Bill Wirkus is a student at the Ave Maria School of Law in Florida and is organizing his school’s participation in Friday’s annual March for Life. Wirkus explains why he comes every year, what message the protesters are trying to spread, what they’ve already accomplished in recent months and why young people are flocking to the pro-life movement.
‘We’re on the Side of Science’
Dr. Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life, joins us from the March for Life on the Washington Mall. What is the atmosphere on the Mall? Which activists have the most compelling stories? Why are young people surging to the pro-life side? Yoest also explains why she thinks the pro-life movement is at a high watermark and why science increasingly supports the pro-life cause.
Obamacare Is Dead
John Gizzi of Human Events says Scott Brown won in Massachusetts because of voter frustration with Washington and an out-of-touch Democratic opponent. He also says the GOP win means Obamacare is dead, regardless of the last-ditch efforts Democrats may try. Gizzi also discusses the significance of the Supreme Court decision on campaign financing and John Edwards finally admitting he is the father of his former mistress’ child.
The News
Speaker Nancy Pelosi says House Democrats don’t have the votes to pass the Senate health bill, incoming Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown says states should make their own call on health reforms, President Obama tries to rein in ‘reckless’ banks, Supreme Court allows corporations to be players in political campaigns.
Campaign Finance Shakeup
On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that restrictions on corporations in campaign advertising and advocacy violated first amendment rights to free speech. What sparked this case before the court? How big is this decision? Why did the dissenting justices say this undermines American self-government? And how much of a difference will we notice in ads during this year’s election season? We ask the man who won at the high court today – Citizens United President David Bossie.
Panic on Health, Demonizing Banks
Texas Rep. Kevin Brady says voters have made it clear they don’t want the Democratic version of health reform. He explains how Democrats may try to pass a much smaller bill through reconciliation and why the two parties could find some common ground if the GOP were just allowed at the table. Brady also slams President Obama’s targeting of the banks for national scorn. Why does he think Obama is off base and what will be the real impact of his new policies?
Seat Scott Brown Now!
Louisiana Sen. David Vitter is launching seatscottnow.com, an effort to make sure Massachusetts Senator-Elect Scott Brown is sworn as quickly as possible. Vitter says winners of special elections are regularly seated a day or two after the election. Vitter says Democrats would love to ram their version of health care through Congress before Brown is sworn in and the only thing stopping them is likely public outrage. He says recent elections show Democrats need to stop their agenda on health care and energy reform and begin again. He also comments on his own re-election effort this election cycle.
The Change We Didn’t Want
Conservative Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio says people in his state, Massachusetts and everywhere else in America are opposed to the Obama big government agenda. Rubio says Democrats should avoid ‘procedural trickery’ on health care unless they really want to get whipped at the polls. He also rips what he sees as Obama’s duplicitous and disingenuous campaign against Wall Street banks. We also ask Mr. Rubio whether the GOP will have trouble keeping the party establishment and the grassroots activists on the same page heading into the midterm elections.
The News
Republicans celebrate Scott Brown Senate win in Massachusetts while Democrats try to figure out what went wrong, health care reform bill looks increasingly unlikely, McCain calls for health care process to start over, Napolitano says DHS doing everything possible to protect Americans from terrorism, Haiti hit by major aftershock.
Walk Away from Obama Agenda
The Republican win in Massachusetts is sending shock waves throughout Washington – especially among Democrats. How are Democrats processing what happened in the race to replace Ted Kennedy? How will it impact health care legislation? How will Democratic members shift gears in hopes of saving their political careers? Will the voters accept such a change or just see it as a calculated political move? We ask longtime Democratic strategist and former Lieberman chief of staff Michael Lewan.