Transcripts For CNNW Crossfire 20140519 : vimarsana.com

Are both parties so focused on Hillary Clinton they are missing opportunities in 2014 . Tonight on crossfire. Welcome to crossfire. Im kevin madden on the right. Im van jones on the left. In the crossfire tonight the top message guys from both parties. For republicans, the message is clear. Get Hillary Clinton. Thats it. Now this is may 2014. Not fall 2016. Why are the Republican Leaders throwing every attack they can think of at Hillary Clinton . Could it be they lack confidence in their own crop of candidates . After all, Chris Christie is in a ditch. Rand pauls isolationism is in direct conflict with marco rubios saber rattling. Meanwhile, the tea party crowd cant stand jeb bush. It is a total mess over there. Heres the truth. Hillary clinton unites democrats. Every major republican leader divides gop. So what does that leave the republic cans with . Politics of personal destruction which to them is politics as usual. You know who Hillary Clinton unites . Everybody. Hillary clinton unites republicans. Well, okay. In the crossfire tonight, the Democratic National committee communication director mo, and the Republican National communications director, sean. Now, kevin, youre a guest host. Im fwoegoing to let you go fir you worked on Hillary Clintons 2008 campaign and know how the inevitability message worked the first time around. I mean, did you guys learn anything from that campaign . Well, look, as someone that was there last time, i can tell you i know inevitability does not work and i think governor patrick was right over the weekend in guarding against that. I dont know if she knows if shes going to run. Hard to project inevitability when you dont know that simple fact. But whether or not she runs, were going to have a spirited contest. I expect. I think we are going to have youre going to have a spirited contest inside the Democratic Party . I think no matter who runs, theres going to be a contest. I dont think anybody why are you laughing . Should she run . She hasnt decided if she should run yet. Regardless of who runs on our side, i like our bench a whole lot more than our bench. The problem is their bench has one seat. We actually added a second row to our bench. We can go on and on and on. Number of people that are competing. Please. You have a one the more the merrier on your side. You have a oneseat bench. Its Hillary Clinton or nothing. If you want to card martin omalley, but Elizabeth Warren is tugging the party to the left. I dont see a ton of other people getting in. Bernie sanders is talking about an independent run. God bless you. Thats the extent of your bench. Well, and obviously having one person is enough to terrify your entire party into attacking her all the time including your own boss, Reince Priebus. I want you to hear it. Im sure you saw this despicable horrible thing he did over the weekend. Lets listen to your boss talk i think that health and age is fair game. It was fair game for ronald reagan, fair game for john mccain. People came at john mccain and said maybe hes not psychologically not fit because he was a prisoner of war. Now, where hes going here is saying in may 2014, karl rove is right to be making up stuff about brain damage. Is that your strategy, just to go down the first of all, it was president clinton as you recall who actually came out and said actually the circumstances around her health were a lot worse than anyone ever thought. If were talking about rnc surrogates, we dont usually count president clinton as one of them. Theyre the ones who continue to bring this up. Health for any dont you thing you look a little bit desperate at this early stage to roll out this kind of desperate . What the democrats want, rather the Hillary Clinton machine wants, is to be able to go on this faux book tour, create a narrative that shes got great what is causing people pause including i think probably the Clinton Campaign and Democratic Party is that her record is starting to get away in the way of her rhetoric. Whether its benghazi, boko haram. Youre hypersensitive to that record. I mean, look, i love this administrations Foreign Policy record. Ill put it up against anything a republican says any day of the week. When dr. Rove went on National Television and made his ridiculous medical diagnosis thats about as bad as his medical prognosticating, Reince Priebus and republicans ran to his defense and theyre welcome to do that. I think that that was as much a play for 2016 as it was for 2014. Because i think republicans right now are nervous about turnout in this Midterm Election and so everything oh my god. Hold on. Everything youre talking about, if that were not true, then you would be talking about the issues that people care about instead of focusing on issues like Hillary Clintons health, benghazi, irs, aca go ahead. Okay. Real quick. I want to get a shot hold on. Heres the shot. Im going to quote mo elleithee. February 13th we appeared at this very table. This is you. I will put my money on the table the democrats pick up seats in house, hold the senate my money is still on that table. Ill bet anything you want on that. I will bet you one week of wearing a republican tie to that you cant do that. You will lose seats. If it werent so hideous, id take you up on that. Its not my color. You will lose seats in the house. I thought you guys had a no tie rule. Real quick, this is a crucial time in Barack Obamas presidency now. These last six months heading toward this midterm. The fact that were talking about Hillary Clinton is a problem for president Obamas White House right now. He cant break through on any of the conversation that he believes is probably crucial to moving his agenda. What does that say about his presidency right now . I think it says more about the Republican Party that this is no, this mo, let me for a second. Democrats from Elizabeth Warren to tim kaine are more excited about talking about Hillary Clinton than they are president obama. Its a problem for your party. I dont think thats true at all. I think the president s out there every day talking about an economic agenda to help grow the middle class and move our country forward. D democrats are there standing arm in arm with him in the congress trying to pass the agenda. Time after time when the bills come forward, the republicans block them, Immigration Reform or raising the minimum wage, republicans not honest brokers in this dialogue. Theyre focused on i really do believe your party as well as the public has begun to tune the president out. Why is it, kevin, that when you guys have a thousand voices, its a great thing, we have two voices and we cant somehow handle it . It doesnt make sense to me. I want to ask you a question. When you think about Hillary Clinton, you guys are saying havent learned anything. The voters in iowa who didnt like her much, Washington Post went to iowa and talked to those who were against Hillary Clinton. They say shes seasoned, capable, smart, decisive, and amazing. Those are the words coming up. Can you name one republican that iowa voters feel that way about . That kind of list that we can put up. One republican. Chuabsolutely. Chris christie. Chris christie is in the ditch. Ted cruz, marco rubio, rand paul, mike pence. John kasich. Hold on. Im giving you the problem is you dont like the answer. The problem i love those answers. We have a bench that is so deep that weve added a second row to it. The problem is that you guys dont like the fact you have one candidate. Thats it. You put all your money on one candidate. And unfortunately, as her record continues to come out, its not good. Let me ask you about this, now. You mentioned a bunch of people, all of whom divide the party. The tea party doesnt like half the people you just talked about. The establishment is afraid of the other half. Why dont you talk about your own party why are you spending so much time talking about sure, ill be glad to talk about our party. Our party is going to pick up seats in the house, take the senate. For all the talk about everything thats wrong with our party, were winning. Right now, the president politico did a poll, came out this morning, shows us with a sevenpoinlts a sevenpoint advantage in the battleground states. Youre underwater on every significant issue. Every circumstance when people are asked who they want to elect, its republicans, republicans, republicans. Sean is absolutely right. Sean is absolutely right. Smart man. And democrats have a big problem with Hillary Clinton. It isnt her health or her husband. Ill tell you what it is in a minute. But theres a hint in todays crossfire quiz. How many bills did Hillary Clinton sponsor while she was in the u. S. Senate . 53, 417, or 713 . Well answer, well have the answer when we get back. Predibut, manufacturings a prettin the United States do. Means advanced technology. We learned that Technology Allows us to be craft oriented. No ones losing their job. Theres no beer robot that has suddenly chased them out. The technology is actually creating new jobs. Siemens designed and built the right tools and resources to get the job done. If yand youre talking toevere rheuyour rheumatologistike me, about a biologic. This is humira. This is humira helping to relieve my pain. This is humira helping me lay the groundwork. This is humira helping to protect my joints from further damage. Doctors have been prescribing humira for ten years. 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Oh the name your price tool you tell them how much you want to pay, and they help you find a policy that fits your budget. I told you to wear something comfortable this is a polyester blend whoa uh. Little help . I got you unh its so beautiful man should we Call Security . No, this is just getting good. The name your price tool, still only from progressive. Welcome back. Heres the answer to todays crossfire quiz. According to congress. Gov, Hillary Clinton sponsored 713 bills as a u. S. Senator, but only three of them became law. So, my democratic friends are mistaking Hillary Clintons name recognition for her record. Of course, everyone knows who she is, but can you name anything shes accomplished . She spent eight years in the white houses eight years in the senate, and four at the state department. Without one signature accomplishment. But youll find plenty of questions. Hillary care, benbenghazi, russ now nigeria. Couple all with the with her lack of a record and adds up for big trouble for democrats. In the crossfire tonight, Top Communications men for both political parties. Mo, this is not just me, not just sean saying this. Jen psaki, state department spokesperson, when she was asked for one, she couldnt come up with any answers. Knowing thats, whats the Bumper Sticker for a Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016 . Im not in the Bumper Sticker design business. As secretary of state in the obama administration, im very excited to any day, whether its in the context of a president ial campaign or not, talk about this president , this administrations Foreign Policy record and compare it to the Foreign Policy record of his predecessor or of these who want to succeed him on the republican side. When we look at the fact that this administration worked to bring tougher sanctions on iran, this administration worked to bring a ceasefire to violence in between the israelis and the palestini palestinians. When this administration negotiated a new start treaty take, for example, iran. Hillary clintons state tee apartment was and if you talk this is from both sides of the conversation up on capitol hill. Well tell you that the Statement Department was an obstacle on some of those sanctions on iran. I dont think thats true at all. I think Hillary Clinton was part of this process from the beginning. I think she has been a partner with this white house from the beginning. Sean, jump in here. She owns the russian reset that was a failure. She owns the failure in syria, failure to name boko haram a terrorist organization. The failure of benghazi. These went wrong on her watch. To kevins point, when jen was asked pointblank, name an accomplishment, they said wed get back to you. When they asked clintons for one, they talked about reorganization of a department riddled in waste and bureaucracy. They, themselves, cant name that singular accomplishment. Thats a problem. Its not about a butch ebumper. They cant even put a paper together. I dont think thats true. Im happy to compare the democratic Foreign Policy to the republican Foreign Policy any day of the week, especially when you look at the fact of those who are considering a run on the republican side, youve got people like rand paul who is advocating complete disengagement from the rest of the world including allies of ours like israel. When you look at the fact that youve got others out there who are, and this is a serious global issue, denying simple things like climate change, these are global issues. And you guys have a problem, its not just the overseas stuff, the Foreign Policy stuff. You have a problem with domestic policy. You have a guy, your establishment candidate, tom tillis in North Carolina who came out and said he wants to abolish the minimum wage. How you going to deal with a Republican Party whos been pulled so far to the right, now your establishment candidates dont want a minimum wage in america . Is that popular . If were so wrong on issues, how come were so right we havent had a campaign yet. Actually all of your candidates, kay hagan is running away from the president. Mark, i mean, mark pryor is running from the president. Theyre running ads against their own party because they dont want anything to do with you guys. I want to go back to a point here, too. The president s Approval Rating is in the low 40s for a reason. How does Hillary Clinton in a potential 2016 campaign, how does she not how does she escape the idea this is going it be a third term for a president whose Approval Ratings are in the 40s . The president s Approval Ratings are higher than the republican partiess Approval Rating. Lets start there. Youre not running as the youre not running for anything, either. Right . And this is the problem that i think your party is going to have in 2014 and in 2016. I cant name a single thing that a republican candidate running in 2014 why are you losing so badly . We havent had a campaign yet. Lets go state by state. Do you think that you will actually net pick up seats in the house . I think were going to do well in the house and possibly pick up seats. I think we are going to hold the senate. I think there are going to be more democratic governors at the end of the night than the beginning of the night this november. You want to prosecute this thing. You are one of the top guys in your party. I have got to ask you real questions about your party. Right. You love to call it diversity. It looks like complete and total disarray. You actually have people running for office now, running for the senate in georgia saying when they get elected theyre going to turn on Mitch Mcconnell. Do you support Mitch Mcconnell remaining the leader in the senate . Yes or no . Absolutely. You do . Of course. No one is asking my opinion. If Mitch Mcconnell is reelected in his race, its up to the republican senators to choose their leader. I dont see any reason why Mitch Mcconnell wouldnt be. I dont think anyone is looking at me dont you think its somewhat bizarre you think your party is prepared to governor a you have people who are you have people running against Mitch Mcconnell in your own party. You kick Joe Lieberman out of a party and ed lamont. There are things that happen when you dont have the white house. Your party is getting dragged left by Elizabeth Warren. Been in office dragging the entire party to the left. The entire country is concerned about income you guys think income inequality isnt that big of a deal. To the left of Elizabeth Warren or bill de blasio heres the big difference. Heres a very fundamental difference. The Democratic Party is unified behind an agenda of increasing opportunity for everybody. The Republican Party is finally, finally unified, as well. Its unified behind the tea party. The tea party has been fighting this war. It has won the war, because even the socalled establishment candidates are being pushed to the right. Heres the thing. All of the policies right now of the Democratic Left are failing. You cant name a single function of government thats working really, really well. Healthcare. Gov is a disaster. How about the economy, shaun . Hold on, hold on. Were at a low of labor participation. More people are choosing to stay out of the workforce than in. That is hardly that is at best a dminus. Nothing to be proud of. You think the economy right now is living up to its full potential . Come on, i didnt say that. Everyone is saying theres room and need for it to grow, but its certainly better than it was at the beginning when this president took office. It is certainly better. Tough, tough message. Imagine how much better it would be if republicans would actually stop being obstructionists and work together. Exactly. As youre painfully aware, kevin, this was litigated in 2012, as well. You know what this was headed in a better direction. Contest for the future. Amen to that. Stop, okay. Now, we want you at home to get in on this debate and argument. We got a fire back question for you, are the republicans just scared of a Hillary Clinton candidacy in 2016 . Tweet yes or no usin using crossfire. Those results after the break. Also, the outrages of the day. Just when you thought the gun control debate couldnt be anymore out of control, wait until you hear what a republican in arizona thinks about it when we get back. He thought it was the endn for his dof the conversation. D. She didnt tell him that her College Expenses were going up. Or that she maxed out her card during spring break. When the satellite provider checked his credit, he found out his daughter didnt pay her bills. But hes not worried. Now he checks his Credit Report and score at experian. Com, allowing him to keep track of his credit and take a break of his own. Experian. Live credit confident. The only thing better than the smell of freshcut grass. Is the smell of perfectly level, freshcut grass. That yellow seats my favorite chair. You wanna find a john deere dealer . Just set your gps to tractor expert. When my grandson grows up, its his. But its all mine now. Thats how we run, and nothing runs like a deere. Get 600 dollars off all john deere fourwheel steer lawn tractors now at a dealer near you. Hashtag love dad when you think aarp, then you dont know aarp. Our aarp tek Program Helps people find better ways to Better Connect with each other. Find more real possibilities at aarp. Org possibilities when we arrived at our hotel in new york, the porter was so incredibly careful careless with our bags. And the room they gave us, it was beautiful. A broom closet. But the best part, worst part, was the shower. My wife drying herself with the egyptian cotton towels, shower curtain defined that whole vacation for her. Dont just visit new york. Visit tripadvisor new york. With millions of reviews, a visit to tripadvisor makes any destination better. Welcome back to crossfire. Now its time for the outrages of the day. Heres mine. Regardless of where you stand on the issue of gun control or gun safety. We can all agree that politicizing Mass Shootings is bad, right . Well, a republican candidate for congress in arizona apparently didnt think so. During a debate on saturday, gary keeney said 99 of all Mass Shootings are, democrats pulling out their guns and shooting people. Im not joking. That actually happened. Look, fortunately, he issued an apology today, saying he since learned his information was inaccurate and incorrect, which begs the question, where was he getting his information from in the first place . Just so everybody in america knows this, the mass majority of mass shooters in the country are deeply troubled, mentally unstable, but dont have political affiliation and 99 of americans know that. Heres my outrage. The 9 11 museum that opened last week in new york is designed to be an educational and Historical Institution honoring the victims of those horrific attacks. The New York Times called it emotionally overwhelming, but the museum has fallen short of standards in one area, it has a gift shop, selling trinkets like caps, tshirts, mouse pads, there are also earrings, key chains, and even dog vests. The mother of a young woman who was lost in the towers on 9 11 described the gift shop as, crass and insensitive. She was being polite. The victim of those attacks deserve a memorial that pays tribute with silence and remembrance, not merchandise. You got no argument from me on that one. Listen, lets check on our fire back results. We asked the question, are republicans just scared of a Hillary Clinton candidacy in 2016 . Right now, 72 of you say yes, 28 say no. Now, what do you think of those results . Are you scared . Im not scared. I dont scare very easily. Neither does Hillary Clinton. Were not scared, no. America thinks youre scared. What do you think about these results . I think they couldnt be more thrilled. They want to talk about anything but their own agenda in 2014. Have at it. Its going to be a long two years. I want to end on a bipartisan note, these are our busch socks. Everybody at the table gets a pair. I want you guys to wear them with pride. You are the swag king. I know. Terrible. At least better than the ties. I think you proved point, youd rather talk about anything what happens to the president s Approval Ratings if he starts wearing these . Well send president obama a pair. Look, i want to thank you for being here. The debate will continue online at cnn. Com crossfire, where you cannot find these socks. Join us tomorrow for another edition of crossfire. Erin Burnett Outfront starts right now. Next, breaking news. Two planes nearly collide at Newark Liberty international airport. Its the second near miss in weeks. The details next. And the model charged with attempted murder for road rage. What drove her to the edge . Plus, its believed to be the biggest dinosaur bone ever found. Were in argentina with the scientists that unearthed that giant. Lets go outfront. Good evening. Im Brianna Keilar in for erin burnett. Out front tonight, breaking news, two airliners nearly collide over the skies of new