Mitt Romney

thank you for that veri warm welcom __PUNCT__

it great to be here with you thi morn __PUNCT__

you mai wonder how it is that i got here __PUNCT__

i actual got a call from toni perkin and he said mitt __PUNCT__ do you believ in free_speech __PUNCT__ and i said __PUNCT__ look __PUNCT__ i the governor of a veri liber_state and i know it a veri blue_state __PUNCT__ but of cours i do believ in free_speech __PUNCT__

and he said __PUNCT__ great __PUNCT__ i like you to give on __PUNCT__

i want to thank you for the work that you do becaus it come at a critic_time __PUNCT__

i notic that i not the onli person in thi countri who think thi is a critic time __PUNCT__

the great author david mccullough __PUNCT__ the author of john_adam and truman and __NUM__ wa recent speak at the white_hous __PUNCT__

he spoke on the life of john_adam __PUNCT__

after he wa finish someon in the audienc said __PUNCT__ mr __PUNCT__ mccullough what wa the most critic period in the histori of america __PUNCT__ the most critic five __PUNCT__ year_period __PUNCT__ and he said __PUNCT__ from __NUM__ to right now __PUNCT__

thi is the most critic_time in the histori of america __PUNCT__

you think about the reason he mai have said that __PUNCT__

we under attack from jihadist __PUNCT__

we also see the emerg of asia __PUNCT__ a new competitor __PUNCT__

good new becaus thei come into econom vital __PUNCT__ a challeng as well for our economi __PUNCT__

we also spend wai too much monei __PUNCT__ number three __PUNCT__

number four __PUNCT__ we us wai too much oil __PUNCT__

but number five __PUNCT__ the cultur of america is under attack __PUNCT__

now some peopl sai wait __PUNCT__ when you talk about cultur __PUNCT__ governor __PUNCT__ that not of the same order of magnitud as the thing you just mention __PUNCT__ jihadist and the emerg of asia __PUNCT__ spend too much monei __PUNCT__ us too much oil __PUNCT__

and i disagre __PUNCT__

there wa a book written some year_ago by a fellow name david landi __PUNCT__ he a harvard professor __PUNCT__

the book wa given to me __PUNCT__

it call the wealth and poverti of nation __PUNCT__

the jacket cover includ an endors by john kenneth galbraith __PUNCT__

i said __PUNCT__ oh boi __PUNCT__ thi is go to be some liber diatrib __PUNCT__

i read through it and found it pretti scholarli __PUNCT__

and after about __NUM__ page __PUNCT__ he conclud with roughli these word __PUNCT__ if anyth can be learn from the histori of econom_develop in the world __PUNCT__ it is thi __PUNCT__ cultur make all the differ __PUNCT__

now what is it about america cultur that made us the most power_nation on the earth __PUNCT__ you can think about some of those thing __PUNCT__

on is we believ in hard_work as american __PUNCT__

we believ in educ __PUNCT__

we love freedom __PUNCT__

we seek opportun __PUNCT__

we take risk in order to bring a better futur for ourselv and our famili __PUNCT__

we sacrific for the futur and for our famili __PUNCT__

we ar __PUNCT__ in the word of the bibl __PUNCT__ a god __PUNCT__ fear peopl __PUNCT__

and even those among us who don't believ in god __PUNCT__ as part of what rick_warren __SYMBOL__ might call a purpos __PUNCT__ driven life __PUNCT__ we live for someth greater than ourselv __PUNCT__

american respect the valu and the sanctiti of human_life __PUNCT__

and american_societi is built on the foundat of the famili unit __PUNCT__

now when i sai foundat __PUNCT__ we us those word frequent __PUNCT__ when i sai foundat i want to underscor the fact that a foundat is essenti for someth to stand __PUNCT__

our societi stand on the basi of the famili unit __PUNCT__

now my state suprem judici court __PUNCT__ about a year_ago __PUNCT__ struck a blow against that famili unit __PUNCT__ in my view __PUNCT__

it said that our constitut __PUNCT__ written long_ago by john_adam __PUNCT__ requir peopl of the same gender to marri __PUNCT__

i think john adam would be surpris to hear that wa in hi constitut that he wrote __PUNCT__ but i think it underscor someth which is import for us to rememb __PUNCT__ which is __PUNCT__ we as peopl ar will to be toler and open even if we disagre with choic other peopl_make __PUNCT__ we espous freedom and we respect peopl for their right to make their own choic in life __PUNCT__

but the court focus on adult right __PUNCT__

thei said if heterosexu coupl can marri __PUNCT__ then to have equal right homosexu have to also be abl to marri __PUNCT__

the mistak wa thei should have focus on the right of children __PUNCT__

becaus marriag is primarili about the develop and nurtur of children __PUNCT__

the develop of a child in the histori of civil ha been enhanc by the opportun to learn from the gender characterist of a mother and a father __PUNCT__

everi child ha a right to have a mother and a father __PUNCT__

now we seen the consequ of what happen in our state __PUNCT__

jess ventura said __PUNCT__ it hasn't hurt my marriag __PUNCT__

well that wasn't the idea __PUNCT__

again he back to adult impact __PUNCT__

let look at the children __PUNCT__

and the children __PUNCT__ the impact on children will be felt not just in a dai or two or a year or two but over gener as we think about the develop and nurtur of children __PUNCT__

and the sign and the guidepost ar alreadi there for where we head __PUNCT__

same_sex sex_coupl have approach the state and said you have to chang the birth_certif __PUNCT__

it shouldn't sai mother and father __PUNCT__

it should sai parent a and parent b __PUNCT__ audienc reaction __PUNCT__

second thing __PUNCT__

second grade classroom teach from a book_call the king and the king __PUNCT__ about a princ who goe around from princip to princip __PUNCT__

doesn't fall in love with the princess __PUNCT__ but instead fall in love with anoth princ __PUNCT__ and thei becom the king and the king __PUNCT__

thi is about children __PUNCT__

on of the parent in a school teach from thi book said __PUNCT__ i like my second grade littl girl not to have to be there when that book is be read __PUNCT__

and the school_system said __PUNCT__ oh no __PUNCT__ she ha to be there __PUNCT__

you can't take her out of the class becaus in our state and under our constitut we can't differenti between same_sex sex_marriag and tradit_marriag __PUNCT__

we don't want to be heterocentrist __PUNCT__ talk too much about mother and father __PUNCT__

thi decis ha effect which also imping potenti religi_liberti __PUNCT__

cathol chariti __PUNCT__ which ha long place mani of our special need kid __PUNCT__ almost a third of the special need kid from our depart of social_servic and depart of youth servic have been place by cathol chariti __PUNCT__ cathol chariti ha had to exit the adopt process in massachusett becaus thei now told thei can't prefer adopt into tradit coupl where there ar mother and father __PUNCT__ but thei must equal place children __PUNCT__ contrari to the teach and doctrin of their own church __PUNCT__ thei must place children in same_sex home __PUNCT__

religi_liberti is also affect by thi decis __PUNCT__

now you haven't seen an impact in most of your state __PUNCT__

you haven't seen the impact that we see in our state __PUNCT__ and hear these battl go on __PUNCT__ and you mai ask __PUNCT__ why is that __PUNCT__

there a reason __PUNCT__

after the suprem judici court pass it __PUNCT__ or hand down it decis requir same_sex sex_marriag __PUNCT__ we of cours went to work to try and get the legislatur to put in place an accept amend to the constitut to revers that decis __PUNCT__

we weren't success in that regard __PUNCT__

then we went out and got __NUM__ signatur in massachusett __PUNCT__ a record __PUNCT__ to put a ballot_initi on the ballot so that citizen can vote in favor of tradit_marriag __PUNCT__

for that to get on the ballot __PUNCT__ howev __PUNCT__ __NUM__ percent of the legisl have to agre __PUNCT__

that what the constitut provid __PUNCT__

and you think we be abl to get __NUM__ percent of the legisl __PUNCT__

i think we will be abl to __PUNCT__ but those that ar in control of the legislatur mai emploi variou tactic procedur move to keep a vote from everi occur __PUNCT__

now how is it that the liber would be so activ at assur that democraci can't have it wai __PUNCT__ i afraid that in some case liber love democraci onli so long as the outcom is guarante in their favor __PUNCT__

but it is our deep hope and desir that the peopl of the commonwealth of massachusett will have their constitution guarante right to vote on a matter as fundament to our societi as it veri foundat __PUNCT__ whether or not we go to have tradit marriag in massachusett or marriag with same_sex sex_coupl __PUNCT__

there anoth reason __PUNCT__ or anoth factor of what we did onc the decis came down to prevent the massiv spread of same_sex sex_marriag across the countri and that wa to enforc a __NUM___law that wa on our book __PUNCT__

the law sai that massachusett can't marri peopl who come into massachusett from other state if it would not be legal to marri them in those state __PUNCT__

so we avoid becom the la_vega of same_sex sex_marriag by enforc that law __PUNCT__

it wa challeng in the suprem judici court __PUNCT__

thei upheld it __PUNCT__

thei said it on the book __PUNCT__ it a real law __PUNCT__ and as a result the onli peopl be marri in massachusett __PUNCT__ same_sex sex_coupl __PUNCT__ ar peopl who ar resid there __PUNCT__

it ha not affect the entir nation __PUNCT__

that will chang __PUNCT__ that will chang __PUNCT__ i afraid __PUNCT__ if the state were to elect a democrat_governor __PUNCT__

he sai he would support emploi whatev tactic __PUNCT__ procedur or otherwis __PUNCT__ would keep that kind of vote from occur __PUNCT__

it could chang as well even if the republican_governor take my place becaus the legislatur is __NUM__ percent democrat and the democrat_parti in my state ha pledg as part of it platform same_sex sex_marriag __PUNCT__

and therefor __PUNCT__ thi get me to the final action point __PUNCT__

we desper need to have a feder marriag amend __PUNCT__

i came to washington and testifi in favor of a marriag amend __PUNCT__

i wrote a letter to all the senat ask them to vote in favor of a marriag amend __PUNCT__ and i have to admit those peopl who vehement disagre with me __PUNCT__ i understand their posit and respect their right to take a differ posit __PUNCT__

i think the peopl i most upset with ar peopl who sai i agre with you __PUNCT__ governor __PUNCT__ i believ in tradit_marriag __PUNCT__ but we shouldn't have a feder amend __PUNCT__

we should let thi be up to the state __PUNCT__

and i keep make the point __PUNCT__ and that is marriag is not like an activ like gambl that you can sai if you don't want it __PUNCT__ it just goe on in on state or anoth state __PUNCT__

marriag is the statu __PUNCT__

if peopl come to a la_vega of same_sex sex_marriag and then thei go home __PUNCT__ thei still believ thei marri __PUNCT__ and in their commun thei repres themselv as be marri __PUNCT__

marriag in on state affect all of the state and therefor we have to have a feder standard that sai marriag in thi countri is a relationship between on man and on woman __PUNCT__

let me just underscor someth i said that came from david landi __PUNCT__ cultur make all the differ __PUNCT__

america is great not just becaus we have wonder river and stream and great geographi or that we have natur_resourc __PUNCT__

america is not great becaus we have the best govern __PUNCT__

america is not great becaus we have the best corpor __PUNCT__

without a question america is great becaus we have great peopl __PUNCT__

it is the peopl of america that make it the strongest and most power_nation on the planet __PUNCT__

and america peopl ar great becaus we have great parent who made us great __PUNCT__

we have mom and dad and we can learn from their attribut and develop into a great and power societi __PUNCT__ and those attribut ar enhanc enorm by be abl to have such wonder folk that come from both gender and who ar will to sacrific and five to us __PUNCT__

of cours there ar good famili with singl_mom that work like crazi to help their children __PUNCT__ but in all case where there a mom and a dad __PUNCT__ a child can learn from the attribut of both __PUNCT__

sometim i get a littl discourag and my friend get a littl discourag if you think about all the challeng __PUNCT__ the jihadist __PUNCT__ the emerg of a new econom_power in asia __PUNCT__ the overspend by our govern __PUNCT__ the overus of oil by our economi __PUNCT__ and the extraordinari challeng to our cultur __PUNCT__ everyth from work __PUNCT__ educ __PUNCT__ sacrific __PUNCT__ faith in god __PUNCT__ and famili be the foundat of our societi __PUNCT__

all those thing to a degre ar __PUNCT__ inaud __PUNCT__

be challeng __PUNCT__ but i take some solac in the word of abigail adam __PUNCT__ who wa write a letter to her son dure the revolutionari period and she said __PUNCT__ john __PUNCT__ great necess call out great virtu __PUNCT__

and i seen time and again in thi countri that when the need ar great and peopl step_forward __PUNCT__ inaud __PUNCT__ that great virtu come out for the american_peopl __PUNCT__

we rise to the occas time and time again __PUNCT__

and we will becom a stronger nation have confront these challeng honestli __PUNCT__ forthrightli and with all of our energi and strength __PUNCT__

my confid come also from the peopl i seen __PUNCT__

in my introduct you heard that i got the chanc to run the olymp winter game __PUNCT__

what a thrill that wa for a lot of reason __PUNCT__

number on wa i got to learn someth about the heart of america peopl __PUNCT__

i saw an athlet name derrick parra __PUNCT__

you probabl don't know derrick __PUNCT__

derrick __PUNCT__ hispan_american american_live in lo_angel __PUNCT__

he a roller blader __PUNCT__

hi wife sai to him on dai __PUNCT__ derrick you veri good on roller blade __PUNCT__ why don't you put on ic skate and see how good you ar __PUNCT__ so he put the ic skate on and he wa good __PUNCT__

in fact so good in fact that he made the olymp team for speed skate __PUNCT__ came to salt_lake_citi to compet in the game there __PUNCT__ got a silver medal __PUNCT__ got a gold medal in speed skate __PUNCT__

the vice_presid came to our close ceremoni and said __PUNCT__ mitt would you choos on american athlet to sit with me in the close ceremoni __PUNCT__ i said sure __PUNCT__ i would choos derrick parra __PUNCT__

derrick came in __PUNCT__ i got the chanc to ask him __PUNCT__ derrick __PUNCT__ what wa the most power experi __PUNCT__ the most memor __PUNCT__ fulfil experi in your olymp game __PUNCT__

wasn't the silver __PUNCT__ wasn't the gold __PUNCT__

the most power moment __PUNCT__ he said __PUNCT__ the most power experi wa be abl to carri in the american_flag that had flown abov the world_trade_center on __DATE__ of __NUM__ in the open ceremoni __PUNCT__

he wa on of eight athlet select by hi fellow athlet to carri in that flag __PUNCT__

he had expect __PUNCT__ he said __PUNCT__ that when thei announc the flag and it signific enter into the stadium __PUNCT__ that the __NUM___peopl would erupt in cheer __PUNCT__ but instead total __PUNCT__ complet silenc __PUNCT__

total rever __PUNCT__

and thei carri the flag and thei stop in front of the choir and symphoni that began plai the nation_anthem __PUNCT__

and he said we were hang on to our emot as we hung on to thi horizont held flag __PUNCT__ badli burn and shred __PUNCT__

and he said then thei did someth we hadn't expect __PUNCT__

thei were sing a 1930 version of our nation anthem that i love by robert shaw __PUNCT__ where there a repris of the last line __PUNCT__

on octav higher for soprano __PUNCT__ more orchestr __PUNCT__

o sai doe that star spangl_banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave __PUNCT__

and as thei sung it that second time with more power __PUNCT__ he said __PUNCT__ a littl gust of wind blew into that flag and it wa as if the spirit of all those who fought for american_liberti had just blown into it __PUNCT__

and he said the tear then began to flow from hi ey __PUNCT__

and as he told me the stori thei began to fill mine as well __PUNCT__

there someth special about america __PUNCT__

great peopl come forward when there great need becaus of the heart of the american_peopl __PUNCT__

that why i have such optim about thi great land __PUNCT__

we face some real challeng __PUNCT__ but these great necess ar call out great virtu __PUNCT__

men like toni perkin and other who you have a chanc to come and meet with here todai __PUNCT__

peopl like yourselv who ar will to put asid their time and __PUNCT__ inaud __PUNCT__ to be with your friend and to fight for those thing that you know ar essenti to preserv the strength of thi great land __PUNCT__

there is someth great and special about america and it is her peopl __PUNCT__

thank you so much for all you do __PUNCT__