Gov. Christie Todd Whitman: I disagree with trying him as a civilian. Terrorists and terrorist actions are acts of war and should be treated as such. The government has to do a better job of defining what constitutes acts of war given the current tactics used by our enemies.  We must be clear on how terrorists will be handled, and whether or not we think there is a difference between someone claiming jihad and an up-front terrorist.  We must have a generally accepted protocol in place and, in my opinion, that need not include all the rights given a US citizen accused of a domestic crime.  US citizens caught while trying to commits acts of war should be treated as combatants.

KL: Appreciating the fact that that you worked under Secretary Rumsfeld in the Office of Economic Opportunity in the 1970's, in retrospect was Secretary Rumsfeld correct in bringing many of the GWOT detainees to GITMO and granting them Miranda rights?  

Gov. Christie Todd Whitman: While I worked for Secretary Rumsfeld at one point, that was, literally, decades ago and has no bearing on my thoughts on the treatment of detainees.  Given the number of suspected terrorists who have been held at Guantanamo without Mirandazing or access to lawyers, I have to believe that those who were given Miranda rights were given them appropriately.

KL: You faced many of the same leadership and legislative challenges in 1993 as the newly elected Governor of New Jersey, as President Obama faces today.  What is he doing right and what is he not doing to get our economy back on track and to reform our bureaucracy?

Gov. Christie Todd Whitman: In 2008 voters showed that they wanted to move away from the politics of divisiveness and the hyper-partisanship that was defining Washington. They were tired of out of control spending and the ever-increasing reach of government. They were tired of war. Voters wanted a new approach and Barack Obama articulated that message in a way that appealed.  He wasn't George W. Bush and that was enough for many. Unfortunately, the Democrats interpreted their victory as a mandate to move the country to the far left in accordance with their long pent-up frustration with Republican policies.  They felt – and feel - they know best and their goals would be achieved by acting fast without hesitation. The warning signs started to appear right away but, in the echo chamber that is our nation's capitol, they were dismissed as the uninformed grousing of the far right. The fact that Republicans allowed themselves to be portrayed as the party of "no" only gave more momentum to House and Senate leadership.
 
Far from getting the open government that we had been promised during the presidential campaign, huge bills (1,000 pages or more) of major import were passed in the dead of night, on major holidays, with little time for discussion.  If we are ever going to get thoughtful discussion going on what needs to be done for our economy, the process has to be more open and transparent. Republicans have to be willing to engage in good faith and both sides need to start saying no to massive spending programs.  Also, I would wish that the President would stop creating enemies within the business sector and instead look for ways to encourage the kind of innovation that made our country great and that can raise the standard of living for all our citizens.

KL: Did President Obama miscalculate on current public opinion and the mandate given to him by voters in 2008, by focusing on health care instead of the economy and national security?  If so, what impact will be felt in the upcoming midterm elections? .

Gov. Christie Todd Whitman: Clearly the economy was, and continues to be, a major issue facing this country and was given attention by the President at the beginning of his term.  Healthcare was also of great concern and tackling one does not necessarily mean you can't address the other. President Obama may have had the political backing to tackle health care a year ago, but the way he has gone about it and the direction he has taken have all but destroyed that mandate. The reverberations of that forced effort will be felt in November.  

KL: Finally, will we ever see you return to public office, and if so in what capacity?     

Gov. Christie Todd Whitman: You can never say no because people don’t believe you, but I am quite content running the Whitman Strategy Group, working on the Republican Leadership Council and being a grandmother!