Excerpts from former governor Mitt Romney’s book, “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness’’
On the Republican approach to regulation:
“The Republican Party has long been an opponent of overregulation, and rightly so. But I believe some in our party are overly fond of bashing regulation as the constant enemy of growth and competition. They are certainly right about some regulations, but they are wrong when it comes to others. The rule of law and the establishment of regulations that are clear, fair, and relevant to contemporary circumstances provide the predictability and stability that is needed for investment and risk-taking.’’On the Massachusetts health care overhaul, which Romney backed as governor:
“All of us knew the bill wasn’t perfect; nothing that groundbreaking could be. But it was a big improvement over what we had. It would need to be fine-tuned as it was implemented and it would undergo midcourse correction as time went on.“From the outset, I and my team knew that some of the features the legislature had added would be expensive, including the full complement of coverage mandates such as unlimited in vitro fertilization treatments and dental care, a small fee paid by employers who didn’t insure their employees, and no opt-out provision for people who wanted to forgo insurance and pay their own way. I was also concerned by the implementation decisions of the administration that followed my own.’’
On Barack Obama:
“Never before in American history has its president gone before so many foreign audiences to apologize for so many misdeeds, both real and imagined. It is his way of signaling to foreign countries and foreign leaders that their dislike for America is something he understands and that is, at least in part, understandable. There are anti-American fires burning all across the globe; President Obama’s words are like kindling to them.’’Correction: Because of a reporting error, these excerpts gave an incorrect title for Mitt Romney’s new book. It is “No Apology.’’
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