Avi and Mitt Romney 3/4/10

" No it is."

" Pleasure now to introduce Mitt Romney who has been sitting patiently -- complying -- pulse wouldn't buy it what are my favorite features -- how a car show I must admit that I. I've decided I'm definitely gonna make tea I called of the jumped line I'm a -- wait -- How we makes his return and and I now have a few choice their paroles for employment -- you know do."

" He's going to be there and so when I'm here -- the name of the book is no apology the case for American greatness written by Mitt Romney. And how much I will admit the book just came yesterday and I did start reading it last time but I haven't finished it. But much is well written and unnoticed by the way I did look for this. That free -- in the when there's a book it says -- if somebody and there's another name there's no second name on this so we can assume you wrote this yourself."

" I did -- I did so with the help of a lot of other writers and researchers because like I read the work of other Hoover institution pioneer institute. AEI. Heritage Foundation as well as a number of authors and read what they thought about various topics and and I take my own hand at it. But yeah this was written by me. And I've I appreciate the chance to you know had the time. Tip -- write something like this it took seven months off and you know when you lose an election in your unemployed defund the you have something that I think you can devote your time to."

" The book has to do than the no apologies. Is that we shouldn't be making apology for the country one of the interest in chapters that I read was. You talked about failures how other nations other cultures. On nation states empires have failed and why he tried to understand what went wrong why they declined as a warning to us. Yeah that's very interesting easy if you look over the history the world every other great society besides our own. That has been established from the very beginning of time has ultimately become over a confident complacent and has declined. And so I looked at a number of them and said -- some common features and their a couple of things stand out. What one is eight. A rejection of trade with of the nation's. If you will isolationism that grows and as people become concerned that. They can't compete and therefore they put a trade barriers of 100 other the other is if you will intellectual barriers and and an unwillingness to accept ideas and and an innovative -- from other places. America has always succeeded in part because of our openness our willingness to trade with the world. And the pioneering spirit that is America what I'm concerned about his a look at the country right now. Is that people in Washington are smothering the innovative spirit they're making it harder for -- doors and small businesspeople. To get going -- to create new enterprises. And as a result they're they're threatening some of the foundations of our economic prosperity are -- free trader. And I asked Leo -- you know much competition. No one likes it affect a competitor opens -- store across the street no election if a foreign company makes a good that's better than we make your in this country. But if you decide to put up a wall around ourselves to trying to protect ourselves. Ultimately our products get more more outdated and we find ourselves unable to compete and create jobs people say that China is competing unfairly they engage in practices that -- right they aren't fair and that's what gets people's blood boiling in the figure which you put a parish we should. Somehow retaliate with Chinese well for good reason if they if they are unfair if we find circumstances where they're not dealing with us. On a straight up basis and of course you put restrictions against the were punished them violating antitrust laws and so forth so you. If you're gonna take those things into account. But but assuming people are planning on a fair basis that the truth is that there's and other nations across the world that are highly productive and very competitive. Analysts this country take stock of that and makes adjustment will lose jobs that's what happened in industry after industry from steel to aluminum. Integrated circuits. Frankly to automobiles. We who we bemoan the fact that these other countries were not playing fair with us but funny thing. They moved here with factories and they're beating is -- her own country and that tells us we have to increase our capability -- Our skills if we wanna keep in the game."

" Mitt Romney as my guest in studio we'll go to the phones a little bit in the title of the book is no apology. You should you wrote over the last seven months -- was the title repudiation. Of Barack Obama and going around and making the speeches around the world apologizing for America."

" Well no question that's a big part of where the idea came from for the title. The the president I think was very misguided in his. A decision from the very beginning days of his administration to go around the world and apologize for America now of course every country makes mistakes but on the balance sheet. Of mistakes. And and contributions to the world America's contribution so outweigh any mistakes and it's not misguided. To apologize but instead he said an Arabic TV that we dictate to other nations. No Mr. President America has freed people from dictators he said we've been divisive and dismissive that we haven't listened to other countries that were arrogant. I got I don't think arrogance applies to the nation may apply to some politicians. But not to the nation. At the sacrifices that made by our fighting men and women as certainly bespeaks to wait a level of humility and concern for others that as is in some respects unique. So -- I think he was misguided I think it's hurt our foreign policy. At the same time has kept him from focusing. I'm what was the real reason we needed it -- president to take care take charge and that was to get the economy going again where he also was failing."

" We word that he doesn't seem to use much is American. And she is an American exceptional -- And there's a lot of talk that America is in decline that the our best century was the last century. Do you agree. I believe that American politicians. Have put America. On the start of a road to decline. -- we change course will find ourselves being passed like every other great nation history's been passed. I don't believe the American people stand for that I think that's one of the reasons you're hearing Tea Party years and others getting angry saying wait a second. We're on the wrong thing these kinds of debts these kinds of entitlement liabilities that are swamping us. These things have to and we got to change course so I don't believe were on eroded decline it meeting inevitable decline. But I believe that's for Washington would lead us unless we change course. Now it's impossible to have a discussion -- view and treat you just as an author. You're -- W I I understand not only former governor but the potential candidate for the presidency you were last time are you running next time. You know there's no reason to make that decision to you have to and and so and and I've said look we're gonna put that decision off until after the November elections. There's an old saying a week is say. A lifetime in politics. A lot's gonna happen over the coming year potentially some placed -- others and so will make that decision when when the time comes around but for now. I'm gonna keep battling reminding people of what we'd have to do to create jobs in this country and to get us back on track -- I shall. Worth with the appropriate respect it's okay if I ask you some questions that would limit present you name it you mentioned a moment ago the word entitlements and that as one of the problems in terms of our budget busting. What would you do about the massive entitlements which of running incurred enormous liabilities and in the medical arena Medicare Medicaid so."

" Security. Those of the Big Three. Collectively that the unfunded liability for those entitlements is. 6070. Trillion dollars to put that in context the total national that is around eight trillion. So this is a huge huge problem. I devote a whole chapter which I call. The worst generation. Question mark saying that my generation your generation having that baby boomers. May have put in place obligations that will swap America and so either and lay out for each of the three. Social Security Medicaid and Medicare what I believe is necessary to be done to bring the insisted in the sustainability. None of the changes require any adjustment for current seniors are near or near retirees. But it doesn't mean they're gonna be adjustments in the programs for people coming on in their 20s30s forties. And that's but I lay out by the way if we take corrective action now. We can balance these programs. But if we wait -- Tony years we end up just won't they give -- an example of of the corrective action well for instance let's take something like Social Security. When someone retires there's a calculation made by government as to what your initial benefits should be. And they look at which you've contributed to social security and they inflate that. Now the insulator they used to do this calculation is the wage index. The wage index goes up a lot faster than does the Consumer Price Index the so called CPI. Well for wealthier people. Security shouldn't be using the wage index use the CPI. That will reduce the initial benefit calculation for those people who are not gonna be relying on Social Security. As their sole source -- primary source of income. In retirement. That adjustment use in the CPI even just for higher income individuals. Brings Social Security two thirds to the point of being in balance and then extending the retirement age a year to. Would cover the rest of the out of the gap by the way. Great Britain made that decision some years ago not just for higher income individuals but for all of their recipients they said look let's let's use the CPI's aren't as -- later. And and that brings Social Security into balance. One last point on this Medicare who would you do about the unfunded liabilities in Medicare and bring you -- in the Medicare program. Well that they're a couple things one I would provide I believe vouchers to people so they could choose private Medicare plans for the that a government plan. Two I think we should have an annual budget as opposed to saying this is an entitlement and congress can't touch it its its non discretionary -- and -- know everything is discretionary. Will decide with the budget isn't decided its -- effectively manage and by the way. The liberal think tank Brookings and and I'm conservative tanker. Heritage came together on that recommendation. But I think fundamentally for Medicare -- get to change the reimbursement system that exists in healthcare. We have a system now a fee for service reimbursement system creates all the wrong incentives. And so we're -- to change our incentives so that the patient the consumer of health care is concerned with the cost. Of how much treatments may be and if we do that I think you're gonna see that health care to start acting like a market a consumer driven market. Every in the consumer -- markets touch ends up becoming a lower cost a better quality. In this state when you were governor you -- through a form of universal health care requiring everybody to get health care. How do you think that plan has worked out. It's doing what we hoped it would do in terms of having people have insurance. It's not doing everything we hoped it would do however we we hope to would have more impact and cost it is certainly hasn't. Improve their cost picture for people who are not part of that program for those who didn't have insurance they're able to buy insurance a much lower rates than had existed. As a individual buyer in the past. But he needs to be adjusted and and that's -- we said at the time legislators and I and others said it needs to be updated. And that the program has to make sure that it is not cost that the individuals more money. It doesn't has not cut that required us to raise taxes that's an important thing we -- would you do adopted as well. I I would say to the insurance companies were neck and a mandate to you with the policies have to look like you can bring -- policies that you think work for the people. We might have a rating agencies say you say which ones get a gold star and which ones don't the let people choose among the policies maybe even let. Folks from outside the state command with policies of the there's more competition among insurance companies here in the state. That would be number number one number two it in my original proposal everybody that was part of this connector paid some portion. Of their premiums. But the state has decided to give some people there insurance for free that's a mistake in my opinion that draws if you will that's -- like an attractive nuisance that draws people in from other states. It gives people incentive to under stated com it's the wrong way to go."

" Mitt Romney is by guest during this hour the name of the book no apology which is written himself so he doesn't have to apologize for that the case for American greatness. And it's available now saint Martin's propose shouldn't get in the local bookstore I absolutely can't -- Now. You one of the strong suits that you have -- your background in the business arena and in this era where we have serious economic problems. I think people are now. -- more interest in somebody who's got that kind of background since we tried somebody who doesn't and then the results are mixed to say the best to say the best about it. First would you have gone along with the stimulus program that Obama proposed a 787. Billion dollars if you -- president would you have supported something like that."

" No -- post that that that the program he fashioned was overwhelmingly focused on stimulating government. Protecting government jobs in fact we probably should slim to government down. In lot of places so that we can have been closer to balancing state budgets down the road so he took the wrong pathway. It it was not a program that created jobs immediately. The right direction would have been to say okay if we're gonna buy anything let's buy things we desperately need. And let's find a little earlier than we planned so let's do infrastructure projects and let's also by military equipment to replace that which has been shot up in in converse force. So that we give our troops what they need to be protected that's what I'd -- but what -- uses a stimulant effect as well. Instead of looking to the consumer which. By -- is pretty frightened. Following the collapse in 2008 I looked at the at the corporate sector and said how do we get you guys to start buying things. From one another and thereby create jobs so -- best bust investment tax credit. Or allowing businesses to expense capital expenditures in the year of that expenditure at least for the next but one -- two years in tough times. Wouldn't encourage businesses to. Build buildings by cars -- come by computers. Doing so stimulating the economy putting people back to work you you have to two things to create jobs. Not just to make your -- would you would do now recommend the past let's see what -- what I do is I'd say look stop spending in the stimulus money that hasn't been spent. Stop spending any TARP money that hasn't been spent and has money comes back Q and make sure that we actually create jobs through tax policies and encourage. A businesses to buy things and put people to work. Your father was ahead of American motors so you've got some background in the automobile industry would you bailed out General Motors now that -- the wrong of course was to accede to the demands of the CEOs of the company's. We shouldn't have written a big checks and then have the government as to 800 pound gorilla. At the bankruptcy table. Where it can decide which of all the creditors was gonna be favored in which there was not the right course would have been for the management to go -- managed bankruptcy led by themselves. And their own boards. Rather -- led by President Obama and -- added in the case why I think you'd see them with a different owner structure than you have ownership structure that you have. And that would not have been the massive investment that the federal government -- we let them go under as a -- well I would have let them go go to ball girls and then they went through bankruptcy we -- thing was that. They they got if they got the federal money. We who you know we taxpayers put it in tens of billions of dollars into the into the company's and then they went bankrupt would you also -- the Wall Street firms go bankrupt. Few months before the I don't have a problem money firms go bankrupt what I want what I would want to make sure is that there were funds in place to communicate to the world that we were not gonna allow a collapse of our financial system and you think it was a -- verge of that I no question about that it in in in my view. That without TARP without the effort to secretary Paulson and President Bush put forward. We would have had a cascade of failures of financial institutions which have gone across the country and that had to be prevented that was successful now. Was it effectively implemented no. Did -- make terrible mistakes and how they did it absolutely and should be ended now yes. You don't occurred."

" Miller the mean mentioned -- type of Mitt Romney former governor of Massachusetts former candidate for president and current author of the book no apology the case for American greatness. The the question about economics and and background I realize I senate but not everybody knows what you did in before you -- governor and they they know about the the Winter Olympics with. That you may be good don't give a brief history is what you did in the private sector before you became involved in the public sector."

" You know when I came out of school I got a job with one of the top consulting firms in the world where. We would get the chance to go into great companies and help them deal with -- tough situations and an issues that they faced and I did that for about. Ten years ultimately became chief executive of of one of those consulting companies called Bain and company. I also was able to begin a if you will venture capital and private equity. Enterprise where we helped start businesses like staples for instance. Or where we acquired businesses like Domino's Pizza. -- tried to make him better. And and that was accord occur as you can imagine an extraordinary learning experience and it took B -- places around the country and around the world where I. Got a good sense of what of the nations were doing so for 20/20 five years my life was in the in the private sector. The the question of where we go from here. As especially with regard to some of the the other issues that are facing us let me shift then to the foreign policy arena -- what would you do with -- Well you know here again I I have to admit I'm I'm disappointed. With with the president's -- of course. Russia. It is the -- the traditions that are most critical are having very stiff sanctions against Iran and potentially dissuade them from their nuclear -- are Russia and China. Russia wanted something very badly from us and that is they did not want us to build a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. That was critical they were just jumping up and why do you think that is this was a defensive system there was no offensive you know I don't I I it's hard for me to imagine what was in Putin's mind perhaps he thought that this would be a surreptitious. -- direction and are part it it may be they sought the same we we saw the Cuban missile crisis that that we were gonna have -- warheads -- rockets close to their border that it didn't make it. The sense. But that doesn't that just that doesn't excuse the fact that they funded the -- the number one issue on their agenda. And what is President Obama do. Instead of sitting down with the Russians or having our our negotiators sit down a -- populous and -- willing to think about missile defense and Eastern Europe. If you're willing to think about the following sanctions against Iran. And you take a read this and tell us if you're with us you're not and if you're not quite working have a hard time thinking about missile defense in other words. When you do a negotiation with a nation like Russia. You make sure that you get something before you get something. But with this president did was suddenly announced much to dismay of the polls in the checks. Here we're gonna walk away from our missile defense system and get nothing from Russia in return that I find extraordinary animal would be the quid pro quo with China. Well China has to have access to our market. And I don't like using trade -- say. As a sort. But they they have 120 million people every year coming off the farms that need to get jobs. And the only way they gonna get jobs -- if they have free and open market access to the United States of America. And then understanding that it's important to us. Added that that they participate in these. These sanctions. And that that's gonna have influence about how readily we except. There there in treaties. Two it to have access to a market those those kinds of things I think can be said it said in a subtle way that that they recognize that if their largest customer by far. Thinks that their highest priority is sanctions against Iran whether to have some sway."

" We're talking Mitt Romney former presidential candidate author of the book no apology the case for American greatness. We have to polish to pay some bills Jewish -- I think we'll not only appreciate that approval of the will be back on the other side. I know people of call then we'll get fewer calls as well phone number 8774694322. This is -- Nelson you're listening to the Howie -- program. Strongest earthquake -- opportunity."

" They're. Back this is I think."

" Mitt Romney as my guest this -- portion of the program no apology is the name of the book he wrote himself. And -- so -- which a couple of chapters he is well written and worth the read so you can get it to local bookstore the subtitle is the case for American greatness. He has another commitment so we're going to go to the phone lines and getting what we can't John your next on the program good evening."

" We -- we can buy them out of 450 million. And we -- 900 million a day."

" You know John I've. I could see buying out the Federal Reserve you Syria got a -- do it. But but who would you have or run the federal currency and an oversee our financial system hopefully that congress that the best thing about the Federal Reserve. Is that it is not beholden and and it does not report to the congress that states I'm afraid that if you had the Federal Reserve. Or -- it's it's a replacement reporting to the congress you'd have congressman making sure that that money was dumped into the system. Prior to their elections. That that they they would forget any concern about inflation at all because they just be in dissidents stimulus efforts everytime there's an election. And and I did an independent body responsible for the financial system and our currency makes sense that being said. They messed up big time. Over the last several years when they did not see the coming collapse in housing and take the appropriate action to rein in the excesses in the housing mortgage market. So I you know I can't stand and defend them. But I can tell you I don't see a better alternative that -- revealed Winston Churchill saying which is that. You don't democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others you can think -- right John thanks for the call. Well we go next to sport good evening sports."

" You can't speak with the governor thank. I hate to say other little wind kind of guys. But I do like."

" are saying which is good content."

" But I. Yeah I'd let you personally got her one time and I do like. The moderate message that you're speaking -- it seems like that you are more of your own man your own candidate. That you are any particular interest group. Or any hard line right wing stance. And I hope that if you do you consider the run for 214012. He's still -- top of being the thinking man speaking to you with your positive steps to achieve the goal. And I'd like the fact furthermore -- just CLU basically distance yourself from that extreme right side of the party."

" Okay let's start that -- all thank you there's your slogan you thinking -- happy that you -- I appreciate your comment or what what's interesting is that. I I think most people and for that matter most of the media is well that they. For for for ease of communication they like to. At the put chewing it in a pagan as spot they want should've won it pigeon -- you to as to which are. And and my views. Are pretty well expressed in this book no apology and so if you know where I stand you can see them there I consider myself conservative. But I know others think that. I may or may not be conservative on an issue or another. I'm happy just to defend my views but if you wanna see what I believe on issues relating to our economy our national strength. And geopolitics. You can do so by looking at the book and -- the you can agree or disagree but that's what I stand for. We showed you one more range on your next on the program also sell your next on the program good evening senator."

" Hello thank you know much to make just because you governor gray dear boy I -- up we were better at getting. Mr. Romney. OK and there's a question -- I was waiting trumped that request they had in my head what are you doing right now governor are. To help our soldiers that are definitely court martialed. And it just come back from Iraq and what would you do as president if you are elected this isn't driving me crazy our men and women are in jail right now as we could be."

" You know I'm not familiar with the specific charges that have been brought against. The men and women in in our military for that have led to court martial proceedings. I I would anticipate. That if I were in a setting of overseeing that I would wanna make sure that the prosecutor process is fair and the discretion is being to pro applied properly. But our our military tribunal system is in my view. A system which is -- pretty effective closing easily navy seal a maybe she's referring to the Navy SEALs are going to be charged in roughing up that. The I prisoner -- I don't know that the specifics involved. It and that -- can try the al-Qaeda. Well among if we upper hand well al-Qaeda warriors did we do try to live within the military and we'll certainly tribunals this idea of of having terrorists. Or would be terrorists it would be bombers hear their first words in America as you have the right to remain silent that's actually nuts. These people should be tried -- military tribunals. I do think sometimes by the way that that prosecutors. Abuse at their discretion. Yeah indecision system -- prosecutor who not to prosecute and and we've seen some examples of that over the last couple years and I think. At as a president you would expect. It at the the president to step in where he thinks. That that that that discretion is being improperly applied."

" Then on thank you for being are no we have another engagement so we'd love that you stay longer and release to listen to promised he'd come back I'm I'm always should be back got a great to see at Santa how are when he gets back on Florida he's going to be. Ten and amp Jerry's going to be size than mr. of the best luck we'll look forward to that decision coming after the congressional elections thanks again. Mitt Romney former governor of Massachusetts. And the author of the book no apology case for American greatness. The now do we go to war breaks any more bills today and will be back on the other side back we just may now. So people who wanna call in and talk about the world here's your chance. 8774694322. This is how we -- program."