Romney Says It’s 'OK' He Got Booed, Defends His NAACP Speech - East Idaho News
Politics

Romney Says It’s ‘OK’ He Got Booed, Defends His NAACP Speech

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Getty 052912 MittRomney?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1342081442892Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(HAMILTON, Mont.) — Addressing a private fundraiser Wednesday evening, Mitt Romney made reference to his speech to the NAACP in which he was booed several times by the crowd, telling supporters, “I don’t give different speeches to different audiences.”

“I gave the same same speech,” said Romney at the event, which was held at the Daly Mansion in Hamilton, Mont., and was open to a small group of reporters.  “When I mentioned I am going to get rid of Obamacare they weren’t happy.”

The crowd in Houston earlier Wednesday held a sustained boo — for about 15 seconds — when Romney vowed to eliminate Obamacare, a program he called “expensive” and “non-essential.”

“That’s OK,” said Romney, of the response he received at the NAACP.  “I want people to know what I stand for and if I don’t stand for what they want, go vote for someone else, that’s just fine.”

Romney told Fox News’ Neil Cavuto earlier Wednesday that he had “expected” a negative response from the crowd.

Two of Romney’s policy advisers maintained, however, that the reception in the room was on the whole positive, noting that the applause pauses outnumbered those for boos and jeers.

Romney also used the captive audience to further criticize President Obama’s tax proposal.

“So when the president wants to raise taxes on individuals as he’s proposed from 35 percent to 40 percent he kills jobs,” Romney explained.

“If your priority is crushing people, vote for him.  If your priority is jobs, you’ve gotta vote for me,” he added.

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