there are many republicans who are in congress or behind the scenes to are very nervous about it. they would rather be having a debate about the economy, jobs, unemployment rates. this is a high-risk debate for the republicans to be having. the democrats would rather be talking but medicare. >> a short term debate or is this going to the top billing? is it going to be medicare and economy? >> i think it is.

the way the democrats are attacking the republicans, there joining it to he is pointing to the tax breaks that george bush and republicans. that is going to be something you'll see in campaign ads and see democrats hammer -- it is going to be sending the democrats will keep hammering. >> take this to the present's appearance yesterday in new hampshire.

he picked up on reports that we and other publications have reported that under paul bryant matt brock -- the drop plan -- a road map plan, mitt romney would not have paid much taxes at all. paul ryans original proposal eliminates all taxes on capital gains and dividends. even though he made over $20 million -- the president pointed to that and said, paul ryan put out a proposal. he wants to cut medicare.

that is something that you are also seeing his super pac they want to keep hammering away at decided that the republicans are out there for the wealthy, they're not out there for you. the medicare changes are big and scary. there is some irony is here because -- you also have the option of traditional medicare. that is very similar to the health insurance plans for non- seniors that mitt romney put in place in massachusetts. barack obama put in place with

the affordable care act. republicans attacked. barack obama said this was -- >> thank you so much for joining us this morning. >> absolutely. >> tomorrow, weekly standard founder and editor bill kristol on the latest development in prison to race. look at the u.s. tax system. cynthia nelson will talk about her work at the website that focuses on the african-american community. "washington journal"live at 7:00

eastern on c-span. >> watch coverage of the republican and democratic conventions. live on c-span. your front proceed to the conventions. next, rick santorum at the young america's foundation news conference. a discussion about the airline security. rick santorum at the young america's foundation annual 1900 -- he comment on a wide range of topics such as same-sex marriage, welfare reform, and the pro-life movement. this is an hour and 10 minutes. >> can we have your attention

please? she was at central washington, she was very active after- school. she also launched an aftershock from campus. she will be starting at a junior year say -- >> thank you. lucky that that it has given me this opportunity. i am thankful for the foundation for giving this opportunity. it is committed to ensuring

that an increasing number of young americans get to know the value of the independent freedom, a strong national defense, traditional values. the foundation introduces thousands of young americans to these principles. you can learn more about the foundation by visiting our web site. it is honored -- is an honor to introduce rick santorum. [applause] prior to running for president, he served as a voice for conservatives everywhere. he served two terms in the u.s.

house of representatives. he was elected to the u.s. cent in 1995. expose congressional franking and post office scandals. ettinger santorum was also the author and the floor manager. -- senator rick santorum was also the anger and a floor manager birkhead he wrote and championed the legislation that allowed partial birth abortions. each and every individual has a value. [applause] he has fought to maintain fiscal sanity in washington. he has fought for a balanced

budget and a line item veto. he proposed reforming entitlements, cutting spending, and develop a spend-o-meter. he believes passionately that we must repeal obamacare and replace it with a bottom-up patient driven system. kristin, he wants patriot voices, an on-line community of americans committed to promoting faith, family, and freedom. he is the author of the 2005 "it takes a family." he is continuing the fight to give every american in place. [applause]

>> thank you. thank you very much. enjoy your time in happy valley. let me thank all of you for a wonderful kind words that so many of you gave me. i had a chance to chat briefly with everybody. i was free grateful for your support. i have to recognize one person who is here tonight. her father was our campaign manager from up in new hampshire. i want to thank you, amanda, for being here.

i want to thank all the other folks who volunteered and helped us out. it was an amazing journey. when i was asked by people 9 traveling the country? what motivated you to run for president? was it that you did not have any money. wasn't that he did not have any major supporters or any real endorsements of any kind. what was it that possibly motivated you to take the insane position.

eyeleted the situation in this country -- i looked at the situation in this country. i believe that others are seeing it the same way. it is becoming clear to people. this is a landmark election. this is a turning point in american history. you hear politicians get up and say dramatic things like this all the time. i've never said that before. i've been involved in races for 22 years. my first race back in 1990. i never said this was the most important election, but i was on the ballot.

i never felt things are bad -- we had difficulties in national security, obviously. i never felt that something fundamental was added tipping point. obama has denigrate favor for the country. -- has done a great favor for the country. for a long time, we have been on a very slow road to gradually giving our freedoms away. gradually believing the siren song that the government can do better for us then we can do for ourselves. it is inevitable, our founders understood that, when they

established freedom. many road that it was the easiest part to establish freedom. the hardest part would be to maintain it. over this corrosive thing in society called time. the farther away you are from the light and the spark that created this great country, the harder it is to have the zeal to maintain the great principles upon which our country was founded. we have been blessed with enormous success. let's be honest, we change the world. the time of our funding, life expectancy was around 35-40 years of age. you were an agrarian society. go back to the time of jesus

christ, life expectancy was 35 or 40 years of age. in 200 years, after america did something revolutionary, it gave the world a document to transform society. something unheard of and not known in the course of history. something we do not even talk about in this country. we ignore it. we didn't teach it. this revolutionary document? >> not the constitution, wrong answer. the declaration of independence. i knew most of you would say the constitution.

it is not who we are. who we are in the declaration of independence. what makes america special is in the declaration of independence. these words -- we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their create with certain to inalienable rights. they were at the core of understanding what it meant to be american. it is not like it in french. -- like being french.

[applause] i am not poking at the french. although i do not mind poking the french, i am not poking the french. if you are an iranian comment you are an iranian. america is not and ethnicity. we're all-americans. what makes you an american? my grandfather and father came to this country. when i stepped on the shore of america, he became an american. why? because they believed a certain set of values. being in america is about a

certain set of ideals. you can go to france and spend 50 years. they speak beautiful french, but you'll never be french. that is what makes it different. we are a country that is based on a set of ideas and ideals and principles. when people say, we want to change in trans america, -- we want to change entranced former america -- transform america. god-given rights. there was another revolution that took place.

the french revolution was based on three principles. equality, we can explain that in a minute. equality is good, liberty? good. absolutely. those are both in the founding documents i shared with the. the third word of the french revolution was paternity. brotherhood. as opposed to paternity, fatherhood. our rights come from god. rights came from the consent of the government. when i had that the reformed,

they ruled with the reign of terror. he had to frames hanging in his home. one was a framed copy of the declaration of independence. the other frame, to the day he died, remain empty. the was looking for a similar document something to anger the french constitution. something to put limits on the power of government. something that is a higher calling than the civil law. that is what the declaration has done for our country.

all these things point to what? america was founded as a great moral enterprise. look at the three rights they talk about. it cannot be denied. yet, we do in this country. liberty, and know it is a kick movement. it took me to a lot of college campuses. >> we need to be careful with what liberty really means.

liberty is not the freedom to do whatever you want to do. it is freedom from, it is deeper than that. how do i know that? the pursuit of happiness. life and liberty for what? to pursue happiness. they said, no, that was insufficient. property does not with the real purpose of america is.

think about it. you have to have the freedom to be able to pursue so government does not constrain you. what is the definition of happiness? enjoyment. pleasure contentment contentment. that is what you would say. if they go back and muck up the first webster's dictionary, you will find the definition of dixie contains -- doing what you

ought to do will result in a true happiness. it may not result in immediate pleasure, but our founders understood that the freedom us to pursue what you ought to do, not what you want to do. in so doing, you build the great society of virtuous people with limited government and the unlimited potential of the american public. that is exactly what happened. it went from an agrarian to an industrial to a technology society. government was limited. that, ladies and gentlemen, more than any other issue is why i am seeking the selection. barack obama is reelected.

i fear that this great experiment will be on its way to a close. when obamacare is implemented, but% -- she never was, she campaign that she but not touch the british health-care system. it is a sacred cow they cannot touch. she was never able to

accomplish what ronald reagan accomplished in this country. once people are addicted and dependent. we have to win this election. i believe the future of the republic is at stake. that is why i decided to get out and run for president. i decided to tell people exactly what i just told you. here is why. the amazing thing is, in spite of being out spend in spite of getting no less coverage.

in spite of that, we went around the country and talked about corp. principles and core values. we talked about this election having to be who we are. they go to the core of who we are. the family structure in america. we talked about those things. amazingly, people came. we ended up winning iowa and 11 other states. i would share with you that those of you all there on college campuses, and you think, it is hopeless. when i went out and talked about the basis go back to the

declaration, ask them whether they agree with that. people said, we are so divided. we are not as divided as you think. we've just forgotten so many. -ou bring them back and rea anchor them. welcome forward. what does that mean? what is this whole idea of god- given rights and fundamental rights. when the government says, we will give you a right, d.c. what happens? kit is exactly what they're doing. so many other things they are now imposing their will on people.

against their fundamental freedoms. i am encouraged, greatly encouraged by what i saw across america. there is a wellspring of people who see what this time in america is about. they are anxious and willing and they are stepping forward. the american dna -- the what did the things they talked about. your ancestors came here. they did not stay behind. i would encourage you to be happy warriors to talk about the

greatness of our country to remind people do we are and what we are about and how we transformed this world. if we're willing to go back to the pre revolutionary days of being servants, subjects of the king, servants to the government, which is exactly what we were, and exactly where we're headed if we do not do something now. there is no one knew was going to be affected by this more than the people in this room. you are seeing the effects with this economy struggling along. why? because of this oppressive government. regulatory schemes, taxes. antipathy towards anybody who is successful. minimizing and celebrating the

collective. this is not america. are really do believe people are seeing. i am optimistic about this election, but we have to be able to go out and communicate big things, fundamental principles. if you do, i am convinced that you can start changing hearts on college campuses. you can start changing hearts all over america. study, understand who we are, what we are about. be not afraid to go out and preaches at the mountain tops. i will be happy to take your questions. [applause]

no questions, thank you very much. [laughter] >> i am from the university of arkansas. you had been a huge defender of the unborn. i am wondering what your evaluation of the pro-life movement is right now. there seems to be a lot of focus on national debt and national- security. i was wondering what he thought of the protests life movement. -- what he thought of the pro-

life movement. >> most of my optimism centers around young people. you folks are very visual generation, he spent all of your time looking at screens. it is how you learn. that is a great thing because he'll look at that child in the room as all of you. all of you have pictures of yourself and you were in am womb. how can you say that is not me? how can you said that is not a person? how can you look at least 47 grams and say -- one of my

favorite movies was juno. [laughter] walking into the abortion clinic to get the abortion. the little girl, not knowing what to say, she blurts out, your baby has fingernails. old in, that stopped her from getting an abortion.

you cannot avoid the truth of what an notion is. you do not realize this, but to narrations of americans for lying to you. -- they were lied to.