Reagan raised taxes 11. Dont forget those numbers. This is viewpoint. John good evening im john fuglesang. This is viewpoint. Thank you so much for joining us this evening. The Republican House finally began tackling the immigration issue this week with a closed door meeting wednesday where the senates comprehensive bill was overwhelmingly rejected. We are not going to do the senate bill. Our committees are going to continue their work on a step by step common sense approach to fixing the problems in our immigration system. John a common sense approach that reportedly leaves out a pathway to citizenship for some 11 million undocumented immigrants, apparently rejecting the will of an overwhelming majority of american voters. You see according to the latest gallup poll, 88 of adults support allowing immigrants in the country illegally an opportunity to become citizens. That includes 92 of selfprofessed moderates 91 of liberals and 83 of conservatives. Now, after meeting with president obama at the white house today senators john mccain and Charles Schumer members of the gang of eight who helped craft the senate bill insisted they were encouraged that the house had finally begun to at least work on the issue. There is an acknowledgement no matter where we stand on the solution that this is a problem that demands addressing. Second, it is realized in the house that they have to work with democrats in the house to pass anything. There are enough republicans who will just vote no on anything that this has to be a bipartisan effort in the house. John but of course, any bipartisan effort will have to contend with Tea Party Favorites like minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann who reject a pathway to citizenship any time soon. The only thing were spreading right now is to actually build a fence. We want the border secured first then well have step two. Well have the conversation about what were going to do. John thats a conversation that will likely come too late for many voters who see intolerance in the g. O. P. s dismissal of 11 million undocumented immigrants who are already here and want to become citizens of the country where they live and work. And they want to pay taxes too. Now, it is already too late for my first guest. Pablo is an iraq war vet rand the former Republican NationalCommittee State director for florida hispanic outreach. A year ago, he was working to help elect mitt romney. Today, hes a democrat. Welcome to viewpoint. What a pleasure to have you. Thank you, i appreciate it. Im glad to be here. John were glad to have you. Now, you made a big splash with your announcement last year. But i want to go back before that and ask what originally sir, attracted you to the Republican Party . Well, theres definitely certain things that are attractive in the Republican Party. Were look at issues of businesses entrepreneurs and also things like freedom personal freedoms and those are issues that are really important and i saw that they were they were part of the republican platform at that point. John okay. Well, a year ago, you said that florida hispanics were going to realize that the g. O. P. Was where they belonged. Sir, what changed your mind on that . Well, i think thats you know unfortunately they came out with an autopsy report recently stating some of the worst things that have happened with the g. O. P. In recent times and after that report came out its only gotten worse. Republican party today is saying is to hispanics and latinos is mi casa estu casa. Thats a difficult thing for us, hispanics and latinos to accept the issues that affect our community are not going to be looked at by the Republican Party. John i think youre right. The autopsy report you refer to, of course, was commissioned by Reince Priebus after last years election and it called for many changes including much more inclusive policies toward minorities. Which seems to be a very forwardthinking idea for the g. O. P. But as you pointed out that, doesnt seem to be happening, at least not in the house. Why not sir . Well, and you know what . The interesting part is even though Immigration Reform passed in the senate, you still are looking at 32 republicans that voted against it. And there was a very there was a minute or the of republicans that actually had to be nearly pushed into supporting Something Like that. Or anything that had to deal with immigration. Right now what were look at in the house is unfortunately Immigration Reform, if we dont do something about it, its going to die a slow death. John i think youre right. Im sure you would agree with me that building a fence isnt going to solve any part of this problem. The g. O. P. Knows fully well theyre going to need a majority of latino voters to ever get the white house again in any national election. Does it seem like the g. O. P. , sir, at this point, it is just at war with themselveses . Theyre so we shouldnt only look at issues film that are going to affect the anglo community, for example. Weve got people like phyllis, a conservative leader saying forget about latino voters, hispanics. We can get elected without them. Unfortunately, she may be partly right in the sense that republican districts are becoming wider as they progress in time. So there are some issues that we definitely need to look at and the Republican Party is definitely pushing away anything that has to do with hispanics today. John while it is nice to see phyllis branching out from the near gay hate i grew up knowing her for i think youre right, sir. Let me ask you this, why become a democrat, why not become an independent . What attracted you to the Democratic Party . Sure, i thought about it. When i made my decision, i thought about why not be an independent. I think weve got a great gift in america the gift of being able to associate yourself politically with a Political Party and thats something that thats a great thing we have in this country. And i think the best way was to be part of a Political Party as opposed to being independent. So i also see that in todays Democratic Party issues of human rights and issues that matter to the Hispanic Community and to everyone in general are more at the forefront of what theyre trying to accomplish. And so i saw that theres also a bigger tent. You know, recently, i went to a gathering of Florida Democrats and it was palpable, you could tell it was a more Diverse Group and the Democratic Party. Definitely even though not everyone mays gree with each other on 100 of the things, there was a willingness to be able to listen to Different Things and different ideas and options. New options and new things. I was also very welcomed. John we were talking on the show last night about how ann coulter believes Immigration Reform meant citizens will de facto vote democratic. Thats the logic behind many republicans opposing the legislation. However, a lot of older latinos as you and i both know are catholic and may be drawn to the g. O. P. With conservative views on abortion and marriage equality. We need to stop wont looking at this like how are they going to vote. If they vote democratic, so what. What were looking at is 11 million undocumented human beings that are in the United States today that are living in the shadows that are not being afforded the same opportunities that were all being afforded in the United States. You know, recently, weve got governor rick scott who vetoed drivers license for dreamers here in florida. Why do we have to make it harder for human beings that are trying to achieve the American Dream. I mean these are people who are living in the shadows. We need to do something about these human beings here in the United States. John well, i think thats very well said sir. But i have to ask what kind of response did you get from your former republican colleagues when you switched parties . Well, look, not everybody was happy. There were some that had some nasty things to say. But i have to say there were also some that said that they respected my position and those that knew me, knew that i meant it and knew where i stood and what i stand for and they were fine with it. And so some others you know, in privacy you know, talked about how you know, they said you know, youve said something that ive never been able to say before. That youve been able to say what ive been thinking and i havent been able to say. So there are others that think the same way but havent gotten around to maybe expressing it like i did. John i find that fascinating. Why do you think those particular latino republican colleagues are still staying with the party . Like i said, there were some issues that perhaps even in the Democratic Party we need to make more attractive in terms of the entrepreneurial spirit that the Hispanic Community has. And just like i thought when i joined the Republican Party back in those days, that it may have been a better venue. You know we need to let the Hispanic Community know that thats also part of being a democrat. The American Dream is also achievable in the Democratic Party. So regardless of what party youre in, you can do that in both. And for hispanics who are still under the Republican Party there are some who might be in positions that they may not be able to afford the same thing that i did which was go ahead and take a stand. They have their own personal issues and so and reasons to do so and to stay in the Republican Party. So, you know, ill respect those but i hope that theyre able to see that right now republicans are making it harder for hispanics and right now republicans are not looking at those 11 million undocumented immigrants that are human beings that are in this country. John we all know tons of republicans who are very open mind and get along great with minorities. Would you say that intolerance toward minorities generally is one of the bigger problems the g. O. P. Has right now . Well, definitely there is a culture of intolerance like i said before. Weve seen a lot of examples more recently at a gathering of republican voters, you know, our republican congressman dissent told some nasty things and was told why dont you learn some english. Obviously the congressman knows english. Weve got other people that are saying some things that i dont even want to repeat on camera that are hurtful for hispanics and latinos, you know, senator rubio has been chastised for his hispanic heritage. They make pins and buttons with mexican hats which i dont think it is an insult. If he was mexican he should be proud of it, of mexican heritage but he is of cuban heritage and what theyre trying to say is that you know, because he is hispanic that he is less of a human being in some way. So theres a lot of issues like that that are permeating the republican voter base right now. John so, what do you think its going to take for the party of lincoln in this century to move beyond ignorance like the stuff you described and intolerant policies and attitudes that seem to flow directly from its base . You ever see them cutting the bigots loose . For the sake of everyone in america, something needs to happen and i dont see them moving in the correct direction and the proof is in the pudding. Right now the house is not going to look at an immigration bill and if they look at it, they may blindly look at it. So well see what the future holds but right now it is just not looking very good. And thats unfortunate because thats actually going to hurt, you know, Diverse Communities that we have in our country. So i hope that somehow theyre able to realize what theyve done wrong and actually do something but again, lets go back to the autopsy report. It was completely laid out. It was completely explained on how important it is to look at these issues and its just gone by the wayside. John i agree. It was very well written. It is not often i compliment Reince Priebus that much. Sir, should president obama sign any immigration bill if it doesnt include a pathway to citizenship . Well, you know what, thats something that well have to see. I think he definitely is going to have to push a lot harder for Immigration Reform. You know, sometimes the policy and all of the ins and outs, theyre lost in translation. But i think you know, hes being a little bit held hostage by the house g. O. P. Weve got someone like Speaker John Boehner whos saying we want obama to kind of remain on the edge of the issue so that way, republican congresspeople dont feel pressured. And so its a really its a dicey situation. It is a thin line hes walking. I think that for the sake of those 11 million undocumented immigrants and all of those in america and other immigrants in other families that hes definitely going to have to sign something thats positive and helpful for the human beings. John iraq veteran Pablo Pantoja for florida hispanic outreach, now a democrat and a wellspoken one at that. I wish you the best. Thanks for coming on viewpoint. I appreciate it. Thank you. John up next, is there prejudice against the employment nondiscrimination act in the senate . Yes. Stick around. Cenk off air alright in 15 minutes were going to do the young turks i think the number 1 thing than viewers like about the young turks is that were honest. They know that im not bsing them for some hidden agenda, actually supporting one party or the other. When the democrats are wrong, they know im going to be the first one to call them out. Cenk on air whats unacceptable is how washington continues to screw the middle class over. Cenk off air i dont want the middle class taking the brunt of the spending cuts and all the different programs that wind up hurting the middle class. Cenk on air you got to go to the local level, the state level and we have to fight hard to make sure they cant buy our politics anymore. Cenk off air and they can question if im right about that. But i think the audience gets that, i actually mean it. Cenk on air 3 trillion dollars in spending cuts narrator uniquely progressive and always topical the Worlds Largest online news show is on current tv. Cenk off air and i think the audience gets, this guys to best of his abilities is trying to look out for us. Only on current tv john welcome back. This week, the u. S. Senate took another small step toward joining the rest of us in the 21st century. The employment nondiscrimination act or enda, made it out of the Senate Committee on health education, labor and pensions. Now, enda, as you brilliant viewers know bans workplace bias based on Sexual Orientation and gender identity. It passed by a 157 vote. Thank you three forwardthinking republicans who care about the future of this country and your party. The question is will this bill become a law . Let schoolhouse rock this with tico almeida. He worked on it as the lead counsel as it madity way through the house. Hes also the founder and president of freedom to work. Thats a national lgbt group you all should know about dedicated to shielding all americans from harassment or discrimination in the workplace. He joins us live from washington, d. C. How are you . Doing fantastic, thanks john. John lets get started. What specific protections does this current version of enda offer americans . It says that in a private sector employer, you cant fire people because theyre gay you cant refuse to hire them because theyre lesbian you cant deny them a promotion because theyre transgender you cant pay them unequally because theyre bisexual. Pay them based on their skills and resume and not who you are or who you love. Its common sense. Its consistent with the American Values of hard work and getting ahead based on your own skills and its long pastime that it became law. John i can hear rand paul gnashing his teeth right now. Hes the senator who famously said on rachels show that private employers should have the freedom and liberty to discriminate if thats who they want in a free society. How do you respond to that wonderful libertarian argument, tico . Rand paul was a noshow on wednesday. John really . Rand paul is on the committee. Rand paul submitted an amendment that would have blown an enormous gaping hole into this civil rights law and into all of our civil rights laws and we spent a bunch of hours on tuesday night researching the opposition to that amendment. We were prepared with good arguments about how rand paul was trying to create a dramatic departure from decades of american law. Then rand paul did not show up and did not offer his amendment. The opposition was literally a no show. John i think thats because rand paul spefnt tuesday night researching how much his righthand man loves john wibles booth. What compromises had to be made to the enda bill before it got out of this committee . It doesnt apply to Small Businesses. Thats the same Small Business exemption that has applied for decades in all of our civil rights. So if you were a mom and pop that has a few employees, none of our civil rights laws apply to you. We hope that American Business owners who have two or three employees will hire people based on their talents. Thats whats best for their business and profi