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Special Report Online: 6/27/12

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    Pentagon celebrates gay pride month

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Jennifer how worried is this your first online you know I've done other online shows but thank you -- The on -- all mixes together what is the deal about this.

Well what it's really interesting remember September 20 this -- Don't Ask Don't Tell was officially repealed it was after.

The Secretary Gates had asked for some time to train up the force.

So that it wasn't an overnight change here they had some time to train everyone they asserted to congress that every one.

Was ready for this and and September 20 was the start date.

And this is really less than nine months from that time and some have asked whether it was too soon to be celebrating gay pride month the month of June which is typically celebrated.

Now I would point out that over at the CIA they have been celebrating a gay pride day event such as that they had yesterday here at the Pentagon.

For the last thirteen years and it has not been a big deal there.

What we found yesterday here at the Pentagon auditorium it was standing room only there were more than 400 people there.

It was a very well attended -- very interesting.

They I think what was most surprising there were quite a number of civilian members of the military who where there.

But what was most surprising was hearing from a marine captain who is in uniform remember.

The Marines were the ones who were the most reluctant to accept this change of Don't Ask Don't Tell when they were surveyed they -- the service.

It was most reluctant to come on board they said there would be bigger problems the common dot of Marine Corps this one and the previous one had said that they advised against this.

And yet once the decision was taken the Marines have been really most out front in terms of implementing it.

And really I've been watching this they'll last nine months and I have not seen.

Any complaints any issues any stories that have evolved as a result of this change of don't ask don't -- so but it's very -- -- For the people you say.

Inside the military were Orr in Washington.

Who say it was too soon -- and where there -- a lot of them did they speak out.

I say you know -- that there really weren't because when we -- looking to present both sides of the story yesterday.

There's one group that has been at the forefront of this fight and that is that center for military readiness and and their spokesperson has been the lead voice on it and we quoted her yesterday but when -- -- looking around for other people to talk to.

There really wasn't anybody we've looked online at whether there had been articles written and editorials and perhaps the marine times or elsewhere or.

FaceBook comments on that certain pages and you know it really is amazing what a non event the change -- the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell has -- and when I spoke to on Monday.

Two general Amos we had to sit down interview with him he's the marine comment on.

And he had been the one who had warned congress against the repeal he had said the Marines you know did not think this was a good it will good idea.

And he he told me on Monday he said he has been traveling around the country talking to Marines in the last few months.

And he said it is amazing to him there don't seem to be any issues with the repeal.

He school year.

-- -- mentioning comments cranky -- says Marines know how to suck it up even if they disagree it's not a surprise.

Others say.

We should be talking about other things we thought it was an instant.

Inching development and -- really showed a dramatic change in a short period of time.

Jennifer last thing you did a store today there was really poignant about also about the Marine Corps.

Also about the Marine Corps it was interesting because again general Amos was what the one to push this issue of the -- for point Marines these are.

The 20000 Marines who are trained from 1942.

To 1949.

They were the first black Marines the Marines again where the last.

Service of all the services to integrate.

And to bring blacks into the Marines.

These Marines many of them are in their ninety's some of them are more than a hundred years old 400 of them today received the congressional gold medal on Capitol Hill.

It was very poignant there were a lot of tears.

And again this is -- something that seems to be very important both for this administration and this secretary of defense.

Two and -- general Amos has the common done.

To really address all issues of discrimination whether it's sexual orientation.

The issue of blacks in the military in minorities in the military as well as.

Women in combat that is going to be the next fight and I talk to telling us about that and the Marines are also this summer going to Britain began putting women through some.

Some basic.

Training.

Officers courses that they hadn't been put through before.

All right -- in Fresno says Jennifer is one of Fox's best reporters do you agree.

-- in Toronto Jennifer hearings are very striking -- -- secret comments that we get -- after all kinds of well it's you know.

Thank you and -- in Pennsylvania and not so happy says gay pride is OK but no parade for the military.

So there are mixed responses but Jennifer a great story today.

And -- about all of the coverage there.

Thank you all right thanks what about this is big story not a big story.

Are some huge story are actually watch the ceremony on line and I guess the conservative.

Criticism would be it's kind of this politically correct.

That -- the federal government goes to from tolerance to conclusions celebration and that is I was within Jennifer talked I thought.

Once the CIA have a gay pride day celebration I had you know I just.

Don't understand completely and I side I suppose the same would apply to the Pentagon now.

As we often do turning to the politics here how big a political issue is this whole thing not necessarily them.

Pentagon -- the gay pride ceremony but then the issue.

Gay marriage the issue of marriage supports.

For the press I think gay marriage is an issue Don't Ask Don't Tell I don't think it's a big issue but -- this campaign.

The president.

I don't think.

Many votes are gonna change because I don't think most of people who were for gay marriage there they already were gonna vote for him if they were against that they were gonna vote against him but what I do you think the last and to do.

Is open up.

Some clothes wallets that were reluctant.

And because they were disappointed when -- done on gay issues and he gave them something that they really want and they were very grateful.

And I think you're seeing a lot more gave volunteers for the campaign and I think -- -- quantitative and the latest.

Tracking a fund -- it was right around the announcement it was a big spike I think that's really what it means for him.

Mary -- but in states like North Carolina and Iowa.

And frankly Ohio other places.

I could factor -- I mean it's not that's not hugely helpful to him in his place and of course in North Carolina where they're gonna have the convention they had the same sex harassment.

Scandal right -- he was coming -- North Carolina couple about a month ago.

As far as the Don't Ask Don't Tell so because this particular event not a huge deal but I know a lot of Marines and soldiers have been active duty during these wars and lot of them younger.

About half and half -- in them have no issue with that others were anti repeal.

Interestingly the ones who were pro repeal I -- -- a couple.

Who are anti this kind of event because they're view is -- cohesiveness is what matters and they don't like this continued carving up.

Of the military -- don't think it helps him out so.

I was an interest in front of.

We have -- from California says where's the traditional marriage parade.

OK we're going to move on.

I wanna go back to health care really quickly because we didn't really talk a lot about the political implications and how both campaigns will play this no matter -- it comes down.

Let's just assume for a second that at least the mandate is shut down that's the conventional wisdom.

That at least in a 54 decision that the mandate goes -- how does the Romney campaign.

Deal with that considering that he as Massachusetts governor had a mandate in health care in Massachusetts it.

He basically telegraphed his position yesterday's speech and Salem down in south West Virginia.

Said in 2009 and 2010 as Americans were desperate.

For the president to work on fixing the economy creating jobs he inside instead to create this enormous intrusive expensive.

Obama care system.

It's now been declared unconstitutional.

It's been a complete waste of time the Obama administration.

Has been a waste of time at a most critical time when Americans were really suffering.

I think Obama Romney.

Gave that a test run yesterday and you hear tomorrow if they strike down any part of this.

Because the argument goes from their point of -- that.

A year and a half spent political capital spent with a democratic house in the democratic senate.

Could have been doing other things that would have got more things done he kept his eye off the ball in the economy that's our and that's a powerful in that department argument also is the Romney.

-- he doesn't ever want to stray from that every time he can get the the debate back on to the economy he thinks that's a good day for him and that's what he's saying it's hard to.

To -- for Obama to explain you know why it wasn't.

A waste of time this was supposed to be his legacy issue interestingly enough in your poll.

54% didn't think it was a waste of time if the mandate was overturned 41% said yes but I do think.

-- -- you're gonna hear lots of recriminations like that he was a constitutional law professor haqqani -- constitutional law.

-- didn't know whether it was constitutional review so I mean that's that's here to hear that and yes the president as Byron explained before is gonna focus on the the small parts of the law that are extremely popular.

-- and dare the Republicans tend to pass those again.

But I don't know if staying on your in your parents' policy until you're 26.

How does getting the law overturned and several insurance companies are saying they're gonna do that anyway.

America.

I mean I think that may be running a little bit too close yesterday -- beautiful bubble -- the -- -- football to spike I would be real careful about that but from.

Just can't win that's very cautious -- images assuming that seemed a little bit too much assumption that they would have returned he could get hit on that later it's not a huge deal.

But I think that.

Part of the reason the numbers have stayed so high or against this bill -- that means two things one people see it as -- present danger that something's coming down the tracks at them.

And tune that they look back -- go.

What we could we have been doing for that year and a -- and he's not campaigning on it no -- campaigning on it and I think even if it came out that it was completely.

Vindicated tomorrow thing going the Rose Garden saying like I told you this building you don't like would just barely passed constitutional Muster as not a great rallying calls I think you've been -- -- Honestly each what was that speech again let's assume that some of the laws of -- but the mandate goes down 54 is the speech.

This is a politically active Supreme Court and I IINS.

At the same.

-- suing her aunt Rose Garden that is a very polarizing argument that it's hard to see.

How he avoids that he have to say -- -- -- they're clearly immigration.

Yeah well that's what I think look I think it's -- hard argument to make but how can he justify.

That he didn't.

Did he pass something that -- that wasn't constitutional.

Democrats -- doing the foundation for this Syverson yeah org but there is something else that's gonna happen you know everybody talks about how defeat is -- energize the democratic base maybe but defeats often demoralized people.

And you're gonna get the real secular fires firing squad going you're going -- hear people say widening up a single Payer that would have been constitutional we know that.

If it'd just been called a tax like Medicare for all that would have been constitutional.

Why didn't he sell this correctly you're gonna he.

Sit here a lot of -- recriminations among Democrats and discover mentally this will create an incredible mess -- -- -- -- mandate out.

The Obama administration has been building.

The bureaucracy.

Of Obama care ever since this is pat ended in March -- -- can't -- planning for everybody people have been planning on it and maybe the mandate is not and they exchanges don't come to a point fourteen but there's been a large bureaucracy that's already been built isn't going to be dismantled is all the dismantle some of dismantle.

We'll be extremely confused and.

You can't tell us administrator group grew quicker Donvan Goosen says -- -- my mother is ninety years old has seven doctors six of her doctors say that.

This that the -- if the mandates days they will not work in government exchange six out of the seven.

What happens to health care if there are no doctors -- -- you raise a question that we've covered many times about.

Doctors who've said they're going to take retirement they want to leave they're not going to accept Medicaid at ten cents on the dollar some states.

It's it's that bad.

America.

We have what and what happens is very Smart folks who are in medical school right now who -- -- we're looking on the road and on how how is gonna work out for me.

They're Smart people they're welcome to do other things in many of them will make that decision and futures I think the burdens it places on the system are incredible.

But I would -- on his attack on the Supreme -- what you do think that's the -- they're probably gonna go down.

With independents especially -- with a few institutions that has decent amount of respect when you look at the numbers in polling so I would.

I don't feel like you need to tread lightly on that but if this is -- may be the only way they feel like they can go.

Commission president the only branch of government that does not leak it's when it was doing -- -- -- -- -- national security Supreme Court could handle at all.

They really do you know there's a small group of people with their.

There aids in and the justices and it does not get out because -- clerks would never work again in the airline that is right.

Pardon George has said the supremes had -- -- health care law and order to know what is and it's too bad the house and senate did not speak.

Good point guard.

Dating California says saying that spring quarter is doing its job is unprecedented is.

Imperious.

At the very least it's not a winning argument to try to snipe at one branch of government.

You think -- that that possibly could be the road that they are going to go to.

I just think it's going to be hard to avoid it I mean you're gonna have this huge uprising on the left saying this was an activist.

Government court they over reached.

You know there have been polls I think there was a -- -- might have been Q I can't remember exactly the source of the -- that a close to 50% of people thought that this -- court would.

Rule based on its partisan political leanings not on -- impartial reading of the -- so that the Supreme Court has gotten politicized.

Yes -- -- respected but it's been dropping it dropped thirteen points in the -- Atlanta left -- you will let me ask you this there's quite a couple questions and do you think President Obama knows tonight.

What the -- us.

I did not know.

And now you don't know.

Justice -- I don't doesn't pick -- marathon and.

Don't I would like to believe -- I'm -- that's the question.

What would be wrong.

The president saying this is that if something if part of return.

This is a setback on the inevitable road to health coverage for all her you can say that if it's not completely over there.

-- this was done in good faith.

And now what we will do.

His we will do everything we can to extend coverage to as many people we as we can we of course respect the ruling the court.

When he doesn't actually have to come out and attacked us for others to do it with other without anybody you know enlargement of the political argument the close -- argument against saint Supreme Court on -- it's harder to make that it was in Citizens United where most people when -- -- they didn't like the result.

About decision in this case I don't think there's that populist backlash.

To this decision I get to cast archive for faster becomes hard to argue with a lot of it will depend.

Suing New Jersey says no doubt about it Kagan made the call could not -- -- so I pay some money some info if you've got there.

David in San Carlos California says -- California tonight.

Where is the criticism of the liberal bloc on the court that always votes together.

I -- is a lot of people court watchers were saying that the immigration.

Ruling and again I go back to.

Setting up for the health care that Roberts was purposely.

Going.

That way in that case to make sure that he'd played the -- partisan card.

Now can -- -- some some of -- pot and make your head hurt -- think that's just sent.

That's like Charlotte and Harry -- three different articles it is and you know -- had -- right you can't have right here anyway yeah on this week on immigration.

And I thought -- -- and -- -- yeah.

None writes you publishes.

On price.

But he had to get it and let's talk about the contempt vote it seems almost certain that that's going to go forward.

Now you have several Democrats who are coming out publicly saying.

They too will hold a vote to hold attorney general holder in contempt.

Which the administration is saying is a which not -- -- but still is unprecedented for -- attorney to be held in contempt of congress.

Right I think -- Democrats are key on more and more issues coming.

From the president and actually Republicans supported -- -- Q so you see far more crossover in favor of Republican positions from Democrats.

Can you do going the other way.

And I think that sends a signal about his administration and their goals that.

Frankly a lot of folks -- their -- that are not on board so I think those will be key if it's purely a political vote for partisan that I think that.

What's probably that's gonna have.

-- mean you know it's gonna happen Republicans are very angry you know -- this meeting.

Yesterday between the staffs of vice and Boehner and says several people from the White House -- the Justice Department.

And they said you know we got absolutely nothing.

As you move through programs are saying and even asking for what's fairly common practice on -- -- privilege law.

Which is it you don't have the stuff over -- you tell people what you're not handing river.

Wouldn't give many things so I mean there's pretty bad -- right now in addition to the fact that Republicans have the majority.

I asked if there are any Republicans who go the other way you know went and one of them said well I'd never know Ron Paul is gonna do but I don't -- -- -- far there was a last ditch effort to make this all come together.

-- mention the this is one of those things I don't think this is where John Boehner or Barack Obama -- -- I really don't.

I'm just takes the Republicans off of the economy which is where they're supposed to be focused like a laser beam.

And for the president to claim privilege.

He lies his promises of transparency so they both ended up not exactly where they wanted to be but I do think the trains left the station of the votes in half and then I would be surprised -- -- -- held in contempt what is it buried in an avalanche that's a fair question and I'm not sure about that I don't think it can be entirely.

It can't be entirely varied but it's not gonna get anywhere near the attention if it was a standalone but we'll put out a stand -- today.

But also it's a real event.

Completely apart from media coverage because the president will be in contempt.

And the Republicans are gonna see if he does something as a result of that -- it doesn't being content I'm sorry excuse me attorney general the president they're going to be waiting safety administration does something as a result that if they don't.

They'll file a lawsuit their act this is an actual series of events that's taking place whether or not anybody in the news media coverage of -- one thing after that after tomorrow there will be certainly can't follow -- coverage on passenger if there are a lot of people who are uninformed about this issue who will be learning about it in the future and it does not look -- -- Yeah I mean when you go down into the weeds and and yes there's a conspiracy theories that it was time to -- -- the gun trafficking to two.

Hold up.

To really crack down on guns.

Lawmakers have talked about that there's no evidence that that was in fact the case but.

The basic facts of the case don't look good for the administration.

And the controversy has actually shed light for the first time.

On those facts I mean there are there are some television network's not this one.

That literally didn't cover this thing until the contempt controversy showed up so if if you were a -- and -- for all your news.

You you wouldn't even have known it happened so.

Mary Katherine is right that the actual facts of the story are getting out.

-- from Ohio says too many people are being too clever by half speculating on the scotus ruling we agree.

But not Obama care ridiculous.

Obviously she was the solicitor general.

There was a determination was -- not morrow about her role or lack thereof -- And health care yes and and and it seems to -- it's been court justices have very wide latitude about whether they're gonna recuse themselves anyway she actually she made a determination justice John Roberts.

Made a determination in many cases where he had some kind of involvement or are held stock.

-- And there are a lot of -- that Clarence Thomas Thomas should refuse himself -- -- the Tea Party faction with his wife -- Generally Supreme Court justices decide.

What they're gonna -- from California says what is contempt what will happen why is this such a big deal.

It's a big deal to have this voted -- actually brought to a vote -- the house at that as you said.

A lot of folks -- little squeamish about the fact that it has gotten to this point because that is where.

And it really.

Is such a big event that I think despite the fact that tomorrow health care rulings coming out it will get coverage and it will continue to cut get coverage after that and it takes a large event two to fit in the schedule with tomorrow.

Content is it legal until -- crisis and can't demand that the executive branch do stuff give -- information center.

And if the executive branch refuses.

Essentially what the house does is take them to court and if it's it's entirely possible this -- and and the case going to court and a judge evaluating the presence -- executive privilege claim to see if it has merit or -- and we'll probably lose long after the election long -- -- on the force certain materials and.

And -- -- -- any friends one -- extreme pretty well known aside from Hillary Clinton his very well known and not like it on his brand well I think we'll.

Rub off on Obama if this continues in a -- -- -- says the mainstream media was completely ignored fast and furious before the contempt proceedings.

And let's see.

If health care wins tomorrow if it's upheld IP freely thank you.

If it is -- tomorrow will the president get a big boost in the polls.

I don't think there's a sense -- well I don't think as you mentioned there's a sense that.

It washes even.

Well you know it's so interesting because this race is and so static nothing seems to affected just to -- and -- -- the president gets a little -- -- Romney -- -- -- month.

But it's from the only thing that seems to matter is the economy now.

I still have to believe that if health -- overturned.

He takes to have that for some period of time but if it's upheld he avoids -- -- be by far the worst day in the present -- And that's not gonna happen and their -- some crowing on no account like a lot of -- Vacation for the -- I'm not sure that works with the general public but there'll be a lot of -- from.

Okay -- more questions -- -- wrap it up this is a constant question given every week if the -- poll numbers continue.

To tank now what these polls suggested today and if they go down.

Is Joseph Biden dropped from the -- I can't feel the same way I always have which is the only way Joseph Biden's gonna leave the ticket is for real organic -- -- probably a health event.

I'm and then they're talking about Hillary coming up nice photos that it would have to be something real Obama is not gonna throw over his vice president.

He's loyal and I think that the cost that he the price -- paid for doing that for looking like he was just trying to -- bigger things to give himself a few other points is not going to be.

Not after leading on non.

-- -- -- -- -- -- Not -- it's -- -- Islamabad.

Oh yeah and in numbers tonight and printed and it's all done he's not gonna change baked in the -- marijuana -- -- gaffe again today saying something about depression I haven't looked at exactly -- and that's I think Republican millions of America they're Republicans say yes reward him for his loyalty incentive for them to the trail.

But our last prediction we have thirty seconds left.

What's the votes.

-- I'll get safer on 654.

Knocked on the mandate and the two other guys aren't we're mandated to -- just a mandate that is.

Just 54.

-- bill.

It's home.

Yeah that's Boldin -- I think it.

Thanks -- -- special report online panel thank you very much you can join us every -- day of course 6 PM eastern for special report we'll see you next week.

You -- they have an online tomorrow we'll consider.

It's a big day.

As the control -- screaming.

Yeah hello good -- yeah maybe tomorrow.

Do you --

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