Transcripts For WPVI Inside Story 20151122

Governor christie of new jersey, though, says the u. S. Should not accept any more refugees, not even orphans, and when it comes to the opinion of governors nationwide, christies in the majority, it seems, right now. So, ed, youre our Foreign Policy analyst. What do you think about this . Well, this is an emotionally vexing issue, but given the nature of the paris attack, given what we know, not from partisan sources, but from the director of National Intelligence and the fbi director about the inability to properly vet the refugees and what isis has declared as an intent and has been doing relative to those refugees to send in and im not wont to do this, but donald trump used the term trojan horse. Theres some validity to that position. It makes sense to take a pause and to study the issue more to try to go through all of your procedures because the administration keeps on saying, our procedures are perfect, yet the fbi has a thousand probes open of isis sympathizers, and were finding large numbers of refugees who are admitted somalis in minnesota who have gone to fight for isis and inexplicably have been allowed to come home. This is a very serious matter, and if we dont take proper caution now, you can destroy the consensus of the American Public to want to be welcoming to refugees for the longterm. So i think youre right. This is a difficult issue. You know, it was october 21st, before paris, when fbi director comey testified and said, we cant really say with any certainty who these people are in syria because theres no terrorism database or criminal database in syria. So its a little different than iraq, for example. So, but what bothers me is the xenophobia that has come about. I thought the Chris Christie remarks were particularly egregious, and the mayor of virginia who said some terrible things. Thats disturbing. We have to be practical about this. I thought andrew cuomo had it right, which is, he talked about the need to be compassionate, the need to ultimately find a way to admit refugees, but to also figure out ways to do this safely and smartly, and i think that balance is the way we have to go, and i thought harold had a terrific column in fridays paper that laid out the moral imperative to allowing refugees in. Why dont you explain where you stand there . Well, exactly right. I agree with all of you to some degree. I think theres a lot of misinformation about the process of resettling refugees in the United States. If we just follow routine procedures, it takes from two to three years before a refugee can be resettled in the United States. It is not a process thats taken lightly. Can it be perfect . I think we had the other day that one of the politicians said, we need a perfect process congressman norcross of new jersey. Nothing is perfect. Of course you cannot make it completely failsafe, but it is a very good system that exists now. The column that i wrote let people know that this isnt something new for americans. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the same president who said theres nothing to fear but fear itself, showed his own fear prior to world war ii when he refused to let a ship filled with refugees from germany dock in the United States. They tried to flee. They went back to europe, nazi germany. At least 300 of those 1,000 individuals eventually died in the holocaust. America is supposed to be better than that. You know, is it a perfect state system that we have now . No. But we have an obligation to allow refugees in this country, to do whatever processes we can, but to just say, were gonna close our borders, no refugees . Were basing these decisions on polling. Yes, the polls show that most americans are opposed to this right now. They were opposed prior to world war ii. There was one poll of americans that said, would you open our borders to 10,000 jewish children who are trying to flee from nazi germany . 60 of americans said no. It was wrong to do that. You alluded to this mayor in virginia who said, well, maybe we should do what they did in world war ii and not allow japaneseamericans to be interned in the country. Franklin Delano Roosevelt made that decision, as well. In 1988, the United States repudiated that decision. We not only apologized to japaneseamericans, we paid reparations to japaneseamericans because that was the wrong decision based on polling. Let me get renee. I want to know what you think about this. My concern is that people are really nervous about this whole process. Its not what you say, its how you say it, and thats a big thing, and i think and im going with senator toomey. I think we have to look at the process. 47 democrats went against the president and said we have to wait and look at this whole process and make sure that we have everything in order, everything in place, and i think thats what needs to happen. But my fear is that they went against the president out of their own political calculation because of the polls, because those democrats who switched are not in safe seats. And it works. You know i know. Yeah, yeah. You know i know. It works the strategy. Thats right. Well, we know and we know that fear works, right playing on fear. So my hope is that the marker that andrew cuomo laid down is what we follow, which is, lets figure out the practical, pragmatic way to balance our moral imperative and our obligation to keep the country safe. So this is what paul ryan wants to do, as well, and speaker ryan one of the first acts of his speakership, he called for a study group that led to legislation that was passed thats right. Not vetoproof. Well, by one. Thats right. I mean, in the house. Hes got 289. The senate well see what the senate does, and harry reids already said, forget it. Were not touching it. Theyll filibuster. But when were talking about refugees, we need to be careful to understand the context within which theyre being produced. Right. And the capacity for more of them to be produced. So this goes far beyond just the question of what do you do with those people who have left . And by the by, the u. N. s own numbers are that this flood of refugees thats descending on europe, 72 are men of military age. Mmhmm. Theyre not purely syrians. Let me ask this rhetorical or hypothetical here. If there was a terrorist from the middle east trained with isis, wanted to get into this country, would you try and go the legitimate way and act as a refugee and go through the process and maybe two years later you might be able to get in or sneak through the border through mexico . Well, theyre trying to sneak through the border in mexico, and now we dont have firm confirmation, but bordercontrol agents have said eight syrian nationals tried to make their way into the United States through texas. Ive seen the report. Its a very good point you make, though, matt. I think that weve already seen with whats happened in paris that theyre going to take the most immediate route to get into a country to do their terrorist acts. You know, the bigger problem we have in america are the homegrown muslims who are being attracted to radical islam because of things like this, because were sending messages that youre not welcome in our country, you know, we want the muslims out of here. We fear all of you. Were suspicious of all of you. It just sends harold, im sorry, but theres nothing about what were doing that is inspiring people to want to wage war against us. This is inbred. This is where they are marinating in a world view. We just had an attack in africa, in mali this morning. Right. Its based on attacking something that symbolizes western civilization, the way westerners live. Thats what its all about. We may not be doing something directly by the way we live, but we are i would say we should listen to the king of jordan and the president of egypt, who have both said that there is a deep endemic sickness within islam that is playing itself out. In fact, the king of jordan this week just said, this is a struggle for civilization, but we have a problem within islam that we need to fix. Let me take a turn in this discussion here, a slight turn. The institute for economics and peace has a global terrorism index, and it has boko haram at the top sixyear insurgency in nigeria has killed 20,000 people and displaced 2. 3 million people. Are we fearing or worrying about the wrong group . Well, i think were fearing and worrying about the wrong group in even a broader way. I think if you go just by our history in the United States, the greater terrorist threats are High School Kids with guns. The terrorist gun epidemic in america, the domestic is a greater threat than thats a violence threat. Its not a terrorist threat in the sense of defining terrorism as having a political component and wanting to achieve some change in politics. Well, i think youve got to be careful. Its violence. Theres no doubt. Its violence, and i think thats a distinction without a difference when it comes to finding political solutions. In other words, a lot of the people who are banging the drum to close our borders, when it comes to domestic terrorism are saying, well, we cant do anything about the sale of guns. That seems, to me, to be no, but they do talk about Mental Illness and approaching the problem from that standpoint. So you have a difference of opinion as to how youre going to attack it. All im saying is, lets be respectful of the meaning of the words, and terrorism has a different component to it that has to be considered. We have a problem with this violence. We absolutely do. And its Mental Health, around Mental Health a lot of issues around that. But i think we have to really look at what you really said as far as what is the definition of terrorist and stuff. We have to look at people who are coming from over here from wartorn cities sudan, sierra leone those type of things. But now you have people that are military folks that want to come in here for a reason, and we have to really look at that and, really, do we have the right policies and procedures . Is it really tight enough . And im not sure it is. To your point, though, matt, i dont think the name matters. We had al qaeda replaced by isis. You can talk about the nigerian group. It is an islamic terrorist movement. The names change, the places change. People from the United States are being recruited, theyre being attracted to it who are muslimamericans, and theyre being attracted to radical islamic theology, to those theories, and we have to look at that as being the root of the problem. What is it about our society in which americans, who grew up american, but are muslim, are attracted to this radicalism . You cant say that the United States has to divorce itself of any responsibility for the problem. Thats not really true because its a worldwide problem, and it has to do with islam, and the Islamic Community itself needs to address it, as well. Its just challenging to hear that theres something wrong with American Society that people who have been invited as refugees or raised here were not taking about refugees. Were talking about people who are raised in this country. I was saying that. Given every opportunity, have decided to adopt a death cult. I dont know that the problem is with the United States. I think the problem is with the individual and the appeal of that ideology. Well, its not just the United States ideology. Theyre recruiting from across the world. And i think the world needs to deal with the issue. Right. And youre proving my point. When i say the United States, i dont mean the United States alone. I think Everyone Needs to handle this issue. And if you look at it, you have to look at the internet. We talked about this before. A lot of these folks are being recruited from the internet whats going on tweet, twitter all these kinds of things. Thats a big issue. And theyre dealing with young folks that are not happy about being here, and some of them have mentalhealth illness. I think what not to put words in harolds mouth, but i think what im hearing is we need to be introspective. We need to ask ourselves what instead of just pointing fingers, what is the solution . The solution is, this is a war of ideas, right . And we havent engaged the battle on that level. Weve engaged it militarily, but we havent engaged the battle in terms of the ideas underpinning, the philosophies underpinning this phenomenon. Another side issue is and i know the media did not ignore what happened in beirut, the twin bombings the day before, because action news reported it that day. Did people ignore it because of where it happened . And was it wrong for that to happen . And then for something to happen in paris, people suddenly care . Matt, the notion that theres a bombing in beirut, and it constitutes news is foreign even to the people in the region because theyve become accustomed to a certain level of violence. Why did paris command all the attention . Thats the basic question youre asking. Mmhmm. I dont know many people who go vacation in beirut. I know a lot of people who go to paris. Its the anomaly aspect of the occurrence. Yes. And its the notion that if you had a competition as to what is the most International World cosmopolite place, paris would be in the running. I love paris. Yes, everyone does. Really, and the other western capitals, as well. I think thats the difference. When something happens in a western capital, we, as westerners, are going to pay more attention. Yeah. Thats right. Well, theres your answer. Were gonna be right back with more inside story right after this. Inside story is presented by temple university. Temple fuels students with academics and opportunities to take charge. Plugged into the city, powered by the world. Temple. Edu takecharge. Back with inside story here. Were gonna talk about fantasy sport sites. I have one thats not moneyrelated, but, you know, i enjoy it with my son. They could be in jeopardy. Pennsylvania, new jersey, new york, and now delaware are all considering regulating the exploding industry of Fantasy Sports. Fan sites have been able to continue operating because they currently fall under the category of games of skill. But more and more lawmakers across the country seem to think that the games are no different than gambling and could actually be harmful to compulsive gamblers and children. Harold, what do you think . Well, i think it is a form of gambling. I think that the level of skill thats necessary is similar to the level of skill in playing bingo, which, in some states, is also considered gambling. You know, the taxation element of it is whats appealing, i think, to the states. I dont think its the moral fiber of these different governments that they want to get rid of fantasyfootball, fantasysports betting. I think that if they can find a way to tax it, then it will be perfectly fine with them. Another cookie jar to reach our hands into, larry. I think thats right. Look, i think it is a game of skill because ive been in fantasy leagues, and i suck because i go with my heart like the fan i am you pick all eagles players . I pick the eagles players. You know, sam bradford was my guy. So you need skill. You need discipline. [ laughs ] ill help you, larry, okay . You need help. Its funny to hear the people who run the lottery now decry the gambling thats going on with these sites because its like claude rains in casablanca im shocked, shocked to find gambling at ricks, as they hand him his winnings. I am stunned as to the presence of it this year. The nfl has turned itself over entirely to these games. Sure. Oh, they work in partnership. Yes, they do, and how there isnt not just a moral hazard of gamblers, people who are addicted getting into this in the big time, but how you make sure that there isnt some sort of inside information that plays itself out. Which has been a problem. I mean, remember. There were people decades ago in the nfl who were banished from the game for a period of time because they gambled. Alex karras. Yeah. Although i have to say, im more libertarian than you on this. I just feel like we just got done talking about real problems, and, you know, my attitude on this is live and let live. People are having fun. I dont know the whole fantasy thing. Im not into it like matt is. Massachusetts wants to make an age limit 21 or over you play, and then you tax it. What do you think of that . Go ahead. Have fun with it. Let them tax it. Harold already said it. Thats why theyre concerned because in the 1960s at st. Alberts grade school, there was a kid whod always come in and have little white pieces of paper, and it was a football pool, and on the bottom it said, for entertainment purposes only. [ laughter ] all right . And to the point of being libertarian, im not saying shut it down, but i am saying that its odd to hear the people who encourage gambling in the state through lotteries to be upset by this because one gets the sense, if youre going to be somewhat cynical, that theyre honing in on our business. Thats what theyre doing. Thats why theyre upset. So, like harold said. So tax them. Let them do what they want to do in their fantasy stuff with matt. To your point, ed, fantasy football, Fantasy Sports existed a long time before they found a way to make money off of it. It used to just be a fun activity. And the dam burst. I mean, its just like its everywhere. But, larry, you had a great point. The earlier discussion we had makes this seem very much insignificant. Exactly. Lets move on to another topic. Im going to jump ahead and talk about the pennsylvania budget. Now, a wrench may have been thrown in the gears here. You see the senate plans to vote this week on a bill that would eliminate the property tax in pennsylvania as a way to raise School Revenue and replace it with a higher sales tax, and this is problematic because Governor Wolf is on a much different page, at least as far as we know, seeking higher income taxes, gasextraction fees, then theres the state liquor privatization thing, the pension reform, and, so, renee, whos plugged in in harrisburg, has what to say about this . Im sick of it. Thats number one. Its been five months, nearly five months. Its ridiculous. You have programs closing because of this crisis center. Im not being paid. I still have to pay staff, and i dont want my folks not to have treatment and be on the street. So this is its ridiculous. The incometax piece, the property tax, the sales tax youre talking about 9some percent in philadelphia and some percent in suburban areas. Its a mess. It is a mess. And people are really not communicating. They keep saying were getting closer and closer. Theyre not close. And everybody wants to go to the Pennsylvania Society. Should they not go . I want them to go to Pennsylvania Society, talk about a deal, have fun drink together, talk together, come back with a budget. Thats where im at at this point. Not lock them in a room . Exactly. And ill be there to do that. Is it fair to do what they want to do with property tax . I mean, is it fair the way the propertytax system is set up right now in pennsylvania how it pays for schools . Well. [ laughter ] i know harold has an opinion. I would say this. I think that what pennsylvania needs, of course, is comprehensive tax reform. Instead of nibbling in these different areas of taxation, it needs to look at all of the taxes. Its biggest problem is that the constitution does not allow it to have a progressive income tax. If it dealt with that problem, it would solve some of this. That would need a constitutional amendment, right . So it probably wont happen in pennsylvania, but thats what needs to happen. Relying on a sales tax over and over and over again, or the sin taxes, is regressive. It hits the people who can least afford to pay those taxes. Lets get in a room, look at all of the taxes, corporate taxes, and come up with something thats best for all of pennsylvania. We knew four months ago what the deal had to be, and i think it was a sign of political naivete on the part of the governor that we never got a deal, and that now the deal, it looks like, will be this utterly regressive sales tax, which i think is horrible. It hurts and you let the final word . And no severance tax. Inside stories of the week coming up. With the card most accepted by top doctors and specialists, you have the compassion and security of blue cross. Giving you the strength to drive forward. Independence blue cross. Live fearless. Inside story is presented by temple university. Temple fuels students with academics and opportunities to take charge. Plugged into the city, powered by the world. Temple. Edu takecharge. I want to hear the inside stories of the week. We start with larry. Matt, we talked about Pennsylvania Society next month, the gala of the movers and shakers of the state. Im taking as part of the philadelphia citizen, im taking a group of 10 young innovators. Its called an innovation invasion of Pennsylvania Society to introduce them to the establishment and try and tweak the establishment a little bit. You got to make room for emerging leaders. Cant wait to hear what they say. Thanks, larry. Ed. Matt, casualty of the paris situation the schengen agreement. 26 countries said no papers needed to travel around. All of them are now calling for not just documentation, but new forms of documentation to require Movement Just to keep an eye on whos coming and going. Thanks, ed. Harold. Im going to be paying close atte saint martin. To retain commissioner sawyer, an africanamerican. Well see if hell do that. Okay, thanks, harold. Renee. Real fast. Im talking about speaker turzai, who got very emotional in a closed Republican Caucus meeting about voting for marijuana, medical marijuana got so emotional he really couldnt talk about it. So you know what, speaker . If thats how you feel, thats how you feel. Im watching the eagles play the buccaneers. How about that . Silence. [ laughter ] great discussion, everyone. Thanks for joining us. Thanks for watching us here on inside story. Im matt odonnell. Well see you next week. Ill see you monday morning on action news, and, hey. Have a happy thanksgiving in between. Im nydia han along with eva pilgrim. Thousands of run iralso hit the streets amid extra security for the philadelphia marathon. Were live. A delaware man is behind bars accused of impersonating a police officer. President obama on the offensive with a new mechaniccage for isis in the wake of last week attacks in paris. Those stories and more next on action news. Its the holidays. Which means a house full of people who all want to get online. So its the perfect time for verizon fios. It has the Fastest Internet and wifi available. With speeds from 50 to 500 megs. And right now, youll get 50 meg fios internet, tv and phone for 79. 99 a month online for your first year. And with a 2 year agreement, well give you all the premium movie channels for a year. Plus, 400 dollars back. So go online or call now. Get out of the past. Get fios. Good afternoon it is sunday november 22 im nydia han along with eva pilgrim. Heres some of the stories were following on action news. The philadelphia marathon is underway this noon with extra security in place were live. Police release new in fact about a pedestrian accident that killed a woman on 495 in delaware. The eagles have a chance to