White House playing politics with national security?

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Republican senators are launching a tour around the country warning voters -- defense cuts that will reach up to 500 billion dollars over the course of a decade.

So with criticism mounting.

How the White House respond will be at all joining us right now -- -- Remember the senate armed services committee on that tour Senator John McCain and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee senator Kelly out welcome to both here.

Martin.

Senator McCain -- -- start with you what are you doing it in and what state to be chosen to get the message about -- sequester and what it means to the Pentagon.

Well we're going to we're here for ever going to North Carolina and Virginia and then we'll end up to New Hampshire tomorrow and then we'll be going to.

Other states and we're going to places obviously that are most severely hit by the -- -- and cuts which in the words of the secretary of defense would have devastating impact on our national security.

And Saturday at do you think if people don't understand this so we just got it.

Well we just so -- overwhelmed by the amount of news coming our way -- which is ignoring this.

But you know I think they need to be a wake up call not only across America as that -- -- to inform America.

It means nearly a million jobs in the defense industrial base.

But -- Senator McCain send our secretary defense -- -- essentially be shooting ourselves in the head if we go forward in this holing out our worst jeopardizing our national security.

I think there needs to be a wake up call to congress on both sides of the -- so.

Not only thing we want the American people's analysis say that -- members of congress have to get an accident where's our president our commander in chief on this important issue is.

-- really an accident we're calling on his -- Be -- essentially said Senator McCain look you guys get the super committee I told you get the deal dealt with a super committee this would happen if you didn't get a deal done.

They didn't so this is the fate is that essentially the message.

That seems to be the message he hit.

Made some comment about congress have to wiggle out themselves and -- we.

We are in conversations.

With number of other senators including senator Levin -- chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee but again.

This is what also what requires.

Presidential leadership no matter who or what was responsible.

The president United States is commander in chief he's the only one.

And if these impacts have the -- devastating effects that secretary Panetta and all of our uniformed military leaders say he should be in there he should be talking with us he should be leading.

And -- in my it.

We also -- today -- did that said that the president's motivated by battleground states.

And a lot of these defense contractors are located in states like yours lot of bases in states like yours Virginia -- well.

Florida very much in there that could motivate the president to get involved.

-- so that you had hoped it just the fact that our national security.

Is so important it's the responsibility we -- the foremost to the American people that his candidacy that cousin that that you're absolutely right.

Just in Florida where we are 42000 jobs this stay in Virginia 136000.

Jobs just -- the defense side.

Right now Senator McCain you know -- -- -- sound bite up from one of the Sunday shows Dick Cheney sits down talks about your selection of vice president.

Candidate.

Governor Palin listen.

-- like.

Governor Palin.

I've met her door.

She's attractive candidate but based on her background should have been governor -- two years.

I don't think she passed that test we're getting ready but they get ready to take over.

And done I think that was a mistake.

You agree disagree.

Well I'm always glad to get that.

And -- and I comments warriors.

Later at.

I respect vice president tee and I had strong disagreements as to whether we should torture people are not I don't think we should have.

But the fact is that I'm proud of Sarah Palin I'm proud of the job she did I proud of the job she continues to do and so.

Everybody has their own views and I respect those years when I'm proud of what we did.

Turns out Liz Cheney disagree with the data and angry -- -- Everybody's entitled.

All right -- the -- McCain thanks so much and by the way just to note -- Bill Nelson Democrat will be helping you out in Florida correct he agrees with you about these cuts.

He agrees with us -- that we have -- I did they all of the senators from the states that we are going to.

And so far they have been able to fit in their schedule but.

We view this is a bipartisan issue absolutely.

But thanks so much for joining us senators have a great take a look at your tour.

Thanks thanks for.

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White House playing politics with national security?

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