Transcripts For CSPAN2 Campaign 2020 South Carolina U.S. Senate Debate 20240712

In spartanburg South Carolina. Im anyone, evening anchor and tonights conversation will be live streamed in broadcast on our next door Network Across the carolinas as well as our partner station w multix in columbia. Many of you turned in this evening to watch the candidates for u. S. Senate in their second debate read both campaigns agreed to the form of that debate this Week Campaign staff for democratic challenger Jamie Harrison at the incumbent senator Lindsey Graham be tested for covid. The senator was tested last friday. In a Statement Released yesterday afternoon Harrison Campaign wrote i cannot responsibly debate in person tomorrow night and allowed politics to put my family , on my campaign staff, senator grahams staff and members of the media at unnecessary risk. The Graham Campaign responded , Mister Harrison is demanding special treatments. If Mister Harrison is not able to interact with South Carolina and on the sameterms they live their lives he should not be there senator. Because of this impasse, we have changed the format of the Forum Tonight at the bottom of the hour, senator Lindsey Graham will face the same panel with equal time directly following Mister Harrisons interview. W sta and next door media taken steps to provide a safe environment here tonight. This environment has been sanitized and the candidates and our panel are separated at a safedistance. Now lets meet our panel. From wcvb in charleston are Carolyn Murray and w sta anchor gordon gill. Gordon will ask our first question. Thank you and good thanks for being here. I want to talk about your precautions read as amy said its the reason were not having atonight. You did a debate last week are you brought on blast shield with you. You have one delivered in advance of the area if youre insisting the person youre debating how to test, what is thepurpose of the plexiglas . Is that political . It being sick. Right now grams we was in the room with two people who have tested positive or the coronavirus. Two senators who now quarantine at home. We have to take this thing seriously. The president of the United States has been out of pocket because has the coronavirus. A look at this and senator graham said. Special treatment. Nobodys asking for special treatment, what wereasking is for our center to take this seriously. He has gone to events and hes never the mask at some of those events. He sat on the white house lawn with 1000 people, 0 without a mask so what im saying is as someone who has a preexisting condition and i dont know what conditions of your staff and the other staff, we need our leaders to lead by example. Take a look at this. After the president announced he had the coronavirus weve hadseveral debates across the country. Vice president pence took a coronavirus test. Senator cornyn coronavirus test. Susan collins took a coronavirus test and its because theyre being responsible because they were in meetings in which folks have had the coronavirus. I dont understand why senator graham is asking for special treatment when all we are saying is lets keep it safe. It is a fiveminute test. You go in, you get the swab and its less than 30 minutes and you get an answer. But Mister Harrison are asking to represent millions of South Carolina in and you dont know their condition either. 150,000 of them had confirmed cases of covid. Are you not going to meetwith them unless they have a covid test . Senator graham and i are vying to be leaders in the state and were asking people to wear a mask and senator graham doesnt dothat as well. This is some real stuff f. 3500 s. Carolinians have lost their lives. Audit 50,000 have been infected loand one who lost their lives was my aunt gladys who died alone in a nursing home. This is impacting families in a way that we have never seen in our lives so what we need is somebody to be serious about this. 750,000 carolinians have lost their jobs, or hundred thousand lost their healthcare oh as well. All were asking is for one of the top leaders in the state to lead by example. Dont hold rallies without max. Make sure your washing your hands and when youre in a forum where youre interacting with folks after youve been in a room with two people who have contracted the coronavirus that you actually get the test. Thats all were asking. Wit doesnt take a whole lot to do that and i dont understand why senator grahams colleagues can do it, the Vice President can do it and why he thinks hes special enough that he cant. Gordon, thank you. Continuing the same conversation talking about covid19, graham has presented us with a doctors note indicating he did not necessarily need tobe tested. This is the same doctor who would in fact take care of you if you were elected. Do you believe that that doctors note is sufficient . Im not sure but i know doctor fauci said the event that started this cascading eventwas a super spreading event. And we all have to take this stuff seriously and i dont believe that our senator has. Very early on he was in those rooms. We all read and heard bob woodward talk about the president and what the president said in terms ofhow he tried to talk down the coronavirus initially written senator graham help set up the interviews, he was in the room. I remember the early interviews in which he tried to talk down this as well and te he said 50,000 people died and then its 75,000 and 100,000 or hundred 50,000. This is something that is impacting so many people and it breaks my heart to hear this story of folks saying that they cant properly say goodbye to loved ones because they cant hold their hands read a cant be in the emergency room when their loved one is passing away. Its important that we take this stuff seriously because it is impacting us as a society in a way we have never seen before. Mister harrison first off sorry for your loss and i with us and another question is about the National Mask mandate. The white house is now described as a hotspot. Dozens of People Associated with the Trump Campaign tested positive for covid19 and many of those people were seen at large gatherings not wearing masks. The question is do youbelieve there should be a National Mask mandate . I do and i think Mitch Mcconnell believes the same thing because he said he will go to the white house as they have different standards as it relates to the coronavirus. We have to take this seriously and when we look at other nations, new zealand is the perfect example. A nation who is almost coronavirus free access point in time because they came up with a National Plan for how they were going to address this instead of saying the state is different. We dont have the walls on the borders of our state. People get on airplanes, inlaws live in utah, i live in South Carolina. Its easy for us to fly there but if im taking the coronavirus with me not only am i impacting the people in the plane but also people in the location on going and those people impact other folks. Lothere are no walls on the borders of our United States so we had to come up with a comprehensive plan in order to address this and we failed to do that. How serious covid is in your description all over the country after show and immunization recordto return to class. If there is a covid19 vaccine should they be required to have that to return to class . Thats a possibility and we have to look at that. There behind the other nations that have taken positive steps forward to get the coronavirus behind them instead of in front of them. So you would consider National Mandate for schoolchildren to get the vaccine . Just like we ask for kids to get flu shots. We probably had to think about the same things. What about the people who are concerned about the safety of the vaccine . I think at this point we did the scientist and not politicians. If you asked me, jamie, this is a good vaccine for me to it take, i would tell you dont need to ask me you need to ask someone who actually understands the stuff. In terms of doctors in the scientist. So if dr. Fauci says and i believe opus is on all sides of the aisle and in the middle , if dr. Fauci said this is a reliable vaccine something we have tested, something that is gone into the processes we usually have during these typeee of things and we feel that it is good for the American People to take i will take it. But im notot going to take it if its Lindsey Graham telling me i need to takee it. Again, senator graham and i are not doctors we need to s rely upon them give us the best advice for its direct thank you, caroline . Mr. Harrison africanamericans represent 27 of South Carolinas population. But of the 3500 people who died in our state 30. 5 of those people were black. What will you do to ensure access to medical care and healthcare for all people in our state . What the coronavirus did, it exacerbated problems that were already here. I remember just hearing about the coronavirus and cringing because i knew the impact that it would have here in South Carolina. Particularly on the most vulnerable communities. With event estate were almost 250,000 people do not have access to healthcare. Because we are one of 12 states it refused to expand medicaid. Thirtyeight other states have had expanded medicaid under the Affordable Care act. South carolinas failed to do so. As a result, four of our rural hospitals in the state have closed. We are seeing that same type of trend and the other states that are refusing to expand medicaid. In one of those communities, it doesnt matter if youre black or white if youre a democrat or republican, and you have complications with diabetes. You are impacted by the coronavirus. Give complications with a pregnancy. Instead of take you ten or 15 minutes i can used to to get to the nearest hospital, now takes you 25, 35, or 45 minutes. That is a death sentence. But those folks are looking for, theyre not looking for a democratic solution, republican solution associate for Jamie Harrison or lindsey grandpa theyre just looking for a solution. We have a responsibility to the people here in South Carolina that theyy leadership. Lindsey graham is emblematic of it. He has been your 25 years and failed to do so. Ive gone to some of these communities that have lost their hospital. They said Lindsey Graham is not even showed up. We can do better particularly on health in the state, two years ago, 14 of our 46 counties had no ob gyns. None, zero, zip. None. For the 21st century and 14 counties in South Carolina do not have any ob gyns and were serious about healthcare . And that we have it sent to her comes up withco a Healthcare Plan that he thought of in a barbershop or he does not protect folks of preexisting conditions. He put the senior tax on senior seniors. Any block grant money reduces the amount of money, lets be serious about healthcare and it doesnt have to be a partisan thing. Lets be focus on the health of everyry single cell carolinian. That is what i am going to do. Im going to fight to expand medicaid, going to fight to strengthen the Affordable Care act so that every person can have healthcare whether its given to them by their employer or because they go into some type of public option. Is too harrison i would also like to talk to about the stimulus relief package. Just this week negotiations broke down to provide a second round of relief to families and businesses affected by1 covid19. Now that the first run has expired, people are losing their jobs, their lives and their healthcare, their businesses. How would you work beyond the aisle, across the aisle and foster bipartisan support to pass something to help not only the nations family, but families right here in your beloved community of South Carolina . Thank you for that question. It breaks my heart just talk to Small Business owners and folks who are in unemployment right now. And desperately need that federal unemployment benefits. Again i said seven here 50000 south carolinians have lost a job of as a result of the coronavirus and many wasser healthcare as well. Art center, senator graham said over his dead body over our dead bodies of we allow an extension of the employment benefit. Because the benefit ran out in august, there are so many folks on the verge of been kicked out of their homes, they are on the verge of not being able to pay their bills. An hour at senator who is so out of touch did not understand why it was important to continue that benefit. That benefit brought 20ks some odd into the economy every week, every week. Third at only did it benefit the families but the Small Businesses that are on the verge of closing. South carolina dont folks know this, South Carolina is ranked 50th in the nation as it relates to ppp dollars. Worker. That means 49 other states are getting more money for their Small Businesses to stay open than South Carolina did. And so for me, the end of the day this is about what can we do to improve the state. Not about washington politics. So i will work with anybody who is looking forward to trying to build progress. And that means staying in session. Lindsey graham in the senate went out of session for vacation in august. That means we need to stay in session and get it done. I wish the senator would take the urgency he has for the Supreme Court nomination to put that into actually doing a bill that address the needs of the folks in South Carolina prayed thank you. Its convenient you mention Supreme Court thats our next topic. I know you want to talk about the process of confirmation. But before you do that, is Amy Coney Barrett qualified to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court . Subic she was qualified in terms of the district court. So i need to ask her some questions and find out where she stands on certain issues. Particularly in terms of civil rights that have been gaining in this country for so many groups. Hopefully those questions will be asked of her and her confirmation hearing. But we should not even be talked about confirmation hearings right now. If we listen to Lindsey Grahamt and follows his word, Lindsey Graham said use my words against me. We should not be considering a justice in the fourth year, in an election year. He would not vote for such justice. I learned i think many of us learn here in South Carolina that a man and woman are only as good as their word. What is the word of Lindsey Grahams worth . What is your position in. You have a rule you follow when it is or is not to confirm the nomination . Rule is with the senate. In 2016 the rule was that you should, when ever a nominates it should be considered. Then Lindsey Graham and others change that rule and set a new precedent. And now he is going against his word and the precedent that was set. So in essence if this is a new precedence than im follow the new precedents. But if we are going to be a nation of laws and rules, then lets follow those rules. I said the other night i feel like im monopoly with my 6yearold son. You change the rules whenever it benefits you. That is not the way this country needs to run. Im going to always follow the rules. People will always know even if they dont agree with me, they will know im going to tell them the truth but im not a waffle one way or the other going to be straightforward and tell them the truth. Speaking about the rules of soccer but criminal justice. You wrote quote just as slavery was ended, we can end the epidemic of Police Brutality in this country and throughout the systemic racism that oppresses communities of color across South Carolina producing Police Brutality is as pervasive in the south as slavery once was . And if you are suggesting a legislative solution to end Police Brutality, exactly what is it . Let me tell you a group in orangeburg, South Carolina. One of the very first stories that i heard as we start learning more about Civil Rights Movement and what went on in my hometown was about the orangeburg massacre. Three College Students were protesting a segregated bowling alley. A bunch of other kids on the campuses of both South Carolina state and the university were protesting and they went marching. Three of the students lost their lives that night. Nana them had guns, none had weapons. They were marching for equality prayed they were killed by members of Law Enforcement. Most members of Law Enforcement went to trial but nobody went to jail. Nobody did. Imagine growing up with that is the legacy. Being africanamerican man who has heard all of his life the Horror Stories about how folks have been brutalized and beatenaf and how the criminal Justice System has not been fair, not just to. That is the reality of so many people in the states. Is that saying all police are bad . No. I Police Officers in my family. My grandpa ron living in the police force for over 30 years but ive talked to him. We all feared about him leaving each day and coming back home at night. But what we are seeing, there are some bad apples in the system that need to be rooted out. They need to have ever Community Whether its a black community, white community, Latino Community can feel is that there police are there to protect and serve them. Subic part of the solution is coming up with a register so that we know those bad Police Officers. So someone who commits atrocities in chicago cant come down to Spartanburg County get a job as a deputy sheriff. Some of that is getting rid having National Force of standard a standard of force so we know whether you are in chicago or whether you are inwh South Carolina, we note the standards are in terms of how you use force and what type of force you use. Some of that is less demilitarized our police so we can rebuild the faith between our communities and the Police Officers. We understand the importance of policing. I dont believe the trend of defending the police. I dont believe in that because police have such an Important Role in our communities. What i do believe bring more accountability into that system in order to make sure folks have trust. When they call on the Police Officers they do not have to worry about whether or not there going to have their lives. Thank you, carolyn. Subic mr. Harrison were to continuing our discussion on civil unrest. Social change in this countrys come about when women and racial ethnic minorities have marched and protested. We certainly seen that a lot this past year. Described legislation that she would push forward to ensure the rights of organizations are met. And have youar met with the black lives Matter Movement . What kind of legislation hadrr they described they want . What have they expressed as their concern . I know folks in the black lives better movement. If not met officially with anyone in terms of the organization. I know a number folks in the movement here in South Carolina. Why view not met with h them . They have not asked for me. [laughter] you feel was important to reach out to them because mstheir presence has been so visible this year . Many of the folks youre in South Carolina that are involved i know personally. And we have worked together on other things. What they are pushing for, again i dont believe in defunding the police efforts. But i do believe in strengthening the relationship between the police and the community. More communitybased policing. Making sure we also bring in other professionals that can help alleviate some of the pressure and some of the tensio tension. T bringing in psychologists. Bringing in drug addiction counselors and those type of folks to help address the situation in our communities. Think that is really, really important. I also spoke with the few members in the police force about things they believe can work as well. I believe i can be one of those people that will bring both the policing forces in our Community Organizations together. To sit at a table and come up with solutions that work for South Carolina. It with the Supreme Court were to strike down the Affordable Care act, what exactly is the plan to replace leit . If i am in the united gee es senate were going to find a way to replace it. If the Supreme Court does strike down the ace. That means in the midst of a pandemic that is only going to get worse between now, we are influenced season as well. We are seeing spikes. Doctor fauci said yesterday he wants 10000 new cases a day. But we are seeing 40000 new cases a day in this country. We are in the midst of a pandemic. Lindsey graham supportss the court to strike this down. The question is, what are we going to do than for this 23 Million People do not have healthcare . Were going have to find some way to make sure that happens. Otherwise will have a m greater pandemic and a greater tragedy in crisis in this country. Again, i believe in daca. I believe coming up using it as a public option. Strengthening by including mental and vision and dental health as well. We will be an eighth fix as a nation at that law is struck down by the Supreme Court. And Lindsey Graham supports that effort. Thank you have one minute left. Thank you mr. Harrison sorry we areth short on time but would like you to answer the question about your concerns of restrictions on abortion. Describe what you believe are appropriate restrictions on abortion. For me,she. I am prochoice. But at the end of the day i believe the issue of abortion is a heart issue, its a difficult issue. It is a painful once even think about and talk about. But at the end of the days between a woman, her doctor and her god. I dont believe politicians have a role in that. When i am a Firm Believer in that. But we can have a rule in his address some ofan these issues that are impacting women in the health of their babies. The infant mortality rate here in South Carolina is in the top ten. The fact that i issued earlier e stated earlier that 14 of our counties had no ob gyn. We have a proposing healthcare. Two thank you mr. Harrison. You want to give the promise one minute for closing statement. Thank you all for doing this again. I wish you and your families all health and for your viewers here today. The end of this campaign as ive been saying i have lived the american dream. I grew up in a mobile home i am now running for United States senate. That only happens in america. White live and breathe it is my life its a model of my life. What i want for this campaign and what i hope is that i have inspired folks. Lindsey graham is going to scare you. Its going to scurry about crime commies and scary about everything. We are tired of being scared in this country, or tired being scared in the state prints time to come together as people. I hope my campaign, my campaign thats built on hope that folks will see that and see its time for a new day. Mr. Harrison thank you again for seeing us tonight. Keep in your dont move we have more to come. Who will speak with senator Lindsey Graham we come back right after a short break. Specs for the countries most port and senate races. And challenger jamie harriso harrison. Subic i will fight for you as hard as i fight for. [inaudible] a live t discussion on the issues important to you, the pandemic, the economy, education from your local election headquarters. South Carolina Chamber of commerce and next our media, the u. S. Senate race, South Carolina allied candidate conversation. Once again good evening and thank you for joining us. We are coming to you live from the studio in spartanburg, South Carolina. Tonights conversation will be live streamed and broadcast on her next start Network Across the carolinas as well as our partner station w lcx in columbia. Many of you tuned in this evening to watch the candidates for u. S. Senate in their second debate. Both campaigns agree to the format of that debate. This Weeks Campaign staffer emma craddick challenger Jamie Harrison as incumbent senator take a covid test for the senator was tested last friday. The Statement Released yesterday afternoon, the Harrison Campaign but i cannot responsibly debate in person tomorrow night and allow politics to put my family, my campaign staff, senator graham staff and members of the media at unnecessary risk. The Graham Campaign responded, mr. Harrison is demanding more from special treatment. If mr. Harrison is not able to interact with south carolinians on the same terms that they live their lives, he should not be there senator. Because of this impasse we have change the format for this form tonight. At the top of the hour, mr. Harrison joined us for a half an hour of uninterrupted questions from our panel. Now senator graham will face that same panel with equal time. W spa and next our media have taken steps to provide a safe environment tonight. The environment has been sanitized in the candidates in our panel are separated at a safe distance. Now lets meet that panel, debbie cbd from charleston anchor Carolyn Murray and w spa anchor gordon. Gordon blasi first question very good evening saturday thank you for being here. Starting on monday, you will chair a committee to confirm amo new Supreme Court justice. He will be inside a hearing room for hours at a time, several days of the week with some of americas top elected leadershi leadership. Isin it not appropriate for you to take a coronavirus test in advance of that hearing . Well for number one im the chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee thats about to confirm the most highly qualified woman i think ever nominated by the Republican Party. Im extremely proud of it. We are setting the hearing room based on cdc guidelines. The room wasec set up in a compliant way how many of your going to go to work tomorrow . If youre a waitress to earn a living are you going to require the employee that everyone be tested that comes into the restaurant . Are you going to require that all your coworkers whether they need to or not . You cannot make that requirement. If you did it would break our economy. Were going to meet in a medically compliant way but im not going to live my life differently than those who live yours. For those who work with a living you cannot do it mr. Harrison has demanded tonight. You cant not show up at work because you and everyone tested whether they need to or not. I have a letter from my doctor saying that i am cdc compliance rate there is no reason to test me. So this is not about testing. This is about political accountability and the great boston night of the debate part ive been looking forward to debating mr. Harrison about would you vote for amy barrett . Shes highly qualified. Nominees presented to the senate by barack obama, qualified women that i would not have chosen. I understand prison obama had that right. Mr. Harrison, when it came time for President Trump to nominate neil gorsuch, highly qualified joined into the effort to filibuster that t. Nomination. Mr. Harrison said bring out the copper he joined him with the first partisan filibuster and the history of United States senate. The rules trained under shermer and read, not me. I voted against changing the rules. Had to change and for gestic or sick. Heres the last thing about judges. I voted for soda meyer and kagan everyone applauded, we love Lindsey Graham. Then i watch the destruction of brett kavanaugh, or the most decent people ive known e my entire life. I stood up and stood by him. Now theres 50 million coming in and the last three months alone to take me out. I stood up for kavanaugh, i got in the web destroying his life. Mr. Harrison cheered on theng destruction of brett kavanaugh. I voted for democratic traditional nominees, he joined schumer in opposing trump nominees but i guarantee there is no way gods green earth he would ever vote for barrett. That is important to the voters of South Carolina part if you are looking for someone to support conservative judges, i am your guy. If youre looking for someone to reach across the aisle, i have done it. Talk with that confirmation process. As a sound from a short time ago. If an opening comes in the last year of President Trumps ter, and the primary process has started, we will wait until the next election. You said that senator, 28 weeks, the question is, how do people know the things youre saying tonight will not change when it is come and chant politically convenient for you or your party . Gordon hyper should that question for and generate 2019 i was asked after the kavanaugh debacle but would you do if there is an opening . I was set i suit the market would bear. In august of this year i was asked by nbc if theres an opening on the Supreme Court, what would you do . We will see what the market will bear. I will lead the charge to confirm judge amy barrett to the court. And i can tell you this, of Chuck Schumer democrats were in charge, theyll be doing the same thing. We have had 19 nomination in an election year, 17 of the 19 r. Been confirmed when the president as of the same party as the senate. Heres the thing for me. It comes to democratic judges i give them a fair shake and i voted for them. When it comes republican judges make democratic colleagues want to destroy them. I am hoping this hearing will not turn into the kavanaugh debacle. Im hoping that amy barrett is treated with respect, the way i treated soda meyer and kagan. We are moving forward. We are doing nothing unusual here in terms of how the senate operates. Thank you. Civic center thank you for being with us tonight. We appreciate your time. You know senator, the white house has been described as a coronavirus hotspot. Dozens of people associate with the president s campaign had tested positive for covid 19. Many of those people are seen at large gatherings and they were not wearing masks. So my question to you is, do you believe in eight national mast mandate . I believe everybody should wear a mask. You should wash her hands and you should sociallyad distance. This is a deadly disease. And do you believe there should be a national mast mandate . I dont know he would enforce it, who would enforce it . Does the fbi followed us all around . I believe in responsibility. So the idea of wearing a mask, count me in. In terms of a National Mandate i dont know how that works. If you are looking for my advice, wear a mask, wash her hands. We will get through this. A vaccine, i think is near. The drug therapies that got President Trump back on his feet are going to be available to all of us. Im encouraged by the effects it will defeat this fire sooner rather than later prayed this election is not just about the virus. Ti what happens at the democrats take over the senate . They get the house of the white house the most radical political agenda and history comes our way. Is there a difference between the Democratic Republican Party . Absolutely part is bipartisanship good . Yes. Let me tell you big difference in this race. If the Republican Party can hold the senate, i am in line to be the budget chairman. The Democratic Party takes back the senate, the budget chairman will be Bernie Sanders. So i want you to understand what i just said. If the democrats take over the senate at about socialism Bernie Sanders be writing the budget for the United States. If Republican Party keeps us and i am in it ill be the budget chairman. There is a big difference are jamie and Bernie Sanders when it comes to your money, built for me. Thank you. Would do it at stay on the topic of covid though. Lets do it. The of her your opponent said he would consider it acquiring students returning to class to get a covid19 vaccine. Is that something you would support . If we get a vaccine ill be the first want to take it once its fda approved. Ccmy job is to be senator for our state. And washington, to be our voice in washington we have superintendent of education, Molly Spearman who i trust. We have a governor who i trust that i like. When it comes to, lets push as hard as we can to get a vaccine and get this virus behind us. It has been deadly. Has been tough on our economy. I want to know the stimulus package. Think we need another 1200. Person toou help. Center plain to ask you about this its up next. As far as the vaccine is required for students returning to school . I think thats up to South Carolina. Thats up to the people of South Carolina. Im not running for governor running for that United States senate. I understand the tenth amendmen amendment. I trust Molly Spearman. She won the right to make education policy. Im trying to win the right to make National Security policy. To make Economic Policy at the national level. To reject the largest tax increase in American History might democratic colleagues sick over the house the senate and the white house where theyre going to change america as we know it today. Theyre going to expand the court beyond nine just as sure as im sitting here. Theyre going to deal with electoral college. What is that mean to us gordon . Our voices lost for you based take your present based on new york and california for they wanted states like South Carolina to have a voice. So the difference between agendas incredibly important. Bernie sander is budget chairman versus Lindsey Graham. I can go on and on liberal versus conservative respect thank you carolyn. Senator graham just as negotiations broke down to provide a second round of relief to families and businesses, impact because of the coronavirus. Now that the first round has expired people a lot of people losing jobs for the losing their healthcare they are losing their homes. You are talk about providing relief. How will you do that . How will you reach across the aisle to ensure bipartisan support to help families who are struggling and desperate for relief right now . By voting for a package that will make a difference. I voted for phase three it passed the senate unanimously. There is a trillion dollars. Im willing to do almost 2 trillion. I want the money to help the problem. The chamber is one of the sponsors of what would have been the debate. Restaurantan a there was a bar and form in central carolina. I grew up and what it great current you can go for the back of a bar to being a senator. I want to give Liability Protection to every business in south carolyn who plays by the rules. I dont you to be sued because of covid democratic colleagues will not agree with that. I am for 100 billions of dollars to help our schools safely lower kids to go backward i am for ppp. I just got back from myrtle beach and charleston. The Tourism Industry is onn its back. It was a tough summer and no one is traveling now. The golf courses areto not being run at all. The Hotels Occupancy isco down. Another round of loans count me and i just talk to the president at lunch i talked to secretary mnuchin i am excited for losey and mnuchin are talking again. Count me in for their stimulus packagepa. But we have to have Liability Protections or businesses are not sued out of existence. Thank you, senator. Next epicenters criminal justice. In the debate last week and said you did not believe their systemic racism in our Law Enforcement. The question is, as a congress what legislation can protect americans from Police Brutality . So number one let me say this. Reform the policeey yes. What happened to mr. Floyd was wrong and people should pay a price. But what is happening in america and all over the country is a war on the police itself. There are some bad cops out there, ive been a prosecutor of been a defense attorney had been a military judge. Count me in the camp of reforming the police but having themi cops backward ive been endorsed by the fraternal order of the police they see admin ally. I voted for criminal Justice Reform to make sure africanamerican males and hispanic males mostly have been long times in jail for longterm offenses can get a second chance. Tim scott my dear friend and partner here in South Carolina produced a Police Reform bill that was bipartisan and Chuck Schumer stop it from coming to the floor. They said no to tim scotts effort to find a solution to Police Reform, transparency more money for diversity, hiring more minority. Police officers put a stop because they with the issue, they dont to solve the problem. That breaks my heart. And Jamie Harrison, my opponent supported the nancy pelosi version of Police Reform and said no to the tim scott version of Police Reform. He will pick pelosi over tim scott every time. He will go schumer when it comes tot judges. And that is whats on the ballot here folks. Count me in for reforming the police, tim scott had a plan that was blocked by democrats. Nancy policy plan will cripple then police. Mr. Harrison hadig a chance to weigh in and be bipartisan, he chose losey over tim scott i did not. Thank you sir. Carolyn byrd center to grammar next subject is the issue of civil unrest inn this country. You know, social change in this country is come about when the women and racial thminorities have marched and protested, sometimes edits resulted in rioting. Certainly no one supportss lawlessness. You have said in the past that you support black lives matter. Have you met with members of that Organization First of all . I met with pastors and people in africanamerican communities. Heres the facts. I believe our cops are systemically naces joyfully South Carolina teresa state . No. Two people out there of color this is a great state. One thing i can say that any doubt, you can be in africanamerican and go to the senate. Just have to share the values of her state. Tim scott is in the senate. Hes theav only active American Republic in the country break nikki haley is the daughter of an indian immigrants raise in South Carolina. She became a governor paid South Carolina folks is not about the color of your skin we came from, its about your ideas. The reason im going to win this race because my ideas my conservative philosophy my willingness to reach across the aisle gets our state. I am in line with tim scott and nikki haley. My opponents going to lose not because of race because he is in line with the most liberal people in the country. He is raising 50 million from liberals all over this country to flip the state into the democratic column. Its not going to work. So count me in for reforming the police. I voted for the First Step Act they gave africanamerican males and hispanic males in prison under the joe biden three strikes youre out bill. President trump led the way. I went with cory booker there are a lot of people getting out of jail who were sentenced to long terms in jail for nonviolence offenses for they can go back to the families they can get a job. 31 of her status africanamerican bird i am asking for every africanamerican out there look at my record. Have been supporting Historic Black College universities i am glad President Trump is made a permanent fixture now it would up the ag every year for the money. I care about everybody. If you are young africanamerican common immigrant you caner go anywhere in this state. You just need to be conservative not liberal. Senator graham put out just like to talk about the that a little bit more. You can explain yourself you dont believe there is systemic racism. But you name two people who are elected officials former governor nikki haley as well senator tim scott. You think there is a problem toyoure still only able to name so may people of color who have had marks success in their careers and their lives . Perhaps there is a problem when you can only name so few . Here is the problem. I think naming nikki haley in tim scott our National Leaders in the Republican Party. I considered this a proud moment for South Carolina. Not just for the Republican Party. Tim scott has tried to reform the police. Tim scott gets called names you would not believe. All i can save it comes to South Carolina, you do not have to take my word for you can go as far as you want to go if you have values associate with our state. Heres the problem. Tim scott is been top six or seven times on capitol hill by the police. I never have. And i want to deal with that. Out more Police Officers from the community. Out to make sure we have transparency in policing for it out more body cameras, i want to recruit more people. I want to involve deescalation training. I want the police to be wellequipped to deal with the problems they have. You have no idea what its like to be a cop now predict talk to Police Officers all of the state. They feel abandoned. They feel like they are the bad guy. Im not going to part of that movement. Im not going to empower what i think is an assault on law order with me you will get reform. But i am not going to abandon the cops. With me i will stand up to the mobs. Senator graham thank you. Wed like you to take a look at a video question. This regards the rights of lgbt lgbtq. Take a listen. Hey i have a question for the candidates. I partner and i have been married for five years. And we have been together for 22. What will thesu candidates do to ensure our rights are protected . The rights of yea people married in South Carolina . Spin good question the law of the land by the Supreme Court, is same marriage no legal print except that ruling. Work conservative state there are a lot of religious people around the state who believe in traditional marriage. They are not bigots, they are not neanderthals for believing in that. But this man, under our law has a right to his relationship. I will honor the law of the lan land. I have tried to be tolerance, i have tried to understand people have different life experiences. I do im not a woman im not a person of color but i will listen but ill tell you right now and it comes in South Carolina, i think ive been an effective voice for who we are into the gentleman the law of the land is that same sets marriage is legal we will honor that. Talk about the Affordable Care act senator if they are tos strike down daca did republican departments for yield to repeal and replace. Where is the replace . I talked to little bit about obamacare. Obamacare in South Carolinas been a disaster. Your promise if you like your doctor you can keep it. We had five choices under obamacare were down to one. For a while i was on obamacare and my premiums went up three 100 my courage is almost nonexistent. Obamacare, three states get 35 of obamacare dollars. California and a chess while nutritious. There is 22 of the population. Odor like to do . I would like to make sure if you are in spartanburg get the same amount of money for the federal government as if you lived in san francisco. That would be almost a billion dollar increase for us. Level out the funding, send the money to the state directly, bypassed the washington bureaucrat you will never meet. Her local officials in charge of healthcare, allow our doctors and healthcare subject to you the patient and your own backyard parade the reason liberals hate my idea is because im trying to get money and power out of washington back here their goal is single payer healthcare will reduce quality, increased costs. Michaels obamacare is to make sure we do not said a billion dollars to new york, california or massachusetts. We control the money we make the decisions. Theres a hundred 50000 carolinians with covid prayed that the preexisting condition. They may lose the ability to buy healthcare. Thats not send the money to back to South Carolina. We get almost a billion dollars more undermined than the obamacare. We met mention money here at home, local politicians are in charge for if not withering vote them out. I bureaucrat in washington could care less about us. Preexisting conditions as required under the bill. My mom died when i was 21. My dad diagnosed 22. We went broke because we were underinsured. When my parents died my sisters 13. We got a Social Security survivor benefit of about 300 for my sister darling pretty worked for anson uncle who lived in the textile millsun who never made 25 or 30,000 dollars but i get it we are all one car wreck away from needingg help. We are not going to take your preexisting conditions away from anybody. That makes no sense. What im trying to do is get the money and power out of washington backyard home because our liberal friends are going to put all of our healthcare under the federal government umbrella. That is not the way to go folks. Thank you sir. Carolyn. Student senator graham marijuana still illegal the federal level for all americans. You support changes to federal marijuana dolls including decriminalization as well as medicinal use . Or trying get interview jeff you more questions. No maam i do not. Ive been a prosecutor defense attorney and it can be an bad drug. I do support medical marijuana. Their medical purposes associate with marijuana and usill be making that up section unchecked exception. Despite 70 of americans said they use marijuana their polls that believe marijuana could and should be for recreational use. I am in a 30 sets not a good idea. I seen the fence at the date rate drug to other things what comes to medical marijuana makes sense. When it comes to legalization im not going to impose that on the people of South Carolina. Will have a minute before get your closing here. Quickly theres been criticism from the president about mail and absentee ballots. Whether they will be safe or not. Your voters, you encourage them to vote by mail . Yes. You and to vote by mail do it. Call up let them know you want and absentee ballot. Theyll be a record of the transaction. Voting by mail or everybody the country gets a ballot by the what winner not is a disaster. And theres a ghost written some ballot in his car. Absentee voting there is a record here. I want a fair election, and everyone to vote for this idea the liberal dream of just milling chum mailing out belts and people get that. Felt harvesting as a threat to our democracy. One final question and certainly this was something that was certainly a compelling time in our community. Nine males of the manual ame church were gunned down by a gunman was able to purchase a gun because of a charleston loopholele. I apologize were out of time, think is so much better to graham for being with us for a snack we did promise you one minute as a closing statement go ahead. Big choice election, mr. Harrison is the associate chairman of the Democratic National committee. He is a great spokesman for their cause. I am a conservative republican who reaches across the aisle with a record to prove it. Im the chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, i will fight for conservative judges. A lot is on the ballot, law and order versus the mob and chaos. Conservative judges versus liberal judges. Free enterprise versus Bernie Sanders being in charge of your budget. I love South Carolina. It is my home. It is the best place in the world to raise children. And to start a business. As long as i am your senator, i intend to keep it that way. Student art thank you so much senator graham for being with us tonight. And a reminder absentee voting is underway across the state of South Carolina. Thanks for watching and have a good night. Or es you are watching cspan2 your unfiltered view of government. Created by americas Cable Television company as a public service. Brought to you today by your television provider. This is mike davis he is the founder and president of an organization known as the article three project. Also in his previous career surrogacyr chief counsel for Judiciary Committee and served in that position from 2017 to 2019. Thanks for joining us. Could you talk about the article three project . Specifically what is it do and how are you financially backed . A start of the article three project back in 2019. He left the Senate Judiciary committee of the top nomination counsel for the confirmation of Justice Brett kavanaugh along with several lower court judges. I torture then chairman Chuck Grassley for my home state of iowa. When he left i decided to go start the article three project to fight for President Trumps judicial nominees from the outside. So we make the positive case for the judicial nominees like judge amy tony barrett. We fight back against the left attacks on the nominees paid we defend the confirmation process for the democrats are saying the process is rigged or unfair, we can point to historical practices and precedents. To defend we also punch back we call the less salt on Judicial Independence. Their radical plans that court packing, term limits and impeachments. Our funding is from small dollar donors across america pretty good tour website it article three project. Org article number three project. Org and there is a donation link. We talk about judge amy kony bear, did your organization have a direct hand in her nomination . Did we have a direct hand in her nomination to be help pick her . No we did not. We are not in the judge picking business we are inn the judge confirming business. It is the president s job to pick these judicial nominees in consultation with senators. And we support President Trumps nominees who ever eepresident picks. Talk a little bit about your previous career. Mechanic comes due from the Judiciary Committee and this confirmation process there was a lot with judge baird this week about how much she did not say on certainy issues. Given your direct experience, how much of that is a common feature when it comes to people who are in that chair doing similarly to what she does . Similarly should be a uniform feature. As a judicial nominee especially if you are a sitting judge like judge amy kony bear is a sitting judge of the seventh circuit. Its her ethical dirty not to answer these questions about how they will rule on future cases buried there is a reason for this. Think about as a litigation printer getting ready to go before a justice on the Supreme Court and you found rout later that Supreme Court nominee judge barrett did some backroom deal with a senator. She exchange her vote on a future case for that senators vote for her confirmation. Thats just not how or system its an ethical its unseemly. She has done what every Supreme Court nominee should do including what the lateom Justice Ginsburg said that she did. That was to putre provide no hints no forecast for to get its not the job of Supreme Court nominees to assure senators how they are going to vote on future cases. Is it fair to say or at least your experience because if i believe correctly were directly involved in the confirmation process at brett kavanaugh. Correct me if im wrong, neal gore shifts correct ephemera on those fronts . Smit i was involved with the cheese enjoyed chief justices roberts confirmation when it works in the bush 43 white house. And then ith was the as the outside leader of justice courses just confirmation. I was his former law clerk and friend. I helped him get through the confirmation process back in 2017. And it was senate staff leader for Justice Kavanaugh confirmation process in 2018. This is the way judge barrett answered these questions or did not answer these questions is how judicial nominees are supposed to handle those questions. Th what you say those three gentlemen did the same type of style is amy kony bear . Or did they go furthers explain the reasoning behind certain decisions . I think judge spirited a fantastic job of explaining her judicial and original is in pretty think she handle it perfectly. She talked about how she would go about deciding cases. What she would look for, her judicial philosophy. She did not go over the ethical line of saying how she would rule on future cases. She did not go over the ethical line saying what previous cases were rightly or wronglyig decided. Then it tips her hand. It shows litigants how she would rule on future cases. That is not her job as a judicial nominee or a sitting judge. Would you say the three previous gentlemen were more forthcoming on those types of issues . I would not say they were more forthcoming of just a judge barrett was better and with Justice Kavanaugh, i think they should watch her tape they can learn a lot about how the model Supreme Court nomination should answer and go to the process. They did fine, they were great. You notice judge baird did not have any notes when she was going through her process. Both justice courses and kavanaugh had a lot of notes. This two ivy league rose could not keep up with judge barrett. Our guests will be with us until 845. If you want to ask questions of them you can do so on the phone line if you wish this morning go ahead and call you can also post honored twitter feed our Facebook Page available to you as well ife you want. You can talk to mike davis of the article three project. Mr. Davis when he heard Democratic Senators particularly talk about judge baird over concerns about the future of the Affordable Care act, the future of womens rights. What came across your mind when you saw that quite of questioning . Systemic thought it was a typical political nonsense you here at the Supreme Court hearings. These judges are going to do what judges do. Which is look at the facts, look at the law, apply the law to those facts and let the chips fall where they may. It is just nonsense to think that judge amy kony barracks, a mother of seven kids including one with down syndrome is on some sort of mission from god to overturn obamacare or any other case. It is silly season at the Senate Judiciary committee. That happens every time. Its just nonsense. Will show a little bit of that questioning directly. Heres senator Amy Klobuchar democrat asking the judge particularly when it comes to the future of the Affordable Care act and heres part of that exchange. One of President Trumps Campaign Promises in 2015 was that his judicial appointment will do the right thing on obamacare. You can see it right here. And in fact, judge, just one day after you were nominated, this was like a few weeks ago, he said also on twitter that it would be a big win if the Supreme Court strikes down the health law. So judge, my first question do we think we should take the president at his word when he saidil his now many of do the right thing and overturn the affordable air care act . Center klobuchar, i cannot really speak to what the president had said on twitter. He has not that any ofhe that to me. What i can tell you, as i have told your colleagues earlierve today, is that no one has elicited from a any commitment in a case or brought up a commitment and a case. I am one 100 committed to Judicial Independence from political pressure. Whatever people, party, platform Campaign Promises might be the reason judges have tenure is to isolate them from those pressures. I take my oath seriously to file the law. I decided case any particular way. So mr. Davis thats as far as the responsive judge barrett. How would you rate that . She wrote in her Senate Judiciary before her hearing she had no conversation, zero conversations with anyone including the senate on how she would rule in any particular case. She testified clearly at her hearing that she did not have any conversation with anyone. It is just silly. These are the same democrats have been arguing since roe versus wade was decided in 1973 that republicans appointed Supreme Court justices are going to overturn roe versus wade. Here we are, 47 years later and roe versus wade is still there. Is trying to scare voters for the election coming up in a couple of weeks. You support the confirmation 202 7488000 if you oppose it 202 7488001. Trying to cite about 202748002 you can also text us. Confirmation the hearings this week, mr. Davis, there were questions or at least there were concerns from some express it for religious faith going to come into view. Now that it is over, what did you think generally did exist in these of round she went through . So the democrats have a pattern and practice of scrutinizing republican judicial nominees about their catholic faith would resolve us in 2017 when senator Dianne Feinstein the top democratic on the Committee Said the dog was within you to then seventh circuit nominee judge barrett. That was of concern to Dianne Feinstein. You had senator dick durbin, the number two democrat in the senate who also serves on the Judiciary Committee asking judge barrett whether she was an orthodox catholic, whatever means. At we sought senator mazie hirono from hawaii in senator Kamali Harris the Vice President ial nominee growing judge buscher from nebraska when he went to the nominations process in 2018 for his involvement in the Catholic Knights charity that knights of columbus rate a practice of bigotry by democrats. I just gave you four of the ten who demonstrated that over the last severalt years. This time, i think they were more careful about their anticatholic bigotry. I think they were leaving it to the outside groups to attack judge barrett she went through this confirmation process. We sell the outside democratic operatives those with blue checkmarks on twitter attacking her for catholic faithac, through this process there is a democrat operative who said that judge baer was racist because she adopted two children from haiti. Theres plenty of hatred out there in the t Democrat Party and on the left for judge barretts. The Associated Press highlighted in a story leading up to this incentive judge baird was indeed confirmed a total of six catholics on the court. What you think of that impact . Or do you think you will have an impact . I dont think it will have an i impact. I am catholic, which a 13 years of catholic school. I know when im serving as a lawyer i can separate my personal views from my legal views. I do not recall these types of questions being asked of a muslim judicial nominees gone to the process. Or a jewish judicial nominee he went to the process part or an atheist nominees gone to the process. I find it very interesting that the left is particularly concerned about catholics. I think it goes to the fact that the left is beholding to plant hair parent hood and the dabortion industry. They very concerned that catholics are prolife will cut into their bottom line. This is mike davis joining us founder and president of the article three project their website and check them out to have calls lined up for you. Our first call is from ralph. He is from odessa, georgia who is opposed to judge barretts confirmation part ralph you are on with her guest of mike goahead. Yes. My concern she did not answer any questions. If the president said what he wanted in his judge than all of the republicans came out, ask their questions before we could begin to ask the question. They had already made them minor and she was going to put into office. Now she did not talk to them and give them some ideas. But when the democrat asked a question, they were wrong. We want to know. She said shes an originalist. The original constitution leaves people out like me as a black man. I am concerned about that. Your time but this is the practice and i do this. If a muslim put that up you would have. Concern. Y how is it that can happen . Thank you and ill listen. Answer. Thank you rockford number one it would not have any concern about a muslim or a jewish nominee or any other nominee. We have article six in the u. S. Constitution that says we cannot have a religious tester people are going to Service Officers in the United States including judges. Original ism is where you look at the text of the constitution and what that text meant to the people at the time that it was enacted. You talk about your race that is a complete misunderstanding of original is in. You also have to look out the constitutional mends with the 1h , 14th and 15th amendments. Civil war amendments fore the h amendment with the women. So they look at the same and amendments, then they would look at any other part of the constitution. C spence washington journal, every day were take your calls live on air in the news of the day. Well discuss policy issues that impact you. Coming up saturday morning, University Florida Political Science professor Michael Mcdonald with research on campaign 2020 early voting trends. And then annemarie University Professor Carol Anderson author of the book one person no vote talks about Voting Rights in campaign 2020. Also Galen Institute president turner looks at healthcare in the Affordable Healthcare Act for cspan washington journal seven eastern saturday morning. Be sure to join the discussion with your phone calls, facebook comments, texts and tweets. Head on cspan2 we are testament at ephesus stop the manipulation of information online. Only democrats participate in the House Speaker Intelligence Committee hearing. After that a discussion on the role the cia during the coronavirus pandemic. And later doctor Anthony Fauci on the importance of separating politics and policy when it comes to science. And representative of washington speak senate event on taxing the wealthy. Youre watching cspan2 your unfiltered view of government. Created by americas Cable Television company as a public service. Brought to you today by your television provider. The House Speaker Intelligence Committee held a hearing on stopping the spread of misinformation online. Including disinformation campaigns supported by foreign actors like russia and china. The responsibility of media platforms. This is about an hour and a hal half. Without objection the chair may a racist at any time. Before i begin i want to go to mur usual housekeeping matters. First come today session will be conducted entirely on unclassified basis