Conservative author and filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza says former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney made the right choice in deciding
not to run for president for a third time.
"I was actually relieved to hear that because by and large this is such an important office that you get sort of one real shot at it — and Romney had his chance," D'Souza said Friday on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on
Newsmax TV.
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"When we look back at the election of 2012, it was a Republican election to lose; he lost it.
"So, while I wish him well I'm relieved he's out of the running the next time around."
On Friday, Romney ended speculation he would run in 2016, stating: "I believe that one of our next generation of Republican leaders, one who may not be as well known as I am today, one who has not yet taken their message across the country, one who is just getting started, may well emerge as being better able to defeat the Democrat nominee "In fact, I expect and hope that to be the case."
That appeared to be a shot at his chief rival, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, 61, who held a closed-door meeting with Romney just days ago to discuss the upcoming race.
"It's possible [it was a shot], although another way to read it is that we as conservatives and as Republicans are frustrated at the quality of the field that seems to be produced again and again — and this is now going back like four elections in a row," D'Souza said.
"So there's got to be a better process of bringing forward candidates who are at the level at which they could plausibly be president. Maybe Romney himself feels that same frustration."
D'Souza, director of the PG-13-rated "America: Imagine the World Without Her," said he doesn't have a favorite horse among the large list of presidential wannabes, which include Bush, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.
"I will confess that I feel a little frustrated with the field and the way I divert that frustration is focusing my own energy on flaying the other side," he said.
"So I spend most of my time thinking about [President Barack] Obama and Hillary [Clinton] and the Democrats and trying to do as much as I can to bring forth what they stand for, not worrying too much at this stage about the Republican field."
D'Souza also had high praise for fellow filmmaker Clint Eastwood, director of the Oscar-nominated smash "American Sniper," which tells the real life story of crack military marksman Chris Kyle.
"I've now been in this country since about 1980 and it seems that once every decade or so, almost by mistake, Hollywood produces a movie that is deeply conservative in its themes and it becomes a blockbuster. There was 'Chariots of Fire' … 'Braveheart,' and now 'American Sniper.'" D'Souza said.
"Clint Eastwood is one of the last conservatives in Hollywood."
"The Left initially tried to blast the movie. They realized how damaging it is to the values that they hold dear."
He said liberals like documentary filmmaker Michael Moore originally slammed the R-rated movie, but "quickly began to run for cover."
"They realized how popular this movie is and how it resonates with the hearts of so many Americans. So, terrific movie, I enjoyed watching it, and I recommend it."
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