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And that is some of the very scenic beauty of the great state of New Mexico there insane to vote counting.
Internet and this is power play and I -- Chris -- -- and I should caution you in advance my.
-- may get little scrambling today because it is disgusting -- hot here in Washington DC -- dry heat.
If they enjoy -- swing -- New Mexico so be forewarned is formed Internet.
We're talking about New Mexico today and Sandoval county.
In particular because it is time again.
For you to be graced with the presence of Bill Hemmer.
Who is just back.
From out west you watch him of course on America's Newsroom it goes without saying.
Brother bill welcome back I don't Chris the all knowing why -- -- like this how good this guy every.
If you -- -- -- the man you're gonna have funny troubled I learn so much that you don't -- but so spin you.
Well you you bring actual information from real human beings though you -- you we've seen it this morning we'll see it again tonight on special report.
6 o'clock eastern.
As you went out to this swing county in this swing state to talk to folks out there about education.
And what is -- -- overlook potentially big issue for this election agree with what you find out.
You know -- it is -- you know as you well know Chris the economy and jobs it's it's issue number one.
That the first thing I think we need to remember about New Mexico was twelve years ago this was a state that was closer than Florida.
Between bush and gore.
They're talking this 370.
Some odd votes where President Bush won that state.
Four years later he'd be John Kerry by 6000 votes which seems like a lot when you compared to 2000 but that was the closest margin of victory.
Of any state in 2004.
And 2008 President Obama easily won the state of New Mexico by about fifteen points -- John McCain why is that the demographics are changing New Mexico.
That more Hispanics.
And so you're starting to see that play out and -- statewide election however.
One thing that I did not realize -- Is it have you go back over the years.
New Mexico as a state.
Is near the bottom of almost every category in education in the country.
Depending on the -- could be 47.
48 or even 49.
And and the question is why why are these schools continuously failing children in New Mexico.
There are a lot of reasons for we can take a market like -- not -- take Gallagher gone -- -- the overarching point is this is that jobs and economy yes really muscling out.
A lot of other issues in the in this campaign but people especially women.
Suburban women vote on this did you issue rather of education.
And for that for a campaign.
Like -- and volcanic.
Community of -- Leo up there in between.
Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
This is for -- there are -- number of those voters there are there for -- these moms who have kids in school and they're experiencing these strains.
A what do they wanna hear from Mitt Romney and Barack.
-- a couple things on that the town of Rio Rancho.
Leave this town has grown 17%.
In ten years.
While -- that's sly you know Las Vegas Clark counting numbers yeah.
And the economy you know its its its sputtering along like so many other states that we have seen.
The biggest frustration for them is trying to get the state to do more -- he -- one of the things you find -- New Mexico the funding.
Is unique.
In this sense that the state funding comes from the State Capitol.
So all the tax dollars go to the state capital than -- see -- it siphoned off proportionately.
Supposedly to set up an equal system.
I think Hawaii might be the only other state in America where you find that.
But -- 40%.
Of the state budget.
Which is about a line with -- about most.
The other 49 states goes toward education so why are they failing poverty.
Declining budgets in the states.
Eventually come back to admit that schools those are at least two of the reasons.
You -- Hispanics and native Americans oftentimes English is their second language those are more the bears that come in the play.
But what I think about education in America I think about some states that we've always talked about Chris I think about problems in Mississippi or even West Virginia.
-- just think New Mexico was in this category and they are.
Just across the board.
And you know that the question is you know as is our viewers are saying right now a lot of people don't see a big role for the federal government.
Inside.
That's a great point system but at the same time they're already in the house.
-- -- so as far as Romney and Obama and what they're putting out there you know the president today he's out talking about a billion dollars in grants in education challenge grant kind of stuff he wants to give out.
Romney's talk about charter schools either of them have a message that's gonna talk to these swing vote.
I would tell you we talked a woman -- -- later tonight on special report.
She fears she's a teacher mother of three that if Mitt Romney's presidency he's gonna got the union and -- her job and change your class.
And we we talk to a Democrat who is actually she tells -- she's voting for Mitt rom for exactly the opposite reason.
That she doesn't feel that President Obama has given of rural school districts in America.
The attention they deserve -- the attention they need and so that issue.
It's playing out for her we met another family and -- Republicans going back to the end of time as they tell us.
-- that they have -- And their view been sold enough by Mitt Romney.
There's still on the fence not suggesting they would vote Democrats.
As Republicans but suggesting possibly they -- -- this race.
Internet I give you a favorite son of the Buckeyes stayed in a guy who's out there listening to voters this year and we appreciate you tell us what they had to say bill that's really all knowing -- To -- -- through.
Be good.
OK let's hear what you had to say here they were listening to voters now we're listening to the Internet.
Says all for jury to Mexico would vote for Obama because they are uneducated old -- are you kidding me.
We have the uneducated voter percentage now that's.
-- -- -- for jury.
The says -- -- -- there is sadly correlation between the establishment of the department of education and gradual decline in the US world standing and education I'm sure that there are a lot of mitigating factors there but certainly the federal government and this is a great point.
The federal government has never effectively been able to get involved in the educational process.
And usually a one size fits all thing as has not resulted in in happy outcomes.
Bill Taylor says it more simply.
There is no -- for the feds in education according to our constitution.
Now look the issue on education is pretty clear when you get down to it as we get to the end history tells us detail.
The number of persuade -- -- voters will shrink down to a very small number and a very small number in a few swing states.
Those -- voters will be predominantly women that's just what history tells us is that women.
Who are -- nicer people than men.
Well wait longer pulled out their decision longer and they decide so education is exactly the kind of issue.
That could shift.
Persuade voters one way or the other is also a chance for candidate to show that they're a little bit tender -- that they have a softer side and care about -- small people.
But let's have one of our very favorite guests and 88 Republican pollster.
Adam Geller who is up in New York he doesn't -- forgot you may have heard of named Chris Christie he is a pretty big deal.
-- welcome back.
The all knowing Chris firewall yeah I don't like where this is going I don't like where this year I don't have a new backgrounds.
Okay so the question as yet does anybody give sweet for -- about education.
This election does it really matter.
Maybe not asleep at Fannie -- behalf of the tyranny.
Bill -- said before.
It -- and everybody kind of agrees this.
It's fundamentally going to be about.
The economy about jobs and really about the role of government what role government to -- our lives.
That being said there's clearly room for education as a secondary or tertiary issue here and it is true that.
This could be such a close election that when you really think about some of these swing voters some of these women's groups and so forth.
That an education message is going to be important it will not supersede jobs in the economy.
But it's important that the candidate has a talking point about what they're going to do on this very very important topic to.
You know millions of them.
Now I assume that in polls where people -- issues like education.
Not at the bottom of the list people are lying respondents are lying because -- are kind of flattering themselves like I do care about this this matters but -- -- -- in the individual choice for most people comes down.
At the top line.
For.
Romney though he's using.
Education.
As a way to get his arms around the issue of race in America he talked about education an awful lot.
When he was at the NAACP he's talked about it with Hispanic groups and you -- he took that a trip into a very hostile territory in West Philadelphia.
Early on in the general election talk about charter schools is education can education be -- effective proxy on race relations -- Mitt -- Well you know look I think it can be an effective proxy.
To a certain extent.
You know at the end of the day.
What I think people are going to it to you have to do that would separate one from the other because.
Education -- oftentimes it supersedes it's really more of the social economic.
Type type of issue and so there is race that is involved in -- but but it shouldn't be seen as they.
As a race type of issue.
-- I'm sorry I was going to say they'll going back to one of your earlier points -- what what is interesting in the polling -- this Chris.
When when respondents are asked to what is the most important issue you know you always -- jobs in the economy the top and education somewhere down there.
That's one way -- -- and the question if you say are the following issues important to you and each one you're able to say yes or no or very important somewhat important.
Well education is going to be.
And almost you know within the margin of error at the top of jobs and and so -- and the economy.
So really thumped sometimes depends on how -- the question you can get.
The point across that it is a very very fundamentally important initiative to people.
-- that Internet you've got your full Gellar now drink that and an absorbent -- we thank you very much for making time for us they have a great thank you sir good to see it.
Very quickly.
This -- -- very funny but I would just give it to Darryl Strickland.
-- hit me -- these are all unless twitters and sent Bill Hemmer is a political beast and that is correct that is a totally correct statement -- he is a political -- okay we're gonna take a quick break but when we come back we're gonna talk to a Republican senator who's trying to lay out some positions.
On the overall tax reform that he hopes.
Will drive the discussion in this election and after word as America looks at trying to get its.
Very screwy tax code into some sort of order you're going to enjoy it -- stick around.
-- Barack Obama and I approve this message.
Tax havens offshore accounts carried interest -- Romney has used every trick in the book.
Romney admits that over the last two years he's paid less than 15% in taxes on 43 million in income makes you wonder if some years you paid any taxes at all.
That is a new ad from President Obama.
Raising questions about Mitt Romney's exploitation.
Of the convoluted US tax code to shield is incredibly long urged to of about a quarter of eight billion dollar fortune.
From the tax man and this is power play welcome back.
And the president is talking a lot about tax policy in the campaign right now as a means by which to attack Mitt Romney it is a furtherance of his and attacking Mitt Romney for what the president says unfairly low tax rate on his income which is more urge.
So let's talk to a Republican senator who is trying to.
Makes him -- -- On this issue -- from the great state of Nebraska.
We welcome senator Mike Joseph hands welcome senator.
Thank you good to be with you okay senator so the question is this.
As we look at the tax policy in the United States this -- the character attacks from President Obama they are highlighting.
How complicated in -- -- the American tax code is.
You're calling now and trying to lay down a predicate for simplification -- clarification of the law what are you looking for.
Well -- you point out the political ads are just that it's kind of political clutter and the president really hasn't offered I what I believe is a sensible approach here's what we really need to do.
We have very very high corporate tax rates in fact very soon we'll have the highest streets in the world so.
A company that's trying to serve 95%.
Of the world's population which doesn't live in the United States have lives outside the United States.
We're almost same to them -- jobs elsewhere.
That's what this administration's policies.
Well I really fundamentally believe that -- you've got to do is to get get that -- more competitive in other words bring it down.
I also acknowledged that you've got to have revenue to do the things want to do so how do you deal with dad well.
I believe you simplify the code.
There are lot of loopholes there just a lot of ways of dealing with tax law.
And that's why -- have tax lawyers and accountants let's simplify them.
Let's slim down the deductions in the credits and all of the special things that are in the tax code.
What we're doing today is basically encouraging folks to try to figure out how -- deal with this tax code because it is just -- -- And I just think there's a better way simplify it bring rates down you're gonna have a much more competitive system.
Is there something.
-- Mitt Romney as soon talked around -- this issue a bit he certainly shares your perspective on wanting a simpler.
Flatter tax code.
Knock out some of those loopholes and deductions.
But is he talking about his own taxes in an effective way should he be talking about that differently.
No way of what Mitt Romney is done -- you've seen it in other cases if you receive the dividend you're gonna -- Lesser rate down and that's the law.
If you receive a capital gain you'll pay a lesser -- on it that's the law we have.
Generally.
Look at that city.
It makes sense to allow that to occur because we've won that capital in our economy we wanted creating jobs.
We want and invested all of that thing.
But having said that there's a lot of different ways of approaching this and I think if you just have more competitive tax code.
Which is more competitive -- -- flatter code -- simpler code you're gonna accomplish those goals you are going to create an economy.
That is just much better than what we have today and that's what the president should be leading on nine.
Like you said the rest of this is so much political clutter you've really got to get to the policy the tax code which is what we're gonna collect some revenue.
Let's bring rates down let's make -- -- simpler code.
And let's allow it to grow the economy and create the jobs that we need.
Senator might yield bonds you lands we thank you so much for making time for us good insights we appreciate.
It thank you.
Okay Internet here's the deal by the way I want to tell you a little something.
We today and we're having great interaction here on Twitter at -- stairwell but if you were following me on Twitter you would already have.
In your hot little virtual hands today's power play.
Where I make the argument about Mitt Romney and it's tax returns.
That his bluntness and brazen this on the question is actually a good play here because he's going to try to outlast this story let the storm -- -- And then get on to other things that if you're going to -- on your tax returns the -- to do it is July.
And not -- and drag your way into October some good interaction on the column today but I'll -- my favorite -- -- -- When I wrote that deadline is better for Romney he responded you're right he needs to -- -- a big -- so that's what the Internet two you guys are critics can't -- we're gonna take a quick break but when we come back.
We're gonna talk more about the -- plot an effort by house Republicans together and take the funding out of it -- -- gonna talk about.
Why conservatives struggle to talk to Hispanic voters we'll do all that it will be fun so you should stick around.
And that looks like about your politicians talk game but what it actually is is the start of an effort.
By house Republicans to pull the plug on funding to the president's 2010.
Health insurance.
-- eighty -- -- -- that you called help law and this is power play welcome back.
And Republicans today.
Are undertaking an effort that they say could.
Be an avenue pulling the plug on the president's health law can it work what's the point all of that good stuff.
Please welcome to the big show congresswoman Diane black.
-- from the great state of Tennessee she's different out there in the suburbs.
Outside of music city welcome to the show congresswoman.
Well thank -- Chris it's great to be with you.
Well we're just thrilled -- -- -- tickled so the question is.
The Senate's not getting -- even if you guys can get this through the house of imitation mechanism for the president's -- in this and it's not gonna ask that are there.
Well we don't ever know what the -- gonna do.
How does not -- -- at a legislative level at the state.
And I always -- when I was in the house and the senate I'm never -- with the other bodies in the game but I think you always have to move forward on setting what you believe is good policy.
And then you have to wait and see what the other chamber might do.
So do you think this is gonna get through that's.
Well they -- we've already repeal obamacare now twice out right good dad yes we're really getting that.
This time around people ask -- why why did you even try that.
After the Supreme Court decision and that decision being that it was not a penalty it was attacks and the biggest tax increase on the middle class -- At least -- done several years we just really gave everybody a chance to change their mind.
Okay all right so you're just you're putting it out there now if you look.
As you look to.
Actually -- on the president's outlook and all of those things but your colleagues are talking about all the money that's involved.
And all the expenditure that goes into setting this up.
Do you think there's of the fiscal argument that you can effectively make -- guns.
Well I think we can I think that voters at least in my district and I can talk about the fifteen counties that I represent hit -- -- -- very unpopular.
And people believe as we believe that.
There needs to be some changes in and being able to get access to health -- but that changes should be in the -- a free market.
Anytime you have more competition things like opening up.
The state borders to allow people to buy insurance across state borders.
I'm putting more competition -- and giving people more choice is really where you -- out rather than having a government mandated program.
Well congresswoman Lee thank you for your insight and we should point out you represent one of the very lovely swathes.
America out there out the Cumberland valley important.
We're grateful to you so thanks for stopping by.
Well it's so -- to be written thank you so much.
-- soon OK Internet.
So quick turn shall we make a quick turn.
And go from talking about health care to talking about Hispanic voters and why the right in America conservatives have consistently struggled.
To find a message that resonates because you think about it you have a Catholic.
Family oriented kind of thing that should be helpful to conservatives.
You have aspiration -- immigrant class that should be good.
But now so far Hispanic -- part of the large.
A Latin American diaspora that's coming to the United States from the 1980s to really just a couple of years ago a wave of immigrants have gone overwhelmingly for Democrats have really to the tune of sixty or 65%.
So what's the deal and how's that going to work -- these welcomed the show Jennifer -- she's the executive director of the Hispanic leadership network.
And you guys are trying to change that discussion a little bit right.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- I'm Hispanic community is very important.
52 million Hispanics now live in the United States 950000.
Hispanics under the age of eighteen are turning eighteen.
Every month so the Hispanic constituency is very important.
I worked on President Bush's 2004 election where we've hit a lot of attention -- Hispanic community or able to get a historic 44% Hispanic vote yes so.
It's it's not really the issues it's more about engagement right now are the Republican Party conservatives.
Really aren't doing the engagement that the Democrats and the liberals are doing right now so there absolutely is a window of opportunity.
So there's an attention question there -- a playing a constituency game where you say we're listening we're paying attention to you -- exactly we -- and it showed that yes overwhelmingly Hispanics.
Identify as Democrats but they also identify -- over 65%.
As conservatives on issues from national security to government spending.
-- abortion to family values so.
There's there's actually -- an opportunity to speak to the community and that's what we need to do we need to engage community and that's -- Hispanic leadership network is doing.
Now the concern that many Republicans -- like at the -- others have expressed.
Is that there is a toxicity for the Republican brand for the red team based on hard -- in immigration policies.
That it created that -- and when you look at the the polls as you -- on issues Hispanic voters often have conservative ideas on multiple topics.
But feel alienated.
By immigration a bit at the same time the Republican base is not gonna tolerate anything that sounds remotely like amnesty so what do you do there.
So -- what it called immigration your loss death so Hispanics make every week you I got -- -- like.
Yeah health care and education because those like every other American economies and number one issue for Hispanics but there -- -- listening to you because of the immigration issue for two hardline.
They can still be conservative and immigration and be able to appeal to Hispanics so when you talk about is.
National security his answer for securing the border governor -- temporary worker program is basically that conservatives -- -- that businesses that.
How do we fix the legal system so that more people can come here legally without the bureaucracy.
So there's a lot of things that Republicans can talk about -- service can talk about without saying.
Did you know using the tone and rhetoric that turns Hispanics you.
You -- one piece of advice for Willard M Romney what was date.
I would say engaged in Hispanic community.
Connect with the community and make sure that you talked about yes the economy but tell them what your plan is on immigration and talk about it in -- way where your listening to what they have to say is.
In 2008 he went down to Florida and he worried Doug our shirt which is the scented -- shirt right there that's popular in the Cuban American community down there and -- canning.
I would not be that my advice to him is don't go back to the -- -- -- that's not the way to go.
-- -- and actually try and let's talk about pandering President Obama with what he just did with the executive.
A decision to allow certainly DREAM Act situation -- when I went through legislation.
Five months before an election those pandering to Hispanic community wedding you get treatment -- years ago also keep.
Promised Hispanics that he would address his immigration -- first hundred days.
-- veto proof congress.
He had presidency into anything and immigration so he broke his -- -- Equator yeah okay we thank you very much for -- that president and a great day and I may get a -- our churches to.
Ventilated is that -- a 106 degrees Washington and I've had enough so I'm gonna go but up next is on the hunt which I know you like and now.
As we like to -- and -- with Arthel Neville today so you can be extra happy.
And now as we like to do every day.
We want to leave you with the word from our friend Charles and his emphasis on government and -- at the root of all good in America is what's wrong with the Obama.
Vision and that's when -- auto attack.
That's what the campaign ought to be about.
