quorum call:

quorum call:

mr. durbin: i ask that the

senate proceed to is res. 386. the presiding officer: without objection the clerk will report p. the clerk: calling for free and fair elections in iran and for other purposes. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the matter. the committee is discharged and the senate will proceed to the matter. mr. durbin: i know of no further debate on the resolution it. urge its adoption. the presiding officer: if there is no further debate, all in favor say aye. all those opposed say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the bill is agreed to. mr. durbin: i ask unanimous consent the preamble be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: i ask consent that the appointment at the desk be made separately. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: i ask unanimous consent when the senate complete its business, it adjourn until

tuesday, march 6 at 10:00 a.m., the morning business be deemed expired and the time for the two leaders reserved for use later in the day, following any leader remarks the senate proceed to a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak up to ten minutes each with the qiem quite equally divided by the leaders or their designees with the republicans controlling the final half, following morning business the senate resume consideration of s. 1813, the surface transportation bill, further that the time prior to the cloture vote be equally divided and controlled by between the two sides with the final ten minutes controlled between the two leaders or their designees with 2 majority leader controlling the final five minutes and at 12:30 the senate recess until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly walks meeting. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: the filing deadline for second-degree amendments to the reid amendment is 11:30 a.m. tuesday. the first vote of the week will be at noon on the motion intovoke cloture on the reid amendment. additionally two votes on

confirmation of the phillips and rice nominations at 2:15 tomorrow and if there is no further business to come before the senate i ask that it adjourn under the previous order. the presiding officer: the senate stands adjourned until senate stands adjourned until >> u.s. senate giving general speeches to manila to support taking place. earlier today, of course, the senate armed services committee ranking member took to the floor. he became the first senator to is possibly called for u.s.-led air strikes against the regime in syria. you can weigh in on his remarks on our facebook page. twitter this week work on the transportation bill and possible consideration of a pair of judicial nominations. later we will have more live senate coverage and the gavel comes down. and our road to the white house coverage continues ahead of

tomorrow's perris and caucuses. we're from former pennsylvania senator rick santorum live from ohio starting in about 645 east and. and, of course, super tuesday is tomorrow, march 6. contests in ten states. going to the polls. in three states, alaska, idaho, north dakota, there will host caucuses. you can stay tuned to this c-span networks for results and for candidates beaches. -- candidate speeches. >> very popular and want to create a separate security. and i think that is just -- the adversaries here dealing with today are more committed. so we're talking about the advanced persistent threat. worry about that. >> our real is the threat. several security executives on how to handle the threats to

government and business communication networks, the communicator's tonight at 8:00 eastern on c-span2. >> defense secretary leon panetta appeared recently at the mcconnell center at the university of louisville talking about cutting the defense budget well america is at war and facing terrorist threats. but to a crowd of about 1200 people. some republican leader mitch mcconnell introduced the secretary as part of the mcconnell centers lecture series. this is about an hour. [applause] >> if everyone would please be seated we will go ahead and get started. it is really wonderful to see so many of you here tonight.of h on behalf of all of us at the university of what like to welcome you here. i am especially delighted that in our audience ibm members of our board of trustees to our board of overseers, many of the

deans of less presidents and and others are universal family. we're also delighted to have tha mayor and his wife here tonight. many members of the metromaembe council and our stateil legislature, and, of course, a f former congressman and senator.f we are also really gratified to see some many members of our military units your tonight, and i especially want to look m gall you.ary . is my great pleasure tonight toa also offer the republican leader of the united states senator mitch o mcconnell. one of the best friends anybody could ever have an especially if you're the university of laval.e the father of our prestigioushe mcconnell scholars program, andd recently had a chance to meet-- with the students. i hope that mr. secretary, you can see what a wonderful young people we have.e university. we are also proud that his proud archives and the civic education center is here at the university. senator mcconnell has made strengthening kentucky's research generosities one of his top prioritieass. he understands the university'st

serve as engines for economic growth and for solving problems of thee future. and as with everything he does, the senator went about rengngthening kentucky's universities with his trademarks focus and tenacity. he has provided unprecedented support for research andt for ar infrastructure projects as kentucky's university. and with his help you -- you'll has been able to invest an important undertakings, thes cardiovascular innovation institute, the center fore, c translation research, and their research building. he has also fought to make higher education more affordable setting aside for a valuable theation is helping thousands of kentucky families prepare ana cleged their children for college. this law encourages families to invest and savings plans such as the kentucky education savings plan trust in the kentucky affordable prepaid tuition e program.e the um it up, as i started, the senator has been one of the most champioing champions of higher

education in the history of the commonwealth. we have been very fortunate to have him as a senator, and i have been very fortunate to cal se friend, senator mitch mcconnell. [applause] >> good evening, everyone.u soh. thank you so much. you're doing a fabulous job running this university, which is getting better and better ang better every year, and i also want to acknowledge the superb performance of the director of the mcconnell cent. thank you for the wonderful jobr you're doing. i also want to welcome this t evening are many men and womenmn in uniform, especially ourpeci friends from fort knox, fort campbell, bluegrass army depot, the kentucky national guard, th, reserve forces from all of our s services and all of our heroicos veterans. thanks you very much for your

service to our nation.[a [applause] i also want to take a moment too recognize the sacrifice ofhe sfe lieutenant-colonel john loftusn of paducah who was tragically killed in an attack at the interior ministry in afghanistan just last saturday. he was an air force officer inff the 866 the air expeditionary squadron who leaves behind a iife and two daughters. i know everyone here includingnu our honored speaker greece for his loss. we are celebrating a first. the first sitting secretary ofsy defense. the 21 year history of thisyear program, and it is quite an honor to have him here.e. more than ten years after 9/11 america remains a nation facing

a grave threat from terrorismchg and the changing balance of power in the asia-pacific theater. our position of primacy in global affairs must be witnciled with a national debt that exceeds the size of our exs economy in such daunting times the president relies on the secretary of defense to provideo civilian leave for our armeddefo forces as they engage with our foaties across the world. fortunately for us, the u secretary of defense is leon anetta, a man who has never patta,from a challenge. hailing from monterey,m al california, the secretary has proved his mettle often in the most difficult jobs in public tt service. paramount among his many accomplishments is the one thatt will go ds own in the history books and still be steady when today'shew mcconnell scholars are running the world. as cia director less than a year ago the secretary presided over

he p the hunt for and the operation that led to the killing of osama bin laden. [applause] the success of the mission tohet strike the leader and is just one history-making moment, and albeit one of the brightest in the history making career. leon panetta believes deeply in public-service, and it is america's give fortune that he has answered the call to serve again and again. the secretary panetta served hir country in univeform in the 196s as an army intelligence officer, lieutenant panera received the army commendation medal for his service, his service also led him to better understand the hdi sacrifices are men and women in the military make an unders wtanding that dads and today in his role heading up thi department of defense.

leon represented the central california district in congresss for 16 years, serve the lastrs,d four of those as house budgethou committee chairman. his debt and knowledge on budge sueses led to his appointment by president clinton as the first -- as president clinton's first director of the office of management and budget. he subsequently became our white house chief of staff at astafd crucial point in our political history, and it is thanks inpoll part to him that congress and the president were able to work together and pass needed in meaningful reforms in an era of divided government. after his congressional and white house service no one could have blandlywh on if he had had enough of public life, but the secretary believes public sec service is an honor calling. while out of government leon and his wife created the leon and te sylvia panera institute for public policy based in california state university, monterey.niveity, much like the center here, the

panera institute's goal is to t instill in our brightest students of passion forng in r r public-service. aassi leon and i have known each other or many years, and i no one thing we have in common is a belief that it is important to finance these the imagination o the next generation of leaders regardless. o both -- respect to become secretary of defense. the tally was 100 does nothing. every single senator but democrats and republicans were enthusiastic about hisenthusiast selection. leon used to be a republican. i guess some things even ahis, former cia director can't keeper secret. cia dto [laughter] regardless of his party and o which side of the aisle, whoever he is talking to happens to be on, leon panetta has built his

career on honesty and byonesty b maintaining excellent relations with senior leaders inwith government of both parties.both i know he can certainly count on the tested french ship of the senate republican leader. in short, at a time of great o challenges to america, ouram military enjoys the lead of the secretary of defense who is eingularly well-suited to advise the president and those of us in congress on the best ways tobe y preserve america's role in the world. i am hard-pressed to name another person in governmenters today who believes more in theth impoo rtance of public service r and the deep gratitude we owe members of our armed forces. ladies and gentlemen, it is myld distinct pleasure to present tor you the 23rd secretary of defense, the hon. leon panetta.a [applause]

>> thank you very much. thank you. thank you. i deeply appreciate the kind introduction and the warm a you reception and the opportunity to be here tonight. i am truly honored. this is a great honor to be at seeuniversity and to see such a large crowd gathered for this event. this is a great university, a great state, and you have a great basketball team. [applause]sketball tea being here with such a large audience kind of makes me wonder how many have you thought that the speaker this evening was n

somebody named pitino and not panetta. whether it is bettino or panetta you are definitely getting italian tonight.ti [laughter] and i can assure you that both of us believe that as sound defense is the key to winning the game. [applause] i would like to think provost and dr. greg for hosting me here tonight. and i in particular would like to thank my friend, senator orenatmcconnell, for that very kind introduction, and for to comng me to come down to visit his all modern and to see this great city and the great people.mi mitch mcconnell and nine got our

start working in the unitedki states senate has legislative aides in the 1960's. at that time i was working for a republican, and so was the. between the two of us, between the tool list we have over 40er years of experience in washington. you have every right to question ppr sanity. [laughter] but not our sense of duty. over the decades of workingadesk together i have developed a great respect for may church in sor his lead and in particular his dedication to public service . we have always enjoyed a strong working relationship and a and a strong.

because whether you are the son of a tie-in emigrants or the son of a father who fun of world war ii, we both have been blessed with the opportunity to serve this great nation of ours that t we love so much. when i learned that i would be coming down here to the bluegrass state to give a speech my thoughts immediately turned to one of the senator mcconnel's most distinguished predecessors. as you know, he was an extraordinary public servant in the 19th century. he also had a great way with words. once when a very long winded colleague was delivering a particularly like the and boring speech on the floor of the the congress and everyone, including henry clay, was obviously losing

their patience and making that loss of patience very clear,f pv that colleague turns to play and said, you speak for the present generation.erion i speak for posterity. few generations. yes, replied clay, but you soon determine to continue speaking until your future audience arrives. [laughter] i promise that of all be speaking for posterity oroste internally this evening. however, i do want to share with you someve thoughts. because this chance gives me an opportunity to also speak about the future of the nation,. tonight i want to talk about service to the country, ourblic

public servants and helped force the strong democracy we have nd hy and how we all have an opportunity and, indeed,e an irresponsibility to help secure and strengthen that security for tomorrow. this great university and the ad mccall center are making vital contributions to educating theig citizen leaders who will help confront the challenges and the opportunities that face allu of us in the 21st century.y. i had a chance to meet with the students before comingme here. it was a great thrill to have that opportunity. as mix pointed up, my wife and i established a similar public e policy institute at california state university.

in the purpose is to try to inspire young people to get involved and be part of publicd service. i deeply appreciate the good work that all of these education centers do to try to give youngr people a chance, the opportunity to see what public ser all about. admission is important because all of us have a tremendous stake in how the natione navigates the considerable challenges that we are facing from the economy to energy, for more to international diplomacy, from deficits to defense, and all of you have a responsibility as citizens to help the country confront these challenges.it ie

it is there responsibility that is not just rest with the president and with the elected leaders of the nation. it rests with all this and with all of you. for more than two centuries our democracy has survived because our heritage is built upon giving something back to themeth nation. that is at the heart of what public service is all about. and i am a big believer in the responsibility of public service that goes back to what this country meant not only for me,no but for my family.as as i said, i am the son of italian immigrants. like millions of others they came to this country with few skills, little money in theirle pocket, and very little english

language ability. they understood the dream that is america. i would ask my father why wouldd you travel those thousands ofuss miles to a strange country, coming from a port area of elite, but at least at the ty at comfort of family. why would you pick up, leave your family and travel all that distance and i never forgot hisr response. he said, because your mother and i believed that we could givehac our children a better life. that is the american dream. to give our children that bettec life. and it is the fundamental bond that we all share. every sunday at dinner as a boya

we had a tradition in my familyl of gathering for dinner. my parents would tell my brother and myself that we had a duty ty give something back to this country which gave them so much. and with that advice came a set of values and a half percentage of right and wrong. all of these qualities arenesty. essential to life and citizenship.p. as a young boy i was taught early on the importance of hardu work. my parents ran a restaurant in monterey during the war years. my earliest recollections were washing glasses in the back of the restaurant.he they believe that child labor was a requirement.t ch then they bought a farm. they ht

my father planted walnuts, and i could remember running irrigation pipes, working with n whole alongside my father.oe as the trees matured my father would go around and knock down the walnuts.uld go that's what they did not is based. my brother and i would be under es, trees begin the mobs. when he got elected to congress my father said that i had been well trained to go to washington because i had been dodging was that's all my life. now, -- [laughter]ter] it was good training.ni along with the inspiration of my parents and two years of service in the army and at that time a young president to said that we should ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do free country, all of that

inspired me to serve. in many ways kennedy's words e geneed a whole generation. the nation benefited from that, from the impact of a generation that got involved in civil rights and education, work in the peace corps and data involved in issues of war andind peace. that torches' service and sacrifice has now passed to asaf new generationic, and this natin once again has benefited from that. it has been a decade of turmoilo these last seniors of war and of crisis, but like every sense decade in our history, there have been those who are willing to step forward, to give

something back to their country. and no group has given more than the men and women in the unitedm states military. [applause] the sacrifice that they obeyed and that their families and loved ones have made our true symbols of what public service is all about. stepping forward to serve the country at a time of war takes uncommon courage and uncommon bravery, and millions have done. so in the ten years since our country was attacked on september 11th. that includes many here in losel

tonight we are honored to be joined by soldiers from nearby fort knox and by members of the kentucky national guard. this audience includes, as i and a stand, nearly 800 military veterans now enrolled at thele university of louisville. we are also joined by the newest members of the military family, cadets from the university's rotc program, and in the comingm years there will have the opportunity to join more than 300 graduates who have served in the military has commissionedtc officers. i, too, am a product of an rotc program at the university of santa clara, and that is what led by serving two years in the tmy.

so i really appreciate the benefits of that program in helping young people be able to enter our military. to the cadets, i want to say olun in volunteering to make this commitment you have distinguished yourselves in a profound and honorable way. you have chosen the path to service. i would urge all of you here, even those for whom military orvice is not an option or an desire to consider how you can ntve back to the country that has given us so much. remember that you, too, have a responsibility and an opportunity to contribute and make a difference, and i have always said that the test and

life is whether somebody made ao difference. and for those who are serving or planning to serve in uniform, please note that the country ist inspired and strengthened byd your example. every day, every day that i hav served in the office ofy i secretary of defense and befored that as director of the cia, i have been privileged to see thin new generation proving oncevinge again the strength and resilience of the american spirit and the unflagging commitment of our citizens to be willing to fight and to sacrifice for the american dream . thanks to their service and thanks to their sacrifice our country has in many wais reached

a strategic turning point after ten years of war, and i believe an historic opportunity tell the security american dream of a better future for our children because of their service,eiserv because of their sacrifice we were able to bring in the iraq war to an honorable conclusion and give the responsibility to govern and secure itself. it will not be easy.l be the opportunity to establish al democracy in a key part of theo world. in addition, because of theirece le tice and sacrifices, i was able to go when we chased thewhe colors. it was a ceremony in which we paid tribute to those that have

sacrificed their lives to allowq the governments of the iraqitoee people. last night at the white house we honor those who served. it was the beginning, not the to end, of a series of tributes that this country will pay to the veterans of that conflict. afghanistan remains an extremely challenging campaign. 2011 was in many ways a turning point in that effort as well. we have begun to draw down our troops, transition to afghan-le- security and responsibility, and we have seen the level of violence go down and the ability of the afghan army to engage in operations and secure areas thai we have transitioned to their control. our goal is that by the end of

2014 the afghans will have the responsibility to govern and secure themselves, and let me b let clear, the brutal attacks that we have seen over the lastl few days on our troops will nott change and will not alter our ca commitment to get this job done. on terrorism we have successfully weakened and weon under biimated its lead under osama bin laden. we have demonstrated that we will continue to do everything possible to protect the citizeno and their security from terrorism. meanwhile, we have reasserted are essential global world and shown that we remain an indispensable partner to the stable and secure world. in libya will lead an international coalition that helped give libya back to the

libyan people. chave the chance recently to go i wasipoli and was deeply moved by the determination of then libyan people to try to forge that better future for themselves. more broadly, to my travels the secretary of defense over the last eight months, a consistent theme has been the desire by countries across the globe, including our allies, both allies, new partners to increasw their partnership with our military forces. all of this has been achieved because there were brave men and women who were willing to serve their nation, who were willing to put their lives on the line, who were willing to die and to protect this country.this cntry we owe it to them to learn the

lessons of the past and to build a better future for them and for their children. that means that as they return home we must embrace them and support them in communities like this across the country. whether it is by helping them pursue an education at schools like louisville, or providing assistance in starting a job or business. as we turn the corner on a decade of war, it is absolutely vital that we maintain and enhance the very strengths that have allowed us to overcome the challenges that we have faced throughout our history. we must maintain the strongest military in the world, and

effective diplomacy and an innovative, dynamic, strong economy. those are all elements of a strong national security. underpinning all of that is the fact that despite all of the frustrations that we have, we have the best system of government on earth. one that i have said gives all of us the responsibility to govern this nation. that responsibility is a heavy one because, despite what i have just said we have achieved, challenges that still confront us are numerous and complex. there are no simple answers here. there are no simple solutions. we are still a nation at war. in afghanistan. we still face the threat of terrorism.

we have confronted it in pakistan. terrorism is still there, still in somalia, still in yemen, still in north africa. they continue to plan attacks on this country. we deal with the dangerous proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. we have to confront behavior of -- the behavior of iran and north korea. they continue to strident -- to threaten global stability. there is a continuing turmoil and unrest in the middle east. rising powers in asia test international relationships. there are growing concerns about cyber-intrusion and cyber- attacks. a whole new area of the war front that can take place in the

future. at the same time, we face an additional threat to our national security which must also be confronted. and that is long-term debt and high deficits. as someone who spent much of my time in public service, working on fiscal policy, i believe that if the country does not control and discipline its budgets, it will inflict severe damage on our national security. it would deprive us of the very resources that we require at the department of defense and it would also hurt the quality of life of the american people. something that is equally important to our broader national security. i refuse to believe that we must be forced to choose between our

national security and fiscal responsibility. but to avoid that choice, we have to be willing to make difficult decisions. about how to reshape our defense strategies, how to maintain our military strength for the future. while also doing our part to reduce the deficit. a bipartisan congress, mandated in the budget control act, that we should reduce the defense budget by $487 billion over the next four years. we have come together as a defense department with the service chiefs, with the combatant commanders, with my undersecretaries, to try to

develop a strategy, not just for now but in the future, that would be the basis for making the budget decisions in order to achieve those savings. we have done that. we have stepped up to the plate. this has been an enormous undertaking. but we have developed a plan and a strategy to develop the force that we need for the future. to reduce defense spending by nearly $500 billion over the next decade. of course, for the future, we will be smaller by necessity. we believe that we must ensure that it is supremely capable and ready and agile and prepared to go wherever we need them to go. in order to defend this country. and that we can maintain that

force with a decisive technological edge in order to confront aggression and effectively defend this country in our global interests in the 21st century. we are going to maintain and even enhance our presence in vital regions of the world like the middle east, the asia- pacific region, to develop an innovative force that will establish partnerships and a presence from europe to africa, from latin america to east asia. let me be clear -- we will be able to defeat any adversary, anytime, anywhere. we must continue to invest in new capabilities like cyber and unmanned systems, space, the

continued growth of special operations forces. those technologies will be crucial to our ability to have a strong defense in the future. and we also need to be able to mobilize. that means maintaining a strong national guard. a strong reserve. maintaining our industrial base. so that if we need the ships and tanks, the equipment, that industrial base will be there and we will have the skills and the crafts that are so important to our national securities, not just now but in the future. to do this, we have to make some painful and politically tough decisions. and we have. i cannot cut $500 billion from

the defense budget and not have its impact on the 50 states in some way. let me also say this -- we cannot balance federal budgets on the back of defense alone. we have done our part. now it is time for congress to step up to the plate and make sure that we do not devastate our national defense by allowing this mechanism called sequester to go into effect. that a sequester would impose another $500 billion in cuts. across-the-board defense cuts that would be devastating to our national defense. additional deficit reduction must be made through a comprehensive and balanced deficit reduction plan. it will involve making

decisions not just on defense but on every other area of federal spending and revenues. making these tough decisions is what our forefathers intended when they established this great country. they made this remarkable system of three separate but equal branches of government. it is a wonderful formula for ensuring that our is never centralized in any one branch of government. it also happens to be a perfect formula for gridlock. the key to breaking that gridlock has to rest with people that are willing to exercise leadership, compromise, and to make sacrifices in order to find answers. as we confront the broader set

of choices and decisions that we need to be made to put america's fiscal house in order, all of us in washington need to demonstrate the same leadership, the same leadership that we counted on our troops to display in battle. they made sacrifices in order to achieve their mission. surely, those of us in washington can make sacrifices in order to govern this nation. we know from our history that the american people have always overcome crisis and adversity. but we cannot just sit back and count on things to work out. it will take leadership. it will take sacrifice. and it will take a willingness to fight to secure that dream

for the future. i often tell the story of the rabbi and the priest. they decided they would get to know each other and understand each other's religion. one evening, they thought they would go to a boxing match thinking that if they went to the events together, they would discuss each other's religion. just before the bell rang, one of the boxer's made the sign of the cross. the rabbi nudged the priest and said, "what does that mean?" the priest said, "it does not mean a damn thing if he cannot fight." [laughter] it does not mean a dam thing -- it does not mean a damn thing if

we are not willing to fight for it. if we fight for what is right, i believe we can turn crisis into opportunity. and demonstrate to the world that this resilient american spirit will endure for our children, their children, and beyond. capt. stacey blackburn, a 2004 louisville graduate, also a mcconnell senator scholar, is also what i am talking about. stacey serves in the army as a jag officer and she recently returned from afghanistan. like me, her decision to enter public service goes back to the lessons that were instilled in her by her family.

as a young girl, reading her grandfather's poems about serving in world war two as part of the greatest generation. she, for the first time, learned what it was like to be part of something bigger than herself. she is now part of something bigger than herself. part of the next generation that is willing to fight and if necessary, and died for their country. -- if necessary, die for their country. like her, we all pledged to fight for that dream of a better life, to fight for an america that will always remain the strongest power on earth. most importantly, to fight for an america that will always be

governed by it and for all people. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you, secretary panetta. you can all be seated. we are not done yet. we have time for a few questions. we have four mcconnell scholar alums in audience. there should be two on the right and two on the left. put up your hand if you have a question now. let's go quickly to the right. i see one right here.

>> my name is meredith. he said it was our duty as americans to serve our country. during your time in washington, what you believe has been the greatest difference you have made in service to our country? what marquette you left for future generations? >> -- what mark have you left for future generations? >> the joy of public service is to get things done. i have never thought that people were elected to office to sit on their rear end and try to survive. the purpose of being elected is to get things done. i had the good fortune of being in congress at a time when both parties worked together. we had the opportunity to get some things done. probably the one thing -- well, there are several things.

let me just say -- one thing that i am proud of is the work that i did on the budget. i was chairman of the budget committee. i had the opportunity to work on budget summits. i was involved in the first budget summit with president reagan. he again cent of his secretary of treasury, chief of staff. we gathered in a small room in the capitaol. we worked through and develop a deficit reduction package. it was not easy to do but we did it. the next opportunity was i sat in the summit at andrews air force base for almost two months working again with bipartisan leadership and representatives cabinet,sident bush's developing a deficit reduction package of about $500 million.

it was tough. it was tough politically but it was the right thing to do. that, combined with and which i was omb director, putting the budget plan for president clinton together, also brought the budget down by about $500 billion. having the opportunity to work on that, it was the result of each of those plans, an economy that was able to move forward as a result of washington's showing some fiscal discipline. the consequence of that was we balanced the federal budget. not only balanced it, but we had a surplus. i look back on that as an important achievement and i regret that we are now back in the same damn hole and having to come out of it again. i do think that if the same kind of leadership comes together, we

can get it done. the other thing i am most proud of is the cia, having worked with some great men and women at the cia to not only develop the information on bin laden, but help with the operation that finally brought him down. that is not bad. [applause] >> my name is jesse. i am a student in the political science master's program. my question pertains to the dictatorship of belarus. americans are bombarded with media reports on the middle east but few even know the country of belarus exists. i find that worrisome given that millions of dollars from russia have just been invested in the country for a nuclear energy program. secretary clinton said that she supported this program if

belarus would adhere to national standards and regulations. the country did not seem to be -- from past actions, it does not seem like that is a possibility. what are we doing for our defense to make sure that this threat does not come about? we are worried about nuclear power in iran. is there any possibility that the dictator in belarus could partner up and develop something that is not important for u.s. interests? >> as i said in my speech, one of the concerns i have is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. we have to be very conscious of the danger of that happening. it is what concerns us about iran and north korea. it concerns us about other

nations as well. specifically with regards to belarus, i leave that issue in the hands of the secretary of state. as secretary of defense, i want to make sure we are taking the steps necessary to make sure we are doing everything possible to try to eliminate any proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. that means ensuring that no country uses nuclear power as a vehicle to develop nuclear weapons. that is something we have to stop. >> my name is raul. as secretary of defense, what are the problems that keep you awake at night? [laughter] >> i have a hell of a lot to

keep me awake tonight. there are a number of issues that are out there. i have to tell you, i do worry, however, about this new area i talked about -- cyber war. we are literally getting hundreds of thousands of attacks every day that try to exploit information in various agencies and departments and, frankly, throughout this country. this is obviously growing technology, growing expertise in the use of cyber warfare. the danger is that cyber -- i think the capabilities are available in cyber to virtually crippled this nation, to bring down our power grid system, to impact on our governmental wallems, to impact on o

street -- on our financial systems. they could literally paralyzed this country. it is very important for us to understand that we not only have to defend against that kind of attack, but we have to develop the intelligence resources to understand when both possibilities are coming develop greater capabilities in the cyber-arena. one thing i worry about the most right now is knowing that this is possible and feeling we have not taken all the necessary steps to protect this country from that possibility. >> thank you for being here tonight, secretary panetta. my question is about the arab spring and the situation in the middle east. we have been watching people in

syria and egypt struggle with freedom and democracy. how do you feel the events taking place in those countries impact america's national defence? >> we are going through a very historic time in the middle east. the last time we encountered anything like this was the fall of the soviet elite -- soviet union. suddenly, the number of nations is going on their own and trying to develop what their system of governance will be, how to basically put together the institutions that govern, how to be able to develop the kind of reforms that they need to put in place in order for people to participate in their government. what is happening in the middle east, what happened in tunisia, egypt, what happened in libya, the turmoil we now see in syria

-- we see a middle east that is truly in a changing state in which people are, in fact, trying to achieve a chance to be able to have a better life and to be able to govern themselves. we have seen these dramatic changes. i think the important thing is to try to do what we can to make sure these changes move by the right direction. when that kind of literal revolution takes place, there are all kinds of forces that come into play. there are those that would like to take advantage of those changes that often times represent extremism, that represent the views we do not concur with. those begin to come into play as well. i think the greatest challenge

for the united states and the international community is to do what we can to make sure these countries as they go through these changes can develop the institutions of government, can develop the reforms that are important to developing eight country truly represent greater freedom and greater opportunity to govern themselves for the future. that is not easy. it is a tough challenge, but i believe we have a chance to be able to guide these countries in that direction. as this happens, my view is that, in fact, it further isolates iran. iran is the influence that tries to undermine stability in these nations. the more these changes take place, the more isolated iran will be. ultimately, i think, the greatest challenge we have in the middle east region is to try to do what we can to promote

greater stability and greater democracy. [applause] >> we will take one last question. >> good afternoon. thank you are speaking today. a 2008 department of defense report noted how climate change will impact current and future u.s. national security. the department of defense has been progressive in transitioning bases around the world, solar panels, etc. the weather patterns in somalia have led to difficulties with shabbab.al- could you talk about climate change and the department of defense and could you get senator mitch mcconnell to stop blocking that legislation? thank you. [applause] >> i learned a long time ago, do

not mess around with people. state what you think is right and hope that others will follow and be able to incorporate those thoughts in whatever they do. i have tremendous respect for mitch mcconnell. i have always enjoyed the opportunity to discuss with him not only this issue, but other issues as well. climate change -- what we developed at the cia was an intelligence branch of the cia that focused on that issue for intelligence purposes because of the implications that these changes might have with regards to national security. our example, when we encourage greater drought, when we incur

areas that have less rain and are incurring unusual climate impacts, it creates, obviously, an impact in terms of the population. we have to be aware of it because it could create chaos. we have seen it in africa and other parts of the world. we need that type of intelligence. in addition, because of the ice there are indications of rising oceans. we have seen that take place. our concern is how will that impact our ports, our facilities, our low lighting levels that could be impacted by that. we continue to try to get intelligence on that as well. in addition, obviously, we do look at the polar ice caps and are able through imagery determine what is happening with polar ice caps and how quickly

they are melting and what the impact will be as the polar ice cap melts, national security implications are that countries like russia and others are going to be looking for the opportunity to go into those areas and try to go after the resources. they have already made claims to that effect. as it melts and as those opportunities increase, there are countries that are going to assert themselves, trying to gain access to the resources that are there. that also constitutes an issue that relates to national security. from an intelligence point of view, it is important to keep track of those trends. this is not about the battle of climate change and the issues related to that. this is about what we are seeing happening and the intelligence that flows from that. that is important for us to

consider as we look at issues that could threaten our national security. [applause] >> i want to thank the secretary for a wonderful conversation tonight. we appreciate you being here. thank you. [applause] in addition to thanking the secretary for being here tonight, i want to thank senator mcconnell for having this committee -- for allowing this community to have

>> where the secretary of defense became after the republican leader mitch mcconnell. he is going to be one of the speakers we will have for you live tonight from the american israel public affairs committee annual conference being held here in d.c. and speakers will include the republican leader of the senate as well as house democratic leader nancy pelosi and israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. all of that beginning at 9:30 p.m. eastern time. coming up in about 10 minutes, we'll hear for republican presidential candidate rick santorum expected to speak with supporters in ohio and the buckeye state of one of 10 states holding elections and caucuses tomorrow on super tuesday. bully for rick santorum to her back, we'll get some perspective on the races tomorrow at

"washington post" national political correspondent, dance all over but rnc chairman, michael steele. >> that began with a simple point. you've been writing about tomorrow being a pivotal point. how so quiet >> i think the importance of super tuesday this this year is that we will really care for the first time an indication of aa, how long this fight actually one. we know will go on for sometime, but the question is how long? and the question is, would there be any candidate who's been challenging governor romney who comes out of super day with a realistic chance of winning the nomination? we've had ups and downs, different people rising and falling. romney has been kind of a savvy competitor, the person to be. but after tomorrow we're going to have a better sense of the totality of this phrase in the degree to which governor romney has the advantage of the rest of the field.

>> dan, we've been touching on a number of issues with the student including the money, organization, infrastructure, what is the worst possible case for it to marinate for someone like a mitt romney? can he get by with maybe winning barely or not winning for example to see what happens if he loses ohio, how do you and folks at the national press corps see this storyline unfolding particularly given that newt and santorum and ron paul made it clear they don't plan to go anywhere. does this just more hurdles for matt or is there more for him? >> this has been such a spot for him although i think the boston team running this campaign concluded a long time ago

because of the greatest that jesus is likely to be a longer race and i think many people in the media or who follow these things might have anticipated. we are all used to do with campaigns in which momentum really takes over and drives people on the sidelines. but you do not have that phenomenon this year. so i think there's two ways people look at marinate. the way the romney campaign wants everyone to look at it because they battle for delegates. they are almost always certainly going to win the battle for delegates and the reason for that is the first of all it's virginia is only competitor on the ballot is ron paul and given the rules of the game and the rules of the road of virginia, and that romney could very well win all the delegates tomorrow night, so that gives them a big leg up over santorum for gingrich starting out there. ohio is obviously another important prize has cut 66 delegates in this day. santorum has competed very, very

well said that he going into bolding places tomorrow. the senator santorum has not filed a full set of delegates in that state. the romney campaign had a conference call on saturday in which they said he is 18 short of the 66 full-sized delegates. so that means even if you were to win the state in the popular vote, and that romney almost certainly will win a majority of the delegates. as you go through tomorrow night, it's pretty likely that governor romney is going to expand his lead in delegates. i think what you will be hearing from them is what we heard from the obama camp game when they were up against hillary clinton in 2008, which is focused on the delegates. we are in a better position than anybody else to win the delegate race. but having said that, i think the other reality is that if governor romney loses another state, if he were to lose ohio

to marinate to rick santorum and give santorum a shot in the arm, it creates another kind of psychological foil that he cannot win an important swing state, put aside the question of whether people who lose the state of the primary can come back and win it as we saw president obama to that in 2008, but governor romney is at the point where if he can do what i think a lot of people anticipated he might be able to do, then he can, but they are with a pretty good night. but if he falls short in ohio, if he doesn't look very strong like tennessee, if he does not pick up a reasonable number of delegates in georgia, there'll be really attention to the question of what's wrong with that romney. so this is going to be a very interesting post super tuesday or super tuesday evening as the various campaigns try to spin it in the direction they want. >> when he turned a memo leaked

to a couple of questions. bob, it is all yours. >> okay, great. actually i'm a student who would love to put it the spotlight on you with what might have been if he can pull some predictions. second question. go ahead. >> okay, let me jump in on picture question my death. the magnitude ariel dawson at the washington center. gary l. -- ariel? [inaudible] >> probably not likely. if the glass brokered and more competitive as it is very well

laid out, the battle lines are drawn in such a way that yeah, i'm at the popular vote but i'm still getting delegates, so i lose the popular vote, but i get even more delegates. the romney campaign is very right about that. that is the important underlying figure that you need to get to the 1100 plus delegates that you need to secure the nomination. but keep in mind because of the proportional vote that's going to take place tomorrow night, only two out of 10 will be winner take all. everybody's going to get something, whether it's 15 delegates, 40 delegates, whatever it happens to be, everyone will like would've something to put in their pocket and they can carry with them into tampa this fall. that again does not necessarily argue well for this process to be envying next week or the week after that, the rather right through the california primary. and whatever i have with rick

santorum going into this allowing to make a case for some role, something in the platform, speech, whatever it is i'm going to be looking forward to negotiate with. the real thing for someone like a rick santorum or newt gingrich is they don't care so much that you could amass delegates. the pickup 46 tomorrow night at a virginia. they are not worried about that part of it. the goal is to keep him away from the 1144, whatever the number is. >> you can watch this and it entirety later on in our companion network, c-span. we'll take you live to cuyahoga falls, ohio for a campaign event with rick santorum. he will be introduced by senator michael lines. >> second, who can be iraq obama in the fall? that's what the question asked.

[applause] fran and i have known rick and karen for almost 20 years and as was said so eloquently in moment ago, what you see is what you get. rick santorum and i met almost 20 years ago as the same core principles rick santorum has today been the same core principles he will take to the white house in january. [applause] i watched brick work on the senate floor. and you know, when you talk about being a conservative, rick santorum is a conservative who cut things done and who actually has the record and it's not just talked about it. rick santorum, i watched him. and we took on welfare reform. and there was no one more eloquent about the importance of welfare reform than rick santorum. because what he said was essentially this, it's not about

saving money is important. it's not that these people going to work. output is really important is giving every american, opportunity so they can do better, so they would have that opportunity, so they can get jobs and better themselves and better their children so their children would live in a better society. that is how we approach the issue and that's how he approaches every single issue. rick santorum was on the senate floor. he and i were working night after night going up against barbara boxer and others were retailing with the policy bans and regarding past and libido later and we got it that bill clinton gave them we came right back in again with rick's leadership, we vetoed again. but on the third time, with rick's leadership we got a pass and we had a president in the

white house and it got turned into law and we were there for the signing ceremony. that is what rick santorum can do. [applause] entitlement. we talked a lot about entitlements. rick santorum was trying to get people to a political carriage when no one else wanted to do it. no one else wanted to talk about it, but rick santorum as they are in leading the charge. he will be the president who is the moral courage to take on the tough issues. and i've watched him connect with voters in ohio. he said he and the president is a lot of things, but one thing it is via validated too late. we found that out with ronald reagan. the ability to take us places sometimes it's uncomfortable for us to go and do things the next president is going to have to do is be tough. so they've need a person who's got the moral leadership, has got the courage to do it.

rick santorum is that person to do it. [applause] his core values, his core values have never changed it will not change. he is a fighter. in case you haven't noticed that. the man started with 2% in the polls. and when you're at 2%, nobody knows you. i mean, it's a statistical area 2%. 2% in the polls. no money. no one gave it a chance. no one thought we would be here tonight with rick santorum sat to do battle with governor romney tomorrow with a great chance of winning ohio. no one gave him a chance. no one thought he was a conservative. no one. [cheers and applause] no one thought it was going to come down to sue people and no one ever thought rick santorum would be here.

the easier today because he's a fighter. he is here today because he takes on the odds and frankly that's what we need. there's a grassroots movement spreading around the state. it must just be candid with this election is about. governor romney has the money. he spent 12 to $14 million in ohio in the last few weeks. that's the fastest rate of spending i've ever seen in ohio politics and he's done it on this primary. he is the establishment candidate. let's be honest, but rick santorum is the people's candidate. [applause] we need a fighter. we need a fighter to beat barack obama in the fall. we can't have someone who has no ability and who rick says is uniquely unqualified to talk about obamacare. governor romney can't talk about obamacare. because he had romney care and

we're going to give that issue out if governor romney is the nominee. we cannot have someone who cannot talk about obamacare, nor can you summon it simply cannot connect the average ohio and in the average american. [applause] rick santorum is one of last. he's from pennsylvania, neighboring state who understands the issue of manufacturing, job creation in ohio. he understands what the state needs. i've watched that connection and i will predict in the fall when rick santorum is the nominee. we will bring back. we'll bring back those people we used to refer to as the reagan democrats. we will bring them back and they will go for rick santorum. it is in java land, it is my distinct honor is because this campaign in ohio to present to you, my dear friend, the next

president of the united states, rick santorum. [cheers and applause] >> see you tomorrow night. [cheers and applause] thank you. how we doing? thank you. thank you, everybody. thank you very much. thank you. [inaudible conversations] well, thank you so much. are we going to win tomorrow quarks all right. we'll so much.

thank you, general dewine. thank you for traveling around the stadium looking for is just as hard. you know mike dewine pages works to so hard. thank you, mike. [applause] ally to thank the other folks who spoke here. our dear friend, rose. thank you so much, rose. thanks for coming over. bryant, thank you so much for being here and helping us out. now, just thank you for being here. dubious speakers outside? to the folks outside, next or thank you because it's a little chilly out there. so i just want to thank them and all of you for being here tonight. what a great rally here to send us into a very big day tomorrow. [cheers and applause] you might have noticed there's a

few people behind me. and if you have it recognize them before, they are not just behind me. they are on my side. they have just been amazing. and holding me up and encouraging me and kicking my every now and then. and while i get a little bit off message. but that is what families do. i'm very, very blessed to is as good as that is being the true north star for me, someone who is my soulmate and i wouldn't be here, just simply would easier without and that is my wife, karen. [cheers and applause] and karen and i are the parents of eight children. we are raising seven. we have a little boy and have been, but we have three, a representative sampling of the six. we have four boys and three

girls. there's two boys, one girl, representative sampling. so we have number two child can render over three number four. danielle sir and mark moran are here with us. [applause] sporting a sweater vest i noticed the rear of all have the funds to rick santorum.com if you'd like to get year-round. and a lot of people ask. mike mentioned how tremendous the support as we have gotten. it's just been inspiring over these last few weeks that people have stepped up when all the money, all the endorsement in washington d.c. and all the party chieftains have lined up the high and the guy next in line with the most money. and the people of america saw guys from a little steel town in southwestern pennsylvania go out and take his message on the road

in iu and drive around in the jack trout, a dodge ram pickup truck with that to understand as the miles on it. we drove around and my son john occasionally and daniel are one of the other boys in occasion of my daughter elizabeth would come with us and care and wouldn't write the truck. that's not true. she did. she loved the trout. we had a great time. no one is paying much attention to us. so we went out and delivered a strong message that we need to date conservative, someone who had a record and a vision, not just that you could run on, that a candidate who is someone who understood the plight of everyday americans in america, so if you grow up and in america. and was able to grow out and articulate the vision and we are concerned not just about the 99%, not just the 95%, but 100%

of americans. we've got to plan to give everybody the opportunity to rest in society and filter turns because that is what america is about. [applause] that we are here in ohio. as mike said, we have been hammered here and the media. $12 million. $12 million in the last few weeks. 12 the one is the ratio that has been outspent. it's really remarkable and have four or five polls out today average the five polls here in the state of ohio. [cheers and applause] it's gut check time. who wants it the most? what do you say it?

[cheers and applause] now people have said well, rick has an advantage. you come from western pennsylvania, the neighboring state. they don't realize the people of ohio are steeler fans, right? see, there you go. i've got things have got to overcome. now overcome. now thankfully a member pirate fan in you guys just feel sorry for us over there. but we really. you know, pittsburgh and cleveland. they are sister cities in many respects with the intensity of the rifle because we are so much alike. the communities and neighborhoods. we all grew up with the rivalries, all of that. the sense of community, the importance of family, faith and civic community organizations and schools, small businesses, the local coaches and the people who helped out when mom and dad

were so stressed that they came in to pick things out. that's the environment that builds a strong. but that one of america's what they now call the rushville. ladies and gentlemen, i believe in this area. i believe in the people that go across the midwest from new jersey all the way through. i believe that the days -- the better days are not behind us. we are seen in some spots opportunity. we are seeing places where industries are growing again and yet we haven't quite made it the way back. it's so many of our communities because government has focused on the left and president obama focused on how we can redistribute wealth, how we can spread the wealth around and

focus on helping people by creating more government programs and exploding the food stamp rolls cut in medicaid rules, as chip, you name it. these rules are exploding with government. almost 50% of the american people, almost 50% receive some government benefit. and president obama's eyes, that success, in my eyes, that his government. it is not focused on the right thing. they should be focused on getting people off those programs into her, not putting it upon those programs. [cheers and applause] and that's what we do. we put a plan out there when i was traveling around this country i was talking to people and they knew growing up in western pennsylvania but almost

every little town in america gripped around in your your age and processing facility for e-mail or processing for minerals, whatever it is, but something that two people together but they were making things, producing things. [roll ..

because it's important that we continue to inspire that innovation and creativity to the american people. [applause] contrary to what the media would have you believe, believe people should be allowed and have the opportunity. government should be in the marketplace that there are jobs for college graduates coming and we should have the opportunity for everybody who wants to go to college to go to college, but we have to understand that not everybody wants to or restricting their life in that direction. and we have to have jobs for everybody, no matter what the skill level here in america. [applause] we can't be leaving sectors of our economy to ravages of

foreign competition where they don't care to play fair. they play to win. we need to make sure the people who have the opportunity to get the good paying jobs and manufactured and they are high-paying, $20,000 on average more a year in those jobs in manufacturing versus a free of her job on american average. we need to have a president who looks out and says we care. we want a dynamic system, not with the president suggested give me tax credits here or the kind the president wants you to do. we have seen that with a green energy and a host of other failures out of this administration. our plan is called by "the wall street journal" both compared to a certain governor of massachusetts plan which was called tenet.

our plan is called supply-side economics for the working men in america. we have a plan that says we are going to take the corporate tax rates all corporations cut it in half except i mentioned before the research development tax. 17%, simple, basic. small businesses, large businesses have the same calculation, make it easier on everybody so people can focus on hiring people growing the business instead of worried about how much they redirect their business so they can save money on their taxes. and we also need for manufacturers special rate because well, if you get ought of their businesses around this country, they compete with each other here, but its manufacturers who have to compete with countries overseas who want those jobs. so we have to treat them differently because they are in a different competitive model. so i take the corporate tax for

manufacturers from 35% to zero and we tell every manufacturer we want you to make things here in ohio and make things in america. [applause] if you made the mistakes of shipping our jobs overseas you had to because you couldn't to survive without doing so a lot of manufacturers were in that position. the $1.5 trillion overseas right now in profits that you made if you bring it back down to pay 35% tax. bring it back after our president and we pass our meeting in america plan you don't have to pay anything if you invest and equipping it here in america. [applause] so we've been talking jobs and of course eastern ohio the issue is energy. isn't that nice to hear it from

a big issue in eastern ohio is energy. i can tell you it's sweet to here in pennsylvania. it's nice to be able to look at the resources that we have in the ground that blessed eastern ohio with the coal mines and southern ohio for many years as it did for those of us in western pennsylvania. we had a resource based economy that built the manufacturing based economy and now we have an opportunity to tap new resources. the amazing thing is the president of the united states sees this tremendous potential here in ohio and pennsylvania and often north dakota and sees it not as potential, but as a problem, as a liability, not an asset and he's talking about we have to do some intensive regulation or study on this new technology called hydraulic fracturing. except hydraulic tracking is not

a new technology. is a technology that has existed since world war ii. there's been hundreds of thousands of wells drilled in in america using hydraulic tracking, and yet this president in the face of that sides with the environmentalists, sides with them who would like to see energy prices high and in fact they are. when you see the gas pump when you're pumping gas the next time and you see that number go from dollars with two columns to that third column and see the zero come up, think of 04 obama and that is why you are paying that. [applause] president obama's energy policy to please another letter in

addition to o -- n. n-o to read offshore drilling, no, federal land, no, alaska, no, keystone pipeline, no triet ladies and gentlemen, what do we need a president to say? there we go, that's what i will do as president of the united states on day 1i will sign to build the keystone pipeline. [applause] we are going to start getting this economy going but if we don't deal with the huge explosion of the federal government and regulation yes to delete clause to the president said a number of regulations for the number of regulations that cost businesses over a hundred million dollars a year. he blew away the next, the

average over 60 a year. he did 150 in one year alone. piling up costs after cost after cost i know there are business people out here. i've talked to so many of them to say you know, i could live with clinton, bush a little better but i'm spending all of my time trying to figure out what this president is doing next to me. i can't spend time growing my business. particularly if your financial services, small banks, folks in the real-estate market, the president is destroying the economy with his attitude out of washington, d.c.. and of course the worst offender of regulations, and of the worst offender of crites, of creating a culture of dependency because now if this bill is implemented

in 2014, not just 45 to 50% of americans will be on dependency programs we will have money taken from some and distribute to others but every single american will be dependent on the federal government for something that's rather important to most people, their health and their life thanks to obamacare. there is no more important issue in this race. electorally as well as in principle than obamacare magnifies and focuses all that is wrong with what this president is trying to do with this country. he's trying to expand the federal government, micromanage your economic life. he's trying to impose his value on people of faith. and yet in this race, we have

one candidate who is the perfect foil for president obama and his big government over reach. his exploded deficit control of people's lives from the time i came into the united states congress 20 years ago when bill clinton was talking about health care as the rights when he was a runner in 1992. a couple guys on the budget committee we back then decided we'd better have an alternative to this because health care is coming. so two guys on the budget committee got to get free and we listened to a lot of people and came up with an idea that we'd like from hearing different people talk about their ideas to the it was called medical savings accounts which later became health savings accounts and you know the other person that came up with that idea. i might add he is a guy from

pittsburgh but he happens to be your governor. [applause] as you know he ended up going to the ohio state university. [applause] and he liked it here enough to stay, and i am certainly glad for the people of ohio. ladies and gentlemen, from the start you know john kasich and how principal he is. you know he's a fighter and a scrapper. i'm a fighter and a scrapper, too. i will go out there and fight for freedom, fight for the liberty that is at stake in this country because of obamacare. [applause] so for 20 years i advocated free-market health care, government getting out of the

health care business, be leaving in 300 million consumers to solve the health care problems giving them the power, and the resources, then the control. what did president obama do? he takes the approach the government needs to do, take money from some, give it to others all under the guidance giving you the right. ladies and gentlemen, in america do the rights come from the government? >> no. where do they come from? we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and endowed by our creator with certain any legal rights. the government says can give you a right, not only can they take it away, but they can show you exactly how you will exercise that right by rationing care, forcing you to violate your religious convictions or

anything else they force you to do. that's why obamacare must be replaced. [applause] [chanting] >> thank you. this race is coming down between two candidates. one who is uniquely positioned on the biggest issue of the day, on the economy, on control of your life, which is obamacare, the biggest issue, the one that in the swing states will decide this race, 75% of the voters disagree with obamacare and the mandate that included.

it's the most powerful issue in the states that will determine this election. you already decided here in ohio how much you love individual mandates. [laughter] folks, you're the person who's tied for us at the polls in this race. but it was governor of massachusetts. he imposed an individual mandate on the people of massachusetts. he imposed a variety of government control mechanisms to force people not just to buy the insurance but what insurance they would choose from, what doctors, with the limits are on coverage, with their ratings will be on the price of your coverage, how much you will be fined if you don't. there are 15 things in a recent

report. romney care advocated that are identical to what obamacare put in place and for a long time he said welcome on the m4 romney care because it worked in massachusetts, but i never suggested that that should be adopted a national level. i said we could look from what we did it, the good things and the bad things and he repeatedly told that to the people of ohio, michigan, new hampshire, iowa, south carolina. he went all over to say no, i never encourage anybody in the individual mandate of the federal level. i'm against that. except we found out over the last three days that in fact that's exactly what he did not fight years ago were ten years ago, but right in the middle of the d date in the obamacare.

in 2009 with an op-ed that was removed from the archives of usa today. but an old copy was found that said maybe you should learn from what we did right in massachusetts, and he goes on and talks about the individual mandate and all the other things president obama adopted. and then he has a segment on meet the press and 2,009, same thing. it's one thing to put in a government-run health care program where you are governor of the state. it's wrong in principle. he would have been the worst candidate to go and make that case that i told you on the state level but i'm not for it on the federal level. it's not a strong argument. if the policy is bad, the policy

is bad. [applause] to do you believe in the health savings account or government control like romney care? do you believe in freedom or control? that's the answer. that is the issue in this race. that's the fundamental issue in this race. not only to governor mitt romney and for the federal government program that barack obama gladly accepted and did but now we know that governor romney for a course of his campaign has told the people of this country it wasn't true. now it's one thing to take that policy and it's another thing to mislead the american public. if the governor does this on a variety of subjects he says you don't understand.

we didn't impose the morning after pill on catholic hospitals. you didn't understand until you found out he did. when you have $12 million you can outspend someone 12 or 20 or 30-1, you can stop the answering the questions. he won't be able to ignore and avoid answering the questions in the fall. and as a result, he will be the weakest candidate we could possibly put forward on the most important issue of today. [applause] it always comes down to ohio but usually not the primary. [laughter] i know folks are used to having been rode hard by folks in the

fall election and asked to do the extraordinary and super things and some in the county and top chairman. [applause] with the enthusiasm for freedom we need to make sure that ohio puts forth the best possible nominee to take on barack obama. [applause] >> i want you to help over the next 24 hours get on your facebook and on the twitter.

send e-mails to communicate with people. tomorrow go out and work hard, take a day for freedom. [applause] at the end of the declaration of independence there is a line of the founders who signed this document at the time it seemed almost impossible that america could separate and be freed from england. it seemed impossible. powerful. these folks dressed of in beautiful red coats finely

pressed, people in the army who knew because they had the best education how to win a war but our founders sign that document and put their lives on the line because they wanted to create an opportunity for each of them, their children and people they knew not of to be free. when they sign the document they said we pledge to each other. that's what america has always been about. it's about a great country, but ultimately it's about us. it's about you and me, your neighbor and your family, the greatness of america is not the patriotism we have for the

government. it's the love we have for each other in our common bond to build a great community, a family, neighborhoods and thereby a great country. so the pledge to each other their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. [applause] the next 24 hours i am not pledging anybody come asking anybody to pledge their life. also, as you know, today people are out there across the world putting on their uniform of the american military and defending our freedom every single day. and we thank god for them. [applause] and our veterans.

and i'm not asking you to pledge your fortune, although it tonight when you go home you can go to ricksantorum.com on your mind for believe raised $9 million in the month of feb. [applause] and two-thirds of that money came from people who gave us under $200. [applause] i had a young woman come up dressed in a little shirt and uniform, she handed me $13. she said that's the tips i mean it from being a pet groomer today. [applause] another little girl here in ohio that he did me $20 for her

babysitting money. [applause] story after story of people stepping up to read last night in oklahoma a young man made over 2500 calls, 2500 calls in the state of oklahoma and he was sitting there in a wheelchair with spina bifida. [applause] folks, i can tell you story after story of people that are concerned about how this country will view them, the average person in america who the government thinks they should be ruled who doesn't believe in their ability to be free any

more and they are doing big things, little things, but they are doing things. why? because they all understand their honor is at stake. we have been given a great inheritance here in america. this generation, every generation. what makes the greatest generation the greatest generation? is it because they were of higher character, no. it's because they identified the challenge to freedom in america and grows to meet that challenge. [applause] you in ohio who know the challenge. in ohio you know the challenge and the next 24 hours we are

going to see from the people here in ohio and stand up and meet that challenge to do your duty, preserve your honor and keep freedom alive. thank you. and god bless. [applause] thanks so much. [inaudible conversations]

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c-span has been covering all republican candidates tonight ahead of tomorrow's super tuesday contest where ohio is one of the ten states holding a contest. you can watch all the candidates remarks again tonight over on c-span as well as a live appearance by ron paul from idaho falls idaho on c-span3 and that is at 9 p.m. eastern. rick santorum is going to be here in washington tomorrow morning speaking at the american israel public affairs committee meeting. mitt romney at new gingrich will address the conference and over satellite c-span3 will have live coverage of the remarks and other events tomorrow morning beginning 8:35 eastern.

today called for u.s.-led air strikes against a the al asad regime and syria saying that the u.s. had a, quote, moral obligation to do so. arizona senator john mccain spoke on the floor of the senate responding to the ongoing violence in syria. he talks for about 30 minutes. >> the crisis and syria has reached a decisive moment which estimated that more than 7,500as lives have been lost the united states declared the syrian crimes against humanity andindic putting the inridiscriminatecive shelling of civilians, the of execution of the factors and the widespread torture of prisoners.

al asad is now doing to homes wa with his father did. photo aerial photographs procured by the human rights watched show ae city that has been laid to waste by the tanks and artillery. a british photographer who was t wounded and evacuated from the a city described it as a, quote, medieval siege and slaughter. slter," th the ekinds of mass atrocitiescit that nato intervenedha in libyao the reality in homes.indeed syri indeed, syria todays is the same of some of the worst state-sponsored violence since molosovich crimes in the balkans or the annihilation of the chechnya and city. ann what is all the more astonishinf is that the killing spree has continued despite the escalating

his regime is almost completelyn isolated. it's been expelled from the arab league and by the generalexco assembly, excoriated by the u.nd human rights council, andry abandoned buy nearly every college to the country that once maintained diplomatic relations with it.at the sam at the same time, the regime isg facing an array of economic sanctions by the united states, arab l the european union, the arab otr league and others. measures that have targeted thed assets of the henchmen, cut off the central bank and othernsti financialtu institutions, ground sirius b5 cargo flights andime's restricted the regime's ability. to sell oil. this has been an impressive t administration deserves a lot of credit for helping tothe probl orchestrate it. despiteea the years of diplomacs

backed by sanctions, the top lieutenants show no signs of giving up and to take the path in for exile. it to the contrary, they appear to be accelerating their fight to the finish and they are doinf so with the support of the foreign governments especiallynd in russia, china and iran. a steady supply of weapons,tance ammunition and other assistance is flowing from moscow and tehran and as "the washington post" reported yesterday, the military and intelligence operatives are likely active in syria helping to direct and sharpen the brutality thes security council was totally avu shut down as an avenue for increased pressure and the recently convened contact groupp while a good step in principleos

precious action when it met last month in to nisha. unfortunately with each passings day, the international response undertaken by evens on theing t ground and syria. some are beginning tos acknowledge this reality as well as its implications. saudi arabia calling for our opp main opposition forces and syria, the newly electedcteduwai parliament is called on their government to do the same. supre cost week the supreme allied commander of nato, admiral james testified to the senate armed services committee that providing the arms to opposition persons and syria would help them shift the balance of power a sod. s mostyr importantly the syrians themselves are increasingly calling for international military involvement.th the opposition national councili

recently announced that it is mr establishing a military bureauee to channel weapons and other systems to the free syrian army and country. other members of the council are demanding a more robustto be intervention. to be sure, there are legitimate questions about the efficacy of military operations in syria anq equally legitimate concerns about their risks and uncertainties it is understandable that the administration is reluctant to move beyond diplomacy andsanctin sanctions.unfo unfortunately, this policy is increasingly disconnected from t the dire conditions on the bec ground and syria which has become a full-blown state of. armed conflict. in the face of this new reality, the administration's approach to syria is starting to look more

like a hope than a strategy. so too does their continued is insistence the fall is the inevitable. tell that to the people of theit other cities the the forces are now moving against.nothin in thi nothing in this world is claimso predetermined and claims about f the inevitability of defense can often be a convenient way to abdicate responsibility. do but even if we do assume that a solid will ultimately fall that may still take a really long time.me in. servicestt committee the directr of national intelligence jamesuo clapper said if the status quo persists, al asad could hang on, for months, probably longer and that was before. so just to be clear even under

the best case scenario for the current policy, the cost of be success will likely be months of continued bloodshed and thousands of additional lives lost. is this moral the acceptable to us?ion to i believe it should not be.nd in addition to the humanitarian what is just as compelling if not more so for the strategic and geopolitical the interests. put simply, the united states is a clear national security in interest stopping the violence and syria and forcing her to po. leave power this way syria is very different than libya. the stakes are far higher both for america and some of our s closest allies. forward the regime serves as an operating base in the regime inb the heart of the arab world. sup

it has supported palestinianof terrorist groups and alarms of all kinds including tens of thousands of rockets intohezbola hezbollah in lebanon but remaind a committed enemy of israel.it chemical weaponsch and materials and has sought to develop a nuclear weapons capability. priy it was the primary gateway for t the countless foreign fighters who infiltrated into iraq and killed american troops. the lieutenant of the blood of hundreds of americans on theirws hands. many in washington feels what mt comes after a sought might be worse. how could it be any worse thannt this? the end of the regime which hase the lifeline to iran and eliminate a longstanding threats to israel for the independence a and deflecting strategic defeat

on the regime it would be a geopolitical success of the the more trahan all of the compellig moral and humanitarian reasons this is why he cannot be about to succeed and remain in power.t we have a clear national security interest in his defeat, and that alone should incline ue to tolerate a large degree of risk in order to see that this goald. is achieved. increasingly, the question forot u.s. policy is not whether foreign forces will intervene militarily and syria to can beuy confident that syria's neighbors will do s have not already. some kind of intervention will happen with us or without us. fr so the real question for u.s.atn policy is whether we willonflict participate in the next phase od the conflict in syria andshape n

thereby increase our ability to achieve an outcome that is beneficial to the syrian peoplet and us and i believe we must. the president has characterizedt the prevention of mass atrocities as, quote, a core national security interest. he has made it the objective of the united states the the stop, killing and syria must stop, that al asadas must go. pstig he's committed the prestige ando credibility of the nation to t that goal, and it is the right n goal. however, it is not clear that the present policy can succeed. if he manages to claim the power or even if he manages to sustain the slaughter for months to come to all of the human and entails geopolitical cost that that entails it would be a strategicr and moral defeat for the united, states. we cannot and must not allow this to happen. h

for this reason the time has come for a new policy. as we continue to isolate the diplomatic and economically, we should work with our closest friends and allies to support to opposition groups inside of s syria both political and military to help them organizeee themselves into a more cohesive and effective force that can put an end to bloodshed and force him and his loyalists to leaveed power. closing of the prospect for some kind of negotiated transition te that is acceptable to the syrian opposition foreign military the intervention is now the necessary factor to reinforce this option. h al asad needs to know that he will not win. but opposition groups in syria need most urgency is relief from the tank and artillery seizuresh

in thate many cities that areor still contested its lost for now in the other cities and syria that could still be saved.stil e the time is running out. the forces are on the march. ma. providing military assistance th free for the syrian army and other opposition groupssi as necessar, but at this late hour that alone will not be sufficient to stop the slaughter and save innocenty lives. do the only realistic way to do so is with foreign air power. therefore at the request of the national council, the syrian army and the local coordinating committees inside the country,d the united states should lead ae international effort to protect the key population centers and e syria, especially in the north

through air strikes on the forces. to be clear this will requireo the united states to suppress enemy air defenses and at least part of c the country.should the ultimate goal of the strikes should be to establish and defend safe havens in syria especially in the north in whicd opposition forces can organize d and plan their political andtien militaryst activities against ae asad. a the safe havens can serve asf platforms for the delivery of humanitarian and military assistance including weapons anr ammunition, body armor and other personal protective equipment, tactical intelligence, secure communications equipment, food hd water and medical supplies. these safe havens, also help thn syrian army and other armed groups in syria to train and t organizehe themselves into more cohesive and effective militarye

forces. likely with the assistance oftht foreign partners.he unite the benefit for the united states and helping to lead this low u to better in power the groups that share our interests. those groups have rejected al qaeda and the iranian regime and commit to the goal of aninclusic inclusive space transition hasaf called for by the syrian stand e national council. if we stand on the side lines, always to be in our liking or in our interest. thenited this doesn't mean the united i states should go it alone.o i repeat this doesn't mean thewe united states should go it alone. we should not. we should seek the active arab involvement of the arab partner such as saudi arabia, jordan and cover and willing allies in thee e.u. and nato and the most mos important of which in this caset

is turkey. u there .nwill be no u.n. securitn council mandate for such an tt operation. russia and china took thatong option off the table long ago.ot but let's not forget nato took military actions to save kosovo in 1999 without formal u.n. authorization. there is no reason why the arabs league or the of leading asyri coalition within the friends of syria contact group are all of k them speaking in unison would not provide a similarsures to international mandate for military measures to save syriae today. could suchn? a mandate to be gotten? i believe it could be. foreign capital around the worlo are looking to the united staten to lead especially now that the situation in syria has become an wh armed conflict. but what they see is an

administration still hedging ite bets on the one hand insisting i that the call neis inevitable, t on the other, unwilling even too threaten the more assertive factions that could make it so. the rhetoric has been much more. self-defeating. to far from making it clear thatren all options are on the table,e g the key alliance leaders are going out of their way to publicly take options off theecy table.of last week the secretary generaln is not even discussing theyria, possibility of nato action ina o syria saying i don't envision such a role for the alliance. the following day the supreme allied commander, admiral james testified to the senate armed services committee that nato hae done no contingency planning,