Presidential hopeful makes campaign stop at MCC

By Maria Allard
C & G Staff Writer  

WARREN — Speaking to a crowd that came out to Macomb Community College Jan. 11, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said the politicians in Washington, D.C., have dismissed the state of Michigan.

“Washington is broken,” Romney said while visiting the college’s Center for Alternative Fuels Energy and Transportation. “You have a government which sees a major problem, is aware of it but is detached from it. Washington just stands by and doesn’t do anything about it.

“Michigan has slipped into a one-state recession,” Romney said. “It pains me to see that. I’m not willing to accept defeat like that.”

If elected president, the Michigan native said he wouldn’t forget the Great Lakes State. For starters, he said he’ll cease sending jobs overseas by bridging the gap between the federal and state legislators, manufacturers and labor for “the benefit of American jobs, not for the benefit of foreign jobs.”

But it’s “not just about automotive” jobs, the former Massachuesetts governor said. Romney said in order for the United States to “forever” stay ahead of China and India “is by being at the cutting edge of technology (with) new science, new products, new research.”

“Let’s license that to our U.S. manufacturers on a favorable basis,” the businessman-turned-politician said.

Romney fears the rest of the nation will be affected if Michigan’s economy doesn’t turn around.

“It’s just not going to be confined to Michigan,” Romney said. “It will happen to the rest of the country. This is the place to stop (it.) If we can’t win here, we can’t win anywhere. This is going to be Ground Zero for us.

“If I’m the nominee for our party we’re going to pick up the electoral votes the Democrats think were in their back pocket,” Romney promised at the end of his 15-minute speech.

Romney came to Macomb’s South Campus four days before the Michigan Primary election slated for Jan. 15. Sterling Heights resident Richard Bollini, 40, plans to vote for Romney on Super Tuesday. Bollini believes Romney will “bring an economic base to Michigan by bringing business back,” if elected.

“He’s not going to listen to the lobbyists. He’s going to stop going overseas by being inventive,” Bollini said. “I think he’s going to spur education.”

Bollini said he “didn’t really follow” Romney until the New Hampshire primary.

Russell and Barbara Noonan, of Clinton Township, also support Romney. Michigan’s shaky economy has them worried.

“We need a businessman to run this country,” Russell, 73, said. “Politicians just don’t do anything right. We’re in a bad economy and he seems like a fiscally responsible person. He’ll put an end to Washington’s out-of-control pork barrel spending.”

Barbara likes Romney’s personality and how he presents himself. She’d like to see more Americans exercising the right to vote.

“They just ignore it,” she said. “They don’t want to be bothered.”

Not all who came out to hear Romney speak will cast a vote for him. An 18-year-old Michigan resident named John, who would not reveal his last name, waited outside the building for Romney to arrive. John, dressed as a dolphin, carried a sign that read “Flip Romney Say Anything To Win.”

“He does more flips than anybody,” John said. “He does more flip-flops on stem cell (research,) taxes, Ronald Reagan and abortion. I just think he’s the weakest one.”

You can reach Staff Writer Maria Allard at allard@candgnews.com or (586) 498-1045.