Romney backs student loan proposal Obama supports

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By KASIE HUNT

ASTON, Pa. (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Monday embraced a student loan proposal that President Barack Obama is selling on the campaign trail and refused to endorse Sen. Marco Rubio's conservative immigration plan aimed at helping young illegal immigrants.

The two policy positions signaled an effort by Romney to move to the political center as he works to court critical general election swing voters - including young voters and Hispanic voters - after a brutal primary fight.

"I think young voters in this country have to vote for me if they're really thinking of what's in the best interest of the country and what's in their personal best interest," Romney said as he stood next to Rubio, R-Fla., and answered reporters' questions for the first time since effectively securing the GOP presidential nomination.

House Republicans oppose legislation to temporarily extend low-interest rates for student loans. Obama has been pushing Congress for the extension and planned a three-state tour this week to warn students of the potential financial catastrophe they will face if Congress fails to act.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120423/D9UASI9O0.html

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Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. smiles at left as he joins Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for a news conference prior to a town hall-style meeting in Aston, Pa., Monday, April 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Mitt needs students more than he

needs Congress ,they'll understand being of the same ilk.

[Iliyah]

2. My gawd

he just went againt the insane party of no and that preacher dude Huckabee. I'll give him a week or less before he changes his mind. And if (big if) he makes it to the White House, student loans will be the least of our troublescause we are going to get "f**ked.

[liberal N proud]

3. Wait a few days, his position will change.

[alp227]

9. Has Romney disavowed RomneyCare yet?

Given that Romney established universal health insurance in Mass. and influenced ObamaCare, I wonder if this is another issue where Romney actually found common ground with Obama only to disavow that ground to appeal to the base?

[IndyJones]

11. Yes, he has on a federal level. He says it is what his state wanted and that healthcare issues

should be state issues and not handled on a federal level. Basically, states should decide for themselves.

[jberryhill]

4. Playing Romney off House Republicans will be interesting

This dynamic is going to happen a bunch of times this year. If Romney lines up with House Republicans, he's going down hard.

[DaveJ]

5. This must embarrass the Republican base

It draws attention to how twisted and sadistic their base is, when their leader acts sensibly. I do not want Romney to win, but I'd be satisfied he could demonstrate to a few wingnuts what decency is like (even if unintentional).

[Fearless]

6. Until next week when he recants... and then a month from now when he says it's a good idea... n/t

[neverforget]

7. He'll walk it back or his campaign spokeperson will

[annabanana]

8. It's etch-a-sketch time kiddies..

This crap should surprise no one.

Or fool anyone either

[alp227]

10. Wash. Post: Obama, Romney focus on student debt as campaign issue

Both candidates are homing in on concerns about mounting student debt as a key issue that could sway the college vote. Obama is making a full-court press this week to extend low rates on government-subsidized student loans through next year, with stops at universities in North Carolina, Colorado and Iowa over the next several days. On Monday, Romney announced that he also supported the measure even though some Republican lawmakers have opposed it — marking one of the first significant policies on which the two can agree.

However, a survey released last week by Georgetown University and the Public Religion Research Institute found that fewer than half of young voters say they are certain to show up at the polls this time. They rank jobs and unemployment as their most critical issue, according to the survey, with the federal deficit and education nearly tied for second place.

Romney’s support for the issue could help push it through the partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill. However, the candidate cautioned that the extension should be paid for in a way “that doesn’t harm the job prospects of young Americans.”

Still, the Obama campaign accused Romney of switching positions and supporting cuts to popular Pell Grants. And some Democratic lawmakers remained skeptical of Romney’s intentions.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-romney-focus-on-student-debt-as-campaign-issue/2012/04/23/gIQAnEz6cT_story.html?wprss=rss_politics

[joshcryer]

13. I wonder if Romney has mentioned the fact that the Ryan plan cut federal funding to education.

[joshcryer]

12. Heh, politics at its height of cynicism.

Doing something to get votes.