Can Mitt Romney Lead the Rebirth of the American Revolution? — Charles Kadlec, Forbes.com

“The government does not create prosperity; free markets and free people do.”

Starting with that declaration, Mitt Romney last week delivered what could be the breakthrough speech of his candidacy for President of the United States. Speaking first at the University of Chicago, and then in his victory speech after winning the Illinois primary, Romney embraced “economic freedom” as the political philosophy that gives purpose to his run for the Oval Office.

The embrace of economic freedom has the potential to broaden Romney’s base among Republicans, Tea Party activists and independent voters while increasing the intensity of his supporters. As his distant second place finish in Louisiana shows, Romney’s proven competence alone is insufficient to energize the Republican base and may not be enough to win a fall match-up against President Barack Obama.

However, a clear and unapologetic advocacy of economic freedom would align the Romney campaign with the powerful political tide the Republican party rode to its landslide victory in the 2010 election, and that is fueling a rebirth of the American Revolution.

Romney used his speech to position economic freedom as the defining issue of the 2012 campaign:

“For three years, President Obama has expanded government instead of empowering the American people. He’s put us deeper in debt. He’s slowed the recovery and harmed our economy. And he has attacked the cornerstone of American prosperity: our economic freedom…

“This November, we face a defining decision. Our choice will not be one of party or personality.

“This election will be about principle. Our economic freedom will be on the ballot. And I intend to offer the American people a clear choice.” Keep reading »

Categories:     Tags: 2012 election, American Revolution, Charles Kadlec, Crony Capitalism, Economic Liberty, Regulatory Burden, Romney, Tax policy

Gingrich, The Gold Standard, and the Florida Primary — Charles Kadlec, Forbes.com

The biggest under-reported story of the South Carolina primary is winner Newt Gingrich’s campaign promise to convene a gold commission to “look at the whole concept of how do we get back to hard money.”

Monetary reform can be the issue that propels Gingrich above the tawdry attacks on his personal life and questions about his reliability all the way to the Republican nomination, because it puts him ahead of Governor Romney and Senator Santorum on a policy that enjoys a clear plurality of support among Republicans, Democrats, blacks, whites, hispanics and individuals across all income categories.

Categories:     Tags: 2012 election, Charles Kadlec, Gingrich, Gold Standard, Monetary Policy, Romney

Mitt Romney’s Glaring Economic Achilles Heel — Charles Kadlec, Forbes.com

Governor Mitt Romney’s greatest economic policy weakness is not the timidity of his tax plan, as limited as it is. His Achilles’ heel has been ignored by the media and gone largely unchallenged by those vying for the Republican nomination. And, it is the one part of his economic platform that is virtually identical to a failed Obama Administration policy.

What is it? His support for a weak dollar policy — especially relative to the Chinese yuan — as a way to improve U.S. competitiveness.

Categories:     Tags: Charles Kadlec, China, Monetary Policy, Romney, Trade Policy