Tom Ridge

Hey welcome back this is Tom Finneran you while listening to parents forum on AM 680 -- Boston's biggest and best docs stationed. I'm joined in the studio by by distinguished friend and cohost. These state representative from Watertown, Massachusetts -- Rachel to present and with delighted to welcome to Finneran forum. Former governor of Pennsylvania -- the first secretary of Homeland Security the one an only Tom ridge governor ridge welcome. Come on racial good morning good morning. Thank you so much for joining us so we understand -- Lancaster, Pennsylvania. And -- correctly yet back there I have today we will redressing I'll during the break us up yet we would say -- cast -- it would. And you would appreciate if you mispronounce they own counter you're unlikely particularly well that's exactly right he and my recollection is that's done in and around -- that is beautiful -- Anderson -- agnostic or anybody

governor you led one of the most important to states in the nation in terms of its it's bread its diversity its economic contributions -- political leadership and now you by the national coach -- for John McCain's campaign for the presidency you bring a lot to the table I want to stop with a tough question from last week's democratic debate in which Tim russert asked. I Hillary Clinton about. Governor spitz is proposal for a driver's license for illegal aliens you have the perspective of not only having been govern. But the perspective of having been the first secretary of Homeland Security what's your take on that idea of driver's licenses for illegal aliens

think -- answer bad idea. An idea wrong headed out orders motivation is I never question their -- anybody's motors that that. In the scheme of things that are rewarding people with with others it's it's not a right it is a privilege and it is wrongheaded I don't at this time to be operated driver's licenses have been driver's license of most common standard form of identification we use in this country you can use that two -- get an airplane open bank accounts purchase firearms. Etcetera etcetera you know bad idea.

You're not -- serious threat to national security would you say.

Well I think it is so glad I mean it because it's difficult to I don't want to -- but the notion is that those who could be here illegally could somehow use this process subvert the process. And through the benefit of having a year driver's license and their back -- get access to places and do things that otherwise it wouldn't be able do I think is a potential threat and it's safe but it's also the access to -- arms and other things that I don't think we necessarily want to put in the hands of illegals well.

Governor you served in the united states army have a distinguished record as a veteran who wore the uniform the United States the candidate on whose behalf -- speak John McCain. A similarly distinguished reckon. Let's jump if we can't to Iraq Iran how around forces committed heavily over the outstretched the Indian pot because of the Afghanistan precious. What is your take on behalf all of them with. Senator McCain has to the next. Series of steps this country should be taken with Iraq in Iran.

There a couple of quick thoughts they need to remind everyone that says Senator McCain early on never felt that we had enough boots on the ground shock and I was about smart weapons but it the end of the day counterterrorism effort required GI's and Marines. It was consistent in his concern and criticism he has support the prayer of the -- a tactic more people in the way they've gone about trying to secure some of these neighborhoods. Seems to be working at the end of the day a military solution will not work you'd need a political solution. And we're all very hopeful that this stability that these recent tactic seemed to be developing them might give the political situation an opportunity he's mature I think -- as Senator McCain believes -- very serious threat ironically I ran may be. May enable the United States to bring together Jordan in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and Europe in the United States and others to put this enormous pressure on Iran we do not want them to have nuclear weapons.

talking to Tom ridge former governor of Pennsylvania -- the first secretary of Homeland Security in the could that did the special department set up in the aftermath of 9/11 has America reacted to the attack. On a sovereign soil governor of I can go back to the domestic side just fraud a moment it's no secret that John McCain was in support of these so called. Comprehensive immigration bill that failed in the United States senate recently and that it has become. An item of controversy it really -- I think both primaries the democratic primary as well as the Republican primary. Tell us in the aftermath of that experience senator McCain's view when impostor run immigration today how to get a handle on the challenge we face as a nation with -- got to secure borders. EM to it and making sure that. Now would we don't. I guess we're not exposed the way we were pre 9/11 now severed -- after the fact.

And become one of the reasons I support my friend of 25 years is both his candor in his honesty industry talk about problems and one of the major problems we have immigration and that no vote that made all those who said it's a bad idea and voted no and that was the prevailing wisdom that the time. If you think what their occurred after the no vote. And their interest quite against simple -- thing happened so you still have the illegals here you'd still have no means by which people could go back and forth across the border lawfully and so you know vote preserve the status quo all John has said since that time is that he understands that people are concerned about the enforcement of existing laws. He gets and that we will be yen and he will begin we have enforcement person that the do have to build the infrastructure to bring these people out of the shadows in more importantly or equally as important. Build it means by which people go back and forth across the border awfully. If you have that mechanism in place. A UN force and they enforce it against the illegals and businesses who hire outside that -- you'll have the problem of illegal immigration you need both the John is recognized didn't learn -- that debate that Americans are interested in enforcement person that's what he's focusing on.

Governor what do you think would be the biggest challenge to a president McCain or anybody else for that matter with respect to national security and going and

I think but again another reason support Senator McCain is we are going to have to re engage the world in an entirely different ways we've done over the past two years. The 21 century world given all the forces of globalization we have our our prosperity and our security is now more than ever is dependent relationship with the rest of the world I think. Senator McCain of if you take a look at everyone in the Republican primary and take a look at military experience and understand the role of the military and John understands this but he also has two young sons that are all take a look at foreign policy experience is nobody close his reputation and credibility around the world has some straight talking. Individual I think. We must re engaged. And the president much re engaged personally am much more aggressive way in the future and I think that's exactly the kind of leadership to send.

We're talking to -- former governor Tom ridge. He is also the first separate was also the Press Secretary of homeland security and he is the national coach here for the John McCain candidates candidacy for presidency. Help us understand if you can't and the time that's left governor ridge John McCain's view about education the federal or all the federal responsibility choice shot any of those things given the challenges that American public education faces today.

sound as if hero right a little literally still on top of those the best of the fastball you can turn on any pitcher put it into the bleachers if John McCain should become the president of the United States. What do we look for the future possibly possibly from governor Tom -- in front in terms of additional public service to his country.

Well at their remains to be saying I like the notion that my friend gets elected president dentist to have that could be you as a friend to the president of the United States it was something that I would welcome --

Threat -- Air Force One two that's critical.

Well that that's not a bad it's it's. So -- better than I don't have anyone which was -- nice looking avid -- I can't airport trying to pick -- who's got the better aircraft -- battling -- Steelers are -- your neighborhood in a couple weeks.

Yeah you want to bring you want to let some action on that are dark and I thought about it does. -- governor absolutely yes and by the way the next time you aren't saudis with can't either with Senator McCain without dinner is on me happy to do it Rachel and I would be delighted any that we can break bread with you. You know what we'll talk about who this is going to be an inside joke nobody else is gonna get this at all build the weeds.

I I'm not an -- in a side note that -- give a laughing matter really good friend of mine endowed reported joining you for dinner look forward again.

That that'd be great if you could bring to shoo fly pie that will be -- what are there you go out that's. Hey this is spent a great great opportunity to speak with that kind of -- over the airwaves the governor Tom ridge former governor of Pennsylvania for secretary of Homeland Security national coach yet. John McCain's presidency in an all round good guy governor ridge thanks very very much we'll be back in a moment dot AM 680 WRK -- government just process