tv Lou Dobbs Tonight FOX Business October 20, 2013 8:00pm-9:01pm EDT
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we're on the radio every weekday, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. eastern time. we'll have another great tv show for you next week here on fox business. but in the meantime, i hope you'll join me on the radio. the government and raise the debt ceiling unleashing the bulls on wall street. i'm lou dobbs. happy weekend, everybody. senate leaders striking an 11th hour agreement to avoid a debt crisis and fully reopen the government. senate majority leader harry reid and minority leader mitch mcconnell formally unveiled their plan that will fund the government through january 15th and lift the debt limit through february 7, or there about.
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speaking on the senate floor, reid called for congress to unite after weeks of slamming tea party republicans as fanatics, extremists and anarchists. >> this is not a time for pointing fingers. this is a time of reconciliation. i look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of this great capital, this remarkable agreement that will protect the long-term health of our economy -- i'm sorry, and avert a default on our nation's debt, allow us to set a foundation for economic expansion. >> don't you love reid talking about this is a time for reconciliation. he's such a sweet guy really. mcconnell for his part claiming victory for republicans and the fact the sequester cuts were preserved. he went on to assure members of his party that he remains committed in the fight to repeal obama care. >> republicans remain determined
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to repeal this terrible law. but for today, for today, the relief we hope for is to reopen the government, avoid default, and protect the historic cuts we achieved under the budget control act. this is far less than many of us had hoped for, frankly, but it's far better than what some had sought. now is time for republicans to unite behind other crucial goals. >> it's a little difficult, isn't it, to discern which are the losers, which are the winners. but the losers in this deal apparently aren't you and me. nothing was done to address our $17 trillion debt. nothing was done to address the stunning failure and what is a train wreck that is obvious by the day, obama care. two republican members of congress have different views on the senate plan.
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joining us is congresswoman renee al mers, republican women's policy committee and charlie dent, members of appropriations committee as well as ethics committee. we thank you both for being here. this has been a tough day. let me begin with you, congresswoman, what do you expect to be the consequences of the deal and will the house approve it. >> it will get passed. i won't be in favor to vote for it because it simply does not have in it what i promised my constituents i would vote if we raised the debt ceilings. i needed more reforms. it wasn't there. i wanted delay of the obama care individual mandate, it was not there. this is the issue. i do believe it will pass. it has been up and down. it has been a tough time for us. i think actually this is a learning time for us, and i think we could all come together and move forward because we've
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got to fight for the american people. >> congressman dent, will you support the deal tonight? >> yes, i will. it's absolutely essential that we as members of congress fulfill our most basic responsibility and that is to pass the budget and essentially fund the government. the government should have never been shut down in the first place. even more important it's essential that america never default on its obligations. there are many people who would be so negatively impacted. obviously the market has responded well. many real people would have been affected if interest rates spiked up plunging into recession, who knows this would have taken us into a abyss no one wants to go. this is not a time for high-fiving or spiking the football, this is the time we show american people we have the capacity for self-governance. >> do you think republicans, each of you with your different views on that vote tonight, both of you, both republicans.
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your big caucus is in charge of this deal tonight. at what point does the republican party have to say to its membership, the entire caucus, we've got to come up with new approaches because these things are taking a real toll on the brand of the republican party, a real toll on your prospects. by that i mean, congressman dent, to some you appear too acquiescent, and congresswoman, to some you seem too strident, perhaps even extreme. how do you reconcile this. you say it's a learning moment and this teachable moment, one of defeat, what do you do? >> i think the important thing here is that we have to remember that each one of us has a different constituency we represent. >> sure. >> my district is very different than charlie's. so we have to come together as a unified group.
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we have to respect each other's views. we have to understand that the ultimate goal here is to work for the american people and get fiscal responsibility back on track in washington, which as you know has been off track for a long time. i believe we can do that. we have to make sure we're following a strategy. sometimes that strategy comes in pieces and part, sometimes doesn't come with one fell swoop. >> i have to say one thing. the difference of opinion between myself and renee and many others, we're debating tactics. unfortunately i'm not saying renee in this case but there are some in this town who have elevated tactical disputes and elevated them to philosophical disagreements. renee and i both agree obama care is causing all sorts of problems. we want to get this repealed, defunded, delayed, but we have a responsibility to govern. some suggested because we disagree with the approach of
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defunding that we now support obama care. that's absurd. a good conservative like renee will be called names, she's not pure enough, even though she's conservative, may have had tactical disagreements because she didn't want to take it where it was. >> what about you? don't leave yourself out of the party. >> of course. but i was saying renee would be called names unfairly. we as republicans should not elevate these tactical disagreements into matters of such greater magnitude as has been the case by some in our party unfortunately. >> we're talking with congresswoman el mers, congressman dent. we'll continue this conversation right after this quick commercial break. stay with us. we're coming right back. in washington the shutdown crisis, done. up neck, the obama care train wreck. we'll have the latest on the
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the disastrous rollout of obama care, the new study shows less than 1% of those that visited the insurance exchange website in its first week actually enrolled for coverage. about 36,000 people. by the way, traffic to health care.com has plummeted nearly 90% since it was launched on october 1st, down 90% from what were already very low numbers, adding to what obviously would likely be administration concerns about privacy as well
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as users, reports that healthcare.gov has this sentence buried in the fine print. are you ready? you have no reasonable expectation of privacy regarding any communication or data transiting or stored on this information system. how about that. we're talking about congresswoman renee ellmers and congressman charlie dent. 90% folks. the discussion has been there would be something done about obama care in your negotiations, your strategy and tactics over the debt ceiling and the continuing resolution. here it is. do you folks at this point think you really need to do much? i mean, this is, as speaker boehner said, it's a train wreck and the train wreck keeps getting worse by the day. why do anything at this point? >> well, you know, it is failing. it should be a huge and total
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and complete embarrassment to the obama administration. if we hadn't ended up in the shutdown situation, this would be the complete total focus of the media and the shutdown overshadowed that. it is a complete failure. it is not the promises that were made. these promises have been broken. we were told in energy and commerce, in all our subcommittees, october 1st, for sure, these exchanges would be up and running, from kathleen sebelius on down through the agencies. we are going to have to get answers for this. this is over $600 million worth of hardworking taxpayer dollars that have been spent on a useless system. >> it is an outrage, a shame, a disgrace and a joke. but the fact is you guys haven't been able to get answers. you haven't been able to get answers on benghazi. you haven't been able to get answers on internal revenue targeting of tea party groups,
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churches, religious organizations. you say that. but this administration has stonewalled you folks right to this very day without ponsequence. congressman dent, when in the world are you all going to find out and be honest about the limits of congressional power and the need to try a different approach? >> let me just say something. >> if you will, don't disappoint me and not answer my question. >> we are fighting this administration every day. we watch them abuse their executive authority on matters of domestic policy. president obama referred to george bush and his administration as imperfectly -- imperial presidency was he asserted himself. this president abused his authority. we have tried to overrule him on so many issues. for example, he delayed the employer mandate.
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i agree. he tried to do it legislatively and he said he would veto the bill. >> congressman, if i apologize for interrupting. you and i agree on that. my question goes to are you going to persist in the same tactics and strategies you've ememployed for more than a year without consequence or result. >> okay. the answer to that question is, we must ploy tactics whe we have a realistic expectation of success. that is the key. i think we've learned a lesson, i hope we've learned a lesson with defunding of obama care, realizing that is not going to be a realistic expectation of success. we must pick our fights more carefully. one thing i've learned out of this situation, the democrats now agree with us. we need to repeal that medical device tax, get rid of this or delay. >> it is an ideological partisan debate, in its face outrageously
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bad public policy. it's disgusting. >> we agree. you mentioned the privacy violations. so much of the focus has been on the nsa where there's all sorts of congressional oversight. with respect to the obama care exchanges, look at the potential privacy violations, same with the consumer financial protection bureau. the fear of privacy from government these massive beaurocracies created with very little congressional oversight. that's my biggest fear, far less than the nsa. >> we thank you very much for being here. we appreciate you sharing your views, your thoughts. as you said, congresswoman ellmers, a learning moment, a teachable moment for i think just about everybody involved. we thank you so much. >> absolutely. >> thank you, lou. >> congressman dent, thank you. up next here, the white house says there are no winners in the shutdown, at least the president's spokesman does. the debt ceiling deal, we know
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the losers. in the chalk talk tonight, we'll show you which group the president and congressional democrats really fall into. a little challenge to perhaps the veracity, validity of comments. we're going to take both parties on a little journey to truth next. thank you orville and wilbur... ...amelia... neil and buzz: for teaching us that you can't create the future... by clinging to the past. and with that: you're history. instead of looking behind... delta is looking beyond. 80 thousand of us investing billions... in everything from the best experiences below... to the finest comforts above. we're not simply saluting history... we're making it.
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>> the president gloating after house republicans and speaker boehner abandoned their debt ceiling bill. talk about a fellow who thinks he's all that. here he is. >> there have been repeated situations where we have agreements and then he goes back and it turns out he can't control his caucus. one thing i've shown is that if i say i'm prepared to compromise on something, i can deliver votes and we can get it done. >> wow. before the president explodes with self-admiration, we'd like to gently remind the president he hasn't delivered much to celebrate. yes, it looks like he may get that clean continuing resolution bill to keep the government
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running until january 15th, a clean debt ceiling height through february 7th, but doesn't it just mean we'll be watching this movie all over again in three months' time? after all of this nonsense, after all of this nonsense, the president, the republicans have done absolutely nothing to deal with our nearly $17 trillion in debt. they have done nothing to fix or delay the obama care train wreck and the $1.8 trillionhat looks like it may be one of the most efficient pieces of legislation passed by congress, well, certainly in memory if not perhaps in all of this country's history. one thing, eligibility for subsidies is no longer on the honor system so score one for american people on the deal. polls aren't good for republicans but they aren't good for this white house either. the president's average approval is at 43%. more than half of all americans,
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51% disapprove of his job performance. this is not a president who seems appropriately to be congratulating himself or just full of himself. in a new pew research survey shows 81% -- 81% of americans are dissatisfied with the way things are going in this country compared to just 14% who are satisfied. the worst reading since the 2008 financial crisis. the president boasts he always delivers the votes to get things done. well, i don't know where he's getting that. it hasn't been true this year. it hasn't been true for gun control. it hasn't been true for immigration. it hasn't been true for his plan to strike syria. the president was a lame duck before we entered the shutdown and there are every indication that he emerges from it an even lamer duck. someone say on that basis
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republicans are winning, but that's pure nonsense. lets face it, republicans and democrats are about as screwed up and about as screwed up as this country could possibly stand. we'll be right back. >> not a good day for ted cruz and the cruz-ers. what's the the deal with the gop and all those splinters? up next, citizens united president. when we made our commitment to the gulf, bp had two big goals: help the gulf recover and learn from what happened so we could be a better, safer energy company. i can tell you - safety is at the heart of everything we do. we've added cutting-edge technology, like a new deepwater well cap and a state-of-the-art monitoring center, whe experts watch over all drilling activity twenty-four-seven. and we're sharing what we've learned, so we can all produce energy more safely. our commitment has never been stronger.
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my next guest says the senate deal is a big loss for americans and the conservative movement. joining us now is david bossie. he's president of citizens united. david, this has been an ugly spectacle by any standard. worse for the republicans? >> well, look, lou, thanks for having me back, first of all.
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it is a tough situation. you have americans out there who really aren't focused on what's really the essence of the problem. they are focused on our government is closed. the debt ceiling is going to be breached. those are important things but they are not looking at the root cause. that's what the republicans were trying to do. in my book, the mainstream media, which i believe in media bias, i think this is where they help the president sell his message that the republicans were the party of no, when, in fact, john boehner was time and time going to the white house with offers, going to harry reid with offers, and he was being told no. i'm against this deal. i think it's a bad deal. this is a kick the can down the road deal. lou, we're not dealing with our financial problems. we're not dealing with -- >> here is the deal. if this had been the democrats who had come with a proposition to shut the government down 16 days, if it had been the
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democrats who came with a proposition that threatened or at least put the party in the position of being accused of threatening the country's credit rating and default, i mean, you and the conservative movement would have been howling. i don't understand how there is that disconnect between the conservative movement and what is tran spirspiring on capitol . because it seems to me it's not only a losing strategy but a reckless strategy, one that isn't constant with conservative movements and its principles and the republican party. >> sure. tactics are -- i'm not arguing the tactics. what i'm saying is whether it's dealing with the cost and destruction of the system with obama care, whether it's dealing with debt, dealing with spending, dealing with our debt ceiling, our national debt, it is really -- none of those
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issues are being dealt with here. it is a bipartisan effort to do nothing. that's what we've done here today. it's doing nothing in the big scheme of things, the big picture from the business standpoint. we're going to have these exact same fights in january and february we're having today. that is unhealthy. >> it's unhealthy if the conservatives -- if the republican party, i couldn't agree with you more, doesn't learn something as congresswoman renee ellmers is saying. if they don't learn something from this, obviously this spectacle, they didn't learn anything from 2011, they must learn something -- they being republican leaders and conservatives. will point out the senate has begun voting. david, let me ask you this. senator ted cruz, he now has a very small group of folks around him. he represents a lot of important principles for millions of
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americans. but he has stepped in it, has he not, politically and personally here with his inadroit tactics in the senate. >> look, we can debate tactics. i believe without senator cruz we would not be here today discussing these important issues over the last couple of weeks. their focus would not be on obama care, the focus wouldn't be on the debt ceiling, the focus wouldn't be on spending. i applaud what he's done. he has come here as a change agent. he was elected by texans to come here as a change agent. that is what he's doing, living up to his obligations, to his election promises. i applaud him for it. his approval ratings, we did a poll a week ago in texas. his approval ratings are through the roof in texas. that's what he cares about. he does care obviously about the republican party and about the conservative movement but he's here as a change agent not to manage the decay.
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that's what the rest of these people are about, managing the decay. >> can you manage decay or for that matter any other important issue when you are in control of only one-third of this government and only one-third of government that seems to want to abdicate their constitutional responsibilities more often than not. >> look, one body of congress is one-third of the government. look, they can't do anything without you, you can't do anything without them. you have to stand your ground at some point. tackically can we do something? hindsight is 2020. what i believe we need to take the next four months to tee up what we're going to do individually, either through the appropriations process -- >> if the republican party, david, i'm going to have to call it there because of time. if the republican party doesn't learn something here in the next few months, it's not going to be
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a very happy january and february for the party. i'm sure with guiding and leading lights like you, prospects of good for learning something, what would the president say, a teachable moment. david bossie, thank you very much. we appreciate it. center for disease control isn't working because of the government shutdown. how does that affect our health, the doctor on flu se peace of mind is important when you're running a successful business. so we provide it services you can rely on. with centurylink as your trusted it partner, you'll experience reliable uptime for the network and services you depend on. multi-layered security solutions keep your information safe, and secure. and responsive dedicated support meets your needs, and eases your mind. centurylink. your link to what's next.
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nyu medical center. and here to receive a flu shot one of our esteemed producers lee ann miller. great to see you out here. i think i'll join you if you don't mind. lets start with the flu. how bad is it expected to be? when should people be getting these shots? >> first of all, last year was actually a very bad flu season. they had more hospitalizations of elderly than the whole past decade when they were keeping figures. it was influenza a. it hit early, which is one of the reasons we're here early giving flu shots. i'd like to say flu shots are covered under obama care but you can't tell if they work. the non-obama care shot works. >> the doctor bringing not only flu shot but humor and great knowledge about all of this. the cdc shut down, they are bringing back some staff for various issues. where are we? are we vulnerable because of the
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shutdown? >> we are. the good news, 135 million shots have been made and distributed already. we're not really in a problem with flu shots and flu season isn't here in a big way yet. so if the government shutdown ends and cdc comes back in full force, two-thirds of the cdc are out and they are very important in the flu season. the head of the cdc can say come back, we need you. >> can we get a shot of lee ann here as mark and i are talking. just stay on her for a moment, if you would, as we discuss the health care sector. can we get a single of lee ann as we do this. i think everybody should -- i'm sorry to be mean. i take it back. the anticipation. >> you dressed for this. >> i did. >> is he not the best. >> he's the best. >> incredible. >> actually, i was thinking about this, i decided i would but after seeing you not even flinch.
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>> no. >> i think i can do this without tears. >> that felt wonderful. >> dr. siegel gave me my flu shot last year and it worked splendidly. i'm going to risk all. by the way, does this have -- how many strains does it protect? >> by the way, i'm so happy you're not being a wimp, lou. >> not yet. >> this covers three strains. they have a vaccine this year that will cover four strains. the extra strain is one that's fairly mild. so i'm okay with either one. i'll tell you the exciting news this year. one, they have made a vaccine finally if you have an egg allergy you actually can get a flu shot this year. they have one shot available that's not chicken eggs. >> i didn't realize they were -- that chicken eggs had anything to do with it all. >> since the 1950s they have been making flu shots with chicken eggs. the elderly they have a vaccine extra strong. they found elderly either needed two shots or they weren't
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responding well enough. >> define elderly? >> older than you and me. >> one of my favorite lines about middle age. middle age is always five years older than you are. >> that's exactly right. >> are you going to give me the shot? he's good, folks. >> your viewers saw that going in. >> you don't need a band-aid? >> no. >> i gave her one. >> she deserves it. >> thanks, lou. >> i don't have to pretty up my arm. if i got blood on this shirt, my wife is going to give me the dickens. >> one thing viewers should know, you could have flu-like symptoms for 24 hours after this but it is not the flu. you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. >> that is true. if you got the flu from a flu shot, that might be a little annoying. >> not possible. >> not possible. i appreciate you doing that.
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how many people should be getting this? i hear a lot of people say i'm not going to get the flu shot, some of the 20 somethings in particular. >> immunity. if you have a baby, you want a flu shot so the flu didn't enter the house. pregnant woman, chronic illness, they need flu shots but everyone around them needs a flu shot to create a ring of immunity. you're helping your neighbor now. >> i feel part of the herd. doctor, always great to have you. >> thank you. >> lee ann, you were very brave. >> it took a lot of courage. >> you inspired me. >> thank you. >> up next democrats won't budge on obama care despite its failed rollout. and they are pushing the house of representatives to take up immigration. congressman joins us to talk about his brand-new book "still
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dreaming." is immigration reform likely to be a reality? we'll take it up with the congressman here next. we will take it up with the friday night, buddy. you are gonna need a wingman. and with my cash back, you are money. forget him. my airline miles will take your game worldwide. what i'm really looking for is -- i got two words for you -- re-wards. ♪ there's got to be better cards than this. [ male announcer ] there's a better way with creditcards.com. compare hundreds of cards from all the major banks to find the one that's right for you. it's simple. search, compare, and apply at creditcards.com. first round's on me. search, compare, and apply at creditcards.com. to find you a great deal, even if it's not with us. [ ding ] oh, that's helpful! well, our company does that, too. actually, we invented that. it's like a sauna in here.
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after james wood says he doesn't ever expect to work again in hollywood after criticizing president obama, among his recent tweets, quote, this president is a true abomination. to have barricaded world war ii vet but allow illegal aliens privilege. quote, a vile, a small, small man. woods, however, refusing to appear on cable news shows. he appears to want to work in hollywood again. we'll see how that works out. thousands of protesters took to the national mall tuesday
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despite a partial shutdown rallying for government reform. my next guest among the eight lawmakers arrested during that rally says there's still hope for comprehensive immigration reform or amnesty. joining me is congressman luis gutierrez, a member of the house judiciary and intelligence committee. he's the author of the new book "still dreaming, my journey from the barrio to capitol hill." thanks for being here. >> thanks for having me, lou. >> as we were watching you on the mall getting arrested, i'm thinking about your book and thinking how many authors want to get arrested on the national mall when they have a new book out. brilliantly done. on the mall, it is a real setting for the title of your book. how do you react to those who
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complain about illegal immigrants on the mall instead of our vets permitted and their families permitted on the mall when it's so clearly a partisan exercise. >> here is what i think. i think that the vets had a right, the world war ii vets. what wasn't recognized the same day, there were korean vets that came from puerto rico. the 65th infantry served with much valor and distinction. many died in korea fighting from puerto rico. >> i see a korean veteran right there, congressman charlie rangel of new york. he rose to captain while he was serving in the u.s. army and won the bronze star. >> so you know, they exercised their first amendment rights and they were let in. bravo. i'm so happy for them. that's what those of us -- to
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say we were illegals, i was born here in this country in the united states of america. hundreds of us were, not just eight members of congress, hundreds were -- but marching. >> your book. >> it's a great country. >> are we arguing over whether it's great. that's what i like about you, congressman. we can argue on an agreement. it's a great country. lets fight. >> what's my book. what's the book about, right? it's about a kid whose mom and dad come here with nothing, right. don't understand the language. don't even have a coat. don't even have a grade school education. they come and work hard. their kid gets to go into the oval office and sit across from the president of the united stat
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states. that's the kind of arc and story we like to talk about. >> me, too. phat's why you're here. it's an inspirational story, your life is. >> thank you, thank you. >> you and i have argued about this issue or that. >> i like it best when cause to chicago and we were both on the set together. >> that was good. that was good. it got a little animated as i recall. >> we had a few youtube hits on that one. >> the idea that you right now are an example of the american dream, name the one thing, the one reason that luis gutierrez got a break and became who you are, the one event. who was the great equalizer that gave you the opportunity? >> i have to say my dad and my
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mom. they were the first examples. my mom woke up really early to take two buses to go to work and my dad drove a cab. as i relate in my book, i had to drive a cab for a few years. i remember the sadness in my dad's eyes when i went back to visit, after so much effort and money, you're in the same place. i kept telling him, dad, it's the beginning. i want to provide for my wife and my daughter. it's all i can do to provide for them. i want a sense of self-respect. you know what, if driving a cab is what i have to do, it's what i'm going to do. they really inculcated in me the values of hard work and tenacity and moving ahead. as my dad passed away two years ago, i was beginning to write the book. he said the best thing i did for you was bring you to the island of puerto rico. there were gangs. my parents, devout catholics saw
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john f. kennedy, robert kennedy, two presidents, one they thought was going to be president assassinated. they saw gangs. they took me to an island in puerto rico, in the mountains. you know something, it was pretty good being in the rural mountains of puerto rico, far away from the big city of chicago. but i think they did the right step and they helped me so much. you know, we're always a reflection of our parents as much as we say we're different. >> when we're fortunate to have parents. >> yes. >> who support us, who are there for us. i think you're exactly right. so many people are ignoring how important parents are. >> it is absolutely critical to us. my grandson luisito, he's so lucky because he has a mom, has he a dad. we live in a two-flat in chicago. they have the first floor apartment. i'm not going to let my
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two-year-old grandson live on the second floor and drive me crazy running back and forth. they live on the first floor. i hear them enough from there. my wife and i live on the second floor. he has four of us. has he two grandparents and a mom and a dad. you know something, it is such a struggle in today's society with little kids. yes, four of us. we surround him and nurture him and make sure he's going to grow up to be strong and smart. >> good. we wish him all of the very best as we do you. >> thank you. >> congressman, the book is "still dreaming" it to you highly. it's available online everywhere. up next he led the union to victory in the civil war but the new book "the unlikely hero" shows how ulysses s. grant may have done his most important work in the white house, author here with us next. either fun. stay with us. thank you orville and wilbur...
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my next guest in his latest biography says our 18th president ulysses grant was a better president than given credit for. joining us to talk about grant's great influence during both the civil war and service in the white house, the former editor in chief of simon & schuster, author michael korda, author of the illustrated and published book ulysses s. grant. first of all, michael, it is great to see you. what a splendid, splendid book with so many magnificent illustrations. i'm so thrilled to see you, i've got to think what the first question will be. lets start with grant is generally i don't think regarded as a president too often by the
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popular press but mayor as a general, brilliant general. >> the best of american generals. no question about that. i think he was a much better president than he was given credit for. he kept us out of two wars, just like the biography i wrote. like all good generals, he never wanted to fight another war again. and he also managed to sow together the two parts of the country that had been separated in a way that had a certain dignity and a certain honesty. he ended the civil war on a note of grace that would have been very hard for anybody else to do. >> as you document, grant was, indeed, naive in business and perhaps carols in his personal finances, but, my gosh, you as a former publisher, you will always be a publisher.
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you point out his book was fantastic. he made, what, almost a half million dollars. >> in terms of money, he probably made more money from a book than anyone else in the history of american publishing. the numbers were brought up today. it is the most extraordinary story. i tell it because his publisher is mark twain. >> not a bad publisher. >> not a bad publisher. he paid grant and was dying of it before the book was written and went out and sold the book door onto door. at one time in the united states above the mason dixon line, if you found two books, one would be the bible and the other would be grant's memoirs, moby dick, the two masters of american literatures. >> literature and certainly military maneuvers, tactics and strategy documenting a brilliant
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military career that served, i guess it's still being read in war colleges across the world. >> it's still in print, still read in libraries everywhere. it's probably the most modest and best written and the most -- the most readable of american war memoirs. >> was grant modest? was he modest as president? was he modest as a general? >> i think his modesty was one of his most enduring qualities. there was no bombbast, no false courage. he looked you in the eye. he had his faults. look at his predict on the $50 bill. he was a man capable of getting drunk and hungover, which is the way he looked on the $50 bill. >> i love your description of him, having imbibed the previous
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evening too much. grant drank heavily. is it apocryphal he said whatever he drinks, lets get a case for all our generals. >> it's true. grant was a sporadic drunk. he wasn't a drunk in that sense. if he was separate and alone and didn't know what he wanted to do next, he would go upstairs with a bottle of booze and drink himself into incensability. it is true when he won and people complained to lincoln he shouldn't be promoted to major general because of his drinking. he said find out what brand of liquor he drinks and send a barrel to each of my generals. >> i wonder what our generals today drink and how much and what brand. >> i'm suspecting they cut their liquor with a certain amount of water these days. >> with that you know what michael korda thinks of our generals these days. michael korda, great to have
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you. we recommend the book highly. a great coffee table book and better read. so ulysses s. grant. good night from new york.ke youe market. thanks a lot and thank you for watching. see you tomorrow. ♪ >> none of us should be negotiating on the debt ceiling. she just the listed. john: that is what the big spender say, and they get their way, but what if this were the budget of someone you knew. john: what do you think of these people, making 24,000, spending 35,000, almost 11,000 in debt. >> get there priorities straight on what they need to be spending and saving money on. john: this is the federal budget. i just took zeros of. suppose america were a person. >> i would like to raise my debt limit.
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