Transcripts For CNNW Crossfire 20140508

In the middle of all of that. Chad, well stay in touch with you. Were following new developments in the search for flight 370. Passengers families are making new demands for raw data from the investigation while some of those relatives are starting to get insurance payouts. Our aviation correspondent rene marsh has the very latest. Wolf, millions of dollars have been dolled out to these families. It is giving them the financial footing that they need to begin to move forward, but for some of these families, accepting this money means accepting the harsh reality their loved ones are no longer alive. Even if no sign of the plane or proof of the passengers fate, malaysian Life Insurance companies are starting to pay out. I think the presumption of death under these circumstances is appropriate and it allows some of these families to at least financially move forward. Reporter citing extraordinary circumstances, the company shelled out 4 million u. S. Dollars to families. This is from personal Life Insurance policies, separate from airline compensation. The airline really should be sprinkling out and paying up the maximum amount. Reporter but payouts arent enough. In a new open letter, families demanded the raw data that led search teams to the south indian ocean and input on what happens next. Australia, china, and malaysia are currently reanalyzing the data and planning the next search phase. The most important thing they can do is stop and think. Before you engage a Dozen Companies with their ships and vehicles to go out there and start mapping. Reporter the families called for the oceangraphic institution to lead the search. David gallo was a part of their team which found air france 447. That search also far from perfect. Highlighting why the current reanalysis is critical. The modeler said were 95 sure that the plane is in that box, and they were 100 wrong. Reporter in the case of malaysia airlines, investigators say all of the data they have points to this area. Its where the ocean shield and bluefin21 will continue searching soon. And where pings believed to be from black boxes and the final satellite connection from the plane were detected. But even before any wreckage is found, some governments already taking action. India just issued new rules requiring Realtime Tracking of passenger planes. And a new proposal for a may European Air Safety Agency would require black box pingers last longer and cockpit voice recorders capture 20 hours instead of 2. Under international agreements, the Airlines Must pay these families a certain amount of money, but if the families do want to sue, they can get even more money on top of that, wolf. Rene, thanks very much, rene marsh reporting. Thats it for me. Remember, always follow us on twitter. Tweet me wolfblitzer, tweet the show cnnsitroom. Join us again tomorrow in the situation room. Watch us live. Always dvr the show so you wont miss a moment. Thanks very much for watching. Im wolf blitzer in the situation room. Now lets step into the crossfire with Newt Gingrich and howard dean following breaking news. Congress just voted to create a select committee to investigate benghazi. Wolf, this is a very important decision. It makes a great it is a very important to recognize that the congress is going to do its job and going to work precisely on finding out what happened. It makes a Great Campaign slogan, newt. Vote republican. Two more years of gridlock in bengha benghazi. The debate starts right now. Tonight on crossfire, scandal weakened the house. Republicans pushed through a special committee on benghazi. This is a Serious Investigation. Serious investigation . Or serious politics . I do not believe there is any reason for it to continue in this way, but they get to call the shots. On the left, howard dean. On the right, Newt Gingrich. In the crossfire, representative hJavier Becerra. And representative aaron schock, an illinois republican. Were there coverups . Are republicans on a witch hunt . Tonight on crossfire. Welcome to crossfire. Im howard dean on the left. Im Newt Gingrich on the right. In the crossfire tonight, two members of congress. Breaking news, just moments ago, the house approved a special committee to investigate the benghazi terror attack and the obama administrations ensng coverup. This is a dangerous moment for former secretary of state hillary clinton. Shes now facing more questions than ever about her failures as secretary of state. This Serious Investigation comes on the heels of revelations about how her state department ignored the rise of terrorists who now have kidnapped hundreds of schoolgirls in nigeria. Soon, everyone will see how secretary clinton not only failed america, she endangered america during those four years. Newt, youve been wrong before, youre wrong again. Tonight were going to find out exactly why. In the crossfire tonight, california representative Javier Becerra whos chairman of the House Democratic caucus, and republican representative aaron schock of illinois. Before we get to you guys, were going to go first to cnn chief Congressional Correspondent dana bash on capitol hill for the latest on the vote. Dana . Reporter newt, it passed almost entirely on party lines. And when i say it, of course, i mean this creation of a select committee to look into benghazi. That is something that was not unexpected. The fact that this would pass. What we still do not know yet is whether democrats will participate. I just came from the hallways just off the house floor where its pretty clear that there is intense negotiations going on behind the scenes between the House Speaker and the democratic leadership to figure out if there is some kind of accommodation that can be made that will allow democrats to say that its okay to participate. The main thing that theyre focused on is whether or not they can have equity or paroi i way is a pane nonos go out to witnesses and those are the discussions going on as we speak. Thanks a lot, dana. Congressman, why do you guys keep doing this . The American People are interested in job. Is this a programming strategy for fox whose average viewer age is 68 . What makes you think this is going to help you win the election . Well, first of all i think before elections, the elections are over and we have a job to do and one of them is oversight. In addition to being a regular member of congress, i also serve in the ways means committee, the oversight subcommittee, and director shulman of the irs came before our committee and repeatedly said there was not targeting going on. We now know thats false. Same thing with benghazi. Repeatingly we were misled. The American People were fed incorrect information. We now know the administration continued to tell the lie even after they knew the facts were false. And i think the question that really begs that every american should ask is why is the administration so unwilling, so unwanting of the facts . I dont believe the president for one minute wanted anybody in benghazi to die, but as the ceo of this country, why wouldnt he want to get to the bottom of who made the decisions, what were the play calls and what can we do moving forward to make sure it doesnt happen . Same thing with irs. I dont think the president directed the irs to do the illegal behavior. Somebody did and we need to get to the bottom of it. Let me ask you, congressman becerra. Youre an important member of the leadership, you chair the caucus. Do you think that the democratic members should participate in the committee . Newt, quite honestly, i think what Speaker John Boehner thought a month ago that this was unnecessary as republican Speaker John Boehner, himself, said. Weve done this already. Im not sure if aaron disagrees with the House Armed Services republican members report or if he disagrees with the government Oversight Republican Committee members report or if he disagrees with the House Foreign Affairs Republican Committee members report. Or if he disagrees with his own house conference members report on this benghazi incident. Or if he perhaps disagrees with the Senate Intelligence committee. Or perhaps the other reports that were done, another two or three more that have been done. Weve done this. Weve been there. Weve done that. Whats coming out, newt, quite honestly, is republicans are using this as a fundraising tool. Weve already seen how the Republican National Campaign Committee is using this to raise dollars from its members. So lets give aaron xavier, let me respond to my good friend. Mr. Becerra. More than any of those reports, i think i want to listen to the will of the congress. The will of majority of congress. By the way, the vote tonight on forming the special committee to benghazi was bipartisan. The vote to hold lois lern lern contempt was bipartisan. More votes to hold lois lerner in contempt and benghazi had more votes than obamacare. Members on your side of the aisle the American People deserve the answers to these questions. What i want to know, congr s congressman, isnt this select committee clearly a vote of no confidence, and darrell issa, investigating this for month the and got absolutely nothing done . No, this is a consolidation of five committees looking into this matter into one. The administration should welcome this, they should cooperate and it makes things more efficient. But the five committees got absolutely nothing done. What makes you think the sixth committee because the administration has been stone walling them, have been uncooperate as if the ways means committee. Let me come back if i might, xavier. Im a little confused. When the committee was formed in the reagan years to investigate iran contra, by the democrats, dick cheney was actually the ranking republican and the republicans all served. When the committees were formed during watergate by the democrats, republicans served on the committees. I mean, historically, when the congress engages in an investigation, the minority party, whichever one it happens to be at that time almost has an absolute moral obligation to participate. How will you go home and justify not participating once the house has actually voted and the house is a body in a bipartisan vote, as aaron tried to point out, has voted to create this committee . And, newt, i think youre absolutely right. We have a moral obligation to do this in the right way. Therefore, were asking republicans to make sure theres a fair and balanced and nonpartisan affair. It so far looks like its not going to be in any of those things. The scope of it is undetermined and its unclear what kind of authority will be provided to the other side, the democrats so we can make sure its done bipartisanly. So as a senior democrat, are you going to advise Speaker Pelosi to find a way to join or to find a way to not join this Investigative Committee . I would like to make sure that if the speaker, Speaker Boehner believes that we have to have an eighth investigation that hes going to make sure its impartial and its done in a balanced way. So far that hasnt been the case. Youll see that its being done for campaign purposes. You and i both i used to serve in the house as you remember. Weve both been down this road before. In the end, yes or no, do you have an obligation morally to participate in a committee once its been created . We have to fulfill oversight obligations if its real. Im not sure this is real. So far it looks like its a Campaign Stunt to raise money for the Republican National Campaign Committee. If republicans, if aaron today will say on national tv he will call his committee, his Republican National committee to stop raising money off of this benghazi investigation, then maybe we can have some sense of bipartisanship. But right now, theyre already raising money off of a committee that hasnt had its first hearing. Lets give aaron a chance. Look, to suggest Xavier Becerra or aaron schock controls the fund raising apparatus of either of our parties shame on you, aaron. Sir, both sides raise money on substantive issues we debate. Investigating benghazi. Affordable care act or obamacare. The Democratic Party raised money off george w. Bush and the iraq war, raised money off of environmental issues, off keystone pipeline. You guys have sent out all kinds of fundraising mail on Environmental Concerns with keystone. So, look, both sides political apparatuses do what they do to raise money and drive whatever the hottopic issue of today. That should not determine our we know what moderators privilege here and say there would be those who disagree with those raising money off four dead americans. Howard, if i could get this one point in. House republicans ought to be doing right now, there are things that would actually help the American People instead of wasting their time and money. And heres a crossfire quiz about wasting time. Not counting weekends, how many days off have house members taken so far this year . Is it 15, 21, or 28 . Well have that answer when we get back. Really. So our business can be on at ts network for 175 dollars a month . Yup. All five of you for 175. Our clients need a lot of attention. Theres unlimited talk and text. Were working deals all day. You get 10 gigabytes of data to share. What about expansion potential . Add a line anytime for 15 bucks a month. Low dues. Great terms. Lets close. New at t mobile share value plans. Our best value plans ever for business. Say hi rudy. [ barks ] [ chuckles ] id do anything to keep this guy happy and healthy. Thats why im so excited about these new milkbone brushing chews. Whoa, im not the only one. Its a brilliant new way to take care of his teeth. Clinically proven as effective as brushing. Ok, here you go. Have you ever seen a dog brush his own teeth . The twist and nub design cleans all the way down to the gum line, even reaching the back teeth. They taste like a treat, but they clean like a toothbrush. Nothing says you care like a milkbone brushing chew. [ barks ] welcome back. Heres the answer to our crossfire quiz. Not counting weekends, house members have taken 38 days off so far this year. That is more than five weeks off. Next week makes six. So what have they accomplished . Well, they havent taken up immigration reform, but moments ago voted so investigate benghazi for the fifth time. They havent extended Unemployment Benefits that ran out last christmas, but they want a special prosecutor to investigate the irs. They havent done anything about equal pay for women but they held a woman, lois lerner, in contempt of court for daring to invoke her fifth amendment rights. Havent passed a jobs bill or highway Construction Funding bill either, but they voted to repeal obamacare for the 50th time. Representatives Xavier Becerra and aaron schock are in the crossfire. Let me, if i could, start with congressman becerra. Something which has emerged only in the last two day i think extends and deepens the concern about benghazi and about the whole question of secretary clinton as secretary of state. As you know, the Group Boko Haram in nigeria is an islamist extremist group. Theyre fanatics, very dangerous. Have killed several thousand people. Now they have kidnapped some 300 girls. Have released some of the 300. But it turns out, this is surprising to everybody, that while secretary clinton was at the secretary of state, they turned down designating this group as a terrorist group. It was only when john kerry came in it was designated. Dont you think in terms of legitimate questions by the congress that finding out why was this group not designated, asking questions about how the decision was made is actually a legitimate function of legislative oversight . Well, first i want to thank our government and the president for doing Everything Possible to work with the Nigerian Government to try to recover all of the girls that have been kidnapped. We know its more than 300. So far as the terrorism that is going on, we know of many cells that are out there. Some are just small cells. Some are clearly fullblown al qaeda operation. And so what were trying to do is do the best we can throughout the world, not just in africa, but elsewhere. And so as you know, whether its syria, whether its ukraine, whether its parts of africa, is there is a lot going on. And im thankful that the president and this administration is going to go out there to try to make tour that the Nigerian Government doesnt do it, were going to try to help them recover those girls. So lets get back to benghazi for a minute. Congressman, i just read the National Republican Congressional Committee offered to allow me to become a benghazi watchdog for somewhere between 25 or a 500 contribution. So what i would like to ask you, would you like to become a benghazi wash dog . I like to think as a member of congress i already get that privilege. Obviously this is a hot topic of the day. Folks ask me about it when i go back to my district on the weekends. As i said earlier in the show, both political fundraising apparatuses so its okay with you to raise money off this issue . Youre supporting i think the issue is this. The American People deserve answers. And if you want answers, its going to require the house of representatives to investigate. Which means i should donate 500 . It means if you want answers from this administration, you want to maintain the House Majority and grow it. Because but for the House Majority, the republican House Majority, this administration would be answering to no one. So this is a base appeal . This is an appeal to people who want a check and balance on this administration. And right now the only check and balance is the House Republican majority. Do you agree with congressman gowdy and speaker bain theyre the nrc should not be asking for money on this issue . I think i havent read the fundraising appeal, okay. What im suggesting to you is for me to go home to my consistents and say the only reason were going to get any answers on benghazi is because we have a republican majority in the house. And if you think that is important on all of these issues, not just benghazi, irs, and others, then you need to help me grow and maintain a republican majority. Last question. So ill ask you the question that the nrcc asked. Will you automatically add your name today to join us and become a benghazi watchdog . Like i said, im already a benghazi watchdog. Let me just say i actually do think, and ill come back to this later that are there are some things that are clearly beyond the pale. And thing is a zone where we ought to be much more careful about how he raise the money. Stay here. We want you at home to weigh in on todays fireback question. The benghazi investigation a worthwhile use of taxpayer money . Tweet yes or no using crossfire. Well have the results after the break. We also have the outrage of the day. Im outraged about what a democratic congressman from arizona is doing to raise money ah of dead veterans. , the will. Mobilizing to take on the world . You dont know aarp. 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Comcast business built for business. Welcome back. Its time for our outrages of the day. For months, cnn has reported the shocking number of veterans who have died waiting for treatment at Veterans Administration hospitals across the country. Among the allegations, the v. A. Hospital in phoenix kept a secret waiting list, yet Arizona Democratic Representative Kyrsten Sinema is using the scandal as an excuse for political fundraising. This is more than an outrage, its shameful. The House Ethics Committee should investigate a member who is exploiting the death of veterans to raise money. Newt, here is my outrage. While we sit here arguing about faux congressional investigations designed to embarrass various democrats, you have 20 republican governors who are depriving nearly 5 mile people of health care there is no good reason for blocking the expansion of medicaid. Its already paid for. It wont cost their states a dime. This is a classic example of governors not caring about the people who pay their salary. When i was governor, i remembered that i worked for the people who elected me, not against them. Lets check on our fireback results. The benghazi investigation a worthwhile use of taxpayer money . Right now 40 of you say yes, it is. 60 say no. I think i know how this is going to go. But let me start with you. You think its a worthwhile use of taxpayer money . Absolutely. Representative . What do you think . After seven investigations, eight reports and millions already spent we should be spending our money working with a private sector group to create jobs for americans. Somehow that was a predictably partisan response, which ive also gotten from howard dean and me. Thanks to representatives becerra and the debate continues online at cnn. Com crossfire, as well as on facebook and twitter. From the left, im howard dean. From the right, im Newt Gingrich. Join us tomorrow for another edition of crossfire. Erin Burnett Outfront starts right now. Next breaking news, tornadoes on the ground in the midwest. More on the way tonight. We have the live pictures of those storms. The forecast coming up. And clippers owner Donald Sterling breaking his silence. He says he is not a racist. Meanwhile his wife says she is going to keep the clippers. And hgtv suddenly cancels a new show. What does the hosts religion have to do with it . Those hosts are our guests. Lets go outfront. Good evening, everyone. Im erin Burnett Outfront tonight. We begin with the breaking news. More than 47 million americans right now in the path of Severe Weather that is going right through the central u. S. And the