Friday News Roundup - Domestic
New polls showed President Barack Obama opening up a lead over Republican challenger Mitt Romney, who tried to reshape his message following a damaging videotape from a fundraiser. The Justice Department found that federal agents and prosecutors ignored risks to the public from its "Fast and Furious" operation. And Chicago's first teachers' strike in 25 years ended. David Corn of Mother Jones magazine, Jeanne Cummings of Bloomberg News and Matthew Continetti of The Washington Freebeacon join guest host Susan Page for analysis of the week's top national news stories.
Guests
deputy government editor for Bloomberg News.
Washington bureau chief for Mother Jones magazine and author of the new book "Showdown: The Inside Story of How Obama Fought Back Against Boehner, Cantor, and the Tea Party."
editor-in-chief, The Washington Freebeacon
Friday News Roundup Video
Mother Jones reporter David Corn, who broke the news about the leaked Mitt Romney fundraiser video, discussed why the video had so much impact. "You see Mitt Romney uncut, raw, behind the scenes. And I think everyone wants to see candidates like that to get a sense of who and what they're really like," Corn said. Matthew Continetti, editor-in-chief of The Washington Freebeacon, said the video led to a decoupling of conservative elites from the Romney campaign. Bloomberg Newseditor Jeanne Cummings said the video is important because it's a test of a candidate's likability and compassion.

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Is the top news story the Mitt Romney video blasting 47% of Americans? Or,is the top story that Fox News is now campaign headquarters for the Mitt Romney campaign?
"WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION"....The crying towel of the wealthy,to make some forget what T-Party/Republican policy does to the 47%. Does Mitt Romney and the T-Party/Republicans have a clue of America at $7.25 an hour?
What is new about the Mitt Romney video? He said exactly the same thing at the NAACP Convention. Mitt got a big time pass because he was slamming African Americans,which his base loves.You know,the lazy folks who don`t work,and collect the big fat welfare check. It would be nice if people could understand Mitt Romney`s feels the same contempt for seniors,vets,the working poor,that you`re a 'taker'. The only thing new was the confirmation of Mitt Romney`s admiration of the Chinese worker.But I already knew that.Maybe a few folks will learn something.
I think that the real news out of this week is….who made that recording and who finally decided to push it. Frankly there isn’t anything at all new in it, everyone knows that Republican/Conservatives/ Tea Baggers hate at least half of the country and have made no secret about it all over the airwaves for decades. All things being equal we have an economy that is in the tank and any sitting president would be out on his ass under those circumstances. You know that Obama’s got to be thinking….”this is too good to be true….”
Why? BECAUSE IT IS!
The shadow government wants things left the way that they are….
Why? So that when the entire world finally goes over the cliff, this coming January, Obama will be sitting right where they want him. The democrats will be left holding the bag. What’s left of the Republican party will also be totally fractured by this point with the crazy-libertarian faction bolting to form a third party somewhere in the foothills of the Rockies as the religious zealots vie to succeed from the Union again taking all the former states of the Confederacy with them. All this paves the way for a much more sinister turn of events four years from now. The complete take over by Corporate Fascism because by then, that will look very appealing to the uneducated.
"Producers vs. Parasites". Not only do many T-Party/Republicans believe in what Mitt Romney said,but they doubled down,no more "Maker vs Takers".
Sounds a lot like some are full of themselves. "Reverse Robin Hood" still sucks to Main Street America,no matter the great Think Tank one liners.
clifford wrote:"What is new about the Mitt Romney video?"
Nothing. What's new about Obama's clip on redistribution?, also nothing. I like the odds on this debate and comparison of ideas.
Sounds like Mitt Romney hit a nerve with you permanent victims. You can always tell when the truth has been told by the extremes of the over reaction.
Teece Bowman wrote: "All things being equal we have an economy that is in the tank and any sitting president would be out on his ass under those circumstances. You know that Obama’s got to be thinking….”this is too good to be true….”
That assumes his goal was to improve the economy and not bring it to a point where hardship and desperation would reshape American values and expectations to the welcoming of a government takeover of every aspect of our lives. I believe Obama thought the economy would recover on it's own as it historically has despite his onerous policies, he thought in a second term he could finish the job by allowing the national debt to force the United States in to a far diminished role on the international stage. Government dependency and a weak economy would force a reassessment of priorities, a short sighted electorate worried about self preservation would gladly yield it's freedoms to the state.
Partisan,
Both parties have labored hard and long to make this country into the mess that it is. I know that your opinion is that if conservative principles were upheld that none of this would be happening. And you don't see,.....cannot see that it is those very conservative principles that have put us squarely where we are.
You and those like you are the reason why Corporate Fascism will become a reality.
It doesn't matter who wins in November and it never has.
GOP HIT BY HURRICANE MITT
or The Week Mitt Romney Lost the Election
Mitt Romney's leaked video is just the latest in a string of catastrophic hits the GOP has sustained as we enter the final stretch. Are the Republicans ignoring the warning signs of another wave election?
Romney, GOP Suffer "Flash-Crash" at Intrade
Stock analysis gives President 93% chance of Reelection
" Did Obama Just Win the Election?" Schaeffer's Investment Research
Republicans Fear Romney Could Cost Them the Senate- The Votemaster
Forbes published their list of the top 400 wealthiest Americans yesterday.
News Flash: They increased their net worth 13% in one year......under Obama.
Unfortunately, my name was not among the 400. Gee....I thought sure since I do pay taxes that Uncle Mitt would smile down and see that I made it.
After all, Mitt got his pile the traditional way........REDISTRBUTION via "He didn't build that; he inherited it!"
Isn't it marvelous how skillful technicians can cut and paste audio and video clips these days? One can literally make anyone seem to say ANYthing.....even a President. Just snip off a phrase or two selectively.....voila! Redistribution!
I am thinking of doing a video clip proving a certain public figure is really the love child of extraterrestrial aliens and came from Area 51.
Topic:Governor Romney's Chutzpah and Doublespeak
First, definition. Governor Romney claims there are as many 23 million unemployed (and quietly adds underemployed.) Awful, yes. But the Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the 8.3% unemployment rate means 12.8 million unemployed. 23 million=12.8 million?
Second, deficit. Since the recession how many Americans earning below $250,000 lost jobs? What would the deficit be if the ten million who lost their jobs, actually didn't lose their jobs, and the Government were getting revenues from these ten million unemployed, even with this increased spending? Get it? Lower revenues means bigger gap between revenues and spending, period.
Third, Governor Romney's Cayman Chutzpah and the Governor's paying his taxes: “I paid my taxes”, says the Governor. Never mind that I be transparent. That's for President Obama to do. Just trust me with the way I handle my tax statements. I showed you one tax return, didn't I?
Point: Siphoning American jobs overseas and hiding his company in a Cayman P.O box is a one-two punch that the Governor served as a role model that helped increase unemployment and increase the deficit. Governor Romney calling himself a job creator is what another George, George Orwell, famous for his classic 1984, called “Doublespeak.”
It seems to me that Romney's attack on "the 47%" is also an attack on people with large families with many children. After all, it's all those tax credits and deductions for being married and having kids that would cause many low-to-middle income working people to not owe any Federal Tax. That and the mortgage interest deduction. Who pays the highest percentage of taxes in all categories? That would be single working people who rent their apartments or homes. We (I'm one) always have to take the standard deduction with no tax breaks. I've always paid the full tax - it's bizarre to me that so many people don't.
We need the candidates to stop the he said, he said (are we all middle schoolers) and hear a positive message as to how we can all, most especially our children have a better life.
1. A job, with pay that at least keeps up with inflation. 2. A government that is not for sale to the highest bidder and Lawmakers that care more for the good of the country than they do for the next election.
How disheartening would it be if our new president is the one who (in his least cardboard cut performance to date) seems to believe that nearly half our country are moochers.
I am against any reporting that serves to maintain the illusion of a democratic system. Obama and Romney are no different, when it comes to serving special interests and ignoring the interests of the people. The election cycle is a circus, designed to distract and numb people away from this growing realisation. NPR, and any media that choose to operate within these sham parameters, should not call themselves journalists, and should know that they are playing their part in keeping the people down.
It's both logically jaded and disingenuous to keep talking about "wealth distribution" as if it's an offensive practice of a "socialist president" or a "failed theory." Wealth distribution is a fact of life in America! Liberals want to shift some from the top to the bottom, and conservatives wants to shift some from the bottom to the top economic tier. Both liberals AND conservatives are socialist in fact!
http://beyond-the-political-spectrum.blogspot.com/
What I found most offensive about Mitt Romney's comments is his lack of understanding of America and his acceptance of stereotypes or this myth that the 47% are all for Obama. White americans make up 34% of welfare participants...22% AA, and 21% Latino; White americans get more scholarships, more pell grant money, and a greater % of SS. I don't think being Mexican would help Romney...having a heart with some intelligence might help.
Beyond The Poli... wrote:
"It's both logically jaded and disingenuous to keep talking about "wealth distribution" as if it's an offensive practice of a "socialist president" or a "failed theory." Wealth distribution is a fact of life in America! Liberals want to shift some from the top to the bottom, and conservatives wants to shift some from the bottom to the top economic tier".
First part true, second part false.
You assume a zero sum game. Conservatives want EVERYONE to prosper, but on their own merit and they are willing to accept that some will prosper more than others. Liberals want everyone to have equal outcomes, not equal opportunity. And do not identify "conservative" with the rich. They are not the same. Many of the rich are liberals (just look at every Dem in Congress).
And if you don't think that socialism is a "failed theory", just look at every time it's been tried. Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
I know it is absurd that Mitt Romney would be the one pointing out that there are people who do not pay their fair share in taxes. Absurd. But does that mean that he does not have a point. I know plenty of people who nudge numbers on their taxes, self employed people who claim they make far less than they do so they can collect earned income, people who have not paid taxes at all and collect social security, people who hide money and get on medicaid etc etc etc. At the Dem Convention former Ohio Dem Governor Ted Strickland said that Mitt Romney is not an "economic patriot" Clearly that is true. But is there not a clear need that we all try to be more serious "economic patriots"
Ah, I always get some laughs listening to Rehm's show, especially when she has the dem cheerleader Susan Page in her stead.
Cummings and Corn come across as total liberals. They are doing what is usually done on this show, which is promote the democrats. Corn is to the left of Marx, but he is typical of the guests on Rehm's show
This show is not that different than Limbaugh, really, in that they are playing to the lefty audience It is just toned down, is all.
The coming butt-kicking is going to be funny as all get-out, when Obama loses badly. I am looking forward to all the NPR personalities asking "what happened?"
@David Corn
I don't believe Romney EVER used the word "moocher". You have used it twice.
Bravo to James the caller. Great point!
Medicare and Social Security are NOT "entitlements" like SNAP or welfare. They are earned benefits which employees have worked and paid into for their entire lives. It is insulting to lump them altogether.
Smoot wrote:
"The coming butt-kicking is going to be funny as all get-out, when Obama loses badly."
I have been suggesting same for some time. This looks so much like 1980, it's scary - even down to the polls. Romney must kill in the debates however. He needs to challenge Obama directly and he needs to look in the camera and speak directly to the American people about what he can do to make their lives better.
Also, DO NOT BELIEVE THE POLLS. Every poll, even Rasmussen, which is the fairest and measures likely voters, the most important demographic, OVERSAMPLES Democrats by AT LEAST three percentage points, some as much as eight. That means, in most polls, Obama is LOSING.
The Mitt Romney - T-Party/Republican position, reflects the long term prognosis that 'Globalization' and 'Free Market' systems, will create an economy similar to the child`s game of 'Musical Chairs'. As more and more Americans are forced from the Middle Class into poverty,it means more demand for Social Service Entitlements,and a huge burden to the billionaires.The 1% who will own everything know they`ll be stuck with the tab,unless they can convince Americans to harden their hearts towards their fellow Americans.
The real 'Wealth Distribution' destroying America.
Enough of the political banter, Americans are tired of the chaos. It's mental gang warfare. The U.S. has a psychological problem add that to the debates.
"Fast and furious" was ill-conceived and executed even more poorly, and the death of the agent was a tragedy. But is the implication that the bad guys wouldn't have guns at all were it not for fast and furious? Isn't it the NRA's stance in every gun issue that the bad guys will always have guns?
Outside_of_the_box wrote:
"I am against any reporting that serves to maintain the illusion of a democratic system. Obama and Romney are no different, when it comes to serving special interests and ignoring the interests of the people. The election cycle is a circus, designed to distract and numb people away from this growing realisation. NPR, and any media that choose to operate within these sham parameters, should not call themselves journalists, and should know that they are playing their part in keeping the people down"
This is exactly true. While hating the democrats is a full time job for me, and I do what I can to educate anyone who will listen about the criminal alliance between the democrats and the teacher's/public sector unions, neither of these parties has the people's interest in practice.
That is to say they are both bought and paid for. The house needs to be burned to the ground and started over.
The democrats are more responsible for the divisions we have today, though.
When 50 percent of the country is violently opposed to some federal mandate or another and it is rammed through anyway, you create the polarization we have today. That is mostly the dems.
Thomas Sowell
The Fallacy of Redistribution
http://www.creators.com/opinion/thomas-sowell/the-fallacy-of-redistribut...
Romney can't release his tax returns for the last ten years. In 2009 he moved from Massachusetts to California. he most likely deducted the move on his 2010 tax return. The problem is that Romney and wife voted in the Massachusetts 2010 election. Release of the return would show that they committed voter fraud.
I agree that on today's show Mr. Corn's appearance is a poor choice of a guest. We want balanced comments from the Friday News Roundup. Mr. Corn sounds like a member of Mr. Obamas campaign staff. I can get this from the network news shows. I support Mr. Obama, but please drp Mr. Corn from your guest list in the future. Thank you.
Lights went on in Ohio rural folks heads when they realized during the Bush administration is that their children had gone off to a war in Iraq based on a "pack of lies" some of them of course did not return home, their union jobs had disappeared, they were working at Wal Mart for 8.50 an hour, paying for their own insurance etc etc. I have worked in these rural areas for years...the lights are going on. Not that the Republicans can not use the gay, guns, god card just weeks before the election to flip these votes
Ha ha...they just a caller on the line that protested about Corn's over-the-top promotion of Obama, as well as the other panelists (partisanists?) The caller did not care for the Corn's flippant attitude towards Romney.
This is unusual....normally every caller that is allowed through is a virulent democrat booster.
You can tell Corn is a professional leftist because he didn't pause - just declared he was right.
Look, these lefties like Corn and the others on today get paid to take these positions. In Corn's case, Obama's campaign ought to hire him, he sounds like Stephanie Cutter.
Maybe they already have hired him.
Personally, I think these guys are a) nervous as heck, because they are afraid Obama may lose and therefore are doing what lefties do - spread propaganda, and b) are scared the polls themselves are biased with too many democrats being polled in Obama's favor.
Jokr8790 wrote:
"Romney can't release his tax returns for the last ten years. In 2009 he moved from Massachusetts to California. he most likely deducted the move on his 2010 tax return. The problem is that Romney and wife voted in the Massachusetts 2010 election. Release of the return would show that they committed voter fraud".
You and Clifford have a bad habit of posting wacko theories for which you have ZERO evidence as though they are fact. Simple question. How do you know where the Romney's voted?