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Former campaign spokesman says being openly gay was distracting both sides from the issues
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All right well Richard -- now made headlines last month by leaving.
The -- campaign.
As the longest serving spokesman for the United States -- the United Nations during the Bush Administration he was tapped by the Romney campaign to be in national security.
And foreign policies spokesman.
Today he writes an op Ed for the Wall Street Journal.
That while he supports president Obama's stance on gay marriage he believes that the president does not deserve to be reelected and that Mitt Romney.
Does.
So he joins us now for the first time his first live interview since all of this happened -- the former spokesman as I said for the last four ambassadors.
To the UN Annika welcome good to have you here this morning.
Thanks Martha thanks traveling -- we we have talked many times over the years about -- policy issues which is your specialty and -- and your area of expertise but all of this came about for a number of reasons.
And it happened sort of simultaneously.
With President Obama -- support.
For gay marriage.
You are openly gay and you then -- I'm with the -- folks and decided to leave.
Why did you decide to leave and did they try to stop -- You know I was hired to be the national security inform policy spokesman and I think.
They hired me and governor Romney hired me because that's my expertise as you said.
Spent eight years at the UN and I really cared deeply about national security issues.
And that's the focus and it became clear to me that there were many people on the left and the right.
That really wanted to keep me in a one dimensional box and have me just talk about being gay or my position on gay marriage I think it's.
It's ludicrous I'm like most Americans in that.
I have multiple views and we don't always agree with it the candidate that we support or work for on every single issue.
And I I don't think that that should be news so for me.
I became a distraction and that it of distraction for the issues that I most care about national security foreign policy I really wanted to talk.
Straight to the American people about the president's record I think it's a dismal record.
And I think most people should look at multiple issues when they decide in November who to support for president.
-- -- right about that you get a you know everybody what looks at multiple issues and has a lot of facets to their allies of course -- the things that they care about why do you feel so strongly that Mitt Romney is the right person for this job.
Some people feel he doesn't have a lot of foreign policy background and experience.
You know for me I think the governor has a great worldview he he's on apologetic.
About America's exceptional -- and that to me is a fundamental view.
If you look at what President Obama did win sitting with the Russian president.
He he leaned forward to the Russian president.
And he was caught on camera in a whisper saying in essence saying.
You know if you'll just allow me some space through November where I can.
Talk to the American people one way I will be different after the election -- have a lot more flexibility.
That's me is a very scary moment when we have the president of the United States.
Being more honest with the Russian president and with the American people.
That means to me that that this president doesn't view America as exceptional or unique and I think Mitt Romney has.
-- a narrative and in world view that as much different.
I wanna play a bit of by the president yesterday at NATO attack about Afghanistan to get your quick thoughts on that -- -- got a question for -- other side -- that.
Let's play that.
No matter how much good we're doing and how outstanding our troops and our civilians diplomats.
Are doing on the ground.
Ten years in -- country that's very different.
That's -- strength.
Not only on our folks but also.
On.
That country so I think the good the timetable that we've established is a sound one.
It is a responsible one.
Are the risks involved -- it absolutely.
Was -- tell -- about the Obama doctrine.
Well clearly he's emphasizing that it's a strain and there's no question that it's a strain.
But to me what it's saying is that in times of strain in times of pressure.
He is vowing to political pressure it's ironic -- That he's making this decision right in the middle of a campaign where he campaigned against wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
And -- media over arching view is is that America has not unique for the president to one of many.
We should treat everybody the same including ourselves and and I don't subscribe to that world -- I think it's a dangerous world view and I think most Americans should look at it and say it's.
The wrong path for us via just before as you gotta -- personal none of them -- that this part of the discussion behind us for the future I helped in many ways.
-- it -- that you say that it can be really hard to be a gay Republican that you kind of get it from both sides from the far right but also.
But people who don't believe that that could possibly be that that it's an oxy moron somehow don't conservative and -- just a quick thought on that.
While it you know intolerance on both sides I find it ironic as well that.
The left who wants to be out front on everyone should be tolerant messaging.
Is the one group that says you can't be game -- conservatives so.
There are people on the far right that don't like the fact an -- -- there's people on the far left that don't like the fact that I'm a conservative I'm comfortably in the middle I know -- I am.
And I think a lot of Americans are just like me and that they have a lot of multiple views -- go into the voting Booth and they vote.
According to multiple multi dimensional views.
-- I urge everyone take a look at trap that today in the -- to turn off I had an expresses your support to for Mitt Romney.
And we thank you very much for being here -- reported talking -- -- extract that.
