Show Highlights

On this morning’s show, House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) and Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) joined Candy to talk about the continued fallout from the September 11^th attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, as well as this week’s conflict between Israel and Hamas.

After President Obama’s White House meeting with congressional leaders, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) discussed the prospects of a bipartisan solution to prevent the economy falling off the so-called “fiscal cliff.”

Making his second appearance in as many weeks, former Commerce Secretary and Romney campaign advisor, Carlos Gutierrez returned to tell Candy about his new immigration-focused Super PAC which also aims to help Republicans appeal to minority voters. 

Finally, we had a lively breakdown of the week’s news at home and abroad with Jackie Calmes of the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal’s Jerry Seib and CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. 

Rep. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-Ranking Member, Intelligence Committee) on the conflict between Israel and Hamas

“I think clearly Israel has a right to defend itself. And they have to do whatever they have to do to protect their citizens. We have to remember in the United States, it's as if Washington, D.C. was being attacked from the state of Maryland. So it's very, very serious what's happening there. I think as far as the Arab Spring, clearly the dynamic has changed. And I think that the United States now is looking to [Egyptian President] Morsi to use his influence with Hamas to get them to stop shooting the missiles. Hopefully you could take advantage of this negative situation and start talking about peace. History shows that is unlikely at this point.”

Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) on the Benghazi consulate attack

BLUNT: “It's also clear that there had to be some planning. I mean, the first people are killed really early at the mission, but it's six or seven hours later before the other two people are killed a mile and a half away. That clearly was something that intended to happen. It wasn't seven hours later. People get excited again. We knew that. And we knew that from the very start.”

CROWLEY: “So, you basically think that it was put out there because they didn't want to have the direct conversation about this being a terrorist attack.”

BLUNT: “Well, I think until you hear a better explanation that's the only conclusion you could reach.”

Senator Dick Durbin (D-Assistant Majority Leader) on the fiscal cliff negotiations

“What I hear is a perceptible change in rhetoric from the other side. And what it is is an invitation for our side to basically sit down and say, “What can we do for this country?” Push the special interest groups to one side for the moment. What I hear the President saying is “We’re not gonna solve this by asking the wealthiest to pay their fair share but it will be part of the solution.” And what I hear from the Republican side is “Well, what is the rest of the solution?” That is the beginning of a negotiation. It’s an indication that the election had an impact on all of us.

Rep. Tom Price (R-Policy Committee Chairman) on increasing taxes

“Tax increases to chase ever higher spending is a fool's errand. What we need to do is have that balanced approach that we’ve all been talking about, which again is increasing revenues through a process of tax reform and then spending reductions. We’ve had four straight years of trillion dollar plus deficits; you can’t continue this and have economic vitality, which is what we actually need. Pro-growth policies to get this economy rolling, get jobs created again.”

VIDEO LINKS

Ruppersberger and Blunt on conflict in the Middle East

http://wp.me/p1zIBN-1fR

Ruppersberger and Blunt on Benghazi

http://wp.me/p1zIBN-1fT

Sen. Durbin and Rep. Price

http://wp.me/p1zIBN-1g2

Carlos Gutierrez

http://wp.me/p1zIBN-1g6

Panel on Petraeus

http://wp.me/p1zIBN-1fZ

Panel on Fiscal Cliff

http://wp.me/p1zIBN-1fX

TSA’s Thanksgiving Travel Tips

http://wp.me/p1zIBN-1fO

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