Mitt Romney Wants To Re-Tool Washington

Mike Wallace Interviews The Contender For The GOP Presidential Nomination

(CBS)  Mitt is not the first Romney to run for president. His father, George, tried to win the presidency in 1968, after serving three terms as governor of Michigan and running American Motors. He lost the Republican nomination that year to Richard Nixon.

Willard Mitt Romney grew up the youngest of four in Bloomfield Hills, a posh suburb of Detroit. His parents, both Mormons, raised their children in that faith and today he is still a devout Mormon, who doesn’t drink, smoke nor swear.

"One out of three people would worry about you as president because you are a Mormon. Why?" Wallace asks.

"There is part of the history of the church’s past that I understand is troubling to people," Romney says. "Look, the polygamy, which was outlawed in our church in the 1800s, that’s troubling to me. I have a great-great grandfather. They were trying to build a generation out there in the desert. And so he took additional wives as he was told to do. And I must admit I can’t imagine anything more awful than polygamy."

He believes that Americans want a leader who is a person of faith. The particulars of that faith are irrelevant. What matters, he says, are values.

"What’s at the heart of my faith is a belief that there’s a creator. That we’re all children of the same God," he says. "And that fundamentally the relationship you have with your spouse is important and eternal."

"This isn’t just some temporary convenience here on earth, but we’re people that are designed to live together as male and female and we’re gonna have families. And that, there’s a great line in the Bible that children are an inheritance of the Lord and happy is he who has or hath his quiver full of them," Romney says.

And Romney’s quiver is very full: 60 Minutes met all 22 members of his family at the Romney lake house in New Hampshire.

Romney has been married to his wife Ann for 38 years. His five sons range in age from 37 to 25. There are five daughters-in-law and ten grandchildren.

Romney mandates that they all get together at least twice a year. This time, at the lake house, they came together to celebrate Ann’s birthday. She is known as the CFO – Chief Family Officer.

Mitt and Ann fell in love in high school in Bloomfield Hills. She converted from Episcopal to Mormon while Mitt did missionary work in France for over two years. But later he joined her at Brigham Young University. And while he was away, Mitt says, he was terrified that he’d lose her to somebody else.

"You get all these Mormons out there with strict prohibition against premarital sex. They’re young and they’re attractive, the hormones work very well and people decide it’s time to get married," Romney says.

Asked if he had premarital sex with Ann, Romney tells Wallace, "No, I'm sorry. We don’t get into those things. The answer is no."

Three months after returning from France in 1969, Ann and Mitt were married. In 1975, Romney got joint degrees from Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School and he became a business consultant in Boston while Ann raised their five boys.

In 1998, Ann began to feel numbness in her right leg. It was multiple sclerosis.

But for over a year, the numbness and weakness progressed up her right side and debilitating fatigue set in. "I was no good. I couldn’t shop. I couldn’t cook. It took too much energy to even open the mail. And at that point I went into a very deep depression. I know you know all about that," she says.

"It was at that point that Mitt said, 'As long as you’re here with me everything’s ok and we can do everything together. What matters is that you’re with me.' And it made me turn the switch and say 'It’s time to start crawling out of this hole,'" Ann adds.

So she started riding horses, and she says with the help of both western and eastern medicine, her MS has gone into remission. Both Ann and Mitt agreed that her disease would not stop Romney from running for president.

"We’re now in for keeps," Romney says. "If I'm lucky enough to become president of the United States, the country has to come first."

"I’m gonna be fine," Ann adds.

Their five boys support their decision.

"Three of you went to Harvard Business School, one to medical school. All married. Nobody seems to have rebelled, gone off the rails. How come?" Wallace asks.

"Where a lot is given a lot is expected. So we have to live up to that standard," Craig Romney tells Wallace.

While all of them have served their church doing missionary work around the world, their answers vary about putting on a uniform and going to war.

"I feel guilty having not done it," Josh Romney tells Wallace.

"I’ve seen a lot and read a lot that has made me say, 'My goodness, I hope I never have to do that,'" Ben Romney says.

"Not one agreed or thought about serving in the military," Wallace remarks.

"There are other sacrifices to make as well. And I hope to be able to make a sacrifice of that caliber at some point in my life," Matt Romney says.

"Did you ever serve in the armed forces?" Wallace asks Mitt Romney.

"I did not," Romney replies.

Why not?

"I was at college. Then I went off and served my church for two and a half years in a mission," Romney replies.

And because of his high lottery number, he was never drafted to serve in Vietnam, something he says he regrets to this day.

[k76923]

Mike Wallace is a nearly 90 year old "old windbag".

[sattriplets]

Harry Mason Reid (born December 2, 1939) is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party.

Reid is the U.S. Senate Majority Leader in the 110th Congress. He assumed majority leadership after the Democratic Party won seated majority of the Senate in the 2006 congressional elections. Reid is the first Mormon to serve as Senate Majority Leader.[1]

WOW! You anti-LDS better start lining up to have him recalled because he's LDS. Remember, he takes orders from Pres. Hinkley. Don't forget about all the other LDS's in office too!

Mitt Romney IS a successful business man and has what it will take to get America back on track!

I guess all you leftist, anti-mormon folks here better start a campaign real quick to get Senate Majority Leader, Democrat, AND MORMON HARRY REID out of office since he's under the directive of the church and all it's 'crazy' teachings. He is very dangerous and must be stopped!

Just another glaring example of the bigotry and hipocrisy of the left and the left-wing media. You don't see Harry Reid being asked those questions or being treated that way, do you? Again, the liberals showing their tolerance and open-mindedness... as long as you think exactly as they do.

Reid is a great example that mormons won't vote for someone just b/c they are mormon and an obvious example that he is not getting directions from salt lake... as evidenced by his own comments and votes against many things the church stands for.

[sioux-falls]

What was that! I was not an interview thats for sure . Mrs.Romney should have slapped his face!
I want to know his views on issues of importance not his *** life . Asking his kids about serving in the war irrelevent .I think our Senator Tim Johnson is the only one with a son in harms way. Good for him for being a good mormon . He has true family values! My husband is a mormon (I am not) His family is first in his life . He respects his family .And they are instilled with the ability to keep their pants zipped .
Mitt is a smart businessman We need someone who is smart and can say NO to the waste in big gov. and not worry about his religion .

[bobjohnny]

I listened to your interview of Mitt Romney last Sunday and his remarks on Polygamy, which made it seem to appear that it was merely a tool used in the western migration because of the preponderance of women. Polygamy is, as far as I know, an Ordinance of the LDS Church, being described in the Doctrine and Covenants. Mormons never disavowed Polygamy, only its practice, through a manifestation, which is not the same as a revelation and to say it was merely a solution to a historical problem is being very, very disingenuous if not out right deceitful.
If Mr. Romney is this evasive about something that is so basic to the ordinances and endowments of the LDS Church, something he supposedly believes so whole heartedly in, how can one know when he is being truthful and when he is merely being self-serving.

Further as a member of the LDS Church holding the Melchizedek Priesthood his first allegiance is to the president of the church in his position as prophet, seer and revelator, and should the president tell him something under this authority, even if he were President of the US, he would be duty bound to follow it or face sanctions all the way up to excommunication. Perhaps this is why he has changed his mind so many times over the last years.

[bobjohnny]

I listened to your interview of Mitt Romney last Sunday and his remarks on Polygamy, which made it seem to appear that it was merely a tool used in the western migration because of the preponderance of women. Polygamy is, as far as I know, an Ordinance of the LDS Church, being described in the Doctrine and Covenants. Mormons never disavowed Polygamy, only its practice, through a manifestation, which is not the same as a revelation and to say it was merely a solution to a historical problem is being very, very disingenuous if not out right deceitful.
If Mr. Romney is this evasive about something that is so basic to the ordinances and endowments of the LDS Church, something he supposedly believes so whole heartedly in, how can one know when he is being truthful and when he is merely being self-serving.

Further as a member of the LDS Church holding the Melchizedek Priesthood his first allegiance is to the president of the church in his position as prophet, seer and revelator, and should the president tell him something under this authority, even if he were President of the US, he would be duty bound to follow it or face sanctions all the way up to excommunication. Perhaps this is why he has changed his mind so many times over the last years.

[rahps]

When interviewing Mitt Romney, Mike Wallace set a new precedent that he needs to maintain when interviewing all other candidates. If you ask one candidate if they had premarital ***, then you must ask them all. If you ask one child why he did/didn't serve in the armed forces, then you need to ask them all!

[shaungirl]

To jnik 23260,
You and all of the other miss informed bloggers are breeding that which you say you hate. Half of the comments made about Mitt Romney are not about Mitt Romney, but are about the LDS/mormon church. It would be one thing if you all were stating true LDS/mormon doctrine, but you spread lies! The idea that blacks could not reach heaven unless they served whites is against mormon doctrine, and is no where to be found in any religious document of the LDS/mormon church. To the other fellow who went on a anti-mormon blogging fest, Zoar? You seriously need to check your facts about the LDS/mormon church. The more people talk about Mitt Romney, the more bigots I see come out of the wood work. Apparently racism, believing a person is below you because of the color of their skin, is unacceptable, but bigotry, believing mormons are below you because of their religious beliefs, is perfectly acceptable!
By the way, I referd to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the mormon church for all of you uniformed people who can't get the name of the church correct. LDS is the ak.

[danbro0811]

Before you make too big a hero out of Mighty Mitt for balancing the budget in Massachusetts every year, you should note that the governor is required by law to do so. Of course Romney did have plenty of input into what was cut, which resulted in the decimation of numerous social services programs aimed to help the least fortunate residents of Massachusetts. (Fortunately Deval Patrick has already reversed many of the damaging cuts Romney made.) I%u2019d also like to know why a guy who is so eager to send an additional 100,000 troops into a meaningless hell is apparently unwilling to send his own five sons, all fighting age, to the front lines. Romney instead goes on to say in response to a question about marriage, %u201CI must admit I can%u2019t imagine anything more awful than polygamy." Which clearly indicates the guy lacks an imagination as well as a heart. As for his combative attitude toward Congress, isn%u2019t that just what we need in this country %u2014 another bull in a china shop causing even more division?

[perimogi]

Mike Wallace, you are an absolutely reprehensible person, you asked a question of Romney only because of his religion. Have you asked that question of Clinton, Obama, Edwards, or anyone else? No, but you had the audacity of hopelessness to ask such a question of Romney. How dare you? You had better get on the phone right now and call ALL other presidential candidates the same moronic question. I am not Mormon, but you have showed your bigotry.

[kansas1946]

"You can't simply label him "Mormon" and know everything about the man. There is something special about this guy."
***************************
I could care less if the guy is a Mormon or an athiest. What I do care is where he stands on issues. There is something special, alright. He can't make up his mind about anything. He supported stem-cell research, now he doesn't. He supported a woman's right to choose, now he doesn't. He supported civil unions, now he doesn't. He is a "life-long" hunter (but has only been a couple of times)
So it looks like, for now anyway, Mitt cares only about the far-right kooks. Forget women, ***, and sicke people. Those aren't really Americans anyway. He is weak, indecisive, a suck-up, and a liar. We have had one of those for the last six years. We don't need another.

[toldyouso21]

To get elected, it is not enough for Republicans to vote for him--that only gets through the primary and I doubt this man can win the general election. The strongest GOP candidate with the most cross over appeal is Guiliani. it used to be McCain before he sold his soul to Bush and became a big, fat liar. I don't like Guiliani either (adulterer) and think he would be vindictive. Obama is too inexperienced, Hilary too cold and calculating. I wish Hagel would run or even Gore--I saw him in "An inconvenient truth" and for the first time, actually paid attention to the man. I think he is sincere and very electable. If he ran, maybe he could count on 7 from the Independent category--then again if he is for amnesty of illegals--maybe not.

[sattriplets]

susanhelit, well said. He has what it takes to get things done correctly.

BTW jwhitman, Romney didn't LIE about anything to Sharpton. Sharpton is nothing but an opportunist and NOT a man of God. He's a racist and cares only about blacks.

You got it backwards...

[stevex47]

Veteran 71,

I agree. The best chance the "right" has, is to do the right thing.

Run no one in 08. Apologize to the world. Then maybe in 100 years they may have a shot.

[susanhelit]

'Flip-flopper' is the most abused term - changing your mind when new evidence comes along is a good thing. Nuanced positions are a good thing. Realizing you were wrong, and having the guts to say so is a good thing - and all of these are being labelled as 'flip-flopping'.


Now someone who claims whatever position they think will get them the most votes -that's bad - but still, when I hear 'flip flopper', the odds seem to be that it'll be for good reasons, rather than bad.

[lestb35]

I think globalization and internationalism should be the most important issue of the election. Are we going to continue to be sold out or someone going to step up to the plate and protect Americans.

Romney is just another corporate creature...when he gets in, he'll be beholden to the same special interests as Bush. His negative stance on stem cell research to please the right-to-life movement is sickening. His about-face on many issues tells us exactly the kind of man he is...an ambitious politician willing to sing any tune to get elected. Because of his allegiances, he is not to be trusted to serve all of America. He will be the patsy for the right-wing elements who will have put him in place.

[j-whitman]

e_cartman999,,
--- Romney's allready sold his soul to the GOP ----- He lied to your face about the Sharpton interview without blinking an eye.

[j-whitman]

e_cartman999,,
--- Romney's allready sold his soul to the GOP ---- He lied to your face about the Sharpton interview without blinking an eye.

[j-whitman]

perception5,,, Get real dude..

Rudy can't get elected -- Rudy had no millions untill 9/11 then he had multi-millions from profiteering & White House/GOP connections.

Romney -- Lied about the Sharpton interview & quotes scriptures ----- We don't need another ideaological phony or hyprocrite.