You're watching...
Reagan Group Chairman Michael Reagan on the GOP candidates running for president in 2012 and potential cuts in defense spending.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Race for the White House Mitt Romney has its sights set on President Obama.
And he's using a close down metal works plant in Pennsylvania to do it back in 2009.
President Obama visited that plant and bragged about it as a stimulus success story.
-- Joining me now Michael Reagan bestselling author chairman of the -- group and the son of president Ronald Reagan welcome to the show it's great to have you here.
Not -- to be -- you are right so -- -- respond to what Mitt Romney had to say about this plant here's Mitt Romney.
This was the place of President Obama visited.
-- year and a half ago.
And indicated that this was a symbol.
The success.
-- his stimulus program.
And as you look around and see the weeds growing in the windows boarded up you can recognize it is more a symbol of the failure.
Of Obama's economic policies the plant here has been open a hundred years.
It survived the Great Depression.
It couldn't survive Obama economy.
-- it seems like I think that's really -- -- resonate shots in this next election do you think that's gonna work.
Well I think that's gonna work through a very good position for -- for him to be -- People enjoyed seeing a visual audio story if you will with the word and that's exactly what he did -- you can go out there are people talk about that factory.
On radio what have you.
But this -- the factory deceive the weeds to see it closed up.
Bring it to a whole different level and is very smart policy.
Politicking -- -- by Mitt Romney.
Well I you know I can't you know this really takes the argument.
To the people and I was very impressed with that and it really resonates with people all over the country.
Also -- you -- respond Donald -- -- -- in the Wall Street Journal reading about defense cuts the president has called for cuts of 400 million dollars.
In defense.
And -- Rumsfeld wrote while there are substantial savings to be found in the defense budget hundreds of billions cannot be cut without appearing or security.
Our country's taken -- -- national security budget after every war of the twentieth century and every time we regret it.
Do you agree.
All -- Ronald -- would agree peace through strength of USS Ronald Reagan lives -- she was the first ship.
In Q Japan in the house is in the Arabian Sea fighting the war on terror Ronald Reagan believed in peace through strength.
And if we're gonna cut 400 billion dollars out.
The military that were able to stay safe fine but you gotta prove the American people you'll be able to keep us safe.
And also remember all those obligations we have -- -- in Germany and France and ever play -- that we have military today so.
If you're gonna cut 400 billion can you guarantee me safety if you can't.
Don't cut don't do -- -- I you wrote recently in a column that the you think the GOP candidates.
We're gonna be running into -- 2012 they've really got to get their act together and really focus in on the issues what is their next step it seems like.
There's a new candidate every single day.
No doubt seems like it is but you can -- single -- and that's because I think of the weakness of Barack Obama people finally see him he's the Republican -- now has very vulnerable.
And so you have more people getting into the race I don't think that's a bad thing I think it's good to have more people rates give us more choices we choose from might say when I -- a spate.
You know we've got a great board of directors running for the office presidency we're looking for the chairman -- -- -- we find that person that's who will nominate.
Well who think -- -- You know who knows who it's -- -- be you've got Mitt Romney.
Leaving the crowd right now -- -- we're doing a great job in Iowa because she says what people are feeling there's a lot of people angry America but the loss of jobs.
And what have you -- retained says some great things out there on the campaign trail you don't know if Rick Perry gonna jump into it from Texas.
You know I wrote a column the other day it was in the watching -- talk about the fact if you wanna see how we need to change America.
-- have to look any further than Texas because look what Rick Perry has done in Texas over 700000 jobs since 2001.
The unemployment rate down there where it's up every place else basically to -- -- job.
Ana California job you have to moved to Texas to get because repairs -- about every manufacturing job out of.
This -- -- impressive display user friendly there I had quiet it's -- it's what they call a track record.
But I guess you one other question this is something that has me fired up today.
In a poll 39% of Americans thirty not almost 40% of Americans say that they believe the American economy is in a permanent.
Permanent decline.
What do you make of that.
I think one thing I -- today opened up marketing and I'm Ron Reagan ark mister Kopp was there who have my father is its very first fund raiser.
Back in the 1950s.
If you will.
And he can but -- I think in fact America is in decline and is not coming out of it.
And I think that's because we've lost something.
June 5 of 2004.
We lost America's -- -- there is nobody cheerleading out there and leadership.
For America.
Nobody's up lifting American -- part of the United States talking down to America talking down to business nobody's speaking up.
You know everybody seems to know Nancy's favorite color was red but my father's favorite color was -- It was morning in America every single day to Ronald Reagan any sold that.
Like no one else to America we felt -- that's why when he -- field of office back in 91.
Things changed overnight.
Economy didn't change but America felt better about itself and when we felt better then the economy truly did change right now.
-- -- There are some -- in the economy.
America still doesn't have a cheerleader saying you could start feeling good about yourself and about America again and will we do things would change.
Well Michael you're pretty -- fine cheerleader yourself thanks for coming -- really appreciate talking to you.
Very interesting any time so.
