AMY: 11TH-HOUR DIPLOMACY STALLS AS THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE AS THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE INTENSIFIES, WHILE AT HOME THE INTENSIFIES, WHILE AT HOME THE C.I.A.
IS ACCUSED OF SPYING ON C.I.A.
IS ACCUSED OF SPYING ON THE U.S. SENATE.
THE U.S. SENATE.
I'M AMY WALTER IN FOR GWEN I'M AMY WALTER IN FOR GWEN IFILL TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON IFILL TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
WEEK."
OLD WAR TENSIONS ESCALATE.
OLD WAR TENSIONS ESCALATE.
>> THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE IT >> THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE IT CLEAR CLEAR THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES IF THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES IF RUSSIA DOES NOT FIND A WAY TO RUSSIA DOES NOT FIND A WAY TO CHANGE COURSE.
CHANGE COURSE.
AND WE DON'T SAY THAT AS A AND WE DON'T SAY THAT AS A THREAT.
THREAT.
WE SAY THAT AS A DIRECT WE SAY THAT AS A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE FOR THE CHOICES CONSEQUENCE FOR THE CHOICES THAT RUSSIA MAY OR MAY NOT THAT RUSSIA MAY OR MAY NOT CHOOSE TO MAKE HERE.
CHOOSE TO MAKE HERE.
>> PUTIN HAS ALREADY SAID WE >> PUTIN HAS ALREADY SAID WE WILL RESPECT THE CHOICE OF THE WILL RESPECT THE CHOICE OF THE CRIMEAN PEOPLE.
CRIMEAN PEOPLE.
>> CAN MOSCOW BE PERSUADED TO >> CAN MOSCOW BE PERSUADED TO STAND DOWN, OR IS CRIMEA DESTINED DESTINED TO BE ANNEXED TO RUSSIA?
TO BE ANNEXED TO RUSSIA?
THE C.I.A.
GETS CALLED OUT FOR THE C.I.A.
GETS CALLED OUT FOR ALLEGEDLY SPYING ON THE SENATE ALLEGEDLY SPYING ON THE SENATE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING ITS COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING ITS PRACTICES.
PRACTICES.
>> THE C.I.A.
DID NOT ASK THE >> THE C.I.A.
DID NOT ASK THE COMMITTEE OR ITS STAFF IF THE COMMITTEE OR ITS STAFF IF THE COMMITTEE HAD ACCESS TO THE COMMITTEE HAD ACCESS TO THE INTERNAL REVIEW OR HOW WE INTERNAL REVIEW OR HOW WE OBTAINED IT.
OBTAINED IT.
INSTEAD, THE C.I.A.
JUST WENT INSTEAD, THE C.I.A.
JUST WENT AND SEARCHED THE COMMITTEE'S AND SEARCHED THE COMMITTEE'S COMPUTERS.
COMPUTERS.
>> WHEN THE FACTS COME OUT ON >> WHEN THE FACTS COME OUT ON THIS, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CLAIMING THAT THERE HAS WHO ARE CLAIMING THAT THERE HAS BEEN THIS TREMENDOUS SPYING, BEEN THIS TREMENDOUS SPYING, MONITORING AND HACKING WILL BE MONITORING AND HACKING WILL BE PROVED WRONG.
PROVED WRONG.
AMY: WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST ON AMY: WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST ON THE INVESTIGATION.
THE INVESTIGATION.
PLUS, WHY A SPECIAL HOUSE PLUS, WHY A SPECIAL HOUSE ELECTION IN FLORIDA MAY BECOME ELECTION IN FLORIDA MAY BECOME A CASE STUDY FOR REPUBLICANS A CASE STUDY FOR REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HEADING INTO THE AND DEMOCRATS HEADING INTO THE 2014 MIDTERM ELECTIONS.
2014 MIDTERM ELECTIONS.
COVERING THE WEEK, INDIRA COVERING THE WEEK, INDIRA LAKSHMANAN OF "BLOOMBERG NEWS," LAKSHMANAN OF "BLOOMBERG NEWS," ED O'KEEFE OF "THE WASHINGTON ED O'KEEFE OF "THE WASHINGTON POST" AND SUSAN DAVIS OF "USA POST" AND SUSAN DAVIS OF "USA ODAY".
ODAY".
>> AWARD-WINNING REPORTING AND >> AWARD-WINNING REPORTING AND ANALYSIS COVERING HISTORY AS IT ANALYSIS COVERING HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS.
HAPPENS.
LIVE FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITOL, LIVE FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITOL, THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK" WITH THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK" WITH GWEN IFILL.
>> ONCE AGAIN, LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, SUBSTITUTING FOR WASHINGTON, SUBSTITUTING FOR GWEN IFILL, AMY WALTER OF THE GWEN IFILL, AMY WALTER OF THE "COOK POLITICAL REPORT."
"COOK POLITICAL REPORT."
>> GOOD EVENING.
>> GOOD EVENING.
DESPITE SIX HOURS OF INTENSE DESPITE SIX HOURS OF INTENSE NEGOTIATIONS, THE U.S. AND NEGOTIATIONS, THE U.S. AND RUSSIA WERE NOT ABLE TO REACH RUSSIA WERE NOT ABLE TO REACH CONSENSUS TODAY ON THE BEST CONSENSUS TODAY ON THE BEST PATH FORWARD TO END THE CRISIS PATH FORWARD TO END THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE.
IN UKRAINE.
THAT MEANS A REFERENDUM VOTE ON THAT MEANS A REFERENDUM VOTE ON WEATHER THE CRIMEA REGION WILL WEATHER THE CRIMEA REGION WILL JOIN RUSSIA WILL HAPPEN ON JOIN RUSSIA WILL HAPPEN ON SUNDAY AS PLANNED.
SUNDAY AS PLANNED.
HERE'S HOW SECRETARY OF STATE HERE'S HOW SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY SUMMED UP HIS JOHN KERRY SUMMED UP HIS MARATHON MEETING WITH RUSSIA'S MARATHON MEETING WITH RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER.
FOREIGN MINISTER.
>> WE BELIEVE THE REFERENDUM IS >> WE BELIEVE THE REFERENDUM IS CONTRARY TO THE CONSTITUTION OF CONTRARY TO THE CONSTITUTION OF UKRAINE, CONTRARY TO UKRAINE, CONTRARY TO INTERNATIONAL LAW, IS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW, IS IN VIOLATION OF THAT LAW, AND WE VIOLATION OF THAT LAW, AND WE BELIEVE IT IS ILLEGITIMATE.
BELIEVE IT IS ILLEGITIMATE.
AND AS THE PRESIDENT PUT IT, AND AS THE PRESIDENT PUT IT, ILLEGAL UNDER THE UKRAINIAN ILLEGAL UNDER THE UKRAINIAN CONSTITUTION.
CONSTITUTION.
NEITHER WE NOR THE NEITHER WE NOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WILL RECOGNIZE THE RESULT OF THIS RECOGNIZE THE RESULT OF THIS REFERENDUM.
REFERENDUM.
AMY: THERE ARE NOW 80,000 AMY: THERE ARE NOW 80,000 RUSSIAN TROOPS ON THE BORDER OF RUSSIAN TROOPS ON THE BORDER OF UKRAINE.
UKRAINE.
WHAT IS PUTIN'S ENDS GAME?
WHAT IS PUTIN'S ENDS GAME?
>> WELL, WE ARE STILL ON A >> WELL, WE ARE STILL ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH RUSSIA COLLISION COURSE WITH RUSSIA OVER THIS.
OVER THIS.
KEEP IN MIND THIS IS THE KEEP IN MIND THIS IS THE BIGGEST DISPUTE BETWEEN RUSSIA BIGGEST DISPUTE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST SINCE THE END OF AND THE WEST SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR.
THE COLD WAR.
IT'S THE FIRST REAL INVASION OF IT'S THE FIRST REAL INVASION OF ANOTHER COUNTRY IN EUROPE, IF ANOTHER COUNTRY IN EUROPE, IF YOU WANT TO CHARACTERIZE IT IN YOU WANT TO CHARACTERIZE IT IN THAT WAY, SINCE THE 1940'S.
THAT WAY, SINCE THE 1940'S.
SO IT'S SERIOUS.
SO IT'S SERIOUS.
AND THE U.S. AND EUROPE ARE AND THE U.S. AND EUROPE ARE TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
THE PROBLEM IS, NO ONE SEEMS TO THE PROBLEM IS, NO ONE SEEMS TO BE GETTING THROUGH TO PUTIN, BE GETTING THROUGH TO PUTIN, EVEN THOUGH CLEARLY ANGELA EVEN THOUGH CLEARLY ANGELA MERKEL OF GERMANY AND JOHN MERKEL OF GERMANY AND JOHN KERRY OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE KERRY OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE TRIED TO PUT OUT THERE A TRIED TO PUT OUT THERE A MESSAGE ABOUT THE DAMAGING MESSAGE ABOUT THE DAMAGING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AND ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AND DIPLOMATIC ISOLATION AND DIPLOMATIC ISOLATION AND PENALTIES THAT COULD FACE PENALTIES THAT COULD FACE PUTIN, NONE OF THAT SEEMS TO PUTIN, NONE OF THAT SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH.
HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH.
WE HAD THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN WE HAD THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TODAY SAYING AT HIS MINISTER TODAY SAYING AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER HIS PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER HIS TALKS WITH JOHN KERRY THAT THEY TALKS WITH JOHN KERRY THAT THEY HAVE NO COMMON VISION.
HAVE NO COMMON VISION.
HE ALSO WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY HE ALSO WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY JOHN KERRY DIDN'T THREATEN ME, JOHN KERRY DIDN'T THREATEN ME, THERE WERE NO THREATS.
THERE WERE NO THREATS.
SO HE WAS VERY MUCH SORT OF IN SO HE WAS VERY MUCH SORT OF IN COMMAND.
COMMAND.
WHILE KERRY, AT HIS SEPARATE WHILE KERRY, AT HIS SEPARATE PRESS CONFERENCE, WAS SAYING, PRESS CONFERENCE, WAS SAYING, WE KNOW RUSSIA HAS LEGITIMATE WE KNOW RUSSIA HAS LEGITIMATE INTERESTS.
INTERESTS.
WE DON'T WANT A WE DON'T WANT A MISUNDERSTANDING HERE.
MISUNDERSTANDING HERE.
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO THINK WE WE DON'T WANT THEM TO THINK WE DON'T SEE THEIR INTERESTS IN DON'T SEE THEIR INTERESTS IN CRIMEA, BUT THERE'S A MORE CRIMEA, BUT THERE'S A MORE PEACEFUL WAY TO DO THIS AND PEACEFUL WAY TO DO THIS AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE ANNEXING THEY SHOULDN'T BE ANNEXING PARTS OF ANOTHER COUNTRY.
PARTS OF ANOTHER COUNTRY.
>> >> AMY: THERE'S GOING TO BE A VOTE AMY: THERE'S GOING TO BE A VOTE ON SUNDAY, WHICH PUTIN HAS SAID ON SUNDAY, WHICH PUTIN HAS SAID I'M GOING TO WAIT TO MAKE ANY I'M GOING TO WAIT TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS UNTILECTS THAT THIS DECISIONS UNTILECTS THAT THIS REFERENDUM IS GOING TO PASS, REFERENDUM IS GOING TO PASS, WHICH SAYS CRIME YAES GOING TO WHICH SAYS CRIME YAES GOING TO BE PART OF RUSSIA.
BE PART OF RUSSIA.
BUT WHAT ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY BUT WHAT ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY HAPPENS NEXT?
HAPPENS NEXT?
THEY TAKE THIS VOTE, AND THEN THEY TAKE THIS VOTE, AND THEN DOES PUTIN BRING IN TROOPS?
DOES PUTIN BRING IN TROOPS?
DO THEY START RAISING THE DO THEY START RAISING THE RUSSIAN FLAG?
RUSSIAN FLAG?
WHAT GOES ON?
WHAT GOES ON?
>> IT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
>> IT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
EVEN IN CRIMEA, PEOPLE DON'T EVEN IN CRIMEA, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW.
KNOW.
THERE ARE THOSE IN THE CRIMEAN THERE ARE THOSE IN THE CRIMEAN PARLIAMENT THAT SAYS AS SOON AS PARLIAMENT THAT SAYS AS SOON AS THE VOTE GOES WE'LL BE JOINING THE VOTE GOES WE'LL BE JOINING RUSSIASO ARE SAYING OUR RE-ENTR RUSSIASO ARE SAYING OUR RE-ENTR INTO RUSSIA WOULD TAKE UP TO A INTO RUSSIA WOULD TAKE UP TO A YEAR.
YEAR.
SO IT'S NOT VERY CLEAR.
SO IT'S NOT VERY CLEAR.
AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE RUSSIA'S NEIGHBORS, SUCH AS RUSSIA'S NEIGHBORS, SUCH AS ESTONIA, WATCHING CAREFULLY, ESTONIA, WATCHING CAREFULLY, PUTTING OUT MESSAGES TODAY THAT PUTTING OUT MESSAGES TODAY THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RUSSIA THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RUSSIA INVADING THE REST OF EASTERN INVADING THE REST OF EASTERN UKRAINE.
UKRAINE.
THEY SAID WE HAVE NO PLANS TO THEY SAID WE HAVE NO PLANS TO INVADE EASTERN UKRAINE, BUT INVADE EASTERN UKRAINE, BUT LET'S NOT FORGET, THIS IS THE LET'S NOT FORGET, THIS IS THE SAME RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAME RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WHO SAID WE HAVE NO PLANS TO WHO SAID WE HAVE NO PLANS TO ANNEX CRIMEA, AND THAT SEEMS TO ANNEX CRIMEA, AND THAT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING.
BE HAPPENING.
SO THE U.S. REALLY DOESN'T WANT SO THE U.S. REALLY DOESN'T WANT CRIMEA TO BE ANNEXED, ANDING CRIMEA TO BE ANNEXED, ANDING JOHN KERRY TALKED ABOUT THIS AS JOHN KERRY TALKED ABOUT THIS AS BEING ESSENTIALLY A SHADOW BEING ESSENTIALLY A SHADOW ANNEXATION CAMPAIGN, BUT AT ANNEXATION CAMPAIGN, BUT AT THIS POINT IT'S NOT REALLY THIS POINT IT'S NOT REALLY CLEAR WHAT THE U.S. CAN DO CLEAR WHAT THE U.S. CAN DO ABOUT IT.
ABOUT IT.
THE VOTE IS GOING TO GO FORWARD THE VOTE IS GOING TO GO FORWARD AND KERRY HIMSELF HAS AND KERRY HIMSELF HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT EVERYONE IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT EVERYONE IS EXPECTING THE VOTE TO GO IN EXPECTING THE VOTE TO GO IN FAVOR OF REJOINING RUSSIA.
FAVOR OF REJOINING RUSSIA.
>> SO WHILE THEY SORT OUT WHAT >> SO WHILE THEY SORT OUT WHAT TO DO IN CRIMEA, WHAT DOES THE TO DO IN CRIMEA, WHAT DOES THE REST OF THE WORLD DO COME REST OF THE WORLD DO COME MONDAY MORNING?
MONDAY MORNING?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
EVEN BEFORE THE VOTE HAPPENS ON EVEN BEFORE THE VOTE HAPPENS ON SUNDAY, WE HAVE THE U.N. SUNDAY, WE HAVE THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL THAT'S GOING SECURITY COUNCIL THAT'S GOING TO VOTE TOMORROW ON A TO VOTE TOMORROW ON A RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTION.
SO SOMETHING -- THE WORLD WILL SO SOMETHING -- THE WORLD WILL SEND A MESSAGE ON THAT.
SEND A MESSAGE ON THAT.
THEN WE HAVE ON MONDAY, AFTER THEN WE HAVE ON MONDAY, AFTER THE VOTE HAPPENS, VICE THE VOTE HAPPENS, VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL BE PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL BE TRAVELING TO POLAND AND TRAVELING TO POLAND AND LITHUANIA TO MEET WITH THE LITHUANIA TO MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES WHO ARE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES WHO ARE ALL ALLIES OF THE UNITED STATES ALL ALLIES OF THE UNITED STATES TO WORK OUT SOME SORT OF A TO WORK OUT SOME SORT OF A PLAN.
PLAN.
AND JOHN KERRY HAS REPEATEDLY AND JOHN KERRY HAS REPEATEDLY SAID THAT COME MONDAY, THE DAY SAID THAT COME MONDAY, THE DAY AFTER THE VOTE, THAT AFTER THE VOTE, THAT CONSEQUENCES ARE COMING.
CONSEQUENCES ARE COMING.
SO WE SHOULD FULLY EXPECT THAT SO WE SHOULD FULLY EXPECT THAT SANCTIONS ARE IN THE CARDS, SANCTIONS ARE IN THE CARDS, THAT THE U.S. WILL GO AHEAD AND THAT THE U.S. WILL GO AHEAD AND PROBABLY FOLLOW THE SAME KINDS PROBABLY FOLLOW THE SAME KINDS OF ASSET FREEZES AND SANCTIONS OF ASSET FREEZES AND SANCTIONS THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION AND CANADA HAVE ALREADY DONE.
CANADA HAVE ALREADY DONE.
AMY: WHAT DO THE SANCTIONS LOOK AMY: WHAT DO THE SANCTIONS LOOK LIKE, AND WHAT HAS PUTIN SAID LIKE, AND WHAT HAS PUTIN SAID ABOUT SANCTIONS?
ABOUT SANCTIONS?
THE SANCTIONS HAVE BEEN TALKED THE SANCTIONS HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR WEEKS.
ABOUT FOR WEEKS.
DOES HE CARE IS?
DOES HE CARE IS?
HE GOING TO BLINK?
HE GOING TO BLINK?
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT.
THAT'S ALSO A GREAT QUESTION, THAT'S ALSO A GREAT QUESTION, BECAUSE THE RUSSIANS HAVE BECAUSE THE RUSSIANS HAVE ESSENTIALLY PUT OUT THE MESSAGE ESSENTIALLY PUT OUT THE MESSAGE THAT YOU SANCTION US, YOU'RE THAT YOU SANCTION US, YOU'RE GOING TO PATE PRICE.
GOING TO PATE PRICE.
WE'RE GOING TO SEIZE AMERICAN WE'RE GOING TO SEIZE AMERICAN BUSINESS ASSETS IN RUSSIA.
BUSINESS ASSETS IN RUSSIA.
REMEMBER, THERE ARE A LOT OF REMEMBER, THERE ARE A LOT OF MAJOR MULTI-NATIONAL AMERICAN MAJOR MULTI-NATIONAL AMERICAN CORPORATIONS WHO DO BUSINESS IN CORPORATIONS WHO DO BUSINESS IN RUSSIA, AND THEY'RE RUSSIA, AND THEY'RE AT THE SAME TIME, IN TERMS OF AT THE SAME TIME, IN TERMS OF HOW FAR THE SANCTIONS COULD GO, HOW FAR THE SANCTIONS COULD GO, THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT THE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT THE PRESIDENT ISSUED LAST WEEK IS PRESIDENT ISSUED LAST WEEK IS REALLY SWEEPING IN ITS SCOPE, REALLY SWEEPING IN ITS SCOPE, AND HE COULD EXERCISE EMERGENCY AND HE COULD EXERCISE EMERGENCY POWERS TO ESSENTIALLY DO POWERS TO ESSENTIALLY DO EVERYTHING, CUT OFF RUSSIAN EVERYTHING, CUT OFF RUSSIAN BANKS FROM THE FINANCIAL BANKS FROM THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM, CUT THEM OFF FROM SYSTEM, CUT THEM OFF FROM CREDIT CARD NETWORKS.
CREDIT CARD NETWORKS.
HE COULD GO REALLY, REALLY FAR.
HE COULD GO REALLY, REALLY FAR.
ALL OF THAT WOULD AMOUNT TO ALL OF THAT WOULD AMOUNT TO ECONOMIC WARFARE.
ECONOMIC WARFARE.
AND I DON'T THINK AT THIS POINT AND I DON'T THINK AT THIS POINT THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA WANTS TO THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA WANTS TO DO THAT.
DO THAT.
I THINK THEY WOULD DO IT IN A I THINK THEY WOULD DO IT IN A VERY SORT OF MEASURED WAY, VERY SORT OF MEASURED WAY, STEP-UP SANCTIONS.
STEP-UP SANCTIONS.
FIRST, THEY SORT OF FIRED A FIRST, THEY SORT OF FIRED A WARNING SHOT OVER THE BOW LAST WARNING SHOT OVER THE BOW LAST WEEK TO TRY TO GET RUSSIA TO WEEK TO TRY TO GET RUSSIA TO BACK DOWN.
BACK DOWN.
IT HASN'T BACKED DOWN.
IT HASN'T BACKED DOWN.
SO I THINK YOU CAN EXPECT A SO I THINK YOU CAN EXPECT A FIRST SET OF SAPPINGSES AGAINST FIRST SET OF SAPPINGSES AGAINST UKRAINIANS AND MAYBE AGAINST UKRAINIANS AND MAYBE AGAINST SOME RUSSIAN INDIVIDUALS.
SOME RUSSIAN INDIVIDUALS.
AND THEN IT WOULD STEP UP FROM AND THEN IT WOULD STEP UP FROM THERE.
THERE.
IT COULD GET VERY SERIOUS.
IT COULD GET VERY SERIOUS.
AMY: THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY ISN'T AMY: THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY ISN'T EXACTLY DOING GREAT AND THE EXACTLY DOING GREAT AND THE SUPERMARKET HAS TAKEN A DIVE SUPERMARKET HAS TAKEN A DIVE AND THE RUBLE.
AND THE RUBLE.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT.
THIS WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THEM THIS WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THEM AS WELL AS FOR INTERESTS HERE.
AS WELL AS FOR INTERESTS HERE.
AMY: AND IT COULD HURT EMERGING AMY: AND IT COULD HURT EMERGING MARKETS.
MARKETS.
THIS IS AT A TIME WHEN RUSSIA THIS IS AT A TIME WHEN RUSSIA HAS JUST JOINED THE W.T.O.
AND HAS JUST JOINED THE W.T.O.
AND GETTING ITS ECONOMY INTEGRATED GETTING ITS ECONOMY INTEGRATED INTO THE REST OF THE WORLD.
INTO THE REST OF THE WORLD.
SO THAT'S A BIG CONCERN.
SO THAT'S A BIG CONCERN.
ULTIMATELY IT COULD BE PUTIN ULTIMATELY IT COULD BE PUTIN PAYING THE PRICE IF HE TAKES PAYING THE PRICE IF HE TAKES THIS ALL THE WAY.
THIS ALL THE WAY.
>> SO WE WILL WAIT TO SEE >> SO WE WILL WAIT TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT HE GOES IN SHIRT WHETHER OR NOT HE GOES IN SHIRT OFF ON HORSEBACK.
OFF ON HORSEBACK.
>> ON HORSEBACK.
>> ON HORSEBACK.
AMY: TURNING TO HOME ON CAPITOL AMY: TURNING TO HOME ON CAPITOL HILL THIS WEEK, A WAR OF WORDS HILL THIS WEEK, A WAR OF WORDS BROKE OUT ON THE SENATE FLOOR BROKE OUT ON THE SENATE FLOOR AFTER SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN AFTER SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN ACCUSED THE C.I.A.
OF SPYING ON ACCUSED THE C.I.A.
OF SPYING ON THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE.
HERE'S JUST SOME OF WHAT THE HERE'S JUST SOME OF WHAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE HAD CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE HAD TO SAY DURING HER NEARLY TO SAY DURING HER NEARLY 50-MINUTE SPEECH.
50-MINUTE SPEECH.
>> LET ME SAY UP FRONT THAT I >> LET ME SAY UP FRONT THAT I COME TO THE SENATE FLOOR COME TO THE SENATE FLOOR RELUCTANTLY.
RELUCTANTLY.
SINCE JANUARY 15, 2014, WHEN I SINCE JANUARY 15, 2014, WHEN I WAS INFORMED OF THE C.I.A.
'S WAS INFORMED OF THE C.I.A.
'S SEARCH OF THIS COMMITTEE'S SEARCH OF THIS COMMITTEE'S NETWORK, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO NETWORK, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ESOLVE THIS DISPUTE IN A ESOLVE THIS DISPUTE IN A DISCREET AND RESPECTFUL WAY.
DISCREET AND RESPECTFUL WAY.
AMY: C.I.A.
CHIEF JOHN BRENNAN AMY: C.I.A.
CHIEF JOHN BRENNAN REJECTED THE STATEMENTS, SAYING REJECTED THE STATEMENTS, SAYING THERE COULD BE "NOTHING FURTHER THERE COULD BE "NOTHING FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH."
FROM THE TRUTH."
NOW THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING THE INVESTIGATING THE ALLEGATIONS.
ALLEGATIONS.
ED, UNTIL THIS WEEK, SENATOR ED, UNTIL THIS WEEK, SENATOR FEINSTEIN HAD BEEN A VERY FEINSTEIN HAD BEEN A VERY STRONG ALLY OF THE INTELLIGENCE STRONG ALLY OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY.
THIS SEEMED LIKE A STEPPING-OUT THIS SEEMED LIKE A STEPPING-OUT OF SORTS FOR HER.
OF SORTS FOR HER.
>> IT IS.
>> IT IS.
AMY: WASTE THE STORY HERE?
AMY: WASTE THE STORY HERE?
>> WE HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY >> WE HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION BACK TO THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS.
AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS.
REMEMBER THAT THE BUSH REMEMBER THAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTED ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTED ENHANCED INTERROGATION ENHANCED INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES OF TERRORISM TECHNIQUES OF TERRORISM SUSPECTS.
SUSPECTS.
THEN SENATOR OBAMA WAS A BIG THEN SENATOR OBAMA WAS A BIG CRITIC OF THIS.
CRITIC OF THIS.
AS PRESIDENT, HE IMMEDIATELY AS PRESIDENT, HE IMMEDIATELY ENDED THE PROGRAM.
ENDED THE PROGRAM.
AROUND THE SAME TIME THE SENATE AROUND THE SAME TIME THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE LAUNCHED INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION TO REVIEW WHAT AN INVESTIGATION TO REVIEW WHAT THE C.I.A.
HAD DONE.
THE C.I.A.
HAD DONE.
EVENTUALLY REPUBLICANS ON THE EVENTUALLY REPUBLICANS ON THE COMMITTEE BACKED OUT BECAUSE COMMITTEE BACKED OUT BECAUSE THEY REALIZED THAT C.I.A.
THEY REALIZED THAT C.I.A.
OPERATIVES WEREN'T GOING TO BE OPERATIVES WEREN'T GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS, SO AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS, SO THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A FLAWED REPORT.
FLAWED REPORT.
DEMOCRATS LED BY FEINSTEIN DEMOCRATS LED BY FEINSTEIN PLOWED ON.
PLOWED ON.
THEY WORKED OUT AN ARRANGEMENT THEY WORKED OUT AN ARRANGEMENT WITH THE C.I.A.
WHERE THEY WITH THE C.I.A.
WHERE THEY COULD VISIT A FACILITY HERE IN COULD VISIT A FACILITY HERE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, GO INTO THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA, GO INTO THE PAYMENT OF THAT BUILDING, USE A PAYMENT OF THAT BUILDING, USE A BUNCH OF COMPUTERS AND PERUSE BUNCH OF COMPUTERS AND PERUSE SIX MILLION DOCUMENTS ABOUT SIX MILLION DOCUMENTS ABOUT THIS SITUATION.
THIS SITUATION.
THERE WAS NO INDEX, THERE WAS THERE WAS NO INDEX, THERE WAS NO TABLE OF CONTENTS.
NO TABLE OF CONTENTS.
THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH IT THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH IT THEMSELVES AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THEMSELVES AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS THERE.
WAS THERE.
AT SOME POINT IN THE COURSE OF AT SOME POINT IN THE COURSE OF THIS INVESTIGATION, WHETHER THIS INVESTIGATION, WHETHER THEY GOT IT WILLINGLY, BY THEY GOT IT WILLINGLY, BY MISTAKE, OR FROM A MISTAKE, OR FROM A WHISTLEBLOWER, THE COMMITTEE WHISTLEBLOWER, THE COMMITTEE GOT ITS HANDS ON SOME OF THE GOT ITS HANDS ON SOME OF THE MOST SENSITIVE DOCUMENTS MOST SENSITIVE DOCUMENTS REGARDING THE INTERROGATION REGARDING THE INTERROGATION PROGRAM.
PROGRAM.
THAT PROMPTED THE C.I.A., AT THAT PROMPTED THE C.I.A., AT LEAST TWO POINTS, TO GO INTO LEAST TWO POINTS, TO GO INTO THOSE COMPUTERS AND TRY TO THOSE COMPUTERS AND TRY TO REMOVE SENSITIVE FILES AND REMOVE SENSITIVE FILES AND FIGURE OUT HOW IT IS THE FIGURE OUT HOW IT IS THE COMMITTEE GOT THOSE DOCUMENTS.
COMMITTEE GOT THOSE DOCUMENTS.
THAT IS WHAT SET OFF SENATOR THAT IS WHAT SET OFF SENATOR FEINSTEIN THIS WEEK.
FEINSTEIN THIS WEEK.
SHE SAID IF THE VIRGINIA DID DO SHE SAID IF THE VIRGINIA DID DO THIS, THEY'VE NOT ONLY VIOLATED THIS, THEY'VE NOT ONLY VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE OF POWERS, THEY'VE VIOLATED A LAW POWERS, THEY'VE VIOLATED A LAW THAT PROHIBITS SNOOPING ON THAT PROHIBITS SNOOPING ON COMPUTERS, AN EXECUTIVE ORDER COMPUTERS, AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT DOESN'T ALLOW THE C.I.A.
THAT DOESN'T ALLOW THE C.I.A.
TO DO THIS AND THEY'VE UPSET TO DO THIS AND THEY'VE UPSET THEIR BIGGEST CHAMPION, AT THEIR BIGGEST CHAMPION, AT LEAST IN THE SENATE, DIANNE LEAST IN THE SENATE, DIANNE FEINSTEIN.
FEINSTEIN.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
AMY: ISN'T IT THE JOB OF THE AMY: ISN'T IT THE JOB OF THE SENATE TO BE THE OVERSEER?
SENATE TO BE THE OVERSEER?
>> YES.
>> YES.
AMY: HOW COULD THE C.I.A.
SAY, AMY: HOW COULD THE C.I.A.
SAY, YOU CAN'T ACCESS THESE FILES, YOU CAN'T ACCESS THESE FILES, THESE ARE SECRET?
THESE ARE SECRET?
ISN'T EVERYTHING OPEN TO THE ISN'T EVERYTHING OPEN TO THE OVERSEER?
OVERSEER?
>> WELL, THAT'S THE ARGUMENT >> WELL, THAT'S THE ARGUMENT THAT FEINSTEIN AND HER THAT FEINSTEIN AND HER COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN MAKING.
COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN MAKING.
ALL OF THIS IS LEADING UP TO ALL OF THIS IS LEADING UP TO WHAT WE EXPECT WILL BE WHAT WE EXPECT WILL BE EVENTUALLY THE RELEASE OF A EVENTUALLY THE RELEASE OF A 6,000-PAGE REPORT THAT THEY'VE 6,000-PAGE REPORT THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE 2009.
BEEN WORKING ON SINCE 2009.
IT'S COST TAXPAYERS $50 MILLION IT'S COST TAXPAYERS $50 MILLION TO PUT THIS THING TOGETHER.
TO PUT THIS THING TOGETHER.
FEINSTEIN OBVIOUSLY EAGER TO DO FEINSTEIN OBVIOUSLY EAGER TO DO IT.
IT.
AND RELEASE OF IT MAY BE COMING AND RELEASE OF IT MAY BE COMING AT SOME POINT SOON.
AT SOME POINT SOON.
THE C.I.A.
HAS RECEIVED A DRAFT THE C.I.A.
HAS RECEIVED A DRAFT COPY OF IT, HAD SOME VERY COPY OF IT, HAD SOME VERY SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH IT, HAS SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH IT, HAS SENT THOSE BACK.
SENT THOSE BACK.
AND AFTER THEY SAW WHAT THE AND AFTER THEY SAW WHAT THE COMMITTEE HAD, WE BELIEVE IT'S COMMITTEE HAD, WE BELIEVE IT'S AT ONE POINT THAT THEY DID SOME AT ONE POINT THAT THEY DID SOME OF THIS SNOOPING.
OF THIS SNOOPING.
THE PROBLEM IS SHE NOW HAS TO THE PROBLEM IS SHE NOW HAS TO BRING MOST OF HER COLLEAGUES, BRING MOST OF HER COLLEAGUES, WHO ARE REPUBLICAN, UP TO WHO ARE REPUBLICAN, UP TO SPEED.
SPEED.
YOU TALK TO LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK YOU TALK TO LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK AND ALL THEOFM ARE CONCERNED AND ALL THEOFM ARE CONCERNED THAT EXECUTIVE BRANCH WOULD BE THAT EXECUTIVE BRANCH WOULD BE WITHHOLDING INFORMATION FROM WITHHOLDING INFORMATION FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.
THAT'S A BIG NO-NO.
THAT'S A BIG NO-NO.
BUT BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE IS BUT BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THE DETAILS, THEY AWARE OF THE DETAILS, THEY CAN'T SAY MUCH YET.
CAN'T SAY MUCH YET.
AS YOU POINTED OUT, THE JUSTICE AS YOU POINTED OUT, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW LOOKING INTO DEPARTMENT IS NOW LOOKING INTO ALL OF THIS.
ALL OF THIS.
>> SENATOR FEINSTEIN'S COUNTER >> SENATOR FEINSTEIN'S COUNTER PART CAME TO THE FLOOR AND PART CAME TO THE FLOOR AND MAYBE PUT THE BRAKES ON WHAT MAYBE PUT THE BRAKES ON WHAT FEINSTEIN SAID.
FEINSTEIN SAID.
WE KNOW ALL THE FACTS, LET'S WE KNOW ALL THE FACTS, LET'S NOT JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS AND NOT JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTED THAT THERE MAY BE AN SUGGESTED THAT THERE MAY BE AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR TO INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK INTO IT.
LOOK INTO IT.
IS THAT INEVITABLE?
IS THAT INEVITABLE?
>> I THINK PART OF IT IS WITHIN >> I THINK PART OF IT IS WITHIN THE COMMITTEE ITSELF, THEY'RE THE COMMITTEE ITSELF, THEY'RE ALL DISCUSSING THIS RIGHT NOW.
ALL DISCUSSING THIS RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING AT THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING AT LEAST.
LEAST.
AT SOME POINT OTHER SENATORS AT SOME POINT OTHER SENATORS WHO WERE NEVER PRIVY TO THIS WHO WERE NEVER PRIVY TO THIS INFORMATION MAY SAY WE HAVE TO INFORMATION MAY SAY WE HAVE TO HAVE A FULL AIRING OF THIS.
HAVE A FULL AIRING OF THIS.
IF THAT CONSTITUTIONAL IF THAT CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE WAS VIOLATED, THAT IS PRINCIPLE WAS VIOLATED, THAT IS A MORE SERIOUS CONCERN.
A MORE SERIOUS CONCERN.
SO IN ADDITION TO A JUSTICE SO IN ADDITION TO A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION, YES, DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION, YES, AT SOME POINT THERE VERY WELL AT SOME POINT THERE VERY WELL MAY BE SOME OTHER KIND OF MAY BE SOME OTHER KIND OF INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION.
>> ULTIMATELY, WHAT IS THE >> ULTIMATELY, WHAT IS THE C.I.A.
WORRIED ABOUT?
C.I.A.
WORRIED ABOUT?
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, HOW FAR WILL I MEAN, YOU KNOW, HOW FAR WILL THIS GO?
THIS GO?
LET'S SAY THESE ARE DOCUMENTS LET'S SAY THESE ARE DOCUMENTS THAT THEY HAD.
THAT THEY HAD.
IT ALSO SEEMS LIKE THE IT ALSO SEEMS LIKE THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SHOULD HAVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SHOULD HAVE HAD ACCESS TO ALL OF THEM.
HAD ACCESS TO ALL OF THEM.
WHAT DO THEY THINK IS GOING TO WHAT DO THEY THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN ONCE THIS REPORT COMES HAPPEN ONCE THIS REPORT COMES OUT?
OUT?
>> IF YOU'RE A FAN OF THE TV >> IF YOU'RE A FAN OF THE TV SHOW "HOMELAND" YOU'LL THINK SHOW "HOMELAND" YOU'LL THINK THIS IS PLAYING OUT IN REAL THIS IS PLAYING OUT IN REAL LIFE.
LIFE.
BUT THEY'RE REALLY WORRIED BUT THEY'RE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR REPUTATION.
ABOUT THEIR REPUTATION.
WE KNOW THIS INTERROGATION WE KNOW THIS INTERROGATION PROGRAM WAS A BLACK SPOT IN PROGRAM WAS A BLACK SPOT IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CERTAINLY FOR THE C.I.A.
FOR THE C.I.A.
WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH IT OR WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH IT OR NOT, IT IS CONTROVERSIAL AND IT NOT, IT IS CONTROVERSIAL AND IT HAS CAUSED A LOT OF ANGST ON HAS CAUSED A LOT OF ANGST ON CAPITOL HILL.
CAPITOL HILL.
THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT ALL THAT THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT ALL THAT HAVE GETTING OUT.
HAVE GETTING OUT.
THEY'RE ALSO WORRIED THAT SOME THEY'RE ALSO WORRIED THAT SOME OF THOSE DOCUMENTS MAY HAVE OF THOSE DOCUMENTS MAY HAVE REVEALED ACTUAL SOURCES OF THE REVEALED ACTUAL SOURCES OF THE C.I.A.
WORKING OVERSEAS.
C.I.A.
WORKING OVERSEAS.
SO THERE'S CONCERN THAT IT SO THERE'S CONCERN THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY VIOLATE SOME COULD POTENTIALLY VIOLATE SOME OF THEIR PROGRAMS.
OF THEIR PROGRAMS.
THAT'S, WE BELIEVE, PART OF THE THAT'S, WE BELIEVE, PART OF THE REASON WHY THE AGENCY CAME IN, REASON WHY THE AGENCY CAME IN, TO MAKE SURE THEY WEREN'T TO MAKE SURE THEY WEREN'T GETTING THAT INFORMATION.
GETTING THAT INFORMATION.
>> COULD GITMO GET SHUT DOWN?
>> COULD GITMO GET SHUT DOWN?
>> YOU THINK AHEAD TO ALL THE >> YOU THINK AHEAD TO ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COULD DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN.
HAPPEN.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, SOMEBODY FIRST AND FOREMOST, SOMEBODY MAY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.
MAY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.
JOHN BRENNAN MAY BE ON THE JOHN BRENNAN MAY BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK IF PRESIDENT CHOPPING BLOCK IF PRESIDENT OBAMA FEELS THAT THAT'S OBAMA FEELS THAT THAT'S NECESSARY.
NECESSARY.
BUT, YEAH, CONCEIVABLY IT COULD BUT, YEAH, CONCEIVABLY IT COULD ONE DAY GO ALL THE WAY TO ONE DAY GO ALL THE WAY TO ACTUALLY CLOSING THE PLACE ACTUALLY CLOSING THE PLACE WHERE ALL OF THESE DETAINEES WHERE ALL OF THESE DETAINEES WERE HELD.
WERE HELD.
AMY: THE WHITE HOUSE SEEMS TO AMY: THE WHITE HOUSE SEEMS TO BE SITTING ON THE SIDELINES.
BE SITTING ON THE SIDELINES.
DO YOU EXPECT THEY'LL HAVE TO DO YOU EXPECT THEY'LL HAVE TO ENGAGE A LITTLE BIT?
ENGAGE A LITTLE BIT?
>> HE ENGAGED A LITTLE BIT THIS >> HE ENGAGED A LITTLE BIT THIS WEEK, THE PRESIDENT DID, WEEK, THE PRESIDENT DID, BECAUSE HE SUPPORTS RELEASING BECAUSE HE SUPPORTS RELEASING THE REPORT.
THE REPORT.
BRENNAN WORKED ALONGSIDE HIM IN BRENNAN WORKED ALONGSIDE HIM IN THE WHITE HOUSE, REMEMBER.
THE WHITE HOUSE, REMEMBER.
HE'S AN AGENCY VETERAN AND NOW HE'S AN AGENCY VETERAN AND NOW HAS BEEN SENT BACK.
HAS BEEN SENT BACK.
AND THE PRESIDENT IS PRETTY AND THE PRESIDENT IS PRETTY CLOSE TO HIM.
CLOSE TO HIM.
HE DID SIGNAL HE'S WILLING TO HE DID SIGNAL HE'S WILLING TO SEE THAT REPORT RELEASED.
SEE THAT REPORT RELEASED.
WE EXPECT A VOTE ON THAT AS WE EXPECT A VOTE ON THAT AS EARLY AS THE END OF THE MONTHS.
EARLY AS THE END OF THE MONTHS.
YOU HAVE SEVEN DEMOCRATS ON THE YOU HAVE SEVEN DEMOCRATS ON THE COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE.
A VOTE TO DECLASSIFY THE A VOTE TO DECLASSIFY THE REPORT.
REPORT.
YOU HAVE A VOTE ON IT IN THE YOU HAVE A VOTE ON IT IN THE COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE.
SEVEN DEMOCRATS, AND ONE SEVEN DEMOCRATS, AND ONE INDEPENDENT AND HE HAS SIGNALED INDEPENDENT AND HE HAS SIGNALED HE MAY BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
HE MAY BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
ANOTHER SWING VOTE WOULD BE ANOTHER SWING VOTE WOULD BE SUSAN COLLINS WHO, TOLD ME SUSAN COLLINS WHO, TOLD ME SHE'S STILL LOOKING AT IT.
SHE'S STILL LOOKING AT IT.
BUT SHE DIDN'T RULE OUT BUT SHE DIDN'T RULE OUT POSSIBLY VOTING TO PUT IT OUT POSSIBLY VOTING TO PUT IT OUT THERE.
THERE.
AMY: WE'RE GOING TO TURN TO AMY: WE'RE GOING TO TURN TO POLITICS NOW.
POLITICS NOW.
REPUBLICANS SCORED A KEY REPUBLICANS SCORED A KEY VICTORY IN A HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY IN A HARD-FOUGHT CONGRESSIONAL RACE THIS WEEK IN CONGRESSIONAL RACE THIS WEEK IN FLORIDA THAT'S GETTING LOTS OF FLORIDA THAT'S GETTING LOTS OF NATIONAL ATTENTION.
NATIONAL ATTENTION.
REPUBLICAN DAVID JOLLY, A REPUBLICAN DAVID JOLLY, A FORMER LOBBYIST, WON A DISTRICT FORMER LOBBYIST, WON A DISTRICT THAT THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA CARRIED IN 2008 PRESIDENT OBAMA CARRIED IN 2008 AND 2012.
AND 2012.
DEMOCRATS INSIST LOW VOTER DEMOCRATS INSIST LOW VOTER TURNOUT WAS A KEY FACTOR IN THE TURNOUT WAS A KEY FACTOR IN THE DEFEAT.
DEFEAT.
REPUBLICANS SAY THE RESULTS ARE REPUBLICANS SAY THE RESULTS ARE A REFERENDUM ON THE AFFORDABLE A REFERENDUM ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
CARE ACT.
TAKE A LISTEN.
TAKE A LISTEN.
>> I WOULD ATTRIBUTE TO THE WIN >> I WOULD ATTRIBUTE TO THE WIN TO THE FACT THAT OUR CANDIDATE TO THE FACT THAT OUR CANDIDATE WAS FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES THAT WAS FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES THAT WERE MOST IMPORTANT TO THE WERE MOST IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE IN FLORIDA 13TH, AND PEOPLE IN FLORIDA 13TH, AND THAT'S THE ECONOMY AND JOBS, THAT'S THE ECONOMY AND JOBS, BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE STILL ASKING THE QUESTION, STILL ASKING THE QUESTION, WHERE ARE THE JOBS?
WHERE ARE THE JOBS?
>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE >> WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE OBSESSED WITH THIS ELECTION, OBSESSED WITH THIS ELECTION, BECAUSE AS EVEN THE BECAUSE AS EVEN THE REPUBLICANS SAID, IT DOES NOT REPUBLICANS SAID, IT DOES NOT DEFINE THE ENVIRONMENT, AND DEFINE THE ENVIRONMENT, AND EVEN DAVID JOLLY SAID THAT.
EVEN DAVID JOLLY SAID THAT.
THIS DISTRICT WILL BE IN PLAY THIS DISTRICT WILL BE IN PLAY IN NOVEMBER.
IN NOVEMBER.
AMY: SUE, YOU WERE IN FLORIDA A AMY: SUE, YOU WERE IN FLORIDA A FEW WEEKS AGO.
FEW WEEKS AGO.
IN THIS DISTRICT.
IN THIS DISTRICT.
TELL US WHY MANY PEOPLE TELL US WHY MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER THIS CONTEST A CONSIDER THIS CONTEST A BELLWETHER OF THE 2014 MIDTERM BELLWETHER OF THE 2014 MIDTERM ELECTIONS.
ELECTIONS.
IS THIS RACE A BELLWETHER?
IS THIS RACE A BELLWETHER?
?
?
THIS SERVED ALMOST AS SORT OF A THIS SERVED ALMOST AS SORT OF A CAMPAIGN TEST LAB FOR 2014.
CAMPAIGN TEST LAB FOR 2014.
IT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING MIX IT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING MIX OF A SWING DISTRICT HELD BY A OF A SWING DISTRICT HELD BY A REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN, CARRIED REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN, CARRIED TWICE BY A DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT, TWICE BY A DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT, ALMOST SPLIT EACHLY AMONG ALMOST SPLIT EACHLY AMONG DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS AND A INDEPENDENTS AND A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF WHITE VOTERS WHO TEND TO VOTE WHITE VOTERS WHO TEND TO VOTE IN MIDTERM ELECTION YEARS.
IN MIDTERM ELECTION YEARS.
IN THAT SENSE IT WAS A PERFECT IN THAT SENSE IT WAS A PERFECT STORM FOR BOTH PARTIES TO TEST STORM FOR BOTH PARTIES TO TEST THEIR CAMPAIGN MESSAGES TO SEE THEIR CAMPAIGN MESSAGES TO SEE WHAT WORKED, TO TRY THEIR GET WHAT WORKED, TO TRY THEIR GET OUT TO VOTE OPERATIONS.
OUT TO VOTE OPERATIONS.
IN THE ENDS REPUBLICANS CAME IN THE ENDS REPUBLICANS CAME OUT ON TOP.
OUT ON TOP.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE INTERESTING ABOUT THIS.
INTERESTING ABOUT THIS.
IT'S BEEN SEEN AS A REFERENDUM IT'S BEEN SEEN AS A REFERENDUM ON OBAMACARE.
ON OBAMACARE.
THERE IS CERTAINLY MORE THERE IS CERTAINLY MORE DYNAMICS TO THIS RACE, BUT I DYNAMICS TO THIS RACE, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DENY THAT DON'T THINK YOU CAN DENY THAT REPUBLICANS RAN ON A COLLECTIVE REPUBLICANS RAN ON A COLLECTIVE MESSAGE THAT OBAMACARE IS NOT MESSAGE THAT OBAMACARE IS NOT WORKING.
WORKING.
IT WAS NOT NECESSARILY IT WAS NOT NECESSARILY REPEALED, ALTHOUGH THE REPEALED, ALTHOUGH THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE SUPPORTS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE SUPPORTS REPEAL, BUT IT WAS A MESSAGE OF REPEAL, BUT IT WAS A MESSAGE OF DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT NOT DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT NOT WORKING AND BEING A CHECK ON WORKING AND BEING A CHECK ON BARACK OBAMA, AND THAT IS GOING BARACK OBAMA, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A COMPELLING MESSAGE THAT TO BE A COMPELLING MESSAGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM REPUBLICANS.
REPUBLICANS.
THE THING THAT DEMOCRATS NEED THE THING THAT DEMOCRATS NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT IN THIS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT IN THIS RACE IS THAT WHILE THEIR RACE IS THAT WHILE THEIR MESSAGE ON OBAMACARE APPEALS TO MESSAGE ON OBAMACARE APPEALS TO A LOT OF SWING VOTERS, THEY A LOT OF SWING VOTERS, THEY LIKE THAT INSURANCE COVERAGE LIKE THAT INSURANCE COVERAGE HAS BEEN EXPANDED, LET'S KEEP HAS BEEN EXPANDED, LET'S KEEP THE GOOD PARTS, THEIR BASE IS THE GOOD PARTS, THEIR BASE IS LET THARGIC.
LET THARGIC.
THE PEOPLE THEY NEED TO SHOUP, THE PEOPLE THEY NEED TO SHOUP, YOUNG PEOPLE, MINORITIES, YOUNG PEOPLE, MINORITIES, WOMEN, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE WOMEN, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE COALITION, DID NOT SHOW UP ON COALITION, DID NOT SHOW UP ON TUESDAY.
TUESDAY.
IF THESE PEOPLE DO NOT SHOW UP IF THESE PEOPLE DO NOT SHOW UP IN NOVEMBER, NOT ONLY DO IN NOVEMBER, NOT ONLY DO DEMOCRATS ALREADY FACE ALMOST DEMOCRATS ALREADY FACE ALMOST NO ODDS OF TAKING BACK THE NO ODDS OF TAKING BACK THE HOUSE, BUT SUDDENLY, I THINK IT HOUSE, BUT SUDDENLY, I THINK IT MAKES A REPUBLICAN TAKEOVER IN MAKES A REPUBLICAN TAKEOVER IN THE SENATE SEEM MUCH MORE THE SENATE SEEM MUCH MORE POSSIBLE AFTER TUESDAY'S POSSIBLE AFTER TUESDAY'S ELECTION, THAN IT DID BEFORE.
ELECTION, THAN IT DID BEFORE.
AMY: LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
AMY: LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
BECAUSE THE SENATE RACES, IF BECAUSE THE SENATE RACES, IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE CONTROL IS YOU LOOK AT WHERE CONTROL IS GOING TO BE DETERMINED, THEY'RE GOING TO BE DETERMINED, THEY'RE IN DISTRICTS -- I'M SORRY, IN DISTRICTS -- I'M SORRY, THEY'RE IN STATES THAT ARE A THEY'RE IN STATES THAT ARE A LOT MORE REPUBLICAN THAN THIS LOT MORE REPUBLICAN THAN THIS DISTRICT IN FLORIDA.
DISTRICT IN FLORIDA.
>> YES.
>> YES.
AMY: HOW DO DEMOCRATS HOLD ON?
AMY: HOW DO DEMOCRATS HOLD ON?
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE >> WELL, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE, AN YOU'VE SEEN IT GOING TO SEE, AN YOU'VE SEEN IT A LITTLE BIT ALREADY OF JUST A LITTLE BIT ALREADY OF JUST TRYING TO RILE UP THE BASE.
TRYING TO RILE UP THE BASE.
HEAR REID RECENTLY HAS TAKEN ON HEAR REID RECENTLY HAS TAKEN ON A VERY STRONG TACTIC AGAINST A VERY STRONG TACTIC AGAINST THE COKE BROTHERS AND OUTSIDE THE COKE BROTHERS AND OUTSIDE MONEY.
MONEY.
THAT IS A MESSAGE THAT YOU THAT IS A MESSAGE THAT YOU THINK, WELL, WHAT REGULAR THINK, WELL, WHAT REGULAR VOTERS DON'T CARE ABOUT VOTERS DON'T CARE ABOUT CAMPAIGN STUFF.
CAMPAIGN STUFF.
ABOUT THIS RALES UP THE DONOR ABOUT THIS RALES UP THE DONOR BASE, DEMOCRATIC-BASED VOTERS BASE, DEMOCRATIC-BASED VOTERS AND THEY ARE SNGOING TO SEE AND THEY ARE SNGOING TO SEE DEMOCRATS -- THE DEBATE OVER DEMOCRATS -- THE DEBATE OVER INCOME INQUALITY, THE MINIMUM INCOME INQUALITY, THE MINIMUM WAGE, SORT OF THESE WEDGE WAGE, SORT OF THESE WEDGE ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR MORE AND MORE ABOUT.
MORE AND MORE ABOUT.
THEY NEED SOMETHING TO PUT FIRE THEY NEED SOMETHING TO PUT FIRE UNDER THEIR VOTERS TO GET THEM UNDER THEIR VOTERS TO GET THEM ENGAGED AND INTERTED ESIN THE ENGAGED AND INTERTED ESIN THE ELECTION.
ELECTION.
THE OTHER THING THAT WAS THE OTHER THING THAT WAS INTERESTING FOR REPUBLICANS IN INTERESTING FOR REPUBLICANS IN THIS RACE.
THIS RACE.
WE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT THE WE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT THE DATA GAP, THAT BARACK OBAMA IN DATA GAP, THAT BARACK OBAMA IN THE 2008 CAMPAIGN AND WAVES THE 2008 CAMPAIGN AND WAVES ABLE TO DO.
ABLE TO DO.
DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THAT DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
CLOSE THAT GAP.
I TALKED TO REPUBLICANS THAT I TALKED TO REPUBLICANS THAT SAID THIS RACE TO THEM WAS A SAID THIS RACE TO THEM WAS A TEST CASE FOR NOT ONLY THEIR TEST CASE FOR NOT ONLY THEIR GET OUT THE VOTE OPERATION, BUT GET OUT THE VOTE OPERATION, BUT THEIR VOTER IDENTIFICATION, AND THEIR VOTER IDENTIFICATION, AND THEY ARE VERY PLEASED WITH WHAT THEY ARE VERY PLEASED WITH WHAT THEY SAW.
THEY SAW.
ALEX SINK IN EARLY VOTING, SHE ALEX SINK IN EARLY VOTING, SHE LED BY THOUSANDS OF VOTES.
LED BY THOUSANDS OF VOTES.
EARLY VOTING BENEFITS EARLY VOTING BENEFITS REPUBLICANS.
REPUBLICANS.
SHE STARTED THIS RACE AND IT SHE STARTED THIS RACE AND IT LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS GOING TO LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS GOING TO WIN THIS.
WIN THIS.
REPUBLICANS TURNED OUT THEIR REPUBLICANS TURNED OUT THEIR VOTERS.
VOTERS.
THEY GOT OUT ON ELECTION DAY THEY GOT OUT ON ELECTION DAY AND THEY VOTED, AND THAT IS AND THEY VOTED, AND THAT IS WHAT THEY NEED TO WORRY ABOUT.
WHAT THEY NEED TO WORRY ABOUT.
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT OBAMACARE, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT OBAMACARE, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SHOWING BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SHOWING UP.
UP.
ESDAY ARE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT ESDAY ARE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT WANT TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS.
WANT TO VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE COKE >> YOU MENTIONED THE COKE BROTHERS, WHO RUN ONE OF THESE BROTHERS, WHO RUN ONE OF THESE LARGE SUPER PACKS, SPENDING LARGE SUPER PACKS, SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, A LOT OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, A LOT OF MONEY DUMPED INTO THIS TAMPA MONEY DUMPED INTO THIS TAMPA DISTRICT, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T DISTRICT, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T SEEN A COMPETITIVE RACE SINCE SEEN A COMPETITIVE RACE SINCE THE 1960'S OR SO.
THE 1960'S OR SO.
BUT MOST OF IT WAS SPENT ON THE BUT MOST OF IT WAS SPENT ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.
DEMOCRATIC SIDE.
WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT THEIR INFLUENCE?
THEIR INFLUENCE?
>> WELL, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS >> WELL, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS YOU SEE THE OUTSIDE COMING IN, YOU SEE THE OUTSIDE COMING IN, IS LEFRL THE PLAYING FIELD.
IS LEFRL THE PLAYING FIELD.
ALEX SINK HAD A VERY STRONG ALEX SINK HAD A VERY STRONG FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE AS A FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE AS A CANDIDATE.
CANDIDATE.
ALMOST 3-16789 SHE HAD A BETTER ALMOST 3-16789 SHE HAD A BETTER ORGANIZATION.
ORGANIZATION.
OUTSIDE MONEY CAME IN.
OUTSIDE MONEY CAME IN.
THEY WERE SPLIT ALMOST EVENLY, THEY WERE SPLIT ALMOST EVENLY, $12 MILLION TOTAL, $6 MILLION $12 MILLION TOTAL, $6 MILLION EACH CANDIDATE.
EACH CANDIDATE.
IT'S MORE OF A CONTINUATION OF IT'S MORE OF A CONTINUATION OF SEEING THAT OUTSIDE MONEY SEEING THAT OUTSIDE MONEY GROUPS ARE AN UNBELIEVABLE GROUPS ARE AN UNBELIEVABLE FACTOR IN THESE ELECTIONS.
FACTOR IN THESE ELECTIONS.
CANDIDATES AREN'T CONTROLLING CANDIDATES AREN'T CONTROLLING THEIR MESSAGE AND THAT IF YOU THEIR MESSAGE AND THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ABILITY, AND WE DON'T HAVE AN ABILITY, AND WE SEE THE RISE OF DEMOCRATIC SEE THE RISE OF DEMOCRATIC GROUPS BECAUSE THEY REALIZE GROUPS BECAUSE THEY REALIZE THEY DON'T RESPOND TO THE THEY DON'T RESPOND TO THE OUTSIDE MONEY THAT REPUBLICANS OUTSIDE MONEY THAT REPUBLICANS STARTED IN 2010, THEN, YOU KNOW STARTED IN 2010, THEN, YOU KNOW -- THE PLAYING FIELD IN A WAY -- THE PLAYING FIELD IN A WAY HAS ALMOST BEEN LEVELED BUT THE HAS ALMOST BEEN LEVELED BUT THE INFLUENCE OF THE OUTSIDE MONEY INFLUENCE OF THE OUTSIDE MONEY ON BOTH SIDES, YOU JUST CANNOT ON BOTH SIDES, YOU JUST CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE THE MAGNITUDE OF UNDERESTIMATE THE MAGNITUDE OF IT.
IT.
>> IS THERE ANY SIGN THAT THE >> IS THERE ANY SIGN THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE ACTUALLY DOING DEMOCRATS ARE ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING TO GET OUT THEIR SOMETHING TO GET OUT THEIR BASE?
BASE?
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE YOUNG YOU TALKED ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE, SOME OF THE MINORITIES, PEOPLE, SOME OF THE MINORITIES, WHO ARE NOT AS LIKELY TO GO OUT WHO ARE NOT AS LIKELY TO GO OUT FOR MIDTERM ELECTIONS, OR CAN FOR MIDTERM ELECTIONS, OR CAN WE JUST SAY TODAY, CAN WE WE JUST SAY TODAY, CAN WE DECLARE AT THIS TABLE IT'S DECLARE AT THIS TABLE IT'S HOPELESS FOR THE DEMOCRATS AND HOPELESS FOR THE DEMOCRATS AND THE HOUSE?
THE HOUSE?
>> YOU NEVER KNOW.
>> YOU NEVER KNOW.
SIX MONTHS AGO WE WERE IN THE SIX MONTHS AGO WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GOVERNMENT MIDDLE OF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
SHUTDOWN.
IF YOU LOOKED AT POLLING IF YOU LOOKED AT POLLING NUMBERS, YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT NUMBERS, YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT DEMOCRATS WERE IN A GREAT DEMOCRATS WERE IN A GREAT POSITION.
POSITION.
THE ROLLOUT HAS NOT PLAYED TO THE ROLLOUT HAS NOT PLAYED TO THEIR FAVOR.
THEIR FAVOR.
SIX MONTHS FROM NOW -- IT'S SIX MONTHS FROM NOW -- IT'S POSSIBLE.
POSSIBLE.
ELECTIONS ARE FLUID.
ELECTIONS ARE FLUID.
BUT I THINK THE HEALTH CARE BUT I THINK THE HEALTH CARE MESSAGE IS ONE OF THE MOST -- MESSAGE IS ONE OF THE MOST -- HAS ONE OF THE STRONGEST HAS ONE OF THE STRONGEST STAYING POWERS.
STAYING POWERS.
AND I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE AND I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE REELING A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW.
REELING A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW.
THEY DON'T HAVE A UNIFIED THEY DON'T HAVE A UNIFIED MESSAGE.
MESSAGE.
THEY'RE RUNNING IN REALLY THEY'RE RUNNING IN REALLY DIFFICULT TERRITORY AND DIFFICULT TERRITORY AND REPUBLICANS, IN CONTRAST, HAVE REPUBLICANS, IN CONTRAST, HAVE A VERY UNIFIED MESSAGE.
A VERY UNIFIED MESSAGE.
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE AROUND THIS THANK YOU, EVERYONE AROUND THIS TABLE.
TABLE.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE YOU A FEW WE HAVE TO LEAVE YOU A FEW MINUTES EARLY TONIGHT TO GIVE MINUTES EARLY TONIGHT TO GIVE YOU THE CHANCE TO SUPPORT YOUR YOU THE CHANCE TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PBS STATION, WHICH, IN LOCAL PBS STATION, WHICH, IN TURN, SUPPORTS US.
TURN, SUPPORTS US.
BUT OUR CONVERSATION CONTINUES BUT OUR CONVERSATION CONTINUES ONLINE, ON THE "WASHINGTON ONLINE, ON THE "WASHINGTON WEEK" WEEK" WEBCAST EXTRA.
WEBCAST EXTRA.
WE'LL TALK MORE UKRAINE, MORE WE'LL TALK MORE UKRAINE, MORE POLITICS, AND TELL YOU ABOUT POLITICS, AND TELL YOU ABOUT THE FORMER MASSACHUSETTS THE FORMER MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR SCOTT BROWN'S BIG SENATOR SCOTT BROWN'S BIG ANNOUNCEMENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ANNOUNCEMENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TODAY.
TODAY.
THAT STREAMS LIVE AT 8:30 THAT STREAMS LIVE AT 8:30 EASTERN TIME AND ALL WEEKEND EASTERN TIME AND ALL WEEKEND LONG AT LONG AT PBS.ORG/WASHINGTONWEEK.
PBS.ORG/WASHINGTONWEEK.
GWEN IFILL WILL BE BACK NEXT GWEN IFILL WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.
WEEK.
AND FROM ALL OF US HERE, GOOD AND FROM ALL OF US HERE, GOOD NIGHT.