WEBVTT . >> WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE-UP. LYNNE BLAN KEN BERK WANTS TO UPHOLD AMERICAN VALUES ON CAPITOL HILL AND JOINS US THIS MORNING. LYNNE BLANKENBEKER THANK FOUR JOINING. I AM EXCITED TO TALK TO THIS YOU MORNING. >> ALL RIGHT. MIDTERM ELECTION CAMPAIGNS AS MUCH AS THE CANDIDATES TRY. HOW DO YOU SEE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PERFORMANCE OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS? THAT IS ASSET OR LIKE RIGHT NOW SH. >> I THINKETTE IS CERTAINLY ASSET RIGHT NOW. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES THAT HAVE PASSED THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD FOR THE GRANITE STATE. MOST OF THEM ARE ENJOYING, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOME RELIEF WITH T TAX RENORM WE HAD, AND CERTAINLY, AND OUR PRESIDENT IS PUG NATIONAL SECURITY AT THE FOREFRONT, AND BECAUSE, BECAUSE HIS ABILITY TO GET NORTH KOREANS AND SOUTH KOREAN SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER AND THE COMMUNICATION CURB SHA. HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB MAINTAINING THE SUE PUR OR TY ACROSS THE BOARD. >> CERTAINLY GDP DOESN'T HURT EITHER. YOU MENTIONED RUSSIA. WHAT IS THE TAKE ON THE WHOLE RUSSIAN REGS RIGHT NOW. WE HAD THE FORMER ATTORNEY SAY HE KNEW THAT DONALD JR. WAS GOING TO MEET WITH THE RUSH SHENS TO GET DIRT ON HILLARY CLINTON DURING THE ELECTION. THIS IS A WITCH-HUNT AS THE PRESIDENT CALLS? IT IS IT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE EXPLORED AND PEOPLE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM. >> CERTAINLY. THINK, YOU KNOW. WE HEED TO LET INVESTIGATIONS DO THEIR JOB, RIGHT? WE NEED LET THAT PROCESS WORK. WE CANNOT BE DISTRACTED BY THE, YOU, HE THE SCANDALS AND THE ALLEGATIONS AND THE ACCUSATION THROUGHOUT. I AM HITTING THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL EVERY DAY. AM TALKING TO THE GRANITE STATERS THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM LIKE HEALTHCARE AND IMMIGRATION AND OUR ECONOMY AND JOBS AND SO, NO. YOU KNOW. JUST LET THE INVESTIGATION DEAL WELL WHAT THE INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO DO. THE FREEDOM CAUCUS. THAT IS GROUP THAT YOU WOULD SHARE A LOT OF COMMON WITH DOWN THERE IN D.C. THEY ARE SAYING THE NUMBER TWO AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ROD RESEN STEIN SHOULD BE IMPEACH. DO YOU THAT I IS A GOOD GLAD TO ANOTHER DISTRACTION. WE NEED TO GET AWAY THREE DISTRACTIONS OF IMPEACH PRESIDENT AND FOCUS ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT. MAKING SHORE WE GOT THE GOOD POLICIES PASSED THAT ARE GOOD FOR THE GRANITE STATE. THAT IS NOT THE TOPIC WHEN I AM OUT TALKING T FOLKS. >> YOU ARE IN AFGHANISTAN, A WAR VETERAN, A GULF WAR VETERAN. ARMED FORCES MOST OF YOUR LIFE. WHAT IS THE PERSPECTIVE YOU WOULD BRING TO CAPITOL HILL ON DEFENSE SPENDING. >> WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL SPENDING IN THE NATION FOR SURE. DEFENSE SPENDING HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE WE ARE UNDERFUNDED FOR TRAINING AND OLD EQUIPMENT THAT NEEDS MODERNIZATION. I TAKE A LOOK AT EVERY BUDGET. EVERY PIECE OF THE BUDGET. WE GOT TO LACK AT WHERE WE CAN TRIM THE FAT. WHERE WE CAN PLUS UP WHERE WEED THAT HE. RESPONSIBLE SPENDING GUESS ACROSS THE BOARD. >> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, DEFENSE SPEND K, A LOT OF THAT IS PRAY ORS HOW THE MILITARY SHOULD BE POSTURED OR READY. WHAT DO YOU THIS THE PRIORITY SHOULD BE IN TERMS OF ANTITERROR OR TURN MORE TOWARD CHINA. >> WELL, CERTAINLY. I DON'T THERE THY THERE IS ANY SECRET. CHINA IS, YOU KNO A CREDIBLE THREAT OUT IN THE PACIFIC THEATER. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT. NO I, READINESS IS IMPORTANT. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT READINESS. WE TALK ABOUT DREANING OUR FOLKS AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE MOST POD MODERN EQUIPMENT TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT A WAR SHOULD THAT HAPPEN. AND WE CERTAINLY NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT READINESS FROM NER SPICK OF DO WHAT W VERY THE RIGHT NUMBER OF PEOPLE. SO CLEARLY, THE FOCUS SHOULD BE IN THE READINESS AND THE HEALTH OF OUR MILITARY. >> WELL, BACK HERE ON THE HOME FRONT. STILL A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH MASS SHOOTINGS SH AM WE HAVE NOT HAD ONE CRE RENTLY, THANK GOD. DO YOU THINK IS A WAY, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF AGREEMENT AROUND MENIAL HEALTH. WE MAY NEED TO DO SOMETHING. THERE IS A WAY, EN YOUR EYES TO DO SOMETHING REGARDI FIREARMS THAT DOES NOT IN FRIDGE ON SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT. >> SURE. YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. THIS IS NO AT GUN ISSUE. THIS IS A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. I AM CERTAINLY I THINK OUR NATION IS UNDESERVED BY THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY MEANING WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDESSER IN THE NATION FOR THE GROWING NEED WE HAVE. I CERTAINLY THINK THERE ARE WAYS TO IN SENSE VISE TO GET FOLKS TO GO IN AND LOOK THAT AND GETTING MORE PROVEEREDS OUT WILLING SO WE CAN OF NER SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO REALLY ARE STRUGGLING AND YES. KNOW. I AM A STRONG PRONENT OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT. THINK HE NEED PROSERVE FOLK'S SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS AS FAR AS WE CAN AND SO, THERE HAS GOT TO BE A BALANCE THERE. A AS FAR AS WE CAN. DO YOU THINK IS A WAY, THOUGH. IF IT COMES TO THE POINT IT IS TIME TO CONFISCATE FIR RM AS FROM SOMEONE SOMEONE. THAT IS A SLIPPERY SPLINT IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE. IN CONFISCATING IT WOULD BE A LAST RESORT FOR ME AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T, THAT DOESN'T ALIGN WITH WHAT THE SECOND AMENDMENT SAYS WHICH IS SHALL YOU KNOW, IT HAS TWO STARTS IT TO. ONE IS TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECT OUR SELLS AGAINST GOVERNMENT TYRANNY. THE WAY TO BEAR ARMS. YOU KNOW, OF COURSE I WANT EVERY AMERICAN WHO IS, WHO IS QUALIFIED TO HAVE A WEAPON OR WHO SHOULD HAVE A WEAPON SHOULD HAVE THE TEAM FROM TO GET ONE. AND, CLEARLY, IF YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS AND DEMONSTRATED THAT THEN WE NEED TO RESTRICT THOSE THOSE FOLK AND JUST LIKE YOU SAID. WITH THE KID INTERESTS THE W THE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS FOR EXAMPLE. MANY CHILDREN WERE ACTUALLY GIVEN WEAPONS BY THEIR FAMILIES YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE FAMILY ACCOUNTABLE, TOO. WHEN THEY RECOGNIZE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IS REALLY STRUG LEPPING AND NEEDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE. >> FIREARMS EDUCATION IS ANOTHER HOME FRONT. >> ALL RIGHT. THE AMERICAN DREM USED TO BE OWNING YOUR OWN HOME. THAT IS NOT A REACH. SHOULD CONDRESS BE DOING MORE TO MAKE HOUSING MORE AVAILABLE OR AFFORDABLE TO YOUNGER PEOPLE. WELL, I WOULD ARGUE THAT THAT IS BECOMING BACK IN THE REACH WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION. LOOK. YOU GOT THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THIS COUNTRY EVER HAD OR IN DECADES CERTAIN I, WHEN FOLKS HAVE JOBS THEY HAVE HAVE THE ACHE TO PURCHASE HOMES. PEOPLE HAVE GOOD JOBS THESE ARE SUSTAINABLE JOBS JOBBEST THERE A LONG TIME THAT WILL ACTUALLY GET THEM THE TIGHT HAVE A HOME. WHAT I BELIEVE I CAN DO IN CONGRESS IS CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THOSE GOOD POLICIES AND THAT CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE SO THEY CAN GET THE JOBS AND KEEP MORE DOLLARS IN THEIR POCKET AND CHOOSE TO SPEND KNOWS THEY WANT IT OR HOUSING IF THEY WANT TO CHOOSE SEND IT ON SOMETHING ELSE. THAT'S THIS IS BOOTY OF BEING AN AMERICAN. >> A LOT OF CONCERN RATING NOW AMONG CONSERVATIVES ABOUT WHETHER THEIR VOICES ARE BEING SILENCED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WRAPPED IS THERE TROUBLE ON THE HORIZON FAR DISCOURSE HERE IF YOU HAVE FACEBOOK AND TWITTER LOOKING INTO QUITE, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY TAKING SPEECH AWAY FROM HOME PEOPLE, OR I FACEBOOK WITHIN THE RIGHT TO SORT OF SILENCE SOMEONE LIKE ALEX JONES WHO IS TALKING ABOUT SANDY HOOK BEING A HOAX OR MOST RECENTLY, HYPOTHETICALLY, DISCUSSION SHOOTING SPECIAL COUNCIL ROBERT MULE SNEER WELL, CERTAINLY, IF THERE IS THREATENING ON FACEBOOK, LO, THAT IS A CRIME, SUND SHOW SHOULD NOT BE THREATENING PEOPLE, FANNED THATS THE CASE, HEN, THAT IS NOT PROTECTED SPEECH ANYWAY. WE HAVE A STRONG FIRST AMENDMENT AND STRONG PROTECTED SPEECH. THINK WE ARE SEEING NEW AVENUES OPENING UP FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IT. THEY COME UP EVERY DAY. THERE IS NEW FACEBOOK-LIKE ROOMS OUT THERE AND ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE TOM COMING UP SO YOU CAN EXERCISE THE TYPE OF SPEECH YOU WANT TO EX SEER IS? THERE IS FRONT SPEECH IN THE NATION. IT IS FRONT I THINK THAT FOLKS WHO ARE WITHIN THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT YOU KNOW WITHIN THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SPE FREELY. LET'S TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION POLICY. DO YOU TAKE ISSUE AT ALL WITH THE WAY THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HANDHELD FAMILY SEPARATION ISSUE? WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAD BEEN GOING IN A PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND WAS EXPANDED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. DID THEY MAKE A MISTAKE WILLING NA WELL, NO. CLEARLY I CARE ABOUT THE CHILDREN. YOU KNOW? MY WHO HAVE LIFE HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF MILITARY MEMBERS THEIR FAMILIES AND PEOPLE IN OUR CHOM TIN CERTAINLY CARE ABOUT CHILDREN AFTER MY TERM IN OF A GAP STRAN WE CARED FOR THE LOCAL CHILDREN THERE. OF COURSE, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE CHILDREN. WILL YOU KNOW, YOU SAID IT WHAT THE ISSUE IS. THESE ARE LAWS THAT HAD BEEN ON THE K BOOS FOR YEARS, YEARS, JEANS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. WE'RE JUST ENFORCING THE LAWS THAT IS IM COME BANT UPON US TO ENFORCE THOSE LAWS. NOW HE? SO, YOU KNOW, WHO REALLY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE HERE ARE THOSE PARENTS, I DON'T HEAR ANY OUTRG OVER THE PARENTS WHO ILLEGALLY CROSSED THE BORDER AND NOW HAVE VICTIMIZED THEIR CHILDREN. THERE OUTRAGE ON THAT INTO WELL, YEAH. I IS A TOUGH SITUATION. YOU WATCH THE REPORTS ON YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN THAT. THEY APPROACH PEOPLE. YOU HAVE HONDURANS THE GANGSTERS THREATENED TO HARD THE HE FAMILY. I HAD TO DO WHAT I HAD TO DO TO GET OUT OF THERE. THERE ARE LEGAL WAYS AND CERTAIN LEGAL WAYS TO SEEK ASEE YOU ALMOST. YOU KNOW? LOOK. WE ALL CAME WERE FAMILIES OF IMMIGRANTS. I CAME FROM IMMIGRANT FAMILY S. MY MOTHER WAS FIRST GEN RATION IN THE COUNTRY AND WE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY. BOTH MY PARENTS SERVED IN WORLD WAR II. MY MOTHER IS A NURSE. MY FATHER IS A MARINE. THEY HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT AMERICANS AND THEY RAISED US AS AMERICANS BUT CAME TO THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY AND THERE IS CERTAINLY A LOT OF VALUE COMING OVER. BUT THE BORDERS ARE POUR RUSS. WE GOT TO PROTECT WHAT IS INSIDE AND WE NEED TO KNOW WHO IS IN OUR MATION. WE NEED MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SECURE BORDER SO THAT WE CAN KEEP EYE CRIME, DRUGS, THOSE THINGS OUT. YES. IS PART OF NATIONAL SECURITY. SO WE ABSOLUTELY I KNOW NEED TO KEEP ENFORCING OR LAW ACH ON THE POLICY FRONT THERE. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF GRIDLOCK. IF THERE IS GRAND COM PROMISE IT THAT INCLUDES AMNESTY. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO VOTE FOR THAT? LE WITH SHALL THINK AMNESTY HAPPENS IN OTHER PLACES WITH YOU BUT NOVI TO LOOK AT WHAT THE POLICY THAT IS BEFORE ME AND RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, GRANNING AMNESTY FOR BLANKETLY GRANTING IS REALLY NOT YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOOD POLICY. WE CERTAINLY SHOULD LOOK AT THE POLICIES THAT IS COMING OVER AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO AND WHO GETS SELECT FOR THAT. SHOULD CONGRESS BE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE THE PENT GONE HAS SAID THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD PACK THE MILITARY READINESS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ABOUT BEFORE OVER THE COMING CEN ZI NO, I DON'T THINK SO. CERTAINLY, BRAIN YOU KNOW, ADAM, IT IS FUNNY BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT A TOPPABLE I AM TALKING ABOUT WHEN I AM ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WHEN I AM GOING TO DOOR TO DOOR THEY ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE I DON'T THINK IT IS A BIG PRAY OR I. I WANT TO TON FOCUS ON THE PRA OIRS WHICH ARE IMPORTANT THOUGH GRANITE STATER THAT IS HEALTH CARE SHALL THAT IS IMMIGRATION. THAT IS OPEN SID CRISIS. THINGS THAT ARE REALLY HIT K HARD HERE IN OUR OWN STATE. ALL RIGHT. YOU GOT VERY BUSY BUSLINE PRIME A THINK. SIX WE WOULD BEES TO GO EVENTUALLY. HOW DO YOU STAND OUT WHEN THERE ARE OTHER VETERAN AND OTHER VET REASON INVOLVED PEOPLE IN THAT RICE WELL, OH, YEAH. YOU KNOW, I AM CERTAINLY VERY DIFFERENT CANDIDATE FOR MANY, MANY REASONS. HE AM PROVEP LEADER AND THE ONLY ONE WITH A PROVEN LEADERSHIP BACKGROUND IN 200 AND IN 2010 I WAS APOUND AS VICE CHAIR OF LEADERSHIP AT EARLY, YOU KNOW, EARL LYNN THE LEGISLATIVE CAREER. I AM THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF A MEDICAL UNIT IN SOUTH DAKOTA SO THE MAV RY SEAS THE VALUES OF LEADERSHIP AND THE LEADER SHIP. I HAVE 877 MEMBERS IN MY MEDICAL UNIT OUT THERE THE LARGEST, OF THE NAVY RESERVE MEDICAL UNITS CLEARLY ONLY 435 PEOPLE IN CONGRESS, ADAM. I GET TO LEAD 877 SO I THINK I AM OH DAY THERE. WE STAND OUT IN A LOT OF WAYS. IF YOU CERTAINLY WERE TO LOOK AT OUR COME PAIN, THE HEALTH OF OUR CAMPAIGN. IT IS RONG. WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT ENDORSEMENTS I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE WITH MANY ENDORSEMENTS THEN, FROM BOTH D.C. AND LOCALLY. CERTAINLY, LOOK AT THE REPORTS. WE'RE SOLLIE ON REPORTS. SO I THINK WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. WE DEFINITELY STAND OUT. I AM THE ONLY COMBAT PROVEN VETERAN IN THE CAMPAIGN. THEN, I AM THE ONLY ONE WITH CONTEMPORARY AND REAL-TIME MILITARY EXPERIENCE. WELL, I DON'T WANT TOP MINIMIZE ANYONE'S MILITARY EXPERIENCE. I RESPECT EVERY PERSON WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY. MY MILITARY SERVICE IS CURRENT AS OF TODAY. HE SPENT FIVE YEARS AT THE PENTAGON. I GOT HOME IN JANUARY OF 9016 WHERE I WORKED ON HEALTH CARE POLICY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL FOR THE DOD AND FOR VETERAN AFFAIRS SO I THINK MY RESUME IS VERY STRONG. AND IT IS DIFFERENT ARE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE CAMPAIGN AMONG THAIL CANDIDATE. ALL RIGHT. LYNN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOININGS TODAY. >> THANK, ADAM. PLEASURE TO S