Today's Situation Room:
Wolf Blitzer delivers the most important breaking news and political, international, and national security stories of the day. Tune to The Situation Room weekdays 5-7pm ET on CNN.
Wolf Blitzer delivers the most important breaking news and political, international, and national security stories of the day. Tune to The Situation Room weekdays 5-7pm ET on CNN.
October 10th, 2012
03:01 PM ET
One-on-one with Mitt Romney
Wolf Blitzer interviews Mitt Romney on a wide range of topics, including Syria, Israel, taxes, debates and Big Bird.
RELATED STORY: Romney on debate inspiration from his father
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The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer is the command center for breaking news, politics and extraordinary reports from around the world. Tune in weeknights from 5-7pm ET on CNN.
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For once, I am happy that you are not siding with Obama and you are finally giving Romney a chance to be heard too.
talk about lame-stream media; this was the lamest interview imaginable. Uninsured to use emergency room?–really? You'll tell me what deductions I'll lose–perhaps end up paying MORE after your tax "cuts"–after your election?-really. I volunteer as Red Cross responder–privatize FEMA–really? No shady dealings in your unreleased taxes, just trust u ?–really? Russia,our greatest threat–really? You aren't transparent as a candidate, just trust u to be so after election?–really?? No interviews to press for last month before election?-really?? what a sheltered, cowardly interview ....and candidate.
Exactly Jack!!!!! You couldn't have said it better!!!!! This is just crazy how Romney actually thinks that all Americans are stupid by just trusting him! This is not a crap game or slots where you take risks betting for moeny, this is a run for POTUS!!!!! Shaking my head!!!!
Hi Wolf , I am an international viewer who is following the elections and I find it disturbing that a much trusted news network like CNN is subtlety leaning to Romney. Why I say this ? It's because we Romney flip flops around CNN doesn't call him out. At the debates Obama was dismal but took the next 2. CNN covered Obama's 1st debate performance over and over again. After Obama wiped the floor with Romney in the 3rd debate CNN says Romney just had to past the night and the commander in chief test. What a load of nonse, to an international viewer that debate concerns me. Romney did know what position he held in the global village. If he acts like how he behaved during the primaries and can't hold a position on anything where do you think that will leave the US? He probably will order an attack on a foreign nation and later say it was Canada that indicated it. Guys be serious the world depends on who you elect? If you elect the wrong man we could end up with no planet with nuclear bombs claiming victory.
I'm amazed at why not one news anchor and Wolf had the best opportunity of them all doesn't pin Romney down for all of the flip-flops, half-truths, and lies that have come out of his mouth since the beginning of this campaign. I'm not sure but I think Mitt Romney is probably the biggest liar in modern political times? Why won't somebody take a stand? Romney lies and\or changes his story so often that getting to the truth is impossible and not one source is willing to take a stand for the American public. Doesn't anybody in the mainstream media have any integrity or guts. I'm sure Murrow or Conkite would have already done it but I guess that ratings are more important than the truth. How far we have fallen.
The Romney/Ryan tax plan needs to be defined, if not in specific detail, at least the public needs to understand his intent, beyond the vague statements regarding the plan thus far. Specifically I should like to see Governor Romney asked what changes, if any, he has planned for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is the largest anti-poverty program in the U.S.
To the best of my knowledge as we near the end of this election cycle, Romney hasn't addressed this issue specifically. The budget cuts the Romney/Ryan economic plan have touted regarding domestic spending will have a profound and detrimental impacts on the working poor in the U.S. If they are going to see a tax hike as well, the media has a duty to ferret this out prior to election day.
Wolf Blitzer and CNN owe the working poor of this country a glimpse into Mitt Romney's vision of tax fairness and his attitude regarding this redistribution of wealth in these United States prior to election day and Monday's upcoming and final Presidential debate is the perfect venue for this question, the answer to which is essential to tens of millions of working class families.
I agree totally. And it was inappropriate of Blitzer to have Romney interfere in foreign affairs, particularly in such a soft uncritical setting. This interview was not appropriate critical journalism, but rather a not-so-subtle promotion for Romney. I hope Candy doesn't exert such 'subtle bias' in her moderation of the presidential debate.
This came off as one long commercial for Mr. Romney. You never held his feet to the fire on even one half answe. He never directly answered even one of your questions. Suggestion: WATCH The Newsroom!
Wolf never met a tough follow-up question that he would ever ask. CNN should change the name of the show to The Situation Room with Mitt Romney or The Situation Room Without Wolf Blitzer.
I respect Wolf very much and he once again delivered a great and pointed interview of the most important topics going on in this election. I learned a few things about Mitt Romney himself finally, and not from the campaign ads. That is great and the type of journalism needed in this election. I find CNN is doing the right job of letting the american people hear from the candidate directly. I hope CNN keeps a balance coverage. My regards to you Wolf ! Been watching you for so loong in CNN !! soooo many years ! All the best.
come on Rosa ... Wolf has lost my respect. He helped Mitt Romney make his case for his 47% comments and anyone who listened to that tape knows very well there was no mistake, that is exactly how Mr. Romney feels about the 47% – 'they won't take responsibility for their lives' and 'they feel they are entitled to food!' and 'they see themselves as victims' ... this is not a gaffe ... this is clearly what Mr. Romney believes and I am getting pretty tired of journalists helping Mitt explain himself when there is no explanation except that Mr. Romney is out of touch ... even though he might very well not be here if food stamps didn't exist (his own father took welfare and government help) ... I'm sorry Wolfe but I think you could have done so much better for the underprivileged people of your country ... I can't watch you anymore ... I am heart broken
Right on Sandra. I am tired of "journalists" accepting Romney's absurd claim that he misspoke about the 47%. That was no gaffe. You can hear it in the tone of his voice. He is a man who comes from privilege and condescendingly looks down on those less fortunate. He has no compassion or empathy for those who live on the margins of society. Mr. Blitzer asked Romney about the evolution of Romney's diatribe from first saying that it was not stated eloquently to finally saying it was wrong. Mitt totally evaded the question and Wolfe never called him on it.
Romney is not sorry he made the comment. He is sorry he got caught.
Wolf, This was for the most part a useless interview. I have always respected you and your ability to ask tough questions without being nasty. You only asked a couple of tough questions and allowed Romney to not answer any. You lost all reasons for taking my time to listen. I hope at some point, CNN commentators will once again be more in the Soledad mode and ask questions and then probe for a real answer.
ugh... that wasn't very good on Romney's end. Basically I have no plan, esp if you want specifics but I also agree with the president on a lot of things. Kinda makes me wanna vote Obama now..... except he has no plan to cut deficit/grow economy. And stealing jobs back from China, even if it works, does not count as an economic stimulus...
Wolf Blitzer.. I love you to death but that interview gave the viewer absolutely nothing but more Romney BS. He said nothing but filibusting principals. How can you come up with numbers on taxes etc without specifice, not speculation about growth! What if there is no growth? Where does his numbers go then? You can not speculate to get the presidency and not be able to deliver because there really was no vaible plan.
Wolf, what happened to "Ask Wolf"? It's gone. Now everything is Romneyland!!! 24 hours of CNN in Romneyland!!! And Romneyland doesn't tell you or the Americans watching CNN Romneyland anything!!! You ask a question, Wolf, and whomever is on there from Romneyland just says what they want to – never answering the question; never giving any substantial detail – and CNN's anchor never says a word; they just move on to the next question that will not be answered. Disgusting for a supposedly FAIR AND BALANCED news organization.
We all win when questions are tough, probing, and focused. But why don't you get up in arms when the media gives Obama a pass (which is standard procedure most of the time). Tougher journalism is fine, but be sure to complain both ways when candidates are not adequately pressed.
Oh, that's just BS. MSNBC, who most would agree is the most progressive of the cable news networks, calls out Obama and other Democrats when they lie or do something wrong ALL THE TIME. - unlike the Republican cable news network; i.e. Fox News In fact, some of the harshest criticism of Obama's debate performance came from Chris Matthews and Ed Shultz, both of MSNBC.
If CNN wants to be "fair and balanced" that's fine. But as a news organization with the responsibility to serve the public good, they (CNN) need to call out lies when they hear them. During the first debate, Romney did a masterful job of masking his true running record. In his interview, Wolf Blitzer did not call him out on any of that. Disgusting!
I would have plenty of comments, but have better things to do with my time. One thing I would like to say is that most Anchors, journalists ect.... are flip flopping just as much as Romney and company. Romney will do and say anything to get to the oval office, I am still waiting for the jounalist with enough guts to confront the man and expose him.
Wolf Blitzer is still missing the real point concerning the 47 percent remark Romney made at that fund-raiser. If Romney had stopped at saying that he would never get 47 percent of the vote so he would concentrate on winning over others, then that would have been fine. He didn't. He went much, much further into a personal rant about nearly half the country that reveals his distain and elitist attitude towards most of us. He said that we (all of us) in the 47 percent were basically deadbeats and bums. He now says that he was only concerned about us and want us to be able to have better lives. That's balony!!!!. What he originally stated was his true attitude!!!! I'm sick of him and wish someone would call him out on this. Some say he just went way too far. NO!! He didn't go too far. He spoke exactly how he feels. Period!!!!
I agree with Debbie and would like to add that talking of how useless other bits of society are is part of old classist ideas and reveals attitudes that favours things like keeping the despised groups ignorant, women and other races and social levels than that of the speaker, as the scorn of the old school classist leads them to take measures to cut the wings of the groups who judgement and worth they doubt. Their attitude is that if these groups knew too much they might make mistaken decisions so better just teach them the three rs and leave more complicated bits of education to an elite though elites have never proven they are less given to making mistakes than anyone else is. HIigher education gives real power to people, like allows them to defend themselves in a court of law or to understand economics so that they cant be gullied by polititians.
It is a basic of democracy that everyone gets a good education, the moment one of the duties of all adults is to vote their arises the necessity to educate them to a level that allows them to vote with a proper understanding of the situation.
An excuse for not educating everyone is that you have to be real and not waste resources, like time and money on educating all or be real and dedicate teaching time and energy to those who will put it to good use, rich white males. People with Romneys attitudes are not only insulitng and unfair they also favour behaviors that create social injustice and it is not only being poor that is a grave social injustice being counted out of all really important conversations is also a grave injustice, people might be bus drivers but their is no reason they cant be included in adult conversation, treated with dignity in modern societies that have the organisational capacity to do away with social injustice and to survive physically to educate people for ages and to get necessary jobs done, so we should be very wary of people who talk like Romney and they are not always easy to perceive, after all you can give a lot of details of policy that dont reveal how socially unjust you are, you can say things like you like education without revealing how very little you feel education need bring everyone up to the same level. rose macaskie madrid.
Hey Wolf you are not digging into Romney, he has no idea or glue because his platform is Ryan format that he go back and then he change his idea to suit what you want to hear, in Texas we have a saying Money Talks BS Walks, I am 47% he talk about and I will be Dam to lose my BB to elected him, I will vote for Obama, make sure the polls get it .
I think it is possible that Wolf does not dig into people too much in interveiws because the interveiw just provides him with the material for later digging into whom he interveiws with his panel of experts, so that the comments on his interveiw should be on how far youi think the after discussion cleared questions that arouse in interveiw, His expert panel however does not just dig into the person interveiwed it is also selected to demonstrated Woflfs proffesional impartiality because he does not block out the arguement of the right in the discussions he organises. I also think he tried to lay some subtle traps for Romney that did not on this occasion come up with any meat but that sometimes work for him. I think he is a bland interveiwer but not as toothless as he seems. rose macaskie
Dear Wolf,
I respect you but I don't understand WHY you need to keep bringing up the 47% comment. Wolf? You are an intelligent and a fair man. I like YOU. If you carefully listen to the comment, you too would agree he responded to a question as to how Romney thought he would do in this election. WOLF? It is very clear his response was related to a campaign STRATEGY, nothing about not caring for the less fortunate. Strategy as to where he should focus to get the most votes possible WOlf! You need to be fair about this . It was a campaign strategy as to where he should focus. The undecided Independents. That's how I clearly understood his comment to be. I got it! Why can't you, dear Wolf? Why are you keep making him seem like an insensitive man? You know better! Respectfully, Sam
SO IS MITT ROMNEY REALLY GOING TO WIN THE ELECTION?
Let me see if I get this right...
Mitt Romney has gained significant ground in the national polls overnight simply because President Obama did not attack him on Bain Capital? On outsourcing American jobs? On laying off American workers? On calling for the auto industry to go bankrupt? On tax evasion? On saying its not his job to worry about 47% of the American people? On saying that he's not concerned about the poor because there's a safety net for them? On saying he likes to fire people? On not supporting equal pay for equal work? On Massachusetts being 47th in job growth? On saying its not worth moving heaven and earth to find Bin Laden?
So doesn't President Obama get any credit at all for stabilizing the economy, for saving the auto industry, for creating 5.2 million private sector jobs, for saving 2.2 million public sector jobs, for making healthcare affordable for all Americans, for reforming Wall Street to safeguard against another catastrophic economic meltdown, for ending the illegitimate Iraqi war, for setting a deadline to end the Afghan war, for strenghtening our national security by getting rid of Osama Bin Laden and other al Qaeda operatives, for restoring our image, trust and credibility, for governing for the middle class, seniors, women, students, gays and lesbians, our men and women in uniform, and for all Americans as a whole???
Obama/Biden 2012 by a LANDSLIDE!
You could not have said it better!!!
Perhaps it is a non-issue because Romney said he was flat-out wrong. Where is wolf going to go with that? "So Mitt, you said that 47% of people were not paying taxes and..." Mitt " Yeah, I was flat out wrong."
He wasn't wrong, but he was wrong in calling the full 47% Obama supporters, and he was wrong in identifying all of them as dependent on government.
Sam sats; "I respect you but I don't understand WHY you need to keep bringing up the 47% comment. Wolf? You are an intelligent and a fair man. I like YOU. If you carefully listen to the comment, you too would agree he responded to a question as to how Romney thought he would do in this election. WOLF? It is very clear his response was related to a campaign STRATEGY, nothing about not caring for the less fortunate. Strategy as to where he should focus to get the most votes possible WOlf! "
You cannot rewrite history. The words are clear. Romney made it quite clear that 47% of Americans thought of themselves as "victims" who are entitled to be freeloaders. He said there is no way anyone could teach these people how to be responsible. There is no way you can excuse what he said and suddenly claim it is just a campaign strategy.
Romney said; "There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. And I mean, the president starts off with 48, 49, 48—he starts off with a huge number. These are people who pay no income tax. Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax. So our message of low taxes doesn't connect. And he'll be out there talking about tax cuts for the rich. I mean that's what they sell every four years. And so my job is not to worry about those people—I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."
Dear Sam, You obviously didn't listen to the entirety of Romney's comments on that tape - you know, the one that he didn't think was being recorded. First he said that the 47% are "... dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them." Then he went on to say, "... so my job is not to worry about those people—I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."
And oh by the way, the question from the audience member wasn't about campaign strategy. It was actually about how to get people to take personal responsibility!
If you had it to do over again what would you say about the 47 percent? That is your probative question? You are soft. What he said was clear and you just let him shrug it off.
Wolf why i wish you would mention that woman that debated Ryan..and she said he was slick, bully, lied...if you do not want to show this clip it will tell me what you are really doing..covering up...be honest and be fair..........
Mr. Blitzer, in 2008 Mr. Obama was cnn`s most important topic. Actually, cnn campaigned for Mr. Obama. Iimproved ratings for cnn. Now a new novelty, Mr Romney. What happened to Mr. Obama? I observe cnn is not campaigning for both candidates, instead for the person that is bringing in the high ratings at this time. Where is equal time and fairness for each candidate? I watch cnn all the time and Mr. Obamas views are inexistant. You interviewed Mr Romney, what happened to Mr. Obamas reputal? His views? Where is the medias neutrality? I do not see it. I admire you but I want equal time for each candidate and you are not providing it.
I couldn't agree more. CNN never has President Obama on or Joe Biden. All CNN does for President Obama or Joe Biden is to televise the negative. I think CNN has lost its fairness and balance. Its Romney all the way no for CNN! And,it's no CNN for me. Wolf's interview with Mitt Romney was journalism at its worst and he just shrugged off if Romney didn't answer a question.
You talk about tax relief so small businesses can creaate jobs and help grow the economy; what am I missing? Jobs and the economy grow only when there is a demand for products and services. Since we continue to see more American companies outsource and we continue as a people to support the economies of other nations for prodlucts once made in America and who employed Americans and who's economies are satisifying our demands for products and sevices........they are the ones growing jobs and their economy, not the United States. Taxe relief means nothing when we are not the producer of goods to satisfy demand for goods and services; what part of that do you not understand or that the American peopl don't understand?
It's look like CNN is now Romney's radio and voices. Every single hours cannot be skipped without talking about him. No need for him to send ads on TV now. CNN has made their choice.
Please, Superdude, enlighten us as to what the Democratic-controlled Senate has done this past year? Anything? Anything? Obama can't even get his folelw Democrats to back his latest stimulus package. When you have a Democratic president that can't work with a Democratic Senate there should be big-time worning bells going off in your head as far as what they're going to be able to accomplish.
Please ask Romney the important question on taxes: As he lowers the overall tax rate, is return on investment considered income or will it be exempted?
On CNN this morning I saw Wofl Blitzer speaking with Mitt Romeny.
Romney said "The presidents policies are not something we can afford for four more years.
We just can't afford more of what we've gone through".
It amazes me to realize how much information we receive and how much we forget.
The last Republican administration (G.W. Bush) along the our Multi-National Corporate Industry created so much debt and havoc to the American people that we are still recuperating. Romney can't blame Obama for the past 4 years. The past four years have been trying to respond to the damages caused during the Bush adminstration.
Please look at: http://americanhistory2000-2012.com to see a United States visual timeline of our 21st Century. Remember and ask yourself "What Is Really Going On".
You interviewed Romney and did a great job, and now Ryan, so when is the President going to take your answers in an exclusive interview. or is Big Bird more important to talk about.
The interview with Mitt Romney was journalism at its worst. For years the press has been letting candidates turn interviews into nothing but shameless stump speeches. When are you going to take your 2nd amendment right seriously? I have always liked Wolf Blitzer, but he failed the interview just as bad as President Obama failed the debate last week.
There is a trend predominately sustained by the GOP which subverts Journalistic integrity. It works like this, a question is asked and the interviewee ignores it and launches into "the talking point of the day". We have all seen it and we need to address it. This is NOT journalism it is FREE ADVERTISING.
Media is the 4th estate. It is supposed to objectively obtain and report facts, data, and information to its consumers. It is supposed to be what keeps the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of our nations tree growing toward the sunlight of truth.
They all work for us including journalists. If they don't have viewers, readers, listeners then they don't have a career. In the past there were limited time slots on credible outlets. In the sixties we had "Meet the Press", the nightly news and the Press. Today there are countless 24 hour "News" outlets all competing for ratings and "guests". This is why and how the question dodgers get away with denying us the answers we want and need to be informed voters. It is also where our power lies to at least try and stop it.
If Andrea Mitchell (just as an example) asks Newt the same question 3 times and he never answers but instead uses the free air time to advertise why the hell does he get invited back and why are we watching?
Help send the message that this is unacceptable and that we expect more from those who want to be seen as sources of INTEGRITY. We will stop watching, reading , listening to you if this trend continues. We do not want and will not put up with FREE POLITICAL ADVERTISING (from either side) on what is supposed to be our informative forums!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Monk Guevara)