Skip to main content

tv   Mc Laughlin Group  PBS  March 30, 2013 12:30pm-1:00pm PDT

12:30 pm
from washington, "the mclaughlin group." the american original. for over three decades, the sharpest minds, best sources, hardest talk. >> "the mclaughlin group" is brought to you by siemens. across the country we're ng the
12:31 pm
siemens, answers. issue one. gop easterring? >> we're a little bit too math focused and not focused in people's hearts so that we don't relate to, i think, average americans more than we should. stuffy, old guys too much. and it really is painful to hear, because reality is we've got a very young party. >> after failing to win the white house five months ago, the republican party has begun a $10 million analysis of how to resurrect itself. the party especially wants to reach minority voters who voted by huge margins for president obama last november. 93% of african americans. 73% of asian americans. 71% of hispanic americans. the gop is holding listening sessions across the country to
12:32 pm
figure out why minority voters were turned off by the party's 2012 message. it's also sending canvass to areas republicans rarely go. by order of republican national chairman the party has issued a blunt assessment of its problem that details why when it comes to the presidential level the party leaves the impression that it, quote, not care about people, unquote. >> question, is this public -- republican soul searching a bad idea? is it overkill, pat buchanan? >> there's nothing wrong with soul searching, john, but they better look at reality. african americans, hispanics, and asian americans are now roughly 40% of the entire population and 30% of the electorate, and they vote 80% democratic, and they are growing, where as the white population which votes three to
12:33 pm
two republican is diminishing. the problem is for the republican party, as more america becomes -- looks more and more like the state of california geographically -- or demographically, it will look like california politically where we have not a single statewide office or congressional delegation is two to one outnumbered, the state legislature both houses is two to one outnumbered, and republicans are down to 31% of the vote. this is inexorable. the republican party has never dealt with mass immigration, and you have 40 million newcomers. >> you think the republicans need a 100-page study to figure out why they lost the election? >> they could probably do it in a few paragraphs, but i commend reince priebus for doing it. i think it took a lot of courage on his part to admit to although the negative stereotypes. they are going to go the way of
12:34 pm
the wigs if they don't recognize the new american electorate. and he has some reforms that make 70s. fewer debates. that was great entertainment watching the republicans, but they made it very difficult for mitt romney to appeal to a broader electorate because of the positions he had to take to get through the primary. and an earlier convention might help. hiring people to go out into the country, that borrows a little from howard dean's 50- state strategy, and that's a good thing, but hiring people who are comfortable in various districts in this country reminds me a little bit of the tobacco industry when they back in the day hired all these gorgeous young people to go out and promote tobacco. the problem that the republican party has is what they're selling is toxic. >> well, i don't see what's wrong with canvassing, finding out why. but i think it's pretty clear why, and that's because of bill clinton's speech at the convention, where he blamed the economic distress of the country right on the back, and he did it so beautifully. >> well, he drew one bright line with the republican party,
12:35 pm
but there's so many differences between the two parties where the republicans are on the wrong side that even bill clinton couldn't part the sea. >> do you think obama has a winner with healthcare with this particular population? you follow me? >> well, of course. >> and obama had it, but the republicans had nothing comparable to the. >> well, part of the issue, too, is that this obamacare will cater to people who are lower income and who need it as a new entitlement. so absolutely. and it played a mop bigger role in helping republicans -- democrats win than republicans calculated. and part of what they argue, and i think it isn't a correct argument, republicans want to get rid of obamacare but they've never come one their own plan for what to replace it with. it's a good at, one they continue to make. >> in this polling healthcare plays a big role and why he did as well daisy. >> for sure. healthcare is a huge cost that a lot of people and a lot of families are facing and don't see how they are going to be
12:36 pm
able to gain healthcare so they're looking for somebody to help them out. this was a program that really worked for them. but i will tell you something else about it. if you look at the minority population, both the hispanic community and the asian community generally and instinctively are conservative rather than liberal. in that sense they're not beyond the reach of the republican party if they found some way to talk to these communities. that's something which just didn't take place in the last election to my surprise actually, because romney was very good at that when he was governor. >> but it took governor george bush and helped him win many more hispanic voters. i think republicans are looking back at that. >> he got 40% of it. john, take a look at it geographically. democrats have won 18 states and the district of column '89 six straight presidential elections. mopping those 18 are four of the mega states, california, pennsylvania, illinois, and new york, and they won ohio and florida twice. the whole country is trending democratic, and when you are at
12:37 pm
9 million or 11 million hispanics, or illegal immigrants are made american citizens, by three to one they're going to vote democratic, and there goes texas. >> okay, gop is old. is that the answer to the gop? >> the gop of old has grown stale and moss covered. >> the gop. or grand old party, is just that. old. so says kentucky senator rand paul, age 50. paul gained international status when he filibustered for 13 hours the white house's legal rationale for drone killing. paul's filibuster took heat from republican old guard members like john mccain who referred to paul as a, quote unquote, wacko bird. in fact, paul was the star at cpac, the conservative political action conference held two weeks ago. cpac is a testing ground for
12:38 pm
politicians eyeing a run. this year was no different. president in ng for president i 2016. ng for president in 20ng the strathe paul, 25%. marco rubio, florida paul, 25%. marco rubio, 23%. rick santorum, former 23%. rick santorum, former 23%. rick sdespite not being invited cpac. paul ryan, wisconsidespite not presvice scott walker, wisconsi governor, 5%. scott walker, car maryland johns hopkins carson, ted cruz, 4%. ted cruz, bobby jindal, louisiana governor, 3%. sarah palin, former alaska bobby jindalvice presidential candidate, 3%. other? 14%. by the way, former florida governor jeb bush, a speaker at
12:39 pm
be placed on the ballot. question. how could the recommendations in the gop report change the playing field for the gop 2016 contenders looking ahead? >> well, one of the most important recommendations is the one aspect that the party really controls, which is the primary schedule. they're talking about changing the primary schedule in a way that really favors the more established candidates, and would hurt up and comers smaller candidates who need the primary system. >> i don't get it. why does the change do that? >> because if there are fewer primaries and fear debates, it favors those with the more money up-front. doesn't give as much time or as many opportunities to break out -- for breakout candidates like rick santorum. >> you mean more getting to know you time. >> exactly right. and the smaller primaries, the smaller caucuses favor candidates like santorum. in the next election will more likely favor a candidate like rand paul so they don't like this at all. rand paul is a real up and
12:40 pm
comer in the party but he divides the party. >> did rand paul make a mistake by saying, yes, he thought he would run? did he not say that at cpac? either publicly or privately? did he give it to the press? >> he's hint several times that he's considering. >> considering, i've seen that. but this was almost a firm yes. >> he's running. >> do you think they're starting too early? you've run for president how many times? two, three, four? >> three. last time very badly, john. >> you also -- >> usually you start out in march after the mid-year election, but rand paul, one of the things he's saying, look, when i go to iowa, i want to get my message out, and if i go to iowa or i go to new hampshire it's going to get tremendous attention. he is starting very early, no question. but everybody knows marco rubio. >> is he too hungry? >> he and rubio are in the game. >> rubio is number two. rand paul is number one. >> i would guess nationally rubio is probably number one.
12:41 pm
>> are they starting too early? i meant that literally. >> look, the media does it themselves. they go right after these guys. >> i know they do. why? because they're barred by the president's administration? >> because they love this contest and they want to get it going again. >> is this something really new, though? four years ahead of an election. >> it's all about the media. the news cycle is just in overdrive. it's on steroids. so everything is sooner, faster, shorter. that's why we're seeing everybody talk about it now. the day after the election people were talking about it. >> mort, have you run for president? >> have i? no. >> have you gotten the call? >> i'm waiting to be appointed. >> it was raised with you? >> primarily in my home, the president of the local housing authority. look, what is happening it seems to me is that the republicans have better -- had better fairly early get a comprehensive policy that is going to have a broader appeal than they had in the last election. and that i think is in the works. they are going to also have to
12:42 pm
find, in my judgment, some new candidates. if they do that they will have a better chance. otherwise, because of the minority population and the growth of the minority population they are going to have real problems in getting to be a national party. >> has every president been a christian? >> i think so yes. >> isn't it time for a little development there? >> there are some people who think so, john. if the republicans continue to put forth candidates who are almost predictably losers, they're -- at some point something is going to break. >> there are a few closet atheists there. >> there i would disagree with you. if you are implying that somehow the republicans don't need the help of the lord, then you're wrong. >> what about the jewish possibility? >> well, that's always possible. i mean, hat not happened. it's happened at the state level but never at the national level. >> do you think it could happen, and -- do you think anti-semitism to the extent that it exists or has evaporated, which i think is the case, do you think that
12:43 pm
would -- or would it be a plus? for example, the mayor of new york. >> right. >> the mayor of new york would make a terrific president, despite the fact that he thinks so strong sel about coca-cola, whatever. >> he wouldn't carry new york city. >> he's not against obama. obama would carry new york city against him. whose ticket is he go going to run on? >> i don't know about that. >> look -- >> the mayor of new york spent $100 million and beat an unknown fellow from harlem by five points. he is going to bet obama in new york? >> he was unknown. >> on the gun issue. and that's -- >> he's doing a terrific job across the board. >> as mayor. >> you see he what he has narrowed the debt of new york to? >> he's done a fabulous job with new york, no question. >> he's an extraordinary man. he also acquired a personal fortune. >> absolutely. >> he's got great ideas, extremely smart, and he's fearless. they don't like my taking my position on excessive sugar, so what.
12:44 pm
>> john, he's an trawl liberal. >> he also knows how to bring good people into government. he put together a terrific administration. an outstanding guy. >> mort, he's a nanny state liberal who would not carry a single state. >> he's not going to be a issue two, china cyber saboteur. >> we know foreign countries swipe our secrets. now they're seeking the ability to sabotage our power grid, financial institutions. >> these capabilities put all sectors of our country at risk from government and private networks to critical infrastructure. >> in the state of the union address in january, and the director of the national intelligence senate briefing this month, the obama administration is going all out to alert the nation to the ongoing danger of cyber
12:45 pm
sabotage. cyber sabotage is distinct from hacking. the purpose of cyber sabotage is primarily to destroy critical systems, not to steal. and cyber sabotage is more dangerous than terrorism. so says dni clapper. and that's not all. attorney general eric holder and his d.o.j. staff has cat a logged a list of it cyber espionage theft of corporate and trade secrets by china's people liberation army personnel working out of a complex in shanghai. u.s. government agencies are aware they know they are targets of chinese hacking as are america's biggest corporations like lockheed martin and google. this comes in the wake of revelations of chinese government hacking at the "new york times" and the wall street
12:46 pm
influential media. >> question. what was cyber sabotage by a foreign power look like? susan few ferrechio. >> our internet would go down, the possibility of our national defense being threatened. this is a whole new frontier that no one has put a lot goodn the government is jumping in but there's another side to. this this is going to result in less privacy for americans. this idea that in order to make sure the nation is secure on the internet, that they've got -- there's going to be mormon toring. there's a report out this week about mormon toring of private sector internet activity. that's the other side of this coin. >> south korea was just shut down this week as a result of north cory flay interfering, so we're seeing these things happen. >> john -- >> i was at a briefing five years ago on all of this. you can't i am mailing gin how
12:47 pm
vulnerable we are. all of our air traffic that whole system could break down. our trains. all of the clearance. >> electricity? >> electricity. >> people suffering and day from hypothermia? >> and crashes and everything like that. a huge portion of this country is dependent on this. >> look what we did to the israelis with the nuclear plant that the iranians got. you wrapped it all up, rained the thing. they targeted one thing with one simple straight attack. now, imagine that in all the power plants in the united states, telephone systems, tell graph, all of these things, internet, dropping that whole thing down, even for a number of days, and you stop the american economy. >> this is called asymmetrical warfare, but i want to okay, warfare without war declaration. >> cyber sabotage hacking alarms foreign policy experts. they fear that international rules of conduct forged over two centuries can be undermined
12:48 pm
by cyber technology. here's a quote from a preeminent foreign policy expert and former u.s. national security advisor. "leaders can now use long- distance air drones for lethal strikes across national borders. computer viruses can disrupt the military-industrial assets of rivals. a rogue but technologically sophisticated state can now gain the capacity to launch a nonlethal but paralyzing cyber attack on the socioeconomic system and most important state country. the world community is witnessing an increasing reliance by state on covert acts of violence without withou declarations of war." mort, how important is that?
12:49 pm
>> i think it's critical to our national security. people are not fully aware how much risk there. you could break down any kind of air travel, train travel, a huge portion of our economy would come to a screeching halt. >> wall street? >> wall street for sure. all of our electric utilities, all of these things could be brought down in a matter of moments, and that is usually endangering heating in homes, everything. >> after world war i everybody used poison gas but the way they stopped it, they said, look, we've got all this poison gas, nazis, japanese, you start using this stuff and we will dump more of this on you than you can imagine. frankly i think you are going to get down to the point where you have deter rents that if you do this all hell is going to break loose. >> it is going to be a lot more difficult to figure out who is doing it. >> we spotted south korea. >> eleanor? >> the concern within the administration is intense, and it remines me of the way the clip ton administration was
12:50 pm
focused on al-qaida in the 90s. a small group of people knew i think people are very aware of this in this administration. the treasury secretary jack lew was in china. one of the discussions he's having over there, china is behind some of this. >> china is a rogue nation on this stuff. >> what's that? >> china is a rogue nation. >> they're also a big emerging economy and they have a stake in not having this. >> they're operating by robber barron rules. >> there's room for agreement between the u.s. and china. >> jack lew's obama's treasury secretary just completed a two- day china trip in which he warned the chinese about cyber attacks. china's new premier listened but refused to acknowledge the chinese government's role in rehearsing cyber sabotage. >> john, this is where you have to retaliate. we go over there and plead with these guys. they're operating by robber barron rules. they manipulate their currency, they do all kinds of rogue state things in commerce. you have to hit them with some
12:51 pm
sanctions. >> right. and to reinforce what you said, given that the new president has endorsed china's goal of military supremacy over the united states, it is clear -- is it clear that china is on a war footing? >> no, i don't believe they are on a war footing. they are on a commercial war footing. that's what they are. they're all focused on their domestic economy and growing their domestic economy. by the way, it's working well. they now have an extraordinary technical capability. >> superior to ours? >> at this point in terms of hacking, in terms of controlling -- >> not hacking, cyber sabotage. >> yes, i think they're superior to us. we' probably pretty good, too. they're engaged in this on an ongoing basis. i suspect practice makes perfect, or at least practice makes better. >> have you had any consultation with friends in your power league who are aware of the possibilities of cyber hacking, cyber sabotage and are worried, very worried about
12:52 pm
this? >> of course, and it's not only 0, by the way, from china. there are a lot of people from the united states that are involved in this kind of stuff. >> where do you think back ?roo the computer could be in any country.issue three. old school blues. add america's aging schools to the list of u.s. infrastructure woes. the u.s. green building council, or u.s. gbc is a nonprofit organization that advises government on how to build energy efficient, or, to build energy efficient, report price tag on rebuilding the nation's elementary and secondary schools just to bring them up to their original working order. the cost? $271 billion. get. this that's for repairing the
12:53 pm
basics, like fixing leaking roofs and insulating windows and walls to keep classrooms from freezing temperatures. but that's not all. schools need modernizing as well as repairs so the price tag is even higher. in fact, it doubles to 542, get this, billion dollars. over half a trillion. to upgrade heating and cooling systems and provide electrical outlets to classrooms, to service computers. there has not been a national assessment of the country's school facilities since 1995, 17 years ago. then the government accountability under have office under bill clinton issued a report. despite that report nothing was done. bill clinton, in fact, wrote the forward to this year's report. "nearly 20 years laifort in a country where public education is meant to serve as the, quote, great he can call lieser, unquote, for all of its children, we are still struggling to provide equal
12:54 pm
opportunity when it comes to the upkeep, maintenamodernizati and classrooms, unquote. question. is this report the latest attempt to funnel public money into green energy subsidies? pat. >> now, john, look, i don't think that is the highest priority. there's no doubt that these public schools, and they're tremendous institutions in this country, are breaking down to a great degree and they need to be built up but the idea that you have to make them all green is preposterous. that's a luxury you don't need. the main people to do it, local and state. >> green isn't a lux real. it's the way of the world and it is how we're going to adjust to a warming planet. here in washington and in the national building museum is there is an exhibit of what they call the green schools movement across the country, and there are -- 40 schools are displayed, public and private. a dozen of them are in the washington area. people strive to get that leed
12:55 pm
designation. you save money over the long run. this is a worthy cause. >> here's the problem. >> building developers and school systems, anybody who is writing any kind of proposal for tomorrow, it's the future. >> you know, one of these schools costs $232 m. another is priced at over $100 million. for one school. >> i'm sure they don't all come in that expensive. you can't have local communities fund all of the schools because you have such wide disparity of the categories. ross perot made an issue of that in texas. >> the problem is -- >> i'd be happy to give you a loan. >> we'll meet up in the parking lot afterwards, john. >> spread the word. >> testified right now does not support any connection between a green school and school performance. they've already done studies on it. there's absolutely no correlation at all. and on top of that, the cost of these schools is much higher from the outset, and they're actually using more electricity. the problem, eleanor is that we need money
12:56 pm
what's the status of public faith in government, pat? >> the government is low and headed lower. >> eleanor? >> frustration that government can't respond when you have 91% of the public wanting background checks and congress can't deliver. >> completely tied to jobs and the economy. if it goes up, their faith in government rises with it. >> right now i would say their faith in government is declining and is going to continue to decline. >> i think the bible series on television is helping a little government. happy easter. bye-bye! figure that out.
12:57 pm
12:58 pm
12:59 pm

140 Views

info Stream Only

Uploaded by TV Archive on