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Michelle Selesky and Penny Lee discuss the political implications of the candidates' responses to Hurricane Sandy.
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The question that I exposed is there -- place for politics.
In times of disaster bringing in my panel and Michelle Celeste.
Gopac at and that so let's keep on Twitter you want to follow her and petty leash he's the president and principal -- -- strategies and former senior advisor senator Harry Reid -- I think both of you for being here.
Thanks for having absolutely they hit a good good -- -- we know that President Obama is going to be visiting it will storm ravaged New Jersey to assess the damage into a short.
The people -- -- government assistance is available to them carte Blanche Governor Christie is a Republican.
Governor so what though who here is isn't that what presidents do in time of disaster.
Who was to go first -- will -- with you this thing.
Sure I mean when you're seen as a president be president he's been the commander in chief in this is one of the benefits that you have.
For being an inmate in command at this at this time when a national disaster -- -- can actually hurt you as well as we saw with Katrina.
They can have if if not handled properly can have very damaging political consequences to it.
So we think that the president is right that he's gone off the campaign trail and he's doing what he can to make sure.
And that all of the victims are safe and that there is the clean up the -- all of the resources are available.
Anke isn't a chance also to look bipartisan -- that that something that government is actually working.
You have Chris -- you have governor McDonnell down in Virginia.
You have Mayor Bloomberg you have others all coming together in -- -- the federal government is responding well.
So you know these are times you wish you know the command of the president needs to be there and I think he's absolutely right going -- the trail right.
OK so penny -- -- the president's going to touch down in New Jersey.
In about 45 minutes from now and it because it appears by all accounts -- -- it is a genuine.
Eight extension if you will and this is what presidents do in these times but you said you -- back to Hurricane Katrina.
And President Bush is fly over there over New Orleans what could go wrong in this visit for the president today here in New Jersey.
Well that's exactly I I think that the the event itself the new Jersey's public can be pretty highly scripted.
It's going to be the photo Roth is going to be -- chance for him to address to look empathetic.
To be able to you know how real people in touch them and -- feel them and see the devastation so I think.
As far as the event itself today it's pretty well scripted where it can go wrong is the closer you get up it if if our research I mean if rescue workers are being delayed if the response isn't being done that heat is -- turned on to residents.
That can actually have the more damaging effect the longer this.
The whole of this and this devastation actually occurs the soap and of course were an election seek season and you know the longer the day there -- that.
People don't have power in the in his in his very very cold up there -- they're gonna get frustrated and very angered that you know expenses of up to Tuesday so.
You know everybody the president and his staff and everybody if he was gonna happen absolutely vigilant to make sure that they're getting the services they -- but I think this event is going to be pretty well scripted today Michelle do you have a problem with -- president visiting New Jersey today.
No he's doing his job even in the midst of a national campaign when there is a national crisis like the hurricane it's important that it get solved and I don't think.
People in either party would disagree with that and president I was doing his job he's out there -- New Jersey today lending support to them and to New York.
But at the same time we -- have an election in six days and it's important that governor Ronnie continue to draw.
The -- alternative vision that he has for the economy and that's what he's doing in Florida today and Obama will be back on the -- tomorrow and over the next six days I think they're gonna continue.
Laying -- -- contrast between both of their plans even as they address this situation.
On the East Coast.
And honestly Michelle were re not sixty's for a presidential election.
In a tight race and probably no one would make a peep about the president's visit to new Jersey state correct.
I I still think they would I mean it's a it's a matter of national concern.
Outside of politics even they want to make sure that our federal government the state governments are both contributing to helping.
In the disaster and there's fifty people who died millions are without power and so it is still a very important topic regardless of politics.
Absolutely.
Scenic -- Michelle have forgotten forgotten about -- penny but Michelle mentioned how.
Governor Romney certainly concern for the victim -- victims as well he rallied the troops to support the Red Cross.
But did the show must go one.
In in he's down in Florida trying to see if he can secure those 29 electoral votes I mean this is what he needs to do correct it's there's no problem with this.
Michelle that's.
Correct and he'll be out there laying -- alternative vision for the future.
That the point is in six days Americans have a very important choice did I want to stick with the Obama economy.
Or -- they want an alternative future or creating jobs are growing the economy.
For manufacturing or lowering taxes and and encouraging small business and that's a very important decision to make.
Which will have to consider even as we deal with hurricane sandy.
-- let me let -- jump in there in not having any -- went to respond to anything Michelle -- before going to my next question.
It had no I think I think I think Mitt Romney's -- -- -- me and he you know -- almost in a no win situation on the one hand he wants to make sure that he has.
You know -- fully aware and -- addressing the concerns of those on the on the East Coast that have just come through this major massive storm.
But the other -- he still has to be a candidate he still doesn't have the levers of the White House he is not the president.
And so he has seen is strike that delicate balance it -- Both the challenger.
But also the elevator lifts his speech -- to be somewhat presidential as as well for all the concerns of Americans across this country from him.
And -- let's talk about the post election post sandy spin if you will -- it's gonna play out.
Depending on the outcome of the election.
How will both campaigns.
Would they be saying about the albeit unfortunate.
Events of that that the storm.
What would they be saying though about the interruption of early voting -- let you start first.
-- is -- really choosing to see you know there are some traditional states within the past.
CD that aren't traditionally early voting states Pennsylvania for one is really a state that really comes out on Election Day they just don't have the mechanics to do an early vote.
We're entering the you don't got it up possibly going to paper ballots -- hate it and I think you're -- in Maryland you're seeing in Virginia Connecticut is looking to extend.
Some of the absentees allowing our -- -- registration -- it is -- different views and different secretaries of states in different governors and others.
Trying to make sure that we have the most accurate and fair election.
Given what would just occurred with with sandy so.
I think that everything is -- -- you know everyone's gonna try to work hard to make sure that there is complete access to the ballots.
Not only for early voting but leading up to Election Day there -- just a major hurdles -- mean as we're hearing New York is not gonna get their subway system is backed up until Sunday.
So that obviously is gonna have an effect.
But I know that they're gonna try to work -- as best that they can to make sure that as many people can get out of the votes as they possibly can right now.
And Michelle do you think there's going to be some.
Post -- fallout in terms of early voting and how it's been interrupted in some major areas of the country.
Voting your I don't think -- I don't think so like like -- -- a lot of state governments are making arrangements to help and facilitate voting.
-- early voting or on Election Day if people are prevented by flooding.
Ohio though which is an important state -- -- really going to be affected I think there's some areas near Lake Erie that lost power but that important swing state.
Will not be affected I don't think by the end of the devastation.
And so I I think it'll be it'll be fine in terms of voting and others and discussion.
About actually moving Election Day.
But it was pointed out that even in the midst of the civil war at the height of that war we didn't move our Election Day so.
Where Americans we'll figure it out and I'm sure make every arranger for people to get to the polls between now -- Tuesday.
Let me get some -- -- -- here JD Le point says.
No there is no place -- politics in a disaster it sucks this is a week out because so much voter fraud.
Is going to happen any whenever his way to respond to that.
I think -- -- hard to make a prediction right now and we've always seen you know there are -- elements of voter fraud and I think that.
Both the federal government state government and other entities are trying to -- ensure that voter fraud does occur but we had to be vigilant out of the one storm.
I don't think you can blame that on the storm is -- an escalation.
A voter fraud I I think that's a little bit of a stretch.
-- Yeah I agree -- there's always always a danger voter fraud the hurricane hasn't been insinuate that so.
Local governments still doing that they can to protect elective process that I don't think the hurricane is gonna enhance it at all.
Michelle you mentioned Ohio -- get back to that state.
And the -- that the Romney campaign is running there implying that President Obama is.
Bailout of the auto industry would in fact -- jobs to China.
And there are even some Republican strategists who -- concerned about that.
Afraid that governor Romney and in the campaign that is may have -- the wrong made the wrong move in that regard because.
The folks here in Ohio -- very very close -- attention to the auto industry.
Security -- Jeep saying they executives said -- -- saying no that's not the case and where did that come from.
How do you respond to that.
Well the bottom line is outside of this ad on the back and forth and we're gonna see between the campaigns the bottom line is that we have an anti business climate in the United States in Ohio.
And that our tax code with the corporate tax rate of 35% which is it combined the highest tax rate in the world.
Encourages people to ship jobs and manufacturing -- he's -- -- me Michelle let me give those talking points in a moment but I would like you to answer my question specifically.
I ask you about that commercial that campaign ad that's running in Ohio and Jeep and you just come out if you read the original Bloomberg report.
Jeep is increasing looking to increase manufacturing of cars overseas in China.
They've.
Explain now that they're not going to shift jobs from the United States over to China.
But there is still some consideration given -- maybe manufacturing all of their cars there eventually in the future -- CEO wants to be blamed for shipping jobs and manufacturing overseas but again the tax code encourages it.
-- -- Well in the year a fact checking on American elections I think this -- though it did the pants on fire the four Pinocchio of all the all the commercials so far that the Romney campaign has want.
I mean is being resoundingly denounced by -- and by FBI and by Chrysler.
As to the absolute in accuracy of this -- -- you know what it does is it shows you know.
President Obama has had a consistent lead in Ohio it is a very critical state.
No Republican president has ever won the presidency.
Without -- nominee without winning Ohio.
So he knows this is a critical state he knows that he is behind brain and I you have early vote that is coming -- almost 621 in favor of the Obama.
Campaign is so you know I think that this is an unfortunate.
Added and it just it it it really is one that hopefully that will come out of -- rotation very quickly because it has been rightfully.
Denounced by everybody every fact check here and those that are in the corporations that know.
If -- the Obama administration -- the Obama campaign how would you respond to those ads or would you.
I think that they are responding nationally Christine which is allow the people that actually -- make -- that decisions which is the chairman.
And they and their president of Chrysler and Fiat actually come out and make those statements in denounce it themselves editorials all over this country from the Washington Post all the way to LA have come out and since saint.
This is an egregious error of back.
But I don't think -- allowed Iacocca was a former head of Chrysler came out -- he's he supports Romney.
And his position in the auto industry which is to create a business climate -- you can actually produce cars and make a profit here in the United States so I'll take you know the -- president I'll take the current president of Chrysler and -- Who has actually thanked the president for all I -- -- honestly I don't indeed try to go bankrupt.
-- -- I Romney wouldn't even do it carried it through managed bankruptcy which is what happened but -- does -- voters will decide over the next.
Five and a half days do they think that -- business climate which -- -- manufacturing press jobs and encourage people to ship jobs manufacturing overseas.
Is gonna improve the auto industry over the next forty in his way and doing and I was seen as -- majority of Ohio voters 52% out of the latest quinnipiac poll says.
They are optimistic because of the policies in which Obama has the four that they feel more optimistic about the future of this country so I I.
I was stand with a that I would I would argue that adding a result of the Republican policies instituted by governor Casey and Republican announced -- that you violated a lot of the state policy I have three.
To log on to foxnews.com.
Slash elections where you can track all of the latest details all about the candidates here.
Their movements.
-- -- campaign -- anything you need to know.
Go to foxnews.com slash elections it's all there and as on the shelves so rightfully pointed out -- five and a half days.
Away from that -- -- important presidential election.
Michelle.
Celeste.
I on foxnews.com every -- appreciate your time good stuff you brought here.
