Farmington Hills

Snyder endorses Romney before pro-business audience in Hills

By David Wallace
C & G Staff Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by David Schreiber Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder throws his support behind Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney during a visit to the Greater Farmington Area and Livonia chambers of commerce Feb. 16. Photo by David Schreiber Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder throws his support behind Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney during a visit to the Greater Farmington Area and Livonia chambers of commerce Feb. 16.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder told several hundred people gathered at Farmington Hills Manor Feb. 16 that he supports Mitt Romney to win the Republican nomination for president.

The two men attended a luncheon that gathered members of the Greater Farmington Area and Livonia chambers of commerce, and Snyder compared the situation in the United States to that in Michigan when he took office, emphasizing a need to cut deficits and create jobs.

“Now we have the opportunity to be part of a bigger team, and a team led by a great individual who can bring that same sort of success taking on the issues we did here of deficits, of creating jobs, of all those requirements of bringing common sense to government and of bringing those things to Washington, so that’s why I’m very excited today to announce my endorsement of Gov. Romney,” said Snyder.

“If we could do in Washington what your governor’s done here, we’d be in a very different position as a nation. And I hope to do it in Washington, what your governor has done here,” said Romney.

“We have the right man here to help lead our country, but there’s a special bonus. He was born and raised a Michigander. He understands our state. He’s one of us, and that’s another area of particular pride,” said Snyder.

“I was born and raised here. I love this state. It seems right here. Trees are the right height. I like seeing the lakes,” said Romney.

“I love American cars, and long may they rule the world, let me tell you,” Romney said.

Romney’s detractors say he opposed the government’s aid to the auto industry, and the results would have been catastrophic.

“Wrapping himself around a governor who knew enough to support the auto rescue won’t make Michiganders forget that Mitt Romney wanted Michigan to go bankrupt,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer in a statement.

Farmington Hills resident Masha Silver was among about a half-dozen protestors standing on the sidewalk outside Farmington Hllls Manor with signs saying Romney is wrong for Michigan. She said people yelling support for Romney wouldn’t be there if they didn’t have a job.

“Actually, we probably all wouldn’t be here if Detroit had gone bankrupt,” said Silver.

In his remarks, Romney briefly addressed that frequent criticism.

“I’m glad it went through a managed bankruptcy process, which I recommended from the very beginning to shed unnecessary costs and get its footing again. I’m delighted it’s profitable. In my view, this auto industry can continue to lead the world and must continue to lead the world to keep Detroit with a vibrant and prosperous future,” Romney said.

Much of Romney’s speech focused on free enterprise and his support for entrepreneurs.

“Government people don’t tend to understand that, for instance, when they change tax codes, that that will have an impact on what people do. When the governor here reduced the infamous business activity tax, it will change behavior. It’s not that his desire was to find a way to lower taxes on companies. It’s instead he wanted to get more companies to come here and to grow here,” said Romney.

The end of the Michigan business tax drew applause at the luncheon.

“My impression is from some government people, they don’t like you very much,” he told the business people at the luncheon. “I love you, all right. I like the fact that you’re entrepreneurs and working to create jobs and build enterprises, and that makes America stronger. And provides, by the way, more resources to the state,” said Romney.

Romney picked up another endorsement at the luncheon: Livonia Mayor Jack Kirksey.

“It is going to be an interesting election on the 28th of this month, the primary in the state of Michigan. The turnout is not what it should be; perhaps, at best, maybe one in four voters. So in addition to honoring Gov. Romney here today, I think we can best do the very supportive kind of thing that we would want to do and that would be to talk with our friends, make a commitment to ourselves, to get to the primary and cast a vote for Mitt Romney,” said Kirksey.

Farmington Hills Mayor Barry Brickner, who is a Democrat, noticed an interesting coincidence in the past two presidential elections.

“In 2004, George Bush came and spoke in Farmington Hills at (Oakland Community College) — re-elected the president. In 2008, Barack Obama spoke at North Farmington High School in Farmington Hills — elected president,” said Brickner.

“Let’s face it: All roads to the White House now lead through Farmington Hills,” said Brickner. “Don’t tell Newt.”
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer David Wallace at dwallace@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1053.