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GOP presidential candidate gives a glimpse of what his presidency would be like in a wide-ranging interview
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Nice to see is there.
Thanks Greta good with the UIC brought some friends I have a few friends here in South Carolina -- -- very exciting and given that I've been talking of the very sad to see especially with the news of the governor here in South Carolina.
Big news having Nikki Haley come -- -- -- my campaign that.
I've sent -- shockwave through the political circles here in South Carolina.
I am the light it's -- that he's a very good news this week.
-- all -- -- in the media that our blackberries and iphones buzzing because earlier today in Iowa I use you said something the -- correct me if I'm wrong.
Then do you got involved in government they didn't know -- Medicaid is do you want to explain that up.
I -- know the ins and outs of how the system worked actually back in the 1980s I was working in the healthcare consulting practice so I of course you.
How Medicaid exists in Medicare.
But the the particulars of how much the state puts in how much the federal government puts them.
How that works state to state like that takes getting but frankly -- -- was running for governor learned a great -- more about it -- you when I ran in 1994.
But the programs generally of course Clinton that was for quite awhile.
He is similar in -- that we seize on every single word and which we try to read something into -- that someone doesn't know something or someone sliding someone -- That give them body you don't.
You know it's part of the process I understand that it's -- in some cases it's a little silly.
Where people try and and focus on things in word and -- -- -- this is this being something much greater than what the person intended to.
That gets cleared up and they I don't for the public focuses on those things as much as it is perhaps the 24 hour news cycle of an accident here.
Not everybody is in -- coming across the -- gonna start first with that what you do about China.
They want you say that you would declare China a currency manipulator down I -- Now and that would then any empower you to that the government put tariffs on products coming from China right.
Dallas right -- it's very clear to me that China by virtue of having manipulated their currency.
As well as having stolen intellectual property designs and patents and technology from America as well as -- hacking and they're corporate and the government computers.
He's not playing by the rules.
And and we can all be worried about what they'll do as a response to our cracking down on them but -- just can't have people -- year after year after year.
And so at some point you've got to make sure that we protect our industry to protect our jobs and expect them to play at a level playing field.
But there are enormous -- in almost any decision a president makes it if we put tariffs some -- I'm from China.
Products and Wal-Mart for instance in products across this country there are gonna go up in price because we'd say the cost of the carefully by the product.
Plus you've got the problem -- we owe China so much money and they have a little bit of their foot on -- -- Plus we need China and dealing with the North Korea and nuclear weapons because we're friends would -- with South Korea and Japan and we don't want another.
Another situation with the nuclear weapons and countries so.
-- -- -- -- -- Well China hasn't been really helpful on the major issues geo politically than we'd like to see their help him.
They've they've -- all -- and held off on tough sanctions on Iran since the great challenge this time is a nuclear Iran.
They belly up some of the most.
Reprehensible characters in the world whether it's North Korea can -- -- or whether it's.
Venezuela.
-- Chavez whether it's Burma.
Or Myanmar.
That -- tended to go their own path -- that's their right of course but it's not like they're working with us.
And it and a highly collaborative way reported that a side.
-- if we say gosh we're willing to lose American businesses.
Or woman lose jobs a year after year after year because we're afraid of what -- might do.
That's that's AF admission of extraordinary weakness and we're not a weak nation.
What about the price what about the prices going up on the product that we already are a very China product consuming nation -- -- -- eyeballs and find products in China already.
So well when we say about that and all the prices go up and people are now -- that the -- more.
You know in fact the Chinese TVs that cost more money.
As a result of saying to them you -- play by the rules and that's just the way it's gonna have to be because I I'm not willing to lose American jobs so that we can -- touch -- -- TDs from China.
I wanna make sure that we we have China playing at a level playing field right now they're discounting their products.
Out of very dramatic basis and in doing so.
Closing down American businesses.
Killing American jobs and we can see what's great we're getting these these these products cheap it's a little like saying we're paying the cannibal in this last.
It doesn't make sense that's paraphrasing I was in church about the latest lineup might.
But -- we just can't keep on going recognizing that -- not playing by the rules we can win.
At a level playing field but we can't have them -- Our manufacturing -- our economy.
What about North Korea did what what -- how would you handle North Korea and I guess that -- in the issue of China as well obviously.
What would you do differently than the current administration -- -- the prior Bush Administration.
Well we've had very little progress over the years -- dealing with North Korea from time -- time they decide to negotiate with us.
And in the negotiations we promised to get a certain things they want they promised to.
For bear from nuclear ambition and then of course we give them what they want and they go ahead and pursue the nuclear ambitions.
I don't see that -- that a change -- pattern don't want -- negotiate with us again to get more free stuff from America.
Think we have to recognize they have no interest whatsoever and giving up their nuclear weaponry.
They're selling their technology -- the world.
And they're nuclear technology and missile technology.
The -- -- the facility and in Syria that was bombed out by the Israelis was almost certainly in North Korean.
I designed and -- supported facility.
We have to do -- weekend to isolate them.
To make them feel the pain of being one of the world's -- worst -- But what would -- exactly did because we have tried -- -- Isolate them in the past and in -- hasn't given them food not giving the food good number lot of fuel not given the field mean.
What exactly would you do because as far as we can see they're going full speed at full speed ahead and also the Wal-Mart of nuclear technology around the world it's happening right now so -- anything.
Your administration would do different -- would you -- to continue what's been done now.
Well that the best thing we could do it with regards to North Korea is to have tough economic sanctions on them by virtue of their their policies.
Make sure that their their technology is not exported to places around the world that can use that technology against us against our friends in the world.
And and and then finally I get China to act as a responsible neighbor China -- represents about two thirds of their foreign trade.
Pressure on China encouraging China to act is -- a responsible member of the world community recognizes that the North -- not playing by the rules that so that's something which also -- So -- -- get back to handling China to get China to do that because China hasn't done it to me and they never back to square one -- how do we get these countries actually.
To do -- seems to be response.
You know we really can't tell everybody in the world what to do.
We can't tell them what we believe is that their best interest at what's in our best interest and we can encourage them by virtue of of our interests and finding places of mutual interest and act in a way that's responsible.
China right now as everything they want.
They have full access to the US markets.
And yet they have.
No consequence of violating the trade rules of the tension exists between us.
Standing next to Iran -- allowing them to pursue their nuclear weaponry without tough sanctions they're getting the best of both worlds and at some point you have to have someone that's willing to stand up to China and other people in the world.
That are not acting in the interest I think -- a global community.
Housing market here and in the United States people can't sell the houses.
People unemployed may find a job another community but they can't sell their house in order to -- -- other -- now.
Gave president to have Romney would do what for the housing community and how fast -- could anyone see any relief from it.
Got my first four years I'm lucky enough to become president I will go to work to get the economy working again.
And there are a whole series of things that have to be done to make our economy the power house.
That we need to be for this 21 century and the powerhouse we need that put people back to work.
I've laid out those steps they really taxes regulation.
Energy policy they relate to trade policies the rule of law.
Our education system workforce training immigration and finely balanced in our federal budget.
You do those things this economy starts to -- again we had about eleven and a half million jobs over my four year term first term I'm lucky.
And and that allows people to see.
Folks having higher incomes more people employed more homes are being purchased and -- trading hands.
That helps lift up but the housing market but but I'm not gonna go out and say let's bail everybody out.
And -- the government buy homes or something of that nature that this bailout approach this president's taken.
Has been an abject failure he tried to say we'll pay you cash for your old cars cash for clunkers.
That that was a total waste of money was not affected.
And trying to stop that the market from -- closing it and and allowing the market to reboot and start over again it's the housing prices rise has also been unsuccessful -- Everything -- laid out is dependent on getting congress to work with you.
Unless you're sixty Republican senators and Republicans keep the house used situationally of -- divided congress and all those things you wanna do you go -- right into a wall what makes you different as a president you can work for the divided congress and every other presidents come along the said he could.
Well you know I had the misfortune and also the good fortune of being elected in the state where my legislature was 85% Democrat.
And so I knew from the beginning that I had to have the speaker of the house and the senate president.
Understand me know me respect me and and I them we we came together every week for now.
Or longer.
Talked about the issues of the state.
Behind closed doors I rotated in different offices that to meet with them show respect to them.
If I don't know I'm not to enhance our intrepid -- -- is actually not doing that he has not made the effort.
To all open himself to the input of the Republicans I remembered the very beginning when the stimulus -- was big fashion he said he wanted Republican input.
On the first day of the Republican hearings on their plan.
Nancy Pelosi introduced the Democrat plan.
He didn't even want to listen to what Republicans had to say he had good rhetoric.
But the actions showed.
He by virtue of having all the house and senate votes he needed his own party didn't listen to Republicans created a one.
Party atmosphere in Washington DC and now that there are two parties he doesn't know what to do.
When you -- -- Democrats of course you listen to Democrats you have.
Would you be different how do you be different listed Democrats and President Obama is listening to Republicans and how deep would you be willing to listen really crafty he doesn't listen.
Or he doesn't listen and he visibly.
He doesn't sit down it's -- what do you needed what does this group need.
And and and then look for ways to say -- users some common ground here we find something that works for both of you.
And then use his leadership to encourage particularly his own party.
To make necessary adjustments -- to -- -- it -- a -- point without violating the principles and the same thing with Republicans use its influence to try and -- them.
Towards issues that they don't violate the principles and that and that's the nature of leadership.
Ronald Reagan did that would Tip O'Neill.
Dwight Eisenhower did that -- you you look over that that the experience a great presidents they've found ways to work with people in both parties because they -- to.
You have said and so while the other Republican Tennessee on repeal health get the national health care the President Obama as of that as an active with the help I was of course.
-- -- It's what -- going to do this because unless you get.
A Republican senate.
You're not gonna get get your he's sixty senators in the senate to do it so you're gonna come to -- if elected president and you can run right into that light I -- convince those Democrats to back down on it.
So how do you intend to repeal the health care.
Another couple of ways first I can take some action initially.
The the original legislation.
Left an opening which allows the president provide waivers from -- from obamacare I will direct the secretary of health and human services to provide waivers to every state in America.
From obamacare season that is a back -- that's that's a bit of a back -- that I think the front -- which is -- for actual repeal.
And and replacement and I do intend to replace obamacare.
And two to allow states to be the home.
Where where were able to care for those that don't have insurance or the that are -- And it in that setting out we'll take Medicaid dollars and return them to the states.
These these solutions I believe I will be able to find the Democrats like that Republicans will say okay.
I'd go along with this this -- my principles and we'll work for the American people.
-- native -- work.
New Year's super fact is done them I'm not be directly have done -- but that happened.
You feel comfortable with a negative ads -- as everybody does it Ollie can -- but.
You feel comfortable doing that.
You know our our campaign has -- to put up negative.
And -- the biggest independent test isn't perfect says that and -- you know leverage the law I can have no involvement whatsoever with our super -- -- -- not to -- it quietly I can't I -- immediately disavowed them.
I'll let you know what.
The the idea that somehow negative ads this new phenomenon fail I -- -- -- or not.
-- -- that out but let's -- make big media deal out of it on the big boy -- attacks against me.
They'll -- attacks against all the candidates with the Democrats -- with a billion dollars they'll be attacking all of us if I can't handle a few attacks coming my way into the guys can't.
Whether we're not gonna get ready for Barack Obama I've got broad shoulders.
I'm able to handle it and -- it.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- I -- middle of the citizens complain about that of course citizens pay attention to them in minutes if that's terrible thing about negative ads -- -- I don't like negative ads but everybody has ended but they have an -- and everybody nobody watches them.
But they never -- to stop should they stop of course.
It that would be go back to the very founding of the country.
And look at the at the campaigns -- back in the days of Washington and Adams and Jefferson.
People are talking about contrast between one another and describing those differences that's that that's the nature of the political process and people sort through those things.
Trying to.
To suggest that we're gonna move into -- -- style of political world this doesn't make a lot of sense on the other hand.
There are people who in their ads -- tell the truth.
Or misrepresent and there are some ads that have gotten you know Pinocchio so warmly by.
So that one though there was an -- your viewers supposedly quoting President Obama and president Obama's really quoting.
John McCain we put that out as you know on the day that -- came out we released a press release pointing that out I would even.
Don't put that in if you get on to -- -- We wanted to make it very clear that what he said about.
John McCain was not true about him that was the purpose and we pointed that out and -- in our press releases like look at this that what -- saying.
Was once said about John McCain now is being said about him you don't this this lady.
-- -- here says by the that we put that out very clearly in the -- there in the press releases we talked about it.
It everybody heard that story.
Three times.
Your strategy this year here compared to four years ago any thoughts on -- -- -- -- -- Well I haven't learned anything in and and it's like a campaign that I'd be embarrassed they're probably some differences.
-- probably better Jessica got that I -- good for me it's it's real time.
I guess one of the important things for me.
Is to make sure that people understand that that I'm in this campaign because I'm very concerned about America.
I think when -- track to becoming race.
I think -- -- track -- becoming almost the European style nation an entitlement society where government takes from -- to give to others what we crushed the American dream.
I want to keep America an opportunity society -- merit -- system.
That's the choice we have in this country I've spent my life in the real economy in America I know what it takes to get the economy going.
I know how we create jobs in America it's an extraordinary distinction between me and President Obama and actually between me into the guys in the state they they spent a lot of politics.
Nothing wrong with that.
I spent my career in the private sector I think that gives -- -- a real advantage.
