Mitt Romney’s event on defense turns to religion, job cuts
HILTON HEAD, S.C. — The event here was to focus on veterans and patriotism, but one woman who came to see Mitt Romney this evening wanted to ask him a personal question, she said.
“Do you believe in the divine saving grace of Jesus Christ?’’
Murmurs went through the packed room, before Romney, a Mormon, responded: “Yes I do.’’
The crowd applauded.
Romney is in a far different place than his home state of Massachusetts — or neighboring New Hampshire, where voters tend to keep their religion private.
In South Carolina, where Christian evangelicals could influence the outcome of the Jan. 21 presidential primary here, the question could be one Romney will have to confront many more times on the campaign trail.
“I would note that there are people in our nation that have different beliefs,’’ Romney continued. “There are people of Jewish faith. There are people of Islamic faith, and other people with other faiths. And our president will be president of people of all faiths.’’
Romney, who didn’t mention his own religion, said the country was founded on religious tolerance.
“I happen to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, our savior,’’ he said, “but I know others with different views, and I respect their views.’’
Romney’s visit to this coastal resort community near Georgia was intended to highlight his stand for a strong defense and his knowledge of foreign affairs. He brought along Senator John McCain of Arizona, his old foe, now campaign friend, whose quips provided comic relief.
McCain defended Romney against attacks over his business record as a venture capitalist, although did not refer to any specific source of those attacks.
“Yes, there were job losses, but that’s what the American free enterprise system is like,’’ he said, noting that Romney and his partners helped create thousands of jobs by boosting such companies as Staples, the office supply giant.
Former United Nations ambassador John Bolton was also on hand to rail against the policies of the Obama administration.
He accused President Obama of being indifferent to the country’s national security and more interested in turning the country into a socialist state. Obama might take credit for the killing of Osama bin Laden, he said, but the event merely happened during his presidency.
“Our national security and our economy is inherently related,’’ he said, saying that the country cannot have a strong economy without a strong defense protecting American interests abroad.
Romney was also joined by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, whose husband serves in the Air National Guard, and by more than two dozen military veterans.
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