Our national security should not be an open secret.

Question: Two-thirds of Americans think the government is secretive. Do you agree?

Mitt Romney:Well in some places we’re too secret, and some places we’re too open. I’ve been disappointed that some of the tools that we use to listen in and otherwise determine what terrorists are doing, that those tools have become public. And I’ve been very, very disappointed that Top Secret programs have now been made available for the terrorists to understand. That’s a huge mistake for our country. On the other hand, I’d like to see a great deal more transparency on contracts that the government enters into, on who is contributing to who in political campaigns. There’s a lot in politics that I think needs to be . . . or needs to have sunshine shone on it. And these 527s that are organized where people can contribute millions of dollars to political efforts without people even knowing who they are – this, I think, has to change.

Recorded on: 11/26/07