The Presidential Mitt Romney

     I admit it, during the Republican primaries I did not support Mitt Romney. There were many reasons for my non-support, but it turned out that I really didn't know the real Mitt Romney. Over the last four months I have come to realize how wrong I was during the primaries. Three recent examples have been illustrative of Mitt Romney's presidential stature.
     The first incident was Mitt Romney's statement after our embassy in Cairo, Egypt was attacked and our flag destroyed. Governor Romney was very presidential as he stood up for America and its values. His subsequent news conference the next day stood in stark contrast to President Obama's "blame America first statement." A president is not only a CEO, but should be an advocate for the United States and the values outlined in our founding documents. Mitt Romney, in response to criticism from the administration and others on the left, said that it is never too early to stand up for American values. In that one statement he showed more presidential timber than President Obama has shown in four years.
     Last Wednesday night, at the first Presidential debate, Mitt Romney again showed presidential chops as he stood on stage for 90 minutes and disassembled the disaster that has been the Obama Presidency. The White House and the media tried to blame everyone and everything for the President's dismal performance, but I think it wasn't that he was so bad, it was that Mitt Romney was so good. He confronted the President with his record and remained the consummate gentleman. He looked at the President like a man as he made his case against him, in contrast the President avoided eye contact like a petulant child. Mitt Romney showed even more presidential prowess with his command of the facts.
     Yesterday, October 8, Mitt Romney gave a speech on foreign policy at the Virginia Military Institute. He weaved a foreign policy that was coherent and competent, one that stood in stark contrast to the weak kneed, appeasement policy of the Obama administration. He explained why a strong military is the best way to avoid war. He didn't use the words of Ronald Reagan, peace through strength, but the Reagan doctrine was in evidence throughout his speech. And once again, Mitt Romney, showed a knowledge and competence in foreign policy, just as he had done less than a week ago in the domestic policy arena.
     What makes a good president is competence in the job but also a burning desire to promote American values and an understanding of American exceptionalism. He must show strength and humility in the same breath. He must lead, but not by dictating but by gentle persuasion rooted in the truth and reason. I believe, after having watched Mitt Romney for the last few months that he is the leader that this country needs and the kind of leader that the world needs this country to have. Ronald Reagan once said that no war in the last hundred years occurred because America was too strong. I think Mitt Romney instinctively knows this and will work to make America a force for good here and around the world.