[ti:Romney Says He Will 'Restore the Promise of America'] [ar:Steve Ember] [al:IN THE NEWS] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]Go to 51voa.com for more... [00:03.60]This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. [00:08.67]MITT ROMNEY: "Mr. Chairman, delegates, [00:11.95]I accept your nomination [00:13.75]for president of the United States." [00:15.54]On Thursday night, [00:16.99]at the Republican National Convention [00:19.28]in Tampa, Florida, [00:20.63]Mitt Romney accepted his party's nomination [00:23.62]to run again President Obama. [00:26.30]MITT ROMNEY: "America's been patient. [00:27.90]Americans have supported this president in good faith. [00:31.28]But today the time has come to turn the page. [00:35.12]Today the time has come for us to put the disappointments [00:38.61]of the last four years behind us." [00:40.46]The former governor of Massachusetts said [00:43.19]he would "restore the promise of America" [00:46.38]if voters choose him over President Obama. [00:49.91]MITT ROMNEY: "This president can tell us [00:51.60]it was someone else's fault. [00:52.85]This president can tell us that the next four years, [00:55.73]he'll get it right. [00:56.63]But this president cannot tell us [00:58.98]that you are better off today than when he took office." [01:01.22]Mr. Romney talked about his five-step plan [01:04.90]to improve the economy and create twelve million jobs. [01:09.84]The plan includes lower taxes on businesses. [01:13.77]Mr. Romney says he will also seek new trade agreements, [01:18.65]and nations that cheat will face "unmistakable consequences." [01:24.27]He promised "more backbone" in diplomacy [01:27.61]and "more loyalty" to allies like Israel. [01:31.40]He said he would take a stronger position [01:34.83]toward Russia, China and Iran. [01:38.02]MITT ROMNEY: "Every American was relieved the day [01:40.31]President Obama gave the order, [01:41.66]and Seal Team Six took out Osama bin Laden. [01:44.79]But on another front, every American is less secure today [01:55.24]because he has failed to slow Iran's nuclear threat." [01:58.49]Mr. Romney was introduced by a rising star in the Republican Party, [02:03.23]Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, the son of Cuban immigrants. [02:08.51]MARCO RUBIO: "Our problem with President Obama [02:10.10]isn't that he's a bad person, OK? [02:12.84]By all accounts, he, too, is a good husband and a good father, [02:16.37]and thanks to lots of practice, a good golfer. [02:19.46]Our problem is not that he is a bad person. [02:25.08]Our problem is that he's a bad president." [02:29.03]Mr. Romney's wife, Ann, the mother of their five sons, [02:33.55]spoke to the delegates Tuesday night. [02:35.99]ANN ROMNEY: "I can't tell you what will happen [02:37.83]over the next four years, [02:38.88]but I can only stand here tonight as a wife [02:41.47]and a mother and a grandmother -- an American [02:43.81]-- and make you this solemn commitment: This man will not fail." [02:50.68]Republican leaders say they think the convention in Tampa [02:56.02]helped build party unity. [02:58.85]Mr. Romney had not been the first choice of delegates [03:02.59]like Buddy Pilgrim from Texas. [03:05.08]BUDDY PILGRIM: "Most people probably said [03:06.02]maybe Romney is not the most conservative, [03:07.81]but he is still a very conservative candidate [03:09.96]and we have no problem coming behind him now. [03:12.10]There is such a stark difference between Romney and Barack Obama." [03:17.33]Conservative activists praised Mr. Romney's choice [03:21.61]for vice president, forty-two-year-old Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. [03:27.63]But others have criticized Mr. Ryan's proposals [03:31.52]for deep cuts in social programs. [03:34.01]Next week, the Democrats will hold their nominating convention [03:40.24]in Charlotte, North Carolina. [03:42.43]President Obama says a Romney presidency would bring back policies [03:48.81]that led to the worst economic downturn since the nineteen thirties. [03:54.63]Nationwide, voter surveys show a close race. [03:59.46]The polls show that voters think Mr. Romney is better prepared [04:05.24]to fix the economy, but they like Mr. Obama more. [04:10.57]The president leads in support from women. [04:14.25]But Wanda Martin, a Republican delegate from Oklahoma, says [04:19.44]Mr. Romney's business experience [04:22.13]makes him a better choice to lead the country. [04:26.01]WANDA MARTIN: "I think he is the person [04:29.24]who can turn this country around. [04:30.38]I really do. [04:31.33]I think he's got the business sense that we need." [04:34.31]On Thursday night, film star and director Clint Eastwood [04:39.09]made a surprise appearance at the convention. [04:42.13]He had the delegates say the famous words from his "Dirty Harry" movies. [04:47.00]CLINT EASTWOOD: "Go ahead." [04:49.83]Election Day is November sixth. [04:54.41]And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. [04:59.23]I'm Steve Ember.