Romney Talks Jobs, Economy in South Tampa

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney visited South Tampa’s Buddy Brew coffee shop Thursday morning to talk about jobs and the economy.

Romney, in the midst of a three-day fundraising swing through Florida, met with area residents at the coffee shop for an informal roundtable discussion.

“Unemployment is worse now than in the 1930’s,” said Romney, sitting at the main coffee bar with eight pre-selected participants, all unemployed. “The average American has been out of work for 40 weeks…(but) there’s also 80 weeks, 120 weeks,” Romney said.

“People say that unemployment is at 10.8% in Florida, but it’s a much higher number than that. Tampa, you may feel alone.”

Sitting around the coffee bar, eight Tampa Bay residents each told their story. One 30-year software developer, who had worked for IBM and AT&T, had been out of work for more than a year. A sales and marketing professional hadn’t worked since February. Out of school for a year, a college graduate had found very few job leads. And an accountant, with the same firm for 31 years, was transitioned out of his position.

“Fifteen percent of the people in this area are unemployed or underemployed,” Romney said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m running for president.

“I don’t mean to get partisan with you, but over the last few years, it has been a failure to get America back to work again,” Romney said. “It breaks my heart.”

After hearing about each person’s job loss, Romney told his own unemployment stories. He spoke about when he volunteered to pastor the unemployed at his church in Massachusetts, and how he saw firsthand the strain a job loss takes on people. “People get emotionally sick,” Romney said.

Romney also talked about his nephew, a lawyer who worked in the real estate business who has been out of work for more than a year. The former governor struck a lighter chord when he talked about his own situation.

“I should also tell my story,” he said. “I’m also out of work, and I’m networking. (But) I know exactly what I'm looking for.”

Two roundtable participants asked the former Massachusetts governor about both legal and illegal immigration.

“I want to crack down on employers who hire illegal workers, like you do to people who don’t pay their taxes,” Romney said. “Illegal immigration is something we can deal with in a direct way.”

On legal immigration, Romney said he wants to match the (United States) visa programs with the needs of employers.

Nearly 70 people crammed into the tiny Buddy Brew shop on West Kennedy Boulevard. They stood amid large, burlap sacks of coffee beans, a huge coffee roaster, and sofas and easy chairs. The news cameras arrived at 7 a.m. when the shop opened for business - two hours before the governor was scheduled to speak.

Hillsborough County Republican Party Chair Deborah Cox-Roush squeezed through the crowd. Hillsborough County Councilman Mark Sharpe sat on a burlap sack while the former governor spoke.

It was Sharpe’s regular Friday gatherings with patrons (and his podcasts) at Buddy Brew that led to Romney’s appearance at the one-year-old business.

“A lot of Republican types have been coming in here with Mark Sharpe’s podcasts,” said Buddy Brew owner Dave Ward. “When the Romney people were looking for a small business, they thought of us.”

After twenty-five minutes of roundtable, Romney stood and announced, “No one is leaving here until everybody buys some coffee.”

He then spoke to the roundtable participants individually and to spectators in the shop. He stood for photographs, and signed books that fans handed to him. One woman approached the former governor, shook his hand, and quietly told him she was going to volunteer to work locally for his campaign.

Exiting through the rear of Buddy Brew, Romney spoke to the television media outside the building. He was asked more about the economy and small business, about housing, and about the power of an endorsement from Gov. Scott.

“I don’t have Gov. Scott’s endorsement,” said Romney.

On housing, the former governor said, “Unemployment and a soft economy is what’s going on with housing today.”

On business, Romney said, “Government isn’t the center, government is in the way. You have to put small business in the center.”

Romney also directed some harsh words to President Obama.

“We’re now three years into the (President’s) administration, and housing is still going down, and the employment is above 10%. You simply haven’t gotten the job done, and you failed America.”

“I’m going to do my best to get people back to work,” Romney said, just before departing.

Referencing last Monday’s nationally televised debate with the other Republican presidential candidates, Romney spoke candidly. “I look at my prospects, and I’ve got a long way to go.”

Ward, thrilled at the attention focused on his tiny coffee shop, still wouldn’t commit to a Romney endorsement.

“I like his message a lot. I’m a small businessman, and I truly understand that small business is at the root of what’s going on.

“I’m not saying I’m endorsing him, but his message rings true to me,” Ward said.

“It’s a real challenge to grow the economy. If he’s talking about growing that, that’s a good position. I love his passion for small business,” Ward added.

Tom Yarranton, an accountant who’s been looking for work for ten months, was also taking a wait-and-see approach.

“(Romney’s) interested in jobs, which is a good point,” he said. “His focus needs to be on creating small businesses and jobs for the American people.”