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Are Republicans united on 'fiscal cliff' strategy?

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    Rep. Tom Cole weighs in

  • Duration 5:09
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Pretty clear to -- that made a political calculation this offer.

-- -- remotely deal of entitlement reform in a way to save Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security from imminent bankruptcy.

That's a dire warning from senator Lindsey Graham Republican of South Carolina.

Bit earlier today talked to Republican congressman who broke ranks a bit with Republicans on taxes last week that was congressman Tom Cole of Oklahoma.

-- earlier today I total well I talked to him a little bit he has a strong message for the president to.

Tom call good morning sir it's good to have you back in the morning -- here you put out a newsletter today.

That is best certainly scathing in his language toward the White House and in Tim Geithner this is part of what you're right the plan to sell one serious.

It's hard to choose the most outrageous components.

Why didn't really adjusted that's -- You know I act I beginning to wonder whether or not they want to negotiate in good faith -- the speaker put out.

A major republic concession when you said after the election revenues on the table.

Thank our side believe there would be some movement in our direction maybe not all the way but.

Some movement and there were definitely not actually when you look at what the president put out there.

This is he's moved away from his previous position further into the laps is I think there's going to be is that part of big game of negotiations.

That are.

Do you see it differently.

I actually had usually -- think it's an act of bad faith quite frankly I think if you're going to negotiate the other side makes -- concession.

You try to step toward a little bit you don't have to meet him all the way we can move forward and the president didn't do that and this latest component of trying give the president effectively exclusive control over win the national debt goes up and how much.

That's an extraordinarily.

Bad idea what -- enjoy that Ronald Reagan with -- How about you would not trust Ronald Reagan with that to that point you're right.

While the lack of spending cuts in the plan is grossly negligent the president's debt ceiling proposal is downright.

Dangerous.

Well -- it's a huge transfer of power.

Away from the legislative plan branch in the hands of one person I mean in the power corruption that pollute the power corrupts absolutely.

This is pretty close to that I wouldn't give any individual.

Complete control over how much debt the United States goes into that what what we're doing we're going to do what we're hearing from the right is do -- so much of focus on taxes.

You know not -- focus on the drivers of the debt and cutting spending.

That's absolutely a fair point -- probably be the focus on taxes have been because all the rates go up at the end of the month.

You know and that's always a challenge with a temporary tax -- The long term things take positive action by congress and the president to change.

Republicans have been willing to do that by the way for a long time both Ryan -- confront.

Medicare Medicaid and the non discretionary spending.

The Democrats haven't ever passed a budget that did that the president has proposed -- did that in this latest set of proposals again avoids all the really important issues.

Connected with the long.

-- -- what you hear her with speaker Boehner said over the week considered nowhere near close and it's he thinks the White -- is -- three weeks are -- on this debate.

You made some headlines last week.

-- are you in contact with speaker Boehner.

A -- you know every day actually leave here being a meeting -- a man that thing.

Look -- -- this bigger army negotiate no question about it and at the White House that it dancing and I -- then.

Was it Smart for you to break ranks.

-- not your reply well you know I gave my my advised it was solicited by a mile leadership.

Twice in private meetings it was leaked.

My position hadn't changed -- are gonna come out and tell you yeah I didn't say that when I did that's actually and I still think got a good way forward.

But it's not gonna change my support for the speaker and frankly the Democrats the president.

United the Republican caucus last week you have to worry about any breaking away from this because interest in because Republicans on the line obamacare they held the -- in the deaths in the negotiations.

I will -- -- in your party stronger if yeah I absolutely believe that -- and we did that when a lot of people were telling us we -- on the way to political oblivion instead we retook the house though.

Again I think OK this is a very determined conference and one that supports -- speaker Foley.

But the way you're speaking then suggests that there is no split between you and any of your Republican colleagues and certainly.

Not -- the speaker Boehner.

Absolutely not we had a discussion over tactics.

Not a discussion over hands and every time the -- had a tough vote if he's asked this to cast I've been there for him and frankly I can't imagine that will be there.

Again I've never undercutting certainly wouldn't -- -- -- this I think is an extraordinarily.

-- negotiation with the president needs to understand negotiations.

And I have to be between him and the speakers are going to be -- individual members.

And Republican conference what it is December 3 my hunch is that we're speaking on December 31.

I'll go I can't think of anybody -- rather spend Christmas where you.

And New Jersey thank you sir Tom cold front Washington today.

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