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Romney reacts to latest jobs report

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    GOP nominee talks to Bret Baier

  • Duration 11:13
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-- backdrop -- talked with governor Romney a few hours ago in Sioux City, Iowa.

I asked him first about the new jobs report.

Well obviously another disappointing.

Monthly figure and I know the White House keeps saying that you can't look at just monthly numbers but if you look over the last.

Several quarters.

The last several years you see the continued pattern which is that we're not created the jobs.

We need to create.

To put Americans back to work.

For every net new jobs created.

About four people dropped out of the the workforce so we're going in the wrong direction this is a very difficult time for the American people and by the way wages are also not rising so.

No increase in wages declining wages actually declining number of people being able to find work people dropping out of the workforce it's another.

It's another continuation of a very bleak news on the employment front do you think that this weak jobs report.

Will spur of the Federal Reserve into action and how do you think if they do that that might affect the election.

I think it's hard to predict exactly what the Federal Reserve will do.

I don't think there's any action that they're gonna take that will have an immediate impact on the economy and frankly I think they've they shot a lot of the monetary bullets and and and those bullets aren't able to strike.

At a target that makes a real difference for the that the American worker today what we really need is to have policies coming from Washington.

That are fiscally sound -- that get America back on track to have -- the kind of that financial stability and foundation of economic growth that puts people to work.

I've been told you didn't watch the president's speech last night and -- you read -- Your thoughts about that speech and the overall message in coming on the show.

Well I was disappointed with a speech.

Of course been a disappointing four years.

There was nothing in the speech that gives confidence of the president knows what he's doing.

When it comes to jobs in the economy that -- -- Hardly even mentioned jobs for the -- And and for that matter there's really nothing that he's done in the last three and a half four years.

-- gives confidence he's knows he knows what he's doing with regards the jobs were jobs in the economy anyway.

This has been a very disappointing time for the American people.

He in his speech laid out a few new promises.

But the -- promises he gave he did not report on.

And the reason he didn't do that is because he was unable to fulfill the old promises that the last convention the city because incomes to -- they've gone down.

He create more jobs we don't have new jobs in America.

We'd see new businesses start up as a matter of fact -- a thirty year low business startups he was gonna cut the deficit and a half its double.

Almost every indication of what he -- last time he was running he has not been able to fulfill and what we saw.

And what we read with regards to last night's speech was a president making new promises which he also will be unable to fulfill and and no new plan no.

No new ideas no new here's how we're gonna get the economy going here here the specifics of what it takes to get this -- it.

Nothing there we know Democrats charge that you didn't provide specifics down in Tampa now you're saying the president didn't.

Provide specifics well -- laid out the five steps I would take to get the economy going.

And I've I've spoken about them throughout my campaign about the five key steps -- get America's economy created the jobs and rising take home pay the American people want.

And I can elaborated in great depth on -- -- and over that I don't -- you don't want to hear but but so I'm I'm very specific as to what I'll do to get the economy going.

What the president said last night had a -- virtually no new steps no indication of what he's gonna do other than he really wants things to get better and you hopes to create jobs but not how he's going to do it.

I'd like to address a few specific things sit down in Charlotte about you one of them President Clinton said.

That no presence could turn the economy around the economy the President Obama inherited.

In four years.

Could you -- Well I -- done a heck of a lot better job than this president hasn't.

You know I wasn't elected so that's kind of -- but that the point is when this president was elected.

He and his team announced to the American people that by now we have five point 4% unemployment.

Now had he delivered on that promise that was his promise I didn't demanding but that number out there he put up for the American people.

Had he delivered on that promise there'd be nine million more jobs in America today there are.

That was his problems so -- -- only holding him accountable by the measure that he himself put out.

The American people the auto bailout came out as a topic arguably more than any other down in Charlotte.

Democrats think they have a powerful attack against U.

We have heard -- or explanation about structured bankruptcy and to be honest you know it doesn't really fit on a bumper sticker but.

What do you do to attract those voters in Ohio.

And Michigan and other states tied to the car industry.

That may have been swayed by the democrats' messaging.

On this issue.

Well there's -- -- chance of debates to talk about truth and fiction.

I don't think many people understand that the president took the car companies into bankruptcy.

They went into bankruptcy exactly as I propose.

So the difference between us is that I would have been -- earlier than the president did and save the American taxpayers about twenty billion dollars.

That's a message which which will come out of the debates and perhaps and adds I don't -- -- that's but the but the message will be.

I communicated the American people and I think they recognize that when it comes to saving an industry and making more jobs for the American people.

I've got a record that shows I know how to do that and the president has been an office for four years has simply been unable to deliver what he promised.

Few more things governor to -- several speakers in Charlotte and I don't think this is jump.

They were essentially saying that you don't care about the US military because you didn't mention US troops in the war in Afghanistan in your nomination acceptance speech.

We understand that you want to The American Legion the day before and you talk about the service and sacrifice of the military there.

Do you regret.

Opening up this line of attack and our recurring attack.

By leaving out that issue in speak.

Each -- -- you repeating it day in and day out half half couple I mean we just can't put your.

When you give a speech you don't go through a laundry list you talk about the things that that you think are important -- -- described in my in my speech by commitment.

To a strong military unlike the president's decision to cut our military and I didn't use the word troops -- you'd use the word military act.

Think -- first the same thing and of course is going to The American Legion the day before -- in the middle of our convention.

Made it -- much bigger statement to our military and our troops.

Then the president who did not go to meet with The American Legion I also spoke to the VFW the week before so what I think our American military understands that I'm fully supportive of their effort.

And unlike the president.

Who we understand from Bob Woodward's book it was from the excerpts the president was and the White House part of the author of the sequestration idea.

That would slash -- military.

I oppose that idea think it's apps -- to cut our military is the president is doing.

After our interview the Romney campaign decided to hold a media availability for the traveling press on the tarmac.

Among the questions to governor Romney told reporters wanted response to president Obama's foreign policy jabs.

My opponent and his running -- are.

No due to foreign policy.

From although we're seeing certain.

-- -- take us back to an Arab blustering and blundering the cost America so -- After -- you don't call Russia our number one enemy.

Not all kind of -- and.

Unless -- still stuck in a Cold War might work.

Am.

For diplomacy would.

What Beijing if you can't live in the Olympics without insulting our closest ally.

About very pleased that my Olympic experience allows me to talk about the Olympics and it in the -- -- talk manner.

And I think it would be appropriate if the president would talk to China it -- straight talk manner.

They have -- at -- -- of their currency for well over a decade.

They've taken American jobs and I think it's the totally appropriate to show backbone and strength as we deal with with the other nations around the world nothing wrong with telling people the truth.

-- -- He fired up the Iowa crowd we all respect our government.

But we don't want it to get so big that it crushes the dreams of the American people and I will fight for the young people of America.

Office of the folks inside about the conventions.

And the race ahead so what did you think Hemingway after two weeks in this what was your what did you come away well.

I think the American people are still energized now I mean I think -- -- nation.

The direction that our nation is going -- -- really ready for a big chance a very big change and -- Iowa it's a swing states.

How do you think it's.

One very very hard I think if people viral waking up.

Very much coveted political activists for joining us.

Do you like this before.

-- Never let me get a cash offer Mitt Romney is gonna carry -- sound convinced absolutely.

Hopefully that.

The things that happened in the past four years or not to swing knows Obama people -- around me.

I think this state is pretty divided right now because up here I'm from eastern Iowa -- over there were a lot more democratic more liberal.

But up out here -- over here is more conservative and Republican I believe it's tough suffering now.

-- last thing.

What's your sense -- this race right now I mean -- sixty days out you true you're traveling the country here in Iowa today.

What's your sense where things are and how important those debates.

Will be.

Well I think -- people make up their mind as we go along here I can't tell you whenever little have settled down a lot of people make their mind up until the day before the election of the day of the election.

But it's a horse race.

We've got two candidates that would it take our nation and in different directions.

My direction is one that encourages the private sector again to create jobs.

And the history of America has been a powerful and robust economy with great jobs and rising wages based on a strong private sector.

The president's plan is to build a bigger government.

I don't know any nation on earth that succeeded in creating a strong middle class with rising wages based on building a stronger and bigger government.

So we've got different paths ahead of us and I think -- People can look at the success of the president's path by looking at his record over the last four years if they like them.

The direction they've seen if they think we're headed in the right direction why he may be their guy.

But I think if if -- take a look at the last four years.

They'll conclude we are not better off than we were four years ago and that means that they'll support me.

Governor we -- -- have a busy day here in Iowa we really appreciate your time thanks talking to us thank you very much.

And my thanks to all the folks who hustled to make that happen today the --

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