Romney speech draws jeers

HOUSTON — HOUSTON Mitt Romney declared Wednesday before a skeptical NAACP crowd that he'd do more for African-Americans than Barack Obama, the nation's first black president. He drew jeers when he lambasted the Democrat's policies.

"If you want a president who will make things better in the African-American community, you are looking at him," Romney told the group's annual convention. Pausing as some in the crowd heckled, he added, "You take a look!"

"For real?" yelled someone in the crowd.

The reception occasionally was rocky though generally polite as the Republican presidential candidate sought to woo a Democratic bloc that voted heavily for Obama four years ago and is certain to do so again. Romney was booed when he vowed to repeal Obama's signature health care law, and the crowd interrupted him when he accused Obama of failing to spark a more robust economic recovery.

"I know the president has said he will do those things. But he has not. He cannot. He will not," Romney said as the crowd's murmurs turned to groans.

At other points, Romney earned scattered applause for his promises to create jobs and improve education.

Four months before the election, Romney's appearance at the NAACP convention was a direct, aggressive appeal for support from across the political spectrum in what polls show is a close contest. Romney doesn't expect to win a majority of black voters -- 95percent backed Obama in 2008 -- but he's trying to show independent and swing voters that he's willing to reach out to diverse audiences, while demonstrating that his campaign and the Republican Party he leads are inclusive.

The stakes are high. Romney's chances in battleground states such as North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania -- which have huge numbers of blacks who helped Obama win four years ago -- will improve if he can cut into the president's advantage by persuading black voters to support him or if they stay home on Election Day.

Obama spoke to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People during the 2008 campaign, as did his Republican opponent that year, Sen. John McCain. The president has dispatched Vice President Joe Biden to address the group on Thursday.

Within minutes of taking the stage, Romney made note of his opponent's historic election achievement -- and then accused him of not doing enough to help black families on everything from family policy to education to health care.

"If you understood who I truly am in my heart, and if it were possible to fully communicate what I believe is in the real, enduring best interest of African-American families, you would vote for me for president," Romney said to murmuring from the crowd.

Romney added: "I want you to know that if I did not believe that my policies and my leadership would help families of color -- and families of any color -- more than the policies and leadership of President Obama, I would not be running for president."

Romney's criticism of Obama didn't set well with some in the audience.

"Dumb," said Bill Lucy, a member of the NAACP board.

William Braxton, a 59-year-old retiree from Maryland, added: "I thought he had a lot of nerve. That really took me by surprise, his attacking Obama that way."

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Romney draws fire for not signing pro-life pledge (Daily Caller)

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney drew criticism Saturday for being one of only three Republican presidential candidates to have refused to sign the Susan B. Anthony List’s Pro-Life Leadership Presidential Pledge.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who did sign the pledge, sent out a press release saying he was “stunned” at Romney’s refusal to sign.

“This past Monday night at the Republican Presidential Debate, I was asked about Governor Romney’s pro-life conversion, and I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I apparently spoke too soon. It is incredibly disappointing that Governor Romney chose not to defend those who cannot defend themselves,” said Santorum in the statement.

SBA List blasted Romney in a statement.

“Our next president must recognize the urgency of addressing over a million abortions per year,” said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “That’s why our pledge calls for active leadership, not just checking the box. Five candidates took the pledge, and the pro-life grassroots know where they stand.”

“Governor Romney refused to take the pledge and his explanation raises more questions than answers,” she said. “In good conscience, we cannot let this rest.”

(No Mitt Romney feeding frenzy; Pawlenty refuses to attack in first debate)

In an op-ed on National Review Online Saturday, Romney explained why he declined to sign the pledge.

“I am pro-life and believe that abortion should be limited to only instances of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother,” he wrote. He pronounced his support for a number of the other provisions in the pledge, but said the SBA List Pledge went too far.

“As much as I share the goals of the Susan B. Anthony List, its well-meaning pledge is overly broad and would have unintended consequences. That is why I could not sign it. It is one thing to end federal funding for an organization like Planned Parenthood; it is entirely another to end all federal funding for thousands of hospitals across America. That is precisely what the pledge would demand and require of a president who signed it,” Romney wrote.

Romney is not the only Republican candidate who did not sign the pledge: former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson and businessman Herman Cain also declined to sign. But as the perceived frontrunner in the race, Romney is the only candidate to have yet drawn significant fire for not signing it.

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