Human Events Political Editor John Gizzi is back with a new batch of midterm election predictions, including his picks on key Senate races in Kentucky, Illinois and Wisconsin and tough governor’s races in Oregon, Rhode Island and Florida. Gizzi also evaluates the impact President Obama’s campaign efforts will have on the midterms.
A number of key Senate races have tightened in recent days and one reason may be Democrats attacking Republicans calling for reforms to social security and Medicare. But what are the facts about what these candidates are proposing, what the Democrats have already done or not done and why voters are still hesitant to embrace changes to the major entitlement programs? We ask Peter Ferrara, general counsel at the American Civil Rights Union.
The Obama administration is on the record as wanting to repeal ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ but is now fighting a judge’s order to repeal it immediately. A new slate of polls show Republicans doing better in the West Virginia, Illinois and Missouri senate races but slipping in Pennsylvania. And Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas are back in the headlines – with the FBI getting involved.
The tightest Congressional race in California is in the state’s 11th district, where Democratic Rep. Jerry McNerney is locked in a tough fight against Republican challenger David Harmer. The district has an unemployment rate of almost 20 percent, so what is Harmer’s strategy to get job creation going again? How would he specifically slash deficit spending? Why does he believe Rep. McNerney should be fired? And why does he see this campaign as critical to preserving America as a free nation? We discuss it all with David Harmer.
Even though the Obama administration is appealing a federal judge’s decision striking down “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”, the Pentagon has ordered recruiters to begin accepting openly gay applicants. Are Pentagon officials just doing what the court is demanding or are they rushing into a policy change they don’t need to implement yet? Why is this controversy more about a social experiment than improving our military? How do military leaders really feel about all this? And will the government win this case on appeal? We ask Van Hipp, former deputy secretary of the Army for reserve forces and mobilization.
President Obama is cranking up the rhetoric in his efforts to keep the Congress in Democratic control. But will suggesting that voters are scared and aren’t thinking clearly really win them back? Why might Obama’s handlers be giving him very bad advice? We ask former longtime USA TODAY White House Correspondent Richard Benedetto, who also says the mass exodus of White House advisers is not typical, despite what the administration says.
As Republicans eye a possible return to the majority in the House of Representatives, some of their biggest targets are in Ohio. In the sixth district, Republican Bill Johnson is locked in a tight race with Democratic Rep. Charlie Wilson. So why did Johnson get in the race? What policies would he pursue to help spur job growth? Why does he say small business owners are ‘afraid to make a move’ that would result in more jobs? And what vote of Wilson’s in Congress was ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’? We ask GOP congressional candidate Bill Johnson.
While the economy remains the dominant issue in the midterm campaign, the debate over homosexuality has become a more frequent topic of debate – from the military’s policy of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ to various comments made by candidates, Democrats and much of the media have been quick to shine attention on the issue. So are these key issues for voters or do Democrats see an opening by highlighting them? Why are liberals so reluctant to allow an open debate on these issues? We ask Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs at Liberty Counsel. Barber also explains why Colorado senate candidate Ken Buck was right on target in his recent comments on homosexuality on ‘Meet the Press’.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is suggesting more tools need to be used to boost the economy – including the intentional creation of new inflation. But Georgia Rep. Tom Price says the Fed needs to pull back. Why is he concerned about these possible actions by the Fed? What does he think would work much better? And how does he react to the Fiscal 2010 deficit coming in at nearly $1.3 trillion? We have a wide-ranging economic discussion with Rep. Price.
Retired U.S. Marine Jesse Kelly is locked in a very tight battle with Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in a district along the Mexico border. Why does Kelly believe if voters know Giffords’ record, he will win and if they don’t know about her votes he will lose? Is Giffords running on her record or running away from her votes for stimulus and the Obama health plan? How do the two candidates differ on immigration? And which side has the money advantage in the home stretch? We discuss all of this with Jesse Kelly.
