Face The Nation - November 8, 2009

" Today on face the nation what a week an election. Shakes the Democrats -- tragedy at Fort Hood -- in the last night that there is pat. It. How plants that don't hear him. We'll get the latest on all of -- as we talk with the chairman of the house armed services committee Ike -- Two key senators on the -- Republican Lindsey Graham and Democrat Jack Reed. Gold also played key goals when the health reform bill gets the defendant. Then we'll bring in congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz Democrat of Florida and Republican political consultant it won't. The talk about the impact of Tuesday's election from both parties. The health care debate and I'll have a word then -- jumping to conclusions about Fort Hood and I've -- But first catching up on the week that -- our faith and."

" Face the nation. With CBS news chief Washington correspondent. Bob Schieffer. -- valve problems CBS news in Washington. Bob Schieffer."

" And good morning again chairman Skelton is here in the studio with us this morning our two guests from the Senate Lindsey Graham and Jack Reed or in their home states of South Carolina and Rhode Island. Let me start with the senator's first because I wanna get your take senator Reid and senator Graham on the health care bill that house passed last night. Do you think at this point senator Reid that there are the votes in the Senate. To pass the bill that the house passed because it does include. The so called public option in this government health care insurance program that would be run by the government you'd think it's that's gonna pass the Senate are --"

" If we're gonna do pass health care reform yeah I believe that we must do this because it is central to move not just. The quality of life here but our economic success in the future. Senator Reid Harry Reid has introduced the public option -- strong support there. But we are far from -- the end of the debate in the Senate it'll take a time it'll be careful thorough and deliberate. I hope that a popular option is part of the final work. Bill but candidly right now you don't have the votes in the Senate for them there in mind not correct in saying. I think there's that discussion about as senator snow suggested it triggered the public -- senator Reid is suggested a opt out by the state. There is such a debate back to debate about how the public option might come about but. Overwhelmingly 60% of America public -- public option and I think we should be listening to them as much -- listened to ourselves well let's get the at takeout from senator Graham senator Graham your brand the independent Democrat Joe Lieberman on this."

" Broadcast last Sunday said no health care reform legislation. Is better than health care reform with the public option. Where do you think this is going in this."

" Well let's start with a house bill the house bill is dead on arrival in the Senate just look at -- passed it passed T twenty detained fifteen. He passed by two votes yet forty -- 39 Democrats voted against the bill they come from red states. Moderate Democrats from swing -- swing districts. They belt out on this bill that was a bill were written about liberals or liberals and people like Joe Lieberman are not gonna. Anywhere near the house -- 'cause Medicare about 500 billion dollars -- over trillion dollars in new spending it does have the public option said the house bill. Has a non starter in the Senate. Senator Lieberman also sent on that -- became to filibustering to keep that bill from passing in the Senate he joined in that would you also. Be planning to do that it looks like the public option thing's gonna France. And let me tape why Joe feels that way and added I think the public option will destroy private health care nobody in this country in the insurance business can compete. With a government sponsored plan where the governor writes the benefits and politicians will never raise the premiums as well. Be a death blow to private choice and all of these bills. Depend on reducing Medicare Ford Five Hundred billion dollars over ten years and seniors and not all like that that's unnecessary. So I just think the construct out of the house and what exist in the Senate. Is not gonna pass and I hope and pray it doesn't cost would be a disaster for the economy and healthcare."

" All right well we're gonna ship now that they situation in this awful thing that happened down at 20 Fort Hood. Congressman Skelton your chairman of the armed services committee I've got an excuse here we have a man who was trying to get out of the army. Who can't write it about the US war on terrorist. Who's contemporaries had reported him. That they -- superiors as it's what is going on here and yet somehow. He winds up being the doctor -- sent down the Fort Hood to counsel our soldiers going into Iraq and Afghanistan in coming back who drop."

" The ball here well it's very difficult to say we had a briefing. Two days ago by the army. And they went through all that they knew at that time. And they did say to us that they are investigating it as you know the army has its investigators. The FBI is investigating. And -- the truth will out but she does someone call this congress that's way they could very well be true. Let's wait until investigations over if that is the case they'll be front senator. But right now let's give them a few days to find out just where. The ball was dropped if that's the case do you plan to investigate. Who would wait and see what they do. If if they are not thorough we will of course have additional hearings briefings on this it's a tragedy of the first orders -- tragedy. Not just from the soldiers and their families that -- there it's a tragedy for. All of the families that wear the uniform you see it it was not just. A fellow soldiers that did this it was a fellow soldier whose job was to help people. And I can imagine how traumatize. The average military family must be."

" Well I don't think there's any question about that let me go to to the senators now. Senator Lieberman I mean now this broadcast seems to be talking a lot about senator Lieberman what he thinks about things but. He said this morning on fox they should've been a zero tolerance. For the kinds of things. That. There that were being said and as chairman of the homeland security committee. He says he is -- an open investigation do you think. That's a right way to go senator --"

" I think we do have to look closely what the army has done what a whole lot armed services done -- I. Chairman Skelton put it right contact we have to wait for their careful deliberations there's a criminal investigation going out. But we have to look at of the broader issues not just offensive but are we taking adequate care of these soldiers are we providing. The adequate support systems for the families. Are we also. Have appropriate cut command responsibilities. For. All of our soldiers including our medical personnel and these are issues that go beyond this incident. And responsible for the congress -- look at. It is that."

" It brings. The top of the table. The issue of the post traumatic. This system disorder and we in our committee we in congress have addressed this enough for three years in the bill we just passed it increases the -- mental health providers. It also and requires additional research in this. It is but that is. Being dragged to the front sooner because of this incident."

" Well let me go -- that senator Graham senator Graham I think go all of that that is true but after all this doctor. Had not gone to Afghanistan coming he had gone while rocky was fighting to not go there. The question I had habeas. What happened here that this man who had a very for poor performance record at Walter Reed was somehow shuttled off down the Fort Hood and he winds up being the one talking. That these soldiers say it's not clear to me how this could -- happened and it clearly you shouldn't on the path."

" Senator Obama I'll be I'll be out."

" Yep and yes sir I'll be honest with -- I think it's nice that we're doing a lot on the personnel subcommittee to address post traumatic syndrome."

" The wounded warrior program we've thrown a lot of money we've put more medical personnel on the front lines of evaluating people but about this case."

" You know it is easy to second guess an -- you know I'm not gonna go down that road yet army does every soldier who shows discontent with the war."

" In every show all the soldiers that has a bad performance report. What are we gonna do of those so at the end of the day let's see what."

" The evidence trail suggest here and not overreact because we live in a free and open society you can be in the military and disagree with policy."

" What did his co workers say about his behavior how strong were the warning signals."

" At the end of today maybe this is just about him is certainly not about his religion Islam this not about the army is not about the war. At the end of the day I think is gonna be about him and if we miss some. Some signals and clear signals what will we got to fix that cannot trust the army you wanna fix it costs it means more of them than any politics will -- that happened within their ranks."

" Senator Graham let me just gonna cut to the chase here do you think that the fact -- was a -- Obviously he was either. Part of some terrorist plot and I think most suggestions are that he wants. It's looking more and -- lot more like he was just sort of a religious not and and you know yeah Islam doesn't have a majority. Or are greater than Christian religion as -- corner that fold. You know full. Helping -- not so two. But do you think the fact that there are some Muslim. May have caused the military to kind of step back and be reluctant. To challenge him on some of this stuff for fear that they'd be accused of discrimination or something like that."

" I hope not I hope I hope that's not the case but to those members of the united states military."

" Who are Muslims thank you for protecting our nation thank you for standing up against people are trying to hijack. Your religion. I hope that's not the case but we need what his actions do not reflect on on the Islamic Muslim."

" Faith in Milan and secretly crossed by the news I'm I'm casting there was some people are as some people are now wanna says the United States senator."

" That I reject that this man's actions reflect on him. In if we miss some signals about him that we should have known. Great but let's don't take this -- level. That we should not let's don't accuse people of basically given your past thousands of Muslim -- I don't think there's any evidence of that all right."

" As senator Reid that what your thought on. Well there are approximately 3000. Americans men and women of the Muslim faith was serving in the army they've been wounded some. I've been told have been killed in action they're wreckage as one of service and dedication to the nation and selfless service. So I agree entirely with senator rain this is not about theology this is about. Doing your duty as soldiers and also I think we have to be careful not to. Leap beyond. The current investigation. And I think again what we will find is that someone who has deep psychiatric problems -- not unique to the army. We've had terribly shootings that college campuses and office buildings and those things are the result of ultimately. One person's a psychological psychiatric difficulties the journey here it. He was a psychiatrist -- irony here he joined the army is RTC at Virginia Tech came through the army he was not. The federal richest here's a train well."

" Another -- media center optical on got one final comment the Ernie also is that it YPD wind up there in that particular job. Do you think this is a sign that the military is simply over extended. So congressman Skelton the army is strange have been saying that for some time that's what we increase the size of the army. This year but let let let me say this. We should not rush to judgment. A little prosecuting attorney and I know that takes time to investigate we have excellent. Army investigators we have the FBI and there is good as they cut. In investigating. This whole issue the truth will out we will soon find out. Answers to the very questions that you're asking and the chips will fall where they may. Right now I think era so concerned should be those families. --"

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" Well we're back now a democratic congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida and Republican political consultant Ed Rollins who's most recent job the last election you've managed Mike Huckabee -- thanks. So we all were being told that this. This election was gonna scare all the conservative Democrats and they'd be. Reluctant to vote for the health care plan well a lot of them didn't vote for it in the house last night but he panic so."

" Well as always to go I'm I'm not any way shape or form saying that the health care may not -- Democrats have majorities in big majorities in both the house and the Senate that. This bill will not pass I promise you that no offence to to you who voted fort. It would get fifty votes in the Senate today. I think the bottom line is what this election was about is that the country is extremely concerned about the deficit spending. The president is still popular. But he cannot take his political machine and make it work for other candidates I think that was this was proven out. Mid term elections are totally different unity. Historically the party in power always loses seats I think three times in our history that hasn't happened. I think you've got forty incumbents that you say yourself for risk. We probably have ten we should pick up the good news for us as we lost two elections in a -- to a 620 wait we lost more than twenty seats first time 75 years. This was a positive sign for us we have two new governors that I obviously can rebuild state to rebuild parties what do you think reform."

" Two important things from Tuesday number one in the elections where national issues were actually on the ballot in the congressional district in new York and California. Both democratic candidates won and they ran on healthcare reform and turn the economy around so and in addition to that particular in New York 23."

" This civil war that you -- the gaping hole through the Republican Party."

" Expose itself and now the next battleground with my home state of Florida between Charlie Crist our governor and Marco rubio the former speaker so. Republicans really have demonstrated that they have an interesting battle going on and it's gonna really cause some some problems I don't."

" I'm gonna ask Ed Rollins about that just about it but it did this election suggest to use that. While Barack Obama was able to get out a big follow. Eads was not necessarily able to get out a big vote to vote. When he wasn't on the ballot is did he have very short coattails are people just dissolution with him."

" it as a unit typical fall off turnout in the mid and in mid term election an off year election. It -- it definitely demonstrated that we need to make sure that we focus for the next year. And is singularly focused on the issues that matter to the voters with as the economy. And making sure that we can -- part turnout operation so that we can get the people that voted for Barack Obama. To vote for our congressional candidates from and on the ballot next November."

" Let's talk about that rates and a culture they new York and and here you had a Republican candidate who was deliberately pushed out of the race. By a conservative candidate in and that candidate got the endorsement of Sarah Palin an awful lot of a conservative. And they say they're gonna challenge Republicans now. In a lot of primaries during the mid terms because they wanna. Move that party to the right the -- that I gave it."

" Saying and I personally I think the primaries are good things I don't it's almost done this for a long long time -- long you've been alive probably. I find primaries basically. Could create competition create clarity. What happened in New York in an offense to your national you SEC California. -- John Germany's election and obviously the one and in New York was unique. The bottom line get a candidate that didn't that was handpicked by the bosses and and Sheehan the end of the day after. Nearly a million dollars being spent by national Republicans -- two days before endorse the Democrat in the campaign form. He lost by four votes I think will win at 4% when that seat back again. The bottom line here is. When you go to the trenches which is what congressional mid term elections are about. There's no national themes. And if there is that usually goes against that the party that there -- what's happened is Republicans are intense we now think we can win again. Democrats are little disillusioned and I think to a certain extent you gotta get your side back in the game and obviously we've got to keep our we gotta learn the lessons of this race and move forward Buick. Expect though it more of these prime mears that you're gonna see maybe sometimes third party conservatives. And it's not certainties of another -- is challenging incumbent in May occur at the bottom line is is not easy to get on ballots most places -- the two party system New York has comes as multiple parties. And you can get get the conservative candidate for -- without a whole. But to get on a lot of places it's very very difficult I don't I ever underestimate conservative populist I basically as you know managed Ross perot's campaign for brief period. And I watched a movement because that was a dissatisfaction with the two parties I think today. This conservative elements itself what it."

" The ballot access is not the issue I mean they're gonna have a massive civil war just within their own Republican primaries and all across this country and it's already starting to happen. Most of our democratic incumbents bit and they are ready they have. Republican primary set up. -- to run against them as individuals their battle tested they are out reaching out to their constituents talking about healthcare reform talking about turning the economy around. And they're gonna be ready for prime time that's."

" One of the things that has to -- you as a Democrat is the independent vote Barack Obama got. This time it went in large numbers. To the to the other part to rip up -- anti. Dependent though is this thing fairly important it was in a sex when we want thirty seats in 08 only one point succeeds and it will be again and 30. We're gonna make sure that we felt when you no matter why do you think it happened the way it did in this this electric moment."

" I think again the the independent voters in New York 23 which isn't a congressional elections next year so it's important not to focus on two gubernatorial races look we wish we would want them. But the last six -- gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia. The president's party didn't win them so it if we had 11 of those two it would have been highly unusual. It at the end of the day. And a year from now which is a long way off. We have congressional mid terms and those individual members of congress are battle tested they've been reaching out for their constituents they're focusing on the economy on creating jobs. On health care reform on making sure that we can have and energy focused economy with green jobs. And they're gonna appeal to those independents because at the end of the day they wanna make sure that they have a job they have the health care of their costs are reasonable amount of money and they can put food on the table."

" You either of you think there is a great deal in we have about thirty seconds left a great deal to be learned from these elections this week or where they just -- right -- I think I think independent that is critical we've now gone back in the suburbs and had success that the plurality of the voters whoever gets instant win. The lessons they learned to -- the focus on the economy and our candidates are going to be doing that over the next here and 10% percent unemployment is deadly. Thanks to both came back involved."

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" Finally today they present assassination not to jump to conclusions about what happened at Fort Hood which is usually good advice but it's also what government officials generally -- When the government finals good advice or not I am jumping into an obvious conclusion. They should not have happened that doctors should not give him at Fort Hood. I don't care how hard up the army is for mental health professionals. A government psychiatrist would -- performance ratings who has been trying to get -- the army. And who had been saying what doctor us on had been saying about the war on terrorism. Should not have been shipped off to Fort -- to give grief counseling what are you supposed he was telling the soldiers that after what they had done they order a field but I can't. Certainly no officer with -- record would have been allowed to lead soldiers in the compact. But sadly this shows the army still does not take protecting soldiers' mental health. As seriously as it goes training them to shoot and then there's the other part that often happens in government. Don't deal with the problem shuffle it off to somewhere else when he had problems at Walter Reed hospital the doctor was just packed off to Ford who it. Investigators confirm now that someone by his name had been posting messages. On the Internet. About how suicide bombers are as heroic as American soldiers who've fallen grenades to save their comrades. But the investigators say it is not clear if doctor -- on actually wrote those messages. Based on what we found out so far my question is do you suppose anyone has even asked. Back -- and now the Lincoln middle school poetry club."

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" A little involvement goes a long way for ways to get involved in your child's school join your local PTA or visit PTA dot org. A message he had counts and national PT thank you and we'll -- right here next Sunday on. --"

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" This has been face the nation with CBS news chief Washington correspondent. Bob Schieffer. Today's guests were democratic congressman Ike Skelton Republican senator Lindsey Graham democratic senator Jack Reed. Democratic congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz -- Republican political consultant Ed Rollins. The executive producer of face the nation is terror and -- the senior producer is Mary -- of the producer is -- large call. This broadcast was directed by Steve -- murder. Face the nation originated from CBS news in Washington."

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