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Power Play 7-30-2012
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The latest political news straight from the Beltway with Chris Stirewalt.
- Duration 25:20
- Date Jul 30, 2012
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If you see.
Come here to this game.
Mr.
Gorbachev.
Open this gate.
It.
Mr.
Gorbachev.
Pared down this wall.
And those goose bumps are courtesy former president Ronald Reagan on June 17 1987.
And his famous speech.
At the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin the first time that an American president had taken such a bold stance.
And this is power play.
And Internet I am so glad to be back with you I miss you for an entire week I was sad without you.
But I'm very happy to be with you now and we're going to talk today about Mitt Romney as he tries to strike a reaganesque because he's in Poland now.
Hanging out with -- case.
A man.
Who was integral to the fall.
The monolith that communism in Eastern Europe -- -- He is definitely trying to invoke Reagan and comparing his experience on foreign policy is a governor.
Of a state with that of Reagan who was governor of California before he was president can he pull it off.
We'll talk about that we're going to check in with Bret Baier who's -- listening to voters in Clark County Nevada today we'll talk to him -- a little bit about how that swing state is gonna swing.
And also we're going to talk.
About.
What happens when Bubba the big dog dole Clinton rides into back into the political fray worth the risk for President Obama will examine all of that we will have a delightful time we will get your -- we will enjoy each other than that it will be great.
And what better way to begin that then by telling you that Michael Brown is with us for the entire half hour today Michael -- you know is the senior political analyst for the Washington examiner he is a fellow of the American enterprise institute and he is very significantly for all of you who are obviously political -- just like me.
The principal editor of the almanac of American politics -- Important book in politics Michael welcome back throughout the -- Congress -- as long -- I keep up with that introduction Michael keep coming back that yeah.
Particularly -- a little thicker yeah we'll try to bring a little bit more next time and James Rosen.
Who you know of course as senior Washington correspondent.
Chief Washington can't be -- Washington apology he has three titles like have to live not -- one tunnels and -- That's senior yet another extra and tiger -- you're safe but chief Washington correspondent.
And very significantly for you as somebody who you watch post the foxhole every other Friday right here on foxnews.com.
And you can check it out next day in August 10 August tends to make you wait for it because it's -- good does it through there no atheists there.
And let's not this serious business let's not have too much fun gentlemen.
Now -- the question is.
And ginger tracking this story today.
Let's listen right now to what Mitt Romney had had to say about Ronald Reagan.
And his trip his trip to Eastern Europe talking to CBS news.
Ronald Reagan was one of our great foreign policy presidents they did not come from the senate.
Did not come from the foreign policy world he was a governor but -- resolved.
This clarity of purpose.
His intelligence.
His capacity to deal with complex issues and solve tough problems -- an extremely well.
So that's James that's governor Romney saying hey there was a Republican governor before.
He came and -- this and -- big stuff on foreign policy.
But probably six races -- different as well yes.
It is true as far as what he said which is that.
And did not come from the senate and right not come from the foreign policy -- -- say.
Meaning the think tank community or what have you.
And.
And in fairness Romney he went on to say that he would seek to exert American power abroad in the same way that Ronald Reagan did.
What is somewhat disingenuous about the the way that Romney went about making the comparison is that as we all know from -- biography.
Ronald Reagan.
Focused on foreign policy and the anti communism message.
For decades prior to his ascension to the presidency or even the governorship right and in effect he was also by the way governor of the state that -- another country.
And so he his the Ronald Reagan's focus on foreign policy throughout his pre presidential years.
One wouldn't be any fair observer would say far exceeds that the focus that that Mitt Romney has devoted to form pulse.
And Michael Americans in and -- in 1980 and 1984.
Understood.
Communism Soviet communism to be an absolute threat and it was it it was a central concern even when the economy was bad.
Does that do those same kind of concerns in -- -- whether they be about.
Radical Islam or day ascendant.
-- Russian bear.
Do they matter as much now.
I don't think foreign policies as big an issue in this campaign -- it was in 1980 although in both cases a rainy and threats.
Right.
-- get nuclear weapons and -- extremely 1980 campaign.
They've they were holding our diplomats as hostages which is under settled international walk in act of war.
To violate diplomatic community so.
There was also of course as you mentioned the the Communist empire.
As a footnote to what James was saying.
Reagan had is some experience he was -- and intelligence commission in the 1970s when he was governor of California.
Well it was interesting story Peter Wallace and -- commodity -- And a blogger for Reagan and who and who were speechwriter who worked on that very first vice president Nelson Rockefeller the seventies and he made -- disparaging remark when data Rockefeller about re union now offers Smart.
Rockefeller said hey he's had served on the intelligence mission we had a really tough problem -- -- -- -- Page of things on that kind of under yellow pad and read it off and it everybody agreed it was good he says he's a Smart guy.
Don't underestimate him and is there's a number of Republicans and Democrats did to their political dismay.
You know Romney has enunciated foreign policy positions in -- 2008 campaign again this cycle.
He had some dealing with foreign people.
Purpose senators in his compare bankers -- Olympic Committee and in private business he's never dawned on foreign policy and in that respect -- -- Reagan had not.
-- foreign policy aside from this intelligence committee -- -- -- with Mexico when he was the governor to some extent although there wasn't the kind of illegal immigration problem that we -- they were looking for.
James tell us about you were telling us right before we started about the meeting between Lech Walesa of course as you know.
Who was the leader of the solidarity movement a union based organization that combined with the Catholic Church the influence of the Catholic Church which is huge in Poland of course.
Combined with rate the Reagan and American influence -- -- -- you know and that yes she gets on the cart too I guess they're they're having the Olympics this week.
But.
Tell me about that me.
Yeah.
Governor Romney flew from Tel Aviv to Poland this morning and probably had this photo op meeting with -- Lech Walesa.
-- in which they.
Both joked about how little they like the press who was -- busily snapping away and so forth.
And at one point Romney said to Walesa I'm delighted that you continue to play such an important role on the world stage this is from the pool report that we've received.
And Walesa replied and I quote now.
Poland and many other countries will certainly do their best.
To help the US restore its leadership position which is an implicit suggestion from the former solidarity leader that the United States.
Presumably under Barack Obama's presidency has somehow forfeited or surrender or lost its leadership position on the world stage.
All right Michael we've got to take a quick break but but I welcome your chat on this subject and also -- -- -- -- for being with us feel free to do that -- in check from you for being with us.
OK when we come back.
Good news Bret Baier is going to join us.
From Las Vegas.
And I can't resist saying this it is no gamble it will be excellent so you should stick around.
Obama doesn't have a clue about business he would know how to run the bunny ranch Romney would that was Dennis -- proprietor of the moonlight bunny ranch in legal raw hole.
Outside Carson City, Nevada talking to the Associated Press for a story about which way swing state Nevada and it slipped six electoral votes will go in this is power play.
And welcome back I could not resist of course using that quote because it was so funny but of course -- selection is serious business fortunately Michael -- Is with us 244 both the jokes and the serious business and he's gonna help us break down Nevada electoral votes -- in -- second but we're very lucky.
The coming to us from Clark campaign event down in the southern part of the state home to Las Vegas is Bret -- the host the anchor -- special report with Bret Baier Brett.
Welcome back.
Hey Chris going to be here I've put up a lot on red like you said it just in Canada.
It just didn't pan -- that -- well if there was a if there was blue.
On the map -- on the the board there you might have a better chance because Democrats think they're gonna do pretty well and Clark County.
Well enough to offset what losses they might experience from president Obama's performance and -- -- -- in the northern part of the state you've been out there.
Over the weekend and today listening to voters what are you here.
Yet Chris I mean it's really Anderson personal you know Clark County two thirds of the State's registered voters live in Clark County.
So -- there are there's a big advantage for Democrats here in registration about 40000.
That is down by almost half more than half since the last presidential cycle so.
The Romney campaign Republicans think that they have a decent shot in Clark County keeping -- tight.
And as you said running the table and other.
Counties around the state namely near Reno.
We've got a lot of small business owners here we talked to just a number of people who live here -- they're concerned about the economy overall they're concerned about housing.
Because the foreclosure crisis is still huge here it's in the top three.
It's come down a bit but it's still a big deal and they're concerned about immigration but less so than the economy overall.
And there in Las Vegas.
Where you have I believe nine out of the ten largest employers private sector employers are and -- are right there on the strip in Las Vegas.
Two -- a big deal right.
Huge and if there's a down tick.
In tourism in any way shape -- form this state really takes.
Takes a hit I will say that there are saying that they've had a couple of good weeks.
That they feel like things are okay for the time being as well as far summer goes.
But you talk to small business owners and they are really feeling the pinch amp.
Every time you turn on the TV here Chris it is and that I think it's all purchased political -- I mean there are.
All -- -- super pac ads there are campaign ads I mean every time you turn on the TV.
It's of that and I thank -- this state is going to be a really big moments before the race in the fall.
And certainly keys president Obama's western strategy Colorado New Mexico wants to hold -- -- those relatively low electoral -- states but keep them altogether to offset losses in the east.
Greg what do you -- will you please.
I'm lavishly preview what will be on special report tonight.
Yeah we have a great lineup for -- we've got.
We've got a local panel of experts political folks and also small business owner.
Talking about the environment here the political state of the race.
We've as a -- -- talk to small business owners and and folks all around they'll be popped up throughout the show and we'll have our Washington panel as well but.
We thought -- come and go to some of these counties that really.
Are probably about thirty swing counties around the country.
That really could decide this race come about.
Well we love that you're gonna Brett thanks for joining us today have a great -- tonight.
-- -- -- -- -- -- Michael Brown okay so Nevada looks blue to me right now looks like the president's gonna keep that large Hispanic population it's now home about -- 25% of the overall population in the state.
That casino industry seems pretty solidly behind the president who's been trying to help -- stimulate them high speed rail.
From Southern California and stuff like that.
Am -- who am -- reading it wrong.
Well I think you're you're looking perhaps overly much at the 2008 benchmark mean Nevada went to which was very close right voted twice for Bill Clinton twice for George W.
Bush always -- -- -- marches.
That with 5543.
For Barack Obama that's pretty big.
In you've had your 15% of the turnout for a were Latino voters 10% were black voters big minority turnout.
Not clear that we'll get that this time.
-- 2010.
When Harry Reid was up for reelection blacks were only 6% turnout was down from ten to 6% Latinos were up one point 216.
-- up one point four.
Some of that reflected the casino industry wanted in the area you see right in the unions were all -- -- wanting Harry Reid.
There they wanna have a senate majority leader for what that -- gaming industries they calling it gaming industry and so forth I think that I'm not sure they're going to be that heavily motivated that high speed rail is not gonna happen to them about California and it's not on the administration's.
Poignancy anymore.
In -- You don't Nevada has the big -- population change.
From 1990 to 2007.
It was the number one state -- popular percentage population growth and every -- one right there -- only eclipsed it slightly.
It's been the number one state in unemployment and the number one state of foreclosures.
For a large part of the time since 2007.
So.
Who's left -- -- we don't know that it's right that there's no more domestic in migration don't -- that any significant way.
Vivid contrast what there was before the places and -- campaign.
That heavy populated at least that we can assume that -- populated because of all of the foreclosures in all of the soundness of the housing market.
Are the southern part of the -- Down towards hairy reeds.
-- -- -- line which is a sinners are gonna 300000 people which was decimated.
Yeah it was a -- -- to right desert not too long but but it was decimated in the foreclosure crisis.
-- cloture a lot of Latino has got foreclosed out really well remember I estimate that about a third nationally of the foreclosures of the 0709 period were Hispanic or Latino.
Member countrywide and these other companies hit Spanish speaking people saying all she.
You just have cash income you weighed on the corner at 7 AM and stuff.
Yeah we can do well you know we're running them down 650000.
Dollars or -- that's great.
Again you know than -- Selma to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and of course we the taxpayers ended up spending you know -- -- mailing them out we have all the memories but we have the -- I think you know people immigrate not only to make more money.
They immigrate to pursue dreams and I think that one of the things that happen is for a lot of Latino is lot of Mexican homeownership homeownership in the United States and depreciation.
And value wealth -- was a dream that dream got busted it -- tragic thing for many people but I think you know.
The -- does foundation tells us that we've now got net migration.
Back from the United States to Mexico that's a big shift in -- that those voters are leaving town.
Democrats may wanna marry him you know mail some -- never had absentee ballots to her well CEO and -- -- -- And they do you have in Nevada the highest percentage of the workforce because of the strip because of Las Vegas highest percentage of the workforce -- about -- any state in the country.
Our what the -- with the same pew study found to be.
What do they call them.
But don't give workers without paper source some thing you -- -- undocumented.
Elitist who sells for something like that illegal immigrants illegal immigrants a big part of what's going on in Nevada is that the SCI you and other labor unions are focused on not only these undocumented human beings.
Members of the as as members of the union and did the Democrats are hoping that they we'll see what.
They -- for Harry Reid which was an incredible turnout Harry Reid was dead -- -- -- -- -- for nine months and then he drew a weak Republican nominating.
And and got over the top -- Las Vegas you know that the gaming industry went all out for him.
And they got a lot of those people register I think some of these people may not have qualms about registering illegal immigrants it should be set though -- acorn was active in the 08 cycle that we're doing some fraudulent registrations.
In the democratic county clerk of Clark County blew the whistle blew the whistle actually she was she said hey I don't want illegal people default.
Our favorite our favorite politicians are the ones who are willing to blow the whistle on their own team when they're wrong and that's -- that is always -- hearing Tuesday.
Right Michael if you'll stay with us when we come back will be joined by one of your favorites.
Tony Welch.
He'll be here and we're going to talk about the big dog about Bubba the big heat Bill Clinton.
As President Obama calls on him to -- some rifts inside the party.
And get white working class voters back on the democratic -- we'll talk about that when we come back therefore you should stick Iraq.
Service.
And that.
Is what it looks like when Bill Clinton hangs out with Barack Obama.
The two democratic presidents the big dog and the one that.
Hanging out raising money.
It's like -- buddy picture.
And this is power play welcome back now.
The last time that president Obama's summoned.
Bill Clinton the very popular.
Centrist third way new Democrat former president into the 2012 election cycle things got a little bit out -- as the president former president talked about Mitt Romney sterling business record and qualifications.
For.
The presidency.
And the bush tax cuts and other stuff but gosh darn it he's awful popular.
Democrats love them and he has broad appeal in the middle and the president would like to get a little of that going for him as he does logs into a neck and neck.
Race with Republican Mitt Romney but we're honest with -- still to explain things.
-- please welcome back -- well.
He's the former Press Secretary for the Democratic National Committee that means he's a Democrat.
And we're base with -- independent and welcome back thinking OK so talked to us about.
Bill Clinton is.
A complicated man to love for Barack Obama he does a lot form and he did help him raise money from Wall Street at a time when the purses were tightening up you have -- -- -- everybody -- -- -- it's just politics month I was given the doubt and he and he does help them.
-- the folks in states like Pennsylvania Ohio and other places.
But it's a complicated it's complicated issue for the president right as simple as good as could possibly be -- is popular yes the last time good.
He is the symbol of running running the country and creating jobs -- people.
You can hear from -- Clinton personally -- -- about the point two million jobs created the surplus that bush squandered I mean it goes on but but I think most important.
Master politician and if there's anybody to make the case for Barack Obama I think it's it's Bill Clinton I want to note and please note.
That on the other side you will have no.
President notes former president George W it -- -- -- the -- W may not may not around so it'll George H.
W.
Bush is in the right people for years also got an eight years old yet even even over but.
We are gonna have a hologram of Ronald Reagan though is will it and I wanted to whenever I want to point out that the that just in celebration Bill Clinton.
I saw Tony was doing the tiny -- -- tiny Bill Clinton come to.
Very strong standard issue for Democrats that's right now they have a class Michael Bill Clinton ago as an ego to match the political skills.
That Tony was talking -- -- -- it's made it may be possible and he and Barack Obama had some rough moments back in 2008.
Clinton was accused by some people of being racist for saying racist things in South Carolina.
Carol lot of say he doesn't like that and bright I think understandably so.
I have -- secret feeling that some part of Bill Clinton would like to Bill Clinton to be the only democratic president re elected Bill Clinton's lifetime.
Into Barack Obama is not reelected that might very well turn out to be the case and -- Only Hillary if things do not work out for the blue team this time.
Hillary who is now finishing polishing up her foreign policy and civil you know that she will retire at the end of before the end but he can't running -- -- always since they're not executive you're saying he could run again no he can't broke back what she could -- you can download seems unlikely to baggage -- But you know mr.
President Clinton did it.
Did undercut.
President Obama in defending the private equity okay Leo he said at one point that she -- -- that -- was sluggish economy it's probably not a good idea to have a tax increase when president Obama's going around the country.
Saying what a good thing it would be to have a tax increase on job creators high earners.
And so.
If we got -- -- Charlotte county.
Did president President Clinton will rock.
The house Wednesday night in a primetime address you get -- there will be a lot of North Carolina Democrats there North Carolina Democrats love Arkansas Democrats courts and he'll be he'll be doing it he will bring the full -- it will not be is what was that nineteen.
Eighty alleviates that and we'll welcome regretted the incident in in the mislead your loan throughout button but maybe something like kids nomination that second the nomination acceptance speech and gave a pretty good -- -- 2008 democratic he did in his lifeboat that -- -- -- So he's gonna break -- this and that we requested -- it'll get it or clause the next night her -- Italy's.
Passed by only one other -- and that and I don't think anybody doubts president Obama's ability to energize a group of thousands of people who turned out to see him excited about this election Bill Clinton is a wonderful person make the case I think there will be a bunch of excitement around Fred I'm I'm.
Speak I will be interested to see what the democratic operatives -- with the convention ever be at 88 Democratic National Convention watching vice presidential nominee Lloyd Bentsen gave a speech which.
Got a very low key response and I -- that one of the media.
The guys that was running Democrat Tad Devine I think that's it adds up to me that -- -- the applause -- nieces that's from Chicago.
I've got to make the big.
But yeah.
Can you read this says is Bubba going to announce that Hillary will be replacing Joseph Biden on Obama's ticket.
But now if you lose no but it is significant that Clinton is basically taking Biden's spot when he goes out on Wednesday to formally place Obama's name in nomination that's usually -- -- recent political history that's job for the running mate because that does that Biden is instead -- introduced the president on Thursday.
Over at this thing shouldn't is is you should.
Vice president I didn't feel slighted by this and someone.
Not at all think he understands Roland -- the benefit of President Clinton and you tournament on the Wednesday night I went unheard of wanna in this case for for a president to.
The constituency in mind -- of -- present.
Sort of Michael do you agree I agree I think you'll be interesting to see this is choreographed in a range that.
You -- -- Bill Clinton you know there's an interest -- precedent here -- talked earlier this Internet thing about it's in our primary yeah.
-- yeah.
This Ronald Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan spoke of -- 92.
Republican National Convention.
He or at least Nancy Reagan gets very upset because he's got.
He got -- he got -- too late because of previous speaker went -- too long have you can't mess okay see.
If anybody -- has played Pat Buchanan to Bill Clinton's Ronald.
And the answer is no.
All right gentlemen we thank you so much for being with -- we have to go -- a little early today some technical reasons I'm so sorry don't get that final two minutes with you but -- Internet thing -- -- Michael referred to you so glad to be back with you it's Monday -- -- Charles hopefully tomorrow.
And we'll see that same bat time same bat channel -- that.
