Transcript: Romney on CNN's Campbell Brown

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Hmmm... No video, but there is a transcript!

BROWN: Welcome back. Now it's time for tonight's newsmaker interview, where we go in- depth with the most important and thought-provoking people in the world.

And, tonight, it's the man many expect will take another shot at the White House in 2012, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Just yesterday, Romney, sounding much like a candidate in waiting, slammed President Obama on foreign policy.

BROWN: You have been speaking out -- and correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that you are suggesting the president's outreach to the Muslim world -- including this trip -- is, in your view, one big apology tour.

What's wrong with the president's efforts to mend fences?

ROMNEY: No harm in speaking with other people, but if you look at his last trip to Europe, and also the comments that he made on Arabia TV as he became president, I think you could become very troubled, as I have been.

On Arab TV he said that America dictates to other nations. In fact, America has sacrificed more to free people from dictators than any nation I know. And with regards to his apology to in Europe, it was simply misguided. Even London's "Guardian" newspaper said that no American president has been more critical of his own country while on foreign soil than President Obama.

That's a distinction I wouldn't want under any circumstances. But now with Iraq and particularly North Korea pursuing nuclear weaponry, that's not the kind of apology tour I think is appropriate.

BROWN: But can't you argue that we at least have some mistakes to account for?

What about Abu Ghraib?

ROMNEY: Of course we've made mistakes. There's no question about that. Any nation's going to make mistakes. They're not a lot of perfect nations.

There are perfect people in the history of the earth. But one thing's for sure and that is that America's greatness, America's contributions towards peace and towards security, towards prosperity for people of the world, far overshadow the mistakes. And going overseas as the "Guardian" indicated and being more critical of America, than any nation in our history, is not necessary.

Playing to the crowd, trying to get Europeans who are critical of America to think better of us because we criticized ourselves is not the way to go. Standing up for freedom and democracy and indicating that we're going to stand with our friends around the world is the right course. So, sure, reaching out to other nations and to Muslims in particular is a wise course. But making the headline of the trip apology and denigration of America, that's the wrong course.

BROWN: Looking forward, and you reference this, the central question in the Middle East is likely going to be Iran. If you had to make a prediction one year from now, will or won't Iran in your view, have a nuclear weapon?

ROMNEY: I don't think we know how quickly they're developing a nuclear weapon. I think my prediction would be that the Obama administration is going to say, as the president did today, that Iran has the right to nuclear power, legitimate need for nuclear power. There will be some kind of an agreement, perhaps, that we try and work out, where they say they're just going to be using their nuclear technology for power purposes.

And, of course, behind the scenes they'll move just as North Korea has to develop a nuclear weapon.

And diplomats like to slap themselves in the back and congratulate each other for agreement even though they recognize that there's not a chance in the world that the other party's going to honor it. I'm afraid we're going to do the same thing in Iran. That the right course for Iran is just like the right course for North Korea. It's tough regime -- regime-crippling sanctions that are comprehensive, that means involving other nations. That's the right course for us, not get -- you know, get the soft kind of approaches.

BROWN: Governor, let me turn to domestic politics. A fair amount of infighting doing on right now in the Republican Party. Rush Limbaugh said recently, Colin Powell needs in his view, to become a Democrat.

Do you agree with that?

ROMNEY: No, I think a minority party needs everybody we can get. So, I'm not cutting anybody off in the Republican Party right now.

Maybe if we had 80 percent of the votes, we could think about that. But, we need to bring people together and I want those that are on all dimensions of our party to come together.

I remember what Ronald Reagan said. It was, you know, if somebody agrees with me 80 percent of the time, he's my ally, not my opponent. And I want to bring in every Republican, whether it's Newt Gingrich or Colin Powell or whoever it might be and to make sure that they agree on the most important issues. And I think by in large Republicans do. And certainly, we're not squabbling amongst ourselves anywhere near as much as some would have other folks believe.

BROWN: Well, to that point, on the issues specifically, let me ask you about what Dick Cheney said yesterday. He said that same-sex marriage is OK in his view, as long as it's decided state by state.

What do you make of that statement?

ROMNEY: Well, that's his opinion. You don't expect of course...

BROWN: Do you agree?

ROMNEY: No. That's not my view. I base my view clear from the very beginning. I'm not in favor of same-sex marriage. I believe that marriage should be a relationship between a man and a woman.

And given the fact that people travel from state to state in this country and move to different states, I would prefer there be a national standard on marriage, a national amendment to make sure that marriage is between a man and a woman.

But, the fact that Vice President Cheney has a different view is certainly his prerogative. We still stay Republicans, even though of course we don't all agree on every single issue.

BROWN: Let me -- let me ask you as a final question, we're trying to challenge people to find common ground on this show when possible. So, let me ask you to tell us one thing that you think the president is doing right.

ROMNEY: Oh, I think he's done a number of things correctly. I think he was right to reverse course on not releasing the pictures of detainees. I think he was right to reverse course on the military tribunals. I think he was right to reverse course on the idea of indefinite detention for terrorists.

I think he was right to reverse course on withdrawing our troops immediately from Iraq. Frankly, whenever he reverses course and adopts the positions that John McCain put forward on the campaign, you're going to find me saying, nice job.

BROWN: All right. Governor Romney, we appreciate your time tonight.

Thanks so much.

ROMNEY: Thanks so much, Campbell. Good to be with you.