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 -- you have long opposed Sunday in Guantanamo prisoners to this country. Is there any thing 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 trial in a civilian court in New York."

" Unfortunately we had that very vote may have Lieberman. Lindsey Graham amendment just a week ago and 54 Democrats voted. -- opposed 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 Daniel Pearl -- okay SL murdered. Their son and they said while the world we wanna give -- the show trial. That he desires. On a related subject there's also a report today that the Obama administration is considering it made by -- and near empty. Present in rural Illinois house perhaps dozens of Guantanamo detainees. Is there anything you can do with everything you will do to try to stop that. -- I don't wanna record on that issue a couple of years ago 94 to three against bringing -- people to the United States. I can't imagine the people of Illinois would like to have vision. Prisoners incarcerated in their date there may be some local officials who are gonna support it. But I expect it'll be a huge issue up in Illinois probably in the US senate -- up there -- the next year. And and his -- could 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 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 it over sure Chris is this is a bill that -- cuts Medicare raises taxes and raises insurance premiums we know -- Harry Reid's office for six weeks -- the other -- senators have not saying it. I think we ought to at least have as much time but the other night at nine senators -- all of the American people. -- take a look at this bill as 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 if they're sixty senators who want to go to this bill. Even though the administration on actuary somebody who works in the administration Department of Health and Human Services has. -- likely drop the cost of health care and that it will hurt seniors. If they still want to go to 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 wakes -- in the Senate is not the house you 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 -- it -- don't report Lisa Boggs has been -- 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 here. -- American people are overwhelmingly. Telling -- don't pass it. It'll be up to whether it is the democratic majority want to listen to the American people or whether they want to pass this anyway just to basically ignore the opinion of of the American our population. And go ahead -- this bill. -- let the -- yet to be determined I don't know whether there -- sexually senators. We're gonna ignore public opinion and passed a bill that cuts Medicare raises taxes raises -- insurance for --"

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

" Well what we do know is that the American people regardless of how they feel about the abortion issue don't think that taxpayer money ought to be used to -- abortion. And so I think that issue will be hashed out on the Senate floor. I think it would be very difficult to pass a bill that in effect either directly or indirectly provide -- tax money. The paper abortion. So let me rephrase that I kind of messed it up -- 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 what 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 is that we know where the American public is they're overwhelmingly opposed. The using tax funds either directly or indirectly to pay for abortions whether the -- will reflect. American public opinion -- that are not. We'll have the city at the at just as the final wrap up question on this you obviously are are constantly counting votes. As you look at the various key issues out there whether it's tightening abortion restrictions or -- there fighting the public option or increasing. Limits on illegal immigrants being able to have any access to the system. Or that the funding for where do you think is 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 Americans. -- have health insurance all of these are at their core very controversial -- we ought to do growth. We -- not passed 2000 -- page bill we ought to go step by 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 his -- council is -- eight meetings over several months. Considering the way forward in Afghanistan. Senator if he decides to give the generals and 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 -- the Iraq War was the bad -- Afghan war was the good war. Many announced in March who's gonna send general style -- a crystal. No 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 to 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 is you 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 -- eleven. We know there are a lot of terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan we know what happened -- the Taliban was in charge of Afghanistan before. I think the president is difficult of this decision it is -- to make it. These to follow the advice of his generals. And if he does -- have overwhelming support among Republican -- Let me turn to because it would I wouldn't be able to live with myself -- I didn't ask you if you political questions -- Conservatives are not talking about launching primary challenges against. Candidates who were actually picked by -- senate Republican. Leaders have in a number of states that we have up on a map there in Florida and Connecticut in Illinois and California. And -- home state of Kentucky in fact it has 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 -- you how much of a threat. 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 -- what what you're seeing here is enormous enthusiasm. A two run. People believe that getting the Republican nomination. -- you have a good chances of winning. And so we've got for example four way primary in Connecticut. For our nominations should we haven't been competitive -- In a very long time so -- this is an indication. Of the shifting political environment we all know to Gallup poll just last week. In response ask the American people if if the election were held today would you vote for the Republican candidate for congress -- the 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 against -- administration and that's why all of it that's -- all these people wanna run but 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. -- they generally don't endorse anyway so. It doesn't make any difference and we're happy that their a lot of people running and the reason they're running it's that -- the nomination worth having because they think they can win in November. And finally I got to ask you about the party is. A -- rock stars Sarah Palin -- do you think that her criticism and her book of the McCain campaign staff. Is that good or bad thing for her political future and -- he has a political future. I'm not gonna give Governor -- may be advised that she's a very popular figure among Republicans and -- 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 -- both say you -- senator but that's close and senator McConnell like you thanks for joining us and we'll see how things shake out this week on Capitol Hill thank you groups. Coming up --"