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Hill Grilling for Panetta
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Chris Stirewalt and AB Stoddard discuss Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's trip to Capitol Hill
- Duration 9:40
- Date Apr 19, 2012
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I tell -- baby my cash money.
That is what a Cartagena Colombia prostitute identified as the woman in -- David dispute.
-- -- Secret Service agent that led to the exposure of widespread hatred -- Asian prostitutes by President Obama Obama's advance security team.
We're counting to a New York Times reporter what she was shouting.
At that agent during the dispute she told the times she was -- 8800 dollars and that he was offering thirty dollars.
And this is power play Internet.
And baby where my cash money is what we all want to know.
Especially AB -- she's a columnist and an editor for -- spill -- -- one of your favorite -- welcome hey thanks -- -- -- -- and especially being willing to put up -- shenanigans you don't feel I can't remember -- but I just plug -- company -- all the slim -- you're getting ready to -- -- -- policy it's just -- it happens like that -- -- the engine to track -- like a luxury -- here OK so.
Today AB Leon Panetta is testified even as we speak to the house armed services committee.
And he went there to talk a -- here.
Before the day is done yeah.
He's gonna have to talk about.
What happened with the team army or were military guys who -- with the secrets -- agents that -- at the reputedly.
21 prostitute salute to yeah.
When they were down there and he made.
Also.
Have to talk about.
A growing grumble about the cost of his travel.
Two and -- California he goes about every other week.
It cost something like.
32000 dollars roundtrip from to go back.
He's been about 860000.
Dollars -- he took over last July.
This is sort of the law of unintended consequences Capitol Hill testimony right.
Oh yeah EE you just know when it appears on your calendar and you circle that day that two or three things will crop up before you get there that will get.
Found the members all fired up to come.
She is it to the hearing ready to talk about everything you don't wanna talk about and you did not prepared testimony for.
And Leon Panetta a long time you know institution in Washington and enormously respected and likable.
See here in both parties.
It's in this story about his own.
Transportation California's really offered because.
He's he's.
Really built a reputation as a Democrat you know who is -- of fiscal hawk among Democrats and this is a tough tough cell in -- it it in a period where he is leading.
The foreign and defense and trying to slimming down and cut its budget so.
I want him to go home and see his family and rest up I as I do you know all the people who are you keep working really hard to keep a safe place you guys in Afghanistan but it.
But it is it's a lot of money.
And we don't have a lot of money to waste anymore so that is is going to be tough for him and obviously the Secret Service.
Story is huge embarrassment to the executive branch and having the military involvement really kind of speaks -- And as though on the -- are so that he can say I think that.
And I say this with all respect to members of the armed services the -- degree.
That troops that soldiers in a foreign country would -- legal.
Legal prostitutes is is not exactly the most earth shattering revelation in history.
Right but these days there they don't want to defend any.
No -- -- don't -- -- here I want to point -- He really -- and -- he -- and it's it's it's it's it it's one of those stories where.
It's awkward because it's growing so quickly and it's not the kind of thing where if you you can't.
There's no way that they can win if the president as saying well we'll wait the end of the investigation people want -- -- now if you can't fire able to as soon.
It becomes difficult -- to -- so I think it sounds.
This is not going to be -- -- for -- Syria isn't funny either.
Syria is not fun not easily solved console now and I basically the best they can promise on series that were watching that we're ready and that if something -- advantage -- we were to go in that we be ready.
That the Republicans -- -- and -- by the way let's listen now to what Leon Panetta said earlier this week when confronted by reporters at a press conference on this topic.
I regret that it does.
Not that it does that cost so that taxpayer has to pick up.
And Kashmir would have to pick up those cost with any secretary of state or secretary of defense.
So that's what he said and this is on the heels the -- gets credit because it was last month at the -- he did the reporting.
And drill down on this and came up with that 860000.
Dollar figure so kudos kudos to them for -- good yet.
The Republicans maybe have.
Bin intently focused on government waste that way it has become.
Especially around tax day with the General Services Administration -- boondoggle out there in Las Vegas.
The Panetta stuff.
And just in general concept of a culture of waste in Washington is this a winning issue for them.
Well I think it always is I I think that.
And did the the big argument that really helped Republicans take charge again.
In the in the house.
And Winston senate seasons when he Chen was it was the issue they don't have data and when we focus on death.
We have to focus on the stewardship -- taxpayer dollars and how -- -- -- -- what are essential services what we borrow from the Chinese for play.
And so.
It is it it's always about potent argument particularly it posted bail out.
-- believe that -- -- Maine you know Americans I'm so angry.
And -- they're watching a taxpayer dollars and this is the kind of thing.
They always.
Burns out voters need.
I'm so I think it's it's a good message I have urged you know -- the Republicans.
Over and over again to try to come back to a jobs message and stay there.
Because I think in the end that's better -- The highway bill has gotten away from them they have they've just.
Lost control either the most important message I think hearings on government waste is great and these are dramatic stories -- -- -- -- But I think that.
Any time they have before August which is really when -- gonna shut everything down because they're gonna leave for a -- and then come back in September squabble over -- operations.
They should probably try to stick to a better message not -- of governance but I've ever economics for a.
-- -- philosophical argument here that do between the Republicans and the Democrats they even about government what is the Republican argument is that this is unavoidable endemic.
That happens in any government that whatever you do that this is that these are egregious example something like the GSA and by the way.
-- -- -- changed the picture of good guys gold wrote in the bathtub.
Just it's maybe my favorite picture yeah they are really here it's central cast and so he says my life this is great.
But but -- -- Republican argument is that that's not an Al liar.
That he may be -- particularly egregious offender but that is.
Its driest -- I'll let you know it's symbolic of a culture of waste across the government democratic argument is.
Sort of like when you win there's.
Corruption on Wall Street.
That you remember them after Enron the Republicans saying this is proof that the system works because we caught the people and we busted him.
-- can it can either -- -- that philosophical argument or religious chase each other around the well it's -- it's.
No no one can -- there there argument right so they can make you know both sides can make a point that this is an isolated incidents.
And you know we try to create you know regulations and rules discourage this and we tried it you know.
Conduct a lot of oversight.
But.
But at the same time the Republicans can't really prove it every single government worker is you know are out on -- -- with their gold chains and their champagne glasses so.
Hey it's it's it's always -- to jump on these it's it's always like as a dramatic periods it really is.
It's a good Hollywood story that USA one in particular.
The Secret Service I was pretty boring into you you know without awesome clothes out.
But well that's where it is possible that it's on -- I recommended day I've recommended -- and it is great they describe her hire her at an altitude.
Think that she's -- iPhone or a Blackberry that you have to pay more for quality.
Yeah I I mean I -- until -- get the details it was a little -- -- little stale portable is that but I do think that that you know how I'm -- hearings into.
That wrong -- of the bureaucrats is is certainly.
I can send gets -- -- -- to get them out but it hasn't I don't know that it gets you.
You can't win the argument that you know.
It's everywhere or it's an isolated case of mean you know -- -- that the people in charge are always embarrassed and -- -- -- Hands Derek Findlay as this yes ATP is also -- -- -- -- -- it's a great day so all yankees aren't.
It's just awesome pick him up on your way out of that your I -- -- thank you for being with thank you for having me whenever getting a break but when we come.
