Gov. Romney: Marriage issue isn't about fundraising

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Both fresh off his support for same sex marriage the president is enough fundraising -- Just coincidental to Republican presidential candidate a governor Mitt Romney governor good to have.

Thank you knew that it join you.

He is raising a lot of money by wanna count a million dollars in ninety minutes governor.

Likely fifteen million dollars tonight at George Clooney's house a lot as it is.

Bass coming out even stronger since this decision are you getting anything -- Baghdad.

From your from your thoughts.

You know I don't think the other matter of marriages really AAA fund -- matter either for the president is certainly is not for me.

I don't know what are our figures look like we just had a fund raiser here in Omaha Nebraska it was very successful.

Have another -- scheduled for Kansas City this afternoon that'll be successful as well I'm told.

But I hope the issue as tender and sensitive as the marriage issue is is not a a source of a fund raising for for either of us.

Well it's obviously galvanize the president's base and a lot of you know gay Americans.

Who like the president would then bitter that he hasn't been more strongly.

Supportive of gay marriage have now really.

Was thrown in their support -- wise are you worried that's gonna come to your disadvantage them.

You know I I don't know there's a calculation about it which positions are gonna help and which positions are gonna hurt politically.

I think you have positions you describe what they are.

Hopefully people are focusing on the major issues of -- -- which relate to our economy getting people back to work.

Dealing with Syria hopefully getting Syria to pry apart from its a relationship with a -- and get rid of -- outside.

Keeping Iran from becoming nuclear these are the issues I hear about day in and day out that's the sense that we're spending and borrowing too much money.

But I know for many people the issue of marriage is gonna be a defining issue and and they'll make the decision that basis that's their right.

But you don't change your positions to to try to win that states are or certain subgroups of Americans you you have the positions you have and as you know.

For a long time I think from the beginning -- my political career I've made -- very clear that I believe marriage should be a relationship between a man and a woman.

And I know other people that differing views but that's my view.

President and an attack that's already out now governor.

Maybe in response to spend a quick follow up from this decision yesterday that you've been all over the map on this assume that.

You you are against civil.

Unions you said this is a state issue it's a -- said that maybe it's the federal government that -- analysts were constitutional amendment.

Protecting marriage between a man and a woman.

What what is your.

Your firm position.

Well thank you for any confusion this there would make it very clear which is that my preference would be to have a national standard.

The define marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman.

That would then allow states to determine what rights would be provided for people of the same gender that wanted to have a relationship.

There could be domestic partnership benefits for instance where one state might decide to provide hospital visitation rights.

Another state might decide to provide that as well as benefits of other kinds.

States could have their own decisions with regards to the domestic partnership rights to my preference would be to have a national standard for marriage.

And that marriage redefined as big being between a man and a woman.

Days it quickly interpret that governor has being discriminatory.

-- them and out of president.

Romney would add to the constitution something that discriminates.

Again it's large swath of people in this country -- what are you some.

You know we as a society.

Take action which we believe that strengthens and the nation I happen to believe that the best setting for raising.

A child is where there's the opportunity for a mom and a dad to be in the home.

I know that many circumstances where that's not possible.

Through death or divorce.

I also know many gay couples are able to adopt children that's fine.

But but my preferences that we encourage the marriage of a man and a woman and that we continue to define marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman.

Some have likened this to select a civil rights movement all over again and that that gays push for rights.

Is very analogous but he said.

You know I don't see in that light.

I believe that.

My record as a person who has supported civil rights is strong and and and powerful.

At the same time I believe that marriage has been defined the same way for literally thousands of years.

By virtually every civilization and history and that and that marriage is literally by its definition of relationship between a man and a woman.

And that if if two people of the same gender want to live together.

Wanna have a loving relationship but even want to adopt a child in my state.

Individuals of the same sex were able to adopt children it in my view that something which people have the right to do but to call that marriage.

Is in my view a tea.

Take a departure for there -- real meaning of that word.

But the president yesterday.

-- governor -- it.

He was persuaded -- this view.

Because he would talk to Santa talks his daughters.

I've wondered have you talked again about this to -- concur with you your wife.

You or your sons your grandchildren are -- are they all on the same page.

I actually believe despite the fact that I have a pretty big family yes we're all on the same page on this I know and is of course.

You know as I go across the country.

I know that -- even with the -- party they're people who have different views on this at this point.

And recognize the Republican Party does not consist of people who all have the same views on all the issues.

And this is an issue which you can't pretty convince -- -- about it's it's something which you lead to believe one way or the other it's a very much like the issue of life.

And and and we come down on different sides of this issue after giving it careful thought and consideration I respect the right of the president to.

Reached a conclusion AS and and I presume he respects my right to to hold to the position that I've had.

From the beginning of this topic being raised.

I'm another daughter that was raised -- its timing might have been just coincidental but there's.

Front page story today's Washington Post going back some fifty years almost.

-- when you were in prep school and a certain hazing incident would suit against a suspected homosexuals student.

And that you led that hazing incident.

I -- -- dyed his hair blonde.

You and some buddies -- like it was forcibly turned into a table cutters hair.

You've heard the story you know the story it's out there.

Any any comment on.

Well first of all I had no idea what that individual's sexual orientation might be.

Going back to the 1960s that wasn't something that we all discussed or considered.

So that's that simply just not accurate.

I I don't recall the incident myself but I've I've seen the reports and not -- argue with that there's no question but that.

I did some stupid things that I was in high school.

And obviously if I -- anyone by virtue of that I I would be very sorry forward and apologize for it.

Bob have you heard from any other there -- players I know that the then a teenager in question has now since passed a -- he died 2004 but you.

You have you heard from any of the ones who might have participated in this with you.

Now I haven't.

I could switch gears a little bit because many are looking at this entire issue governor as being an enormous distraction.

Maybe deliberately planted that is what.

House speaker John vendor -- to get the attention away from the economy.

Do you think that's the case.

Well I think you're gonna find throughout this campaign season.

I that the president's team will be doing everything in their -- and their power to try and hold up -- shiny objects.

Many of them will be with regards to -- some of -- with regards the president's policies are or promises of some new major giveaway.

All these things designed to take people's eye off the ball which is the massive deficit this president's put in place.

His inability to develop our energy resources in this country.

His obamacare.

Which is not attractive at all to the American people.

And an economy which is stumbling along which should have recovered a long time ago.

And as a result a lot of people a lot of work -- those are the things I hear about what I'm what I'm campaigning day in and day out.

And taking questions from people -- on the rope line and small meetings and and in town halls if it's the economy which is the focus of what they're talking about it.

Obviously the president doesn't want to talk about that.

On you I don't know a lot and why you -- of the reason why your Nebraska today you've been all over -- that regional oil retreats -- of the country even talking a lot about.

There's an energy sister's -- president climbing and all of that but -- -- -- you know almost three weeks now they've been sliding gas prices are going.

The other way and and -- the Democrats have been saying it's because the president.

Started targeted speculators jawboning about oil companies and he's the reason why they're coming down what he's.

-- help I think his explanation a couple of weeks ago when they were going -- was that was all because of the speculator myself I guess now he was a credit the speculators for the coming down.

Look at energy prices are driven by supply and demand.

Had and that's that's as it has -- -- says is going to be in the future.

And the truth is that the president has restricted supply development in this country by holding up drilling in the gulf by holding up drilling in the outer continental shelf.

By holding up drilling in and -- are.

Of course by threatening the supply of natural gas by talking about.

The federal government regulating fracking.

Stopping the they put the pipeline Keystone Pipeline from Canada lucky he is doing almost everything he can't make it harder to develop energy resources and here.

And we're going to be -- for this in the years ahead.

And and and the reality is we have more oil production in this country today by virtue of decisions were made long ago including by his predecessor.

He he has cut back the number of licenses and permits on federal land.

By over half and so he -- no -- for the fact that energy prices now and then come down I sure hope they come down but it's not because of his policies.

Well you know they've been do jumping on -- you that is Democrats as well -- governor -- your comments that fuel should.

Take part of the credit for the auto industry conduct and and the auto bailout success.

The president -- did an Etch A Sketch moment for you humor Michigan governor.

Jennifer -- -- said that unites us in the back.

For taking the auto rescue credit.

What what were you really saying there because of my memories -- what you thought you were dead set against that -- That you know here it was what I said and -- it's it's written out of an op Ed where you can take a good look at it.

This was when the auto executives went to Detroit which -- they went to Washington flew down there and the company plans and said they needed a bailout.

And I wrote an op Ed this is back when George Bush was president and I said don't write them a check.

They need to go through it managed bankruptcy they have to get rid of the excess costs of the UAW and other excess costs.

And -- then the government can help support.

But but don't write them a check.

And and and I know they head of the UAW.

He said that savagely wrong these companies can go through bankruptcy it would never work but you know what.

That's finally what happened.

The president finally came around and they went through a managed bankruptcy and now they're back on their.

Haven't been able to do so I -- you're sitting up with a lot of taxpayer dollars that's were were you trying to draw the distinction there because.

Mark Zandi of Moody's.

Said without all those tax Payer dollars backing up.

The bail out.

The bankruptcy filing that was pretty much as you said the case would have never been possible in other -- -- bankruptcy filing alone.

These guys still would have been in deep do do do you -- event.

Well what I said at the time was it -- that up bed I said as they go into bankruptcy if government support is needed.

If the government -- has to provide guarantees that that's something I would be open to obviously we don't wanna have the auto industry liquidating go out of business.

And I was on fox and and also on.

Meet the press and other places talking about this week we're not gonna have the industry go out of business but it needed to go through bankruptcy.

To get rid of those excess of costs.

Before the government support would would kick again and frankly we spent I don't know -- couple I think twenty billion dollars.

Before the president finally decided to let the company is going to bankruptcy that's that he -- -- from the very beginning.

You -- went by getting a little personal governor you know level up not long ago your wife -- Romney.

Was under attack by many democratic strategists famously Hilary Rosen said she never worked today in -- life.

I know she has spoken to.

I spoke to a course and and she will be -- my colleague Martha MacCallum on this subject.

You were its sense but but reserve ultimately so would your response to this -- You know like I guess I save my my my energy and anger.

And and trying to be a bit more measured.

I think this is your wife until we're talking about yeah.

And -- as they were saying some really outlandish things and did US just a husband say.

-- Yeah of course I mean I I think -- -- Look at a state and and is now -- the first I love seeing my hero she's my life hero she's an extraordinary fighter.

She did one of the most difficult things you can do in America.

Which is she raised five boys and raise them well and they're good husbands and fathers themselves it's an extraordinary thing.

And and she gets a credit for that and and and she did that by the way.

Shortly thereafter with the with disease MS affecting air and ultimately breast cancer.

She's helping raise grandkids actually just yesterday she spent seven hours holding our our two new grandchildren.

Twins.

-- -- -- made revelation by the down -- -- thank you but you know I know that there are some.

Some people who don't understand the the kind of -- she's had.

And I try and and not worry too much about what -- the people say.

Does it bug -- -- on the campaign trail itself.

That your portrayed.

As does not hit you can't saying you said yourself you're not -- the president school he he can saying it almost makes you wonder whether you need -- hip or cool.

Running back.

I think I can saying c'mon honey I'm you better than me a big family and everyone is looking at you know that that comes out again and that's what you're out of us.

-- that was out of it thought it was saying off you don't.

You know Paula I don't think I'll play the president around a golf but I'll be happy to take -- to a water -- course.

Every we have different different skills a different interest of different obvious.

I must admit that my kids of my grandkids are my hobby.

And and consume a lot of my interest and attention.

But that people are gonna get to know me better and you know and says there's a wild and crazy guy like -- -- -- she had to -- that right now now let about.

All right but but I guess to the point I did -- Sears point about whether you're running mate should be countered to at least your images sort of button down very serious.

You know there's this corporate guy that -- -- running mate should be a little younger a little looser.

May be a Marco Rubio comes to mind what what do you think.

I don't know if you're available -- but.

I guess he's saying the -- at -- for.

For -- I can't say of the frankly.

Frankly I think I think what the American people would look for the vice president to someone who they believe could be president of that what -- necessary.

And and that's probably that the quality -- most important.

Very quickly and very finally governor there's a distinction at some of the polls that show how registered voters feel.

Vs most likely voters are Dick Morris has been.

Looking at this most likely voter type polling that shows you doing much better in -- in among that group that is again.

Most likely to -- the polls were told.

And that you could be.

Doing markedly better then the media officially -- for you and your guys fronts these numbers.

Is that the case is there's your data telling you that.

You know that's that's encouraging I had not heard that.

I don't look at a lot of polls to be honest -- because I happen to know that six months out they really don't tell you have much of anything.

It's it's gonna be very different between now and November my guess is at some point I'll leave at some point he'll -- Probably -- a lot in both directions.

But at the final analysis I expect the American people are gonna say who is it.

They'll make sure that we have an America that creates a kind of jobs and the rising incomes that we need and that our kids need advocates latest deficit base and I can't.

And he can't.

And I've proven that and he's proven that he can't so I think that's how I went.

Governor Romney thank you for taking the time we appreciate it.

Thanks -- -- to be with you governor.

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Gov. Romney: Marriage issue isn't about fundraising

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