You're watching...
Who knew what and when in regards to the General Petraeus scandal. Plus Will Republicans make a deal in time for the fiscal cliff. And Gov. Jindal ca...
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
First obviously.
It was -- it was a very sad.
-- -- -- -- My heart she -- -- -- -- -- -- Director of the CIA.
Challenge.
Well there you -- -- -- -- always filling in for Chris our own power play today or so -- -- could -- -- another commenting on the resignation.
CIA director at David Petraeus and all of the following developments which continue furiously and rapidly even as we -- joining us today to talk about Mark -- of the moment group.
Good to see market and we also David Winston of the Winston group settlement great to have you.
You're you're -- prospectus on on this rapidly unfolding.
The crisis.
Or.
Well you know we've been talking for years now -- the problems of gays in the military looks like we have a bigger from the streets in the military -- The apple is Jacob Weisberg said today but did you know the reality is is senator Panetta said -- more than anything else is just a sad day -- sad episode.
For General Petraeus -- -- a distinguished.
Military leader for his family.
-- and frankly it's a distraction from what are some very important issues and we're talking about the fiscal Clifford about the whole future of -- economic future of this country on the line.
And instead of talking about that.
-- this city and the public are consumed with this discussion of marital infidelity on the part of perhaps a single general perhaps to -- denial.
-- -- -- is this is a fellow that remarkable talent that really helps the United States -- in terms of Iraq.
That town is going to be missed having said that he obviously felt compelled given what occurred to terrorism and -- -- there's some questions about in terms of the the sequencing of that that would certainly it's a sad moment and it's really.
Difficult when you take that quality and talent off the field -- the United States in terms of what you can do to contribute to our national security.
It's a troubling them.
You -- it's a distraction.
From the -- -- -- have -- done but it's more than a distraction.
Is this related to the Ben Ghazi.
I made -- clear clearly did that the one -- that's little bump here is is -- -- testify and hopefully I think he's gonna have to mean he had conversations with the president here conversations certain individuals that you can't have an effort to step in instead of try to recreate those those -- Conversations.
So -- -- The big guys thinking clearly being a central point of discussion he's I was gonna have to testify the sequencing in terms of how we get there's not in any.
Because it -- did you believe it is just a distraction at this point.
Well I think you have to look and guys he's its own issue but that's got frankly nothing to do with with the -- -- well part of the issue and -- important one might think Ben Ghazi is it certainly more important and in the marital pieces of the infidelities.
And certainly the fiscal cliff and all the other issues that were facing today I think in my view are vastly more important -- -- yet.
We've become consumed as a society and -- the respective journal has become consumed with these.
Personal stories that really.
Don't have much you know impact on the nation except the accent is David rightly -- that we're -- missing some extraordinary talent but that's not necessarily deserving -- -- the non stop wall to wall coverage that -- bad.
He's a juror on this incredible.
Number of conspiracy theories floating out there right now and then I want to give us from the safe harbor this.
-- -- -- -- People are saying that there's this huge conflict between the FBI in the CIA the FBI was obviously investigating this perhaps they want to throw Petraeus under the bus.
There's some suggestion that the White House may have wandered through Petraeus under the bus because maybe too much.
About Ben -- and there's also speculation that Petraeus may have wanted to throw the White House under the bus there today at that point.
Two things really stand out my mind about General David Petraeus was director -- He told members of the of the senate intelligence and house Intelligence Committees immediately after the attacks on Ben Ghazi.
Pretty much destroyed it was directly related to the White House story that this was a result of the anti Mohammed film.
-- days later the CIA.
Under the direction director Petraeus issued a press -- -- operated directly.
No one had any level in the CIA told anybody.
Not to help those in the claims to the contrary are simply an -- Bill Kristol of the weekly standard wrote a piece about that that press release saying.
That Petraeus through the White House under the bus.
Does this mean anything.
I mean look I mean that that is exactly right that it has survived because there have been some unclear statements and contradictory statements -- the -- -- as you said.
His testimony shortly after in terms of where he sort of alluded to maybe it was about this film and obviously that press release that you just described to -- to contradict that.
So obviously there needs to be an understanding about what occurred they're -- -- -- -- there's always been in this sort of competition between the FBI and CIA but I have to say -- -- in terms of this and given what we sort of understand so far.
The FBI seems to handle this well this within the -- that it's supposed to and obviously members of congress would like to have been more informed.
But Dave but that's the situation terms and given this particular situation given back into the CIA director do you begin at danger -- you might change that but nonetheless they did what they were supposed supposed to.
I -- the idea that he threw the White House and the bus.
You know I think I think that was going on here isn't just an unclear story which is why he's got -- -- -- -- to go ahead.
There's just no I'm Susie I think there is all a lot of lack of clarity on me -- Derek -- is the fog of war that we treat -- more time.
Obviously this was situation ending Ghazi was of military conflict that some of -- terrorist governor's people were shooting.
There's a -- that that develops over that.
And I think there are a lot of uncertainties and it's important unravel those uncertainties but the -- their uncertainties doesn't mean there's wrongdoing doesn't mean there's conspiracy doesn't mean.
That people have behaved -- inappropriate way it just means there is a certain level of uncertainty is an important to sorted out yes there's an investigation going on -- -- Administration is set their own investigation.
In motion to figure out what happened.
Congress -- -- conducting its own a series of inquiries will find out what happened here but my guess is it's gonna have very little to do with with this whole issue.
If -- were the worst things that could happen to a person in the director traces position is to be -- it's it's it's the fundamental.
Problem that people in that position half.
To remain away from.
If it -- -- was having this affair with a swollen.
Who was sending these emails to this other woman until Kelly was the use -- the social liaison at MacDill Air Force Base.
Who isn't telling a friend of hers in the FBI about this the friend and the FBI sending.
Pictures of himself shirtless to Jill Kelly.
Now we wake up this morning with the news that general John Allen have of forces in Afghanistan.
So something like 20000.
Emails to this woman -- help.
This whole thing kind of stinks to high.
I mean I understand that that you think this may be an isolated incidents in the not -- -- -- it what if I'm sorry there's a lot of.
Food for those conspiracy -- always leave -- there is food a mandate that the conspiracy theorists feed on something is usually turn the crumbs into mountain.
That's there that's the problem.
But -- look -- -- we've we've heard this reported 20000 emails today somebody earlier today denied there -- anything like 20000 emails I have no idea how many emails there are an idea I.
Gets that nobody else does either at this moment except for the people who were directly involved in.
In looking at them but -- did there's obviously a lot of people involved in this in this little Contra -- And exactly what everybody's role is we have no idea I'm -- -- come out.
But at the end of the day I don't think it will compromise national security -- -- you raise a critical question which is first in this position can't be blackmailed.
Honestly wants its public there's no really of the -- to blackmail someone anymore he would ended this affair I gather again according to reports he knows -- they're accurate for months ago.
In there were reports that his wife knew about it so who who knows what the reality is and who knows how subject he might have been the black -- at the time.
And that's -- that the the FBI and get according to reports -- confirmed that there was no -- security breach in terms of that of the emails going back and forth and again if they're probably will go beyond what they get like ours -- to get bumpers that are going on rumored reports and what we read in the newspaper and in terms of that.
And then that but it still comes back to the fundamental questions I think as -- -- defining.
That ultimately this is about Ben -- ultimately we need to understand the sequence of events.
I'm not gonna -- from a political point of view -- how exactly do security effectively throughout the the world in terms of our.
Personnel.
OK gentlemen I think they'll take care for now there'll be a lot more to be sent into we examined.
In the coming days -- weeks this there's no doubt about that mark felt it was thanks.
-- you when we come back.
Talk about conflicts of interest I've got a feeling coming up and excitement and you'll see when I use the next guest.
-- obviously.
They want to the countries we raise taxes a little bit on millionaires I really -- I don't think I don't really understand what Republicans don't take Obama's offer.
Does freeze taxes for everyone below.
Sort of the 2000 make it right does it make -- a million.
Really the Republican party's gonna fall on the -- to defend a bunch of millionaires half of whom voted democratic -- half of whom live in Hollywood.
There you have it I think a lot of doctrinaire conservatives who say that bill crystal's comments that last night on -- special -- were.
Radical maybe is -- too strong -- word I don't know to discuss that and let me preface this accidentally by stating that this is a profound and demonstrable conflict of interest this next guest preacher of the Washington examiner for examiner is here she have to be my wife and she was so -- yeah.
She was moved to long before I was slated to guess that silver -- ultimately -- -- interesting that it does it does so my first question do you see this.
What's for dinner no.
What is what is and I know might -- -- to make myself.
In any event do you think that mr.
Merkel would build -- -- I think what he said Sunday crystallizes.
Bill Kristol crystallized a crossroads it's Republican party's Aaron.
They're fretting over just what -- the election and how they managed somehow abandon so many voters that they thought they could count on and then there's the other side Hussein do begin.
Let's not give up our principles let's hold -- taxes if not a little the -- -- -- well.
And you see -- the line beach being -- It into question that's going to.
The answered I think in the coming weeks is what side are they gonna -- on now.
You need to look at what crystal said he said okay let's raises on these top two backs OK maybe the top bracket that -- a huge difference between.
Those making 250000.
-- filing jointly.
Those making a million dollars join in the big difference is what's passable in the senate and what's not the senate will go for the million in about.
They don't think they'll go for 215 is no way to house wants that to fifty number.
There is a possibility if there's any caving at all.
It will be the million dollars that thus far the Republicans in the house is saying nothing but closing loopholes as we've heard them talking about these so called loopholes that favor.
Certain interest groups.
And over calling the system so you lower rates overall and you make it tax system more efficient to bring in more revenue that -- that's where Republicans say they're going.
But isn't isn't isn't closing loopholes pandora's box in and of itself means that these these are precious commander.
His -- didn't present there is there's boys until loopholes in touch with a ten foot -- you and I suggest you -- we -- mortgage deduction.
Child's -- child tax credit there are others there's -- let's face it.
How how many pages is the tax code to the tax code is -- if anything is a -- of loopholes.
There -- so many that you can close that will only really target people who you don't have to worry about voting for you basically and that's how this works.
They're gonna try to do what's the most politically expedient and I think again -- -- Bill Kristol said.
Listen to what people are more or more other conservatives are saying and mussina -- being drawn.
And I think you're going to see in the coming weeks where the Republican Party is headed by the way they negotiate this tax deal.
I was struck Brussels and you sudden I spent a lot of time with the assistant.
Hear a lot of things he's -- about something that that speaker Boehner said in the immediate aftermath of the election.
That the headlines across the spectrum -- -- ready to make a deal.
You said to me often in many comes -- no he's not ready to make a deal this is no different than anything he said the last two years.
Well -- because.
He came out and says look I want to work with the president here's my offer closes loopholes which sounds he says he said I'm -- for revenue on the table similar.
-- -- -- Ready for revenue -- that actually -- many times said the report -- -- -- -- on the table during the debt ceiling crisis not -- -- -- which people may -- may not remember -- all run together now.
But the president -- sat down and talked about this very kind of deal where you close loopholes bring -- revenue.
And that you would not raise taxes on the upper two income brackets is nicer when the president asked for more Wright president and ask for more things fell apart.
Being locked in -- way that deal never got done he simply coming back to table and offering the exact same proposal and if you listen you need to listen when these politicians talk.
You really kind of have to read between lines and is bursting out of his mouth was.
You know the president won reelection and the house is still -- Republican majority in other words.
We're both senate have to negotiate we're not done is go for what the president.
Once so far the president has come -- said nothing about what he's already said we want to talk to tax brackets Boehner has said what he -- said in the past so I don't see any person giving ground anymore than they did.
More than a year ago again the action happens beginning now you've got these hot White House meetings.
You've got behind the scenes negotiating.
And again watch what happens in the next few weeks that's gonna help dictate the past the Republican Party.
You could see a lot of anger if they go for some kind of deal that lowers that raises tax rates beyond this loophole closure.
And you could again -- people accusing Republican Party capitulated caving in.
But as Bill Kristol said on Sunday he said if you think the Republican Party wants to be held responsible for all tax rates going up.
I I would say to him if I was sitting at their team -- day.
Who's to say that Republicans won't just turn the tables and say we offered a deal that would have preserve tax rates for everybody.
And Democrats turned it down because they weren't willing to go for -- race to tax rates on everybody Republicans and made that argument before.
Both sides always lost the argument -- -- Losing don't don't I mean I -- I don't think that argument led to them losing on Election Day they've maintained control the house they -- -- maintain control the house by very healthy margin.
Let's take a look at Europe that commentator -- for Todd says it's not a matter of tax the wealthy little more it's a combination of higher taxes -- medical -- from Obama care more strain on business.
From government government regulation and no plans to reduce spending.
Well that's true you look at the close election fallout here in the big.
Issue is obamacare moving forward -- these -- is going to place in smaller businesses saying they're cutting back workers.
They're cutting back hours to avoid being caught in having to requirement about -- -- health care or pay attacks.
That hurts the economy so.
The idea of raising tax rates on small businesses who would be affected the 97% of the income of small businesses would be hit by these -- not 90% 7% of small businesses.
Now the counter argument that Democrats make and I think you might have you -- may have -- what Bill Kristol may have talked to announce -- specifically is that it's Congressional Budget Office.
The record that came out last week that said hey you know if you raising rates on the millionaires just millionaires about that's point two side GDP.
That's yeah I think quarter gross domestic -- and 1% is something important that's something.
Republicans there argument is to fifteen -- -- talk and 700000 jobs according to an analysis that they they like to cite all the time.
There's conflicting views.
Is CD -- really not.
Soon are they kind of on the on his side of the president on these things -- an argument about that.
And I think that it's not crystal clear what's going to matter again is whether John Boehner and Republicans in the house.
Have the willpower to say -- the Democrats even in the face you know it's gonna -- which side blinks basically again over this issue.
And it's possible we may -- to new year with higher tax rates and things being director actively that's a possibility.
All walls start to reveal itself beginning this week congress is back in session today will -- is seeing unfolding get a pitch better picture of as the days go for it.
Soon frees you from the Washington examiner thank you so much for your insight great to be here I -- -- the -- again.
I think and I didn't get a bit and we -- -- more conflict right after this.
All right welcome back to power play governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana raised a lot of eyebrows yesterday in a telephone interview he did with -- -- he said and I do quote.
We've got to make sure that we are not the party of big business big banks big Wall Street bailouts big corporate loopholes -- anything.
We cannot be we must not be the party that simply protects the rich.
So they get to keep their toys and -- with -- how to talk about that and much more Sean Spicer.
Communications director for -- RNC -- well.
Good to see you thanks -- what do you make of that I think governor just got a point we've got a -- look at the message in the mechanics of what went right and what didn't go right in this past election.
When it comes a message I think what we have to be talking about is how this message of economic freedom.
Impacts people on a personal basis and I think they just from the from the exit polling we're seeing that people's found that it was it was not.
Geared towards them on a personal -- so.
We've got to go through an analysis of of the message side of the mechanics side and take an honest look at what worked what didn't and then try to move forward from certain.
There's been so much -- and you always expect this it certainly happened.
Four years ago -- and and many many other times of Monday morning according quarterbacking over these kinds of things and oftentimes just see polar opposite opinions but I was struck in the end governor to -- of opinion here.
The his -- the ability to express the whole concept of of wealth creation.
And job creation.
You know I'm always -- Harken back to the that luxury tax of many years ago in the in the ostensible fact and imposing taxes on luxury items for the -- yachts -- Lexus is or.
-- -- -- Is it is that the people who make those -- Blue collar workers get put out of business and I that would that was not communicated well in the Romney campaign I think.
I -- -- what you uranium in the late eighties I grew up and -- -- island we -- largely dependent on the marine industry.
So we taxed all these boat owners.
And -- manufacturers and -- of any of that well as a 1516 year old who clean those votes.
We stopped selling -- -- shutting down boat yards shipyards.
All the people who did the work that the rigging the -- making everything else suffered because of -- I think.
Sometimes it does take figuring out how to talk about it in a way to get -- people who are affected by certain policies.
So the you know the answer is you're right I mean there's a lot of people out there trying to pick one thing has really gotten in this new -- but let's look at the facts.
We lost senate races conservative moderate house race is the presidential race.
This isn't a one trick pony if we only do this you'll get fixed.
On the one hand we get a lot of things right we need fifty million.
59 million voter contacts the most ever in the history the part.
And in president Obama's turnout operation as as even though the media like talk but it was down in every state except North Carolina and we beat a -- so.
There's a lot of getting through the smoke and saying OK what's the ground truth and what really happened.
And that's what we need to do this to sort of post -- look at and say what what worked in what didn't -- that we don't do the wrong things going forward and I wonder.
If if if the Republican Party it did all the right things at least enough of the right things.
But the message was not getting through because the messenger I -- the mainstream media just refuses to report the news.
And end at some of the -- scandals associated with the Obama administration and some of the false.
Of the Obama administration well if you look there's there's four states there.
Came down to a total of 300000 votes and if if we.
Flip those we be talking about president -- and vice president Paul -- Com and there's no question I think you know I've been doing this twenty years says that we face a challenge every day with the mainstream media.
Trying it's not how things get -- but is also what gets covered and what doesn't get covered.
But I also don't wanna blame that say well it wasn't for that because you know we wouldn't we can look for excuses right now that's something that that we've always faced a headwind and as a as a party and then the media is buying -- -- by and large level.
And we should either make terror excuse and say going forward this is -- but I think we have enough to look at that says okay despite that we can still win.
I'm -- there's a lot of things that we can do better is a party.
-- to get -- so I I think.
Again looking for that one silver bullet this is if we can solve this or if we can blame this group -- that's the answer to all of our solutions.
Is not exactly I think you know -- improper business solution if you wouldn't.
I was reading -- -- -- That piece today by Bret Stephens I believe it was written Wall Street Journal which it.
The Republican Party -- to stop putting into place.
People who who think that that.
Abortion is unacceptable in the cases of rape and or incest.
Richard Murdoch obviously.
Guy's -- scares me and -- But on the other hand you do you listen to guys like Rush Limbaugh and I heard him say yesterday it bit.
That's what the Democratic Party -- this is trying to do is move the Republican Party left were so they become and her sights.
The Democratic Party are inferior form of the Democratic Party which would be disastrous for the Republican Party what needs to happen is for the Republican Party to stick to its principles and have an effective communicators.
I agree with that.
I think we need to stick to our principles.
This was not a rejection of our principles as I stated and we lost and conservative races we lost moderate -- and again I think there's a lot of folks -- have a personal agenda and this is -- policy only opened the floodgates and immigration if you only moderated your views on life.
Everything would work out I disagree with that as a Republican I think that we are sound what keeps us strong as a party is is our principles.
I'm and I don't think that that's the way to go and frankly I think that you do that as.
If you do that then you start to push away certain group of folks who believe in the party because of the strength of this real quickly.
I'm curious how how Mitt Romney is doing he is just vanish from the scene since Election Day have you heard anything at all I am not since couple days after I know he went around in -- -- -- in the very gracious way I would talk to.
All the staff and a lot of the supporters and -- -- and that's what I think he's been focused on.
But there's no question I mean losing a race of this magnitude kind of personal impact but -- He's a very accomplished man and I think he's gonna figure out a way to channel out of that -- doing something very good for us for the country Charles blitzer from -- were all the national we thank you very much in common is that an additional we -- -- -- again -- Chris --
