< Back to Front Page Text size +

Romney wearing well in Florida

Posted by James F. Smith January 27, 2008 03:03 PM

SWEETWATER -- Mitt Romney showed up today at a youth center named for the powerful Cuban-American activist Jorge Mas Canosa. But he was not his wearing his usual Boston businessman's uniform of french-cuffed shirts and silk ties. Romney was wearing an open-necked ivory-white guayabera, the traditional Cuban men's shirt.

"It’s an honor to be able to wear this guayabera today," Romney told a cheering crowd of Cuban-American supporters.

The loose-fitting shirt, he explained, had been given to him this morning at the Bay of Pigs Library and Museum in Miami by Luis Arrizurieta, who was one of the roughly 1,400 Cubans to storm the beaches at the Bay of Pigs in April, 1961.

"I have a feeling I won't be wearing it throughout the campaign," the buttoned-down former venture capitalist said, looking somewhat uncomfortable in his new garb. "But I sure am proud of wearing it on such a warm day in Miami."

After his son, Craig, who learned Spanish while working as a missionary in Chile, warmed up the crowd in Spanish, Mitt Romney put the focus squarely on Fidel Castro, the bęte noire of the influential exile community in South Florida.

He told the crowd about meeting a man named Ricardo early in his career as a venture capitalist who had endured an unspeakable tragedy.

"You see, Ricardo’s family had lost their oldest son to rebels in El Salvador, who had kidnapped him and murdered him," Romney said. "And these rebels were financed by the wealth of Fidel Castro. I learned that when Fidel Castro has money, bad things happen. And I vowed that I would never give in to Fidel Castro!"

The crowd broke into cheers and applause.

"Go Mitt go! Go Mitt go!"

10 comments so far...
  1. Interesting video on McCain.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu-tg1kQ8dk&feature=related

    Posted by Larry January 27, 08 03:22 PM
  1. Go Mitt.
    I think the drunk, womanizing Kennedy, endorsment may backfire for Obama. I think Obama is above the Clinton's, and Kennedy's. However I hope for you to win, and we don't have to endure a liberal defence of the world war against terrisim.

    Posted by Frank Cox January 27, 08 03:31 PM
  1. The event was very positive and Romney connected with the crowd. The best part for me was when he described the negative change the democrats would bring to the office and one of the members of the crowd exclaimed "socialistas"...Romney capitalized on this and the crowd loved it. His charisma is much sharper in person and he has a sincerity about him that is rare for pols these days.

    Posted by Jason Nunemaker January 27, 08 06:24 PM
  1. obama: when you sleep with dogs you get fleas

    Posted by g. van dorn January 27, 08 06:43 PM
  1. South Carolina voters rejected the "BILLARY' conditional deal of buy one (vote in one) and get one is mandatory. The on-time endorsement of Sen. Obama by Sen.Kennedy, Sen. Kerry and JFK daughter Caroline Kennedy should check the dirty politics of race, color and religion in this presidential election. Sen. Hillary Clinton first tried the gender card in her Wellesley College speech of fighting against 'All Boys Club of Presidential Politics'. Then she tried her teary eyes in NH and unleashed her PIT-BULL husband (President Bill Clinton) to do her dirty works. Scoring legitimate pont in issue-debates is part of democracy. Bringing false accusations against Sen.Obama and injecting race in the election are considered dirty tricks. It may yield instant gain but in the long run it destroys the fair system of our election.

    The country had enough of bickering dirty politics that divide us and serve no purpose of solving our social and economic problems. If President Clinton keeps us his false charges against Sen. Obama's records and tries to paint him as black candidate then the Democratic Party in particular and the country in general would pay the high price. It's high time for the rational democrats and all fair minded people,(irrespective of endorsement) to step in and put a leash on President Clinton before it's too late to control the volatile situation.

    Posted by Sunil Das January 27, 08 07:23 PM
  1. Mitt Romney can not be trusted. He will say anything and pay anything to win. Just look at the debate, Romney cheated. Do you want someone dishonest and deceptive as our president? Don't believe me? Look at these 3 videos of the Florida debate and tell me Romney did not cheat. There is no denying it.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NlIMQ31EjY

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wfWDOxZkEM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK408oqEyOU

    Posted by Dan January 27, 08 11:59 PM
  1. go mitt go.

    Posted by joy steele January 28, 08 01:19 AM
  1. Hillary Clinton, the Only Candidate to have a Dialogue with Haitian American Community Leaders and Activists

    After a lengthy dialogue between Hillary Clinton and several Haitian political activists and professionals, small business owner, Jacques Dady Jean, a Haitian radio personality and community organizer, called upon Haitian-Americans everywhere in the U.S. to consolidate their vote for Hillary Clinton.

    “Hillary is a proven leader, a champion in the fight for better health care for all American families”, Jean said.

    During the conversation, Hillary took time to listen and understand the tax burden, economic hardship and complexity of the process of getting a small business loan. They also discussed the degrading situation in Haiti and the escalating violence on the island since a U.S.-backed militia overthrew President Aristide, a democratically elected leader of Haiti.

    Hillary is a strong advocate for a better education system as well. She has a very detailed plan to begin stimulating the economy and to negotiate an honorable solution to stop the Iraq war and bring the troops back home.

    During his presidential term, Bill Clinton worked for world peace and freed the Haitian people from the worst military dictatorship, led by General Cedras, restoring democracy and civil liberty in Haiti.

    Hillary Clinton is a candidate of hope, the candidate who listens, trusts and shows respect for all, regardless your country of origin or the color of your skin.

    After this frank and sincere dialogue, we are deeply convinced that Hillary Clinton is the best choice to lead America.

    We are asking you please to come out and vote this Tuesday in the Florida primary and to come out in every state primary and caucus on February 5th to vote for Hillary Clinton in order to be a part of that golden page that is about to added to the great history of the United States of America.

    Posted by Karrie Ann January 28, 08 11:29 AM
  1. So Mitt says when leaders have money they do bad things(reference Fidel Castro)...would that be like the American money that has financed Suharto, Bin Laden, Hussein, Musharif...and your very own Iraq invasion???

    Posted by Jim Gollert January 29, 08 05:46 AM
  1. I support an Obama/Hillary ticket. Obama first, Hillary second.

    I'm so sorry that John Edwards dropped out. He was a man of intelligence and grace. God give his family the time they need to re-energize. I hope we see them all again in some way -- maybe as peacemakers like Jimmy Carter and his wife Roselyn.

    Posted by Ida McDonald February 1, 08 08:28 AM
add your comment
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

Send your comments to masspolitics@globe.com

archives

browse this blog

by category