. >> as we told you last night, former republican, repeat republican attorney general dick thornberg testified before the senate foreign relations committee in july basically saying exactly that. there's nothing in the treaty that interferes with u.s., federal or state laws, nothing. that didn't stop mr. santorum to send out this e-mail to supporters after the vote saying you did it. you made it happen. if it weren't for you, the u.s. senate wouldn't have defeated the united nations convention on the rights of person with disability. he went on to say, quote, this treaty would have given the u.n. oversight of the health care and education choices parents with special needs kids make. had it passed, crpd would have been the law of the land under the u.s. constitution supremacy clause and trumped state laws and could have been used as precedent by state and federal judges. again, that's not true. why the fudging of facts? we asked senator santorum on the program tonight. he declined, and like the others that won't explain themselves, we can guess their motivations and frankly it's so b

pennsylvania republican governor dick thornberg and lifelong advocate for disability rights, ted kennedye's also founder and president of the lemar wood group. mr. thornberg, let me start with you. explain what this treaty is and why it's important. and make your case why it's important to sign on to it? >> this extends to 650 million people around the world. that's the model. and it's important to maintain america's lead ership position n this important human rights issue. it's important for us to continue to be a role model for nations around the world who are not providing the opportunities and guaranteeing the rights. >> like all treaties, this has to be ratified by the united states senate. you need a, i believe, two-thirds, to get this ratified, so you need 66 votes here. explain some of the opposition and what do you understand and are trying to push back gently on? >> first, it's terrific to be on your show, truck. i appreciate you bringing attention to this watershed moment in this area of disability and human rights and i'm thrilled to be here with my long time friend governor

voted against something that was so important so near and dear to his heart with former governor dick thornberg is an amazing ally to folks with disabilities. i had dinner with dora bush another person who is passionate about making the world a better place for those with disabilities. the voices are there we just need to figure out how to get those voices to be a more powerful voice for the power. >> eliot: each of those voices were a voice from the past. that's indicative of the unfortunate transportation transformation. mark perrierllop thank you for joining us. >> we served from different states way back a couple of years ago. senator, were you shocked as many of us when this treaty was not approved by the united states senate? >> i was absolutely astonished, shocked and surprised especially given the presence of former senator dole in the well of the chamber, present physically there, even in somewhat weakened state, but a reminder, as you put it very well, the roots of the republican party, and the bipartisanship that should surround this issue. so it was a very poignant, and truly sad mo