Putin. I always knew he was very smart. Russian sanctions along with americas refusal to block an antiisrael resolution last week at the u. N. Are part of a series of lastminute actions biobomb matha some republicans say are aimed at hurting trumps presidency. I have never seen a president try to create more problems for a future president. First, he doublecrosses israel. And after many times and many other president s, vetoing the condemnation of israel for taking the settlements, he doesnt and creates lack of leverage for israel and the United States in trying to trade land for peace or try other negotiations in the last hours of his presidency he completely doublecrosses one of our biggest allies. And now after 18 months of this hacking, he does something about it. Why didnt he do something about it 18 months ago . Meanwhile, democrats are saying this is all nonsense and that its trump who is interfering with obamas presidency. Barack obama is still the president of the United States. What is unprecedented is a president elect to get involved in decisions that a sitting president is making. Umhuh. That is unprecedented. Joining us now for reaction in washington is Simon Rosenberg a former Clinton Campaign advisor floor reds a republican strategist. Simon start weatherbug. Is president obama using a scorched earth exit strategy from the white house . No and you know, he is still the president. I think donald trump can handle all of this. I have been a little surprised at the whining coming from the trump campaign. I mean, this is minor stuff compared to what he is going to be dealing with as president. He cant get this upset when people when things dont go his way and whether we. [talking at the same time] i have got to grab you and pull you back in here for a second. Yeah. I think donald trump if anything has been down playing it whereas most of us on the right have been watching this happen. You talk about israel and russia and talk about the oil and gas banning all drilling, it seems like he is throwing a lot of stuff at trump right before he leaves. Yeah. But he is still the president. This sparst the pace of governance. This is how it all works. Look, the real issue here, right, all the stuff is going to go away in a few weeks. John mccain is going to have hearings next week on the russian interference in our elections. This is a big issue. And i think what well be talking about, eric, in a few weeks, is trumps refusal to join in people like paul ryan, john mccain, marco rubio, Lindsey Graham in recognizing how serious this russian interference in our election has been. This has been very disappointing to me. I dont disagree with you those people that you mentioned, those republicans you mentioned are looking for more sanctions on russia. Sarah, i will ask you. Is president obama trying to push the divide between the Trump Presidency and those who have been kind of antitrump leading up to the Trump Presidency . Well, i think there is no doubt that barack obama wouldnt be taking these actions if Hillary Clinton were about to give her inaugural address. This is about protecting president obamas legacy. He is deeply concerned now that donald trump will come in and do what he promised, which to undo all of these disastrous regulations, policies, Foreign Policy in particular who is trying to throw dust in the Identity TheftTransition Team while they are trying to assemble a government. Now they are going to have this chaos on january 20th to deal with. By the way, this wasnt a small and minor thing to israel. This is existential to israel. This idea that these are small nitpicky things is just untrue. Lets stay on israel for a second, simon. Two days ago on this program, i suggested that this u. N. Resolution that we failed to veto, in america, was going to offer currency. Political currency to the palestinians, today we learned the palestinians are saying israel should be sanctioned, look at the international community. Look at the u. N. Sanctions. Listen, were not going to resolve this debate on this show in the next few minutes. And reasonable people can disagree on this. And i just want to say in defense of barack obama, barack obama just signed a military aid agreement thats the largest in the history between the United States and israel and he had fewer fewerhe allowed fewer bd u. N. Resolutions to get through than any modern american president. He has one left, simon. He had 24 days to go when he let that one go through. Reasonable people can disagree on this. Barack obamas legacy, friend or foe to israel . Oh, foe to israel. Democrats are lost Blue Collar Workers now and i think they are about to lose the Jewish Community as well if they continue to show their true colors on this which is that they are deeply antiisrael and siding with terrorists over israel. Thats how antiisrael they have become. This was insane vote to abstain from. If we actually find out that they were working with other countries to bring this vote in the first place and make sure that it would pass, i think that will be it for the Democratic Party in 18 when it comes to the vote. I agree with that simon . I definitely dont agree with that barack obama, there have been both bushes allowed far more antiisrael votes to go through the u. N. Than barack obama has done. We have got to make our case though. The point is that we have got to make our case as democrats about our position in the middle east. I have no doubt that jews are going to stay with the democrats. Why is that, simon . Explain that to me. Help me out here. L if you are not proisrael and netanyahu and israel says what the heck are you doing, president obama, and democrats in america . Why is the jewish vote so democrat in america . The bond between israel and the and insulting b. B. Netanyahu. Go ahead, simon. Israel and the Democratic Party is very strong. The bond between the democrats and b. B. Netanyahu isnt. We have a disagreement with the leader of israel, but not with the people of israel. These things happen among friends. Its happened before with evidence other american president. And i think the right is exaggerating the divide between the democrats and israel right now for their own benefit. I just dont agree with you, eric. I dont expect you to agree with me but, sarah, lets talk about what this u. N. Resolution did. It embold and gave power. What jew is happy with that . Well, and for nothing in return. The palestinians were asked to provide nothing. Israel is always the one asked to do more and do more. Look, what i just heard simon say is exactly what the Hillary Campaign said about michigan voters, wisconsin voters and pennsylvania voters. Democrats are on defense in 2018. They have got about 10 Democratic Senators up for reelection. And trump won states. So they can keep assuming that theyre going to hold on though these voters but, boy, they keep losing them right and left. Quick thought, simon before we go, last one . Listen, we got more votes in this election than the republicans did. Dont count the Democratic Party out of in 2018. I look forward to coming back with both of you many times. There is still a heart beat . Still a heart beat. Clear . Clear . Not yet . Simon and sarah, thank you very much. Next on the rundown, president elect donald trump, russia and congress, what becomes of all those sanctions once donald trump takes charge moments away. My business was built with passion. But i keep it growing by making every dollar count. Thats why i have the spark cash card from capital one. With it, i earn unlimited 2 cash back on all of my purchasing. And that unlimited 2 cash back from spark means thousands of dollars each year going back into my business. Which adds fuel to my bottom line. Whats in your wallet . In the impact segment tonight, what will president elect donald trump do about russia as dozens of Russian Diplomats scrambled to leave the United States after being given the boot by president obama, donald trump still seems to be taking a wait and see approach to how he want to handle charges how russia hacked our elections. Here is what Reince Priebus told us on the factor last night. The president elect put out a statement and he said, look, its time to move on to bigger and better things. Also, nevertheless, were going to be meeting and he is going to be meeting with intelligence officials next week to talk about this report and find out the details of exactly what happened, how the investigation took place. And maybe at that time our maybe later eagle have a response. But right now were just not in the position to sit here and respond to all of these details before we have a full blown Intelligence Report on this particular matter. But many observers say the evidence is clear as day. 17 intelligence agencies have determined that the russians attempted to influence our elections. That is terrifying. And whats even more terrifying is that the incoming president wants to move on from this enormous geopolitical risk and domestic risk to the United States. That is really scary. And mr. Trump may find opposition from both democrats and republicans if he tries to reverse the president s sanctions as many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle think they were long overdue. Joining us from jacksonville republican congressman ron desan tis a member of the House Foreign Affairs committee. And from pal at toe societyberg. Deputy advisor to president clinton. Both of you before i ask you a question i want to make it clear. This is a debate we keep having. Everyone believes if russia did in fact hack and effect the outcome of our elections its a bad thing and they need to be sanctioned. I will start with you, congressman, dont we need to have the hard proof, the evidence first . Well, i think its also important to know what theyre actually accused of. They did not hack into our voting systems. They hacked peoples emails who were involved in the political process like john podesta. Its important, its noteworthy. But it really follows a long string of Cyber Security attacks that they have been launching, that their agents have been launching against our government, against businesses for years and years. And now all of a sudden just as he is leaving office, president obama issues sanctions which i think really dont amount to much because if you look at a lot of those entities, many of those entities dont even have u. S. Holdings. I think the practical effect of the sanctions will probably be very small. I think its more of a symbolic act because there is a lot of outcry from members of the Democratic Party and there is an attempt to tie what russia did to Donald Trumps victory saying that if russia hadnt done that somehow Hillary Clinton would be president. I dont think thats accurate. But i do think we should hold russia accountable. And i think we all do. So, ambassador, your thoughts on the sanctions so far i will paraphrase here, Vladimir Putin has basically said yeah, whatever. And promised not to retaliate right away. Well, i think president putin is hoping that he will get a sweet deal from the incoming president elect trump. Which i dont think is going to happen. This will be a bipartisan agreement that we had to stand up to blatant interference in our election proselective leaking, trying to influence the election and hurt Hillary Clinton. Qui don we dont know what the outcome of the election how it affected but blatant invasion of our sovereignty and i think the president obama is has taken the right action. I think it will stand. President trump will look at it but clearly the right thing to do. I wish it had happened earlier. This is not the first time we have sangsd russia. There were tough sanctions when they invaded crimea. Its a by tart san issue. If President Trump decides to try to lift that he will have a very quick bill in Congress Passed with a vetoproof margin. These sanctions will stay. Congressman, listen, i saw lind senator Lindsey Graham and john mccain say they were going to lead the next push in congress to lead the sanctions before they know in fact what evidence that the 17 agencies allegedly have. Well, yeah, and then i think its also important to point out, i mean, russia has taken so many actions during president obamas presidency adverse to our interests. They sent advanced air Defense Systems to iran. They made incursions into the ukraine. They harbored Edward Snowden who gave up a whole bunch of state secrets. So the Obama Administration really did very little to combat a lot of that so now going out the door, he is trying to do. This so, congress, look, were going to d deal with it strong support for Holding Russia accountable. I would note one of the things we did in this past congress was authorize lethal aid for ukraine. The Obama Administration did not want to go down that road. Ambassador, im scratching my head a little wit. Bit. The sanctions were expel 35 diplomats and close down two what looks like to be consulates or embassies that they figure there may be spying going on. Im scratching my head because im wondering why we didnt do it 8 years ago or six years ago or when we actually did know it. First of all, i think we have taken very tough stance against russia throughout the Obama Administration. I think the odd thing here is why donald trump thinks that president putin is a good leader. He is a thug thats basically destroying his own democracy and threatening his neighbors. And i will put money on the fact that early on in the Trump Administration president putin will test him. Maybe its something with nato. Maybe its something with the baltics. Ball bal baltics. I think in a way step by president obama is a gift to the incoming Trump Administration because he doesnt have to act on it right away. He can say its happening. He may think he wants to lift those sanctions and his new secretary of state is on record as not liking sanctions. I think they are proportional measure to a very blatant hacking of our election season system. The impact we wont ever know. I think it was an appropriate stance to go back and say president obama has not stood up to russia is just simply doesnt relate to the facts repeatedly sanctioned them. The reason why that dialogue or that debate is going around is because of the two things. When he sent Hillary Clinton, when president obama sent Hillary Clinton over there, and promised a reset with the russians and then later on when president obama himself said hey, listen, after reelection, when i have more flexibility, we can work some things out. It didnt seem like there were a lot of teeth in the actions against russia. Let me ask the congressman this though. The difference Going Forward is russias economy is on the verge of collapse. Oil prices have almost ruined russia. They are not in a position to get very tough with president elect donald trump and why would they want to, in fact . Yeah, and my advice to donald trump would be look at how obama really bent over backwards to try to be nice to russia. How they basically took advantage of that understand putins psychology. If youre strong and youre forth right with him. I think we can generate better outcomes. I think when he sees weakness, thats what he preys upon. In the start of the Obama Administration one of the two things he did in 2009 was remove our missile defenses from eastern europe. That sent a signal and i think putin acted accordingly ever since. Ambassador . I just dont think that does not comport with facts and donald trump is going to try it a reset and find it doesnt work either. The russian policy with this administration has been strong defending our interest. Why are you so negative on this. Whats your indication, i mean, donald trump negative on what . On the incoming Trump Administration. You said Vladimir Putin is going to test him. He didnt test obama. For donald trump has repeatedly praised Vladimir Putin, who has invaded two of his neighbors, locked up opposition, assassinated his opposition and is a threat to many of the United States interests in that region. We have to be tough with them and thats what obama has done. And President Trump can try and reset the relations but reality will quickly. Meanwhile these things have happened under president obama. I have got to go. Last quick thought. I think you will see a donald trump coming very close to reevaluating movies statement he said during the campaign on russia and getting real and being tough as well on a very ruthless leader, president putin. Very good debate. Congressman and ambassador, thank you very much. Directly ahead, some provocative words from an arizona congressman who wonders if Russian Hackers did the medias job for them. Well debate that in a moment. No matter how the markets change. At t. Rowe price. Our disciplined approach remains. 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