GARY JOHNSON ANNOUNCES HIS CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT
April 21, 2011, Concord
New Hampshire -
Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson today announced that he is
seeking the 2012 Republican nomination for President of the United
States. Johnson served as governor from 1995 to 2003. The
announcement was made Thursday morning on the steps of the New
Hampshire State House.
Announcing his candidacy, Johnson released the
following statement:
“Let’s talk about
America.
Today’s
mess didn’t just happen. We elected it -- one senator, member of
Congress and president at a time. Our leaders in Washington, DC, have
‘led’ America to record unemployment, a devalued currency, banking
scandals, the mortgage crisis, drug crisis, economic crisis, loss of
our nation’s industrial might – and a long list of other
reminders our
nation is way off course.
Why am I telling you
this? Because America is better than this. And because I can help fix
it.
I’m a fix-it man.
Before
I was governor of New Mexico, I started a one-man fix-it business that
I grew into an American dream with more than a thousand employees. My
formula for success was simple. I showed up on time, did what I said
what I’d do, and knew what I was doing.
I
did the same thing as governor, exactly. Within two terms, I’d
eliminated New Mexico's budget deficit and cut the rate of state
government growth in half while reducing the state workforce by over
10%, without laying off a single qualified state worker. Saying no to
waste, corruption and political games is easier than you think. During
my two terms I vetoed 750 pieces of bad, unnecessary and wasteful
legislation, and used the line-item veto to save millions of
dollars.
I was called “Governor Veto,” and accepted that nickname proudly.
America
needs a ‘President Veto’ right now – someone who will say ‘no’ to
insane spending and stop the madness that has become Washington. That’s
why I am here today to announce that I’m running for President of the
United States. And I don’t do so lightly.
President
Obama is about to raise and spend $1 billion in a reelection campaign
to keep America on the track it’s already on. I would ask: How much
more of this track can we stand? How much more financial stress can we
handle? How high do taxes have to go? How much deficit is too much? How
much more of the Bill of Rights do we have to lose before we say not
just no, but HELL NO?
It’s
time to put one of our own in the White House. I have the
qualifications, the ability and the know-how to do the job. I also have
a track record. I’ll do what I say I’ll do.
I
look at the rest of the field running for president, and that song by
The Who comes to mind. Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. You
know the one. We ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again.’ What’s the definition
of
insanity? It is to keep doing the same thing over and over, and
expecting a different outcome.
I’m
ready for a different America. I’m ready for the day when a person can
build a good life on a decent income, and we can take our government at
its word – when people have more to smile about. I’m ready for peace
and prosperity and some American dreaming. I’m ready for America to be
AMERICA again.
Our current president
will not lead us there. None of the professional Washington set will.
We have to get there on our own.
I’m here in New
Hampshire today because I can – and will -- do a better job for you as
president.
I’m optimistic about
our chances. Winning freedom is what America does.
We’ve got this.”
Following
the announcement, Governor Johnson will spend three days in New
Hampshire meeting with supporters, visiting local businesses and on
Saturday, April 23, hiking and skiing the well-known Tuckerman’s Ravine
in the White Mountains.
www.garyjohnson2012.com