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Karl Rove, Bill Burton Debate 2012 Factors

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    Former top White House aides talk economy

  • Duration 15:11
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The number one issue at on the campaign trail the struggling economy.

Joining us from Austin, Texas former bush senior advisor Karl Rove.

He founded the group American crossroads whose goal it is to elect as many Republicans.

In 2012 as possible.

And -- -- this in studio former Obama deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton.

He heads up priorities USA action similar group.

Designed to put Democrats in office gentlemen welcome back to FOX News Sunday.

Bill let's start with you economist Jeffrey Sachs.

Who has been a supporter of the president said this week this quote.

We're almost three years into this administration there's never been a plan and that's what everybody feels the president didn't leave He -- We have no agreements no leadership and frankly I do think.

It's pretty the presence on vacation right now normally I wouldn't care about such things but the world markets are in deep crisis it's no joke.

This isn't just in August up and down little blip this is a very serious situation.

This wasn't -- Republican candidate or Republican lawmaker this was an economist who supported President Obama is this a problem for the president.

Now on vacation.

Well this is obviously very difficult time for the country you don't need to be an economist to understand that middle class families right now are really struggling.

But it is not exactly like the moment that the president inherited.

From president George W.

Bush at a time when He came to office 700000 jobs a month we're just being shed from the economy.

Right now this -- we've seen 2.3 million jobs added to the recovery the president.

Has done things to help the economy grow as opposed to shrink but He -- the first to tell you that he's not satisfied with the progress but.

I tell you what He -- not had a lot of willing partners in the Republican Party to actually move forward on important jobs legislation why not put out this plan before the ten day vacation.

Well for starters I don't know that there's a fair minded person in this country doesn't think that the president shouldn't go with his family spent a couple days before -- -- go back to school.

Secondly I would say that most Americans don't need to see a bunch of bickering in Washington right now what they need to see is lawmakers going back home to their voters and gain a sense of the urgency that those voters feeling coming back.

And getting to work -- the president's gonna do is is gonna lay out a plan for jobs is gonna lay out his plan to cut the deficit Republicans we'll have a choice they can either work with them.

Where they can continue to stop progress as they continue to stop progress then that is the fight that will have a November in the American people can decide on in November which direction they want this country to go.

Carl you -- your Wall Street Journal column in June.

Quote failing to offer a well thought out vision and defend -- against White House demagoguery would -- Republicans up for a loss.

In 2012 -- right now voters we're trying to see the Republican plan for creating jobs increasing growth.

Where is that where did they turn what is that plan.

Well it's eternity -- candidates -- that process will on -- role as as we go through the primaries I'd like to go back to some to the bill said.

Look the president has had a Democrat congress for over two thirds.

Other time there's been an office and a Republican House and -- Democrat senate for less than a third of the time He did have a PPP He got what He wanted He passed the stimulus bill in 2001 He increased spending during that -- well.

He got Affordable Care Act that when the president pass a stimulus bill He said that unemployment by this time would be 6%.

That five million more people would be working nearly five million more people working today.

Then that are working the president's approval rating this week -- gallop on economy.

It's 26% there's a reason why his policies of utterly failed this is the seventh or eighth or ninth time that we've heard the president talk about -- -- -- plan.

And each time that he's sort of gotten around to toss in an idea under the table.

Is included only more spending more deficit more debt and the American people are fed up with that.

-- well I would say that the stimulus for starters did actually create jobs and any economist would say that.

It helped our economy grow as opposed to shrink what Republicans would have wanted to do which was which was to do nothing.

They fought the stimulus they fought all the different things that the president has been trying to do they fight.

The payroll tax cut.

They fight the infrastructure bank idea things that we could do right now to put people back to work Republicans are fighting what the American people want is progress not more intransigent.

As deputy Press Secretary.

For years and Obama hold on -- If you were the briefer for President Obama this time last year when they were on their vacation in Martha's Vineyard and in one briefing you were asked what the difference was between the 2009 trip to Martha's Vineyard and the 2010 -- you said this while I would say the difference.

Between last year's vacation this year is is that since his vacation the automotive industry is back on its feet.

Health Care Reform has passed and the economy is now moving in a different direction and it was moving before you heard Karl mention.

Then the poll out -- point 6%.

Of Americans approving of the president's handling the economy what's the difference between last year's trip and issues.

I would say a big difference is that Republicans -- the house and took the wrong lesson from that election they -- the house and since that time they've done nothing to actually produce jobs that put nothing forward that would actually.

Partner with the president to create jobs and move this economy in the right direction are the poll numbers -- right now sure but when you're strong leader sometimes have to make tough decisions.

That make people are unhappy on both sides but the president isn't sitting there pouring over polls every single -- what he's doing is he's trying to make the right decisions for the American people.

-- Karl at the GOP debate in Iowa I asked all the candidates.

The question whether they would accept this deal in which Democrats.

Agreed to ten dollars in real spending cuts for every one dollar in tax increases.

Every single hand on the stage went up.

-- they would walk away from that deal opposing any tax increases.

Now I was expecting some of them to push back -- asked for time for.

A new wants answered -- they didn't there was -- push back so when Democrats.

Complain about.

Ideological rigidity or stubborn -- in a moderate Republican Party do they have a point.

Well look first would do respect your question that was a that was a question -- had a predictable answer to it.

In that kind of thing where you're asking people raise their hand and not offering them a chance to -- -- -- onstage you're you're gonna get -- in the hands.

And go back to what bill said the -- -- are but I mean we -- get the opportunity to use it.

You know so I mean what -- all -- respect them -- with all due respect that was a lousy question for debate and if you wanted to if you wanted to get a better answer answer that question the candidates individual that's gonna -- president -- -- -- they can't talk to -- -- -- -- their -- has -- how to deal with the economy let's set the records.

Let's set the record straight about what bill said earlier about of the about rigidity yes there's rigidity and our political system.

And it starts with the president of the United States Republicans had ideas to try to make the stimulus bill better and in a meeting in the White House may be bill was even in the room President Obama dismissed Eric hitters suggestions about how to make the bill better by saint.

I won.

This president had a Democrat congress I repeat by overwhelming margin for two years and got everything He wanted.

Now what have the Republicans done this year the Republicans have insisted the president set up a political battle.

He had the votes in November December of last year to get his quote clean debt ceiling.

But instead He said He wanted the Republicans to quote have ownership in the in the in the deficit.

So we waited until there is Republican House and they tried to jam them insisting on a clean debt ceiling.

The Republican said we wanna halved the deficit reduction before we vote for an increase in the debt ceiling.

They got it the president applauded that bill and signed it.

So you know I love -- Republicans passed a budget the Democrats in the senate have it.

Republicans have passed a slew of job creating measures.

And the report and the Democrats in the senate haven't and the president now sits here and lectures us about how we need to.

The take action what is his -- He has yet to put pen to Paper and issue a jobs plan or a deficit reduction plan.

The last nine months of power supplies and after about I've you'll like it or generally comes from I want British -- -- -- -- -- this Carl.

But as someone who's a leader and a White House that turned a record surplus into a deficit.

That got us involved in a war that we never should have been.

And turn the for the New York Stock Exchange into a casino.

I don't think the American people are quite ready to lecture from you on good governor -- bill what do you feel that's.

As I appreciate the insults I have I appreciate the insults I don't know Jerry -- answer until after the matters and as a.

Fact of the matter is is you talk you talk about you talk about the financial.

Difficulties we had a 2000.

I remember your boss coming to the United States senate in 2005 and blocking the bill that attempted -- -- to rein in Fannie and Freddie.

Before while we still had time to stop the disaster from coming in your man -- -- in an -- filibuster by every Democrat of their reform bill and a turnaround in October 2008.

And finally belatedly voted for and you have you want to criticize the Iraq War you -- secretary -- -- your administration who voted for it.

Let me let me just ask the question that He -- originally and that is the plan.

That is.

A lot of people asking are asking where is the plan and waiting on the speech the senate Democrats have not passed the budget and X number of days almost two years of what what about answering that part of -- chart a -- -- that.

That piece of the question what does the president done to create jobs.

There are things that He could sign -- -- -- right now if congress would move forward.

The payroll tax that infrastructure back.

Trade -- -- the trade bills are still in the White House according to the Republicans on Capitol Hill that they haven't sent them over from the White House to.

Senator McConnell and I I'm I'm so let me that but so that's one thing I cannot over the point is that there are things that congress could do right now.

That could help to create jobs and you're gonna hear from the president.

Very soon I'm more ideas that He has about this and just back to one thing that Karl said probably yeah I was in that meeting where the president made that point there can't.

And the point was.

Yes elections have consequences.

And what the president needs in Washington are partners who will work with them.

To actually make progress in this country not just people like Eric Cantor and John Boehner and Mitch McConnell who would much rather see.

The economy -- portly so they could score political points -- see America succeed.

Bill with all due respect to do not question the motivations and the integrity of the people on the other side it's a really bad way to try to get partners -- -- stakeholders fact I don't have we we can't we can't have we can't have a -- we can't have a political disagreement without -- -- -- your motivations that's not a way to get partners.

All right -- McConnell said that you're probably job one -- I've got serious you -- -- -- -- war -- Democrats -- campaign -- That whatever that it's just about everybody yet -- and the president has yet to lay out -- the president has yet to lay out a plan you mentioned the infrastructure bank.

Democrats have opposed infrastructure bank's and we don't have more money.

That the government can land to bail out certain business all the president has -- out -- -- and you don't like that there's a difference between whether or not there's a plan whether or not Karl Rove endorses.

The president's the the president has talked about yeah there is no plan the president has talked.

Briefly sort of -- -- raced and raced raced a little bit of the curtain suggested he's gonna ask for an extension the payroll tax holiday.

Temporary tax cuts don't encourage economic growth we've had a payroll -- -- and we got robust economic growth -- as a result no okay I'm trying to -- -- -- -- -- -- infrastructure bank.

And there's a little delay.

I Carlson I know you can't hear right away when I try to jump -- and I'm sure that that's why you you haven't done.

Stopped when I when I have really not really just -- -- -- -- -- let me ask you -- politics if you had to put money on the fact.

That or whether Sarah Palin gets into this race or not what would you set.

While not much of a gambler but I put a little bit more money that she gets in -- then she.

The -- she doesn't because his schedule she's got next week in Iowa it looks like that of a candidate not a celebrity.

Her difficulty is if she doesn't get -- shortly after next week then I think people are gonna basically say she's not and she won't be in and if she gets in I'm not -- -- be four.

You can only -- so many times in the political process and I think she's getting to the end of that but next week she's got a robust schedule.

And this -- this video on Friday that was released -- our campaign.

Strikes me -- by her pack strikes me as as as a pre presidential camp.

And Carl the weekly standard reported this week that you've been talking to Paul Ryan about his.

Potential presidential bid how serious is -- Well I don't know that's up to -- to decide all I know is is it from talking to people around the country who picked up the phone called him.

And told what they think that there -- a lot of serious people.

He is he's getting a lot of pressure as his governor Christie of New Jersey.

And my suspicious of both of them are are gonna have to give at least some consideration of the kind of encouragement they're getting bill -- -- Democrats fear most.

In others legend in the Democratic Party that back in 1988.

Jimmy -- folks -- really -- and -- -- against robbery.

So I wouldn't I don't wanna sit here and say that there's one candidate that we want or don't want but.

What we do know from the field is that no matter who it is here she is gonna want to essentially gut.

And and Medicare -- all -- and the EPA and -- all want to put.

Radical conservatives on the Supreme Court.

Bill Reuters reported this week the governor Rick Perry is quote seen by Obama's top election.

Fundraisers supporters and senior Democrats close -- the campaign is easier to beat.

I was praying Perry would get in the race as a former White House -- closely linked to Obama's campaign.

They're only a few people who fit that title you're one of them why would -- be so easy to beat.

-- -- of that Harry would necessarily be easy to be no matter who the Republican is there's going to be a lot of money Karl Rove Henry is lot of cash for.

Fruit for the outside help and elected but here's what's it what you should know about Rick -- That when the health care debate debate got hot He said that Texas should secede He said that the Fed chair was guilty.

Trees and it's got a job record that's a lot more spotted and people would suggest you take a state that was at four point 2% unemployment -- to eight point 2%.

The job growth that we've seen there's 40% minimum wage jobs and the rest of them are fueled by stimulus dollars.

I think that there is a case to be made against -- but whoever the Republican nominee is I'm certain that it's going to be close and contested race -- your response to that there's a conventional wisdom is that there's some feud between the bush spokesman -- folks.

But your response to bill here.

Well bill bill bill is gonna I want you to keep a -- -- those lines bill because it Perry is the nominee.

Texas has led the country in job creation over -- past decade with the help that we've been and it's -- we've been and we've been in a thirty year we've been in a thirty year period in which.

We've been growing rapidly and jobs and we're now the tenth fastest growing in terms of personal income.

The state has got a robust dynamic economy that's caused three million people to move here.

It -- and -- you go ahead and attack it all you like but people vote with their feet and moving to Texas from all across the country because the robust economy.

But -- look the president is in deep trouble He is last week twice hit 39% -- the Gallup poll.

No president has with -- has hit 39%.

-- -- -- under forty.

At this point in his presidency and -- -- reelected since 1948.

And is tries He might I don't think I don't think Barack Obama's going to be able pull off area restroom.

-- growth Bill Burton thanks so much for -- with -- threat but now.

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