As the coverage of Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng grows as a result of his ardent opposition to China’s forced abortion and sterilization policies, you need to meet Jim Garrow. Jim is a Canadian businessman whose life was changed when he took the time to comfort a Chinese employee who was devastated that her sister would have to allow her new baby girl to be murdered. Garrow intervened and found a new home for the little girl. That story attracted more cases of baby girls in need of rescue because their fathers were inclined to kill them and try for a son. It’s all a result of China’s one-child policy and a society that greatly favors males. Garrow explains why he couldn’t allow one baby to die if he could do something to stop it, how one case turned into finding new homes for 44,000 other baby girls and what the Chinese government thinks of his illegal activities. Garrow also addresses China’s looming generational disaster as tens of millions of Chinese girls were never allowed to live.
‘Fundamentally Worse’
On Friday, the Labor Department reported 115,000 net jobs were created in April, far below expectations. The overall jobless rate fell to 8.1 percent, but analysts of all political persuasions agree it’s because many more people left the labor force. Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh is also a member of the House Small Business Committee. He says small business owners are not hiring because they’re in a holding pattern. Walsh says until business owners see what happens with the Obama health laws and dozens of burdensome regulations they are not going to pursue plans to hire or expand. Walsh describes how some areas of his district look like ghost towns because of unfriendly business policies in his state and from this administration. Walsh also describes some of the 27 House Republican job bills and what they would accomplish if the Senate Democrats would move on them.
Three Martini Lunch 5/7/12
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.
Grease on Greece
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.
Obamacare and Your Coverage
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.
Tar Heel Marriage Fight
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.
Three Martini Lunch 5/4/12
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.
Three Martini Lunch 5/3/12
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.
‘He’s Going Down the Wrong Path’
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.
Lights Out for Lugar?
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.