god bless aipac, god bless america, thank you. >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome aipac national board member ann davis. ♪ >> georgia senator johnny isakson had a staunch advocate for the u.s./israel relationship. the senator has reached across party lines and teamed with his democratic colleague barbara boxer twice in the past few years to send a loud, resounding and bipartisan message about america's commitment to israel's security. the senator has been one of the most vocal proponents of a negotiated peace. he has penned two letters outlining america's vision for a future agreement based on direct talks without preconditions. senator isakson has traveled to israel and understands the pervasive threat it faces from iran. the senator has advocated for imposing crippling sanctions on the regime. he has co-sponsored multiple resolutions calling for the immediate implementation of sanctions currently on the books. ladies and gentlemen, please welcome a dear personal friend of mine and a great friend of aipac, the senator from georgia, johnny isakson. ♪ >> well, thank you very much.

aipac has a vital voice. together let's achieve peace for the region and ensure a secure future for israel and america. god bless america. and god bless our friendship with israel. thanks so much. >> governor, thank you. good morning. now, let's introduce our panelists. please welcome a longtime aipac activist and national council member from tulsa, oklahoma, stacy schusterman. a republican county commissioner from gainesville, georgia, ashley belt. from carmel, indiana, aipac activist doug rose. >> good morning. >> and last but not least, a student activist from the university of southern california, barry logren. let's go right to our first question. stacy schusterman. >> clearly, governor romney, as you addressed the question on everyone's mind is the danger of iran developing nuclear arms capability. can you discuss further your plans to stop iran? >> thank you, yes. a number of things. first of all, we have to put in place a diplomatic isolation program much that was put in place against south africa dur

. ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome aipac national board member barry manez. >> good morning,adies and gentlemen, our organization's friendship with former speaker of the house newt gingrich goes back to his earliest days as a member of the house of represent you ha ives from georgia, from the start he was an engaged and thoughtful leader in support of israel and the u.s. israel friendship. a long time supporter of enhanced security to israel he was instrumental in securing loan guarantees for israel. from the six previous addresses to aipac policy conferences the speaker has been strong and consistent in his message, particularly with his early and forewarning tone about the dangers of a nuclear iran which, mr. speaker, we well remember and much appreciate. so, ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming back to the aipac policy conference candidate for president and former speaker of the house, newt gingrich. [ applause ] >> thank you very much, and as i understand it, we will take some questions, but first, let me say is on the very first day i'm president, i will sig

now and as a president of aipac.true honor to be here with the leader of the jewish state of israel, prime minister benjamin netanyahu. [applause] i will never forget the great honor of visiting the prime minister in his office last may when he took great pride in showing us an ancient seal and artifacts dating back 2700 years found in the recent evaluations near their of western wall it was inscribed with the name had netanyahu in hebrew, a direct connection to the history of the jewish people. [applause] yesterday you honored the extraordinary career as a true visionary, a legend of history and a founder of the jewish state president paris. [applause] fi join you in celebrating his life. he helped establish the state of israel which many of us consider the greatest political achievement of the 20th century. [applause] he has dedicated his life to a cause of peace ever since that continues to this day as the president of israel. the united states, israel, and the entire world is better off for the leadership of pres

he is about to address the aipac conference. let's listen. [ applause ] ♪ ♪ >> thank you.ryone please have a seat. thank you. well, good morning everyone. rosie, thank you for your kind words. i have never seen rosie on the basketball court. i'll bet it would be a treat. [ laughter ] rosie, you've been a dear friend of mine for a long time and a tireless advocate for the unbreakable bonds between israel an the united states and as you complete your term as president, i salute your leadership and your commitment. [ applause ] i want to thank the board of directors. as always, i'm glad to see my long time friends in the chicago delegation. [ applause ] i also want to thank the member of congress who are here with us today and who will be speaking to you over the next few days. you've worked hard to maintain the partnership between the united states and israel. i especially want to thank my close friend and leader of the democratic national committee, debbie wasserman schultz. [ applause ] i'm glad that my outstanding young ambassador to israel, dan shapiro is in the house. [

she had her aipac conference.f the meetings i had when i was on the east coast was in the secretary's office with water for foreign policy advisers who said they really need our help and following up the aipac conference with a non- governmental women's. we are pretty sure we will have a world conference on women. and xtech is to hold it here in san francisco. -- the next step is to hold it here in san francisco. [applause] we have these buttons. you need to be wearing these. thank you for coming, thank you to shelley for putting this together for us. thank you for helping to take women globally and giving them a voice. that is our mission. [applause] >> we have to keep that spirit -- and we had to keep that secret for a long time. like a lot of you, she would rather be on vacation, but she is up doing work, even when she is not feeling well. thank you all for coming. i posted on facebook i would probably sound like they'd been a downer with all the statistics, could you send me some of your favorites of lifting s

congratulations to aipac's president and all of the leaders of aipac on organizing another outstandingolicy conference. [applause] more than 13,000 strong this year. all of the bill would get in the community activists are effective voices on behalf those strong relationship. let us all recognized the future leaders of the nation and what u.s. israel. [applause] of course i want to honor my delegation, for my own state of california. [cheering] thank you, aipac for your assistance. your effort goes far then israel. anyone who cares about evenly she asia of poverty, the re-dedication of hunter and a disease always to a debt credit to because the strong advocate of foreign aid. it is my experience. the last time i spoke to the plenary session i spoke about my jewish grandchildren. tonight i want to talk about another member of my family years ago a congressman baltimore invited here from maryland? [applause] i think a year david. a congressman from baltimore took the floor of the house to call on his colleagues and our allies to ensure the safety, security and future of the jewish commun

those were the speeches at aipac today. sure iranians are running and say hog, my gosh, the united states is coming, the united states is coming. that was his response to say if you believe war is the answer tell the american people that. lay it out on the table. there is not one of these candidates who is going to make that case effectively. to the contrary, i think when the president says he has israel's back and says he has a history of taking high risk military operations steps when necessary to protect american interest there is no reason to doubt him. >> there is reason to doubt if it he turns around three days later and says folks don't get the wrong impression. when i said we had israel's back country facing what it believes annexo stennial threat and says that is not a military doctrine. if you are in tehran you breathe a huge sigh of relief. >> you say it's not a military doctrine? the president means by that that he is not therefore saying i'm sending missiles at the moment. he is saying we have israel's back, hi

we have a few minutes before aipac.e will see what he says, the administration says that the president's dmiment to israel has been unflagging, even though some republicans question his strong commitment. the president saying just last week, every single commitment i have made to israel and to its security, vikept. shimon peres with very strong language against iran, saying it must be stopped and will be stopped. iran is a danger to the entire world, he says. if we were forced to fight, trust, we will prevail, meaning israel, and the u.s. will never permit iran to become a nuclear nation. containment is not a viable option, he says, of the u.s. position. he says the u.s. and israel share the same goals and there is no separation between us. so the same theme of the u.s. and israel being together on this, but israel growing more and more impatient, threatening to launch a strike on its own. the u.s. saying there are real dangers to that. we prefer diploamacy and sanctions first and want to give more time for that, but ar

it is so exciting to be here at aipac.esterday, hearing from president obama and president peres, and today have an opportunity to hear from senator joe lieberman and aipac's executive director howard kohr, thank you for those powerful words. [applause] those of you who are my age or older, if you have an awareness of me, i began my career in fashion in the last century as a model. [applause] today, i serve as a designer, ceo, mother, wife, a christian, and a very proud pro-israel american. [applause] it is humbling to stand before you. since i have arrived, many of you have kindly asked me, why are you here? [laughter] i am here to speak loudly, to you and to the world, with a turret -- personal testimony, that israel is not only a jewish value, it is a cherished american value. [applause] christian faith brought our family to israel. our journey bear awakened us, as well as friends and loved ones who joined us to the reality that only israel in the middle east is truly protecting the values of freedom, of democracy, and

. >> there was a pretty stern message from president barack obama at the aipac conference. we have what he is saying to both israel and iran. >> >> tomorrow, all eyes will be on the white house as president obama meets with benjamin netanyahu. >> the talks come amid growing tensions with iran. the president addressed the issues in today's aipac convention. >> we say to barack obama -- >> we are in a very dangerous position right now appeared >> outside the convention center, voices of dissent. >> there are some and factions that stand to gain economically from us going to war. >> about a potential iranian nuclear showdown. >> i think ron is paranoid about being attacked by user. >> inside, president obama is attacking the american-israel public affairs committee appeared >> we will review all elements of american power to pressure iran. >> he would not hesitate to use military force. >> no israeli government can tolerate a nuclear weapon in the hands of a regime that denies the holocaust, threatens to wipe israel off the map. >> the president says that diplomacy backed by i

because of aipac's effectiveness in carrying out its mission, you can expect that over the next several days you will hear many fine words from elected officials describing their commitment to the u.s.-israel relationship. but as you examine my commitment, you don't just have to count on my words. you can look at my deeds because over the last three years as president of the united states, i have kept my commitments to the state of israel at every crucial juncture, at every fork in the road we have been there for israel every single time. four years ago i stood before you and said that israel's security is sacrisanct, it is nonnegotiable. that belief has guided my actions as president. the fact is my administration's commitment to israel's security has been unprecedented. our military and intelligence cooperation has never been closer. our joint exercises and training have never been morrow bust despite a tough budget environment, our security assistance has increased every single year. we are investing in new capabilities. we're providing israel with more advanced technologies and type

where any second benjamin netanyahu will take to the podium and address aipac.ll carry the speech as soon as it begins. first tonight on great american panel, former secretary of state columnist the man himself bob beckel, cal thomas and writes a column with bob and she is on fox sports, poker after dark, leanne tweeden. good to see you all. you know, bob, the president got a million dollars from bill maher. here a guy that uses the "c" word and worse talking about governor palin. president took maher's money and we have a controversy involving other people comments that they make. i've stood up for bill maher and said don't fire him. don't fire a host. in one case, laura ingraham is called a slut. why is it that the left wants to get conservatives fired, attack their advertisers and silence them? >> it may be true some on the left. i ended referring to rush limbaugh's comment was inappropriate. he admitted it was inappropriate. >> sean: he apologized for it. >> anybody made some mistakes, said some words, you are looking at him right here. >> sean: i'm going to

and to recognize aipac current president and chairman lee rosenberg. and of course howard core. thank you for this service -- for your service to this vital organization which has helped me and my staff immensely over the years. finally, i want to acknowledge all the kentucky ians who are here. we may not have a large jewish population in the bluegrass state, but i'd like to think we make up for it in heart. in fact, one aipac supporter i worked with years ago in louisville summed up the attitude most jewish kentucky yans pretty well. he said, mitch, there's only one race better than the jews and that's the kentucky derby. now, as we all know the u.s. and israel have a lot in common. in addition to the strategic interests that bind us, both were born of conflict and built by immigrants and pioneers. and both of all has been firmly committed to the democratic ideals that enabled their people to flourish. because of these things, israel has always enjoyed strong bipartisan support here in washington. but saying we support israel doesn't necessarily ensure it. that's why i wanted t

aipac later today, he will issue another stern warning to iran. the more important words will be spoken privately in his face-to-face meeting at the white house with the president. bob orr, cbs news, the white house. >>> tomorrow is super tuesday, which may turn out to be a decisive day in the race for the republican presidential nomination. voters in ten states cast ballots. the biggest single voting day in this year's primary season. a just released nbc news poll finds mitt romney leading rick santorum nationally among republican voters. while 40% of all voters say the bruising primary battle has left them with a less favorable opinion about the gop. drew levinson has our report. >> reporter: the gop front-runner went to georgia sunday where he served up pancakes. >> not every day you get served by the next president. >> and promise. >> mitt romney again ignored his republican rivals and attacked president obama. >> he's been in office for three years. i'm still waiting to hear what his jobs plan is. how he's going to make america more competiti

and that is why what aipac does every day is so important.u that as much as we have accomplished during the last 24 years in the u.s./israel relationship, i must admit that i leave the u.s. senate with two big items of unfinished business. the first is that despite a great deal of work israel still has not been able to achieve the peace with its palestinian neighbors that its people want and deserve and that everyone in the middle east would benefit from. but we're never going to stop working for that peace, ask can one day with god's help -- and one day with god's help, it will come. [applause] my second personal disappointment -- and i feel it personally -- is that the american embassy in israel is still not where it belongs, in the city of jerusalem, the eternal capital of the jewish state of israel! [applause] but neither you, nor i will ever forget jerusalem. and we will continue to fight for a day when the american flag flies proudly over an american embassy x -- and that day, too, i believe, will come soon. [applause] today the united

. >> reporter: in speaking to the pro-israel lobby aipac president obama walked a delicate line. he pledged the u.s. will stand with israel, if force is ultimately needed to keep iran from building nuclear bombs. >> iran's leaders should have no doubt about the resolve of the united states. i have said that when it comes to preventing iran from getting a nuclear weapon, i will take no options off the table. and i mean what i say. >> reporter: but he argued with sanctions fighting hard and crippling iran's economy it is not yet time for war. >> now is not the time for bluster. now is the time to let our increased pressure sink in. >> it's the same message the president is expected to deliver tomorrow in a meeting with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu whose made it clear israeli doesn't need u.s. permission to attack iran. the two leaders had an icy summit last may but today netanyahu thanked the president for preserving the military option in the campaign to stop iran's nuclear weapons program. >> most important of all, i appreciated the fact that heed is said that israel

. >>> president obama today addressed aipac, the pro-israel lobbying groups. roshtion that received the most attention were focused on the threat posed by a nuclear iran. >> president obama said two key things. first, he pledged that u.s. policy was to prevent iran from getting a nuclear weapon, not containing iran once it already had one. let's take a listen to he had to say. >> i said when it comes to preventing iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, i will take no options off the table, and i mean what i say. that includes all elements of american power, a political effort aimed at isolating iran, a diplomatic effort to sustain our coalition and ensure that the iranian program is monitored, an economic effort that imposes crippling sanctions, and, yes, a military effort to be prepared for any contingency. >> now, the crowd also cheered when president obama said israel has a right to make its own foreign policy decisions to defend itself, and he's hoping that that tough talk will set the stage for his meeting with benjamin netanyahu on monday and will lessen

war against the iranians he didn't go to the congress he didn't go to the american people he went to aipac and more or less played for more time to make sanctions work so how do you separate rhetoric though from reality because i've seen it iran has been the top of their agenda for as long as i've been covering it and clearly there's plenty of documentation that apac is you know arguably the strongest foreign policy lobby in the united states but how do we know that that will lead to some kind of attack and what i would look like well lou the most the strongest of the most corrupting they have corrupted the american political system both in the congress and the campaign trail otherwise who would pay attention to them if it wasn't for money what can you give us advance some examples that you feel substantiate that when we look at senator lieberman senator lieberman is the voice of israel in congress no matter what's in the interest of the american people and he is he is champions aipac and the rest of those organizations. do you think that the american people really want to go to war to pro

do you think barack obama will have that in mind when he speaks to aipac today? >> reporter: you know, president obama gave an interesting interview with "the atlantic" magazine over last week and he said, why is this question always coming up? for the last three years, i've done a lot to help israel in terms of its security, in terms of military aid, everything israel has asked for in terms of security, i've been right there with them, and he wants to, yes, answer these questions to say, listen, the iranian nuclear threat is not just against israel, you know, israel always complains that this sis an, israel versus iran issue. what president obama is going to say, no, this is in interests of the united states and the world to fend off a nuclear program and a nuclear program is unacceptable for the united states. i'm not going to let that happen on my watch so he wants to address not just israel, not just the aipac people but also today, as you said, it's an election campaign. this is a so hot election issue. he wants to be very strong on israel because that's a p

[applause] aipac's work continually nurtures this bond.ou can expect that over the next several days you will hear many fine words from elected officials describing their commitment to the u.s.-israel relationship. as you examine my commitment, you do not just have to count on my words. you can look at my deeds. over the last three years as president of united states, i have kept my commitment to the state of israel. at every crucial juncture and at every port in the road, we have been there for israel every single time. [applause] as the book for you and i said israel's security is sacrosanct. it is non-negotiable. my administration's commitment to israeli security has never been closer. our joint exercises and training has never been more robust. this has increased every single year. we are investing in new capabilities. we are providing israel with more technology, products, and systems that only goes to our closest friends and allies. we will do what it takes to preserve israel's military edge because israel must always have the abilit

champions aipac and the rest of those organizations. do you think the american people really want to go to war to protect the israelis interests i don't think so i know as an american i don't want to go to war with iran for really any reason that i've seen presented to me but are you suggesting because this is something that you bring up from what i understand of your of your work and your in your writing that you believe in launching some kind of a properly identifying and engaging the enemy as you put it is your criticism of proselytizing iran and engagement the u.s. has had in libya and iraq a reflection that this is not the case no i think well yes i think the policy of the united states under other under both parties no matter who's president which party runs the congress is to intervene in other people's affairs especially in the muslim world we intervened in libya intervened in iraq we're going to follow these really lead and intervene in into. iran and the bottom line is none of those countries pose a threat to the united states

[applause] aipac's work continually nurtures this bond.ect that over the next several days you will hear many fine words from elected officials describing their commitment to the u.s.-israel relationship. as you examine my commitment, you do not just have to count on my words. you can look at my deeds. over the last three years as president of united states, i have kept my commitment to the state of israel. at every crucial juncture and at every port in the road, we have been there for israel every single time. [applause] as the book for you and i said israel's security is cypress site. it is non-negotiable. -- their security is sacro sanct. my administration's commitment to israeli security has never been closer. our joint exercises and training has never been more robust. this has increased every single year. we are investing in new capabilities. we are providing with israel -- israel with more technology, products, and system that only goes to our closest friends and allies. we will do what it takes to preserve israel's military edge be

but i look for him when he goes to aipac to do more of a hard line. i think that he has -- as juan said, that he was signaling his willingness to be tough on military issues, you know, of course, he has several things, that he has done over the last 3 years. but he will have a tougher speech and he won't win over some of the voters. the rebuttal will will come from mitt romney, rick santorum and newt gingrich on tuesday when they speak to the group at aipac. the politics is not as prents as the policy in the middle-east. >>> want to turn to afghanistan and the continuing fallout from the burning of the koran and the tragic killing of six u.s. soldiers by afghans in uniform, by our supposed partners. as i discussed with the senators, there is a growing movement -- not a groundswell, but you can see newt gingrich and rush limbaugh talking about rushing to the exits. bill, how sensitive a moment is this now for the question of how committed the u.s. is going to be in afghanistan? >> i think it's an awfully sensitive moment. we will see if general allen,

remarks from aipac executive director.:30, the senate minority leader mitch mcconnell, nancy pelosi, and benjamin netanyahu are scheduled to speak at the annual dinner. >> of this crazy world of ours, the question is how do you restrain yourself from using them? any fool can get this truck -- country into trouble. >> we look back at 14 men who ran for the office and lost. go to our website to see video of the contenders who had a lasting impact on american politics. >> shouldn't york president have the highest ethical standards and be i example to our children in this country? should his wife make him a role model for your future children? -- should his life make him a role model for your future children? >> c-span.org/the contenders. >> rick santorum held a couple of campaign events in oklahoma. one of them was an oklahoma city. and oklahoma and nine other states are holding primaries or caucuses on tuesday. this is event -- this event is about 40 minutes. [applause] >> thank you. thank you very much. thank you. thank you