‘Meet the Press’ transcript for Dec. 16, 2007

MR. RUSSERT:  So if a state chose a mandate, it wouldn't bother you?

GOV. ROMNEY:  I, I, I think it's a terrific idea.  I think, I think you're going to find, when it's all said and done, after all these states that are laboratories of democracy get their chance to try their own plans, that those who follow the path that we pursued will find it's the best path, and we'll end up with a nation that's taken a mandate approach.

MR. RUSSERT:  Bottom line:  All the positions you laid out today as a presidential candidate, can you assure the voters who won't flip back to some of the positions you had when you were governor of Massachusetts?

GOV. ROMNEY:  You know, when I--of course--when I was--when I ran for, for governor of Massachusetts, I put together at the end of my campaign, asked my traveling adviser and the first person who helped me in my debate prep, to write down all the promises I made as governor.  And there were 92 or 93 and just to round it up to 100, I added some more at my inaugural address.  I honored all of those promises.  I fought for them, and I'm very proud of that. I ran as an individual who would not raise taxes and I didn't.  I ran as an individual...

MR. RUSSERT:  Fees, you did.

GOV. ROMNEY:  ...and I raised fees on--for 8 percent of the budget shortfall and acknowledged that.  I also said I'm going to fight for the death penalty and I did.  I said I was opposed to same-sex marriage and I fought same-sex marriage.  I said I was for English immersion in our schools.  Got English immersion in our schools.  I got all of our citizens on a track to have health insurance.  I'm proud of the things I accomplished as a governor.  Took on real tough problems, got the job done.

MR. RUSSERT:  Mike Huckabee said that the George Bush presidency's foreign policy is arrogant and a bunker mentality.

GOV. ROMNEY:  That's an insult to the president, and Mike Huckabee should apologize to the president.

MR. RUSSERT:  This is what Mitt Romney said about Iraq, however, in September this year.  "OK, well, first of all, it is a mess."

GOV. ROMNEY:  Well, it is a mess.  There's no question, if you, if you...

MR. RUSSERT:  That's no reflection on George Bush?

GOV. ROMNEY:  If you're, if you're, if you're suggesting that, that, that it's equivalent to say that we made a number of errors and that we have a very difficult situation in Iraq, that's the same as saying the president is arrogant and bunker mentality, that's, that's where he went over the line. I've been saying for months, and I think all the Republican candidates, in fact, have been saying for months, if not years, that, that following the collapse of Saddam Hussein our policy was, was unprepared, unplanned, understaffed, undermanaged, that we made a number of errors and that much of the difficulty we face today is due to those errors.  But it's very different to point out the mistakes that have been made--and the president's pointed out the mistakes as well--and then to say that the Bush administration, our president, is arrogant with a bunker mentality, that's a completely different statement for which Mike Huckabee owes the president an apology.

MR. RUSSERT:  You going to beat him in Iowa?

GOV. ROMNEY:  I sure hope so.  I'm working hard.

MR. RUSSERT:  This--31 times in MEET THE PRESS history, there has been a parent and a child on MEET THE PRESS--the Kennedys, the Fords, the Jacksons, the Gores.  And with your appearance today, you join your dad--there's George Romney, governor of Michigan, ran for president--the Romneys now enshrined in MEET THE PRESS history, and we thank you very much for sharing your views and hope you'll come back.

GOV. ROMNEY:  Well, touches my heart.  Thanks, Tim.

MR. RUSSERT:  Thanks, governor.

As part of our Meet the Candidates 2008 series, we've invited candidates running for president to appear here for an in-depth interview.  Next Sunday Republican candidate Congressman Ron Paul will be here.  That's next Sunday, Ron Paul, right here on MEET THE PRESS.

We're also archiving the transcripts and videos of the entire series on our Web site, mtp.msnbc.com, so voters can review the candidates' positions through the campaign.  And we'll be right back.

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MR. RUSSERT:  If it's Sunday, it's MEET THE PRESS.  Go Bills, beat those Browns.

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