Maybe Mitt Romney’s strategy of generally avoiding one-on-one interviews has been a wise one.
Romney sat down Tuesday for a lengthy interview with Bret Baier of Fox News — and it didn’t go so well.
Baier started off by asking Romney about his changes in political positions over the years. Romney then disputed Baier’s list — declaring, “Well, Bret, your list is just not accurate. So, one, we’re going to have to be better informed about my views on issues” — and chalked it up to “Democratic ads.”
“And there’s no question, but that people are going to take snippets and take things out of context and try and show that there are differences, where in some cases, there are not,” Romney said. “But one place I changed my mind with regard to the government’s role relating abortion. I am pro-life.
“I did not take that position years ago. And that’s the same change that occurred with Ronald Reagan, with George W. Bush, with some of the leaders in the pro-life movement.”
Romney also strongly disputed the idea that he had ever, ever recommended the Massachusetts health care model of the individual mandate be adopted nationwide — while also standing by it as having worked for Massachusetts.
“So, governor,” Baier said, “you did say on camera and other places that, at times, you thought it would be a model for the nation.”
“You’re wrong, Bret.”
“No, no. There’s tape —”
“The tape out there — continue to read the tape, and the tape goes on to say for each state to be able to look at it.”
At one point, an exasperated Romney declared:
And if I were willing to say anything to get elected, wouldn’t I just say, oh, it was a mistake, because I’ve watched other people on the stage. When they talk about their cap and trade policies, they say, oh, that was a mistake. When someone says, oh, I did this ad on global warming, that was a mistake.
So, they just dust it aside, and that makes them more attractive in a primary. I’m standing by what I did in Massachusetts. I’ve tried to dust it aside. The biggest issue that dogs me in the primary campaign, I’m absolutely firm that it was the right thing for our state. I’ll defend that. And I understand it has political implications, and if it keeps me from winning a primary, so be it. But that happens to be the truth.
Here’s the video:
Watch the full interview at Fox News.
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