joining "hardball." we will be back tomorrow. welcome to "politics nation." i'm al sharpton. tonight's lead, all-out offensive against the outsourced candidate at a campaign event in atlanta a short time ago, the president slammed willard mitt romney's economics. >> we don't need somebody that's a pioneer in offshore. or outsourcing. we need a president in the white house who is going to every single day be fighting on bring jobs back to the united states. do some in-sourcing. we rise and fall as one people. as one nation. [ applause ] that's my vision for america. that's what i have been fighting for for the last 3 1/2 years. that's why i am running for a second term as president of the united states of america.

>> four more years! four more years! four more years! >> president obama is looking for a second term. he's fighting important an america where all can succeed. not just those at the very top. that's why he's running. but why is romney running? >> to this election is about, getting america to work again for the benefit of the american people in the world. >> romney says he's running to put americans back to work. that's not how the vice president saw it today. >> you have to give mitt romney credit. he's a job creator. in singapore, china, india. he has been very good at creating jobs overseas. >> over the past two decades, american companies have dramatically expanded overseas. w while shrinking work forces at home. spending more than $18 billion

in information technology work abroad as well as $11 billion in business process services. governor romney is by no means responsible for all of that. but bain profited off of that business model. strangely romney is now arguing that he stopped jobs from being outsourced. >> we will not let china continue to steal jobs with the united states of america. >> chinese are smiling all the way to the bank, taking our currency and jobs and a lot of our future. i'm not willing to let that happen. >> okay. so here's -- his argument is i'm going to put an end to the practice that i'm proud to have made money doing. that disconnect extends far beyond house brief and shipping american jobs. it is a vice president pointed out today. >> the president's out of touch when the president encouraged young people to try to get manufacturing jobs. he said out of touch. out of touch.

a prospect of a president with a suisse bank account? retirement in the cayman islands? you can decide. did you ever think that you would be choosing between two people running for president and one of whom in a suisse bank account? whoa. out of touch. >> joining me now is bob, democratic strategist, who ran ted kennedy's race against mitt romney in 1994. and peter goodman, business editor for the huffington post. he's written a cover story in the premiere issue of "huffington post" magazine about obama's relationship with young voters. thank you both for being here this evening. >> thank you. >> glad to be here. >> bob, let me start with you. clearly the obama campaign is going on the offensive again -- to the bain's capital ties to outsourcing. is that biden appeal effective? >> i think it is tremendous will you effective. i think it is going to hurt

romney very badly. you know, the establishment in the port look down on the obama campaign. criticized it when it started doing this. and i think what they are doing is they are weaving a narrative ark here that says the guy destroyed jobs, made money in business. the guy outsourced jobs, made money in business. 47th in job creation as governor in massachusetts. this narrative ark will con all the way through medicare and proposal is on taxes and the republicans blocking jobs bills in congress. i can tell you having looked a lot of polling -- lot of campaigns and this argument is a killer. >> how's this going to play in pennsylvania, in the swing states, ohio? how is it going to play in those states? >> it is going to be most powerful in those states. and -- ohio, pennsylvania, and in michigan and in iowa and in wisconsin. that argument is going to have real potency and will be one of

the building blocks. you heard the president actually put it very clearly in that excerpt you played. fundamental choice he is putting before the country which is who is going to fight important the many and stand up for the many? who only cares about the few? >> peter, when you look at the polling of swing states, it seems that this -- is being effective. 64% of democrats believe prif equity hurts voters. 48% of independents believe that as well. and as do 47% of all swing state voters. now compare that to just 38% of swing state voters who believe in private equity and it helps the economy. i think this is an effective argument. >> i think it sticks to romney because he sincally played the china card and this is not him. this is a guy that's about money moving around the globe, finding most profitable term for his share holders and sudden sly a populist who will stop jobs from going to china. he is acting like i'm a business guy. as a business guy, how to make

payroll and hire people. i create jobs. he is not really a business guy. he is really more of an investment banker. he is a guy that is taking over companies that other people build and figuring out how to shift operations overseas and shift them to vendors outside of the door in the united states in other cases. he has provided return to his shareholders and has been very successful. >> that's really what you do as a ceo of something like that bain capital. >> that's his job. >> outsourcing may be good for business but it is not good for government or politics. >> that's right. i mean, he is essentially saying i was really good at this job, the job of returning profit to shareholders doing whatever needed to be done. therefore, i will be good at taking over the economy. you know, that's a tough argument. i mean, we know, first of all, what the policies of unregulated big business and particularly for finance produced over the last couple of decades. and there is an awful lot of people still licking their wounds and not working or not working enough to pay their bills. but this is somebody who, you

know, his -- all of his achievements amount to i did well for narrow group of people. i.e., wealthy people that gave me their money to invest so i could make profits. it is very difficult to go from there to i can run a big economy for the benefit of working americans as well as investors. >> now, let me ask this. when romney also continues to slam government spending, take a look at this. >> he wants to hire more government workers. he says we need firemen, more policemen. more teachers. it is time for us to cutback on government and help the american people. >> my policies reduce the rate of spending. >> peter and bob, wane both of your reactions to that. "the washington post" reports that even his own supporters take issue with that. about his taking on spending as an example, host of his event today, "the washington post" writes this. quote, today mitt romney

campaigned in virginia at a company called carter machinery. the company's ceo favors heavy government spending on infrastructure which he sees as a valid means of creating jobs. paying for such spending with a gas tax, federal stimulus spending in this area as a plus. and favors government investment in the alternative energy. this is house host today. >> you listen to mitt romney talk and you can't believe he wants to be president. he is hostile to government investment. he wants to be the ceo of america inc. that doesn't exist. does p banking do better if the economy is doing? doesn't goldman sachs do more deals? that's common sense. >> bob. >> two things. the first clip, i mean, i'm sure everybody in boston and headquarters bang their head on the december whk he said

policemen, firemen, between don't want that. that was the last thing in the world he wanted to say. he is prom owing ignorance in austerity ignorance that holds somehow or another the lack of demand in the economy is to have less demand in the economy. that's what is happening in europe and happening in britain which was coming out of recession in much better shape than we were in may of 2010 when a conservative government came in and slashed the budget and now they are back in recession. >> now, president obama slammed romney for favoring an economy where the rich simply get richer. listen. >> and and on this tax code, as i said, i do not think that a $250,000 tax break for me or -- mr. romney, he gets more. he has more than i do. i don't think that's more important than us hiring outstanding teachers. middle class people all across the country would end up seeing

higher taxes to pay for tax cuts for mr. romney and me. it ain't right. >> bob, direct lay dressesing what you raised about teachers, police and where really the pry reports going to be the next four years. whoever is president. >> yeah. and again, he's putting the fundamental choice who will stand up for the middle class and who will give all the tax breaks and all the benefits to the wealthy? look, the president is very powerful and persuasive here. he started this back in september with the jobs speech to congress. he has taken flack from the elites and conventional wisdom and that campaign, obama campaign, which is very disciplined, in which i am certain researched this very, very well, is going to execute this and we are going to see this narrative all the way from now until election day. it is going to be about romney and it is going to be about the president -- >> thanks for your time this evening. and great article, peter in the

"huffington post" on the youth vote and the president. ahead, exposing the coordinated right wing to suppress the vote. a top pennsylvania republican is caught on tape. >> voter i.d. which is going to allow governor romney to win the state of pennsylvania. done. >> plus, congressman darrell issa is making wild accusations against the white house. what about a little thing called the facts? mitt romney finally speaks out on the supreme court's i am xwra immigration decision. he sounded very different than the guy on stage in the primaries. ok! who gets occasional constipation,

diarrhea, gas or bloating? get ahead of it! one phillips' colon health probiotic cap a day helps defend against digestive issues with three strains of good bacteria. hit me! [ female announcer ] live the regular life. phillips'. [ female announcer ] live the regular life. recently, students from 31 countries took part in a science test. the top academic performers surprised some people. so did the country that came in 17th place. let's raise the bar and elevate our academic standards. let's do what's best for our students-by investing in our teachers. let's solve this. thought they were dead. huh? [ male announcer ] should've used roundup. it kills weeds to the root, so they don't come back. roundup. no root. no weed. no problem.

have you checked us out on facebook? the conversation is going all day long. today a lot of our fans were buzz being voter fraud and contempt vote on attorney general eric holder. doug said between voter suppression and citizens united, we have a tough fight in front of us. stand united. meanwhile, barbara wonders why is congress more concerned about gunrunning in mexico and not gunrunning on the streets of chicago? more of that when -- more on that one coming up. we want to hear what you think, too. head over to facebook and search "politics nation" and like us. the conversation that keeps going long after the show ends. [ barking ] i'm your dog,

holding down the fort while you're out catching a movie. [ growls ] lucky for me, your friends showed up with this awesome bone. hey! you guys are great. and if you got your home insurance where you got your cut rate car insurance, it might not replace all this. [ electricity crackling ] [ gasping ] so get allstate. you could save money and be better protected from mayhem like me. [ dennis ] mayhem is everywhere. so get an allstate agent. are you in good hands?

congressman darrell issa is leading the witch-hunt against attorney general eric holder. and now he's accusing the president of abusing his executive powers. issa says either you or your most senior adviser were involved in managing operation fast and furious and fallout from it. or you are aer issing a presidential power that you know to be unjustified solely important the purpose of further obstructing of congressional investigation. issa himself has already admitted that he doesn't have any evidence of that. >> do you have any evidence that the white house officials were involved in these decisions they knowingly misled congress and

are involved in a coverup? >> no, we don't. >> i just want to be clear. no evidence at this point that the white house is involved in a coverup? >> and i hope that they don't get involved. >> no evidence. no proof. congressman issa and his fellow republicans know they found nothing in their investigation into the so-called fast and furious program. it is just politics. i was in washington today with other civil rights leaders calling on republicans to end this witch-hunt. >> this effort by the house of representatives is nothing more than a clumsy naked politically motivated witch-hunt. >> this attorney general has fought important voter rights, civil rights, women's rights, and immigration rights. and it is our firm belief that that is why he's being targeted with this type of humiliation. >> we are simply opposed to

congress, stopping the work of the people of this country, stopping the work of their department of justice to defend their freedom, defend their rights. >> joining me now is congresswoman carolyn malonely. democrat from new york. she voted against a contempt vote for the attorney general. and joan walsh, editor-at-large for salon.com and msnbc political analyst. thanks to you both for being here today. >> thank you. >> thank you, al. >> let me start with you, congresswoman. can you help our viewers understand what congressman issa is up to here? >> well, i have served on this committee and i am honored to identify on it. it is the government oversight and reform committee. but what we see now is all politics all the time. there's month focus on reform. on ending the problems and that's the problem. >> now, when you look at what we -- led in with, joan, he --

the -- quotes that i was reading from congressman issa, chairman issa, about when what the white house is doing from a letter to the president today, yet where he admitted to having no evidence on fox news just sunday, two days ago, i mean, clearly, it is what the congresswoman and i'm saying that it looks like politics. less than 48 hours ago you said there's no evidence. today we wake up and send thing letter. what's going on? >> the letter is dripping with contempt for the president, to the attorney general. it is really -- really sad. i mean, the congresswoman knows, we all know, that the killing of agent brian terry was a tragedy and we have a bipartisan interest in understanding what happened. but instead we have this partisan circus where, you know, i don't even think -- one of the worst things that representative issa said, there are lots of candidates for the worst thing, reverend al. but he has gone so far to suggest that maybe this -- as

itting this was a conspiracy of perhaps by the administration to have these guns go awol and create havoc and then lead to a public outcry for more gun control. he suggested this on "this week" and rush limbaugh has run with zbr it. >> i don't want people to think you are exaggerating there. let me show you where issa actually said that. >> thank you. >> could it be that what they really were thinking of was, in fact, to use this -- this -- walking of guns in order to promote an assault weapons ban? many think so. if you don't think this fast and furious and things like right the beginning of an attack in the second term on the second amendment, you really haven't evaluated this president. >> he said this at an nra convention. the last week the nra sent a letter to the house oversight committee members voicing their

support of the contempt charges. they wrote -- it is no secret the nra does not admire attorney general holder. ask they called fast and furious a program that cost lives in support of an anti-gun agenda. now, joan, you said it, he said it. the nra is in this. congresswoman, this brings another level of politics in with the nra that even some democrats in parts of this country are looking at and the nra saying we are going to evaluate you based on your vote on this contempt hearing? >> i'm not surprised, reverend al. he -- they -- they -- they scored the vote in the committee. and they will score it on the floor. but it is politics, politics, politics. they are bringing this vote to the floor in four legislative days. when chairman waxman was a chairman, under the democrats, we brought contempt charge

against harriet myers, we negotiated for six months. and what i hope happens, i hope the speaker sits down and negotiates with the attorney general and that you have a reasonable solution to this instead of politics as usual. >> is there a chance of that congresswoman? the vote is scheduled for thursday. do you think there is a possibility that speaker boehner will negotiate and not go forward to vote on thursday? >> well, i -- i hope that he sits down and negotiates with the attorney general. that's what the american people would like to see. they want to see us solving their problems. what they should be scared about, what they should be scared about is the working men and women in this country that are not seeing us working for jobs, for education, for safety, for the things that they care about and in their lives and it is -- one of the things -- what we are seeing now is what makes people hate washington.

>> now, joan, when you look at why the republicans really hate eric holder, is he's fighting against some of their most beloved causes. he is blocking voters suppression laws. and -- senator cornyn said that. he's challenging anti-immigrant laws. and he's refusing to defend defense of marriage act. there's all of the political causes they are championing that he has directly stood up and enforced the law of this country that does not favor some of these political opinions. >> yes. senator cornyn actually suggested he should resign over his involvement in investigating these specious voter fraud laws. the partisan agenda is really clear. i know you are going to talk about it later in this hour but you know, you have a pennsylvania republican leader coming out and saying voter i.d., that's going to get mitt romney to carry the state of pennsylvania which no republican has carried since 1988.

this is what their agenda is about. this is what the attorney general is standing up against. he's protecting the rights of voters to choose their president and to choose their elected officials. and that's one of the main things that is -- making them mad. the notion that they would accuse this president and this attorney general basically of colluding in a plot to advance gun control that led to the death of a border agent, i mean, i -- it is just -- it is so low. it is really -- there's -- they are always going to new lows but that one really, really strikes me as beyond them. >> congresswoman -- >> this is a new low. >> very much so. congresswoman carol maloney, joan walsh, thank you both for your time tonight. >> thank you. >> one final note. i told you earlier about the press conference of civil rights community leaders and i held in supporting the attorney general. but while we were praising eric holder's work for upholding civil rights would black

republicans were condemning it. former presidential candidate herman cain and former owe secretary of state ken blackwell put out a video expressing their concern about eric holder's work on issues like voter laws. we invited mr. cain on the show before. i would like to take the opportunity to invite him again. mr. cain, the door is always open for you. we can discuss this. still ahead -- exposing the gop's game plan to beat president obama. a top republican admitted how voter i.d. will affect their hopes on election day. but first, mitt romney finally makes a statement on immigration. but still doesn't take a stand. that's next.

this is new york state. we built the first railway, the first trade route to the west, the greatest empires. then, some said, we lost our edge. well today, there's a new new york state. one that's working to attract businesses and create jobs. a place where innovation meets determination... and businesses lead the world. the new new york works for business. find out how it can work for yours at thenewny.com. right? get. out. exactly! really?! [ mom ] what? shut the front door. right? woop-woop! franklin delano! [ male announcer ] hey! there's oreo creme under that fudge!

oreo fudge cremes. indescribably good.

folks, we have been waiting to hear mitt romney respond to the supreme court's decision on the arizona immigration law. and today was the day. but instead of talking about his views, he blamed president obama. >> what he was running -- when he was running for office he said it would make his first priority, first-year agenda to reform the immigration system and make it work important the american people and for those that want to come here legally. he did not do that. why is it? he had a democrat house,

democrat senate. all the support he needed. he did nothing. now the supreme court looked at it and what we are left with is a bit of a muddle. what we know is that the president failed to lead. >> so romney doesn't say anything about the check your paper is part of the arizona law. though he does say president obama didn't get immigration reform passed. but he conveniently does not mention that it was senate republicans who filibustered the dream act in 2010. the gop blocked it. how is that president obama's fault? but we shouldn't be surprised to hear this coming from romney. his campaign specializes in avoiding answers. just listen to his press secretary. >> what does he think about the policy in arizona? is it fair to say he has no opinion? or that you're refusing to give us an answer on whether -- >> arizona, like many other states in this nation, have taken upon themselves to craft policies for their own specific states. >> does he have a reaction as to

whether he agrees with this decision? >> again, jim, the states have the right to craft their immigration policies when the federal government failed to do so. we have to get going. >> what would romney have done? >> and the campaign was just as unclear about president obama's new policy. not to support some undocumented young people. here's how our campaign advise wr -- advise wr adviser put their position. >> in this case, subject to review if there is legitimate questions about the legality of it. >> answering a question with more questions. classy. but it wasn't always this way. back when romney was fighting for the republican nomination, he was very clear on immigration. >> if i'm president, we will put in place an e-verify system, which you opposed, to make sure we can find out who is here

legally or not. >> the answer is self-deportation. between went to the company and said look, you can't have any illegals working on our property. i'm running for office, for pete's sake. i can't have illegal. >> there was no doubt what he thought about arizona's approach to immigration. >> you know, i think you see a model here in arizona. >> a model here in arizona. did mitt romney think we would forget his own record? hasn't he heard of "caught on tape"? nice try but we've got you. for life. to cheer the summer athletes to new heights, starting in 2016... as you experience every moment, every emotion, every four years... for the rest of your life. visa. supporting athletes and the olympic games for 25 years. people everywhere go with visa.

ask me how s and thei've never slept better.ars. [ male announcer ] why not talk to one of the six million people who've switched to the most highly recommended bed in america? it's not a sealy, a simmons, or a serta. ask me about my tempur-pedic. [ male announcer ] did you know there's tempur-pedic for everybody? tempur-pedic beds now come in soft, firm, and everything in between. ask me how i can finally sleep all night. [ male announcer ] tempur-pedic -- the most highly recommended bed in america. and now there's a new surprisingly affordable tempur-pedic. ask me about my tempur-pedic.

[ male announcer ] these real owners are talking about their new tempur simplicity beds. all the comfort and support of a tempur-pedic in a simple, clean design. ask me how it's just what we need. and nothing more. ask me what a step up this is from my spring mattress. ask me about a good night's sleep. [ male announcer ] the new tempur simplicity beds -- surprisingly affordable and all with a 10-year warranty. to learn more or find an authorized retailer near you, visit tempurpedic.com. tempur-pedic -- the most highly recommended bed in america.

recently, students from 31 countries took part in a science test. the top academic performers surprised some people. so did the country that came in 17th place. let's raise the bar and elevate our academic standards. let's do what's best for our students-by investing in our teachers. let's solve this.

there it is, folks. he's going to win because of voter i.d. that's the gop game plan important this election. and now they admitted it. last month i talked about voter i.d. with 93-year-old vivian applewhite. a woman who marched for civil rights with martin luther king but who now can vote because of this new republican law. >> i think that the reason that they won't decide -- this idea and everything is because -- there are so many of the black people that doesn't have i.d. and i think it is because they don't want obama in there so i

think that they are trying to do something to keep the black people from having the right to vote. >> the state estimates there are 96,000 voters like miss applewhite who could be turned away from the polls because they don't have valid photo i.d. other estimates put it much higher. in a tight election, that could be enough to make the difference. that's why gop lawmakers have passed voter suppression laws and half a dozen critical swing states over the last couple of years. states like florida, ohio, and virginia. republicans are trying to seize any advantage they can, even if it means taking away your right to vote. joining me now is state senator leader david leech and michael waldon. thank you both for joining me. >> thank you, reverend. >> good to be with you again.

>> senator, let me start with you. were you surprised when you heard your republican colleague slip and say that this about voter i.d.? >> well, i was surprised he said it but i was not surprised in what he said. because when we debated this several months ago i and others all made the case that this was about voter suppression. voter impersonation which is the only form of voter fraud that voter i.d. would address never occurs in pennsylvania. there is not one documented case of it in ten years. this was always about suppressing votes of the people that vote the wrong way. the numbers we have are closer to 700,000 voters. they include poor people, african-americans, handicapped people, senior citizens, students, all groups that conveniently enough happen to vote overwhelmingly democratic. behind closed doors, some of my republican colleagues would openly say that this was about. but i was surprised in the age of yousomeone would say it out loud like that. >> now, governor of pennsylvania, tom corbett,

michael, he defended the voter i.d. bill and let me show you what he says. >> contrary to some claims, this bill does not interfere with anyone's legal right to vote. it prevents people from cheating in our elections. some have argued that there is no evidence of voter fraud. i don't necessarily agree with that. this is -- a law of prevention. it is to prevent photo fraud. >> the facts are there is no voter fraud. there has been, in fact, the rate of voter fraud in pennsylvania since 1999 is 13 cases. no one has done more work in this area around the country than you have in the center. we have been dealing with this issue. tell us how you react to this pennsylvania legislator saying this and what are actual numbers around the country, how this could really determine this election? even though it is outrageous what he said he may be right.

>> you know, the classic definition of a gaffe is when a politician accidentally says something that's true by accident. it is as if he took truth serum. i don't know what he was thinking. but the reality is that there's no need for these laws but they are going to have a real tangible impact only voters. there are lots of people in this country that just don't have this form of government i.d. and our studies estimated it is about 11% of eligible voters around the country. now many of them will be able to vote. many will be able to get the ifshg d. a lot of them are old or unable to and simply won't. pennsylvania has fewer offices to get out free i.d.s than any other person in the country. it could be a real mess. we think it is illegal and we hope it is going to be overturn. >> now, you are absolutely right. that's why a lot of us are having to go and deal with these things. you know, senator, i interviewed an elected official from florida

about the i.d. laws in alabama when we were on a voter i.d. march down there earlier this year. let me show you what he said. first, the senator from alabama, i mean, from florida, and then let me show you discussing this in the middle of our voter i.d. march in alabama. >> we have accountability. we are not going to wait for fraud. government saw the time of waiting until there is a big problem. we don't need that. >> in the last three years, we have had three people convicted of voter fraud in bam. two in historically black counties, and what i am trying to do as a state representative is protect the sanctity of that vote. >> representative, do you -- you are cracking jokes. >> not at all. >> three people in three years. one a year. >> so admitting there is no widespread fraud, millions of people are voting and talking

about two, three people, they are going to change the laws and require people, senator, that will have to have government issued photo i.d., proof of citizenship, voter roll purges, shoerter early voting time periods. third period registration restriction. all of this is a solution for a problem that does not exist and i think your colleague said it best -- it is because they want to win an sxleks are going to try to overturn voter rights to do. >> it absolutely. the last time i was on your show, we showed a tape of corbin saying it was important to keep the vote in philadelphia down. too many people in philadelphia are voting. so we know what is behind this. it is important. people say why can't people get these i.d.s. one of the reasons is that these i.d.s are not free. the i.d. itself is free. the supporting documentation, you need a birth certificate, for example to get the voter i.d. depending where you are born, it

can be up to $50. so, you know, for people to afford that who are very poor, can't afford the transportation, sometimes three buses over a long distance to a voting -- penndot office to get the voter i.d. photograph, it is something then can't do. the great thing about voter suppression is that you don't have to suppress every vote. if you just suppress 30%, 40% of the vote, again, as you say, that will make a difference of hundreds of thousands of votes which in a close election can be all the difference. >> our concern is where do we go from here. i'm getting ready to do a voter i.d. tour around this issue. our fear is that we saw lines of people voting in '08 who had i.d. now they changed and it we may see lines of people turning it away. how do we avoid this? >> when n the short run we immediate do everything we can to make sure people get the i.d. if they can get it. we are challenging these laws in court. a lot of them are being pushed back. lot of them are being overturned.

that's for this election. over the long run, we can move past this partisan voting war. have a much better substitute for our ramshackle voting system. no other democracy runs the systems the way we do. if we modernize our voter registration, make sure the government had a list of everybody who was eligible to vote, it would add tens of millions of people to the roles and would cost less and for someone that's really worried about fraud, it solves that, too. we can do much better as a country. if you think about it this week, next week, it is really -- evocative. july 4, in philadelphia, signed the declaration of independence and said all men are created equal. haven't always lived up to that but that's the american ideal. that says that it is wrong to make it harder for any americans to vote. we all have a responsibility to do it. but it really goes to the core of what our country is about to fight this. i really believe. >> thanks to both of you for your time tonight.

>> coming up dark murder rates soaring in one of america northeast popular cities. it has everyone wondering why. the supreme court gets political and is worse than ever before. why americans need confidence in the court do the right thing. stay with us. with the spark cash card from capital one,

olaf's pizza palace gets the most rewards of any small business credit card! pizza!!!!! [ garth ] olaf's small business earns 2% cash back on every purchase, every day! put it on my spark card! [ high-pitched ] nice doin' business with you! [ garth ] why settle for less? great businesses deserve the most rewards! awesome!!! [ male announcer ] the spark business card from capital one. choose unlimited rewards with 2% cash back or double miles on every purchase, every day! what's in your wallet? diarrhea, gas or bloating? get ahead of it! one phillips' colon health probiotic cap a day helps defend against digestive issues with three strains of good bacteria. hit me! [ female announcer ] live the regular life. phillips'.

[ male announcer ] introducing new dentyne split to fit pack. it splits in to two smaller, sleeker packs that fit almost anywhere so you can take them everywhere. dentyne split to fit. practice safe breath.

trouble with a car insurance claim. [ voice of dennis ] switch to allstate. their claim service is so good, now it's guaranteed. [ normal voice ] so i can trust 'em. unlike randy. are you in good hands?

we are back on "politics nation" with a story about the huge jump in murders in one american city. in the country's biggest city, new york, the murder rate this year is falling. in los angeles, same thing. murder rate is also down. but what is happening in chicago? in the last year the murder rate skyrocketed. it is up 38% this year. 240 people have been killed this year in chicago. mostly in shootings. and it is making national headlines. on the front page of the "new york times" today. the question a lot of people are asking, what is happening in chicago? >> joining me now is illinois congressman davis. he is a democrat of cook county district includes chicago's west side where many of the shoot rings happening.

congressman davis, first thanks for your time tonight. >> well, thank you, reverend al. we are delighted to be here and i thank you for the tremendous work that you do. >> thank you. what do you see as the biggest factor in the homicide surge in chicago? >> well, i think that there are a number of factors. one, there is a tremendous gang problem. it is a resurgence of gang activity that has played chicago -- plagued chicago now for 25, 30 years. but also, some of it is simply unemployment, people frustrated because they can't find a job, also we have the aftermath of having a school system for a number of years that was not as productive as it could and should have been. we have hired more police. we redeployed police officers. we have combined together, but

i'm not sure that the police in and of themselves can necessarily do the job of reducing the murders. it really takes the whole community. many of our churches are now becoming more activated and more involved and i commend them for that. >> let me ask you this, congressman. i want to get to that in a minute. but -- in "the new york times" story that i referred to, some of the critics of the mayor, rahm emanuel, blame his budget choices. in fact, direct quote is -- mr. emanuel's critics blame his budget cloyss at least in part. and the budget choices have been consolidating of lee police districts, combined police and fire headquarters, cut police spending by $67 million. remove 1300 unfulfilled police positions. is there any merit to this criticism? >> i think one can certainly

look at it differently. i think we need every police officer on the streets that we can afford to have. >> at what point do the residents in the community take some responsibility? i mean, these gang members have parents, they are adults, leaders in the community. we complain when there are things done from the outside. at what time and what point do we take responsibility and star standing up and taking charge and raising our kids and taking responsibility in our own community along with the police and along with the mayor? >> i am a strong advocate of that approach and have been preaching it, i guess, for a number of years. but many of our young parents don't know much about parenting. and so we have to help them understand what it is that they need to do in order to become more effective parents. we have to go back, as my mother

would say in some instances, to the old landmark. >> yeah. >> old value systems. value systems that taught individuals to be respectful. >> and to be responsible. leave it there, congressman davis. we are going to keep watching this story and we are going to keep -- in touch with you on this. it is very important. and i -- i'm speaking as one who agrees with you. i was raised by a single parent but -- my growing up in poverty did not allow me to feel hi responsibility. i-didn't know i was poor until i got to sociology class in brooklyn college. thank you for being here tonight. >> thank you. all right.

recently, students from 31 countries took part in a science test. the top academic performers surprised some people. so did the country that came in 17th place. let's raise the bar and elevate our academic standards. let's do what's best for our students-by investing in our teachers. let's solve this. had kraft mac & cheese without me. so this time, i took precautionary measures. looking for these? [ rattling ] [ male announcer ] kraft macaroni & cheese. you know you love it.

it is a big week for the supreme court. and for our country. it is essential the american people have full confidence in the court. confirmation hearings back in 2006, chief justice john roberts had an admirable vision for the

top judge. >> judges are like umpires. umpires don't make the rules. they apply them. i will remember that it is my job to call balls and strikes and not to pitch or bat. chief justice should have as a top priority is to try to bring about a greater degree of coherence and consensus in the opinions of the court. >> sadly under chief justice roberts, the court has gotten more divided. nearly a quarter of all cases have been decided by 5-4 votes. 6% increase from the previous courts date back to 1946. at the same time, the court's conservative justices have grown more and more outspokenly political. yesterday antonio scalia took a detour from his dissent in the arizona immigration law to criticize president obama for his unrelated decision.

not to deport young immigrants. scalia said the founding fathers would have, quote, rushed to the exits after hearing the president's new immigration policies. scalia is not alone. remember justice samuel alito disagreeing when president obama correctly predicted what citizens united ruling would mean for our politics? >> the supreme court reversed a century of law that i believe will open the flood gates for special interests. including foreign corporations, to spend without limit. >> not true? spending from outside groups in presidential elections has skyrocketed since the 2010 decision. money from millionaires and billionaires is now flooding our political system and changing our politics. then there's justice clarence thomas who said that he and his

wife plead the same things. even though she publicly called for the repeal of the health care law. >> we love being with each other because we love the same things. we believe in the same things. we are focused on defending liberty. i admire her and love her for that. >> it is no wonder public opinion of the supreme court is down 16% since 2000. and then more than half of americans think the health care ruling will be decided on political views, not a legal analysis. americans deserve better. and this country needs better. we deserve the court that gave us rulings like brown versus the board of education. unanimous decision that ended segregation in our schools. now some will say but that was a decision you agreed with or that was political. no, it was a unanimous decision. it was not party again