September 12, 2012 FMR. AMBASSADOR AND CURRENT SENIOR FOREIGN ADVISER TO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MITT ROMNEY, RICHARD WILLIAMSON DEFENDS ROMNEY'S RESPONSE TO THE RECENT ATTACK IN LIBYA ON "ANDREA MITCHELL REPORTS"
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NEW YORK, NY--September 12, 2012— Former ambassador and current senior foreign adviser to Mitt Romney, Richard Williamson joins Andrea to provide explanation on Romney's response to the attack in Libya on "Andrea Mitchell Reports."

CLIP: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/49006458#49006458

Amb. Williamson: You know, as a lawyer, I’m familiar with the old saw that when you don't have the facts you argue process and that's what's going on here with the White House trying to have a discussion of timing of a statement. The fact is, the substance of what the governor said last night was true. He continues to stand by it. We shouldn't be on an apology tour. But rather be aggressive in condemning this breach of sovereign American soil. We should be defending our principles, our free speech in pluralism and first and foremost, this morning when we learned that a life was lost and other lives were lost, we have to be conscious of our condolences and sympathy and appreciate for -- appreciation for their service but the substance of what the governor said last night was true then and true now and the American people have a choice to make and it's between an administration that apologizes for our values and principles and someone who stands up for it. Someone who lead from behind that contributed to the turmoil and someone who wants to leave for the front.

Andrea: Forgive me for interrupting how is it an apology for our values to issue a statement before a protest happens? You’re suggesting and Governor Romney suggesting that the -- that the statement from Cairo was apologizing for something that had not happened for another six hours, that's why process matters, facts matter.

Amb. Williamson: I believe if you reporters on the ground check, it was reissued after the U.S. compound in Cairo was breached.

Andrea: It was on a website and may not have been taken down; I don't know that to be the facts.

Amb. Williamson: It's my understanding it was reissued, it was not taken down, and, in fact, the White House didn't respond and back away interest it and say they did not approve of the statement until many hours later after president Obama had seen the statement from Governor Romney.

Andrea: Do you think it was appropriate for Governor Romney to issue a statement last night when the State Department, the CIA, the White House, were all scrambling to try to find out who were these Americans, one American we now know the ambassador, had been carried by Libyans to the hospital, the identities were still trying to be ascertained, they were trying to notify next of kin, and then again today, for Mitt Romney to come out in the ten half hour before the President of the United States, made a scheduled statement at 10:35, does it seem to be injecting politics into a national tragedy?

Amb. Williamson: Andrea, you're an experienced reporter. You’ve had the same questions asked about your own reporting from time to time. You have seen American political personalities making statements in difficult times. The American people are being asked to make a decision between the failed policies of president Obama and the proposals of Governor Romney. Governor Romney has said that you shouldn't hesitate to stand up for our value, that’s what he did last night. You’re engaging in a process question. The importance is the substance of what's going on in the Middle East where the U.S. is being compromised and where there's turmoil because we failed to lead, whether it's in the broader Middle East in Syria, in Iran. Those are the questions the American people want not the white house desire to have a discussion about process and timing.

Andrea: Well, I was just interviewing ambassador Nick Burns, who as you know, first served under George Herbert Walker Bush and served as a foreign service officer--

Amb. Williamson: First served Governor Jimmy Carter he served as a foreign service officer under Jimmy Carter.

Andrea: and Condoleezza Rice and appointed an Ambassador by George --

Amb. Williamson: he could have a different view. So what?

Andrea: As you said, facts matter. Thank you very much, Ambassador Williamson from the Romney campaign.