GWEN: AND THE STATE OF THE UNION IS STRONG, DIVIDED, UNION IS STRONG, DIVIDED, FRUSTRATED?
FRUSTRATED?
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC?
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC?
TAKE YOUR PICK.
TAKE YOUR PICK.
WE SAY ALL OF THE ABOVE.
WE SAY ALL OF THE ABOVE.
TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
>> THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THIS >> THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THIS CAN BE A BREAKTHROUGH YEAR FOR CAN BE A BREAKTHROUGH YEAR FOR AMERICA.
AMERICA.
>> TONIGHT THE PRESIDENT MADE >> TONIGHT THE PRESIDENT MADE MORE PROMISES THAT SOUND GOOD.
MORE PROMISES THAT SOUND GOOD.
BUT WON'T ACTUALLY SOLVE THE BUT WON'T ACTUALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEMS FACING AMERICANS.
PROBLEMS FACING AMERICANS.
GWEN: THE RITUAL.
GWEN: THE RITUAL.
THE RHETORIC.
THE RHETORIC.
AND THE RESPECT ACCORDED THE AND THE RESPECT ACCORDED THE ANNUAL STATE OF THE UNION ANNUAL STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.
ADDRESS.
THE PRESIDENT'S PRIORITIES, THE PRESIDENT'S PRIORITIES, EDUCATION, HIGHER WAGES, EDUCATION, HIGHER WAGES, EXECUTIVE ATIONC.
EXECUTIVE ATIONC.
REPUBLICANS' PRIORITIES?
REPUBLICANS' PRIORITIES?
IMMIGRATION REFORM, TRADE.
IMMIGRATION REFORM, TRADE.
EVERYONE'S PLAN TO REGAIN EVERYONE'S PLAN TO REGAIN POLITICAL FOOTING BEFORE VOTERS POLITICAL FOOTING BEFORE VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS LATER THIS GO TO THE POLLS LATER THIS YEAR.
YEAR.
COVERING THE STATE OF STATE OF COVERING THE STATE OF STATE OF THE UNION WEEK, JOHN DICKERSON THE UNION WEEK, JOHN DICKERSON OF "SLATE" MAGAZINE AND CBS OF "SLATE" MAGAZINE AND CBS NEWS.
NEWS.
CHRISTI PARSONS OF TRIBUNE CHRISTI PARSONS OF TRIBUNE NEWSPAPERS.
NEWSPAPERS.
SUSAN DAVIS OF "USA TODAY."
SUSAN DAVIS OF "USA TODAY."
AND TODD PURDUM OF POLITICO AND AND TODD PURDUM OF POLITICO AND "VANITY FAIR."
"VANITY FAIR."
>> AWARD-WENNING REPORTING AND >> AWARD-WENNING REPORTING AND ANALYSIS, COVERING HISTORY AS ANALYSIS, COVERING HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS.
IT 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.
GAUNTLETS WERE THROWN DOWN, GAUNTLETS WERE THROWN DOWN, HEROES WERE CHEERED, TRASH WAS HEROES WERE CHEERED, TRASH WAS TALKED.
TALKED.
AND THEN A FUNNY THING HAPPENED AND THEN A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY OUT OF THE STATE OF ON THE WAY OUT OF THE STATE OF THE UNION.
THE UNION.
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BEGAN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BEGAN HINTING ABOUT GETTING THINGS HINTING ABOUT GETTING THINGS DONE.
DONE.
EVEN IF IT'S DONE AROUND THE EVEN IF IT'S DONE AROUND THE EDGES.
EDGES.
HERE'S JOHN BOEHNER ON HERE'S JOHN BOEHNER ON IMMIGRATION.
IMMIGRATION.
>> THIS PROBLEM'S BEEN AROUND >> THIS PROBLEM'S BEEN AROUND FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 15 YEARS.
FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 15 YEARS.
IT'S BEEN TURNED INTO A IT'S BEEN TURNED INTO A POLITICAL FOOTBALL.
POLITICAL FOOTBALL.
I THINK IT'S UNFAIR.
I THINK IT'S UNFAIR.
AND SO I THINK IT'S TIME TO AND SO I THINK IT'S TIME TO DEAL WITH IT.
DEAL WITH IT.
BUT HOW WE DEAL WITH IT IS BUT HOW WE DEAL WITH IT IS GOING TO BE CRITICALLY GOING TO BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
IMPORTANT.
GWEN: THEN THERE WAS THE GWEN: THEN THERE WAS THE PRESIDENT, STILL TALKING ABOUT PRESIDENT, STILL TALKING ABOUT MOVING ON WITHOUT CONGRESS, BUT MOVING ON WITHOUT CONGRESS, BUT NOT QUITE AS AGGRESSIVELY AS NOT QUITE AS AGGRESSIVELY AS BEFORE.
BEFORE.
>> WHILE CONGRESS DECIDESES >> WHILE CONGRESS DECIDESES WHETHER IT'S GOING TO RAISE THE WHETHER IT'S GOING TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE OR NOT, PEOPLE MINIMUM WAGE OR NOT, PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON ARE NOT OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON ARE NOT WAITING FOR CONGRESS AND I'M WAITING FOR CONGRESS AND I'M NOT, EITHER.
NOT, EITHER.
SO AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, I'M SO AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, I'M GOING TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
GOING TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
GWEN: LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
GWEN: LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE, JOHN.
GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE, JOHN.
>> WELL, THE EXAMPLES ARE >> WELL, THE EXAMPLES ARE PRETTY SMALL.
PRETTY SMALL.
ONE OF THEM WAS HE GOT TOGETHER ONE OF THEM WAS HE GOT TOGETHER THE C.E.O.
'S OF A NUMBER OF THE C.E.O.
'S OF A NUMBER OF LARGE COMPANIES, 300, AND LARGE COMPANIES, 300, AND TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE IDEA TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE IDEA OF THE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED.
OF THE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED.
THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN LOOKING AT STUDIES OVER SOMIC S. LOOKING AT STUDIES OVER SOMIC S. AND THEY FIND THAT PEOPLE WHO AND THEY FIND THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE UNEMPLOYED FOR A LONG WERE UNEMPLOYED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME ARE OFTEN JUST PERIOD OF TIME ARE OFTEN JUST AS SKILLED AS THOSE WHO ARE AS SKILLED AS THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED FOR A SHORT PERIOD UNEMPLOYED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
OF TIME.
BUT THERE'S A BIAS AGAINST THEM BUT THERE'S A BIAS AGAINST THEM BECAUSE E ELOYERS LOOK AT THEIR BECAUSE E ELOYERS LOOK AT THEIR RESUMES AND THEY THINK IF RESUMES AND THEY THINK IF YOU'VE BEEN UNEMPLOYED THIS YOU'VE BEEN UNEMPLOYED THIS LONG YOU MUST NOT BE THAT GOOD LONG YOU MUST NOT BE THAT GOOD AND THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING NO, AND THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING NO, YOU SHOULD TAKE CARE TO LOOK AT YOU SHOULD TAKE CARE TO LOOK AT THESE PEOPLE AND DO SOMETHING THESE PEOPLE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
ABOUT IT.
NOW, THAT'S NOT A LAW THAT NOW, THAT'S NOT A LAW THAT NEEDS TO BE PASSED.
NEEDS TO BE PASSED.
IT'S THE PRESIDENT USING HIS IT'S THE PRESIDENT USING HIS PERSUASIVE POWER.
PERSUASIVE POWER.
AND IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE AND IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HIM, AND THIS IS ONE OF A HIM, AND THIS IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS HE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS HE TRIED TO DO.
TRIED TO DO.
HE DID MINIMUM WAGE HIKE FOR HE DID MINIMUM WAGE HIKE FOR NEW CONTRACTS FROM COMPANIES NEW CONTRACTS FROM COMPANIES THAT WORK WITH THE FEDERAL THAT WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
GOVERNMENT.
THESE ARE MINOR SMALL LITTLE THESE ARE MINOR SMALL LITTLE THINGS.
THINGS.
BUT IT'S THE PRESIDENT WHO HAS BUT IT'S THE PRESIDENT WHO HAS -- IN HIS SIX YEARS STRUGGLING -- IN HIS SIX YEARS STRUGGLING WITH WHO HE CAN PERSUADE.
WITH WHO HE CAN PERSUADE.
HE CAN'T PERSUADE THE HE CAN'T PERSUADE THE REPUBLICANS TO DO MUCH AND EVEN REPUBLICANS TO DO MUCH AND EVEN HAVING TROUBLE PERSUADING HAVING TROUBLE PERSUADING DEMOCRATS ON TRADE.
DEMOCRATS ON TRADE.
HE'S TRYING TO PERSUADE ANYBODY HE'S TRYING TO PERSUADE ANYBODY HE CAN USING THE POWER OF HIS HE CAN USING THE POWER OF HIS OFFICE.
OFFICE.
THE THINGS HE'S DOING ARE STILL THE THINGS HE'S DOING ARE STILL PRETTY SMALL.
PRETTY SMALL.
GWEN: IF YOU WERE TO REWIND THE GWEN: IF YOU WERE TO REWIND THE TAPE TO BILL CLINTON'S SECOND TAPE TO BILL CLINTON'S SECOND TERM, AND PROBABLY SAID AROUND TERM, AND PROBABLY SAID AROUND THIS TABLE TALKED ABOUT SCHOOL THIS TABLE TALKED ABOUT SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND THE SMALL BORE UNIFORMS AND THE SMALL BORE ISSUES THAT -- ISSUES THAT -- >> V-CHIP.
>> V-CHIP.
GWEN: THE V-CHIP, TODD.
GWEN: THE V-CHIP, TODD.
THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S RIGHT.
I REMEMBER THAT WHICH I DON'T I REMEMBER THAT WHICH I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS EVEN REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS ANYMORE.
ANYMORE.
IT WAS THAT SMALL.
IT WAS THAT SMALL.
BUT T E POINT IS MAYBE THAT'S BUT T E POINT IS MAYBE THAT'S WHAT PRESIDENTS HAVE TO DO.
WHAT PRESIDENTS HAVE TO DO.
IS THAT WHAT -- WHERE THE WHITE IS THAT WHAT -- WHERE THE WHITE HOUSE IS, WHEN THEY SAY THEY'RE HOUSE IS, WHEN THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT STANDING STILL, IS THAT NOT STANDING STILL, IS THAT WHAT THEY MEAN?
WHAT THEY MEAN?
>> I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S >> I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S RIGHT AND THE SCHOOL UNIFORMS RIGHT AND THE SCHOOL UNIFORMS IS A THING TO POINT TO, IT WAS IS A THING TO POINT TO, IT WAS KIND OF SMALL BUT WE ALL KIND OF SMALL BUT WE ALL REMEMBER IT.
REMEMBER IT.
GWEN: NOT THE V-CHIP.
GWEN: NOT THE V-CHIP.
>> I HAD FORGOTTEN.
>> I HAD FORGOTTEN.
AND AS THE WHITE HOUSE WAS AND AS THE WHITE HOUSE WAS SPOONING OUT SOME OF ITS SPOONING OUT SOME OF ITS INITIATIVES AND DROPPED OFF INITIATIVES AND DROPPED OFF FROM THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR FROM THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS TO FEDERAL CONTRACTORS TO COMMISSIONING A STUDY, THE NEXT COMMISSIONING A STUDY, THE NEXT DAY, BY PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM DAY, BY PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM WAS A PRETTY BIG DROPOFF.
WAS A PRETTY BIG DROPOFF.
ALMOST STARTS TO SEEM LIKE THE ALMOST STARTS TO SEEM LIKE THE POINT.
POINT.
THAT THERE ARE LITTLE THINGS THAT THERE ARE LITTLE THINGS THE PRESIDENT CAN SAY I'M THE PRESIDENT CAN SAY I'M TAKING ACTION.
TAKING ACTION.
THIS IS SOMETHING I CAN DO.
THIS IS SOMETHING I CAN DO.
AND THEN HE GOES ON TO DESCRIBE AND THEN HE GOES ON TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM IN HIS OWN TERMS.
THE PROBLEM IN HIS OWN TERMS.
AND SAYS, YOU KNOW, CONGRESS IS AND SAYS, YOU KNOW, CONGRESS IS -- REALLY TAKES CONGRESS TO -- REALLY TAKES CONGRESS TO MAKE A BIG SWEEPING DIFFERENCE MAKE A BIG SWEEPING DIFFERENCE HERE.
HERE.
I THINK IN THE MESSAGING THE I THINK IN THE MESSAGING THE SMALLNESS OF THOSE INITIATIVES SMALLNESS OF THOSE INITIATIVES IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM.
IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM.
GWEN: EXCEPT THAT CONGRESS GWEN: EXCEPT THAT CONGRESS INITIALLY RESPONDED VERY WELL.
INITIALLY RESPONDED VERY WELL.
PART OF THE ADVANCE MESSAGE WAS PART OF THE ADVANCE MESSAGE WAS THAT HE WAS GOING TO USE HIS THAT HE WAS GOING TO USE HIS PEN AND HIS PHONE TO GET THINGS PEN AND HIS PHONE TO GET THINGS DONE.
DONE.
WASN'T CERTAIN ABOUT THE PHONE WASN'T CERTAIN ABOUT THE PHONE PART BUT I DO KNOW MEMBERS OF PART BUT I DO KNOW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WERE NOT CRAZY ABOUT CONGRESS WERE NOT CRAZY ABOUT THE IDEA THAT HE WAS GOING TO THE IDEA THAT HE WAS GOING TO USE THE PEN AND JUST BY FIAT, USE THE PEN AND JUST BY FIAT, BY SIGNATURE OVERRIDE THEM.
BY SIGNATURE OVERRIDE THEM.
>> NO.
>> NO.
THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S RIGHT.
JOHN BOEHNER BEFORE THE STATE JOHN BOEHNER BEFORE THE STATE OF THE UNION TOLD REPORTERS OF THE UNION TOLD REPORTERS THAT IF THE PRESIDENT THOUGHT THAT IF THE PRESIDENT THOUGHT HE COULD GO AROUND CONGRESS AND HE COULD GO AROUND CONGRESS AND ALL THESE MAJOR ISSUES HE WAS ALL THESE MAJOR ISSUES HE WAS GOING TO RUN INTO A "BRICK GOING TO RUN INTO A "BRICK WALL."
WALL."
ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'S -- THE ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'S -- THE STATE OF THE UNION, WHEN THE STATE OF THE UNION, WHEN THE PREEMPTIVE MESSAGE WAS THAT IT PREEMPTIVE MESSAGE WAS THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A FINGER WAG TO WAS GOING TO BE A FINGER WAG TO CONGRESS BUT CAME UP WITH A CONGRESS BUT CAME UP WITH A MUCH MORE COOPERATIVEVEVEGE.
MUCH MORE COOPERATIVEVEVEGE.
I TALKED TO MEMBERS AFTER THE I TALKED TO MEMBERS AFTER THE SPEECH THAT ACTUALLY EVEN SPEECH THAT ACTUALLY EVEN REPUBLICANS WHO SAID THEY DO REPUBLICANS WHO SAID THEY DO THINK THERE'S ROOM TO MOVE THINK THERE'S ROOM TO MOVE FORWARD ON SOME SUBSTANTIVE FORWARD ON SOME SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN ISSUES EVEN THOUGH IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR.
ELECTION YEAR.
IMMIGRATION REFORM IS A GOOD IMMIGRATION REFORM IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
EXAMPLE.
REPUBLICANS TOOK A STEP THIS REPUBLICANS TOOK A STEP THIS WEEK TOWARD PUTTING SOMETHING WEEK TOWARD PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE TABLE THAT THEY CAN WORK ON THE TABLE THAT THEY CAN WORK WITH.
WITH.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1994 THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY MAKE 1994 THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY MAKE IT THROUGH THE BUDGET SEASON ON IT THROUGH THE BUDGET SEASON ON TIME.
TIME.
LITTLE THINGS THAT WE MIGHT NOT LITTLE THINGS THAT WE MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY THINK OF.
NECESSARILY THINK OF.
BUT I WAS SURPRISED THAT BUT I WAS SURPRISED THAT REPUBLICAN MEMBERS COMING OUT REPUBLICAN MEMBERS COMING OUT AND SAYING, HEY, THERE'S SOME AND SAYING, HEY, THERE'S SOME THINGS WE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE THINGS WE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO GET DONE THIS YEAR.
ABLE TO GET DONE THIS YEAR.
GWEN: I SAW SENATOR MARCO RUBIO GWEN: I SAW SENATOR MARCO RUBIO NEXT DAY AT A BREAKFAST AND HE NEXT DAY AT A BREAKFAST AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW HE PRETTY WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW HE PRETTY MUCH AGREED WITH THE PRESIDENT MUCH AGREED WITH THE PRESIDENT ON EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT ON EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT EXPANSION.
EXPANSION.
JUST DOING IT A DIFFERENT WAY.
JUST DOING IT A DIFFERENT WAY.
OR THERE WAS THE MYRA PLAN OR THERE WAS THE MYRA PLAN WHICH WAS CREATING SMALL WHICH WAS CREATING SMALL RAKSE'S FOR PEOPLE TO EN-- RAKSE'S FOR PEOPLE TO EN-- E.R.A.
'S FOR PEOPLE TO SAVE.
E.R.A.
'S FOR PEOPLE TO SAVE.
>> THE PRESIDENT HAD A >> THE PRESIDENT HAD A STRIKINGLY UPBEAT TONE.
STRIKINGLY UPBEAT TONE.
AND IT WASN'T A HECK TORG, AND IT WASN'T A HECK TORG, CHIDING TONE WHICH IS WHAT SOME CHIDING TONE WHICH IS WHAT SOME OF THE RUN-UP SUGGESTED IT WAS OF THE RUN-UP SUGGESTED IT WAS GOING TO BE.
GOING TO BE.
WHEN THE REPUBLICANS LAID OUT WHEN THE REPUBLICANS LAID OUT THEIR IMMIGRATION PRINCIPLES, THEIR IMMIGRATION PRINCIPLES, VAGUE AND INCOMPLETE AS THEY VAGUE AND INCOMPLETE AS THEY ARE THE PRESIDENT OFFERED AN ARE THE PRESIDENT OFFERED AN OLIVE BRANCH BY SAYING I OLIVE BRANCH BY SAYING I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY INSIST ON WOULDN'T NECESSARILY INSIST ON A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP.
A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP.
THAT HAS BEEN A LINE FOR HIM IN THAT HAS BEEN A LINE FOR HIM IN THE PAST.
THE PAST.
IF THE FARM BILL COULD PASS IF THE FARM BILL COULD PASS WHICH IS ANOTHER THING STUCK WHICH IS ANOTHER THING STUCK FOREVER, I THINK MAYBE SPRING FOREVER, I THINK MAYBE SPRING IS COMING A LITTLE EARLY THIS IS COMING A LITTLE EARLY THIS YEAR IN WASHINGTON.
YEAR IN WASHINGTON.
GWEN: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GWEN: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S TONE.
PRESIDENT'S TONE.
LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THAT MYRA PROGRAM.
ABOUT THAT MYRA PROGRAM.
THE TREASURY THE TREASURY TO CREATE A NEW WING FOR TO CREATE A NEW WING FOR WORKING AMERERANS TO START WORKING AMERERANS TO START THEIR OWN RETIREMENT SAVINGS.
THEIR OWN RETIREMENT SAVINGS.
MYRA.
MYRA.
IT'S A NEW SAVINGS BOND THAT IT'S A NEW SAVINGS BOND THAT ENCOURAGES FOLKS TO BUILD A ENCOURAGES FOLKS TO BUILD A NEST EGG.
NEST EGG.
GWEN: HE COULDN'T EVEN QUITE GWEN: HE COULDN'T EVEN QUITE GET THAT RIGHT.
GET THAT RIGHT.
BUT ALL HE HAS TO DO IS TELL BUT ALL HE HAS TO DO IS TELL TREASURY TO GO DO THIS.
TREASURY TO GO DO THIS.
>> THIS IS WHAT'S -- HERE'S THE >> THIS IS WHAT'S -- HERE'S THE THEORY BEHIND A LOT OF THESE THEORY BEHIND A LOT OF THESE LITTLE ITEMS THAT THE WHITE LITTLE ITEMS THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS TRYING TO DO.
HOUSE IS TRYING TO DO.
NOR THING THEY'RE TRYING IS NOR THING THEY'RE TRYING IS MANUFACTURING HUBS, THE IDEA MANUFACTURING HUBS, THE IDEA THAT IF YOU PUT A LITTLE MONEY THAT IF YOU PUT A LITTLE MONEY NO A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA IT WILL NO A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA IT WILL CREATE INNOVATION IN CREATE INNOVATION IN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND WILL GET SOME INNOVATION THAT WILL GET SOME INNOVATION THAT LEADS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH.
LEADS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH.
BUT HE OPENED TWO LAST YEAR.
BUT HE OPENED TWO LAST YEAR.
REALLY 1 1/2.
REALLY 1 1/2.
HE'S DOING SIX MORE TINY LITTLE HE'S DOING SIX MORE TINY LITTLE THINGS.
THINGS.
WHAT THEY HOPE IS THATY WHAT THEY HOPE IS THATY SCATTERING THESE SEEDS, THAT SCATTERING THESE SEEDS, THAT THE PRESIDENT, THROUGH HIS OWN THE PRESIDENT, THROUGH HIS OWN POWER, NOT ALWAYS EXECUTIVE POWER, NOT ALWAYS EXECUTIVE ORDERS, PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT ORDERS, PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
BUT HE CAN DO IT THROUGH BUT HE CAN DO IT THROUGH MEMORANDA.
MEMORANDA.
AND OTHER THINGS THAT AREN'T AND OTHER THINGS THAT AREN'T EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
BUT NEVERTHELESS ARE AN BUT NEVERTHELESS ARE AN ASSERTION OF EXECUTIVE POWER.
ASSERTION OF EXECUTIVE POWER.
THAT HE CAN SCATTER THESE SEEDS THAT HE CAN SCATTER THESE SEEDS AND THESE LITTLE PROGRAMS WILL AND THESE LITTLE PROGRAMS WILL GROW AND THEY MIGHT GAIN A GROW AND THEY MIGHT GAIN A CONSTITUENCY.
CONSTITUENCY.
ONCE THEY GAIN A CONSTITUENCY, ONCE THEY GAIN A CONSTITUENCY, THAT CONSTITUENCY WILL GO TO THAT CONSTITUENCY WILL GO TO THEIR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND WE WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE A WE WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE A PERMANENT THING.
PERMANENT THING.
AND SO THAT'S THE -- THE MYRA, AND SO THAT'S THE -- THE MYRA, THIS NEW CREATION WAS HIS THIS NEW CREATION WAS HIS ATTEMPT TO START A LITTLE ATTEMPT TO START A LITTLE SOMETHING SMALL AND THEN HOPE SOMETHING SMALL AND THEN HOPE THAT IT GETS BIGGER AS IT GAINS THAT IT GETS BIGGER AS IT GAINS A CONSTITUENCY.
A CONSTITUENCY.
GWEN: SOMEBODY EXPLAINED TO ME GWEN: SOMEBODY EXPLAINED TO ME THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN EXECUTIVE ACTION, WHICH IS TO EXECUTIVE ACTION, WHICH IS TO SAY MYRA, TELLING TREASURY TO SAY MYRA, TELLING TREASURY TO GO DO SOMETHING, AND EXECUTIVE GO DO SOMETHING, AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
ORDERS.
THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF DECLARING THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF DECLARING THAT SOMETHING WILL BE DONE.
THAT SOMETHING WILL BE DONE.
IS THERE A DISTINCTION TO BE IS THERE A DISTINCTION TO BE DRAWN?
DRAWN?
>> I'M SURE THERE'S SOME >> I'M SURE THERE'S SOME TECHNICAL LEGAL DISTINCTION BUT TECHNICAL LEGAL DISTINCTION BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS SOME THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN AMERICAN HISTORY HAVE BEEN AMERICAN HISTORY HAVE BEEN TAKEN THROUGH EXECUTIVE ACTION TAKEN THROUGH EXECUTIVE ACTION OR ORDER OF ONE KIND OR OR ORDER OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER.
ANOTHER.
THE DESEGREGATION OF THE THE DESEGREGATION OF THE MILITARY, DONE BY EXECUTIVE MILITARY, DONE BY EXECUTIVE ACTION, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION, ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
REGULATIONS.
GWEN: BOTH CASES THINGS THAT GWEN: BOTH CASES THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE NEVER PASSED WOULD HAVE NEVER PASSED LEGISLATIVELY.
LEGISLATIVELY.
>> OR BILL CLINTON DECLARATION >> OR BILL CLINTON DECLARATION OF NATIONAL MONUMENTS THAT OF NATIONAL MONUMENTS THAT COULDN'T GET STATUS AS A COULDN'T GET STATUS AS A NATIONAL PARK AND PROTECTED NATIONAL PARK AND PROTECTED THEM BY EXECUTIVE ACTION.
THEM BY EXECUTIVE ACTION.
SO I THINK THERE'S A KIND OF SO I THINK THERE'S A KIND OF BROAD TRADITION OF THAT.
BROAD TRADITION OF THAT.
FRANKLY IN BOTH PARTIES OF FRANKLY IN BOTH PARTIES OF DOING IT.
DOING IT.
AND I THINK JOHN'S RIGHT.
AND I THINK JOHN'S RIGHT.
THAT THE PRESIDENT'S GOAL IS TO THAT THE PRESIDENT'S GOAL IS TO GET ENOUGH LITTLE KINDLING OUT GET ENOUGH LITTLE KINDLING OUT THERE THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT SAY THERE THAT SOMEBODY MIGHT SAY THIS IS A FIRE WORTH BREATHING THIS IS A FIRE WORTH BREATHING ON.
ON.
>> AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE DID >> AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE DID LAST YEAR WAS A MEMORANDUM TO LAST YEAR WAS A MEMORANDUM TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY NOT TO PROSECUTE THE SECURITY NOT TO PROSECUTE THE CHILDREN OF UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
IMMIGRANTS.
THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.
THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.
THAT WAS NOT THROUGH EXECUTIVE THAT WAS NOT THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER.
ORDER.
IT WAS THROUGH A MEMORANDUM.
IT WAS THROUGH A MEMORANDUM.
WHAT HE'S DOING FOR THE PURPOSE WHAT HE'S DOING FOR THE PURPOSE OF STAGE CRAFT SIGN A BIG LOOPY OF STAGE CRAFT SIGN A BIG LOOPY SIGNATURE ON ANYTHING HE CAN SIGNATURE ON ANYTHING HE CAN WHETHER AN ORDER, MEMORANDUM OR WHETHER AN ORDER, MEMORANDUM OR NAPKIN.
NAPKIN.
AND IT'S TO SHOW THAT HE'S IN AND IT'S TO SHOW THAT HE'S IN THE GAME.
THE GAME.
AND HE'S DOING THINGS EVERY DAY AND HE'S DOING THINGS EVERY DAY TO TRY TO MOVE -- TO TRY TO MOVE -- >> THAT POWER IS STILL >> THAT POWER IS STILL AVAILABLE TO HIM.
AVAILABLE TO HIM.
HE KEEPS SAYING THAT HE WON'T HE KEEPS SAYING THAT HE WON'T DO ANYTHING BY EXECUTIVE DO ANYTHING BY EXECUTIVE ACTION.
ACTION.
OR ORDER.
OR ORDER.
ON IMMIGRATION.
ON IMMIGRATION.
BUT THAT'S AVAILABLE TO HIM AS BUT THAT'S AVAILABLE TO HIM AS IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION WHICH IS REALLY THE BIG HAMMER WHICH IS REALLY THE BIG HAMMER HERE THAT HE DIDN'T -- HE HERE THAT HE DIDN'T -- HE DIDN'T DETAIL ON TUESDAY THIS DIDN'T DETAIL ON TUESDAY THIS -- I THINK BECAUSE HE'S TRYING -- I THINK BECAUSE HE'S TRYING TO PRESERVE THE ABILITY TO WORK TO PRESERVE THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH CONGRESS ON SOME OTHER WITH CONGRESS ON SOME OTHER THINGS.
THINGS.
BUT THAT'S A BIG HAMMER THAT'S BUT THAT'S A BIG HAMMER THAT'S OUT THERE.
OUT THERE.
GWEN: THE OTHER THING IS HE GWEN: THE OTHER THING IS HE SAID -- WOULDN'T ADVANCE, THEY SAID -- WOULDN'T ADVANCE, THEY ALL DID WAS THIS IDEA OF ALL DID WAS THIS IDEA OF INEQUALITY.
INEQUALITY.
AND THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE AND THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE STARTED USING DIFFERENT STARTED USING DIFFERENT LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE WHAT THEY LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE WHAT THEY MEANT.
MEANT.
WHETHER IT WAS TALKING ABOUT WHETHER IT WAS TALKING ABOUT UPWARD MOBILITY, LADDERS OF UPWARD MOBILITY, LADDERS OF OPPORTUNITY, INEQUALITIT OPPORTUNITY, INEQUALITIT BUT REPUBLICANS ARE ON THIS, BUT REPUBLICANS ARE ON THIS, TOO.
TOO.
IT'S NOT JUST THE PRESIDENT BY IT'S NOT JUST THE PRESIDENT BY HIMSELF.
HIMSELF.
>> I THINK THEY BOTH AGREE THAT >> I THINK THEY BOTH AGREE THAT INEQUALITY IS A HUGE ISSUE TO INEQUALITY IS A HUGE ISSUE TO ADDRESS.
ADDRESS.
AND IS GOING TO BE VERY AND IS GOING TO BE VERY SIGNIFICANT IN 2014.
SIGNIFICANT IN 2014.
THE PARTIES HAVE TWO THE PARTIES HAVE TWO DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS AS TO HOW PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS AS TO HOW IT GETS DONE.
IT GETS DONE.
DEMOCRATS REALLY ALL THEY'VE DEMOCRATS REALLY ALL THEY'VE PUT FORWARD IN THIS PART EVEN PUT FORWARD IN THIS PART EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE GIVEN A LOT OF THOUGH THEY'VE GIVEN A LOT OF LIP SERVICE TO INEQUALITY IS LIP SERVICE TO INEQUALITY IS JUST THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE.
JUST THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE.
THAT WE'LL SEE A VOTE ON LATER THAT WE'LL SEE A VOTE ON LATER THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR.
THEY HAVE NOT PUT OUT A FULL THEY HAVE NOT PUT OUT A FULL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM EXACTLY HOW LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM EXACTLY HOW THEY WANT TO ADDRESS THIS.
THEY WANT TO ADDRESS THIS.
REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE WHERE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE WHERE THEY CONTROL THE MAJORITY HAVE THEY CONTROL THE MAJORITY HAVE PASSED WHAT THEY WOULD SAY ARE PASSED WHAT THEY WOULD SAY ARE -- DOZENS OF BILLS THAT ADDRESS -- DOZENS OF BILLS THAT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
THIS ISSUE.
THAT WOULD -- BUT THEY THAT WOULD -- BUT THEY ADDRESSED IT THROUGH LOWER ADDRESSED IT THROUGH LOWER TAXES.
TAXES.
THROUGH LESS REGULATION.
THROUGH LESS REGULATION.
THROUGH JOB GROWTH.
THROUGH JOB GROWTH.
AND THAT IS -- AND THAT IS -- GWEN: AS A MATTER OF FACT, LET GWEN: AS A MATTER OF FACT, LET ME STOP YOU BECAUSE I WANT TO ME STOP YOU BECAUSE I WANT TO LISTEN TO ONE EXAMPLE FROM THE LISTEN TO ONE EXAMPLE FROM THE SENATE.
SENATE.
OF THE ALTERNATE POINT OF VIEW OF THE ALTERNATE POINT OF VIEW ABOUT HOW TO DEFINE THIS ABOUT HOW TO DEFINE THIS INEQUALITY ARGUMENT FROM INEQUALITY ARGUMENT FROM SENATOR MIKE LEE.
SENATOR MIKE LEE.
>> WHERE DOES THIS NEW >> WHERE DOES THIS NEW INEQUALITY COME FROM?
INEQUALITY COME FROM?
FROM GOVERNMENT.
FROM GOVERNMENT.
EVERY TIME IT TAKES RIGHTS AND EVERY TIME IT TAKES RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES AWAY FROM THE OPPORTUNITIES AWAY FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AND GIVES THEM INSTEAD TO AND GIVES THEM INSTEAD TO POLITICIANS.
POLITICIANS.
BUREAUCRATS.
BUREAUCRATS.
AND SPECIAL INTERESTS.
AND SPECIAL INTERESTS.
GWEN: THAT WAS PART OF THE TEA GWEN: THAT WAS PART OF THE TEA PARTY RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF PARTY RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE UNION.
THE UNION.
LIKE FOUR RESPONSES TO THE LIKE FOUR RESPONSES TO THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH.
STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH.
BUT IT ILLUSTRATES VERY NICELY BUT IT ILLUSTRATES VERY NICELY THIS ARGUMENT THAT YEAH, WE THIS ARGUMENT THAT YEAH, WE THINK INEQUALITY'S BAD, TOO, WE THINK INEQUALITY'S BAD, TOO, WE JUST THINK GOVERNMENT'S THE JUST THINK GOVERNMENT'S THE PROBLEM.
PROBLEM.
>> ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME >> ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME THAT JOHN BOEHNER SAID THAT JOHN BOEHNER SAID YESTERDAY AT THE REPUBLICAN -- YESTERDAY AT THE REPUBLICAN -- THEY HAD A RETREAT AND SAID WE THEY HAD A RETREAT AND SAID WE CANNOT JUST BE AN OPPOSITION CANNOT JUST BE AN OPPOSITION PARTY.
PARTY.
WE HAVE TO BE THE ALTERNATIVE WE HAVE TO BE THE ALTERNATIVE PARTY.
PARTY.
AND I THINK FOR SO MUCH OF THE AND I THINK FOR SO MUCH OF THE PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS HAVE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS HAVE POSITIONED THEMSELVES JUST POSITIONED THEMSELVES JUST AGAINST OBAMA.
AGAINST OBAMA.
WHATEVER OBAMA WAS FOR THEY WHATEVER OBAMA WAS FOR THEY WERE AGAINST AND WE GO INTO AN WERE AGAINST AND WE GO INTO AN ELECTION YEAR AND THEY'LL VOTE ELECTION YEAR AND THEY'LL VOTE ON AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE ON AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW.
PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW.
THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO PUT THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO PUT FORWARD THEIR OWN PATH ON FORWARD THEIR OWN PATH ON IMMIGRATION AND THEIR OWN JOBS IMMIGRATION AND THEIR OWN JOBS BILLS.
BILLS.
AND I THINK PART OF IT WAS THE AND I THINK PART OF IT WAS THE REALIZATION THAT THE CONSTANT REALIZATION THAT THE CONSTANT OPPOSITION, THE GOVERNMENT OPPOSITION, THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, WAS A LESSON THAT SHUTDOWN, WAS A LESSON THAT THEY LEARNED FROM, THAT YOU THEY LEARNED FROM, THAT YOU CAN'T JUST BE AGAINST THINGS.
CAN'T JUST BE AGAINST THINGS.
YOU HAVE TO BE FOR THEM.
YOU HAVE TO BE FOR THEM.
GWEN: LET'S LISTEN TO JOHN GWEN: LET'S LISTEN TO JOHN BOEHNER SAY THAT AND WE'LL TALK BOEHNER SAY THAT AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT SOME MORE ON THE OTHER ABOUT IT SOME MORE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SIDE.
OUR ORDER TO MAXIMIZE OUR ORDER TO MAXIMIZE YEAR IT'S POSH -- IMPORTANT TO YEAR IT'S POSH -- IMPORTANT TO SHOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WE'RE SHOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WE'RE NOT THE OPPOSITION PARTY WE'RE NOT THE OPPOSITION PARTY WE'RE ACTUALLY THE AUVE PARTY.
ACTUALLY THE AUVE PARTY.
-- ALTERNATIVE PARTY.
-- ALTERNATIVE PARTY.
>> HIS NUMBER TWO ERIC CANTOR >> HIS NUMBER TWO ERIC CANTOR THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TO DO THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE MIDDLE SOMETHING ABOUT THE MIDDLE CLASS THAT'S BEING SQUEEZED.
CLASS THAT'S BEING SQUEEZED.
THESE ARE GARGANTUAN ISSUES.
THESE ARE GARGANTUAN ISSUES.
THE ECONOMY HAS CHANGED AS A THE ECONOMY HAS CHANGED AS A RESULT OF STAGNANT WAGES, RESULT OF STAGNANT WAGES, GLOBALIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY.
GLOBALIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY.
THAT ANSWERING THOSE ISSUES THAT ANSWERING THOSE ISSUES REQUIRES COOPERATION BETWEEN REQUIRES COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.
THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.
EVEN ON THE QUESTION OF THE EVEN ON THE QUESTION OF THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.
EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.
WHICH WAS AN EFFORT TO GET AT WHICH WAS AN EFFORT TO GET AT THIS QUESTION OF INEQUALITY OR THIS QUESTION OF INEQUALITY OR SOCIAL MOBILITY.
SOCIAL MOBILITY.
CHANGES IN THE TAX CODE.
CHANGES IN THE TAX CODE.
ALL THE E G STUFF.
ALL THE E G STUFF.
STILL REQUIRES COOPERATION AND STILL REQUIRES COOPERATION AND SO ON THE ONE HAND THE SO ON THE ONE HAND THE PRESIDENT SAID THIS IS A PRESIDENT SAID THIS IS A DEFINING ISSUE OF MY REMAINING DEFINING ISSUE OF MY REMAINING TIME IN OFFICE.
TIME IN OFFICE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE THINGS BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE THINGS HE'S DOING BY EXECUTIVE ORDER HE'S DOING BY EXECUTIVE ORDER ACTION OR OTHERWISE, THEY DON'N' ACTION OR OTHERWISE, THEY DON'N' -- THEY NIBBLE AT THIS PROBLEM -- THEY NIBBLE AT THIS PROBLEM A LITTLE.
A LITTLE.
BUT TO DO THE BIG THINGS THAT BUT TO DO THE BIG THINGS THAT GET AT THIS PROBLEM THE GET AT THIS PROBLEM THE PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICANS ARE PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICANS ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT, IT'S STILL SO CONCERNED ABOUT, IT'S STILL REQUIRES COOPERATION OF A KIND REQUIRES COOPERATION OF A KIND THAT I STILL THINK ON THTHE BIG THAT I STILL THINK ON THTHE BIG ISSUES IS STILL A LONG WAY ISSUES IS STILL A LONG WAY AWAY.
AWAY.
GWEN: IS THERE ANY HOPE OR GWEN: IS THERE ANY HOPE OR POSSIBILITY OR DISCUSSION AT POSSIBILITY OR DISCUSSION AT ALL AT THE WHITE HOUSE ABOUT ALL AT THE WHITE HOUSE ABOUT COOPERATION ON THESE ISSUES?
COOPERATION ON THESE ISSUES?
OR IS IT PRETTY MUCH LET'S JUST OR IS IT PRETTY MUCH LET'S JUST TRY TO KEEP PUTUTNG ONE FOOT IN TRY TO KEEP PUTUTNG ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER?
FRONT OF THE OTHER?
>> THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE >> THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF COOPERATION.
POSSIBILITY OF COOPERATION.
THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT COMES UP.
THAT COMES UP.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEIR FIRST AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEIR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO TRY TO ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO TRY TO PRESERVE THE ABILITY TO PRESERVE THE ABILITY TO COOPERATE ON SEVERAL OF THESE COOPERATE ON SEVERAL OF THESE THINGS.
THINGS.
HOUSING REFORM IS ONE THING HOUSING REFORM IS ONE THING THAT KEEPS COMING UP.
THAT KEEPS COMING UP.
>> EMIGRATION IS A BIG THING -- >> EMIGRATION IS A BIG THING -- IMMIGRATION IS A BIG THING.
IMMIGRATION IS A BIG THING.
THE MAJOR THING THEY WOULD LIKE THE MAJOR THING THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD ON.
TO MOVE FORWARD ON.
AND THEY'RE ALSO THINKING VERY AND THEY'RE ALSO THINKING VERY MUCH ABOUT THE 2014 ELECTIONS.
MUCH ABOUT THE 2014 ELECTIONS.
AND HOW THIS AGENDA MIGHT BE AND HOW THIS AGENDA MIGHT BE USEFUL TO FELLOW DEMOCRATS.
USEFUL TO FELLOW DEMOCRATS.
AND IN THE CAMPAIGN.
AND IN THE CAMPAIGN.
GWEN: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT GWEN: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION.
IMMIGRATION.
BECAUSE THAT WAS THE BIG TOPIC BECAUSE THAT WAS THE BIG TOPIC ON THE PLATE AT THIS REPUBLICAN ON THE PLATE AT THIS REPUBLICAN RETREAT.
RETREAT.
AT LEAST IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS.
AT LEAST IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS.
THEY PUT OUT PRINCIPLES.
THEY PUT OUT PRINCIPLES.
AND PRINCIPLES ARE LYING THERE AND PRINCIPLES ARE LYING THERE WAITING TO BE ACTED ON.
WAITING TO BE ACTED ON.
BUT WHY IS IMMIGRATION SUDDENLY BUT WHY IS IMMIGRATION SUDDENLY A REPUBLICAN ISSUE?
A REPUBLICAN ISSUE?
>> WELL, BECAUSE JOHN BOEHNER >> WELL, BECAUSE JOHN BOEHNER KNOWS THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM, KNOWS THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM, STRATEGIC ADVISORS HAVE ALWAYS STRATEGIC ADVISORS HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN WHAT A DANGEROUS ISSUE IT KNOWN WHAT A DANGEROUS ISSUE IT IS FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY GOING FORWARD.
GOING FORWARD.
DEMOGRAPHICALLY AS A RESULT.
DEMOGRAPHICALLY AS A RESULT.
AND WE SAW 20 YEARS AGO, IN AND WE SAW 20 YEARS AGO, IN CALIFORNIA, GOVERNOR PETE CALIFORNIA, GOVERNOR PETE WILSON WON RE-ELECTION BY WILSON WON RE-ELECTION BY RUNNING A VIGOROUS RUNNING A VIGOROUS ANTI-IMMIGRATION CAMPAIGN.
ANTI-IMMIGRATION CAMPAIGN.
AND HE RUINED HIS POLITICAL AND HE RUINED HIS POLITICAL REPUTATION AND RUINED THE REPUTATION AND RUINED THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY TO CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY TO THIS DAY FOR GENERATIONS.
THIS DAY FOR GENERATIONS.
SO I THINK THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SO I THINK THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TO BE AWFULLY CAREFUL ABOUT TO BE AWFULLY CAREFUL ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
THIS ISSUE.
AS NOT BEING SEEN AS AS NOT BEING SEEN AS OBSTRUCTIONIST AND NOT BEING OBSTRUCTIONIST AND NOT BEING SEEN AS RACIST OR SEEN AS RACIST OR ANTI-IMMIGRANT.
ANTI-IMMIGRANT.
BUT AS BEING IN THE GREAT BUT AS BEING IN THE GREAT AMERICAN TRADITION OF IF YOU AMERICAN TRADITION OF IF YOU WORK HARD AND PLAY BY THE WORK HARD AND PLAY BY THE RULES, CLINTONIAN PHRASE, YOU RULES, CLINTONIAN PHRASE, YOU CAN GET IN LINE AND YOU CAN CAN GET IN LINE AND YOU CAN HAVE YOUR PATH TO BEING PART OF HAVE YOUR PATH TO BEING PART OF THIS COUNTRY.
THIS COUNTRY.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS PART AND I THINK THAT THAT IS PART OF WHAT THAT DECLARATION WAS OF WHAT THAT DECLARATION WAS ABOUT.
ABOUT.
BUT YOU SAW HOW QUICKLY BUT YOU SAW HOW QUICKLY DIVISIVE IT WAS.
DIVISIVE IT WAS.
GWEN: THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING GWEN: THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK SUE ABOUT.
TO ASK SUE ABOUT.
IT WAS ONE THING TO SAY WE IT WAS ONE THING TO SAY WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND THIS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND THIS IS A PROBLEM.
IS A PROBLEM.
THIS PROBLEM FOR 15 YEARS AS THIS PROBLEM FOR 15 YEARS AS JOHN BOEHNER SAID AND ANOTHER JOHN BOEHNER SAID AND ANOTHER THING TO -- ONCE AGAIN, HERE THING TO -- ONCE AGAIN, HERE AGREE.
AGREE.
>> AND THESE ARE DRAFT >> AND THESE ARE DRAFT PRINCIPLES AND NOT EVEN -- SO PRINCIPLES AND NOT EVEN -- SO THEY STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO THEY STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
GO.
I DO GET THE SENSE THAT WE ARE I DO GET THE SENSE THAT WE ARE SEEING -- SEEING -- GWEN: WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES?
GWEN: WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES?
>> ROUGHLY IN THAT THEY -- THEY >> ROUGHLY IN THAT THEY -- THEY DO NOT -- THE BIG ISSUE ALWAYS DO NOT -- THE BIG ISSUE ALWAYS R REPUBLICANS HAS BEEN PATH R REPUBLICANS HAS BEEN PATH TO CITIZENSHIP.
TO CITIZENSHIP.
GENERAL AGREEMENT OVER BORDER GENERAL AGREEMENT OVER BORDER SECURITY AND ENFORCING LAWS.
SECURITY AND ENFORCING LAWS.
THEY DID NOT ENDORSE PATH TO THEY DID NOT ENDORSE PATH TO CITIZENSHIP BUT ENDORSED WHERE CITIZENSHIP BUT ENDORSED WHERE THE UNDOCUMENTED COULD HAVE THE THE UNDOCUMENTED COULD HAVE THE PATHWAY TO LEGAL STATUS.
PATHWAY TO LEGAL STATUS.
AND THEY HAVE ENDORSED A AND THEY HAVE ENDORSED A DREAM-LIKE -- DREAM ACT TYPE DREAM-LIKE -- DREAM ACT TYPE PROPOSAL THAT WOULD ALLOW PROPOSAL THAT WOULD ALLOW CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN.
CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN.
WHICH IS A BIG STEP FOR THEM.
WHICH IS A BIG STEP FOR THEM.
>> AND -- >> AND -- >> AND CHILDREN THAT HAD NO >> AND CHILDREN THAT HAD NO CHOICE OF THEIR OWN.
CHOICE OF THEIR OWN.
I DO THINK WE ARE SEEING IN I DO THINK WE ARE SEEING IN SOME WAYS A RISE OF -- OR A SOME WAYS A RISE OF -- OR A REVIVAL OF COMPASSION REVIVAL OF COMPASSION CONSERVATIVE.
CONSERVATIVE.
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE SEEING PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE SEEING THIS AROUND THE ISSUE OF THIS AROUND THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION.
IMMIGRATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME AMONG REPUBLICANS THAT I ME AMONG REPUBLICANS THAT I TALKED TO AT THE RETREAT THIS TALKED TO AT THE RETREAT THIS WEEK WAS THAT THEY WERE SAYING WEEK WAS THAT THEY WERE SAYING THAT EVEN ONES THAT DON'T WANT THAT EVEN ONES THAT DON'T WANT TO DO AN IMMIGRATION BILL WERE TO DO AN IMMIGRATION BILL WERE SAYING THINGS LIKE WE CANNOT BE SAYING THINGS LIKE WE CANNOT BE SEEN AS THIS PARTY THAT WANTS SEEN AS THIS PARTY THAT WANTS TO ROUND PEOPLE UP AND TAKE TO ROUND PEOPLE UP AND TAKE THEM OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
THEM OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
WE CANNOT BE SEEN AS A PARTY OF WE CANNOT BE SEEN AS A PARTY OF INTOLERANCE.
INTOLERANCE.
THEY'RE VERY AWAREF TH OE THEY'RE VERY AWAREF TH OE DAMAGE THAT THE -- THAT THIS DAMAGE THAT THE -- THAT THIS DEBATE HAS DONE TO THEM EVEN DEBATE HAS DONE TO THEM EVEN THE ONES THAT MAY NOT THE ONES THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY WANT TO VOTE FOR NECESSARILY WANT TO VOTE FOR THIS IN THE END.
THIS IN THE END.
GWEN: AND THE WHITE HOUSE, THE GWEN: AND THE WHITE HOUSE, THE PRESIDENT PARTICULARLY SEEMS TO PRESIDENT PARTICULARLY SEEMS TO BE SAYING, I'LL LEAD FROM BE SAYING, I'LL LEAD FROM BEHIND ON THIS.
BEHIND ON THIS.
I'VE BEEN OUT FRONT BEFORE AND I'VE BEEN OUT FRONT BEFORE AND IT DOESN'T HELP.
IT DOESN'T HELP.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK WHAT YOU >> I WAS GOING TO ASK WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.
THINK ABOUT THAT.
BECAUSE THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BECAUSE THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN SAYING THAT A LOT THIS BEEN SAYING THAT A LOT THIS WEEK.
WEEK.
WE'RE STAYING OUT OF THIS.
WE'RE STAYING OUT OF THIS.
WE DON'T WANT T DO ANYTHING TO WE DON'T WANT T DO ANYTHING TO KIND OF GET IN THEIR WAY.
KIND OF GET IN THEIR WAY.
SO EVEN TODAY, YOU SAW THE SO EVEN TODAY, YOU SAW THE PRESIDENT SAY THERE WAS A CNN PRESIDENT SAY THERE WAS A CNN INTERVIEW, WHICH AIRED IN WHICH INTERVIEW, WHICH AIRED IN WHICH HE STEPPED AWAY FROM HIS BOTTOM HE STEPPED AWAY FROM HIS BOTTOM LINE OF PATH TO PRESIDENT'S POI LINE OF PATH TO PRESIDENT'S POI VIEW IS STILL THE SAME.
VIEW IS STILL THE SAME.
HIS BOTTOM LINE IS STILL THE HIS BOTTOM LINE IS STILL THE SAME.
SAME.
HE JUST DOESN'T WANT TO MESS UP HE JUST DOESN'T WANT TO MESS UP COCORESS.
COCORESS.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THAT'S SO I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THAT'S ACTUALLY A STRATEGY THAT MAKES ACTUALLY A STRATEGY THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
A DIFFERENCE.
>> THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY IS >> THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT TWO THINGS WE'VE SEEN THIS THAT TWO THINGS WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR.
YEAR.
IN THE BUDGET DEAL AND THE FARM IN THE BUDGET DEAL AND THE FARM BILL.
BILL.
IS THAT CONGRESS HAS IDENTIFIED IS THAT CONGRESS HAS IDENTIFIED THE GOVERNING COALITION.
THE GOVERNING COALITION.
THEY HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO THEY HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET BIPARTISAN MAJORITIES TO GET BIPARTISAN MAJORITIES TO GET IT DONE AND IF THEY DO AN GET IT DONE AND IF THEY DO AN IMMIGRATION BILL THAT'S THE IMMIGRATION BILL THAT'S THE GROUP OF LAWMAKERS THAT WILL DO GROUP OF LAWMAKERS THAT WILL DO IT.
IT.
AND I THINK BOTH PARTIES HAVE AND I THINK BOTH PARTIES HAVE SHOWN A WILLINGNESS TO BUCK SHOWN A WILLINGNESS TO BUCK THEIR BASES, THE RIGHT HAS THEIR BASES, THE RIGHT HAS SHOWN IT WITH THE TEA PARTY SHOWN IT WITH THE TEA PARTY BASE, THE LEFT HAS SHOWN IT BASE, THE LEFT HAS SHOWN IT AMONG LIBERAL BASE WHICH IS AMONG LIBERAL BASE WHICH IS SMALLER AND -- NOT CONTENTIOUS.
SMALLER AND -- NOT CONTENTIOUS.
BUT THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
BUT THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
SO THEY'VE IDENTIFIED THEM AND SO THEY'VE IDENTIFIED THEM AND THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THEY THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THEY CAN DO IT ON THIS ISSUE.
CAN DO IT ON THIS ISSUE.
>> AND ONE THING AS WE SEE THE >> AND ONE THING AS WE SEE THE PRESIDENT LEARNING IN OFFICE PRESIDENT LEARNING IN OFFICE ONE THINGE'S LEARNED AND JOHN ONE THINGE'S LEARNED AND JOHN BOEHNER HAS TOLD HIM THIS IS BOEHNER HAS TOLD HIM THIS IS THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WHERE YOU THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WHERE YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF HAVE TO KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF BECAUSE THE MINUTE YOU SAY YOU BECAUSE THE MINUTE YOU SAY YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING, I LOSE WANT TO DO SOMETHING, I LOSE SOME OF MY REPUBLICANS WHO NOW SOME OF MY REPUBLICANS WHO NOW DON'T LIKE IT BECAUSE YOU LIKE DON'T LIKE IT BECAUSE YOU LIKE IT.
IT.
AND SO IN SOME SENSE, WE THINK AND SO IN SOME SENSE, WE THINK OF AN ACTIVIST PRESIDENT IN OF AN ACTIVIST PRESIDENT IN THEIR TWISTING ARMS, IT MAY BE THEIR TWISTING ARMS, IT MAY BE A SIGN OF SMARTS AND LEARNING A SIGN OF SMARTS AND LEARNING THAT THE PRESIDENT IS STEPPING THAT THE PRESIDENT IS STEPPING BACK.
BACK.
ANDD POLITICALLY THAT WORKS FOR ANDD POLITICALLY THAT WORKS FOR HIM OK, TOO.
HIM OK, TOO.
BECAUSE IF REPUBLICANS GET INTO BECAUSE IF REPUBLICANS GET INTO A BIG FIGHT AMONG THEMSELVES A BIG FIGHT AMONG THEMSELVES ABOUT IMMIGRATION, HE CAN LET ABOUT IMMIGRATION, HE CAN LET THAT PLAY OUT AND THAT DOESN'T THAT PLAY OUT AND THAT DOESN'T -- THAT DOESN'T HURT THEM.
-- THAT DOESN'T HURT THEM.
GWEN: ON THIS ISSUE BUT NOT ON GWEN: ON THIS ISSUE BUT NOT ON EVERY ISSUE.
EVERY ISSUE.
THE DEBT CEILING THE PRESIDENT THE DEBT CEILING THE PRESIDENT AS BEEN PRETTY CERTAIN THAT HE AS BEEN PRETTY CERTAIN THAT HE IS NOT GOING TO ACCEPT ANY KIND IS NOT GOING TO ACCEPT ANY KIND OFIDER RS OR ANYTHING TO MUCK OFIDER RS OR ANYTHING TO MUCK IT UP AND NOT GOING -- THAT IT UP AND NOT GOING -- THAT THAT IS NO DEAL.
THAT IS NO DEAL.
ALSO, ON IRAN SANCTIONS.
ALSO, ON IRAN SANCTIONS.
THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID YOU KNOW THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID YOU KNOW WHAT?
WHAT?
THEY SEND ME A BILL.
THEY SEND ME A BILL.
TACKING MORE SANCTIONS ON TACKING MORE SANCTIONS ON BEFORE DIPLOMACY HAS RUN ITS BEFORE DIPLOMACY HAS RUN ITS COURSE, I'LL VETO IT.
COURSE, I'LL VETO IT.
SO THERE ARE SOMOMCASES IN SO THERE ARE SOMOMCASES IN WHICH THIS PRESIDENT SEEMS LIKE WHICH THIS PRESIDENT SEEMS LIKE HE'S WILLING TO PUSH BACK.
HE'S WILLING TO PUSH BACK.
>> THAT'S TRUE AND WHEN HE SAID >> THAT'S TRUE AND WHEN HE SAID THAT ABOUT THE IRAN SANCTIONS THAT ABOUT THE IRAN SANCTIONS ALL THE STEAM WENT OUT OF ALL THE STEAM WENT OUT OF WHATEVER WAS LEFT TO TRY TO WHATEVER WAS LEFT TO TRY TO PASS TOUGHER SANCTIONS, PASS TOUGHER SANCTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THE SENATE.
ESPECIALLY IN THE SENATE.
AND ON THE QUESTION OF THE DEBT AND ON THE QUESTION OF THE DEBT CEILING, YES, YOU SAY I WON'T CEILING, YES, YOU SAY I WON'T NEGOTIATE OVER THE DEBT CEILING NEGOTIATE OVER THE DEBT CEILING AND THE REPUBLICANS FOR THEIR AND THE REPUBLICANS FOR THEIR PART ARE SAYING WE DON'T WANT PART ARE SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU A CLEAN DEBT TO GIVE YOU A CLEAN DEBT CEILING.
CEILING.
BUT DEFAULT IS UNTHINKABLE AND BUT DEFAULT IS UNTHINKABLE AND THEY WERE NOT SAYING LAST FALL THEY WERE NOT SAYING LAST FALL THAT THEY WERE -- SO I THINK THAT THEY WERE -- SO I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A DEAL ON THAT, THERE MIGHT BE A DEAL ON THAT, TOO.
TOO.
AND THE THING ABOUT THE AND THE THING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S STRATEGY AT THE PRESIDENT'S STRATEGY AT THE MOMENT, I THINK IT'S USEFUL FOR MOMENT, I THINK IT'S USEFUL FOR HIM M TO KEEP PEOPLE GUESSING A HIM M TO KEEP PEOPLE GUESSING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HIS LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HIS BOTTOM LINE IS ON SOME OF THESE BOTTOM LINE IS ON SOME OF THESE THINGS.
THINGS.
ESPECIALLY IMMIGRATION.
ESPECIALLY IMMIGRATION.
GWEN: ONE OF THE THINGS HE'S GWEN: ONE OF THE THINGS HE'S KEEPING EVERYBODY GUESSING ON KEEPING EVERYBODY GUESSING ON IS THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE.
IS THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE.
TODAY THE STATE DEPARTMENT CAME TODAY THE STATE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT WITH YET ANOTHER IN ITS OUT WITH YET ANOTHER IN ITS INCREMENTAL STEPS TOWARD MAYBE INCREMENTAL STEPS TOWARD MAYBE POTENTIALLY RECOMMENDING POTENTIALLY RECOMMENDING APPROVAL, IS THAT SOMETHING APPROVAL, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ON THE HILL ARE THAT PEOPLE ON THE HILL ARE WAITING ON?
WAITING ON?
>> CERTAINLY HAVE THE VOTES TO >> CERTAINLY HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS IT IF THEY GET TO IT.
PASS IT IF THEY GET TO IT.
THE REASON WHY I THINK THIS THE REASON WHY I THINK THIS COULD BE THE YEAR FOR THE COULD BE THE YEAR FOR THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE REALLY KEYSTONE PIPELINE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH REPUBLICANS AND HAS TO DO WITH REPUBLICANS AND HAS TO DO WITH DEMOCRATS.
WITH DEMOCRATS.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF DEMOCRATS AND THERE'S A LOT OF DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE RUNNING FOR IN THE SENATE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION AND CONSERVE -- IN RE-ELECTION AND CONSERVE -- IN CONSERVATIVE STATES WHERE IN CONSERVATIVE STATES WHERE IN KEYSTONE PIPELINE IS VERY KEYSTONE PIPELINE IS VERY POPULAR AND SEEN AS A JOBS POPULAR AND SEEN AS A JOBS MEASURE AND COULD HELP SENATORS MEASURE AND COULD HELP SENATORS IN DIFFICULT STATES.
IN DIFFICULT STATES.
>> MARY LANDRIEU, MARY >> MARY LANDRIEU, MARY LANDRIEU.
LANDRIEU.
>> AND MARK BEGIVE IN ALASKA >> AND MARK BEGIVE IN ALASKA AND PLACES THAT ARE OPEN TO THE AND PLACES THAT ARE OPEN TO THE IDEA OF OIL JOBS, PIPELINES AND IDEA OF OIL JOBS, PIPELINES AND ALL OF THAT.
ALL OF THAT.
GWEN: LET'S STEP BACK A MOMENT.
GWEN: LET'S STEP BACK A MOMENT.
AND THE STATE OF THE UNION AND THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH, WE ALL SPENT TIME SPEECH, WE ALL SPENT TIME COVERING THEM AS BIG EVENTS.
COVERING THEM AS BIG EVENTS.
BUT ARE THEY?
BUT ARE THEY?
AND DO THEY DESERVE TO BE AND DO THEY DESERVE TO BE ANYMORE?
ANYMORE?
THEY ARE LAUNDLY LISTS LISTS.
THEY ARE LAUNDLY LISTS LISTS.
WE KNOW THEY ARE.
WE KNOW THEY ARE.
SITTING UP AND STANDING DOWN SITTING UP AND STANDING DOWN AND THE RITUAL.
AND THE RITUAL.
THERE'S THE -- SOMEONE SITTING THERE'S THE -- SOMEONE SITTING IN THE BOX WITH THE FIRST LADY.
IN THE BOX WITH THE FIRST LADY.
>> THE FORM IS EXHAUSTED.
>> THE FORM IS EXHAUSTED.
BUT I THINK -- IF A PRESIDENT BUT I THINK -- IF A PRESIDENT CAN'T BE CREATIVE ENOUGH TO CAN'T BE CREATIVE ENOUGH TO CHANGE THIS FORM OVER WHICH HE CHANGE THIS FORM OVER WHICH HE HAS LOTS OF CONTROL, TO MAKE IT HAS LOTS OF CONTROL, TO MAKE IT SAY A SINGLE ISSUE, THE SAY A SINGLE ISSUE, THE GOVERNOR OF VERMONT, IN HIS GOVERNOR OF VERMONT, IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, SAID THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS SAID THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS I CAN TALK ABOUT BUT I WANT TO I CAN TALK ABOUT BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE ISSUE WHICH IN TALK ABOUT ONE ISSUE WHICH IN HIS CASE WAS THE PROBLEM OF HIS CASE WAS THE PROBLEM OF HEROIN IN HIS STATE.
HEROIN IN HIS STATE.
BY FOCUSING ON A SINGLE ISSUE.
BY FOCUSING ON A SINGLE ISSUE.
AND BROUGHT EVERYBODY'S AND BROUGHT EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION TO IT.
ATTENTION TO IT.
A PRESIDENT, IF HE SHOWS A PRESIDENT, IF HE SHOWS CREATIVITY IN THAT SPEECH CREATIVITY IN THAT SPEECH PERHAPS HE CAN SHOW CREATIVITY PERHAPS HE CAN SHOW CREATIVITY IN ALL OF THE OTHER MODES OF IN ALL OF THE OTHER MODES OF HIS OFFICE THAT REQUIRE A HIS OFFICE THAT REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT OF NEW THINKNKG.
LITTLE BIT OF NEW THINKNKG.
BUT THE FORM AS IT STANDS NOW BUT THE FORM AS IT STANDS NOW IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMBALANCE IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMBALANCE BETWEEN THE SILLY POMP AND THE BETWEEN THE SILLY POMP AND THE STROKING OF THE EGO AND THE STROKING OF THE EGO AND THE ACTUAL SUBSTANCE.
ACTUAL SUBSTANCE.
GWEN: WE KNOW WHAT THE GWEN: WE KNOW WHAT THE STRUCTURE IS OF THE STATE OF STRUCTURE IS OF THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH.
THE UNION SPEECH.
A MILLION AUTHORS.
A MILLION AUTHORS.
EVERYBODY WANTS -- THEY EVERYBODY WANTS -- THEY NEGOTIATE FOR MONTHS TO GET ONE NEGOTIATE FOR MONTHS TO GET ONE LINE IN THE SPEECH.
LINE IN THE SPEECH.
D IT'S -- ALMOST SO HIDE D IT'S -- ALMOST SO HIDE BOUND IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE IT BOUND IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE IT AND HOW MUCH ATTENTION AND AND HOW MUCH ATTENTION AND EFFORT IS PUT ON IT.
EFFORT IS PUT ON IT.
>> I WONDER IF THE FORM IS >> I WONDER IF THE FORM IS EVOLVING ACTUALLY.
EVOLVING ACTUALLY.
BECAUSE WHERE PEOPLE USED TO BECAUSE WHERE PEOPLE USED TO SPEND A WEEK CHEWING OVER WHAT SPEND A WEEK CHEWING OVER WHAT WAS THE SUBSTANCE OF THE STATE WAS THE SUBSTANCE OF THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, PEOPLE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, PEOPLE ARE MOVING ON THE NEXT NEWS ARE MOVING ON THE NEXT NEWS CYCLE AND CHEWING OVER CYCLE AND CHEWING OVER SOMETHING ELSE.
SOMETHING ELSE.
SO THE PRESIDENT, I KNOW IT'S SO THE PRESIDENT, I KNOW IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR THE PRESIDENT NOT UNUSUAL FOR THE PRESIDENT TO GO OUT ON THE ROAD AND START TO GO OUT ON THE ROAD AND START MAKING A PITCH FOR HIS AGENDA.
MAKING A PITCH FOR HIS AGENDA.
BUT REALLY WE COUOUOUN'T SOME BUT REALLY WE COUOUOUN'T SOME REAL BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT REAL BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE THINGS HE WAS PROPOSING.
THE THINGS HE WAS PROPOSING.
DURING THEEEK -- DURING THE DURING THEEEK -- DURING THE TWO DAYS AROUND IT.
TWO DAYS AROUND IT.
AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE -- AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE -- GWEN: HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE GWEN: HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE AFFECTED BY THIS MINIMUM WAGE.
AFFECTED BY THIS MINIMUM WAGE.
>> WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT.
>> WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT.
THAT'S SMOFEDE TO BE THAT'S SMOFEDE TO BE FORTHCOMING.
FORTHCOMING.
WE DENT UNDERSTAND THIS MYRA OR WE DENT UNDERSTAND THIS MYRA OR -- NOT EVEN HOW TO PRONOUNCE -- NOT EVEN HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT.
IT.
BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW BASICALLY BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW BASICALLY HOW IT WORKED UNTIL HE WENT AND HOW IT WORKED UNTIL HE WENT AND DID HIS EVENT.
DID HIS EVENT.
GWEN: AND DOES CONGRESS EVEN GWEN: AND DOES CONGRESS EVEN EXPECT THAT?
EXPECT THAT?
>> EXPECT FOR HIM TO -- >> EXPECT FOR HIM TO -- GWEN: OF THAT SPEECH.
GWEN: OF THAT SPEECH.
DO THEY HAVE -- EXPECTATIONS OF DO THEY HAVE -- EXPECTATIONS OF ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE SHOW?
SHOW?
>> IN SOME WAYS, I LIKE TO SAY >> IN SOME WAYS, I LIKE TO SAY -- THE STATE OF THE UNION -- THE STATE OF THE UNION BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.
ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.
IT'S THIS RARE OPPORTUNITY IT'S THIS RARE OPPORTUNITY WHERE PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND POLITICAL PERSUASIONS PAY AND POLITICAL PERSUASIONS PAY ATTENTION TO THE PRESIDENT FOR .
ATTENTION TO THE PRESIDENT FOR .
I DO THINK THERE'S THE THEATER I DO THINK THERE'S THE THEATER OF THE STATE OF THE UNION IS -- OF THE STATE OF THE UNION IS -- CAN BE A LITTLE -- IT'S SO CAN BE A LITTLE -- IT'S SO OVERDONE.
OVERDONE.
ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT THERE'E' ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT THERE'E' ALSO DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PEOPLE ALSO DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND PARTICIPATING ARE WATCHING AND PARTICIPATING WITH IT NOW.
WITH IT NOW.
ONE OTHER THING THAT WAS ONE OTHER THING THAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT HOW THE WHITE INTERESTING ABOUT HOW THE WHITE HOUSE WAS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO HOUSE WAS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO WATCH ONLINE.
WATCH ONLINE.
AND I DO THINK THIS WHITE HOUSE AND I DO THINK THIS WHITE HOUSE IN PARTICULAR IS THOUGHTFUL OF IN PARTICULAR IS THOUGHTFUL OF THE MODERNIZATION OF THE MEDIA THE MODERNIZATION OF THE MEDIA AND HOW PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO AND HOW PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO THE PRESIDENT.
THE PRESIDENT.
AND THEY'RE CLEARLY TRYING TO AND THEY'RE CLEARLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL LISTENING.
LISTENING.
GWEN: THEY WERE TWEETING OUT GWEN: THEY WERE TWEETING OUT PICTURES OF THE DOGS LISTENING PICTURES OF THE DOGS LISTENING TO THE RADIO EARLIER.
TO THE RADIO EARLIER.
THE HEADLINE ON YOUR PIECE, THE HEADLINE ON YOUR PIECE, TODD, WAS MAKE IT STOP.
TODD, WAS MAKE IT STOP.
>> WELL, THE OTHER DIRTY LITTLE >> WELL, THE OTHER DIRTY LITTLE SECRET IS WE IN THE MEDIA HAVE SECRET IS WE IN THE MEDIA HAVE HELPED THIS PHENOMENON BY HELPED THIS PHENOMENON BY MONETIZING THE STATE OF THE UNION.
UNION.
GWEN: HOW?
GWEN: HOW?
LET ME KNOW.
LET ME KNOW.
>> WATCHING EVENTS AND >> WATCHING EVENTS AND AFTER-PARTIES.
AFTER-PARTIES.
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE EXPERTS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE EXPERTS THE NEXT DAY.
THE NEXT DAY.
ND IN SOME WAYS, IT'S LIKE THE ND IN SOME WAYS, IT'S LIKE THE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER.
CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER.
GWEN: NO, IT'S NOT.
GWEN: NO, IT'S NOT.
>> SLIPPED THE RAILS OF ITS >> SLIPPED THE RAILS OF ITS ORIGINAL GOAL.
ORIGINAL GOAL.
BUT I DO FIND IT QUITE BUT I DO FIND IT QUITE DEPRESSING THIS NOTION THAT IF DEPRESSING THIS NOTION THAT IF YOUR PARTICULAR ISSUE DIDN'T YOUR PARTICULAR ISSUE DIDN'T GET MENTIONED, YOU'VE LOST.
GET MENTIONED, YOU'VE LOST.
I GOT AN EMAIL ON WEDNESDAY I GOT AN EMAIL ON WEDNESDAY MORNING FROM MY MOTHER HAPPENS MORNING FROM MY MOTHER HAPPENS TO HAVE ALZHEIMER'S AND I GOT TO HAVE ALZHEIMER'S AND I GOT AN ALZHEIMER'S EMAIL SAYING AN ALZHEIMER'S EMAIL SAYING WE'RE SO SORORE DIDN'T WE'RE SO SORORE DIDN'T MENTION THIS LAST NIGHT.
MENTION THIS LAST NIGHT.
YOU CAN'T MENTION EVERYTHING.
YOU CAN'T MENTION EVERYTHING.
GWEN: AND NOT GOING TO AFFECT GWEN: AND NOT GOING TO AFFECT ANYTHING ELSE.
ANYTHING ELSE.
IF HE MENTIONED IT.
IF HE MENTIONED IT.
EXCEPT THE LACK OF MENTION I EXCEPT THE LACK OF MENTION I SUPPOSE.
SUPPOSE.
>> I'VE BEEN TALKING TO TRADE >> I'VE BEEN TALKING TO TRADE REPORTERS ABOUT AN ISSUE I REPORTERS ABOUT AN ISSUE I WON'T GO INTO HERE BUT THE WON'T GO INTO HERE BUT THE NUMBER OF TIMES THEY MENTIONED NUMBER OF TIMES THEY MENTIONED -- AND KEEP VIEWERS AWAKE.
-- AND KEEP VIEWERS AWAKE.
BUT THE NUMBER OF TIMES PEOPLE BUT THE NUMBER OF TIMES PEOPLE I TALKED TO IN THE REPORTING I TALKED TO IN THE REPORTING SAID, WELL, HE SAID THIS IN THE SAID, WELL, HE SAID THIS IN THE STATE OF THE UNION.
STATE OF THE UNION.
IT STILL HAS THAT -- THAT IT STILL HAS THAT -- THAT EFFECT.
EFFECT.
GWEN: AND A WAY OF HOLDING HIS GWEN: AND A WAY OF HOLDING HIS FEET TO THE FIRE ON ISSUES.
FEET TO THE FIRE ON ISSUES.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT.
BUT IN THE END, IT DOESN'T BUT IN THE END, IT DOESN'T REALLY HOLD HIS FEET TO THE REALLY HOLD HIS FEET TO THE FIRE.
FIRE.
SO THAT'S WHY IT NEEDS TO BE SO THAT'S WHY IT NEEDS TO BE RETHOUGHT.
RETHOUGHT.
THESE PRISON BARS OF LAUNDRY THESE PRISON BARS OF LAUNDRY LISTS, THEY ARE OF HIS ON MAKING THE PRESIDENT'S.
MAKING THE PRESIDENT'S.
GWEN: BREAK FREE.
GWEN: BREAK FREE.
AND HE'S NOT RUNNING FOR AND HE'S NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.
RE-ELECTION.
THIS IS THE TIME.
THIS IS THE TIME.
>> ANY PRESIDENT.
>> ANY PRESIDENT.
THE NEXT ONE.
THE NEXT ONE.
GWEN: WELL, THANK YOU.
GWEN: WELL, THANK YOU.
NOW, TAKE THAT ADVICE.
NOW, TAKE THAT ADVICE.
WHITE HOUSE.
WHITE HOUSE.
WE -- WE WEREN'T GIVING YOU WE -- WE WEREN'T GIVING YOU ADVICE AND JUST TALKING.
ADVICE AND JUST TALKING.
WE HAVE TO STOP HERE FOROR.
WE HAVE TO STOP HERE FOROR.
BUT THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES BUT THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES ONLINE ON THE "WASHINGTON WEEK" ONLINE ON THE "WASHINGTON WEEK" WEBCAST EXTRA.
WEBCAST EXTRA.
WHERE WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE WHERE WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE BILL CONGRESS PASSED THIS WEEK BILL CONGRESS PASSED THIS WEEK THAT REALLY COULD CHANGE YOUR THAT REALLY COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
LIFE.
AND ALSO ABOUT CHRIS CHRISTIE.
AND ALSO ABOUT CHRIS CHRISTIE.
IT STREAMS LIVE AFTER THE 8:30 IT STREAMS LIVE AFTER THE 8:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME OR CATCH IT P.M. EASTERN TIME OR CATCH IT AT PBS.ORG/WASHINGTONWEEK ALL AT PBS.ORG/WASHINGTONWEEK ALL WEEK LONG.
WEEK LONG.
AND MY POST STATE OF THE UNION AND MY POST STATE OF THE UNION TAKE ON BUTTERFLIES, RAINBOWS TAKE ON BUTTERFLIES, RAINBOWS AND MID-TERM POLITICAL AND MID-TERM POLITICAL REALITIES.
REALITIES.
ISN'T THAT GOOD?
ISN'T THAT GOOD?
KEEP UP WITH DAILY KEEP UP WITH DAILY DEVELOPMENTS.
DEVELOPMENTS.
NOW SEVEN DAYS A WEEK ON THE NOW SEVEN DAYS A WEEK ON THE PBS "NEWSHOUR" AND WE'LL SEE PBS "NEWSHOUR" AND WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE NEXT WEEK ON YOU RIGHT HERE NEXT WEEK ON GOOD NIGHT.