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Power Play with Chris Stirewalt: Fast and Furious standoff raises toxicity level in Washington, The Mormon thing and Obama fundraising slows, but camp...
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And here's the Bruins.
Here mister chairman is the proof that department of justice and Washington not Arizona in Washington.
-- about the tactic of gone walking well before Brian Terry.
Was murdered.
I don't think.
Bet for one minute he's trying to hide anything I've that I have not gotten that impression.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I'll work with him and get these dark -- -- -- we can get him.
That was a little bit of the back and forth yesterday in the House of Representatives.
Government oversight committee between -- Gary.
All fired up former prosecutor from South Carolina.
And Elijah Cummings Democrat from Maryland as they hashed out the debate.
Largely pointless before a party line vote to hold.
US attorney general Eric Holder in contempt that came shortly after President Obama issued his first executive privilege memos saying you're not allowed to look at this and that has Washington again real busy busy busy today this is power -- I'm Chris -- well -- it is in Washington disgusting like it is -- -- it is a hundred degrees right now.
But it is only so much more uncomfortable.
By the fact that what had already been an acrimonious partisan atmosphere has now turned into an absolute freak show.
As this older stuff in the president's.
Efforts to secret away these documents.
Play out.
So you know who knows a lot about -- toxic environment of Washington.
Because she frequently laments that AB Stoddard.
You've read her until you watch our special report -- is also.
Good to see you a big thanks for having me Chris of course now.
So here's the deal.
And this is what's funny.
We have a couple things that yet our.
To be done in Washington there's transportation bill there's a farm bill there's a couple of pieces of business -- actually have to get transacted.
Before everybody can give normally an election year by now.
Every everywhere everything is done everybody's home campaigning already -- they a couple of things to get done.
How much more -- does it look that you'll be able to get to resolution on this stuff given the fact that everybody's ripping each other's face.
EA you know I actually never quote white house press release -- -- -- minute what one from yesterday -- -- reminded everybody that the transportation bill is holding up one million construction jobs.
And that the student loan rate is about to double now those are.
Serious issues.
In this economy that is struggling so much and.
The -- I think what we'll see from the language in the statement that the Republican leadership released last night about the full house contempt vote.
Is that they are looking for ways out some kind of agreement that would -- that would.
Program prevents.
The need for a full house vote on contempt I think what they'll do is get busy -- work on these things that are.
That need to be addressed immediately before they break for July 4 recess.
Some of them might need to you know be provided to stop gaps and emergency funding X better as these delays -- -- always carry themselves out that I do think that they are looking for a way to not let.
A full house vote on contempt in fast and furious.
Of the attorney general become the headline that these are the pieces of legislation that were held hostage to this contempt -- before they went on a recent.
Yes exactly and that's been the democratic talking point which is.
We just want to put Americans back to work we love the unemployed middle class.
American voter but Republicans are.
Engaged in outrageous behavior against -- colder as -- -- that means he blows he just said.
And this morning in a press conference that she she said that the reason that Republicans are going after that Eric holders because he's trying to overturn voter suppression.
In the states so that's a yet a new wrinkle a new a reason that Democrats say that.
That they're doing this so that they can keep people from voting.
So in terms of what.
All of this is we -- back a -- it -- we go up to eighty altitude and talk about what this means.
Certainly for the president there is hope.
That he we'll see Republican swing too hard.
Go to -- after this distract themselves and look like about a -- them honest but I have to say.
Reading the papers today getting a sense of what's out there this is kind of a watershed thing for the president to do this right.
Hey don't I am not gonna jump on the president for invoking executive privilege not a beyoncé but this is a change moment because I think -- he is he it is true that he is waited longer in use in his first -- -- -- another -- president's.
He is now used it once.
Clinton fourteen times bush six.
George W.
Bush invoked this in December of 2001.
-- to protect not I'm.
White House documents or communications but DOJ.
Communications.
That.
That.
Would win it would have been.
Protected for the same reasons that the Obama administration is citing.
We will find out Chris is this is indeed a cover up in which case it's just came over I don't know.
That this is.
Even if -- but even if that Republicans overreach.
Honest I don't think that I don't I don't know that the president has punished politically and I don't know that that that the Republicans.
In overreaching -- -- politically in 2008 Democrats held Harriet Miers counsel to the president.
George W.
Bush in contempt who remembers that.
-- independent voters freak out I don't know it was so I don't think it was the right move but.
Com I feel that in these desperate times with people sort of the economy there is a little bit.
Of.
Of the fatigue on the part of the voters who in recent memory sixteen so -- oversight investigations and so many attorneys general across here's.
Whether it's a Republican -- with Democrats chasing after or Democrat with Republicans Chris I think.
Bet this I think they look at congress and what's going on and they -- their -- tentacles and the only thing that's different here it seems to be is.
The -- Border Patrol agent.
That this guy has changed the discussion a little bit because you're talking about Harriet Miers and Karl Rove you're talking about and who fired which US attorney's.
And it was it was very it was very limited choose sort of paper pushing -- with this -- Bryant to the dead Brian Terry Border Patrol agent his family -- does seem to -- all -- Many again Mexicans as a result of this and and actually another -- that.
We we in the they'll also their life is tragic we should what are they may have got the guns someplace else -- we don't wanna be right there and the loss of life is tragic and I want to repeat that if there is any high level cover up it in his administration.
Over how to handle the media inquiries on this isn't really a disaster but at this point.
-- you know.
That that the house will vote on contempt.
And perhaps it will yield more documents and I hope everyone gets to the bottom of things but I actually believe that there's no political cost either part yeah.
Other news today.
That.
John Bryson.
He's the head of the -- -- of weird she dream car crash.
He has said he is quit.
He -- resigned one thing we were talking about earlier.
About how election years usually go usually at this point in election year presidential election especially to reelect.
This is the dead time right these are the times when there is nothing happening and that's generally when the laser -- gets turned on the challenger.
-- is this guy who does he think he is running for president.
We keep having news this -- important no health care decision today that means next week right is going to be blown out by the health care so certainly a lot more a lot easier summer than we're used to in election year right.
Oh yeah this is incredible and also obviously when you look at what's going on with Syria and Iran and.
And the Euro zone crumbling more and more each day I really think that that.
Has the potential to to really begin to scare Americans maybe in August or September.
That is.
That is really truly soon going to be our problem when -- priests that there will be the effects of that we'll -- here.
And so looking at what the president is trying how many fires he's trying to put out at same time while he should be as you say and coast mode.
Focusing.
Putting it putting his challenger on the spot the incumbent is really -- in the hot seat right now.
Now the problem is he won't do Twitter but if she did I would tell you to follow her.
But I will tell you to follow me you can follow me as he's firewall on Twitter and there and you can have my power play that I write every day for you.
Put out there on the Twitter and also you can practice you can crack wise here and talk directly to me which is very fun and you people are very funny and I enjoyed a lot.
Okay we're going to take a break when we come back.
We're gonna talk about whatever the power play today president is burning through the -- -- campaign is burning through cash.
-- -- amazing case I can't keep up with it with even aggressive fundraising.
The Republicans are catching up what does this mean for the contours of the election etc.
etc.
your friend out -- now will be here you have fun I promise so stick around.
And that is how you get people to pay 40000 dollars for dinner you get the current president and the previous democratic President Bill Clinton to hang out in a real fancy house in New York.
Than people give you money and this is power play welcome back and fundraising totals were in a couple of weeks ago but just.
Last night we got the break down about now how much came in but how much -- out and that's much more important at this stage in the campaign because what we're talking about is a lot of money that's gonna have to be spent between now and when things get really -- In September so let's break that now let's talk about that and how it's working because it fascinates me.
Also fascinating to me that you -- And somewhat less -- -- fascinating event.
Is -- so now he's a former spokesman.
For the right well they're definitely not -- and that's right let's not talk crazy okay now.
-- is asking the best for.
All right so it here's the thing.
President Obama in day.
Had to dig into the kitty.
To keep the lights on and keep this huge staff in this huge operation yet.
Prior to may prior -- when the when he really started spending by about 25 million dollars a month on ads.
-- 120 million dollar a month overhead he was at 500 employees offices all across the country.
Giant expenditures he's doing this differently than any incumbent has done in the past which is build a huge organization early.
-- it out and spend spend spend spend.
And fortunately for him in the last month he took in 39 million but 45 million went out the door and that's not what.
Democrats were forecasting earlier -- they they saw that he would have a giant cash on hand advantage continue to be able to raise money.
Now Mitt Romney is closing the gap -- the Republicans are socking away money the -- he's got sixty million dollars or there.
How does this affect the race a -- Well obviously Democrats are disappointed there was.
There -- an expectations game that he was gonna be two billion dollar man.
President Obama would exceed his.
Take from 2008 and -- -- out million dollars and Republicans definitely.
Touted it as much as they could actually -- their own yet.
Givers bank accounts and and it is not an expectation that is going to be Matt.
And this is the outside money vs.
Individual donations hard money it discrepancy is huge this time around the president has -- as many small donor.
-- donations like he had last time.
With low averages that many campers.
He does not have the outside force -- the Republicans do behind him.
That's really a tough difference because.
And I'm being the now -- Republicans raising money hard money but that.
The outside groups arm which is funded by you know a very short list -- very wealthy people.
-- is just socking away all this money and can do some real damage in the next American -- Surge is going to he beat carpet bombing there will be very busy -- thousands will be operating point seven every market in every swing district in the whole country don't ask a question now.
Part of the obviously the Republicans love to hype up always going to be billion dollar -- we need to raise all this money but part of the reason I think that the president has missed expectations on fundraising.
Was the opening salvo against Romney isn't there some truth that if the president goes out after.
What -- they call it not venture capital but I -- everybody.
-- -- private equity and then turn drive private equity and says I have some more money plays that there's -- chance to -- many not many now.
Well let's look at that.
Fundraising numbers first of all president raised -- -- five million dollars in April he raised 39 million in -- so that's a big improvement if you look cash on hand.
The president has a significant advantage cash on hand over Mitt Romney and if you combined the DNC and the Obama campaign.
Compared to the Romney -- see this is significant cash on hand advantage.
There now when you -- all of the outside groups together you're right the Republicans -- have an advantage there more of those.
So they were happy that -- -- do -- they seem to know how to do it better they seem to be more they embraced it yeah -- early and you know maybe that was a tactical mistake on our part but they've got crossroads they've got a number of these other groups the other things just keep in mind is that the president also does not raise money from pacs or lobbyists and so -- and Mitt Romney does.
I think that.
He is his days as much as -- be mentioned is you know he can go back.
To these you know low dollar donors that he depends on regularly there's actually like -- dollars any three right now gets about two million.
Contributors to his campaign.
That don't give a significant amount.
Which is.
Helpful because the money never really runs out now what -- depends on -- these huge contributions.
And so we'll see how that plays out down the road I mean it looks like that the super -- on the democratic side is starting to catch up not there yet this is the priorities priorities it is safe to say Bill Burton the former spokesman for the president put that right -- what they're doing is you know means to strategically what they're saying is in their sounding the alarm bells that.
Look did the other side's gonna have a one point two billion dollars we need to catch up and that's probably Smart so.
I think the president is compared to Romney he still has -- cash on hand advantage that is significant.
110 million dollars is a lot of money even in Washington.
Eight VV.
We've talked here with Joseph Trippi we've talked with the other.
Big brain Democrats.
We've talked about.
The difference of running a campaign that's -- because normally the status quo for -- -- is.
You come out you build the framework of the house in the spring you come out this is bush in 04 this is Clinton this is even -- or to a certain extent.
Thank you say this is about what we're gonna do but we're not gonna furnish this -- we're gonna just -- -- bare bone structure here we're gonna hoard the money we're gonna focus everything on hoarding money.
There we're gonna get to Labor Day and then.
Boom we're gonna blow it -- presence on a different way he built a mansion in the spring and he's -- and he's gonna keep occupied.
Well the -- two things the president has put in political trouble and who believes that he needs to ensure -- enhances peace.
Weren't scared.
Energized now there.
He is also I am assuming going to pitch to middle at some point.
And the monster Gandhi's fast -- a man to do any does that he's going to make sure that they have given that they are ready airfare you -- that there.
That an army -- -- mass and at the gates.
-- the other thing is that the president.
Really.
Perfected the art of a new kind of came in 2008.
A new kind of -- small donor army use of the Internet and social media.
And and he was -- moving back and he's not a movement anymore but much like Ron Paul.
You know Ron Paul is sort of the next Obama a movement that really attracted money 24 hours a day and he -- that you don't you know you can't wait to fire that up again and you you you know.
David -- is a map Napster they learned that the way that they're gonna hit learn from 2008 that it will only way to hang on and when he twelve.
Is to go block by block -- town by town county by county and identify their voters that takes a lot of advance planning and a lot of work and you don't put together.
There on fourth of July theoretically did the criticism that Republicans level -- at the president for spending all this money I mean he's trying to build a Ferrari and you can't build -- -- it would also would you need to.
You need to hood which is right -- all -- it would be what are you need to do is spend time and that's what he's done they've they started building this campaign not just this last for years ago.
You know to be at least two years ago they put it they started to put those pieces together but you also have to have offices open staff volunteers.
500 employees he had an April -- we have to take a quick break because we have to say about ABD said I don't know.
That's yeah.
-- -- but good news Shannon -- waiting for you on the other side of the break so you can at least assuage your your tears with that AB we thank you for being -- you know we thank you for sticking around.
And you -- you stick around.
And fellows.
Are the people who are going to decide whether or not president Obama's 2010.
Health blog gets to stay or does it go or does it just sort of like lose its left died and sort of drove around through the legal world.
And this is power play welcome back.
And good news -- -- -- here -- -- -- -- -- treats okay so here's the deal can in this report did not decide.
The health care law today we do not know about that so that means next week.
And it also means that Washington -- in an absolute -- and absolute blather for the next week what did they decide today.
What is it states you will the -- cases -- -- -- -- network pilot exam box one -- -- deals with unions and in California your state employee you have to join SE IU.
Did I mean if you don't your other option is to not win but still have to pay -- those are your options.
Now group of people who -- it is they didn't join the union were very upset that their money was being used for political speech specific political expenditures.
And Mason thinking in court saying we should be able to opt out of this hour and we should automatically be opted out or not members should be opt out.
Into the court today by I believe it was seven and two in that case and decided that the First Amendment is so important that people should not have to subsidize speech they don't agree with -- their money.
So those folks there and also -- case involving the FCC Federal Communications Commission.
Some bad words on TV things resistant T uneasy -- contraction is different networks -- just not just the Fox Network now.
Play right that's absolutely -- -- get it in the enemy cursing out a document -- -- -- -- -- -- -- But but essentially the the FCC had cracked up on several different networks find some of them for these brief -- -- -- celebrity issues during.
An -- -- that -- I don't believe that in time right now.
On the container port shut that down and listen SEC you didn't get enough accurate notice these people what was -- it imminent trouble see you can't then go find an understatement for today.
Shannon -- -- thank you and we look forward to hearing from you next week about the big debate about.
Monday yeah days even Monday as the day I don't actually because we have about seven opinions left including SB 1070 the big -- to Arizona immigration law.
Unlikely they would give us all seven -- we've got a strong hints from someone in the court that we -- and Tuesday -- Wednesday Robert is that Justice Roberts walks by the president Thursday.
We did -- Tuesday for the next.
Okay will be watching and thank you so much okay.
Now I want you to take a look at this number here is a very big number in all of this.
18%.
That is the share of human beings pulled by the Gallup organization who said that even if -- the person was -- qualified they would not vote for a Mormon to be president.
That sounds like a lot of people doesn't it so what about the Mormon thing and what about Mitt Romney and his -- How does that play -- this election.
Doug or now the issue has been interest -- because.
When you look at any keeps and it sounds like a lot but that used to be 24%.
-- and it's actually come down a little bit I think -- Republicans have said.
Okay religious conservatives and OK it's Romney's I'm gonna have to bring reconcile my thinking and it's actually about the same percentage as it was when his father that Gallup found with his father ran.
Of course.
Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints was much less known in 1968 -- but at 18%.
Great in the LBS you know they have actually begun to run a very.
Aggressive media campaign over the last 456 years to kind of educate the public gone.
What more and it Mormon -- is who were mormons introduced you know American people to.
Mormons in the face and then I think that probably had something to do with it.
I don't you look I think at the end I don't think Mitt Romney wins or loses on his religion.
I think he's gonna win or lose based off of you know whether the public believes he's going to be the person who can fight for them in the White House and get this economy headed in the right direction.
I think that he has over the course of his life.
Contributed significant amounts of money to the church -- that is something that.
You know if he should be you know applauded for.
He doesn't talk about that and in Haiti and I think that that is missing an opportunity.
Too you know maybe get this number down even a bit more because this isn't his.
But isn't his goal here in when he gave a speech at Shannon's -- moderate Liberty University.
And talked about this earlier this year I think it was commencement address down there -- May.
And he talked about this issue.
What he was really striving to do is not talk about what makes.
LBS what makes mormons different.
But just to say we agree all Christians agree on these core elements these fundamental things right and certainly that his lifestyle and how he's lived his life.
Would be it would come quarter that have any of these race.
I just think he's taking a bit different strategy from other candidates who have had you know John F.
Kennedy the cap hit -- what President Obama.
Obama both of them at moments in the campaign.
Address those issues in speeches and in this campaign.
President.
Romney hasn't done that and I understand why he wants to focus you know entirely on the economy but I do think.
That it might be helpful to him.
In you know in terms of getting those numbers down I don't have.
I think I think he's -- -- it perfectly happy if that number stayed the same as it was when he was with his dad is I bet.
That a lot of those folks are people that we're never gonna vote for him anyway.
African American religious folks people like that in the black church community definitely big thumbs down.
On LBS they've that you are not into that -- he was gonna get their votes anyway.
I guess the problem for Romney is.
The bandwidth of white evangelical leaders that are out there that are potential those -- the people.
So people that George Bush was able to find in pull out of their houses in 2004 in parts of Ohio who typically don't work voting.
They came out and they voted form because they were you know because they.
Like the fact that he was born again evangelical Christian.
And -- see -- Methodist and we'll see if that you know if if if Romney runs into that.
No one of those new York Methodist but at Texas Methodist that's different -- -- we thank you so much from thank you my list today okay.
We have to go we don't -- to go but we -- go good news on the hunt with Jonathan -- is up next waiting for you after this and now as we like to do every day we want to leave you with the word from our friend Charles.
There's no way that the mainstream -- media.
Which have studiously.
Try to ignore this can do that anymore and infected people or nine NBC which is shown exactly.
Ten seconds of coverage of this summer's evening news over the last year and a half is not gonna have to explain the whole thing.
Since the viewership has no idea what it's about -- number one it becomes a huge national issue.
