E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
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.
Leave a Comment:
Romnney was really the better choice after watching Obama at campaign on the sequester.
Umm no. RobMe was the best choice for the Caymen Islands.
ItsA, you are a murder of good and honest reputations. The penalty for this kind of murder is a crappy American political and social environment Thanks, Not!
Just like a bad cold---this guy just won't go away. I figure he would be too busy sheltering his income from taxation to have an opinion. Bottom line is this----Romney would have given wealthy interests even more control over the masses than they have today. His line of work would have followed him into the White House and this country would be more like Europe in the 18th century, where nobles and gentry controlled government, and taxes were paid by the serfs to run government. A Romney America would be two classes of people, one exists only because of birthright and connections to the powerful, the other larger base of people existence would be subject to the whims of the elite and the government they control. I have always been an Independent, however the Republican Party since the early 1980's has convinced me they are the enemy of ordinary Americans, formerly known as the middle class.
It took him 4 months to find out how to get off the elevator.
Romney was so arrogant that it was impossible for him to see himself as Americans saw him. He still can't accept his defeat because he sees himself as perfect and wonderful. I cannot imagine what we Americans would be facing right now had he been elected. Terrifying to think about.
Romney says "we underestimated the attractiveness of the President's health care plan, particulary among low income voters."
I wonder what a "low income voter" is to him? Minimum wage families not offered insurance through their jobs? A couple making $50-$75,000/yr with a kid or two that either aren't offered health care through their employer or can't afford the exhorbitant premiums? Small businesses, who were promised REPEATEDLY by the Republican George Bush, Jr., that they'd be able to pool to purchase insurance, and it NEVER HAPPENED. Also, about the "low income" folks who were bankrupted by medical costs, or dumped by insurance companies when they got ill etc.?
No, Mr. Romney, your problem isn't that you underestimated the attractiveness of the Affordable Health Care Act (Obama's plan) because, after all, it was modeled after your Massachusett's plan. You understand the need people have for affordable access and addressed it (with bipartisan support) as Governor in Mass. YOUR PROBLEM in this election is you lost touch with the people, focused on cowtowing to the rich fat cats in your party, shifting positions like a branch in the wind so that folks stopped trusting you, and not having anything close to what Obama and the Democrats offered to solve the problems real Americans (are these the low income folks you mean?) face in the real world. You came across as an overprivileged fatcat who didn't get it. YOUR PROBLEM is that people didn't really believe you cared about them and that, Mr. Romney, is the starting point, necessary component, of every successful campaign.
You forgot there are 21 new taxes in the Obama care package. Also businesses are closing and people's hours are cut way back because of it.
Victoria,
Well said. George Jr. Bush was all about an "ownership society" where you could receive a voucher for health care instead of Medicare. The Republican Party and Bush's plan would force you to negotiate fees with your health care provider at a time when you are most vulnerable. Think for a moment how ludricous this plan really was then think today about the world according to Paul Ryan. Did the Republican Party really think my wife would be calling doctor offices trying to negotiate the lowest price when I am having a heart attack? Stay tuned folks, brother Jeb is waiting in line for his turn. Of course the Bush family wouldn't have had to worry. When the patriarch recently received treatment for several days in the hospital, he would not have been subject to a voucher system. His multiple government pensions, inherited wealth, and insider business connections would have given the family choices that the rest of us wouldn't have had if George Jr's plan would have passed.
Here's a thought, Mittens - take your silver spoon and shove it up your a**. We'll call you when we need someone to pretend the poor don't exist.
Who in their right mind would want to be President in this day and time? Who in their right mind wants to be forced by the powers that be to maintain the status quo of prior U.S. government administrations? You've got to be completely neurotic to want a job that pays only $400,000 a year, get blamed for EVERYTHING, age faster than a dog and have your hands tied decision wise by the true architecture of American government. We're facing financial disaster and this moron marches around "wishing he was around during the fiscal cliff debates". You lost Mitt, go away. Enjoy your corporate job and all of the filthy marginally taxed wealth that you have in the Caymen Islands while the members of the 47% continue to struggle. You lost because you were the WORST or the WORST. Obama won because he was the BEST of the WORST. In the end you couldn't save our country. In fact, no one can. The game is up..the game is over. The country is beyond repair and people of your ilk already know this. Go away and enjoy your life. Go on vacation somewhere and kick your feet up. You don't have to worry about retirement, eventually becoming unemployed or substantially squeezed by out of control policies from an out of control government like we do. Remember, you said you didn't care about us. Leave the Presidency to some other smooth talking, subservient lapdog who is more of a stealthier liar than you are. In this case, that would be Obama. He promised us hope and change both times and we bought it. In the end. maybe you were just too honest and America was never ready to swallow the pill that states that a President does not really care about us. I hope this clears it up as to why you lost. Have a nice life Mittens as I we, the 47%, will continue to try to do our best in the midst of the tragedy that is becoming America.
thats funny as heck. so if he did what needs to be done in his words, which is to do exactly what the corporatioins and rich want there would be no problems? Hes such an idiot. The problem is that doing what the republican side wants, to continue allowing the rich and large corporations and lending institutions to receive huge tax returns instead of actually paying returns is exactly whats destroying this country, privatization of public services and moving jobs over seas and avoiding any tax on the increased profits associated with taking work from americans. we have to stop these loopholes and stop paying the rich to get richer. other than that obama sux
Still clueless! Why am I not surprised?
Mitt and Ann are still in shock that their religious delusion was wrong. How could God have failed them. Religious nuts will figure out how to retrench and make their religious beliefs fit in to their reality. Give them time
Mitt, if you want the president to invite you back to the White House for another lunch date, all you had to do was ask.
Im glad Flip Flopney is back, he brought me many laughs with his easliy researched lies
I'm sure glad that a$$hole didn't get in!
in the long run you will be MORE sorry Obama got in. He wants to break the USA. At least Romney cared about fixing the economy not ruining it. Get ready people Socialism is in the White House.
So what's wrong with socialism? It's pretty stupid to throw the word around without explaining why you have a problem with it.
holycow, romney says he's like an "easy button" if he had a won. The matters is when his brain kicks on, it could blow up or forget-about-it the meaning of a gridlock congress.
Here's way to think to reduce gridlock congress incidents: (trying to think outside the box now)
1. how do you reduce traffic congestion?
2. In problem solving in design issues, designer use black box as a metaphor (symbolize) to represent the things that need to be fix. In this case it is congress to solve a endless congress gridlocks. For example, imagine a black box that takes 50 data input for each social issue and one output for unity to move forward. The 50 data inputs are to represent vote from each state and to be politically neutral. The result does not do anything other than provide more information to possibly cause a synergy event in the congress.
3. alternate (1). Reduce core power of congress by way of separation of power. With freedom, Power leads to responsibilities (synergy in chaos). With freedom, Power does not lead to one king in freedom (unity).
Mitt Go away
I'd like to thank all of the uneducated and completely ignorant Liberal Democraps who have posted on here today. You have once again shown the biased hatred that is consuming you. At least it is good for a morning laugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"He told Wallace that the [47%] statement was “very harmful” and “not what I believe." Yet he said it and he doesn't explain why. Just as he supported abortion then didn't support abortion. Just as he supported universal healthcare then didn't. What determines "what I believe" for Romney? Which way is the wind blowing?
Obama was not so Gay in 2008, but now in 2012 he has on pink underwear. they all flip flop. well wait!!...I don't think Ron Paul was ever a Flip Flop on anything.....
You're not there, Romney, because the American people did not buy what you and Republicans have to offer. There is a time in governing in a democracy that compromises must be made that reflect the will of the people, not holding fast to dogma and ideology for its own sake.
Republicans, you have made your point that you do not agree with a balanced approach, that you think austerity will work, in spite of all the evidence in other countries that have tried austerity in this global meltdown.
Now it is time to allow the policies and attempts of the huge majority that backed Obama and the Democrat's vision for America. Consider your country as a whole instead of your own reelection chances for once and stand up for America instead of your defeatist party that is doing everything in its power to harm our nation.
He is not in because he did not buy votes with promises like Obama did. Where are his promises now people?
he promised he would not cave in to the demands of the republicans to keep giving the rich and large corporations free reign which is the only thing i cared about. its a right step forward. we need to stop allowing 5000 people to control all the money and wealth in the world. i dont agree with most things republican or democrat but i do believe that the rich are way to rich and the lower and middle work way to hard for way to little.
gold, he is not there because of too many democrat bigoted, racist.
Well if I was going to invest money and Obama or Mitt was all I had, I would hand my cash to the business man
Yeah because Obama would just spend it.
This is the main reason why Romeny didn't win was because all the Republican politician didn't go out and campaign for Romeny. This includes all the Republican Governors and Republican Senators. All they were interested in getting themselves re-elected. They didn't back there candidtate. As for the President every Democratic Governor and Senator campaign for the President. So now the Republicans are stuck in sh$t and don't have the shoes to get out of it. It's not Romeny's fault that he didn't get elected it's the whole Republican party's fault that Romeny didn't get elected because they didn't back him.
What about the millions that they raised to get him elected? You are the first person to try to use this argument
Amazing, Romney's loss had nothing to do with the crazy policies they wish to enact. Republicans selected him thru the Primary Process, and he LOST, big time. So back to fantasy land, and dream up new ways to make the Republican party even more idiotic, or psychotic.
Romney raised that money not the GOP. Who actually campaigned for Romney besides Romney?
Romney lives in an ivory tower bubble and still believes all the republican propaganda. I suggest he and his wife come out into the real world and get an education about poor and middle class hard up- hard working people. He still doesn't get it. Congress ( reelection is their only goal) and the richest using tax loopholes are the real "takers"in this country.
Mitten$ wants back onto the national stage, guess the loss by 5,000,000 didn't persuade him that would not be a good idea. Republicans and the 1% agenda were soundly rejected on Election Day. Will be fun to ridicule King Willard and Queen Ann for the next 4 years.
I guess Tag Romney was lying when he said his dad never really wanted to be president anyways. It makes sense since lying must run in the Romney family
Sorry Mitt, looks like your "Divine Right" has left.
Go away mitt ,please just go away and take the tea party and fox with you. Please dont come back or you will be thumpted by Hilery. Please note the lack of my respect by not using capital letters.
HEY Romney if you had spoke up and let people know what you stood for and not just faded into the background you would be there. But your own son said you never wanted to win. So help out or shut up. You know who to contact if you REALLY have an idea how to fix this.