Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
SCHIEFFER: ......... What do each of you see as our role in the world, and I believe, Governor Romney, it's your chance to go first.
ROMNEY: Well I - I absolutely believe that America has a - a responsibility, and the privilege of helping defend freedom and promote the principles that - that make the world more peaceful. And those principles include human rights, human dignity, free enterprise, freedom of expression, elections. Because when there are elections, people tend to vote for peace. They don't vote for war. So we want to promote those principles around the world. We recognize that there are places of conflict in the world. We want to end those conflicts to the extent humanly possible. But in order to be able to fulfill our role in the world, America must be strong. America must lead. And for that to happen, we have to strengthen our economy here at home. You can't have 23 million people struggling to get a job. You can't have an economy that over the last three years keeps slowing down its growth rate. You can't have kids coming out of college, half of them can't find a job today, or a job that's commensurate with their college degree. We have to get our economy going. And our military, we've got to strengthen our military long-term. We don't know what the world is going to throw at us down the road. We - we make decisions today in the military that - that will confront challenges we can't imagine. In the 2000 debates, there was no mention of terrorism, for instance. And a year later, 9/11 happened. So, we have to make decisions based upon uncertainty, and that means a strong military. I will not cut our military budget. We have to also stand by our allies. I - I think the tension that existed between Israel and the United States was very unfortunate. I think also that pulling our missile defense program out of Poland in the way we did was also unfortunate in terms of, if you will, disrupting the relationship in some ways that existed between us. And then, of course, with regards to standing for our principles, when - when the students took to the streets in Tehran and the people there protested, the Green Revolution occurred, for the president to be silent I thought was an enormous mistake. We have to stand for our principles, stand for our allies, stand for a strong military and stand for a stronger economy.
SCHIEFFER: Mr. President?
OBAMA: America remains the one indispensable nation. And the world needs a strong America, and it is stronger now than when I came into office. Because we ended the war in Iraq, we were able to refocus our attention on not only the terrorist threat, but also beginning a transition process in Afghanistan. It also allowed us to refocus on alliances and relationships that had been neglected for a decade. And Governor Romney, our alliances have never been stronger, in Asia, in Europe, in Africa, with Israel, where we have unprecedented military and intelligence cooperation, including dealing with the Iranian threat. But what we also have been able to do is position ourselves so we can start rebuilding America, and that's what my plan does. Making sure that we're bringing manufacturing back to our shores so that we're creating jobs here, as we've done with the auto industry, not rewarding companies that are shipping jobs overseas. Making sure that we've got the best education system in the world, including retraining our workers for the jobs of tomorrow. Doing everything we can to control our own energy. We've cut our oil imports to the lowest level in two decades because we've developed oil and natural gas. But we also have to develop clean energy technologies that will allow us to cut our exports in half by 2020. That's the kind of leadership that we need to show.And we've got to make sure that we reduce our deficit. Unfortunately, Governor Romney's plan doesn't do it. We've got to do it in a responsible way by cutting out spending we don't need, but also asking the wealthiest to pay a little bit more. That way we can invest in the research and technology that's always kept us at the cutting edge. Now, Governor Romney has taken a different approach throughout this campaign. Both at home and abroad, he has proposed wrong and reckless policies. He's praised George Bush as a good economic steward and Dick Cheney as somebody who's - who shows great wisdom and judgment. And taking us back to those kinds of strategies that got us into this mess are not the way that we are going to maintain leadership in the 21st century.
SCHIEFFER: Governor Romney, "wrong and reckless" policies?
ROMNEY: I've got a policy for the future and agenda for the future. And when it comes to our economy here at home, I know what it takes to create 12 million new jobs and rising take-home pay. And what we've seen over the last four years is something I don't want to see over the next four years. The president said by now we'd be a 5.4 percent unemployment. We're 9 million jobs short of that. I will get America working again and see rising take-home pay again, and I'll do it with five simple steps. Number one, we are going to have North American energy independence. We're going to do it by taking full advantage of oil, coal, gas, nuclear and our renewables. Number two, we're going to increase our trade. Trade grows about 12 percent year. It doubles about every - every five or so years. We can do better than that, particularly in Latin America. The opportunities for us in Latin America we have just not taken advantage of fully. As a matter of fact, Latin America's economy is almost as big as the economy of China. We're all focused on China. Latin America is a huge opportunity for us - time zone, language opportunities. Number three, we're going to have to have training programs that work for our workers and schools that finally put the parents and the teachers and the kids first, and the teachers' unions going to have to go behind.And then we're going to have to get to a balanced budget. We can't expect entrepreneurs and businesses large and small to take their life savings or their company's money and invest in America if they think we're headed to the road to Greece. And that's where we're going right now unless we finally get off this spending and borrowing binge. And I'll get us on track to a balanced budget. And finally, number five, we've got to champion small business. Small business is where jobs come from. Two-thirds of our jobs come from small businesses. New business formation is down to the lowest level in 30 years under this administration. I want to bring it back and get back good jobs and rising take-home pay.
OBAMA: Well, let's talk about what we need to compete. First of all, Governor Romney talks about small businesses. But, Governor, when you were in Massachusetts, small businesses development ranked about 48th, I think out of 50 states in Massachusetts, because the policies that you are promoting actually don't help small businesses.And the way you define small businesses includes folks at the very top. And they include you and me. That's not the kind of small business promotion we need. But let's take an example that we know is going to make a difference in the 21st century and that's our education policy. We didn't have a lot of chance to talk about this in the last debate. You know, under my leadership, what we've done is reformed education, working with governors, 46 states. We've seen progress and gains in schools that were having a terrible time. And they're starting to finally make progress.And what I now want to do is to hire more teachers, especially in math and science, because we know that we've fallen behind when it comes to math and science. And those teachers can make a difference. Now, Governor Romney, when you were asked by teachers whether or not this would help the economy grow, you said this isn't going to help the economy grow.
OBAMA: When you were asked about reduced class sizes, you said class sizes don't make a difference. But I tell you, if you talk to teachers, they will tell you it does make a difference. And if we've got math teachers who are able to provide the kind of support that they need for our kids, that's what's going to determine whether or not the new businesses are created here. Companies are going to locate here depending on whether we've got the most highly skilled workforce. And the kinds of budget proposals that you've put forward, when we don't ask either you or me to pay a dime more in terms of reducing the deficit, but instead we slash support for education, that's undermining our long-term competitiveness. That is not good for America's position in the world, and the world notices.
SCHIEFFER: Let me get back to foreign policy.........
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Dec '10
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
What is your analysis? I think Romney misses the point that liberty is primary to democracy. Islamists, given democratic elections, vote for tyranny and war.
Obama, of course, is living in a dream world. America is categorically not stronger than it was when he took office.
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
Even in answer to this question, best Obama could come up with was that America is 'indispensable." This harkens back to numerous statements in which Obama couldn't bring himself - even for an audience - to depict America as exceptional or to say America stands for anything truly important. No mention of principles or human/individual rights.
Dec '10
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
Agreed. Obama may see America as good (though that's questionable at times), but he never sees us as exceptional and uniquely so.
Mar '11
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
Obama: 'America remains the one indispensable nation.' As someone who is not American, that seemed to me to be rather dismissive of the other nations of the world. No nation is 'dispensable' I would have thought.
Dec '10
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
Keep telling yourself that, chief.
Of course, if the United States never existed, you'd be doing it in Russian or German . . .
Edited on October 23, 2012 at 6:53amAug '12
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
From your quote Romney seemed evasive about the impact on the economy of cutting maths and science education funding, and of defining small business so broadly that the term becomes a meaningless bromide. Instead of addressing and refuting, he talked about something else. He might lose some swing voters by appearing evasive and dismissive.
Re indispensable/exceptional - there doesn't seem to be much of a difference. I suspect you may be projecting already held personal views of Obama and Romney onto the language they use. Possible?
Aug '12
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
Stephen Dawson - it's an election campaign. There will be lots of these 'we're so great' memes being expressed - and in this, the US is hardly alone (or, dare I say it, exceptional). We all have egos, and these are regularly catered to in every democracy. It's arguably corrupting, but in the scheme of things not such a big deal. imho.
Apr '12
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
Well, you won't trick me into defending what the President said, but there is some truth he was borrowing in that borrowed statement.
America is the First Estate. Not good, not bad, it just is what it is.
It isn't that any other nation is dispensable as a nation; not like the Sudetenland was dispensable in 1938.
It's just that today, any initiation of war or peace will inevitably involve US permission, acceptance, or disinterest in some form or another. America is the First Estate.
Even Saddam Hussein sought out the US ambassador before invading Kuwait. He misread what Glaspie told him about the US position, but he knew he had to find out that American position first. And he paid the consequences for not understanding the limits to what Glaspie explained America was granting him.
Did he seek out the ambassador to Chad, for instance? No, Chad's opinions were completely dispensable.
Jul '10
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
I listened to tonight's debate and somehow I felt both sides were talking about some fictitious place - rather like when I got to RVN and found nothing there that matched the rhetoric back in the States. The usual mistake all us Americans make is to assume others think and feel as we do. Yet it isn't true.
Despite what we would like to think, much of the world doesn't particularly care about freedom. Their main concern isn't trading. It's usually applying their particular brand of bigotry to whomever the local minority is. Islaam is particularly inimical to liberty, but we have had experience with inimical ideologies before - communism, fascism, socialism. All have wanted to deny us our liberty. Islaam is no different.
OTOH I am troubled with having fought for ten years with the casualties we took - and have nothing to show for it. We did that in Vietnam, and I am still sorry about how we behaved there. I just don't see how to avoid that in the Mideast. Ultimately it seems the best answer is to stay out of there militarily. And apply overwhelming force when required to "discipline" one of them.
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
I thought the use of the word indispensable was dismissive in the sense you indicate and also dismissive of the idea that America has anything good to offer. Obama's grudging concessions to America's role usually have to do with the obligatory fact of our being a powerful nation and exclude all reference to the principles America ..at its best...stands for.
Edited on October 23, 2012 at 2:49pmSep '10
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
I concluded a fairly long time ago that O was a lying scoundrel or worse and therefore seldom pay much attention to what he says and do not waste energy denigrating his positions. If he made any good points last night I probably missed them.
Romney seemed to favor nonintervention. I am hoping he was not just going out of his way to avoid sounding like cowboy Bush. I am at least hopeful, which I was not before the debate, there is a chance the Romney administration may not be controlled by the chicken hawk neo-cons and that would be a good thing.
Jun '12
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
How I perceived the debate and this exchange in particular was that the Governor, more often than not, did answer questions asked, as opposed to the President, who craftily dodged them especially when going second.
As for indispensable/exceptional, having European background I must concede that no other nation in history has come close to creating such profoundly pro-life and pro-liberty political system as the US. But do not forget what John Adams declared in his letter to the Officers:
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
Tom Trebicky: How I perceived the debate and this exchange in particular was that the Governor, more often than not, did answer questions asked, as opposed to the President, who craftily dodged them especially when going second.
As for indispensable/exceptional, having European background I must concede that no other nation in history has come close to creating such profoundly pro-life and pro-liberty political system as the US. But do not forget what John Adams declared in his letter to the Officers:
8 minutes ago
Well said - by you and by John Adams!
Nov '11
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
Both men projected milquetoast weakness.
I pray our enemies don't use either's remarks as a basis for evaluating our resolve. The mullahs don't oridinarily dance, but last night they made an exception.
Neither would say explicitly that an Iranian attack on Israel would be treated as an attack on the US.
Neither would draw red lines.
Both men over-emphasized the prospects of the failed sanctions policy.
Romney said:
If we wait to "consider" force until after "other avenues have been tried to their full extent," it will already be too late.
What Romney should have said:
Romney's formulation, "nuclear capable," is too appeasingly fuzzy.
Obama was even worse.
Mar '11
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
CoolHand
Keep telling yourself that, chief.
Of course, if the United States never existed, you'd be doing it in Russian or German . . . · 9 hours ago
Edited 9 hours ago
I am a great friend of the United States. I, like many, agree with the concept of American exceptionalism.
But I will not accept that this means that my own land, Australia, is somehow dispensable. I am entitled to love it as you love your own.
As a child I lived opposite a fortress built in the 19th Century to help protect our land from a feared Russian invasion. Australians repelled the Japanese invasion of the former German colony of New Guinea in WW2, a war we joined in 1939, not 1941.
Today my son deployed to Afghanistan as an officer in the Australian Army. I'd really rather you didn't call me 'chief'.
Edited on October 23, 2012 at 4:29pmJun '12
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
Stephen, I am almost certain that CoolHand simply misunderstood you and jumped to the wrong conclusion on the point you tried to make.
CoolHand, if I am correct, it's time to swallow your ego and apologize. Smile.
Jul '10
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
Stephen - I would submit that being indispensable does not translate into others being disposable. There is little doubt that Aussies - AND Canadians - and ALL free people of the world have contributed to a better place for many in the world. The Brits, bless their soul, fought with undying valour and spirit in the face of an almost overwhelming evil. Even the Free French did their part. And if you read the records you find that the French really DID fight the communists in Indochina with real courage, if not with success. And you all still stand up for what is right (well, we might discuss some of your internal political issues - but some other time). You are friends, and friends are important.
Still, I would think you might agree that you would not have defeated the Germans and Japanese without America. Nor the USSR.
I can recognize that we are today facing yet another terrible threat to liberty - islaam. And I would agree we are not doing a very good job of leading in its defeat. Our bad. And my apologies. Perhaps there you may help show US the way.
Mar '11
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
Indeed. But Obama did not claim that America an indispensable nation. Nor that it is the most indispensable nation. He said that 'America remains the one indispensable nation.'
Not exactly the thing to say to woo the other nations of the world ... in a presidential foreign policy debate!
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
Stephen Dawson
Indeed. But Obama did not claim that Americaanindispensable nation. Nor that it is themostindispensable nation. He said that 'America remains theoneindispensable nation.'
Not exactly the thing to say to woo the other nations of the world ... in a presidential foreign policy debate! · 2 hours ago
In the context of Obama's overall moral indifference and smugness, I think your interpretation makes sense. Dispensable is a strange choice of words.
Edited on October 23, 2012 at 11:27pmDec '10
Re: Romney/Obama Answers to Question About America's Role in the World Reveal a Lot
Stephen Dawson
I am a great friend of the United States. I, like many, agree with the concept of American exceptionalism.
But I will not accept that this means that my own land, Australia, is somehow dispensable. I am entitled to love it as you love your own.
America can be indispensable without that making your nation irrelevant or unworthy or whatever.
The Aussies did a great deal to prevent much of the south Pacific from having to learn Japanese as a second language. As you said, they retook New Guinea, they gave us a place to stage from, they fought with a ferocity that took a lot of people by surprise, and they bore a disproportionate weight of Japanese ire in captivity.
But all of that aside, you fellows (stout warriors that you are) would have had a hell of a time totally defeating Japan without us, if it had been possible at all.
To admit that the US cannot be done without is not to suggest that many other nations in the world are without merit.
It's like suggesting that water is slighted because life on this planet could not exist without gravity.