Gov. Mitt Romney
Guest: Gov. Mitt Romney
In lieu of a Talking Points memo,
The Factor began by interviewing Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Some excerpts from the conversation:
O'REILLY: Do you want to be President?
ROMNEY: I don't think anybody wants to take on the problems of America, but I think anybody who would think about it would consider it a real honor.
O'REILLY: So many people around the world hate America. Do you know why that is?
ROMNEY: America stands for something and people have misunderstood what our motives are. They haven't recognized the threat which is faced in the civilized world from the extreme, violent jihadists. I think as time is going on people recognize that this is not just a group of whackos in the hills of Pakistan that wants to set off an occasional bomb. It is a group that intends on bringing down civilization and replacing our governments and our freedom with a caliphate, a religious leader. That realization is bringing people back to President Bush and bringing people around the world the recognition that we have to stand together against this radical extreme.
O'REILLY: More than 60 percent of Americans feel President Bush is screwing up Iraq and has no plan. Do you have a plan for Iraq?
ROMNEY: I wouldn't presume to present a plan different from that of the President. But I believe he was right to take on the war on terror on an aggressive front rather than a defensive front. We toppled the government ... walking away would mean a humanitarian disaster. We're there and we have a responsibility to finish the job.
O'REILLY: Would you build a wall between Mexico and the United States and would you put the National Guard on the border?
ROMNEY: Absolutely. We'd put the National Guard there because we don't have the wall yet. You have to have a wall or a fence or electronic surveillance. And you have to have a tamper-proof document to make sure that people who are here are aliens are identified and registered, and people can not hire them unless they're here legally.
