You're watching...
Sen. Lindsey Graham on why a bipartisan agreement among eight senators is the foundation for comprehensive immigration reform
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
-- well we think hell just froze over bipartisanship on Capitol Hill a group of eight senators Republicans and Democrats proposing a new and wide ranging plan for immigration reform.
Now one of the senators -- and senator Lindsey Graham.
Joins us good evening sir so are we gonna get immigration by.
Carson immigration reform -- there will be no immigration reform unless it's bipartisan but if you want to talk about the president bringing us together in a bowl later.
In 2007.
We're trying to do immigration reform he folded like a cheap suit when the labor.
AFL CIO got mad at the bill to allow temporary workers.
-- Senator Obama putting a sunset on the temporary worker provision which destroyed the bill for business.
So I don't need a lecture from Barack Obama about bipartisanship.
He was never very good -- -- the senate in if you gonna get a bill.
You need the President Abbas and Mr.
President when you speak tomorrow.
To the nation about immigration reform hope you don't suggest that you gonna take.
Pathway to citizenship and.
Twenty years and -- he impressed about give a speech about immigration reform at American university in July 2009 and I went up and -- -- speech.
At the time he had a democratic house a democratic senate.
Why why would he not take advantage of that time to do immigration reform isn't because you truly can't move to multiple bills through congress you guys can eat chew gum at the same -- -- -- things -- Or -- do it wasn't his heart and it.
Well I think what he did in 2080 promised comprehensive immigration reform in the first year of his presidency.
And he -- -- for the Obama care.
And -- took all boxing out there and pretty soon both he can't do both well by the time obamacare was done it -- the whole year the place was.
Divided in bitter.
And all the political capital Lee had in that first year of his presidency.
He picked the most divisive issue the good signed.
Rather than bringing -- together he passed the bill on party line votes the cornhuskers kickback the Louisiana purchase behind closed door negotiating.
Not one Republican voted for it in the senate.
You -- focused on comprehensive immigration reform and about partisan fashion.
We had done in 2009 but could they be done at the same time they couldn't -- -- there's no -- really he had to do want to wait for the expelled but that there is there's a logic to spinning your political capital wisely keeping your word.
He's promised comprehensive immigration reform in his first year he didn't lift a finger.
And here we are a bunch of Republicans and Democrats in the senate leading yet again on this issue.
I hope the president when he speaks to -- We'll understand that to get this done he's -- to have to be a genuine bipartisan partner.
Not create political friction over this this will not get done without president being involved.
What about how come the senate -- bipartisan senate group today.
Came out and make it made the announcement about the senate.
-- -- and outline of the plan knowing that the president was gonna go out to Nevada tomorrow and announce his receptive.
Was at to undermine the president so.
No it listed to let the president know that if you wanna get a deal done if you want to solve the problem here's a blueprint.
-- -- -- But could you wait till Wednesday -- made a phone call to I don't know why he's doing this well I wonder why you guys did the day before him well we were talking with the White House for a long time and we say instead of going into different corrections let's try to come together.
We I -- the house on the board and we've got to get the present on board.
Because she just can't pass a bill through the senate make it law can't think it's funny that you guys came on a day before and search if the wind out of a sales are not funny at all I mean funny mean particularly odd thing was -- here -- the president wants to go and basically.
Chart a different path.
And in what I've heard about what he's gonna say he's gonna say there's no need to link at pathway to citizenship to border security skis me mister president.
The last time we provided.
If pathway to citizenship and -- secure our border was in 1986.
I'm not gonna do that again we're never gonna do that again we're never gonna.
Allow people to become.
Having legal status until we secure border -- Dem senator hagel is another and by the press and first secretary of defense found hiding about and that want.
It would stand on what he says -- hearing Thursday but the one thing I'm not gonna do.
Is vote on a new secretary of defense until the old secretary defense Leon Panetta who -- -- very much.
Testifies about what happened and then Ghazi and I haven't forgotten about -- Gaza Hillary Clinton got away who murdered my view she said they had a clear -- -- of the threats.
How did you have a clear idea that the threats and -- -- when you didn't know about the investors cable coming back we -- you -- -- ten -- with her and tell all I can say is you know our guys tried to ask questions she is very good on her feet -- -- -- these questions that she said two things.
-- come back to honor that they had a clear eyed assessment of threats and Libya.
And that -- close contact and believe me government I don't believe either one of them is Jeff sector -- -- I'm going to testify.
Well I'm not going on vote I'm I'm gonna block hagel from going -- and lots.
Absolutely why would we not want to understand what happened during the attack itself.
How could our sector what happened for seven hours.
While we're there no military assets available September 11 why can't why he even called by the house I have no idea why it -- -- by the house but what did the president did.
When did the president first get notified of the attack Jennifer consulate what did -- do for those seven hours if he did order assets to go and help these people.
When did he give the order and what did he say when they told him there's -- that we can -- -- except thank you.
