Romney. Our comrade Obama will not have as much joy in November.