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Santorum clarifies Romney vs. Obama remarks

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    GOP candidate calls media firestorm 'laughable'

  • Duration 13:45
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This transcript is automatically generated

It all started witness.

But -- You -- by giving people we are.

Okay.

It was what I need.

It's him.

Then as you know all hell just broke loose.

I think the biggest development of the last 24 hours was.

Senator Santorum is some remarkable mistake.

Is suggesting that reelecting President Obama was acceptable under any circumstance.

And I just want to make very clear that I I could not disagree with him more strongly.

And suddenly the whole spiral was viral -- the -- on Rick was off and running.

Look this message and she's failed.

He's on his provide reckless fodder for a president who doesn't may be more advantage just monumental these stupid thing to say I think it's -- -- for Rick Santorum he's.

Actually writing Barack Obama's campaign commercials.

They've all had their -- fair and balanced we thought it a good idea for Rick Santorum that it is and just moments he will.

And to make sure we cover all of our bases so -- his top financial -- Is he still backing him.

We're gonna ask Foster freeze because guess what.

Foster freeze is here and only here as well.

Welcome everyone I'm Neil Cavuto and Mitt Romney just left it at a pithy statement.

I was disappointed to hear that Rick Santorum would rather have Barack Obama -- president.

None of Republicans this election is more important than any one person.

About the future of America.

Any of the Republicans running would be better -- President Obama and his record of failure.

Romney's spokesperson.

Was a bit more blunt.

-- Williams sang and I quote senator Santorum is not only embarrassing himself -- his ill advised comments he is damaging the conservative movement.

So Mac.

Us now it's time.

Senator Rick Santorum here finally to respond he joins us on the phone senator.

Good to have you a lot of folks -- you committed political suicide.

I'll let you know this is just laughable -- -- -- -- about Iran and sacrifice it -- time in my energy in my family.

I've committed myself in the head traveled around this country.

In the supply has birdied this -- defeat Barack Obama.

And at what I would say there is that we don't have a choice than the American public.

It may decide to keep Barack Obama that's -- that -- -- it every speech.

This is this is the and that -- had to just above all.

I've said repeatedly.

That the number of parties beating Barack Obama I support anybody it's that would support -- of course but the -- -- -- or anybody other Republican ticket but said it throughout the course of this campaign.

This is -- Romney edit Gingrich campaign that he cannot focus on the -- And the issues are that they are uniquely disqualified.

-- -- present Obama on the biggest issues of the day.

That's the point I was making -- yesterday -- the point I -- continue to make.

-- Mitt Romney and Romney here we have the anniversary of obamacare which was a blueprint of Romney care.

They've designed obamacare.

And he stands by.

-- -- -- -- He stands by government run out here in Massachusetts he stands by the you know would be -- the imposition of an individual mandate requiring everybody.

The purchase insurance something that 75% of Americans -- Our -- and that -- I've been up and said.

We need somebody into all the Starker contrast on the things that are crushing this economy driving up unemployment rates exploding the size of the federal government.

And someone who who has strongly clear track record.

If you don't see why they're confused right scenario I don't know I don't know -- -- unsettle senator you said if you're going to be a little different.

We might as well stay with what we have instead of taking a risk I know it's not may be an Etch A Sketch -- amnesty to those in your words senator.

Yet what -- that we -- we the people might not see.

I'm not that I would never say I would never have always senate never vote for Barack about are you kidding me what you think of -- -- -- -- -- because I like Barack Obama.

Because that every -- so security is not even work.

Training but you spoke to raw wound up because well you know.

We meaning a general -- he -- of people -- this.

Senator.

I'm not I'm not wound -- -- on about some conservative supporters of -- Who were -- our -- talking about.

One of the pundits on -- saying faced with the reality chances of collapse and sweater vest as unravel -- glass analogy -- town hall.

Did everyone take stupid -- this week how are you not seeing -- on it now does it don't they just watching a different speech.

But that is about as they are because Christ that we had -- the American public.

-- set it in every single speech just edited for a year if we don't you have.

The people of America a contrast in this election we're not going to be successful that's the point had been -- and that's why -- that we need a strong conservative.

And end and to take.

That we can say all I -- -- I wouldn't vote no I was saying the people may not vote.

For someone.

They don't see is a different.

So what you're saying is that you see here okay but senate and are you saying that people.

Would -- let's say somebody that the conservative members of the party would sooner state home -- vote for Mitt Romney or vote for Barack Obama instead.

I'd say try to win the election were trying to get the votes the majority to win the election but you're not Cingular you know Rick Santorum -- Mitt Romney were the nominee.

You're not saying that you wouldn't both in and out of that are good that he'll go back and looked at every -- that they.

About The Who what I'd always instead I would vote for the nominee of the Republican Party no matter who -- -- mean there's there's no this is made up story because we took we beat up people and make sweeping me that's just the sort.

It's it's it's a laughable is that doubt that this is a gap is that is that -- Every speech idea I talked about -- we have -- have -- sharp contrast that we can't have someone who's just a little better than Barack Obama.

Is it not better at all on the issue of -- here he implemented Romney here to defend individual mandate defends government run -- -- to state level.

-- supported cap and trade he supported.

The idea of who are manmade global -- you support the Wall Street bailout.

Do you support it almost the space.

That bit of government control people's lives -- grind in this economy to a -- and that's why we need someone who can make Barack Obama.

The issue in this election.

The policies that he has supported that have -- this economy the governor Romney has also supports.

-- senator are you saying that -- Mitt Romney isn't -- different.

And Barack Obama on those issues is not obviously a difference are so minor -- -- -- -- -- -- serve and wide for years ago did you say was a true conservative what.

What changed in -- four years.

Well a couple of things -- first.

You went out and supported the Wall Street -- -- said he was not the government of Albany was of the big government control of things.

-- actually went out and and advocated for Romney care as the model or obamacare.

This is someone who's at all not believe in a state level and then without an advocate for the Massachusetts model someone who didn't learn from the mistake that he -- pretty steady at -- on.

That he has it been on the wrong -- -- -- but now he was gonna run as a conservative.

Like that in person or I should -- It but he is it the Etch A Sketch model is exactly what we we have someone who continues to reshape this message just look what he did last week in Puerto Rico and you know.

You without the Puerto Rico after I had the courage has been up until the people Puerto Rico when they asked.

Which you admit -- but -- the status only 50% of the people Puerto -- spoke English.

I said no it was has to be taught in the schools.

It has to be official language of the this country as well as the of the state of Puerto Rico and they would have the learning -- -- obviously as well -- -- able to speak and learn Spanish.

Well that was that I got a huge blow back down there so what are -- knew someone who like me he says English should be the official language of this country he went down the Puerto Rico.

As bad now I'll miss Puerto -- estate even if you don't speak English this is the kind of pandering.

That is gonna get us in huge huge trouble in the general election because there won't be defining difference -- the issue of what this yet -- -- core -- Vs what Barack Obama had you know at its core beliefs.

But you know senate what what is -- people from listening to you now -- -- their parents about this and saying well.

He clearly doesn't flip over Mitt Romney at all so what's this out there was saying it.

This guy.

Wouldn't support Mitt Romney as a nominee doesn't think he deserves a nomination but of Mitt Romney were the nominee.

I wouldn't be here but it just -- Saudi desert and I nobody he's the nominee assembled all of these -- -- all of these problems he would still be better than Barack Obama.

Absolutely OK okay and you apply that to Ron Paul and and Newt Gingrich well.

Well -- I think Ron Paul would be you know horrible on national secure he's think probably would be actually pretty -- -- national security.

And you know it and saw it that's one area to be a very clear difference and I think governor Romney has articulated positions and and pretty much consistent with my.

But on the core issues that are are are at stake in the selection of government control -- that's where the problem is.

And that's -- I don't think the differences are I think those happen to be very important reasons in the.

No I'm serious things -- you know what this hearkens back to a lot of folks who were saying it was very similar to the sentiment expressed among conservatives.

In 1976.

Those is supported Ronald Reagan.

In his darn near victorious battle against an incumbent.

President Gerald Ford that they didn't vote for Jimmy Carter that year after Reagan narrowly lost they just didn't vote.

That year what do you say it's -- supporters of viewers who despite you're saying he would support.

The governor Romney should become the -- Republican nominee who would say now they would rather be at home.

Art pieces for the Republican nominee and you know last week governor governor Romney called me an economic lightweight why would we replace one economic -- with -- Now did you go out -- at all.

Obviously you socket support Rick Santorum you replace one economic like -- that other.

Our campaign didn't say that.

We obviously I have noticed is very -- -- and I have talked to governor Romney on this and it's his will he support you as a nominee Newt Gingrich and Rondell he's always said.

Yes and the others and said.

And everyone says -- this thank you what is now right.

I've always said yes I've never okay to the character isn't what -- get the reaction that this is gonna disappoint because the Romney campaign has decided simply to.

Make the issue about what the issues are in this campaign because he has failed to be able to convince the people of this country and Republicans.

And conservatives that he is actually worthy of their support because they can trust you to do what they.

What what what he now at least says he wants to do that they make -- about the things that aren't real issues.

I -- about the governor Romney active the most insulting thing in the world but he said that he would vote for Barack Obama openly and that there's no there's.

But you know what I don't play those games.

I mean I cannot I'm I'm more focused on what voters care about and what they care about.

-- what's gonna do as president not what your campaign can spin a story.

So when you hear this back and forth and you heard of before -- and I discusses the Florida.

This -- packet toward the later drags on with -- ever you want to characterize it.

Hurts whoever -- ought to -- whether it's view or whether it's new governor Romney and that it's gonna do serious damage to the party what he said.

What -- -- serious damage at every.

Romney's top aides say that he is gonna hit the reset button after the primary when he -- -- he'd been been moved to part of the right.

Is that the reset button that yet just gets out and start hold its campaign.

Now they can spend that anywhere they want but this is just.

What is the concern of Republicans and conservatives in this race that we don't have anybody who really stands.

But the core convictions that the Republican Party conservatives believe and and that's why he's having trouble -- nomination but what if and the fact is outspent -- every candidate tend to want it every endorsement has all the party backing.

And yet can't close the deal he can't close the deal because people don't trust.

That is someone that that he now espouses to be because -- is that he's always espoused what he needs to be in the election that is in front of them.

That's the problem.

And that's why we need to get this this nomination right.

We need to go to a convention -- if necessary and make sure that we get a conservative nominee for our part.

And if you don't do it this time around is this Rick santorum's way of saying.

I'm really running for 2016.

Oh my gosh you kidding me.

-- -- -- -- let me just say this is.

This has been an amazing experience.

But I'm not -- in this for four years and now that the administrative position I'm doing this because I think the country's in serious problems right now Barack Obama elected.

I see it every single speech.

Bet if Barack Obama is reelected the freedom that that my grandfather my father bought war -- that generations of Americans bought more.

Could very will be lost and lost forever and and as a result of that idea that they would even contemplate.

Voted for Barack Obama over -- Republican period.

Is it is outrageous that anyone that's followed my speeches and follow what I'm done those at and this is why this is such a spate choke.

-- eight and it creation of the political Romney collapse instead of real conservatives who understand what it's.

Or senator.

Very good -- you -- well my pleasure some senator Santorum.

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