joining me now is former senator from indiana, republican senator dick lugar. you. thanks for coming on. >> good morning. >> i want to start with something you said about chuck hagel's conconfirmation. you were somebody that was always rumored as a potential republican that president obama could tap and ask to serve in various positions. secretary of state. do you believe if you had been nominated, would you have gotten the same treatment that chuck hagel got by your former republican colleagues? >> probably not. i think perhaps we would have more support. but the fact is that i indicated many times i did not want to serve in the obama administration. did not want to be an appointed official. i appreciated being an elected official. and the independence that came with that status. >> it seems that you believe that chuck hagel was treated differently simply because he was a republican who didn't -- who switched sides. >> in this particular context, unfortunately, very early on, people seized upon various positions of chuck hagel. i think there were legitimately h

dick lugar was defeated in the last election and the primary now is the reference people use, i don't want to get lugar. i don't want to get deep enough primary. i don't want to have happen to me what happened to that extraordinary member of the united states senate from indiana. the fourth factor is the dramatic change the media has brought about. it used to be that the media was the referee, the walter cronkite's. not the media is a the participants, the rush limbaugh's and therein lies all one needs to know about the change in media today. the blogs, the cable news networks and all of the extraordinary cacophony of voices.com on a daily basis, not without some sacrifice inaccuracy i've might hasten to add has created real dilemma for policymakers today. i would even argue as much as i am grateful for c-span that even the new transparency to c-span has brought about has changed the dynamic. it used to be senators who go to the floor as he took colleagues on the floor. today, oftentimes a senator goes to the floor and speaks to the cameras and in so doing, avoid speaking to colleague

. >> the same that dick lugar did, and john kerry, joe biden to last a blunt about this. barack obama had taken that position the reality was, it was another backdoor attempt, and jim webb put it on the record. another backdoor attempt of the administration of george bush and on rumsfeld and dick cheney to say now we have a reason to go to war. that is the first time we have ever singled out any entity and any other country as a terrorist organization and said, okay, we have to single them out. >> thi of e sete voted for that position. >> let me ask you, marc. is the irg a terrorist organization or not? >> i do not know. >> let him finish the answer. >> i do know this. i know when it was politically and realistically. was it an attempt to give more strength to an administration that had taken us into a war that was a disaster, which has been a disaster, and which has left the united states even more isolated and strengthen iran? because of the invasion and occupation of iraq, iran is a more dominant, influential, and stronger flow in the world. >> immigration reform. repu

senator from virginia, jim webb took that same position, argued it persuasively, and then -- and dick lugar, joe biden, and right through john kerry, the secretary of state. this.be very blunt about barack obama had taken that position. the reality was, they saw it as another backdoor attempt -- and jim webb put it on the record. another attempt at the administration of george h.w. bush and donald rumsfeld, and dick cheney to say we now have a reason to go to war. that was the first time that we have ever single out any entity in any other country as a terrorist organization, a part of the government. we have to single them out. >> one-third of the senate voted for that position. >> let me ask you, it is the irg a terrorist organization or not? >> do not know if they are a terrorist organization. >> let him finish the answer. >> i do know this, what it was politically and realistically, was it an attempt to give more strength to an administration that had taken us into a war, which has been a disaster, which has left the united states even more isolated in the world, and has strengthened ir

former clinton white house chief of staff, john podesta and former indiana senator and republican, dick lugarick with msnbc all day long for the coverage leading up to the state of the union, special prime-time coverage starts tonight at 8:00 p.m. coming up next, chris "jansing and co.", live from rome. >>> here's your business travel forecast. the travel trouble spot today is actually in texas and near oklahoma. especially in north texas, amarillo, into oklahoma city late today into tonight. a little mini snowstorm for this area of the country. otherwise, a lot of rain down in the deep south for mardi gras today, in new orleans, 70 with a chance of thunderstorms and showers there in atlanta. the northeastern great lakes, you're looking okay today. enjoy.

you talk about dick lugar. in there consequently when it came to the general election, they lost. you have donnelly in there now. >> but, alex -- >> would you prefer to have democrats? >> this is the thing. we would rather have a true fiscal conservative that stands on principle and does not sway than to have a republican that votes with the democrats more than they do with the conservatives. because then they water down the brand. but at the end of the day, we don't even need to focus on party. we need to focus on the issues, the issues of where we are economically. and that's why the tea party movement's been so successful. not every social issue touches every single person out there. but every person in this country is affected by the economy and jobs, jobs, jobs. and that's what we're going to remain focused on and we're going to elect great conservatives, like senator ted cruz, to go to washington to rein in this out-of-control spending and to shrink the side of the federal government because they're the p

pose to them and they have to conform to the tea party line unless they want to end up the next dick lugar it hawing tiog-ties the whole p. >> thank you so much. >>> next, why republicans in congress can't stomach the violence against women act. yes, it's true. >> we build a strong, growing, thriving middle class where if you work hard in this country no matter who you are, what you look like, you can make it. you can succeed. [ male announcer ] this is kevin. to prove to you that aleve is the better choice for him, he's agreed to give it up. that's today? [ male announcer ] we'll be with him all day as he goes back to taking tylenol. i was okay, but after lunch my knee started to hurt again. and now i've got to take more pills. ♪ yup. another pill stop. can i get my aleve back yet? ♪ for my pain, i want my aleve. ♪ [ male announcer ] look for the easy-open red arthritis cap. that your mouth is under attack, from food particles and bacteria. try fixodent. it helps create a food seal defense for a clean mouth and kills bacteria for fresh breath. ♪ fixodent, and forget it. [ engine turns ove

when dick lugar and mike castle aren't conservative enough, what does the republican party do?hey throw them out. we embrace folks from louisiana and arkansas, and they're not going to vote with us all the time, and we have to accept that fact. but the fact -- >> maggie, let me ask you this. what happens when they don't have these lucky jokers in the deck like akin and mourdock? they were really gifts to these people. >> they were. >> what happens if they don't show up in 2014 because people like rove and others have culled the herd? >> i think there's no question that democrats got lucky last year. republicans had a pretty poor crop of candidates. you had some candidates, senate candidates, republicans, who lost in states mitt romney won. so you can't only blame mitt romney. however, i also think you have to give guy and his team credit in terms of recruitment. it's not just the other side. but i think that there's no question 2014 is probably going to be a much tougher year for democrats than the last one was. i think a lot of things came, you know, were aligned well. some we

we worked to take out and retire republican senators orrin hatch and dick lugar, and works to support candidates like ted cruz and jeff flake. the reason i marched in 2009, and the goal today, is not really about electing politicians. not really about republicans. it is about policy change. freedom works aims to end the stalemate over spending and debt. right now we have a bipartisan consensus to keep kicking the can down the road and spending more money that we do not have. freedom works's model is to be a grassroots service center to millions of activists, whether they are to party supporters, ron paul supporters, fiscal conservatives, or libertarians. i would like to make three points about 2012. first about changing demographics. the second point is about the tea party. the third point is about grassroots tactics. first, about demographics. for all the talk about hispanics, blacks voters, white males, unmarried women, young people, the less well understood trend is the growing libertarian sector of american politics. or years, exit polls asks a question that asked voters there ref

so does dick lugar who is one of the most accomplished foreign policy thinkers in the country as i do joe biden, one of the best. they talked about this for years. you must frame a strategic context first and then you frame the policy to fit the strategic context, the national interest of your country. what john bose. millennium john's account. that was one of the more creative things we have done. it is bigger than that. until we get a president that does that, then is able to implement, by the way in partnership with the congress, doesn't mean the congress has to agree with everything but you can't treat article i of the constitution like it is an appendix, like it is a nuisance. if for no other reason you can't sustain a foreign-policy, you can't sustain a war, the people of america, 70% consistently are gone in iraq. you can prove or disprove that. those are not my numbers. it is over. it is over like it is a matter of how we get out now. you have got to have a policy that the american people understand, make sense for the country and will sustain. that requires partnership. >> th

he and dick lugar got to be close when they were on the same committee today traveling to the formerpped at the airport but they have been on this mission for reducing nuclear weapons for a long time. >> yeah. that is definitely something we are into noting that thes going to be in his speech. the union can kind of be wrong and detailed and people kind of tune in and out for this ent. >> right. >> but because the topics are kind of glossed over in the same way. it's the same kind of topics to be framed in different ways every year. >> that's different. >> maybe something hasn't gotten as much attention as it should, the president is also expected to talk about jobs and the economy. let's face it. that hasn't gone away. a continuing challenge and close to it, not call for a second, jamal, pumping more money to create more jobs which i think will be huge and is badly needed. >> we have gotten a little comfortable with the 7.8, 7.9 unemployment rate. millions of americans are out of the work force. i was with somebody the other day who actually talked about the impact for an entire gene

he was also the former chief of staff to senator dick lugar of indiana. his op-ed -- this was in the wall street journal last week. ray in myrtle beach, south carolina, independent line. should sequestration be allowed? caller: good morning. yes, it should. this was the deal made in 2011. do not let this president out of that deal. they gave him more spending power back then. now the cuts are coming due and he does not want to do it. when i hear stories on the news of medicaid officials, people working for the government, getting $3 million and salaries in excess of $200,000, and all the other fraud that taking place, medicare fraud, mendez and the guy that he is tied up in florida, dr. being investigated, if it is time to cut back. -- menendez and the doctor being investigated in florida. all the medicare and everything. it will vanish if they don't do something. the money will come from somewhere. take it out of the mouths of the people getting it for nothing and stealing it, like they do with medicare fraud and all the other fraud going on. and then yo

we sat with dick lugar and blanche lincoln.e worried about being primary do from your parties extreme, it is hard to reach across the aisle. the very act of reaching across the aisle will be a 32nd ad in the primary election. let's go beyond just saying, how can i convince the sky who is not -- this guy who is not being constructive? let's set up a system with those who do go across the aisle. they went to think they are protected somehow. [applause] >> this is where our activist's come in. this is where the no labels activists come in. >> 100%. this is a venue and a foreign to give those members that ordinarily would not want to put themselves out there and take on the risk of multiple primaries, this is the cover that they need. there is something else each and everyone of you can do. why is the primary process so difficult, especially in the safe seats where it is guaranteed to to be a democrat or republican that wins? very few people get involved in the primary process. only those that they say are very involved in party po

dick lugar voted against it. there were some other republicans.as to the iranian red line, persian gulf, some of the iranian questions you asked, i support the president's strong position of containment, as i said, and i will speak more specifically to a couple of the examples used from my book. but his position i think is right, and when you ask the question about red line, red line, i think the president has gone as far as he can go publicly on that, and he said clearly that in his words, he has israel's back. he said his policy is not to allow the iranians to get a nuclear weapon. what constitutes when the action would be taken? i think that is always something that should not be discussed publicly or debated publicly or out in the public domain. your quotations from my book, which you acknowledge as well, and i always say military options should be on the table, and i had said that consistently, as well as engaging with iran. i have always thought it is far smarter to approach these very serious threats, including iran, who is probably as sign

. -- dick lugar.at will be the 32nd and in the primary election. let's go beyond saying how can i convince this guy for this woman who is not being constructive. how can we reach those people who stand by their principals but want to get things done, that they are somehow protected. that they are protected from that primary challenge. >> this is where our activists come in. this is where the new labels activists come in. >> that is 100% the reality. this is a forum to give those members that ordinarily would not want to put themselves out there so far antigun the risk of multiple primaries. this is the cover they need but there is something else each and every one of you can do. why is the primary process so difficult especially in those seats? very few people get involved in the primary process. it is only those who are involved in party politics that even vote in your primaries. not only do you need to encourage your individual member of congress to join this group, you need to get out there and vot

dick lugar voted against it. there were some other republicans. as to the iranian red line, persian gulf, some of the iranian questions you asked, i support the president's strong position of containment, as i said, and i will speak more specifically to a couple of the examples used from my book. but his position i think is right, and when you ask the question about red line, red line, i think the president has gone as far as he can go publicly on that, and he said clearly that in his words, he has israel's back. he said his policy is not to allow the iranians to get a nuclear weapon. what constitutes when the action would be taken? i think that is always something that should not be discussed publicly or debated publicly or out in the public domain. your quotations from my book, which you acknowledge as well, and i always say military options should be on the table, and i had said that consistently, as well as engaging with iran. i have always thought it is far smarter to approach these very serious threats, including iran, who is probably as sig

reworked to take out and retired republican senator orrin hatch and dick lugar embarked support republican candidates like jeff flake. the reason why i marched in 2009 is not about electing politicians. it is about policy change in principle. freedom works and to it -- aims to end the stalemate in washington over debt. freedom works model is to be a grass-roots center to millions of activists, whether those people are tea party supporters, is also -- fiscal supporters are libertarians. changing demographics and the tea party and grassroots tactics. the first about demographics. for all the talk about hispanics, black voters, white males, unmarried women, young people, the less understood trend is the growing libertarian center of american politics. for years, at the polls asked a question -- do you believe government should do more things to solve problems or you think government is giving too many things left to individuals and businesses? in 2008, 51% of americans said government should do more kasell problems. 4 years later, now 51% believe government is doing too many things. the major

we worked to take out and retire republican senators dick lugar, and we supported republican candidates like jeff flake and ted crews. the reason i marched in 2009 and our goal today is not about electing politicians. it is not about republicans. it is about policy change and principal. we aim to end the stalemate in washington over spending and debt. we have a bipartisan consensus to keep kicking the can down the road and spending more money that we do not have. freedom works model is a grassroots service center 2 million -- to millions of activists, like ron paul supporters and libertarians. i would like to make three points about 2012. the first is about demographics. the second is about the tea party. the third is about grass-roots tactics. the first but demographics -- all the talk about hispanics, black voters, white males, and married women, the less understood trend is growing libertarian center of american politics. for years, exit polls have asked the question, what are your preferences on the size of government? do you believe that government should do more things to solve pr

. -- dick lugar.at will be the 32nd and in the primary election. let's go beyond saying how can i convince this guy for this woman who is not being constructive. how can we reach those people who stand by their principals but want to get things done, that they are somehow protected. that they are protected from that primary challenge. >> this is where our activists come in. this is where the new labels activists come in. >> that is 100% the reality. this is a forum to give those members that ordinarily would not want to put themselves out there so far antigun the risk of multiple primaries. this is the cover they need but there is something else each and every one of you can do. why is the primary process so difficult especially in those seats? very few people get involved in the primary process. it is only those who are involved in party politics that even vote in your primaries. not only do you need to encourage your individual member of congress to join this group, you need to get out there and vot