Sen. Mitch McConnell on 'FNS'

" Now from local Kentucky -- senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and senator welcome back to FOX News Sunday. Good morning growth I want to ask you one question to button up the conversation we had in the first site that you have long opposed Sunday in Guantanamo prisoners to this country. Is there anything that you candidate was there anything that you will do when the Senate. To try to block the president and the attorney general's decision to put these five alleged conspirators on filing a civilian court in New York."

" Unfortunately we had a very vote may have Lieberman. Lindsey Graham amendment just a week ago and 54 Democrats voted. Oppose frankly. Have in the trials down and Guantanamo. So looks to me like the administration's gonna do this they seem to be sort of held them to do it I agree with the family of Daniel Pearl it okay SL murdered. Their son and they said while the world we wanna give on the show trial. That he desires. On a related subject there's also a report today that the Obama administration is considering it may by -- near empty. Prison in rural Illinois house perhaps dozens of Guantanamo detainees. Is there anything you can do with everything you will do to try to stop -- record on that issue a couple of years ago 94 to three against bringing days people to the United States. I can't imagine the people of Illinois would like to have vision. Prisoners incarcerated in their first date they may be some local officials who are gonna supported. But I expect it'll be a huge issue up in Illinois probably in the US senate rise up there the next year. And and is learning to do in terms of blocking funding for what would do what would be looking for ways to do it and hopefully the Senate and house will speak on this issue. Let's turn to -- health care reform senate Democrats are expected to bring a bill. To the floor this week do you have the 41 votes in the Senate to prevent them from even bringing it to the floor. Well what we do know -- sure corrosive is this is a bill that -- cuts Medicare raises taxes and raises insurance premiums were no -- and Harry Reid's office for six weeks and the other 99 senators -- not saying it. I think we ought to at least have as much time but the other 99 senators that all of the American people. -- take a look at this bill as a majority leader Reid has. The only way to guarantee that for sure. Would be to delay the process to allow everyone to fully understand what's in the bill. And then have their sixty senators who want to go to this bill. Even though the administration's own actuary somebody who works in the administration Department of Health and Human Services has. It likely drop the cost of health care and that it will hurt singers. If they still wanna go do it then we'll have the debate and when we get on the on the the the bill if we do. There will be a lot of amendments over a lot of -- some in the Senate is not the house she saw in the house three votes and it was over in one day. Look we spent four weeks on a farm bill in the last congress. Eight weeks on an energy bill earlier this decade. This will be on the floor for quite a long time having an -- don't report Lisa Boggs has been and Harry Reid's office. So so what are you talking about because that has been an issue do you think that health care reform. Even if they have the votes can and will get through the Senate before the end of this year. A the American people are overwhelmingly. Telling us don't pass it. It'll be up to whether it is in the democratic majority want to listen to the American people or whether they -- pass this anyway just to basically ignore the opinion of of the American. Population. And go ahead with this bill. Native left the it is yet to be determined I don't know whether there are sexually senators. We're gonna ignore public opinion and pass a bill that cuts Medicare raises taxes and raises the --"

" Let let let's talk about some of the key issues that are gonna come up and one of them. Is the Stupak amendment which was passed by the house would basically will bar the use of federal funds. In any way. To provide health insurance that would cover abortions do you believe that you will have 41 votes to block out in the --"

" Well what we do know is that the American people regardless of how I feel about the abortion issue don't think that taxpayer money ought to be used paper abortion. And so I think that issue will be -- on the Senate floor. I think it would be very difficult to pass a bill that in effect either directly or indirectly provided tax money. The paper abortion. -- so let me rephrase that I kind of messed it up are are you saying that you believe you have the votes to get the Stupak amendment added. Which would further restricted the use of federal funds will we don't know what will be in the bill that senator Reid produces. And I'm not gonna predict the outcome of this what I am gonna say once again as that we know where the American public is there overwhelmingly opposed. The using tax funds either directly or indirectly the paper abortions whether the -- will reflect. American public opinion on that are not. We'll have the city at the -- just as a final wrap up question on this you obviously are are constantly counting votes. As you look at the various key issue is out there whether it's tightening abortion restrictions or -- fighting the public option or increasing. Limits on illegal immigrants being able to have any access to this system. Or that the funding for where do you think has the republicans' best chance. Of is it very contentious as well massive cuts in Medicare. Huge tax increases on individuals and all businesses and raising insurance premiums for 85% of the American. -- have health insurance all of these are at their core very controversial -- we ought to do growth. We ought not pass 2000 but it page bill we ought to go step -- us. Regain the confidence of the American public deal with a cost issues and target the problems. In our health care system not scrap not have the government take over 16. Of our economy. Let's turn to another subject the president has been meeting with -- work council is set eight meetings over several months. Considering the way forward in Afghanistan. Senator if he decides to give the generals. Basically what they want somewhere between thirty and 40000 troops will. Members of your party will Republicans support the president's decision even -- over the opposition. Of some members of his own party. I think so you know what what we're a little frustrated with you know during the campaign last year the president said the Iraq War was the bad war -- Afghan war was the good war. Many announced in March who's gonna send general Stanley McChrystal. One of the architects of the surge that was so successful in Iraq to take over in Afghanistan. We are a little bit perplexed. About the the length of time it's taken to make this decision even. Liberal columnist for example David Broder in the Washington Post is saying today. It's time to make up your mind Mr. President. Make a decision. A part of being president issued don't have easy choices you have a lot of choices you have to make among difficult options none of them are perfect. We do all this for sure Chris we know about staying on offense in the war on terror we have largely protected America since nine elevenths. We know there are a lot of terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan we know what happened with the Taliban was in charge of Afghanistan before. I think the president is difficult of this decision it is needs to make it. These to follow the advice of his generals. And if he does he'll have overwhelming support among Republican -- Let me turn to because it would I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't ask if you political questions -- Conservatives are now talking about launching primary challenges against. Candidates who were actually picked by the Senate Republican. Leadership in a number of states that we have up on a map there in Florida in Connecticut in Illinois and California. And your home state of Kentucky in fact is gotten so serious that the national. Republican senate committee has stopped endorsing candidates because it seems that it creates a grass roots backlash how concerned are you how much of a threat. He is that this split within the GOP to your chances and 30 the way it it kind of messed up things that upstate congressional district in New York no threat at all of what what you're seeing here is enormous enthusiasm. A two run. People believe that getting the Republican nomination. Major have a good chances of winning. And so we've got for example a four way primary in Connecticut. For our nomination should we haven't been competitive in. In a very long time so our view this is an indication. Of the shifting political environment we all know the Gallup poll just last week. In response ask the American people that if the election were held today would you vote for the Republican candidate for congress with a democratic candidate for congress. Our side had a four point lead among independents and had a 22 point lead. The political landscape Chris has shifted dramatically in the last year that -- in the administration and that's why all of it that while these people wanna run I just briefly ask you about is that the political landscape within the party because it now seems that an endorsement. By the National Republican Senatorial Committee is is a bad thing not about to Bonner. But they generally don't endorse anyway so. It doesn't make any difference and we're happy that their a lot of people running in the reason they're running -- rather -- the nomination worth having because they think they can win in November. And finally got to ask you about the party's. Apparent rock star Sarah Palin. Do you think that her criticism and her book -- the McCain campaign staff. Is a good or bad thing for her political future and to get -- she has a political future. I'm not gonna give governor priority be advised that she's a very popular figure among Republicans and and it actually -- among the American people in general. -- needed advice for a bit about how to go forward politically active do you think he has a political future. If she wants one as big a follow me she's got you bet she's got a political future I think your actions both say you -- senator but that's Clausen. Senator McConnell like you thanks for joining us and we'll see how things shake out this week on Capitol Hill thank -- groups. Coming up --"