GWEN: MITT ROSM SHOCKS THE G.O.P.
BY DROPPING OUT BEFORE G.O.P.
BY DROPPING OUT BEFORE HE DROPPED IN.
HE DROPPED IN.
PLUS THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS PLUS THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS AND ITS FAVORITE THINGS.
AND ITS FAVORITE THINGS.
KEYSTONE, BENGHAZI, HEALTH KEYSTONE, BENGHAZI, HEALTH CARE, AND DEBATING ERIC ON "WAS" CARE, AND DEBATING ERIC ON "WAS" MITT'S OUT.
MITT'S OUT.
>> AFTER SPENDING CONSIDERABLE >> AFTER SPENDING CONSIDERABLE THOUGHT INTO MAKING ANOTHER RUN THOUGHT INTO MAKING ANOTHER RUN FOR PRESIDENT I'VE DECIDED IT'S FOR PRESIDENT I'VE DECIDED IT'S BEST TO GIVE OTHER LEADERS IN BEST TO GIVE OTHER LEADERS IN THE PARTY THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE PARTY THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME OUR NEXT NOMINEE.
AND TH BECOME OUR NEXT NOMINEE.
AND TH COMPETITION GROWS EVEN MORE COMPETITION GROWS EVEN MORE INTENSE.
INTENSE.
AS HOPEFULS COMPETE FOR CASH, AS HOPEFULS COMPETE FOR CASH, ATTENTION, AND THE CHANCE TO ATTENTION, AND THE CHANCE TO HONE THEIR AUMEN AGAST HONE THEIR AUMEN AGAST HILLARY CLINTON.
HILLARY CLINTON.
>> YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT >> YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE DISLIKE ABOUT PEOPLE DISLIKE ABOUT WASHINGTON, SHEMBIES IT.
WASHINGTON, SHEMBIES IT.
GWEN: ON CAPITOL HILL GWEN: ON CAPITOL HILL AZI, AND MENTS.
EVEN OUTGOING ATTORNEY GENERAL EVEN OUTGOING ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER.
ERIC HOLDER.
>> YOU'RE NOT ERIC HOLDER, ARE >> YOU'RE NOT ERIC HOLDER, ARE YOU?
YOU?
>> NO, I'M NOT, SIR.
>> NO, I'M NOT, SIR.
GWEN: MEAN WHILE, THE PRESIDENT GWEN: MEAN WHILE, THE PRESIDENT COURTS OLD ALLIES ABROAD.
COURTS OLD ALLIES ABROAD.
>> INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES >> INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES ARE NOT JUST NATURAL PARTNERS.
ARE NOT JUST NATURAL PARTNERS.
BEST BEST GWEN: AS HIS FOREIGN POLICY GWEN: AS HIS FOREIGN POLICY TEAM STRUGGLES TO DEFANG NEW TEAM STRUGGLES TO DEFANG NEW THREATS.
THREATS.
>> WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU >> WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU MAKE CONCESSIONS TO TERRORISTS, MAKE CONCESSIONS TO TERRORISTS, IT PUTS MORE AMERICAN CITIZENS IT PUTS MORE AMERICAN CITIZENS AT RISK, PAYING RANSOMS AND AT RISK, PAYING RANSOMS AND NEGOTIATING CAN DO THAT.
NEGOTIATING CAN DO THAT.
GWEN: CHALLENGES, FOREIGN AND GWEN: CHALLENGES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
DOMESTIC.
ON POLICY AND POLITICS.
ON POLICY AND POLITICS.
WE EXPLORE TONIGHT WITH DAN WE EXPLORE TONIGHT WITH DAN BALZ, CHIEF CORRESPONDENT FOR BALZ, CHIEF CORRESPONDENT FOR "THE WASHINGTON POST."
"THE WASHINGTON POST."
JEFF ZELENY, SENIOR WASHINGTON JEFF ZELENY, SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT FOR ABC NEWS.
CORRESPONDENT FOR ABC NEWS.
NANCY YOUSSEF, SENIOR NATIONAL NANCY YOUSSEF, SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT FOR "THE SECURITY CORRESPONDENT FOR "THE DAILY BEAST."
DAILY BEAST."
AND PETER BAKER, CHIEF WHITE AND PETER BAKER, CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT FOR "THE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT FOR "THE NEW YORK TIMES.
"NG AND NEW YORK TIMES.
"NG AND HAPPENS.
COVERINGRY AS HAPPENS.
COVERINGRY AS LIVE FM OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, LIVE FM OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL."
ONCE AGAIN, LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN IFILL.
IFILL.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
WELL, WE GOT A LITTLE MORE WELL, WE GOT A LITTLE MORE CLARITY ON THE 2016 FRONT CLARITY ON THE 2016 FRONT TODAY.
TODAY.
MITT ROSM WHO ACCORDING TO -- MITT ROSM WHO ACCORDING TO -- ROMNEY WHO ACCORDING TO NEARLY ROMNEY WHO ACCORDING TO NEARLY EVERY ACCOUNT WAS PERCHED AT EVERY ACCOUNT WAS PERCHED AT THE EDGE.
THE EDGE.
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN DIVING PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN DIVING BOARD, STEPPED BACK.
BOARD, STEPPED BACK.
HERE'S A BIT OF WHAT HE SAID TO HERE'S A BIT OF WHAT HE SAID TO POTENTIAL SUPPORTERS ON A POTENTIAL SUPPORTERS ON A CONFERENCE CALL THIS MORNING.
CONFERENCE CALL THIS MORNING.
>> I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF OUR >> I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF OUR NICKS GENERATION OF REPUBLICAN NICKS GENERATION OF REPUBLICAN -- NEXT GENERATION OF -- NEXT GENERATION OF REPUBLICAN LEADERS AND ONE WHO REPUBLICAN LEADERS AND ONE WHO MAY NOT BE AS WELL-KNOWN AS I MAY NOT BE AS WELL-KNOWN AS I AM TODAY AND ONE WHO HAS NOT AM TODAY AND ONE WHO HAS NOT TAKEN A MESSAGE ACROSS THE TAKEN A MESSAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ONE WHO'S JUST COUNTRY AND ONE WHO'S JUST GETTING STARTED MAY WELL EMERGE GETTING STARTED MAY WELL EMERGE AS BEING BETTER ABLE TO DEFEAT AS BEING BETTER ABLE TO DEFEAT THE DEMOCRAT NOMINEE.
THE DEMOCRAT NOMINEE.
IN FACT, I EXPECT AND HOPE THAT IN FACT, I EXPECT AND HOPE THAT TO BE THE CASE.
TO BE THE CASE.
GWEN: IT WAS AN INTERESTING GWEN: IT WAS AN INTERESTING CALL TO PARSE THE WORDS BECAUSE CALL TO PARSE THE WORDS BECAUSE DURING THE COURSE OF IT ROMNEY DURING THE COURSE OF IT ROMNEY APPEARED TO ACKNOWLEDGE TWO APPEARED TO ACKNOWLEDGE TWO HOME TRUTHS.
HOME TRUTHS.
THAT POLLS SHOW HIM OUT IN THAT POLLS SHOW HIM OUT IN FRONT, FOR NOW.
FRONT, FOR NOW.
AND THAT THAT COULD CHANGE IN AND THAT THAT COULD CHANGE IN HEARTBEAT.
HEARTBEAT.
DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING ELSE IN DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING ELSE IN THAT, DAN?
THAT, DAN?
>> GWEN, IT WAS A HUGE SURPRISE >> GWEN, IT WAS A HUGE SURPRISE THREE WEEKS AGO WHEN HE THREE WEEKS AGO WHEN HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GOING TO ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GOING TO CONSIDER THIS.
CONSIDER THIS.
AND IN MANY WAYS IT WAS ALMOST AND IN MANY WAYS IT WAS ALMOST AS BIG OF SURPRISE THIS MORNING AS BIG OF SURPRISE THIS MORNING WHEN HE ANNOUNCED AFTER ONLY WHEN HE ANNOUNCED AFTER ONLY THREE WEEKS HE'S OUT OF IT.
THREE WEEKS HE'S OUT OF IT.
IN TALKING TO HIS PEOPLE OVER IN TALKING TO HIS PEOPLE OVER THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN HOURS AS THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN HOURS AS WE WERE TRYING TO DIG INTO WE WERE TRYING TO DIG INTO THIS, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THIS, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT CAME OUT.
THINGS THAT CAME OUT.
ONE WAS HE DIDN'T MAKE THIS ONE WAS HE DIDN'T MAKE THIS DECISION BECAUSE HE DIDN'T DECISION BECAUSE HE DIDN'T STILL WANT TO BE PRESIDENT.
STILL WANT TO BE PRESIDENT.
HE STILL WOULD LIKE TO BE HE STILL WOULD LIKE TO BE PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT.
HE DIDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE HE HE DIDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T THINK HE COULD RAISE THE DIDN'T THINK HE COULD RAISE THE MONEY.
MONEY.
HE THOUGHT HE COULD DO THAT.
HE THOUGHT HE COULD DO THAT.
HE DIDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE HE HE DIDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T THINK HE WAS IN A VERY DIDN'T THINK HE WAS IN A VERY STRONG POSITION STARTING OUT.
STRONG POSITION STARTING OUT.
TWO PEOPLE SAID THAT THE REASON TWO PEOPLE SAID THAT THE REASON ULTIMATELY THAT HE MADE THIS ULTIMATELY THAT HE MADE THIS DECISION WAS THAT HE KIND OF DECISION WAS THAT HE KIND OF LOOKED AT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO LOOKED AT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO WIN THE NOMINATION AND WIN THE NOMINATION AND CONCLUDED THAT BY THE TIME HE CONCLUDED THAT BY THE TIME HE GOT THROUGH THAT PROCESS, HE GOT THROUGH THAT PROCESS, HE WAS LIKELY GOING TO BE BEATEN WAS LIKELY GOING TO BE BEATEN UP BY THAT PROCESS THAT HE UP BY THAT PROCESS THAT HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE A VERY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME WINNING THE HE'S DIFFICULT TIME WINNING THE HE'S STAY OUT OF IT.
STAY OUT OF IT.
GWEN: ISN'T THAT TRUE FOR GWEN: ISN'T THAT TRUE FOR ALMOST ANY REPUBLICAN IN A RACE ALMOST ANY REPUBLICAN IN A RACE THIS WIDE OPEN AND WITH THIS THIS WIDE OPEN AND WITH THIS MANY PARTICIPANTS?
MANY PARTICIPANTS?
THAT IN ORDER TO GET TO THE THAT IN ORDER TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN CHALLENGE POINT WHERE YOU CAN CHALLENGE HILLARY CLINTON, YOU COULD BE HILLARY CLINTON, YOU COULD BE PRETTY MUCH TARRED.
PRETTY MUCH TARRED.
>> EVERYBODY WILL GO THROUGH >> EVERYBODY WILL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS IS GOING TO GET THE PROCESS IS GOING TO GET HURT BY IT.
HURT BY IT.
ALTHOUGH IN MANY THE ALTHOUGH IN MANY THE ULTIMATE WINNER COMES OUT ULTIMATE WINNER COMES OUT ENHANCED IN PEOPLE'S EYES ENHANCED IN PEOPLE'S EYES BECAUSE THEY'VE GONE THROUGH A BECAUSE THEY'VE GONE THROUGH A DIFFICULT PROCESS.
DIFFICULT PROCESS.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO GOVERNOR BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO GOVERNOR ROMNEY IS IN THE TIME BETWEEN ROMNEY IS IN THE TIME BETWEEN WHEN HE MADE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WHEN HE MADE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT A FEW WEEKS AGO OF HIS A FEW WEEKS AGO OF HIS INTEREST, UNTIL SOMETIME LATE INTEREST, UNTIL SOMETIME LATE OVER THE WEEKEND, WHEN HE OVER THE WEEKEND, WHEN HE ACTUALLY MADE THE DECISION THAT ACTUALLY MADE THE DECISION THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO RUN HE GOT HE WASN'T GOING TO RUN HE GOT PULLED BACK INTO THAT MAW.
PULLED BACK INTO THAT MAW.
AND HE REALIZED AS SOMEBODY AND HE REALIZED AS SOMEBODY SAID TODAY, THE MEMORIES OF SAID TODAY, THE MEMORIES OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIM THE WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HIM THE LAST TIME HAD KIND OF BLURRED.
LAST TIME HAD KIND OF BLURRED.
AND IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS, HE AND IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS, HE WAS THE TARGET OF ALL KINDS OF WAS THE TARGET OF ALL KINDS OF CRITICISM.
CRITICISM.
FROM A ACROSS THE BOARD.
FROM A ACROSS THE BOARD.
WHETHER IT WAS REPUBLICANS, WHETHER IT WAS REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, PUNDITS, SOMEBODY SA DEMOCRATS, PUNDITS, SOMEBODY SA SLINGS AND ARROWS OVER THE LAST SLINGS AND ARROWS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS WERE AIMED STRICTLY FEW WEEKS WERE AIMED STRICTLY AT HIM.
AT HIM.
AND THIS NOTION OF WHAT IT WAS AND THIS NOTION OF WHAT IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE SUDDENLY GOING TO BE LIKE SUDDENLY BECAME SHARPLY ETCHED IN HIS BECAME SHARPLY ETCHED IN HIS MIND AGAIN.
MIND AGAIN.
>> AS YOU KNOW, DAN, HE WAS THE >> AS YOU KNOW, DAN, HE WAS THE LEADER IN THE EARLY POLLS.
LEADER IN THE EARLY POLLS.
LARGELY BECAUSE OF NAME LARGELY BECAUSE OF NAME RECOGNITION.
RECOGNITION.
WITH SOME OF HIS WITH SOME OF HIS LOOKING AT SOME OF HIS OWN LOOKING AT SOME OF HIS OWN INTERNAL POLLING OR DIFFERENT INTERNAL POLLING OR DIFFERENT POLLING OTHER THAN PUBLIC POLLING OTHER THAN PUBLIC POLLING.
POLLING.
WHAT WAS HE LOOKING AT WHAT WAS HE LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY OVER THE LAST SPECIFICALLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS?
COUPLE OF WEEKS?
HE'S A NUMBERS GUY.
HE'S A NUMBERS GUY.
HE'S -- HE LOVES DATA.
HE'S -- HE LOVES DATA.
>> THIS IS SO INTERESTING.
>> THIS IS SO INTERESTING.
THERE IS A ROMNEY DONOR THERE IS A ROMNEY DONOR UNNAMED, WE COULD NOONOR YET WH UNNAMED, WE COULD NOONOR YET WH HAD CONVINCED HIMSELF THAT HAD CONVINCED HIMSELF THAT ROMNEY WAS NOT GOING TO RUN AS ROMNEY WAS NOT GOING TO RUN AS THE STORY WAS TOLD TO ME.
THE STORY WAS TOLD TO ME.
AND HAD THEREFORE GONE OUT AND AND HAD THEREFORE GONE OUT AND COMMISSIONED HIS OWN POLLING TO COMMISSIONED HIS OWN POLLING TO TRY TO GET A SENSE OF HOW TRY TO GET A SENSE OF HOW PEOPLE VIEWED THE WHOLE FIELD.
PEOPLE VIEWED THE WHOLE FIELD.
ROMNEY INCLUDED.
ROMNEY INCLUDED.
AND THAT HE HAD DONE THIS AND THAT HE HAD DONE THIS I DON'T KNOW THIS FOR SURE.
I DON'T KNOW THIS FOR SURE.
HE TOOK POLLS IN I WAS TOLD HE TOOK POLLS IN I WAS TOLD ALMOSTTATES.
ALMOSTTATES.
GWEN: WOW.
GWEN: WOW.
>> AND SHARED THIS WITH THE >> AND SHARED THIS WITH THE CAMPAIGN.
CAMPAIGN.
AND THE ROMNEY PEOPLE SAY IN AND THE ROMNEY PEOPLE SAY IN THREE OF THE FOUR EARLY STATES, THREE OF THE FOUR EARLY STATES, ROMNEY HAD A STRONG LEAD.
ROMNEY HAD A STRONG LEAD.
THE FOURTH ONE HE WAS THE FOURTH ONE HE WAS COMPETITIVE IN.
COMPETITIVE IN.
AND THAT IN ALL OF THE OTHER AND THAT IN ALL OF THE OTHER STATES, HE WAS IN VERY GOOD STATES, HE WAS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE.
SHAPE.
HAD DOUBLE DIGIT LEADS IN A HAD DOUBLE DIGIT LEADS IN A NUMBER OF THEM.
NUMBER OF THEM.
AS WE ALL KNOW, POLLS TAKEN AT AS WE ALL KNOW, POLLS TAKEN AT THIS TIME CAN CHANGE VERY THIS TIME CAN CHANGE VERY QUICKLY.
QUICKLY.
BUT NONETHELESS, THEY LOOKED AT BUT NONETHELESS, THEY LOOKED AT THAT, AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT, AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THEY SAID WAS WHO HAS -- IT'S THEY SAID WAS WHO HAS -- IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY BUT WHO NOT GOING TO BE EASY BUT WHO HAS AN EASIER PATH TO THE HAS AN EASIER PATH TO THE NOMINATION THAN ROMNEY?
NOMINATION THAN ROMNEY?
AND THEY WEREN'T CONVINCED THAT AND THEY WEREN'T CONVINCED THAT ANYBODY HAD AN EASIER PATH TO ANYBODY HAD AN EASIER PATH TO THE NOMINATION.
THE NOMINATION.
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, RIGHT?
RIGHT?
WHAT DOES THIS DO TO THE RACE?
WHAT DOES THIS DO TO THE RACE?
ROMNEY IS OUT.
ROMNEY IS OUT.
DOES THAT CLEAR IT MORE FOR JEB DOES THAT CLEAR IT MORE FOR JEB AND BRING CHRIS CHRISTIE IN OR AND BRING CHRIS CHRISTIE IN OR CREATE A PATH FOR SOMEBODY ELSE CREATE A PATH FOR SOMEBODY ELSE AT THIS POINT?
AT THIS POINT?
>> YOU KNOW, PETER, I THINK THE >> YOU KNOW, PETER, I THINK THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YES, YES, ANSWER TO THAT IS YES, YES, YES.
YES.
IT'S CERTAINLY GOOD FOR JEB IT'S CERTAINLY GOOD FOR JEB BUSH IN THE SHORT RUN.
BUSH IN THE SHORT RUN.
HE'S NOW THE PERSON WITH THE HE'S NOW THE PERSON WITH THE BIGGNA PROBABLY THE BIGGNA PROBABLY THE ABILITY TO RAISE THE MOST ABILITY TO RAISE THE MOST AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND HE WILL BE SEEN AS THE AND HE WILL BE SEEN AS THE FRONTRUNNER.
FRONTRUNNER.
AND HE CAN TRY TO CONSOLIDATE AND HE CAN TRY TO CONSOLIDATE THAT POSITION IN A WAY THAT THAT POSITION IN A WAY THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DIFFICULT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DIFFICULT HAD ROMNEY BEEN IN THE RACE.
HAD ROMNEY BEEN IN THE RACE.
EVERYBODY ASSUMED THAT IF EVERYBODY ASSUMED THAT IF ROMNEY AND JEB BUSH WERE IN THE ROMNEY AND JEB BUSH WERE IN THE RACE, THE PERSON HURT MOST WAS RACE, THE PERSON HURT MOST WAS CHRIS CHRISTIE.
CHRIS CHRISTIE.
BECAUSE THEY WERE RAISING MONEY BECAUSE THEY WERE RAISING MONEY FROM THE SAME ESTABLISHMENT FROM THE SAME ESTABLISHMENT DONORS.
DONORS.
THEY WERE GOING AFTER MANY OF THEY WERE GOING AFTER MANY OF THE SAME VOTERS.
THE SAME VOTERS.
SO THE SECOND ASSUMPTION IS SO THE SECOND ASSUMPTION IS CHRIS CHRISTIE IS HELPED BY CHRIS CHRISTIE IS HELPED BY THIS.
THIS.
AND CHRISTIE'S PEOPLE CLEARLY AND CHRISTIE'S PEOPLE CLEARLY BELIEVE THAT TODAY.
BELIEVE THAT TODAY.
THEY ARE QUITE HAPPY AT WHAT THEY ARE QUITE HAPPY AT WHAT HAPPENED.
HAPPENED.
BUT AS ROMNEY SAID IN HIS BUT AS ROMNEY SAID IN HIS STATEMENT, THIS OPENS UP AN STATEMENT, THIS OPENS UP AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS WHO ARE OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS WHO ARE LESS WELL-KNOWN TO BEGIN TO LESS WELL-KNOWN TO BEGIN TO SHINE.
SHINE.
AND I THINK WE WILL SEE SOME AND I THINK WE WILL SEE SOME MORE ATTENTION ON SOME OF THEM.
MORE ATTENTION ON SOME OF THEM.
SCOTT WALKER FOR BEING ONE, FOR SCOTT WALKER FOR BEING ONE, FOR EXAMPLE.
EXAMPLE.
GWEN: WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GWEN: WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THAT.
TALK ABOUT ALL OF THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TALKING WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS ONLINE IN THE ABOUT THIS ONLINE IN THE WEBCAST BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY WEBCAST BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY MORE DOMINOES TO FALL AS A MORE DOMINOES TO FALL AS A RESULT OF THIS DECISION.
RESULT OF THIS DECISION.
I CAN'T WAIT TO FIND OUT MORE.
I CAN'T WAIT TO FIND OUT MORE.
SO AS REPUBLICANS BEGIN TO SORT SO AS REPUBLICANS BEGIN TO SORT OUT THEIR PRESIDENTIAL FIELD OUT THEIR PRESIDENTIAL FIELD THE PARTY'S CONGRESSIONAL THE PARTY'S CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ARE TRYING TO SORT OUT LEADERS ARE TRYING TO SORT OUT THEIR OWN STRATEGY.
THEIR OWN STRATEGY.
THIS WEEK AT LEAST, THE GOAL THIS WEEK AT LEAST, THE GOAL SEEMS TO BE COMPLETING SEEMS TO BE COMPLETING UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
SO THERE WERE PLANS TO VOTE SO THERE WERE PLANS TO VOTE ONCE AGAIN ON OBAMACARE, AND ONCE AGAIN ON OBAMACARE, AND MEETINGS ON BENGHAZI AND A MEETINGS ON BENGHAZI AND A CONFIRMATION GRILLING FOR CONFIRMATION GRILLING FOR LORETTA LYNCH, THE PRESIDENT'S LORETTA LYNCH, THE PRESIDENT'S CHOICE TO SUCCEED ATTORNEY CHOICE TO SUCCEED ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER.
GENERAL ERIC HOLDER.
>> HOW DO WE KNOW YOU'RE NOT >> HOW DO WE KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PERFORM YOUR DUTIES OF GOING TO PERFORM YOUR DUTIES OF OFFICE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL THE OFFICE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL THE WAY ERIC HOLDER HAS PERFORMED WAY ERIC HOLDER HAS PERFORMED HIS DUTIES?
HIS DUTIES?
>> I WILL BE MYSELF.
>> I WILL BE MYSELF.
I WILL BE LORETTA LYNCH.
I WILL BE LORETTA LYNCH.
GWEN: IS THIS FOCUS ON THE PAST GWEN: IS THIS FOCUS ON THE PAST PART OF THE G.O.P.
LEADERSHIP PART OF THE G.O.P.
LEADERSHIP STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE?
STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE?
>> NO QUESTION IT IS.
>> NO QUESTION IT IS.
WE'RE ONE MONTH INTO THE NEW WE'RE ONE MONTH INTO THE NEW REPUBLICAN MAJORITY INTO THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY INTO THE CONGRESS AND IT DOES SEEM LIKE CONGRESS AND IT DOES SEEM LIKE BACK TO THE FUTURE AND SO MUCH BACK TO THE FUTURE AND SO MUCH UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND TRYING UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND TRYING TO DO A LOT OF THINGS AND ONE TO DO A LOT OF THINGS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE TRYING TO OF THE THINGS THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS KEEP THEIR BASE UNIFIED DO IS KEEP THEIR BASE UNIFIED AND THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS AND THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS THROW IN REPEAL OBAMACARE VOTE THROW IN REPEAL OBAMACARE VOTE EVERY NOW AND THEN AND THROW IN EVERY NOW AND THEN AND THROW IN SOMETHING FOR THE BASE, SOME SOMETHING FOR THE BASE, SOME RED MEAT.
RED MEAT.
BUT WHAT ALSO IS GOING ON, THE BUT WHAT ALSO IS GOING ON, THE SENATE ACTUALLY PASSED A BILL SENATE ACTUALLY PASSED A BILL THE OTHER NIGHT.
THE OTHER NIGHT.
WHICH IS KIND OF A BIG DEAL.
WHICH IS KIND OF A BIG DEAL.
GWEN: YEAH.
GWEN: YEAH.
>> IT WAS -- IT WAS TO CALL FOR >> IT WAS -- IT WAS TO CALL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE KEYSTONE X.L.
PIPELINE BUT THAT KEYSTONE X.L.
PIPELINE BUT THAT CAME AFTER PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY CAME AFTER PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY DEBATED ON THE SENATE FLOOR.
DEBATED ON THE SENATE FLOOR.
WHICH AGAIN DOESN'T SOUND LIKE WHICH AGAIN DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A BIG DEAL BUT MORE THAN ALL OF A BIG DEAL BUT MORE THAN ALL OF LAST YEAR COMBINED.
LAST YEAR COMBINED.
WHAT WE SAW, I WAS SITTING IN WHAT WE SAW, I WAS SITTING IN THE CHAMBER UP THEREESE VOTE-A- THE CHAMBER UP THEREESE VOTE-A- WERE VOTING ON 12 OR 15 WERE VOTING ON 12 OR 15 AMENDMENTS AT A TIME.
AMENDMENTS AT A TIME.
THE SENATORS WERE TALKING TO THE SENATORS WERE TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER.
ONE ANOTHER.
BECAUSE THEY WERE LOCKED ON THE BECAUSE THEY WERE LOCKED ON THE SENATE FLOOR TALKING TO ONE SENATE FLOOR TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER.
ANOTHER.
FASCINATING.
FASCINATING.
WE DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THAT IN WE DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THAT IN 2013 OR 2014.
2013 OR 2014. WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL BE?
WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL BE?
AND THERE IS SOME PROGRESS.
AND THERE IS SOME PROGRESS.
BUT'M FRUSTRATION BUT'M FRUSTRATION BY HOUSE CONSERVATIVES MORE BY HOUSE CONSERVATIVES MORE THAN ANYTHING.
THAN ANYTHING.
AND SPEAKER BOEHNER EVEN SAID AND SPEAKER BOEHNER EVEN SAID LIKE WE'VE HAD SOME FEW BUMPS LIKE WE'VE HAD SOME FEW BUMPS IN THE ROAD HERE.
IN THE ROAD HERE.
A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT HE A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BRING THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BRING UP FOR A VOTE.
UP FOR A VOTE.
HAVEN'T MATERIALIZED AND HAVEN'T MATERIALIZED AND IMMIGRATION IS STILL IMMIGRATION IS STILL UNRESOLVED.
UNRESOLVED.
THAT'S THE NEW BIG FIGHT.
THAT'S THE NEW BIG FIGHT.
GWEN: EVEN AFTER ALL THE GWEN: EVEN AFTER ALL THE QUESTIONING OF LORETTA LYNCH, QUESTIONING OF LORETTA LYNCH, SHE CAME OFF SWELLING PRETTY SHE CAME OFF SWELLING PRETTY GOOD AFTER IT WAS ALL SAID AND GOOD AFTER IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE.
DONE.
>> I THOUGHT NO QUESTION.
>> I THOUGHT NO QUESTION.
I WAS IN THAT HEARING AND I WAS IN THAT HEARING AND WATCHING THE HEARINGS.
WATCHING THE HEARINGS.
AND SHE HANDLED HERSELF VERY AND SHE HANDLED HERSELF VERY WELL DO ALL THESE QUESTIONS.
WELL DO ALL THESE QUESTIONS.
SHE'S NOT ERIC HOLDER.
SHE'S NOT ERIC HOLDER.
AND THEY'RE GLAD SHE'S NOT ERIC AND THEY'RE GLAD SHE'S NOT ERIC HOLDER AND SHE'S NOT BARACK HOLDER AND SHE'S NOT BARACK OBAMA.
OBAMA.
SO THAT'S WHAT SO MANY HOURS, SO THAT'S WHAT SO MANY HOURS, SO MANY QUESTIONSIT WAS ABOUT T SO MANY QUESTIONSIT WAS ABOUT T MORE THAN THE ANSWER.
MORE THAN THE ANSWER.
SHE WAS NOT REALLY DEFENDING SHE WAS NOT REALLY DEFENDING ERIC HOLDER OR DEFENDING THE ERIC HOLDER OR DEFENDING THE POLICIES OF THE OBAMA POLICIES OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION.
I WOULD BE STUNNED AT THIS I WOULD BE STUNNED AT THIS POINT IF SHE'S NOT CONFIRMED POINT IF SHE'S NOT CONFIRMED AND ONLY TAKES TWO REPUBLICANS AND ONLY TAKES TWO REPUBLICANS TO VOTE FOR HER ON COMMITTEE TO TO VOTE FOR HER ON COMMITTEE TO SEND IT TO THE FLOOR.
SEND IT TO THE FLOOR.
I THINK SHE'S SAILING TO -- I THINK SHE'S SAILING TO -- GWEN: ORIN HATCH -- GWEN: ORIN HATCH -- >> UNLESS SOMETHING COMES OUT >> UNLESS SOMETHING COMES OUT THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
>> I'M CURIOUS HOW THIS IS >> I'M CURIOUS HOW THIS IS AFFECTING HER RELATIONSHIP WITH AFFECTING HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BASE AND HOW THEY'RE GOING THE BASE AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR BASE IN.
TO GET THEIR BASE IN.
WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN ON THAT WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN ON THAT FRONT?
FRONT?
>> IT SEEMS LIKE ON THE >> IT SEEMS LIKE ON THE SURFACE, THAT THINGS ARE CALMER SURFACE, THAT THINGS ARE CALMER THAN THEY ACTUALLY ARE.
THAN THEY ACTUALLY ARE.
SO MANY HOUSE REPUBLICAN SO MANY HOUSE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS I TALKED TO ARE STILL MEMBERS I TALKED TO ARE STILL HEARING SO MANY PHONE CALLS HEARING SO MANY PHONE CALLS FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND DISTRICTS LARGELY BECAUSE OF DISTRICTS LARGELY BECAUSE OF WHAT SPEAKER BOEHNER IS DOING WHAT SPEAKER BOEHNER IS DOING ON IMMIGRATION.
ON IMMIGRATION.
WE THOUGHT IMMIGRATION WAS WE THOUGHT IMMIGRATION WAS RESOLVED.
RESOLVED.
BUT THAT'S THE ONE KEY PIECE OF BUT THAT'S THE ONE KEY PIECE OF THE FUNDING DISPUTE STILL OUT THE FUNDING DISPUTE STILL OUT THERE.
THERE.
AND BY FEBRUARY 27, BY THE END AND BY FEBRUARY 27, BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, THEY HAVE TO OF THIS MONTH, THEY HAVE TO RESOLVE THE FUNDING FOR THE RESOLVE THE FUNDING FOR THE HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT.
HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT.
AND REPUBLICANS WANT SOME AND REPUBLICANS WANT SOME AGGRESSIVE PUSHBACK ON THE AGGRESSIVE PUSHBACK ON THE PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE ACTION ON PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION.
IMMIGRATION.
AND IT'S NOT HAPPENING YET.
AND IT'S NOT HAPPENING YET.
SO SPEAKER BOEHNER SAID THIS SO SPEAKER BOEHNER SAID THIS WEEK I'LL FILE A LAWSUIT.
WEEK I'LL FILE A LAWSUIT.
THE HOUSE WILL FILE A LAWSUIT THE HOUSE WILL FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT ON THIS.
AGAINST THE PRESIDENT ON THIS.
WELL, THESE LAWSUITS ARE WELL, THESE LAWSUITS ARE BEGINNING TO STACK UP LIKE BLUE BEGINNING TO STACK UP LIKE BLUE RIBBON STUDIES OR COMMISSIONS.
RIBBON STUDIES OR COMMISSIONS.
SO MANY LAWSUITS.
SO MANY LAWSUITS.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR SOME THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR SOME MEMBERS.
MEMBERS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS CONFRONTATION, PARTICULARLY ON CONFRONTATION, PARTICULARLY ON THE HOUSE SIDE FROM SOME PEOPLE THE HOUSE SIDE FROM SOME PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT SOME AGGRESSIVE WHO REALLY WANT SOME AGGRESSIVE ACTION AGAINST THIS PRESIDENT.
ACTION AGAINST THIS PRESIDENT.
>> HOW ARE DEMOCRATS HANDLING >> HOW ARE DEMOCRATS HANDLING THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOW THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOW TOTALLY IN THE MINORITY?
TOTALLY IN THE MINORITY?
>> SOME OF THEM ARE STILL >> SOME OF THEM ARE STILL LICKING THEIR WOUNDS AND OTHERS LICKING THEIR WOUNDS AND OTHERS ARE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
ARE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
NINE DEMOCRATS VOTED WITH NINE DEMOCRATS VOTED WITH REPUBLICANS ON THE KEYSTONE REPUBLICANS ON THE KEYSTONE X.L.
PIPELINE.
X.L.
PIPELINE.
THAT WAS INTERESTING.
THAT WAS INTERESTING.
YOU CAN SEE THE ONES WHO ARE UP YOU CAN SEE THE ONES WHO ARE UP FOR RE-ELECTION.
FOR RE-ELECTION.
AND IT'S FOSTERING SOME THING AND IT'S FOSTERING SOME THING THIS WEEK, WAS ON THE -- THIS WEEK, WAS ON THE -- SANCTIONS FOR -- SANCTIONS FOR -- GWEN: IRAN?
GWEN: IRAN?
>> THE IRAN SANCTIONS.
>> THE IRAN SANCTIONS.
SENATOR MENDEZ, THE FORMER SENATOR MENDEZ, THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE FOREIGN CHAIRMAN OF THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE HE WAS RELATIONS COMMITTEE HE WAS BUCKING THE WHITE HOUSE BUCKING THE WHITE HOUSE INITIALLY BUT HE AND NINE OTHER INITIALLY BUT HE AND NINE OTHER DEMOCRATS SIGNED A LETTER AND DEMOCRATS SIGNED A LETTER AND SAID OK, WE'LL GO WITH YOU.
SAID OK, WE'LL GO WITH YOU.
SO THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO SO THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THEY SHOULD PLAY FIND OUT IF THEY SHOULD PLAY WITH THE WHITE HOUSE ENTIRELY, WITH THE WHITE HOUSE ENTIRELY, SORT OF PLAY WITH REPUBLICANS A SORT OF PLAY WITH REPUBLICANS A LITTLE BIT.
LITTLE BIT.
AND THEY'RE STILL FINDING THEIR AND THEY'RE STILL FINDING THEIR WAY.
WAY.
BUT LARGELY THEY'RE NOT AS BUT LARGELY THEY'RE NOT AS RELEVANT AS THEY WOULD BE IN RELEVANT AS THEY WOULD BE IN THE MAJORITY.
THE MAJORITY.
>> WHERE DO WE GO WITH >> WHERE DO WE GO WITH IMMIGRATION?
IMMIGRATION?
DO WE SEE A PATH THAT GETS THEM DO WE SEE A PATH THAT GETS THEM SOMEPLACE THAT MAKES THEM SOMEPLACE THAT MAKES THEM HAPPY?
HAPPY?
AND THE PRESIDENT IS NOT GOING AND THE PRESIDENT IS NOT GOING TO SIGN ANYTHING THAT LIMITS TO SIGN ANYTHING THAT LIMITS HIS ABILITY TO ENACT THE ORDER HIS ABILITY TO ENACT THE ORDER HE ALREADY SIGNED.
HE ALREADY SIGNED.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PATH >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PATH IS.
IS.
AND SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL AND SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW, EITHER.
SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW, EITHER.
THE SENATE IS NOT GOING TO PASS THE SENATE IS NOT GOING TO PASS THIS HOUSE BILL.
THIS HOUSE BILL.
THEY HAVE TO FUND THE THEY HAVE TO FUND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
SECURITY.
SO I DON'T SEE WHAT THE OPTIONS SO I DON'T SEE WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE.
ARE.
THEY BACKED THEMSELVES INTO A THEY BACKED THEMSELVES INTO A CORNER.
CORNER.
IN A BOX.
IN A BOX.
KIND OF THEIR OWN DOING.
KIND OF THEIR OWN DOING.
AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THEY AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THEY CAN DO THAT WILL SATISFY CAN DO THAT WILL SATISFY CONSERVATIVES WHO ARE SO CONSERVATIVES WHO ARE SO FURIOUS AT THIS POINT.
FURIOUS AT THIS POINT.
GWEN: THERE'S THE CUBA ISSUE GWEN: THERE'S THE CUBA ISSUE WHICH WILL COME UP BEFORE THEM.
WHICH WILL COME UP BEFORE THEM.
ANOTHER CHALLENGE.
ANOTHER CHALLENGE.
>> AND THE POLITICS ARE SO >> AND THE POLITICS ARE SO INTERESTING.
INTERESTING.
SLICANS SLICANS SENDING A LETTER TO THE WHITE SENDING A LETTER TO THE WHITE HOUSE SAYING WE SUPPORT THE HOUSE SAYING WE SUPPORT THE LIFTING OF THE TRAVEL BAN.
LIFTING OF THE TRAVEL BAN.
WE SUPPORT THE ENDING OF THE WE SUPPORT THE ENDING OF THE EMBARGO.
EMBARGO.
THE POLITICS OF THIS ARE NOT THE POLITICS OF THIS ARE NOT RED AND BLUE AND LARGELY FARM RED AND BLUE AND LARGELY FARM STATE VERSUS FLORIDA AND OTHER STATE VERSUS FLORIDA AND OTHER THINGS.
THINGS.
A FASCINATING, FASCINATING A FASCINATING, FASCINATING DYNAMIC UP THERE.
DYNAMIC UP THERE.
GWEN: ABSOLUTELY.
GWEN: ABSOLUTELY.
THANKS, JEFF.
THANKS, JEFF.
ON THE FOREIGN POLICY FRONT, ON THE FOREIGN POLICY FRONT, THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS WATCHING CLOSELY.
WATCHING CLOSELY.
ON THE SIDELINES, BUT NOT ON THE SIDELINES, BUT NOT REALLY.
REALLY.
AS THE ISLAMIC STATE GROUP AS THE ISLAMIC STATE GROUP CONTINUES TO FLEX ITS MUSCLES.
CONTINUES TO FLEX ITS MUSCLES.
FIRST, DEMANDING MONEY, THEN A FIRST, DEMANDING MONEY, THEN A PRISONER SWAP IN EXCHANGE FOR PRISONER SWAP IN EXCHANGE FOR HOSTAGES FROM JAPAN AND JORDAN.
HOSTAGES FROM JAPAN AND JORDAN.
BUT IT IS THE U.S., BUT IS THE BUT IT IS THE U.S., BUT IS THE U.S. REALLY ON THE SIDELINES, U.S. REALLY ON THE SIDELINES, NANCY?
NANCY?
>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF >> WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS GOING ON PRIVATELY.
DISCUSSIONS GOING ON PRIVATELY.
BECAUSE THE U.S. IS IN AN BECAUSE THE U.S. IS IN AN INCREDIBLY TRICKY SITUATION.
INCREDIBLY TRICKY SITUATION.
THE U.S.
POSITION WOULD BE THAT THE U.S.
POSITION WOULD BE THAT YOU SHOULDN'T NEGOTIATE WITH YOU SHOULDN'T NEGOTIATE WITH THE ISLAMIC STATE.
THE ISLAMIC STATE.
BY DOING SO, YOU ELEVATE THEM.
BY DOING SO, YOU ELEVATE THEM.
WE HAVE THE ISLAMIC STATE WE HAVE THE ISLAMIC STATE NEGOTIATING WITH THE NEGOTIATING WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
GOVERNMENT.
HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT AND SOME HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT AND SOME WOULD ARGUE CAPTIVE IN AND OF WOULD ARGUE CAPTIVE IN AND OF ITSELF.
ITSELF.
THE OTHER ARGUMENT IS THEY ARE THE OTHER ARGUMENT IS THEY ARE ENCOURAGING MORE KIDNAPPINGS ENCOURAGING MORE KIDNAPPINGS LIKE THIS AND THEE LIKE THIS AND THEE ENCOURAGING OTHER GOVERNMENTS ENCOURAGING OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE ISLAMIC TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE ISLAMIC STATE.
STATE.
BUT PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, BUT PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, JORDAN AND JAPAN HAVE THEIR OWN JORDAN AND JAPAN HAVE THEIR OWN DOMESTIC POLITICS AT PLAY.
DOMESTIC POLITICS AT PLAY.
AND THEY WANT THEIR CITIZENS AND THEY WANT THEIR CITIZENS BACK.
BACK.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE AND SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE UNITED STATES SAYING WE UNITED STATES SAYING WE WOULDN'T DO IT THIS WAY.
WOULDN'T DO IT THIS WAY.
BUT -- BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUT -- BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET INTO FEAR WITH WHAT THESE GET INTO FEAR WITH WHAT THESE OTHER NATIONS ARE DOING.
OTHER NATIONS ARE DOING.
BUT WITH GREAT HESITATION AND BUT WITH GREAT HESITATION AND ANXIOUSNESS ABOUT WHERE THIS IS ANXIOUSNESS ABOUT WHERE THIS IS GOING AND WHAT IT HOW GOING AND WHAT IT HOW THE COALITION OF 60 PLUS THE COALITION OF 60 PLUS COUNTRIES DEALS WITH THIS COUNTRIES DEALS WITH THIS PROBLEM.
PROBLEM.
GWEN: AS WE SIT HERE TONIGHT GWEN: AS WE SIT HERE TONIGHT DEADLINES HAVE PAST.
DEADLINES HAVE PAST.
WITH THE THREATS OF EXECUTING WITH THE THREATS OF EXECUTING -- NOT ONLY THE JORDANIAN -- NOT ONLY THE JORDANIAN HOSTAGE BUT ALSO FOR THE SWAP.
HOSTAGE BUT ALSO FOR THE SWAP.
THIS WHOLE PLAN.
THIS WHOLE PLAN.
DOES THAT -- DOES THAT MEAN DOES THAT -- DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE ARE WAITING LIKE ON THAT WE ARE WAITING LIKE ON PINS AND NEEDLES TO SEE WHAT PINS AND NEEDLES TO SEE WHAT JORDAN DOES?
JORDAN DOES?
WHAT JAPAN DOES?
WHAT JAPAN DOES?
AND WHETHER THAT WILL VEER AWAY AND WHETHER THAT WILL VEER AWAY FROM WHAT THE U.S.
WANTS THEM FROM WHAT THE U.S.
WANTS THEM TO DO?
TO DO?
>> WELL, THE CHALLENGE FOR BOTH >> WELL, THE CHALLENGE FOR BOTH JORDAN AND JAPAN, PARTICULARLY JORDAN AND JAPAN, PARTICULARLY JORDAN BECAUSE ONE OF THE JORDAN BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE ISLAMIC STATE THINGS THAT THE ISLAMIC STATE HAS SAID IS THEY WANT THE HAS SAID IS THEY WANT THE RELIEF OF A JORDANIAN PRISONER RELIEF OF A JORDANIAN PRISONER IN EXCHANGE FOR THESE TWO IN EXCHANGE FOR THESE TWO PRISONERS.
PRISONERS.
SO THE PRESSURE IS REALLY ON SO THE PRESSURE IS REALLY ON JORDAN.
JORDAN.
AND SO ONE OF THE CHALLENGES AND SO ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE CONFRONTING IS THAT THEY'RE CONFRONTING IS IT'S NOT SO MUCH WHAT THEY'RE IT'S NOT SO MUCH WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
GOING TO DO.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN MET WITH BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN MET WITH SILENCE.
SILENCE.
WE HEARD FROM JORDANIAN WE HEARD FROM JORDANIAN OFFICIALS.
OFFICIALS.
THEY HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING.
THEY HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING.
GWEN: THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW IF GWEN: THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE PILOT IS ALIVE.
THE PILOT IS ALIVE.
>> THEY ASKED FOR PROOF OF >> THEY ASKED FOR PROOF OF LIFE.
LIFE.
WE'LL MAKE THE DEAL WITH YOU.
WE'LL MAKE THE DEAL WITH YOU.
BUT WE WANT PROOF OF LIFE.
BUT WE WANT PROOF OF LIFE.
AND WE WILL GIVE YOU THIS AND WE WILL GIVE YOU THIS PRISONER.
PRISONER.
AND THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT.
AND THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT.
AND IN JAPAN THE SPOKESMAN COME AND IN JAPAN THE SPOKESMAN COME OUT AND SAY WE HAVE NO UPDATES.
OUT AND SAY WE HAVE NO UPDATES.
SO EVERYBODY IS ON PINS AND SO EVERYBODY IS ON PINS AND NEEDLES BUT FRANKLY, AND IT'S NEEDLES BUT FRANKLY, AND IT'S PAINFUL TO SAY THIS UT THE BALL PAINFUL TO SAY THIS UT THE BALL IS IN THE SLAM HE CAN STATE'S IS IN THE SLAM HE CAN STATE'S COURT TO DECIDE -- ISLAMIC COURT TO DECIDE -- ISLAMIC STATE COURT TO DECIDE WHAT THEY STATE COURT TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT DONE.
WANT DONE.
>> THE PRISONER FROM JORDAN A >> THE PRISONER FROM JORDAN A FEMALE WOULD-BE SUICIDE BOMBER FEMALE WOULD-BE SUICIDE BOMBER BUT DIDN'T EXPRESS GREAT BUT DIDN'T EXPRESS GREAT INTEREST IN HEFO INTEREST IN HEFO ASHWAI.NAME IS SEJI S ASHWAI.NAME IS SEJI S SHE ATTEMPTED TO STRIKE A HOTEL SHE ATTEMPTED TO STRIKE A HOTEL AND THREE HOTELS HIT IN THEIR AND THREE HOTELS HIT IN THEIR 9-11 AND ALMOST 60 PEOPLE 9-11 AND ALMOST 60 PEOPLE KILLED AND A FAILED SUICIDE KILLED AND A FAILED SUICIDE BOMBER.
BOMBER.
AT THE TIME SHE WAS KIND OF AT THE TIME SHE WAS KIND OF CONSIDERED A LOSER FRANKLY CONSIDERED A LOSER FRANKLY BECAUSE SHE WAS THIS ILLITERATE BECAUSE SHE WAS THIS ILLITERATE WOMAN WHO HAD FAILED TO CARRY WOMAN WHO HAD FAILED TO CARRY OUT THE ATTACK AND WHO HAD RUN OUT THE ATTACK AND WHO HAD RUN AWAY AND HIDDEN.
AWAY AND HIDDEN.
AND THE HEAD OF THE AL QAEDA AT AND THE HEAD OF THE AL QAEDA AT THE TIME HAD BOASTED THAT THEY THE TIME HAD BOASTED THAT THEY HAD A WOMAN SUICIDE BOMBER ONLY HAD A WOMAN SUICIDE BOMBER ONLY TO DISCOVER SHE HAD RUN AWAY.
TO DISCOVER SHE HAD RUN AWAY.
AND SO WE HADN'T HEARD ABOUT AND SO WE HADN'T HEARD ABOUT HER FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
HER FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
SHE HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH SHE HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT OLD AL QAEDA THAT HAS THAT OLD AL QAEDA THAT HAS BECOME THE ISLAMIC STATE.
BECOME THE ISLAMIC STATE.
AND SHE HAS EMERGED IN THE LAST AND SHE HAS EMERGED IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS IF YOU WILL AS A FEW WEEKS IF YOU WILL AS A SYMBOL FOR THE ISLAMIC STATE.
SYMBOL FOR THE ISLAMIC STATE.
AND ONE OTHER SORT OF OLD AND ONE OTHER SORT OF OLD SCHOOL MEMBER THAT SUDDENLY SCHOOL MEMBER THAT SUDDENLY THAT THEY WANT TO SEE RELEASED.
THAT THEY WANT TO SEE RELEASED.
>> HOW MUCH IS THIS CAUSING THE >> HOW MUCH IS THIS CAUSING THE COALITION TO FRAY?
SEE.
COALITION TO FRAY?
SEE.
IT'S CAUSING GREAT IT'S CAUSING GREAT CONSTERNATION IF YOU WILL CONSTERNATION IF YOU WILL BECAUSE HOW DOES -- IF THE BECAUSE HOW DOES -- IF THE JORDANIAN IS KILLED, HOW DOES JORDANIAN IS KILLED, HOW DOES JORDAN STAY IN THE COALITION?
JORDAN STAY IN THE COALITION?
OR WHAT IF THE ISLAMIC STATE OR WHAT IF THE ISLAMIC STATE WERE TO SAY, OK, WE'LL GIVE YOU WERE TO SAY, OK, WE'LL GIVE YOU BACK YOUR PILOT AS LONG AS YOU BACK YOUR PILOT AS LONG AS YOU LEAVE THE COALITION?
LEAVE THE COALITION?
AND SO IT'S HARD TO SEE HOW AND SO IT'S HARD TO SEE HOW SOME OF THESE STATES STAY.
SOME OF THESE STATES STAY.
IN JAPAN THERE WAS GREAT IN JAPAN THERE WAS GREAT AGITATION THAT ITS GOVERNMENT AGITATION THAT ITS GOVERNMENT WAS ENTERING INTO THIS WAS ENTERING INTO THIS INNLY TO INNLY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN.
HAVE THIS HAPPEN.
SO IT'S -- THE NEXT FEW DAYS SO IT'S -- THE NEXT FEW DAYS ARE GOTO ARE GOTO AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.
AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.
HOW THE DOMESTIC POLITICS PLAY HOW THE DOMESTIC POLITICS PLAY WITHIN THOSE COUNTRIES.
WITHIN THOSE COUNTRIES.
AND HOW THE PUBLIC REACTS.
AND HOW THE PUBLIC REACTS.
AND HOW THESE COUNTRIES ADJUST AND HOW THESE COUNTRIES ADJUST THEMSELVES BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THEMSELVES BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, FOR THEM, IT'S CAUSED GREAT FOR THEM, IT'S CAUSED GREAT STRESS WITHIN THEIR COUNTRIES.
STRESS WITHIN THEIR COUNTRIES.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE DOMESTIC >> WHAT ABOUT THE DOMESTIC POLITICS OF A JORDAN AND JAPAN POLITICS OF A JORDAN AND JAPAN IN THIS?
IN THIS?
THERE ARE DIFFERENCENESS HOW THERE ARE DIFFERENCENESS HOW THAT ARE DEALING WITH IT AND THAT ARE DEALING WITH IT AND RAISED QUESTIONS HERE ABOUT HOW RAISED QUESTIONS HERE ABOUT HOW SHOULD WE NEGOTIATE?
SHOULD WE NEGOTIATE?
SHOULD WE GIVE RANSOMS?
SHOULD WE GIVE RANSOMS?
WHAT ABOUT THEIR DOMESTIC WHAT ABOUT THEIR DOMESTIC POLITICS?
POLITICS?
GWEN: IN OUR DOMESTIC POLITICS GWEN: IN OUR DOMESTIC POLITICS INVOLVING THE FAMILIES OF THESE INVOLVING THE FAMILIES OF THESE HOSTAGES.
HOSTAGES.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
IN JORDAN IN PARTICULAR IT'S IN JORDAN IN PARTICULAR IT'S QUITE INTERESTING.
QUITE INTERESTING.
KING ABDULLAH ALLOWED SPEEM TO KING ABDULLAH ALLOWED SPEEM TO PROTEST -- PEOPLE TO PROTEST IN PROTEST -- PEOPLE TO PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE ROYAL PALACE FRONT OF THE ROYAL PALACE CHANTING THEY WANTED THEIR SON CHANTING THEY WANTED THEIR SON BACK AND NO ARREST WHICH IS BACK AND NO ARREST WHICH IS EXTRAORDINARY AND SPEAKS TO EXTRAORDINARY AND SPEAKS TO THEIR EFFORT TO LET THE STEAM THEIR EFFORT TO LET THE STEAM OUT A LITTLE BIT.
OUT A LITTLE BIT.
SAFI , HIS FATHER, THE SAFI , HIS FATHER, THE PRISONER'S FATHER, HAS COME OUT PRISONER'S FATHER, HAS COME OUT IN FRONT OF THE PALACE AND IN FRONT OF THE PALACE AND DEMANDED HIS RELEASE.
DEMANDED HIS RELEASE.
AND ONE GETS THE SENSE THAT AND ONE GETS THE SENSE THAT AGITATED WITH THE U.S. AGITATED WITH THE U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN.
INVOLVEMENT IN.
THIS THEY'RE FEELING WHEN WE THIS THEY'RE FEELING WHEN WE GET INVOLVED IN THE FIRST IRAQ GET INVOLVED IN THE FIRST IRAQ VEGAS IN 2003 OUR THREE HOTELS VEGAS IN 2003 OUR THREE HOTELS WERE HIT AND WE GET INVOLVED WERE HIT AND WE GET INVOLVED AND HAVE A PRISONER EXCHANGE.
AND HAVE A PRISONER EXCHANGE.
SO THERE'S GREAT PRESSURE ON SO THERE'S GREAT PRESSURE ON KING ABDULLAH, A FORCEFUL VOICE KING ABDULLAH, A FORCEFUL VOICE IN SUPPORT OF GOING AGAINST THE IN SUPPORT OF GOING AGAINST THE ISLAMIC STATE.
ISLAMIC STATE.
AND IN JAPAN, WHAT WE'RE REALLY AND IN JAPAN, WHAT WE'RE REALLY SEEING AS A DEBATE HAPPENING, SEEING AS A DEBATE HAPPENING, WHETHER PRIME MINISTER PUSH TO WHETHER PRIME MINISTER PUSH TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN GET MORE INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS BACKFIRED.
BACKFIRED.
GWEN: POWER ALLIES IN A TOUGH GWEN: POWER ALLIES IN A TOUGH POSITION WHICH WE WILL SEE POSITION WHICH WE WILL SEE HAPPEN IN OUR NEXT STORY HAPPEN IN OUR NEXT STORY BECAUSE A WHITE HOUSE BECAUSE A WHITE HOUSE TRAVELOGUE THAT SHEDS LIGHT ON TRAVELOGUE THAT SHEDS LIGHT ON FOREIGN POLICY.
FOREIGN POLICY.
IN NO WAY LIKE A STATE IN NO WAY LIKE A STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING CAN CHANGE, DEPARTMENT BRIEFING CAN CHANGE, EVEN HEAD ARVES WERE ALL ON EVEN HEAD ARVES WERE ALL ON THE FORMAL AND INFORMAL AGENDA THE FORMAL AND INFORMAL AGENDA THIS WEEK.
THIS WEEK.
A DETOUR TO SAUDI ARABIA TO PAID HIS RESPECTS TO THE SAUDI PAID HIS RESPECTS TO THE SAUDI ROYAL FAMILY.
ROYAL FAMILY.
WHAT WERE THE GOALS FOR THE WHAT WERE THE GOALS FOR THE TRIP?
TRIP?
PETER, AND WHAT ACTUALLY PETER, AND WHAT ACTUALLY