This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," July 11, 2016. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
SEAN HANNITY, HOST: And welcome to "Hannity." The left's war on America's law enforcement is now intensifying. Now, coming up in just a few minutes, we'll check in with Newt Gingrich, also retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, also Laura Ingraham tonight.
But first, earlier today at a courthouse in Michigan -- well, an inmate shot and killed two bailiffs and injured a sheriff's deputy after stealing the deputy's gun. And over the weekend, get this, 21 police officers were hurt. That was in St. Paul, Minnesota, after being hit with rocks and bricks and glass and bottles and chunks of concrete. Now, cops were also shot at in Chicago and San Antonio police headquarters. Multiple shots fired there.
Now, in the face of this growing animosity towards police -- well, Donald Trump -- he is promising to be the law and order candidate. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, R-PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: We must maintain law and order at the highest level, or we will cease to have a country 100 percent. We will cease to have a country. I am the law and order candidate!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: All right, here with reaction tonight, we have former NYPD detective Bo Dietl, defense attorney Daryl Parks, also Fox News senior correspondent Geraldo Rivera.
Let's start with these attacks. Seems to be open warfare on police. Now, here's my question, Geraldo. You've defended the president at times. I would argue we have 3,459 murders that have taken place in Chicago alone during his presidency. But he doesn't -- he's only mentioned Chicago nine times. We have thousands of others shot and injured.
But if it's Ferguson, he rushes to judgment without any facts. If it's Trayvon Martin, he rushes to judgment without any facts. If it's Freddie Gray or if it's the Cambridge police, he does the same thing.
If he really cared about black lives and all lives, wouldn't he be speaking out loudly about Chicago?
GERALDO RIVERA, FOX NEWS CORRESPONDENT: That is a good point, and let me just put it in the context of his visit to Dallas tomorrow. When he goes to show his respect, his sorrow over the horrible murders, the savage murders of these five cops, he cannot also be talking about Black Lives Matter and the fact that too many black men are being victimized by cops.
That is an issue, an important issue, but for tomorrow, he has to act and transmit his feelings in the same way he did in the Charleston, South Carolina, church massacre.
HANNITY: Wait a minute!
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: Bo Dietl, he met in the Oval Office with the head of Black Lives Matter -- what's his name, Deray McKesson, who's been on this program -- and other leaders. And by the way, after the meeting, he praised them. Hillary Clinton praised them! This is the group on tape chanting, "Pigs in a blanket, fry 'em like bacon." "What do we want? Dead cops. When do we want them? Now."
BO DIETL, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: What do we want? Dead cops. And we were all a year-and-a-half ago when they were closing down the Brooklyn Bridge. They were closing down all the roadways. We had two cops assassinated a year- and-a-half ago in New York. My president didn't come to New York. It wasn't that important for him to come.
He should have showed support for the officers in this country. They were assassinated the same way that these Dallas cops were assassinated! We need a leader to show that he cares about these cops! I get e-mails from being on your show from cops all over the country saying, Please, Bo, keep speaking out for us. No one else is. Our president is not!
HANNITY: Let me go to Daryl. Daryl, would you meet with the head of Black Lives Matter? Do you think it's appropriate for the president of the United States or a presidential candidate to say good things about a group that has members chanting, "What do we want? Dead cops. When do we want them? Now. Pigs in a blanket, fry 'em like bacon." Do you think that's appropriate?
DARYL PARKS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Sean, I think you're mixing two things up...
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: They went to the White House.
PARKS: Listen, I think...
HANNITY: They met with the president. Hillary Clinton has praised them. Would you praise that group?
PARKS: Listen...
(CROSSTALK)
PARKS: They deserve praise. Yes, they do. Now...
HANNITY: They deserve praise?
PARKS: The president going to Dallas tomorrow is about honoring these officers...
HANNITY: Did you say they deserve praise?
PARKS: Let me say this here...
HANNITY: The people that say, We want dead cops?
PARKS: Let me say this here. I think you're confusing some issues, right?
HANNITY: No, I'm pretty sober about it.
PARKS: First of all, when you have these kids who are out there, they -- and you're taking it out of context, meaning that there are a few individuals who may say things out of line, but I think the concept of Black Lives Matter is very important.
HANNITY: With all due respect, all lives matter, right, Daryl?
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: You were in the Ferguson case.
PARKS: Yes, I was.
HANNITY: OK. You know why the officer in that case, Wilson, wasn't indicted? Because black eyewitnesses -- even though Obama spoke out without any evidence presented, black eyewitnesses identified Michael Brown fighting for a cop's gun, identified Michael Brown charging that officer after repeatedly being told not to, after he knocked off a store...
DIETL: Daryl, Daryl, now you've got the advent of the Black Panther, the New Black Panthers. They walk with shotguns. They want to kill cops. They say it right out. I remember the Black Liberation Army in 1970 killing 13 cops in New York! (INAUDIBLE) then in 1971, we had...
(CROSSTALK)
RIVERA: The fact of the matter is in Ferguson, Michael Brown, the cop was innocent because there was no crime committed. It was a lie. "Hands up, don't shoot."
(CROSSTALK)
RIVERA: But what the Justice Department found was that there was systematic racism in the town of Ferguson, Missouri, that the Ferguson Police Department was funding itself by giving tickets to black people.
HANNITY: But that's not what Obama...
RIVERA: We can't -- we can't...
HANNITY: Wait a minute!
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: Geraldo, you're an attorney...
RIVERA: ... vis-a-vis the black community!
HANNITY: Geraldo...
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: ... 3,459 murders in Chicago!
RIVERA: I get that. I get that.
(CROSSTALK)
PARKS: That's not true.
RIVERA: ... moral fault of the Black Lives Matter that it won't cop to the fact that the reason there's this tension between the black community and cops is because of black-on-black crime, and the police have...
DIETL: No, no, no, no! Wait a second!
(CROSSTALK)
DIETL: ... the fact that -- listen to me. Right now, we have bad cops like they say bad doctors.
RIVERA: Right.
DIETL: Right now, if these cops did something wrong, they should get tried and prosecuted. My point is you got guys going out there. One half of 1 percent of cops (INAUDIBLE) doing bad things.
(CROSSTALK)
DIETL: Even if the clergy, it's more than one half of 1 percent!
PARKS: Wait a minute now, guys. What we just saw last week, we saw two black men getting murdered, right? We saw...
HANNITY: Wait a minute! Murder is a legal term.
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: Wait a minute! Do cops deserve the presumption of innocence? Are we going to do trial by videotape?
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: Wait a minute! Do those cops deserve a fair trial? Yes or no?
PARKS: They deserve a fair trial.
HANNITY: They do. So it's not murder!
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: You don't know it's murder. Murder is a legal term.
DIETL: OK, so listen to me! Those cops were bad! Let's all say they were bad and they killed those gentlemen! Don't they deserve the due process of law, or should we hang them from the tree?
RIVERA: But more importantly, can't we all agree that what we want tomorrow is the president of the United States to go to these five families in Dallas...
HANNITY: You know what? With all due respect, Geraldo...
RIVERA: ... and say, I'm sorry this happened to this...
HANNITY: You know something? How about he apologizes to the officer in Ferguson...
(CROSSTALK)
RIVERA: Why can't he be the healer-in-chief, Sean?
(CROSSTALK)
DIETL: I got the answer! I got the answer!
(CROSSTALK)
DIETL: Why doesn't he talk to Chief Brown? Let him talk to Chief Brown.
RIVERA: I agree!
(CROSSTALK)
DIETL: Let him talk to Chief Brown of what the problem...
(CROSSTALK)
DIETL: And the problem is not the cops! The problem is the environment! When 70 percent of black children don't have a father and they're being brought up by a mother, that is an issue!
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: I got a question for Geraldo. Inappropriate for the president to meet with the head of Black Lives Matter based on what they have said and the chants...
(CROSSTALK)
RIVERA: I do not think it was inappropriate.
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: Seriously?
RIVERA: I want the president to be the racial healer...
HANNITY: He spent eight years...
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: ... Mr. constitutional attorney!
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: He's a four-time loser, Geraldo!
(CROSSTALK)
RIVERA: Why can't he go to these families and say, I'm sorry this happened to you. Thank you for your service.
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: When is he going to apologize to the cop in Ferguson?
(CROSSTALK)
DIETL: Hey, Sean! Sean! The cop in Ferguson doesn't have a job anymore, and he didn't do anything wrong!
HANNITY: I got to break. We'll have more with our panel. They're coming back later in the show. Stay with us.
Also coming up tonight -- Rudy Giuliani is receiving a lot of criticism for these remarks. We'll get to that. It's up next. We'll get reaction from former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.
And retired lieutenant general Michael Flynn said he was fired from the military because he dared to use the term "radical jihadist." He's also apparently, according to reports, on Donald Trump's short list for VP.
That, Laura Ingraham, Monica Crowley and much more straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HANNITY: And welcome back to "Hannity." And tonight, tensions are high in America. Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani -- he's under fire for calling out the Black Lives Matter movement. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUDY GIULIANI, R-FMR. NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: When you say Black Lives Matter, that's inherently racist!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think their argument...
GIULIANI: Black Lives Matter. White lives matter. Asian lives matter. Hispanic lives matter. That's anti-American, and it's racist!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: Now, President Obama -- he is taking a completely different stance on the Black Lives Matter movement. Now, the president is actually comparing the group to the abolition and woman suffrage movements. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: The abolition movement was contentious. The effort for women to get the right to vote was contentious and messy. There were times when activists might have engaged in rhetoric that was overheated and occasionally counterproductive. But the point was to raise issues so that we as a society could grapple with them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: And in the wake of the Dallas police ambush, Donald Trump is praising America's law enforcement officers, and here's what he said earlier today. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Our police officers rush into danger every single day to protect our communities, and they often do it thanklessly and under relentless criticism. They serve thousands of lives every year, perform countless public services every day, and yet their names will likely never appear in a single headline or media report. But I want our nation's police to know that we thank you from the bottom of our heart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: Joining us now, the co-author of "Rediscovering God in America: Reflections on the Role of Faith in our Nation's History and Future," he's a former speaker of the House, Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich.
So we have this terrible shooting where these cops are killed and others are injured in Dallas. We have over the weekend shots fired at San Antonio police headquarters. We have shots fired at Chicago police this weekend. And earlier today, we have in Michigan, two court officers are killed.
And the president is praising a group and invited them to the White House that actually said, "Pigs in a blanket, fry 'em like bacon. What do we want? Dead cops. When do we want them? Now."
And they also are advisers, and Hillary Clinton has met with them and wants their endorsement. What are we to make of that?
NEWT GINGRICH, R-FMR. HOUSE SPEAKER, FOX CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I think you have to recognize that the left in many ways has gone crazy. Donald Trump had it right just now. The police are domestically what the military is overseas. They are the line of defense for civilization.
And are there some mistakes? Yes. But as a general rule, we actually track down those mistakes. If it's appropriate, we try people for having made the mistakes.
But overwhelmingly, policemen get involved, like firemen, for the purpose of trying to help human beings, for trying to bring order to a society which would otherwise fall apart. President Obama's relentless failure in seven-and-a-half years in the area of race relations is in some ways the saddest part of his administration.
He could have been a beacon of hope. He could have reached out to every young African-American and said, Look, I'm proof you can make it in America. He could have been a person who brought us together. And instead, as he did once again today, he is endlessly on the left wing. He is endlessly divisive. He has made race relations in America worse, and it is truly sad.
HANNITY: You know, I want to put up on the screen -- I couldn't understand during the debate when the question was asked of Hillary and Bernie Sanders, you know, Black Lives Matter or all lives matter.
Look at these numbers. Since Obama has been president, in Chicago, his hometown, his home city, at least 3,459 people have been murdered, thousands more shot and injured. He's only mentioned Chicago and the murder rate there nine times during his presidency, about once a year.
And meanwhile if it's Ferguson, if it's Freddie Gray in Baltimore, if it's Trayvon Martin, That could have been me 35 years ago, "That could have been my son, or if it's the Cambridge police, if it's a high-profile race case, he talks about it.
Here you have an epidemic, mostly black-on-black crime in the city of Chicago, 3,459, but he only weighs in on these divisive high-profile cases. What does that say about him?
GINGRICH: Well, he's an irresponsible politician. As you know, in a number of the cases he weighs in on, he's factually wrong. He doesn't know what he's talking about. He immediately adopts the symbols, and it is the worst possible thing for a president of the United States to do. I mean, if he were a white president, automatically saying about a white victim, That could have been me or that could have been my son, all of the news media would be shocked at the implicit racism of that comment.
HANNITY: Yes.
GINGRICH: The president of the United States should care about every American of every ethnic background. He should care about every person who gets killed, and he should be totally, 100 percent behind supporting the police, who are, frankly, the thin line of civilization here at home.
HANNITY: Yes, I think that's extraordinarily well said. Here's another thing. You know, I'm offended because I lived during the time when Rudy Giuliani was the mayor of New York. The murder rate when he took office was near 2,500 murders a year. Many black kids were getting killed in the city of New York, and he made a conscious decision to focus his policing to save lives, and that number was reduced to less than 500 a year. Those are a lot of lives that were saved because of the actions that he took.
I want to ask from this perspective because I think this campaign is, many in ways, going to come down to, Are you better off than you were eight years ago? And when we talk about minority communities in America -- well, I want to put up some statistics. We'll put it up on the side of the screen. You can look at it.
African-Americans on food stamps are up 58 percent since Obama took office. The number of African-Americans in poverty has jumped more than 8 percent under Obama. The number of African-Americans not in the labor force -- that's up 20 percent, 19.6 percent. The home ownership rate for African- Americans is down by 4.6 percent. Household median income is lower for African-Americans under Obama.
If you look at all of these numbers, things have not improved. But yet 90 percent-plus of the black community will vote Democratic. What do Republicans need to do to fix that? Because they're not doing well under these policies.
GINGRICH: Well, I think, first of all, you have to recognize that some of the president's popularity is being the first. I mean, just as John F. Kennedy was the first Irish Catholic to become president, there's a certain pride, you know, I mean, Here's somebody I can identify with. And I think that his appeal in that sense to the black community will remain very high, no matter what the practical results are.
But I think the number one thing for Republicans is to remember what Jack Kemp taught us. People have to know that you care before they care that you know. I am hoping that after the convention, that Donald Trump is going to go to the south side of Chicago. He's going to go to Baltimore. He's going to go to Newark.
He's going to go to places where people are in pain, people who don't expect to see a Republican care about them, and he's going to outline for them things that can be done that are practical and real that would enable them to have better lives and a better future. And my guess is a lot of those folks are going to respond very positively.
People don't want to sit around, as somebody described in Chicago, and if you have a cookout on a Friday or Saturday night, you have to listen with one ear to see whether or not there's going to be a drive-by shooting, so you have to worry about your kids getting killed at random. I mean, people don't want to live like that.
The Democrats are trapped by their failed institutions and their failed ideology. And Republicans are trapped by not being there, by not being part of the conversation, therefore not having legitimacy.
HANNITY: You know, I made the case on radio. This week, we expect that Donald Trump will make his selection for vice president. You were on that short list. You have acknowledged that you're being vetted.
And here's the question I think -- the questions I think are most important. Of all the people being considered, these are the questions I would ask, if I was Mr. Trump. Who would be best at prosecuting the case against Hillary Clinton in terms of the list that he has? Who would be best in terms of making the case and articulating the case for Donald Trump with a positive voice like you have?
Who would be the person that would pretty much be assured a win in any presidential/vice presidential debate. I think you check that corner. Who's balanced the budget and given us a surplus? Who has the ability to work with Congress?
I check all the boxes, and you're right there at the top and I think you'd be the right choice. What is your response to that? And I don't say it as a friend. I'm speaking objectively here. I think you would prosecute the case against Hillary better than anybody, strategize and help them win, and help him govern, which with a hostile speaker and majority leader would be difficult. Your response?
GINGRICH: Well, look, it's all very, very flattering. I think that's a pretty good set of criteria. But what it really comes down to in the end, and one of the reasons people focus on vice presidential selections, is it becomes a question of chemistry. Trump has to find a person he is comfortable with that he wants to potentially spend eight years working side by side. And that's all about him. We have a good -- as you know, he and I have a good relationship.
HANNITY: It looked pretty close in Cincinnati last week and...
GINGRICH: And we had a great time out there. But I don't want to prejudge anything. I respect his right to pick the person that he thinks would be most helpful to him. I've told him, and I'll tell you publicly, I will actively do everything I can -- Callista joins me in this. We will both do everything we can to help him get elected, no matter what.
I mean, I mean if he needs us in that slot, we're certainly going to talk about doing it. If he doesn't need us in that slot because he's got somebody else, we're going to be for the ticket, and I'll be -- as you know, I'll be in Cleveland next week because I'm on your show every single night.
HANNITY: Well, maybe not. It depends. Are you going to try and cancel if you get selected?
GINGRICH: No, no, no.
HANNITY: My point is you've done this successfully. You gave us a balanced budget and a surplus. You were the architect for the tapes, "Renewing American Civilization." And I don't know anybody that is as smart or as articulate in prosecuting the case against the Clintons and also defending Trump and really laying out the case why he should be that person that we put in that position.
But that's my opinion. I don't want to embarrass you or put you in a tough spot. But thank you for being with us.
And coming up next tonight on this busy news night on "Hannity"...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why is Donald Trump better equipped to handle the challenges of racial division, guns, police violence?
LT. GEN. MICHAEL FLYNN, UNITED STATES ARMY (RET.): Yes. One word. Leadership.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: Retired lieutenant general Michael Flynn praises Donald Trump's leadership. He is also rumored to be on Trump's V.P. short list. Lieutenant General Flynn will join us next in studio.
And later, according to a new report, Donald Trump is just days away from revealing his 2016 running mate. Who should it be? We'll check in with Laura Ingraham, Monica Crowley. They'll weigh in on that and more tonight on "Hannity."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HANNITY: And welcome back to "Hannity." The Republican national convention is one week from tonight, and rumors are swirling about who Donald Trump is going to pick to be his vice presidential running mate.
Joining me now is one of the people reported to be on Trump's VP list. He's the author of a brand-new book, "The Field of Fight; How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and its Allies," retired lieutenant general Michael Flynn.
General, it's an honor to have you. It really is.
LT. GEN. MICHAEL FLYNN, UNITED STATES ARMY (RET.): (INAUDIBLE)
HANNITY: I'm an admirer of yours. I think you're a great guy. What do you think of the idea that -- of you being considered, being vetted to be the vice president?
FLYNN: Yes, it's an unbelievable honor. And for a kid from a small town in the small state of Rhode Island, I'll tell you...
HANNITY: I lived in Rhode Island for a while.
FLYNN: I grew up in Middletown.
(CROSSTALK)
FLYNN: Went to University of Rhode Island.
HANNITY: ... Rhode Island for five years of my life.
FLYNN: Yes. Yes, yes. We played Warren (ph) a lot of times...
(CROSSTALK)
HANNITY: You reported had (ph) the military fired you for calling our enemies radical jihadists. You know a man by the name of Phillip Haney. And he was one of the founders of our Department of Homeland Security.
FLYNN: Yes.
HANNITY: And he told me that when Obama became president, he was ordered to scrub the names of Muslims that had radical ties.
FLYNN: Yes.
HANNITY: What is going on?
FLYNN: Yes. What's going on is a level of political correctness that is so dangerous for our country, and it is -- and it touches every aspect of what we're seeing not only overseas against this radical Islam and right here at home with the attacks that we've recently seen in Orlando and San Bernardino, but this political correctness is also weighing heavy in what we're seeing right now with this sort of semi or quasi state of anarchy in some of the cities around this country.
We have got to stop being so politically correct, tell the God's honest truth...
HANNITY: The president won't say "radical Islam." Hillary won't say "radical Islam."
FLYNN: And until you clearly define your enemy, you cannot develop a coherent strategy to defeat them...
HANNITY: I agree with you.
FLYNN: Period. Period. That's the way it is. I mean, I could not go into any -- into any boss that I ever had and said, You know, Boss, I don't know what they -- I don't know who it is that we're facing. They'd throw me out of the room, and I'd deserve to be thrown out.
HANNITY: I think you meet the top criteria to be vice president, and that is, would you be able to be president. I've looked at your background. It's impressive.
FLYNN: Thank you.
HANNITY: Probably a lot of people don't know you. And you were a Democrat for a long time, right?
FLYNN: Yes, I was raised in a very...
HANNITY: I'm so sorry to hear that.
(CROSSTALK)
FLYNN: But I say, Sean, that the Democratic Party that exists today is not the Democratic Party that I was raised in by my family, by my mother and father, who -- my mother especially was a local, state kind of, you know...
HANNITY: Sure.
FLYNN: ... person involved in politics.
HANNITY: Would pro-choice be hard for Republicans to absorb? It's such an important issue for the base of the party.
FLYNN: I think that the -- first of all, that's a legal issue, and the most important thing is, is if you want to change the Supreme Court of the United States, vote for Donald Trump and get him into office.
HANNITY: Yes. Do you like his choice? Do you like the list that he laid out?
FLYNN: I do. I absolutely do. I absolutely do, and I think that there are some few others that are out there that would be very strong.
HANNITY: One of the things that I think is most important, if I was ever - - I'm not. I'm just putting myself in a position of thinking through it. If you were thinking about who your vice president would be, if, God forbid, a 9/11 happens on your watch...
FLYNN: Right.
HANNITY: ... if a Pearl Harbor happens, if a Depression, or the stock market crashes, a financial issue -- I know how you'd be on military issues because your background is impeccable.
FLYNN: Sure.
HANNITY: How would you be able to advise or help Donald Trump on an issue like the economy?
FLYNN: Yes, I think -- I think quite a bit, actually. I mean, you know, the thing I think that people mistake, you know, particularly those of us in the military, that we only have grown up focusing on tactics and military things. Actually, our military is so professional, and what this country has afforded me and the privilege that it has given me is a whole range of issues that I've been really blessed to be able to study and to look into.
So I think -- I think the idea of understanding global economic conditions, understanding all the...
HANNITY: How do you feel that we handled in October of 2008, the financial crisis? What would you have done different?
FLYNN: I probably wouldn't have given in to Wall Street as quickly as we did.
HANNITY: I agree with you, too.
FLYNN: I just wouldn't have done that.
HANNITY: Yes.
FLYNN: Yes. I mean there -- you know, I think that we give in too easily...
HANNITY: Yes.
FLYNN: ... to the things that -- that are pulling us in, and I just -- I don't think that's the right thing.
HANNITY: Let's say you don't get the job as VP. Would you consider if Donald Trump asked you to be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, if he asked you to be secretary of defense, would that be something that interests you?
FLYNN: Yes. Here's where I stand on service, Sean. I served this country for many, many decades in uniform, and I loved it, and I -- actually, I miss it. Service to this country is an honor, and if I were asked to serve this country in some capacity in the future, it would be an honor to serve this country.
HANNITY: Now, don't get mad at me. It's my job. If you had to choose defense secretary, joint chief's chair, or maybe the CIA director --
FLYNN: Yes.
HANNITY: Would those three interest you?
FLYNN: You know, at this stage, Sean --
HANNITY: You don't want to be hypothetical?
FLYNN: I don't want to be hypothetical. What I want to do is I want to make sure that the people in this country understand that our country is going in the wrong direction, and we need --
HANNITY: I agree with you.
FLYNN: -- tough, smart, savvy leadership that understands how to handle these big problems that we're facing. And I see that in Donald Trump. I do not see that in Hillary Clinton.
HANNITY: I think Donald Trump has the potential to be not a good president but a great president.
FLYNN: I do too.
HANNITY: Because I look at his agenda, and I've interviewed him enough. And I like what he says about the economy. I like at he says about helping the V.A. I like what he says about building up our defense. I like what he says about health savings accounts and the penny plan and balanced budget. I also like what he says about building a wall. You were on ABC, and you corrected the host. You said, it's not undocumented. It's illegal.
FLYNN: A politically correct word, "undocumented," to describe what is actually illegal. So that is a huge issue that we have to overcome, and this business of illegal immigration is affecting every aspect. It's affecting our education system, our health care system, our economy, period. So these are things that we're going to have to come to grips with in this country.
HANNITY: I don't mean to be -- if you got selected, are you ready for what's about -- what would be about to happen to you? We have a hostile news media out there that would want from day one to take you down.
FLYNN: Yes.
HANNITY: It's hard, right?
FLYNN: Yes. I think that --
HANNITY: You're ready for that?
FLYNN: I think that what we need is we need strong leaders who, you know, have sort of, you know, witnessed the challenges that we have faced and sort of been there, done that to a degree. And I hate to be sort of euphemistic about it, but I would just say that at this stage, our country's going to the wrong direction, Sean. And unless we --
HANNITY: Fix it.
FLYNN: Unless we fix these things, and I'm going to tell you, the people that are on the Democratic side right now cannot do that. And I have no confidence, and I've asked publicly for Hillary Clinton to step down just because she lacks total accountability for herself.
HANNITY: She lies. But you know what, general, I really see you in public service. And you've served your country with honor and distinction and it's really nice to get to know you.
FLYNN: Thanks very much, Sean.
HANNITY: We'll be watching closely.
And when we come back, Laura Ingraham, Monica Crowley, they're here to weigh in on who Donald Trump should pick to be his running mate.
And then later tonight --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL HARVEY: If a policeman is neat, he's conceited. If he's careless, he's a bum. If he's pleasant, he's a flirt. If he's not, he's a grouch.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: The great Paul Harvey. Good day, back in 1970, talking about, quote, "What are policemen made of?" And in light of what's happening around the country, you want to stay with us and hear this straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HANNITY: Welcome back to "Hannity." So with the Republican National Convention just one week from today, Donald Trump spoke to The Washington Post. He shared some insight into what he is looking for in a vice presidential running mate. Trump said, quote, "I will make up my mind over the next three to four days. In my mind, I have someone that would be really good."
Joining us now with reaction, the editor in chief of Lifezette, Fox News contributor, national syndicated talk show host, Laura Ingraham, and FOX News contributor, "Washington Times" columnist, also a syndicated radio host in her own right, Monica Crowley. Guys, good to see you. Laura, you talk to Donald Trump right now. Who would you like? Who would you tell him to pick?
LAURA INGRAHAM, EDITOR IN CHIEF, LIFEZETTE.COM: Yes, it wouldn't be Flynn for a variety of reasons. He's an obvious patriot, great guy, could be chairman of the Joint Chiefs, maybe secretary of defense. But my three would probably be Newt, Jeff Sessions, or Chris Christie. And let me tell you why. Number one, I think the most important --
HANNITY: In that order, Laura? Would that be your order?
INGRAHAM: Yes -- well, I don't even know if I have an order. But I'll be happy with any of those three, and I'll tell you why. I don't know if I have a favorite. Number one, it has to be someone who has Trump's back. That is an absolute must, meaning not someone who is going to just wilt every time "The New York Times" writes an editorial.
Number two, it has to be someone who is not going to have a lot of trouble in the vetting process. You know, the media has already vetted Chris Christie and Newt a million times. I mean, the both of them have walked through the fire. Jeff Sessions, you know, the vetting process on Jeff Sessions is going to be easy. That's not hard.
And I think the other issue is it has to be someone who can definitely handle the media, Sean, someone who can speak directly to the problems facing this country, the problems that globalization has foisted upon the middle class.
HANNITY: You think Jeff Sessions checks that box, though? I mean, I love Jeff Sessions. I love his principles. Does he check that box that you just mentioned?
INGRAHAM: Well, I think he's not as strong in that box. He knows all the answers. He won't wilt. He has no problems being vetted. Nobody is 100 percent on any of those three, but I think those three categories have to be filled by anyone who is being considered by Trump. I know that --
HANNITY: It seems we keep reading Mike Pence, Mike Pence, Mike Pence. Why is he not on your list or in the three?
INGRAHAM: Because Pence has not been vetted. People are concerned about Trump out there. There's some people concerned about him. We know why. Pence has never been vetted. I mean, there's liable to be -- I mean, I don't know anything -- I like mike Pence a lot, but I don't see him after the way he handled that religious restoration act, the religious freedom and restoration act, I don't -- when Mike Pence just wilted on that issue, I don't see him standing as firmly as someone like Christie who could pretty much defend and attack anything that he's asked to.
HANNITY: Christie is great with the media. Monica and I were playing a little game before. So I want -- I think Newt is the best choice, and I'll tell you why. I think he commands with his intellect anybody's attention when he speaks. I think he would prosecute the case against Hillary. Nobody could do it better. I think he would champion Trump and lay out the reasons what his agenda is, why he'd be a great president. He'd be the most articulate. I agree he's loyal. He's great with the media. He's been vetted. I also think that there are other things that are really important. Newt Gingrich has a backbone and a spine. Trump has a very bold agenda. He's going to need a partner that can command the attention of Congress, and the person I think would be strongest is Newt.
MONICA CROWLEY, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Listen, I totally agree with you on Newt. I love Newt. I think he'd be a phenomenal pick for vice president. I think any of the names that Laura suggested, I agree I would be happy with any of them. I think there are two other things that come into play here in addition to what Laura mentioned.
HANNITY: But conservatives won't like Christie, will they?
CROWLEY: Look, I mean Trump has a bit of a problem with the conservative base, but then again you're in a general election mode, and where are they going to go?
HANNITY: But this is important. He only has 73 percent of Republicans. Who would get him that 20 percent that he needs if he wants to win? I think the most logical answer is Newt.
CROWLEY: Newt. I mean, Jeff Sessions, there are others that are solid conservatives who could help him on that score, but there are two other things that come into play here, Sean. One is reassurance, OK? Donald Trump has given many Americans a lot of hope. Now he's got to offer some who are a little bit afraid of a Trump presidency because he's an unknown quantity, they don't know how he's going to governor.
HANNITY: How about a guy that balanced a budget -- the last person -- first of all, he was the architect of Republicans coming into power for the first time in 40 years. Not only balanced the budget, left a surplus, and the last transformative political figure in D.C., welfare reform, et cetera.
CROWLEY: Yes, yes, and that brings me to my second point. Voters are looking for reassurance from his number two pick because the guy at the top of the ticket has never done this before. So that's a legitimate concern.
But to your point, it's about picking somebody who knows how to govern. Now, in that case, Newt Gingrich absolutely fits the bill. But there are others. Chris Christie knows how to do it. Mike Pence knows how to do it. He served on Capitol Hill. He's an executive.
HANNITY: If you had to pick one, who?
CROWLEY: Look, you're putting me on the spot here. I would be happy with any of the final four or five.
HANNITY: I wouldn't be happy with anyone but Newt, but that's my opinion.
Laura, let me go back to this idea -- 73 percent is a pretty low number in terms of the percentage of Republicans. Do you agree with these three points, that Newt would prosecute the case better than anybody on Hillary?
INGRAHAM: I do.
HANNITY: Do you agree he would champion Trump as a really good president? And do you think that he could get that extra 20 percent that Trump needs?
INGRAHAM: I -- I don't know if Newt can get the never-Trumpers. I'm kind of beyond the never-Trumpers. I just -- I'm not going to, you know, gnash my teeth over the never-Trumpers. I think Trump is going to win this on his own. I really do. I think the vice presidency is going to be much more important this time around, Sean than previous occasions. But I think the independents are who we have to go for now and broaden that coalition out. And I'm sticking to what I said -- Newt, Christie, Sessions. I don't think Pence has walked through that white-hot spotlight of national media attention.
HANNITY: He hasn't.
INGRAHAM: Christie can take on anybody.
HANNITY: I agree with that.
INGRAHAM: He fileted Marco Rubio in about 45 seconds. It was like he had to put a pair of depends on him, OK? He will destroy whoever the vice presidential pick is for Hillary Clinton. Newt would do a great job. The only problem, Sean, is that, OK, let's fast forward eight years. Let's say Trump wins. Newt's going to be, what, 78 years old? I guess it's possible to be president. You also have to think forward.
HANNITY: You got to admit when he talks, he does command attention, and people say, wow. He's intelligent. He's bright. He's inspiring.
INGRAHAM: Christie does too. Christie before Bridge-gate was the most YouTubed Republican politician out there.
HANNITY: But when the state is downgraded that many times I think that would be a big issue in the campaign. I'd worry about that.
But, guys, thank you. It's going to be interesting. It will be a great week. Thank you both. Appreciate it.
Coming up next tonight right here on "Hannity."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARVEY: If a policeman is neat, he's conceited. If he's careless, he's a bum. If he's pleasant, he's a flirt. If he's not, he's a grouch.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: Paul Harvey back in 1970 talking about, quote, "What policemen are made of." Now, in light of what is happening across the country, we want you to hear this. That's straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HANNITY: Welcome back to "Hannity." The great Paul Harvey in 1970 recorded his thoughts on what it means to be a police officer. This remains true today. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARVEY: A policeman is a composite of what all men are, I guess, a mingling of saint and sinner, of dust and deity. What that really means is that they are exceptional, they are unusual. They are not commonplace. Buried under the froth is the fact, and the fact is that less than one-half of one percent of policemen misfit that uniform, and that is a better average than you find among clergymen.
What is a policeman? He of all men is at one the most needed and the most wanted, a strangely nameless creature who is "sir" to his face and "pig" or worse behind his back. He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences between individuals so that each will think he won.
But if a policeman is neat, he's conceited. If he's careless, he's a bum. If he's pleasant, he's a flirt. If he's not, he's a grouch. He must make instant decisions which would require months or a lawyer, but if he hurries he's careless. If he's deliberate he's lazy. He must be first to an accident, infallible. He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints, and above all, be sure the victim goes home without a limp.
The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run, and hit where it doesn't hurt. He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform and without being brutal. If you hit him, he's a coward. If he hits you, he's a bully.
The policeman from a single human hair must be able to describe the crime, the weapon, the criminal, and tell you where the criminal is hiding. But if he catches the criminal he's lucky. If he doesn't he's a dunce.
He runs files and writes reports until his eyes ache to build a case against some felon who will get dealed out by a shameless shamus. The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy, and a gentleman. And of course he'll have to be a genius because he'll have to feed a family on a policeman's salary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: Good day, the great Paul Harvey. Bo Dietl, this was your idea. You sent that to me.
BO DIETL, FORMER NYPD DETECTIVE: I just can't believe it was 1970 when he said it because it's so apropos today.
HANNITY: It's so appropriate.
DIETL: I mean, if you listen to Chief Brown who I was with three weeks ago, I love that man. That man has been through so much. And what he said today about 70 percent of young blacks with no fathers and being brought up by a mom or a grandma, and then all the people who said you want to demonstrate, Black Lives? We've got some job openings. Why don't you come down, fill out an application, and I'll put you in those communities to take care of those people. He's a great man, and those cops down in Dallas, they were real hero officers.
HANNITY: That is what you and I were arguing about before. The 3,459 murders in Chicago bothers me. I think every life matters. The reason they don't talk about it, Geraldo, is because it doesn't fit the political agenda.
RIVERA: Bo and I both -- Bo and the police department and me, Eyewitness News in 1970, the year of Paul Harvey's comments. I think one of the reasons you have black men being compromised or victimized by cops once in a while is that the cops live in the middle of the worst. They deal with the worst of the worst on a daily basis. Sometimes they are like an occupying army. The community policing has gone away with funding. I think we have to restore community policing. We have to restore respect for cops. We love cops. They are absolutely as vital to us as the armed forces.
DARYL PARKS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I think without question that we all knows some wonderful cops who do some wonderful things. And my experience has been that they're there when you need them. And so I think that we all appreciate the job.
HANNITY: Why are you and I always on the wrong side and I turn out to be right when the case goes through the legal system, be it Michael Brown, Ferguson and Trayvon and George Zimmerman?
PARKS: You know the good thing, Sean? Even in Ferguson --
HANNITY: You still like me anyway.
PARKS: I still like you.
HANNITY: What good came out of Ferguson?
PARKS: My father lives next to that community, right. He tells me there's a noticeable difference in the community, in the judicial system, and educational system.
HANNITY: And that cop is out of work.
DIETL: And one more. Teachers in elementary schools, when kids call them pigs and spit at cops, that just shows you what they're being taught.
HANNITY: We've got to leave. Thank you, you.
And coming up, we need your help, a very important "Question of the Day" straight ahead.
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HANNITY: Welcome back to "Hannity." Time for our "Question of the Day." Who do you think Donald Trump should pick to be his V.P.? I told you tonight I think it should be Newt Gingrich. He prosecutes the case against Hillary, he would promote the Trump agenda. The day something horrible happens I'd want him next to me. And I think it would help you win, and he would help Trump govern.
What do you think? Go to Facebook.com/SeanHannity, @SeanHannity on Twitter.
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