The 2012 presidential candidates have been aggressively raising money, but some of their biggest help is coming from the supposedly independent Super PACs that are popping up on behalf of the different campaigns. And as usual, the Capitol Steps have their own unique take on this new political wrinkle.
Three Martini Lunch 4/5/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Daniel Foster of National Review are encouraged by a national poll showing Mitt Romney ahead of President Obama even in the midst of a bruising primary. They also discuss the rocket strike from Egypt into Israel and what is means for the stability of that relationship. And they remark on the Republican National Committee video showing President Obama using the exact same language he used last year to condemn Paul Ryan’s budget.
Destroying the Fabric of Society
On Monday, President Obama raised many eyebrows by claiming the Supreme Court would be taking an unprecedented, activist step by striking down all or part of his health care laws. Fierce criticism ensued and the administration has sought to water down those words for the rest of the week. Texas Rep. Michael C. Burgess is a longtime physician and says Obama likely failed to influence any of the justices if that was his intent. Burgess also speculates whether Justice Elena Kagan may have tipped off the administration as to the way this decision could go. He also wonders why Obama is claiming the courts can’t strike down Obamacare while simultaneously asking federal courts to declare the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. Burgess says without action by the Supreme Court or major changes mandated by voters in November, the full enactment of Obamacare will “crater the ship of state.
Romney’s Path
Mitt Romney took an important step towards the GOP nomination this week by sweeping primaries in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia. But Rick Santorum says only half of the delegates have been determined and he intends to keep his campaign going all the way to the convention. John Gizzi of Human Events says he takes Santorum at his word but still believes Romney will wrap up the 1,144 delegates he needs before the convention. He explains how Romney can do that and why Santorum and Newt Gingrich will stay in the race even though they know the odds are stacked against them. Gizzi also weighs in President Obama’s strong comments about the Supreme Court, his harsh criticisms of Paul Ryan’s GOP budget and the rocket launched into Israel from Egypt.
The Facts on ‘Stand Your Ground’
For weeks now, the highly emotional story of George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin have elicited very strong opinions. But away from the details of this case, the mainstream media are badly misrepresenting the facts of the so-called “stand Your Ground” laws in Florida and 40 other states. Economist John Lott is also the author of “More Guns, Less Crime”. He explains why the actual laws are much more restrictive than the media would have us believe and those who use deadly force to defend themselves could still face criminal charges. Lott walks us through the laws and tells us what factors need to be in place for a successful defense based on these laws. And he details the impact “Stand Your Ground” laws have had on crime rates in the states where they have been implemented.
Very Weak Reasoning
On Wednesday, the First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on the constitutionality of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. The law allows each state to define marriage for itself but also permits states to deny recognition of marriages that don’t meet its definition. The statute also makes clear that the U.S. government defines marriage only as the union of one man and one woman. In 2010, a federal judge declared the law unconstitutional, asserting that it discriminated against legally married gay couples because they were denied federal benefits that traditionally married couples in their state received. Mathew Staver is the founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. He says the lower court’s decision was based on very weak reasoning and that there are many things a state government may allow people to do that the federal government does not. He says the federal position of only recognizing marriages between a man and a woman proves that no discrimination is occurring. Staver also scolds the Obama administration for refusing to defend the law and tells us whether this could be the next big showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Three Martini Lunch 4/4/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Daniel Foster of National Review Online cheer the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for rebuking President Obama’s intimidation of the Supreme Court. They also scold Obama for invoking ridiculous and patently false fears about what America would look like if the Ryan budget were enacted. And they roll their eyes as President Obama tells newspaper editors that Republican arguments should not be given the same amount of weight as his arguments in coverage of the budget fight.
Three Martini Lunch 5/1/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review see President Obama’s excessive celebration on the bin Laden killing anniversary turning a legitimate plus for him into a distasteful display. They also groan as they learn middle class income in the Obama administration has dropped far more than it did in the Bush administration. And they marvel at Massachusetts senate hopeful Elizabeth Warren declaring herself a minority for years because she is 1/32nd Cherokee Indian.
The ‘War on Coal’
This past week, the Environmental Protection Agency released its much-anticipated regulations demanding that any new coal-fired power plants reduce emissions by 50 percent. Virginia Rep. Morgan Griffith represents a coal-rich district in southwest Virginia. He says President Obama and the EPA are undoubtedly waging a war on coal. He says the new rules will block the construction of any new power plants and he fears they will soon apply to existing plants as well. Griffith says even emerging clean coal technology wouldn’t reduce emissions enough to comply with the new regulations. He explains the impact this will have on jobs in many areas and on everyone’s power bills.
Democrats and the Budget
For the past couple of days, we’ve talked with Republican members of Congress to discuss the best way forward on spending cuts, entitlement reform, tax policy and more. Democrats voted en masse against the final House bill but they also unanimously rejected the Obama budget. So what do they want? Larry Haas served as spokesman for the Office of Management and Budget in the Clinton administration. He says Democrats largely voted no because they saw no upside to owning any budget proposal that will never be approved in the Senate. Haas explains why he is staunchly supportive of tax hikes – especially on the wealthy. And he addresses calls for a marginal rate tax cut combined with closing most tax loopholes.