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Sen. John McCain: Sequestration would be devastating

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    Key Republican lawmaker on 'Fox News Sunday'

  • Duration 10:33
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And we're back now with Senator John McCain senator welcome thank you Chris.

You just heard Nancy Pelosi talk about these automatic spending cuts that kick -- on March 1.

She wants a mix of cots and yes more taxes.

Which I know you don't like on the other hand if you would go to the automatic sequestration.

You get a 13%.

Cut over the rest of this year.

In the Pentagon which I know you also don't like if it comes down to that.

Higher taxes or sequestration the Pentagon cuts where do you got when you come back.

Well obviously I don't -- -- see Texas increased.

But what I would like to see who's the president call.

The leaders over two.

That the White House and say look we gotta solve this problem is sequestration.

-- Panetta outgoing secretary of defense is -- almost -- widely respected men.

Our person in Washington DC and he has been saying this will devastate our national security we are.

Republicans and Democrats are responsible for this new cliff.

And I'll take responsibility for for -- other Republicans but we've got to us avoid we've got to stop it -- -- the president as security goes I just -- -- as some more taxes the president is same one that during the campaign said.

Not gonna happen.

Nonetheless he just he just -- dismissed it and a lot of us.

Fact I'm Lindsey Graham Kelly I had -- travel around the country warning about what was gonna happen as result of sequestration.

And it is devastating the world is very dangerous.

I'm sure I am a little emotional about this but.

The men and women dessert and serving in the military deserve better than what they're giving what we're giving them they don't know what they're.

What what they're going to be doing tomorrow we just delayed the deployment of an aircraft carrier.

This -- the Kutcher coming across -- where.

The consequences are severe it requires that bipartisanship.

Would I -- and look at some revenue closers.

May be so.

But we've -- just raise taxes why do we have to raise taxes again.

In his state of the union speech aides say that the president is gonna call for new investment.

Slash spending.

On education and energy and infrastructure and manufacturing.

To try to boost the economy and to boost the middle class.

Will you go along with.

As long as we pay for it.

We've seen this movie before we start with the -- called stimulus package back.

In the beginning of the administration and we saw the longest more stagnant economy in history and now.

A debt and deficit that's 51000 dollars for every man woman and child in America.

The size of the government has grown exponentially.

We -- for example and sequestration we have a proposal that for every three -- federal retiree.

Retiree.

We hire only one that would take care of the sequestration problem that would take care of it.

They're simple answers to many of this problems that we can address the problem without raising people's taxes but first.

We ought to sit down across a table the president should -- us and try and work this out all he does is go out make speeches.

The president's nominee for CIA director John Brennan.

Testified.

In his confirmation hearing this week faced tough questioning especially about the administration's targeted killing program for terrorist suspects.

Even American citizens.

What do you think of this idea which is gaining some currency on Capitol Hill of what's being called a drone.

Cork where before the president ports a targeted terrorist as especially American citizen on a tell us they have to go.

-- approval from -- -- I don't agree with it but and -- because I think it's an encroachment on the powers of the president United States but we really need to do is take this whole program.

Out of the hands of the Central Intelligence Agency and put -- into the Department of Defense where you have adequate oversight have committee oversight you have.

All the things that are built in -- our oversight.

The Department of Defense but since when -- -- intelligence agency supposed to be an air force of -- who goes around killing people I believe that it's.

A job for the Department of Defense but no -- court.

Now I don't.

There has to be.

Legitimate oversight by the congress United States in this open process as possible.

And we are a strange conundrum you can kill an American citizen overseas but -- this administration.

If -- capture in the United States he got to be read their Miranda rights.

What's wrong -- that picture.

In another hearing this week you do I must say you've been making more news is a questioner -- -- Got a surprising.

Admission from both CIA.

-- rather Defense Secretary cannot.

And the chairman of the joint chiefs general market down today revealed.

That along with Secretary Clinton and then CIA director Petraeus that they found dead Director of National Intelligence clapper right.

Act added to it that they -- last summer last fall supported the idea of arming the rebels in Syria.

Bought that the president overruled his entire national security team what do you make of that and from what we hear from his -- his continued.

Refusal to intervene in the civil war in -- I think they're writing one -- more shameful chapters in American history 60000 people have been -- -- I've been to the refugee camps and met these people who.

That is the atrocious treatment that's going on it's disgraceful and by the way there is a national security component it would be the greatest blow to Iran.

In the last 25 years of -- -- -- not to mention Hezbollah so.

It's incomprehensible.

And the present high -- to say that.

Because people are dying in the Congo is a reason to not act in Syria.

Shows to me -- a lack of experience and knowledge which is very dangerous to Americans should put national security interest.

And again it shameful that we have let sixty over 60000 people.

He massacred and we won't even give them arms wildly Iranians erratic -- in -- -- revolutionary guard on the ground and Russians continue.

To supply weapons then there is the president's nominee to be the new Defense Secretary former senator Chuck Hagel.

At his confirmation hearing I think it's fair to say you gave him a real going over.

About his opposition to the Iraq troop surge in 2007 let's take a look at the.

We are correct or incorrect my -- or no.

My reference to the speaker Nancy Michael.

The question is -- we were right or wrong.

I got a question for you I got -- an -- nomination.

We've still -- more information but putting him that was an academic discussion I was having a senator hagel we were losing the war in 2006.

And when the president came around President Bush with who had been very critical of came around and sent David Petraeus and the -- we succeeded in Iraq now because the Obama administration's action after which we believe we're losing.

And I very badly unraveling but the fact is that if we hadn't done that more American lives who would have been lost unnecessarily.

So four -- Then certainly senator hagel -- say.

Well he'll let history be the judge he was there -- involved and I'm sure he's wrong and he knows he's wrong on the basis of the facts of what happens out.

So I got to press it again because you've sought a hearing you know his record and are you gonna support him for Defense Secretary I will see the -- the answers to his questions but certainly have very grave concerns.

Right concerns that was just let it be fair to say you're leaning against voting form I think -- that would be fair.

How do you feel about other Republican senators who are suggesting some procedural.

Move to block phenomena -- I think we need all the information from senator hagel -- fact is we have never filibustered a cabinet appointee.

Can that why I I do not believe we should filibuster.

His nomination or a hold of one of those other.

I think we need some more information on question said he hasn't answered but.

And I hope there's questions getting answered but I don't we've never filibustered a presidential cabinet.

Appointee and I don't think we should start here finally elections have consequences unfortunately.

If you know.

Finally immigration you're part of a bipartisan group of senators eight.

For Republicans or Democrats who have come up.

Not with that legislation but the outlines of -- plan for immigration reform the president wants to -- the eleven million illegals who work here now.

On the path to citizenship.

And secretary the -- of Homeland Security -- -- said this week that she believes that border is her words the border is secure.

You on the other hand your group are are talking about linking the path to citizenship.

To.

A number of measures to further enforce the border question will you incest in any immigration package on border enforcement source yes I will.

And that is basically in the agreement.

-- eleven million people living in the shadows I believe that they deserved to come out of the shadows of children who were brought here.

When they were children they deserve.

That kind of consideration as well.

But we do need to have lead less secure border we can do it -- surveillance capabilities and other capabilities.

And I believe we can achieve that.

But that's our commitment and I -- -- to the people who live in the southern part of my state where drug smugglers are coming across your property every single night.

Let me ask about the flip side of that though because under your plan although they wouldn't get the path to citizenship until you've got this border enforcement certification.

They would almost immediately got what's called probationary.

Legal status which basically means they can continue to live in this country legally.

Some of your critics on the right are signing that's amnesty.

Well I don't think it is amnesty to start was second of all what do you want to do with them then that is a really good question response and third -- -- It's a tough path to citizenship you gotta pay back taxes you gotta learn English you gotta have -- A clear record you've got to get them at the back of the line behind other people who have come here legally or even waiting legally.

So I I just reject that but I understand how emotional this issue -- with many of my friends on both left and right.

But I think we are making progress and we have not.

Come to final agreement on many of the details some of which you just.

Asked me about.

Senator McCain thank you thanks for coming in -- somehow you always find yourself at the center of the action hasn't thank you -- friend.

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