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| TIME | SPEAKER | TEXT |
|---|---|---|
| 00:01:10 |
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Good evening from the Ford Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Mississippi in... |
| 00:03:24 |
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Well, thank you very much, Jim, and thanks to the commission and the University of Mississippi,... |
| 00:05:32 |
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Senator McCain, two minutes. |
| 00:05:33 |
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Well, thank you, Jim. And thanks to everybody. And I do have a sad note tonight. Senator Kennedy... |
| 00:07:55 |
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All right. Let's go back to my question, how you all stand on the recovery plan. And talk to... |
| 00:08:08 |
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Well -- well -- |
| 00:08:09 |
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And you, Senator McCain? Do you -- are you in favor of this plan? |
| 00:08:11 |
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We haven't seen the language yet, and I do think that there's constructive work being done out... |
| 00:09:24 |
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Are you going to vote for the plan, Senator McCain? |
| 00:09:27 |
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I -- I -- I hope so, and I believe so -- |
| 00:09:29 |
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As a United States senator, you'll vote to -- you're going to vote for the plan? |
| 00:09:31 |
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Sure. Sure, but -- but let me -- let me point out I also warned about Fannie Mae and Freddie... |
| 00:11:02 |
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Do you have something directly to say, Senator Obama, to Senator McCain about what he just said? |
| 00:11:06 |
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Well, I think Senator McCain's absolutely right that we need more responsibility, but we need... |
| 00:11:46 |
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Say -- say it directly to him. |
| 00:11:47 |
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I do not think that they are. |
| 00:11:48 |
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Say it directly to him. |
| 00:11:49 |
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Oh, I'll -- the -- John, 10 days ago, you said that the fundamentals of the economy are sound.... |
| 00:11:53 |
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(Laughs.) |
| 00:11:54 |
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And -- |
| 00:11:55 |
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Are you afraid I couldn't hear him? (Laughter.) |
| 00:11:58 |
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I'm just determined to get you all to talk to each other. I'm going to try. (Laughs.) |
| 00:12:01 |
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The -- and -- and I just fundamentally disagree. And unless we are holding ourselves accountable... |
| 00:12:36 |
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So Senator McCain, do you agree with what Senator Obama just said? And if you don't, tell him... |
| 00:12:43 |
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No, I, look, we've got to fix the system. We've got fundamental problems in the system. And... |
| 00:13:37 |
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All right. Let's go to the next lead question, which is essentially following up on this same... |
| 00:13:57 |
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Well, the first thing we have to do is get spending under control in Washington. It's completely... |
| 00:15:43 |
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Senator Obama, two minutes. |
| 00:15:45 |
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Well, Senator McCain is absolutely right that the earmarks process has been abused, which is... |
| 00:17:26 |
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Senator McCain? |
| 00:17:27 |
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Well, again, I don't mean to go back and forth, but he -- |
| 00:17:29 |
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No, that's fine. |
| 00:17:30 |
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-- Senator Obama suspended those requests for pork barrel projects after he was running for... |
| 00:18:45 |
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I don't know where John's getting his figures. Let's just be clear. What I do is, I close... |
| 00:19:51 |
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Respond directly to him about, to Senator Obama about that, about the, his -- he's made it twice... |
| 00:19:59 |
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Well, well, let me give you an example of what Senator Obama finds objectionable. the... |
| 00:21:41 |
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Senator Obama, do you have a question for Senator McCain on that? |
| 00:21:43 |
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Well, let me just make a couple of points. |
| 00:21:44 |
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All right. |
| 00:21:45 |
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My -- here's what I can tell the American people: 95 percent of you will get a tax cut. And... |
| 00:23:21 |
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Well, you know, let me just -- |
| 00:23:23 |
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We got to go another lead question -- |
| 00:23:24 |
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You know, this is -- this is -- I know we have to, but this is a classic example of walking... |
| 00:23:45 |
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John, you want to give oil companies another ($)4 billion. |
| 00:23:46 |
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So you got to look at our record. You've got to look at our records. That's the important... |
| 00:24:41 |
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That's not true, John. That's not true. |
| 00:24:42 |
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And that's just a fact. Again, you can look it up. |
| 00:24:45 |
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Look, it's just not true. And if we want to talk about oil company profits, under your tax... |
| 00:25:00 |
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(Chuckles.) |
| 00:25:01 |
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-- to lower taxes on everybody, but here's the problem: if we are giving 'em to oil companies,... |
| 00:25:10 |
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In all due respect, you already gave 'em to the oil companies. (Laughs.) |
| 00:25:11 |
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No, but John, the -- the fact of the matter is is that I was opposed to those tax breaks, tried... |
| 00:25:33 |
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All right. All right. Speaking of things that both of you want, another lead question: It... |
| 00:26:01 |
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Right. |
| 00:26:02 |
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What are you going to have to give up, in terms of the priorities that you would bring as president... |
| 00:26:12 |
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Well, there are a range things that are probably going to have to be delayed. We don't yet... |
| 00:28:13 |
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Are you -- what priorities would you adjust as president, Senator McCain, because of the financial... |
| 00:28:22 |
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Well, look, look, we -- no matter what, we've got to cut spending. We have -- as I said, we've... |
| 00:30:06 |
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If I hear the two of you correctly, neither one of you is suggesting any major changes in what... |
| 00:30:16 |
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Well, no, the -- |
| 00:30:17 |
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I'm -- |
| 00:30:18 |
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As -- as I said before, Jim, there -- there are going to be things that end up having to be... |
| 00:30:20 |
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Like what? |
| 00:30:21 |
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-- deferred and delayed. Well, look, the -- I want to make sure that we are investing in energy... |
| 00:30:35 |
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But you're not willing to give that up, are you? |
| 00:30:36 |
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But -- well, I'm not willing to give up the need to do it, but there may be individual components... |
| 00:31:51 |
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What I'm trying to get at is this -- |
| 00:31:53 |
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Excuse me -- excuse me, if I may, Senator. I'm trying to get at that you all -- one of you is... |
| 00:32:17 |
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Well, how about a spending freeze on everything but Defense, Veteran(s) Affairs and entitlement... |
| 00:32:24 |
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Spending freeze? |
| 00:32:25 |
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I think we ought to seriously consider, with the exceptions of caring for our veterans, national... |
| 00:32:32 |
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Would you go for that? |
| 00:32:34 |
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Well, the problem with a spending freeze is you're using a hatchet where you need a scalpel.... |
| 00:33:09 |
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Look, we're sending $700 billion a year overseas to countries that don't like us very much.... |
| 00:34:05 |
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Let me see, before we go to another lead question, let me see if I can figure out a way to ask... |
| 00:34:27 |
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There is no doubt that it's going to affect our budgets. There is no doubt about it. The... |
| 00:35:39 |
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Well, I want to make sure that we're not handing the health care system over to the federal... |
| 00:37:15 |
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But I just have to have make this point, Jim. John, it's been your president, who you said you... |
| 00:37:52 |
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It's -- it's -- |
| 00:37:53 |
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Quick response to Senator Obama. |
| 00:37:54 |
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-- it's well-known -- it's well-known that I have not been elected Miss Congeniality in the... |
| 00:38:18 |
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All right -- |
| 00:38:19 |
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And that is independent and a maverick of the Senate. And I'm happy to say that I've got a partner... |
| 00:38:27 |
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All right. Let's go to another subject. Lead question. Two minutes to you, Senator McCain. Much... |
| 00:38:40 |
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I think the lessons of Iraq are very clear, that you cannot have a failed strategy that will... |
| 00:40:23 |
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Two minutes for how you see the lessons of Iraq, Senator Obama. |
| 00:40:25 |
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Well, this is an area where Senator McCain and I have a fundamental difference because, I think,... |
| 00:42:20 |
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Do you agree with that lesson of Iraq? |
| 00:42:22 |
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No, the next president of the United States is not going to have to address the issue as to... |
| 00:43:09 |
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Well, let's go at some of these -- |
| 00:43:10 |
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Senator Obama is the chairperson of a committee that oversights NATO, that's in Afghanistan.... |
| 00:43:17 |
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What about that point? |
| 00:43:18 |
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I mean, it's remarkable. |
| 00:43:19 |
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All right, what about -- |
| 00:43:20 |
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Which point? You raised a whole bunch of them. |
| 00:43:21 |
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Well, the latter point. I know. All right. |
| 00:43:21 |
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Yeah. (Chuckles.) |
| 00:43:23 |
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Let's go to the latter point and we'll back up, the point about your not having been -- |
| 00:43:26 |
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Look, the -- I'm very proud of my vice presidential selection, Joe Biden, who's the chairman... |
| 00:44:13 |
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Senator -- |
| 00:44:14 |
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And so -- so John likes -- John, you like to pretend like the war started in 2007. You talk... |
| 00:44:41 |
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(Inaudible) -- Senator Obama -- |
| 00:44:42 |
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And so if the question is of judgment, about whether or not -- |
| 00:44:43 |
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Senator Obama doesn't know what -- |
| 00:44:44 |
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-- whether or not -- if the question who is best equipped as the next president to make good... |
| 00:45:03 |
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We got a lot a lot on plate here -- |
| 00:45:04 |
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I'm afraid -- I'm afraid Senator Obama doesn't understand the difference between a tactic and... |
| 00:45:52 |
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That's not true. That's not true. |
| 00:45:53 |
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They just passed an electoral -- an election law just in the last few days. There is social/economic... |
| 00:46:20 |
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Let me see -- |
| 00:46:21 |
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Jim, this is a big -- |
| 00:46:22 |
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-- and that same strategy will be employed in Afghanistan by this great general. |
| 00:46:27 |
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Jim -- |
| 00:46:28 |
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And Senator Obama, who after promising not to vote to cut off funds for the troops, did the... |
| 00:46:38 |
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Jim, there are a whole of bunch of things we got to answer. First of all, let's talk about... |
| 00:48:40 |
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Admiral Mullen suggests that Senator Obama's plan is dangerous for America. |
| 00:48:45 |
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That's not the case. |
| 00:48:46 |
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That's what -- that's what Admiral Mullen said. And I -- |
| 00:48:47 |
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What he said was a precipitous withdrawal would be dangerous. He did not say that. |
| 00:48:48 |
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Well, that's what Admiral Mullen said, was -- |
| 00:48:49 |
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That's not true. |
| 00:48:50 |
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And also General Petraeus said the same thing. Osama bin Laden and General Petraeus have one... |
| 00:49:30 |
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Well -- |
| 00:49:30 |
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-- because I know that that's a strategy that has worked and can succeed. But if we snatch defeat... |
| 00:49:47 |
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Afghanistan. Lead -- a new lead question. Having resolved Iraq, we'll move to Afghanistan. (Laughter.)... |
| 00:50:04 |
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Yes, I think we need more troops. I've been saying that for over a year now. And I think that... |
| 00:52:13 |
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Afghanistan, Senator McCain. |
| 00:52:16 |
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First of all, I won't repeat the mistake that I regret enormously, and that is after we were... |
| 00:55:00 |
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Nobody talked about attacking Pakistan. Here's what I said, and if John wants to disagree with... |
| 00:56:49 |
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I don't think that Senator Obama understands that there was a failed state in Pakistan when... |
| 00:59:46 |
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Senator -- |
| 00:59:47 |
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And it did. And we will win this one, and we won't come home in defeat and dishonor and probably... |
| 00:59:54 |
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Jim, let me just make a point. I've got a bracelet, too, from Sergeant -- from the mother of... |
| 01:01:33 |
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You know, you might, you might think that with that kind of concern, that Senator Obama would... |
| 01:02:29 |
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I have some good news and bad news for the two of you. You all are even on time, which is remarkable... |
| 01:02:37 |
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Testimony to you, Jim. |
| 01:02:39 |
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Well, I don't know about that. But the bad news is that all my little five-minute things have run... |
| 01:03:00 |
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My reading of the threat from Iran is that if Iran acquires nuclear weapons, it's an existential... |
| 01:05:30 |
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Two minutes on Iran, Senator Obama. |
| 01:05:31 |
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Well, let me just correct something very quickly. I believe that the Republican Guard of Iran... |
| 01:07:30 |
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Senator, what about talking? |
| 01:07:32 |
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Well, Senator Obama twice said in debates that he would sit down with Ahmadinejad, Chavez and... |
| 01:07:51 |
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That's tough. |
| 01:07:52 |
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-- who is -- Ahmadinejad, who is now in New York talking about the extermination of the State... |
| 01:09:12 |
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Senator? |
| 01:09:13 |
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Right, the -- so let -- let's talk about this. First of all, Ahmadinejad's not the most powerful... |
| 01:09:19 |
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(Chuckles.) |
| 01:09:20 |
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-- so he -- he may not be the right person to talk to. But I reserve the right as president... |
| 01:12:13 |
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I'm not going to set the White House visitors schedule before I'm president of the United States.... |
| 01:12:32 |
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Of course not. |
| 01:12:33 |
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He said that there could be secretary-level and lower-level meetings. I've always encouraged... |
| 01:13:09 |
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I -- |
| 01:13:09 |
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As far as North Korea is concerned, our secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, went to North... |
| 01:13:41 |
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Well -- |
| 01:13:42 |
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-- and certainly not sit down -- |
| 01:13:43 |
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Quick. |
| 01:13:43 |
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-- across the table from -- without precondition, as Senator Obama said -- he did twice -- I... |
| 01:13:50 |
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Quick. |
| 01:13:50 |
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Look, I mean, Senator -- Senator McCain keeps on using this example that suddenly the president... |
| 01:14:43 |
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So -- so let me get this right. We sit down with Ahmadinejad and he says "we're going to wipe... |
| 01:14:50 |
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Yeah -- |
| 01:14:50 |
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Oh, please. |
| 01:14:51 |
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No, no, let me tell you something -- |
| 01:14:51 |
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By the way, my friend Dr. Kissinger, who's been my friend for 35 years -- |
| 01:14:56 |
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Right. |
| 01:14:56 |
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-- would be interested to hear this conversation -- |
| 01:15:00 |
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Oh, I will be -- |
| 01:15:00 |
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-- and Senator Obama's depiction of his -- of his positions on the issue. |
| 01:15:04 |
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We will take a look -- |
| 01:15:04 |
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I've known him for 35 years, and I guarantee you he would not -- he would not say that presidential,... |
| 01:15:11 |
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Nobody's talking about that. |
| 01:15:11 |
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-- of course he encourages and other people encourage contacts and negotiations and all other... |
| 01:15:16 |
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Well -- |
| 01:15:17 |
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We do that all the time. |
| 01:15:20 |
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We're going to go to a new lead -- |
| 01:15:21 |
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And Senator Obama is parsing words when he says "precondition" means "preparation." |
| 01:15:29 |
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Hold on. I am not parsing words. |
| 01:15:29 |
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He's -- he's parsing words, my friends. |
| 01:15:30 |
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I am using the same words that your advisers use. Please go ahead. |
| 01:15:32 |
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New lead question -- |
| 01:15:32 |
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(Chuckles.) |
| 01:15:35 |
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-- Russia, goes to you, two minutes, Senator Obama. How do you see the relationship with Russia?... |
| 01:15:47 |
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Well, I think that given what's happened over the last several weeks and months, our entire... |
| 01:18:04 |
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Two minutes on Russia, Senator McCain. |
| 01:18:06 |
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Well, I was interested in Senator Obama's reaction to the Russian aggression against Georgia.... |
| 01:21:13 |
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Senator, do you have a major difference with what he just said? |
| 01:21:16 |
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No, actually, I think Senator McCain and I agree for the most part on these issues. Obviously,... |
| 01:24:11 |
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We've got time for one more lead question segment. We're way out of -- we're out of -- |
| 01:24:11 |
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Could I -- could I quickly respond. |
| 01:24:11 |
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You could be -- quick response and then we'll go to the next. |
| 01:24:20 |
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No one from Arizona -- (chuckles) -- is against solar. And Senator Obama says he's for nuclear,... |
| 01:24:26 |
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That's -- that's just not true, John. |
| 01:24:27 |
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-- so it's hard to get there from there. |
| 01:24:28 |
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John, I'm sorry, that -- that's not true. |
| 01:24:29 |
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And offshore drilling is also something that is very important, and it is a bridge. And we know... |
| 01:24:47 |
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I -- I just have to respond very quickly just to correct the -- just to correct the record. |
| 01:24:53 |
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So I want to say that with the Nunn-Lugar thing -- |
| 01:24:53 |
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Excuse me, sir. SEN. OBAMA. (Inaudible.) |
| 01:24:57 |
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-- I supported Nunn-Lugar back in the early 1990s when a lot of my colleagues didn't. That was... |
| 01:25:12 |
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I -- I just have to correct the record here. I have never said that I object to nuclear waste.... |
| 01:25:12 |
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He objects -- he objects to -- |
| 01:25:22 |
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I have voted for alternate fuel all of my time -- (Cross talk.) |
| 01:25:23 |
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One at a time, please. |
| 01:25:24 |
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-- and no one can be opposed to alternate fuels -- |
| 01:25:25 |
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All right. Fair enough. Let's move on. You got one more -- (Cross talk.) |
| 01:25:30 |
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This is last lead question, you have two minutes each. The question is this, beginning with... |
| 01:25:44 |
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I think it's much less than it was the day after 9/11. I think it -- that we have a safer nation,... |
| 01:27:52 |
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Two minutes, Senator Obama. |
| 01:27:54 |
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Well, first of all, I think that we are safer in some ways. Obviously we've poured billions... |
| 01:30:02 |
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Do you agree there's much to be done in a new administration to restore -- well, I won't repeat... |
| 01:30:08 |
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But I -- but in the case of missile defense, Senator Obama said it had to be, quote, "proven."... |
| 01:31:27 |
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You see the same connections that Senator McCain does? |
| 01:31:30 |
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Oh, there's no doubt. Look, over the last eight years, this administration, along with Senator... |
| 01:33:33 |
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I've been involved, as I mentioned to you before, in virtually every major national security... |
| 01:35:07 |
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Well, let me just make a closing point. My father came from Kenya. That's where I get my name.... |
| 01:36:15 |
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Few seconds. We're almost finished. |
| 01:36:17 |
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Jim, when I came home from prison, I saw our veterans being very badly treated. And it made... |
| 01:36:44 |
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And that ends this debate tonight. On October 2nd, next Thursday, also at 9 p.m. Eastern Time,... |
