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it is washington your way. the c-span network, now available in more than 1 million homes. >> president obama welcome to the white house rose garden this afternoon to make a staff announcement. he is expected to name elizabeth warren as the special adviser to a new consumer protection bureau. that will begin at about 1:30 p.m. eastern here on c-span. our live coverage of the family research council of values summit will continue to o'clock this afternoon. senator rick santorum and christine o'donnell will be among the speakers. former republican vice- presidential nominee will be in iowa tonight for the annual ronald reagan dinner. we will have live coverage at

8:00 p.m. eastern here on c- span. she will be joined by at iowa senator chuck grassley and former iowa governor. >> it is arguable, justifiable to say that we would not have a black middle class had we not had general motors, ford and chrysler. >> in 2008, he supported the government bailout of the auto industry. he will talk about his life and what is ahead for car makers on sunday night. >> this weekend, the conflict between the first amendment and national security. but take on necessary secrets. the interview is by former u.s. attorney general michael mukasey. again, president obama will have an announcement this afternoon in the white house rose garden.

we will have coverage at 1:30 p.m. eastern. until then, an author who has written a book critical of the obama administration. ng this friday, september 17, david limbaugh returns. his latest book is called "crimes against liberty: an indictment of president barack obama." as with the start -- start our discussion, for an author, had a new spirit of the lettuce nonfiction best-seller list. "the new york times" as the book and a number one spot, the second week on the list. "wall street journal" nonfiction, number two. and the combined list of fiction and nonfiction books at "usa today" #28, moving up and not -- #30. why is is selling so well? guest: i think it is resonating. people in america are very scared about what is going on about the bankrupting spending

the federal government is doing and the destruction of our liberties and the assaults of individual liberties and assaults on the states, the war against the state, how president obama has undermined our national security, reversed our position in the war on terror. he just really does not stand for the same things that grass roots -- grass-roots america stand for, which is why they have risen up spontaneously throughout the country and protested in a peaceful fashion. this is not just about the economy. it is not just about the fact that there is a lot of unemployment. about what he is doing, threatening to do. nationalizing health care, cap and trade, immigration reform. all of these are radical measures. unlike what we have seen in the history of our country. not just the pendulum swing -- and republicans for a while and then you go back and have democrats. we have seen unbridled,

unchecked liberalism for the first time in a long time. they've got both branches of congress -- i mean, both political branches. both chambers of congress. the white house. and they are doing things that are fine people and that is my position. i did you see that out in the country. host: unbridled liberalism is not a crime, however. you are a lawyer and your title is crimes and subtitle indictment -- -- caught me. host: are you calling in fact for -- guest: crimes against liberty is more of a four cents. i am not suggesting he committed crimes in the criminal code or high crimes are misdemeanor for impeachable offenses, and i am not even call it for his impeachment. i do not want to go that route, nor did i suggested. another reason, i think it would become a productive, it would backfire, and we would lose the sight of the big issues. the substantive issues we need to focus on. turn around peaceably, electorally, in november this

year and in 2012. but i do suggest and stand by the position that he has abused his power. that he has ignored the constitution. he has apodictic poorly, a tyrannical, act like a bullet. -- acted dictatorially, acted like a bully governing against their will. i have almost 100 pages of footnotes. i did not think there is a lot of opinion in there. and i think when people see the kids look to the effect of the evidence that i amassed, they are pretty alarmed. they remember what a lot of it but some of the things they do not remember but they cannot believe as much evidence as it is because i do not think our minds have the capacity to retain all of that and deal with it. host: one of the reviews i read of your book last night which was on a liberal blogging, not favorable, but i remember it

concluded this way -- this book is a window into what people can expect if the republicans take control of the house. that there will be lots of investigations -- guest: there might be. that is not really where i want to go. i am saying it out right. it would obama has done could warrants investigations. and it is fine if they want to do that. i just want them to undo the disastrous agenda he has implemented like obamacare, and funded the, de-fund it, if they can roll back some of the outrageous spending he has incorporated. a lot of the things he has done is under the radar. for example, and the stimulus bill, he snuck in a reversal of welfare reform. bill clinton had to be dragged kicking and screaming to sign a welfare reform and he finally signed it on the third time and later took credit for it as if he offered it. it was largely considered a bipartisan triumph because we

saw poverty being reduced -- reduced, minority especially, illegitimacy been reduced. he put the reversal of welfare reform in the stimulus bill. he reverses its, and people don't know about it. why would you do that when blacks are being improved demonstrably, empirically, the evidence and data is there. nobody can dispute it. but i think he's got this desire, this socialistic instinct to create and perpetuate dependency class. and he does not feel comfortable with people being self reliance. host: you are from missouri -- what is the economy light there these days? guest: ups and downs. some businesses are doing well and others are not. i doubt that we are as hard hit as other areas. but as and as i say that i would hate mail from my fellow can gerardo -- cape girardeauand.

host: what is the most effective way to stimulate jobs? guest: this is not rocket science is. conservatives are not extremists. tea party is not extremists. they want to restore the american ideal. they want to restore sound tax policy -- reduce taxes. by the way, bush's tax cuts, right composite tax cuts were not tax cuts for the wealthy -- they were across-the-board tax cut, in fact, skewed in favor of lower and middle income tax groups. the higher income earners pay a greater percentage of taxes. we know that almost half people did not pay income taxes. so the idea that the wealthy are getting a benefit when they pay like 60% of all of the revenues and the top 10% pay in a 90%. but what we want to do is reduce taxes across the board, and that will stimulate growth and i would go even further than the bush tax cut. we did not go far enough.

and i think it would generate growth, expand the pie and radically reduce spending. obama had a band-aid ruse freeze of spending about 30% of the whole budget. it was a joke. -- 13 percent of the whole budget. he had no intention of really cutting spending. i really need a radical entitlement reform. when we tried that. when bush tried it, democrats demagogue the issue even though al gore and bill clinton said it was a crisis and we need to put it in the lock box. we always rather from the social security fund. it has never been set aside. we need to have radical entitlement reform. a reduction in taxes across the board and a reduction in spending. it will not work. you cannot just reduce taxes and not reduce spending at this point. host: let us get to your calls. mississippi. delores. on the democrats' line. go ahead. guest: good morning.

-- caller: good morning. i am upset and of all the at adult people who sit and tell lies. i heard a story that lawyers are lawyers. i am sitting here listening and i am very upset. we want to blame obama for everything that has gone wrong in this country, and i am sorry, but he is not the reason this economy is in the tank. -- when is he going to take accountability? part of his narcissism. he said if he passed the stimulus bill unemployment would not exceed 8% and it went to 10 and now hovering between 9 and 10 ever since and is economic i said it might be 10 years before we get out of this. it did not take ronald reagan 10 years to get us out of a recession. it took a couple of years at the most. had they not stalled in congress with him to pass that bill and what happened earlier.

i am not lying about obama. i welcome you to check the book and point out and lie. host: why don't you respond and go to another caller? are you there? caller: i am here in and i do not agree with mr. david limbaugh and i live in this country and i see what is going on. and the republicans -- you make america look horrible. guest: are all in the president constantly bad mouse president bush, he complains about being treated like a dog yet he treated president was like a dog for three years and did it in the very speech where he complained that he was being treated like a dog. i am not treating anyone like a dog. i am pointing out what president obama has said and how it is as a variants -- how he ruled as the people of purpose and spending as into bankruptcy and how are very children will not be able to enjoy the same types of liberties and prosperity that

we have enjoyed and not the same secure nation because of his policies and a half to be reversed. host: "the washington post" frontpage, republicans rethink 12 playbook. tea party causing them to reassess what it takes to win. right next to that, the collapse of the political center. what do you think about the role of the center and do you see it as collapsing? guest: it does not bother me if it does. i do not know what it really means, the center. a lot of country club republicans say the only way we can build a big tent is to move to the center and get independent voters. right now independents are running our way because of the extremism of president obama. ronald reagan did not need to dilute his agenda.

what conservatives need to do is adhered to their principles which are mainstream. it is high time that we quit as seeding to this notion that mainstream conservatism is extreme. all it is doing is promoting american ideals -- less government and greater national security. there is no rocket science to it. it is just fundamental principles. if conservatives will articulate those principles, people will rally around them and they will demonstrate inspired leadership. you don't inspire anyone being a moderate. what the moderate stand for? are they fiscally set -- conservative but pro-abortion? that is the only thing i configure route. maybe a few combinations. but almost everyone is not apathetic, has an opinion. and we are in a war. the liberals are going 100% on every issue. we cannot afford to dilute our cells or go to 50% on one issue but then allocate 100% to

another. we have to fight back if we intend to win and change the direction of the country. host: here is one example of a moderate and i will read this and get a response. david ignatius's, in a "the post" and it is about lee hamilton going back to indian at age 79 after being here in washington, and it -- going back to indiana at the age of 79. i ask hamilton if he thinks american with its political problems it is a country in decline -- guest: this is a misunderstanding. liberals attack viciously george bush for his entire term of office. lied about him. the caller talked about lying about obama -- the difference is they lie about bush. finally it stutter resonating. -- it started resonating.

i don't think our main goal and our statecraft should be getting along and the senators having hot toddies with each other and singing kumbaya of. we have to recognize democrats stand for certain world view in general terms, republicans stand for another, at least they ought to, and we are in a world view war and we have to fight. the idea that we need to dilute our agenda is just a ruse, when obama masqueraded as a bipartisan or post-partisan person, he quickly showed that he is the most divisive present we have ever had or at least in a long time. he brings republicans in only for photo ops. ask john boehner, ask mitch mcconnell. he excluded them from the process and at the end of the day he brings them in and he calls them out and he says, if they bring a knife to the fight, we will bring a gun, i will keep my boot on the approach of bp, this is a guy that calls bankers fat cat bankers. this is not a person who wants to get a long.

-- along. we must fight back in like measure or week rolled over. host: we are talking to david limbaugh, author of a new book on the best-seller nonfiction list -- and in his book rights a dedication to his brother rush and his wife. caller: i would like to say that conservative patriotic people across this country, and that includes most of tea party activists, want to thank both you and your brother rush because you are definitely generals in this war, like you call it, on ideology of what is the best for this country. i want to tell you, particularly what you said about mr. obama, the first, according to everybody talking about black, he should be educating people on the benefits of a conservative

fiscal responsibility because your brother noted that we are spending $800 billion a year throwing away on interest alone. if you look at the social issues. blacks are being targeted by planned parenthood, genocidal killings of more black babies as a percentage of the population -- it should be an outrage to him. the school dropout rates for blacks. all of the stuff that goes with liberal ideology harming black and not keeping intact families should be a crime. and i thank you both for bringing out these differences and the offending conservative issues, because they are the issues that will help all people. not just white people. but black, hispanic, and everyone in this country. guest: thank you. i believe in racial color blindness and i do think it is lamentable that president obama has played the race card in some areas, whether the building of

the mosque or the arizona immigration law where he declared war against that sovereign state. but i do think it is noteworthy that president obama, when he tries to pass health care and could not get it done and keep its repudiated in the massachusetts senate elections were scott brown was elected -- virtually a personal referendum against obama's agenda, he does not say in the state of the union that i hear you, i will modify my position -- does anyone ask democrats to modify their position? the whole united states did. he said i want the american people to take another look at my plan. the hutzpah is hard to fathom. and when he spent $860 billion on the stimulus bill, saying a lot will be for infrastructure and it does not stimulate anything. there has been a 6.3 million jobs cap -- the heritage foundation points out that while obama claims to have saved or

created 3.3 million jobs, which is an upsurge in metric, created or saved -- let us assume it is not absurd, 3.3 million jobs as a decorated and actually lost a net of 3 million so there is 6.3 million jobs gap. after he spent the $868 billion on stimulus in did not really spend more than 7% on into structure and it did not stimulate anything, he comes back and blames bush -- saying he underestimated the crisis. typical of a narcissist. cannot take ownership for any of his actions. and has the audacity to ask for $50 billion more with the idea that $50 billion will stimulate the economy when 19 times or 18 times did not. betty is not going to spend on infrastructure -- saying he is going to spend it now on infrastructure. the policies clearly don't work. even if these pump priming policies were, even if there is a multiplier effect when the

money -- government stole from the private sector and put it in the government sector, even if it multiplied and brought jobs, which did not even an fdr's times which exacerbated the depression, even if we did work we could not justify bankrupting our children over it. they've got to stop this irresponsible reckless spending. host: the next question is from roxbury, conn. independent line. caller: everyone who comes into the government takes an oath to the constitution and then it has been ignored. we have been living in a global corporatocray for years and people have to get beyond the parties. our country is being destroyed by these parties. and both of them are doing the same kind of disruptive thing. the federal government under obama has been expanded beyond

anything that we have ever known before. and all i see that he is doing is going on one vacation after the other -- guest: i thought that is what you mean by partying. caller: we are a republic, a moderate government under their rule a lot and not under personality. by the way, health care should not be run by the federal government. if people knew what our constitution was and what it stood for, we would never allow the federal government to get so deeply into our lives. by the way, no person, except a natural born citizen, should be president of the united states and that is not being acrimonious. it is just that there are many people that know that mr. obama had a passport that was from

indonesian of and that he has a kenyan father and that is a point that under their rule of law should not be happening in and yet to corporate america and the global is the agenda has allowed him to be seated. guest: ok, let me address -- i do not get into conspiracy theories but let me address a few ways i think obama has exceeded his authority under the constitution and ignored it. ron emanuel said that he was going to issue executive orders across a wide front of issues when he could not get the legislature, not withstanding his supermajority in both houses of congress, to pass what he wanted like cap and trade. he had epa declared that carbon dioxide is a toxin police and now they can regulate it and establish onerous draconian mileage standards.

he pledges $140 million to the im -- $140 billion to the imf to third-world countries, redistribution. he has no executive authority to do it. congress called him on it and said i have authority under foreign policy, i am commander in chief. this is not foreign policy. that is orwellian. glorifying foreign aid. he just issues an executive order. he tells john kyl list digest, president obama, the stimulus money you spent is not stimulating anything so could you consider a freeze? four cabinet officials cents kyl threatening letters saying if you don't want your stimulus money, we will withhold arizona's portion. does the american public realize how great this is, this government is acting like it is their money and they can withhold stimulus money from arizona just because it senator stood up for the entire united

states, not just for arizona? we've got president obama appointing elena kagan as supreme court justice and she has been on record saying that to think if we have an over abundance of a certain kind of speech -- just what kind that would be, like conservative talk radio -- we can unskew it, which means the government can control speeds for the common good. it is not a matter of free speech, but it matters what the content. if it is good, we will allow -- i am not exaggerating a little bit that they were not first free-speech, but this is an example. we have the regulatory czar wrote about, did infiltration whereby he says that people in the government ought to masquerade as private citizens and make posts on website pretended to advocate for the government, for the administration. think about the deceit involved in that. think about having a blog spot

-- and the justice department, supposed to be administering equal justice in the long, and they are going around monitoring web sites and entering post that a favorable to the administration. the administration dismisses the case against the new black panther party when it was already won by default judgment against it in members for a clear-cut case of voter intimidation, they had it on video, and after the cases won, they dismiss it an insiders and the justice department alleged it was dismissed because there is an unwritten policy in the justice department that says whites cannot be victims of voter intimidation by blacks, or whatever, civil rights cases. so it is a race-conscious rather than a race-neutral policy and now it is being investigated by the i. g obama fired his inspector general after he promised in the campaign to enhance the power of the inspectors general which, by the way, are watchdogs. he uncovered corruption on the

part of some of obama's friends in the administration, the stimulus money, and it was so clear that the participants had to pay back half of the $800 million on the state hope charity project, what ever it was, and then instead of rewarding him and congratulating him, he fired him without notice, giving a one-day to resign or get fired. he fired him. the law requires 30 days' notice and specific reason -- he did not give anything but general reasons and afterwards slandered him as being incompetent and confused. and these very same people invited him to give a speech to 2000 staffers, after this said he was an incompetent. what is going on here today is so horrifying, it is not the america i grew up in. host: the last part of a caller apostate, question the president citizenship. do you? guest: no. i think it's bizarre he spent all of this money defending the

case and we don't know much about his background. i actually don't know. i don't have any problem with these people calling -- investigating it, i just don't choose to go there because my influence is better used toward these substantive issues. i don't think of going to go anywhere. it is great if they could get it to go somewhere, if the ending true, i don't know. i have read both sides and it just confuses me. i can't figure out what the ultimate facts are. but if idiot -- if he is not a citizen -- but i choose to allocate my time to try to accept a substantive issues because i think they are urgent and i do not think they will get anywhere. that is just my opinion. host: st. louis park, minnesota, pat, republican line. caller: i have been listening to mr. david for the last couple of minutes. i want to start with something, connie.

. for you to sit there and call yourself a lawyer -- how does she -- what, she just got pregnant? host: caller, the question was asked by me. guest: i never said, but she was a white person who wasn't very fond of america and didn't want obama to identify with america, which might explain

some of his discomfort with identifying with america, why he goes around apologizing all the time for america being arrogant and dismissive, why he joined the church whose pastor says, america from his very pulpit, who says america brought on the 9/11 attack. maybe that's why he married someone who says america is downright and she's never been happy about it or proud of it until he was elected. i'm sorry, i'm going to call it like i see it, and i find that distasteful that the president of the united states does not have a warm feeling about america, that he can sit silent while daniel ortega enters into a 50-mansion harang against the united states of america, and all obama can do at the end of it was thank him for not including him for things that happened, not blaming him for things that happened when he was 3 years old. i got a chapter, i think it's chapter 13, the first page, it might be 12, where obama actually says, like it or not, we are still the world's superpower. what do you mean like it or

not? we've been the greatest force for benevolence and good in the history of the world and for democracy. we should not be apologizing for having -- for being a world superpower. i think europe would appreciate the fact that we've helped keep the peace and we've helped promote democracy around the world. i wish we had a president who shared our experience, at least in terms of being proud of his country, because i don't see any evidence it. host: michigan, brian, democrats line, for david limbaugh. caller: good morning, susan. good morning, david. guest: hey. caller: say hi to your brother for me. guest: i'll do it. caller: identify listened to you run off at the mouth. you know how i can tell you're lying? guest: how's that? caller: because you're a lawyer and your lips are moving. guest: ok. caller: mr. obama -- guest: pardon? caller: has been doing the best he can for this country. your side of the aisle started push-pull the day after the election, you've been telling

lies on him before the election , saying that he was illiterate -- guest: everybody said -- caller: i have heard it from people -- guest: ill lit rail? caller: and they were agents of your republican party, that district there. guest: well, i punish you could point out a lie that i've told. everybody's going after what other person have said -- caller: your generalizations are shot -- guest: i dent give any generalizations. ok, you're the one generalizing, sir, with i'm due respect. i've got 100 pages of footnotes documenting with specificity the allegations that i make in the book. you've yet to make one. host: chapter 14, we trying israel, crimes against america's allies. the administration has just restarted the peace talks with the israelis and palestinians. what do you see as a betrayal? guest: well, i think he's discriminated against israel.

i think he's the first person that i know of that had his vice president condemn, publicly condemn, israel, our allies, for building on its own sovereign territory. they call it euphemistic the "settlement." george mitchell has supposedly endorsed the arab peace plan of 2002, which glir lynn glick talks about, including the right of return for the palestinians. if that problems, glick argues it will be the end of the israeli state, because they will no longer be in the majority. i think obama has -- he has not treated israel fairly. he he united states with the israeli right to self-defense, and i just -- i think it's shameful the way we've disrespected israel. host: for david limbaugh, next, sterling heights, michigan. lavar, republican line. good morning.

lavar, are you there? caller: david? guest: yes, sir? caller: david, you're doing the best job ever. ever. i come 40 years from yugoslavia, and, you know, the country i left, i was so happy to come to the best country on earth, america, and i'm calling myself american. now, some people that call on the c-span, which is democrats, and they claim they're republican and they're talking garbage, like i said, you doing the great job, mr. president obama only kept one promise. listen to me what i'm going to tell you guys. one promise, only one promise he kept is distributing the wealth. and democrats going to wake up when it's too late. either they're brain washed or i don't know how i can talk. i'm so very, very upset because of democrats that are going to

destroy this country. and healthcare -- one more thing. healthcare, mr. david, mr. care, they're going to be our grand kids. they're going to be destroyed for a long, long time. guest: i totally agreed that nationalized healthcare, this is what this is leading to, is a zeaster. there will be rationing. the government will be making decisions about our healthcare. this mandatory coverage is so outrageously unconstitutional. there's one other promise that obama kept, and that was to fundamentally change america. i've been going around making the point that i don't think anybody would fund mentally change something they love. that's what worries me. why did he want to fundamentally change the greatest country in the history of the world with the greatest founding ideals? host: sarah palin. tonight we will be covering her speaking at the iowa republican party annual ronald reagan fundraising dinner. the former chairman of virginia's democratic party writes about her this morning

in "the washington post," says sarah palin saved the g.o.p. here how he concludes -- palin started as tonto, but became the lone ranger. she runs mains strong and stood by her party. she's become a bridge between the old republican guard and the growing right-wing dissatisfaction, not just about democrats, but also with republican office holders. palin's ability to advocate for using the g.o.p., not a third party to channel this angst has allowed republican voter anger to boil, yet not boil over. should republicans run up the score in november, sarah palin will deserve a lot of credit she will never get. guest: i don't know whether she'll get it, but i think that's a very accurate assessment. i think palin has been great. she's been a dynamo. she has advocated for conservative principles unapologetically. when they tried to beat her down, she bounces right back, and she's right back in her faces, and she set an example. and really, do you realize what it's like to have the entire media machine and conservative elite demeaning you all the time and to stay as strong as

she has? i'm froud of her. she's got a lot of fire, and she stands for the things that i believe and i think mainstream america believes, and there's something to that about her influence in not allowing this to splinter into a third party, and that is >> between 2001-2009, and the income of middle-class families fell almost 5%. i want to repeat that. between 2001-2009, the income of middle-class families fell

5%. in the words of today's "wall street journal," this lost decade was the worst for families in half a decade, a decade that obviously ended -- was the worst in five decades, a decade that ended in a terrible recession. as we dig our way out of this recession, we set our sights on policies that grow the middle class, that provide a ladder for those who are at struggling to join. that is why i am urging the leaders of the other party to stop holding middle-class tax cut hostage, and extend this relief to families immediately. they need it. they need our help, and that is why we are here today. part of what led to the financial crisis work practices that took advantage of

consumers, particularly when too many homeowners were deceived into taking out mortgages they could not afford. we also know that these practices predated the crisis, and we also know that these practices do not just exist in the housing market. for years, banks, mortgage lenders, credit-card companies have often used by an -- have often used fine print, confusing language end attractive offers to lure consumers. we have seen it cheaper initial offers with interest rates that later skyrocketed. all of this cost families tens of billions dollars.

-- tens of billions of dollars that they could have used to pay the bills, pay the mortgage or send their kids to college. i have to say that when michele and i were first starting a family, we had to navigate a lot of these financial decisions, whether it was buying a first home, paying off our college loans or putting a lot of debt on credit cards. obviously, we were better off than a lot of families, but we've still often found ourselves confused or in tough situations as a consequence. so, we have a pretty good idea, i have a personally good idea of how this can be difficult and sometimes confusing for the average consumer. that is partly why even when i was still in the u.s. senate i took such a great interest in the the work of the woman standing next to me. i have known elizabeth warren since law school. she is a native of oklahoma. she is a janitor's daughter who

has become one of the country is fiercest advocates for the middle class. she has seen financial struggles and foreclosures affect her own family. long before this crisis hit, she has written eloquently, passionately, forcefully about the growing financial pressures on working families and the need to put in place stronger consumer protections. three years ago she came up with an idea for a new independent agency that would have one simple overriding mission, standing up for consumers and middle-class families. thanks to elizabeth's efforts, as well as the dedication of secretary gunnar, as well as leaders in congress -- dedication of secretary timothy geithner, as well as leaders in congress, the consumer protection bureau will soon

empower americans with the clear and precise information they need to make the best choices, the best financial decisions for them and their families. never again will people be confused or misled by the pages of barely understandable fine print that you find an agreement for credit cards, mortgages and student loans. the bureau will crack down on the abusive practices of unscrupulous mortgage lenders. it will reinforce the new credit card law that we passed banning unfair rate hikes and ensure that people are not unwittingly got -- unwittingly caught by overdraft fees when they sign up for a checking account. it will provide students taking out loans with clear information and make sure that lenders do not game the system. it will make sure that every american is entitled to a free credit score if they are denied

a loan. basically, it will be a watchdog for the american consumer, charged with enforcing the toughest financial protections in history. getting this agency of the ground will be enormously important, a task that cannot wait. that task is something i have asked elizabeth to take on. secretary brightener -- secretary geithner and i agree that she is the best person to set this agency uppe. she will help oversee all aspects of the bureau's creation from staffing to designing policy initiatives, to future decisions about the agency. she will have direct access to me and to the treasury

secretary, and she will oversee a staff fed has already begun to work on this task. -- a staff that has already begun to work on this task. she will also tell me to determine who the best choices for director of the bureau. i also want her to have a role as a white house adviser as well as adviser to timothy geithner on consumer issues. elisabeth understands what i strongly believe, that a strong, growing economy begins with a strong middle class. that means that every american has to get a fair shake in their financial dealings. for years, financial companies have been able to spend millions of dollars on their own watchdogs, lobbyists to look out for their interests and fight for their priorities. that is their right. but from now on, consumers will also have a powerful watchdog, a tough, independent watchdog whose job it is to stand up for

their financial interests, for their families' future. i am proud that we got this done. i am equally proud that elizabeth warren will be helping to make her an original vision a reality. we are extremely proud of you, elisabeth. good luck. >> thank you. >> savvy but has constitutional authority by making as an interim appointment -- have you by passed constitutional authority by making this an interim appointment? >> coverage of the values voters summit will continue in about 15 minutes. rex santorum, gary bauer and christina donnell -- christine

o'donnell will be among the speakers. also, sarah palin will be in iowa tonight for the annual ronald reagan dinner. we will have live coverage at 8:00 p.m. eastern here on c- span. she will be joined by iowa senator chuck grassley. on book tv saturday night, bill clinton joins tony blair for a discussion of their years in office. >> for me or anyone else who is considering continuing on in public service, i think the real question is, do you have of bay vision, a positive vision for where the country should -- do you have a vision, a positive division for where the country should head, and ideas on how to

get it done? >> tim pawlenty will speak about his years as governor sunday on c-span. >> we will return to live coverage of the family research council's annual summit at 2:00 p.m. eastern. until then, a look at the upcoming midterm elections. she is the co-chair of a program that's being organized by the congressional democratic committee called red-to-blue. what is it? >> as democrats we're looking at some of these congressional districts where it's possible to pick up seats for democrats. there are a few of them around the country. and i am helping to help those candidates and make sure we can maintain our democratic majority. host: for the past month or so it seems poll numbers and most of the copy analysis and people who cover politics have been

decidedly disadvantaging democrats, especially in the house of representatives. are you not willing to take those analysis at first-level analysis? are you pushing back against them and suggesting you might keep the zort guest: absolutely. because in every congressional district. it's different. and i think that some of these national numbers don't reflect what's really happening in congressional districts and the relationship so many of our members stweal have with their con constituents. spetcheding a lot of time talking with constituents about what we've done and accomplished as democrats and the fact that we're out there protecting the middle class. host: there's a -- here's how it ends, democrats should not get too comfortable or excited about republican in-fighting this fall nearly six dozen democratic house members are considered to be at risk compared with about 10

republicans. guest: well, you know, again, i think it's a national analysis, but if you goal district-by-district, it's a difficult time and a difficult time in the economy. and we're feeling that as the party in power. but i wouldn't sort of throw the baby out with the bath water quite yet. host: let's hear your analysis of what you think is going on with the eelectric rat? guest: i come from a heavily democratic district but a lot of concerns about the economy. i won a primary election just a couple days ago. what i hear is people are really concerned about jobs and not just folks who have lost their jobs recently but long-term sustained uncomplment. and i know this is what our colleagues are hearing around the country. well, -- i think that's the unsettled part of the electorate that people are thinking about their pocketbooks.

you that he had headlines today about the poverty rate, increasing poverty in children. 1 in 5 children. and i think it highlight it is difference between where the democrats want to take the country and where the republicans would take us. we want to protect the middle class and increase opportunities for our young people. and i think increasingly, district-by-district, voters are understanding that democrats really do want to move forward. and republicans trotting out some of these policies that were really failed when we tried them over the last 20 years is not going to be a quick sell to the american public. guest: for example, let's take the discussion about the tax cuts. it's really clear that extending tax cuts for the wealthiest of americans is actually what's put so many of us -- so many of our con constituents in poverty and

unprotected s an left us unregulated in the financial sector. and our future is kind of jeopardized. so i think the difference between republicans and democrats is we're really looking at protecting the middle class, extending tax cuts for people making under $300,000 and $250,000 a year. i know in my congressional district that would cover about 98% of us. that really is a difference. we have all this conversation about the definite. as a democrat i'm concerned about the deficit, too, but when you have on the table tax cuts for the wealthiest 27 of americans, that's what's not sustainable. host: the discussion is brown, keeping control of the house of representatives and the issues that surround that debate this fall. we welcome your calls. your comments by email and by twitter. and as you can see those of you watching television the numbers

are right beneath me on the screen. we'll give them later for our radio listeners. our first segment from politico which i probably won't be able to find what i'm looking for butal suggesting the republicans in the house are about to come with a 20-point strategy of policy positions meant to provide a road map about how they would lead the house of representatives. you emphasised the district-by-al district nature. in your effort, will you have a grand strategy that will cut across all districts or are you going to go in and -- >> well, i think the overall mess sg democrats are interested in continuing policy that isal protect the middle class. i think that's an overriding concern of ours. creating jobs and opportunities for the future. you already see the president has announced that really intense manufacturing strategy. a strategy for getting americans back to work. i think that's an overarching

thing. but for each district it's different. the -- in my district it has to do with technology and innovation in the scientific field. in another district it may have to deal with the production of solar panels. so i think, the theme will continue about protecting the middle class. i had an just was thinking this morning about the health care bill we did. i know not a lot of people are out there talking about health care now. but next week, actually on the 23rd, in fact,, we are able to extend health care coverage for young people like my son who turned 22 and came off of my health insurance plan. i can put him back on my health insurance plan now. for people who have preexisting conditions, young children who have preexisting conditions, because of the law we passed in the spring, now those young people will be able to be

covered by health care. so the list goes on. the overarching thing is what are we doing for the middle class and doing to enshower our young people can go to college and actually get a job when they come out of college? these are the concerns the democrats have. host: with the several implementations of the health care law, we will have a guest on our news paper's programs taped this morning at 11:00 and air it after 10:00 a.m. eastern time. our first caller for representative donna edwards. this is david who is calling us on the democrats line. good morning. david, turn that tv volume down, please. i can hear the feedback. caller: i got it. goon. good morning. good morning. whenever we hear about -- the criticism about spending. spending. why -- what's so hard about saying, yes, we're spending it

on the country, on people. and not on foreign wars or elsewhere? i mean, it would -- i felt like it was all delayed for the eight years that republicans were in power. we had, i remember so clearly how when they talk about the surplus back then, they kept saying this just means that we have -- we're taking in too much money. we have to give it back to the people. and nobody seems to remember that. that when they had surplus, they didn't do anything about social security. the social security was in this state back then. and it was, they just neggetted us. with the surplus they didn't do anything to shore up anything, so people need to be reminded about this. so any hour, nobody seems to say that whenever they complain about spending. yes, we need to spend, invest. you know, we need this 21st century schools. >> thank you.

guest: you know, david makes a really good point. and i think the challenge here is what kind of spending? and so for example, i look at, susan, spending on transportation, water and sewer, infrastructure, and say that's ab investment today that pays off in jobs and opportunities but really 20 years down the line and we've really disinvested in our infrastructure across the u.s. our bridges and roads and the fact that we are just now dwog high speed rail win. so those actually pay off multiple tiles over the course of 12 years. >> next up is antonio, republican line from 23e68d. good morning antonio. >> hi. good morning. how are you? >> your question. caller: what i've been trying to figure out is regardless of whether it's for republican or democ

>> we go now to coverage of the values forum of the family research council, prince -- council conference. >> we need to repair and from our since, -- from our sins. this song is called a may day. ♪

♪ have we gone too far away to find our way back to you? we are your people, running back to you, running back to you. forgiving our sins, heal our land. running back to you, running

back to you. into your arms once again. 4 give us all of our sins. ♪ the cries of children, we chose to ignore. we have ourselves to blame. our pride full senate is on parade -- prideful sin is often prayed, and we have got to find a way to find our way back to you. at running back to you.

running back to you. ford give our -- forgive our sins. heal our land. running back to you. jesus. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪

[applause] >> thank you. >> thank you so much. god does not bring revival because we pray for revival. he brings it when we repent. we will never see revival break out in the streets of america until we see it in our churches. all that we do come up may we acknowledge that you are god. we praise you and ask you will

forgive our sin. amen. i wanted to mention how much we enjoy sonic flood. if you would like to hear them you can go to their web site to get more. one of the sponsors has always been the heritage foundation. we love what they do. we would like to take a couple of minutes -- let's look at the monitors together no -- ♪

♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ clacks the heritage foundation. -- >> the heritage foundation. we have an exciting afternoon

beginning with our first speaker. he became one of the most successful government reformers in our history. he exposed the house scandals. he offered legislation known as partial birth abortion. he offered the best selling book and is the fighting host -- friday host 48 syndicated broadcast. he is a columnist with the philadelphia inquirer. of all his accomplishments he is most proud of his role as husband and father.

he is the parent of seven children. please welcome senator rick santorum. [applause] >> thank you. thank you very much. i am the friday host which means i was up at 4:00 this morning. it is great to be here. i always have to thank the folks at the research center. i am honored to be here. they are a first-class operation in every sense of the word.

we support conservative candidates who not just have the best chance to win but the best chance to govern the way america wants us to. [applause] in thinking about what i was going to say i keep hearing these experts on television talking about how we have to keep our message focused on the economic issues. we have to make sure if it is on the economic message. it is a very important thing, but the concept that the moral issues are not part of an integrated set of issues that

keep this country free is a dangerous idea. we can fly on one wing, but just talking about spending and taxes. what are those issues that bear hart? -- at their heart? at the core is the issue of freedom. government is taking your freedom away to earn the fruits of your labor. this is a basic issue of freedom. what is necessary in our society if we are to be freed? john adams said it our constitution is made for moral

and religious people. we can only be free as long as we are virtuous. [applause] i gave a speech last week that was the 50th anniversary of a speech given by john f. kennedy. he gave a speech that was necessary to give at the time. there were lots of things going on across america that were discriminatory. he had to address the probable role -- proper role. he said that i believe in an america with a separate of church and state.

that will never be the standard in america. [applause] what is the impact on that? to drive you out of the public square to say is ok if you want to believe what you want, but you have no right to argue for moral laws. we don't legislate reality. every piece of legislation has moral consequences. [applause] we are engaged in a great battle. i think every speaker said the crowds are big and enthusiastic.

what is happening? people understand something big is going on. it is not just economics. america is a grand experiment. we ted to forget how revolutionary america is. no country has crafted their government with the idea that dodd has given every individual rights. the government served the people, but not the people serving the emperor. people think that is

commonplace, but do you understand how significant it was who si -- said this god has bestowed upon everyione rights to be be able to pursue their dreams? what are the consequences? what was the average life expectancy during the revolution? 35? what was it 2000 years before that? 35? the world for 2000 years under a system where sovereigns were given privileges by god, mankind

did not advance. in 200 years after we said we respect the dignity of every human person because god said they have rights. [applause] as a result life expectancy has doubled. technology has exploded because we let loose the human spirit. it was the first time that a group of people formed a government that believes a new. if we let you rawise, that you would pull society up with it.

we tolerate it failure. when do you learn more? from your successes or failures? we allow people to rise and not punish them, but allow them to succeed so everyone would do better. people say the world would have changed anyway. let's look at the muslim world. great technological innovations there. let's look at some areas where there was not freedom. at the heart of america is an

understanding of natural rights and a limited government that makes the success of america possible. people are running for office because they see this american dream as a tipping point. we have leaders who believed it is the government that beast those rights. it is the government who can give you a right to kill another child. it is the government i cannot force a doctor to provide care for you. the american people are anxious because they see what has made america the greatest at a breaking point.

this can be an ominous time, but i believe this is a blessed time. i feel blessed to be here at a time when america needs us. [applause] lots of generations of americans will go to work and get the kids off to school and do what ever. the next day america will be free and prosperous. in one't happen to live of those times. you lived in a time where you don't have to put a uniform on to defend freedom. you have to engage politically.

you have to understand this was not just economics, but at the root is this understanding of the human person. the size of government is directly related to the virtue of your people. go into neighborhoods where there is a lack of virtue. you will find no family is and you will find government everywhere. because without faith and virtue government takes over. [applause] when the people come out and tell us we have to put issues in

the back of the bus, we have to have a truce because the economic issues are paramount. we can have no freedom unless we have moral people inspired by their faith. limited government can only occur in a society where there are strong families and virtue. [applause] don't let them put you in the back of the bus. your issues are important. they may be more controversial but we need public officials who are willing to do the whole story. we just don't tell the story.

that is why i am here tonight to encourage you to do something heroic. one of my favorite quotes is every day we get up and tell ourselves lies so we can live. the lie we say is we can live our lives and america will continue to be free. our founders understood. writing freedoms into the constitution was the easy part. the hard part was keeping america free overtime. that is the duty of all of you.

this election is the most important of our lifetime. this is something very important to understand. to set the expectations prob erly. obama will not be for reducing taxes. he will not be for cutting spending. it is simply a step. just like 2006 when the democrats took control of the

house was a step. a super majority in the senate allow them to do big things. there are three times when big things happen. the new deal, the great society and the last two years under president obama. the most important bank was filibuster-proof majority. you want to see the kinds of things the tea party folks are talking about. you have to be focused on getting as many gains as we can.

delaware would be a good place to spend some time. [applause] don't pick your head up, stay focused. if we want to restore limited government, continue to have a country that is free where people of faith -- it is the next two elections that will make the difference. conservatives on and republicans. we have to be focused. are you up for doing this? [applause]

i will close with something that is a perspective. i am asking you to do great things. i always liked to talk about the greatest generation who served our country bravely. were they somehow special? no, what made them the greatest is they were confronted at a time when america needed them. that made them great. [applause] let me remind you that the greatest generation of americans did not rush to the

challenge. when france fell and europe was covered with darkness -- a mayor goode did nothing. the greatest generation did nothing. when churchill pleaded for america to join them and pleaded as the bombs were dropping, americans did nothing. about the atrocities occurring on europe, we sent them back. the greatest generation of americans. it took pearl harbor to rally

the american spirit. it took something horrific. once you wake americans up there is no limit to what we can do. we think things will work out. now is not enough. we have to be longer term. we have to keep going. between now and 2012. [applause] i want to thank you. i know i am talking to the

choir, but sometimes the choir has to go sing solos. i am asking everyone of you -- i've wish i was just worrying about your grandchildren. sing loudly, sent courageously. -- sing courageously. god bless you. [applause] ♪ >> thank-you. we have not heard the last from him. this week joe biden told rachel that don't ask don't

tell must be abolished. we have assembled some veterans. would you like to hear the voice of authority? [applause] would you please welcome the --a -- lieutenant joh ♪ ♪ ♪ >> good afternoon. we wanted to take time out to talk about a very pressing

policy issue. we wanted to give you more information. in a state of the union address president obama said one of his major goals was to force the military to embrace homosexuality. it did not matter that they service chiefs have spoken out in opposition. he had been in a tent on doing this. the appropriations bill which will be voted on this tuesday. colonel bob mcginnis has been working on this issue dating back to 1993 when he was a part of the process. he has studied the issue and is

a senior fellow at the family research council. the and brian fleming is a veteran of the u.s. army. he was in afghanistan and twice was blown up. he was awarded the purple heart for his servantice. [applause] this is a very informal panel. i would like to note, and the military -- how many military veterans we have? [applause] thank you for your service.

when i was in the marine corps i was married and i thought everything i learned in the marine corps i could apply to my marriage. i could not understand why it all communication broke down. we were pro-family then. we never talked about the bourse. murder came up a couple times. [laughter] that is when i had a revelation everything my sergeant taught me what work. but the military service an important role in our society. when the western civilization

was on the verge of being pushed over it has been the military that has saved the day. our military is under attack from within. in the midst of fighting two wars -- of wanted to let brian tell more about his story before we get into -- tell us about your story and being in afghanistan. >> i served during 2006. i served mainly in southeastern afghanistan. there were two vehicles blown up, one of which i walked away from. the army was not through with me

yeah, but a suicide last next to the door of my vehicle exploded 3 feet away. i woke up in a ditch on the side of the road. i had the second degree burns on my face, very painful. there are a lot of ways to answer that. i tell them it was a blast. [laughter] i am very grateful. burn treatment was terrible. 14 months in the medical center, but i am grateful to be alive. i am so privileged. >> the first incident you have

you got a phone call from your mother. >> when i did return two days later she said i don't want to scare you but a couple days ago i had this intense feeling to pray for your protection. she knew what was going on. i did not tell her what happened. something happened that encouraged a little extra prayer. my mother is the most important person in my life. i'm sure you understand why. it continues to amaze me -- i am grateful our country continues to produce young men and women willing to sacrifice their lives for the freedoms of those

yearning to be free. that segway is well into the discussion. you have studied this issue. this goes beyond the issue of the social policy and whether or not homosexuals can serve with distinction. this goes to the core of our military. >> 17 years ago we put together briefings for the congress and out like they readiness implications. they don't understand the culture that makes up our armed forces. this young sergeant in the eastern part of afghanistan and how they depend on one another.

if they don't have the trust in one another, then things will start to break down. we talked to the congress. we persuaded the congress to embrace a policy their president didn't want. it was yesterday witte j johnson who is running this working group. we told him we don't think you understand the implications of what is happening on the ground. we laid out a number of things they need to address. the consequence if you damage

that psyche you are asking for something you don't want. we look at it extensively. i'm not sure they will do that. >> you are bringing out the issue of the effectiveness and cohesion. working in that small unit depending upon one another, how do you see this affecting the mission? >> in it is a huge risk of national security. when you compromise the integrity of that unit -- i am speaking from experience, you

are actually -- you have soldiers that will stay on a team and will take a bullet for that guy. that is very affective in war. if you break that down you just crippled a front-line unit. the daughter of a friend of mine is married to a marine. a good choice. she just got one of these [unintelligible] this is a skewed survey, sometimes -- we knew that. >> explain what this survey is.

it goes out to active soldiers and marines. it was designed to try to understand what the impact would be of repeal. it did not ask the question of should we do this. if you had a homosexual couple living next door what would be the impact? would they leave the service tax. she said not only is it skewed, but i don't want my husband when he deploys sharing a close quarter with an open homosexual. we had these family days, i don't think i want to take my

children to that event. what will this do to my husband's career? i saw a deputy commander who said if you disagree with this you are wrong and ought to be out of the service. the law of the land is we have an exclusion policy. we have to be discriminatory because we do the toughest mission in the world. to require our young people to do things we sometimes have to be stricter than the general population. this becomes a dangerous environment that becomes even more dangerous because of the

breakdown of the small unit. in an environment like this where the military is stretched, a fraction of their vetention being off could ha a serius effect. don't do this because the recruitment impact. we know from surveys there are a certain number of people who say that is not the military i want and i will leave. moms and dads of america are called -- they say i am not sure because you have lost your moral bearings. [applause]

>> the demographics of those who serve in the military are different than the general population. >> we have 104 different religious groups, predominantly christians. there are also 6000 muslims who don't like homosexuality, too. we care for one another, whether we are in a ditch or we see someone suffering, we reach out a hand to help the,/ we are a moral based organization. to just stabbed us in the heart on an issue of fundamental to religious groups is just suicide

for [unintelligible] countries like the 10 largest military's say this is not the thing to do. we ought to copy them and the dutch. don't the military's embrace this view. >> they don't fight wars to keep nations free, so there is a big difference. i want to ask some questions brought up on this. the military is a unique subculture. one of the reasons the liberals hold the military and hostility is it is conservative and more all. -- conservative and moral.

most people don't realize how much -- heterosexual immorality is also against they'll law of the military. >> we even went after general officers. >> it really status through the heart the competence of the unit when we have a senior officer in a relationship with a junior partner. it gets into the small military community where everybody knows everybody. it erodes the entire trust in the competence issue. yesterday we were trying to argue with jay johnson.

think he quite understands the implications of what they are going down to. >> they point back to 1993 when this policy was adopted saying america has changed. the men and women you have served, do you think they would react to this in a negative way? >> i have no doubt they would disagree with anything we are saying. the guys i have served with would be very much against it. >> what has been very interesting in this process -- [applause] when the branch -- each branch

has a general admiral who is over that branch operationally. they have all spoken out in opposition of overturning this policy. it is only the president and chairman of the joint chiefs. you mentioned there was a general who was quoted yesterday as saying anyone who has a moral concerns need to get out of the military. >> absolutely. that undercuts some of our confidence in your leadership. he should not have spoken out in favor of a policy that would reverse the current law. it seems to me that he put the fear in the back of a lot of people in his command in germany when he came out without

reservations saying if you don't like what we are about to do you should leave the armed forces today. the current law is open homosexuality in the military is against the law. you have a general who says if anyone has an opinion agreeing with the current law they ought to get out of the military. four months ago there was a general in the army who oversees the asian pacific. he wrote a letter encouraging the men in his command to express their views on this issue to their representatives. he was reprimanded by the secretary of defense. what will happen to this general who has spoken out? will he be reprimanded? >> we have not heard yet as to

what negative thing will happen, but clearly this is an important issue something not to be denigrated. we live in a regimented society. everybody stands up and absolutes. -- andsalutes. then you really have a serious problem. in germany we have commanders and i suspect across the armed forces we are feeling the impact of that today. i hope that general casey will respond to this situation because i know he said we want to wait for this process to go forward. he has not personally said that

this is something we ought to stick with what we have. one of the aspects that is very concerning is the role of the chaplains in the military. we have a strong representation of the christians and the faith community. how will it impact the role of chaplains when it becomes the stated policy that homosexuality is a acceptable? how can you preach the entire [unintelligible] >> that is interesting how they deal with that in the study group. a chaplain who believes in leviticus, it is clear homosexuality is an abomination. he will have a tough time

proving that. if he is suppressed in that i suspect those sending him into the military will say you tied the hands of our chaplains. perhaps they will make him mary homosexuals. when he counsels a homosexual and believes this is not something -- then they will say you cannot do that. chaplin, we will dismiss you because you do not embrace this perspective. >> let me ask you about the role of the chaplains. how did that impact you as having someone to pray with? >> having somebody to speak with during combat operations is critical. you need to have some sort of

outlets before you explode. some of those things now -- you can be put in prison. it is important you can talk to the chaplain so they can prevent these things. >> so a lot more goes into being a chaplain then just preaching on a sunday morning. they serve as counselors and those you can speak to. the real concern is we have spoken to the boards that a point chaplains to the military. they are fearful if this policy is changed and they have to embrace the military deal, that

they will no longer be able to credit this chaplains and send them into the military. we could see chaplain's forced out of the military. >> it is not just the chaplains. when you read the fine sex, you have lesbian, transsexual, where are you stopping? our government will be tied up in courts. can you imagine if we allow gay marriage? will they get the same benefits. are we going to allow these transgendered operations because they could have medical treatments. the sky is the limit. >> the military would be paying for surgery for those who want to get a sex change.

>> they say is my right to be who i am. because of who i am i have to have this operation. >> it would be difficult for those transvestites to choose which uniform they would wear. [laughter] more challenges than i thought. >> let me summarize here as we bring this to a close. the fact is this was forced on the military. the military was never heard on this issue. they went through this sort -- this charade. how to identify the problems so they could try to mitigate those problems.

then the congress short circuit did that process and attached the defense authorization bill. the motion to proceed is the key vote. we will report that vote. 60 votes are needed. it is not only the overturning of don't ask don't tell, but it includes turning medical facilities on military bases into abortion clinics. that is using our nation's military to advance a social policy. that should not take place. [applause]

i want to close with this. i want to ask you a sense of many men the the women are not allowed the opportunity to speak, the president does not care what the generals think. as one of those who has spilled their blood on foreign soil, what would you say to the president about this policy? >> other than his lack of military experience -- [applause] there is something to say about experience. the military is the most respected institution in america anybody making decisions about these policies, they need

to involve the opinions with those at the top of the command with decades of experience and know what is best for the military. [applause] [inaudible] >> you need to contact your senators. you need to encourage them to vote against the motion to proceed. it does not matter whether your senator is a republican or democrat. call home today and put it on your facebook. get the word out there for people to call your senators to oppose the motion to proceed on the defense authorization bill. it is important the republicans

hear that message and they stand together on this issue so they cannot proceed on this issue. thank you very much. we appreciate your service. ♪ [applause] ♪ pick up youret to brian fleming action figures. he needs one, doesn't he? he proved he is a hard man to kill. our speaker coming was a pioneer for the pro-family movement decades ago and yet his message is as needed today as it has ever been. he remains one of the most

effective spokesman for pro- family values. he served on president reagan's's administration for eight years and was the chief domestic policy adviser. he served as senior vice president of focus on the family. in 2000 he ran for president. there is a nonprofit organization he founded after the presidential campaign which is one of the great sponsors of the voters summit. i would like to ask you to not just welcome him, but would you thank him for his great service to our country? please welcome gary bower. [applause]

♪ >> thank you very much. i appreciate that. ronald reagan told me if i ever speak to an audience and get a standing ovation i ought to sit down immediately because there is nowhere to go. it is fantastic to be here another year for a voters summit. i have to be honest with you this year it seems to be more significant than ever. i am looking out on this audience. the first thing that came to my mind is you are barack obama's and nancy pelosi's worst nightmare. [applause]

in the last 18 months -- i have been in washington a long time. i was 6 ft. 3 before. i have seen all kinds of demonstrations. they're always demanding new benefits for something. the last 18 months, there have been wave after wave after wave of demonstration in this city. it is not the left. it is you. it is middle america. [applause] why is that happening? it is because this country is in shock about what is being done to our nation. i run into people all the time who cannot believe it. we have watched left-wing politicians in this city pass

legislation that they did not even bother to read, let alone read the constitution that they took their oath of office on. [applause] i am not perfect on political analysis. my sense is the country is sick and tired of being lectured by liberal elites telling us what to drink, eat, drive, say, believe. they are tired of it. [applause] they are tired of massive debt being put on the backs of our children, children not even going yet, tired of the constitution being treated like it was with the paper, of -- it was toilet paper, of judges

trying to redefine marriage, of taxpayers being forced to pay for abortions. homes are being lost, dreams crushed, and they're watching while the president, while the president of the united states -- the man who said he would bring us together -- tries to set one class against another in warfare. he ought to be ashamed of himself. [applause] i had a reporter come in the of the day. gary, why is everybody so angry? what is everybody so upset about? what is all this turmoil? i said, the last two weeks leading up to the last weekend, the anniversary of nine -- the ninth year anniversary of the attack on 9/11 -- if you did

nothing as a reporter but pay attention to these last two weeks, you would know all you need to know about why there is so much anxiety and anger around the country. you all remember that day. i bet every one of you here could tell me exactly where it you were that morning. i was about 70 yards away from the pentagon that morning. unbelievable day. an act of war. in the days that followed that attack, we had all kinds of beliefs tell us what the cause of that attack was -- elites tell us what the cause of the attack was. some said it was poverty in middle east. others said it was because of social injustice, or foreign policy mistakes by the united states, by israel. none of those things had anything to do with 9/11.

none of those things had anything to do with everything we have seen since 9/11. here is what caused 9/11 -- 98% of the american people believe this. almost none of the elites believe it, they are not willing to say it. the attackers on 9/11 were not created by poverty. they were created by radical islam. [applause] when they got on those planes, they thought they were getting ready to do something that would please a law -- please allah. if they were not muslim jihadists, they would not have been on the plaines.

because our elites are so confused about this, the jihadists have come to believe they are going to win. they looked at the leadership of america and they conclude that we're fat and lazy, that we're so -- that we are assimilation in decline, that we cannot produce heroes anymore. i believe they are wrong. i think young men and women in uniform in afghanistan and iraq are proving them wrong every day. [applause] but, my friends, i understand what the enemy is so confused. when they look at america, in fact when most of the world looks at america, they do not see a shining city upon a hill, that wonderful, biblical phrase

that the founders used to fish for our country, the phrase that ronald reagan -- used to describe our country, the phrase that ronald reagan used. when they look at america, they see a moral swamp, kolter promoting sex and violence. no wonder our enemies -- a culture promoting sex and violence. no wonder our enemies think they can defeat us. haven't we seen the truth of this? when we look at wall street, the halls of government, our schools, our families -- if we do not have reliable standards of right and wrong, there is no amount of government that can solve the problems facing this country. the central idea of america is in the second paragraph of the declaration of independence. senator burr santorum referred to it a number of times -- senator santorum referred to it a number of times. the elites of this country

reject the heart of that paragraph. that is the paragraph defines america. you cannot teach american kids about america without teaching them about that paragraph. you know the words, "we hold these truths." the deletes -- elites are in shock right there. truths? there are no truths. they all reject the idea of truth. they embrace moral relativism. what is true for you may not be true for somebody else. "we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and endowed by -- >> "their creator." >> not by the president, not by

the supreme court. by their creator. by the way, folks, that is not allah. [applause] "in doubt by their creator with certain inalienable rights -." -- and doubt -- "endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, including the right to life." even the founders knew that without that right, the rights -- the other rights are beside the point. this is why we are a shining city on the hill. i understand why americans may not be feeling like that today. the poll last week showed that

60% of the country believe the country is in decline. a shining city on the hill? in the obama recession, the american people are lucky if they can turns the lights -- can turn the lights on in their house, let alone be a shining city on a hill. nine years after 9/11, in the two weeks leading up to the anniversary, we had to sit there for two weeks and listen to the current occupant of the white house make it clear to us that they were more interested in seeing a mosque, built at ground zero than they were in describing and explaining to the american people the nature of the danger we face. [applause]

what is that danger? let me remind you what the central reality of our age is. it is going to be the central reality of our age probably for the rest of our lifetime. it boils down to this -- that there are evil men who worship death who are doing everything they can to bring to you and your families and to free men and women all over the world sorrow much greater than anything we have ever experienced up to now. they did not intend the next time to kill 3000 of us or 30,000 of us. they intend to kill 300,000 of us. it will not rest until they see a nuclear cloud -- they will not rest until they see a nuclear cloud over washington, d.c., berlin, paris. they are out to destroy western

civilization. [applause] the president referred to then the other day as "the story -- them the other day as "a sorry group of men." the president keeps saying we have a problem with al-qaeda. there is a mosque, the taliban, millions of people -- thhamas, the taliban, millions of people who embrace the narrative to these murderers are using. in the streets of major european cities, we're seeing jews beaten in the street. that is why jewish cemeteries are being desecrated. the hatred that inspires these acts is being taught in cottbus

-- countless mosques all over the middle east, europe, and right here in the united states. [applause] we have seen the handiwork of the people taught in these mosques. we watched daniel perl, the wall street journal reporter, kidnapped, tormented, and tortured on videotape, made to look into the camera and say over and over again, i am the jew. the decapitated him and sent a video of his severed head across -- they decapitated him and sent a video of his severed head across the middle east as a recruiting tool. that tells you something, doesn't it? i assume they know their followers well. they think that decapitating an innocent, unarmed civilian will

bring more followers to their cause. we have seen it in the news stories of palestinian mothers informed that their son or daughter is dead. their reaction is to dance in the streets. as long as they are told that their children, when they blew themselves up, killed jews, or israelis, or americans. fill in the blank. whatever infidel you want to put in there. the natural response is to mourn the loss of a child. i have seen palestinian mothers, within 24 hours say, this is the happiest day of my life. as happy as if my daughter was getting married. because this evil jihadist, radical islamic philosophy can even strip from the heart of a mother her natural desire to protect the lives of her

children. faced with this danger, we have a president who is awol. [applause] he keeps telling us that america has to prove to the islamic world that we are tolerant. mr. president, it is time for the islamic world to prove to the rest of the world that they understand human rights and that they will tolerate religious freedom. [cheers and applause]

so, i would say to barack obama or mayor bloomberg in new york, next time you want to give a speech on tolerance, try giving it in mecca. [applause] the problem with intolerance in the world is not in the heartland of america. it is in the heartland of the islamic world. [applause] but, of course, i set the bar too high. the president is not going to tell the saudis to stop funding hate. he is too busy babbling to the saudi -- bowing to the saudi king.

your reps with anger at news that israelis are -- he erupts with anger and news that israelis are building homes in jerusalem. he directs -- he barely reacts to the news that ahmadinejad is building nuclear weapons. this is the most anti-israel president in the history of the united states. [applause] i have to give him credit, because it was not an easy title to win. he had surpassed the peanut farmer down in georgia, jimmy carter. the president repeated for the umpteenth time -- i never want to use the word "lie." in this town, there is a lot of twisting of the truth, a lot of spinning, etc. you have to make sure before you

say someone is lying. let me just say, when the president continually says, like he did in his cairo speech and many times since, that islam has played a major role in america from our very founding, it is just not the truth, ladies and gentlemen. come on. look, there was virtually no islamic presence in america until just a few decades ago. when the founders gathered at constitution hall, they did not gather there after having read the koran. they gathered their after having read the bible and the torah, the old and new testament. in fact, ladies and gentlemen -- [applause] if they had gathered there after

reading the koran and reached into it for inspiration, this would not be a country you would much want to live in. for one thing, all the women in the audience would be treated like cattle. you would be in a separate room listening to the speech, wearing a paburqha. the president owes us better than this. he has a lot of power, but he does not have the power to rewrite history. ladies and judgment, you remember what happened after 9/11 -- and gentlemen, you remember what happened after 9/11. i remember turning on the television and seeing muslim people dancing in the streets, handing out candy to their children. while we were still pulling our dead out of the wreckage.

then, i remember turning the channel and seeing another scene in the middle east of israelis lowering their flag, declaring a day of mourning, weeping with us. we know who our friends are, even if the president is confused. [applause] a few weeks ago, the media and the full force of the white house focused on what i believe was a foolish pastor in florida. as a foolish because his idea of burning -- i say foolish because his idea of burning a koran is

guaranteed not to gain followers in this battle for hearts and minds. americans do not like book- burners, whatever book is being burned. i would have suggested to the past year if he wanted to make a point he should have read from this -- the pastor if he wanted to make a point, he should have read from the koran. you would have thought this pastor, from the look of the media, whose church membership is smaller than michelle obama's personal staff -- [laughter] you would have thought this guy was speaking for all of christendom. he was not. he was not. but, ladies and gentlemen, if he had done that stupid thing and

there had been violence afterwards, his burning of that book would not have been the cause of the violence. it would have been the excuse for the violence. the cartoons were not the cause of the violence. when the pope has spoken, he is not -- he was not the cause of violence. we were not earning the koran on 9/10, 2001. because of the violence is an islamic culture that teaches hundreds of millions of people, right on the edge of murder and mayhem, 24 hours a day. [applause] i long for a political leader in america that will be willing to reach out to the muslims that want to make

common cause with us on matters of a free society, rights, and human dignity including women and the freedom of religion, and we'll explain to the american people that we are at war with a group that is getting their inspiration from their religious teachings. that is the fact that cannot be denied. well, my friends, let me close with 9/11 again. i know this is some heavy stuff. i always feel bad when nine give such a speech. i feel like i am sending people -- when i give such a speech. i feel like i am sending people for the pepto bismol. i worked for ronald reagan. he made us all be optimists. with all the problems we see, i

believe in this city and country, there is a great reservoir of decent americans that come in all shapes and sizes, all races and colors, all religious backgrounds, some well-off, some struggling, but they are all americans. we saw it on the morning of 9/11 in the policemen and firemen at ground zero. we saw it in the people who thought they might die themselves and they made those incredible phone calls to their families just to tell them they love them. we saw it with those unbelievable americans on that flight in pennsylvania. if it was a planeload of special forces guys, green berets, it would have been more understandable that they fought back. they were not.

they were you -- students going to school, family is going on vacation, businessmen taking the early-morning trip. all of a sudden, they got drafted into a war they did not even know was being waged when they got up that morning. the pilot and co-pilot's throat s cut, a couple of flight attendants dead in the front of the plane. from the cell phone calls that were made and the tapes we have, we know those passengers went to the back of the plane. being good americans, they started to debate. we need to go back to our seats. we cannot do anything. you cannot fight hijackers. the plan will land. there will be negotiations. we will get out of here. others said, no. the country is under attack. we have to fight. you know what they did? nobody won that debate.

somebody said, ok, let's vote. that is what we're going to do. we're going to vote in 45 days. you get up that morning, tired, sick, reigning -- raining. remember these americans on the plane who voted to fight back, making weapons out of whatever they could. the flight attendant boiled the water and that would be her weapon. it took the drink cart -- they took the drink cart and used it as a battering ram. they threw the water, fought as hard as they could. they brought that plane down to spare this country more pain, more sorrow, more death. god bless them. don't forget them. [applause]

and when you vote, when you vote this year and in two years, and when this country gets put back on track, then and only then will the world look of america again and say, there it is. the shining city upon until -- a hill. god bless you. thank you very much. [applause] ♪ higher gotta get to a

place ♪ gary bauer. tremendous speech. i want to mention a couple of things before we bring out our next speaker. you were acquainted with brian fleming. he has a book called "yes, you can!" you can order that on his website, blownupguy.com. honest to pete, that is the name. you can get access to the book and there are many other resources. he is an outstanding young man that you can help support in his ministry. i also want to mention that christine o'donnell will be joining us for a special reception sponsored by the frc action pack later this afternoon. the reception is from 5:30 to

7:00 p.m. and will be held in the congressional room. the cost is a $100 per person donation, which can be paid at the registration desk. you must be an frc action member to attend this special function. you can register. it only takes a couple of minutes. an interesting story about the bumblebee -- it is not supposed to fly. its wings make it aerodynamically impossible to fly, and everybody knows that except the bumble bee. everybody knew that christine o'donnell had no chance to defeat mike castle for the republican senate primary. but last week, bumblebees flew. if you would like to meet her, let's bring her on. ladies and gentlemen, please welcome christine o'donnell.

♪ [applause] stop believin' hold on ♪ >> thank you. thank you very much. where are my fellow bumblebees from delaware? you guys are doing an awesome job. thank you a much for being here. -- so much for being here. it is such a delight to be among lifelong friends and to have the opportunity to talk to you today about the things that are waiting so heavily on our hearts -- weighing so heavily on our

hearts. think back to about a year-and- a-half ago, when our new leaders took office. think about how you felt then. remember the despondency, the anxiety, even the probable fear for the future of our country -- palpable fear for the future of our country. i remember the first things cross off the to do list -- forcing us to pay for abortions. they hope to escape from the failing government schools in washington, d.c. tell that to pro-choice. the stimulus bill spent $1 trillion on the keynesian fantasy while millions of americans lost their jobs and watched their savings disappear, but it did not end there.

they started talking about obama-care. one industry after another was bailed out. our forces in afghanistan and iraq -- confusion everywhere. plans for closing get mel and trying terrorists in manhattan. looming supreme court vacancies. do you remember? i do. they were told to curl up in a fetal position and to stay there for the next eight years, thank you very much. well, how things have changed. [laughter] [applause] during those dark days when common-sense, patriotic americans were looking for some silver lining, they stumbled upon the constitution. you see, a funny thing happened

on our way to the sideline. those of us who had toiled for years in the volume movement found ourselves surrounded by americans to rediscover -- value movement found ourselves surrounded by americans who rediscovered the most fundamental value of all -- liberty. the current problem that threatens our future was being answered by the wisdom of our once-threatened pass. our friends and neighbors began to join us at rallies and beneath the "don't tread on me signs." there are more robust than there are of them -- of us than there are of them. [applause] and so there are, because this is america. the ruling-class elite may try, but they will never have the last word on liberty. there's something about our national dna that insists on

shouting at those who would be our masters, you are not the boss of me. [applause] thomas jefferson said the same thing, perhaps more eloquently. he said, "the issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history -- whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or ruled by a small elite." that is the question, isn't it? and the verdict is in. the small elite do not get us. the call as wacky, wingnuts. -- they call us wacky wingnuts. we call us, "we, the people." [applause] we do not always agree. we do not always share the same strategy memo is.

we do not always endorses in candidates or speak of the same talking points. we're loud, rowdy, passionate. it reminds me of the c.s. lewis "narnia" books, where the little girl asks someone about aslan the lion, who represents god. she says was some concern, is he safe? her friend says, safe? who said anything about safe? good.'s [applause] that is what is happening in america day -- today with this grass-roots groundswell and liberty -- groundswell, love affair with liberty. it sure is good. [applause]

they attack us. they will steer our backgrounds and distort our records -- smear our backgrounds, distort our records, harassed us, tried to intimidate us. there is nothing safe about this. is it worth it? is freedom worth it? is america were fit? -- worth it? are those inalienable rights worth a little alienation from the beltway popular crowd? i say yes, yes, a thousand times yes. this is no moment for the faint of heart. some of accused us of being an aging product former -- some have accused us of being an aging crowd of reagan staffers

and home schoolers. [applause] they are trying to marginalize us and put us in a box. there are trying to say we're taking over this party or that campaign -- they are trying to say we are taking over this party or that campaign. they do not get it. we are not trying to take back our country. we are our country. [applause] we have always been in charge. this is america. you do not have to assert authority when everyone is on good behavior. it is when the wheels fall off that the grown-ups have to step in and step up. that is what is happening in america today. the grown-ups are taking away the keys. [applause] and if i do say so, we have been awfully patient. we have left the incremental

assault on our freedom, property rights, and a stability -- all of it has gone way too long. we have watched the tentacles of big government weaseled their way into every part of our lives -- weasel their way into every part of our lives. bureaucrats and politicians think they should tell us what kind of light bulbs to use, toilets to flush, cars to drive. they are trying to put electric monitors in your recycling bin. they want to tell businesses what kind of jobs to create, what kind of commercials to run, what kind of food to buy or sell. they want an elected panels of bureaucrats to decide who gets what -- unelected panels of bureaucrats to decide who gets what life-saving medical care. they will buy your teenaged daughter and abortion, but not a

sugary soda at in a school been -- an abortion, but not a sugary soda in the school spending machine -- vending machine. [applause] every child going today in america already owes over $200,000 -- his or her piece of the national debt in underfunded, future liabilities. folks, this is not good parenting. what kind of parent puts the bill for today's spending to kids who will have to pay for it tomorrow? did your mom and dad do that to you? mine did not. are these the values that were passed on to you? think about your parents and grandparents and what sacrifices they made so you could have a shot at the american dream. while life can be hard, hard work makes life better. that is what my parents taught me. it was crowded, loud, and there were a lot of meatballs to make

and many mouths to feed. my parents struggle to make ends meet. it was never easy, but they did it. i bet hundreds of you could tell the same story. it was still a struggle as i set out on my own. i never had a high-paying job with a company car. it took me over a decade to pay my student loans. i never worried about where to adopt my yacht to reduce my taxes -- dock my yacht to reduce my taxes. [applause] and i will bet most of you did not either. today, the richest, most recession-proof, job-if your costs the people are government workers. the average rise in salary -- job-secure jobs are the people who are government workers.

the average twice the salary of others. it is still not enough. we are told we are not taxed enough. we're told the dry cleaner down the street who grosses three and a thousand dollars before he pays four employees -- $300,000 before he pays his four employees' needs to pay more taxes. -- employees needs to pay more taxes. the tax hikes coming in january are just another government bailout. this time, the government is bailing out itself. this is not the america my generation has known. we grew up in a time of peace, prosperity, with big dreams and bold risks. as the berlin wall came down, we sat in front of our television and saw the hunger for freedom coming from east europe.

as one, lone students stared down at chinese tank in tiananmen square, we saw the audacity of liberty. as the backlog grew in the request for political asylum, we saw the shining city on a hill beckoning to imitate and create the refuge not only freedom can build. the golden arches went up in moscow. here in our own land, family businesses became national chains, walmart, home depot. only in america could that happen. my generation saw american economic genius and glory on display in our stores. we saw what freedom can do. we saw what happens when people have control of their own money, property, labor, ideas, risks, and rewards. maybe that is why it has been so dramatic to see the great american engine of prosperity seize up and stall out. american -- the american

economy is in lock down. our generation did not feel the impact of the carter inflation when we were writing our bikes on are safe, home town streets, so this is uncharted territory for us. it is easy for many of us to believe in the fantasy-land narrative about how to fix the problems we now face. we have politicians telling us that we just need to spend more money to avoid national bankruptcy, or the best way to create a job is to endlessly extend unemployment benefits, or to pass thousands all laws that they admit they have not -- of laws that they admit they have not read. americans no longer believe these tall tales. when i talked to people on the campaign trail, i heard frustration with the anti- americanism that is in every

alit of the ruling class. americans want our leaders to defend our way of life, not to apologize and tear her down. [applause] in the diners and at the pig roasts, in the town halls and the church halls, i hear people embrace, for the first time, a vibrant conversation about american values. they reject the narrative that has been imposed on them from the d.c. cocktail crowd. they are digging a pearls of wisdom from the federalist papers and the constitution. it is making a comeback. it is simply unprecedented in my lifetime. it is a little like the chosen people of israel in the hebrew scriptures to cycle through periods of blessing and suffering and then returned to the divine principles in their

dark days. when our country is on the wrong track, we search back to the first covenant -- our founding documents and the old and inspiring values on which they were based. those american values enshrined in the declaration provide the real answer. i believe that american values are not just some relic from the past, but a clear path to a strong and secure future. i believe they are worth fighting for t today. most americans believe this. because there are more robust than there are of them -- more of us than there are of them. [applause] the same principles that made our country great will keep our country great. if we err, let it be on the side of liberty. if we benefit, let it be from working hard and saving smart.

let us meet our obligation to god and neighbor by the way of our own hearts and our pocketbooks rather than by government bureaucracy. let us in trust our nation to the public servants who serve the public rather than a themselves-- entrust our nation to the public servants who serve the public rather than themselves and to place -- and who place us above the next election. let america make peace in our world and on our borders through strength, friendship, and commerce. these are the values and principles that built and can still rebuild a great nation. it was not easy then and it will not be easy now. we will be resisted and we must resist as well. i asked you today to take the pledge with me that the first generation of the founders did. they could not see gettysburg or

normandy or fallujah. what was required of them is still required of us. it will no doubt be required of our children and of their children. they took a pledge together and that pledge closes out the declaration of independence. that same floods will preserve this -- the last, best hope over -- pledge will preserve this -- the last, best hope of if earth. -- of earth. let us pledge, for the sake of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, let us pledge our lives and sacred fortunes, may god ever bless america. thank you. [applause] believin' stop

believin' hold on ♪ >> wow. that was wonderful. i would like you to ask you to be much in prayer for christine o'donnell. this woman of faith is going to be under severe attack. keep this in mind whenever you see the media -- keep this in mind, whenever you see the media attack a person of faith, it reveals more about that person's heart than it does about their politics. the darkness hates the light. be praying for christine o'donnell. [applause] and if you would like to meet

her, let me remind you again our youspons -- again of our reception sponsored by the frc action pack. i knew this would be one of the many highlights of our summit. when i turned around to greet her, i dropped my book, classes, -- glasses, and another book on the floor. did that look as awkward as it felt? [laughter] fortunately, the press was not covering that moment. i'm excited to announce our next speaker. he was to -- raised as a devout sunni muslim. after his conversion, he pursued a call to ministry as a public speaker and apologist. he has debated religious leaders in 13 countries and 35 states.

he is the author of 17 books, including "when world views collide" and "on baling is long -- "unveiling islam." as a professor and apologist at the liberty baptist theological seminary and graduate school in lynchburg, va. please welcome to the stage dr. ergun caner. [applause] ♪ >> thank you. for all of that graciousness, i am a goof. i do not mean that in a self-

deprecating way. i know that is exactly what i am. i am in high company. it is painfully obvious to me that i am a sorbet in between the various monentrees. [laughter] i am a goof. actually, i have heard it said this way. you find yourself in a spot like this and you are in high cotton. when you are sandwiched between heroes, i am in high cotton. my job is to stand up here and talk about you. that is not to try to impress you, because i cannot do that. i am in high cotton.

turkish, born in sweden, immigrant. yankee. [laughter] [applause] yeah. the reason i would know what it means is because the turkish, born in sweden, immigrant, yankee has, for 16 years, been married to a southern belle. [laughter] i am married to a grits and greens-eating, cracker barrel- loving, vegetable-growing woman. my wife is tough, man. she has trained, taught, and

raised me. she taught me "high cotton." so, if you can understand what i am saying, it is because of her. if you need to know why i am here, look at those who come before me. i have the honor of teaching at liberty university. jerry falwell trained an entire generation of students. there is nothing you cannot do. it is our job to confront culture, not to hide behind it, but to permeate it, to marinate it with the gospel of jesus christ. we're christians and we can not be silenced -- cannot be silenced. [applause] men such as gary bauer, tony perkins. these are our generals.

i just get to be a foot soldier. i came to this roundabout through the south. i met my wife in franklin county, north carolina, in a little town of 115 people. they played a game called "torture the immigrant yankee." [laughter] thanks for laughing at that one. it was because of this that i found myself in a field one saturday with a burlap sack, yelling for something called "snipe." [laughter] you are really evil for laughing at that. it was difficult.

i was a young pastor and i knew nothing. i still know nothing about that lifestyle. if you lived in the city, the noises you are used to. the noise of the city is different than if you are in the country. there are a whole bunch of different sounds. there were something on my porch. i did not know what it was. i finally got up the courage to go out to the porch. there was a monstrous rat on my porch. at least i thought it was a rat. i called the chairman of deacons and asked him to get the rat. what's it look like, preacher? it's got beady eyes, a long nose, a long tail.

hold still, i'm coming. i thought i was going to see someone kill rats. i thought that would be cool. he didn't kill it. he caught it. he said, you got to fatten it up so the meat's greasy. anybody know what it was? >> possom. >> oh, my oprah. what is wrong with you? how do you know what opossum is? why would you eat it? why do you fish and hunt? my wife can do these things. if i want a hamburger, i do not kill a cow. i go to where it is prepared for me.

that is where i met my baby doll. we have been married 16 years. i was a young seminary student. like all young men, i thought if we were going to get married we would need to did know what to do. i thought i would read about that to prepare. somebody should have hit me in the head with a shoe. [laughter] in 16 years, i have learned that the longer i am married, the less i understand marriage. it has to be god that put this together and it has to be god that keeps us together, because there is no other explanation. she is prettier than i deserve, smarter than i will ever be, a better question than i could ever imagine myself being. -- christian than i could ever imagine myself being.

ladies, you speak a different language. two women in this room, especially if you are bff's. you could have a conversation without using one word. [laughter] we just stand there like idiots. what is she saying? i don't get it. in 16 years, i have discovered that i have to pick the restaurant she is thinking about. [laughter] let me explain. here is the conversation we have a after church almost every sunday. where do you want to go? i do not care, anywhere. i name one, usually a buffet. noit t -- not that one. but you just said anywhere. not that one, pick another.

i get it. the food on my plate tastes better on the food on her plate. at some point in the meal, she will look over at my plate and say i just want that little corner piece right there. that good piece of steak you are saving. i just want a taste. every man in this room has had this conversation. baby, i have some room left. i am going to have dessert. what do you want? i don't want nothing. i just want a bite of yours. what are you going to have? i want all of mine. that is what i want. i will buy you two so i do not

have to share. [laughter] i do not get it. welcome to our culture, 2010. the primaries come by. the elections are coming. the liberal list do not have a clue what to do with your -- literalists do not have a clue what to do with you. they just there at us like -- stare at us like a mule looking at a gate. [laughter] we would rather lose and do the right thing than win and compromised truth -- compromise truth. [applause] doing that which is expedient is not merely that -- as important -- is not nearly as important as

doing what is right in the eyes of god. done therather have t right thing when i face my god someday. i am here because of you. in my life, in the lives of others like me, you have been like steel. . the bible tells us that before they stunned stephen to -- stone stephen to death, he did great miracles amongst his people. there were not able to resist the spirit and the wisdom by which he spoke. they saw his face as if it was

the face of an angel. stephen, knowing the consequences of his decision, stood anyway. stephen stood in the midst of a generation that needed to hear him. stephen stood, accepting the consequences if they disliked what he said. stephen stood because it was the right thing to do. value voters, we stand not because it is expedient to, not to be republican, not to be a democrat. we stand on principles because it is the right thing to do. we stand on truth. we stand because we believe the bible. and if the coasts do not get it, and the media do not get it, our job is to be as clear as possible. stephen stood because god had a purpose for him.

the bible says that david search -- served his the narration -- served his generation and then fell asleep. that is all we are called to do, serve our generation. did we speak out, even if there was some popular tax did we speak out just because it was the right thing to do? did we love the unlovable, care about those nobody cared about? did we do it because god called us? stephen steppe the wall because he had an appointment. god gave temple -- stephen stood at the wall because he had an appointment. god gave him his call. some of you have two or three jobs, and then you try to turn around and change our culture

and make the world better for the love of christ. you sacrifice vacation time. you work, you love, you share, and why? you are anointed. i did not want kids, no offense to my wife or anyone here. i just did not know what to do with them. they make noise and leaked a lot. but now i have a 12-year-old son. i have a 6-year-old son. they look at me, and i wonder, am i ever going to be in their eyes what i should be. the only way that will happen is if i m anointed by god to do a specific task for a specific time, and there has never been a time like 2010. your voice has to be heard. our culture so desperately need

it. our country so desperately needed. you have to speak up, stand up, rise up, or they will try to shut you up. if you are going to stand, if you're going to stand appointed by god and anointed by god, you will be armed by god. do not fear the media you do not understand. do not fear the people that do not get you. like me, you just have to learn. when we got married, my wife said, you do not have any sheep. i said, yes -- you do not have any sheets. i said, yes i do, they are on my bed. oh wait, no they're not. there on the windows. [laughter] i learned that all of my stuff had become dispensable and disposable. it ended up in the garage where

my wife would sell it for $1. when you stand up, you do so because you have the face of an angel. you do so because they will see god in you. if that makes sense, at the last two points are beyond a reasonable. you are appointed by god, anointed by god, armed by god, but you will also be abused end attacked. we may not lose our lives, but what about your reputation, your dignity? people the mocking face to face, whose stock you on twittere. they attack. they call you names. the question your motives. the question your intelligence. they do not know you. never let those who know you least control you the most. the only when you stand accountable before is god. at the end of the day when you

put your head on the pillow, if you have served god and love your family, you can sleep well no matter who's said it or what they said. i am here because of people like you. because of one boy who loved the little muslim kid, who saw my antagonism and animosity, looked past it and loved me in spite of me, the kept after me, sharing the gospel with me until i said, i will go with you until you're -- into your little church. it was there that i had a collision with the cross. i lost my family. i lost my father. i lost my culture. you lose what you lose. but i gained a family known as the body of christ. [applause] being the sound is the patents

-- being to sound -- being dis owned is a pittance compared to what takes place around the world where people are killed because of their religion. my people are in jail cells, chained and shackled for the sin of believing in jesus christ as lord. we are in an odd time when more people are concerned about the burning of a cross then about building in moscow on -- mosque on sacred ground. the one country that we all look to is this one.

the one country that allows dissonance, that allows you to rise up and speak up regardless of your positions, the one place where freedom should include all people, which includes believers in jesus christ, one country. do you want to know how important it is? it was one man who reached me, when churchill who loved me, one town that changed me. regardless of how much they tortured me in north carolina, they called me as pastor. they loved me. they fed me things i had never had before. i do not know what it is about baptists and chicken. it must be some kind of gospel bird. i have had every kind of chicken under the sun, 38 types of potato salad, 15 types of

deviled eggs, cheese so thick you could cut an engine with a bit. [laughter] in a town where both of my brothers have worshipped and where my youngest brothers served as pastor after i did, when the touchdown -- one a little town changed my life. one little boy reached my soul. i beg you not to stop. if it was not for you, if there was not for people like you who stood up, understanding the consequences like stephen, who stood up, anointed by god, appointed by god, armed by gut, abused and attacked, mocked, when the whole world turns against you, you smile, you let them, because the only one who can shut you down is the body of

christ itself. if we do what god has called us to do, we will stand, we will reach, we will shine, and we will change our culture, save our generation, and then go to sleep. thank you for reaching a little punk like me. thank you for loving of the unclubbable. god bless you. -- loving the unlovable. god bless you. [applause] >> well, if you like politicians to say it like it is, you are going to love our next guest. he became quite the youtube sensation. take a look at one of the ads that have been running this year. take a look.

>> i am dale peterson, and i am asking for the republican nomination for the agriculture commission of alabama. this is one of the most sought after positions in alabama, worth over $5 million. criminals do what they want with that money and they do not give a rip about alabama. alabama unemployment is at an all-time high, and what are my opponents doing about it? riding on their face the pages -- writing about their facebook pages. we are republicans. we should be better than that.

i am del peterson. give me your nomination, and let's show alabama that we are better than that. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage, dale peterson. [applause] >> i give a rip about america. you do not know what an honor it is to be here and to be representing the people of alabama. those are some of the greatest folks you will meet in life, let me tell you. a friend of mine told me something. he said, i have been watching this all day. when is anybody going to get down to the hard facts?

i said, i do not know, but the previous speaker was talking about chicken. i think it is lame ducks. how many people in this room can raise your hand and say it, "i trust the government?" [laughter] when you get right down to it, we have a guy in there who is president of the united states to does not like america. we have a president of the united states to is doing all he can to bring down america. we have a guy here who when he gets around politicians, and i have spent around them all my life, they make my skin crawl.

in my race and alabama, i was not successful. that does not mean we are not successful on the road. we have been traveling all over the united states to help republican candidates get elected. [applause] and they are going to get elected, let me tell you. this time around, i do not want everybody to be sitting back and thinking this is a clean sweep. everyone will rush in and we do not have a problem. that is what i emmen -- what i am afraid of. we have an idiot democrat in alabama who is commissioner of agriculture. we're going around the country, .oing around the state's i am traveling more now than i

was when i was running. we really need to get out the vote. i work with the tea party. the rainy day patriots. we put together a video just recently to get out the vote. that is what it is all about. i would like now to show you a draft on that. it is a preview of what we posted on facebook until tuesday -- monday, early monday morning. if you could play that, this is what it takes to get out the vote, ok, a gang? >> [drumroll] listen up. it is time to throw out thugs

and criminals who are destroying our economy. it is time to get everyone to the polls and start winning elections, taking back the house and the senate. it is time to hit the left with a strong right. our country is broke and living on borrowed money. democrats have us in a tailspin. what comes after a trillion anyway? it is not money that counts. it is votes. lots of the votes. that is our currency. his is it is time to back our trucks up to the voting booth. we have to move on three fronts, air, land, faith. we have to call registered republicans, independents and conservatives and tell them to vote on november 2nd. we have to tell them to call people. let's get the young people involved.

to senior centers, affairs, at churches and gun stores. if we all do a little, it will add up, and it will spread like wild fire. air, land and sea. [applause] >> in know, again, this is about america. that is what this is about. like rick santorum said earlier, this is the most crucial election in the history of america. we have to get to the polls and we have to put a stop on this. we still have an barry in their.

until we get rid of barack, until that happens -- and i will issue a challenge. we might have seen today and tomorrow the next president of the united states here at this convention. we might have. i issue a challenge to them. you know, it dale peterson was running for president, and i understand the meaning of illegal. if i tell you i was going to close the borders, you could bet you 50 on it. i will not pass a health care bill that destroys america. i would do what my old granddad used to do way back when, what

he is to do with the sears and roebuck catalog before we had in deer -- indoor plumbing. let's muster up a little bread and let's make this work. i appreciate you guys having me here today. i appreciate you being here. i really appreciate you guys standing up for good, conservative republicans. remember the tea party. they do not have candidates. they support good, conservative republican candidates. that is what they do. so, the pundits are absolutely trying to blow that out of proportion, but what it boils down to is that it is real crucial, real crucial. so, you know, i tell you.

it almost makes me cry to think about where our country has come to from where we started it with the constitution. the constitution includes god and family, and that is the greatest country on earth, and that is why they're trying to tear it down. we have an administration today -- i may get arrows or bullets shot at me -- we have a guy who hates america. i am just going to go ahead and say it. we have the tea party people, and the responsibility or the blame for me being here falls dead on the shoulders of the next guy i am going to

introduce, and that is tom mccleskey. i have taken too much time, but i am passionate about our country, and i am passionate about the people in this country, our kids and our grandkids. anything that i can do for anybody at any time, you pick up the phone and you call me. thank you, i really appreciate it. [applause] >> you might have noticed, we kind of like our speakers a little reserved. it might be the time to remind you that there is a straw poll at the registration, and there

is a write-in part too. how many people here have been to 80 party? a tea party? from the very first tea party movement, to the abolition movement, to the civil rights movement, all of these people have one thing in common. they know that they live in the greatest country in the world, that the world has ever seen, and they know that we can always do better. that is what is a part of the tea party movement. these next speakers did not come from washington, d.c. they're not go looking lobbyists like myself. not that they are not good looking. washington, d.c. is not where

they're from. they are from where you guys are from, from back,, home towns. these ladies are here to talk to you about why they got involved, how they got involved, and how you can get involved. i would like to introduce katie abrams. [applause] amy cranmer, the chairman of tea party express, and billy tucker from the first coast t party. [applause] going alphabetically, ikb if you would like to go first. >> i am apparently an activist. much like many of you out there,

i am just a regular person. ims de at home mom. -- i am a stay at home mom. [applause] last summer, i had pretty much had my fill of the federal government. i had heard about health care bill that was soon to be rammed down our throats. i am from the state of pennsylvania. senator arlen specter was coming to my town. an amazing thing happened that day. myself and about 250 other people came to that town hall. during that town hall, i think we helped change the course of america. i told senator specter that he had awakened a sleeping giant. it is very evident by what you see going on today across this country.

when i got, after that town hall, my daughter asked me what a sleeping giant was? it was a very profound question. i told her the sleeping giant was all of the conservatives who over the years had minded their own business. we raise our families. we did our businesses. we did what we were supposed to do as americans. we had faith in our government that they would be doing the right thing. we are no longer sitting in our arm chair watching the television yelling at it. we are out in the streets. we are on tv. we are doing all sorts of things we never thought we would have done before. we are finally questioning our government and putting them in the place they need to be. it is we the people, not the government. the government is not in charge of us. [applause]

since that fateful day at the town hall, i, this day at all mom, have been trying to wake up other -- the state at, mom -- stay at home mom, have been trying to wake up other people. we need to send fiscally conservative people into these seats. the calgary is coming, but we need to help them do that. i was talking to billy last night here on the end. we were talking about some of the things we had experienced in the middle of the night before some things have happened, before the town hall had occurred. for about two weeks i woke up at 3:00 in the morning every morning. i am convinced that it was god speaking to me every single

night, giving the bits and pieces of things that i should say to senator specter at that town hall. i had seen billy in a youtube video. she had had the same thing happened to her. glenn back gets up at four o'clock every morning, and he has the same thing happen to them. [applause] i ask all of you to know that god is with us. he is with us throughout this whole movement. i am just amazed at how every betty has been so -- everybody has been so strong. we have been called names left and right. after the town hall, i have people showing up in my house. my husband was mowing the lawn

with a gun in his pocket and i could not allow my kids out to play. the left attacked me as hard as they could because of my statement. all i wanted was for more people to stand up, and now everyone is doing it, so i want to thank you everybody. we can do this. we can get our country back on track. >> thank you so much for having me here. i am the chairman of the tea party express, and i am honored and blessed to be here with these two wonderful ladies. most importantly, i am a mom. i am a mom who got engaged in this movement. i am one of the original people who got together last february

to start this movement through twister -- twitter. i was tired of yelling at my radio and my television. rick santorum had a rant about mortgage meltdowns. that video went viral. we define our success with tenty parties across the country -- with 10 tea parties across the country, with 50-100 people in attendance, with no help from the media. it was obvious that there was a movement growing, and growing. the following monday, we went live on the internet, and for six weeks, we plant tea parties across the country.

on april 15th, we had tea parties with approximately 1.2 million people in attendance. we stopped counting the number. we could not keep up with this. that very same day, on april 15th, there was a t. party in norway. it was a group of people who wanted to stand united with america because we are the shining light on the hill, the land of opportunity, and they know what we represent. since that day, this movement has grown leaps and bounds. it is continuing to grow. more and more people are coming into this movement. we are making great progress. michele bachmann started the tea party caucus a couple of months ago. whether you agree with that or not, that is a testament to the power of this movement. they are paying attention.

last summer, as katie was talking about, that galvanized the movement. there is nothing more personal than health care. we are all fed up depth government is trying to shove this legislation -- we are all fed up with government trying to shove this legislation down our throats. we stand for fiscal responsibility, limited government and free markets. even democrats and independents did not want that health care shoved down their throats. a lot of people were not only not happy with the policy, but they are tired of these people up there in washington violating the process. they are totally disregarding the constitution. i am sure these two ladies will agree with me, but that constitution is our armor. that is what enables us to stand

up here and fight for what we believe in. [applause] so, there is a lot going on across the country. i have been blessed to meet all of these people. we have taken three bus tours that i am sure you have heard about. we are really proud of those bus tours, but i believe the most important work we are doing is getting involved in campaigns. we have cristina donnell, jo miller and sharon ankle, and some other conservative -- sharon angle, and some other conservative politicians out there. if we are truly going to get change, it is going to be at the ballot box. [applause]

i want to say one thing, and i am sure i will make some people unhappy when i say this, but our objective is not to bring republicans to washington. our objective is to bring conservatives to washington. i left alaska, the last frontier, about two weeks ago and went to delaware and worked very hard to get christine o'donnell elected. we have done great work in alaska. we have been kicked and told repeatedly there is no way we could be lee some rakowski. jo miller did it. the people helped. it is the people who make it happen. then we come to delaware and we have everything against us.

christine o'donnell is being attacked viciously by the establishment, by the same republican party that supported her two years ago when she ran against joe biden. but now, you know, she is running for a state that one of the good old boys once, so they support him. he cannot run on his record, as though they attacker personally. you guys, we cannot stand for it anymore. i know we are not standing for it, because the voters went to the ballot box, and they made a statement. [applause] right now, as the narrative is that she cannot win. she can win, because all of us are behind her. we will work tirelessly to see it happen. the point is, we are shaking up this country, shaking up washington. we are taking back this country

one seat at that time. we did not get here overnight, but we have to remain engaged and keep the fight up. there is anything i would say to you today, you need to support these candidates. they need your time and your money. volunteer for their campaigns. donate to them. they need to go to washington and represent us. thank you. >> my name is billy tucker and i am a community organizer. [laughter] i have never been involved in politics, so let me tell you right now that i am blown away sitting up there on the stage. i am the wife of 35 years to my high school sweetheart, a mother of two, a grandmother of two,

and i was going about living my life and doing what people do, and that was just making a life for myself with my family. we raised our children in private christian school. they are wonderful americans. now they are taking care of themselves. we have not even had to bail them out since they became adults. it is awesome. it is amazing what you can do with conservative parents raising your kids and not bailing them out. keep it up. i am also a business of honor. i do executive coaching and strategic planning and i have done it for 20 years. i had a client in 2008 who was going to have to lay off 55 people in the next week. i was depressed because i could do nothing to help him. i walked in, and when i walked in that day, my mother-in-law said, john mccain is going to have some sort of a big

announcement. i did not care that much. all i could think about was my pork plant. i looked at the tv and watched as john mccain -- all i could think about was my poor client. i looked at the tv and watched john mccain say that he was suspending his campaign and going to washington because his country needed him. i did not think that was leader- like. i could not figure out what was going on. then president bush said we are in trouble and need to bail out the banks, and i about fell out of my chair. i was so discouraged. i watched president obama set to their smug, and i was depressed. i thought, if this is what we have for leadership in our country, we have better change soon. i have had the pleasure of working with ceos of all entrepreneurial companies for 25

years. they bring business. they employ people. they help keep people working to pay their mortgages. [applause] to see what is going on in our country is a tragedy. it is horrible. we have got to write it before it is too late. i am still watching my clients laying people off. today and fla. the report -- today in florida the unemployment rate was 11.7%. that is unacceptable. we were a booming state, and i blame no one but the leaders of this country who did it for a long time. i am mad. [applause] for four months, literally -- and it was god. people tell me not to put god into the tea party because i will run people off.

i say, i am putting god back into the united states of america again. [applause] i do not care what people say. ladies and gentlemen, we sat down the day after april 15th when we had our tea party. we thought about 500 people would show up. 5000 people showed up, and nobody advertised. 5000 people we did not know showed up, and then we had to figure out what to do with them. that is a lot of people, more than what is in this room. they were all saying, what do we do? i said, i do not know, i have never done this before. the reality was, we had to get organized. four of us went into a room together. one of my clients turned the tables and did the coaching for

me. we came up with a mission statement. each tea party has its accountant -- has its own mission statement. everyone is different. i like to say that the tea a' mole.re like graywacwhack you try to put one down and one pop up somewhere else. we are keeping it that way. i am not going to tell people in albany, new york how to run their tea party. there were three of us who had run this little show. we had a disagreement about what our mission was going to be moving forward. there were two of us, and the disagreement that we had was this. we wanted as part of our mission statement, moral leadership.

we want moral leadership in our country again. one of the people on our team said, you cannot go there. the minute you go there, you will lose so many people. this is about taxes and fiscal responsibility. i said yes, but the core problem -- and this is what we do when we meet with our clients. if your address the service issues, it does not matter. you have to dig deep to find out what the real problem is, and i know that god did not wake me up for four months at 4:00 in the morning to say, billy, we have the tax issue. [applause] he did not care. he woke me up because he said, my country does not love me like left me.to mel please do your part. i said, to m i?

bob said, ago, i sent you. -- god said, go, i send you. just like he did with so many people before me. i am 54 years old and i do not even know what i am doing anymore. i am appeared talking to people, and i am not an expert. but i know one thing. god is. [applause]

i'm going to encourage you to do something. if you're not involved in your local tea party, get involved in your tea party. we are not going away. we got really excited this year, and about four months ago we opened up an office. we have a name on the door, and we are paying rent. we could use some donations. [laughter] no bailout. we are working off of $25.10 dollars donations from the good people of north florida. gety once in awhile we'll $1,000 and we are doing car wheels. i was not involved in politics. i have a lot of catching up to do. that is what we have to do.

we have to work with candidates, but before we can do that, we have to educate people on what is going on, because they do not know. [applause] here is what we have done with our tea party, and like i said, everybody party is different. we have an office. it is filled with every but you can possibly imagine. people donated them. we are working with the heritage foundation. heritage foundation has donated stuff. we educate people on what is going on. we started collaborating with liberty central. i am so thrilled about it. and they tell us what is going on up here in the halls of washington. they feed as emperor nation, and

then we feed it to the people in the tea party -- they feed us information, and then we feed it to the people in the tea party. we feedback to liberty central and tell them, the people are not happy. [laughter] this is what we found out. there is a washington double. and then there is a bubble of the people in the country. this week i think they collided. cristina donnell was a pivotal point. -- christine o'donnell was a pivotal point. even the republicans were shocked. we are not going away. everywhere i go people look at

me, and they say, you are 80 tea party n -- appl person? yes, let me get out my don't tread on me shirt and my constitution. that is what they think that the party person is. let to the person on your left and you're right. that is a tea party per cent, because you are all people the ones to -- that is a tea party person, because you are all people that want to bring your party back to the constitution, and that means bringing it back to god and principals. >> we do have a couple of minutes left.

it of mentioned some people in that the republican establishment. i do not want to name names like karl rove because that would be wrong. where do you guys see the movement after the november election? >> i am a conservative and republican, but a conservative first. let's get through this election. at that point, we need to rebuild our energy as a group and look for the next candidate, the next conservative candidate. this is not a one-year thing as senator santorum was saying earlier. this is multi-year, multi- generational thing that we have to get through this point. that is my thought on it. >> first of all, we are going to

sleep for a little while. [laughter] that is something we are lacking right now. i think one of our biggest challenges is to remain engaged, but you know what? this movement has not led me down before now and i do not think they will let me down after november. we have to remain engaged. the new people we are bringing to washington, we have to hold them accountable. we cannot go back to sleep and let the same thing happened over again. [applause] >> i would like to address the fact that we are working on and accountability plan. everybody knows how to win november 2nd, but november 3rd is when the rough hits the road. we are working on and accountability plan. be waiting for it, because it is coming. there is a plan being produced renown. -- being produced right now.

>> this lame duck session, they are going to try to cram through every piece of legislation they possibly can. we are going to have to be on our toes fighting this to and nail. [applause] thank you, ladies. i expect everyone here, if you are not a member of the tea party to do something on monday. we are also trying to fight the lame-duck congress. i want to thank you ladies again for all you have been doing to build up to this election.

[applause] >> i have some announcements. i want to ask you not to leave. those who leave early will be given a copy of, "the audacity pe" by barack obama. i thought that would keep you in your seat. there will be a dinner later with christine o'donnell. it is $100 per person.

a voting closes at 7:00 p.m. we encourage you to participate in that. that is something the whole nation will be watching for. you can text to join our action. we will be announcing our winner is just before the final presentation of the results. there will be a book signing right after we this mess. the first one tomorrow is at 8:45 a.m. please remember to get your books in advance. there will be a sneak preview of a movie at 9:03 p.m. tonight here in this ballroom.

you will have to have your badge to attend. we encourage you to always wear your badge. we are encountering people who leave their badges when they go out and then do not have them when they try to come back again. all high-school students, please plan to attend a free voice of young america meeting at liberty university tonight. when you leave, please take your materials with you. we are going to reconvene at 7:30 p.m. with john candy. hannity.sean [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010]

>> sarah palin will be in iowa tonight for the annual ronald reagan dinner. live coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. here on c-span. she will be joined by the iowa senator and the iowa governor. book tv saturday night, bill clinton joins former british

prime minister tony blair for a discussion of their years in office. >> for me or anyone else who is considering continuing on in public service, i think the real question is, do you have a vision, a popular vision for the direction the country can head, specific ideas of how to execute that vision, and demonstrated experience of how you can get it done? >> tim pawlenty discusses a potential presidential run and his years as governor sunday on c-span. >> c-span political content of vehicles are traveling the country visiting congressional districts as we look at some of the most closely contested house races leading up to this november's midterm elections. ♪

>> how are you folks tonight? nice to meet you. are you from here? all the way from butler? just for the festival? thank you for coming out. >> here we go, here we go, here we go. i am running for congress. appreciated, appreciated. good seeing you all. >> let me tell you a little bit about the third congressional district. the candidates in this race are the incumbent from erie, a democrat. she won it two years ago.

this is probably the most expensive congressional race in the history of this district. her opponent is a car dealer and a former city councilman who came out of a pretty crowded field and the primary. he did not win a large percentage of votes but ended up as the republican nominee. there is a democratic advantage in the city. it is about two 0.5-one democrat to republican voter registration. but the district tends to be fairly conservative. one of the things that will be interesting in this race that has started to pop up in news stories is depth -- is that, will kelly be able to get the support that he needs in this area?

he is already putting a lot of resources into an eerie. he has a lot of people from this area pretty heavily involved in the campaign. they're pretty cognitive of the fact that they need a lot of erie counties the board and they are working to develop the. -- to develop it. he has latched onto the theme of being in lockstep with nancy pelosi and the democratic agenda. that is one of the key issues here. i think health care will be important, obviously, especially with some of the changes being talked about in washington, and jobs. there are a lot of people out of work, a lot of people concerned about the way the economy is going to go. it is similar to how things looked two years ago, but with a

different twist, because the democrats are in power now and they're being attacked by republicans. i think she is going to head on her record in washington. she is ben back, been in touch with the constituents, something she was accused formerly of not doing. she has constituent office hours where she is actually there in the office to talk to people about their concerns. she does return to the area and the district a lot. she has been busy in washington. she is an anti-abortion democrat, and she was involved in some of the language of the health care bill of not using federal money for abortion. she has taken some criticism on that, but she is willing to be involved and try to pass legislation and work with the rest of congress. i think what mr. kelly is going to do is come at that in an opposite way and said she has

not been the effective representative she said she was going to be, and try to outline his plan on being a fiscal conservative and looking out for you, the taxpayer. i think that is how they're going to go at it. it will be interesting to see the dynamic when there is a debate. i believe she already has a million and a half in the bank. it is a situation where the democrats do not want to lose the seat. three years ago, the republicans thought it was a very valuable sea. at the end of the day, you're going to see a lot of money spent on this campaign. one of the issues will be how much money does kelley need to win and is he going to be able to raise that kind of money and raise that kind of support? a couple of things will make this race competitive. again, the climate in washington has changed to the

democrats being under attack. people are going to try to tie her to obama and nancy pelosi. this district is fairly conservative, like i said. when you >> i think that is something that tends to get a lot of conservative people who may have a problem with the stimulus and have a problem with health care changes. i think that might help mike kelly. he has a lot of money. she is the incumbent. there is that anti democrat sentiment that is making the breeze close. -- the race close. if any of that public opinion

changes, it is going to be interesting to see how it plays out. >> c-span will content of vehicles are traveling the country, as we look at some of the most closely contested house races leading up to mid term elections. >> for more information, go to c-span.org/lcv. >> president obama named harvard professor elizabeth warren to lead the consumer protection agency. she will work with tim geithner who is also with the president. this is about 10 minutes from the rose garden. >> good afternoon, everybody.

before we begin, i want to mention a report that was released by the census bureau yester day about what happened to wages during the last decade. it was revealed that between 2001 and 2009, the income of middle class families fell by almost 5%. i want to repeat that. between 2001 and 2009, the incomes of middle-class families fell by 5%. in the words of today's wall street journal, this lost decade was the worst for families in half a century. it is a decade that ended in a devastating recession that made things even worse. we know that a strong middle class leaves a strong economy. that is why, as we dig our way

out of this recession, we set our sights on policies that grow the middle class and provide a ladder for those that are struggling to joyous. that is why i am urging the leaders of the other party to stop holding middle-class tax cuts hostage and extend this relief to families immediately. they need it. they need our help. that is why we are here today. part of what led to the financial crisis were practices that to the vantage of consumers, particularly when too many homeowners were taking out mortgages the could not afford. we also know that these practices predated this and these practices do not just to exist in the housing market. banks and mortgage lenders and

credit-card companies have often used fine print and confusing language and attractive front end offers to take a branch of american consumers. we have seen banks charge unreasonable overdraft fees. we have seen credit card companies hit full us with an error rate hikes and mortgage lenders offering cheaper initial payments that letter skyrocketed. all of this has cost families billions of dollars. tens of billions of dollars that they could have used to pay the bills or meet the mortgage or send their kids to college. i have to say that michelle and i had to navigate these financial decisions when it was buying a first home or paying off our college loans and putting a lot of debt on credit cards. obviously, we were better off than a lot of families, but we

still found ourselves confused and found ourselves in tough situations as a consequence. we have a pretty good idea. i have a personal a good idea of how this can be difficult and sometimes confusing for the average consumer. when i was still in the u.s. senate, i took a great interest in the work of the woman standing next to me. i have no elizabeth warren sensl school. she has seen her own family affected. she wrote eloquently, passionately and forcefully about the growing financial pressures on working families. three years ago, she came up

with an idea for a new independent agency that would have one simple overriding mission, standing up for consumers and middle-class families for the things to her efforts as well as the person to my right, as well as leaders in congress like chris dodd and barney frank, that agency will soon become a reality. the consumer financial protection bureau is one of the essential aspects of financial reform. it will empower all americans with a clear and concise information source to make the best financial decisions for their families. never again will people be confused or misled by barely understandable fine print the bureau will crack down on

abusive practices and it will reinforce the new credit card lot the past that bans unfair break ranks and it will -- unfair rate hikes and it will give students that takeout college loans and make sure that every american receives a free credit score if they are denied a loan or insurance because of that score. the consumer financial protection bureau will be a watchdog for the american consumer. charged with enforcing the toughest financial protections in history. getting this agency off the ground will be an enormously important task, a task that cannot wait. that task is something that i have asked elizabeth to take on.

secretary geithner and i agree that elizabeth is the best person to stand this agency of. she was the architect behind the idea, so it only makes sense that she should be the architect working with the secretary in standing up the agency. she will help oversee all aspects of the bureau creation and design policy initiatives for future decisions about the agency. she will have direct access to me and to secretary geithner she will oversee a staff of the treasury department that has already begun to work on this task for that she will also play the role in helping me choose a director for the bureau. given the importance of these economic issues, of what elizabeth to have their will as a one house adviser as well as an adviser to secretary geithner. elizabeth understands what i

strongly believe, that a strong, growing the economy begins with a strong, driving middle-class. that means every american has to get a fair shake in their financial dealings. for years, financial companies have been able to spend millions of dollars on their own watchdog, lobbyists that look out for their interests and fought for the 40's. that is their right. it will be a tough economic watchdog the standoff-stand up for financial security. i am glad that elizabeth warren will help make this a reality we are extremely proud. good luck. >> thank you, mr. president.

>> have you bypassed constitutional authority? >> that was will said. -- well said. what's at today's white house briefing, press secretary robert diaz took questions on the appointment of elizabeth warren to supervise the setup of the consumer affairs bureau. other topics include small business legislation, the president's meetings at the un and white house chief of staff rham emanuel is future plans. future plans.l's >> let me give you a look at the

week ahead. monday, the president will participate in a live town hall meeting hosted by cnbc. that is at noon. later that day, the president travels to philadelphia for events. on tuesday, president obama will word -- will award the medal of honor. the medal of honor will be posthumous from 1968. on wednesday, the president will hold an event here at the white house on the patient's bill of rights. in the afternoon, the president will travel to the general assembly and will travel to the joint committee that evening. on thursday, the president will address the united nations in new york city. the president and first lady will join president bill clinton

to address the 2010 annual meeting of the clinton will but initiative in new york city. the president will also hold meetings with the chinese premier and the japanese prime minister. on friday, the president will attend meetings at the un, including a meeting on sudan to look ahead at the critical 2011 referendum. the president will also host a meeting with leaders of the association of south east asianw york. we will have more on the schedule a little bit later on. yes ma'am? >> the president said that

elizabeth warren will pay -- played a pivotal will been helping him determine the best choice for the director of the bureau. does that rule her out? >> i think, as you have seen from herblock post - herblockblogpost -- her blogpost, that this is something that the president fought for and was based on an idea conceptualize by elizabeth warren. she has the critical task, because the secretary has, under the law, the power to set this up. the president will nominate a director and elizabeth will be instrumental in helping the president still the position. >> but she is not a candidate? >> again, she will help the president find new leadership.

i think that her focus right now is to get started on the critical work in standing this up. unlike the nominee that the president has made, what he has nominated her to do was to just created. it needs to stand up in its own existence. the bureau will pull together functions from several different departments and agencies into one. it will protect the consumers and middle-class of this country. the power to set that up rests in the wall with the secretary of treasury and the department of treasury. >> can you address circumventing the senate? what's it is important to understand that in the

legislation -- >> is important to understand that in the legislation, this -- she is now the director. she works for the secretary of treasury and the president of the united states and has the duty of standing up something to protect consumers that does not currently exist. there is a team of about 30 or 40 people of the apartment of treasury working on this. she will leave those people in working this up. the law states that the department of treasury is to stand this agency of pulling several different departments and agencies into one consumer financial protection bureau. she is not the director. the president will appoint the director. there is nothing to go around. >> will you commit to making her available to testify on capitol hill?

>> i do not know the answer to that. i will certainly check. >> you are not ruling how? >> -- her out? >> i think that you heard the president and you heard her over the past many years talk about what the financial crisis would of been like this, when people went to get a mortgage or a credit card, instead of a 30 page contract, but most people never read the whole thing, a credit card whose interest rate might explode. that is a big task and a big job. this will occur over the next several months. >> wish to remain special

advisor? how long is that job actually around? >> we are here to talk about the job that she begins today, not when she ins. >> -- ends. >> one was she not given the job as director? >> the president wanted somebody like elizabeth warren, with her background, her experience, and her passion to get this going on the white road. we have to stem this up. -- the right road. we have to stand this up. anybody that's get nominated, it will take months before they get involved in this position. the republicans in the senate have virtually ground to a halt

nearly 200 nominations that are pending. no one is going to be confirmed any time soon. how do you -- how do you get this agency started? this made perfect sense. >> so, so you were trying to circumvent that process? what's no, no, no. -- >> no, no, no. there will be a director. that director will go through and must be approved by the senate. again, this is not -- you might drive by the department of treasury and commerce. their functions exist in those buildings for the right now, we're in the process of setting

up the functions of the cfpb. that function rests in the wall. elizabeth warren is an adviser to the secretary of treasury to do exactly that. >> by taking on this current will, does that -- >> again, the president will nominate a director and elizabeth will be picking who that is. >> we will be is dead horse many times did she says that she does not want the job-we will beat this dead horse many times. she says as she does not want the job. >> i have to tell you -- i will

make an amendment to my original argument. there are a lot of people in this town that care about what the function of this bureau is one to be. how or we corn to make sure that -- how we want to make sure that mortgage forms are simply understood. how do we enforce the credit- card law that was just signed early this year and does not allow for fine print and does not allow for the types of shenanigans that we are used to and that some of us have fallen prey to. that is what she is focused on. the president will nominate a director and a director will go through senate confirmation. right now, her job is to stand up for the president believes is an important priority and did not wait to stand that agency

oup. >> are you for to take her word for that and that is the end of the discussion? are you ruling her out? >> if you want to quote her. cease she would have to all activities relating to give in this organization up and go in, is that correct? >> that is an agreement that both the parties have on nominations. i think of that goes to the argument that i was making-i think that goes to the argument that i was making. -- i think that goes to the argument that i was making.

it took 10 months. you have heard me use this example. it took 10 months for our nominee to get confirmed to run the gsa. what's in her position, the role that she has in the treasury and the white house, she would have to stop that job if she became the nominee. >> she could not be involved in setting this up. i think it is important to understand why the president did not think that dealing -- deleading -- delaying this would set it up. >> we saw the president out on the campaign trail last night. are there any regrets about this being composed during the campaign season when it is such a political time of year? >> the legislation that the

senate finally passed yesterday with the help of a couple of important republican votes was -- this has been pending for a long time. it has been pending for months. you have heard the president discussed the importance of small business tax cuts. it went to the house and the senate and it a long time to be dealt with. -- it took a long time to be dealt with. there is a lot of his been set out for a long period of time. the economy may or may not been to politics for it if the president thinks that there are things that need to happen to strengthen our economic recovery, he is not going to look at the political calendar to the sun if this is what the

economy needs, helping small businesses get an infusion of capital, cutting investment taxes on small businesses, he is not want to delay doing that. i think that the delay is that of politics on capitol hill. if at any point in the last two years, if you listen to what was set on the floor of the senate, it would be mind- boggling to think that republican senators that voted against what decision yesterday, based on their support for cutting taxes for small businesses and increasing the amount of capital that they have access to, you would not think it would be opposed to it. the arguments that they make is to help small business. that was yesterday. that was yesterday's vote.

despite using one argument to profit one political fact, for some reason, that same law did not carry to something else. >> does the president regrets that some small business aspects were not in the stimulus? >> the 50% the was in the small business legislation for 2010 was in the act. it was in a fact in-it was in effect in 2008 and in the prior administration. -- it was in effect in 2008 in in the prior administration. can people put politics aside to do what is right to strengthen the economy? yesterday, there were 61 votes

to do exactly that. there were 38 people that said that we cannot put aside politics to help small business. that is where we are in the political system, regrettably. the businesses that create jobs need the help that they deserve. >> to agencies that got $11.5 million of only created 55 jobs. does the president find that upsetting? >> i have not seen that report. i would have to get some information. >> two questions, when will the public start to see the effects of the legislation and would hinder receiving benefits if there is no director? >> there is a process in setting

this up. the will making function -- the rule making function will eventually be the agencies and departments and will continue to. i think it is regrettable that regardless of who is nominated, the nomination would likely have taken months and months. i think there is a whole separate line of important questions about why the basic function of our government takes so very long to confirm. just this week, we confirmed a judge after 300 days of waiting. you cannot function like this. there is certainly an advise and consent, a very important provision. it is not advise, delay and

consent. it should not be that way. elizabeth will start -- she was here today, obviously, and will start bright and early on monday to stand up an agency that i think consumers will begin to see the benefits of very quickly. >> speaking of politics, the former governor of alaska will be in iowa this evening. >> beautiful state. [applause] [laughter] >> in the past, the president has been dismissive about her expertise in general. there is no doubt that she is a very politically influential and powerful person that could influence what you do from the white house, depending on the congress. given the fact that there is

speculation of a possible run for president, does the president viewed her as a political threat? -- view her as a political threat? >> i do not the president thinks of the political season of 2012. i think that we all believe that we are in the midst of the 2010 election season, but 2012 was a long way away. i do nothing of the president spends a lot of time thinking about this. i do not think that there is any doubt -- we saw this in 2008. she can rally a very conservative element of the republican base. that was quite clear in her ability to impact who becomes the nominee in delaware and other places to run the country. i do not think that is an in

doubt -- is in any doubt. i do not doubt that the republican fund-raiser will be the recipient of that tonight. at some point, if she decides to become a contestant for president of the united states, there will be a whole series of questions that each has to go through and answer for the people of iowa, the people of new hampshire, and throughout this country. i think it is a healthy process to go through. iowa is a great place to start it. most of the people in here have probably been two more events in the can remember in a place like iowa. you stand up there with a microphone and you fall on caucus goers and answer their questions. you have to build support and a

falling very methodically. it takes a lot of time. i have no doubt that she is a formidable force in the republican party and may well be the most formal -- formidable force in the party right now. >> this is the first of a run for president? >> i think i would is a great place. -- iowa is a great place. you go there to do your toe in the water. -- but your toe in the water. -- dip your toe in the water. this would be an analogous of them. my bet is that she is the wind to get that toe in. -- going to get that so in.

>> isn't elizabeth warren going to be director in everything but title? >> there are legal functions that only a director can perform. the president will find someone who is qualified to do that. there are a host of things need to be done to set a bureau of. -- bureau of. -- up. --she will have to john's, two jobs. will she get double pay? what's no, -- >> no. she is paid at a level comparable to an undersecretary of treasury. >> the other day, the president

renominated dawdled for win to the medicare/medicaid post. -- donald for when -- erwin to the medicaid/medicare post. >> we believe that this is somebody who deserves the full confirmation. again, i go back to an unfortunate feeling that has happened along the way in trying to create a government. virtual gridlock in getting very important people in two important jobs is a process -- important jobs. it is a process. there are functions that we expect of our government that are hard to do without the

people there to do them. >> so, can he act as the appointed director when he is up as a nominee at the same time? >> yes. under the law. >> senator dodd said that the consumer agency has no teeth. what's it will take -- >> it will take months to get someone in the position that is the sad reality of where we are. judges go through the committee process unanimously. they get voted out 70 something to twentysomething. it only takes 300 days which is nothing short of ridiculous. the important function of

agencies that will be collapsed into the bureau will have a lot of functions that elizabeth can do in setting this up. she will begin to put our laws but on the signs of consumers. -- on the side of consumers. i think you will see people where the functions of these will be felt by consumers rather quickly. >> what are the administration's goals going into next week? what's the president has a number of important meetings -- non >> -- >> the president has a number of important meetings. i think that many of the issues that we talked about last year

at the united nations remain on the docket. concern about iran and north korea. obviously, we made progress yesterday on a treaty that we still believe the senate will ratify before the end of the year. it will mark an accomplishment reduce nation's path to the stockpile of nuclear weapons to rid -- weapons. we will work through a longer list of additional bilateral meetings. i anticipate that issues around the global economy will be mentioned. >> last week in wisconsin, the

president used language about social security. it was directed at? what's in which language? >> protected social security. >> there are candidates that are discussing privatization, going back to the ideas that were had in 2005 by the bush of administration. let's be clear, some candidates want to go past privatizing social security and do away with the whole thing. there is no doubt that insuring that a very successful idea is there for future generations is something that will be debated in this election.

>> one more question on the general assembly. there was some talk of the present attending a fiscal materials 3 hearing also. you know of that is on the list? i will check. -- >> i will check. >> there have been meetings held. the you know when? >> i think others in the administration have spoken about this. the chief of staff will take some time to make a decision. he talked about earlier this year his interest in this job.

those of us that spent time in chicago understand why. he will, over the course of the next little bit, make that decision. he will announce what it is. i have said this before. restart each morning in in each day with meetings in the office of the chief of staff. those meetings will focus on the task at hand, not on some decisions that he needs to make. >> [inaudible] >> i will check to see if any of my friends from the "son times un times" are here.

>> she did not say anything at the announcement and i was wondering why. >> i think she has a busy tv schedule this afternoon. i will pass along your care and concern. >> another question about the chief of staff. do you think tom will make a good chief of staff? >> id the credit for that. -- that was good. i give you credit for that. let me say this. there are a number of talented people. in the event of the president needed to make that decision, i think it is important. i am not going to get ahead of a decision that the court chief of

staff makes -- the current chief of staff makes. i think that is a decision that the president will ultimately have to make in the event that rham decides to run for mayor. there just is not a lot of time that i have seen or been involved in the dressing -- in addressing that up until this point. >> are their conversations going on to prepare for the eventuality? >> i do not doubt that there may be some planning going on for a whole host of things. to say that it has taken up even a marginal amount of time, i think would be inaccurate.

there is enough stuff on our plate to keep us busy for past 5:00 p.m. this afternoon and will lead to this weekend. that is the mindset of we have. -- that we have. we will see what decisions need to be made based on what decisions the current chief of staff might make. >> thank you for getting back to me so promptly. but this was on tuesday . will he promote the cause of publishers mentioned? what's i am relying a little on my memory. -- >> i am relying a little on

my memory. the events for the children's book had a contract signed for $200,000. if i am not mistaken, that advance is split three ways. the second and third portions of that are received at the completion of a manuscript in a publication -- and then publication. along with the proceeds from the sale of the book will go to charity. >> that will be about what time? >> i can check on the advance. obviously, the proceeds from the will accrue and it will be given back to charity. what's right now, the --

>> what now, we're seeing the trial of a lobbyist'. did the president ever meet him when he was a senator? what's the name does not ring a bell. -- >> the name does not ring a bell and i do not have any knowledge that he did. the name does not sound familiar. >> from a pragmatic perspective, i can't understand why president obama would want to have elizabeth warren, but as a constitutional law expert with a long view of history, is there any concern where more power is consolidated in the white house?

for example, someone could be confirmed but does not have to be. >> let's take a look at these examples one of time. there is legislation that the senate and house passed in the president signed on the consumer financial protection bureau that provides that the department of treasury has the soul was possible to of setting up this bureau. >> i did that. -- i get that. >> i am not a lawyer, but i do not think we should just say by that. -- skate by that. in terms of john brennan, john holds the position quite similar to a job that was held by others in a previous administration.

you have a director of national intelligence and other agencies that john helps to court and on behalf of the president. -- to coordinate on behalf of the president. will is notrren's out of bounds of the constitution's. if this relates to what you're saying about consolidated job responsibilities inside the white house, i do not think that there is any doubt that the confirmation process, if it is not broken, is severely damaged and it has -- it does affect the pace at which judges are confirmed and nominees are

confirmed to the point of slowing down the important functions of our government. it is a sad state and it should be repaired on a bipartisan basis. >> that is my question. our president's forced into a situation where they have to -- our presidents -- are president sorceresses tuition -- forced into a situation where they do not want to go through that? >> i think-i do not see them structured upside -- i do not see them structured outside the process. obviously, some functions that john provides important

information and policy for mission on counterterrorism over the past few years. every government depends on an able and capable functioning cabinet to provide the president with advice on issues, but also on one in the everyday functions on winning the everyday functions of government. -- on running in the everyday functions of government. you have the coast guard has purview over the water and other functions that are performed in the normal structure of government. >> two days ago, i asked about

the administration. >> i do not know where i am not answer. that sometimes bureaucracy asometimes does not coordinate. i have to go find the answer to your question. >> is there any discussion in the white house about [inaudible] what's normally, i do not know if the store -- is the state of new york asked for disaster declaration. normally, disaster declarations come through the process into the mud from the state us into seem -- into fema. >> any discussion in the white

house about a position for the mayor? what's not that i have heard. >> -- >> now that i have heard. >> [unintelligible] >> i do not have a full schedule of meetings in front of me for next week. i do not know of south korea is on that list could give us a little more time -- on that list. give us a little more time. >> is the president concerned about the escalating violence

that could undermine the election and is there any concern that a lot of polling sites are affected in the country? >> the security and the function of the elections occupied a decent space of the time when the president and his team met early in the week. the discussed -- they discussed in ensuring that there was a significant security apparatus in place. there are very serious security concerns in many areas of the country. we know that there are those that would seek to draw attention by disrupting these important elections. that was something that the general and his team discussed with the president.

in terms of other concerns, whether it is fraud monitoring, or things like that, there are things that we have worked with, bodies in committees that have been established to monitor any fraud claims and to deal with many of those complaints expeditiously. i know that we did a back room called yesterday. i think that it is important to understand that while we are monitoring this, there are serious concerns about safety and security. we do look forward to success. i think that it is important to understand that there are more than 2500 candidates seeking a little less than 250 posts in

the lower house. understand that on average, it's intended for one jump -- if there are 10 candidates for one job, nine are not want to win. -- going to win. there are serious fraud complaints and i think that you are going to have nine people that will not get as many votes as one is and we will take those claims seriously. >> people in the toughest areas of the afghanistan, areas that you were trying to win, doesn't that undermine the election effort right there? >> i think that the afghans have done a commendable job in setting up, as best as they can,

a structure for a fair election. >> senator white house came out saying that the president had told him that he would be there all the way. can you tell us about what he told him? is he not going to cut a compromise that will surprise the senators? >> i think that the president has a compromise to be had. if it would just be taken, the president has outlined that. the president leaves the we must make permanent tax cuts in the middle class, for those that make less than two under $50,000 a year. it has taken a bit of a position

early in the week. the senator went back and said that he wants the middle class tax cuts and tax cuts for the wealthy. the president believes there is a perfect compromise. class and the middle done through the thing that done this week not-let's give the middle-class done. et the middle class done. that can be done this week. to go back to my of their co-to my america vs. washington analogy. -- to my america vs. washington analogy.

this cannot be viewed as a perfect way to move this forward. let's agree on what we agree on and move that forward and then take what we disagree on and say that for another debate. we have until the 31st of december to have that long the debate, but let's provide certainty for middle-class families right now. what's the president said that he relishes this? >> -- >> the president said that he relishes this? >> the choices that we have in this election are that you have a group that wants to address spending, yet i have to hear a good argument for borrowing $700 billion to extend tax cuts for

the upper end. there are a whole series of tauruses that the -- series of choices that each side is going to make. >> the vice president -- is this a concern on part of the white house? >> the vice president had a is it will interview -- had a scheduled interview that had to be canceled at one. . -- had to be canceled at one time. the president will have to make an appeal to everyone in this country, not just one political party.

the steps that he has taken to strengthen the economy and to address the fundamental problems that our country has faced for many years, that is a case that he wants to make to the whole the country. >> are they targeting some of these groups? would in that regard, i point you to the schedule that was released earlier on some specific evidence of the president will do starting the week after, into the election season. >> on afghanistan, you have 15% of polling places that have already been closed and the caliban is morning people not to vote. -- the taliban warning people not to vote. people are terrified to vote. doesn't this mean that the legitimacy of the election is in

doubt? >> no. i would disagree. the taliban terrorizes people in afghanistan every single day. they are terrorizing people. it is a brutal regime that wishes to do the people of afghanistan on every single day. that is why the people of afghanistan do not want to see them return to the position of power that they had. that is why these elections are so important. of course, the brutal minority of the caliban would do anything to undermine these elections. you will see a brave afghans disregard the tell them and cast their votes in a very important

collection. we will monitor the election. others will monitor the election as we go down the road of >> on the middle-class tax cuts, you said there was an overlap. be in't the only overlap the first few years? there are others who say we can only do this two years. it is their real overlap? >> the compromise is moving forward on the middle class tax cut. >> the first overlap -- >> you have a decoder ring? that is the coolest thing i have heard. go ahead. >> the second part of my decoder ring is this is until the end of

december. the fiscal commission comes out december 1 with their report. if they were to show their hand, which some expect them to do, and say we cannot figure out how to do long-term deficit reduction, doesn't that really bring affordability into question for doing anything? >> the president has stated his position on the middle-class. december 31 was not to preclude what the fiscal commission may or may not bring to the table, and we will not pre-judge what they may or may not say. that was simply to mention that we have some time left in this year before tax cuts legally expire as part of the 2001 legislation to deal with areas that are of disagreement. but it only makes sense before congress leaves to vote on and

passed what it appears as if most sides agree upon, and that is the middle class. i do not think, and we have heard the president say this on a number of occasions, we should not hold hostage the middle class has someone to see the high end tax cuts extend it for a series of years or permanent. that does not make sense in what we can afford, but most of all it does not make sense in what we know we both agree on. let's move forward with what we agree on. let's not hold the middle class hostage. that would provide needed and import uncertainty for middle- class families who have seen their incomes drop over the past few months. >> do we need to extend it to years? >> again, i think the president's position is clear on moving forward on the middle-

class tax cuts. have a good weekend. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] >> former republican vice presidential nominee sarah palin will be in iowa tonight for the annual ronald reagan dinner in des moines. we will have live coverage starting at 8:00 eastern. she will be joined by iowa senator chuck grassley and former iowa governor terry brandtad. "book tv, bill clinton joins british prime minister tony blair for a discussion of their years in office. tony blair has a new memoir, on

c-span2. >> for me or anyone else who is continuing on in public service, the real question is, do you have a positive vision for the direction the country should have it, specific ideas to implement that vision, and a demonstrated set of experiences to handle it? >> outgoing minnesota governor tim pawlenty on a potential presidential run, growing up in minnesota, and his eight years as senator and governor. >> the when general assembly began its meeting earlier this week in new york. -- the u.n. general assembly began its meeting earlier this week in new york. assistant secretary of state esther berger spoke about the administration's goals and priorities for the meeting and also outline some of secretary of state quintin's schedule. from the state department, this is about -- some of the secretary hillary clinton's schedule. from the state department, this is about 15 minutes.

>> i am impressed. everyone is here. goldstar. good afternoon, and welcome to the department of state. next week, as the secretary, the president, world leaders will converge on new york city. we apologize and events to the people of new york. it will get congested the next few days. as we do every september, world leaders come together to address and try to advance our international, global interest in solving the challenges of the world. we have an assistant secretary ester brimmer here at the department of state to give you some of the high points of the secretary's engagement next week and into the following

week, and then we will pick up other events of the day. >> thank you for the opportunity to talk to you today. i appreciate the time to outline the administration's goals and priorities for the u.n. general assembly next week. i will also talk about some of the secretaries key activities during her time in new york. i would like to start off with a couple of words about the administration's overall approach to the u.n. general assembly and our second general assembly. last year, president obama made clear his intent to lead the united states back to the multilateral table. that intent was defined as the era of engagement. over the past year, it has matured into an era of action. driven by u.s. priorities, backed by u.s. now use, and

guided by the tireless leadership of the president, and the secretary. as we reflect, take stock over the past year and the multilateral direction, we look at the distance we have traveled and put it into context as part of the administration's deepening gateman in a variety of critical areas. i will highlight a few of those over the past year. nuclear non-proliferation. this year, the president holds the nuclear security summit in washington in april, which focused on safeguarding weapons and weapons-grade plutonium and uranium. the united states played a critical role in the nuclear nonproliferation treaty review in may up in new york. and in april, president obama signed a new strategic arms reduction treaty. enforcement is also important, therefore in june the u.n. security council adopted

resolution 1929, a legally binding resolution imposing the most comprehensive international sanctions on the government of iran. return to the area of human rights. the united states has used its first year as a member of the human rights council to strengthen the u.n.'s work to protect and promote human rights. including a strong response to critical issues, particularly human rights violations that we have seen, and we have tried to weave in human rights issues. the human rights council meets in geneva, and its fall session is underway and will address a number of key priorities, including the need for more robust efforts on freedom of association and combating discrimination against women. working also been active bein on peace and security issues. the u.s. has promoted the participation of women in

peacekeeping and peace building and conflict resolution. and we're trying to counter it sexual and gender-based violence. on the environment, the lettuce is played an instrumental role in reaching the copenhagen accord, -- the united states played an important role in reaching the copenhagen accord, which helps with the adaptation and mitigation needs of developing countries addressing climate change. these are just some of the examples of the work over the past year and work the administration has undertaken to realize the president's vision for a more active and constructively engaged united states. that leads me to take up specifically some of the issues that will come up in the 65th u.n. general assembly. the assembly formally opens this week, but it really hits its stride next week. our goals and priorities for the u.n. general assembly can be

broadly described as deepening, strengthening, and extending many of the actions already taken. we have four overall objectives that can be described. first, focusing on the development goals and making progress on our development priorities. second, improving the u.n.'s tools related to peace and security. to promoting human rights and tackling environmental changes. let me take a moment and talk a little more specifically about the millennial development goals. then i will turn to the specifics of the secretary's schedule. next week's session begins with a high level planning meeting on the millennium development goals, which will occur during the first days of next week. this is an important opportunity for the united states to elaborate the president's development agenda, as well as

our approach to the millennial development goals. we will focus on core principles of leveraging innovation, investing and sustainability, tracking development outcomes, and enhancing mutual accountability. i would be happy to discuss this in greater detail, but i will also take a few minutes to talk about the secretary's schedules and activities in the coming week. as you know, always busy as we plan for the run-up to the general assembly, and i am not in position to give details on all parts of the schedule at this point, but i would like to share some key elements. first, the secretary will be doing a number of middle east- related events during the week. her first event, after arriving in new york sunday the 19th, will be a senior level gathering to discuss the ongoing international flood relief for pakistan.

it this is a follow-up to a similar gathering that was held in august, designed to encourage and rally support for the middle east and that country. on monday, september 20, the secretary's they will include participation in special session of the interim haiti recovery commission, slated to be co-chaired by the haitian prime minister and former president clinton. much of the secretary's monday, as much of the week, will be filled with bilateral and multilateral meetings. on tuesday, september 21, the secretary will make remarks at a special side event related to the millennial development goals. she will co-host with the irish for. irish foreign minister an event that features meters from government, international organizations, civil society, and the civic sector. it is entitled, "1000 days --

change a life, change the future," and will highlight child under-nutrition, focusing on the 1000-day window of opportunity, beginning from a woman's pregnancy and continuing until a child is 2 years old. significant evidence shows a child who is well marist during this critical time will have a healthier -- who is well nourished during this critical time will have a healthier and more prosperous future. that afternoon, she will speak at the clinton global initiative and participate in the traditional transatlantic dinner that evening with foreign ministers of the european union and their countries. wednesday will feature a series of bilateral and multilateral engagements, including the native-russia council and a meeting of the g-5 plus 1. that afternoon she will join the u.s. delegation to the high- level plenary of the millennial delegation goals, or president

obama will address the u.s. commitment to reaching the goals by 2015. thursday is framed by the general assembly opening and the president's speech that morning. thursday afternoon, in addition to joining many of the president's meetings, the secretary will represent the knee at the state's -- will represent the united states at a special meeting on peace and security. friday, we anticipate the secretary will accompany the president much of the day. i note that the secretary will be resuming her schedule monday, the 27th, with a number of diplomatic meetings in new york. at this juncture, monday is slated to be the secretary's last day in new york. ladies and gentlemen, that is a bit of a window into the agenda in new york, outlining a few of the top line issues the u.s. will be addressing, multilateral goals and priorities at the general assembly and beyond. i will be happy to take your questions and discuss these or

other points related to the secretary bus schedule. thank you. -- related to the secretary's schedule. >> i wanted to ask for more details on the relief issues. what do you expect the secretary to have related to middle east peace? >> there will probably be a longer discussion on the middle east, part of the bilateral and multilateral meetings next week. >> you mentioned the g-5 plus 1. who will be attending and will be there -- and will there be an iranian representative? >> the lobby the usual groups. they will get together and work on that. >> does that mean that will be the principles? >> once we know the details of who will be at each meeting, we

will let you know, but it will be that consultation of the p-5 plus 1. we don't have the exact schedule of who will be there. >> i am surprised he got through that whole thing without mentioning the word "cookstove." i am not inviting you to do it now. could you give us some idea of her bilateral meetings, particularly on monday, both mondays? that at this point, we will have a long list of bilaterals, which will change and shift. we will let you know which days shall be meeting, thank you. >> are there any scheduled now? >> once we know, i will let you know. >> at one point, there was an expectation of an arab quartet arab league meeting. is that still scheduled? >> once we know more about the other pieces of the schedule, we will let you know what are

confirmed on a day-by-day basis, who she will see in addition to the items i have highlighted. >> there are no plans right not to do that or in the works? >> at this point i cannot confirm if there is a meeting on a particular day until it is confirmed. >> there are some things that are tentative on the schedule, subject to confirmation with others. that is why on things like p-5 plus 1, we expect there to be a meeting, we expect a quartet meeting, but it will depend on the availability of leaders and that is still to be worked out. >> aside from the event at the clinton global initiative, and the town hall or address outside the un what she is in new york? that at this point, we do not anticipate an additional speech. she will be speaking and offering remarks at different offense that she is attending, but we're not now scheduling a separate event from the ones

outlined. >> will they raise the issue on north korea? >> her particular schedule will talk particularly about the issue she will take up on east asia, with a focus on the work on the multilateral side, particularly leading to a u.n. diplomacy. >> maybe she will have another meeting with the six party talks delegation? >> we are still working on what will be confirmed, focused on -- >> i am not aware to will be a committing of that combination, -- i'm not aware that there will be a particular meeting of that combination, but the secretary will be discussing that.

>> talking about human rights and democracy, the secretary's meeting on issues like burma and china, and there is a problem across the globe. >> human rights will be part of the overall discussions at the u.n. general assembly and many meetings will be talking about human rights issues. this complements our work across the united nations. in addition to the work in the york next week and through the general assembly on human rights, we're also asking. we're also going to the human rights council, which will highlight those issues. >> the indian delegation will be in new york at this meeting. if she scheduled to meet with them? second, india has been asking and the u.s. and india in many ways are working together with the security council.

>> first, the indian delegation in washington today, part of our deep and rich conversations included the multilateral sphere, the many areas that where we work with andy on multilateral issues. we anticipate we will also be talking about our cooperation in the multilateral area. in general, unsecured council issues, the president has been quite eloquent and said the united states supports halving the security council reflect the realities of the 21st century and has accorded a modest expansion of permanent and nonpermanent members and will continue to work with members of the security council and members of the general assembly in the ongoing process discussing these issues. >> but india -- >> the u.s. has consistently said they would support a modest expansion of the security council that would promote

sufficiency and a central role in international peace and security issues. any questions? ok, thank you very much. see you in new york. a >> thank you, madam. >> just a few other things, to follow-up. secretary clinton and the indonesian foreign minister our meeting as we speak, the inaugural meeting of the u.s.- indonesia joint commission. this is a concrete step in our comprehensive partnership with indonesia, a long-term commitment to broadening,

deepening, and elevating bilateral relations and are shared democratic values on the basis of our partnership on bilateral, regional, and global issues. the secretary a few minutes ago had a brief conversation with the sultan to think the government for the role they played it in to release of the prisoner from iran and they agreed to stay engaged and more cooperative way to do everything possible to bring about the release of the other two. at the same time, the secretary had the opportunity to thank his majesty for his steady leadership in the region. this year marks the 40th anniversary of the ascension of the sultan as the leader of oman. later this afternoon, the secretary joined by the undersecretary and assistant

secretary, will meet with the indian foreign secretary to discuss the latest developments in the u.s.-indian relations and preparations for the president's trip to india later this year. she plays a key role in co- chairing many of our most important bilateral dialogues, including the strategic security dialogue, which addresses are commonly shared nonproliferation disarmament and security objectives, as well as the global issues forum, which is dedicated to identifying ways to cooperate on meeting global challenges and erasing -- and raising global opportunities. at the george brown dinner at the national press club, senator richard lugar, a longtime advocate of science diplomacy, announced on behalf of secretary clinton are three new science and voice. they are joint -- they're joining our science envoy program and adding more stature

to implement u.s. global engagement in science and technology. the new science envoys are from the university of maryland and johns hopkins university, a doctor from purdue university, and a doctor, the president of lehigh university. we'll have more details released on what they will be doing shortly. finally, before taking questions, i just want to salute our principal deputy legal adviser, john donoghue, elected this week as judge of the international courts of justice. is the principal judicial organ as some of the united nations, with 15 judges representing all civilized legal systems in the head. she is the seventh american to hold that position. she's a career attorney, worked at the state department for international law for nearly a

quarter-century, and she is now actually on the job and hearing first arguments in her first case, which happens to be the russia-a georgia case. this week, along with the judge from china, she gave her solemn oath. there are now two females of the international court in history. >> there are 15 judges and represent all civilized legal systems? there are only 15 countries with civilize the legal systems? is that right? >> no, but the icj represents all civilized legal systems in the world. >> presumably there are more than 15 countries with civilized systems. >> absolutely. >> another point of clarification, you said they agreed to stay engaged and work cooperative play, meaning the secretary and the sultan?

>> oman. we appreciate, as we have said before, all they played it in the recent release, and the secretary and the salt and agreed that the united states and oman would continue to work collaborative lead to seek the release of shane and josh. >> can you be more specific about what that means, to stay engaged in war cooperative way? as you were over the course to get them released? >> oman has played a leading role in the release of sarah and has strong diplomatic relations with the united states and diplomatic relations with iran as well. the secretary and the sultan agreed that we would continue to do everything possible to seek the release of the other hostages. >> the omani foreign minister

has been outselling the have not been doing anything in particular for the other two. >> when we saw that piece earlier this morning, our ambassador checked back in with the omani government, and they indicated there are a number of inaccuracies in that story. for specifics, i will defer to the omani government, but in the story they alluded to a call between the solemn and the president -- between the sultan and the present, and there never were any such calls. i would urge caution on any such peace. from our standpoint, the proof is in the very strong engagement that we have had with oman and the work that both oman has done and switzerland and other countries that resulted in the release of sarah, and today's

call just reaffirmed those efforts to root seek the release of the other hostages. >> can you be more specific about what was an accurate? was it just -- that was not accurate? was it just the phone call? >> there was a suggestion that there was not strong consultation between our two countries over the past year- plus regarding this case, and in fact there has been very significant and regular dialogue between the united states and oman, as well as the united states and switzerland on this case. the suggestion that there was not an emphasis within our government to seek their release until recently is actually quite false. >> there are several stories about this. one of them said that it was not of the ticket there interest in washington for a swap -- that it was not of particular interest

in washington, and the omanis thought that might be a good rate to get the release of the three. >> we would not characterize the return of him as a swap because this was not something that we engineered. this was something that he decided to do. >> if the ransom was paid, don't you think it is sending a wrong signal? they demand money to release the somebody. is that sending the wrong message down the road? >> there were two pieces that i would differ with you on. first, this is a case where three hikers crossed the border into iran. into iran.