Mitt Romney Transcript on CNN Interview 1March2024

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 https://thunderflower2021.blogspot.com/2024/01/table-of-round-tents.html?m=1 

 This is the REAL Transcript!  

 

ROMNEY:  This is who I’d vote for  between Trump and Biden

 

8min 42 sec

 

CNN:  He’s out of step with the majority of the Republican Party - NATIONAL SECURITY - his views on that.  How would you define the foreign policy view of the Republican Party is today?

ROMNEY:  I think they’re different.  Avenues of perspective on that.  My own view is that - and I do believe if the majority of our caucus, the Republican Senators, believe that we should play an active role in the world and that we should defend freedom in places where it is under attack. For instance, if Taiwan were under attack, you’d see the great majority of the Republican Senators say we need to help Taiwan.  Want to give it weapons so it can defend itself.  I believe if there’s just a plain vote to give weapons to Ukraine, the Republican Senators will support that.  Somewhere we’re unhappy with the government of Ukraine to come out and vote for the Ukraine funding - despite - I think the majority of our group - those that - we are better off in America if we defend the cause of Freedom around the world.  Otherwise, bad people, terrible authoritarians like Vladimir Putin are gonna ultimately attack NATO nations and we’re gonna be required by TREATY to send our own soldiers into harm’s way - and we’re gonna be required by -  by TREATY - to send our own soldiers into harm’s way.  Or we can walk away from NATO and blow up an alliance which has helped preserve - global piece, at least amoung the major powers for the last 75 or 80 years.

CNN: I was just in Ukraine - President Zelensky - they are deeply worried that your colleagues in the House, the Republicans, aren’t going to send them anymore aid, but they are going to stand in the way. What responsibility do you believe Republicans will - they are - for setbacks for the battlefield for Ukraine if they don’t pass any more aid?

ROMNEY:  Well, if we don’t pass aid for Ukraine, then I think Ukraine has a very difficult time preserving their geographic integrity and life - you’re gonna have a lot of people who lose their life as Russia runs across Ukraine, and that will make it very clear to people round the world that you can’t trust America’s work because of the commitment in 1994 to respect the sovereignty of Ukraine and help defend the people of Ukraine if they were attacked - and that’s what’s happening and if we were to walk away from that, they won’t trust our word.  People will say, Hey the United States is not with us.  We’re not gonna be with them if there is something they want to do in the Pacific, for instance - let them deal with China - let America deal with China - there - so we’re strong globally in part because of our friends - we have alliances - we always talk about how the Russians with the Chinese don’t have the kinds of friends we have.  Well, we have friends in part because we stand together.  And if we don’t stand with our friends, we will lose strength, and that will ultimately come to hurt us.  

CNN:  So you disagree with your colleagues, Senator J. Vance, who is making argument that 60 billion more dollars won’t fundamentally change Ukraine’s stance on the battlefield.  

ROMNEY:  That is an interesting point.  It just happens to be as accurate as it is irrelevant.  Alright, it may not change their status on the battlefield. What it does due is COMMUNICATE to the entire world WE HONOR OUR COMMITMENTS, and we stand with our friends.  And we will help freedom fighters around the world, where our friends and allies.  And that message, which is important to the people in Taiwan. People in Japan. People in India. People in Europe. All these people are watching to see, Can you count on America? Or is America isolation - it doesn’t care what happens to the rest of us. If that’s the case, by the way, if we see leadership, if we’re no longer the leader of the free world, we’re no longer the arsenal of democracy, then the world is gonna look for different leaders. And I know, at least one player that is happy to step in that role, and that’s China.  And a world where Xi Jin Ping is the leader of the world, is a very dangerous world, and not good for Americans. NOT GOOD FOR OUR BUSINESSES.  Not good for our economy.  But still not good for our freedom.  

CNN:  It’s also pretty easy to hear you just put it in simple perspective; that if House Republicans block more money to Ukraine, lives will be lost in Ukraine, as a result of that.  

ROMNEY:  There’s no question about that.  Lives will be lost there, and Vladimir Putin will not stop.  It may take some time to rebuild his military, because they have been desimated by the ill-considered attack on Ukraine.  But he will ultimately go after other nations in the Baltics - Latvia, Lithuania, potentially Poland - those are possibly - Georgia - he will continue. He has indicated he wants to rebuild the Russian empire, if you will, and those are NATO nations.  We  are obligated under treaty to come to their defense.  We are - it would be pennie-wise and pound-fool to say we’re not gonna help Ukraine with weapons when the next step is a place we’re under treaty - we would be obligated to help with not just weapons and funds, but blood.  And, uhm, we need to make sure that the world knows we will stand with Ukraine.  I can’t guarantee, as JD Vance indicates, is it gonna mean that Ukraine is successful in the battlefield - but I can guarantee it shows the world that we will stand by our friends.  

CNN:  Do you agree with President Zelensky’s analysis that Trump doesn’t really understand Putin because he’s never fought him?

ROMNEY:  uhhh, I don’t really know that uhh I can vetter into the mind of Donald Trump and understand his perspectives.  I think he showed more respect for Vladimir Putin than Vladimir Putin deserves.  Donald Trump has said some strange things - well, okay, Putin has killed some people but our Presidents have killed people too - it’s like yeah, our Presidents killed political opponents, AND MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA. [5min 43 sec] Alright, our President has made - take us to war to protect our freedom and our interests as we understand them.  That’s very different, than murdering political opponents and murdering members of the media. And incarcerating journalists - these are the things that Vladimir Putin does.  And attacking a sovereign nation, you bring, without provocation and killing tens of thousands of people.  Kidnapping children.  This is a very bad guy.  Based upon our values.  And I think that the values are shared by people throughout the world. And I think it’s fine for a President, or former President, to talk to leaders of other nations.  But be clear-eyed.  Vladimir Putin is a very bad person.  

CNN:  Nikki Haley, who is challenging Donald Trump for the Republican nomination - is in your home state today, campaigning.  She’s got a lot of support from other top Republicans in your state.  But her argument in what she told your constituents today is that if Trump’s the Republican nominee, your party is going to lose the election.  Do you agree with that?  

ROMNEY:  I don’t necessarily agree with that.  That’s a good campaign. I’m sure ..

CNN:  So you think he can win?

ROMNEY:  Oh, I’m sure he can win.  I mean, today is kind of  a toss-up, but if the election were actually held today, he’d probably win.  I can’t tell what’s gonna happen over the next nine months or so; but uhh…

CNN:  What does it mean if he does win?

ROMNEY:  Well, a dramatic change in our foreign policy.  I think the people around the world say, okay, America is no longer the leader of the Free World.  And the arsenal of democracy.  It’s not the shining city on the hill.  It’s an isolated island.  Uhm, and uhm there are some things Donald Trump does better than Joe Biden - Joe Biden has made extraordinary mistakes on the immigration front.  It’s embarassing how bad he’s been.  

CNN:  I mean, you care deeply about the border and …

ROMNEY:  So I  - he’s made a --and Donald Trump did a lot of smart things when he was President.  On the foreign policy front a dramatic departure from our posture over the last 75 or 80 years.  By the way, has not only kept us safe, and free from attack, but has also allowed us to build an extraordinarily strong economy and have a - income per person - in America - about 1/3 higher than people in Europe.  

CNN:  Can I just ask - I think that those comments they made some questions for people just watching - would you vote for Donald Trump over Joe Biden?  

ROMNEY:  No, no.  Absolutely not. I mean, for me there are two factors in deciding who I want for leader of my country.  And the person who is example of the President for my kids and grandkids.  One is their position of policies.  And on foreign policy, I’m aligned with Donald Trump, which I understand his policy.  And domestic policy - yeah, I align with many of his domestic policies.  But there’s another dimension with his policy, and that’s character.  And I think what America is as a nation, has allowed us to be the most powerful nation on earth. And the leader of the earth is the character of the people who have been our leaders.  As Presidents, but also mothers, fathers, church leaders, university presidents, and so forth.  Having a President with so defaulted character, would have an enormous impact on the character of America.  To me, that’s the primary consideration.  

CNN:  Senator Mitt Romney, thank you for coming out tonight.