ALAN J. KUPERMAN:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nWhat George W. Bush did to Iraq is the same thing that President Barack Obama did to Libya. \u00a0That is, he took a state that was stable, that was an ally in the war on terror, and went in with a military intervention, and destroyed the state.<\/p>\n
RICHARD ENGEL:<\/p>\n
Although there was no identifiable threat or benefit to the United States, the administration sent in the jets to defend Libyan rebels on moral grounds. \u00a0Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had repeatedly said he was about to flatten with no mercy the City of Benghazi. \u00a0The rebel uprising, live tweeted and full of hope, was brewing.<\/p>\n
BARACK OBAMA:<\/p>\n
We have intervened to stop a massacre.<\/p>\n
RICHARD ENGEL:<\/p>\n
An administration that couldn’t wait to get out of Iraq sent American troops into Libya and kept them overhead until Gaddafi was well and truly gone.<\/p>\n
HILLARY CLINTON:<\/p>\n
We came. \u00a0We saw. \u00a0He died.<\/p>\n
RICHARD ENGEL:<\/p>\n
Then the U.S. left Libya to the Mad Max militiamen who had taken it over.<\/p>\n
UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER:<\/p>\n
The best rebels turned out to be radical Islamists.<\/p>\n
RICHARD ENGEL:<\/p>\n
And the war in Libya would have far broader implications than that. \u00a0It raised expectations in the wider Arab world. \u00a0In Syria, people took to the streets, confident that they, too, would get American help. \u00a0The administration at first encouraged the Syrian rebels, but never sent them any meaningful assistance or heavy weapons.<\/p>\n
And like a wound in the body, the growing chaos in Syria spread, ISIS advanced, and brought down Iraq next door, which was barely on its feet after ten years of war. \u00a0It was there in the Iraqi City of Mosul that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared himself the caliph of the Islamic State, founding a terrorist state across Syria and Iraq armed with American weapons his men took from the Iraqi army, which all but collapsed in fear.<\/p>\n
Now, the U.S. is being dragged back into war in the Middle East. \u00a0It hopes to stand the Iraqi army back up and send it into battle to take back Mosul with the help of Kurdish fighters from northern Iraq. \u00a0The U.S. military says some American ground troops may be needed to lead the charge.<\/p>\n
Taking Mosul will not be easy, especially since ISIS has had months to prepare for the battle. \u00a0The real question is what’s the wider strategy for stability in Iraq and Syria, and now Libya, stability that would truly deny ISIS a home? \u00a0This remains the hard question. \u00a0And this administration has yet to offer a convincing answer.<\/p>\n
(END TAPE)<\/p>\n
RICHARD ENGEL:<\/p>\n
And Chuck, several U.S. military officials who I’ve been speaking with have privately expressed a great amount of frustration at what they see as a lack of clarity about the U.S. strategy against ISIS. \u00a0When I asked our NBC Military Analyst Colonel Jack Jacobs about the strategy, he paraphrased Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland<\/i>, saying, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” \u00a0Chuck.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Richard, thank you. \u00a0Now to discuss a terror threat at home as well as this political fight over immigration, I’m joined by Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson. \u00a0Secretary Johnson, welcome back to Meet the Press<\/i>.<\/p>\n
SECRETARY JEH JOHNSON:<\/p>\n
Thanks for having me, Chuck.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Let me start with this terror threat by Al Shabaab, an al-Qaeda offshoot from Somalia. \u00a0We talked about it earlier, targeting malls potentially in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. \u00a0In particular, though, Mall of America and Minneapolis, the Twin Cities, large Somali population there. \u00a0So, obviously I assume a concern that you could have lone wolves.<\/p>\n
In an earlier interview this morning, you said the following: \u00a0“If anyone is planning to go to the Mall of America today, they’ve got to be particularly careful.” \u00a0It sounds like you believe this threat is that serious. \u00a0You’re almost telling them, “I hear that. \u00a0I would not go to the mall.”<\/p>\n
SECRETARY JEH JOHNSON:<\/p>\n
I’m not saying that. \u00a0I’m saying that the public needs to be particularly vigilant. \u00a0Chuck, we’re in a new phase in global terrorist threat right now which involves core al-Qaeda, but now other groups, the ISIL group being the most prominent example of that. \u00a0With very effective use of video, publication, social media and the internet that have the ability to reach into communities, reach into homelands, and inspire independent actors to commit acts of violence.<\/p>\n
Which is why we need a military approach. \u00a0And we’ve got one. \u00a0We’re, through an international coalition, embarking on air strikes and other things militarily. \u00a0But also, a whole of government approach, a Homeland Security law enforcement approach, which includes countering violent extremism engagements and initiatives here on the homeland. \u00a0That was one of the things that the summit this week at the White House was all about.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
I’m going to get to the summit. \u00a0But I guess I go back to, so, give me an assessment of this threat. \u00a0I mean, is this something that is one of those things that you’ve got a whole bunch of extra security at the mall today? \u00a0Is this something we’ve got to worry about all week? \u00a0Can you give us a little more detail?<\/p>\n
SECRETARY JEH JOHNSON:<\/p>\n
Well, we’ve seen this a number of times now where a group will call for an attack on a country, on a specific location. \u00a0And, so, we’ve got to be vigilant. \u00a0So, we ramp up security. \u00a0There was a call for an attack on locations in Canada and Europe.<\/p>\n
And, so, in response to that, I ramped up the presence of the federal protective service at federal buildings a couple of months ago. \u00a0I’m sure that security at this particular mall will be enhanced in ways visible and not visible. \u00a0But it also involves public vigilance and public awareness. \u00a0“If you see something, say something,” has to be more than a slogan.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
But at this point, you’re not telling people not to go to the mall?<\/p>\n
SECRETARY JEH JOHNSON:<\/p>\n
I’m not telling people to not go to the mall. \u00a0I think that there needs to be an awareness. \u00a0There needs to be vigilance. \u00a0And, you know, be careful, obviously. \u00a0It’s a new phase. \u00a0We’re in a new phase right now. \u00a0And that involves public participation in our efforts.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
There is concern. \u00a0You have these communities, the Twin Cities, the Somali community with a large Muslim population, you have other communities in the U.S. \u00a0Is it harder for you to get cooperation in these communities? \u00a0Do you believe it’s harder for you to get this cooperation if the president were out there calling it radical Islam, referring to ISIS and you having Islamists extremists, using that phraseology? \u00a0Does that actually make it harder for you to do your job or not?<\/p>\n
SECRETARY JEH JOHNSON:<\/p>\n
Good question. \u00a0I’ve done a number of these engagements myself in Minneapolis; Boston; L.A.; Columbus, Ohio; Chicago. \u00a0When I meet with Muslim community leaders, they all pretty much tell me the same thing, which is that, “ISIL is attempting to hijack my religion. \u00a0Islam is about peace. \u00a0And ISIL is attempting to hijack our religion, what we’re about.”<\/p>\n
And, so, to me, to call it Islamic extremism dignifies ISIL and gives them space in Islamic religion that they don’t deserve, and I don’t believe Muslim leaders think they deserve. \u00a0And, so, ISIL is a very dangerous terrorist organization that represents a serious potential threat to our homeland. \u00a0We’ve got to respond militarily. \u00a0We’ve got to respond through law enforcement. \u00a0Frankly, I’m more concerned about how we respond in our counterterrorism efforts than which two words we call it.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Let me move to immigration. \u00a0Your department runs out of funding at the end of the week, on the 27th of February. \u00a0Obviously, you don’t just want a continuing resolution, apologies for Washington speak. \u00a0You want your full budget. \u00a0If you don’t get it on Thursday, what happens? \u00a0What departments shut down and what doesn’t shut down at Department of Homeland Security?<\/p>\n
SECRETARY JEH JOHNSON:<\/p>\n
Well, first of all, it’s bizarre and absurd that we’re even having this discussion in these challenging times, given the global terrorist threat we’ve just been talking about, given the harsh winter we’re in the midst of, and all the other things that we do.<\/p>\n
We’re talking about the possibility of shutting down Homeland Security because Congress can’t agree. \u00a0If we go into government shutdown, some 30,000 employees at my department will be furloughed, including a lot of headquarters personnel who I count on daily to stay one step ahead of groups like ISIL.<\/p>\n
A large part of the workforce will be required to come to work. \u00a0But they’ll come to work without pay. \u00a0So, the working men and women of my department will be required to work on the front lines without a paycheck, which has serious consequences for working men and women and their families.<\/p>\n
Our grant making to state and local law enforcement grinds to a halt. \u00a0We cannot pay for the added border security that we put on the southern border last summer to deal with the spike in migration there. \u00a0Thankfully, the numbers are down month to month. \u00a0They’re the lowest they’ve been in years. \u00a0But we need to protect that.<\/p>\n
And we need to keep border security in place. \u00a0I could go on and on. \u00a0So, we need Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security. \u00a0And we’ve got four working days in Congress. \u00a0And I’m talking to every of Congress who will listen to me about the importance of doing this.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
We’ll be covering this. \u00a0We know about the immigration lawsuit. \u00a0There’s a lot of moving parts to this debate, but I’ll keep moving on. \u00a0Secretary Johnson, I know it’s a busy morning for you. \u00a0Thanks for coming on Meet the Press<\/i>.<\/p>\n
SECRETARY JEH JOHNSON:<\/p>\n
Thanks for having me, Chuck.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
I want to now turn to the Republican Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker of Tennessee. \u00a0He just got back from the Middle East. \u00a0Senator Corker, welcome back to Meet the Press<\/i>.<\/p>\n
SENATOR BOB CORKER:<\/p>\n
Good to be with you, Chuck.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Let me ask you about this debate about words. \u00a0Do you think it matters whether we call ISIS radical Islam or just radical extremists?<\/p>\n
SENATOR BOB CORKER:<\/p>\n
Well, you know, what matters is what I call them. \u00a0And they’re Islamic extremists. \u00a0I just spent a week there, as you know. \u00a0And they are Islamic. \u00a0There’s no question. \u00a0They are extreme in what they’re doing. \u00a0And they’re a threat to our country.<\/p>\n
And we need to deal with that appropriately. \u00a0It looks as if we have some pieces that are coming together appropriately in Iraq. \u00a0I think there are still a lot of questions, Chuck, as to how we deal with ISIS in Syria. \u00a0And as you talked about earlier in your program, they’re a threat now in Libya and other places.<\/p>\n
So, this is something that we as a nation are going to be dealing with for a long time. \u00a0I think you know we’re going to be debating an authorization for the use of military force here soon. \u00a0This is an important issue. \u00a0It’s important to our homeland security. \u00a0It’s important to the world. \u00a0And I hope as a nation we’ll take it on in a sober and important way over the next several weeks.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
For many Americans, ISIS has been brought home by these brutal killings of American citizens that were held hostage. \u00a0My colleague Savannah Guthrie just finished an interview with Kayla Mueller’s parents, who are taking specific issue with U.S. policy on hostages. \u00a0I want other play a clip of it for you and get your response on the other side.<\/p>\n
KAYLA MUELLER’S FATHER (ON TAPE):<\/p>\n
We understand the policy about not paying ransom. \u00a0But, on the other hand, any parent out there would understand that you would want anything and everything done to bring your child home. \u00a0And we tried. \u00a0And we asked. \u00a0But they put policy in front of American citizens’ lives.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Senator Corker, “Put policy in front of American citizens’ lives.” \u00a0Look, that is a grieving father. \u00a0What do you say to him or what do you say to other Americans?<\/p>\n
SENATOR BOB CORKER:<\/p>\n
Look, Chuck, I can’t imagine a greater thing for a parent than knowing that your child is abducted and you’re trying to do everything you can to cause them to be free and to be back home and to be with your family. \u00a0At the same time, what you do when you begin to pay ransom, which is how these groups support themselves, you encourage them to take other American citizens and other people.<\/p>\n
And, so, you encourage them to continue to do what they’re doing even more. \u00a0So, this has been a longstanding U.S. policy. \u00a0It’s a policy that I’ll support. \u00a0At the same time, I understand the extreme pain that a family would go through knowing that this is our U.S. policy and knowing that their daughter, their loved daughter, lost their life.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
You know, one of the other things this ISIS does is they’re enslaving people. \u00a0They’re enslaving women in Iraq. \u00a0We’ve been hearing about this. \u00a0You’ve got a bill you want to introduce called End Modern Slavery Initiative. \u00a0And it’s something you were dealing with in the Middle East as well. \u00a0How bad of a problem is this?<\/p>\n
SENATOR BOB CORKER:<\/p>\n
Well, first of all, Chuck, yes, they are enslaving people. \u00a0And in Mosul, that’s exactly what has happened. \u00a0And that’s why as we go into Mosul, we’ve got to understand there are a number of people there. \u00a0This is going to be urban warfare.<\/p>\n
And we’ve got to get it right. \u00a0And whether we do it in April or later, it’s got to be done right. \u00a0Yes, we are taking on modern slavery. \u00a0It wasn’t intended to deal with it in this fashion. \u00a0But there are 27 million people today, Chuck, around the world that are enslaved, either in rug-making facilities, brick kilns, as you know there’s all kinds of sex trafficking.<\/p>\n
We’ve seen this on the rise around the world. \u00a0And these are crimes of opportunity. \u00a0They’re just average business people are making money by enslaving people. \u00a0And, so, yes, this week, I hope we’re going to launch a bill. \u00a0Matter of fact, I’m certain we’re going to launch a bill to end slavery by building off public-private partnerships around the world using best practices.<\/p>\n
This is something that takes U.S. leadership. \u00a0Again, it’s not applicable to the situation you just described. \u00a0But it’s been going on for years. \u00a0And my guess is that we will begin taking this on in a real way to really end this plague around the world that so many people aren’t even aware of.<\/p>\n
But in many countries, this is the culture. \u00a0People who are poor and impoverished don’t have access to the criminal justice system. \u00a0We’re going to build on those best practices. \u00a0We’re going to do something substantial about it. \u00a0And I look forward to this coming out of committee this week.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Senator, very quickly, this week, can you imagine a scenario where you shut down the Department of Homeland Security?<\/p>\n
SENATOR BOB CORKER:<\/p>\n
You know, Chuck, I don’t. \u00a0I was gratified by the judge’s ruling. \u00a0The president 22 times had said he couldn’t do this, he didn’t have the authority. \u00a0So, I was very gratified by what the judge ruled. \u00a0At the same time, I do believe in this time where we have the kind of threats that we have from all over the world, we certainly need to make sure that Homeland Security is fully funded. \u00a0And my guess is we’ll figure out a way to make sure that happens this week.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
All right. \u00a0Senator Corker, Republican from Tennessee, thanks for coming on Meet the Press<\/i>. \u00a0Coming up, all those new voter ID laws: \u00a0Are they about preventing fraud or more about preventing some people from voting? \u00a0Our deep dive this week. \u00a0The Voting Rights Act is 50 years old. \u00a0Are they going to get it done in Congress? \u00a0We’ll be right back.<\/p>\n
(COMMERCIAL NOT TRANSCRIBED)<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Our deep dive this week. \u00a0It was 1965 and people across the country watched as men and women were beaten in the streets of Alabama as they tried to march for voting rights. \u00a0Well, later that year, something called the Voting Rights Act was passed.<\/p>\n
But two years ago, the Supreme Court found part of the act unconstitutional. \u00a0And since then, there’s been almost no action in Congress to amend the law, even though Chief Justice John Roberts essentially ordered Congress to rewrite the law. \u00a0Joining me now, Representative Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, Republican from Pennsylvania; and Sherrilyn Ifill, who is the seventh president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. \u00a0She fills a seat originally occupied by Thurgood Marshall. \u00a0Welcome to you both.<\/p>\n
Sherrilyn, let me start with you. \u00a0The biggest part of the Voting Rights Act that was thrown out and proved unconstitutional was this idea of sort of the preclearance portion. \u00a0There were certain states, mostly in the South, that couldn’t change their laws on voting without approval by the Justice Department. \u00a0They said, “You can’t single out states.” \u00a0So, how do you want Congress to rewrite this law?<\/p>\n
SHERRILYN IFILL:<\/p>\n
Well, currently there is a bill, a bill that is, of course, supported by Representative John Lewis, the civil rights icon and hero and voting rights legend, that would respond to what the Supreme Court said Congress had to do. \u00a0It essentially creates a formula that would require jurisdictions who’ve had violations of the Voting Rights Act over the last 15 years to be subjected to a similar preclearance position of the kind that existed before.<\/p>\n
For states, it would be five violations. \u00a0For local jurisdictions, it would be three violations. \u00a0It’s kind of a rolling formula, so it resolves the problem that the Supreme Court said was the problem with the former provision. \u00a0But it went back too far. \u00a0And, yet, we’ve had no movement on it, no hearing, and no real effort to really try and move this bill as the court asked Congress to do two years ago.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Now, Congressman Dent, you’re on here because you’re one of the few Republicans, you, Congressman Sensenbrenner as well from Wisconsin, a Republican. \u00a0You guys do want to rewrite this bill. \u00a0But as Sherrilyn Ifill says, you’re kind of alone here, it seems like, in Congress. \u00a0There are only three or four of you that seem on the Republican side of the aisle intent on rewriting this.<\/p>\n
CHARLES DENT:<\/p>\n
Well, no. \u00a0Actually, I think many Republicans recognize that the Voting Rights Act is the single most important civil rights legislation ever passed in American history. \u00a0And we also take seriously the fact that we do need to amend the Voting Rights Act, given the court’s rulings. \u00a0So, I believe there is a lot more Republican support for a bill than there are cosponsors. \u00a0So, I do think that there is going to be considerable support for this bill if it does get \u00a0considered.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
This formula that she outlined, I know there’s a similar formula in this bill. \u00a0And is this a workable formula, do you think, that would apply to all 50 states?<\/p>\n
CHARLES DENT:<\/p>\n
Absolutely. \u00a0I believe this formula strikes the right balance between states’ rights and voters’ rights. \u00a0And it’s difficult. \u00a0And by the way, under this formula under the Sensenbrenner bill, I believe four states would be in preclearance, as opposed to what was the case before with about nine states.<\/p>\n
So, I think it does strike the right balance. \u00a0A lot of the groups out there on the outside NAACP, and others, are generally supportive of the bill. \u00a0I think certainly John Lewis, an icon, is supportive, and then the Republican members. \u00a0So, I think you’ve got the right balance here. \u00a0It’s a good start.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
If there is a sticking point, I understand, Sherrilyn, it has to do with the idea of voter IDs, voter ID laws. \u00a0And I know it was a sticking point for you to support this bill. \u00a0You wanted the ability, Congressman Dent, that states could have voter ID laws. \u00a0This is the part of the bill you don’t like. \u00a0Could you accept some form of allowing states to have voter ID laws if you get this preclearance? \u00a0Is this a compromise?<\/p>\n
SHERRILYN IFILL:<\/p>\n
Voter ID is a problem, right. \u00a0We just had this case in Texas last year in which a federal judge found that Texas’s voter ID law, the most restrictive voter ID law in the country, was passed for the purpose of discriminating against minority voters.<\/p>\n
This is the voter ID law that doesn’t allow students to use the ID, but allows you to use your concealed gun carry permit. \u00a0600,000 registered voters don’t have the ID. \u00a0It’s a problem. \u00a0I think we focus too much on the actual provisions.<\/p>\n
At the end of the day, we need a hearing on this bill. \u00a0We need to figure out what’s missing from our side. \u00a0We need to figure out what’s problematic from the other side. \u00a0We need to work on that bill. \u00a0We haven’t been able to get a hearing on it. \u00a0In two weeks, thousands of people are going to converge on Selma, Alabama, to celebrate the anniversary.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Including the president.<\/p>\n
SHERRILYN IFILL:<\/p>\n
The president of the United States is going to be there, and lots of congresspeople, including many Republicans, who go every year. \u00a0But it can’t be just about laying a wreath and marching across the bridge. \u00a0It has to be about honoring what those people sacrificed for. \u00a0And that’s why we need movement on the bill. \u00a0Whatever the problems are, bring them to the table. \u00a0Let’s have a hearing. \u00a0Let’s talk about it.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Is there any way this bill passes without a voter ID provision?<\/p>\n
CHARLES DENT:<\/p>\n
Well, I do support voter ID. \u00a0I think Republicans will insist on voter ID being protected. \u00a0I’m from Pennsylvania. \u00a0I have witnessed voter fraud. \u00a0We had a state senator thrown out because of absentee ballot fraud in the 1990s. \u00a0I lived through that.<\/p>\n
It was awful. \u00a0It was a stolen election. \u00a0And we’ve seen it. \u00a0We had a candidate for Congress in Maryland not so long ago in 2012 who voted in both 2006 and 2008 in Florida and Maryland. \u00a0She had to drop out. \u00a0So, there is real fraud out there. \u00a0And I think you can be against discrimination and against fraud. \u00a0Those two ideas are compatible.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Is there a way that you guys could ever support voter ID and say, okay, senior citizens would get an exemption for 20 years?<\/p>\n
SHERRILYN IFILL:<\/p>\n
Well, it’s interesting. \u00a0There’s voter ID and there’s voter ID. \u00a0The question is, what voter ID, right. \u00a0So, it’s not that, you know, our groups are against voter ID. \u00a0It’s we’re against specific kinds of voter IDs that unfairly restrict the ability of minorities to participate in the political process. \u00a0But what you’re talking about, absentee voting and voter fraud in absentee voting, you solve that by expanding early voting so people have more opportunities to vote and they don’t need to vote absentee.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Well, I think that’s why you guys need a hearing. \u00a0You guys are getting close, anyway. \u00a0Congressman Dent, Sherrilyn Ifill, thank you for showing that there is still that you guys attempt to get passed.<\/p>\n
SHERRILYN IFILL:<\/p>\n
Absolutely<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Thank you both. \u00a0Coming up, we’ve got a fun little Nerd Screen for you. \u00a0You don’t want to miss it. \u00a0It has to do with Oscars and politics. \u00a0We’ll be right back.<\/p>\n
***Commercial Break***<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Since it is Oscar night, we wanted to take a look at how the world of politics and the Academy Awards intersect. \u00a0Believe it or not, they do. \u00a0Using Facebook data, the Wall Street Journal<\/i> found that the films up for the big awards being discussed across the U.S. actually are following a red-blue political divide this year in the country.<\/p>\n
In fact, look at this. \u00a0Of the 100 counties that talk most about American Sniper<\/i> according to Facebook, 94 of those 100 voted for Mitt Romney in 2012. \u00a0Conversely, 78 of the 100 countries that talked the most about the film Birdman<\/i> voted for Obama in 2012; just 22 voted for Romney. \u00a0So, there you go. \u00a0Head to our website, by the way, for more about this and our nerd screen and how the key influential bubbles in America, New York, Washington, and yes, Oscars L.A. are very different from the rest of America. \u00a0Enjoy Oscar night.<\/p>\n
***Commercial Break***<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Welcome back. \u00a0Even Rudy Giuliani wouldn’t call President Obama a “calculating, murdering psychopath.” \u00a0That’s the description that would fit another American president, but thankfully he’s fictional. \u00a0Kevin Spacey, Frank Underwood, begins the new season of House of Cards<\/i> on Netflix, having moved into the White House, believe it or not. \u00a0NBC’s Cynthia McFadden was granted some exclusive behind-the-scenes access. \u00a0Take a look.<\/p>\n
(BEGIN TAPE)<\/p>\n
FRANK UNDERWOOD:<\/p>\n
Anyone can commit suicide or spout their mouth in front of a camera. \u00a0But you want to know what takes real courage? \u00a0Keeping your mouth shut, no matter what you might be feeling.<\/p>\n
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN:<\/p>\n
That’s always been his philosophy. \u00a0Frank Underwood, now president, is still the politician we love to hate.<\/p>\n
FRANK UNDERWOOD:<\/p>\n
Because I lack scruples and some might even say compassion.<\/p>\n
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN:<\/p>\n
Yes, Frank Underwood has made it to the White House. \u00a0Star and producer Kevin Spacey gave me a tour of the new set.<\/p>\n
KEVIN SPACEY:<\/p>\n
This is the White House press room.<\/p>\n
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN (NATURAL SOUND):<\/p>\n
This is great.<\/p>\n
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN:<\/p>\n
A lifelong Democrat, Spacey said he, like many Americans, is frustrated with Washington.<\/p>\n
KEVIN SPACEY:<\/p>\n
I think that what is truly unfortunate is when an entire party makes a decision that they’re going to block every single thing that a president wants to accomplish. \u00a0It’s very hard to get anything done under those circumstances.<\/p>\n
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN (NATURAL SOUND):<\/p>\n
Even Frank Underwood would have trouble with that?<\/p>\n
KEVIN SPACEY:<\/p>\n
Oh, I’d just kill everybody, you know, kill them all.<\/p>\n
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN:<\/p>\n
The show captures the weird alchemy of the outlandish and realistic.<\/p>\n
BEAU WILLIMON:<\/p>\n
I think we’re getting to the essence of what it means to contend with that much power in your hands.<\/p>\n
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN:<\/p>\n
One reason the scripts are able to skate on such a fine edge, the show’s creator and executive producer, Beau Willimon.<\/p>\n
BEAU WILLIMON:<\/p>\n
We’re always pushing the boundary of plausibility. \u00a0But everything that happens in the show is possible.<\/p>\n
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN (NATURAL SOUND):<\/p>\n
You actually worked in politics yourself.<\/p>\n
BEAU WILLIMON:<\/p>\n
I did, very low on the totem pole.<\/p>\n
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN:<\/p>\n
So, did you come out of it a cynic about politics, or?<\/p>\n
BEAU WILLIMON:<\/p>\n
Absolutely not, no. \u00a0Francis Underwood is an optimist.<\/p>\n
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN (NATURAL SOUND):<\/p>\n
Hold that. \u00a0I mean he’s an opportunist. \u00a0He’s a lot of things. \u00a0But an optimist?<\/p>\n
BEAU WILLIMON:<\/p>\n
An optimist, but the ways he goes about it may be distasteful to you. \u00a0But what do people relish in in a Frank Underwood? \u00a0A guy who gets things done. \u00a0And I think there’s a certain deliciousness to that which they see in his journey that they don’t see in the real Washington right now<\/p>\n
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN:<\/p>\n
A guy who gets things done by any means possible.<\/p>\n
CLAIRE UNDERWOOD:<\/p>\n
We\u2019re murderers, Francis.<\/p>\n
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN:<\/p>\n
Let’s hope fiction doesn’t inspire the real politicians. \u00a0For Meet the Press<\/i>, I’m Cynthia McFadden, Joppa, Maryland.<\/p>\n
(END TAPE)<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
When we come back, Kevin Kline, Harrison Ford, Martin Sheen: \u00a0Who’s your favorite fictional president? \u00a0We know it’s really not Frank Underwood. \u00a0That, plus the latest in the race to become the next nonfiction president.<\/p>\n
***Commercial Break***<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
All right. \u00a0Let’s go to the nonfiction race for the presidency. \u00a0Welcome back here to the panel. But Michael, before, I want to start with you. \u00a0Because we had this whole language debate about extremism. \u00a0And the fact of the matter is the president seems to be get attacked from conservative Republicans on an issue that he seems to be, am I right to characterize, the same sort of stance that President Bush took as well?<\/p>\n
MICHAEL GERSON:<\/p>\n
You are right. \u00a0There is a remarkable consistency between the previous administration and this one, and for a certain reason. \u00a0Because the rhetorical saying we want is free people against violent extremists, not a war of civilizations or a war of religion.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
They want a war of civilizations.<\/p>\n
MICHAEL GERSON:<\/p>\n
That’s exactly the framing that they want and what you need to resist. \u00a0And any future president will do this. \u00a0I promise. \u00a0You have Muslim allies in the war on terror. \u00a0You can’t alienate them, you know, the Jordanians or the Turks or others. \u00a0These are important allies. \u00a0And your language matters.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
All right. \u00a0I want to go to the race for the presidency a little bit. \u00a0Bill Kristol wrote something interesting, Amy, upset about the way the campaign has started on the Republican side of the aisle. \u00a0He said, “Are we the only ones,” referring to the Weekly Standard<\/i>, “who are struck that many of the leading Republican candidates, whether moderate or conservative, seem to be planning stale and tired campaigns?”<\/p>\n
He goes on to say, “Hillary’s going to run a stale campaign,” he believes, “with tired themes. \u00a0But polls suggest she would prevail in a conventional matchup of boring campaigns.” \u00a0Is he onto something? \u00a0Or do you think he’s over panicking?<\/p>\n
AMY WALTER:<\/p>\n
I kind of thought there was a little bit of over panicking here. \u00a0There are 600 plus days before this election.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
We do have 300 days to a lot of that. 350 days to Iowa.<\/p>\n
AMY WALTER:<\/p>\n
There are 350 days.<\/p>\n
(OVERTALK)<\/p>\n
AMY WALTER:<\/p>\n
This is a long time for these candidates to actually grow as candidates and start talking about issues. \u00a0And you know, we’ve spent a whole lot of time, and we’ve done it today, talking about lots of things that really don’t matter in a conventional sense of politics and policy.<\/p>\n
But I think you have people that are running this year on the Republican side who have a lot to bring to the table. \u00a0The question is whether they do it or not. \u00a0But I think you have in Marco Rubio and in a lot of these governors people who have actually put stuff forward. \u00a0They’re implemented things as executives. \u00a0They have stuff to say. \u00a0Jeb Bush has a lot to say. \u00a0They just haven’t been saying it yet.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
This, by the way, has been a busy week. \u00a0And there was a topic I think we would’ve gotten more to, and that is the Clinton campaign. \u00a0The Wall Street Journal<\/i> did a big thing on the Clinton Foundation and all of its foreign donors, basically. \u00a0They’re back raising money in foreign governments.<\/p>\n
And let me put up a list of governments that have given to the Clinton Foundation. \u00a0And you see who’s who in the Middle East, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Kuwait. \u00a0Now, of course, the Clinton Foundation, Robert Gibbs, will say, “Hey, these folks, this is all do-gooder stuff that they’re doing in places like Africa, having to do with health and food and things like this.” \u00a0But boy, the perception of this, I mean, Saudi Arabia, they’re lobbyists. \u00a0In some ways, they lobby America for assistance. Appearances are bad.<\/p>\n
ROBERT GIBBS:<\/p>\n
I think there’s no doubt that the appearances are awkward at best. \u00a0And I think they’re going to have to do something in the very short term to deal with this in a way that puts it off the table. \u00a0Look, Chuck, I think there are a lot of people that have watched the sort of slow roll of the Hillary Clinton campaign, really dating back to last year with a book tour that some wondered what she was doing.<\/p>\n
Speeches that some wondered what she was doing. \u00a0And, you know, I think from a Democratic perspective, things will get better when there is a formal campaign. \u00a0But, you know, there has been a slow roll of concerning headlines for a long time.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Well, Nia, your newspaper gave her a good one here. \u00a0The making of Hillary of 5.0. \u00a0Do you need to read the piece? \u00a0It’s not a good one.<\/p>\n
NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON:<\/p>\n
Yes, not a good piece, Hillary 5.0. \u00a0Which version will she be this go-round?<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
All right. \u00a0Let’s have some fun here last minute. \u00a0Oscar time. \u00a0I asked you guys to give me your favorite fictional presidents. \u00a0All right, Michael, I’ll start with you. \u00a0Your favorite fictional president was?<\/p>\n
MICHAEL GERSON:<\/p>\n
Mine was President Arnold Schwarzenegger.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
It wasn’t Arnold. \u00a0They called him a different name in there.<\/p>\n
MICHAEL GERSON:<\/p>\n
Oh, I’m not sure. \u00a0It’s in The Simpsons Movie<\/i>. \u00a0He wanted a strong EPA.<\/p>\n
(OVERTALK)<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Nia, your pick was?<\/p>\n
NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON:<\/p>\n
Selina Meyer, who’s been president now for I think one episode of Veep<\/i>. \u00a0She is the happiest person to be the fictional president and also the most terrified.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Now, Amy, you went the animated route.<\/p>\n
AMY WALTER:<\/p>\n
I did, too. \u00a0I go Simpsons<\/i> with Michael Gerson. \u00a0But I said when Lisa Simpson was president and she did push for legalizing pot, thanks to Bart Simpson.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
There you go. \u00a0And Robert, you went with the Democratic Party’s dream president.<\/p>\n
ROBERT GIBBS:<\/p>\n
I went with President Bartlett.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
You did. \u00a0Martin Sheen.<\/p>\n
ROBERT GIBBS:<\/p>\n
I will say I am struck. \u00a0It speaks to our current politics that two of you picked presidents from The Simpsons.<\/p>\n
(OVERTALK)<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
Mine is Harrison Ford in Air Force One<\/i>.<\/p>\n
NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON:<\/p>\n
Get off my plane.<\/p>\n
CHUCK TODD:<\/p>\n
“Get off my plane.\u201d \u00a0And at this point, we’re going to get off the show. \u00a0That’s all for this Sunday. \u00a0You can see a lot more we’ll have next week. \u00a0Because if it’s Sunday, it’s Meet the Press<\/i>.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
* * *END OF TRANSCRIPT* * *<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\n
# # #<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former RNC Chairman Haley Barbour: \u201cThey [Democrats] prefer to talk about Rudy Giuliani until the cows come home.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sec. Jeh Johnson: \u201cI’m not telling people to not go to the mall. \u00a0I think that there needs to be an awareness. \u00a0There needs to be vigilance.\u201d Sec. Johnson says threat of DHS funding […]<\/p>\n
Read More… from \u201cMEET THE PRESS\u201d 2\/22\/15: SEC. JOHNSON CALLS FOR \u201cVIGILANCE\u201d AFTER MALL OF AMERICA THREAT; BARBOUR RESPONDS TO GIULIANI & WALKER<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":425,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[4,27],"class_list":["post-694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-meet-the-press","tag-feature","tag-transcript"],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cMEET THE PRESS\u201d 2\/22\/15: SEC. 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