Transcript of Romney on CNN
From CNN:
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And joining us now, the former governor of Massachusetts, the former Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney. Widely believed to be on Senator McCain's short list right now.
We'll talk a little bit about that later.
Governor, thanks very much for coming in.
MITT ROMNEY, FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR: Thanks, Wolf. Good to be with you.
BLITZER: In the past couple of days, Senator Obama has been making this very serious charge against Senator McCain. Let me play a clip for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He said, and I'm quoting here, "Our dangerous dependence on foreign oil has been 30 years in the making and was caused by the failure of politicians in Washington to think long term about the future of our country."
What Senator McCain neglected to mention was that he was there 26 of those 30 years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: All right. A serious charge. Can you cite one legislative accomplishment that Senator McCain produced during those 26 years in Washington in order to achieve energy independence?
ROMNEY: Well, I'm not a historian that goes through all of the pieces of legislation John McCain has worked on, but let's talk about one piece of legislation that's pretty relevant and that's the Bush energy plan which Barack Obama voted in favor of and John McCain looked at it and said, it's so larded up with tax breaks and special incentives to oil companies and gas companies -- John McCain voted no on that piece of legislation.
They have very different perspectives. John McCain has laid out his plan to get energy independence and it includes nuclear power, it includes drilling offshore, both of those things are opposed by Barack Obama and there is no way America can become energy independent and energy prices can come down without nuclear power and more drilling as well as all of the alternative sources that both men agree on.
BLITZER: He also proposes, Senator McCain, a cut in the overall corporate tax structure in the United States and that would in effect represent a billion-dollar a year bonanza, if not more, for ExxonMobil, some of the other big oil companies. Should there be an exemption for the big oil companies that are producing record profits every quarter so they don't benefit from yet more tax breaks?
ROMNEY: You know, there's a real question, I think, that we have in this country as to whether we're going to believe in free market systems and the way the markets work, free enterprise, or whether instead we ought to have government run economies and we can pick winners and losers and say that certain companies are making too much money and then by the way, if companies don't do well, should government pay them some money so they do better. This is where it all leads. I don't like the fact that big oil is making the kind of money they're money. I don't think a lot of people are excited about it. At the same time, I'm not sure you want to jump in there and change the rules after many, many investors, retirees, pension funds and so forth have invested in companies like ExxonMobil to say, hey, guess what, guys, we're taking away those dividends that you invested for.
So in my view you put down the law, you follow the rule of law and you also lower the tax rates on small corporation – on all corporations! – to make America more competitive. We have tax rates, corporate tax rates well higher than Europe. Almost as high as Japan's, which is the highest in the world. It's killing jobs here. John McCain is right.
BLITZER: All right. Senator McCain in that ad that caused a lot of controversy the other day. He compared Senator Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Yesterday you said Senator Obama was like a quote, "Internet date." Here is the question: Is it appropriate to use these kinds of comparisons against the Democratic presidential nominee? In effect, is it appropriate to be name-calling the Democratic presidential candidate?
ROMNEY: Well, the name-calling is on both sides of course and politics is a -- well, let's say it's not tiddlywinks by any means and in many cases you want to describe something in a way people remember. I thought John McCain's ad was humorous and right on target.
In fact, we watched Barack Obama give some wonderful speeches talking about hope and audacity but what he hasn't done is talk about what he would do to solve the problems of America and now that Americans are actually listening to him talk about energy and finding that he opposes offshore drilling and he opposes nuclear power and he said that we can end our problems in energy with inflating our tires more appropriately and tuning up our engines people say, wow, this guy is not ready for prime time.
BLITZER: Governor, do you regret calling him, saying he is like an Internet date?
ROMNEY: No. It's like an Internet date in that it sounded very good initially when people look at him and hear him speak, they say, wow, this guy is great but then you get to know him a little better and you say, you know, what you really see behind the surface is not exactly what people would hope for.
BLITZER: The Democratic National Committee, they have got a Web site basically saying that all of the Republican vice presidential potential candidates out there represent the next Dick Cheney and we're putting it up on the screen right now. You're on that short list by all accounts to be the vice presidential running mate for Senator McCain. What do you think about Dick Cheney?
ROMNEY: Dick Cheney is a fine person who has served his country with distinction. I don't agree with him on every issue. I don't agree with most Republicans on every issue but my guess is that a lot of people who are being considered by John McCain as VP material are people who are very independent, probably of John McCain but also Dick Cheney or George Bush. Just because we're Republican doesn't mean we see all issues the same way and suggesting we're all like Dick Cheney or all like George Bush is a nice effort on their part but I frankly don't think it will fly.
BLITZER: He's been vice president now for almost eight years. Earlier he was the defense secretary. Served in Congress, served as a White House chief of staff under then President Gerald Ford. Should he be invited to speak at this Republican convention in St. Paul, because we're getting word he's not going to be there?
ROMNEY: Yes, I have no idea who is going to be speaking at the convention.
BLITZER: But should he be – should he be invited given his public service over the years?
ROMNEY: I don't know. I don't know that he particularly cares and I don't know that it makes a big difference. Frankly, what really makes a difference in a presidential election is who the presidential nominee, not who the vice president or vice presidential nominee is.
A lot of folks are putting a lot of attention to these short lists and who's on it and who's not but you know what? It's going to come down to John McCain and Barack Obama. We're going to listen to their positions on issues. We're going to see them in debates and on the basis on those two men head to head America is going to choose the next president and they're going to want someone who can lead and who has the experience of leading in difficult times.
John McCain has been a leader all his life. Barack Obama hasn't had that experience yet. I'd like him to get it before we consider him for higher office.
BLITZER: But wouldn't it be insulting, wouldn't it be a slap at Dick Cheney if he weren't allowed to speak at the convention?
ROMNEY: If Dick Cheney didn't want to speak at the convention it certainly wouldn't be a slap and I don't know that anyone is suggesting that he will or won't speak. I just don't think it makes a big difference one way or another.
BLITZER: Governor Romney. Thanks very much for coming in.
ROMNEY: Thanks, Wolf, good to be with you.
