Did campaigns accomplish goals at final debate?

This transcript is automatically generated

We have to also stand by our allies I think the -- that it existed between Israel and the United States was very unfortunate.

I think also pulling -- missile defense a program out of Poland and the way we did.

Was also unfortunate terms of that -- if you will disrupting that that the relationship in some ways it existed between us.

Our licenses have never been strong.

In Asia.

In Europe.

In Africa.

-- -- where we have unprecedented military.

And intelligence cooperation including dealing with Iran -- threat.

But what we also have -- been able to do is position ourselves so we can start rebuilding America.

Reaction now surrogates from both sides general Wesley Clark national security -- -- -- came -- the former NATO supreme allied commander in Europe sir welcome back here.

Think you also Missouri senator Roy Blunt for governor Romney senate liaison wanna start -- general Clark and -- Follow on to talk about.

Really this loses -- head to head battle that that we watched last night when it came to the issue.

Of -- not we're gonna cut 500 billion dollars out of our our military.

Now up until last evening we -- -- these cuts are gonna happen to 31 of December unless you get a deal.

Now this is what the president said last night is getting headlines now this.

First of all these questions not something that I -- something the congress has proposed it will not happen the budget that we're talking about is not.

Reducing our military spending it's maintaining.

But.

I think governor Romney maybe hasn't spent enough time looking at how our military -- I want a key on that one line it will not happen sequestration is you know something that we don't.

Well I think he understands that -- this.

Whole painful process was put in place at the request of congress to make sure it was so painful.

The congress had to agree on how to deal with the deficit.

And I think he's assuming and and rightly so that there is going to be an agreement on how to deal with it.

And -- for that pain won't be inflicted either in the military side or in the civilians -- -- news deficits just continue to go up then.

Because with the deal they cut they can reach agreement they punted on it.

No I think that'd be the deal is they will reach an agreement and that's why.

They have to reach an agreement the idea with the pain.

If they don't reach an agreement is so great that they'll have to reach an agreement so.

That's why it's such so painful part and you know get governor Romney's been -- -- talking about this for weeks and last siphoning through the president opened a little bit of the door opened here.

-- when it came to sequestration.

What what when these two men sat side by side was remarkable how much they had common.

On foreign policy and I would think even a guy like you were surprised by that -- you.

Well I think that when you when you look at it what happened was that.

For several years on the campaign trail governor Romney's been trying to take a partisan position that says.

He's tougher meaner stronger or more resolute more determined more willing to use force more robust.

But when you actually.

Folded it into okay precisely.

What would you do with it reflects this attitude.

He didn't have any.

Concrete suggestions that went past but the president's done.

And what the president's done over four years is he's changed the dynamic.

In American electoral politics if you went back in the 1970s and eighties.

-- -- in the -- you could find.

The Democrats were softer kinder gentler more willing to negotiate -- -- we're going colleagues are not sure what Obama Romney's big point was that -- and the world is America stronger today.

I don't think that's true and I think it's it's incorrect at least I think we're fighting and if we're serious I I think we're strong -- -- -- -- run.

I think our armed forces are stronger I think our relationships in the Pacific are stronger.

I think our relationships with our allies in Europe -- stronger I think we've gotten rid of Qaddafi.

We replaced him with a democratic government in Libya.

We started the transition toward an effective democracy in Egypt it remains but he just was totally -- have would argue I don't know what manages Libya and -- I mean but what you have to do that unknowns is another guy name of course and I.

But you asked me where I thought we could be stronger and I've named our alliances both in the Pacific and in Europe.

And in our ability we took out the central know of al-Qaeda.

Our army is getting more rest and recovery now there were out of Iraq.

And we continued to improve our military technology it it it's a big world we have many topics which we have more time to please come back from the next two weeks okay.

Wesly Clark -- today thank you general Martha field.

My mail us at the other side fair -- for you governor Romney is senate liaison.

Missouri senator Roy Blunt as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee senator welcome good to have you here today.

Martha -- Williams the great -- -- -- jump right in here -- sequestration.

As you just heard replayed the president's oval that I didn't do that that that was at the request of congress.

Well everything in the president's leading from behind -- with our allies and -- apparently of leadership with the congress whether it was the health care bill or this -- sequestration to buckle the president somehow has no.

Real responsibility for it we need a leader and frankly last night I was watching -- on television I thought if I hadn't been.

Watching things for the last four years I'd assume that governor Romney was the president and the president was the challenger because -- just refuses to do the kinds of things that would lead the country like saying.

After he said for a long time he won't compromise on sequestration.

Saying it won't happen what kind of messages that.

It we surprised when he said that that the that it wasn't gonna happen hey that does is him as Wesley Clark just said that they're gonna miraculously work -- some kind of deal.

And we all followed the you know -- -- nations that led to the showdown with John Boehner and the deal fallen apart that created this and frustration in the first place.

Bob I suspect the president's advisors may have been surprised me said that I think it's one of those things that seem like the right thing to say at the time.

Though clearly the president can't back that up.

The with the reality of what has to happen now to avoid.

Cutting the military across the board and make another across the board cuts it.

At NIH the national institute of health and other places just because we don't have the courage to go win -- the leadership to go and say.

Here's something we need to eliminate here's something we need to keep doing that the level we're doing that today.

You know eight year on the Intel committee where you surprise that there wasn't more.

I'm Libya and where you sort of you know look at your TV like I think many folks were and and watching governor Romney two to come out a little more forcefully.

With questions.

And probing on the -- issue.

Well I was I thought that there was a big unanswered question in fact there was a wrongly answered question from Leo last debate about Libya and I thought the governor.

Would use this is a chance to pursue that but I think what he did was use this is a chance.

-- to show not only a breath of understanding of foreign policy but he's the kind of decision -- that Americans and our allies could rely on you have one guy who looked.

Calm and collected and full of facts and ready to make the right decision another guy that I think was kind of trying to figure out how to become president and that was the current president trying to figure out how to become president.

All right -- thank you so much senator good to see -- how I thought for those guys.

Watch Live

Did campaigns accomplish goals at final debate?

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

How will US proceed to extradite Snowden?

Inside the grassroots campaign to sell ObamaCare

Man gets mad over service at Wendy's drive-thru

Cable car accidents costing San Francisco millions

Importance of 911 audio on George Zimmerman case

Rescuers use helicopter to save trapped hikers

Obama: NSA spying programs are transparent

Thousands of protesters flood streets in Brazil

Federal disability program 'plagued with fraud and abuse'

Seeking to ban certain words from Zimmerman Trial

Obama, Putin share icy encounter over Syria

Holder to explain testimony on reporter surveillance

Transcript

Recommended