“Government is taking 40 percent of the GDP. And that's at the state, local and federal level. President Obama has taken government spending at the federal level from 20 percent to 25 percent. Look, at some point, you cease being a free economy, and you become a government economy. And we've got to stop that.”

Mitt Romney is a former U.S. senator and Republican presidential candidate. He served as governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and later as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President George W. Bush. Known for his pragmatic approach to governance and his emphasis on fiscal responsibility, he has spoken widely on leadership, public policy, and the importance of character in public service.