August 26, 2012

GOP Platform Chair: Rape A ‘Detail’ In The Abortion Debate

Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA) today claimed the issue of a rape exception to abortion was a “detail” to be left up to states and Congress. On ABC’s This Week, George Stephanopoulos confronted the Governor and Party Platform Chair with the absolutist anti-abortion language in the platform he led the development of. This was his response:

McDonnell: We’re affirming that we’re a pro-life party.The details certainly are left to Congress and, ultimately, to the states and the people on how they ratify such an amendment. More importantly, what they do at the state level.

Stephanapoulous: So is the party for a rape exception or not?

McDonnell: The party didn’t make any judgment on that. It’s a general proposition to say we support human life. The rest of the details are up to the states and the people respectively, George. That’s simply not covered.

Watch it:
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/08/26/745691/gop-platform-chair-rape-a-detail-in-the-abortion-debate/

(snip)
Moreover, McDonnell’s interpretation of his platform language is misleading. As Stephanapoulous noted, the platform endorsed a Human Life Amendment “to make clear that the 14th Amendment’s protections apply to all unborn children.” As the 14th Amendment requires all persons receive equal protection under the law, the practical effect of the amendment would be to render any law that allowed for any abortion in any case unconstitutional. This includes state-level laws, which means McDonnell’s line that the rape exception would be left to Congress and/or the states is flatly false.

August 26, 2012

O’Malley Slams Romney’s Birther Joke: GOP Sending ‘Coded Messages

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/omalley-slams-romneys-birther-joke-gop-sending-coded

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-MD) blasted Mitt Romney's joke Friday in Michigan, about how nobody has ever asked him for his birth certificate from the state — a reference to the conspiracy theories levied against President Obama — which O'Malley said was an example of the Republicans being "a party of exclusion" with problems appealing to minorities.

"Well, I think that what it betrays is a loss of, and a lack of perspective," O'Malley said on CNN's State of the Union. "And an appreciation when you have policies and when you advance positions that are bashing of new Americans and new immigrants, and when you have policies that want to take us back in terms of women's rights and freedom of women to choose, I think it becomes a very exclusive party. And that birther comment is simply more, more icing on that cake."

He later added: "When you have a party that says coded things, that makes totally false ads up about — falsely saying that the president is trying to undo welfare reform — I think you're going to see a lot of pretty heavily and not so subtly coded messages from the Romney/Ryan campaign that's not in keeping with an America that's moving going forward, that's growing, and that's becoming more diverse with fuller freedom for every individual."

August 26, 2012

How Mr. Romney Would Force-Feed the Pentagon

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are portraying themselves as lionhearted budget-cutters, ready to slice out profligate spending in all sorts of government programs and services and lead America to lower taxes and lower deficits. Many experts say their numbers don’t add up, even if they were to impose all the cuts they want.

Yet none of that philosophy seems to apply to the defense budget — which accounts for roughly half of all federal discretionary spending.

Instead of proposing sensible and necessary reductions, they would throw more money at a Pentagon that has had a blank check for more than a decade. The base budget for 2013 — not including war-related costs — is projected at $525 billion, up roughly 34 percent from 2001. By 2022, Mr. Romney’s plan would increase annual spending to $986 billion, according to an analysis by Travis Sharp of the Center for a New American Security.

The centerpiece of Mr. Romney’s proposal is a promise to spend at least 4 percent of gross domestic product on military personnel, procurement, operations and maintenance, and research and development. That would add as much as $2.3 trillion to the defense budget over 10 years from projected 2013 spending levels, according to Mr. Sharp’s analysis.


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/opinion/sunday/how-mr-romney-would-force-feed-the-pentagon.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

August 26, 2012

Sunday Talk Shows

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz,Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Rep. Donna Edwards, Jennifer Granholm

Meet The Press
This Sunday: A special edition of Meet the Press, live from Tampa for the kickoff of the Republican National Convention. As storm clouds form off the coast of Florida Republicans are trying to recover from their own firestorm this week. How will Mitt Romney introduce himself to America? Can he create enough momentum to beat President Obama and carry the election? We'll ask the former Governor of the state, Republican heavy-hitter Jeb Bush Plus, what about his own political future?

Will this be the GOP's opportunity to turn the conversation away from controversial social issues to the state of the economy? What's the outlook for the party? We'll ask 2008 Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain

Has the recent debate over hot-button issues for women done lasting harm to the Republican Party and to their chances in the fall? What is the state of the race as the Republicans prepare for their national showcase? Joining Us: DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz; The Republican Governor from Arizona, Jan Brewer; Republican Strategist Mike Murphy and NBC News Political Director and Chief White House Correspondent, Chuck Todd

CBS Face The Nation
Sunday, live from Tampa, Fla.: A conversation with Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla

Plus, a discussion with key voices in the Republican party: RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, and former Gov. Haley Barbour, R-Miss.

Then, a roundtable with The Wall Street Journal's Peggy Noonan, TIME's Rich Lowry, The Washington Post's Dan Balz, CBS This Morning co-host Norah O'Donnell and CBS News political director John Dickerson

ABC This Week
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, chair of the Republican Platform Committee, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, chair of the Democratic National Convention,face off on the 2012 presidential contest, Sunday on "This Week."

As Republicans gather for their national convention in Tampa next week, Tropical Storm Isaac barrels forward, threatening the coast of Florida. Will the potential hurricane disrupt Mitt Romney's nomination plans? And will the storm over Missouri Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin's controversial comments on rape remain a distraction for Republicans?

And in the most high-profile speeches of their political careers, can Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan introduce themselves to the American public as a viable alternative to the Obama administration? Can they re-focus the political debate on the economy, and gain a critical bounce in polls as the general election season begins?

Gov. Bob McDonnell and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa debate the latest in the 2012 election, Sunday on "This Week."

Plus, George Stephanopoulos and the powerhouse roundtable debate all the week's politics, with ABC News' George Will; Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md.; former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, host of Current TV's "The War Room"; Republican strategist Mary Matalin; and FOX News anchor Greta Van Susteren

What do Romney and Ryan need to do in their convention speeches to sell their campaign to a national audience? How should Republican speakers throughout the week challenge President Obama? And will Rep. Akin's rape comments drive away women voters, and threaten Republican chances to re-take the Senate? Plus, will a new book by a Navy SEAL who took part in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden impact the election?

Fox News Sunday
This week from on the campaign trail, we'll sit down with Governor Mitt Romney and discuss his campaign tactics and policies, the conventions and the lead up to the election. Plus, from the Romney summer home in New Hampshire, we'll show you a side of the Governor and his wife Ann Romney, which is rarely seen.

CNN State of The Union
“State of the Union” is live from the RNC Convention in Tampa. While there Candy talks to RNC Chairman Reince Priebus on the implications of Todd Akin’s remarks on rape. Will Akin’s position damage Mitt Romney’s presidential chances, and will it help democrats keep control of the senate?

Plus, re-branding the Republican Party with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Al Cardenas, Chairman of the American Conservative Union, and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

Then, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley offers the Democratic rebuttal.

And finally, our political panel with CNN Senior Political Analyst Ron Brownstein and The Washington Post’s Karen Tumulty. Plus, the latest on Tropical Storm Isaac.

Fareed Zakaria GPS
Fareed speaks with former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell about what to do in Syria, how to tackle Iran and its nuclear program, and the state of politics in the United States – is partisanship in Washington really as bad as its ever been?

Also on the show is two-time Pulitzer Prize winning author Robert Caro, who has spent more than three decades researching, thinking about, and writing on the life of President Lyndon Baines Johnson as part of his epic series of books on the 36th U.S. president. A web extra with Caro discussing the Civil Rights Act is available here.

And Fareed will also be looking at the underlying dynamics shaping the presidential election. Is it all about the economy, or are there other major factors that will decide the next American president?

The Chris Matthews Show
Romney's opportunity to reintroduce himself at the Republican National Convention; what President Obama can do to excite voters

Melissa Harris Perry Show
Weekends, 10am-12pm ET, msnbc

Up w/Chris Hayes
Sunday at 8 AM ET
What is the modern Republican Party? Plus, Tampa and the war over cities

We'll be discussing the state of the modern Republican Party as the GOP heads into its national convention. We'll also delve into the urban-rural divide, focusing on the the RNC's host city of Tampa as an example

Wendell Cox, senior fellow at the Heartland Institute, consultant for the Department of Transportation, and former director of public policy at the American Legislative Council (ALEC).

Michael Bell, professor at Columbia University of Housing, visiting fellow at Harvard University, and an architect at Visible Weather. He also had an installation, which focused on a suburb of Tampa, FL, at the Museum of Modern Art.

Michael Steele, former RNC Chairman and MSNBC analyst.

Sophia Nelson, columnist for TheGrio.com, former GOP House Committee Counsel, and author of "Black Woman Redefined."

Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Mayor of Tampa, FL. Also an Urban Land Institute fellow and traevls around the country looking at how other cities develop.

Corey Robin, (@CoreyRobin) professor of political science at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center and author of "The Reactionary Mind: Conservatism from Edmund Burke to Sarah Palin."

Elise Jordan, (@Elise_Jordan) contributor with the national Review, Daily Best, Marie Claire, and Atlantic.com. Former director for communications for the national security council and former speechwriter to Condoleeza Rice.

Avik Roy, (@aviksaroy) member of Mitt Romney's health care policy advisory group and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. He also writes The Apothecary, a Forbes blog on health-care and entitlement reform.

Joan Walsh, (@JoanWalsh) MSNBC political analyst, Salon's editor at large and author of "What's the Matter with White People: Why We Long for a Golden Age That Never Was."

C-SPAN's "Newsmakers,"
Pete Sessions

Bloomberg's Political Capital
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus

C-Span's Washington Journal
7:00am -Phones

7:45am - Dave Levinthal, Politico Reporter

Topic: With the 2012 political convention getting underway, a look at the spending that goes into the political conventions, as well as who’s behind the money.

8:30 am-David Bossie, Citizens United President

Topic: Guest will discuss the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision on the Citizens United case on Campaign 2012. The decision opened the door to the creation of SuperPAC’s, which allow for large undisclosed donations.

9:00 am-Bob Biersack, Center for Responsive Politics Senior Fellow and Kim Barker, ProPublica Reporter

Topic: Guests will discuss impact of unregulated money in this year’s election, total money raised by the campaigns and SuperPacs, and proposals to overhaul campaign finance laws.

CBS 60 Minutes
The Pledge - Steve Kroft takes a look at Grover Norquist, the man many blame for holding up the deficit-reduction process because of the anti-tax pledges he has obtained from nearly all the Republican politicians in Washington.

Stem Cell Fraud - Stem cells still have not proven to be the panacea many claimed they could be, yet the Internet is alive with stem cells for sale to treat incurable illnesses. Scott Pelley reports on one man offering to treat cerebral palsy who a respected stem cell researcher says could be endangering patients.

The Sport of Kings -Polo is one of the oldest organized sports in the world and its leading star, Ignacio "Nacho" Figueras, plays it with a style befitting his other role as the face of Ralph Lauren's iconic fashion brand, Polo.

Reliable Sources
Keli Goff, TheRoot.com; Hugh Hewitt, radio host; Nia-Malika Henderson, Washington Post; Roger Simon, Politico; Lynn Sweet, Chicago Sun-Times; Lauren Ashburn, Daily-Download.com; Eric Deggans, Tampa Bay Times; Rachel Sklar, media critic; Wolf Blitzer, CNN

August 25, 2012

The almost-definitive guide to the Medicare debate

by Joan McCarter
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/25/1123784/-The-almost-definitive-guide-to-the-Medicare-debate

The New Republic's Jonathon Cohn has an exhaustive guide to the Medicare debate playing out in this election. Or, nearly exhaustive, because of course neither Romney or Ryan has produced sufficient details to answer all of the questions Cohn poses.

But here are his key questions: 1) How do the plans control Medicare spending; 2) How quickly do the plans cut spending; 3) On whom do the plans place the most risk; and 4) What else would the plans (and the men behind them) do to the health care system? And here's a quick chart of Cohn's analysis.



More details are below the fold, but if you want the full analysis, Cohn's article is well worth the time.
http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/106298/guide-to-medicare-debate-romney-ryan-obama-voucher-premium-support

1. How do the plans control Medicare spending?
In the case of the Affordable Care Act, through "reductions in what Medicare paid providers—that is, doctors, hospitals, and suppliers of medical goods," using information about where Medicare is overpaying and introducing incentives for increasing quality of care. In the case of Romney/Ryan, market competition—moving Medicare to a privatized, voucher system.

2. How quickly do the plans cut spending?
This is a harder one to nail down, for both plans, since there are so many factors at play. But, in essence, the Affordable Care Act cuts $716 billion (that number is subject to change) in the next 10 years, extending the program's solvency to 2024. The Romney/Ryan current voucher plan doesn't really supply enough specifics to know how quickly spending cuts will unfold, but those cuts will likely be harsher if Romney/Ryan followed through on their promise to restore the ACA cuts, the same cuts Ryan included in his budget. They'd also be harsher because Romney has a budget cap, a hard target for spending. Keeping Medicare spending to a hard target will mean "a more severe spending cut than Ryan’s or Obama’s."

3. On whom do the plans place the most risk?
That's an easy one, and also the most important question of the whole debate. With the Affordable Care Act: "It does not undermine the basic guarantee to seniors—that, upon retirement, every American will get a comprehensive set of insurance benefits." There is the very real possibility that access with be more of a problem, if providers start dropping Medicare patients because of reduced payments, but seniors will still have comprehensive insurance. The Romney/Ryan plan would force seniors to pay more, and does put the future of the program as it exists today at risk.

4. What else would the plans (and the men behind them) do to the health care system?
Obviously, the Affordable Care Act expands access to affordable health insurance and to a key program for providing health care to lower-income people: Medicaid. Romney/Ryan's plans for Medicaid would drastically cut the program, shrinking access to health care for millions, including many seniors. It would force states to have to prioritize who got health care, forcing states to become de facto death panels.

August 25, 2012

Democrats Plan Counterpunch at Republican Convention

The Democratic National Committee has planned a week long counter program to the Republican National Convention in Tampa and across the country that will continue despite the postponement of Vice President Joe Biden’s trip to Florida due to preparations for a possible hurricane.

The Democrats have opened a war room near the convention center and DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz will be on hand in her home state along with other Democratic officials.

For the kickoff event today, the DNC invitations read “Limited Cadillac Parking Available” and “Medicare Vouchers Not Accepted.”

(snip)
First Lady Michelle Obama will appear on the Late Show with David Letterman on Wednesday. The appearance should air not long after Ryan gives his acceptance speech that night.

http://atr.rollcall.com/democrats-plan-counterpunch-at-republican-convention/

August 25, 2012

Pres. Obama: Romney Wouldn’t ‘Stand In The Way’ Of Push To Ban All Abortion

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/obama-romney-wouldnt-stand-in-way-of-push

President Obama told the AP Mitt Romney will sign language like the GOP platform plank on abortion -- which includes no mention of exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the mother -- into law if he gets the chance as president.

"I don't think that if Congress presented him with some of the items that are in the Republican platform at this convention that would, for example, entirely roll back women's control over their reproductive health, that he would stand in the way," Obama told the AP in an interview posted Sat.


http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/25/13477593-obama-says-romney-holds-extreme-positions-republicans-fire-back?lite

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_INTERVIEW?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-08-25-16-13-35

August 25, 2012

Mississippi Governor Blocks Benefits For Immigrants Granted Deferred Action

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/08/24/740451/mississippi-governor-blocks-benefits-for-immigrants-granted-deferred-action/

Gov. Phil Bryant (R-MS) has ordered state agencies to prevent undocumented immigrants who benefit from President Obama’s deferred action directive from receiving any state public benefits. He said his executive order stopping the state from granting benefits to DREAM Act-eligible youth who qualify for the federal policy follows current state law. Mississippi already bans state agencies from providing benefits like unemployment payments or food stamps to people who are not U.S. citizens or legal residents. Republican governors in Arizona and Nebraska issued similar orders after the deferred action policy went into effect August 15.
http://www.governorbryant.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Executive-Order-1299.pdf


Gov. Phil Bryant: No benefits for deferred-status immigrants
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/08/gov_phil_bryant_no_benefits_fo.html

August 25, 2012

DNC Video: The Romney Bunch

&feature=player_embedded

If you didn't think Mitt Romney's foray into the birther movement yesterday was evidence enough that his campaign has stooped to dog whistling to the most extreme elements in the Republican Party, just look who he's surrounding himself with in Tampa. A running mate who wants to voucherize Medicare, GOP Governors who have attacked workers and/or worked to undermine women's health (transvaginal ultrasounds anyone?), a former GOP Senator who wants to outlaw contraception and a current one who would have, like Romney, let Detroit go bankrupt. Then there's the current Senator who proposed letting employers dictate to women their health care choices and the sitting Governor who has slashed education funding to the bone. And then there's the turncoat who's just in all of this for himself.

All this might seem like a motley crew to some - but to us it's the "Romney Bunch."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/08/25/the_romney_bunch.html
A new DNC video celebrates the marriage of Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan and other Republicans to the theme song of The Brady Bunch.

August 25, 2012

Another Republican Congressman Pushes Back Against Mitt Romney’s Call To End Wind Energy Tax Credits

Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO) is the latest Republican to come out against Mitt Romney’s plan to end the production tax credit for the wind industry.

In an interview with ThinkProgress, Tipton rejected Romney’s pledge to end the wind tax credit, saying that the industry needs at least two years before it can be self-sustainable. “Do you want to cut it off when they’re on the cusp of being where we want them to be and to be able to create jobs and to be able to part of the energy solution?” Tipton asked, before answering his own question: “No, I don’t think we do.”

TIPTON: This is an industry that has explained to us a viable technology that can be competitive with other fuel sources that are going to be out there. Is it going to be the primary one that could actually fill in to be able to take off some of that load?

KEYES: So you’re saying probably maintain it for two years?

TIPTON: That’s what we’ve called for. We’re actually going to work with the industry because that’s what they tell us, then they don’t need this. Do you want to cut it off when they’re on the cusp of being where we want them to be and to be able to create jobs and to be able to part of the energy solution? No, I don’t think we do

Listen to it:
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/08/24/742441/scott-tipton-wind-energy/