FOR THE PRESIDENT TO >>> JOINING US NOW, VICE CHAIR
OF THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES
COMMITTEE, DEMOCRATIC
COMMITTEE, DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN ANTHONY BROWN OF
MARYLAND.
MARYLAND. ALSO WITH US COLUMNIST AND
DEPUTY PAGE EDITOR FROM "THE
WASHINGTON POST."
WASHINGTON POST." >> LAST WEEK THE HOUSE ARMED
SERVICES COMMITTEE HAD A
HEARING.
HEARING. SENIOR DEFENSE FIGURES CAMEOFFIC
AND LAID OUT THEIR STRATEGY OR
LACK OF A STRATEGY.
ASSURED US 2,300 WAS THE NUMBER
FOR ACTIVE DUTY AND I THINK
THAT’S TOO HIGH TO BEGIN WITH --
>> 2,300 ACTIVE DUTY AT THE
BORDER?
BORDER? >> YES.
>> YES. >> DOING WHAT?
>> LAYING BARBED WIRE.
>> THEY’VE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE
THANKSGIVING.
THANKSGIVING. >> YOU HAD 5,900 BACK IN
NOVEMBER.
NOVEMBER. THEY TOOK ABOUT 3,000 HOME AND
NOW THEY’RE BACK LAYING MORE
WIRE.
WIRE. THIS IS NOT WHAT MEN AND WOMEN
ON ACTIVE DUTY SIGN UP FOR.
THEY DON’T NEED TO BE ON THE
BORDER DOING THAT.
KEEP IN MIND THERE ARE 3,000
VACANCIES AT THE CUSTOM AND
BORDER PROTECTION AGENCY TODAY.
QUITE FRANKLY FILL THOSE
POSITIONS, LET THEM DO THE
BORDER MISSION, LET OUR ACTIVE
DUTY TROOPS DO WHAT THEY TRAIN
TO DO, WHICH IS FIGHT RETHREATS
IN
IN -- REAL THREATS IN AFGHANISTAN
OR WHEREVER THEY MAY BE.
>> WHAT DO WE EXPECT TONIGHT IN
THE STATE OF THE UNION?
>> HE WILL OFFER WORDS OF COMITY
AND UNITY AND DEMOCRATS WILL
TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD AND THE
WHOLE WORLD WILL GET TOGETHER
AND CHEER.
AND CHEER. >> RUTH!
>> RUTH! >> OFFERING AN OLIVE BRANCH IS
BETTER THAN NOT OFFERING AN
OLIVE BRANCH.
OLIVE BRANCH. YOU HAVE TO PUT A LOT OF GRAINS
OF SALT ON THAT OLIVE BRANCH
AFTER TWO YEARS AND AFTER A
SHUTDOWN AND IN THE FACE OF THE
POTENTIAL FOR AN EMERGENCY
DECLARATION.
DECLARATION. ALL WORDS, WORDS, WORDS, AS
ELIZA DOOLITTLE SAID.
>> AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION
WOULD BE TO DEAL WITH THE
CRISIS.
CRISIS. I’VE HEARD HIM SAY SEVERAL TIMES
PUBLICLY WE’VE GOT TWO CARAVANS
AND THERE’S ANOTHER ONE COMING.
WHAT ARE THE TWO WE GOT?
HOW DID OUR U.S. MILITARY DO
THAT?
THAT? WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT?
WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT?
>> IT WAS THE POINT I WAS TRYING
TO MAKE LAST BLOG.
HOW DO YOU NET WITHGOTIATE WITH
SOMEBODY WHO MAKES UP FACTS OUT
OF THIN AIR?
IF YOU’RE NANCY PELOSI, FIRST OF
ALL YOU’VE TRIED TO NEGOTIATE
WITH THIS GUY BEFORE AND HE’S
ALWAYS MOVED THE GOALPOSTS, HE’S
ALWAYS CHANGED WHAT HE’S
REQUIRED AT THE LAST MINUTE WHEN
YOU DID FINALLY SIT DOWN AND
TALK TO HIM AND NOW HIS
ARGUMENTS ACTUALLY AREN’T BASED
IN FACT AT ALL.
SO IF YOU’RE SPEAKER OF THE
HOUSE AND YOU’VE GOT A $22
TRILLION NATIONAL DEBT, YOU’RE
REALLY GOING TO GIVE $6 BILLION
AWAY SO HE AS A PUNCH LINE AND A
CAMPAIGN EVENT THAT’S NOT
ATTACHED TO REALITY?
YOU CAN’T DO THAT.
THAT’S TOO IRRESPONSIBLE.
>> AND WHERE THERE ARE ACTUALLY
FACTS ON THE GROUND, THEY ARE
VERY OFTEN CREATED BY THE
PRESIDENT’S AND THIS
ADMINISTRATION’S OWN POLICIES.
SO CONGRESSMAN, WHAT IS THE
SOLUTION BECAUSE I KNOW
DEMOCRATS HAVE WRESTLED WITH
SENDING MORE JUDGES TO TRY AND
ADJUDICATE THESE ASYLUM CASES,
POTENTIALLY MORE BEDS FOR THEM
BUT THAT’S TRICKY, RIGHT, ONLY
BECAUSE THAT MEANS YOU’RE
EMBRACING THEIR POLICY OF
HOUSING ALL OF THESE PEOPLE
INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THEM TO COME
INTO THE COUNTRY AS THEY FIGHT
THESE CASES.
THESE CASES. >> LOOK, THE CHALLENGE AND I
WON’T EVEN CALL IT A CRISIS ON
THE GROUND AT THE BORDER HAS
BEEN CREATED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION. WE’VE GOT, NUMBER ONE, A LOT OF
COVERAGE ON, THIS THE SEPARATION
OF FAMILIES.
OF FAMILIES. AND THEN, NUMBER TWO, FORCING
ASYLUM SEEKERS TO SEEK ASYLUM
FROM MEXICO AND NOT ENTER THE
UNITED STATES.
UNITED STATES. THAT CREATES SOME REAL
CHALLENGES.
CHALLENGES. YES, YOU NEED MORE ASYLUM JUDGES
TO ADJUDICATE THESE CASES
QUICKLY AND I SHOULD ADD THAT
VIE LITZ PROBABLY INTERNATIONAL
LAW AND U.S. LAW BUT YOU ALSO
NEED TO ENSURE THERE’S
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE THERE.
THESE CARAVANS ARE NOT THREATS.
THESE ARE TIRED PEOPLE WHO ARE
HUNGRY, THEY ARE FEARFUL,
THEY’RE FLEEING VIOLENCE AND
PURSE KUGS
PURSE KUGS PERSECUTION.
PERSECUTION. SO THE CRISIS IS CREATED THE BY
ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION. THE SUPPORT YOU NEED IS NOT
ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY BUT YOU
NEED HUMANITARIAN AID TO THE
CRISIS THE CRISISPRESIDENT HAS
CREATED.
CREATED. >> AS SOMEONE WHO FOUGHT IN IRAQ
YOURSELF, EARNED A BRONZE STAR
IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY,
YOU’RE AN AUTHORITY ON THIS
SUBJECT, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE
TALKING ABOUT.
TALKING ABOUT. SHOULD WE BE PULLING OUT IN SOME
WAY?
WAY? A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS AND
SAY WE’RE 18 YEARS ALMOST INTO
THIS WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, WHEN IS
THE RIGHT TIME TO LEAVE?
>> ON SYRIA I THINK THE
CONSENSUS IS AND I SUPPORT OUR
MAINTAINING A PRESENCE THERE,
ABOUT 2,000 SOLDIERS.
ISIS IS NOT DEFEATED.
WHILE THE FISCAL ICALIPHATE HAS
BEEN SHRUNK, IT’S AN IDEOLOGY.
A PRECIPITOUS WITHDRAWAL EXPOSES
OUR TROOPS TO RISK AND ABANDONS
OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS IN SYRIA
AND IT JUST GIVES RUSSIA AN
OPPORTUNITY TO RUN RAMPANT IN
SYRIA.
SYRIA. >> HOW WILL YOU KNOW,
CONGRESSMAN, IT’S TIME TO LEAVE?
BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON’T WANT
TO BE IN THESE COUNTRIES FOREVER
AND HAVE MEN AND WOMEN LIKE
YOURSELF IN THE LINE OF FIRE?
>> IT’S CONDITION BASED.
THAT’S WHAT THIS ADMINISTRATION
HAS SAID, IT’S NOT TIME BASED.
WHEN THE CONDITIONS SUGGEST THAT
THE BREEDING GROUND FOR ISIS NO
LONGER EXISTS AND THAT AS AN
IDEOLOGY THEY CANNOT FLOURISH,
THEN THAT’S THE TIME TO LEAVE.
OUR PRESENCE THERE ISN’T FOR
DIRECT ACTION, IT’S TO TRAIN,
ADVISE AND ASSIST OUR PARTNERS
ON THE GROUND.
THAT’S TRUE WHETHER IT’S IN
SYRIA, AFGHANISTAN, WEST AFRICA,
EAST AFRICA.
EAST AFRICA. IT’S TO SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND
ALLIES ON THE GROUND SO THAT
THEY CAN DO THE FIGHTING
NECESSARY TO DEFEAT THAT
EXTREMIST, VIOLENT THREAT.
>> RUTH, I WONDER WHAT YOUR
THOUGHTS ARE ON THE DEMOCRATIC
RESPONSE.
RESPONSE. I WONDER IF THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE KEY
ISSUES THAT HAVE REALLY PLAGUED
THIS PRESIDENCY AND DISAPPOINTED
MANY IN TERMS OF WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE AN AMERICAN, BUT ALSO FOR
IT TO BE NIMBLE AND TO RESPOND.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH
THIS PRESIDENCY IS KEEPING
AMERICANS INFORMED OF WHAT IS
FACT AND WHAT IS FICTION.
>> I THINK THE DEMOCRATIC
RESPONSE IS GOING TO BE MORE
INTERESTING THAN THE USUAL
RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT.
>> ALL THE RESPONSES ARE ALWAYS
TOUGH, WRONG CAMERAS --
>> WRONG CAMERAS --
>> WATER.
>> WATER. I DON’T REALLY REMEMBER WHAT
THAT WAS.
THAT WAS. >> IT’S HARD.
>> BUT WHAT A CONTRAST TO CHOOSE
STACEY ABRAMS, AN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN, AND A
NONWASHINGTON PERSON, COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT FACE OF THE PARTY.
DOESN’T HAVE TO SORT OF GOING TO
THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL
TENSION THAT’S GOING TO EXIST
WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION AND
WITH THEIR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS IN
THE SENATE, BUT CAN MAYBE PULL
THE LENS BACK AND TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE BROADER CHALLENGES
FACING THE COUNTRY.
>> BUT ALSO RESPOND.
IF HE RIFFS, THERE MIGHT BE
SOMETHING TO FACT CHECK.
NOT TO HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED
EIGHT HOURS AHEAD OF TIME.
>> I’M GOING TO BET AGAINST A
TRUMP RIFT AND AGAINST A STACEY
ABRAMS RIFT.
ABRAMS RIFT. I’LL BE BACK TOMORROW MORNING.
YOU CAN TELL ME HOW DUMB I AM.
>> I DO WONDER WHO’S ADVISING
BERNIE SANDERS, THE GUY WHO HAD
TROUBLE WITH BLACK VOTERS LAST
YEAR, THE GUY WHO HAS NOW
DECIDED THAT HE IS GOING TO TRY
TO CROWD OUT STACEY ABRAMS AND
ALSO --
ALSO -- >> WELL, HE’S DOING IT AT A
DIFFERENT TIME.
DIFFERENT TIME. THE BEST ARGUMENT FOR BERNIE
SANDERS ON THIS IS HE’S DONE IT
BEFORE SO HE DOES IT TO
EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY. HIS GOAL IS NOT BEING
MR. POPULARITY, IT’S GETTING THE
ATTENTION THAT HE NEEDS FOR
WHATEVER HIMSELF PLANS ARE.
>> AS WE CONTINUE TO COVER BLACK
HISTORY MONTH, CONGRESSMAN
BROWN, YOU WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
THE NEW OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN CONGRESSMAN ELIJAH
CUMMINGS FROM MARYLAND, OUR
FRIEND.
FRIEND. >> FOLKS ASK ME WHO ARE YOUR
ROLE MODELS AND MENTORS, MINE IS
ELIJAH CUMMINGS.
ELIJAH CUMMINGS. I’VE ADMIRED HIM SINCE HIS DAYS
IN THE MARYLAND GENERAL
ASSEMBLY, I WAS IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY AND NOW HIS WORK IN
CONGRESS.
CONGRESS. I DON’T KNOW OF ANY MEMBER OF
CONGRESS WHO BOTH HAS A COMMAND
OF THE WORK IN CONGRESS AND A
CONNECTION TO HIS COMMUNITY.
>> YES.
>> YES. >> AND HE DOES BOTH VERY WELL
AND HE’S CERTAINLY SOMEONE WHO I
ASPIRE TO BE LIKE IN MY DAYS IN
CONGRESS.
CONGRESS. >> GOOD CHOICE.
>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DEALS
BEFORE.
BEFORE. I WORKED WITH ELIJAH, HE WAS
RANKING MEMBER WHEN I WAS
CHAIRMAN OF A COMMITTEE THAT WAS
TRYING TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM CARE
TO FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.
AND I HAD A MORE FREE MARKET
APPROACH AND HIS APPROACH WAS
DIFFERENT.
DIFFERENT. BUT WE JUST SAT DOWN AND FIGURED
IT OUT.
IT OUT. WE GOT EVERYBODY OUT OF THE
ROOM, SAT DOWN, FIGURED OUT HOW
TO DO IT AND WHAT I LOVED ABOUT
ELIJAH WAS HIS WORD WAS GOLD.
IF ELIJAH TOLD ME SOMETHING, I
COULD TAKE IT BACK TO MY CAUCUS,
I COULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE
LEADERSHIP AND SAY THIS IS GOING
TO HAPPEN.
TO HAPPEN. >> ARE YOU DRAWING A DISTINCTION
THERE?
THERE? >> WELL, AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM
WITH DEALING WITH DONALD TRUMP.
AGAIN, I COULD GIVE YOU FIVE
EXAMPLES JUST ON THIS BORDER
WALL WHERE --
>> THE CEILINGS MIGHT BE PAINTED
GOLD.
GOLD. HIS WORDS AREN’T GOLD.
>> HIS WORDS AREN’T WORTH
ANYTHING IN NEGOTIATIONS.
>> ELIJAH IS GOING TO PRESENT AN
OPPORTUNITY IF THE PRESIDENT
TRULY WANTS TO BE BIPARTISAN,
HIS PRESCRIPTION DRUG BILL THAT
ELIJAH HAS IN TO MAKE
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS MORE
AFFORDABLE, WORDS MAY BE USED
TODAY ABOUT COMITY AND
BIPARTISANSHIP TONIGHT BUT LET’S
SEE IF THE PRESIDENT CAN PUT
THOSE WORDS INTO ACTION AROUND
ELIJAH’S PRESCRIPTION DRUG BILL.
>> ELIJAH HAS A HISTORY OF
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER,
WOULDN’T YOU SAY?
>> THANK YOU, WILLIE.
>> RUTH MARCUS, THANK YOU AS
WELL.
WELL. COMING UP, MUCH MORE ON THE
POLITICAL CRISIS IN VIRGINIA AND
WHY "THE WASHINGTON POST"’S