[captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2016] on >> c-span this morning, newsmaker >>s is next. that's followed by the funeral service for the late reverend billy graham. later, president trump speaks with lawmakers about ways to prevent gun violence. >> host: this week on newsmakers, the chair of the presidential national committee, -- democratic national committee, tom perez. tom price: thank you. we also have susan page, chief for usa today. susan page: thank you. host: there was this remarkable meeting with the president, bipartisan group of people

talking about gun control. the president embraced the democratic backed proposal when it comes to gun control. democrats seize this opportunity, make a deal with the president, or do you have doubts about whether you can do this? tom: this is like charlie brown and the football. foot -- but the football, lindsey pelas pulls out. meetingthis remarkable with senators/senator and others who say, i want to help dreamers. we see this with gun issues. it's about trade enforcement. he's not reliable. that's the problem. it's a problem for the american people, american workers who tell the plan, -- plants, i will save your jobs, then they are gone. he told dreamers i will pass the dream act. there are a gun violence reduction measures in the second

amendment. i just don't have much faith in him. he met with the an that same day. backtracking within hours. i wonder if you have any concern host: among -- i wonder if you have any concern as an american about the cast we saw the white house this week, including an announcement first -- thursday. even white house staffers. are you concerned we are seeing something serious happening at the white house? i think is the most dangerous president in american history. he's not trustworthy. tom: that's a significant problem when you're president is in trustworthy. our allies don't know which america they're going to be dealing with. ,hen you see so many examples whether it's dreamers, the russian interests in our elections, he still has instructed anybody to do something about it.

this has national security implications. implications.ic it's an application of moral leadership. you look at the number of people who had to leave, sex scandals, the culture of corruption. this is dangerous stuff. around the world, taken an absolute beating as a result of this. host: one of the reasons you mention, it's looking like it's going to be a good year for democrats. historically's unpopular in the first term. you unveiled a plan to contact 50 million voters in 2018, very efficient. and aespite the energy doozy is him at the grassroots level. hand, $70n in cash on million. our democrats going to have enough money?

tom: very confident we will continue to win. tom:one of the special elections this last week in new hampshire, and before that kentucky, missouri, minnesota. and, elsewhere. on the fundraising front, we have more than 2015-2013. the republicans are racist to-one. we saw this in 2006 in the house. when i read stories of republicans outraged, it's a downsized man's story. two thirds of donors were small dollar donors. was-- the average donation $21. the reason i had so much confidence moving forward is republicans raised more money than democrats. they have a transactional party.

they are morally bankrupt, spending that money to help roy moore get elected in alabama. they are excited about joe in arizona.eriff they are spending a lot of money defending donald trump, to pay his legal bills. dad.arty of lincoln's we aredemocratic party, winning because we're fighting for the issues people care about , good jobs, health care, retirement security. host: because we are with c-span, a lot of people care about all the stuff closely. big upcoming races, primary season now. in pennsylvania, special election western pennsylvania. won this district. you mentioned sex scandals. a republican mayor resigned because of a sex scandal.

very close race. there's some criticism from the left of it not enough resources being spent there. is this an example of something with it -- where resources might make a difference? obviously, you have to conserve that somewhat. petty have enough resources to win -- >> district a with conor lamb. by 18-20 points and 2016. connor is running a good campaign. him, andaise money for , i think enough of that is a real possibility. fighting for the issues people care about. i've been in the neck of the woods. there are a lot of union voters who voted for donald trump.

change.sed the change their getting is not change that's improving their lives. therefore will care act was at risk, that's not improving the lives. when you nominate and confirm the supreme court, the takeaway the right to organize. union members get that. from talks about trade, but not a trade deficit with china has increased -- trump talks about deficitut now a trade with china has increased. union members get it. good jobs, a brighter future. you look at everywhere where we have been winning, and the common denominator is these areas have an trump districts that we have been able to win in. we can win everywhere. that's the lesson i learned in 2017. whether it's on -- oklahoma this

year or somewhere else last year. host: texas, the first real primary severe next tuesday in texas. a decision by the democratic campaign for research on one of the progressive candidates. two things. was it the right thing for them and does this signal tension between progressives and your party and and other less liberal elements of the party that may be concerned about how the party may be too far left? the first question is, was that the right thing to do? tom: i wouldn't have done it, because i think when we talk about the issues, when we do what we did in virginia, they talked about the issues at the end of the day. we came out of their very strong.

i wouldn't have done it differently. certainly, trump has the ability to endorse in the primaries. they do that from time to time. i would have done it differently. but i'mve forward, seeing everywhere is, including places where there are spirited primaries, democrats like we did in virginia at the end of that. increased turnout put wind in our back for the general elections. were going to keep fighting. opportunities,al real opportunities and governors. i've been traveling across the country, oklahoma recently. there is a great candidate for governor there. south dakota, they have the best candidate in 40 years.

host: in oklahoma, -- from west virginia, not as liberal as a lot of other senators. my bigger -- bigger picture republicans want a lot of winnable races in 2000 10-2012 because of extreme candidates. they could have one. [laughter] [indecipherable] republicans would've had the majority. wibheory, they could have the senate majority of 2012 they had not nominated an unelectable candidate in 2014. mitch mcconnell, republicans at nbc got aggressive about deals, people, rubbing aggressors the wrong way on their side. in general, the party controlling the white house, you are the leader of the democratic party. what role do you seek to make

sure democrats don't nominate this part of christine ?'donnell, or share angle host: i think the people of --as the people of texas should make the decision. the people of virginia last year. what worked best was, everybody who went to the polls felt like they had it fair shake, and their candidate had a fair shake. that's the most important thing. if you look at what we've been doing, democrats since 2017, 1 of the keys to our success has have beenandidates spectacular. almost allsonally the candidates here. in the new dnc is about democrats and the school board, oval office. qualified.ncredibly in oklahoma, i met new members who are democrats -- i meant

four new members who are democrats and the state senate. i talked to oklahomans about public education. kids are going to school four days a week from a week, public school because republicans have pushed the budget to the bone. what gives me optimism about fieldinghat we are good candidates. the who are winning are winning in the aftermath of fair, open, safe primaries, where there's a lot of high road debates going on. unity is our greatest strength. >> when you talk about party unity, i wonder if you could talk about what happened in ,alifornia to a democratic icon who went five times from the u.s. senate to california but failed to win the endorsement of

the california democratic party because the challenger argued that time had come for new generation of leadership. it also argued he was too likely to compromise on positions important to them. guest: i think it's a 60% threshold to get the nomination in california. this is the first time this has happened. stories that this was unprecedented, it's not. and you and we don't have to agree on all the issues. robustre very rose -- debate. believe -- and thanks to president obama, we are 90% of the way there.

that we are looking at how to get the last 10%. there is debate within the party. crocs did they reach up to you so that youhelp wouldn't finish the situation, which is not catastrophic, but a little embarrassing for senator? guest: i didn't speak to senator feinstein before about, before the convention must week. i can't say i was surprised. if you look up and down the ticket, i don't think, i'm not sure anybody got up to 60%. there was one candidate who may be got to 60%. in california, there's a spirited debate within the democratic party about where we should go on important issues. what's most important is in the people haveay, understood this. our number one goal, imperative

the ourto take democracy. this is the most dangerous president in american history, someone that we are putting our values forward very clearly. >> another primary in illinois. a debate coming up. we, democratic congressman -- next week, democratic congressman, groups mobilizing to stop them. he's a democrat. your mutual in that race. is there a place for someone like this in the democratic party, someone who has a choice consistently since are many democrats who play an important role in the democratic party who have a different view on that. i want joe manchin to get reelected, and we're working hard to make sure that happens.

i think the democratic party has that place. at the same time, i'm on her platform. is platform clearly is -- simply not just a matter of roe v. wade. it's also a matter of economic empowerment. i very much believe in that platform. at the same time, i also want to make sure joe manchin gets reelected. >> when you have a primary like that, we've learned of the d&c that when you are in perception time to put the thumb on the scale in the primary, that can undermine public confidence. that's why we've been neutral. >> every question jammed ask was about financials you have. i wonder, some of that reflects

continuing wounds from the primaries, presidential much of the bernie sanders forces of the d&c, to having the thumb on the scale? guest: when you look at the facts, we had a ton of work to do. shell of oura former selves. it was year ago to the day, february 26 when the election was. those challenges in 2000 17, we were able to raise $67 million. what i was most proud of it was two thirds of our money was in small dollar donors. bring your own fundraising, they did a spectacular job. we had four people in our

finance shots. we were supposed to have 30 when i got there. one to two step up. ton with that, we were able do that. the republicans always outraised us. when you look at what they talk about, they were able to out raise the democrats in the money. the can't talk about issues. they supported roy moore. they want to support joe arpaio. they've got to pay legal bills. they have a sock in their mouth on sexual harassment, the issue russians. as a result, the moral bankruptcy of the republican party to me is the big story. we're talking about the key , retirement security, access to health care. >> point-blank, how much money do you have on hand? january of money in

2018 the them in any month, january in our history. the question is, do we have a montage of enough money to implement our game plan? absolutely. host: that's one we think is the latest fcc report, $6.5 million. it basically broke? no.t: think we will win an election. we are up to 1,000,005 in virginia last year. made more investments to strengthen state parties in the the year than any time in last 20 years. i'm proud of that. that's how we are helping to win elections.

and this will force republicans to the table and focus on a new way to compromise -- build builder fairmount. we keep winning elections, investing. that's the most important , making thosening investments and long-term organizing. the republicans beat us at our own game. and a flashlight and i right now. this.you mentioned were just part of the re-organization of priceless supporters of bernie sanders from 2016. i was 2020 going to be different?

it affect you and you will commission 2017 for your viewers, the union commission, there were people from the sanders campaign, the .linton campaign we had to put a recommendation that could help in short that the process is open to everyone, that it would make it easier for people, and that people have confidence in the democratic party. that's what it was about. there were great recommendations. the dnceak right now, is actively attempting to operationalize those recommendations. caucus is more open. too many times, you have to win

the lottery to vote in the caucus. they will end up being -- and there will end up being less caucuses as a recommendation of the commission. the most important thing we need to do our things for 2020. we've got to make sure process is fair in fact and perception. when we got to make sure that whenever we get to the nominee we have -- disorganized infrastructure that will enable people to get on running. those are the principal tasks moving in duke -- 2020. host: before that, 2018. today, in thisst week's paper, we found that americans to-one wanted to elect congress in november that will stand up to president trump, not

one that would just cooperate. what are the odds do you think that democrats will win control of the house of representatives in the midterms i think we get the house and senate. >> the house, 100% guaranteed. >> there is no one hundred percent guarantee of course. the reason we've got wind in our back is that people care about it. people want a president who levels with them, who brings people together and doesn't divide. people want a president fighting for good jobs and health care. he's done the opposite of every single term. people are embarrassed by this. .e had promises made carrierin indiana and a point, i'm going to save your jobs, wisconsin.

people and losing their jobs. that's a tax break. what do they do with it? stock buyback and job losses. i feel good about our chances. not only in the house and but host: up and down the ticket. let me ask one follow-up. if democrats win control of the house, now it's a realistic prospect -- [laughter] there are some democrats in the talking about impeachment proceedings. nancy pelosi is try to stamp them talk, but if democrats win control of the house, would there be a push to pursue impeachment proceedings against the president?

>> i am confident the first thing we are going to be doing is fighting for better wages for workers, make sure we're protecting health care. make sure we have a tax system that's fair. this giveaway for wealthy people and corporations this coming at the extent of her -- expense of our children's future. we need to focus on making sure we pass this dream act for dreamers, making sure we take on the issue of common sense gun violence protection issues. i think those are what you are going to see if democrats focusing on. those are the issues that make sure that we are looking with their values, building america. we feel it clear getting ahead. guest: economic issues and win. the usa today poll shows that. it's easy to get distracted by the commotion washington. there's a legitimate investigation into russian

interference. the dnc was hacked. should democrats also be talking can you doa, and how that without making -- what bob mueller was doing, overshadow the economic argument? i do talk about it. >> -- i do talk about it. not made up voter fraud allegations by republicans. russian interference. we know they're going to do it again. they were successful in 2015. they tried it in virginia to get involved in that campaign. they will continue to try. we need to talk about this. this,esident's actions in the culture of corruption, imagine if we had a president, hillary clinton. so many of the people around her have been indicted or have had

to resign under scandalous circumstances. hearings, that's all they would be doing. issue,e interference very serious. the involvement of the highest levels of this administration, the wagon keeps circling around this. it's clear. this president continues to be clinton's poodle. i can't understand why he wants to be a lapdog of putin unless putin has something on him. that's the only thing i can think of, the real explanation for why this president's tough guy negotiator, and becomes his poodle. host: i'm sure we could report, but we have to leave it there. thank you very much. newsmakers, thank you.

>> tonight on c-span's q and a, political magazine future reading editor talks about his "building the great society: inside lyndon johnson's about the members of president johnson's staff who helped implement and create his great society program. >> that's how it administration in the space of 4.5 years, five years, built all these programs. how did they build medicare and medicaid ground up in one year? how did they create the first program, head start, food stamps? this bookey do getting -- december rating one third of the country, hospitals, nursing homes?