You're watching...
Michelle Selesky and Mark Hannah discuss the early challenges to the second Obama Presidential term.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
And welcome back to foxnews.com.
Live -- Casey -- joining you live this afternoon from our north Texas newsroom we sure appreciate taken time out of your data spend right here with us.
As we said can you believe it has been about a week now since Americans headed to the polls and re elected president Barack Obama for another term of office in the White House.
So the question is what is the president.
Facing now what are the biggest challenges we want to bring our political panel and Michelle Celeste Keyes she's the communications director of gopac an organization.
Have designed to educate and elect the next generation of Republican leaders.
And we also and she's also former deputy national Press Secretary by the way for Newt Gingrich and mark -- of former staffer for -- Kerry's presidential campaign.
Hello to you both.
Going to be -- Thanks for taking time out -- -- wanna start with you all right so.
You've just been elected another four years what is the most immediate thing that is on present president Obama's mind at this moment.
Well I think there is you know that.
It's clear to everybody watching that the president won by substantial margin in the popular vote but that at the same time the country is still very divided.
And you know the president's mandate was in the first term to sort of unify the country and and two create consensus.
I think no matter what you're looking at you're looking at the fiscal cliff that's coming up in January and and so I think the president's got the most urgent issue which is to.
Make sure that we to attract new sources of revenue -- Pay down our debt and ends cut spending somewhat dramatically in order to.
The reversed reverse the deficit that we're seeing.
And and reduce the national debt.
Has got a lot on his plate and Michelle I wanna go over to you and then also encourage our folks watching to join our our live chat.
The address of course live dot foxnews.com.
And Michelle I wanna give you a question that's coming from JD -- points question for the panel is there any chance of the president might pluck out a Republican or two from the house.
In democratic states for his new administration or is he just going to stick with who he has pretty good question.
That is and I I think there's been some buzz about him polling and Republicans stored in his administration I know even this week there's been a couple signs -- that Wednesday I think he's going to be meeting with some business leaders.
And then on Friday he'll be meeting with Republicans and Democrats I think there might be some tendency for him to.
To look for some bipartisanship -- appointing new leadership in his cabinet.
Michelle I also want to ask you we're obviously talking about General David Petraeus do you think that there is something more that the White House.
New and maybe wasn't releasing.
Well -- find out I mean if you look back at what we've discovered since this story broke just three days ago on Friday.
We learned a lot since that afternoon and I think it underscores the need.
For a serious a timely and comprehensive investigation into exactly what happened.
Not only because we're concerned -- General Petraeus -- personal life but how does that relate to national security who knew what when and and more importantly how does that relate to.
The an ongoing investigation into what happened in Libya.
Mark what do you think about what the White House may or may not have known and may be not released and you know a lot of people say that it's awfully convenient this resignation came after.
The election.
Sure no I think that I'm -- -- to speculate that this is somehow politically motivated is.
I I think a little bit cynical or skeptical overly so but I do think it's important to -- fact that we we need to know.
Why is that why is that part of that felt like -- -- that cynical because.
Because we have this is as -- Michelle mode mention this is being motivated I hope at least by.
Serious and and great concerns about our national security about classified documents about clandestine activities going on overseas.
And so for people on for example left for Democrats to say well the Republicans are just you know this is a which -- -- somehow politically motivated.
Is a little bit too skeptical I think for Republicans to say well you know -- White House knew something about this through the CIA -- the FBI knew something about this and wasn't telling us because -- wanted to somehow manipulate the election.
I think that's also pretty skeptical so I think we have to have good faith.
In our elected leaders in in both parties that this is actually you know the inquiry what's motivating this inquiry.
Is a genuine concern for and -- regard for our national security.
And so you know.
What what the administration knew what the CIA knew is one question I think what most members of both political parties are concerned right now.
Is what the FBI knew and when it knew and whether it had an obligation to tell different.
Intelligence Committees in in the congress.
Or not so I think you know.
What do you with the White House knew is is the giant question mark and I heard some of the remarks of the guests you had on earlier.
And and -- until we actually have some intelligence or some.
Some firsthand information about what we know -- I don't think it's appropriate or -- -- to speculate right now.
All right Michelle you know again I what I wanna get to another question from a viewer Joyce EB when my buddies -- chat with on Twitter she's loyal foxnews.com.
Live watcher and she also talks about the voter fraud in Ohio.
And the other states are being reported of course that there's a lot of discussion about that.
Leading up to the election and in the days following the election.
What do you think about that.
Look if it turns out a voter fraud was an issue that something certainly believe.
Needs to be addressed.
But the fact is voter fraud was not the cause for Republicans loss across the country.
Last Tuesday we didn't lose a presidential race by by a larger margin and John McCain did because of voter fraud we didn't lose all -- potential senate races because of voter fraud.
And you know -- as people been saying over the past week six days now.
It it's a larger question about what -- a -- Republican Party stands for.
How are gonna create a large governing coalition.
In the United States it includes Hispanics African Americans Asian Americans use women every person who was -- United States.
So we can represented people.
To make up 21 century America.
And -- continue to be a party that is capable of winning elections.
All right very good points Michel Celeste in March can we really appreciate both of you guys taking your time to come on and talk to us.
Thank you thanks Casey appreciate it have a great day.
