to party with the neighbors. >> bill omar is a pinhead who faces up to two years behind bars. that's it for us tonight. thanks for watching. i'm laura ingraham. bill will be back on monday. please remember the spin stops right here, because we're always looking out for you. >> welcome to this very special independence american roundtable. you're going to have the opportunity to hear from our leading members of congress, and we're going to hear from the american people. now, if i can have one of these dials. many of you have seen this before. this is called instant response. the higher that you turn your dial, the more favorable the reaction. we'll test line by line, word by word, what members of congress have to say and how our 28 american people respond. let's get started. it's my pleasure to introduce congressman allen west. >> thanks for having me.

>> absolutely. [applause] i want to understand what the american dream means to you. it's a special day today. you served this country well. >> sure. i tell you, when i think about the american dream, i just had the opportunity to go back to my home neighborhood in atlanta, georgia. i was born in the inner city. actually just right down the street from where dr. martin luther king jr. was born and raised. for me the american dream means that no matter where you come from, no matter where you are born, there's a quality of opportunity here in this country based upon your own drive and determination, your own individual industrialism, that you can achieve whatever heights that you want in this great nation. you know, my father was born in 1920 down in south bama. my mother in 1931, down in south georgia. who would ever thought when i was born in 1961 that they would have a son that would be a retired lieutenant colonel from the united states army, that commanded a battalion in combat, and now the first black republican member from the state

of florida since reconstruction. and that's the american dream. that's what we fight for. [applause] >> so clearly the american dream worked out for you, but it hasn't worked out for everyone. everyone can't say they've accomplished what you've accomplished. people try pretty darn hard. what about them? >> the thing is, i think, that each and every one of us can achieve whatever greatness we want. you know, i grew up in the inner city. would have been nice if i was 6'2" and 6'3", i could shoot three-pointers and dunk, but, no, i didn't. i had a different path. my father served in world war ii. my older brother served in vietnam. the path for me was to go into the military. they convinced me as a young man in the tenth grade to join high school ortc. so that's what i'm saying. you know, will everyone be a millionaire? no, maybe not. but there's a richness that you can have in your life, because as i see where i have come from, where i am today, it's not about material wealth, it's about something that is totally

different. it's about an intrinsic wealth that i live in the greatest nation that the world has ever known, because my story, the story of many of you out there, could not happen anywhere else but right here in the united states of america. that's why people have always wanted to come here, be a part of, a part of saying, you know, when i put my feet on these shores, no one will hold me back. if we continue down the path of a government -- there i this isa philosophical difference we have in america. >> keep reacting. >> there are some people that want to say it's not about equality of opportunity, it's about equality of achievement. two very different things. it says, you know, we are going to say how far you can go and what we will provide for you. and see, that's the difference between economic freedom and economic dependence. because when i went back to my old neighborhood this past weekend, i saw the shell of my neighborhood. i saw families that had been destroyed. i saw dependency, i saw

victimization that was totally different from when i grew up back ins '70s in that neighborhood. so that's the similar question that we have to ask ourselves as we go forward. are we going to have a government -- are we going to have people -- that understand what the american dream is? are we going to have people that reflect our principles and values that make sure that everyone can whatever -- whater parameters they want, can live that american dream. >> who's a first-time voter here? any first-time voters? first presidential race? okay, you're the youngest. you get the first question. >> i like your story. you know, i think it's a true american story, but i think one of the things that's ruined our blocks is rhetoric. i think for a congressman to make the accusation that there are 70 communists in the house of representatives is an absurd statement and doesn't reflect what the story that you just told. >> oh, yeah, but it does reflect the story that i just told because it reflects a person that's studied political theory and ideology.

the thing is, you have to be able to understand the two competing principles of philosophies of governance in this country. when i talk to people, what is america, and when people respond america is a democracy, that let's me know they don't understand what america is. america is a constitutional republic. when you read the full declaration of independence, the full constitution, you understand limited government, you understand fiscal responsibility, you understand individual sovereignty, free market, traditional culture values, strong national defense, but there are people on the other side -- you can call whatever it you wish, they more so believe in a government control, nationalizing of production, they believe in creating and expanding entitlement and welfare state. you can't tell me you're not seeing that in the united states of america. >> go ahead. >> first of all, wow, this proves how biased the liberal media is, because you come off

so intelligent, and the left wing media portrays you as a crazy guy. i 100% agree with you. >> this is point. there are some people in this country that are afraid of my story. there are some people in this country that don't want to let people know that you can have a young black male from the inner city that's a conservative, a career military veteran, that had a family -- you know, i'm third or four-generation of military veterans, that scares some people, and i understand that. that's why i don't pay attention to it. i just continue to tell the truth. >> jackie, does he scare you? >> no, not at all. i want to know how you take your story and determination and drive that you talk about and reinstill into the kids that are coming up today, because they don't have it. >> and i want to add one thing to that. you're a man of service. >> yeah. >> it's not just about drive. it's also about serving your country and serving others. >> it's about service, sacrifice

and commitment. once upon a time when you looked at this country, coming out of world war ii and korea, 75% of the people up on capitol hill had done what? >> served in the military. >> they took an oath to that document, the embodiment of the american people, and willing to lay their lives down for it. you had a different sense of honor, integrity and character up here in washington, d.c. now, when i first retired from the military back in 2004 after 22 years, i taught high school for a year. and that was such an enjoyable experience that i volunteered to go back to afghanistan. [laughter] but the thing is this, you're right, you know, there's a program out there called truth to teachers. i think it's important to get men and women that have been out on the frontlines, truly understand what the essence of what america is, have varying great stories that they can tell, because so often our kids need to understand, not just reading, writing, arithmetic, they need to understand courage,

commitment, and character. there's a lot of intrinsic messages that we can teach. >> both you guys in the back orow together. >> i agree with everything you've said so far. frankly, i'm proof of what you just said. i was born in romania, came here penniless, and i'm now in the 1% and very proud of it. >> yes. >> the 1% is a very fluid 1%. >> you're absolutely right. you know, i hear people talk about class, you know, middle class. america is not about class or cash. america is about income levels. the thing is you can transfer those levels based on your own drive and determination. think about the guy, that cardboard plastic thing that you put on your windshield to shield off the sun. he just came up with a simple idea. entrepreneurialship, individual industrialism, and it became on something people picked up. >> does he represent the american dream. >> yes. >> does he represent america?

>> yes. >> how many people would vote for him? a lot of obama people here. congressman west, congratulations. >> thank you. >> when we come back, chairman darrell issa is going to explain what's going on with the obama administration. eight republican freshman will come back and answer year questions. stay tuned. there it is ! there it is ! where ? where ? it's getti away ! where is it ? it's gone. we'll find it. any day can be an adventure. that's whye got a subaru. love wherer the road takes you. wow, there it is

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>> on this independence day i have a simple question for our american panel. are america's best days ahead of us or are they behind us? who would say ahead? raise your hands if you say ahead. who says behind. okay, i'm curious, why are you a pessimist? >> well, the numbers have been trending towards going down as a country. our education system has gone down. no longer one of the smartest countries. our literacy rate is going down. it doesn't look good. >> why are you you a pessimist? >> i see the jobs are just going -- just tanking. i just people, their bank accounts are getting smaller and smaller. the interest rates, you can't -- even if you save something, you can't make money off of it. >> someone give me a positive, some hope. >> i choose to believe that we will get better, just knowing some of the things that have been done, that the media does not allow us to hear on the news

or read on the newspaper. we will get better. you know, i choose to believe, we will. we have to. and we're counting. >> congressman issa, darrell issa from san diego, welcome. >> i'm with her, our best days are ahead of us. >> why? >> first of all, understand there's assets and liabilities. our nation's liability is minimal really when you look at our assets. great low-cost energy and tremendous natural resources. we do have a highly educated workforce. yes, we could do better, and we know how to do it, but we do -- we're still the envy of the world. ask yourself why more people immigrate here than all the rest of the world combined. is in fact, as you said, are we slipping? yes, we're slipping in our lead, but we're still in the lead. we still have the ability to lead the world for 100 years to come, but the decision's ours. >> let me ask you this question. you're a dissenter of just about every investigation that's going

on. we talk about the role of freedom and liberty and independence. what about the role of accountability? >> well, i think that's the nature of the committee that i'm honored to lead, is that people ask the question, well, what's the most important committee? is it the appropriators who spend your money? is it the ways and means that decide how to tax you, or is it in fact the people that are responsible to see that what is taxed from you is fairly collected, that what is spent is well spent, and that's really where oversight comes in. that's where this branch of government was envisioned by these men behind us as in fact a balance, a balance in which, not an adversarial relationship, but a relationship of accountability. that's what my committee does. >> this issue of accountability, you've been tough on the president all the way through. you've been tough on the

attorney general. on this independence day would you ever acknowledge that maybe you've been too tough? >> well, you know, frank in 2006 i was investigating as a subcommittee chairman, i was investigating an organization called the mineral management service. yes, you've heard the name recently. we decided, without a doubt, and published a report, that this was dysfunctional, irresponsible, conflicted, they lacked the expertise or even the willingness to do the job of overseeing oil and natural gas and other minerals. we did that because we needed to do, but then we didn't take the next step. we didn't hold them accountable for change. a few years later the gulf of mexico was filled with oil. never again can i ever say i was -- there i wasn't tough enough. i don't think you can be too tough when you want to correct what's wrong in government. >> i'm going to give you a chance, usually doesn't happen, what advice do you give him in his role as chairman of the most important investigative committee? what would you tell him?

>> hang tough. >> yes. >> yes. >> do you agree with that, hang tough? >> yes. >> yes. >> we're doing exactly what we need to happen. that's been the biggest problem. we're spending the money, taxesx taxing the money, but there's no oversight. >> we believe in you, and we're watching. >> in the back, would you tell him? >> keep it transparent. let people know what you're involved in. >> good luck don't let the leaders of the parties determine what you're going to do. >> what would you tell him? >> same thing. i mean, stay to what you're doing right now, and don't let politics get in the way. >> i got challenge you guys. you're the ones who say it's too partisan, right? >> yes. >> so you don't it's not partisan? >> there's too much infighting going on, and that's why everybody is frustrated with congress right now. what are you doing that's different that will make it better? >> everyone grab your dials.

>> i think the important thing there's in fact the founders envisioned three branches of government, each of which balance the other. the partisannism shouldn't be between republicans and democrats in the house and senate. our partisannism should be between the branches. we should be holding the executive branch accountable just as the courts do if they overstep, just as the courts do if we overstep. so my view is, there's no question that the more transparency we force out of the executive branch the more people participate in democracy. >> is that a good answer, yes or no? >> yes. >> what needs to be done to correct it? >> one of the challenges we've lost track of who the enemy is. the enemy of good representization by your executive branch and your congress are the huge growth in bureaucracy.

we need to get to the question of how government grown so big that it's not accountable? >> there was outrage over gsa. what are we going to do to make sure there's not thousands of those? that's where we have to come together. is it tough? yes. the toughness has to be accountability and transparency. >> do you agree with this? >> yes. [applause] >> we'll ask congressman issa has he gone too far from barack obama? is there anything he needs to apologize for. later in the show, top of the top house freshmen are going to take your questions, and we'll get the democratic perspective. stay tuned. ♪ this is our pool. ♪ our fireworks. ♪

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>> we're back. later on in the show, the eight house freshmen that are rocking washington, d.c., but before we get to them, we're still with chairman issa. let me ask you, what is too far when you hold people accountable? it's part of democracy. is it possible to go too far? >> yes, i believe it is possible to go too far. >> what is too far? how do you define that? you set a standard, process, and laws, and you uphold them and don't change the rules depending on your situation. >> great point. never change the rules between one president and the next. >> jackie? >> i think when you compromise national securities you go too far. >> do you think this administration did? >> yes, i do. >> now, is that going too far? >> no. >> so let me ask you, as the person responsible for this

investigation, do you think there's an issue with what this administration did, recognizing how important national security is to our freedoms, did they compromise? >> frank, i think it remains to be seen. if the leaks were in fact something that came deliberately in order to move a political agenda, those responsible went too far. but i do think that this administration has done much better overall on adhering to national security than most people expected. most people thought they'd come in, they'd close gauntanamo, shut down our efforts in iraq and afghanistan. i'm concerned about the leaks, but that remains to have a legitimate investigation of it. >> how do you tell the administration to be cooperative? you're obviously in this battle with the attorney general. what can be done so that all branches operate on an even level and that each branch can hold the other branch accountable? >> i think the one thing that my committee has to do it, and i try to do it, when we get

cooperation, make it well understood. the transportation department has been very cooperative. even some tough hearings on tsa has been something where we've gotten the facts. our complaints over how they scored energy jobs, green jobs, we've had good dialog. there have been a lot of times in which we worked together. certainly the scandal of the secret service and gsa, both those were done with the full cooperation of the administration. so i think just as much as the situation with attorney general holder is one where we don't reach agreement, but that's the nature of every administration. i thinkn important point. every administration thinks they should do it without interference while in fact congress has an obligation to look over the shoulder and be independent. >> i'm just curious, how many of you voted for barack obama in 2008? actually a whole lot of you. so what advice would you give the chairman? >> i would encourage you to use

those same techniques and accountability skills to look at yourself within congress, not just you, but eliminate some of the backlogs, eliminate some of the bipartisanship. >> dale, what advice would you give him? >> similar accountability for big banks. it's great that you're having oversight over spending in the federal government, but i think we've given the banks, bank failures, no one's come to terms with the fact that no one has gone to jail. >> does that agitate you at all? >> yes. >> what do you think about awed diauditingthe fed? >> yes. >> ultimately the fed props up the banks. >> i'm going to ask you, because we're almost out of time. one shot. what makes me agree is what gsa did. the trips, the flagrant abuse of

tax dollars. how many would you say it just ticks you off the way they behaved? >> yes. >> yes. >> what are you going to do about it? >> among other things, we've cut the budget for this kind of travel. not only have we cut it, but the president by his own order has cut it. so we're making quantum changes on how much can be spent on that. on top of that, data act, a piece of legislation is going to make it transparent to the public about where this money is being spent. we think that's most important. >> do you guys agree with that? >> yes. >> do you want him to continue? >> can they be taxed to pay that money back? >> sadly under current law you can't because it was lawfully spent, although one of the people at the center of it all is charged with spending money illegally. >> do you agree with me, bust 'em? >> absolutely. >> yes. >> chairman, thank you very much for participating. [applause] >> when we come back, the eight house freshmen take your questions and congressman rob

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fireworks. now back to american roundtable. >> we're joined by congressman rob andrews of new jersey who las the distinction of being one of those members who can uniquely work across the aisles. let me ask you this. what fireworks you the most about washington right now? anything at all, what frustrates you? >> campaign finance. >> why is that? >> because i think members of congress spend most of their time raising money rather than the issues. >> what frustrates you most? >> they've allowed washington and the government to become so broken they don't have a solution. we really don't have a solution. >> michael? >> the spending. stop the damn spending and don't use the money to buy, bribe, or coerce your own legislation. >> one more in the back. what bothers you the most? >> the gridlock. nothing can get done without any cooperation, and it's not working. >> the challenge right now is

that you've got a republican house, a democratic senate and democratic president, and they complain that nothing ever gets done. how do you get something done? >> i think the challenge is more people have got to be unafraid to lose an election. >> you guys agree with that? >> yes. >> a lot of frustration you're hearing about is that people want to vote the party lean because they're afraid of losing a primary. an example in my own case, some of you may not agree with this, but i voted for the so-called simpsosimpson-bowles about thres ago in the house. >> first of all, how many know what that is? raise your hands. how many of you support? it how many of you oppose it? >> some people it's a bad thing, that it's an anathema. we can't stop the spending that michael talked about if you don't talk about entitlements. i cast a vote that will give me trouble in a primary some day. if i'm more afraid of losing an

election than bankrupting the country, i don't belong here. >> you're nodding your head. you agree with this? >> yes. >> tell me why. >> i would appreciate if everybody felt that way. we heard about the frustration, we heard about the polarization and we heard from the congress that they're saying it's the media. is it really the media? >> no, i don't think it's the media. i think it's us. it's easy to blame someone else. we were elected to make these decisions for the country. if we're -- if we're not willing to say something that makes our own party a little bit disquieted or risk a vote, then, again, i don't think we belong here. that's not frank's fault. that's our fault for not standing up and casting votes we should. >> this is the first time i've ever been accused of being part of the media. [laughter] i meant it as a compliment. i took it as an insult. >> we're not going to get out of the hole we're in unless people sacrifice something. people are going to have to give stuff up, whether it's entitlement issues, whether it's taxes. people have to give stuff up.

nobody in politics wants to tell people they have to give stuff up and sacrifice. >> jay, that's really what this simpson-bowles was. it really said that social security benefits are going to grow slower. medicare copay is going to be higher, maybe military spending will be cut back, some people pay more taxes in certain circumstances. that's a great way to lose an election. that punch list i just gave you. what we're doing right now is a great way to ruin a country. just spend and print money and both parties have been guilty of it. if people are willing to do what you said, jay, it's not going to get us anywhere. >> who's dialing him up? raise your hands. >> can i take you home with me? [laughter] >> no. that will cause another problem that you don't want. >> that's true, that's true. >> i have a question. how can you truly be a representative of government if you've been in your office for 20 years? i mean, do you really reflect the people that you're representing? >> you know something, every two years, heather, they answer that

question. look, i think you can get stale and you can get tired, and the best anecdote to that is an election. i go to straight fairs, go home, and talk to people. if they don't think i belong, they've got a chance to do something about that, and i have to earn their vote every two years. sure, you can get stale, but you have to listen to people, justify your positions, and do the best you can. >> every two years, i feel the politicians are always worried about the campaign donors, the pr people, the campaign people, saying something off script. it's just in the media. sometimes you feel you're not getting from the politician what they really have to say. >> i will blame the media for this one. since you're not part of it, frank, don't take it personally. media coverage of politics is something like coverage of professional wrestling.

whoever's the most bizarre and loud is tends to get covered. if you do something positive you're boring. if you watch the evening news, the people screaming at each other are going to be on there, but the people sitting quietly in a room figuring out how to cut spending, improve education, make the military stronger, you probably don't know their names. again, that's not the media's fault, but i don't want you to get the impression that everybody here is a freak show or everybody here is yelling and screaming at each other. there's a lot of serious people in both parties trying to make the country better. >> they call the media the fourth estate. because we're celebrating independence, i'm curious, the second row, give me a word or phrase to describe the media. >> biased. >> sorry. >> biased. >> show biz. >> entertaining. >> ratings. >> relentless. >> biased. >> biased. >> the good news is just an institution almost as bad as yours. would you tell them as a way to

close this, to give them a sense of faith in the future, that we can once again restore what made america great? >> don't vote for anybody who doesn't answer a specific question you ask with a specific answer. if you say to someone, how would you reduce the federal budget, and they say, you know, i love america, the fourth of july is my favorite day of the year -- [laughter] -- or if they say let's find the rich people in america and tax them or cut welfare and foreign aid, those are not serious answers. if you ask a specific question, demand a specific answer. if you don't like the answer, vote for the other guy, but if you don't get a specific answer don't vote for that person, because we've let people in my business off the hook. when they say, well, would you reduce the military budget? the answer is either yes or no. if the answer is would you change the way medicare operates, the answer is yes or no or how. don't let people give vague answers, because vagueness is

usually a cover-up for deceit. >> do you guys agree with him? >> yes. >> yes. [applause] >> would you vote for him? >> yes. >> thank you. >> can i suggest you switch districts? >> i'm not going to switch districts. i'll switch networks maybe. [laughter] thanks for the opportunity to speak to you. >> rob andrews, thank you very much. >> and when we come back, the eight republican house freshmen face down the american people. stay tuned. freshmen, stay tuned. ok! who gets occasional constipation, diarrhea, gas or bloating?

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>> on this independence day, it's important to recognize how america reinvents itself from generation to generation. the latest polling numbers have congress at an 11% job approval rating, and i can't find any of those 11% anywhere.and so what e brought with us eight members of congress, the great freshmen class, to explain why you're supposed to bring about change,

and yet the numbers are still pretty low, and you're going to have the opportunity to take them on. grab your dials, because i want to see -- this is going to be the ultimate in accountability. why is that congress still has an 11% job approval rating? >> my big concern is this. i'm a military pilot. i remember september 12th, how there were no republicans or democrats on september 12th of 2001, they were all americans. i think we can debate ideas, talk about our differences, but not see each other as the enemy. that's where i've been burdened personally in this job, because we're seeing each other as the enemy. if you can say, you're not the enemy, you just disagree with me, we can unite and get things done. >> you come from wisconsin, the most divided and polarized state in america. it seems like whether it's wisconsin or washington, we've pulled ourselves apart. >> the problem we have, most people expect on the right and left that you expect us all to fight.

what's happening today is, there's all these issues that come down in the middle that we should all agree on that are common sense american issues that we should move forward that we fight on. people sit home and go, what is the problem? why aren't we moving the common-sense ideas forward and reserve those outer issues for the big fight? >> give me word or phrase to describe congress. >> pathetic. >> polarized. >> deadlocked. >> ridiculous. >> this group, hopeful. >> this group is hopeful. what about congress overall? >> pathetic. >> broken. >> pathetic. >> okay, so pathetic is the number one word they use. what do you tell them? >> we're divided as a country right now. and so we represent the people in our districts, but there's people from all over the country. we have very differing views right now. but it's a very critical time that we do find common ground where we can come together and move forward.

certainly i know we were sent here on a mission as freshman to pull our country back from the brink of financial collapse, and we're working hard, and we're part of the fighting freshman class, and the american people deserve it. >> i would add a word. i would say frustrated. i think the american people are frustrated. i can tell you as a brand-new member of congress, i'm extremely frustrated. there's so much that i would give my life for this country. i know we have air force pilots here, i'm a marine myself, but when you're as polarized as we are, and i don't think we have enough leadership right now, and the country is divided, and bringing that back doesn't happen overnight. we've been polarized for a while, and it will take time. >> my first question comes up every time i hear someone like you say that, are you willing to step off the party plantation

and do what's right rather than what you're toda told to do? >> we have two sets of problems. one the almost insurmountable condition of america today with deficits and debt and so on, coupled with the group that is supposed to fix it, or to preside over it, has like a couple of boxers retreated to their corners. they are so divided. i think that's why so much of the american public has a low opinion of congress and loses hope in our ability to fix things. >> go ahead. >> i don't think that america is as divided as people think. i think we're very unified by tremendous financial problems. a lot of us are affected by the housing bubble. a lot of us are affected by unemployment. and that's uniting as american people. and i feel like congress is

divided in terms of dealing with the tremendous financial burdens that we as united americans are facing today. >> and i understand that. as someone who was a single parent, who raised her daughter, i was a police officer. you know, i understand what a lot of americans are going through. and that's why it's very frustrating to a lot of us here when it becomes so polarized. when we came to congress, we came with your message, the american people's message. not one party or another, but the american people. they said, we need to get the debt and deficit under control, we need to get our country working again, because americans want to work. that's what we do. that's what we as a freshman class have been working to do. you have the polarization, and it's something that all of us don't agree with. we believe we're all americans. >> what would you ask them, if you could, any question? >> i just think as a -- as a

regular middle class person, when i turn on the television, and i read about a proposed bill that's before -- that congress wants to propose. i'm thinking, okay, congress is going to pass it. the house is going to pass it. it's going to go to the senate. it's going to die. it's like why? why are we doing this? >> elizabeth, you're one of the youngest people here. what do you want to ask them? >> you say you represent the american people, but how do you prevent the vibe that always seems to happen when congress stays in session? >> scott? >> well, basically, yeah, are you willing to do -- to do what obama claimed he was going to do in 2008, and unite the country on all -- on all the important issues? >> go ahead. >> i want to say to that, one of the things i've been -- i feel is happening in country, and it's happened in the executive branch and senate and house, is an epic -- somebody said it earlier -- lack of leadership.

people have to be willing to stand up and say, look, this may not be the best sound bite to get on the news, may not endear me to the right or left, or -- in 30 years, the american history books are going to america is a great country that stubborned itself to meade medi. that's what i fear. >> we'll come back, and you'll have one last shot to hold them accountable. when we come back, the toughest questions, and what america means to our elected officials. stay tuned. [ male announcer ] summer is here.

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>> we're back with our eight freshmen members. and more importantly, our panel of average americans.

just by a show of hands, how many of you are middle-class, raise your hands. okay, it looks like all of you. two more questions. how many of you would say overall you're better off than your parents when they were your age. who feels better off than their parents. three-quarters of you. tell me the truth, how many of you believe your kids or the next generation will be better off than you when they get to be your age, raise your hands. one person. what's wrong? we should be celebrating america. only one person optimistic for the future. >> this is a snapshot of america. each and every one of us wants to leave a country better for the next generation we received from our parents and grandparents. frankly i'm terrified we may be the first generation of americans that don't do that. so when i decided to run for congress, i've got a 10-year-old, 8-year-old and 5-year-old, and i didn't run to be a congressman. i came to do something and to

get things accomplished. as a small business owner, let me just tell you, when there's a problem at the business, i gather people around the business and say what is the problem and more importantly what's the solution? i think right now in washington, a washington that's broken, which is why we're here to fix it, people before politics and progress before partisanship. erin, you and i can sit down together and we'll find things we disagree about, but if we can find things where we agree that's where we'll move forward. >> is it congress or politics that are broken, or is america broken? how many of you say blocks is broken. okay, we've isolated it to politics. are they the problem or are they the solution? >> i would agree with you, it is politics, but i have six children, and we came here to fix a $16 trillion debt, right? we put out a budget. do you guys all agree with the budget we put out, the house

republicans? raise your hands. the rest disagree it. if you're going have a compromise, some kind solution, and the president doesn't put out a budget that doesn't balances, how can we negotiate? we can't do our job unless we have people on the other side of the aisle willing to put out their ideas and then republican and democrats can fight, argue, debate, come together with an american solution. if the democrats aren't doing their job in the senate and white house, we can't get a resolution to a very serious problem. >> is that fair? >> it is for the budget, but my question is polarization is a decision of individual members. so if you're going to work with the other side, i mean, can you give us an example of where you think the other side is actually right, and your party might not be on the right side. >> first of all, i think there's room for republicans and democrats to come together, selling properties, selling off our waste that we have. we have a bill in the senate now, the senate has a companion

bill. just this week we have a bill to get our veterans back to work. there's things that republicans and democrats agree on, but we need a president that says, i want that bilker send i bill, s. >> is that fair? >> yes. >> the republicans like to say they have solutions, and speaker boehner likes to brag there are 28 jobs bills, but where are the republicans bringing this message? are they enunciating this? i haven't heard one republican talk about one of the jobs bills. why aren't you talking about? >> i'm one of them. i do a lot of messaging, jobs act that passed. we worked very hard on it. i started startup act 2.0, which is a great opportunity to keep the talent that we desperately need right here in america, something i'm very proud of. there's something we're missing here in this message. the world has changed. we're in a world of soundbites with 30 seconds and the most

demagoguery that goes on is what makes the news. you don't see when will i work across the aisle with democratic colleagues from new york on issues that make sense tot for e state, but you hear about the polarization, and you can blame the media. >> let me talk about the jobs bills. we've been trying to talk about the jobs bills. almost all of those bills came with bipartisan support. in fact, some out of the financial services committee passed with over 400 votes. wildly bipartisan. yet they went over to the senate and sat. >> did you know this? yes or no. >> no. >> they're in washington. >> the media sells by the discourse. the media doesn't promote the fact that -- i worked on those bills in the financial services committee, over 400 votes of bipartisan votes. that's not what they're picking up, selling the media right now. >> how can you get through to them? >> we need to continue to make our message heard, certainly back home, through social media.

we do that. i passed a small business credit availability act, and it's not going anywhere in the senate. our national defense is an area we need to come together and stop the sequestration. >> how many of you are you optimistic about the future of america? raise your hands. a tiny percentage. by the way, we're not the queen of england. [laughter] you either are or not. how many are you optimistic about the future of america? i don't know if you saw this from the artist steve hanley, it's brilliant, and this represents america. one of the great challenges is for you all to find a way to capture the optimism, the work you're doing, and relate it to you all. in the end, this country is only free and only independent if you're engaged, you