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Mitt Romney on DNC: The complete interview

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    GOP nominee sits down with Carl Cameron

  • Duration 11:33
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Governor -- the presidential nominee now officially -- -- are welcome back to New Hampshire thanks -- good to be with you again well so the Democratic Convention is under way.

And we've just discovered that they have removed from their platform any mention of god -- -- that you -- -- Well you know our founding document the declaration of independence.

References god.

Our national motto in god we trust and this is part of our heritage and I think there having removed purposefully god from -- platform.

I suggest a party which is increasingly out of touch.

With the mainstream of American people.

-- that I think this party is is veering further and further away into a an extreme.

Wing.

That that Americans don't recognize do you see it as part of the so called war on -- it.

I see it as being out of touch and attached.

And and simply so far removed.

From the interest and concerns of the American people.

That people look at this party and look at President Obama and his leadership and see someone who's taking -- in a direction which they don't recognize.

During your convention Republicans ran a debt clock.

During the democrats' convention are actually just an hour or so before it started that debt clock -- sixteen trillion dollars.

What does that say about the current state of affairs in this country.

Whether to numbers you're not -- here in the Democrat convention you certainly haven't heard them yet.

One is sixteen for the sixteen trillion dollars of debt which we've now -- and the president came in -- -- ten trillion all the prior presidents combined.

Had amassed ten truck he's now added six -- that sixteen -- unthinkable number.

Get a number you won't hear.

Is the number of 4747.

Million people have now been reported to be on food stamps when the president came in there -- 33 million.

It's -- -- 32 actually that's a fifteen million dollar fifteen million person.

Increase that's more than the population of Ohio have been added to the rules of food stamps this president's policies have simply not work either from a -- standpoint.

Or from the standpoint of helping those that are falling from the middle class and -- poverty and yet.

The Obama for America senior staff is arguing that people are absolutely better off -- -- -- -- years.

You know no one of the convention so far as had the temerity to say that people are better off an American because they realize it's not the case.

It's the convention so far -- say celebration of failure.

They're just not acknowledging that you have now 47 million people on food stamps a record.

50% higher than when the president took office sixteen trillion dollars in debt wanted to six Americans now living in poverty.

Our schools not keeping up with international standards.

-- median income in America has dropped 4000 dollars -- this president even as prices have gone up this has been a very difficult for years.

And they're doing their best to celebrate something but it's a celebration of failure they certainly didn't mention things be better off at least last night -- four years ago.

But Democrats say that -- you didn't mention the troops and didn't mention things overseas related to US military efforts first 152 years they say that that's happened.

How come that happened.

I actually went to The American Legion.

The day before my speech both the president and I were invited.

I actually left the convention.

Went The American Legion and there talked about our troops talked about our commitment to the military and talked about our commitment to our veterans.

So I had an opportunity to speak at great length about the sacrifice of our troops.

And by the way in my speech I also spoke about our military and my commitment.

-- to shrink our military and how different that is from the decision the president to slash -- military by a trillion dollars over the decade there seems to be a difference to.

Again referring to the democratic national police platform on Jerusalem.

They had in 2008 Jerusalem as the perceived capital of Israel that's been removed from their platform and you've said that that was a shameful illustration the president throwing Israel under the bus.

Comment a little bit on that it would.

-- -- the president ran in 2008.

He said that Jerusalem was the capital of Israel.

That was his posture at that point that's also been the posture in the democratic platform.

The president and his party -- -- change their their position they announced today that they're not certain what -- capital of Israel might be.

I find that one more example of Israel being thrown under the bus by the president I think it's -- Very sad day.

When we have our best friend in the Middle East nation which shares our values and nation now under extraordinary threat and and distress when.

Nations around it like Syria Egypt -- are going through tumult of their own.

For us at that stage like this.

-- taken action of that nature to -- calling Jerusalem the capital of Israel this is a very troubling development and I think one which will be.

Recognized for what it is by people across America and across the world -- the administration would argue that.

The status of Jerusalem as the final status discussions and at least a secondary part of the negotiation of the final two states that settlement.

And that by taking a position as a government or even as a candidate prior to the final status talks here essentially undermining the possibility the deal.

Well candidate Obama said that Jerusalem as the capital of Israel when he ran for years ago.

The platform the Democratic Party said that Jerusalem as the capital of Israel for years ago.

They've now changed that posture doing so sends a very dramatic signal to the people in Israel and with the people around them.

And suggests once again that the United States of America is distancing itself from our close relationship within Israel.

At a time like this you show solidarity with your ally he showed distance with those that are against your ally this president's doing just the opposite.

And it makes it more difficult for Israel to sit down with the Palestinians and for the Palestinians to feel they've got to sit down.

If they're gonna see ultimately the kind of two state solution that I support.

This president's predecessor democratic predecessor Bill Clinton speaks tonight.

He has on -- -- some kind things about you.

Tonight it's expected that he'll be a little bit less time and probably take you to task on the assertion that President Obama.

Has -- welfare by his health and human services directive memorandum to make available waivers.

-- react to that.

Well I'm not sure exactly what President Clinton will say but there's no question.

But the president Obama's decision to say that we're going to allow waivers.

Or excuses from work requirements and welfare.

Was designed to shore up part of his -- that may not be inclined to go a lot of votes in that same kind of energy and passion as they did four years ago.

And and I think -- it it putting it a measure that would take work out of welfare and -- the work requirement and welfare is an extraordinary.

-- political move on his part and one which I disagree with.

My own view is that we should have greater work requirements with welfare not less when I was governor of my state.

I -- more than once to increase our our work requirements because I happen to believe.

That work is dignified that it's uplifting and that we should not encourage a permanent lifestyle of living on welfare it's been suggested by some of the -- The president in offering up.

Dispensation for the student that the that the sons and daughters of illegal immigrants who.

-- person with real time the president gave them a little bit of a nod and a benefit to court them that his assertion that he now supports gay marriage was at all about.

Sort of putting together coalitions on the liberal left that will reelect them do you view.

If you view the that portion of the president's change it into those two were just political opportunities to put his face the other.

I think there's no question but that a great deal of what the president has done in the last several months has been designed to.

Shore up his base it's political in nature as opposed to policy.

Look what he ran for office he said in his first year.

His highest priority would be immigration reform.

And -- in his first year and second year with a Democrat house and Democrats that he did nothing.

No he waited until a few months before the election.

And then took a move which of course is temporary in nature it's not law it's just an executive order and it is it's political and its motive.

And it's unfortunate that are so many people will will not understand what their permanent -- condition will be so he doesn't get an -- -- -- what grade do you give them.

Well you know -- complete usually means that you got to go back and take the course again.

I don't think the American people want to see this president get another four years the last four years have not been good for the middle class in America.

There's no question but that his policies have led to more people falling out of the middle class and the poverty more people in poverty one -- -- six a record number of people.

On food stamps 47 million.

This is -- -- a good time for the American people.

Anyone that wants to let him try it again I think -- be making a big mistake.

Those who think that they're better off -- there were four years ago they may decide to vote for.

But the great majority of Americans who recognize we're not better off than -- were four years ago.

Recognizes his policies are not what is needed to get the middle class growing.

-- more take home pay more jobs so this is a softball be candid be honest how would you grade your own campaign what are you wish you did different.

Oh I don't think a lot about looking in the rear view mirror I look forward we've got two months ago.

We're preparing for.

Debates where raises money we need to be on the air got a great running mate we're going to be working nonstop to take our message to the American people.

And it's a message of showing up and strengthening the middle class of American by re installing the principles that made America the powerhouse economically we've always been.

And pointing out that the president's policies have failed us.

I don't think it's because he wanted to feel the American people I think the president just doesn't know which direction to pull you mentioned debate preparation to pick up -- quarter pointers from Rob Portman.

All I know is that I'm glad I don't have to debate Rob Portman.

Well.

I assume you thought -- -- was a little bit better than Michelle Obama's speech.

I didn't hear a Michelle Obama's speech but I -- her dance studio right you didn't -- no I was hired aren't you curious about the opposition of the opposition spouse.

You know I'm I'm focused on taking my message to the American people.

And the words that will come from the Obama campaign.

May be delightful and delicious.

And diversionary.

But they cannot paper over the record of the last four years.

The American people know that things are tougher for them they've seen incomes go down by 4000 dollars a family.

Even as gas prices have doubled electric rates electric rates are up food prices are up.

Health insurance costs have gone up by 2500.

Dollars a family people in this country -- having hard times and no amount of beautiful words.

There's going to be able to cover up for for what has been a record of disappointment I know I gonna get the -- -- the question about GM.

The bailout it turns out cost -- 21 billion dollars more taxpayer dollars.

This is something that you oppose but you know Democrats like -- -- cut take credit for.

What does it mean that the GM portion of this is costing more in terms of the general success or failure what's your current assessment of well my view from the very beginning was that the auto companies need to go through a managed bankruptcy.

And ultimately that's what the president did he finally took them through a managed bankruptcy but it took him six months to get there and during that six months they spent well about twenty billion dollars.

The didn't need to be spent.

I think they should to move more quickly to managed bankruptcy I'm glad they went through that process and they've come out.

And the support they got after bankruptcy I think was appropriate to give them the the ability get back on their feet but.

The extra twenty billion they lost that was a mistake killer -- thank you very much -- -- denominated governor thank you.

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