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Chris Stirewalt, Mary Katherine Ham and Sesan Ferrechio discuss President Obama's attacks on Mitt Romney's time at Bain Capital.
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To repeat.
This is not a distraction.
This is what this campaign's going to be about.
That was President Obama at a press conference in Chicago when asked about misgivings of his fellow Democrats about attack -- his campaign is running against.
Republican Mitt Romney's work as the CEO.
Of the private equity firm Bain Capital and this is power play and pie and Chris Farrell and I'm so glad you have a minute to be with us today or thirty.
Because we have -- talk about we wanna talk about how the -- gambit is working out for Obama.
And whether or not he can really make this -- and shift the discussion.
Two -- Mitt Romney's biography and his resume.
Rather than the president's time in office we will talk about -- tangle in congress over.
The security -- view Internet over cyber security captain Eric will be here.
And we -- talk about the most recent flare up over the department Health Department mandate.
The Catholic institutions provide contraception abortion -- -- Sterilization for their employees we will do all of that but let's not wait another moment welcome here.
You know Susan -- -- she is the chief congressional correspondent for the Washington examiner she knows a lot of stuff.
And that you should -- each day because -- examiner.
Tells you what you need to know a lot faster than other people tell you stuff you don't need to know.
And Mary Katharine Ham.
Who Internet she is I know she's your favorite she's your favorite -- that's fine we understand you tweak the most you chat the most that's fine.
We are grateful to have just a little bit of your star power here Mary -- return tweeting it's good it's good to be backing the Internet miscue it -- you -- of course because -- is Fox News contributor and she does valiant battle with Juan Williams very frequently for your entertainment and also you read it.
So welcome ladies.
And here's the question.
So the good news for President Obama is that the discussion is not about the economy this week it's about Mitt Romney's work at Bain Capital.
That's good.
That's good because last week the discussion.
Was more about of the economy stinks and Europe is heading into the commode and we're gonna have a lot of big problems this week gets it.
Philosophical argument about Mitt Romney so that's good.
But the bad part is that Democrats a lot of Democrats say -- your kind of making us look like we hate capitalism so could you please.
Tone that down.
Start with you Mary -- Is it worth it.
I think this attack is turning out surprisingly Bradley thirteen Obama and it ended.
The questions you -- is a distraction or is -- a legitimate issue I don't think that's.
As clear as it could be it can.
It is not exactly -- distraction.
There Ronnie does have this in his background it's fair game to look at it I think -- tone that they -- taking in the fact they were not all on the same page about this is the problem you can because senate's longest and I gonna take this money -- people are snakes.
And and you can go and I should -- a former congressman rush -- But if you're Barack Obama -- thinking about joining us that's the second they started hedging this attack as they want all -- Is that only met Ronnie is that I think that that we can get from the very beginning -- opened the door to people like Cory Booker who had misgivings about that.
And it's a mitigated thing because as Mary -- points out Democrats including President Obama -- a president Obama's top -- -- is a managing director.
At Bain Capital and still trying to make this nuanced thing where you're taking up populist.
Teddy Roosevelt progressive attitude about Mitt Romney.
And then say but at the same time we are going to need about a billion dollars so it -- people could -- some money art direction.
Put you to compromise position.
Susan for the president.
What do you do do you ride this out and say as he did yesterday this is what the campaign is about I'm not backing down from nothing.
And trying to keep this on the air and keep pushing on this or do you hope that you.
Tainted Mitt Romney a little bit here and then revisit it later.
I predict this message will fade away because it they're gonna see it's not working for a number of reasons not just because he's got Democrats coming out and saying -- via the argument is -- Nauseating but because it is audience isn't going to buy into either because so many people are invested in these kinds of -- now it's not like it was you know twenty years ago people.
Benefit from companies like Bain Capital.
People who vote people in unions people who would vote for President Obama so it's not like the general public has great disdain for this kind -- more so I think his audience.
Is too small people would really really you know find his message appealing that this stuff is all evil -- everybody thinks it is I don't think it's a good message for him I think we're gonna see kind disappeared.
Holy crow you know did you see Cory Booker last night and -- -- All.
Seeing how all I had ice ice could be forced -- Smart.
-- I mean it was like.
Yeah I'd look at this guy and I was like.
Dirtier part -- there's not room for your viewing your party and now having to do this -- -- stay where you're like I want everyone to know.
That I had did the wrong thing and I'm really super superstar -- guy I.
Didn't -- -- -- -- choreographers almost universally liked up until this point because he's incredibly genuine he occasionally.
Goes outside the party -- it.
It is the very much -- Clinton kind of Democrats and just an interest in likable guy and fit for a bomber thought apparently -- requires you -- -- write -- off.
Those are not going to be part of the game -- I think it's been very damaging to Cory Booker and his brand he can still do great job in New York I think but.
-- in New Jersey it's painful to watch a guy who you think is genuine and likable and strong and watch and sort of an influx here as.
So here's what I wrote in the power play today Susan which you can get Mary Katherine and mention what a big deal she is on Twitter.
But maybe one day I get it to recreate my column which you can get every day that I write for you just for the price -- -- Twitter follow patsy start what you should do it -- -- Because it's super easy and then also you can yell at me here -- that here on the computer machine but Susan I wrote today.
No one should be surprised that the president is taking this approach this is how he went after Hillary Clinton.
You remember the hundred million dollar when the clintons had to disclose their unburdened and some million dollar fortune.
Team Obama.
Ate them up over that they pounded them day after day after day on this and the president has never.
Have been anything but clear about the fact that he believes that the greatest problem facing the nation right now is income inequality and rich people taking advantage of poor people why.
How can Ed Rendell -- Cory -- be surprised or dismayed that this is this is he is doing exactly what he said he was gonna do.
But he's also politician -- -- to -- fast what's going to work with the voters and I think part of the power play that you wrote was interesting.
Reflecting on the poll that came out today that talked about the 56% of people who have no opinion really about.
Mitt Romney's business experience I would add to what you wrote to say that not only does -- -- need to bring that number down on his side.
You can look to Mitt Romney -- -- bring out some of those 56% over to his side as well and I think that's what -- going to see happen.
-- as -- selections for -- and not going to be really hard for Obama to fight against when you've got a lot of people who worry about the economy.
Looking at the Romney campaign saying look at this guys this is experience what can he do to help you kind look needed help need -- President Obama is actually working gas.
So I think you know regardless of what his own you know -- -- personal motives are that we seen in 2008 we're seeing it again now.
You're gonna see the Obama administration really trying to.
You know try to salvage this for themselves because you know they can't they can't look at the polls in just ignore what's happening.
And KV.
The big issue here for the president as you talk about that -- -- point 1% in this Washington postal.
Which generally and we'll stipulate because -- point this out generally is more favorable to Democrats.
-- than some other.
Mainstream press polls.
But it shows 21% think it's good.
To have Mitt Romney's business -- point 1% they've spent 56 -- that we don't care or.
For the president.
Doesn't he -- both numbers with these attacks yes there will be more people who dislike it but he is also.
For a lot of people because people are Smart enough to generally ignore politics whenever possible they don't know who Mitt Romney is or what what it out.
But they do think what's interesting here it's a surprising miscalculation on their part because I think they saw this happen in the Republican primary when people went after paying the understandably saying -- that's not gonna work in this primary because Republicans -- more synthetic.
But I think they've done the general election we're.
-- this is are being hammered this is going after the because a huge miscalculation.
And what's interesting it means for the -- -- 6% that are undecided this argument has been tainted.
Just the argument itself does contain it quite a bit right -- -- -- -- -- -- you -- -- -- running -- presidential campaign.
How your attack and how your campaign is defined from the beginning right is very important I think that Ronnie has come out looking like the positive guy -- -- first.
Opening weeks and Obama's attack is getting you know -- after -- -- to.
Revelations about -- that we don't know about and their.
And I think I'm sure they exist so you.
It is no wonder Internet did you like these people so much I guess I should I should not be surprises that -- that from thanking them.
