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Democrats bail on the DNC

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    Top Story 6/27

  • Duration 7:22
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This transcript is automatically generated

Hi I'm Juan Williams and for Bill O'Reilly thanks for watching us tonight.

No talking points memo because we want to get right to the top story.

The house of represented to schedule a vote tomorrow on whether attorney general Eric Holder.

Should be held in contempt of congress for his role in the fast and furious gun walking scandal.

As you know the attorney general has refused to turn over some documents pertaining to the administration's political response to the operation.

As of now there are five Democrats is they they will defect and side with Republicans in the contempt vote.

And that number may go as high as 35.

And speaking of -- a growing number of Democrats are skipping the Democratic Convention.

So far these nine Democrats have said they will not not attend the convention in Charlotte this September.

Should the Obama administration be worried about the no show list.

Joining us now from Capitol Hill Chris van Holland a democratic congressman from Maryland and a surrogate for the Obama campaign.

Congressman Ben -- thanks for comment and I'm sure you heard today that Steve Israel the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

He's set to is that members like you know what you don't need to go to the convention now I know.

Congress have been around you said something like this back in 08 but now we're -- it's becoming like.

I drive for primary by going that way what what do what do you take -- -- trying to get away from Obama.

Absolutely not one and as you said that when I was the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee -- and 2008 in 2000 and intent what we advised members especially those in the toughest elections.

Was to spend time in their districts talking to their constituents.

You're not gonna find your constituents in Charlotte, North Carolina.

And so you should be spending your time back home -- has nothing to do -- not going to the convention to send a message to.

The president nothing of the sort this has to do -- maximizing the time.

You spend connecting with your constituents.

-- this game but -- -- -- -- thank you mean this has nothing to do with Claire McCaskill the senator from Missouri.

-- to distance herself from the democratic brand and a democratic president and now that democratic ticket is going to be led by that democratic president.

And you're telling me somehow -- in her best political interest not to be associated.

With the celebration of his renomination to be present -- United States.

-- listen I haven't I haven't talked to senator McCaskill I don't know what.

Her -- considerations aren't making her particular decisions.

All I know is that when the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Steve Israel and previously myself provided advice to our members.

We are very focused on making sure they're on the ground.

Talking with -- their constituents it's valuable time.

After stints in September August time period.

And that's the justification.

Four and again I -- I can't speak for any individual member and whatever assessment they -- but in terms of the congressman van Holland we know of five Democrats who are going to vote to hold attorney general Eric Holder in contempt of congress tomorrow.

Why are these five Democrats defecting.

And acting in a historic manner to hold the attorney general contempt the first time any attorney general will ever have been held in contempt.

By the congress of the United States.

But here's the situation one as you know congress has an appropriate interest and try and -- gather information in the attorney general or air Coulter has provided.

That information thousands of documents he's testified before congress.

Nine times.

In fact Darrell ice has rejected democratic requests.

To have the previous ATF.

Administrator come testify in public to get to the bottom of this.

What's happened is this is now become a very political.

Issue.

It's not about.

Trying to get to the bottom of it from the Republican perspective it's about getting air -- and to get your question the National Rifle Association.

Has weighed in on this issue there are lots -- districts in the country.

Where they carry a lot of sway.

And so again I can't speak to the it had individual judgment members reached on this but I do know from talking to many of our colleagues.

That the fact that the NRA decided to make this a political issue.

Has influenced us some people's approach to this this this question -- what strikes.

-- as you're making my point because you're saying.

This act holding.

The attorney general content is not gonna produce more information and yet you've got Democrats saying yeah we'll go along with it.

Maybe because of the NRA's scoring -- this thing they'll take points away from candidates who don't vote for the contempt ruling.

-- you see them turning their back on a fellow Democrat and on the president's man Chris I mean it's congressman Ben how.

It seems to me you've got Democrats running away from the president and the attorney general.

-- one what I think you have and again I'm not judging any particular members decision.

But what I think you've got into a lot of these close races we are just talking about.

Close races site in the earlier conversation we had you've got members from very close races.

Where the NRA for better or for worse can carry a lot of sway -- -- I think the fact that the NRA weighed in on this thing shows.

Crass political motive.

To get air Poulter are they in fact sent a letter.

To Darrell ice and others saying.

That they had to dig -- with air -- for not about this particular issue but just in general.

I had and so they turn this into eight this is this is about them out to get Eric Holder of course ultimately -- the president.

Let's move on to that -- other big news that's coming tomorrow tomorrow is a mega news day because the Supreme Court ruling on -- here is do.

Now if the Supreme Court.

Rules and it's unconstitutional.

To have an individual mandate to buy health care congressman van Holland.

What exactly is the primary key legislative accomplishment of the first four years of Barack Obama what's he running -- Well first of all one I should say that I believe that the court will uphold.

The entire law after all it's worth reminding everybody that.

Obamacare.

Is based on the same principles as Romney care -- the idea being that.

You need to get everybody into the insurance pool in order to do two things number one prohibit people from being discriminated against based on preexisting conditions and to.

Driving down the cost because the F freeloaders and the health care system.

We're not taking responsibility for the coming here -- -- -- -- they -- -- against that is my question what happens if -- throw it out I got it so.

If I don't think that's gonna happen but if they were to do that.

There are still other major provisions in this law.

The Republicans in the house has said they're gonna go to work then and trying to repeal all the other provisions so for example the provision that says you can stay on your parents.

Policy until you're 26 -- go and he'll go -- all -- consumer friendly elements well bats well and option we'll see how it goes congressman.

Well but it's important -- the people know that what the Republicans say is even if they were to get rid of the individual mandate they wanna come back and get rid of all the other stuff the stuff that architects.

Consumers are against insurance company for congressman your good guy thanks for coming in tonight we appreciate --

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