James O’Keefe was on FNC’s Hannity tonight for his first interview since Landrieu-gate broke and his latest defense of his actions is a doozy. First he claimed that it was all a misunderstanding, then he said, “Generally speaking it is the people’s office, these are representatives of our country.”
Former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich was on NBC’s Meet The Press today, and he gave the strongest indication yet that the GOP strategy for 2010 and 2012 is to run against the healthcare bill. He said, “I suspect every Republican running in ’10 and again in ’12 will run on an absolute pledge to repeal this bill.”
Former DNC chairman Howard Dean was on NBC’s Meet The Press today talking about the compromise healthcare bill. Dean finally answered the Republicans who have been twisting his words on healthcare, specifically John McCain. He accused McCain of using his words for something that he has no intention of endorsing.
Future 2012 GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney was on NBC’s Meet The Press today, where he blamed the excesses of government for the budget deficit, and overpaid government workers. Specifically, Romney said, “Average government workers, are now making $30,000 a year more than the average private sector worker.”
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) was on NBC’s Meet The Press today, where he not only promised to filibuster the public option, but also continued to lie about the public plan. Lieberman said that the public option would not give a single poor person health insurance, and he stuck to his bogus claim that the public option would increase the deficit.
Sec. of State Hillary Clinton was on NBC’s Meet The Press today. At the end of the interview she was asked about Sarah Palin’s comment in her book about the possibility of sitting down for a cup of coffee with Clinton. She said, “I’m ready to have a cup of coffee. Maybe I can make a case on some of the issues that we disagree on.”
Rachel Maddow was on Meet The Press today talking about the healthcare bill that the House recently passed. Maddow said that language restricting access to abortion in the bill is a poison pill for liberals and progressives that could end up costing Democratic candidates votes with pro-choice women. Maddow called it the biggest restriction on abortion in a generation.
On NBC’s Meet The Press today MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow refuted the GOP talking point that passing healthcare reform is fiscally irresponsible. Maddow also made a political prediction about the fates of those who oppose healthcare reform, “I think people who vote against it are going to regret it.”
2008 Obama presidential campaign manager David Plouffe was on Meet The Press today, and he provided some insight into the campaign’s reaction to the selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate. He said, “Well, I think we should thank John McCain for picking her, in terms of how it helped us win in 2008…”
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was on NBC’s Meet The Press today where he said that Democrats are close to having the 60 votes that they need to move healthcare reform forward in the Senate. Schumer said that the compromise that will lead to likely passage is a public option with a state opt out clause.
While discussing Sarah Palin’s new book both conservative columnist David Brooks and GOP strategist Mike Murphy agreed today on Meet The Press that Sarah Palin will not be the GOP nominee in 2012. Brooks went as far as to say, “And if Sarah Palin is the nominee, the Republican nominee, I’ll eat my hat.”
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow was on NBC’s Meet The Press this morning, and she had some harsh words for those on the right who are calling President Obama a failure and celebrating Chicago’s failed bid to host the Olympics. Maddow said, “For them to be cheering America’s loss here on the right I think is sort of disgusting.”
On the Sunday talk shows today, Republicans Newt Gingrich, Sen. Cornyn (R-TX), and Bill Kristol all ran to the defense of Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC). Cornyn said, “The Democrats have done a pretty consistent job of trying to demonize the people who show up at town halls, anyone who disagrees with their proposal.” Apparently the GOP sees nothing wrong with calling the president a liar.
The right wing’s reaction to President Obama’s planned back to school speech has brought about criticism from mainstream Republicans. Today Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, and Sen. Lamar Alexander all went on the Sunday talk shows and supported the idea that the president should be allowed to speak to school children.
On NBC’s Meet the Press today White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod sent the strongest signals yet, that the Obama administration is preparing to dump the public option in order to get a healthcare reform bill passed. Axelrod said, “He said there must, he said there must be a, an exchange where people can get insurance at a competitive price.” This doesn’t sound like a firm stand on the public option.
On Meet the Press today, it wasn’t Ed Schultz, Keith Olbermann, or Chris Matthews that was giving the progressive perspective on health care, but it was Rachel Maddow, who has seen her ratings soar as the nation debates health care reform. Maddow’s show has been rivaling Olbermann’s program as the top draw on MSNBC, and she could become the network’s biggest star.
Sarah Palin’s claim that the Democratic healthcare reform proposal will set up death panels continues to be roundly refuted. On ABC’s This Week today, Howard Dean said, “About euthanasia, they’re just totally erroneous. She just made that up.” Conservative columnist David Brooks and Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) have also refuted Palin.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell was NBC’s Meet The Press today, where he argued that their aren’t really 47 million Americans without healthcare. McConnell said that the uninsured can always go to the emergency room for healthcare. What he ignores is that people without health insurance don’t get the same quality of care as those who do.
Today on Meet the Press Sen. John McCain officially abandoned his call for regime change in Iran. Instead McCain pointed out there is now an internal movement in Iran. He said, “I believe that in Iran, something is afoot that can’t be stopped.” This is a big shift from last month when McCain was on Fox News calling for US action towards Iran.
Republican Senators hit the Sunday news show airwaves today to defend former Vice President Dick Cheney and the secret CIA domestic spying program. Senators Judd Gregg, Lamar Alexander, John Kyl, and John Cornyn all defended Cheney in some way, and they accused the Democrats of trying to use the story to provide political cover for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and President Obama.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was on Meet the Press today, and when the topic of his 2008 running mate Sarah Palin’s resignation as Alaska governor came up. McCain defended Palin, and claimed that she didn’t quit. He said, “Oh, I don’t think she quit. I think she changed her priorities.” He also said that Palin didn’t break a promise to her supporters by resigning.
Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Mitt Romney all appeared on Sunday morning talk shows, and all said that disgraced South Carolina governor should not resign. The Republicans all claimed that Sanford has a personal problem, and completely ignored the fact that Sanford abandoned his post as governor.
