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Sen. Lieberman: Pres. must be more involved in debt talks

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    Connecticut senator on fiscal cliff, compromise

  • Duration 5:46
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-- the president's tax the tactics and clearly is that Republicans but is he also got to alienate some of his own supporters.

Because as one Democratic Caucus members sees it it is time for the president to step up he's Connecticut senator Joseph Lieberman and on his way out he's.

I was creating of the big fuss senator good to have you have.

Good to be back where you grew at a little plus there you go as senator.

What is it you.

You're having a problem with unity you think the president asked does step up to play a more active role -- delegate that to his Treasury Secretary what.

Yeah I mean certainly a lot of this is going to be done at the staff level but ultimately.

This is gonna require an agreement between President Obama.

Speaker Boehner senator McConnell senator Reid and leader Pelosi and in some sense it's really -- a -- -- two million.

Players here President Obama and speaker Boehner.

So.

Before long I mean my concern has been that this is.

Begun to look like it was campaign time again in the election was an over and we didn't have the prospect of going over the fiscal -- But you know today there was a big development the house Republicans.

Put out a plan.

And I'm sure it's not on its face acceptable.

To the president and the Democrats here but interestingly it has the same total number.

Of savings and tax revenues as the president's those over ten years 2.2 trillion dollars.

There's a lot more spending and and cuts and entitlement reform in the Republican plan and the democratic plan.

But but now they -- pieces of paper they could try to fill Lan.

And ultimately.

The president really has to be at the table to close the deal and he's got the mandate from the election to do it.

Yeah but I'm part of that mandate means.

Both sides -- give a little late night I know what you were saying about the Republican plan you -- today that obviously has a little bit of a debt commission deal.

But besides that I'm wondering if it's tough and and I know you're leaving the senate and I publicity and I'm not -- -- -- it.

You're one of those who who.

Who tries to find areas of agreement and move the ball forward and we can be -- -- we want but in the end as you reminded me senator it's about.

Getting things done and I think right now of Washington's become but -- Hatfield McCoy is here and never.

That's do decide to mean that they don't -- so are you worried did that environment makes things so Dicey.

That no deal just started to deal is done it's a bad deal and even more dangerous.

Yeah I am worried about that I mean the so called fiscal cliff was put into law because.

It was thought there would be -- unacceptable that congress would never eleven -- let it -- enormous tax increases.

Grotesque cuts and spending.

But here we are it's in the law and congress does nothing which Iverson's got pretty good at doing then we go over the cliff.

Some people around here actually wanna see that happen because they think than their crisis will generate.

The kind of bipartisan agreement that we need but that that's jurors.

Possible I -- I irresponsible but it's looking more likely don't you think I need it and then he picks up the pieces.

The -- the -- the country's suffers and I don't think getting anybody gains.

Politically.

Deal you know that almost everybody here and both parties would say if you talk to him privately.

This ends with.

Entitlement reform.

And not cutting programs like Medicare but just slowing down the growth in those programs -- -- the big drivers of the deficit.

And raising more out of the revenue out of the tax system what incorporates a reform or whatever you call it.

And each one of those touches.

The third rail one of the parties and we all got to get together and and say.

Basically.

We got to do something right for the country here I actually think if we had up a bipartisan.

Aboard the fiscal cliff start paying down the debt agreement it would be the best thing could happen or economy.

I think to be tremendous.

Surge of private.

Sector investment the market would go up and -- we'd be looking like her future was a lot -- than a lot of Americans think it is -- -- he's smoking anything at all.

900 to a little quote for next.

-- I had a very quickly senator you gotta go regrets about caucuses that effectively about.

With a statement saying really leave entitlements alone focused on -- -- -- That's the gist of what I'm reading of his statement.

Wanted to get well well respectfully it doesn't do it -- in.

As you know how much higher income people.

-- a disproportionate amount of the Texas right now that they sure that's that's the progress of Texas but.

He even if you brought the Texas -- to.

The rate they were during the Clinton administration before President Bush doesn't raise enough money to get get us back in the balance.

-- you've got to curb the increase in spending.

On the entitlement programs and if you don't do because they're the biggest driver of debt so it's it's you know it's time.

I think the American people are ready for us to do something that -- that looks according to conventional politics like.

A bad idea politically but actually I think the public would be happy if we told the truth.

And said we were doing this for your good for the good of the country and I still think we got a chance of doing that before the end of the year and I'd like to be part of.

All right senator thank you everybody had a chance talk too soon again always -- to do.

Thanks still be well all right let's.

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