GWEN: THE ESCALATING SCANDAL AT THE V.A., TACKLING CHINESE THE V.A., TACKLING CHINESE CYBERHACKING., CYBERHACKING., TUESDAY'S WINNERS AND LOSERS, TUESDAY'S WINNERS AND LOSERS, AND THE GREAT SOCIETY 50 YEARS AND THE GREAT SOCIETY 50 YEARS LATER, TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON LATER, TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
WEEK."
>> IF THESE ALLEGATIONS PROVE >> IF THESE ALLEGATIONS PROVE TO BE TRUE IT IS DISHONORABLE.
TO BE TRUE IT IS DISHONORABLE.
IT IS DISGRACEFUL.
IT IS DISGRACEFUL.
AND I WILL NOTOTOLERATE IT.
AND I WILL NOTOTOLERATE IT.
PERIOD.
PERIOD.
GWEN: NEW ALLEGATIONS OF COOKED GWEN: NEW ALLEGATIONS OF COOKED BOOKS, LONG IT TWAIMES AND BOOKS, LONG IT TWAIMES AND WIDESPREAD MISMANAGEMENT AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ANGERS LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES ANGERS LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
OF THE AISLE.
>> WHAT IS TAKING PLACE TODAY >> WHAT IS TAKING PLACE TODAY IN AMERICA'S VETERANS IN AMERICA'S VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MAY BE THE MOST ADMINISTRATION MAY BE THE MOST EGREGIOUS CASE OF FRIENDLY FIRE EGREGIOUS CASE OF FRIENDLY FIRE IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMAMICA.
STATES OF AMAMICA.
>> THERE WAS NO URGENCY.
>> THERE WAS NO URGENCY.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE NEED URGENCY!
MR. PRESIDENT, WE NEED URGENCY!
WE NEED YOU TO ROLL UP OUR WE NEED YOU TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND GET INTO THESE SLEEVES AND GET INTO THESE HOSPITALS.
HOSPITALS.
GWEN: LET THE INVEIGATSTIONS GWEN: LET THE INVEIGATSTIONS BEGIN.
BEGIN.
AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT -- AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT -- INDICTMENTS AIMED AT GETTING INDICTMENTS AIMED AT GETTING THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO STOP THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO STOP HACKING AMERICAN COMPANIES.
HACKING AMERICAN COMPANIES.
>> THESE CRIMINAL CHARGES >> THESE CRIMINAL CHARGES REPRESENT A GROUNDBREAKING STEP REPRESENT A GROUNDBREAKING STEP FORWARD IN ADDRESSING THAT FORWARD IN ADDRESSING THAT THREAT.
THREAT.
GWEN: BUT WHAT EFFECT WILL THEY GWEN: BUT WHAT EFFECT WILL THEY HAVE?
HAVE?
ELECTION DAY VICTORIES ELECTION DAY VICTORIES STRENGTHEN REPUBLICAN PROSPECTS STRENGTHEN REPUBLICAN PROSPECTS FOR THE FALL AND CLARIFY THEIR FOR THE FALL AND CLARIFY THEIR STRATEGIES.
STRATEGIES.
>> KENTUCKIANS ARE NOT GOING TO >> KENTUCKIANS ARE NOT GOING TO BE DECEIVED.
BE DECEIVED.
ALISON LUNDERGAN GRIMES IS ALISON LUNDERGAN GRIMES IS BARACK OBAMA'S CANDIDATE.
BARACK OBAMA'S CANDIDATE.
GWENAND : HALF A CENTURY AFTER GWENAND : HALF A CENTURY AFTER LYNDON JOHNSON ENGINEERED A LYNDON JOHNSON ENGINEERED A SWEEPING EXPANSION OF SWEEPING EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT -- GOVERNMENT -- >> FOR IN YOUR TIME WE HAVE THE >> FOR IN YOUR TIME WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE NOT ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE NOT ONLY TOWARD THE RICH SOCIETY AND THE TOWARD THE RICH SOCIETY AND THE POWERFUL SOCIETY, BUT UPWARD TO POWERFUL SOCIETY, BUT UPWARD TO THE GREAT SOCIETY.
THE GREAT SOCIETY.
GWEN: HOW DOES IT RESONATE GWEN: HOW DOES IT RESONATE TODAY?
TODAY?
COVERING THE WEEK, JEFF ZELENY COVERING THE WEEK, JEFF ZELENY OF ABC NEWS.
OF ABC NEWS.
PETE WILLIAMS OF NBC NEWS.
PETE WILLIAMS OF NBC NEWS.
SUSAN DAVIS OF "USA TODAY."
SUSAN DAVIS OF "USA TODAY."
AND KAREN TUMULTY OF "THE AND KAREN TUMULTY OF "THE WASHINGTON POST."
WASHINGTON POST."
>> 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 CAPITOL, LIVE FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITOL, THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL."
ONCE AGAIN, FROM WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN IFILL.
MODERATOR GWEN IFILL.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
IT'S A PERFECT STORM.
IT'S A PERFECT STORM.
ALLEGATIONS OF GOVERNMENT ALLEGATIONS OF GOVERNMENT MALFEASANCE, COVERUP, THE MALFEASANCE, COVERUP, THE POSSIBILITY OF LIVES LOST AND POSSIBILITY OF LIVES LOST AND BETRAYAL OF OUR NATITI'S HEROES BETRAYAL OF OUR NATITI'S HEROES ALL CULMINATING IN MULTIPLE ALL CULMINATING IN MULTIPLE DEMANDS THAT HEADS ROLL.
DEMANDS THAT HEADS ROLL.
THE GROWING SCANDAL ENGULFING THE GROWING SCANDAL ENGULFING THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS HEALTH PROGRAMS IS NOW AFFAIRS HEALTH PROGRAMS IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF SEVERAL THE SUBJECT OF SEVERAL INVESTIGATIONS.
INVESTIGATIONS.
>> OUR VETERANS DESERVE TO KNOW >> OUR VETERANS DESERVE TO KNOW THE FACTS, THEIR FAMILIES THE FACTS, THEIR FAMILIES DESERVE TO KNOW THE FACTS.
DESERVE TO KNOW THE FACTS.
ONCE WE KNOW THE FACTS, I ONCE WE KNOW THE FACTS, I ASSURE YOU, IF THERE IS ASSURE YOU, IF THERE IS MISCONDUCT IT WILL BE E E MISCONDUCT IT WILL BE E E PUNISHED.
PUNISHED.
GWEN: AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL, GWEN: AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL, MILD MANNERED V.A.
SECRETARY MILD MANNERED V.A.
SECRETARY ERIC SHINSEKI, WHO FOR NOW, AT ERIC SHINSEKI, WHO FOR NOW, AT LEAST, STILL HAS HIS JOB, BUT LEAST, STILL HAS HIS JOB, BUT DEMAS FONDR ACCOUNTABILITY ARE DEMAS FONDR ACCOUNTABILITY ARE COMING FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE COMING FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
AISLE.
>> THIS IS AWFUL STUFF AND >> THIS IS AWFUL STUFF AND SOMEBODY OUGHT TO BE HELD SOMEBODY OUGHT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.
ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.
>> I HAVE NOT CALLED FOR >> I HAVE NOT CALLED FOR GENERAL SHINSEKI TO RESIGN GENERAL SHINSEKI TO RESIGN ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO ADMIT I AM ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO ADMIT I AM GETTING A LITTLE CLOSER.
GETTING A LITTLE CLOSER.
GWEN: THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE NOT GWEN: THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE NOT NEW.
NEW.
WHY IS ALL THIS EXPLODING NOW, WHY IS ALL THIS EXPLODING NOW, JEFF?
JEFF?
>> WELL, GWEN, ONE OF THE >> WELL, GWEN, ONE OF THE REASONS IT'S EXPLODING NOW, REASONS IT'S EXPLODING NOW, THERE ARE SO MANY EXAMPLES.
THERE ARE SO MANY EXAMPLES.
IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AT THE PHOENIX V.A.
AT THE PHOENIX V.A.
INVESTIGATIONS ARE UNDERWAY INVESTIGATIONS ARE UNDERWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT 26 OF ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT 26 OF THESE CENTERS.
THESE CENTERS.
THAT MEANS THAT HALF THE SENATE THAT MEANS THAT HALF THE SENATE IS INVOLVED.
IS INVOLVED.
IN THEY'RE IN 26 LOCATIONS, IN THEY'RE IN 26 LOCATIONS, EVERYONE IS NOW SUDDENLY EVERYONE IS NOW SUDDENLY INVESTIGATING THIS.
INVESTIGATING THIS.
THE REALITY IS ANYONE WHO HAS THE REALITY IS ANYONE WHO HAS GONE TO A CONGRESSIONAL TOWNN GONE TO A CONGRESSIONAL TOWNN MEETING OR LISTENED TO OR MEETING OR LISTENED TO OR TALKED TO SOMEONE WHO OPENS THE TALKED TO SOMEONE WHO OPENS THE MAIL IN A CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE, MAIL IN A CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE, THEY HEAR V.A.
COMPLAINTS ALL THEY HEAR V.A.
COMPLAINTS ALL THE TIME FOR YEARS.
THE TIME FOR YEARS.
ONE QUESTION IS WHY IS THIS ONE QUESTION IS WHY IS THIS JUST COMING TO A HEAD RIGHT JUST COMING TO A HEAD RIGHT NOW?
NOW?
IT'S BECAUSE IT'S AN ELECTION IT'S BECAUSE IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR FOR ONE AND THERE IS A LOT YEAR FOR ONE AND THERE IS A LOT OF POLITICAL OUTRAGE.
OF POLITICAL OUTRAGE.
THERE IS REAL OUTRAGE HERE.
THERE IS REAL OUTRAGE HERE.
WE ARE JUST ENDING 12 YEARS OF WE ARE JUST ENDING 12 YEARS OF WAR, MORE THAN 12 YEARS OF WAR, WAR, MORE THAN 12 YEARS OF WAR, ALL OF THESE NEW PEOPLE COMING ALL OF THESE NEW PEOPLE COMING INTO THE SYSTEM, SEVERAL OLDER INTO THE SYSTEM, SEVERAL OLDER VETERANS ARE STILL IN THE VETERANS ARE STILL IN THE SYSTEM, SO ALL THIS COMING SYSTEM, SO ALL THIS COMING TOGETHER, AS YOU SAID, A TOGETHER, AS YOU SAID, A PERFECT SYMPTOM.
PERFECT SYMPTOM.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE >> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SURVIVING THAT WOULD HAVE DIED SURVIVING THAT WOULD HAVE DIED FROM PREVIOUS KINDS OF MEDICAL FROM PREVIOUS KINDS OF MEDICAL CARE.
CARE.
I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE WHITE I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE THINKS IT CAN DO.
HOUSE THINKS IT CAN DO.
HE SENT A DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF HE SENT A DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF THIS WEEK TO MEET, I GUESS, THIS WEEK TO MEET, I GUESS, WITH THE PEOPLE IN PHOENIX AND WITH THE PEOPLE IN PHOENIX AND DOES THE WHITE HOUSE FEEL LIKE DOES THE WHITE HOUSE FEEL LIKE IT HAS TO DO SOMETHING JUST TO IT HAS TO DO SOMETHING JUST TO DO SOMETHING?
DO SOMETHING?
>> I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE IS >> I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE IS OBVIOUSLY TAKING THIS VERY OBVIOUSLY TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
SERIOUSLY.
HE SENT A TOP VISOR, DEPUTY HE SENT A TOP VISOR, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, BUT NOT A CHIEF OF STAFF, BUT NOT A HOUSEHOLD NAME CERTAINLY.
HOUSEHOLD NAME CERTAINLY.
I ASKED SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN, A I ASKED SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN, A VETERAN WHAT HE THOUGHT OF VETERAN WHAT HE THOUGHT OF THAT, HE SAID WHO?
THAT, HE SAID WHO?
HE DID NOT THINK ROB WAS A HE DID NOT THINK ROB WAS A CREDIBLE PERSON TO SEND, CREDIBLE PERSON TO SEND, SOMEONE WHO HAD EXPERIENCE IN SOMEONE WHO HAD EXPERIENCE IN VETERANS ISSUES.
VETERANS ISSUES.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THE WHITE THERE IS NO QUESTION THE WHITE HOUSE IS ENGAGED AND INVOLVED HOUSE IS ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH IN THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH ASKING WHY DID IT TAKE THE ASKING WHY DID IT TAKE THE PRESIDENT SO LONG TO SPEAK PRESIDENT SO LONG TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS.
ABOUT THIS.
HE FINALLY DID THIS WEEK AT THE HE FINALLY DID THIS WEEK AT THE PODIUM.
PODIUM.
ONE THING THERE AREN'T ANY EASY ONE THING THERE AREN'T ANY EASY ANSWERS TO THIS.
ANSWERS TO THIS.
HE IS FAMAMFOR NOT RUSHING TO HE IS FAMAMFOR NOT RUSHING TO FIRE PEOPLE.
FIRE PEOPLE.
I THINK THAT'S THE CASE HERE.
I THINK THAT'S THE CASE HERE.
SO THE HEAD OF THE V.A., A SO THE HEAD OF THE V.A., A DECORATED VETERAN HIMSELF, ERIC DECORATED VETERAN HIMSELF, ERIC SHINSEKI IS CERTAINLY UNDER SHINSEKI IS CERTAINLY UNDER SIEGE HERE, BUT PROBABLY NOT SIEGE HERE, BUT PROBABLY NOT ENTIRELY HIS FAULT.
ENTIRELY HIS FAULT.
NOW IT'S HIS TO CLEANUP.
NOW IT'S HIS TO CLEANUP.
>> WHAT IS THE END GAME ON THIS >> WHAT IS THE END GAME ON THIS SCANDAL?
SCANDAL?
IS IT JUST TO FIND OUT WHO IS IS IT JUST TO FIND OUT WHO IS COOKING THE BOOKS, HOW FAST TO COOKING THE BOOKS, HOW FAST TO PROCESS, OR LEAD TO FUNDAMENTAL PROCESS, OR LEAD TO FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN THE V.A.?
CHANGES IN THE V.A.?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
IT DEPENDS IF THE SAME PROBLEMS IT DEPENDS IF THE SAME PROBLEMS WERE HAPPENING THIS ALL OF WERE HAPPENING THIS ALL OF THESE 26 LOCATIONS.
THESE 26 LOCATIONS.
IF THIS WAS A SYSTEMIC THING TO IF THIS WAS A SYSTEMIC THING TO ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, CHANGE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, CHANGE THESE WAIT TIMES AND OTHER THESE WAIT TIMES AND OTHER THINGS, THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM.
THINGS, THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM.
I THINK THERE HAS TO LEAD TO I THINK THERE HAS TO LEAD TO SOME TYPE OF A SOLUTION HERE.
SOME TYPE OF A SOLUTION HERE.
WHAT THAT IS, I DON'T THINK WE WHAT THAT IS, I DON'T THINK WE KNOW YET.
KNOW YET.
>> THE CONTROVERSIES THOUGH >> THE CONTROVERSIES THOUGH THAT HAVE HIT THIS THAT HAVE HIT THIS ADMINISTRATION, BENGHAZI, THE ADMINISTRATION, BENGHAZI, THE I.R.S., HAVE GENERALLY STIRRED I.R.S., HAVE GENERALLY STIRRED UP THE PARTISANS.
UP THE PARTISANS.
IS THIS ONE LIKELY TO RESONATE IS THIS ONE LIKELY TO RESONATE DIFFERENTLY WITH DEMOCRATS AND DIFFERENTLY WITH DEMOCRATS AND WITH SWING VOTERS?
WITH SWING VOTERS?
>> I THINK IT IS, NO QUESTION, >> I THINK IT IS, NO QUESTION, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT.
WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT.
VETERANS ARE FROM BOTH PARTIES, VETERANS ARE FROM BOTH PARTIES, THE REPUBLICANS, THEY'RE THE REPUBLICANS, THEY'RE DEMOCRATS, THE OUTRAGE IS DEMOCRATS, THE OUTRAGE IS COMING FROM BOTH SIDES, NOT COMING FROM BOTH SIDES, NOT EXACTLY EQUALLY.
EXACTLY EQUALLY.
YOU SEE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE YOU SEE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE WHO ARE SAYING THAT THE SECRETARY SAYING THAT THE SECRETARY SHOULD BE FIRED.
SHOULD BE FIRED.
SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OFFICE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OFFICE SAID HE SHOULD BE FIRED.
SAID HE SHOULD BE FIRED.
THE REALITY IS I THINK THAT THE REALITY IS I THINK THAT THIS IS A SCANDAL THAT PEOPLE THIS IS A SCANDAL THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND.
CAN UNDERSTAND.
THIS ISN'T SORT OF SOME PARS THIS ISN'T SORT OF SOME PARS SAN WITCH HUNT, THESE ARE SAN WITCH HUNT, THESE ARE ACTUAL VICTIMS.
ACTUAL VICTIMS.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED WITH FAMILIES.
FAMILIES.
IT IS A REAL SCANDAL.
IT IS A REAL SCANDAL.
>> IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR.
>> IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR.
WHO IS CALLING FOR SHINSEKI TO WHO IS CALLING FOR SHINSEKI TO GO AND WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK GO AND WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO HAVE THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A CALL?
TO MAKE A CALL?
>> IT'S A SMALL NUMBER OF >> IT'S A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
PEOPLE.
WE HEARD SPEAKER BOEHNER WE HEARD SPEAKER BOEHNER EARLIER SAYING HE IS NOT YET.
EARLIER SAYING HE IS NOT YET.
LEADER MCCONNELL, BOTH LEADER MCCONNELL, BOTH REPUBLICANS, HE IS NOT EITHER.
REPUBLICANS, HE IS NOT EITHER.
NOT SURPRISINGLY PERHAPS MITCH NOT SURPRISINGLY PERHAPS MITCH MCCONNELL'S DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT MCCONNELL'S DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT ISSUED A STATEMENT CALLING FOR ISSUED A STATEMENT CALLING FOR THE FIRING OF GENERAL SHINSEKI, THE FIRING OF GENERAL SHINSEKI, SO PERHAPS THAT'S ONE WAY FOR SO PERHAPS THAT'S ONE WAY FOR HER TO DISTANCE HERSELF FROM HER TO DISTANCE HERSELF FROM THE PRESIDENT.
THE PRESIDENT.
RIGHT NOW IT'S PRETTY MIXED.
RIGHT NOW IT'S PRETTY MIXED.
A COUPLE DEMOCRATS, A FEW MORE A COUPLE DEMOCRATS, A FEW MORE REPUBLICANS, BUT, LOOK, WE HAVE REPUBLICANS, BUT, LOOK, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THIS ADMINISTRATION, NOT SEEN THIS ADMINISTRATION, THIS PRESIDENT FIREEOPLE, THIS PRESIDENT FIREEOPLE, SHOVE PEOPLE OUT THE DOOR.
SHOVE PEOPLE OUT THE DOOR.
THAT WOULDN'T SOLVE ANYTHING.
THAT WOULDN'T SOLVE ANYTHING.
SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE TO BE CONFIRMED.
CONFIRMED.
HE STAYS FOR AS LONG AS THE HE STAYS FOR AS LONG AS THE PRESIDENT WANTS HIM TO.
PRESIDENT WANTS HIM TO.
GWEN: IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE GWEN: IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE ALIKE IN THAT THEIR TEMPERAMENT ALIKE IN THAT THEIR TEMPERAMENT IS SO MILD.
IS SO MILD.
GENERAL SHINSEKI SAID I'M GENERAL SHINSEKI SAID I'M REALLY MAD AS HELL.
REALLY MAD AS HELL.
>> HE IS FROM HAWAII, SOMEONE >> HE IS FROM HAWAII, SOMEONE TOLD ME.
TOLD ME.
AT IS EXACTLY WHY THIS MILD AT IS EXACTLY WHY THIS MILD MANNERED SORT OF -- I THINK MANNERED SORT OF -- I THINK THERE IS ANGER THERE, NO THERE IS ANGER THERE, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
QUESTION ABOUT IT.
IT IS THAT KIND OF GENTLE IT IS THAT KIND OF GENTLE MANNER THAT BOTH OF THEM HAVE MANNER THAT BOTH OF THEM HAVE IN COMMON.
IN COMMON.
GWEN: WE'RE GOING TO SEE GWEN: WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHETHER POLITICS OVERTAKES THE WHETHER POLITICS OVERTAKES THE FACTS.
FACTS.
WE'LL WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT.
WE'LL WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT.
OK, IT SEEMS STRAIGHTFORWARD OK, IT SEEMS STRAIGHTFORWARD ENOUGH.
ENOUGH.
IF CHINESE HACKERS ARE IF CHINESE HACKERS ARE INFILTRATING YOUR COMPUTER INFILTRATING YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEMS, WHY NOT DO EVERYTHING SYSTEMS, WHY NOT DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO STOP THEM?
YOU CAN TO STOP THEM?
BUT WHAT IF THEY ACCUSE YOU OF BUT WHAT IF THEY ACCUSE YOU OF DOING THE SAME THING?
DOING THE SAME THING?
AND WHAT IF THE ACCUSED HACKERS AND WHAT IF THE ACCUSED HACKERS ARE NOT PRIVATE SECTOR TECH ARE NOT PRIVATE SECTOR TECH GEEKS BUT AGENTS OF THE CHINESE GEEKS BUT AGENTS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT?
GOVERNMENT?
FOR THE U.S. JUSTICE FOR THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, THAT SPELLS DEPARTMENT, THAT SPELLS INDICTMENT.
INDICTMENT.
BUT TO WHAT END, PETE?
BUT TO WHAT END, PETE?
>> WELL, IN THE PAST, THE >> WELL, IN THE PAST, THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, ANY TIME THEY GOVERNMENT SAYS, ANY TIME THEY CONFRONT THE CHINESE AND SAY CONFRONT THE CHINESE AND SAY YOU'RE SPYING ON AMERICAN YOU'RE SPYING ON AMERICAN COMPANIES, THEY SAY WHERE IS COMPANIES, THEY SAY WHERE IS THE PROOF.
THE PROOF.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAID THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAID HERE IS THE PROOF IN PUBLIC, HERE IS THE PROOF IN PUBLIC, THE FIRST TIME THE U.S. HAS THE FIRST TIME THE U.S. HAS EVER CHARGED OFFICIALS OF A EVER CHARGED OFFICIALS OF A FOREIGN NATION WITH USING CYBER FOREIGN NATION WITH USING CYBER TOOLS TO HACK ON AMERICAN TOOLS TO HACK ON AMERICAN COMPANIES.
COMPANIES.
AND THINK OF HOW EXTRAORDINARY AND THINK OF HOW EXTRAORDINARY THIS IS.
THIS IS.
YOU SHOWED THOSE PICTURES AT YOU SHOWED THOSE PICTURES AT THE BEGINNING.
THE BEGINNING.
ACTUAL WANTED POSTERS OF ACTUAL WANTED POSTERS OF INVIDUDIALS IN CHINA THAT THE INVIDUDIALS IN CHINA THAT THE U.S. SAYS THIS GUY DID THAT.
U.S. SAYS THIS GUY DID THAT.
THIS GUY DID THIS.
THIS GUY DID THIS.
GWEN: IN MILITARY UNIFORM.
GWEN: IN MILITARY UNIFORM.
>> TO RAID AMERICAN COMPANIES.
>> TO RAID AMERICAN COMPANIES.
TO GO IN SOME OF THE BIGGEST TO GO IN SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES.
NAMES.
U.S. STEEL, ALCOA, U.S. STEEL, ALCOA, WESTINGHOUSE, ALL PART OF A WESTINGHOUSE, ALL PART OF A MILITARY INTELLIGENCE UNIT.
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE UNIT.
THE CHARGES SAY THEY WENT AFTER THE CHARGES SAY THEY WENT AFTER EXECUTIVES OF THESE COMPANIES, EXECUTIVES OF THESE COMPANIES, SENT THEM EMAILS THAT WHEN SENT THEM EMAILS THAT WHEN OPENED UP BASICALLY GAVE THEM OPENED UP BASICALLY GAVE THEM COMPLETE ACCESS TO THE COMPLETE ACCESS TO THE COMPUTERS AND THEY COULD STEAL COMPUTERS AND THEY COULD STEAL THESE TRADE SECRETS.
THESE TRADE SECRETS.
IN THE CASE OF WESTINGHOUSE, IN THE CASE OF WESTINGHOUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE GOVERNMENT FOR EXAMPLE, THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THEY GOT DATA EQUAL TO SAYS THEY GOT DATA EQUAL TO 700,000 EMAILS.
700,000 EMAILS.
AND THE CHARGES WERE POSSIBLE AND THE CHARGES WERE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE EVOLUTION IN THE BECAUSE OF THE EVOLUTION IN THE ABILITY OF THE U.S. TO ABILITY OF THE U.S. TO INVESTIGATE THESE HACK ATTACK.
INVESTIGATE THESE HACK ATTACK.
WHAT I'M TOLD BY ONE OFFICIAL WHAT I'M TOLD BY ONE OFFICIAL IS THAT IT GOT SO GOOD AT ONE IS THAT IT GOT SO GOOD AT ONE POINT THAT THE INVESTIGATORS POINT THAT THE INVESTIGATORS COULD SIT AT THEIR CUBICLES COULD SIT AT THEIR CUBICLES HERE IN THE U.S. AND WATCH THE HERE IN THE U.S. AND WATCH THE INDIVIDUAL HACKERS ACTUALLY INDIVIDUAL HACKERS ACTUALLY ENTERING KEY STROKES ON THEIR ENTERING KEY STROKES ON THEIR COMPUTERS IN CHINA AND THAT'S COMPUTERS IN CHINA AND THAT'S WHY THENDICTMENT IS SO WHY THENDICTMENT IS SO SPECIFIC WITH, YOU KNOW, DATES SPECIFIC WITH, YOU KNOW, DATES AND GRAPHS AND CIRCLES AND AND GRAPHS AND CIRCLES AND ARROWS AND TIMES AND DATES ON ARROWS AND TIMES AND DATES ON WHEN PEOPLE DID SPECIFIC THINGS WHEN PEOPLE DID SPECIFIC THINGS TO THESE COMPANIES.
TO THESE COMPANIES.
GWEN: WHAT DOES THEHEUSTICE GWEN: WHAT DOES THEHEUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAY ABOUT WHETHER WE DEPARTMENT SAY ABOUT WHETHER WE DO SORT OF THE SAME THING?
DO SORT OF THE SAME THING?
>> THE U.S. SAYS THERE IS A BIG >> THE U.S. SAYS THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE.
DIFFERENCE.
OF COURSE, THE UNITED STATES OF COURSE, THE UNITED STATES SPIES ON FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.
SPIES ON FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.
WE ALL DO THAT, THEY SAY AND OF WE ALL DO THAT, THEY SAY AND OF COURSE IT SPIES ON THINGS LIKE COURSE IT SPIES ON THINGS LIKE E MISSIONS.
E MISSIONS.
WHAT THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT WHAT THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT DOESN'T DO IS SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, DOESN'T DO IS SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, ON BEHALF OF BOEING SPY ON THE ON BEHALF OF BOEING SPY ON THE FRENCH AEROSPACE COMPANY AIRBUS FRENCH AEROSPACE COMPANY AIRBUS IN ORDER TO STEAL TRADE SECRETS IN ORDER TO STEAL TRADE SECRETS TO HELP BOEING.
TO HELP BOEING.
WE DON'T TAKE ORDERS FROM WE DON'T TAKE ORDERS FROM COMPANIES.
COMPANIES.
NOW, OF COURSE, IN CHINA, THERE NOW, OF COURSE, IN CHINA, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THESE IS A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THESE ARE STATE-OWNED COMPANIES.
ARE STATE-OWNED COMPANIES.
THE CHINESE SAYS IT'S NO THE CHINESE SAYS IT'S NO DIFFERENT.
DIFFERENT.
WE'RE SPYING ON EACH OTHER.
WE'RE SPYING ON EACH OTHER.
THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT'S A THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
BIG DIFFERENCE.
>> WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT >> WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT THIS ACTUALLY ENDS UP IN COURT?
THIS ACTUALLY ENDS UP IN COURT?
>> SOMEWHERE AROUND ZERO.
>> SOMEWHERE AROUND ZERO.
>> OK. >> OK. >> THAT ANY OF THESE FIVE >> THAT ANY OF THESE FIVE CHINESE MILITARY PEOPLE WILL BE CHINESE MILITARY PEOPLE WILL BE STANDING IN A COURTROOM IN STANDING IN A COURTROOM IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA WHICH IS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA WHICH IS WHERE THE CHARGES WERE FILED WHERE THE CHARGES WERE FILED BECAUSE U.S. STEEL IS THERE, SO BECAUSE U.S. STEEL IS THERE, SO MANY OF THE COMPANIES ARE MANY OF THE COMPANIES ARE THERE.
THERE.
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, LOOK, WE THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, LOOK, WE HAVE TRIED MAKING NICE.
HAVE TRIED MAKING NICE.
WE HAVE TRIED DOING THIS WE HAVE TRIED DOING THIS DIPLOMATCALLY, QUIETLY, THE DIPLOMATCALLY, QUIETLY, THE LITTLE LETTERS BACK AND FORTH.
LITTLE LETTERS BACK AND FORTH.
THIS IS AN EFFORT EVERY TIME THIS IS AN EFFORT EVERY TIME THEY GET NOWHERE WITH THAT, THEY GET NOWHERE WITH THAT, THIS IS A WAY TO RAISE THE THIS IS A WAY TO RAISE THE TEMPERATURE AND SAYING TO THE TEMPERATURE AND SAYING TO THE CHINESE WE'RE WATCHING CLOSELY CHINESE WE'RE WATCHING CLOSELY AND KEEPING ON DOING THIS.
AND KEEPING ON DOING THIS.
>> WHAT WAS THE REACTION IN >> WHAT WAS THE REACTION IN CHINA BY THE OFFICIALS?
CHINA BY THE OFFICIALS?
>> TWO THINGS, FIRST OF ALL >> TWO THINGS, FIRST OF ALL UTTER DENIAL IN THE STRONGEST UTTER DENIAL IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE WORDS CALLING THE POSSIBLE WORDS CALLING THE CHARGES COMPLETELY FALSE SAYING CHARGES COMPLETELY FALSE SAYING THEY ARE FABRICATED OUTLANDISH THEY ARE FABRICATED OUTLANDISH AND MORE DIRECTLY, THE CHINESE AND MORE DIRECTLY, THE CHINESE HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR PARTICIPATION IN AN UPCOMING PARTICIPATION IN AN UPCOMING SUMMIT IN JULY ON CYBER SUMMIT IN JULY ON CYBER SECURITY.
SECURITY.
IT'S PROBABLY A TEMPORARY IT'S PROBABLY A TEMPORARY SETBACK THERE, THE PEOPLE WHO SETBACK THERE, THE PEOPLE WHO DO THESE THINGS THINK THE DO THESE THINGS THINK THE CHINESE WILL COME BACK AND TALK CHINESE WILL COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT IT SOME MORE.
ABOUT IT SOME MORE.
>> HOW HAVE THE COMPANIES YOU >> HOW HAVE THE COMPANIES YOU MENTIONED RESPONDED TO THIS, MENTIONED RESPONDED TO THIS, THEY HAVE SO MANY BUSINESS THEY HAVE SO MANY BUSINESS INTERESTS IN CHINA?
INTERESTS IN CHINA?
>> MANY OF THESE COMPANIES WERE >> MANY OF THESE COMPANIES WERE ATTACKED BY THE CHINESE AT THE ATTACKED BY THE CHINESE AT THE TIME THEY WERE DOING DEALS WITH TIME THEY WERE DOING DEALS WITH THE CHINESE TO DO BUSINESS IN THE CHINESE TO DO BUSINESS IN CHINA.
CHINA.
WESTINGHOUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS WESTINGHOUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, WAS BUILDING NUCLEAR POWERER PLANTS BUILDING NUCLEAR POWERER PLANTS IN CHINA AND THE CHINESE ARE IN CHINA AND THE CHINESE ARE GETTING THE PLANS FOR THE GETTING THE PLANS FOR THE PLANTS.
PLANTS.
ON THE ONE HAND, THE COMPANIES ON THE ONE HAND, THE COMPANIES REALIZE THAT THEY WANT TO REALIZE THAT THEY WANT TO CONTINUE DOING BUSINESS WITH CONTINUE DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CHINESE.
THE CHINESE.
THEY DON'T WANT TO OFFEND THEM.
THEY DON'T WANT TO OFFEND THEM.
SECONDLY, I THINK SOME OF THE SECONDLY, I THINK SOME OF THE COMPANIES IN GENERAL, NOT COMPANIES IN GENERAL, NOT PERHAPS THESE, BUT COMPANIES IN PERHAPS THESE, BUT COMPANIES IN GENERAL ARE ALWAYS A LITTLE GENERAL ARE ALWAYS A LITTLE EMBARRASSED TO HAVE IT EMBARRASSED TO HAVE IT DISCLOSED THAT THEY WERE HACKED DISCLOSED THAT THEY WERE HACKED INTO BY SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS INTO BY SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS OPENS ING EMAIL, SOMEONE OPENS ING EMAIL, SOMEONE IT AND LAUNCHES MALAWARE THAT IT AND LAUNCHES MALAWARE THAT CREATES A BACK DOOR.
CREATES A BACK DOOR.
GWEN: I DON'T KNOW IF IT EVER GWEN: I DON'T KNOW IF IT EVER GETS DISCUSSED, ON A WEEK WHEN GETS DISCUSSED, ON A WEEK WHEN THERE ARE TENSIONS IN THE SOUTH THERE ARE TENSIONS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, WHEN VLADMIR PUTIN CHINA SEA, WHEN VLADMIR PUTIN IS IN SHANGHAI CUTTING A DEAL IS IN SHANGHAI CUTTING A DEAL ON GAS PURCHASES, WHETHER THERE ON GAS PURCHASES, WHETHER THERE IS ANY CONCERN THAT THE TIMING IS ANY CONCERN THAT THE TIMING OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS TIED OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS TIED TO ALL OF THAT, U.S., BEIJING TO ALL OF THAT, U.S., BEIJING RELATIONS?
RELATIONS?
>> I SUSPECT THAT PROBABLY >> I SUSPECT THAT PROBABLY WASN'T THOUGHT THROUGH IN THAT WASN'T THOUGHT THROUGH IN THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL.
LEVEL OF DETAIL.
I KNOW THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT I KNOW THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT OTHER CYBER CASES THAT THEY OTHER CYBER CASES THAT THEY WERE DOING THE SAME DAY.
WERE DOING THE SAME DAY.
THERE WERE THREE BIG THINGS THERE WERE THREE BIG THINGS THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ALL THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ALL ON THE SAME DAY, THIS DAY ON THE SAME DAY, THIS DAY ANOTHER COMPUTER THING AND ANOTHER COMPUTER THING AND GOING AFTER CREDIT SUISSE.
GOING AFTER CREDIT SUISSE.
THOSEE ARE THAT TWHERP THINKING THOSEE ARE THAT TWHERP THINKING OF.
OF.
GWEN: THANKS SO MUCH, PETE.
GWEN: THANKS SO MUCH, PETE.
THIS ELECTION YEAR IS NOT THIS ELECTION YEAR IS NOT TURNING OUT AT ALL AS DEMOCRATS TURNING OUT AT ALL AS DEMOCRATS WERE HOPING FOR.
WERE HOPING FOR.
SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL, ONCE THOUGHT TO BE MCCONNELL, ONCE THOUGHT TO BE THE TOP REPUBLICAN MOST LIKELY THE TOP REPUBLICAN MOST LIKELY TO FALL TO TEA PARTY CHALLENGE, TO FALL TO TEA PARTY CHALLENGE, DID NOT.
DID NOT.
IN FACT, FROM KENTUCKY TO IN FACT, FROM KENTUCKY TO GEORGIA, ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT GEORGIA, ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN SIDELINED REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN SIDELINED AGAIN AND AGAIN.
AGAIN AND AGAIN.
WHAT DID TUESDAY TELL US ABOUT WHAT DID TUESDAY TELL US ABOUT THE STATE OF THE RACE THIS THE STATE OF THE RACE THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY FOR THE FALL, YEAR, ESPECIALLY FOR THE FALL, SUE.
SUE.
>> TUESDAY REINFORCED A COUPLE >> TUESDAY REINFORCED A COUPLE OF LESSONS WE SAW FOR 2014.
OF LESSONS WE SAW FOR 2014.
INCUMBENTS ARE WAY MORE INCUMBENTS ARE WAY MORE PREPARED FOR THESE THREATS.
PREPARED FOR THESE THREATS.
THEY HAVE BEEN WARNED BY THE THEY HAVE BEEN WARNED BY THE CAMPAIGN OPERATIONS, RECENT CAMPAIGN OPERATIONS, RECENT HISTORY, 2012, 2013 PUT THEM ON HISTORY, 2012, 2013 PUT THEM ON NOTICE THEY CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING NOTICE THEY CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.
FOR GRANTED.
MITCH MCCONNELL STARTED MITCH MCCONNELL STARTED PREPARING FOR THIS PRIMARY PREPARING FOR THIS PRIMARY CAMPAIGN TWO YEARS AGO.
CAMPAIGN TWO YEARS AGO.
NOTHING THAT HAPPENED ON NOTHING THAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY WAS A SURPRISE TO HIM TUESDAY WAS A SURPRISE TO HIM AND PART OF THE REASON WHY HE AND PART OF THE REASON WHY HE WON BY 25 POINTS.
WON BY 25 POINTS.
THE SECOND THING IS SOME OF THE THE SECOND THING IS SOME OF THE TEA PARTY CANDIDATES JUST TEA PARTY CANDIDATES JUST WEREN'T VERY DID.
WEREN'T VERY DID.
IF YOU WANT TO OUTSTANDING AN IF YOU WANT TO OUTSTANDING AN INCUMBENT, WHICH IS DIFFICULT, INCUMBENT, WHICH IS DIFFICULT, YOU NEED A TOP NOTCH CANDIDATE, YOU NEED A TOP NOTCH CANDIDATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE NOT ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE NOT TAKING THINGS FOR GRANTED.
TAKING THINGS FOR GRANTED.
THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT THING, THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT THING, THIS YEAR, UNLIKE 2012 AND THIS YEAR, UNLIKE 2012 AND 2010, DEMOCRATS CAN'T COUNT ON 2010, DEMOCRATS CAN'T COUNT ON REPUBLICANS WINNING THE RACES REPUBLICANS WINNING THE RACES FOR THEM BY NOMINATING FOR THEM BY NOMINATING CANDIDATES THAT ARE GOING TO CANDIDATES THAT ARE GOING TO SUFFER IN A GENERAL ELECTION.
SUFFER IN A GENERAL ELECTION.
GWEN: THERE IS NO TODD AIKEN, A GWEN: THERE IS NO TODD AIKEN, A MATT BENEFITIN, NOT ONLY DID HE MATT BENEFITIN, NOT ONLY DID HE GET BEAT BY MITCH MCCONNELL, HE GET BEAT BY MITCH MCCONNELL, HE GOT BEAT BY A LOT.
GOT BEAT BY A LOT.
>> BY A LOT.
>> BY A LOT.
IN GEORGIA THERE WAS A IN GEORGIA THERE WAS A SEVEN-WAY PRIMARY, STILL A SEVEN-WAY PRIMARY, STILL A RUNOFF TO GET TO IN THAT.
RUNOFF TO GET TO IN THAT.
THE TWO THAT ESCAPED THE PACK, THE TWO THAT ESCAPED THE PACK, THE MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED THE MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT, THE WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT, THE PARTY WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE PARTY WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE EITHER ONE OF THEM.
EITHER ONE OF THEM.
IN OREGON IN A PRIMARY OUT IN OREGON IN A PRIMARY OUT THERE THE ESTABLISHMENT THERE THE ESTABLISHMENT FAVORITE WAS ENDORSED BY MITT FAVORITE WAS ENDORSED BY MITT ROMNEY.
ROMNEY.
SHE PULLED OVER A TEA PARTY SHE PULLED OVER A TEA PARTY FAVORITE.
FAVORITE.
IN IDAHO AND PENNSYLVANIA, IN IDAHO AND PENNSYLVANIA, HOUSE REPUBLICANS WHO FACED THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS WHO FACED THE ONLY TEA PARTY CHALLENGES, THEY ONLY TEA PARTY CHALLENGES, THEY CAME THROUGH.
CAME THROUGH.
SO INCUMBENTS ARE IN A GOOD SO INCUMBENTS ARE IN A GOOD POSITION.
POSITION.
PARTICULARLY IN THE SENATE, PARTICULARLY IN THE SENATE, REPUBLICANS ARE SEEING THE REPUBLICANS ARE SEEING THE LINEUPS S VE TO THEIR FAVOR.
LINEUPS S VE TO THEIR FAVOR.
THE GENERAL ELECTION IS PROVING THE GENERAL ELECTION IS PROVING TO BE VERY COMPETITIVE.
TO BE VERY COMPETITIVE.
>> IS MITCH MCCONNELL REALLY IN >> IS MITCH MCCONNELL REALLY IN TROUBLE?
TROUBLE?
>> YES, HE IS.
>> YES, HE IS.
I THINK THAT HE DID SUCH A I THINK THAT HE DID SUCH A MASTERFUL JOB GETTING AHEAD IN MASTERFUL JOB GETTING AHEAD IN THE PRIMARY, BUT THE DATA IS THE PRIMARY, BUT THE DATA IS VERY CLEAR THAT HE IS IN VERY CLEAR THAT HE IS IN TROUBLE IN THE GENERAL.
TROUBLE IN THE GENERAL.
GRIMES IS HIS OPPONENT.
GRIMES IS HIS OPPONENT.
THEY HAVE BEEN NECK AND NECK IN THEY HAVE BEEN NECK AND NECK IN EVERY ELECTION POLL TO DATE.
EVERY ELECTION POLL TO DATE.
IN THE MOST RECENT ONE THAT IN THE MOST RECENT ONE THAT CAME OUT THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE CAME OUT THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE RACE, HE WAS AHEAD.
RACE, HE WAS AHEAD.
KENTUCKY DOESN'T REALLY LIKE KENTUCKY DOESN'T REALLY LIKE MITCH MCCONNELL.
MITCH MCCONNELL.
HIS DISAPPROVAL IN THAT STATE HIS DISAPPROVAL IN THAT STATE HAS BEEN WITHIN 50 AND 60% THIS HAS BEEN WITHIN 50 AND 60% THIS ENTIRE TIME.
ENTIRE TIME.
SO HE NOT ONLY NEEDS TO SO HE NOT ONLY NEEDS TO OVERCOME A STRONG DEMOCRATIC OVERCOME A STRONG DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER WITH SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGER WITH SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL RESOURCES AND GET OVER NATIONAL RESOURCES AND GET OVER HIS OWN UNPOPULARITY IN HIS HIS OWN UNPOPULARITY IN HIS HOME STATE.
.
HOME STATE.
.
>> WHERE DOES, SPEAKING OF THE >> WHERE DOES, SPEAKING OF THE SENATE, HOW DOES IT LOOK FOR SENATE, HOW DOES IT LOOK FOR REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF THE REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF THE SENATE?
SENATE?
>> IT'S A JUMP BALL.
>> IT'S A JUMP BALL.
IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT REPUBLICANS CAN PERFORM A REPUBLICANS CAN PERFORM A AKEOVER, PARTICULARLY IF AKEOVER, PARTICULARLY IF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S RATINGS PRESIDENT OBAMA'S RATINGS CONTINUE TO BE SO LOW, CONTINUE TO BE SO LOW, PARTICULARLY IN THESE RED PARTICULARLY IN THESE RED STATES WHERE THEY'RE DEFENDING STATES WHERE THEY'RE DEFENDING RACE I AM, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, RACE I AM, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND THE FACT NORTH CAROLINA, AND THE FACT THAT REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BE, THAT REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BE, THEY HAVE WISED UP AND HAVE THEY HAVE WISED UP AND HAVE BETTER CANDIDATES.
BETTER CANDIDATES.
IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY EXPENSIVE RACE.
EXPENSIVE RACE.
I THINK PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY I THINK PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THEUTSIDE MONEY WE SEE COMING THEUTSIDE MONEY WE SEE COMING IN KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE.
IN KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE.
>> SO FROM HERE FORWARD, WHAT >> SO FROM HERE FORWARD, WHAT SURPRISES DO WE POSSIBLY HAVE SURPRISES DO WE POSSIBLY HAVE LEFT IN STORE?
LEFT IN STORE?
A LOT OF THE PRIMARIES ARE A LOT OF THE PRIMARIES ARE DONE, THERE ARE STILL A COME DONE, THERE ARE STILL A COME OUT THERE.
OUT THERE.
ONE INTERESTING ONE IS ONE INTERESTING ONE IS MISSISSIPPI.
MISSISSIPPI.
>> YES, MISSISSIPPI IS PROBABLY >> YES, MISSISSIPPI IS PROBABLY THE LAST GREAT TEST OF THE TEA THE LAST GREAT TEST OF THE TEA PARTY ESTABLISHMENT TO TEST PARTY ESTABLISHMENT TO TEST THIS CYCLE.
THIS CYCLE.
FRED IS THE INCUMBENT THEN AND FRED IS THE INCUMBENT THEN AND CHRIS MCDANIEL HAS THE EDGE.
CHRIS MCDANIEL HAS THE EDGE.
HE SEEMS TO BE FALTERING A HE SEEMS TO BE FALTERING A LITTLE BIT IN THE CLOSING WEEKS LITTLE BIT IN THE CLOSING WEEKS OF THE RACE HELPED IN PART BY OF THE RACE HELPED IN PART BY SOME ACTIVIST BLOGGERS WHO TOOK SOME ACTIVIST BLOGGERS WHO TOOK SOME REALLY DEVIOUS STEPS AND SOME REALLY DEVIOUS STEPS AND TOOK SOME VERY NASTY FILM OF TOOK SOME VERY NASTY FILM OF HIS WIFE WHO HAS BEEN DISABLED HIS WIFE WHO HAS BEEN DISABLED IN A HOME FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS.
IN A HOME FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS.
THEY'RE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE THEY'RE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE MCDANIEL CAMPAIGN, BUT THERE IS MCDANIEL CAMPAIGN, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF UGLY INNUENDO AS FAR AS WE KNOW.
AS WE KNOW.
NO REASON TO BELIEVE THEY'RE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THEY'RE ASSOCIATED, IT'S OFFENDED THE ASSOCIATED, IT'S OFFENDED THE SENSIBILITIES OF A LOT OF SENSIBILITIES OF A LOT OF NSSSISSIPPIA.
NSSSISSIPPIA.
THAT PLAYS TO HIS FAVOR.
THAT PLAYS TO HIS FAVOR.
THAT'S IN TWO WEEKS.
THAT'S IN TWO WEEKS.
GWEN: IS IT BAD NEWS, LET'S GWEN: IS IT BAD NEWS, LET'S CYCLE BACK.
CYCLE BACK.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE BAD WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE BAD NEWS FOR DEMOCRATS, BUT I'M NEWS FOR DEMOCRATS, BUT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHETHER DEMOCRATS CURIOUS ABOUT WHETHER DEMOCRATS ARE SITTING BACK HERE AND WATCH ARE SITTING BACK HERE AND WATCH THISIS HAPPEN, OR WHETHER THEY THISIS HAPPEN, OR WHETHER THEY LIKE THE REPUBLICANS WHO SAT LIKE THE REPUBLICANS WHO SAT THERE AND SAID, HERE IS A THERE AND SAID, HERE IS A PROBLEM, LET'S FIX IT, LET'S PROBLEM, LET'S FIX IT, LET'S GET BETTER CANDIDATES AND TAKE GET BETTER CANDIDATES AND TAKE THE TEA PARTY SERIOUSLY THIS THE TEA PARTY SERIOUSLY THIS ME.
ME.
ARE DEMOCRATS FIGURING HOW TO ARE DEMOCRATS FIGURING HOW TO SET THEMSELVES UP FOR THE FALL SET THEMSELVES UP FOR THE FALL SO THEY DON'T GET RUN OVER BY SO THEY DON'T GET RUN OVER BY THE NEW DISCIPLINE ON THE PART THE NEW DISCIPLINE ON THE PART OF REPUBLICANS?
OF REPUBLICANS?
>> I THINK THEY DO.
>> I THINK THEY DO.
I THINK WHAT HURTS DEMOCRATS IS I THINK WHAT HURTS DEMOCRATS IS THE MASS, THE FIELD IS TILTED THE MASS, THE FIELD IS TILTED FAR AGAINST THEIR FAVOR.
FAR AGAINST THEIR FAVOR.
TWO RACES WHERE DEMOCRATS HAVE TWO RACES WHERE DEMOCRATS HAVE A CHANCE TO PICK UP, ONE IS IN A CHANCE TO PICK UP, ONE IS IN KENTUCKY WITH GRIMES AND IN KENTUCKY WITH GRIMES AND IN GEORGIA.
GEORGIA.
I THINK IT GOES TO SHOW YOU -- I THINK IT GOES TO SHOW YOU -- >> WITH MICHELLE.
>> WITH MICHELLE.
>> IT ALSO SHOWS YOU HOW >> IT ALSO SHOWS YOU HOW VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS ARE WHEN VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS ARE WHEN THEIR BEST CHANCES ARE IN THE THEIR BEST CHANCES ARE IN THE SOUTH WHICH HAS BEEN SOUTH WHICH HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY NOT A VERY, YOU TRADITIONALLY NOT A VERY, YOU KNOW, WARM TERRITORY FOR THEM.
KNOW, WARM TERRITORY FOR THEM.
GWEN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GWEN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW, WE'VE BEEN MARKING SO MANY NOW, WE'VE BEEN MARKING SO MANY ANNIVERSARY IN THE PAST YEAR, ANNIVERSARY IN THE PAST YEAR, YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THEM YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THEM WITH US FROM THE MARCH ON WITH US FROM THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON, THE ASSASSINATION WASHINGTON, THE ASSASSINATION OF JOHN F. KENNEDY TO THE OF JOHN F. KENNEDY TO THE PASSAGE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS PASSAGE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
ACT.
IT'S TEMPTING TO LOSE SIGHT OF IT'S TEMPTING TO LOSE SIGHT OF THEE BIG PICTURE.
THEE BIG PICTURE.
THE GREAT SOCIETY WAS THE BIG THE GREAT SOCIETY WAS THE BIG PICTURE.
PICTURE.
FROM PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S FROM PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S SEMINAL SPEECH IN MAY OF 1964, SEMINAL SPEECH IN MAY OF 1964, TO THE SIGNING OF ANTI-POVERTY TO THE SIGNING OF ANTI-POVERTY AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION LATER THAT YEAR, TO THE LATER THAT YEAR, TO THE CREATION OF MEDICARE AND THE CREATION OF MEDICARE AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN THE YEAR VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN THE YEAR THAT FOLLOWED, A LOT GOT DONE THAT FOLLOWED, A LOT GOT DONE THAT CHANGED OUR LIVES AND OUR THAT CHANGED OUR LIVES AND OUR POLITICS FOREVER.
POLITICS FOREVER.
KAREN TUMULTY AND HER KAREN TUMULTY AND HER COLLEAGUES AT "THE WASHINGTON COLLEAGUES AT "THE WASHINGTON POST" HAVE BEEN FOCUSING POST" HAVE BEEN FOCUSING EXCLUSIVELY ON THAT BIG PICTURE EXCLUSIVELY ON THAT BIG PICTURE THIS WEEK IN A SERIES OF THIS WEEK IN A SERIES OF STORIES ON THE GREAT SOCIETY AT STORIES ON THE GREAT SOCIETY AT 50.
50.
THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING LIKE IT THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING LIKE IT SINCE, HAS THERE KAREN?
SINCE, HAS THERE KAREN?
>> AND I THINK YOU CAN ARGUE >> AND I THINK YOU CAN ARGUE NOTHING LIKE IT BEFORE.
NOTHING LIKE IT BEFORE.
L.B.J.
LAUNCHED THE GREAT L.B.J.
LAUNCHED THE GREAT SOCIETY WITH A COMMENCEMENT SOCIETY WITH A COMMENCEMENT SPEECH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SPEECH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SIX MONTHS TO THE DAY MICHIGAN SIX MONTHS TO THE DAY AFTER JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS AFTER JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS ASSASSINATED.
ASSASSINATED.
WHAT HE LAUNCHEDENING YOU CAN WHAT HE LAUNCHEDENING YOU CAN ARGUE WAS THE SINGLE BIGGEST ARGUE WAS THE SINGLE BIGGEST EXPERIMENT EVER IN WHAT EXPERIMENT EVER IN WHAT GOVERNMENT IS CAPABLE OF DOING.
GOVERNMENT IS CAPABLE OF DOING.
YOU COULDN'T COMPARE TO THE NEW YOU COULDN'T COMPARE TO THE NEW DEAL, BUT THE FACT IS THE DEAL, BUT THE FACT IS THE BREADTH OF WHAT HE TRIED TO BREADTH OF WHAT HE TRIED TO ACHIEVE WAS GREATER BECAUSE IT ACHIEVE WAS GREATER BECAUSE IT DID TAKE ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND A DID TAKE ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND A NUMBER OF AREAS OF AMERICAN NUMBER OF AREAS OF AMERICAN LIFE THAT REALLY THE NEW DEAL LIFE THAT REALLY THE NEW DEAL DIDN'T TOUCH.
DIDN'T TOUCH.
THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE NEW DEAL WAS ABOUT SORT OF NEW DEAL WAS ABOUT SORT OF PUTTING OUT THE CRISIS, PUTTING PUTTING OUT THE CRISIS, PUTTING OUT THE FIRE OF THE GREAT OUT THE FIRE OF THE GREAT DEPRPRON.
DEPRPRON.
WHAT JOHNSON TRIED TO DO WAS WHAT JOHNSON TRIED TO DO WAS FIGURE OUT HOW TO INVEST OUR FIGURE OUT HOW TO INVEST OUR PROSPERITY AND TWICE DURING PROSPERITY AND TWICE DURING THAT SPEECH, HE SKETCHED OUT THAT SPEECH, HE SKETCHED OUT WHAT HE THOUGHT AMERICA COULD WHAT HE THOUGHT AMERICA COULD AND SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN 50 AND SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN 50 YEARS.
YEARS.
GWEN: ONE OF THE LITTLE DETAILS GWEN: ONE OF THE LITTLE DETAILS IN YOUR FIRST STORY THAT CAUGHT IN YOUR FIRST STORY THAT CAUGHT MY EYE WAS JUST THAT 200 BILLS MY EYE WAS JUST THAT 200 BILLS WERE PASSED, MAJOR BILLS WERE WERE PASSED, MAJOR BILLS WERE PASSED IN THE 89TH CONGRESS.
PASSED IN THE 89TH CONGRESS.
THINK ABOUT THAT FOR JUST A THINK ABOUT THAT FOR JUST A MOMENT.
MOMENT.
WHAT WERE THEY?
WHAT WERE THEY?
>> IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY.
>> IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY.
THERE WAS MEDICARE AND THERE WAS MEDICARE AND MEDICAID.
MEDICAID.
THERE WAS THE VOTING RIGHTS THERE WAS THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
ACT.
THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGET, THE ENORMOUS FORGET, THE ENORMOUS IMMIGRATION BILL THAT IMMIGRATION BILL THAT EFFECTIVELY, IT ENDED WHAT HAD EFFECTIVELY, IT ENDED WHAT HAD EFFECTIVELY BEEN A WHITES ONLY EFFECTIVELY BEEN A WHITES ONLY IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT HAD IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT HAD EXISTED IN THIS COUNTRY FOR 50 EXISTED IN THIS COUNTRY FOR 50 YEARS.
YEARS.
THERE WERE CONSUMER THERE WERE CONSUMER PROTECTIONS.
PROTECTIONS.
YOU HAVE PADDED DASH BOARDS AND YOU HAVE PADDED DASH BOARDS AND SEAT BELTS IN YOUR CAR DAY SEAT BELTS IN YOUR CAR DAY BECAUSE OF THE GREAT SOCIETY.
BECAUSE OF THE GREAT SOCIETY.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY TALKING THEY WERE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT ENDING POVERTY BY 1976.
ABOUT ENDING POVERTY BY 1976.
AT THE SAME TIME IT OPENED UP, AT THE SAME TIME IT OPENED UP, I THINK, JUSTBOUT EVERY I THINK, JUSTBOUT EVERY POLITICAL DEBATE THAT WE HAVE POLITICAL DEBATE THAT WE HAVE TODAY SOMEHOW HAS ROOTS IN THE TODAY SOMEHOW HAS ROOTS IN THE GREAT SOCIETY.
GREAT SOCIETY.
>> AND WHY DID IT WORK SO WELL >> AND WHY DID IT WORK SO WELL LEGISLATIVELY?
LEGISLATIVELY?
WAS IT HIM, THE MOOD, WHY?
WAS IT HIM, THE MOOD, WHY?
>> THERE WERE A NUMBER R >> THERE WERE A NUMBER R THINGS THAT COMBINED.
THINGS THAT COMBINED.
NUMBER ONE, HE HAD A HUGE, THE NUMBER ONE, HE HAD A HUGE, THE BIGGEST LANDSLIDE IN AMERICAN BIGGEST LANDSLIDE IN AMERICAN HISTORY IN 1964 -- HISTORY IN 1964 -- GWEN: NOTHING LIKE A LANDSLIDE GWEN: NOTHING LIKE A LANDSLIDE TO GET YOUR BILLS PASSED.
TO GET YOUR BILLS PASSED.
>> THE ECONOMY WAS BOOMING.
>> THE ECONOMY WAS BOOMING.
THE COUNTRY WAS STILL MOURNING THE COUNTRY WAS STILL MOURNING THIS PRESIDENT WHO HAD AWAKENED THIS PRESIDENT WHO HAD AWAKENED ITS IDEALISM AND THE CIVIL ITS IDEALISM AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT HAD AWAKENED RIGHTS MOVEMENT HAD AWAKENED ITS CONSCIENCE.
ITS CONSCIENCE.
L.B.J.
RECOGNIZED THAT YOU PUT L.B.J.
RECOGNIZED THAT YOU PUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER ALL OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER WITH A PRESIDENT OF UNMATCHED WITH A PRESIDENT OF UNMATCHED LEGISLATIVE SKILLS AND YOU HAVE LEGISLATIVE SKILLS AND YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A LOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A LOT DONE VERY QUICKLY.
DONE VERY QUICKLY.
BUT BY 1966, IT HAD ALL TURNED.
BUT BY 1966, IT HAD ALL TURNED.
>> WE TALK ABOUT TODAY, THE >> WE TALK ABOUT TODAY, THE CONTRAST IS SO INTERESTING TO CONTRAST IS SO INTERESTING TO ME, PARTICULARLY AS I COVER ME, PARTICULARLY AS I COVER CONGRESS JUST ABOUT THE CONGRESS JUST ABOUT THE GRIDLOCK THAT WE SEE.
GRIDLOCK THAT WE SEE.
DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE IN DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE IN MODERN AMERICAN POLITICS TO DO MODERN AMERICAN POLITICS TO DO SIMILAR GRAND LEGISLATIVE SIMILAR GRAND LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENTS LIKE WE SAW THEN?
MOVEMENTS LIKE WE SAW THEN?
>> IT'S CERTAINLY NOT I THINK >> IT'S CERTAINLY NOT I THINK TODAY, AGAIN, L.B.J.
HAD HUGE TODAY, AGAIN, L.B.J.
HAD HUGE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY.
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY.
I ALSO THINK THAT THE GREAT I ALSO THINK THAT THE GREAT SOCIETY, HE WAS WEAKENED BY SOCIETY, HE WAS WEAKENED BY VIETNAM.
VIETNAM.
HE WAS WEAKENED BY THE BACKLASH HE WAS WEAKENED BY THE BACKLASH AND ALSO THE GREAT SOCIETY LAID AND ALSO THE GREAT SOCIETY LAID THE PREMISE FOR, I THINK THE THE PREMISE FOR, I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PHILOSOPHY OF TODAY.
REPUBLICAN PHILOSOPHY OF TODAY.
IT WAS THE 1966 ELECTION THAT IT WAS THE 1966 ELECTION THAT ELECTED A MOVIE ACTOR, THE ELECTED A MOVIE ACTOR, THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA.
GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA.
>> SO DOES THAT MEAN IT WAS A >> SO DOES THAT MEAN IT WAS A SUCCESS OR A FAILURE?
SUCCESS OR A FAILURE?
HIS OWN OBJECTIVES SORT OF HIS OWN OBJECTIVES SORT OF CREATE A RISE OF WHAT WE'RE CREATE A RISE OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW TODAY?
SEEING NOW TODAY?
>> OBVIOUSLY IT FAILED IN A LOT >> OBVIOUSLY IT FAILED IN A LOT OF AREAS, ESPECIALLY OF AREAS, ESPECIALLY ERADICATING POVERTY.
ERADICATING POVERTY.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, SOME OF INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, SOME OF ITS GREATEST SUCCESSES WERE THE ITS GREATEST SUCCESSES WERE THE THINGS THAT WERE MOST THINGS THAT WERE MOST CONTROVERSIAL IN THAT DAY, CONTROVERSIAL IN THAT DAY, CIVIL RIGHTS.
CIVIL RIGHTS.
I THINK BOTH THE LEFT AND THE I THINK BOTH THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT WILL ACKNOWLEDGE TODAY RIGHT WILL ACKNOWLEDGE TODAY THAT THESE BARRIERS WERE THAT THESE BARRIERS WERE IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOCK OVER EXCEPT IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOCK OVER EXCEPT BY GOVERNMENT DICTATE.
BY GOVERNMENT DICTATE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ONLY THE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ONLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENENCOULD DO.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENENCOULD DO.
GWEN: IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE GWEN: IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE KIND OF ENDURING REVERB RAISES, KIND OF ENDURING REVERB RAISES, YOT ONLY IN THE THINGS THAT U YOT ONLY IN THE THINGS THAT U MENTIONED, BUT ALSO IN THE WAY MENTIONED, BUT ALSO IN THE WAY THAT GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS.
THAT GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS.
FOR INSTANCE, YOU PASS FOR INSTANCE, YOU PASS SOMETHING AS HUGE AS MEDICARE SOMETHING AS HUGE AS MEDICARE ND MEDICAID, YOU GIVE PEOPLE ND MEDICAID, YOU GIVE PEOPLE THESE KIND OF ENTITLEMENTS AND THESE KIND OF ENTITLEMENTS AND THEY'RE HARD TO LET THEM GO.
THEY'RE HARD TO LET THEM GO.
SO WHEN 50 YEARS LATER WE HAVE SO WHEN 50 YEARS LATER WE HAVE A DEBATE ABOUT HEALTH CARE, A A DEBATE ABOUT HEALTH CARE, A PART OF THE PUSHBACK FROM PART OF THE PUSHBACK FROM REPUBLICANS WAS, WE DON'T WANT REPUBLICANS WAS, WE DON'T WANT TO PASS THIS BECAUSE ONCE YOU TO PASS THIS BECAUSE ONCE YOU GIVE PEOPLE SOMETHING, IT'S GIVE PEOPLE SOMETHING, IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO GIVE IT UP.
HARD FOR THEM TO GIVE IT UP.
IS IT CONTINUING TO REVERBERATE IS IT CONTINUING TO REVERBERATE IN OTHER POLICY DEBATES LATER?
IN OTHER POLICY DEBATES LATER?
>> IT'S NOT JUST THE BENEFITS.
>> IT'S NOT JUST THE BENEFITS.
IT'S AROUND EACH OF THESE IT'S AROUND EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS, A BIG BUREAUCRACY PROGRAMS, A BIG BUREAUCRACY GROWS, THAT BUREAUCRACY OFTEN GROWS, THAT BUREAUCRACY OFTEN OUTLASTS THE POLITICIANS.
OUTLASTS THE POLITICIANS.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION I'M SO >> I HAVE A QUESTION I'M SO CURIOUS ABOUT THIS STORY.
CURIOUS ABOUT THIS STORY.
I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT PART I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT PART OF THE REASON WHY L.B.J.
WAS OF THE REASON WHY L.B.J.
WAS PUSHING THIS WAS HE WAS SAYING PUSHING THIS WAS HE WAS SAYING THE GOVERNMENT -- THE FEDERAL THE GOVERNMENT -- THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE THE MOTIVATOR, THEHEPERATOR.
MOTIVATOR, THEHEPERATOR.
THAT IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF THAT IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING NOW WHERE WE'RE SAYING TAKE IT NOW WHERE WE'RE SAYING TAKE IT AWAY FROM THE FEDERAL AWAY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SEND TO THE STATE.
GOVERNMENT, SEND TO THE STATE.
>> IN PART BECAUSE HE DIDN'T >> IN PART BECAUSE HE DIDN'T TRUST THE STATES.
TRUST THE STATES.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CIVIL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE STATES RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THE STATES WERE THE OBSTACLES.
WERE THE OBSTACLES.
BEYOND THAT -- BEYOND THAT -- GWEN: STATES RIGHTS BEING WHAT GWEN: STATES RIGHTS BEING WHAT IT WAS IN CIVIL RIGHTS.
IT WAS IN CIVIL RIGHTS.
>> THEY SHIFTED POWER FROM THE >> THEY SHIFTED POWER FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH FROM THE EXECUTIVE, FROM CORPORATIONS TO EXECUTIVE, FROM CORPORATIONS TO REGULATORS AND A REALLY BIG ONE REGULATORS AND A REALLY BIG ONE WAS SHIFTING POWER AROUND THE WAS SHIFTING POWER AROUND THE BIG CITY MACHINES AND GIVING IT BIG CITY MACHINES AND GIVING IT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS INCLUDING ONE OF WHOM WHO SITS INCLUDING ONE OF WHOM WHO SITS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> IN LOOKING THROUGH THE >> IN LOOKING THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND SUCCESSES, CONTRIBUTIONS AND SUCCESSES, WAS THERE ONE LITTLE THING THAT WAS THERE ONE LITTLE THING THAT YOU SAID I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS YOU SAID I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS PART OF THE GREAT SOCIETY?
PART OF THE GREAT SOCIETY?
>> INTERERTINGLY, THE ONE BIG >> INTERERTINGLY, THE ONE BIG LEGISLATIVE FIGHT THAT L.B.J.
LEGISLATIVE FIGHT THAT L.B.J.
LOST WAS OVER HOME RULE FOR THE LOST WAS OVER HOME RULE FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
GWEN: WE ALL LIVE IN GWEN: WE ALL LIVE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. NOW, WE THINK, WASHINGTON, D.C. NOW, WE THINK, OH, WE STILL DON'T HAVE A OH, WE STILL DON'T HAVE A VOTING MEMBER IN CONGRESS VOTING MEMBER IN CONGRESS BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONE THING BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONE THING THAT FAILED.
THAT FAILED.
>> HE PULLED OUT ALL OF THE >> HE PULLED OUT ALL OF THE STOPS AND HE COULDN'T GET IT STOPS AND HE COULDN'T GET IT DONE.
DONE.
GWEN: SO FASCINATING.
GWEN: SO FASCINATING.
THANK YOU, KAREN FOR DOING THANK YOU, KAREN FOR DOING THAT.
THAT.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE STORIES IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE STORIES THAT WE ALL KIND OF KNOW, BUT THAT WE ALL KIND OF KNOW, BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE RHYTHM WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE RHYTHM AND THE FALLOUT HAS BEEN ALL OF AND THE FALLOUT HAS BEEN ALL OF THIS TIME LATER.
THIS TIME LATER.
THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN ALL THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN ALL OF THESE WEEKS.
OF THESE WEEKS.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
THE ENTIRE "WASHINGTON POST" THE ENTIRE "WASHINGTON POST" GREAT SOCIETY SERIES IS ON OUR GREAT SOCIETY SERIES IS ON OUR WEBSITE.
WEBSITE.
THAT'S ALSO WHERE YOU'LL FIND THAT'S ALSO WHERE YOU'LL FIND OUR WEBCAST EXTRA WHERE WE OUR WEBCAST EXTRA WHERE WE TACKLE ALL OF THE REST OF THE TACKLE ALL OF THE REST OF THE WEEK'S STORIES WE DIDN'T GET TO WEEK'S STORIES WE DIDN'T GET TO HERE, SHOCK BEING THERE WAS HERE, SHOCK BEING THERE WAS MORE.
MORE.
INCLUDING WHAT THE HOUSE DID INCLUDING WHAT THE HOUSE DID THIS WEEK TO REIN IN THE N.S.A.
THIS WEEK TO REIN IN THE N.S.A.
N.S.A.
N.S.A.
YOU CAN WATCH THE WEBCAST ALL YOU CAN WATCH THE WEBCAST ALL WEEK LONG AT WEEK LONG AT PBS.ORG/WASHINGTONWEEK.
PBS.ORG/WASHINGTONWEEK.
ALSO, KEEP UP WITH DEVELOPMENTS ALSO, KEEP UP WITH DEVELOPMENTS WITH ME AND JUDY WOODRUFF AT WITH ME AND JUDY WOODRUFF AT THE PBS "NEWSHOUR," AND WE'LL THE PBS "NEWSHOUR," AND WE'LL SEE YOU HERE, NEXT WEEK ON SEE YOU HERE, NEXT WEEK ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
"WASHINGTON WEEK."
HAVE A LOVELY AND OBSERVANT HAVE A LOVELY AND OBSERVANT MEMORIAL DAY.
MEMORIAL DAY.
GOOD NIGHT.
