Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are encouraged by a new poll showing Romney ahead of Obama, winning comfortably among independents and doing better than expected at uniting Republicans. They also groan as France elects a socialist president and Greece moves away from austerity. And they shudder as the Obama administration decides to release some of the worst terrorists in custody as an olive branch to bring the Taliban to the peace table.
The Capitol Steps offer a medley of parodies from the legendary Broadway musical “Grease” to explain the financial woes of Greece. Our guest is Steps star Elaina Newport.
One of the most common complaints from critics of the Obama health care laws was that the provisions actually encourage employers to eliminate coverage for employees because the fines for not complying with the mandate are far more manageable for the bottom line of businesses. Now a report commissioned by the Republicans on the House Energy & Commerce Committee suggests those fears were accurate and the coming reality may be even worse. Ohio Rep. Bob Latta is a member of the committee’s health subcommittee. He explains why business owners throughout his district are reluctantly planning to end coverage for their employees and why their bottom line will change so drastically come 2014.
On Tuesday, voters in North Carolina will head to the polls. They will address an anticlimactic presidential race and choose Congressional nominees but the biggest item on the ballot is a state constitutional amendment to define marriage in the Tar Heel State as only the union of one man and one woman. Kami Mueller of Vote for Marriage North Carolina reveals why the issue is heading to the ballot now and tells us precisely what language is being considered. Mueller also discusses the additional language that would be codified so the amendment could not be used to limit private contracts. She details how pro-gay groups are employing “smokescreens” and “confusion” to grow opposition to the plan. Mueller also touches upon why the poll numbers give her reason to be optimistic about Tuesday’s and she reacts to GOP Rep. Renee Ellmers’ surprising announcement that she opposes the amendment because it does not allow for civil unions.
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are cautiously optimistic that a good outcome is increasingly likely for Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng. They are not happy with April’s disappointing jobs report. And they have some fun with “Julia” – the fictional Obama campaign figure who is supposedly helped at every stage of life by Obama policies.
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are cautiously optimistic as Mitt Romney draws even and maybe even ahead of President Obama in Ohio and Florida. They also discuss how the Obama administration appears to have done as little as possible to help Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng. And they’re stunned at how pathetic Elizabeth Warren’s efforts have been to put her Cherokee Indian controversy behind her.
California Rep. Dana Rohrabacher has been pushing for a free Afghanistan since the days of the Soviet occupation, but he is strongly opposed to the status quo in Afghanistan and is highly critical of the agreements signed this week between President Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Rohrabacher explains why he believes Karzai has amassed far too much power and is stifling true democracy. He also details why the recent agreements might be in Obama’s best interest but are not a good strategy for the U.S. and Afghanistan. Rohrabacher then outlines what he thinks is a far better approach for our Afghan policy. A couple of weeks ago, Karzai specifically refused to allow Rohrabacher into his country. Today, Rohrabacher fires back and has some choice words for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta for bowing to Karzai’s demands.
Several months ago, most Republicans and Democrats expected Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar to breeze to the GOP nomination and easily secure a seventh term in November. State Treasurer Richard Mourdock launched his bid as a conservative challenger and has vaulted to a tie or even a lead against Lugar with just five days remaining until Indiana’s primary on May 8. Mourdock explains why he thinks his candidacy is resonating with Republican voters and what issue are problematic for Lugar. Mourdock also explains how endorsements from the likes of the National Rifle Association, the American Conservative Union, Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann have been critical to his momentum. And Mourdock responds to allegations from Lugar that Mourdock embraces earmarks, “gambled” on junk bonds as state treasurer and is not the conservative he claims to be.
On Tuesday night, President Obama announced the U.S. would hand over leadership of security operations in Afghanistan at the end of 2014. Retired U.S. Army Brigadier Gen. David Phillips says any time we let the enemy know when we plan to pull back or leave gives that enemy an advantage we don’t need to give them. Phillips also discusses whether Afghan security forces are up to the job and what the benchmark is for determining if those forces are up to the job. Gen. Phillips was also commander for all police operations in Iraq. He explains why he thinks the Iraqi army and police forces are an example of a successful training program. But Gen. Phillips says the greatest threat to Iraq comes at the very top – the deep loyalty of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to the Iranian government. He says that alliance threatens Iraqi stability and makes Iranian dissident groups like the MEK at risk for annihilation. Phillips says he personally promised the MEK that they would be protected by the U.S. government. However, he points out American policy changed toward the MEK in 2009 and it has suffered many deaths and injuries ever since.
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review welcome Newt Gingrich finally exiting the presidential race. They also wince as private sector job growth in April comes in well below expectations. And they react to Andrea Mitchell unintentionally referring to the Obama administration as “we”.
