Transcripts For FOXNEWSW FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace

We were told to wait and stand down. I strongly believed if we had left immediately theyd still be alive today. Well discuss because and threats to the u. S. With michael mack call and the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee robert menendez. Plus, even democrats are now urging the president to crush isis. This is a direct attack on the United States. Time is up. Action must be take. Our sunday panel weighs in on the rising tide against a no strategy Foreign Policy. And our power player of the week. Olympic gold medalist, the local girl turned world class athlete. I would have been happy if i got first or last. I was just really grateful to be at the olympics. All right now on fox news sunday. And hello again from fox news in washington. Barack obamas Approval Rating this week tied an alltime low of 38 . And long with growing dissatisfaction about his presidency, theres been a spike in talk about the man he beat two years ago. Joining us now, the gops 2012 nominee, former Massachusetts Governor mitt romney. Welcome back to fox news sunday. Thanks, chris. Good to be with you. You had a tough article in the Washington Post this week in which you really went after president obama for shrinking our military. In the article, you write this, the history of the 20th century teaches that powerhungry tyrants ultimately feast on the appeaser. Back in 2012, the president mocked you for that. You mentioned the navy for example and we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. We also have fewer horses because the nature of our militarys changed. Governor, how do you feel when you listen to that and the president treating you as a somewhat dim bulb . Well, you know, the president has a very different Foreign Policy. His view instead of having a strong American Military thats able to keep other nations in check, that we ought to instead put in place a policy based on what he calls common humanity. Well humanity is not common in its views. The world relies upon and america must rely upon a strong military. By the way, china understands the importance of a navy. Its navy will be larger than ours within seven years. Thats the consequence of the president s policies. In that same president ial debate, mr. Obama also made fun of your views on russia. Lets take a look at that. Im glad that you recognize that al qaeda is a threat. A few months ago when you were asked whats the biggest threat you said russia. Not al qaeda. You said russia. In the 1980s are now calling to ask for your Foreign Policy back. When you look at ukraine and the decision not to keep u. S. Troops in iraq and the decision not to arm the rebels in syria from the start, what do you make of the choices that this president has been making particularly here in the second term . Well, i think the president is really out of touch with reality when it comes to whats happening in the world. And i dont know why that is. Perhaps its political philosophy, Foreign Policy views. He looked at russia and thought that was a friend we should reset relations with. He looked at al qaeda and said theyre on the run. He looked at isis and said, oh, theyre just the junior varsity. He looks at iraq and says theyre strong and able to care for themselves. He is so out of touch with reality that he hasnt taken the action necessary to prevent bad things from happening. A Strong America that stands up for its beliefs is an america able to defend itself and our principles around the world. When the president is seen as being weak, bad people do bad things. Youre seeing that all across the middle east. Youre seeing it in other parts of the world, afghanistan, ukraine, its a real tragedy. I want to pick up on another campaign issue. During the 2012 race you also accused president obama of covering up the mishandling of the terror attack in benghazi. This weekend, fox has been running a documentary in which two special special security operators told bret baier that they were told repeatedly to stabbed down and not to go rescue the american diplomats at the u. S. Consulate. Heres a clip from that documentary. All i can talk about is what happened on the ground that night. To you. To us. To myself twice and to tig once. It happened that night. It happened. We were told to wait and stand down. We were delayed three times. Governor, do you think a benghazi coverup is still going on . Well, i think this raises a lot of questions. One, why did the Administration Talk to these people a long time ago, why were they out there with a story saying the reason for what happened in benghazi was because of a video which these guys said was total baloney. How come the administration cant check into that . Number two, who was it that told these guys to stand down . Were they in contact with people from higher up. When they were ready and able to go in and support the security of our people there. This is this goes on and on and on. Weve tried to understand why it is that this administration is unwilling to be transparent. This was a policy they said they would have, but theyve instead not been forthcoming in whats happened there. Thats something that doesnt just land at the feet of the president. It lands at the feet of Hillary Clinton as well. She keeps on saying theres nothing to see here, just move on. People want to understand exactly what happened. I mentioned at the top of the show the president s 38 Approval Rating now tieing an alltime low n. July they did a poll of voters asking them if they had 2012 all to do over again, how would they they vote. Youll be happy to know this time you won 53 to 44 . Do you think americans are having buyers remorse about 2012 . Oh, i think they have some buyers remorse about president obama. Im not sure how they feel about me. The real question is hows this president doing. They recognize the president has not been engaged. The idea that we have a group known as isis that weve known about for a year, theyve said get ready for this, great prepared for them. Weve fought long and hard to provide security for those people. Yet, the president was too busy on the golf course to pick up the phone and meet with the leaders around the world and say what happens if, the pentagon was going through what if scenarios. But the president apparently wasnt. I dont know whether you cant see reality from a fairway, but the president has not seen the reality internationally. Deskly, weve got 92 Million People that have stopped looking for work. The American People are struggling, having a hard time. This president s policies both at home and abroad are hurting people and people are responding in the way they review him. Im sure people are watching are going gee, where was that guy in 2012. I want to look back for a moment. You also did make your fair share of mistakes. Here are a few of them. I brought us whole binders full of women. I was a severely conservative republican governor. I like being able to fire people. The 47 who are with him the bottom line among voters who said cares about people like me was the most important candidate quality, among those voters, obama beat you 81 to 18 . Governor, why do you think it was that so many people saw you s as an unfeeling, rich guy, and does that perception still bother you . Oh, look, im much more concerned about what the countrys going to be doing going forward. I want to make sure we have a nominee and a lot of terrific republican individuals that are looking at the race and we can get the country back on track but youre kind of ducking the question which is did you contribute to this perception that you dont care about average americans. Theres no question that i and my campaign made some mistakes. I think its going to be a long time before we see a Perfect Campaign and a perfect candidate. Sometimes i misspeak. That was a parade of horrible that makes me cringe. Reality is that the opposition did a very good job pick up on those mistakes. I didnt do as good a job as i wish i would have describing who i am to the American People. Look, thats you know, thats the the past. The future is how do we make sure that we get a president that spends time running the country, running the government, running the administration in such a way as to help the middle class of this country regain its footing, to help the poor get out of poverty and protect our interests around the world. Let me look to the future because voters seem willing to give you another chance. There was a usa today poll just a couple weeks ago of iowa voters in which you swamped the field there. You had 35 . Huckabee was second and the rest of the field trailed after that. Recently you gave an interview. You also said circumstances can change. Question, what does that mean . Well, you know, i spoken on this topic so many times. I dont really have anything new to add, chris. Im not running. Im not planning on running. Im going to be supporting our nominee. Hopefully a strong individual and get this country back on track for the people who need help and there are a lot of people who do. Are you making a commitment absolutely will not run, if nominated will not seven or are there circumstances under which you would consider running again . Chris, im not going to add to the story. Ive got nothing new for you. Im not running. Im not planning on running. Im going to be helping the person who takes the banner for us. Let me ask you about this a different way. In your heart, do you still think that you would make the best president of all the people out there . Look, theres no question in my mind that i think id have been a better president than president obama has been. No question in my mind about that. There are other good people who im sure will be able to lead the country in the future. I wish it was were. Let me tell you, it was a great experience running for president. But my time has come and gone. I had that opportunity. I ran, i didnt win. Now its time for someone else to pick up the baton. You mentioned Hillary Clinton. Do you think youd make a better president than Hillary Clinton . No question about that in my mind. The American People may disagree with me. Youve got to get this economy going. You have to have people who understand what it takes to create jobs and help people come out of poverty. Youve got to have that understanding. Youve also got to have people whove actually run something. The government of the United States is the largest enterprise in the world. You watched a president who just doesnt understand how to make an administration work, how to interact with congress, how to get things done. You have to have those things. I dont think Hillary Clinton has that experience. Her record is Barack Obamas record in Foreign Policy. Its a disaster. The president went to egypt and said were going to have this new wonderful relationship with the muslim world and now the middle east is burning. The president wont even call the invasion by russia into ukraine an invasion. If you cant speak decisively, you cant be decisive. Hillary clinton and barack obama are two peas in the same pod. And the American People have tasted that and have said, look, thats not a good taste. Its not right for the American People. We have about two minutes left. I want to do your old favorite, the lightning round. Quick questions, quick answers. President obama now says hes going to delay action on Immigration Reform until after the election. He says because he needs to explain how he i the question of the unaccompanied minors coming over the border. Heres what he said on meet the press. The politics did shift midsummer because of that problem. I want to spend time even as we getting all our ducks in a row for the executive action, i want to make sure the public understands why were doing this, why its the right thing for the American People and the economy. Whats going on there . He should spend less time on the golf course and more time thinking about isis and ukraine and in this case immigration. He should follow the law and work with Congress Instead of trying to do things unilaterally. Whats happening is cynical and political. In what sense . Putting it off until after the election . Hes saying, look, im going to violate the law after the election when what i do wont have serious consequences. Hes basically saying hes going to do something the American People wont like and he wants to make sure to do it after the midterms. About a minute left, sir. In 2012, you had Virginia Governor Bob Mcdonnell on your short list of potential running mates. As you well know, he was convicted this week of taking bribes, some even before you were considering him as a running mate. I guess two questions, what does that say about your vetting process, and frankly, did you misjudge Bob Mcdonnell . Well, im not going to say anything about the vetting process. We communicated that that would be completely off the record and confidential and it is. But i can say this, im very sorry for him and for his family. Its a family tragedy obviously and for the state of virginia. Ive called him, ive expressed my sympathy. I wish he and his family the very best. Governor romney, thank you. Always good to talk with you, sir. Thanks, chris. Good to be with you. So, what do you think about mitt romney especially after that interview . Is he the gops best chance to win back the white house . Let me know on facebook or twitter. Use fns. Up next, how serious a threat is isis to the u. S. Homeland . Well talk with key leaders from the house and senate next. President obama announced that this weeks nato summit that nine nations have joined the u. S. In the fight against isis. But is there a real plan to destroy the group . Joining us now, the chair of the House Homeland Security Committee Michael Mccaul and robert menendez. Before we get to Foreign Policy, i want to pick up on what i was just discussing with governor romney. President obama has decided to delay any executive action on delaying the deportation of millions of illegals until after the november elections. Are you disappointed with the delay and isnt this all about politics and the fact that a bunch of red state senators that are seeking reelection, Democratic Senators seeking reelection didnt want this before the november election . Well, chris, the red state senators already voted, i think most of them voted in favor of comprehensive bipartisan imbrags reform. So theyre on the record on that. But theyre not on the record on exec sieve action, sir. Thats what the focus is. Yeah, im deeply disappointed that the president hasnt acted where House Republicans have failed to act. This was sent over to them over a year ago. But, look, republicans are on the wrong side of the inevitable tide of history here. I think you could ask your previous guest, mitt romney, how its impossible for republicans to have a road to the white house without embracing Immigration Reform and the immigrant communities. Some of your fellow republicans are saying, looking, the president still wants to go around the wall, hes just going to wait until after november. Well, i think its totally politically calculated. Hes made this determination that if he gets out in front on this issue, it will hurt seven to eight senate races and he could potentially lose the senate. I think that message has been sent clearly to the president. So i think its nothing more than raw politics and the idea of amnesty by executive action, i think the House Republicans does not sit well. Lets turn, gentlemen, to isis and the threat from isis to the u. S. Homeland. Chairman mccaul, theres been a lot of talk about americans, maybe as many as a hundred who have left the United States, gone over to the middle east and and are fighting alongside isis. How concerned are you about them coming home and conducting terrorist attacks, and especially as we approach this week, the 13th anniversary of 9 11 . Im extremely concerned about this problem. I know intelligence officials, Homeland Security officials are concerned about this. Weve had two be on the lookout notices. I think the biggest concern, chris, is what you outline. We have somewhere between a hundred to 200 americans that have left the United States to go over there. We have tens of thousands of foreign fighters with western passports that can get legally into western europe and many the United States of america. You dont know what you dont know. As we approach the anniversary of 9 11, anniversaries mean a lot to al qaeda. We know bin laden had plans to attack on the 10th anniversary. I think were going to be on a very high state of vigilance. I do think the threat is very real. The best way to deal with this threat is to take out isis where they exist today. Im going to get to that in a moment. Lets bring in senator menendez on the threat to the homeland. The brits increase the security level to severe because of all the foreign fighters, hundreds with british passports and the threat that they might come home. Are you worried about americans or westerners who can get into this country, especially as we look ahead to the 9 11 anniversary, senator . Well, chris, as from someone who