Elections

20,000 Democrats cheer attacks on Romney’s patriotism

Neil Munro White House Correspondent
Font Size:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Roughly 20,000 Democrats cheered wildly while former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland insinuated that former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is a foreigner at heart.

A presidential candidate “should keep both his treasure and his heart in the United States of America,” Strickland declared at the Democrats’ convention in Charlotte, N.C., just after he charged that Romney keeps his wealth overseas.

“Mitt Romney has so little economic patriotism that even his money needs a passport. It summers on the beaches of the Cayman Islands and winters on the slopes of the Swiss Alps,” Strickland said to more cheers.

Strickland rubbed the point home by quoting biblical scripture, Matthew 6:21: “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (RELATED: God dropped from Democratic platform)

Strickland’s character attack on Romney continued through his prime-time speech.

“On what he’s saying about the president’s policy for welfare-to-work, he’s lying,” Strickland charged about Romney’s criticism of a July announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services.

That administration’s announcement offered states an opportunity to submit plans that could roll back the welfare-to-work requirements of the successful welfare-to-work rules established by the popular 1996 reform law.

The rollback has been highlighted by Romney’s attack ads, and has reportedly significantly damaged Obama’s support in Midwest swing states.

“On his tax returns, [Romney] is hiding,” Strickland continued, without offering evidence that Romney has deceived anyone about his annual tax bills.

“You have to wonder, just what is so embarrassing that he’s gone to such great lengths to bury the truth?” said Strickland, who was unseated in the GOP wave of 2010.

Follow Neil on Twitter