Romney for President | Tri-City Herald

President Obama inherited a failing economy, and for the past two years he has been saddled with a reluctant Congress.

It's no wonder he has made little progress.

But he hasn't.

He knows it.

Voters know it.

Without dwelling on the past, we have to wonder if the country can sustain four more years of what the last couple have been.

We have to look to the future.

Our primary reason for recommending voters send Mitt Romney to the White House is not based on either candidate's budget proposal or platform. It's not based on health care plans or even party politics.

Time Magazine had a piece earlier this month outlining the half-truths that come in both red and blue. And anyone wanting to prove the "other guy" can't be trusted only needs a few clicks of the mouse.

The endless supply of venom doesn't sway us. The single biggest factor in our recommendation is that Romney is the candidate with a chance -- however slim -- of ending the stalemate in Congress.

We aren't basing our recommendation on one question raised in one debate, but the final three minutes of the first debate encapsulates our concern.

The moderator asked: "Many of the legislative functions of the federal government right now are in a state of paralysis as a result of partisan gridlock. If elected, in your case, if re-elected, in your case, what would you do about that?"

Obama's response was to remind the audience of all the things he has had to fight the Republicans on and to vow to continue that fight.

Sounds like more of the same to us.

Romney, on the other hand, listed specific accomplishments during his tenure as a Republican governor working with a Democratic legislature and described specific ways to do that.

We can get behind that.

We're basing our recommendation on past records.

Obama has been stuck for the last two years. His record of working across party lines is dismal. If that's the fault of Republicans in Congress, so what? The result is a stalemate that can't be sustained if we want any chance for progress.

Romney's record as governor gives us hope for a change.

We recognize it's not just the commander in chief who needs either a change of heart or complete transplant.

We are overwhelmingly underimpressed by the leadership from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Sadly, only one of these officials is up for re-election this year. California voters, can you help us out?

All of the leadership in Washington, D.C., needs a reminder about diplomacy and working together.

A reminder we hope that Romney's election will deliver to both parties.

The Tri-City Herald Editorial Board recommends Romney for U.S. president.