Ed Gillespie defends Romney tax plan

This transcript is automatically generated

Joining us now -- discuss governor Romney's plan to keep his momentum going as he heads into Tuesday's debate.

This senior advisor Ed Gillespie and -- welcome back thanks -- to be with you you just heard David Axelrod what specifically is governor Romney saying that the president is personally responsible for.

What happened in Ben -- or at least for the failure to put -- more security.

That he's personally responsible for that evolving and changing story.

Of what happened about the spontaneous protest.

Well couple things first of all in order to ensure that's we make the changes necessary to protect.

Ambassadors and our embassies and consulates in the right way going forward we need to know what went wrong here.

In the days leading up to and months leading up to the attacks on Ben -- and secondly.

You know we have -- I understand that in and but we have to get honest answers.

An accurate answers in response to the questions and what we've seen is -- constantly shifting story from this administration from various.

Parts of the administration when when Vice President Biden said in the debate twins tonight that.

We weren't told.

That they wanted more security.

There in Libya.

He directly contradicted the sworn testimony.

The regional security director for the State Department.

I don't know -- real problem Chris -- -- what problem what about the argument that you just heard from David Axelrod when he said we need.

He man.

The president and the vice president and even the White House and and quite frankly there's no reason that they would have heard.

That people were asking for more security in Libya that is some not and -- that would rise to the presidential up.

Well personal.

Minorities will accept that explanation between generally means your administration.

When you're talking as the president of the vice president of the United States including -- State Department clearly what we saw here this morning we'll be seeing is.

An effort by President Obama and vice president by -- -- is really Secretary Clinton.

It was the State Department that you ought to be looking at and talking to and criticizing your question here.

As opposed to us.

In the in the White House.

I'm not sure that that's sustainable.

Frankly I think that the buck does stop at the in the Oval Office.

And you know we'll see on top of that -- -- and maybe even more important is two weeks after the attacks.

The president of the United -- -- in the well of the United Nations and he talked about the YouTube video six times.

And did not say that these attacks -- an act of terrorism or terrorist attack.

But again continued for six in six different entices citing a YouTube video.

So what is behind all this does that.

Does governor Romney believe that the president is engaged.

In a political cover from governor Romney believes that in order for us as a country to be more secure.

We need to learn from the lessons.

Here of -- -- we need to know what happens.

Going into his vehicle the terrorist attack could -- what -- after your cousin my question which is.

Why does he think.

That the administration two weeks after the fact was still talking about the video still talking about a spontaneous protest why does he think they were doing that we don't know.

You're not willing to say you think it was big -- an effort.

At political blame shifting or covering up we think there are more questions and answers are right now christened that those questions deserve answers and the American people have a right to have to know the answers accurate -- -- got the president's main line of attack against Romney right now is in effect.

That the governor is lying about his policies to make it seem that he is more moderate that in fact he really yes let's watch.

Still running for more than a year and what she called himself severely conservative.

Mitt Romney is trying to convince you that he was severely good.

-- and Romney.

Moved to the -- shifted some of those positions to the -- or at least his emphasis on those positions in recent weeks.

Know Chris the -- -- governor Romney's positions don't comport with the 32 attack ads that the Obama campaign has been running for nearly a year now.

Or at least over six months millions of dollars of these 32 attack ads distorting the governor's position and what you know nearly seventy million Americans.

Saw.

Last week in the debates and -- and it and another you know tens of millions more in the vice presidential debate.

Are the real positions governor Romney which would get our economy moving again which would reform our tax code by lowering tax rates by 20% across the board offsetting those.

In reform that would unleash economic growth.

They've learned the -- in that debate and that's what the president's clearly frustrated.

Okay let's talk about the Romney record and let's look specifically at abortion and what Romney said to -- the Moines register editorial board.

This week here -- us.

There's no legislation regarded -- regards -- -- that I'm familiar with the -- it's would become part of my general.

But here is the legislation that Romney has promised in his campaign to sign.

A law to protect unborn children capable of feeling -- to protect them from abortion.

Ending federal funding of Planned Parenthood because of their involvement in abortion and he's also said he wants Roe vs.

Wade overturned so what is Romney mean.

When he says he has no legislative agenda on abortion.

Brokers that was cut short little -- also went on to say that he would reverse the Obama administration's policy on federal funding for abortion.

Taxpayer funding for abortions overseas.

He would repeal obamacare which also has taxpayer funding for abortion he would.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Ford.

Restoring middle class and getting the middle class growing again the Romney Ryan plan for stronger middle class and that's -- -- is on abortion.

In the morning president -- wasn't about the economy and an abortion inconsistent.

Throughout this campaign governor Romney believes that roe vs -- -- wade was wrongly decided.

That.

It should be overturned that the American people should be allowed to address this very important issue through their elected representatives.

He believes -- shouldn't be federal funding for abortion and what act immediately to ensure that that is not the case.

By reversing the Mexico City policy and he would indeed sign the legislation that protects that further -- innocent human life is he's completely consistent here.

All right let's talk about what David Axelrod brought up and the question of taxes in the vice presidential debate Paul Ryan once again.

Got -- -- for failing to explain how.

You're gonna pay for the 20%.

Cut in tax rates by limiting deductions let's take a look here this.

We want orbit congress and outlets to achieve this.

Means successful what does specific -- yeah.

What we're saying -- -- to extra 20%.

Start with the wealthy corporate congress -- it.

Ryan is I am we don't wanna get him get in let's leave that to negotiations.

With congress to get into the -- -- here's my question why is it all right.

To tell voters about the candy hey everybody's gonna got a 20% tax cut -- read -- -- -- their tax rates.

But let's not -- about the Spanish with nationalism deductions.

The group we have talked about losing deductions everybody does that that well because Chris -- -- campaign environment.

Relative to start negotiating in a campaign environment you're gonna lock in Republicans are gonna lock -- demonstrate that and physically present tax -- With a 20% tax rate I think the people will understand that that is a broad principle that that tax rate needs to come down and we need to broaden the base that that's the principle principles also that were not gonna change the -- -- of taxes paid by upper income earners.

And we're gonna give tax relief to the middle class and it's going to be deficit neutral you can do all those things.

And have people understand that this election was about this and we need this kind of pro growth tax reform agenda and then work out the details in the same way by the way Ronald Reagan did with Tip -- with -- working across the -- Governor Romney has a as a proven record of being able to record audio.

-- because that there -- a lot of questions from independent people.

How do you pay Ford and you refused to say hi you're gonna -- what we have said is that we're we're gonna pay for with these by eliminating deductions in the post.

By the way am -- making sure for the middle class that that they're protecting them the home mortgage deduction in another important deductions for them but at the high end.

You would eliminate deductions and and you know a lot of special interest -- -- that I would -- to bring down the rate 20% six different studies have said.

This is entirely aerial -- questionable some about it and so does our blogs some of them are from the -- -- -- are.

An independent broke open -- are very credible sources send and yeah.

Limits from a guy who is is a blog from a guy who was a top advisor George W.

Bush these are hardly.

Nonpartisan studies book I Christie's I think if you look at Harvard and BI and other studies are very credible sources for a economic analysis -- wouldn't say today EI as a conservative think -- I would say that it is a a right leaning think tank that doesn't make it not credible it doesn't make it nonpartisan.

It does make -- nonpartisan -- not a partisan organization I can tell you there have been many instances where there -- things any guys come out with and and said that I didn't find to be necessarily.

I hope I -- Republican Party and I don't leave my god you're not -- -- -- did you notice according institution is nonpartisan I would say the Brookings Institution is left leaning and that they are nonpartisan have cut.

You know the president is going to be much more aggressive Tuesday night in this next debate -- and governor -- handled.

I think you -- -- the governor is gonna do what he did in the last -- talked about his agenda is gonna talk about his policies he's there and very sharp contrast there's a big choice election here between president Obama's policies and governor Romney's policies that became clear in the first debated a nuclear in the second debate it was clear in the vice presidential debate this is -- -- choice election and the -- is what we saw was.

Even if he changes his style.

And whatever political tactic the present settles on his being in his best interest of this committee can't change his record and he can't change his policy.

As she can -- -- I talked with David Axelrod about the tightening polls it.

Romney now leads in the national polls you've you've closed the gap and a lot of the other polls where do you think the races now.

I think race is very close I think to win does that governor Romney's back -- there clearly momentum you can see on them on the trail you can see it in the in the data but the country's pretty evenly divided Chris we've always felt this is going to be a close election don't.

You know -- -- and I don't agree how much we couldn't agree on a stock stopped clock what time it is but we could agree that from the outset this is going to be close race.

I knew that we are behind in the polls I know now we're ahead in the polls but I believe momentum is clearly -- governor Romney son he's gonna win in November.

At thank you thanks for coming in -- safe travels on the campaign trail thank you.

Watch Live

Ed Gillespie defends Romney tax plan

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

Rep. Cantor: Lois Lerner owes Americans an 'explanation'

What evidence will be key in George Zimmerman trial?

Lawmakers overlooking CIA's role in Benghazi attack?

British PM David Cameron vows to never give in to terror

Did IRS official wave Fifth Amendment rights at hearing?

Biking with Bush: Wounded vets join president for ride

Did Benghazi attack derail Romney's presidential campaign?

Ft. Hood shooter still cashing his government paycheck

Does your insurance cover disaster?

Miller Time: IRS scandal and DOJ

Is the Obama administration not pursuing Benghazi clues?

A closer look at Lois Lerner's record

Transcript

Recommended