Associated Press
Romney campaigns at Carter Machinery in southwest Virginia.
Mitt Romney campaigned yesterday in southwest Virginia, speaking to a crowd of about 1,000 people gathered outside a company called Carter Machinery. That, in and of itself, wouldn't be especially noteworthy, were it not for some of the interesting details about the company and the views of its CEO.
Even before the campaign event, it was interesting to learn that Carter Machinery benefited greatly from President Obama's Recovery Act -- the same law that Romney attacked during his speech. For that matter, as our pal James Carter noted, the company's owner has also touted Obama administration economic policies as having benefited his business.
But that's not all Carter Machinery CEO James Parker said. In local media, Parker criticized Obama for failing to get the highway bill passed, but Obama strongly supports the highway bill -- it's been blocked by Republicans. It led Greg Sargent to give Parker a call.
Parker favors heavy government spending on infrastructure, which he sees as a valid means of creating jobs, favors paying for such spending with a gas tax, sees the federal stimulus spending in his area as a plus, and favors government investment in alternative energy. [...]
"I believe that there's got to be an economic plan to take care of our roads and our bridges," Parker said. "Half a trillion over five years -- over all of the United States." Parker disagreed with Obama's proposal to pay for his own infrastructure plan with a surtax on the wealthy, but he did say he favors a "gas tax" to pay for it.
"You have to have tax revenues to make it happen," he said of his hope for a massive infrastructure plan.
So, let me get this straight. A prominent Romney backer in Virginia believes Obama's right about investing in domestic infrastructure, wants Obama's highway bill to pass, wants to raise taxes, sees Obama's stimulus paying dividends in his area, and agrees with Obama on investing in alternative energy.
In fairness, Parker has plenty of criticisms for the president, too, but if prominent Romney backers from private industry see value in Obama's economic agenda, it makes it just a little more difficult for the Republican to characterize the president's vision as "anti-business."
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Mitt Romney has probably led to more layoffs of working Americans than any man in this country. His entire tax policy platform is designed to give rich guys like himself as many tax cuts and government giveaways as possible. He is the very embodiment of an "outsourcer-in-chief," representing the executives of corporate America who have decimated the nation's jobs and the economy for their own personal profits. Romney says he would run the country like he ran Bain -- and we should all take him at his word. Mitt will outsource every last job and turn America into a playground for the rich and powerful.
http://www.sunstateactivist.org
"... it makes it just a little more difficult for the Republican to characterize the president's vision as "anti-business."
Keep it up Mitt with your tiresome Obama attacks with no specific details of what you would do as president. In the unlikely event you should you should win this fall, we will have elected our nations first Blah, Blah, Blah in Chief.
The only part of his agenda that matters is that he'll have ten working fingers and they won't be brown.
From Carter Machinery website "Company Tab"
COMPANY
Since 1952, Carter Machinery has had a hand in the success of numerous construction, mining, forestry, and industrial operations throughout our assigned territory. We've grown to be one of the leading Caterpillar dealers in the U.S. with over 20 locations and 1,100 employees. Our technicians, technical advisors, salespeople and support staff have an old-fashioned devotion to doing the job right, because they know a solid reputation is built one satisfied customer at a time.
OUR DIVISIONS
From a handful of products in the beginning, to hundreds today, the diversity of our offerings is evident through our different divisions. While each has a unique focus, they share the common vision that’s sustained our company’s growth.
The Earthmoving Division specializes in heavy equipment for industries including mining, site development, road building, forestry and recycling. In addition to selling and servicing the entire line of Caterpillar equipment, we also offer related products from numerous respected manufacturers.
The General Construction Division is responsible for the sales and rentals of equipment to building construction and industrial customers. As part of the CAT Rental Store network, it provides support to both local and transient companies.
The Power Systems Division handles total truck service, industrial and marine engines as well as power generation systems from residential back-up units to prime power and standby power industrial applications. It is also focused on the emerging bio-gas market including gas compression and landfill gas applications.
And so what ? Sorry to be so cynical but it is doubtful that anyone outside this blog will pick up the meme.
I don't see it even being mentioned by the MSM other than Romney visits Virginia factory.
We are only interested in controversy involving gaffes that we can obsess over and show on a loop for the next 24 hrs before it becomes a campaign commercial.
Nooze - a very sad pathetic joke on the American Sheeple
@sick, I get it, you are more than just a little frustrated - I sooooo feel you. But it's taken US 30+ years to slide to the "dark side" and it's gonna take a minute for all of US to awaken from the seductive nightmare that we're in! Hey a Romney supporter sees the light and is willing to admit it, many more probably agree - they just won't go on the record about it! Keep your chin up, and your voice raised in service of the truth!
Romney say's a little bit about everything and not much about anything.Is'nt it ironic that a supporter of his love's what the President has done for his business.It's the same with republican's in Washington.They go home and do ribbon cutting's at new project's,and say look what I did,how hypocritcal.I have to hand it to republican's,they act energized when they talk, they lie but they are energetic when the lie.Who do we have?Schumer,Durbin and Reed,they are about as exciting as a tortoise orgy.Dem's are afraid of losing their money backer's if they say to much,so they put the President out there all by himself,to energize voter's.He cant do it all and still win.If he loses Democrat's can take a lot of the blame.
It's swell that this businessman supports so much of Obama's economic agenda, but the problem is how to sway the media narrative. The Village Idiots of the DC media aristocracy are NEVER going to talk up stories like this. They're in the tank for the Gooper Teanuts, mindlessly apeing their talking points, spouting Broderist False Equivalencies, and dreaming of how swell life might be with a real Wall Street Titan in the White House instead of some parvenu with - you know - a brain and a soul. If David Gregory ever starts criticizing Romney, then Romney's in trouble. Otherwise, well, it's gonna be close.
Why anybody assumes businessmen are necessarily anything beyond mediocrities is beyond me.
You need to stop printing stories about people who want you to STOP MAKING SENSE!