Speech at 2008 CPAC conference: on Welfare & Poverty

Mitt Romney: Opportunity is in our DNA; dependency is death to initiative

What is it about American culture that has led us to become the most powerful nation in the history of the world? We believe in hard work and education. We love opportunity: almost all of us are immigrants or descendants of immigrants who came here for opportunity--opportunity is in our DNA. Americans love God, and those who don't have faith, typically believe in something greater than themselves. The values and beliefs of the free American people are the source of our nation's strength and they always will be.

The threat to our culture comes from within. The 1960's welfare programs created a culture of poverty. Some think we won that battle when we reformed welfare, but the liberals haven't given up. At every turn, they try to substitute government largesse for individual responsibility. Dependency is death to initiative, risk-taking and opportunity. Dependency is a culture-killing drug. We have got to fight it like the poison it is.

Source: Speeches to 2008 Conservative Political Action Conference Feb 7, 2008

The above quotations are from Speeches to Conservative Political Action Conference. Click here for definitions & background information on Welfare & Poverty. Click here for more quotes by Mitt Romney on Welfare & Poverty. Click here for more quotes by John McCain on Welfare & Poverty.
*2008 Presidential contenders on Welfare & Poverty:*
*Republicans:* Chmn.John Cox Mayor Rudy Giuliani Gov.Mike Huckabee Sen.John McCain Rep.Ron Paul Gov.Mitt Romney Sen.Fred Thompson	*Democrats:* Sen.Hillary Clinton Sen.John Edwards Sen.Mike Gravel Sen.Barack Obama	*Third Parties:* Independent: Mayor Mike Bloomberg Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney Socialist: Brian Moore Independent: Ralph Nader
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org! Click for details -- or send donations to: 1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140 E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org (We rely on your support!)