To the editor:

I voted for Mitt Romney, and I’m disappointed he was not elected. Looking back, it appears he lost for a few reasons.

The economy has been improving and the employment rate has been slowly over time. At the start of 2012, 45 percent more of those surveyed thought the country was heading the wrong direction versus those who thought it was heading in the right direction. That figure was -25 points in September. It was only -15 points the day before the election. The economy and the public’s perception of the overall direction of the economy were improving.

The second reason is Romney was a weak alternative to President Obama. Paul Ryan turned out to be a bad choice, not even being able to deliver his home state. While Romney was very capable, his message was neither conservative nor moderate. His positions swung too much in his career, and during the primary and general election campaigns. This allowed the main stream media and the Democratic Party to muddle up his message even more, so it lacked impact and didn’t inspire enough voters. I wasn’t thrilled with him either. Republicans also need to wake up about the growing Hispanic vote in this country as well. Senator Marko Rubio was my choice as VP for that reason.

Despite that, Romney could have won this race and should have. It was a close race separated by only 2 to 3 states and 2 percent of the vote. While it is true the GOP has to sharpen its message and deliver it in a more consistent way throughout the campaign, I don’t think it is necessary to overhaul the GOP like some are suggesting. What needs overhauling is the Republican nomination process. Romney lost this election during the primary where he was badly beaten up by his own party. In December 2011 his unfavorable rating was -35 percent. By late April 2012, after the toughest part of the primary was over, that figure stood at -47 percent.

It is suicidal to beat up your ultimate nominee for 12 months prior to the general election campaign and drain his funds going into the battle that counts the most. Either the GOP should shorten the primary season, limit the number of candidates who can participate to those with national name recognition and the resources to run nationwide or it should go back to selecting its nominee via the convention method.

The third reason Romney lost is there are nearly as many people in the economic cart, as those pulling the cart. If someone has retired after 40 years, he is entitled to Social Security retirement; no doubt. If someone is disabled and can’t work, he should receive help. However, too many are receiving benefits they don’t deserve or the benefits they receive are excessive. The fraud and excess needs to be the focus of the GOP message there.

Look at disability. I’m sure every one knows someone who draws a disability check, but could work and some of them actually do on the side. I had a friend who went in front of a judge and said he couldn’t work because he was mentally scared. The judge approved his disability. Right after that he started a company under his relative’s name running a earth moving business.

For the most part Democrats support protecting those in the cart, growing their numbers and giving them more benefits. Gosh, on TV they now advertise free phones for those on welfare. The aim is increasing their dependence on the Democrat Party, collecting votes today and the heck with what kind of world they are creating for tomorrow.

The other side of that same coin is just as bad. Why do any energy companies receive tax credits beit an oil company or green energy firms? The GOP must also insist companies take their one foot out of the cart too.

Alex Saitta

Pickens