i'm ed schultz. "politics nation" with reverend al sharpton starts right now. good evening. thanks to you for tuning in. tonight's lead, the gop's failure to relaunch. today republican congressman mo brooks is standing by his explosive claim that democrats and president obama are waging, quote, a war on whites. this morning despite outrage from the right and left and ridiculed on social media, congressman brooks refused to bow down. >> you have made a lot of news on the war on whites comment. >> yes. what i'm saying is the democrats have a political strategy where they try to appeal to the public based on skin color. >> the congressman didn't stop there.

accusing president obama of engaging in this so-called war. >> they are trying to demonize whites in order to get hispanics to vote democrat, in order to get blacks to vote dem, in order to get asian-americans to vote democrat. so when the president talks about how republicans hate that's part of the theme. >> the democrats are trying to demonize and divide us based on skin color. >> this ugly rhetoric has no place in our political discourse, let alone this the halls of congress. it's pushing the gop in exactly the wrong direction. here is what one of the gop elder statesmen, former senator bob dole said today. >> we've got no be an inclusive party. we can't say we don't need that group. we don't need that group. pretty soon there are no groups left. very few. not enough to be elected. >> the move toward extremism is

hurting the gop. yet they just can't stop. after the 2012 election, the republican national committee announced its big rebranding effort. vowing to win over women voters, young people. and minorities. new polling out today shows thethey are not even coming close. 33% of women have a favorable view of the gopment among young people it's only 32%. for hispanics, 29%. among african-americans, just 16% over favorable view of the party. the comments from mo brooks are outlandish and are a big problem for a party that desperately needs to re brabrand and find ae

tolerant inclusive agenda. joining me thousand, former pennsylvania governor ed rendell. thanks for joining us. >> good to be here. >> my pleasure. >> congressman cleaver, let's start with comments from your colleague on the other side of the aisle, congressman brooks. how did we get to a point where a member of congress is using this language? >> a wrong-headed comment by a member of congress is more wrong-headed because of the position he or she holds. the greatest enemy of congressional collegiality seems to be irreverent and irresponsible comments like those my colleague made. i go to the democratic caucus meeting. i'm a member of the naacp like membership. i go to the whip meeting.

i have never heard this strategy discussed. my i.q. would have to be about 6 to be in a minority and declare war on whites as some kind of means by which we'll take over -- what or when? it is an ignorant statement and does no good for the body politic oreg this nation. >> war on whites? is this as outlandish to you as it seems to me? >> absolutely. it's plain stupid. white income has grown far faster than african-american or hispanic income. >> absolutely. >> the unemployment rate for whites is far lower than it is for hispanics and blacks. it's important to societal advancement. whites have done better than african-americans or hispanics. so the congressman doesn't have facts to back up what he's saying.

it's motivated by the hate the congressman is dekraaiing. it's just plain scary. when i hear impeachment comments, war on whites comments, i say to myself, thank the lord. they are trying to lose this upcoming 2014 election. it's not just that they are being racially motivated, but they are just being crazy. they sound crazy. to the independent voters they have to worry about the party asking them to vote for them. >> when the congressman was talking it came to mind how people like you and i have gotten flak in the african-american community so they wanted to see the president do more directly for our economies. >> no question. >> not have a war on whites. i mean, this is so incredibly wrong that it also speaks to how

it is absolutely the opposite of attacks even many the african-american community. >> there are many african-americans including in the district i represent that say the president is too careful to avoid doing anything that he's leaning to one group or another. he's taken criticism, some unfairly, from african-americans. to some degree from latinos. that he tends to try desperately to walk between the rain drops so nobody can accuse him of leaning one particular way. these folks don't care about that.

it's trying to do it without getting wet that's difficult. let me say to you in 2012 the national republican committee said the gop had to change. "we have to do a much better job and -- let me just play it rather than read it. >> we have to do a lot better job and do a lot more to make up ground in minority communities. with women, and young voters. the report minces no words in telling us that we have to be more inclusive. i agree. >> that was over a year ago, governor. yet polls show republicans are actually losing ground with minorities, women and young voters. why is the gop having so much trouble turning itself around. >> well, because i don't think they control a significant segment of the party. call it the tea party. call it the crazy caucus or

whatever you want to call it. look at state-by-state, the war on oh women. they get crazy when we say war on women, but state after state they have tried to make it impossible for planned parenthood clinics to exist. only the federal courts stopped it from becoming a reality. there is legislation in michigan where i thought the governor was at least a moderate. he signed legislation requiring people who want to be protected, if their daughter or wife or themselves are raped by an assailant they have to have special rape insurance. it's not covered by normal health insurance. it's craziness. their words aren't reflected by the policies they are seeking either in state capitals or in the congress. the thing that precipitated congressman brooks, these are children being sent across the border to escape horrible situations. it doesn't matterer if they are

brown, white or black. we have tried to help people in trouble whose lives are in danger. we have to think like americans. they can put out all the white papers they want. they are simply not following in their actions. >> isn't that the problem, congressman? it is not just extreme rhetoric. it's the republican priorities. we see republicans pushing for voter i felt d. laws, calling for mass deportation of illegal immigrants. new abortion restrictions. they even blocked the fair pay act. even if republicans do scale back on the rhetoric, how can they appeal to more voter ifs their policies don't change? >> i think that's a fallacy in the thinking on the republican side. i had a conversation this past week with a republican friend of mine who's not one of the people and he said we have to reach out

to minorities. i said, what do you mean? he said, we have to participate in cinco de mayo events. i said, you don't get it. you have to change policies. all of the visiting the naacp convention annually won't attract policy. by the way, you know it better than me or as well as i. every great religion in this world says it differently. it comes down to do not hesitate to extend your arm of hospitality to strangers. if you want to do it on the basis of what's earthly right. there is no reason to separate people, particularly little children on the border.

>> particularly those that are christian know about how jesus talked about little children. i have to leave it there. congressman cleaver and former governor ed rendell. thank you for your time tonight. >> good to be with you. >> my pleasure. >> coming up, actions have consequences. congressman steve king gets into heated confrontation with immigration activists. listen to what he says. >> please, please. you're very good. stop a minute. >> i was raised in the united states. >> good. so you can uh understand the english language. >> where was rand paul going? he can run, but he can't hide from his record. plus, the man charged with murdering an unarmed teenager grilled on the stand today, hammering his self-defense story. what he said today is not what he said moments after killing ranisha mcbride.

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caught on camera, congressman steve king confronted in iowa by two immigration activists. will this be a long summer for republicans back home? that's next. first, we want to know what you think. please head over to our facebook page and join the conversation that keeps going long after the show ends. if energy could come from anything?.

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it's easy for lawmakers to get caught up in washington to ignore people. but actions have consequences. sometimes lawmakers come face to face with them. like in this video. two people brought to this country as children confront congressman steve king at an event in iowa. they are immigration activists and they wanted to know why he voted last week to end the program that let some undocumented young people stay in the u.s. >> my name is caesar. >> i have a quick question. i'm actually a dreamer myself. i'm from originally from mexico but i have been raised here. i graduated from university

here, arizona state university. i know you want to get rid of dacas. i want to give you the opportunity if you really want. you can go ahead and do that. you take my daca, you're going to take everything that right now i have accomplished. i did graduate from college. >> just a minute. this is not what i do. >> i don't understand why you want to do that. >> this is not what i do. i don't call you names. no, no. >> cantaloupes. >> you're very good at english. >> i was raised in the united states. >> so you can understand the english language. >> you're acting like i don't understand. >> you're saying something that's not true. >> what am i saying? >> i spoke of drug smugglers. you're not one of them, are you? >> do i look like a drug smuggler to you?

>> asking if she's a drug smuggler, telling her she's very good at english? it continued. >> i look at them and i think -- >> i wanted to serve my country after 9/11 as an american that i -- i came at 5 years old. i tried to enlist in the military. they rejected me. >> the law says you have to be an american or a green card to join the military. >> we are americans. >> why don't you want to abide by our laws? it troubles me a great deal that you have such disrespect for the laws of the united states of america. >> i love this country. >> you're telling me that you don't have to abide by the laws to fix this country. >> we are -- >> that really illustrate it is cruelty we are seeing in the republican party today. did you also catch what else is happening in the vid are owe? see the man in the background? it's senator rand paul. he's taking a nice big bite of oh what looks like a burger. once the conversation starts, he

wipes his face and he's gone. rand paul says he supports immigration reform, but apparently he doesn't want to talk about it. he's getting out of there. but apparently he didn't want to leave without his drink. will it be a long hot summer for republicans? their actions have consequences. joining me now are victoria difrancesca-sota. richard, what stands out to you. how offensive steve king was or the rand paul runaway? >> it's got to be steve king here. this reminds me of the town halls around health care. immigration is not going to go anywhere in terms of legislation. it is going somewhere with executive action. that's what the white house is signalling. these confrontations will happen through the midterm election

cycle. these members of congress cannot escape. >> rand paul is quick on his feet, even with a bite of hamburger there. people will be having to go face to face with the people they want to kick out of the country. >> what struck you more? the statements and questioning of congressman king or the fact that rand paul ran away? >> that's a tough one to pick between. i will go here with rand paul, namely because over the past couple of months, he's been trying to rebrand himself. he's trying to position himself as a softer republican, one of these compassionate conservatives who can speak to democrats, who can speak to the middle. who spoke at the naacp meeting. when the rubber meets the road, when these dreamers, the latinos want to speak and ask him about immigration he gets up and

literally runs away. this is an issue, immigration, that needs to be engaged. instead we see rand paul turn tail and run. it's a toss-up which is worse. i'm going with rand paul on this one. >> king said, you are very good at english. what do you make of that? >> it shows his hand in terms of what he thinks of latinos. he doesn't understand if you are an immigrant or of latino descent you can be just as american as the next person. he belies his ignorance in that regard. i think it was a little bit of an insulting factor. he wanted to belittle these extraordinary kids. they have graduated. one of the young men in the video is seeking to become a lawyer but he can't because of his documentation status. he can't take the bar. not just for steve king but to the republican party it shows their ignorance of latinos and

immigrants. >> after the confrontation, nbc news caught up with congressman king. he remained completely unsympathetic. listen to this. >> in mexico, a lawless country. they won't answer that but they know it is. is it a corrupt country? yes, it isment it is lawless. they won't admit it. why would you bring lawlessness to the united states of america? that's the question they cannot answer. why would we want to turn herk into a third world country and erode and destroy the rule of law. >> no sympathy at all. these are people p born, raised in america. no sympathy at all. how big of a problem is it for the gop? >> tuning in on the politics, what kind of american values are you broadcasting here? lots of people came from country where is the reason they were coming out of there, going to america is because it was better opportunity. you don't have the wave of immigrants that built this country. coming from prosperous places.

the underlying premise is these kids were spokes people for a lawless place. they were brought as children. lawlessness isn't trying to serve in the american military and being kicked out. that's not a definition of lawlessness. >> you talked about rand paul. i want to point something out. in june, he said, quote, i say everywhere i go i am for immigration reforment this is what he said. when the confrontation in iowa started he bolted. it would have been a perfect opportunity for him to say his peace. is he trying to have it both ways? >> he is, reverend. for me in life, actions speak louder than words. he didn't engage. not only the students but the

press surrounding him speaks loudly. he has the short-term vision in mind. he wants to get through the summer. he knows it will be difficult. when he goes back to kentucky people will be of an anti-immigrant bent. come 2016 he'll be eager to get the latino cross over vote. all the independent latinos that are frustrated with the democratic party. maybe very socially conservative. but, you know, we have a long memory. that clip will play over and over again of him running from the issue. >> steve king returned to a favorite talking point that the president is a king. listen to this. >> the president has violated the constitution, broken the rule of law. this should not be a country run by one oly -- one king, barack

obama deciding what the law should be. >> now that we are on vacation, break in congress and the members of congress are back in home districts, are we going to hear a lot more of this kind of rhetoric through the summer is this. >> we are. we are certainly going to hear it when the president makes more executive orders when it comes to immigration. if you're a member of the house republican majority. the majority that's been the check and balance on this president for the last four years then what do you think you're doing with your time if you think the president has unparalleled, unstoppable power? >> victoria s ohoto and richard wolf, thank you for your time. >> thank you. >> good evening, rev. >> still ahead, prosecutors grill the man who shot and killed ranisha hk bride on the porch of his home. did he change his story about the night she died? also, rush limbaugh has a new rant about liberals and the

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have you ever heard of aids? do you think that wasn't political? the left politicizes everything. they look at everything within the realm of whether or not it can move their agenda forward. maybe even be added to the agenda. >> really, rush? the left is politicizing ebola i guess mr. limbaugh would be shocked to hear what one republican said about children crossing the border. >> to the point about the medical aspects of this, he said, look, we need to know just from a public health standpoint with ebola circulating and everything else -- no, that's my addition to it, not necessarily his -- but he said we need to know the condition of these kids. >> a republican suggesting kids crossing the border might have ebola? looks like he just proved limbaugh wrong. did rush and the gang think we

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phillips' digestive health. a daily probiotic. testimony in the ranisha mcbride murder trial came to a close today as both sides rested their case. the man charged with murder, theodore wafer was back on the stand today testifying for ne nearly three hours. he was grilled over his self-defense claim. ranisha showed up on wafer's porch last november,drunk but unarmed. when wafer shot and killed her. this case is all about one thing -- did he act in self-defense? today, the prosecutor questioned him about the story he told police on the night of the shooting. you continuously told him the gun went off accidentally.

right? >> i don't think it says anything in there accidentally. >> the gun just went off. the gun just discharged. you were very clear that as soon as you saw this individual -- >> i shot. >> -- on your porch you levelled your gun, you pulled the trigger and you shot in self-defense. right? >> yes, i shot in self-defense. >> you're trying to have it both ways. i want to know what happened. this jury wants to know what happened. you either shot on purpose because you were in fear or the gun went off accidentally. which one is it? >> i shot in fear. >> so that means you shot on purpose. >> yes. just a reaction. self-defense reaction. to protect myself. >> self-defense reaction to protect yourself. you have a lot of buzzwords, mr.

wafer. >> that's how i felt about it. >> well, not that night, right? >> something i had to do to protect myself. >> you didn't feel that way that night, right? because you said the gun just went off. i don't know what happened. i didn't know it was loaded. the gun just went off, right? >> yes. >> what side will the jury believe? joining me now, prosecutor paul henderson and criminal defense attorney eric guster. thank you both for being here tonight. >> thanks for having us. >> paul, the prosecutors drilled down on this self-defense claim. how did they do? >> i think they did a great job. you heard he was saying he did what he had to do to defend himself and that just opens up a big can of worms for him. this killing was unreasonable, unjust and most importantly unnecessary. there is so much he could have done that he did not have to do. he could have called the police.

he could have dialled 911. he could have stayed behind a locked door. he could have called out to ask what she was doing because she was not trying to break in. he didn't. that's unreasonable how he acted and by his own words, i think he's hanging himself -- no pun intended because there is no death penalty here. i think they did a really good job of showing this defendant is all over the place and trying to categorize his behavior as fear -- now. when before it was purposeful. he was not remorseful. he was trying to allegedly defend himself. >> eric, his demeanor on the stand. you have done a lot of trials. was his demeanor helpful or harmful to him? >> extremely helpful. he was calm, told his story. the jury needed to hear his story. i know he has problems as far as him saying there was an accident or whether it was self-defense. hour his demeanor was perfect

for his self-defense claim. >> the prosecution went right after the self-defense story, specifically pointing to his 911 call that night. listen to this. >> yes, sir. >> the first chance you had to talk to my law enforcement or talk to 911, you said, i just shot somebody banging on my door, right? >> that's what it says, yesment. >> didn't say anything about a break-in, right? >> no, it didn't. >> didn't say anything about yourse you're afraid, right? >> no. >> in two interviews following the crime, wafer told police the shooting was an accident. listen to this. >> i open up the door kind of like who is this, and the gun discharged. i didn't know there was a round in there. it discharged and it -- upon -- unfortunately you know that

person was standing right there. just like that. she went off. i didn't expect it to go off. as paul was pointing out in two interviews right after the crime, one at the scene, the other the next day he said it was not -- he said that it just happened. the gun went off. didn't know it was loaded. doesn't he have to do the a -- have a real burden here to turn down his immediate thing that he said twice and what he said on the stand yesterday about he was scared and shot out of fear? >> that's a huge problem for him when he said it shot accidentally and then he said self-defense. he did say self-defense on a 911 call. on an interview with the police he said, i shot in self-defense because a person came from the side and i i was startled and i shot this person. then the totality of the circumstances with it being 4:00 a.m. in the morning, he said he was asleep.

couldn't find the cell phone because it was in his pants. that's why he couldn't call 911. those are reasonable inferences for this particular case. >> paul, i see you shaking your head. >> you know it's not reasonable. he said in his previous statements he wasn't going to cower. it was them or me. but the reality sven if there was fear it wasn't reasonable fear. he didn't act in self-defense. she could never bust through the screen. he levelled the gun at her and shot her in the face. this is not a fear case. this is a homicide. i hope the jury hears it and listens to discrepancies in how he describes it. he's contrite on the stand. >> let me play you where he talked about he would not cower. this is what he said to the jury. >> i could feel the floor vibrating, windows rattling. i don't know what's happening.

scared. >> have you ever felt this scared in your life? >> no. i didn't know where it was going. i thought somebody was coming through that door any time. >> why did you pull the trigger? to protect and save myself. it was them or me. at that moment. >> that's a problem. in this case this is not a straightforward case, reverend al. a man was in his house, startled, woke up and someone was outside. clearly, something happened to get his attention. he said on the 911 call there was banging at the door. not knocking but banging at the door which he thought someone was trying to break into his house. it's easy for us to play hindsight is 20/20, armchair quarterback and say he should

have done this or that. but it's what his reasonable fear was. if he had reasonable fear and the jury feels that any other person would be reasonably fearful in that situation and would use self-defense then he could be found not guilty. >> let me ask quickly, 30 seconds to both of you. what do the prosecution and the defense have to do in summation? let me start with you, paul? what do they have to do? >> step one is was it really fear? i don't believe that it was really fear. step two is was that fear reasonable and i don't think that fear was reasonable. you don't get to use deadly force when you see a black person on your porch because you are afraid. that's not reasonable. he had other options available to him. >> eric? >> i don't think this is about a black person on your porch or not. this is a case about a person who was startled. he was awakened by someone banging on his door at 4:00 a.m. he was nervous, reverend al.

i can see a jury not convicting him. i don't think we'll get a verdict in this one. >> it goes to summation. your prediction is you think it will be a hung jury? >> i do. >> what do you think, paul? >> i think the jury will hear his different versions, see his contrite attitude on the stand while he's in danger and play it against what he said before when he wasn't crying, wasn't sad, when he was just telling the story. i think they will see beyond it, hold him accountable and hold him guilty. that's when we'll see real justice. >> i think we'll see which one of you are right. we are definitely going to follow this case. paul henderson and eric gusta, thanks for your time. >> thank you. >> a new report says the wealth gap is slowing economic growth. why should we be working and why should we not be coming together to fix this? and history made in

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i believe this is the defieng challenge of our time. making sure our economy works for every working american.

a child's course in life should not be determined by the zip code he's born in but by the strength of his work ethic and the scope of his dreams. >> the defining challenge of our time. a crisis that threatens both our democracy and our economy. here is the chart we have shown before. this blue line shows the income growth of the bottom 20% over the last few decades. now here is the income growth of the richest 1%. that gap is unfair and un-american. and now even wall street types are realizing that it's also actually hurting the economy. a new report from standard & poor's concludes that income inequality in the u.s. is dampening gdp growth. it also discourages trade,

investment, and hiring. it threatens the ability of the economy still struggling to recover from the recession. again, that's not my opinion. that's standard & poor's, a company that's worked in wall street for 150 years. this is a wake-up call for all of us. to work together and stand together to tackle this problem. and work on solutions together to fill the gap. joining me now is j.j.vicop, senior president of the american federation of government employees, representing 650,000 federal and d.c. workers. thanks for being here, j. david. >> great to be with you. >> doesn't this report show that everyone has an interest in closing the income gap? >> oh, definitely. when i read the report i thought if we would only raise the

minimum wage, 5 million people would move from poverty into a better life. >> conservative lawmakers based their agenda on villifying government and government workers. watch this. >> reagan said government isn't the answer to the problem. government is the problem. >> this is what it feels like to take on washington. this is what it feels like to take on the ine are rtia of big government. >> too much government leads to bad government. >> what's your response? >> number one, reverend al, government does great things in this country right now someone is caring for a veteran at their bedside, taking care of men and women. people are inspecting the food,

processing social security checks. the greatest defender of raising people out of poverty, the anti-panti- p poverty program this country has had. >> the huffington post reported that the obsession with cutting government is slowing down our economy. federal spending cut into gdp for 11 of the past 12 quarters. when congressional republicans starting holding the government hostage in exchange for painful austerity measures. doesn't this show cutting government isn't a solution to the problem? it is the problem? >>. >> it's clearly the problem. over half a million government jobs have been lost since the recession started. i'm talking school teachers, police officers, firefighters, people that process social security checks, all of oh those type jobs have been lost.

those people are job creators. they do good things with the money. >> talk about losing jobs. another concern. your union is concerned about a new plan to close social security offices across the country. you told me on my radio show. what effect would that have? >> clearly, reverend al. these are community offices throughout the country. 43 million people visited social security offices throughout our country last year seeking advice on how to apply for social security benefits. it would be devastating to people that need the benefits. >> so the people that need the benefits, those offices closing, they would have nowhere really to get assistance unless they were in a position to do what, go online or be tech-wise in terms of using technology? >> yes, sir. going online. 17 million seniors do not have

internet access, do not own a computer. it would be very, very difficult. making a decision about your social security benefits requires a lot of information. it's something that can affect you the rest are of your life. >> wow. j. david cox, thank you very much for your time tonight. >> thank you. great to be with you. >> still ahead, a special night at the white house. the vips are arriving for the africa summit dinner. after a big announcement from president obama. ups is a global company, but most of our employees live in the same communities that we serve. people here know that our operations have an impact locally. we're using more natural gas vehicles than ever before.

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better. i want african-americans buying more american products. i want americans buying more african products. i know you do, too, and that's what you are doing here today. the united states is determined to be a partner in africa's success. a good partner, equal partner and a partner for the long term. we don't look to africa for its natural resources. we recognize africa for its greatest resource which is its people, its talents and their potential. >> after all the business comes the fun. the president will be hosting a dinner tonight. you can see the arrivals happening now. the guests will be treated to lionel richie who is headlining tonight. tomorrow it's back to work for the final day of the conference. i shared with those in washington yesterday, including the president, for the last 20 years that i have traveled to different parts of africa. i have always seen china and others seemed to be further

ahead than the united states and united states companies in trading, and in doing things to build africa. africa is an opportunity, an opportunity that finally, it looks like, some will engage seriously thanks to this president. thanks for watching. i'm al sharpton. "hardball" starts right now. counter suit. let's play "hardball." good evening. i'm chris matthews in washington. let me start with what caused a big remarkable reaction last night. i'm talking about the idea of the president turning the tables and suing what he calls this don't do nothing congress. they sue him. people think they should do what i talked about last night, sue them back. many think suing the