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Alan debates Republican activist Joel Arends of 'Veterans for a Strong America,' who says he's proud to be 'swift boating' President Obama.
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Welcome -- -- chairman of veteran group strong American NATO and feel good hour hour thank you very much is it accurate.
-- then and Weinstein wrote in mother Jones you're looking to swift boat.
Prison a month.
I think what we wanna do is an organization of veterans.
We certainly want to point out that.
The president first of all made -- correct choice disseminate the field and take out them why no one disagrees we give the president credit for doing that.
And at the time the president said he didn't want to spike the football.
The problem is now is that once campaign season rolls around president Obama's campaign they had the opportunity make it.
Campaign commercial praising our heroes and instead what they did -- -- is team Obama consciously.
Took a former president President Clinton and in that commercial President Clinton stated that if the raid failed it would have been disastrous for him meaning it would have been -- Sure it was Obama -- is that true.
Well -- What what voters defense that clearly telling me that the -- failed.
-- people like you people on the right side -- -- -- attack the president for a failed race just like happened to Jimmy Carter.
Well look I'm not.
I think -- -- hypothetical to you that you could say that but I'm not I can't answer hypothetical here's what I can tell you about.
Our organization has thrown out that the penalty flag on President Obama for engaging in excessive celebration.
At the expense of those navy field in America.
Actually -- at the expense how how was it at the expense and I don't I didn't see any excessive celebration I don't see him landing and a flight suit a lot top gun.
Economy aircraft carrier saying mission accomplished.
If you.
-- -- -- -- -- Our -- was in response to president Obama's plan and.
Did it by the -- George W.
Bush got the flight -- landed an aircraft carries in mission accomplished years before the end of the Iraq War.
Well the president never -- mission accomplished.
A sign that went out ship constructed.
-- that was Sunday by the way in the basement the way announced like these -- double standard like this.
Well I can answer that -- what I can tell you that was that President Obama has a very Smart campaign team.
His team made a campaign commercial that made an issue out of president Obama's political courage on this.
As a matter of fact that's what happens during campaigns why is it all right.
For people to on mass Republicans attack this president.
Talk about a week he is how terrible he -- -- what a horrible leader he is -- yet it's not okay for the president to put forth his argument as to the things he's accomplished during his presidency was -- Because the fact -- -- -- here are the facts from President Obama failed national security foreign policy record first of all he had an opportunity.
Early on in his term when the Green revolution in Iran.
Wanted to stand up for freedom wanted to stand up against security of Iran and President Obama put -- spoke out -- -- -- encourage that movement he refused to do itself.
Additionally the president failed on the -- with Russia.
If he's pulling.
Ballistic missile protection out of off the border in Eastern Europe have the opportunity keep that missile protection merry refuse to -- himself.
And third the president here had an opportunity to keep unity are had an opportunity.
To take a situation where there was unity in the country with -- take down -- bin Laden and instead what happened he turned it into a divisive situation.
And I actually just the opposite as a matter of fact the people who are destroying unity of the people on your side or trying to make a political issue and -- where there is none.
What about George W.
Bush who had a ninety something percent approval rating -- a great opportunity for unity and destroy that unity.
He's the guy with the flight suit here's the guy who did the celebration he's the guy -- had an opportunity for unity and blew it.
This is simply a political effort on your part -- in your own words swift boat -- president and take his strongest issue.
National security and try to turn it against him and so -- -- working.
Well as president use the bit migrated ammunition for -- camp.
Now he isn't actually get in lot to do something the prior president upon whose watch 9/11 happened.
Could not do.
You know who I disagree with the fact that their previous administration didn't take pains.
To find bin -- -- -- -- -- kill order to take out bin Laden and any time.
And again look I mean we we credit President Obama was giving the go order to go into Pakistan.
But you had a whole military and -- -- intelligence complex.
That was constructed by the Bush Administration put into place you have helped.
-- out -- taught his return to be bush said when asked about bin Laden's I don't worry is north you know I just don't spend much time on Dallas with -- -- -- to be -- about bin Laden.
Well -- George Bush -- on the ballot this.
And I just you just make -- -- -- that bush was on it but he was not done and so.
And so that discount your your point if you -- declares I wanna -- about this at peace in -- in mother Jones where Adam -- and you're familiar with this article.
Who says you're basically.
-- party one that you -- the sole member of the founder and the only member of the organization.
That you have found it.
Well we're not that I'm not the sole member.
-- -- paid staffer.
You arrogant nation of one -- We actually have a dozen volunteers that show -- here retain half for the last six months.
-- a period of time or were ramping up now.
And so we're looking forward to actually have -- very vigorous organizations looking to.
Debate the issue and as a matter of fact I think in the very near future -- he'll be seen as a is a number.
Very credible former Navy SEALs coming out.
To discuss these issues as well.
So you're trying to take and -- trying to take.
An accomplishment than most of the country agrees with.
Which is a killing of bin Laden and the support that the president has and you're trying to find Navy SEALs will come out just like.
They did -- John Kerry who will bad now the commander in chief and drag down the accomplishment that's what you're trying to do right.
Don't wanna -- mount the commanders are you did we realize -- on what you're doing we respected the office talent.
But unfortunately we disagree with the policy Melissa -- -- an apology to kill bin Laden a good one.
I -- we congratulate the president.
It didn't we just didn't -- just didn't they just thwart.
A a bomb building terrorist.
Where the CIA infiltrated -- was able to stop.
Another potential disaster thanks to the intelligence and because of our relationship with Yemen and -- -- -- Saudi Arabia and it.
Turns out that the bomb making terrorist you're referring to -- -- -- He was a double agent because he -- that -- report -- as he was able to infiltrate.
Thanks to and we were able to get information from both the saudis in the -- Yemen because of our better relationship.
-- these countries something we didn't have during the last administration.
What you're insinuating that we weren't able to take out terrorists during the Bush Administration -- -- -- very.
I think there we had an incredible reputation look at the number of prisoners we have to get miles.
We don't have many prisoners -- getting out now because this president has decided.
That -- -- don't drone strikes hit to kill.
Are -- we don't have as many of prisoners and get -- George W.
Bush released.
Many of them sent them back to the fields of Afghanistan it was -- Bush Administration who released and you know this to be true many of the gitmo prisoners let me ask you about.
The -- that swift -- to whom you referred.
I mean rather than the I should say the the Navy SEALs to whom you referred -- any of them in the winter trying to get to speak at any of them part of the rain.
We have former member of seal teams and any of the members of the -- -- we'll let -- for many of the members of that great.
We don't know yet.
It's like people who voted John Kerry went and actually -- two are still on active duty as they can't speak out we're not gonna compromise them.
And and we don't want to put them into a position.
I'm going up against the commander in chief but what we but that's just.
What curator here -- if you're trying to get swept voters they threatened here and it appeared -- swept both the president you're trying to get members of navy -- seal team six.
To speak out against.
The commander in chief that's exactly would you please don't tell me your.
You're you're not doing exactly what you.
Are there we're not trying to get members current members of seal team six to come out -- commander -- flood.
Let's make that very clear we're talking to former members Allen about current members who are on -- All right so you're letting former members come out against the commander in -- -- -- act as though you're not trying to get.
Members -- former members of the military to speak out against the commander in chief that's exactly what they're trying to -- -- we've seen a lot of success with supporters.
Just in the last week the membership organization has doubled and these people are coming forward I think if there's anybody -- that's earned the right.
-- have a place at the table and speak out of these issues.
It's the men and women who have been fight yeah you're absolutely.
Absolutely.
Or you don't wanna invite those people to come to the table start speaking there you have the wouldn't do it well not going to be intimidated by the left wing hate machine that want to come out just because we're small organization -- first inning or start.
That doesn't mean we can't have a place at the table to what we -- and they actually have these members come forward.
Greatly curtailing a lot because I believe in free speech and I believe you meet -- because of the free speakers is exactly what we're doing -- I welcome this debate when you say the left wing hate machine.
What do you think you're doing.
You're gathering people to speak out against the commander in chief at a time of war has a right wing likes to say and you're calling the left the ones who are there for genders of the hate -- We ought to speak out against the presently what policies now -- also.
You know I think it is important -- we we are you worried about his conduct were worried about him using that.
Good accomplishments and maybe feel American intelligence community as ammunition in his campaign look.
All credit goes to the president but unfortunately.
In the process of the president trying to take credit for -- he's diminished -- -- -- -- Lives in one sentence you say I do -- -- got against the president and the next sentence you do exactly that you contradict yourself sentence after sentence.
Look I refused to accept it I just don't accept that and -- You say one thing in one -- I'm not gonna speak out against the president then that the next sentence is exactly what you do.
-- I don't have any concern about Obama speaking out against president.
All right then you are okay speaking out against the commander in chief I understand -- that that's a listing -- -- the what you're doing.
Well -- -- we're gonna have to agree to disagree.
You're not speaking out against the commander in chief.
Well what we are speaking out against his policies but I think what were also concerned about it.
How -- diminishing in the account which meant from the field as well you know listening -- you believe -- transparency.
I'm absolutely -- lending you.
We have a policy that the -- are down because you don't believe in transparency we believe in transparency where it mandated look at president of both parties as well as.
Members of congress -- who have been individually and in the minority.
Had ample opportunity.
To change the disclosure laws as it regards this title and before you -- you -- a guy is a party.
Neither party has taken that up and away the reason I don't wanna do it because they don't want actually -- the speech organization.
Like are we gonna let -- more important -- -- had ample opportunity to ask.
Groups like vote back.
Iraq and Afghanistan that the American other organizations where their money comes from you don't have them.
So you're not gonna have.
-- -- you -- -- and you left and -- itself out here you want to put off until these support transparency and and refuse to answer my question.
Well we support transparent government especially with -- -- -- accountability and I were attic or rabbit and the government our Nigel private organization can do whatever you want but -- just don't don't don't that transparency.
-- I appreciate you coming on brilliant and I do appreciate the debate.
Well I appreciate anyway.
