that's it for me. crossfire starts right now. tonight, on crossfire, president obama's second term blues. new poll numbers and record lows. his judicial nominees, blocked. his signature achievement in intensive care. >> nobody in this town's doing technically we particularly well at the moment when it comes to the opinions of the american people. how does the president come back. can president obama save his second term agenda? and can republicans resist the temptation to self-destrukt? tonight on crossfire. i'm s.e. cupp on the right. >> and i am van jones on the left.

look, i know everybody is all hyperfocused on obama care and obama's bad poll numbers, but we'll get to that, but, you know what? there's a deeper story here, and i think we're missing it. president obama this afternoon highlighted his achievements on the economy, and they're actually, surprisingly, good. stocks, that means your retirement accounts, way, way up. near all-time highs. unemployment, down. american energy production, which nobody's talking about, up, which means gas prices down. now remember, this is a guy who took over just as the country was falling into the worst economic slump since the great depression. listen to him now. >> i do want to say, though, that beyond the headlines, we have made real progress in the economy. and sometimes that hasn't gotten enough attention. >> now, listen, you've got to give the guy some credit here. just on the gas prices alone. if he was a republican you guys would be jumping up and down.

>> yeah, if only the president could run on low gas prices in 2014 and then the democrats could take up that mantra and that would be enough. somehow i don't think he's going to get off that easy. joining us in the crossfire, congressman crowley and ralph reed. this is the reality in today's nbc washington post poll, the president is down 15 points from january when it comes to being a strong leader, he's down 8 points for being honest and trustworthy. most damaging though, 70% of the country believe he's on the wrong track. is 70% of the country wrong? >> i think it's also reflective of where they see their government going. it's not just the president. i think it's the entire congress as well. you have a dysfunctional congress. the republican congress has no vision. it has no agenda for 2014. and i think the president pays some of the price for that. >> these numbers are about the

president, though. >> polls go up and down. >> they're not just reflective of the president. they're reflective of what's happening right now in the times. we live in a very unsettling world. and quite frankly, what my republican colleagues continue to do is create more uncertainty. more fiscal cliffs to come, unfortunately, we have a cr that will expire in mid january. and we have another debt ceiling coming in february. hello. >> but congressman, in the same poll, asked who they would vote for, more people said romney than obama. explain that. >> polls go up and down. he's leaving. he's not, you don't play the poll. you do for the american people. >> the american people aren't happy with the president. >> and with the congress. >> speaking of not happy and polls i'm glad to you have here. before we say anymore, i want to make sure we talk about the republican numbers. they look pretty bad as well. we want to show those.

i do think we have a situation where both parties are in deep trouble. you have only 30% of folks are favorable of the republicans right now. 64% say they don't like the republican party, and when you talk about the congressional republicans, they're like in single digits. so what are you goes going to do? what are your good ideas to try to move the country forward? all we hear is how bad obama is. >> we have to offer positive alternatives to obama care. there's no way around the fact that 2014 is going to be a referendum on the car wreck and the train wreck that is obama care. and i think some of the poll ratings that s.e was talking about, this is the first time since he took the office of president that the majority of people said they don't think he's honest and trustworthy. this is the first time that he is upside down on his favorable

rating. more people have an unfavorable personal view of him than have a favorable view. and that's devastating. because if you rewind the tape to 2012, romney won on who was the strongest leader. he won on who shared my values more. he won on who had a better plan for the future. but by a margin of 81-19 he lost on who cared more about me. and now obama's losing on that. >> listen. i agree the poll numbers go up and down. aren't you making my point that their only talking point is how bad obama is? >> your only talking point is how bad republicans are doing. >> you want a positive idea? i'll give you a positive idea. we've been offering it for years. allow insurance companies to offer volkswagen style policies instead of cadillac policies that cover things like preventative care, primary care and catastrophic care, combined with a health savings account,

if you did that, the average family of four could get an affordable policy, for $100 a month. we've been offering that for years. what did obama care do? it did the opposite. it loaded them down with mandates and drove premiums up. >> with all due respect it gives new meaning to the adage, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. 41 times to try to repeal the bawl care act, not waiting to see whether it would work or not. this is the first time we've seen glitches in roll outs? we saw it in medicare part d. >> the only defense is comparing it to medicare part d. >> 5.2 million people have had their insurance policies canceled. that is not a glitch. that is a failed policy. >> it comes back to a vision. we want to have an opportunity for people in this country here to for who have not been able to

the afford insurance to have that opportunity. the republicans, despite what you've said so far have offered nothing but 47 attempts to undermine the act. >> that's not true. tom price has offered comprehensive health care reform packages. >> let me move on. we're talking about republicans. we're talking about democrats. we're talking about character. you have a republicanen policymaker who has been arrested for cocaine possession. is that a republican that you think should stay in the republican caucus? or should he resign? >> well, i'm not, if that's happened today, i've been in meetings all day, and i'm not familiar with that development. >> certainly not representative -- >> let me ask. here's the situation. >> there are bad actors in both parties. >> let me bring this back to obama care. i actually think van is right.

that republicans need to come to the table with some good ideas. you're right, ralph, that we've brought some good ideas. but it sounds like we talk more about repeal. i want republicans to -- but it doesn't change the fact that republicans are in peril. here's what your colleague said last week. saying your sorry -- obama, doesn't help me worth a damn unless i can staple your remarks to the ballot. do you agree? >> as i said before, the rollout has been less than stellar. okay. we know that. that's not news. but what the president is dedicated to is to seeing this law through. he wants to fix the glitches. he wants to fix the rollout and get the websites working. but more importantly, he wants to get insurance for people here to for haven't been able to afford it. what is wrong with that? there's nothing wrong with that.

no bill has made it to the floor as an alternative. it's only been about repeal. >> so is he willing to see it through at the expense of the american people, at the spence of the democratic caucus who's now in absolute panic and chaos? >> i'll make a deal with you, congressman. we'll bring it to the floor and vote for it, if you have get us to get harry reid to give it a vote. we voted to amend the mandate, reid would not allow a vote. we passed legislation that would have protected religious charities. reid would not allow a vote. the senate, which your party controls, has been the graveyard of our reforms on hundreds of pieces of legislation. >> with all due respect, we can fix the website. you can't fix a broken agenda. in fact, you can't fix an agenda that -- >> can you fix a broken law? people are suggesting this is not just a website issue.

>> the reality is we can't bring anything up to amend the bill because their only goal is to repeal and undermine. you can't have an honest discussion on the floor right now. they know it. >> president obama, as we are discussing, has plenty of problems. but next, i want to talk to ralph reed about one of the republican party's biggest faultlines, one that's dividing dick cheney's family. that's next. customer erin swenson ordered shoes from us online but they didn't fit. customer's not happy, i'm not happy. sales go down, i'm not happy. merch comes back, i'm not happy. use ups. they make returns easy. unhappy customer becomes happy customer. then, repeat customer. easy returns, i'm happy. repeat customers, i'm happy. sales go up, i'm happy. i ordered another pair. i'm happy. (both) i'm happy. i'm happy. happy. happy. happy. happy. happy happy. i love logistics.

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welcome back in to crossfire tonight. represent joe crowley and ralph reed, sure, president obama has issues, but so do republicans. and ralph, here's one dividing me and you.

the rift in the cheney family disclosed a rift in the republican party. liz cheney is against same-sex marriage, even though her sister mary is gay married. mary cheney fired back at her sister, quote, liz's position is to treat my family as second class citizens. it's not a position i can be lovingly toll rant towards. i am one conservative who doesn't think same-sex couples are second class citizens. i think republicans should pro game gay rights as a conservative issue, because i was under the impression that conservative privilege is limited government, marriage and family. tell me where i have that wrong. >> i think you're not only out of step with where the party is but with the american people. 70% of the american people currently define marriage as between a man and woman. it was the position of all the

presidential candidates who were viable of both parties until as recently as 18 months ago. even in the 14 states that have redefined marriage, all but four of them have been by judicial fiat. it hasn't been done i go a legislature or the people. in response to the substance of your question, i think that those who are gay and lesbian are free to love whoever they want to love. and in states where they define it in that way, they're free to call it marriage. in other states they can call it a civil union, but i think it is unfair, and i think it even can smack of anti-religious bigotry to suggest that if you have a view different, if you believe marriage should be defined as a man and woman, that you are ip sew facto a bigot -- >> i am not asking you to change your opinion. and i say this all the time, and

i put myself out there on this. and i've told other republicans. you don't have to change your mind, but listen, i defended you on religious freedom as an atheist and i defend religious people as an atheist. isn't it time, though, that your wing of the republican party accept and embrace good conservatives, like the log cabin republicans, good conservatives like lisa murkowski, don't you think it's time to recognize that in some ways the tide is turning, and we should be more inclusive of these values without having to change our personal opinions on them? >> well, first of all, i wouldn't agree with the premise of the question. >> okay. >> if the tide had truly turned then you wouldn't have 36 states and 70% of the american people defining it as between a man and woman. you wouldn't need the court to impose this as they did in iowa, as they did in new jersey and in california. the people of california have yet to vote -- >> so you think in ten years'

time we are going to be a country that still opposes same-sex marriage and with presidents who oppose same-sex marriage? >> i can't predict the future, but i can tell you this. the same young people, the same millennials who are more inclined to support same sex marriage are also more pro-life than their parents were. >> i'm not going to argue there. you're absolutely right. >> in the '90s it became more pro life. just because something is moving in a particular direction, it's an analytical error to assume it's going to ten with that trend. i'll tell you why i don't think that's going to happen. because the most successful department of health and welfare ever conceived is a two parent, loving family with a man and woman united in holy matrimony. and all the social science shows that. it's best for the children, the husband and wife. and the fact is, without saying

anything negative about somebody who has a same-sex relationship the social science is clear that the parenting roles are different for a man and a woman and a husband and wife. >> in some ways, i just want us to be quiet. just keep saying stuff like that louder and louder. >> affirming loving marriages? >> what i thought was very good to hear -- >> you're against that, van? >> i was actually happy to hear you say that. be being out of step, though, is one of the things you said as well. and clearly i think the republican party as a whole is out of step-on this issue. not entirely, but overall as a whole is out of step-on this issue. i'm glad to hear your common sense on this. i come from new york state. i'm very proud of the fact that new york state did it by legislative action and signed by governor cuomo. and it's been remarkable the effect it's had on people's lives. i appreciate what you're saying, the opportunity to love someone,

but there's also not about a religious issue. this is not about the rite but the it right. >> why are we offering tax breaks to one set of people for these people and not these people. why are we celebrating family and not another kind of family? if we hate abortion so much, shouldn't we be encouraging gay adoption and the right of any two loving people to adopt babies that are unwanted? it doesn't make any sense to me. >> the reason why i the same reason daniel patrick moynihan talks about the family.

there is a tate interest in those monogamous union that's are the best for children. the social science on this is clear. and to treat -- on par with that is just not accurate. >> well, i don't think you're a bigot. i want to put that out there. >> nobody is calling anybody -- >> i don't think that anyone who has his views is a bigot. i get it. i can make a conservative case for it. >> and our view is not motivated by anuss for gays. >> i think it is important to make a couple comments about marriage. do you know who is screwing up traditional marriage? heterosexuals. >> wait. i just started. i'm two weeks in. >> van! >> let me finish. we're the ones who are getting divorced. we're the ones shacking up, we're the ones who are cheating, we're the ones screwing up traditional marriage. do you know who is making marriage again? the lesbian and gay couple that

have fought for it, stood for it, who have made this a central cause for a generation. and i think honestly, we make a huge mistake when we blame social science, we blame all these things. i know couples. two of my best friends, judy and allison are the best moms, my own wife the exception. the best moms on planet earth. no social science data, you or anyone can tell me they're doing bad by their kids. my big concern is that this becomes a political talking point. at the end of the day, your party looks like they don't get it. that they don't understand. and you got kids watching the show right now. you are a political genius. you are one of the best in the business. they're looking at you and saying this guy doesn't appreciate my family. i don't know how your party survives that. >> i would disagree on several levels. first of all, if you really care about marriage, you would be trying to reform no fault divorce laws so that it wasn't easier for a man to for sake the

wife of his youth than it is for him to get out of a cell phone contract. okay? it's easier for you to divorce your spouse than it is to fire your assistant. and that ought to be reformed to strengthen marriage. >> after this break, i want to you sit here. we're going to come back. we have a final question for both of our guests. we want you to get in on the action. do you think that president obama can make a comeback from his low approval ratings? if you do, tweet yes. if you dome, tweet no. using #crossfire. thrusters at 30%! i can't get her to warp. losing thrusters. i need more power. give me more power! [ mainframe ] located. ge deep-sea fuel technology. a 50,000-pound, ingeniously wired machine that optimizes raw data to help safely discover and maximize resources in extreme conditions. our current situation seems rather extreme.

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we are back with representative joe crowley. now it is time for the final question. first to you. i understand your position with regard to marriage equality. we differ on that. but my question is, could you ever support a candidate who disagreed with you on that one issue? even if they were with you on every other? would that issue stop you from endorsing a good conservative who disagreed? >> well, i don't know because it is a hypothetical. i don't know what other issues they would have. but i will tell you this. in general somebody who is socially liberal on issues like abortion and same sex marriage -- >> with you on abortion. >> is usually not with you on everything else. >> they're with you on abortion. >> i regret the premise of the question. it is rare to find someone with

you on 99% but not one issue. >> president obama laid out a very ambitious agenda in his inaugural address. immigration reform, tax reform, gun control, climate change. has he moved enough for you on any of the issues so far? >> i'm going to break the rule and go back to the last point. my wife casey is the best mom in the world. >> there you go. >> a tremendous number of issues facing the country. i mention ad couple in term of the fiscal cliff and the continued resolution. immigration reform is one of the issues i'm most passionate about. we need to get that done. the president needs to make that part of the agenda right now. >> thanks to both of you for being here. and we are going to keep this conversation going on facebook and twitter. if you want to weigh in on our fireback question, do you think president obama can make a comeback from his low approval rating in right now, 56% say yes. 44% say no. the debate will continue online

at cnn.com/"crossfire" as well as on facebook and twitter. >> thanks to both of our guests. join us tomorrow for another edition of "crossfire." erin burnett "outfront" starts right now. "outfront" next, a conservative u.s. congressman busted for cocaine. plus, george zimmerman free again despite new allegations. and the virginia state senator stabbed repeatedly in his own home. his son found dead at the scene. let's go "outfront." >> good evening. "outfront" we begin with the news, a congressman busted for cocaine. florida congressman trey radel arrested for, quote, unlawfully, knowingly and intentionally possessing cocaine. the freshman will appear in