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October 23rd, 2012
10:42 PM ET

Truth about naval spending under Obama

President Obama’s “horses and bayonets” comment created the most buzz after Monday’s presidential debate, as he tried to paint Governor Mitt Romney as out of touch with the U.S. military’s needs in the 21st century. Romney accuses the president of cutting spending and is calling for more Navy ships.

In the key battleground state of Virginia, home to the world’s largest naval station, Republican Governor Bob McDonnell agrees with Romney and is firing back, calling the president’s comment an “insult” to sailors. Anderson talked with Governor McDonnell and asked him about a numbers game when it comes to the amount of naval ships.

soundoff (12 Responses)
  1. Jeanie

    Thank you, Anderson, for getting at the truth! My Uncle was a Navy man and he took no offense to Obama's statement! It really is absurd to turn that statement into an insult!!! As you said, we have more ships today than with the Bush years and we are continuing to build more!! Also, the comment regarding Ryan was also well noted!!!

    October 24, 2012 at 8:38 pm |
    • samuel

      As a retired Naval Officer of 30 years and recently retire 2011 Sept. I took no offense from the statement. And I was thinking the samething when Mitt was making these systems. Techology ! Okay. We are not going to get to that level.
      And we have smart bombs ! Therefore, require less aircraft to drop bombs...and subs with guided weapons.
      He(Mitt) is just trying to still the votes for Navy states...and it s silly ! He will say anything...but he earned that comment from the President....less ships than 1916. For real ???

      October 24, 2012 at 9:23 pm |
  2. Kenton McGraw

    This guy is fighting for his job. The President is listening to his Navel advisers.

    October 24, 2012 at 5:28 pm |
  3. Kim

    Is this all he is concerned about? It looks to me like the economy is the big issue here. Another Obama bashing?

    October 24, 2012 at 4:06 pm |
  4. Janet Luff

    Even if Romney is elected, more ships will be leaving VA. It's in the works. And many Navy higher ups hate some of the VA contractors, and would rather use others to work with them. McDonell can't stop this either.

    October 24, 2012 at 1:16 pm |
  5. Derek

    Anderson: thank you for keeping this Gov McDonnell straight in his "facts"! Apparently he must of mis-remembered them...

    October 24, 2012 at 12:57 pm |
  6. Scott

    Umm. If the Joint Chiefs of staff set the requirements for the President, and they say they do not need more ships. Why the hell would we care about the Govenor of Virgina to set military eeds and requirements for the US Navy?
    Thanks for nothing Anderson, go sell crazy some place else. We're full up here! lol

    October 24, 2012 at 12:49 pm |
    • John Q Dallas

      The Joint Chiefs were appointed by Obama. The President and Defense Secretary tell them the total budget number, then the Joint Chiefs decide how they want to spend it fleshing out the budget. Obama played golf over a hundred times for three years prior to submitting his first budget. The house unanimously vetoed it. In Obama's Navy, they will waste fuel sending aircraft carriers for minor incidents because they will not have enough smaller ships.

      October 25, 2012 at 1:09 am |
  7. Asana gilles

    Mr Anderson, you know all this is politics the, republicans will do or say any thing to keep thier base.The America people are not supid.we understood what the president meant. he wasn't desrespecful to our Nevy. he was just giving the facts which the repulicant don't like

    October 24, 2012 at 12:07 pm |
  8. john willow

    Way to corner Virginia Gov. Bob McConnell, who when he couldn't answer questions about the size of the navy under Bush, or why Paul Ryan voted in support of moves McConnell was trying to condemn, simply tried to throw anything against the wall that would stick. Fareed Zakaria then explained in detail how ludicrous McConnell's charges are.
    Only one question remains: Why are discredited hacks like McConnell givan any airtime at all?

    October 24, 2012 at 4:29 am |
  9. Roger dickinson

    Mr cooper. Your interview on the navy comments was extremely biased. Having a representative of romney on first with only general knowledge of the situation and then allowing a natioal security rep of obama with direct knowledge of the situation to basically critique the comments, is not fair. Also, it was clear from your questions to governor mcdonald that you had already formulated your opinion. Just ask opened ended questions, get the facts out, and let us make the necessary conclusions
    Enjoy your program

    October 24, 2012 at 1:38 am |
  10. robin

    your facts that you stated on your show may have beed correct but you should have gone a little deeper as to if these ships are being built where?and with all the personal cuts who do you think is going to man these ships because the men and women that would be old enough when the time comes are the sons and daughters of the ones being dumped today,i have lived the norfolk all my life and yes my father was in the serivce he is a plank ower of seal team 2 in case you dont know what that is he's in the group of the first so i have keept up a little with what goes on even though i knew better than to marry anyone in the service i do still live and work in tidewater va thanks for listing

    October 24, 2012 at 1:26 am |