The situation room. Always watch us live or dvr the show so you wont miss a moment. Thats it for me. Thanks very much for watching. Im wolf blitzer in the situation room. Now lets step into the crossfire with paul begala and s. E. Cupp. Christmas eve for me. Tingling with anticipation. Im going to be up all night because if were good little boys and girls tomorrow morning we can finally open the most wonderful gift of all, my friend Hillary Clintons new book. Wow. I hate to be the grinch here, but ive seen an advanced copy and your Christmas Morning is going to be a real downer. The debate starts right now. Tonight on crossfire Hillary Clinton facing attacks on the eve of her book release. Clintons account of the low salt, low fat, lowcalorie offering with Vanilla Pudding as dessert. Is America Ready For Hillary . On the left, paul begala. On the right, s. E. Cupp. In the crossfire, tracy sefel,
a clinton supporter, and tim miller, coauthor of failed choices. Should democrats place all bets on clinton . Will republican attacks on her backfire . Tonight on crossfire. Welcome to crossfire. I am paul begala on the left. Im s. E. Cupp on the right. Guests with different opinions of Hillary Clinton. Her new book comes out tomorrow and starting a highprofile campaign swing. I minean, promotional tour. Shes getting lost in translation. For one, she doesnt speak progressive. Just ask one. For another, she doesnt speak millennial which she learned the hard way in 2008. As you clearly see in her interview with Abcs Diane Sawyer, unlike her husband, she hasnt figured out how to speak regular person. We came out of the white house not only dead broke, but in debt. We had no money when we got there, and we struggled to, you
know, piece together the resources for mortgages, for houses, for chelseas education. You know, it was not easy. We had to make double the money because of obviously taxes and then pay off the debts and get us houses and take care of family members. Dead broke. Get us houses. Plural. As in these houses in two of the most expensive neighborhoods you can find. So the two most recognizable politicians in america for two Decades Couldnt Budget their money the way americans have to . Paul, even you have to admit, this one is not going to go over well in our land. We only found the only millionaires in america who the republicans dont like. Come on. In fact, she understates when she says dead broke, they were 12 million in debt for legal bills, from ken starr and the right ring machine that tried to drive them into bankruptcy. Thank god we live in a country where they can thrive. Hillary had an 8 billion book advance before she even left the white house. You cant budget the mortgage on that, come on. Worth every penny. In the crossfire, tracy, first, who advises the ready for hillary pac, and tim miller, coauthor of the new perfectly timed anticlinton ebook cal d cleverly failed choices. Ive known hillary now 23 years. I love her. I want her to run for president. I deeply hope she does. You should also know i advise Priorities Usa Action which is a superpac that helped reelect president obama and i dearly hope will elect president hilla hillary. Now with that disclosure set, mr. Miller, first welcome. Thank you for coming. Thanks for having us, paul. I hear this canard from my friends on the right, particularly your organization. Hillary hasnt done anything as Secretary Of State, not an important accomplishment. Let me give you the top ten. The toughest sanctions in our generation on iran. Ceasefire. She backed the mission well get to this. Backed the mission to kill osama bin laden. I go on and on and on. I hope we cover all ten of these then maybe well do a Special Edition to cover ten more. Let me start with number 3. Which is the ceasefire in gaza. Hamas terrorists were bombing israel. Shooting rockets into israel. Hillary clinton stepped in and negotiated a ceasefire. Now, i think, of course, good for america, good for israel, good for peace. More importantly, heres what the Prime Minister of israel says about my friend, hillary. Take a look. I just had the opportunity to work with her to achieve a ceasefire between israel and hamas. Hillary clinton is a strong and determined leader. Shes both principled and pragmat pragmatic. Knows how to get the job done. Im sure thats going to be in your book. I havent had time to read your ebook yet. The Prime Minister of israel. Tell me you know more about
israels security than Prime Minister netanyahu. Im certainly not going to do that, paul. I will tell you when it comes to israel, on the Campaign Trail in 2008, hillary promised she was going to support an undivided jerusalem. Then she goes to the State Department. What does she do . She tries to support negotiations where she points fingers at israel, say israel is the problem. And says in order to come to a negotiation, we need to not have a undivided jerusalem. Also on the iran sanctions which was the top thing on your list, when congress tried to past the toughest iran sanctions that brought iran to the table, that got us to this deal, Hillary Clinton and the State Department were over in the senate talking to your buddy, bob menendez saying dont pass these, these are too harsh, these are too harsh. Nonsense. Bob menendez she got the russian, chinese, french, to sign on to the sanctions that delivered the Nicolas Sarkozy said it was toothless. To the table. I think its a little early to say how those sanctions have worked out yet, but tracy, im
really glad that paul brought up israel because ive read the chapter in her book on israel and let me tell you, there is a doozy in there. Let me just read. She writes of her first visit to israel i Got My First Glimpse Of Life Under Occupation for palestinians who were denied the dignity and selfdetermination that americans take for granted. Now, im sure i dont have to remind anyone at this table contra Chris Christie had to apologize for using similar language. Is Hillary Clinton going to apologize to israel for using that same language . I hope Chris Christie is going to write a book. Thats the one i should read. Let me first say, you quoted from the book and i think tim spent all weekend reading it. I havent read it yet. Its not out. The answer i will give you is about a bigger issue when it comes to Hillary Clintons diplomatic agenda. And that is the way that she has expanded the notion of diplomacy in the State Department to include an incredibly important set of issues which have to do with women and girls. Tracy, let me just stop you before you education and health. Dont answer my question. Lets take for granted that the quote i read is actually in the book. Does she owe israel an apology for using the same language that Chris Christie used then had to apologize to proisrael voters and proisrael groups . Hillary clinton is going to stand by the words in her book. She is not going to apologize for something she need not apologize for. She believes she will be making that point as she, herself, should. So then you think that she believes the palestinian territory is occupied . Shes not going to apologize for that and she asserted that on purpose . Im sure that when we all actually read the book and listen to her give these interviews, her words will stand for themselves. She said it twice in the book. Yeah, she said it, but ill take your word for it that shes unapologetic. Im unapologetically proisrael and hillary is very, very strong on this. If thats the tree you want to bark up, i wish you luck. Lets move on to another hillary accomplishment which is i think strategically very, very important. The pivot to asia. Particularly a couple of things, first off, she was the one in the united states, but she was our Secretary Of State stood up against chinese expansionism in the south china sea. Vietnam. Old enemy of america. Hillary sided with the vietnamese, helped back off the chinese. She in beijing freed the dissident Civil Rights Activist and lawyer chen guan dang. Were those bad things or can you at least admit certainly in asia shes helped strengthen america, opening up to burma, checking chinese territorial expansionism, standing for human rights. I think she worked with Mitch Mcconnell on efforts in burma. I think obviously she tried to at least give lip service and make some progress in the pivot to asia. Heres the thing, paul. What are the tangible results shes going to talk about . I mean, you have this list of ten things youve talked about. First thing on your list is
something she opposed. Not true. Im not going to let you get away with that. She is the reason we have sanctions on iran. Now were talking rhetorical. She freed that dissident. Should we give him back . Should we give him back . No, i dont think so. Can you say that was a good thing . Sure, but this is yes two do you think voters are going to go to the polls they will go to the polls about the pivot to asia represents her understanding of workers and what the asian economy specifically in china means for the american economy. If that is something shes been unapologetic about and was also forward thinking with the very pivot that Professor Begala is talking about. But, again, none of these things when you look at the big issues that faced her, the arab spring, when you look at what happened in iran asias not a big issue . The green movement, syria, russia, libya, overthrowing gadhafi. Where are these tangible results that shes going to take to
voters . Saying i pivoted to asia does not count. We have to take a quick break. We can get through all those specifics, believe me. I have a long list. I want to point something out as a political strategist is this. My republican friends are looking at the prospect of a Hillary Campaign and have plan a and a plan b. Ill let you know their secret strategy next. First, this question. How long did Hillary Clintons first memoir, Living History spend on the New York Times bestseller list . Was it 12 weeks . 34 weeks . Or 55 weeks . Well have the answer when we return. Are the largest targets in the world, for every hacker, crook and nuisance in the world. But Systems Policed by hps Cyber Security team are constantly monitored for threats. Outside and in. Thats why hp reports and helps neutralize more intrusions than anyone. In the world. If Hp Security Solutions can help keep the Worlds Largest organizations safe, they can keep yours safe, too. Make it matter. [ male announcer ] thats why theres ocuvite to help replenish key eye nutrients. Ocuvite has a unique formula not found in your multivitamin to help protect your eye health. Ocuvite. Help protect your eye health. Ocuvite. Nature valley crunchy granola bars contain 1 3 of your daily whole grains, so 1 3 of this commercial is dedicated to what you could do with all that energy. 1 3 of your daily whole grains means energy to take the road less traveled. Nature valley crunchy granola bars. I got more advice than i knew what to do with. What i needed was information i could trust on how to take care of me and my baby. Luckily, unitedhealthcare has a Simple Program that helps moms stay on track with their doctors and get the right care and guidancebefore and after the baby is born. Simple is good right now. anncr vo innovations that work for you. Thats health in numbers. Unitedhealthcare. Welcome back to crossfire. Hillary clintons new memoir comes out tomorrow. I cannot wait. Book sellers have preordered a million copies. Actually should not be any great surprise. The marketplace works. Her first memoir Living History spent 34 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. If you guessed 34 weeks, you got it right. Winner. I have known Hillary Clinton for a very long time. I dont know for sure whether shes going to run for president. Im wearing my knees out praying. I know this. My republican friends have two friends for that eventuality. Plan a try to keep her from running, while theyre launching all these crazy attacks. Plan b if that doesnt work out, republicans lose to hillary and she doesnt become president. Republicans, if you want to avoid plan b, keep up the attacks like the one Abcs Diane Sawyer asked Hillary Clinton about. Mitch mcconnell said at one point, 2016 will be the return of the golden girl. That was a very popular longrunning tv series. Yeah. I speak hillary, tim, and here is what she means when she says that. That was popular in the longrunning, shes saying bring it on. I will point out Mitch Mcconnell who attacked her apparently for that little snide comment is six years older. Hes 72 running for a sixyear term. Hillary is 66 hopefully going to run for a fouryear term. This is counterproductive for your side, isnt it . Lets talk about two of the other questions that happened in that interview. Isnt Mitch Mcconnell you can get to your shots. You have a whole book attacking hillary. Isnt it stupid and sexist for Mitch Mcconnell by the way, again, whos six years older than hillary to be raising these kind of snide comments . I certainly think there are lots more credible way you can attack Hillary Clinton and if you look at the interview she did with diane sawyer, only seen two clips. One of them, she talked about how she struggled so much to pay the mortgage when getting an 8 million advance and her husband was selling access to himself and the white house to the highest bidder not true. It was driven. 12 million in the camp by ken
starr and right wing attack. Worth 1 million to 2 million. What is this, russia . Were not allowed to get rich anymore . They havent developed a widget. They sold themselves. Heres another were going to talk numbers. 40 of the speeches that Hillary Clinton is giving are for free. Its for charitable causes. She is raising money. She is out there. She can get paid over 1 million for excellent causes. Shes a woman of the people. Tracy, now, we know you are ready for hillary. Thats is true. Not vimeveryone in the Di Democratic Party is. A recent poll wants other democrats to run against her. Heres what former governor of montana said about her. He said you cant be a candidate that shakes down more money on wall street than anybody since i dont know, woodrow wilson, and be a populist. Now, he sounds a lot more like todays democrats than hillary does, to me. Is he wrong about her . Well, governor schweitzer, its an interesting line for him to go to and Isnt The First Line he said Something Like this. What were talking about when we look biographically, issues involving the inequality. As Secretary Of State, the notion of inequality for her was a Guiding Principle in why we needed to stabilize in certain countries, that growing inequalities are actually a grave danger for societies. This is something that has guided her as first lady, as a senator, as the Secretary Of State. Its been her principle. So inequality, Hillary Clinton, go back and look at her words to the new America Foundation recently i just think this is going to be a tough sell for her. Hillary clinton is going to have the closest ties to wall street out of he candidate in either party. She was getting paid 200,000 per speech by the biggest wall
street firm. The idea shes going to be able to tap into this Elizabeth Warren movement is pretty ridiculous and doesnt help when shes lamenting her 100 million as having trouble putting food on the table. If were interesting in talking about people who dared to make a living and been successful, its also worth noting that for her, the charitable events that theyre doing is just a part of the story. Both bill and Hillary Clinton have given upwards of 10 of their entire income to charity. A figure that so did mitt romney. That absolutely goes beyond mitt romney bought companies and laid the workers off, took their pensions and health benefits. Those workers didnt much like him so they made not talking about heres the problem with the theory. It aint working. Let me show you some polls. Okay, you guys have been on this now banging hillary for 20 years and especially the last two. Not you personally, but the right. Heres where she stands
according to the abc News Washington post poll. 59 approve of the job she has done as Secretary Of State. 67 say shes a strong leader. Look at this. 6 o say shes honest. If you got her down so if youve got her down to 59 after only 20 years, youll get her down to zero in 200 more. You need a new strategy. Hillary polls the worst when shes in the middle of a campaign, when theres a partisan fight going on, because she doesnt wear well. She didnt in 2008. Who polls better in the middle of the campaign . I was on your website today, and i noticed all the amazing merchandise you guys have for sale. Those are water bottles, theres a dog collar, theres a Hillary Clinton cell phone case. Arent you afraid all this stuff will turn off average american voters, who are concerned that hillary is seen more as a brand
and less as an actual problem solver, whos down in the gritty dirt trying to solve the real problems of the American People . The supply and demand issue is a interesting one with ready for hillary. They cant keep the merchandise in stock. There is a clambering by her supporters growing every day. The deficit isnt with her admirers, its with average americans the idea of hillary as a brand is certainly been an exciting one that people for her supporters, tracy. Theres Ready For Hillary Bus thats going to be going around the country thats what im talking about. That branding of hillary did not turn on enough voters in the democratic primary. Im glad that youre giving me the opportunity to Say Something that i have said many times. If there was an inevitability about Hillary Clinton, ready for hillary would not exist and i dont know how much more plainly to make that case, so every time
that word comes up, that is going to be my answer. I think this whole notion of my party of inevitability is damaging. Jim messina the answer to it is, when you right wingers attack her, it boosts her. This talented woman is being attacked. Its great for hillary. Stay here. We want you at home to weigh in. Was Hillary Clinton an effective Secretary Of State . Well have the results after the break, also the outrages of the day. Im outraged because of some narrowminded music fans taking the fun out of Rock And Roll. With centurylink as your trusted it partner, youll experience reliable uptime for the network and services you depend on. Multilayered Security Solutions keep your information safe, and secure. And responsive dedicated support meets your needs, and eases your mind. Centurylink. Your link to whats next. That would be my daughter hi dad. Shes a dietitian. And back when i wasnt eating right, she got me drinking boost. Its got a great taste, and it helps give me the nutrition i was missing. Helping me stay more like me. [ female announcer ] boost complete nutritional drink has 26 Essential Vitamins and minerals, including calcium and vitamin d to support strong bones and 10 grams of protein to help maintain muscle. All with a delicious taste. Grandpa [ female announcer ] stay strong, stay active with boost. Grandpa humans. Even when we cross our ts and dot our is, we still run into problems. Thats why Liberty Mutual insurance offers Accident Forgiveness with our auto policies. If you qualify, your rates wont go up due to your first accident. Because making mistakes is only human, and so are we. We also offer new car replacement, so if you total your new car, well give you the money for a new one. Call Liberty Mutual insurance at. And ask us all about our auto features, like guaranteed repairs, where if you get into an accident and use one of our certified repair shops, the repairs are guaranteed for life. So call. To talk with an Insurance Expert about everything that comes standard with our base auto policy. And if you switch, you could save up to 423. Liberty Mutual Insurance responsibility. Whats your policy . Welcome back to crossfire. Now its time for the outrages of the day. Thousands of Freedom Haters have signed an online petition to remove the band metallica from the Music Festival in england this year. Why . Because frontman James Hatfield is a bigtime hunter and nra member and thats, quote, incompatible with the spirit of the Music Festival, according to one Facebook Page demanding the band be kicked out. Im not outraged that fans hate hunters. Music has always attracted sank moan yous and self righteous people and they are free to be misinformed about our lifestyle. Im outraged Rock And Roll has gotten boring. Whats rebellious with the idea everyone has to think alike and support the same causes . Whats cool about putting trendy Bumper Sticker pieties before one of the greatest guitar riffs
of all time . When did young rock fans get so prudish and establishment . Good news, all this has helped plug hatfields new show the hunt. Im one fan who hopes he kills it. See what i did there . As a hunter, im Willie Nelson and lyle lovett. My outrage comes from my beloved lone star state. The Republican Party of texas voted to include support for Conversion Therapy in their state party platform. The idea is this, being gay is somehow bad, so through counseling and some believe prayer, gay people can be made straight. Now, interesting, of course, i disagree with it, but its more interesting new jersey governor Chris Christie disagrees with that. He signed a law banning such treatments in the garden state, citing Reparative Therapy can, pose Critical Health risks
including depression, substance abuse, social withdraw, decreased self esteem, and even suicidal thoughts. If Chris Christie runs for president , hes going to have to deal with those who believe you can pray away the gay, but i intend to ask god to bless texas, including texas republicans. That will be my effort to pray away the hate. Very nice. Lets check back on our fire back results. Was Hillary Clinton an effective Secretary Of State . Right now, 56 say yes, 44 say no. Quickly, guys, what do you think about those results . I think its heartening and just wait until everyones actually reading the book and not just tim and you. 56 need to go to americanrisingeffect. Org. For everyone who does, of course, hes making money off it. God forbid. It all comes back to that. Thanks to tim and tracy. The debate continues online at