You're watching...
Fox News Latino’s Juan Williams speaks to New York Congressman Charles Rangel about the President’s State of the Union, Immigration, Marco Rubio a...
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Congressman Charles Rangel Democrat of New York thank you for joining us on Fox News Latino.
Good to be with the congressman what did you think of the state of the union from the perspective of a congressman represented a largely Hispanic district.
I think -- -- very very exciting to opt not to instruments and the point of view.
But from an American point of view it is true that Hispanics and the minorities is suffering because of the high unemployment.
But when you think about the opportunities that we should have in America for everybody.
Investments in education creation of jobs that I think it was how great none partisan.
American speech.
And have caused when you start talking about.
Immigration.
I think that we off to a good stuff -- this is the first time.
And a long time and I've been down here quite a long time.
That I really think this is serious opportunity for Republicans and Democrats.
To get together that not to use people who just that is cheap labor.
But in order to make -- that we integrate those people who in America.
In order to make it stronger by giving them legal status -- truly in most cases have -- it.
Well let me get let's do it let's speak to that point I think there were people who were surprised to hear from this president.
All of -- talk about fines and penalties and waiting and getting to the back of the line for people who are seeking a pathway to citizenship.
How is that going to play in your district when people are coming to you and saying we thought this president.
Was gonna open the door more quickly more easily for those of us waiting to become American citizens.
I think the and they -- -- my eighth district that have an interest in this is sophisticated.
Enough to know.
That the president was talking to Republicans and Democrats and many have not been friendly -- the concept of immigration.
And that we have committees that are working on this issue that understand.
The politics both in the senate and and now house.
And so -- door is open -- has been sealed before.
And so I think in my district is going to be considered.
Very positive thing that the president can't enough in his state of the union message to raise it as one of his -- are.
-- Now you know that the rebuttal if you will was given by Florida senator Marco Rubio he's being touted as the savior of the Republican Party the party that failed to.
Wind I guess.
Three they got three out of every ten votes in the 2012.
Elections -- 70%.
Of the Hispanic vote went.
To the Democrats now here comes Marco Rubio.
I guess potentially to attract some Hispanic support for the Republicans do you think he did that last night.
Now I think most people who are embarrassed by his the -- -- Didn't live up to expectations.
That Republicans had and and while I didn't see it the most I heard about it was that he's trying to get a streak to ward off camera he missed that opportunity but.
When you take a look at how they had to split up the response that it sued the president of the United States you would know that.
Republicans have a long way to go and bring in their party together it would seem to me.
That if they can stop fighting each other and enjoyed with the president that we can really get something they've done.
That could make their house and represented prod but we got a long way to -- Now -- what you heard from senator rubio was.
That if you're an immigrant you come to this country and you're trying to work hard you're looking for opportunity.
You're not looking to the government he -- -- Obama into a big government Democrat big spending Democrat everything's gonna be a government program and he said.
The immigrants that come to this country are trying to escape government control they want to show the initiative the fire to make it for themselves.
Did you find this looked into your lap did you find it's a compelling argument from an immigrant Hispanic perspective.
This is as though -- people who drink from the well.
Should not come back and poison that well America has been very good to sedated rubio and his family.
As a matter of factly he was indicating that without these programs he never could have succeeded.
In school know he has a script and he didn't come across from the excerpts I've seen.
As being -- citizens see it.
But after following the president's speech -- saying the obligations of private sector that has.
And the public sector as it disappears -- me that we all know.
That we have to work together in thought -- -- He was ready to just attack the president no matter what the president had said.
But I I really take that.
Would that -- body had been blunt response would.
Rubio having another recent months.
That the president is doing new right being in that is going to the American people.
And trying to encourage them to get their member of congress to cooperate and get something done.
Congressman you've been in Washington for a long time I say that as your friend -- as a longtime admirer.
But you see now on the horizon two prominent Latinos.
Both Republicans senator rubio we've been discussing him and now Ted -- senator from Texas.
Both came up through the Tea Party.
Far right conservatives.
What does that tell you.
Why are Latinos popular with the far right.
Well.
I don't know how popular Latinos -- really you know we had a a black guy from Florida that was elected to the congress and he's gone and -- that we had one black guy in the senate.
I don't know whether they're popular or not I don't know.
That many times -- this Democrats or Republicans they use a minority -- purposes have been expanding their base.
But I remember one -- -- knows said that before Republicans.
Can possibly get the simple -- of Latinos they first got to like them.
And no matter what you hear about this expanding their Latino basis.
They're talking about that they need them to get elected they need them to -- -- republic -- body.
But they never said they need them because we need Americans and we needed the very city.
So they have a long way to go I don't really think.
That -- take one of the two Hispanics is gonna change anything that's why I go back to what the president was talking about.
It would -- beyond it just Latinos when you -- talking about.
The programs that -- could bring American put -- back to work.
You know there was a recent poll done.
By research America and it it conforms picked it conforms is what you're saying that when he comes to critical issues like.
Who do you trust to make the economy move who do you trust and improve educational opportunity.
Who do you trust to look out for young Latino women.
The Democrats come out on top on every measure.
Is -- that's of great concern for Republicans but I wonder.
-- you think that Democrats are going to be fooled into thinking they've got Latinos in their pockets when Republicans think you know what there's a lot of socially conservative Latinos that there.
Who are ready to hear our message.
Less than I don't really think that groups going to be persuaded.
-- political rhetoric the fact is.
That if it was in the Latino even thinking about.
Supporting -- Republican Party.
Because they thought that we would have a comprehensive.
Immigration before -- All they would have had to done this -- watched him presidential Republican Convention.
And today it was who's going to be the roughest on par and -- rather than who's gonna show any compassion.
You don't change overnight -- Republicans.
Well first of all Democrats have a long way to go.
Would blacks Hispanics and other minorities.
And the only reason that we come out.
Much better than they've Republican Party is because there is so totally indifferent to everything.
That sensitive about old folks are young kids.
Those that in the military have for economic reasons.
And so it seems it me that we got a long way to go and put Democrats who think that they guided me.
They got a long -- guest coming in terms of what people law.
Congressman Rangel thanks so much for joining us here on fox -- Latino have a great day.
Good to -- -- you and.
