Fox News "Your World" - Transcript: Daines Slams Dems' 'Desperation Tactics' Against Kavanaugh

Interview

CAVUTO: All right, we're monitoring this here.

Suffice it to say the United States has struck an accord with South Korea. This is building upon an earlier agreement, you might recall, when they wanted to address that, as the White House wanted to address what they thought was unfair treatment when it came to overpriced washers and dryers from South Korea that were making their way into this country.

This has vastly expanded to include automobiles and like, an agreement he says that is in both countries' interest and levels the playing field.

Again, if we hear more on this and the details of this, of course, we will pass it along.

All of this at a time tensions have risen, ironically enough, with the Chinese, where we're making no progress there. And, in fact, both sides have implemented tougher tariffs on a number of goods and products that go there from the United States and come here from China.

Let's get to read from Montana Republican Senator Steve Daines.

Senator, thank you for taking the time.

Do you think this sets the stage or could for a Chinese deal?

SEN. STEVE DAINES, R-MONT.: Well, this is good news.

South Korea is a very important market for Montana farmers and ranchers, for American farmers and ranchers. It's a big market for our grains, for our beef. And the more we -- the faster we move forward on these bilateral agreements, the better off we will be in terms of negotiating with China.

This is good news for American farmers and ranchers, good news for the American economy.

CAVUTO: All right.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention, back to the Brett Kavanaugh controversies and where you stand on all of this. Of course, we will get to see when Dr. Ford gets a chance to testify this week, on Thursday.

But a number of your colleagues, we're told, are reportedly getting a little bit antsy. Are you?

DAINES: Neil, we have got a step back and remember who we're talking about in Judge Kavanaugh, a man who's authored 307 opinions, served with distinction, with an impeccable record for 12 years on the second highest court in the land.

Here's the real situation. Hours after it was announced that Judge Kavanaugh was President Trump's nominee, Chuck Schumer went to the floor of the U.S. Senate and said, we're going to do everything within our -- within our power to stop this nominee.

That's exactly what's going on right now. This is a smear campaign against Judge Kavanaugh. Look at these latest allegations The New Yorker put in print here most recently, in the last 24 hours.

The New York Times says news that's fit to print, The New York Times wouldn't even carry that story. So, there are -- these are desperation tactics right now. It is creating great dishonor to this process.

And we need to stand and allow Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford on Thursday to be heard. They both should be heard. We then should vote up or down in the United States Senate.

CAVUTO: And if there are no other allegations that come forward from other women -- and you're quite right -- after this New Yorker article, a lot of people say, well, what else could happen?

And you would say, let's vote, one way or the other, let's vote?

DAINES: It's been thousands of pages, hours of testimony, 65-plus different interviews with U.S. senators, six FBI background checks.

This man is ready to serve as a United States Supreme Court justice. We need to hear both sides on Thursday. Very important, very important that Dr. Ford is heard, that Judge Kavanaugh then is heard.

But look at what Judge Kavanaugh just wrote here today. He is doubling down, doubling down. He's anxious to get before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee and clear his name.

CAVUTO: All right, you do want to hear both sides, but, just to be clear, you have already made up your mind?

DAINES: Well, I want to hear both sides. So I will wait and hear what both sides have to say on Thursday at this point.

CAVUTO: OK.

DAINES: Then we need to have a vote.

CAVUTO: All right, are you concerned that, right now, this is getting in the way of some of the good news that Republicans have been trying to rally around, including, today notwithstanding, Senator, the good markets, the good economy, low unemployment rate?

And in these mockups right now showing who do voters prefer to run Congress -- and these are very volatile, I grant you. But in the latest one, it's sort of a year-wide gap of 12 points in favor of Democrats.

Now, I don't think these are worth the paper they are printed on, but it's the only paper we have got for the time being. Are you alarmed by numbers like that?

DAINES: Well, I will tell you what.

Bringing it back to the Kavanaugh discussion, this is why the Democrats are delaying. This is all about pure political calculus and power. It's not about truth. It's not about justice. It's about political power.

They want to delay this, so it affects the elections in November of 2018. Look, the numbers at this time, you look at what this economy is doing, we're doing on jobs, on economic growth, you look at regulation has decreased, and you look at 26 circuit judges, hopefully a second Supreme Court judge, these are lifetime appointments, this president has done more in two short years working with the Republican Congress than any president I can remember in my lifetime.

This is good news. And we are very prepared to take that message to the American voters and let them decide what happens in November. They will get the final word.

CAVUTO: All right.

This Thursday, also, the president is going to be meeting with Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general. And there had been a lot of talk as well that maybe, maybe he was going to fire the guy. Do you think he should?

DAINES: All I know is that the president and Mr. Rosenstein are meeting on Thursday. We will wait and see what happens.

CAVUTO: Would you fire him?

(LAUGHTER)

DAINES: I don't have all the details on that. I have concerns.

I also have great confidence in President Trump. He knows how to build businesses. He knows how to create great teams. I have complete confidence he will make the right decision on Thursday.

CAVUTO: All right, Senator, thank you very, very much.

DAINES: Thank you.

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