Romney stresses jobs, Eastwood sees an empty chair and Obama concedes the night on Day 4 of the Republican National Convention
Formally accepting his nomination, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney took the stage Thursday night to address millions of voters on why he should be chosen to lead the country.
Romney’s remarks focused on unfulfilled promises of the Obama administration, religion, jobs and the economy. “Hope and change had a powerful appeal,” Romney said. “But tonight I’d ask a simple question: If you felt that excitement when you voted for Barack Obama, shouldn’t you feel that way now that he’s President Obama? You know there’s something wrong with the kind of job he’s done as president when the best feeling you had was the day you voted for him.”
The last night of the convention also saw mystery surprise guest Clint Eastwood who delivered an ad-lib speech in support of Romney, speaking to an Invisible Obama sitting on a chair. The remark launched the @InvisibleObama Twitter account (which ballooned to 26k+ followers by the end of the convention) and spawned countless #Eastwooding memes.
Other final day events highlights came from Jeb Bush, past Olympians Scott Hamilton, Mike Eruzione and Kim Rhode, musical performances by Taylor Hicks and Bebe Winans & choir, a massive balloon drop and prayer.
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- Confetti lie over the floor at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida on the last day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
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- A person stands in balloons after Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney accepted the nomination during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
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- Ryan and Janna Paul and Ann and Mitt Romney wave to the delegation at the end of the 2012 Republican National Convention in the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Harry E. Walker/MCT)
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- Balloons swirl in the air following Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s acceptance speech at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida on the final day of the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)
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- The children and grand children of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan enjoy the hundreds of balloons on stage at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida on the final day of the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan and his wife Janna celebrate with family members during the final session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Jason Reed/Reuters)
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- Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) with their families stand on stage as balloons drop after accepting the nomination during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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- Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney accepts the nomination during the final session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)
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- Participants listen during the final session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)
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- Mitt Romney makes his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times).
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- Code Pink protesters hold masks of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and vice presidential running mate Paul Ryan as they take part in demonstration outside the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Philip Andrews/Reuters)
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- Mitt Romney pauses while speaking during the final day of the 2012 Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Cheryl Howell, a delegate from North Branch, Michigan, wipes tears from her eyes during the final session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Adrees Latif/Reuters)
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- Participants listen during the final session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
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- Activists rally in a downtown park during street demonstrations on the final night of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Steve Nesius/Reuters)
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- Actor/Director Clint Eastwood speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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- Actor Clint Eastwood speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
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- Newt and Callista Gingrich speak to the audience during a tribute to former president Ronald Reagan at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida on the final day of the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Craig Romney, son of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, speaks at the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, in Tampa, Florida. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
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- Facebook handed out Uncle Sam squeezable stress relievers at the 2012 Republican National Convention in the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Glen Stubbe/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT)
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- Ted and Pat Oparowski of New Hampshire speak before the delegation at the 2012 Republican National Convention in the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Tiffany Tompkins-Condi/Bradenton Herald/MCT)
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- Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (C) embraces teacher Sean Duffy as student Frantz Placide (R) looks on during an address to the final session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Joe Skipper/Reuters)
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- Delegate Hardy Billington wears his anti-Obama hat at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times)
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- Olympic Hockey legend Mike Eruzione is greeted onstage by other Olympic stars during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times).
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- Taylor Hicks sings “Taking it to the Street” during the final session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Joe Skipper/Reuters)
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- Scott Hamilton is brought to the stage by fellow Olympian Kim Rhode at the Republican National Convention at the 2012 Republican National Convention in the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Harry E. Walker/MCT)
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- People pray at the final benediction at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida on the final day of the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)
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- New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, delivers the closing benediction during the final session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Mike Segar/Reuters)
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- Civil rights pioneer in Massachusetts Jane Edmonds speaks to the audience at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida on the final day of the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Founder of Staples Tom Stemberg speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
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- U.S. Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL) takes the stage during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
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- Pam Finlayson from California addresses the audience at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida on the final day of the Republican National Convention (RNC). (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)
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- Bebe Winans and choir perform during the final session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Joe Skipper/Reuters)
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- Ken Hutchins of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Massachusetts, gives the invocation at the 2012 Republican National Convention in the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Floria. (Harry E. Walker/MCT)
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- A protester flashes a peace sign while laying in the street during a protest march through downtown as the Republican National Convention wraps up at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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- U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (FL) speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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- Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney requests adjustments to the teleprompters as he tours the podium during a walk through before the final session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. (Mike Segar/Reuters)
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- Law enforcement officials work to free protesters with Earth First who had connected themselves to each other in front of the Big Bend TECO Power Station in Apollo Beach, Florida. The protesters came from marching against the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida most of the week. (Photo by Edward Linsmier/Getty Images)
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- Kalleen Land of Utah sits next to t-shirts of Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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- Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney walks the floor during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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- Former RNC chairman Michael Steel walks the halls before the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Flordia. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
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- Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) pose with campaign staffers for a photo during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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- Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (2R) and Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) (R) clap after posing with campaign staffers for a photo during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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- Actor Jon Voight gives an interview to the BBC during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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- Sheriff’s Deputies from Hillsborough and Osceola Counties pass out drinks to protesters in the Romneyville camp during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. Law enforcement officials also distributed surplus food to the Romneyville camp. (Edward Linsmier/Getty Images)
Romney appeals to voters disillusioned with Obama
John Whitesides and Steve Holland Reuters
12:56 a.m. EDT, August 31, 2012
TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) – Republican Mitt Romney urged voters on Thursday to help him rebuild the U.S. economy and create millions of new jobs, asking them to overcome their disappointment in President Barack Obama and join him in restoring the promise of America.
In a high-stakes speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination, Romney said he would work to unify a divided country that believed Obama’s lofty campaign promises but had lost hope they would be fulfilled.
“What is needed in our country today is not complicated or profound. It doesn’t take a special government commission to tell us what America needs. What America needs is jobs. Lots of jobs,” the former Massachusetts governor told a cheering crowd on the final night of the Republican National Convention in Tampa.
The speech was somewhat overshadowed by a bizarre performance on stage by Hollywood star Clint Eastwood, who addressed an imaginary Obama in an empty chair.
A surprise guest who appeared shortly before Romney during TV prime time, Eastwood made a rambling speech that puzzled viewers and interrupted a carefully crafted evening that told the story of Romney’s life and why he should lead the country.
Earlier in the evening, the convention heard from a series of Romney’s friends and relatives who painted a picture of a humane, compassionate man – part of a three-day effort to humanize a candidate often accused of being cold and formal.
Romney’s speech, which launches a two-month dash to the November 6 election, was seen by tens of millions of television viewers and gave some their first extended look at the multimillionaire ex-businessman.
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Romney stresses jobs, Eastwood sees an empty chair and Obama concedes the … – Baltimore Sun (blog)
Aug 31, 2012 @ 11:27:22
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