Transcripts For CSPAN Washington This Week 20130811

Intervention and things all over the world. It is interesting to see how that will play out. We did have a colorful conversation. I think some of the remarks he made about drone use really kind of exposes the lack of a very deep and serious debate in this country about the future of using drones. I asked him would you have a problem if russia was using drones on the chinese, he said i would not have a problem. That is a little his concerts and. Thanks so much. We do not even get to half the questions. Thank you for your time and questions. [captioning performed by National Captioning Institute] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2013] on the next washington journal, matt bennett discusses influence and immigration reform, national security, and other issues. Looks at the healthcare law will affect hospitals. University of maryland professor talks about the special Supplemental Program for women, infants, and children. Washington journal live at 7 00 a. M. On cspan. The National Press club will hold a discussion. Whether they help or hinder transparency via a conversation between journalists and former government officials. That is on cspan two. It is a huge story. For the first time, a true native has stepped in into one of the legacy media businesses. He acts and any way like he did in disrupting the publishing business, the bookselling business, the delivery of streaming media and ecommerce, mr. Jeff bezos will probably disrupt and reinvention what it is to be a newspaper in the 21st century and how the business remains a business. Journalism is changing. It is manifesting itself in different ways whether twitter or a block. The intersection between video and newspaper these days. We are at a stage where it is still being figured out. Post,eff bezos buying the heres one possible future. The future of the newspaper industry on the communicators on cspan. Senator rick. Santorum spoke at yesterdays family leadership summit in iowa. He gets his views on the political process and how the Republican Party may move forward. His remarks are 20 minutes. [applause] thank you. Thank you. Thank you, bob. It is great to be back in iowa. I got here wednesday night. In around me have noticed i have this permanent smile on my face for the last few days. It has been a joy to be back here and meet a lot of old friends and go to a lot of places i have been booked for. And theresrill have my name on the wall. I said, i guess i have been here before. Sake thomas times went to the blue bunny ice cream parlor. [laughter] back ineen great to be to visit with folks yesterday at the fair. We centered our trip around being here. First of all, thank you, bob. Antiwhite to you. Karen and i we entered into this race put our faith into things. In this order. And god and tried to walk the path he is laid before us and to put our faith in iowa. To make ourselves available to people here and talk about the issues and give them a chance to get to know me. Not these folks down here, but through the folks sitting across the table at the coffee shop. [applause] and so, i have a lot of faith still that the people i was in 2016 and beyond to use their good judgment and do what no other state has the opportunity to do. I am back here to say thank you and to speak into an important issue that we are dealing with and the conservative movement. Before i do that, i want to pick up on what bob said. We are very excited. We are using a young man from we are our contract putting an addition in our house starting this week. An elevator and handicap bella isbecause of getting too big for us to carry. That is the best investment we have ever made. [applause] i wanted to come here because i cannot think of a better place to come and talk about what is going on in the National Debate within the Republican Party. Theres a group of folks interest enough from those on the right of the public and party joined those on the left of the Republican Party sank would be to talk about more of one thing at the last saying we need to talk about more of one thing and lets of one inc. I want to share my outs. It is interesting that moderate republicans, the big cities, the political experts that got us through the last election [laughter] they are the ones who are saying and joining with the ones on the far right who are saying we need to talk about economics. We need to talk about jobs and entrepreneurs and business and how we are going to build this economy. Listen to the republic candidates for the last couple of elections and the rhetoric that is coming out of both of these sites, it celebrates the free market system which is the greatest system in the history of the world. Heroes of the entrepreneurs, the big businesses that have been successful. All well and good. But we are missing something in that message. I talked about it touring the campaign all over the country. Something a lot of folks did not really capture when they said, how did he do so well . Third that over one i am sorry, two thirds of americans do not go to college. Very few of them will be entrepreneurs. And we need to talk to them, too. We need to celebrate again. We can not only support the job creators, but the jobholders. We have cap a message for them. We have to have a message for them. [applause]on the night i got an yourtunity, i inc. Thank mitt romney for speaking. There was placards on every seat that said we built this. If you recall, president obama has the data some folks cast igated some folks is that they did not build their business on their own. I was backstage and i watched one after another of people of comeaces and men and women forward, Business People and talk about how they built their business. Seized one time did we talking abouty working for the man or woman who built the business and how that helped them and their families. We need to be able to communicate to the folks that hold the jobs and tell them and put a platform together that focuses on them. Andrybody in america money is everything to them. A lot of folks want to spend time with their families. Work and community groups. Spend time at their church. We as republicans believe that is a good inc. We do not talk about it. And we do not talk to them. That is a good thing. It is to take a page out of our book and start putting forth an upnda of ideas to raise folks who want to vote for us. You side and the last election. They do not want to vote for president obama. But at least he went and talked to them and about them. We did not do that. We marginalized them. St and foremost, we need first and foremost, we need to reject the idea that if we build to becoming, everybody will be fine. If we build the economy, everybody will be fine. Most people have holes in their boats. We need to talk about people who have holes in their boats. We all do. We all need help from each other. [applause] the second inc. As we be to talk less about the culture area thing is we need to talk less about the culture. The people who do this is who do not want to talk about culture in the first place. As a result, do not engage as we have and this party. I will give you an example. When i was running for president , i went to a breakfast to some the wealthiest backers in new york. I sat down at this breakfast and they grilled me for half an hour on my moral and cultural position. I stopped and said you have other candidates appear area did you ask them the same questions they have theons . Same positions as i do. They looked at me and said, you are different. I said, why . Because you mean it. [applause] dont you think the American Public knows when a group of people get in front of them and talk about things when they do not mean it . How can we win this debate if you have people talking who do not mean it . Who do not have the passion . We are losing this debate not because of politics to malacca us be honest about it. A litigious did not change the culture. Politicians did not change the culture. Popular culture changed. We have a responsibility. We as conservatives should not just be involved in the political front area is what the left does it better than we do. They lived up there they lived out there believes. They do not just play politics. They take politics into everything they do. And they mean it. They are passionate. There are twice as many conservatives and liberals. Has been the same for 40 or 50 years area yet this country continues to go in their direction. Why . They work harder at it. They understand what moves the country. Aristotle said give me the story and i will control the nation in a generation. Who tells the stories to your children and to you . People like you . Stephen baldwin is out here. People like him do not tell stories in hollywood. If they do, they are lowbudget films that never get any attention. Nothing we do about it . We sit back passively and try to protect our family from it. Americaage child in spends eight hours in front of one of these screens. Eight hours a day. Year. On average, they spent 10 minutes a day on average talking to their parents are going to church. Who is raising your children petsmart children . It is not what was at one time for 150 years the storytellers, it was the family. , civic andchurch community organizations. They imparted the moral imagination. It is no longer the case. For us to think when the country back politically with the culture shows your children that people like them are weird, people who hold her values are it is noateful wonder young people are supporting the other side. Hey do not know the truth here is my challenge to each and every one of you. To engage. Ive set up a couple of organizations. I am working with patriot voices. We are engaged with the political front. Onare going to be focus developing an agenda for the average american so we could communicate in terms of the economy that they can understand free markets and principles we believe will help them and programs to demonstrate that. Particularly the folks that are the two thirds that are not going to college. Secondly, i started a company and movie production and Distribution Company based in dallas, texas. We are going to make it an family films. [applause] age and family films. We are going to go out and make family films and give you the American Public the tolls to go out and change the culture. To bring people in and reaffirm their values to show the truth. Years, the greatest creators of art were people in and around the church. The great music, the great sculptors, the great painters, all visual arts as well as musical arts were all in and around the church. But in the last 100 years, the worst art has been coming out of the church. You want to see films, europe is the inferior production to see something that reaffirms your values. Now, i say to you , cant we make god a beautiful . [applause] why cant we tell the truth, the good and the beautiful in a way that is compelling and entertaining and inspiring . That is my mission. Im going to stay involved and be involved in politics to shape this debate. It would are going to be successful, as a party and more importantly in this country, we need to have a revitalized culture. It we need to engage in it. That is where you come in. Breatheslives and their values. This administration wants to make sure that does not happen. You already seen policies that are being put forward that is changing the freedom of religion in this country. , internationally the state department use a term not freedom of religion but freedom of worship. It is ok to be in the four walls of the church and worship, would that andt do not take practice outside of the church. They will restrict you. Beginning to happen already and it will explode. I would never get given by the cardinal in chicago i will byer forget the quote given the cardinal in chicago. He said i expect to die in my bed. I expect my successor to die in prison. And his successor to die a martyr. Unless we begin to do what they do a use not the policies. Cannot agree with the established republicans, but we need to change our tactics to be more like they are. [applause] what do we have to do . How do we fix this . I always go back to the revolution. How did we win the revolution . Do we have better soldiers or leadership . More resources . More people . We are fighting not only the british, but the loyalists. How did we win in the American Revolution . Because we wanted it more than a bit than they did. They want it more, the left. We are complacent that things will be ok because we are americans and everything will be ok. But not for such a time as this. This a time to work each and everyone you has to engage. Againstr business is your values, do not sit and take it. They do not. They make it uncomfortable. They made uncomfortable for their businesses and their schools, further community groups, civic organizations. Look at the boy scouts. The back cover the majority of people . Did that come from the majority of people . No, they cared to fight. We will be the generation to let america slip through and become a descendent not of the American Revolution but of the french revolution and government given rights. This is not to stop just in politics, but in every aspect of your being. Heres my challenge to you. I need you to think about and pray about it. I need you to pray about what god is asking you to do. You are here for a reason to hear this message. You need to pray about what he wants you to do in every aspect of your life to live what you believe and live the First Principles of america. And go out and make a difference in our country. , numberwice as strong wise as they are. Passion,pt the same the same commitment as the other side does, and put the pressure on hollywood, support good films, Good Television and encourage your children to get involved in the arts. Do not discourage them. Encourage them. Make a stand. Prepare them for when they go to college. Send them to college. If your contributor to colleges that of burnt the minds of our children, stop giving the money. Minds of our children, stop giving them money. [applause] you need to live it. That is the word live it. You can say i am here in iowa. What can i do . You are a fairly important state as you know. Areare also the heartland if a few people gather in california and new york can hawkeyes cantough change them back to. Back, too. [applause] again to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to be able to have our voice heard in the last election. And now it is back on you can be at back on you. It is time to let our voices be heard and save america. God bless you. Thank you. [applause] more from the family leadership summit with businessman and real estate mogul donald trump. He talked about the state of the u. S. Economy and gave his views on the debate of immigration. His remarks are 30 minutes. [applause] thank you. Wow. Wow. Thank you very much. That is nice. Thank you. Honor. T is my bob has become a friend of mine over the years. There are a lot of things that people do not know. Maybe we should start with putting up that confirmation picture. Can we have it . Come on, put it up. Do you believe this . Do you see it . Isnt he cute . Not really. That was my confirmation. First Presbyterian Church in queens, new york. A great group of people. I still remember it. I am a little older. That is my real hair. [laughter] [applause] it is an honor to be here. Ive always loved iowa cubs the people of iowa will are hard working people. Something we have to see more of and this country when you look at what is going on the United States. What is going on in the country we love, we need people to work and we need leadership that is smart. [applause] interestingly, we are a free trade country. It is not really free trade if you look what is going on in the manipulation of other currencies especially china. If you haves ok really smart leadership. When your leadership is not up to par thomas when it is not smart, sometimes your leadership is incompetent, free trade is really had for us. We are in the wrong end. When i look at what is going on with this country, when i look word youillion, the did not hear 10 years ago, it did not exist. That is all you hear. 17 trillion in debt. You look at deficits that are recordsetting. They are not going to get better. The market is false. About two years ago am i said i was going to invest in the stock market. The market had to go up because the federal reserve. I said the market has to go up. It giving you free money. That is a false economy. I better not speak too much about it. It is a false economy. It is not real. When you look at unemployment 7. 4, 7. 4 , it is probably anywhere to 15 17 . It is incredible. [applause] the other day, the numbers came out. They were not good. Lots of bad things were happening. The only good thing that happened was 7. 5 to 7. 4 . It was that anything is, how come it keeps going down for smart people stopped looking for work. Keeps going down . People stopped looking for work. They do not count to. How phony can anything get . It is not real and it is not right. We are kidding ourselves. Our country is in serious trouble. We have problems like we have not had it before. And we have jobs that are just disappearing. Is inpublican party serious trouble. Because we have elections coming up we have to win and defeat obamacare. Whether people like or do not like, it is killing the business and is going to destroy the base of the country. Different all of the senators, many others who are so strongly opposed to obamacare. You have to give them credit for what they are trying to do. They know where we are going. It is not a good place. Trouble, buts in our country has tremendous potential with the right leadership. Tremendous potential. We have so many different issues that have to be solved. I was listening to bob and a couple of your speakers. It is true, you need border security. You have to have it. Stay andme in and they they stay. If people come in illegally, they get green cards. The green card expires and they go. Illegally, wee in need border security. It is very simple. Either have a country where you dont. And having a country starts with urity at your borders to securities at your border. You just cannot continue to do what were doing right now. Now when it comes to immigration, have you to do the right thing. Have you to in your own heart, youre dealing with lifes and human beings, you have to do the right thing. But its got to be done in a very very smart and my thod cal method. He republicans, every single one, lets say i hear the number 11 million illegals. Well i hear the number could be much higher than that. If you do something where they get a vote, just remember, and i think i was the first one to say it but i said this a long time ago when this first came up, every one of those people virtually will be voting democratic. They will not be voting republican. And whether senator rub owe is leading the fight or not, its irrelevant. They are just going to be voting democratic. Thats the way it is. And the democrats have taken hold of this issue and they love the issue. Do whats right but be very careful because it could be a death wish for the Republican Party. Youre talking about 11 Million People, youre talking about ultimately 37 Million People and youre not going to get those votes so you have to be a little bit careful. Its very very important to the Republican Party. Its an important issue. But you have to do it properly. So thats immigration. Complicated, almost so many Different Levels of fairness and unfairness but it has to be handled properly and you have to start with securing the orders period. When you look at whats going on with Social Security, medicare and medicaid where the republicans seem to want to do something and i know they come out strongly and they are going to do this and that and then all of a sudden it gets weaker as the Campaign Goes by and then they bring it up again. The fact is the way you solve medicare, med said and Social Security is by developing a really powerful engine, developing a really strong nation again like we used to be. Not a nation that is borrowing trillions of dollars, much of frit china, not our friend by the way. Aking our jobs through job manipulation and money manipulation. You have to do something and it has to be done properly. But when it comes to the engine, when it comes to the economy, if we could rev up this economy like it should be. Not with false numbers like 7. 4 unemployment but with real numbers and take back our jobs from china and say youre not going to manipulate your currency any longer. Its very hard to buy product from our country because they manipulate better than anybody has ever manipulated a currency before ever. I know about chinese products and products all over the world. Im building all over the world. Just got the old post office. Have you white house, congress and im building a great hotel right in the middle. A lot of people are going to be working there. Its going to take care of a lot of families through education, through healthcare. But im very proud of it. Im doing 800 acres in the middle of miami. Its going to be fantastic. It was run very poorly by people who didnt know what they were doing, much like our nation. And within two years it will be hottest place in the country. Thats been my record. Its not so different from this country. When it was last time you saw a major bridge being built in the United States . You dont see it anymore. In china they are building 47 massive bridges like the golden gate. Thats like peanuts compared. They are building bridges. They are building airports. Other countries, not just china. And when i speak of china i have to tell you in business week magazine there was ten things the chinese most want one of the ten things was anything trump. I knock the hell out of them. Isnt it crazy . But they respect you for it. And i have many friend in china and they cant believe what they get away. And they respect their leadership for it. And the president of china comes over and we give him this incredible dinner at a state dinner washington. And i once made the statement that id buy him a mcdonalds and tell him if you dont stop doing this we want you to go home. And there is a lot of truth to it. And they respect it. When they say they want anything trump, they now how i talk and what i safmente but they respect it. And our country is were losing jobs by the millions. We dont manufacture like we did. And if you look at china, if you look at what they do with boeing, with caterpillar, they take the secrets, they take the patents. They make you build plants over there. They dont want caterpillar track tors built over here. They want them built there. Why are we doing this . Its go great secret and if they are going to manipulate their currency and hurt us badly and this is other countries also, why arent we taxing them so that their product becomes more expensive . What is going to happen it will never go into effect because they will stop manipulation so fast your head will spin. They dont believe our leaders and dont respect our leaders and dont think our leaders are very smart. Thats a problem. Thats a problem. [applause] so every time north korea as an xample acts up, they act up. They act a little whacky and say we got missiles and this. So south korea calls us up and say we want protection, we need protection. Now south korea i have many friends in south korea. They cant believe they get free protection. So we rev up the destroyers, we get our battle ships, we get our Aircraft Carriers all set. We get our planes. Every time you turn on the engine of an Aircraft Carrier it cost probably a million and a half dollars and we send them over there. And what do we get out of it . I just ordered thousands of Television Sets for a job im building. They are made in korea. They dont make them here. You make five Television Sets in some part of the country. They really dont make them here. You go to japan or south korea. What do we get out of it . , ort we protect south korea and i think its great. But let them pay us for it. What are we doing . [applause] its amazing because i hear so many conservative politicians. Im friendly with all of them, liberals, conservatives. I meet everybody. But i literally hear these people saying how can you say a thing like that . Thats so nasty. Thats what the mafia says. The mafia gets money for protection. But thats the mafia that says that and i say im trying to be nice and respectful and i say give me a break. They dont believe they get away with it. So we spend hundreds of millions and billions of dollars on protecting other countries. We get nothing. Not only dont we get, they dont respect us, they dont like us, they laugh at us and they take advantage of us. We get nothing. You talk about south korea making a foreign by the way. You cant make a ship thats built anywhere but south korea in terms of the big tankers. So they have this huge thing and we protect them at tremendous cost and we get nothing. You look at a place like mexico, you know mexico over the next couple of years is going to be our biggest were going to be imparting half of the things we get from mexico. And this all started a number of years ago. We all remember it. And i know there are places in iowa because i watch 60 minutes also but there are places in iowa where the whole factory moved to mexico. And the tax subsidies from us. They get tax subsidies in brazil. You buy one in brazil, you get a tax subsidy from the United States. Not supposed to be that way. There is such a lack of intelligence. Its either dishonesty because these countries and companies have the right lobbyist or stupidity. Its probably a combination of both. But it is amazing. One of the things that i look at and i look at so strongly, you look at places like north dakota where they are just going wild and you look at what you know technology has really shown that we are rich again but we cant get it because of the environmentalist of which frankly i do well with them. I build all over, i get awards. I know you are shocked to hear that but i actually get environmental awards. Its sometimes not easy to get these projects going but i actually do. But we cant drill, we cant frack, we cant do many things to take this incredit nl wealth out of the ground that will make us rich. Wealth that will take care of Social Security, will take care of medicare and medicaid. When i was looking to run last time and i was only thinking about it really once. But i was looking at it serious and getting grote poll numbers and i dont know if they liked me or not but they liked what i said. What i said is what im saying now. People agree with me but nothing changes. It continues to be the same or gets worse. If now its worse than its ever been. But when i was thinking about running, i really felt and i was so honored i love talking about it because i love the country and i hate to see what is happening with our country. I have like a slogen make America Great again. I have to add the word again because you know in 2016 china will become the great economic power of the world. And this was unthinkable ten years ago. If you said that, people would laugh at you. But unless something happens china become it is economic power of the world. They surpass us in 2016. So whoever is president in 2016 you better move fast because you dont want that to happen. It will be a very, very sad day to me and i think to a lot of other people when that happens. But it was very interesting because i like mitt romney personally. I dont know what the hell happened with his campaign. I just dont get it. That was an election that couldnt have been lost. It couldnt have been lost. And with me building all over and doing shows and all of the things, its hard for me to run for office because im doing so many things. I have great children, they are good kids and they run. But its hard. Its not like if you are a politician you want to run for office you say im running for office. What do they lose . They gain. They gain recognition, they gain something. But with me, its tough. When i backed mitt romney and he was very nice and very thankful and they called me and they said wed like you to do some really great campaigns in certain states like in North Carolina and michigan and different places during the primary. And robo calls. I made some great ones. They were brutal. They gave me the most pathetic thing to say. I said i cant say this ill ruin my reputation. It was like if youre listening would you please back mitt romney, hes a wonderful fellow. So i really hit them hard with how good mitt romney is and how bad Everything Else is and they did well. And every single state they asked me to go to or do phone calls or television, he won in the primaries. But when it came to the election, the general election, i think they felt i was a little controversial. I really do. And i didnt mind to be honest i love florida im there all the time. But i didnt need to go on television talking about mitt romney. If im talking about somebody, id much rather talk about myself. Its true. Its hard for me to build up somebody else but what the hell. But he was a goodman. But something happened, something happened. The first debate it was looking good and the second was a collapse and the third was a disaster. Benghazi is a disgrace. The worst part about benghazi is we didnt send anybody in to get these bad people. There is no retribution and we know who they are and we dont send anybody in. How pathetic is that. We kill our ambassador who was proudly riding in the jeep weeks before as the rebels like gone with the wind, the wonderful rebels are taking over. And hes proudly going through the streets waving to everybody and what they did to him was unbelievable, the killing was terrible but the way they killed him from what i understand was beyond. And we dont have and of course, the other gentlemen. We dont have retribution. We dont even go in and get them. Why arent we getting them and we know who they are . And in a certain way that is something that is just unacceptable. , they ran and benghazi was brought up and myth said the president was handling benghazi well and i almost fell off my chair. And just a lot of bad things happened during that campaign. Carl rove spent 400 million on ads. He didnt win an election. By the way, they were the worst ads ive ever seen. I know something about ads. I saw some of these ads. And even the Republican Party generally speaking the ads were so bad. Do you remember the ad with obama speaking in germany where they said we dont want a rock star as a president. He was speaking in front of hundreds of thousands of people. And they put that on and have him speaking and have these people going crazy in germany and i said what a great ad, i thought obama made it. We made it wait, not me. You made it. I said what a great ad. They were saying hes a rock senator. We dont want a rock star as president. We need somebody that is great. That ad was a disaster. But all of the ads were so bad. So 430 million was thrown out the window. It was thrown out the window like nothing. So the republicans have to get smart. They actually have a tougher race. I am a republican proudly and im a very conservative republican. [applause] by the way, i am prolife. [applause] traditional marriage. [applause] and Second Amendment 100 . I had to throw that in. But its amazing, they want to take away guns but they are not going to take them away from the bad guys so everybody honorable, honest person is going to give up their gun. Were going to give it up because the law says give it up. The bad guys arent giving it up. What are we going to do . They walk into your house and youre like take whatever you want, sir. I have friends who disagree with me. All. T understand them at how can they disagree . When we wasted the 4,000 lives and hundreds of thousands on the other side, when erp in iraq and spent 1. 5 trillion and we have third world airports, bridges falling down our bridges are falling down. When it was last time you saw a bridge being built. Other than san francisco, the bay bridge is being built. The chinese are building that bridge. Thats the only bridge i know and the chinese are building it. You go to the airport in new york or Kennedy Airport in new york or l. A. X. And you look t the airports. And i travel all over the world so i see some of the greatest airports in the world. Gorgeous like you wouldnt believe. And you come back home to new rk that is broken and broken runways, ceilings coming down and i say what are we doing. And weve made other countries rich. We have rebuilt china. When china spends on building 40 bridges and airports in every city that are better than any of our airports, take our best airport, its not as good as their worst airport. They did it with our money. I love apple, its wonderful. But apple is all made in china. Then this new guy running apple he apologizes to the chinese, with all the jobs hes plide he apologizes. So when you look at what were doing, when you look at our leadership and the lack of intelligence, the lack of coherence, we have a long way to go. So the republicans despite all of the above are going to have a very tough election. Hillary is probably assuming good health and other things. And i know her and her husband well, hillary is probably going to be the nominee if you look at polls and everything. And its going to be a tougher race than the last race. Really tougher. And somebody is going to have to emerge who is really smart and really tough because obama should have been beaten. Hillary is going to be tougher to beat. And the republicans have to do what is right. If they dont pick the right person and i mean the right person, perfect, got to be the perfect person, they are going to get dropped in the 2016 election. And thats not going to be a good thing because this country has to be brought back from the edge. This country has to be brought back from the edge. Its ready to go over. It can be saved but there is a point at which its going to be too late. So the republicans have to get very tough and very smart. And they have to do it fast. Youve got very important elections coming up in 2014. Youve got an unbelievably important president ial election coming up but thats a long time from now. We had the opportunity and unfortunately things didnt work out. But we have a country that has to be brought back and it has to be brought back through great, great leadership. And if we dont pick the right person, we are not going to have great leadership and this country is going to be in very, very deep and perhaps permanent trouble. So with that, i tell you that its an honor to be here tonight. Its really an honor. And i loved flying in and i loved looking at all of the activity thaund airplane. I see people going to town on the beautiful farms. I dont see that so much in new york. New york is a little different view. But i have many friends who live in iowa and they are amazing people. And its really been an honor to be with you tonight. Thank you very much. Thank you. [applause] captioning by the National Captioning Institute www. Ncicap. Org i am not an antisuburb person who thinks everyone need to live in new york city. I came across as a condo dwelling elitist of some kind. That is not why i did this book. I understand why people like the suburbs. I get fed up with a lot of daily life in new york city a lot. The trend were so undee nible and the fact that there is a suburban he way america is too big a story to ignore. Legal ger on where the American Dream is moving tonight on cspan2. Cspan we bring Public Affairs events from washington directly to you putting you in the room at congressional hearings, White House Events and conferences and offering complete coverage of the u. S. House all as a Public Service of private industry. Were cspan created by the cable industry 34 years ago and funded by your cable or satellite provider and now you can watch us in hd. President obama travelled to the florida to speak at Veterans National convention and outlined initiatives for health research. Is remarks are 35 minutes. Thank you all. Do we have an extraordinary first lady . We will be celebrating our1st an ver si in october. The first time i saw her, i knew she was something special. She was a little more skept cal about me. But persistence is the key. Eventually you can marry up. We are so proud of the work youve done to help rally america around veterans. I am inspired by what they are doing. Thank you michelle for your xtraordinary work. Thank you to the entire leadership team, joe johnson, mark burgess, donna adams, all the incredible spouses and families of the dav. Want to thank barry they used to mispronounce obama too. I want to thank barry and your reat team in washington. Disabled american veterans, like all veterans, you carry in your hearts the story of brave service that took you to every corner of the earth. As young men and women, you left home, left everything and everyone you ever knew because storm clouds fwathered far across the sea. You had your whole lives ahead of you where you were willing to risk all of it for this thrand we love. Land that we love. Because you know from hard experience what we must never forget. Our country endures because in every generation there are americans like you who stand beside her and guide her and protect her. You fought across the Pacific Island by island. You fought into the heart of europe mile by mile freeing millions. Thats your legacy as veterans of the second world war. You have the line of the pusan perimeter and survived the bitter cold of the chosen reservoir. On this 60th anniversary, we salute all of our veterans of the korean war. [applause] to our Vietnam Veterans [applause] you served with valor not just in the thick of the jungle but through intense combat. You won every major battle that e fought in. And so in the decades since, whenever our country has needed you, you said send me. From the sands of desert storm to the mountains of the balkans to the villages of afghanistan and iraq, and next year your profound sacrifice will be recognized in the heart of our Nations Capital when our country designates the disabled eterans for life memorial. That memorial will honor your courage in the war. But it will also pay tribute to your bravery and the other battles you have fought to ight to recover from the wounds of war. In this may be your greatest triumph at all because rather than being defined by what you lost, by what you cant do, you have inspired america with what you can do. So maybe you lost your site, but you can still see the truth that our disabled veterans make extraordinary contributions to our country everything will day. Maybe you lost an arm, but used the strength to pick up a friend or neighbor in need. Maybe you lost a leg, but you still stand tall for the values and freedoms that make america the greatest nation on earth. I think of the wondered warrior ho spoke to many of you when e said your life will never be the same, but that does not mean you cannot go on to do Amazing Things with the Second Chance you were given. I think of wanted warriors across america and how they have used that Second Chance. Volunteering in communities, building homes, being a mentor to local kids, showing up after tornadoes, after hurricane sandy, to help folks rebuild. I think of the Wounded Warriors who reach out to the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing ith the example of their own experience and the simple message we stand with you. I think of all the inspiring Wounded Warriors that michelle and i have met, their resilience, their resolve, their determination to push through and carry on. That is the fighting spirit of our Wounded Warriors. That is the spirit of dav. Dedicated dedicated not just to your own recovery, but to taking care of each other. Every day you work to ensure that america is for filling its promises to its men and women who have served their debt is your mission. And i want you to know it is my mission too. I believe that this work is more important than ever because this time of war at we have been and is coming to an end. For nearly 12 years, every since we were attack on a clear september morning, our nation has been at war. Our fight in afghanistan is now americas longest war. At the same time our troops fought courageously in iraq for nine long years, and among us today are proud veterans of the wars in afghanistan and iraq. Now we have marked another milestone in afghanistan. As of this past june, Afghan Forces have taken the lead for security across their entire country. Instead of leading the fight, our troops now have a different mission supporting afghan orces. Our war in afghanistan has entered the final chapter. More of our troops are coming home. This winter will be down to 34,000, by the end of next year, the transition will be complete. Afghans will take full responsibility for their security, and our war in fghanistan will be over. For this progress, we thank all who have served in afghanistan, including dav members who are here today. There are a few i want to mention. We salute. Timothy duke. Where is timothy . Ight here. In the early days of the war, timothys Helicopter Unit of service some of the more remote parts of afghanistan third on another tour in iraq, his convoy was hit by an ied. He endured three spinal surgeries, then he went to school on a post9 11 g. I. Bill, now he is helping at the dav helping veterans and their families access their benefits. That is the kind of spirit the dav represents. Thank you, timothy, for your Outstanding Service and ork. We salute Staff Sergeant jacare hogan. And iraq, she was hit by ieds three times. She has endured surgeries, rehab, which continue to this day, but she refused to stop service. She deployed again to afghanistan third as a logistic ervice, and she getting shot a lot along the way. At those outlets, she was often he only woman on base. She proudly wears the combat ction today. But her service has not stopped. So here it dav, she counsels others as they recover, helping troops is what im about, that is what she says, and we are grateful to you for your extraordinary service. And we salute to jason. Where is jason . Ight here. When jasons unit was ambushed and pinned down, he was hit five times in the chest. But he pushed on. He helped lead his men to safety, for which he earned the silver star. Fter months after months of care and rehab, he returned to his unit, going out on patrol, gritting his teeth through the pain in his chest. Today at the dav, jason helps vets access the benefits that they deserve. It is my job to help people heal that is what jason says. Thank you. To timothy, jacare, jason, they are just examples of all who have served in these years of war. The 9 11 generation. And now, you are beginning the next chapter in your life. Wearing a proud new title. Veteran of the United States armed forces. So this time of war may be coming to an end, but the job of caring for our veterans goes on. Our work caring for our newest veterans has only just begun. Think about it we lost a veteran at the First World War many years ago. Today, we care for children of people who fought in the spanishamerican war. Even the daughter of a civil war veteran. So when we talk about fulfilling our promises to all who serve, we are not just talking about a few years. We are talking about decades. For as long as you and your families want the service. With a new generation joining the ranks, i believe that now is the time to make sure our nation is truly ready. Organized and structured to get this right, not just for this year, not just for next year, but for decades to come. Not just for the veterans of todays wars, but for all wars. And i believe we need to focus on five key priorities. Number one we need to make sure we have got the resources, the budgets our veterans deserve. [applause] since i took office, we have made historic investments in our veterans. Even in these tough fiscal times, we have boosted the va budget by more than 40 . We now budget for Veterans Health care a year in advance. [applause] and i proposed a further increase in veterans funding for next year. [applause] now, some of you maybe aware right now we have got these reckless across the board budget cuts called the sequester that is hurting our jobs, our military, slashing science and medical research. I made it clear that your Veterans Benefits are exempt from this years sequester. ve made that clear. [applause] but i want to tell you Going Forward the best way to protect the va care you have earned is to get rid of this sequester ltogether. [applause] Congress Needs to come together and agree on a responsible plan that reduce our deficit and keeps our promises to our veterans, and keeps our promises to future generations. That is what im fighting for, hat is what you deserve. [applause] number two, we need to make sure youre getting the Veterans Health care you have been promised. We are already making record investments. More outreach, more clinical, more service for our vietnam vets. We made sure that you and your family finally got the disability conversation you deserve because of your xposure to agent orange. For our desert storm veterans, we made it easier to get the service you need for illnesses connected to your service. For veterans of ptsd, we made sure to make it easier to get access to care regardless of the war that you served in. For our womens veterans, and there are more of you than ever, we are offering more tailored care, more clinics just roman, more clinicians trained to treat you with respect and dignity. Ll told, we have made va healthcare available to more than 2 million veterans who did not have it before. Ive proposed more funding for prosthetics for our disabled vets to help you work and walk and run again. And for you, the caregivers and families, we are going to keep empowering you with the skills and support you need at the care for the veterans that you love. We also need to keep improving Mental Health services. We have to and this epidemic of suicide among our veterans and troops. Last year, i said this had to be in all hands on deck approach, not decide dod and the va, but across our government. I issued an executive order to step up our game, and we have. Hiring more counselors, hiring more Mental Health providers, new awareness campaigns, so that those who are hurting know that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a part of staying strong. It is a part of getting back up. Hundreds of medical and Nursing Schools have committed to improving research and care for our veterans and their families. I propose more funding for Mental Health. We cant just promise better care we have actually got to deliver better care. So today, i am proud to announce the next step in this fight. Were unveiling a new National Action plan to guide Mental Health Research Across government, industry, academia, so that were going to focus on developing more effective ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat Mental Health conditions like tbi and ptsd, and to get it done, we are moving ahead with more than 100 million in new research. Im not going to be satisfied until every veteran, every man and woman in uniform, get the support and the help they need o stay strong. On the subject of Veterans Health care, you may have noticed there is still a lot of misinformation out there about he new healthcare law, Affordable Care act. Ome folks are out there trying to scare people, including veterans. So let me say this as plainly as i can if you already have Health Insurance or health care from the va, you do not have to do a thing. Your va healthcare does not change. It is safe. There are no new fees. Dont let them hoodwink you. But the good news is if you are among one of the more than one million veterans who dont have Health Insurance, starting october 1, you will have a new ption. Online marketplaces will let you shop and compare and buy private Health Insurance plans just like you can go online to compare prices when you buy a tv or an airplane ticket or a car. And because of the Affordable Care act, Insurance Companies will no longer be able to discriminate you or deny you cover because of preexisting conditions like ptsd. So you will have more security in being able to get Health Insurance. Dont let them fool you. No one is taking away your enefits. Your Veterans Health care is safe. We are not reducing veterans access to healthcare. We are expanding it. And that is the truth. Hat leaves me to the third priority we have got to focus n. We have got to attack the laims act law. Now, the last time i was with you, i pledged to slash does wait times, deliver your benefits sooner. Im going to be honest with you, it has not moved as fast as i wanted. Part of it is all these new veterans in the system. Who came in, agent orange, ptsd, it meant a lot more claims. Despite additional resources, it has resulted in longer waits. That has been on accountable. Unacceptable to me, unacceptable to secretary shinseki, sweep of more of our va folks as claims processors. We hired more claims processors as well. We have been working overtime, completing more than one million claims a year. We prioritize the oldest claims. Veterans at the dav have pitched as well, helping get claims ready so that when they bring them there in better shape than they can move a little quicker. Today i can report that we are not where we need to be, but we are making progress. Were making progress. So after years when the backlog kept growing, finally the backlog is shrinking. In the last five months alone, it is down nearly 20 . We are turning the tide. And were not going to let up until we eliminate the backlog once and for all home and we will keep moving ahead with paperless systems so the backlog does not come back and so your claims are processed right the first time. On time. After years of military service, you should not have to wait years for the benefits you have deserved. Ust like you fought to preserve our rights and freedoms, we need to uphold that for every veteran. We need to end homelessness mong veterans. We are not just bringing our veterans off the streets we are doing more to reach at risk and low income vets so they do not become homeless in the first place. Were not going to rest until every veteran who has fought for america has a home in america. Yesterday, i was proud to sign into law the helping heroes fly act, to end those interested airport screenings so you, our Wounded Warriors and disabled vets, especially those of you with prosthetics, can travel with dignity. I know how disappointing it was when the senate failed to prove the disabilities treaty, despite the fact that we had a former sender and senator and world war ii veteran, bob dole, in the senate chamber. But were going to keep fighting to ratify that treaty. Because the United States has always been a leader for the price of the disabled and we believe disabled veterans like you deserve the same opportunities to work and study and travel and other countries as any other american. It is the right thing to do. E need to get it done. [applause] which brings me to the final priority when he to stay focused on that is making sure that our veterans have the every opportunity to pursue the American Dream. Starting with the education and jobs worthy of your extraordinary talents. With our new transition assistance program, we are doing more to help the parting services and spouses plan their careers and find that new job. Ere going to keep helping our newest veterans and their families pursue their education under the post9 11 g. I. Bill. We are building on executive order i issued last year to protect you as you go looking for schools. I said were going to stand up against dishonest recruiting and predatory practices that target our veterans, so we set new standards. So far, more than 6000 schools across the country have signed on and pledged to do right by you and your families. We dont want our veterans and cheated. [applause] i also said that schools need to step up their support so we are doing more to help our veterans succeed on campus. Today we are announcing what we call 8 keys to success, specific steps schools can take to truly welcome and encourage our veterans. So far, more than 250 Community Colleges and universities have signed on, and today im calling on schools across america to join us in this effort. Lets help our veterans get the degree, get a credential, and compete for the high skilled obs of tomorrow. Now, i am also going to make sure that the federal government keeps doing its part. Im very proud of the fact that some public offices, federal departments, and agencies have hired nearly 300,000 veterans, including many disabled eterans. And im going to keep calling on congress to pass the veterans job corps, to put our veterans to work rebuilding america. We are also doing everything we can to help you get those privatesector jobs. More help with job searches, more tools like our online jobs bank to connect veterans to jobs that are open right now. Make it easier for you to transfer your skills to the licenses and credentials you need for civilian jobs. And because tens of thousands of our veterans have already been helped, Congress Needs to make permanent tax credits for companies that hire our veterans and Wounded Warriors. The right thing to do. And were going to keep urging Companies Across america to do the smart thing hire some of he best workers he will ever find. Hire a vet. Michelle and jill have done great work on this, and responding to our challenge, working with joining forces, americas businesses have already hired or trained 290,000 veterans and military spouses, and they have committed to hiring over 400,000 more. More companies are signing up all the time. We are going to get companies to understand that you cannot get a better deal than hiring a veteran. Because of the efforts i [applause] described and a growing economy, veterans unemployment going down, more veterans are finding jobs, and we will keep at this because with your skills and drive, we do not just what you fighting for america overseas, we want you to be right here building a stronger america, fighting for a Better Future for our kids. So, ensuring the resources and budgets you deserve, delivering on health care that you have earned, making sure that you can count on it, continuing to reduce the backlog, standing up for your rights and dignity, reating jobs and opportunities so you can realize your dreams that is what i am focused on. That is what i have told my entire administration to be focused on. That is what our country needs to stay focused for the many years to come. And nobody knows this better han you. Our disabled veterans. The road of recovery is often such a long haul. America needs to be there for you during that long haul. And that is the lesson of the extraordinary young man i told you about when i spoke to you three years ago. An army ranger, Sergeant First Class cory remsburg. A massive ied in afghanistan nearly killed him. He was in a coma for months with severe dramatic brain injury. I told you then how when i saw him in the hospital he had come out of the coma, but he still could not speak. When i asked him how he was feeling, he slowly brought his hand up, and he pulled his fingers together and he gave a thumbsup. His mom was sitting there with him. A few days ago, i saw cory and his family again, this time in phoenix where they live. I wanted to give you an update on how he is doing. Suspect it wont surprise you to know that for cory, the years since it surgeries have been heart, brain surgeries, half a dozen of them, surgeries to replace part of his skull, eye surgeries, special surgeries on his lungs, all told dozens of surgeries and procedures. Rehab has been grueling. On a typical day, cory wakes up and spend hours in therapy. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy. The progress has come slowly, but it has come. He had to learn the simple things all over again. How to speak, how to write his name, how to throw a ball. This past spring, he reached another milestone. After years in the hospital, he finally came home, greeted by hundreds of neighbors and friends waving american flags. When i saw cory a few days ago he is still blind in one eye, he still struggles to move his left side. But the young man i have seen n a hospital bed unable to speak, barely able to move, this time he was in a chair, sitting up, alert, smiling, talking, and then he went to show me something. And he leaned out of his chair, and he reached out and he grabbed his walker. And with the help of his parents, he pulled himself forward, and he stood up, and he looked at me, and he gave me a sharp salute. He said rangers lead the way. His stepmom held one arm for balance, and i held the other, and then cory took a step. And then another and another one after that, all the way across the room. Little by little, cory is earning to walk again. [applause] and he is starting to get good on his bike. He hopes to bike in a race this fall, 42 miles. He is scheduled to move into his own home, adapted to his needs with the help of a caregiver. Another step toward the greater independence he seeks. And so cory says my recovery has not been easy, nothing in life that is worth anything is easy. But he says i dont give up. I dont give up. The war in afghanistan may be ending, but for cory and our disabled vets, the work has only just begun. Cory is now 30 years old. His recovery, like so many of yours, will last a lifetime, but he will not give up. The guys you have not given up. When it comes to our work to making sure that our nation is for filling its promises to the men and women who served and sacrificed, america cannot give up either. I will not give up. We cannot give up. So long as i am the United States president , i will make it my mission to make sure that america is right there beside you every step of the way, every step with cory, every step with the dav, god bless you. I bless our veterans. God bless the United States of america. In a few moments qa. After that a discussion about the future of islam in egyptian politics after the overthrow of president morsi. Hen former republican Rick Santorum and donald trump speaking at the leadership this week on q and a, Washington Post reporter Nikita Stewart discusses her recent frontpage profile of washington see washington, d. C. Businessman gerald washington. Nikita stewart, as a reporter for the Washington Post, on july 13, you wrote a huge fees, frontpage, on a man