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McCain: Paul Ryan an 'excellent' VP choice

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    GOP senator sees a new generation of leadership

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Now reaction to the -- Ryan ticket from former presidential candidate Senator John McCain comes to us today from Phoenix and senator welcome back to fox -- you send a good to have you with this.

Thank you John let me ask you first of all senator your thoughts on the Paul Ryan Beck.

Excellent choice a new generation of leadership and our party and our nation.

A man who understands the most compelling.

Our challenges this nation faces obviously your jobs in the economy.

I am convinced that he will bring the kinds of ideas and thoughts that he's been pursuing -- and in the house and a very important position that he's held.

And -- just a small example in twelve years Medicare it's gonna go broke that's that's the Medicare trustees say that Paul Ryan is 42.

He represents a generation that twelve years from now he'll be 54 and they'll be in their fifties he'll be a long way from eligibility meanwhile the system collapses.

And what -- the Obama administration brought forward.

Obama care.

Which is obviously skyrocketed health care cost rather than reduce it and there's been no effort whatsoever on the part.

Of the administration to address the looming crisis of Social Security.

And Medicare now -- gonna hear from the Democrats.

Two button push grandma over the cliff so I'll let.

They have not had a plan yet.

To save Social Security Medicare and they've had nearly four years to do it Paul Ryan has taken the courageous steps to.

Bring this issue to the forefront and we're gonna have to address it and under -- Romney.

Ryan administration you'll see -- address not like this last administration which is -- done nothing they haven't even passed a budget.

Through the senate of the United States American three years -- 12100 days now and and and county did you senator fully embrace.

The Ryan budget even the Romney campaign has been putting -- talking points to its surrogates to suggest.

While we're like elements of the the Ryan plan we're -- -- come up with our own budget proposal.

Well I think so I think that's -- appropriate for the top of the ticket but I'd also like to point out.

That when the Democrats talk about pushing -- all over.

That cliff -- on Medicare.

-- you know that Ron Wyden made very centrist.

And bipartisan.

-- Democrat senator has joined with Paul Ryan on a voluntary program for seniors.

That they could be responsible for their own health care.

Now.

Hey that that kind of proposal is something that we need to -- carefully examine and pursue right now.

I guess we have to ask what is the plan the Democrats have besides negative.

Attack cancer and by the way the Obama budget was voted on we forced -- vote on it didn't get a single Democrat vote down.

I think senator while many Republicans are very enthusiastic some ecstatic about this -- there are some Democrats are saying.

Not sure that this is that the best pick because there is a danger.

That the running mate may overshadow the actual candidate on some of the most important issues of the day what -- you said.

I had that problem.

No I do expect that -- I I don't I don't think that's I don't think that's the case.

I think this is a team.

That understands the challenges that we face they obviously there's very good chemistry.

Between the two of them and Americans recognize that route running mates are very important but it's the top of the ticket obviously that it.

That it makes.

What the voters decide on as a unit of the ballot -- that congressman Ryan has had very little private sector experience.

Compared to governor Romney met most of his adult life has been spent inside the beltway do you do you think that that contrast.

Is going to create a problem for the ticket Mitt Romney has been running as an outsider wants to commit a shake up Washington.

If the person news chose to run with these kind of the ultimate insider.

Well first it.

Someone have to tell me what experience President Obama has in the private sector which is amply shown he used abysmally ignorant.

-- but Paul Ryan brings a balance.

Understanding how the congress works understanding how the budget process works understanding.

The entire process and established relationships.

That I think will make in most effective in getting.

The the Mitt Romney agenda through the congress sends going to be the first sixteen in ninety days.

That will determine that what we're about foreign policy senator mean this is your Bailiwick -- -- your strongest points and and this ticket.

When you look at both governor Romney and congressman Ryan.

His gut that the least foreign policy experience -- of any ticket that I can remember you do you have concerns about that.

Well I think that Mitt Romney has -- least probably since Ronald Reagan.

I think that Mitt Romney understands.

Our nation's challenges she's proven that by.

The proposals as -- put forward -- -- understanding of the importance of our relationship with Israel which is hardly ever been worse.

His understanding of American exceptional resume.

Which President Obama has abandoned.

And that I think that when you look at.

That.

Congressman Ryan's.

Experience as -- spent in the house since 1998 where he's.

Been involved in these issues.

His proposals do not.

You're not their -- oh.

Prevent a sequestration from taking place.

And finally in the vice -- United States has been wrong nine times out of ten on every major foreign policy issue and challenges that we face.

Now that you mention the the idea of American exceptional as -- -- talking gave to the council foreign relations.

Back in 2009.

Congressman -- -- quote.

Obama to talk about the president doesn't think America is an exceptional nation it's a shame he doesn't believe.

In American exceptional as.

As an issue of national security.

Had its vital this president has not led right today.

There are people being massacred in the streets of Syria.

Damascus -- -- -- And there are dying and by the thousands and I'm about 20000 so far has this president spoken up once once in their behalf.

You think Ronald Reagan would be sitting back saying nothing don't you think we -- should be helping these people -- are being massacred in an unfair fight.

Where the arms and the equipment and training -- coming in from Russia and Iran and people are being butchered.

This present went to.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- That is all comes back to this president does not believe in American exceptional as some.

And doesn't believe that America should lead and it's been in my view a disastrous foreign policy.

Senator certainly I've got a lot of questions to ask against Syria if I can hold those firmament just get back to the Ryan nomination for a second.

You know there there is some comparisons are being made between Mitt Romney's pick.

Yesterday in your pick back in 2008 that you went with a bold choice.

One that was very good in the short term for -- but one in the long term might not have been the best choice the same things are being said.

About Mitt Romney's choice of Paul Ryan what what do you say to those observations and those observations come from Republicans.

Well I say that first you that this election is made a step.

Who will best help you get nominated and who you believe is best suited for the role of vice president United States at that time I'm still proud my.

My running mate I'm proud of Sarah and her family and I'm proud of the work that we did.

I think that in this case it is also a -- choice many people thought that.

-- are people who are being considered might bring home those states in two.

The Romney column I think this is a pretty bold choice as well and I think it saying good match up.

Because so Paul Ryan's ability to carry a Romney agenda through the congress of the United States so I.

And it's intimate knowledge of the budget we all know that economy.

And but jobs are the issue she there's nobody that knows these issues better than Paul Ryan.

Senator then of course there are going to be a lot of attack ads to be aired over the coming weeks -- the campaign the next eighty -- or so days there was an ad came out.

In recent days that really seem to take the idea of negative advertising to a new level.

Came from priorities USA the super pac is supporting President Obama let me just play that game your reaction to -- -- And then one day she she became ill and I took -- of the Jackson county hospital room.

And in and in many different ammonia and estimate found the cancer about an hour -- for real news there was there was nothing I can do for her.

And she passed away and -- two days.

Senator the implication is there that there's there's a connection between him losing his job as a result of what being capital did and his wife dying this subsequent investigation -- -- there was.

A lag period of about six years that his wife did not have coverage under his insurance she had her own.

And that she lost that what do you think of that.

Disgraceful obviously run out of -- and verbs.

And it's even more so because the closest advisors.

Two.

President Obama are the people responsible for that and we don't know that these connections are there but.

You know I'm also a little sad John because in 2008.

This present.

And the people around him promised hope and change and new environment in Washington.

And now.

It's probably.

Deteriorated in choose the most negative most unpleasant most.

Disgraceful campaign that I have ever observed and I've been intimately involved in them since 1984.

It's really.

A remarkable remarkable this president cannot run -- record.

So now their strategy and I got to give them credit they have succeeded to a certain degree.

-- painting.

With nothing but attack -- Mitt Romney and something that's not an acceptable alternative.

Because he can't.

Run on his record your campaign -- plenty of negative ads setback in the 2008 campaign but -- where -- where do you draw the line and you think the president should denounce this.

Well clearly the president should announce -- and that paints.

I'm good and decent man governor Mitt Romney -- may disagree with.

In to a person who is responsible for a man's wife's death.

I mean I don't I don't know how you get worse than that all of us grieve for anyone that loses a loved one what -- portrayed.

Mitt Romney is somehow -- -- responsible for that as just again -- makes me sad more than angry.

But senator you mentioned serious couple minutes and minutes -- -- elect to spend affected the remaining time that we have together on that her.

Of course big conference set between secretary state Turkish officials yesterday in Turkey talk of some sort of plan.

For -- facade falls if you were used chemical weapons are there were to be a massive influx of refugees across the border and Turkey are you concerned that the Asad regime.

If it feels like it's -- could reach out and use chemical weapons.

I'm very concerned about and I'm concerned about the increasing influx of -- artists and al-Qaeda and other extremists I'm concerned about the mounting refugees.

I am concerned about the murder torture and rape that is -- policy.

About -- -- what we stand by.

And our secretary of state and Irish UN.

Representative say all these words the president says nothing by the way.

But they say -- this is unacceptable.

And yet we live truly do nothing a young.

A person and I've heard this from others in the Syrian resistance -- keep saying.

We -- remember will remember who helped us and who didn't.

Then the present and -- states is abrogated our responsibilities.

To help these people.

And an unfair fight that does not mean boots on the ground.

But it does mean establishing sanctuary.

Where they can organize and they can fight and every day that this goes on.

The more difficult it's going to be it would be to repair this country.

Once -- our side goes and he will go but it should shameful shameful that we will not help these people out.

As they are struggling for the things we stand for and believe in.

You you and your colleagues.

Senators Graham and Lieberman -- an op Ed in the Washington Post last Monday when she said quote the US reluctance.

To intervene in Syria is first of all allowing this conflict to be longer and bloodier a radicalized in dynamic.

He went -- to say that the Syrian people are likely to feel little goodwill toward the United States.

You've said before the believe that we should arm the rebels -- stronger on that point now.

Well I've always felt the same -- about it John.

It's an unfair fight Russian equipment is coming him.

This administration -- incredibly.

His base their strategy on the believes that somehow the Russians.

We'll have a beneficial effect on Bashar -- -- Iranians on the ground -- recent reports of Hezbollah.

Coming back got eleven and to help the Syrian slaughtered their own people.

This is you know this is set -- a -- really one of the more disgraceful chapters in American history and the president.

Is it is absolutely AWOL.

-- -- it's it's incredible.

One of the quick -- senators talk about it during this meeting between now the secretary of state Turkish officials about establishing a no fly zone over certain areas in Syria.

Would you support that and who should enforce it.

Well we have -- that for a long time it cries out for American leadership I know the leaders of these countries.

And they and they seek American leadership.

And again that does not mean American boots on the ground.

But we obviously we need to do that they will follow -- -- they will agree.

As we did and that operations in Libya although -- be a different scenario.

If America will lead and -- it's.

Well I think that it's time that and it's not too late.

For -- to step forward establish a sanctuary.

Help arm train and equip these people along with other countries the resistance.

And bring this -- these massacres and now bordering on genocide.

To a halt Senator McCain it's always good to -- thanks so much for taking the time for the weekend today for -- Thank you John.

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