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Cantor on fiscal cliff talks, Petraeus-Benghazi scandals

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    House Majority leader on chances of a deal in fiscal cliff negotiations, what he knew and when in the Petraeus sex scandal, getting the truth in the B...

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If you thought former CIA director David Petraeus is testimony it would clear things up.

Think again.

Jennifer -- Miley telling congress what he knows about Ben Ghazi terror attack but did his testimony just get the Obama administration and even more hot water.

Short time ago the former CIA director David Petraeus plus Capitol Hill after about five hours of testimony close classified testimony before the house and senate and he's.

Intelligence committee's General Petraeus is briefing was comprehensive.

It was important -- added to Billy.

About what is clearly a failure of intelligence.

Talking points and much more specific about -- -- involved and -- part oranges -- And indicate even -- we have the evidence of the CIA that the worst umpire involved.

Talking points that were prepared for her and said it was al-Qaeda and the terrorists that -- some time between September 14 -- September 16 somebody.

The al-Qaeda element out and with the video good question we had -- who made the changes and why we haven't been able to get that.

Petraeus is saying I don't instead it was terrorism from my game don't -- -- -- then why did Susan Rice go out two days later and say it was.

Why we need to select committee.

The general had to acknowledge anonymous like that -- not just -- that he and the -- got it wrong they thought initially was spontaneous that's.

Assessment was made.

Soon after the attack occurred that there was a deliberate posture to this attack and that there were elements are pre planning involved and so that was set available within the first 124 to 48 hours.

After the -- to place.

If this goes back to Obama he admitted the other day in his press conference isn't White House dinner for the best -- we -- at the time no.

It wasn't the best until the -- until we -- in time wasn't it was al-Qaeda -- that.

It was removed.

And tonight house majority leader Eric Cantor going on the record about his early role in the General Petraeus investigation.

Because back -- October 27 out of the blue.

He get -- warming phone call from an FBI employee about the generals extramarital affair.

And we spoke -- leader cantor about the sex scandal the big guy as he attacked and the fiscal cliff.

Seems to have better -- from the hi this Ben Ghazi -- for -- a better word.

Would you be in favor of a select committee instead of having several committees trying to investigate what's going on both the house the senate having some sort of extreme wind of one select committee investigating get to the bottom of this.

Thought I know drugs are.

-- -- with our speaker and then we're talking about it and I'm.

I -- for what is best in terms of making sure the American people give.

The bottom line what has happened and it was so frustrating about -- Gaza situation is this administration's story has just changed almost daily.

And when you think about it and -- extra value can you know ambassador Dodd others died here this is so beyond.

Politics this is about our national security this is about life and death of American civil servants.

This is about the safety and security of our military there has so much here.

That we're gonna work hard to make sure that the American people realize their right to know that we get -- the bottom of this and hopefully make should never ever happens again.

But doesn't make sense since there's so many committees have different jurisdictions one has jurisdiction of the CIA and other of the Department of Justice another in the State Department and at the same problem or the senate.

Where instead of having all these witnesses -- -- before all this huge let's just doing one Clinton -- fell swoop almost -- and get everybody up there every.

-- -- -- They're there is certainly a case to be made for streamlining.

That process these committee has its own jurisdiction these committee has its own expertise and our staff and members.

Council and the rest and so we're we're taking a look at and see it again not too.

Politicize anything but just to get to the facts mean that's what's wrong here in the administration's not been forthcoming.

And they continue to say that they have but yet anybody looking in that situation knows.

At this point no American would even believe that this was not a terrorist attack.

We know that al-Qaeda is only growing the reason we know we're gonna continue throughout by that organization as well as many others.

And if you follow the money it all goes back to state sponsors like Iran has intent on using his state -- is proxies.

-- to wreak -- to kill Americans and others.

I should -- every criticism that's certainly the Republican Party -- publicize -- but frankly I thought that it was sort of I have inclusive and that has politicized by the fact it's been dragged out so long.

And that the information it's like pulling teeth -- mean even we've gotten criticism here at Fox News this all we're trying to get the facts and we know it's like -- your head up against the wall.

And it has dragged out now it is -- two months seven plus.

And still -- you know four Americans -- let me have one other question.

Tom General Petraeus.

Your name surfaced says that day you do that somehow that -- you get information and you passed it on to lead the FBI director what happened.

Well I you know I was contacted by an individual -- Who I never remember I didn't know he offered information to me they gave me -- and they cause for a -- No way to corroborate the information.

And certainly any information to me.

Gave rise to the possibility that there was.

Our national security issues that perhaps or CIA director was vulnerable but again I couldn't corroborate or -- -- information that was given to me.

We were about ten days served for a few weeks out before the election.

And I.

Didn't want to politicize it I wanted to.

To make sure that national security wasn't at risk so I turned to the person and the candidate dot com best equipped.

To deal with that information to get to the bottom of them and this was the FBI director in his office.

That we know has an obligation to make sure that our national security.

It is the priority.

And then after you guys also.

Obligated to -- congress if there is -- need for or an ongoing investigation or -- there's -- national security risk of hand.

And so that's why I did what I did and are we we hope that all the -- -- -- overcome our medicine our committees will be taking.

-- look into this as well to make sure.

That drive these kinds of things if confirmed.

Are not something that our repeated.

-- fiscal cliff.

How does -- does it divide between Republicans and Democrats but the house represent -- -- so many members Tom.

Heavy -- -- the temperature within your party within the house represented.

Is it is it going to be hard to get everybody on the same page because he had BL on members.

Tell -- it's always hard Hamburg democracy is not an easy.

Bright -- I think that this sends the common sense throughout the members the Republican.

Our conference in the house is we want to focus on what's important and what this election was about and that is to get our economy growing again.

And that's why you see in our speaker and go out and take a position to say.

Mr.

President you won the national election we won and held -- majority in a strong majority of guys.

We don't believe that raising tax rates.

He is something that will help respond to the number one issue of jobs in the economy.

And that's why the speakers.

Revenues on the table but let's go about.

That revenue by tax reform but fill in the loop -- closing.

The ability for people perhaps to benefit from some of those loopholes so we can.

Live up to the commitment this fingers maybe the president which is revenues.

-- Get that tax reform -- most do you believe that the I think probably 99.9 percent American people and and politicians X.

Think we -- taxable and there's been so much discussion about it for ever.

You're up against the clock now we're not gonna get the tax code reform between now and January want.

How do we get a commitment.

Out of that really works.

They're really puts -- hammered John your heads to get tax return tax reform done within a reasonable time.

A personal tax reform the goal is to make it simpler fairer for the American taxpayers right and so it -- to spend.

Hundreds of billions of dollars and not -- compliance and preparation.

And to make it so that.

Washington gets out of the business of picking winners and losers of the tax code.

Meaning the special preferences the loopholes.

And and other sort of goodies that are handed out in Washington that have resulted in this system of what many of us -- crony capitalism.

We've already we're coming here and and get an advantage we'll do so and we want to stop that saw.

We -- he finally -- you guys and never -- agrees it's bad ever agrees it's bad that this special treatment for some.

-- -- but everyone -- as bad doesn't get the product done what.

What -- hopefully that will come out of an agreement to prior to the end of the year.

It is a process.

Put into place that will force so engaged in discussion about tax reform and get it done.

I believe that we have an environment right now that will lend itself to us really doing now.

And it'll be an extraordinary thing arriving will not DC.

Because -- you know these -- federal government is still facing extraordinary deficits mean we've got a trillion dollar a year deficit.

We got to keep that in mind so that when the speaker talks about putting run his -- table that in return.

We actually can tell the people of this country that we're gonna stop doing what we doing and actually begin to pay down the -- So the tax code and I believe it is a tool for us to grow if we can implement pro growth tax reform.

We're gonna see entrepreneurs investors put their money to work and grow this economy create more jobs that's.

That what.

Be a significant piece of trying to go and -- on this debt -- -- -- think all of the source stores -- lines.

If we can actually I come together.

Set aside the differences.

And sound room deliver results for the people.

Can -- -- certain cultural adjustment we can do within the federal government and what have pointed to senator Tom Coburn just -- something that I.

-- how many millions of dollars in defense had department just spent.

Taking money away apparently from defense weapons or something in order to study -- instead of the next stage for a number of years and the conclusion was after the studies that they had.

Black feathers and as much I love animals lumber it's not -- -- I think that's wasted.

-- -- and it and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Is there any effort as we go into this stuff -- cliff and Ben Ali Foreman attached that.

Two -- you know take a look at how our culture how we spend money Capitol Hill.

Well you know there there -- a lot of sort of ideas out there about how we reform the system.

How we get rid of some of the silos of power in Washington.

-- -- and today it is about making sure you get that mentality you're talking about which is start thinking -- that needs your money.

And treat other people's money just as you would your own and that's the kind of culture that we in the house majority -- Republicans are trying to instill that's fine I think what we've been about the last two years.

Without a lot of acceptance on the other side of the capitol in the senate -- White House hopefully now's the time we can all come together -- this election and begin to say we've got to stop spending all this money we got to stop wasting other people's money.

And make it so that.

We have an attitude that it is our own and that is we treated as if it is our own and and stop wasting I mean you're -- right.

Those matters are escalating in Israel and today there were rockets fired Jerusalem which is -- first minister who -- them.

The three American Muslims Jews Christians and yet and that now is this a target.

What is our role.

Well first of all.

We is Americans have a special bond -- good people of Israel they believe in the same things we do.

They come from did you they're Christian traditions but they're committed to freedom of speech human rights human progress rights of women and minorities.

Hi we we do have a strategic bond with them as well because they stand on the front line.

Against the Islamic extremists in the terrorist.

In the same way that our country is vulnerable to those kind of attacks we've seen -- so our role as the global superpower.

And as.

-- and allied to what I believe is their best ally in the -- Israel.

Is that we should stand tall we should defend Israel and the court of world opinion whether it is in the UN or other international forums and insists that the real story come out it is Hamas.

That has been on the offensive.

Israel has practiced so much patients.

And reluctance to go into Gaza until these rockets as you indicated come into Jerusalem an escalation has.

Resulted in rockets coming into Tel Aviv and other population centers there so we have an obligation this president has obligation.

Thus far this week the White House has acted.

In a way that I believe the Israelis.

I can say that America stands by us.

Certainly in the past -- last couple years there's been questions in my mind about where the president White House stand as far as the US Israel relationship is concerned I'm glad to see what -- said this week and I hope it.

Polls.

-- heat and yet.

Talking about -- of them.

I don't hasek gets us closer to a solution -- I don't pretend another solution but today I see now that Egypt.

Has he meant the -- president Morrissey has she has been in who has been thinking involved in this I see is -- more complicated an already -- -- situation being more complicated.

Is there anything that it does that in any way.

Increase in our our obligation or -- or something strategically we should do than just simply make an issue condemnations.

Well we've we've also -- -- service where these ships.

The new government out of government there -- -- Recognized the importance.

-- truce with Israel but -- -- -- happen.

And as some of the things that he's done this week from very troubling towards that now.

You know he went into Gaza.

And while he was there -- Hamas -- more rockets has a direct affront to that's a negotiated peace between Egypt and Israel.

That peace is essential to US security policy in the region.

And so we're gonna have to incessant mr.

Morrissey -- back -- when -- actually have with him.

Well I mean certainly there's a package of aid that -- the egyptians are asking for right now forgiveness of debt.

Is one aspect of that.

And you know I think that the message needs to be -- very largess of the American taxpayers doesn't come for free.

You know he's -- has an obligation to stand by its commitments to Israel.

To oppose.

Terrorist activity as we see coming out of Gaza.

And now into Israel -- -- -- innocent lives.

And product I think the larger picture in the Middle East is really reflecting Iran's.

Activities.

And we are all very focus on Iran's quest for nuclear weapons weapons capability but this incidents also shows you.

Iran's influence.

Through its proxies.

Iran and Tom has played an active role in arming Hamas since 2008.

An operation cast lead.

And -- -- went in there.

That worked out a lot of things in there was not a lot of rocket attacks now we see the return because Iran and its ally Syria.

Have played to -- a -- -- role in terms of it's tens of thousands of rockets delivered into Gaza that we now see the results of so we have a real challenge in the Middle East for sure Israel is our best ally and stands on the front lines.

We have got to stand tall and we've got -- in the house representatives and the senate we passed last night a resolution in this morning.

The resolution standing by Israel and its right of self defense.

No question about it times are tough for we can and should stand tall it's nice to -- -- -- thank you --