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Subscribe to RSSIn his first interview since losing the 2012 presidential election, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney criticized President Obama’s early second-term performance and told Fox News Sunday that he’s still very much stung by his defeat.
“I look at what’s happening right now -- I wish I were there,” Romney told Chris Wallace, in a taping conducted last week in California. “It kills me not to be there, not to be in the White House doing what needs to be done.”
Related: Boehner: 'I don't think anyone quite understands' how sequester gets resolved
Romney criticized President Obama’s handling of the budget showdown engulfing Washington, saying, “We don’t have to have gridlock settings one after the other, on issue after issue.”
Romney, who campaigned largely on a promise that he would cut the debt and federal spending, said that the current debate over the nation’s fiscal course, including the so-called “sequester” cuts, represents a missed opportunity. “I see this as this huge opportunity, and it’s being squandered by politics, by people who are more interested in a political victory than they are in doing what’s right for the country. And it’s very frustrating.”
Former Gov. Mitt Romney calls the controversial statement "unfortunate" and admitted that it was "harmful" to his campaign.
His wife, Ann Romney, conceded that she was not fully over the election defeat. "It would have been much better for America, I believe, in my heart if he had been there right now." When asked what she thought about President Obama’s campaign, Mrs. Romney told Wallace “I think it was a winning campaign. It worked.” Wallace asked her if she thought the president’s campaign was fair, and she quickly responded that she did not, and that Obama had distorted public perception about her husband, who she called an “exceptional, wonderful person… that really, truly cared about the American people.”
Romney also allowed he made some mistakes during the course of his campaign. One issue that plagued him at the end of his run was the release of a secretly recorded video showing him speaking at a fundraiser, in which he said that 47% of Americans would vote for the president no matter what, as they were “dependent on the government.” He told Wallace that the statement was “very harmful” and “not what I believe.”
House Speaker John Boehner tells Meet the Press moderator that the House will act on a continuing resolution to keep the government open.
“There’s no question that hurt and did real damage to my campaign,” Romney admitted.
At the same time, however, Romney said that the “attractiveness” of the president’s health care plan was “a feature that we underestimated, particularly among” low-income voters.
The couple were asked what it has been like to be out of the public eye, without the massive staff, security and press entourage that was with Romney's campaign at every move. Ann Romney called the abrupt change an "adjustment, but it’s one that I think we did well."
Romney is making his first public address in two weeks, at C-PAC, a conservative group's annual conference in Washington, D.C. He told Fox that while he was not expecting the Republican party to necessarily hang on of his every word going forward, he does still want to be involved. “I’m not going to disappear,” he said. “I care about America. I care about the people that can’t find jobs.”
The interview was filmed at the home of Romney's youngest son, Craig, in the San Diego area. Craig and his wife, Mary, just welcomed newborn twins, Winston and Eleanor, two weeks ago, bringing the total number of grandchildren to twenty, a reality that was on the former candidate’s mind when discussing current events and his future plans.
“I care about my twenty grandkids – the kind of America they’re going to have. And sitting in the sidelines when so much is at stake is just not in my nature,” Romney told Wallace.
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If the Romney types of the United States were honest and kept their money here to pay the appropriate Taxes this Country wouldn't be in this situation . Suire he sees another way to make MORE money and hide it in foriegn countries.Romney types caused this Problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree Ed. If you are earning income and not paying taxes (like 40+% of the country is doing right now) you are part of the problem just like Romney!
Welfare is now the number 1 federal cost in this country, surpassing Social Security and even Defense - and Romney is the problem? It is ignorant buffoons like you who voted for this incompetent poser that we have that are the problem. We have had 4 years of failure, divisiveness and stagnation - exactly what Obama was qualified to give us!
Welfare is now the number 1 federal cost in this country.
^ Lying republicans are the number one problem.
As you just demonstrated.
Regarding the 47% statement - if it's not what he believes was he lying then or now... or both?
Mitt, you WERE there. There hasn't been a balanced budget since 2001. Nice try, though.
There hasn't been a balanced budget since 2001.
-> Nor would Mitt 'ever' produce one.
His policy was to cut taxes for the rich and increase military spending.
He would increase the national debt by 8 trillion dollars.
When asked about spending cuts - his answer as famously -> Sesame Street.
And GOP can't figure out why he lost?
Wow. "Stupid Party" indeed.
This infuriates me.
"I wish i were there" for the fiscal standoff??????????????????????
We don't! ... Which is why you lost in a virtual landslide.
"Virtual landslide" - wow! 51% is now a virtual landslide? Just like the 2% budget cut for the sequester is a "Virtual Armageddon"?
^ Electoral college margin > 332 to 206, popular vote margin 5 million.
So yeah, landslide, virtual sour grapes notwithstanding.
"What I said is not what I believe."
Mitt's entire political career in a nutshell.
Romney is just too spooky. He's got those 5 creepy sons. I don't like bashing religions but something is funky there with the creepy looking eyes and the magic underwear. The greatest gift the repubs can give is another Mitt Romney challenge in 2016. Hillary will win hands down.
Sorry Mitt -- America didn't vote you in -- granted, you reached across the aisle when you were governor and had a Democtratic majority in the State House, and you weren't name-calling, finger-pointing, belittling the other side.
America doesn't want that obviously, it appears the majority of Americans would rather have monthly calamaties, and a Leader who would rather point fingers and call everyone names and then acts surprised when they don't want to work with him.
that is the only thing romney has said that i believe, he wishes he was there. he is just another goper that feels nothing for the middle class majority. you are not there because no one wanted you there. grow up and put it behind you
The Creep from the 2 faced abyss has returned, Yuck he is such a liar!!
If Mitt was in the White House - this never would have happened. He and his party would have cut all spending for 47% of the population. What a joke!
Nooooooooooooooo no no there Mitt...sorry...you dont matter
The comments here now are the same repulsive behavior that went on a few months ago. There is this whole 'lets punish people for having more than us' mentality that seems to think that good behavior has an exception rule if it has to do with jealousy. This is the same kind of tone that put a ton of us off during the whole election process. This whole concept of it being ok to want lots of stuff and have more money and dream about that and a life that includes it (winning the lotto, becoming a famous actor, etc...) but that it's simultaneously ok to villainize the people who get it. Just so hypocritical it makes my stomach turn.
No one is punishing someone because they have more than someone else. However, it's our right to question someone's ethics in getting more than someone else. Robme using the Mormon Tax exemption status to avoid paying his share of taxes.. I mean cmon, do you use that?
If Robme would have stuck to a moderate platform and stopped his/the republican war on our civil rights, he would have had a better chance of getting my vote.
First cutting taxes for the rich "job creators" like Meg Whitman billionaire (HP CEO who cut 28,000 jobs to offshore) was supposed to create jobs. The rich are rich for a reason and being a "nice" guy sure ain't one of them. The rich will offshore in a NY second.
Since that lie didn't work, now having the rich pay their "fair share" is punishing the rich? So anytime the rich pay a tax or fee they are being punished?? Poor babies, poor Nicole - you are such a Drama queen. Lol.
nobody wants to hear from mitt muppet!
UNBELIEVABLE!! These arrogant fools actually think for one second that America misses them, that we need them?! Delusional at best!!
Now, little Mittens and Annie, march off to visit the Bush family, who were also so f**king delusional that they actually thought America wanted yet an complete disaster...their next ill-conceived offspring, old Jeb...and right after George W.'s disasterous run. Wow!! What a Party Repubs!! You must be soooooo proud!
Advise to Thurston Howell the 3rd and Luvie -> STAY DOWN.
Lol . . . if only we could send them on a "3 hour cruise" . . .
Seeing Romney again reminds me of what we could have had - and the sad reality of what we have.
lol thats why the AMERICAN people have republican party at 26% -sure what world are you living in. Republicans are done forever!
Seeing Romney again reminds me of what we could have had....
^ Sure, we could have had the auto industry go bankrupt, and bin laden go free.
Well boohoo for you Franklin. Just grab another beer and pound on your coffee table. Keep feeding that 54 inch gut.
Americans being denied their due rights, the auto industry out of business and more pointless wars??
What exactly are we "missing"??
Is this guy a joke and my GOD his wife what a flake! Go get lost, you lost because of your own stupidity!! And no cares what you think or are doing.............go have some drinks with Boner or is it a drunk calling himself Boehner, lol
Most of America is glad Nitt is NOT there. That's what the election was all about!
Wallace asked her if she thought the president’s campaign was fair, and she quickly responded that she did not,
^ Because you can never be too rich, or too thin-skinned, right Luvie?
- Thurston Howell the 3rd.
What's the matter Mitt???
Enough pointless wars and equal rights being denied not enough to suit your tastes??
We're thankful every day that you're NOT there Mittens!
Only a bloviated, self-absorbed ignoramus would spit something like this out of his whiny mouth -- insinuating that if he were in office he'd take care of everything . . . It's time for Robme to get back to doing what he does best -- screwing other people financially to keep his wife and family in the lap of luxury and in their designer duds. This carpetbagger needs to realize the truth; that there is NO place for him in politics anymore after his last, decisive, humiliating defeat. He blew it and I'm surprised his party (if you want to call it that) even acknowledge him. That also must be a money thing. Donating money is all he's good for now. And true to form, his kind don't mind kissing a little rich ass if it means a few more bucks in their war chests. Nevermind that he's the biggest oaf to come down the pike in a long time.
Maybe if Mittens wasn't such a egotistical clueless jerk, he would be there to do something!
But Mittens changing is impossible.
49% of Americans pay NO income taxes. 110 million receive some form of government financial assistance. 49 million are on food stamps. Unemployment at 7.9% is higher than when Obama took office @ 7.7%. 23 million still unemployed. Household incomes down $4,500 per household. Gasoline has doubled in price sine 2009, food is up 18%, utilities up 15%, rents are up 20%. We have 6 trillion in NEW debt, with a total of nearly 17 trillion as compared to 9.9% in January 2009 (Which was the total amount of debt of all the presidents that preceded Obama) Welfare is now the number 1 debt at 746 Billion per year, surpassing Social Security and even Defense. Yea, the incompetent Obama has been real good for the country - if you celebrate failure and stagnation!!!! Do morons like you actually think you are better off today????????
Why don't you whiny morons focus on the policies that got us into this mess as opposed to the ones trying to get us out of it??
All this is because of the Bush Crash. Why do you think he hides in Texas. He's the only post-president without a social cause. Wut up wit dat?
The sky is falling!! The sky is falling!!
The only "morons" are the people who actually believe the teapublicans are working for the good of this country. A society is measured by how it treats its weakest members and the track record -- on both sides -- is abysmal. But the Democrats at least appear to care and seem to throw a few more crumbs out than that other group of fools. It's all about "crumbs" for a great many disadvantaged people.
One reason companies are so profitable is that they're paying employees less than they ever have as a share of GDP. And that, in turn, is one reason the economy is so weak: Those "wages" are other companies' revenue.
In short, our current system and philosophy is creating a country of a few million overlords and 300+ million serfs." Blodget
"There has been class warfare going on," Buffett, 81, said in a Sept. 30 interview with Charlie Rose on PBS. It's just that my class is winning. And my class isn't just winning, I mean we're killing them."
"While the poor and middle class fight for us in Afghanistan, and while most Americans struggle to make ends meet, we mega-rich continue to get our extraordinary tax breaks," Buffett wrote in a Sunday New York Times Op-ed.
The rich are increasing their share of revenue while offshoring jobs at a breathtaking rate. The bottom 47% are paying less taxes due to offshoring of jobs and middle-class being knocked down to minimun-wage in right-to-work states. "6 trillion in NEW debt, etc..." is the result of Great Republican Recessions. But the extreme right-wing, white-dominated Republican TBaggers are using it like a dog whistle.
Which one are you Franklin, one of the overlords whining?
The voters made it clear WE DON'T WANT YOU THERE Mitt you a$$hole. If it..."kills you not to be there..." maybe you should have laid off the lies and double talk.
As it is there's enough BS-ing left to go around without another clown vying for the "head douche bag" award.
Is Mittens serious??? Of course he'd like to be there...to find ways to appease the rightwing superpac lobbyists who are out to give even more to the rich fat cats at the expense of the middle class! The republicans are inept, wasting everybody's time & energy, & are bad for America. Let us continue to kick Republicans out of office- nationally, state-by-state, locally. They're horrible.
Isn't it interesting that a Guy who would arrogantly refuse to release standard information about his own finances would love to get involved with ours. Mitt ... I voted for Obama ... so did a lot of others ... go away!