NBC News " Meet The Press" - Transcript: 2016 Presidential Election
Interview
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SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
Thank you.
CHUCK TODD:
Why haven't you decided yet? What are you waiting for?
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
I am trying to methodically go through and contact all of the countries that hold Iran's money right now. One of the things that keeps getting tossed out there is that if we do this deal, they're going to get $150 billion. The number is really more like $60 billion.
CHUCK TODD:
It's a lot of money.
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
It's a lot of money. But the question is, what happens if we don't do the deal, Chuck? What happens? Will those countries continue to respect the sanction regime? That money is held primarily in India, China, South Korea, Japan. So I'm on the phone to those countries, those embassies, those ambassadors, asking them the question, "What will you do if the United States walks away? Will Iran get this money anyway?" And I think that's something we have to consider as we make a final--
(OVERTALK)
CHUCK TODD:
So if these countries say, "They're not going to get the money if the U.S. walks away," does that make you inclined to not support the deal?
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
Well, it's not a perfect deal, obviously. We don't trust Iran. But I think too many people are judging this deal against the status quo, not what the new situation would be on the world stage. Remember, the world is united in this deal. The world is united in this deal. So it's going to have to be a status quo where the rest of the world also stays united, or our sanctions regime will just fall apart.
CHUCK TODD:
Let me get your reaction to how the president is campaigning for this deal. Let me play a clip from his speech earlier this week.
PRESIDENT OBAMA (ON TAPE):
You're going to hear a lot of arguments against this deal, backed by tens of millions of dollars in advertising. And if the rhetoric in these ads, and the accompanying commentary, sounds familiar, it should. For many of the same people who argued for the war in Iraq are now making the case against the Iran nuclear deal.
CHUCK TODD:
It's not just Republicans against this deal. Chuck Schumer. I mean, he's making almost a warmonger argument here. Is that fair? Is that fair to Democratic skeptics? You're not there. do you like hearing this? Do you feel pressured by that rhetoric?
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
I don't think any of us feel pressured either by Chuck Schumer's rejection of this deal or the president's full-throated support of this deal. I hope that all of my colleagues are doing what I'm doing, and that is doing our homework. One of the things that was most disappointing was Republicans insisted on 60 days to review this deal. It appeared to me most of them made their mind up in about five minutes.
And so I think this is one where the heightened rhetoric on both sides is not always helpful. And I hope that more senators keep their blinders on, do their homework, and figure out which way do we secure Israel and secure our country? By doing this deal, and if we don't do the deal, what does the world look like?
CHUCK TODD:
Did the president though make the best case he could've? Or could he have done it different and better?
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
I think he is pushing hard. And I respect that he feels very strongly about this. I think always when these decisions are hard, maybe less is more.
CHUCK TODD:
When it comes to rhetoric. Let me move quickly to the president race. Do you want to see Vice President Biden get in? You're a Hillary Clinton supporter now. Do you think it would be healthy for the party if Joe Biden got in this?
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
Listen, I would never presume to tell Joe Biden what to do, or Bernie Sanders, for that matter. You know, our party had many primaries and we've survived and done well. We had a rip-roaring primary in 2008, as everyone remembers.
CHUCK TODD:
That was good for the party.
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
I think it was--
(OVERTALK)
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
I think it was. And I think this will end up being good for Hillary Clinton.
CHUCK TODD:
If Joe Biden gets in and makes this--
(OVERTALK)
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
I think that, you know, if Bernie stays in, and if Joe were to get in, I don't think it's going to hurt Hillary Clinton, because I think Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton agree on almost everything. I worry--
CHUCK TODD:
Are you concerned about her candidacy at all right now?
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
I'm not. I am not. I think when the smoke clears and the circus leaves town, Americans want strong, stable leadership and a fighter. And if there's anything Hillary Clinton has shown in her career, it's that she is a fighter.
CHUCK TODD:
Your memoir here, Plenty Ladylike, there's a lot on Todd Akin. And what's interesting when watching, there has been some fear in the Republican party that Donald Trump will become their Todd Akin. When you watched this, is that what you see? And is that what you're rooting for as a Democrat?
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
A little bit. Yeah, honestly, a little bit. I think he has some Akin-esque qualities to him in terms of his mouth. The difference though, there's a big difference, I will say this about Todd Akin. He is a sincere man who had sincere beliefs. He had no filter. But he was principled. And that's what he believed in. I don't think that's true with Donald Trump. I think Donald Trump is bluff and bluster. And I don't think the things he says are rooted in anything other than a demand for attention.
CHUCK TODD:
All right. Senator Claire McCaskill, the book is Plenty Ladylike. You'll be spending your August not recessing.
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
When you read this book, you know what you'll figure out?
CHUCK TODD:
What's that?
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
I'm not running for president.
CHUCK TODD:
Those are my favorite memoirs to read.
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
Way too much stuff in here for me to be running for president.
CHUCK TODD:
Well, now you made really want to read the book. Very nice. Senator Claire McCaskill, thanks for coming on Meet the Press.
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
You bet.
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