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What Would Thaddeus McCotter Do Differently?

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    Presidential candidate McCotter discusses his future plans for America if elected

  • Duration 22:25
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Congressman Thaddeus for Cotter his.

Presidential candidate for the Republican nomination for president -- somebody's thought I have.

In the foreign policy world which is where I live as somebody is a very thoughtful guy he's not just the sound byte key figure actually thought about these issues in detailing death.

Which is why we wanted to start this series with him as somebody who can go way beyond the sound bytes.

And talk about the issues that you think -- facing the country so this could be an in depth conversation.

You me and thousands of people in the audience were going to be sending -- questions via Twitter -- live chat.

But what I'd like to do is start out with you into big picture questions and that after you solve those problems fended a couple of -- -- of what you wanna do for specific nightmares that we have renowned American -- think.

So first of all congressman Mike -- what is the greatest national security issue kind of -- and -- today.

And how to deal with the -- Think you have.

Who -- of the greatest you have the obvious clear and present threat of al-Qaeda still friends place people who would kill themselves -- their children to try to kill you.

That's immediate.

You also have a threat just beyond that which at -- that is the tyrannical Iranian regime.

Which is by all accounts still bent upon getting a nuclear weapon.

And remains bent upon their.

Ideological thirst to wipe Israel opposite of off the face of the earth and still screams death to America.

I also believe -- we have trouble.

In the long run.

I would People's Republic of China and about the Communist country musicians -- -- amount would use us as the rival they must get past.

It is utilizing.

Nefarious means by which accomplish that task without us seem to be willing to engage and prevent.

Okay let's start out of there with al-Qaeda what would you do what you do now what would you do differently than you institutions from using your credit for example.

You know Panetta undersecretary of defense has said that -- -- -- my you know we're almost finished with al-Qaeda we've almost defeated them it's an adversary.

You always have to view al-Qaeda.

Is as part of being abetted by the state sponsors of terrorism okay.

Which is why I continue to point out that you can remove the head and the serpent will live for a little while because get another head.

That you need to do now that bin Laden has been dispatched justice.

What you need to do is continue to press to operate that network all over the student and we're very dangerous period of time and the regime to support -- put pressure on them economically diplomatically so that they can eventually be Asad regime more like -- Iranian regime.

Implode beneath their own people's aspirations for freedom.

You also need to do was look at this the dangerous part we're heading into as I've always said that the danger would come when al-Qaeda starts acting like -- and -- at the start of the twentieth century.

It'll ever the phrase was the word and indeed.

Where they were published pamphlets out of the anarchist movement and -- some individuals find the pamphlet and then take action upon.

Separate and apart from any centralized organization directing.

When we start to see the Internet when we start to see some sporadic outbursts that we're seeing now you can start -- It's strikingly and this.

Dangerous.

Relation between him and -- -- and what al-Qaeda is forced to do you know where continuing put pressure.

You mean that there really is no longer as much essentially organize things you got people who are picking up a pamphlet size bacon and cyberspace.

And they've been very.

We hate to say it but they've been very -- -- hurting the technological revolution which we live to communicate the message to themselves and their followers and.

Melissa from I would this and let them for something like for example the Patriot Act do you think that we showed.

Use -- all they have the ability that we have for high tech intelligence gathering to continue to monitor our and to disrupt -- Absolutely going to be heading in more per cent as the ability.

Post bin Laden al-Qaeda had always prior to his departure.

At the hands of our.

Military.

What they've always done as it always hope for the big terrorist -- -- the -- large scale sadly we know being in New York September 11.

Unable to do that.

They're going to continue to try to compensate for that by having free agents if you will pick up on the Internet who were targeted to be attacked.

And this is very -- workers I think we do need the Patriot Act this.

To continue with the Patriot Act and we've -- what cyber security it's not just about -- from other nations.

Especially with the Communist Chinese -- like to use our response and cyber hacking against United States we've seen Putin's Russia.

He's there's some places in their near abroad as he calls are we going to tell -- -- sovereign nations.

OK let's let's switch you mentioned in the intermediate and Iran around since -- reference.

Nobody wants around -- nuclear weapons but what do you do about it.

-- is -- the Green revolution I remember talking my colleagues at the time I would go down on the floor never talked about it pictures and they -- are finding sovereign right.

Who were martyrs for freedom in Iran killed by the regime.

And people say why you're doing.

And I would -- because this is the opportunity the Iranian people.

Have had a revolution -- -- once.

As you remembered in basketball and I at the time -- saying that in Egypt we had to be carefully did not have a -- previews of what happened in Iran in 1979 -- had a broad based movement.

But I highly radicalized organized minority that could you surfaced at any time.

Over time -- immediately saw that in Iran so having hit a real popular movement for democracy stolen from.

This is much like the solidarity movement for Green revolution in Iran is because they've seen what has happened.

And the solidarity movement we should just say is is what happened in -- In the early night for anybody who did not have a very parallel army act and the back of the Cold War -- that the -- so this solidarity movement was what happened in Poland right.

And what President Reagan fan support it and what you're saying -- -- -- in the same thing in Iran today.

Right and we have to support continue to support ending -- external influence of that trance and exportation of terrorism in places like Iraq there to make sure that Afghanistan goes forward.

So -- what you do -- you surround places like Syria places like Iran.

With free peoples and then have their own people -- economically and diplomatically and just as we did was solidarity to ensure much like the Soviet Union.

But there's never a nuclear explosion there's other peaceful implosion of the regime beneath its own people's -- -- your heart rate and relative with the Soviet Union Donna I'm gonna say -- -- -- -- was in Alaska -- -- in here remember -- for the younger you air act.

Ronald Reagan was -- -- nuclear how -- he left was.

Crazy that he was going to initiate right -- along -- third world war.

The reality was for supporting freedom movements within these nations.

These oppressive nations of evil empire eventually the people when.

Okay we've got to -- coming from one of our viewers and -- Carter who's talking about you and saying that you're absolutely right that what we need to do.

Is to support the Iranian revolution and in fact we -- just the opposite.

Yes and as we've seen that it was very frustrating at the period of time when the president.

When you compare -- contrast what he was saying regarding each of -- what he hadn't been saying prior to dealing with Iran there seems to be -- misplaced sense of real quality.

Where they think that the more murderous regime the more since you were able to engage them.

And again from the midwest a very practical person this -- when mr.

Brockman and it Johnson's death to America I'm not going to opportunities otherwise -- -- -- -- Isn't this what do you do I mean who you know wouldn't that okay support the Green movement but that may or may not come to fruition before Iran has nuclear weapons what else -- it.

I think that you're gonna have to support that because there's.

If they have the nuclear weapons we've seen a nuclear armed Soviet Union -- But what are you going to do with kinetic action the problem that you have with Iran is that they learned from some in the mistakes of others such as -- -- Iraq.

When the Israelis -- the nuclear reactor even in Syria more recently.

Is it they spread -- out all over the country.

So it's not as if there's a question is simple strike is going to deter or destroy the entire system.

I think that what you have to do is continue to deal with them continue to boxing -- continue to go for sanctions we have to continue to put pressure on Russia and Communist China.

To stop your lap dog North Korea and other people from back going in technologies that help.

Facility that is.

Because as long as that -- doors open all the sanctions in the world with the west puts on to.

And Iran are not going to be as effective as they need to be as long as people think she can deal with Iran or some other -- -- against al-Qaeda or other extremists such as -- tensions.

Then he's going to continue to play footsie with the so long as the people's republic of Communist China I think this is where they have to go to get oil and give some 300 million dollars for access to it.

The sanctions are going to be difficult as long as nations -- call themselves responsible such as Russia Putin's Russia in the PRC pretends to be.

The more -- about this regime and the more they -- the ability of their own people -- to implement the harder it's going to be to deal with so we have to have a -- Enjoy it sounds like a -- and -- he's got of those countries and say look we want you to stop.

Held in the Iranians and trading with the Iranians -- -- in their best interest that now -- right now.

Or they may think that somehow they're going to -- the United States jamaicans are probably not Israel's problem.

There's one more problem for the -- among the deal.

But the reality is -- they're back.

It's their best.

Okay -- -- switch gears because we've got an amber pressures from Twitter.

That are more -- sort of on the economic front I urge you remember times to -- eloquently that if America doesn't get its economic.

House in order that foreign policy just -- it's gonna be falling by the wayside and so we've got questions.

Jerry Palmer says you think the government should have.

The right to get involved in social issues RS.

Says that can you.

The Harry is separate from other presidential hopefuls on your economic issues and Brady asks again about auto ballots and other things added that if we're so focused on these economic issues.

Why are we not going to be able to sort of have the economic revival that we need.

And the money that we need to have a successful for a profit.

You're looking at the wrong way but first we'll start we'll work our way okay.

First regarding the auto industry it was called the arsenal democracy in Detroit for reasons.

Now Ronald Reagan's back from the peace through strength.

Has to be under -- -- not necessarily -- the actuality of the armaments but the ability to create that if necessary.

Who otherwise if you cannot manufacture produce sure armaments you have no peace through strength because you have no credibility to back it up -- -- strengths -- columns.

So if people have no trouble with the American manufacturing base being gone in this Communist Chinese having the largest manufacturing base in the world would argue that that's not as likely.

Beneficial scenario for the people of the United States heading into the 21 century.

As you go backwards you can work.

The problem that we have economically something always taking -- is the reality that the Wall Street bailout failed.

The big bailout banks are not lending we've had a contraction of lending for the first time since the Great Depression but you can talk tax relief which I supported in -- regulatory relief which I support you can -- energy.

Above all the above strategy.

But until credit can start flowing down to those market place to be unique individual entrepreneurs and innovators and especially startups in the small businesses.

You're not going to see this economy do anything but stagnant like happened in the 1990s.

Has been pointed out the stagnant economy.

Like in the 1970s the first thing people would do is we have to cut defense well absolutely -- -- what I would argue was to restructure the banks for forcing them to build it that's correct we swaps that we using dollars talked about a time we talked about the time.

Or James A baker the third talked about segregating off the insolvent ones.

And putting their deaths in the resolution trust for what was done in the past -- increasing and or increasing their leverage limits of the never get too big to fail and implode again.

But if you start just come from the premise we've done everything we -- this is administration seemed to think everything happened.

If you start look at this as Republicans in the sense of what we can't touch the banks.

The problem's going to be that you're going to be stuck with -- to stagnation when we were in the 1970 learned so much introduce an address in defense cuts.

And -- for social issues to me the reality is the problem.

As a social conservative will we see is a federal -- trying to inject itself into the decisions that we make it's a Supreme Court -- comes downstairs to tell us what we can or can't do with the federal bureaucrat that tells us what we can or can't do it to.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Citizenry to have a prosperous economy and is -- your country.

If you do not do that if you do not allow families who -- for more features to their children apps and interventions from these bureaucratic -- -- Jewish judicial.

Entities which are going to continue to see is division.

So I say to my friends on the last.

I wish government would stay at a social issues and stop injecting these last radical view of how we have to change on the rest of -- Let me look over the lightning round now because -- -- assume president of -- here in the White House to guard out of the White House situation room you've got -- secretaries of state defense and Tennessee advisors in the dollar long laundry -- -- million -- A big problem.

Well first -- -- then and of itself would be a big problem.

Approval it.

What they'd be in -- moments -- -- while in Maine lets you got now on the united premised on the failure.

I'll leave you inherit stuff this is not so that you're gonna start we're here to walk into the White House and you've got a big -- some of nightmares of so what do you do about Libya.

Increased decreased get out what -- -- done with -- I think.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- But at this point but I hear there -- there you have to continue to support role I was -- -- put -- pressure on the NATO allies to send.

What is the end goal here as you know this administration says the removal of Qaddafi was its own goal that was not necessarily go on the no fly zone at the time.

You cannot have that kind of dichotomy.

So I would in conjunction with the NATO partners and what is the end goal to clear objective here now that we are here -- collective entity.

But again unilaterally withdraw and not to have any clarity as to what our fellow participants and they don't think -- not only be damage to whatever happens and what.

And I propose arming any groups on the ground in the US troops on the ground but it's going to -- the ability made over the long.

Okay so you're saying -- you know let's get our mission here we can all agree on -- especially the French -- the.

We're the British -- what is the end goal here we can all agree on so that we know whether progress -- being capable of being me and this is with the US in -- support role.

They want to lead the way than you better tell us what the objective.

But in the future you would never commit to something OK so then what how would you -- -- -- -- -- combat piracy so you're not gonna that they humanitarian intervention.

Clear and present danger the United States people -- interest on our allies interest there was you've -- Afghanistan.

-- the Taliban was there they were safe haven for and we just got me in Afghanistan today.

I would be in Afghanistan today into -- into a legitimate chance to be very a precipitous withdrawal from Afghanistan is gonna allow the Taliban to come back in just because bin Laden's.

I didn't.

Purple does not mean they're not going to be able to recreate the horrors -- they've had there.

Plus in terms of the US credibility in the world one of the things you see we start talking about -- countries precipitously.

He is we promised the people of Afghanistan and not only were we there to get rid of the Taliban and we were there to make sure if they were free.

-- of the US abandoned -- word abandons many of the women parliamentarians that I had met who will be killed for participating in this experiment in democracy there.

The United States -- credibility elsewhere in the world with any of the movements that are going -- Be it in Iran Libya and Syria to try to peacefully participate to help those machines are -- -- USA the president -- probably his announcement -- withdraw its probably too much too fast.

I would say so I would think that we've heard that this is -- contrary to what we.

And initial opinion of many of the commanders on the ground work.

Clearly you don't want to do that especially -- Iran continuing to move its influence into Iraq.

Continuing to try to move its influence into Afghanistan continuing to try to move its influence in the Pakistan.

Let us not forget that what happens is you have the tribal region there you have Afghanistan here the Taliban comes back re establishes itself.

They will continue to work with many of the terrorist -- -- trying to destabilize the Pakistan -- -- And I need to point out -- I don't need to point out -- the Pakistan the nuclear armed country.

Okay David -- -- live chat has a question for you.

I says with what's going out in our country economically why are we so giving money to other countries instead of using it here.

As -- extrapolate from that when you're talking about had a longer mission in Afghanistan.

I think he would probably say let's -- seven home why are we spending money time and Afghanistan.

Yes there is there's in the same sentiments of a gentleman named Burton -- Wheeler was one of the leading isolationist back in the 1930s.

That have that attitude does not work.

Penny wise pound foolish you can spend all the money you want on yourself here that doesn't mean that your -- are going to go away.

That doesn't mean -- in the age of globalization.

In the age of instant communications in the age of jet travel around the world the United States still -- -- -- can be isolationist fortress Europe.

But somehow we spend money here it's not going to publish what it is September 11 possibly pretend that the problem wasn't there.

-- previous administrations did that.

How can you sit there and say that okay well from nuclear armed Pakistan goes under some -- that's okay because we're here building roads -- home from the failed stimulus plan free or whatever.

-- that somehow.

You people and if the people in Latin America that -- the answers and care about them anymore because wanna help.

To develop the grassroots level some type of democracy -- Chavez is the wave of the future right there are backyard.

About the people who say well why do we care about the expansion of cream and other human beings what does it matter us.

What matters a great deal Lincoln told us.

The best way to preserve and defend your -- to -- -- to others and that is I'm not a neo conservative but they're smart ways to have smart investments in building democratic institutions in premarket institutions and real grassroots hands.

Overseas that will prevent some time down the road a situation where -- should have been a movement for democracy becoming a usurpation of the tyranny.

Which attacks the United States and I like to remind my friends in the United States.

Being a member of we are targets for every tire terrorist investment in the world by virtue of our existence is a free people if your -- It depends upon you some educating your fellow human beings within your own country and they can look at the United States to say wanna look how better people that.

And they're willing to try to help us learn how to do what we need you for a minute -- what we need you for aside what we need you for Hu Jintao.

But if we pull back from the world and show that we're not really about liberty were really about selfishness.

Then we're going to bring ourselves a host of problems okay.

And I thought let's do an arrow down in the hemisphere.

If that's the attitude -- what would you do about the immigration issue people who want to come to the United States and we don't have a border.

Why do not blame the people who want to come here for better life.

Who doesn't want -- -- the United States.

These -- the brightest and most investors but they're being enticed here and exploited here -- combination of big government big business big labor everybody has taken these people to bring them here and exploit them.

But you need especially -- a time of war -- I -- al-Qaeda enemy that we discussed you have to have border security.

And it's not simply about reducing illegal immigration its proper -- other things from coming in.

Somebody was -- friends down -- but he's been entertaining lately.

So you need border security need to make it -- the -- amnesty because if if -- talk of amnesty is there's a very rational calculation on someone looking for better life and I can get to the United States isn't.

-- chance that I will be able to stay.

Regardless of I -- the country you have to punish employers that cheat to compete by bringing the individuals here -- return -- -- no incentive to come here.

Which you also have to do is make sure that except for emergency medical treatment the social service spending is not spent.

And people who are here legally.

This -- that allows an employer to further exploit -- -- subsidized from the taxpayer expense and make it all the more attractive for them to be lured here in the first place.

I would think that these are some of the fundamental things you can do I would also go back to the original -- -- we have to continue to work.

Through through USA ID and others to start at the grass roots level building the -- sustainable economic and democratic institutions within.

Communities.

Because if you allow failed states and Latin America it's never going to end because human nature being what it is if you see a better life ahead of your doing everything you can for your children and no amount of border security -- lot of government reforms -- going to stop that if you have nothing but failed states and Latin America.

Or places like the Castro Brothers and Hugo Chavez would impose upon.

Okay that's America and -- you mentioned that in passing.

-- of how he's doing a nuclear North Korea.

I would ask the Communist Chinese when they're going to let their puppet state start behaving -- we're gonna we're gonna.

You -- delegate to the Chinese failed -- what kind of leverage do we have over the giants.

I think we have enormous leverage that regime is not as stable as some would think that's why they -- of -- so much as you know the regime continues to tell its people be literally for you today.

It may suggest a revolution -- of -- a threat to prosperity.

And security.

So I would continue to argue that to the Chinese regime first we need reciprocity that investment within our country so that we can actually.

Bring American jobs get the 200 billion dollar trade deficit announcement actually manufacture produce our own -- that I could borrow from in the first place.

We're going to get our fiscal house in order -- because the welfare states imploded.

It's going to be restructured for the future we should do responsible.

But it's going to happen and it's happening now.

So the US debt and the deficit are going to come in line with the conjunction the necessity of the times in which we live where Lyndon Johnson was wrong.

And it's time to fix it it's going to happen.

With the Chinese we also have to understand we do not treat them as they treat us -- As president Kennedy -- the surest path -- weakness in disunity.

I'm not talking about.

They are the ones many in there.

Military convinced -- war is inevitable the assets I would argue no that's not the case the Chinese people deserve to be free in the more elusive reciprocity -- we could put in that country.

The more economic wealth for their middle class cars in addition to stopping the cyber spying counterfeiting achieving.

But we don't engage them in that manner mediation as a -- in the -- Really has been to America out of indicate.

I'm gonna tell you this we've gone now from -- nuclear weapons to terrorism.

To the borders to.

Every continent in the world and you've done a terrific job.

-- thank you very much since.

And that is the Cotter and you can see where his referred -- as one of the most thoughtful people.

In the United States congress and clearly somebody is raising the bar on a whole debate of the presidential campaign thank you so much for joining us thank you and I hope we come back again.

And thank you.

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