GWEN: UNCERTAINTY RULES THE DAY.
ON THE ECONOMY, ON THE POLITICS ON THE ECONOMY, ON THE POLITICS OF HEALTH CARE AOO OF HEALTH CARE AOO EXPECT AS ELECTIONS APPROACH.
EXPECT AS ELECTIONS APPROACH.
ONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
HOW TO MEASURE THIS ECONOMY.
HOW TO MEASURE THIS ECONOMY.
UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS ARE DOWN SO UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS ARE DOWN SO TODAY THE STOCK MARKET SHOT UP.
TODAY THE STOCK MARKET SHOT UP.
MORE JOBS BUT NOT ENOUGH OF MORE JOBS BUT NOT ENOUGH OF THEM.
THEM.
PLUS, A NEW REPORT SHOWS THE PLUS, A NEW REPORT SHOWS THE HEALTH CARE LAW COULD SHRINK THE HEALTH CARE LAW COULD SHRINK THE WORK FORCE.
WORK FORCE.
>> THE C.B.O.
REPORT TODAY >> THE C.B.O.
REPORT TODAY DEVASTATING, TWO MILLION FEWER DEVASTATING, TWO MILLION FEWER JOBS AS A RESULT OF THE OBAMA JOBS AS A RESULT OF THE OBAMA HEALTH CARE LAW.
HEALTH CARE LAW.
>> THIS SAN EXAMPLE OF WHEN ONE >> THIS SAN EXAMPLE OF WHEN ONE MISINTERPRETATION GOES OUT OF MISINTERPRETATION GOES OUT OF THE BOX EARLY AND GOES AROUND THE BOX EARLY AND GOES AROUND THE WORLDIT T, AKES THE TRUTH A THE WORLDIT T, AKES THE TRUTH A LONG TIME TO CATCH UP.
LONG TIME TO CATCH UP.
GWEN: AND IT WON'T BE THE LAST GWEN: AND IT WON'T BE THE LAST TIME POLITICS GETS IN THE WAY OF TIME POLITICS GETS IN THE WAY OF REALITY.
REALITY.
FROM HEALTH CARE TO DEBT CEILING FROM HEALTH CARE TO DEBT CEILING TO IMMIGRATION DEBATE, IT'S TO IMMIGRATION DEBATE, IT'S MIDTERM ELECTION TIME.
MIDTERM ELECTION TIME.
>> THE CAMPAIGN IS A TIME WHEN >> THE CAMPAIGN IS A TIME WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CONTRAST.
YOU TALK ABOUT CONTRAST.
>> LISTEN, THERE'S WIDESPREAD >> LISTEN, THERE'S WIDESPREAD DOUBT ABOUT WHETHER THIS DOUBT ABOUT WHETHER THIS ADMINISTRATION CAN BE TRUSTED TO ADMINISTRATION CAN BE TRUSTED TO ENFORCE OUR LAWS.
ENFORCE OUR LAWS.
GWEN: HOW ARE THE REDS AND BLUE GWEN: HOW ARE THE REDS AND BLUE SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT SHAPING SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT SHAPING UP.
UP.
COVERING THE WEEK, JIM TANKERSLY COVERING THE WEEK, JIM TANKERSLY OF THE "WASHINGTON POS"T, JANET OF THE "WASHINGTON POS"T, JANET HOOK OF "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."
JOURNAL."
BETH BETH OF "NATIONAL JOURNAL" BETH BETH OF "NATIONAL JOURNAL" AND DOYLE MCMANUS OF THE "LOS AND DOYLE MCMANUS OF THE "LOS ANGELES TIMES."
ANGELES TIMES."
>> AWARD-WINNING REPORTING AND >> AWARD-WINNING REPORTING AND ANALYSIS, COVERING HISTORY AS IT ANALYSIS, COVERING HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS.
HAPPENS.
LIVE FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, LIVE FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK" WITH THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK" WITH GWEN IFILL.
ONCE AGAIN, LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN IFILL.
IFILL.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT'S TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE U.S. ECONOMY HAPPENING WITH THE U.S. ECONOMY IT HELPS TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOWING IT HELPS TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOWING THE -- FOLLOW THE BOUNCING BALL, THE -- FOLLOW THE BOUNCING BALL, FROM JOBS NUMBERS TO A FROM JOBS NUMBERS TO A CORRECTING STOCK MARKET TO A NEW CORRECTING STOCK MARKET TO A NEW FED CHAIR WITH RIPPLES BEING FED CHAIR WITH RIPPLES BEING FELT AROUND THE WORLD.
FELT AROUND THE WORLD.
THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THIS UNCERTAINTY RAISES WILL THIS UNCERTAINTY RAISES WILL AFFECT OUR POCKETS BOOK, OUR AFFECT OUR POCKETS BOOK, OUR LEADERS AND OUR NATIONAL DEBATE.
LEADERS AND OUR NATIONAL DEBATE.
THIS WAS THE PRESIDENT TODAY.
THIS WAS THE PRESIDENT TODAY.
>> EVENT THOUGH THE ECONOMY HAS >> EVENT THOUGH THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN GROWING FOR FOUR YEARS NOW BEEN GROWING FOR FOUR YEARS NOW AND WE'VE BEEN ADDING JOBS FOR AND WE'VE BEEN ADDING JOBS FOR , WHAT'S STILL Y , WHAT'S STILL Y TRUE IS THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE TRUE IS THOSE AT THE TOP OF THE ECONOMIC PYRAMID ARE DOING ECONOMIC PYRAMID ARE DOING BETTER THAN EVER BUT THE AVERAGE BETTER THAN EVER BUT THE AVERAGE AMERICANS' SALARIES HAVEN'T HIS AMERICANS' SALARIES HAVEN'T HIS THAN A VERY LONG TIME.
THAN A VERY LONG TIME.
GWEN: LET'S BEGIN WITH JANUARY GWEN: LET'S BEGIN WITH JANUARY JOBS REPORT.
JOBS REPORT.
>> THERE WAS NEWS IN IT FOR >> THERE WAS NEWS IN IT FOR EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY.
ON THE GOOD SIDE, THE ON THE GOOD SIDE, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FELL, DOWN TO UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FELL, DOWN TO 6.6%, AND WE GAINED JOBS, 6.6%, AND WE GAINED JOBS, 113,000, T 113,000, T WE HAD HOPED TO GET AND WERE WE HAD HOPED TO GET AND WERE FORECAST TO GET AND WE STILL, AS FORECAST TO GET AND WE STILL, AS THE PRESIDENT SAID, DON'T HAVE THE PRESIDENT SAID, DON'T HAVE ANY REAL WAGE GROWTH.
ANY REAL WAGE GROWTH.
INFLATION WAS ABOUT THE SAME INFLATION WAS ABOUT THE SAME LAST YEAR AS SALARY INCREASES, LAST YEAR AS SALARY INCREASES, SAME LAST MONTH.
SAME LAST MONTH.
WE'RE STUCK IN AN ECONOMY WHERE WE'RE STUCK IN AN ECONOMY WHERE WORKERS AREN'T GETTING AHEAD.
WORKERS AREN'T GETTING AHEAD.
GWEN: IF YOU'RE THE CONGRESS AND GWEN: IF YOU'RE THE CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT, WHAT FLASHING LIGHT PRESIDENT, WHAT FLASHING LIGHT DO WE SEE?
DO WE SEE?
>> I THINK IT'S A YELLOW.
>> I THINK IT'S A YELLOW.
IT SAYS CAUTION.
IT SAYS CAUTION.
WE NEED MORE HELP PROBABLY.
WE NEED MORE HELP PROBABLY.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE ECONOMY IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE ECONOMY HAD REACHED A POINT WHERE IT WAS HAD REACHED A POINT WHERE IT WAS GROWING FASTER AND WE'VE SEEN GROWING FASTER AND WE'VE SEEN BETTER GROWTH NUMBERS IN THE BETTER GROWTH NUMBERS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF QUARTERS AND LAST COUPLE OF QUARTERS AND CONGRESS CAN SAY WE CAN STEP OUT CONGRESS CAN SAY WE CAN STEP OUT OF THE WAY AND THINK ABOUT OTHER OF THE WAY AND THINK ABOUT OTHER THINGS.
THINGS.
STILL 113,000 JOBS A MONTH ISN'T STILL 113,000 JOBS A MONTH ISN'T ENOUGH TO PUT THE 10 MILLION ENOUGH TO PUT THE 10 MILLION PEOPLE STILL IN THIS ECONOMY WHO PEOPLE STILL IN THIS ECONOMY WHO WANT TO WORK AND CAN'T FIND A WANT TO WORK AND CAN'T FIND A JOB BACK TO WORK.
JOB BACK TO WORK.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE HAD >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE HAD TO LEARN IS SOMETIMES WHEN THE TO LEARN IS SOMETIMES WHEN THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE COMES DOWN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE COMES DOWN IT'S NOT ALWAYS FOR A GOOD IT'S NOT ALWAYS FOR A GOOD REASON.
REASON.
IT'S BALLS PEOPLE ARE LEAVING IT'S BALLS PEOPLE ARE LEAVING THE LABOR FORCE ASK.
THE LABOR FORCE ASK.
THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE?
THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE?
>> ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT.
>> ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT.
THIS TIME THE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY THIS TIME THE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY SHOWED A HUGE INCREASE IN PEOPLE SHOWED A HUGE INCREASE IN PEOPLE IN THE LABOR FORCE AND PEOPLE IN THE LABOR FORCE AND PEOPLE GETTING JOBS SO WE'RE SEEING A GETTING JOBS SO WE'RE SEEING A DROP FOR A GOOD REASON THIS DROP FOR A GOOD REASON THIS MONTH.
MONTH.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF IT'S A WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF IT'S A SUSTAINED REASON.
SUSTAINED REASON.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE MORE OF THAT HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE MORE OF THAT TO COME.
TO COME.
>> THIS REPORT IS KIND OF A >> THIS REPORT IS KIND OF A WELCOME MAT FOR JANET YELLEN, WELCOME MAT FOR JANET YELLEN, COMING IN RIGHT NOW.
COMING IN RIGHT NOW.
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE ECONOMY HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE ECONOMY SHE'S GOING TO WORK ON?
SHE'S GOING TO WORK ON?
>> I THINK JANET YELLEN HAS TO >> I THINK JANET YELLEN HAS TO LOOK AT THIS REPORT AND SEE LOOK AT THIS REPORT AND SEE PROBABLY NOTHING THAT'S GOING TO PROBABLY NOTHING THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE FED CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE FED POLICY RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS POLICY RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS TAPERING OFF THEIR ASSET TAPERING OFF THEIR ASSET PURCHASES, WHICH HAS BEEN PURCHASES, WHICH HAS BEEN STIMULATING THE ECONOMY.
STIMULATING THE ECONOMY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ABSOLUTELY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE THRESHOLD THAT THE FED HAS SET.
THRESHOLD THAT THE FED HAS SET.
THEY HAD SAID WHEN WE GET TO 6% THEY HAD SAID WHEN WE GET TO 6% UNEMPLOYMENT, WE'RE GOING TO UNEMPLOYMENT, WE'RE GOING TO ART THINKING ABOUT OTHER ART THINKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS.
THINGS.
WE'RE ALMOST THERE AND THE WE'RE ALMOST THERE AND THE ECONOMY STILL DOESN'T LIKE THIS ECONOMY STILL DOESN'T LIKE THIS -- LOOK THAT GREAT.
-- LOOK THAT GREAT.
>> ARE THERE ACTIONS THAT THE >> ARE THERE ACTIONS THAT THE PRESIDENT OR CONGRESS COULD PRESIDENT OR CONGRESS COULD ADDRESS TO SOME OF THE ADDRESS TO SOME OF THE DEFICIENCIES THAT THE REPORT DEFICIENCIES THAT THE REPORT POINTED OUT?
POINTED OUT?
>> FOR ONE, WE'RE STILL SEEING A >> FOR ONE, WE'RE STILL SEEING A DROP IN GLOVET EMPLOYMENT.
DROP IN GLOVET EMPLOYMENT.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR INCREASED THE PRIVATE SECTOR INCREASED FASTER THAN THE HEADLINE WOULD FASTER THAN THE HEADLINE WOULD SUGGEST.
SUGGEST.
THERE'S STILL ROOM FOR FISCAL THERE'S STILL ROOM FOR FISCAL POLICY TO GET LOOSER, FOR THE POLICY TO GET LOOSER, FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT GOVERNMENT TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY OR TO FIND WAYS TO MORE MONEY OR TO FIND WAYS TO PUT MORE MONEY BACK TO WORK.
PUT MORE MONEY BACK TO WORK.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT IS A IF YOU BELIEVE THAT IS A POSITIVE FORCE FOR THE ECONOMY, POSITIVE FORCE FOR THE ECONOMY, YOU SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT THAT YOU SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT THAT OVERHEATING.
OVERHEATING.
>> WE ARE WATCHING THE ECONOMY >> WE ARE WATCHING THE ECONOMY MOSTLY BY LOOKING AT OUR -- IF MOSTLY BY LOOKING AT OUR -- IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE MONEY IN YOUR YOU HAVE A LITTLE MONEY IN YOUR STOCK PORTFOLIO.
STOCK PORTFOLIO.
IF YOU DON'T YOU CAN'T GET INTO IF YOU DON'T YOU CAN'T GET INTO THE JOB MARKET AND A LOW WAGE THE JOB MARKET AND A LOW WAGE IT IN A IT IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY.
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY.
THESE TWO EXTREMES IN THE THESE TWO EXTREMES IN THE ECONOMY, HOW ARE YOU READING ANY ECONOMY, HOW ARE YOU READING ANY OF THIS?
OF THIS?
>> ONE THING WE'VE SEEN IN >> ONE THING WE'VE SEEN IN CONSUMER CONFIDENCE NUMBERS IS CONSUMER CONFIDENCE NUMBERS IS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING MORE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING MORE MONEY FEEL GOOD AND THE PEOPLE MONEY FEEL GOOD AND THE PEOPLE MAKING LESS DONE.
MAKING LESS DONE.
THIS DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A THIS DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A RECOVERY FOR HUGE SWATHS OF RECOVERY FOR HUGE SWATHS OF AMERICAN WORKERS.
AMERICAN WORKERS.
PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT OF >> PEOPLE IN JOCKS BUT ARE >> PEOPLE IN JOCKS BUT ARE AFRAID TO LEAVE THEM AND PEOPLE AFRAID TO LEAVE THEM AND PEOPLE IN JOBS, MAYBE THEY LIKE THEM IN JOBS, MAYBE THEY LIKE THEM BUT THEY HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE IN BUT THEY HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE IN A LONG TIME.
A LONG TIME.
I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE OF THAT I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE OF THAT UNTIL WE GET A LOT FASTER JOB UNTIL WE GET A LOT FASTER JOB GROWTH.
GROWTH.
FULL EMPLOYMENT IS THE THING FULL EMPLOYMENT IS THE THING THAT LIFTS EVERYBODY AND WE'RE THAT LIFTS EVERYBODY AND WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR THAT NOWHERE NEAR THAT GWEN: IS THAT WHY WE HEAR GWEN: IS THAT WHY WE HEAR REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TALK REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TALK SO MUCH ABOUT MOBILITY, SO MUCH ABOUT MOBILITY, INEQUALITY, CLOSING THE GAP.
INEQUALITY, CLOSING THE GAP.
>> OPPORTUNITY.
>> OPPORTUNITY.
GWEN: YOU'VE HEARD THEM ALL BY GWEN: YOU'VE HEARD THEM ALL BY NOW AND I WONDER IF THAT'S WHY NOW AND I WONDER IF THAT'S WHY EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT IT.
EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT IT.
>> IT'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT >> IT'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
WAYS.
THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT THINGS BUT THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT THINGS BUT THEY'RE DIFFERENT WAYS OF SAYING THEY'RE DIFFERENT WAYS OF SAYING HEY, THINGS AREN'T GETTING HEY, THINGS AREN'T GETTING BETTER -- BETTER FOR ME, THE BETTER -- BETTER FOR ME, THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS.
MAJORITY OF AMERICANS.
WE GO BACK TO FED OR CONGRESS, WE GO BACK TO FED OR CONGRESS, THEY NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THEY NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE HELP PEOPLE ALL ACROSS HOW DO WE HELP PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE ECONOMIC SPECTRUM AND NOT THE ECONOMIC SPECTRUM AND NOT JUST FOLKS WHO OWN STOCKS WHO JUST FOLKS WHO OWN STOCKS WHO HAVE SEEN BIG GAINS?
HAVE SEEN BIG GAINS?
GWEN: LET'S MOVE ON.
GWEN: LET'S MOVE ON.
HARD TO REMEMBER A TIME WHEN A HARD TO REMEMBER A TIME WHEN A NORMAL ILLINOIS DRY AND DUSTY NORMAL ILLINOIS DRY AND DUSTY REPORT FROM THE VENERABLE REPORT FROM THE VENERABLE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE CREATED SUCH A STIR, EVEN IN CREATED SUCH A STIR, EVEN IN WASHINGTON WHERE WE LIKE SUCH WASHINGTON WHERE WE LIKE SUCH REPORTS.
REPORTS.
BUT THIS WEEK'S COST AND BENEFIT BUT THIS WEEK'S COST AND BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS OF THE AFFORDABLE ASSESSMENTS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT UNLEASHED THE POLITICAL CARE ACT UNLEASHED THE POLITICAL DOGS.
DOGS.
THE REPORT DECLARED THAT THERE THE REPORT DECLARED THAT THERE WILL BE TWO MILLION FULL-TIME WILL BE TWO MILLION FULL-TIME WORKERS BY 2017 AND THAT THE WORKERS BY 2017 AND THAT THE HEALTH CARE LAW IS THE REASON HEALTH CARE LAW IS THE REASON WHY.
WHY.
BUT HOW YOU READ THOSE NUMBERS BUT HOW YOU READ THOSE NUMBERS HAD A LOT TO DO WITH HOW YOU HAD A LOT TO DO WITH HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT OBAMA CARE.
FEEL ABOUT OBAMA CARE.
>> THEY ESTIMATE UP TO TWO >> THEY ESTIMATE UP TO TWO MILLION FEWER JOCKS WILL BE MILLION FEWER JOCKS WILL BE CREATED AS A RESULT OF OBAMA CREATED AS A RESULT OF OBAMA CARE AND THE TRAGEDY OF IT ALL, CARE AND THE TRAGEDY OF IT ALL, IN ADDITION TO THE LOSS OF JOBS IN ADDITION TO THE LOSS OF JOBS IS YOU HAVE ONCE AGAIN AN IS YOU HAVE ONCE AGAIN AN ESTIMATE FROM C.B.O.
THAT WHEN ESTIMATE FROM C.B.O.
THAT WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, YOU STILL ALL IS SAID AND DONE, YOU STILL HAVE 30 MILLION UNININSURED.
HAVE 30 MILLION UNININSURED.
>> WITH OBAMACARE, NO MATTER >> WITH OBAMACARE, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, THEIR GOAL IS TO WHAT IT IS, THEIR GOAL IS TO REPEAL IT.
REPEAL IT.
WE HAVE THE.B.O.
REPORT WHICH WE HAVE THE.B.O.
REPORT WHICH RIGHTFULLY SAYS THAT PEOPLE RIGHTFULLY SAYS THAT PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE JOB LOCK.
SHOULDN'T HAVE JOB LOCK.
WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE THERE WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE THERE SHOULD BE FREE AGENCY.
SHOULD BE FREE AGENCY.
GWEN: I LOVE THAT NO SURPRISE GWEN: I LOVE THAT NO SURPRISE THAT MITCHELL MCCONNELL AND THAT MITCHELL MCCONNELL AND HARRY REID DON'T AGREEMENT ONE HARRY REID DON'T AGREEMENT ONE SAYS IT'S DISASTER AND ONE SAYS SAYS IT'S DISASTER AND ONE SAYS IT'S JOB LOCK, A NEW TERM FOR ME IT'S JOB LOCK, A NEW TERM FOR ME WHAT IS TRUE ABOUT THE C.B.O.
WHAT IS TRUE ABOUT THE C.B.O.
REPORT?
REPORT?
>> YOU GOT IT RIGHT WHEN YOU >> YOU GOT IT RIGHT WHEN YOU SAID THIS IS A BIG DUSTY OLD SAID THIS IS A BIG DUSTY OLD REPORT.
REPORT.
THIS WAS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE THIS WAS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE C.B.O.
'S ANNUAL OUTLOOK ON THE C.B.O.
'S ANNUAL OUTLOOK ON THE BUDGET AND ECONOMY, A REAL TRY BUDGET AND ECONOMY, A REAL TRY AS DUST KIND OF REPORT.
AS DUST KIND OF REPORT.
BUT THERE WAS THIS EYE POPPING BUT THERE WAS THIS EYE POPPING NUMBER THAT SAID THAT OVER THE NUMBER THAT SAID THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT DECADE AS A COURSE OF THE NEXT DECADE AS A RESULT OF THE HEALTH CARE LAW, RESULT OF THE HEALTH CARE LAW, THE SIZE OF THE WORK FORCE WILL THE SIZE OF THE WORK FORCE WILL SHRINK BY ABOUT 2.5 MILLION -- SHRINK BY ABOUT 2.5 MILLION -- THE EQUIVALENT OF 2.5 MILLION THE EQUIVALENT OF 2.5 MILLION JOBS.
JOBS.
THAT'S NOT JOBS, THAT'S THE SIZE THAT'S NOT JOBS, THAT'S THE SIZE OF THE WORK FORCE, THE NUMBER OF OF THE WORK FORCE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WORKING, THAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WORKING, THAT NUMBER OF HOURS.
HOURS.
THE REPUBLICANS GRAB ON THAT AND THE REPUBLICANS GRAB ON THAT AND SAY OH, THAT MEANS THAT 2.5 SAY OH, THAT MEANS THAT 2.5 MILLION JOBS ARE GOING TO BE MILLION JOBS ARE GOING TO BE LOST.
LOST.
ACTUALLY THE REPORT SAID THE ACTUALLY THE REPORT SAID THE REASON THE WORK FORCE SHRINKS IS REASON THE WORK FORCE SHRINKS IS BECAUSE WITH THE NEW BECAUSE WITH THE NEW AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE HEALTH INSURANCE HEALTH CARE HEALTH INSURANCE OUTSIDE OF THE WORKPLACE, MANY OUTSIDE OF THE WORKPLACE, MANY MORE PEOPLE WILL LEAVE THREAR MORE PEOPLE WILL LEAVE THREAR JOB RATHER THAN STAY IN THE JOB JOB RATHER THAN STAY IN THE JOB JUST TO HOLD ON TO THEIR HEALTH JUST TO HOLD ON TO THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.
INSURANCE.
GWEN: MANY OF THE LOW WAGE GWEN: MANY OF THE LOW WAGE WORKERS.
WORKERS.
>> RIGHTS BUT IF YOU WERE 62 AND >> RIGHTS BUT IF YOU WERE 62 AND WANTED TO RETIRE EARLY, YOU SAY WANTED TO RETIRE EARLY, YOU SAY I CAN'T DO IT UNTIL I QUALIFY I CAN'T DO IT UNTIL I QUALIFY FOR MEDICARE, PEOPLE LIKE THAT FOR MEDICARE, PEOPLE LIKE THAT MIGHT CHOOSE TO DIAL BACK THEIR MIGHT CHOOSE TO DIAL BACK THEIR HOURS OR LEAVE THEIR JOB.
HOURS OR LEAVE THEIR JOB.
THAT'S THE PHENOMENON KNOWN AS THAT'S THE PHENOMENON KNOWN AS JOB LOCK.
JOB LOCK.
PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO LEAVE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF ANYWHERE HEALTH BECAUSE OF ANYWHERE HEALTH INSURANCE.
INSURANCE.
GOIMENT BUT IF THEY CAN FIND A GOIMENT BUT IF THEY CAN FIND A WAY TO COME BACK TO IT THEY WILL WAY TO COME BACK TO IT THEY WILL AND THAT'S WHAT WE SAW HAPPEN A AND THAT'S WHAT WE SAW HAPPEN A LITTLE BIT.
LITTLE BIT.
>> SURE, THEY REALLY SEIZED ON >> SURE, THEY REALLY SEIZED ON THIS AND I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE THIS AND I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE TRIED TO EXPLAIN WHAT THIS TRIED TO EXPLAIN WHAT THIS REPORT REALLY MEANT BUT LIKE WE REPORT REALLY MEANT BUT LIKE WE HAVE SEEN REPEATEDLY ON HAVE SEEN REPEATEDLY ON OBAMACARE, THEY DON'T QUITE KNOW OBAMACARE, THEY DON'T QUITE KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT IN A WAY THAT HOW TO EXPLAIN IT IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE WILL GET IT.
PEOPLE WILL GET IT.
AND SO YOU HAVE THE WHITE HOUSE AND SO YOU HAVE THE WHITE HOUSE TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT AND THEN A TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT AND THEN A LOT OF SILENCE FROM OTHER LOT OF SILENCE FROM OTHER DEMOCRATS, FROM THOSE IN DEMOCRATS, FROM THOSE IN CONGRESS, FROM FOLKS WHO ARE CONGRESS, FROM FOLKS WHO ARE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.
JUST A RELUCTANCE TO GET INTO JUST A RELUCTANCE TO GET INTO THAT DEBATE.
THAT DEBATE.
>> AND BETH, IT'S SO TRUE THAT >> AND BETH, IT'S SO TRUE THAT THIS IS JUST THE LATEST EXAMPLE THIS IS JUST THE LATEST EXAMPLE IN THE ROLLOUT OF OBAMACARE IN THE ROLLOUT OF OBAMACARE WHERE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN -- WHERE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN -- AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAVE BEEN AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAVE BEEN KIND OF CAUGHT FLATFOOTED BY THE KIND OF CAUGHT FLATFOOTED BY THE WAY IT'S ROLLED OUT.
WAY IT'S ROLLED OUT.
THE GLITCHES IN THE WEBSITE, THE THE GLITCHES IN THE WEBSITE, THE FACT THAT INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUAL FACT THAT INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE POLICIES WERE BEING INSURANCE POLICIES WERE BEING CUT OFF.
CUT OFF.
ONE BAD PIECE OF NEWS AFTER THE ONE BAD PIECE OF NEWS AFTER THE OTHER AND THEY'VE HAD A VERY OTHER AND THEY'VE HAD A VERY HARD TIME STEPPING BACK AND HARD TIME STEPPING BACK AND SAYING FINE, THESE ARE THE SAYING FINE, THESE ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM.
BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM.
YOU DON'T HEAR SO MUCH OF THAT.
YOU DON'T HEAR SO MUCH OF THAT.
>> RIGHT AND I ACTUALLY LOOKED >> RIGHT AND I ACTUALLY LOOKED INTO THAT TO SEE IS THERE ANYONE INTO THAT TO SEE IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE TOUTING SUCCESS SNOW OUT THERE TOUTING SUCCESS SNOW SHOWERS THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED SHOWERS THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED FOUR MILLION PEOPLE THAT HAVE FOUR MILLION PEOPLE THAT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE NOW THAT DIDN'T HEALTH INSURANCE NOW THAT DIDN'T HAVE IT.
HAVE IT.
>> >> GWEN: WE'RE NOT SEEING SHOWS GWEN: WE'RE NOT SEEING SHOWS STORIES.
STORIES.
>> WE'RE NOT.
>> WE'RE NOT.
YOU SEE THEM ONLINE BUT SOME YOU SEE THEM ONLINE BUT SOME NONPROMPLETS BUT YOU DON'T SEE NONPROMPLETS BUT YOU DON'T SEE CANDIDATES OR THE PARTICIPANTS CANDIDATES OR THE PARTICIPANTS PUTTING MONEY BEHIND IT ON PUTTING MONEY BEHIND IT ON TELEVISION.
TELEVISION.
>> ISN'T IT EARLY FOR HEALTH >> ISN'T IT EARLY FOR HEALTH CARE ADS OR ANY AVEPEDS LIKE CARE ADS OR ANY AVEPEDS LIKE THAT?
THAT?
>> IT IS BUT AMERICANS FOR >> IT IS BUT AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY, THE NEW BIG SUPER PROSPERITY, THE NEW BIG SUPER PAK OF THE CYCLE, FUNDED BY THE PAK OF THE CYCLE, FUNDED BY THE COK BROTHERS JUMPED ON THE BAND COK BROTHERS JUMPED ON THE BAND WAGON QUICKLY IN OCTOBER.
WAGON QUICKLY IN OCTOBER.
ONCE THE LAW LAUNCHED AND WE HAD ONCE THE LAW LAUNCHED AND WE HAD ALL THOSE WEBSITE TROUBLES, THEY ALL THOSE WEBSITE TROUBLES, THEY SAW AN OPPORTUNITY AND THAT SAW AN OPPORTUNITY AND THAT GROUP HAS SPENT $27 MILLION JUST GROUP HAS SPENT $27 MILLION JUST SINCE OCTOBER.
SINCE OCTOBER.
WHICH -- THAT'S UNPRECEDENTED.
WHICH -- THAT'S UNPRECEDENTED.
GWEN: AND IS THIS APPROACH A GWEN: AND IS THIS APPROACH A POLITICAL APPROACH OR A POLICY POLITICAL APPROACH OR A POLICY APPROACH?
APPROACH?
WHICH IS TO SAY, DO THESE ADS WHICH IS TO SAY, DO THESE ADS AND DO THESE EFFORTS, DO THEY AND DO THESE EFFORTS, DO THEY SAY DON'T VOTE FOR THIS GUY SAY DON'T VOTE FOR THIS GUY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TRUST HIM, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TRUST HIM, OBAMA IS TERRIBLE.
OBAMA IS TERRIBLE.
DO THEY SAY THIS IS WHAT'S DO THEY SAY THIS IS WHAT'S WRONG, THAT IS WHAT'S WRONG?
WRONG, THAT IS WHAT'S WRONG?
>> A LOT OF THESE OUTSIDE ADS >> A LOT OF THESE OUTSIDE ADS BETH IS REFERRING TO ARE BETH IS REFERRING TO ARE ORIENTED TOWARDS FRAMING HOW ORIENTED TOWARDS FRAMING HOW PEOPLE VIEW WITH LAW ITSELF AND PEOPLE VIEW WITH LAW ITSELF AND THEN ASSOCIATING A CANDIDATE THEN ASSOCIATING A CANDIDATE WITH IT.
WITH IT.
PROBABLY THE MORE INTERESTING PROBABLY THE MORE INTERESTING AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING THING AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING THING IS THAT THE DEMOCRATIC ADS RUN IS THAT THE DEMOCRATIC ADS RUN RELATED AS OFTEN RELATED AS OFTEN AS NOT IF IT'S A VULNERABLE AS NOT IF IT'S A VULNERABLE DEMOCRAT IN A SWING STATE DEMOCRAT IN A SWING STATE THEY'RE DISTANCING THEMSELVES THEY'RE DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM THE PROGRAM.
FROM THE PROGRAM.
OR ONE CONGRESSWOMAN IN A SWING OR ONE CONGRESSWOMAN IN A SWING STATE IN ARIZONA RUNNING AN AD STATE IN ARIZONA RUNNING AN AD SAYING I BLEW THE WHISTLE ON SAYING I BLEW THE WHISTLE ON THIS AWFUL WEBSITE OR A CASE THIS AWFUL WEBSITE OR A CASE LAST WEEK OF WHERE OBAMA GOT LAST WEEK OF WHERE OBAMA GOT THIS MESSAGE IN HIS FACE WHEN HE THIS MESSAGE IN HIS FACE WHEN HE HAD A BUNCH OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAD A BUNCH OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS UP TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND ONE UP TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND ONE STOOD UP AND SAID I THINK HEADS STOOD UP AND SAID I THINK HEADS SHOULD ROLL OVER THIS.
SHOULD ROLL OVER THIS.
AND THAT'S DEMOCRATS.
AND THAT'S DEMOCRATS.
>> DEMOCRATS A SOUNDING A LOT >> DEMOCRATS A SOUNDING A LOT LIKE REPUBLICANS.
LIKE REPUBLICANS.
>> LET ME GO BACK TO THE C.B.O.
>> LET ME GO BACK TO THE C.B.O.
REPORT.
REPORT.
I THINK WE ALL GOT THAT IT'S NOT I THINK WE ALL GOT THAT IT'S NOT JOBS THAT ARE BEING LOST.
JOBS THAT ARE BEING LOST.
IT'S PEOPLE DECIDING TO LEAVE IT'S PEOPLE DECIDING TO LEAVE THE LABOR FORCE AND SOME THE LABOR FORCE AND SOME DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO SPIN DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO SPIN THAT AS A WONDERFUL NEW FREEDOM.
THAT AS A WONDERFUL NEW FREEDOM.
YOU CAN RETIRE EARLY, TAKE CARE YOU CAN RETIRE EARLY, TAKE CARE OF YOUR KIDS BUT THERE WAS OF YOUR KIDS BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THERE ABOUT SOMETHING IN THERE ABOUT DISINCENTIVES FOR LOW INCOME DISINCENTIVES FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE THAT MIGHT CAUSE SOME PEOPLE THAT MIGHT CAUSE SOME PEOPLE TO NOT WANT TO WORK SO PEOPLE TO NOT WANT TO WORK SO THEY COULD QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID THEY COULD QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID OR NOT EVEN LOOK FOR A BETTER OR NOT EVEN LOOK FOR A BETTER JOB.
JOB.
IS THERE A PROBLEM THERE IN IS THERE A PROBLEM THERE IN TERMS OF WHERE THE INCENTIVES TERMS OF WHERE THE INCENTIVES ARE?
ARE?
>> I DON'T THINK THE C.B.O.
>> I DON'T THINK THE C.B.O.
REPORT GOT INTO MOTIVATION BUT REPORT GOT INTO MOTIVATION BUT DID POINT OUT THAT -- OBAMACARE DID POINT OUT THAT -- OBAMACARE PROVIDES SUBSIDIES FOR LOWER PROVIDES SUBSIDIES FOR LOWER INCOME PEOPLE AND IF YOU'RE INCOME PEOPLE AND IF YOU'RE ABOUT TO MAKE ENOUGH INCOME THAT ABOUT TO MAKE ENOUGH INCOME THAT YOU NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR THE YOU NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR THE SUBTS DIS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO SUBTS DIS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO DIAL BACK YOUR HOURS AND INCOME DIAL BACK YOUR HOURS AND INCOME TO QUALIFY AND THAT'S KIND OF TO QUALIFY AND THAT'S KIND OF TRUE WITH ALL NEEDS-BASED TRUE WITH ALL NEEDS-BASED FEDERAL PROGRAMS.
FEDERAL PROGRAMS.
I DO THINK THAT THE BROADER I DO THINK THAT THE BROADER PICTURE -- IT'S KIND OF A WONKY PICTURE -- IT'S KIND OF A WONKY BUT INTERESTING REPORT.
BUT INTERESTING REPORT.
THE HEALTH CARE LAW CHANGED A THE HEALTH CARE LAW CHANGED A HUGE SEGMENT OF OUR ECONOMY AND HUGE SEGMENT OF OUR ECONOMY AND THIS IS THE FIRST REALLY GOOD THIS IS THE FIRST REALLY GOOD LOOK AT THE MANY WAYS THAT IT LOOK AT THE MANY WAYS THAT IT DID AND THE INCENTIVES FOR WORK DID AND THE INCENTIVES FOR WORK AND FOR HOW LONG YOU WORK ARE AND FOR HOW LONG YOU WORK ARE JUST ONE OF THEM.
JUST ONE OF THEM.
>> IF THOSE INCENTIVE BREAK >> IF THOSE INCENTIVE BREAK POINTS END UP BEING IN THE WRONG POINTS END UP BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE, CONGRESS COULD COME BACK PLACE, CONGRESS COULD COME BACK AND FIX IT, RIGHT?
AND FIX IT, RIGHT?
>> THEY COULD BUT BREAK POINTS, >> THEY COULD BUT BREAK POINTS, YOU COULD HAVE THEM EVERYWHERE.
YOU COULD HAVE THEM EVERYWHERE.
GWEN: I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THAT IT GWEN: I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THAT IT SEEMS TO ME IN A REPORT LIKE SEEMS TO ME IN A REPORT LIKE THIS THIS WAS GOOD NEWS TO BE THIS THIS WAS GOOD NEWS TO BE HAD IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE IT HAD IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE IT THAT WAY.
THAT WAY.
DOES THE ADMINISTRATION NOT KNOW DOES THE ADMINISTRATION NOT KNOW A REPORT LIKE THAT IS COMING A REPORT LIKE THAT IS COMING OUT?
OUT?
>> I WAS ASTONISHED AT HOW >> I WAS ASTONISHED AT HOW PREPARED THE REPUBLICANS WERE TO PREPARED THE REPUBLICANS WERE TO GET AT THAT POINT?
GET AT THAT POINT?
>> THEY'VE BEEN SAYING THIS IS >> THEY'VE BEEN SAYING THIS IS BAD FOR THE ECONOMY.
BAD FOR THE ECONOMY.
NOW THEY HAVE TO PLUG IN THE NOW THEY HAVE TO PLUG IN THE NUMBER.
NUMBER.
THIS IS AN ARGUMENT THEY'VE BEEN THIS IS AN ARGUMENT THEY'VE BEEN MAKING FOR MONTHS.
MAKING FOR MONTHS.
GWEN: LET'S ASSUME FOR A MOMENT GWEN: LET'S ASSUME FOR A MOMENT THAT WE KNOW THIS IS A BIG THAT WE KNOW THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR THE DEMOCRATS.
PROBLEM FOR THE DEMOCRATS.
THEIR POLLS SHOW THAT PEOPLE THEIR POLLS SHOW THAT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THIS, WHETHER THEY'RE DON'T LIKE THIS, WHETHER THEY'RE RIGHT ON THE DETAILS OR NOT.
RIGHT ON THE DETAILS OR NOT.
WHAT EVIDENCE HAVE YOU SEEN THAT WHAT EVIDENCE HAVE YOU SEEN THAT THERE'S A PUSHBACK UNDER WAY OR THERE'S A PUSHBACK UNDER WAY OR EVEN AN ERKT FIVE EFFORT TO EVEN AN ERKT FIVE EFFORT TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT?
CHANGE THE SUBJECT?
>> THERE'S DEFINITELY AN EFFORT >> THERE'S DEFINITELY AN EFFORT TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT.
TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT.
THE DEMOCRATS BEING ATTACKED THE DEMOCRATS BEING ATTACKED RIGHT NOW ON OBAMACARE ARE NOT RIGHT NOW ON OBAMACARE ARE NOT NECESSARILY RESPONDING WITH NECESSARILY RESPONDING WITH LIKE-MINDED ATTACKS.
LIKE-MINDED ATTACKS.
ACTUALLY, THE LAW IS DOING THAT ACTUALLY, THE LAW IS DOING THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT MEDICARE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT MEDICARE INSTEAD, SOCIAL SECURITY.
INSTEAD, SOCIAL SECURITY.
GWEN: THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT GWEN: THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PREEXISTING CONDITIONS OR PREEXISTING CONDITIONS OR KEEPING YOUR KIDS ON YOUR KEEPING YOUR KIDS ON YOUR INSURANCE PLAN?
INSURANCE PLAN?
>> NO, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE >> NO, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MINIMUM WAGE.
MINIMUM WAGE.
ISSUES THEY CAN FEEL THEY CAN GO ISSUES THEY CAN FEEL THEY CAN GO ON THE OFFENSE ON REPUBLICANS ON THE OFFENSE ON REPUBLICANS ADDS OPPOSED TO PLAYING DEFENSE ADDS OPPOSED TO PLAYING DEFENSE ON OBAMA KAYE CARE.
ON OBAMA KAYE CARE.
I THINK THERE'S GENERAL I THINK THERE'S GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT IF THE REFERENDUM CONSENSUS THAT IF THE REFERENDUM IS ABOUT OBAMACARE IT DOESN'T IS ABOUT OBAMACARE IT DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR THEM.
BODE WELL FOR THEM.
>> WHAT'S THE BIGGER ISSUE, >> WHAT'S THE BIGGER ISSUE, OBAMACARE OR JUST PRESIDENT OBAMACARE OR JUST PRESIDENT OBAMA?
OBAMA?
>> IN SOME OF THE SWING STATES >> IN SOME OF THE SWING STATES WHERE THEY'RE HAVING TO DEFEND WHERE THEY'RE HAVING TO DEFEND OBAMACARE IT IS KIND OF DVEND OBAMACARE IT IS KIND OF DVEND DEFENDING OBAMA BY PROXY.
DEFENDING OBAMA BY PROXY.
DAVID PRYOR THE SENATOR RUN FOR DAVID PRYOR THE SENATOR RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.
RE-ELECTION.
GWEN: MARK PRIOR.
GWEN: MARK PRIOR.
>> YES, HE'S IN A STATE THAT >> YES, HE'S IN A STATE THAT BENEFITS KEYEDINGLY -- BENEFITS KEYEDINGLY -- EXCEEDINGLY FROM THE OBAMACARE EXCEEDINGLY FROM THE OBAMACARE PROGRAM BUT OBAMA IS SO PROGRAM BUT OBAMA IS SO NPARTICULAR THAT THERE HE -- NPARTICULAR THAT THERE HE -- UNPOPULAR THERE HAYE -- HE UNPOPULAR THERE HAYE -- HE PROBABLY HAS TO KEEP HIS PROBABLY HAS TO KEEP HIS DISTANCE BY ASSOCIATION.
DISTANCE BY ASSOCIATION.
>> SOME OF THE STATE WITH LOW >> SOME OF THE STATE WITH LOW INSURANCE RATES ARE THE ONES INSURANCE RATES ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN MOST RESISTANT.
THAT HAVE BEEN MOST RESISTANT.
GWEN: LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT GWEN: LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT THE PRESIDENT USING THE PEN AND THE PRESIDENT USING THE PEN AND THE PHONE AND WHAT HE SEEMS TO THE PHONE AND WHAT HE SEEMS TO BE FOCUSING MORE ON RATHER THAN BE FOCUSING MORE ON RATHER THAN DEFENDING HIS SIGNATURE DOMESTI DEFENDING HIS SIGNATURE DOMESTI SUBJECT.
SUBJECT.
DECIDED WHEN C.V.S.
DECIDED WHEN C.V.S.
TO STOP SELLING TOBACCO IN THEIR TO STOP SELLING TOBACCO IN THEIR STORES.
STORES.
THEY'RE GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO THEY'RE GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THE WORK THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T DO THE WORK THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T GET PASSED IN CONGRESS.
GET PASSED IN CONGRESS.
AM I OVERREADING THAT?
AM I OVERREADING THAT?
>> EVEN IN THE CAMPAIGN THE >> EVEN IN THE CAMPAIGN THE PRESIDENT SPOKE LITTLE ABOUT PRESIDENT SPOKE LITTLE ABOUT OBAMACARE.
OBAMACARE.
THE ONE PLACE YOU DID SEE THE ONE PLACE YOU DID SEE ADVERTISING ABOUT THE HEALTH ADVERTISING ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE LAW WAS ON SPANISH LANGUAGE CARE LAW WAS ON SPANISH LANGUAGE MEDIA.
MEDIA.
AT THAT TIME, THIS WAS BEFORE AT THAT TIME, THIS WAS BEFORE THE BUMPIER ROLLOUT.
THE BUMPIER ROLLOUT.
SUPPORT WAS VERY HIGH IN THE SUPPORT WAS VERY HIGH IN THE PISS SPAN -- HISPANIC COMMUNITY PISS SPAN -- HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND THAT MAY BE THE ONE PLACE WE AND THAT MAY BE THE ONE PLACE WE DO SEE ADS THIS CYCLE.
DO SEE ADS THIS CYCLE.
GWEN: WE'LL BE WATCHING TO SEE GWEN: WE'LL BE WATCHING TO SEE IF ANYBODY EVER FINALLY DEFENDER IF ANYBODY EVER FINALLY DEFENDER IT.
IT.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE POLITICS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE POLITICS OF THE ECONOMY AND HEALTH CARE.
OF THE ECONOMY AND HEALTH CARE.
THAT BRINGS US TO THE POLITICS THAT BRINGS US TO THE POLITICS OF POLITICS.
OF POLITICS.
WHAT WILL THIS FALL'S MIDTERM WHAT WILL THIS FALL'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS BE ABOUT?
ELECTIONS BE ABOUT?
WE'VE SET IT UP, DOYLE.
WE'VE SET IT UP, DOYLE.
>> YOU'VE COVERED IT ALL.
>> YOU'VE COVERED IT ALL.
IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT THE IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT THE POLITICS OF THE ECONOMY AND POLITICS OF THE ECONOMY AND HEALTH CARE AND A COUPLE OF HEALTH CARE AND A COUPLE OF OTHER ISSUES TOO.
OTHER ISSUES TOO.
IT'S NOTTABLE JUST HEARING THIS IT'S NOTTABLE JUST HEARING THIS DISCUSSION, WE HAVEN'T BEEN DISCUSSION, WE HAVEN'T BEEN DEBATING HIGH POLICY, HOW TO FIX DEBATING HIGH POLICY, HOW TO FIX OBAMA CARE.
OBAMA CARE.
YOU TAKE THESE UNEMPLOYMENT YOU TAKE THESE UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS, COULD WE GOOSE THE NUMBERS, COULD WE GOOSE THE ECONOMY -- NO, THIS IS ALL ABOUT ECONOMY -- NO, THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE NEXT NINE MONTHS AND A THE NEXT NINE MONTHS AND A CAMPAIGN AND HOW EACH OF THE TWO CAMPAIGN AND HOW EACH OF THE TWO PARTICIPANTS CAN POSITION ITSELF PARTICIPANTS CAN POSITION ITSELF PROPERLY TO LOOK A LITTLE BETTER PROPERLY TO LOOK A LITTLE BETTER AND EVEN THOUGH ALL OF OUR AND EVEN THOUGH ALL OF OUR VIEWERS KNOW THIS ALREADY, WE VIEWERS KNOW THIS ALREADY, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE CONTEXT AND HAVE TO REMEMBER THE CONTEXT AND THAT IS THAT IT'S A VERY LONG THAT IS THAT IT'S A VERY LONG SHOT FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO TAKE SHOT FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO TAKE BACK THE HOUSE OF BACK THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHERE THEY NEED REPRESENTATIVES WHERE THEY NEED 17 SEATS BUT IT'S NOT A LONG 17 SEATS BUT IT'S NOT A LONG SHOT FOR REPUBLICANS TO WIN THE SHOT FOR REPUBLICANS TO WIN THE NET SIX SEATS TO TAKE THE NET SIX SEATS TO TAKE THE SENATE.
SENATE.
GWEN: SO THE RUBBER IS HITTING GWEN: SO THE RUBBER IS HITTING THE ROAD.
THE ROAD.
JIM'S QUESTION HAS BEEN JIM'S QUESTION HAS BEEN ANSWERED, IT'S NOT TOO SOON.
ANSWERED, IT'S NOT TOO SOON.
WHERE IS IT HID -- HITTING THE WHERE IS IT HID -- HITTING THE ROAD AND HOW?
ROAD AND HOW?
>> IN A LOT OF SENATE RACES ALL >> IN A LOT OF SENATE RACES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, BETH MENTIONED OVER THE COUNTRY, BETH MENTIONED THE ADS ALREADY RUNNING IN SOME THE ADS ALREADY RUNNING IN SOME STATES.
STATES.
I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE, NORTH I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE, NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE THAT GROUP HAS CAROLINA, WHERE THAT GROUP HAS ALREADY SPENT $7 MILLION ON ADS ALREADY SPENT $7 MILLION ON ADS ON OBAMA CARE.
ON OBAMA CARE.
THE LAST TIME KATE HAGGAN RAN THE LAST TIME KATE HAGGAN RAN FOR THE SENATE SIX YEARS AGO SHE FOR THE SENATE SIX YEARS AGO SHE SPENT ABOUT $8 MILLION IN TOTAL.
SPENT ABOUT $8 MILLION IN TOTAL.
A GROUP OPPOSING HER ALREADY A GROUP OPPOSING HER ALREADY SPENT $7 MILLION.
SPENT $7 MILLION.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS HUGE.
TALKING ABOUT IS HUGE.
LET ME STOP AND LOOK AT THE LET ME STOP AND LOOK AT THE REPUBLICANS FOR A MINUTE.
REPUBLICANS FOR A MINUTE.
THEY'RE HAVING A REALLY THEY'RE HAVING A REALLY INTERESTING DEBATE ON WHAT THEIR INTERESTING DEBATE ON WHAT THEIR POSITION OUGHT TO BE.
POSITION OUGHT TO BE.
ARE YEAR THINKING ARE YEAR THINKING OBAMACARE.
OBAMACARE.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS SAY ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS SAY OBAMACARE.
OBAMACARE.
BUT THERE'S A DEBATE IN THE BUT THERE'S A DEBATE IN THE PARTY, MAYBE THAT'S NOT QUITE PARTY, MAYBE THAT'S NOT QUITE ENOUGH.
ENOUGH.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU LOOK AT THE FOR EXAMPLE, YOU LOOK AT THE POLLS, MOST PEOPLE DON'T LIKE POLLS, MOST PEOPLE DON'T LIKE OBAMACARE BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO OBAMACARE BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO REPEAL IT, THEY WANT TO FIX ITS REPEAL IT, THEY WANT TO FIX ITS -- IT.
-- IT.
NOW REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING WE'RE NOW REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT AN ALTERNATIVE GOING TO PRESENT AN ALTERNATIVE TO OBAMACARE.
TO OBAMACARE.
THERE'S ALREADY ONE IN THE THERE'S ALREADY ONE IN THE SENATE.
SENATE.
THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP SAYS THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP SAYS THEY'RE WORKING ON ONE IN THE THEY'RE WORKING ON ONE IN THE HOUSE.
HOUSE.
THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY KEEP DIVIDING OVER IT.
KEEP DIVIDING OVER IT.
THE ECONOMY, DAVID WINSTON WILL THE ECONOMY, DAVID WINSTON WILL TELL YOU WHEN THEY WON IN 2010 TELL YOU WHEN THEY WON IN 2010 THEY WON BECAUSE OF OBAMACARE.
THEY WON BECAUSE OF OBAMACARE.
ACTUALLY, THEY WON BECAUSE OF ACTUALLY, THEY WON BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY.
THE ECONOMY.
PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK OBAMA WAS PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK OBAMA WAS DOING ENOUGH TO GET JOBS BACK SO DOING ENOUGH TO GET JOBS BACK SO THEY'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH A THEY'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH A MESSAGE ON ECONOMY AND FINALLY, MESSAGE ON ECONOMY AND FINALLY, THEY'RE TRYING TO SHAKE LOOSE THEY'RE TRYING TO SHAKE LOOSE OM THAT IMAGE OF BEING OM THAT IMAGE OF BEING OBSTRUCTIONISTS.
OBSTRUCTIONISTS.
THAT IMAGE THEY GOT BY SHUTTING THAT IMAGE THEY GOT BY SHUTTING THE GOVERNMENT DOWN LAST FALL.
THE GOVERNMENT DOWN LAST FALL.
>> ONE ISSUE I THOUGHT THEY >> ONE ISSUE I THOUGHT THEY WOULD PURSUE IS IMMIGRATION WOULD PURSUE IS IMMIGRATION REFORM -- REFORM -- >> WHERE DID YOU GET THAT IDEA?
>> WHERE DID YOU GET THAT IDEA?
>> JUST LAST WEEK THEN JOHN >> JUST LAST WEEK THEN JOHN BOEHNER CAME OUT AFTER THEIR BOEHNER CAME OUT AFTER THEIR PARTRETRY EAT AND SAID THESE OUR PARTRETRY EAT AND SAID THESE OUR INCIPRPLES AND YESTERDAY HE INCIPRPLES AND YESTERDAY HE PULLED THE PLUG AND SAID MAYBE PULLED THE PLUG AND SAID MAYBE NOT.
NOT.
>> THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE >> THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE CHUNK OF THIS NEW CONSTRUCTIVE CHUNK OF THIS NEW CONSTRUCTIVE OSITIVE ALTERNATIVES TO CHOOSE OSITIVE ALTERNATIVES TO CHOOSE AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT JOHN AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT JOHN BANE EARN RAN INTO A BUZZ SAW OF BANE EARN RAN INTO A BUZZ SAW OF OPPOSITION IN HIS OWN PARTY.
OPPOSITION IN HIS OWN PARTY.
IN THE HOUSE THEY NEVER WANTED IN THE HOUSE THEY NEVER WANTED TO TACKLE IMMIGRATION CERTAINLY TO TACKLE IMMIGRATION CERTAINLY BEFORE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES BEFORE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE REPUBLICAN BASE PEOPLE IN THE REPUBLICAN BASE WHO HATE THE IDEA OF IMMIGRATION WHO HATE THE IDEA OF IMMIGRATION REFORM.
REFORM.
IT TURNS OUT THAT A LOT OF IT TURNS OUT THAT A LOT OF REPUBLICANS DIDN'T WANT TO REPUBLICANS DIDN'T WANT TO TACKLE IT THIS YEAR AT ALL.
TACKLE IT THIS YEAR AT ALL.
SO BOEHNER CAME OUT AND SAID WE SO BOEHNER CAME OUT AND SAID WE CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE WE CAN NEVER CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE WE CAN NEVER TRUST THIS PRESIDENT TO ENFORCE TRUST THIS PRESIDENT TO ENFORCE A BILL IF WE PASSED IT.
A BILL IF WE PASSED IT.
GWEN: HE PIVOTED FROM TALKING GWEN: HE PIVOTED FROM TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES TO TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES TO TALKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT.
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT.
>> THERE'S KIND OF A PROBLEM >> THERE'S KIND OF A PROBLEM WITH THAT POSITION, THOUGH, WITH THAT POSITION, THOUGH, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T TRUST THIS BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T TRUST THIS PRESIDENT TO ENFORCE AN PRESIDENT TO ENFORCE AN IMMIGRATION BILL THIS YEAR, THEN IMMIGRATION BILL THIS YEAR, THEN IT MEANS YOU CAN'T TRUST HIM IT MEANS YOU CAN'T TRUST HIM THIS YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER.
THIS YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER.
IT'S NOT SOLVING THE IT'S NOT SOLVING THE REPUBLICANS' PROBLEM ON REPUBLICANS' PROBLEM ON IMMIGRATION YET.
IMMIGRATION YET.
>> WHO IS THE MORE POLL-TESTED >> WHO IS THE MORE POLL-TESTED PERSUASIVE MESSAGE ON THE PERSUASIVE MESSAGE ON THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW, THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW, THE REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, OR REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, OR ANYBODY?
ANYBODY?
>> WE ALL OVERTHINK THIS A >> WE ALL OVERTHINK THIS A LITTLE BIT.
LITTLE BIT.
THE PROBLEM ON BOTH THE ECONOMY THE PROBLEM ON BOTH THE ECONOMY AND OBAMACARE IS EASY FOR THE AND OBAMACARE IS EASY FOR THE REPUBLICANS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE REPUBLICANS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GROUCHY ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND GROUCHY ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND THEY'RE GROUCHY ABOUT OBAMACARE.
THEY'RE GROUCHY ABOUT OBAMACARE.
THEIR CHALLENGE IS DO WE DO THEIR CHALLENGE IS DO WE DO MORE?
MORE?
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A TOUGHER THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A TOUGHER CHALLENGE THAT'S MORE CHALLENGE THAT'S MORE INTERESTING AND THAT ASK WHAT IS INTERESTING AND THAT ASK WHAT IS OUR MESSAGE ON THESE?
OUR MESSAGE ON THESE?
YOU RAN THAT CLIP OF PRESIDENT YOU RAN THAT CLIP OF PRESIDENT OBAMA.
OBAMA.
HE IS DOING SOMETHING A LITTLE HE IS DOING SOMETHING A LITTLE RISKY.
RISKY.
HE IS BEGINNING TO SAY THE HE IS BEGINNING TO SAY THE ECONOMY IS BETTER NOW BUT IT'S ECONOMY IS BETTER NOW BUT IT'S NOT BETTER FOR YOU SO GIVE ME NOT BETTER FOR YOU SO GIVE ME CREDIT FOR THE BETTER PART AND CREDIT FOR THE BETTER PART AND I'LL TRY AND GET TO WORK ON THE I'LL TRY AND GET TO WORK ON THE OTHER PART.
OTHER PART.
HE TRIED TO DO THAT IN 2010.
HE TRIED TO DO THAT IN 2010.
IT DIDN'T WORK.
IT DIDN'T WORK.
WHERE THE DEMOCRATS ARE MOVING WHERE THE DEMOCRATS ARE MOVING ON THAT -- ON THAT -- GWEN: WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO LOOSE GWEN: WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO LOOSE AT THIS POINT?
AT THIS POINT?
>> HE'S STUCK WITH IT AND >> HE'S STUCK WITH IT AND THEY'RE MOVING TOWARDS THIS THEY'RE MOVING TOWARDS THIS BASKET OF FAIRNESS, EQUALITY, BASKET OF FAIRNESS, EQUALITY, OPPORTUNITY ISSUES.
OPPORTUNITY ISSUES.
VERY CLINTONIAN.
VERY CLINTONIAN.
IT'S NO ACCIDENT THAT BILL IT'S NO ACCIDENT THAT BILL CLINTON WAS THE MOTIVATIONAL CLINTON WAS THE MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER AND COACH AT THE SENATE SPEAKER AND COACH AT THE SENATE DEMOCRATS RETREAT.
DEMOCRATS RETREAT.
GWEN: I THINK I'VE LIVED THROUGH GWEN: I THINK I'VE LIVED THROUGH THIS BEFORE.
THIS BEFORE.
WHENEVER THEY'RE IN TROUBLE WHENEVER THEY'RE IN TROUBLE MIDTERMS, THEY BRING IN BILL MIDTERMS, THEY BRING IN BILL CLINTON.
CLINTON.
HE SAYWAKES UP, DEMOCRATS.
HE SAYWAKES UP, DEMOCRATS.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
WE HAVE TO STOP BUT THE WE HAVE TO STOP BUT THE CONVERSATION WILL ONYEWU -- CONVERSATION WILL ONYEWU -- CONTINUE ONLINE WHERE WE'LL TALK CONTINUE ONLINE WHERE WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE DEBT CEILING DEBATE ABOUT THE DEBT CEILING DEBATE THAT NEVER SEEMS TO GO AWAY.
THAT NEVER SEEMS TO GO AWAY.
IT STREAMS LIVE AT 8:30 P.M.
IT STREAMS LIVE AT 8:30 P.M. EASTERN OR CATCH IT ALL WEEK EASTERN OR CATCH IT ALL WEEK LONG AT PBS.ORG/"WASHINGTON LONG AT PBS.ORG/"WASHINGTON WEEK."
WEEK."
ALSO ONLINE, EREAD MY TAKE ON ALSO ONLINE, EREAD MY TAKE ON JOURNALISM, HEROISM AND JOURNALISM, HEROISM AND SHERLOCK.
SHERLOCK.
WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE NEXT WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE NEXT WEEK ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
WEEK ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
GOOD NIGHT.