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tv   Politics Nation  MSNBC  September 18, 2014 3:00pm-4:01pm PDT

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out of the senate. this is going to delay in the eyes of some our security. it's an amazing development. got to run, i appreciate your time tonight. thanks so much. that's the story at this hour. that's "the ed show." "politicsnation" with al sharpton starts right now. >> good evening and thanks to you for tuning in. i'm live tonight in cincinnati. we start with breaking news on capitol hill. the senate is voting on president obama's plan to train and arm moderate syrian rebels who are fighting the terrorist group isis. the house past the plan last night. the vote comes after a day of startling headlines about isis, suggesting the group's reach goes far beyond the middle east. early this morning, australian police arrested 15 people, stopping what they described as an isis plot. one man has already appeared in
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court. >> he was ordered to behead random people in public. >> searches were conducted across the suburbs of sydney, that included in excess of 800 officers. it's the largest operation of its type undertaken in australia's history. >> it's a serious concern right at the heart of our communities, we have people that are planning to conduct random attacks. today we've worked together to make sure that that didn't happen. >> the australian raid comes just days after u.s. prosecutors indicted a new york man on charges of attempting to provide financial support to isis and recruit others to fly to syria to join them. clearly the threat is serious. and the obama administration is already taking decisive action. with the u.s. military carrying out two more air strikes today against isis in iraq, one
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targeting a large group of terrorists on the ground. this is an issue of national security. it shouldn't be about politics. but when secretary of state john kerry testified at a house hearing on isis today, some republicans jumped at the chance to take cheap shots at the president. >> the president doesn't have the will to do all that is necessary in iraq and syria. >> the obama mistake, the benghazi cover-up -- >> an indication he may not accept radical islam is something that does exist. >> bringing up benghazi, claiming the president doesn't have the will to do what's next. these tactics are childish and they belittle the serious work this administration is doing to keep americans safe. joining me now, congresswoman karen bass, democrat of california, and former
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pennsylvania governor ed rendell. thank you both for being here. >> thank you. >> good evening. >> congresswoman, you were in that hearing today. i mean, what do you think when your republican colleagues went after the president in the discussion on isis? >> well, i think truth be told, i think they can't help themselves. but i do have to tell you that i don't think that characterized the overall hearing. and then the proof is in the pudding. the vote happened yesterday and it's very clear that the majority of congress supported the president's proposal. and so i think that characterizes the entire situation. >> governor, the american people support action against isis but not ground troops. and that's the president's approach. so why are so many republicans going out of their way to criticize him? >> they're wrong. they misread the american people. the things that you talked
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about, bringing up benghazi at the hearing like this, that sickens the american people. we used to be a country when we were threatened abroad or at home, we unified together, put partisanship aside. i think that's what the people would like to see. so i think the republicans are hurting themselves by doing this, maybe even hurting themselves for the november election. but more importantly, everyone seems to forget, the republicans who say, we should do more, shouldn't rule out putting troops on the ground, we can't be successful if we don't put troops on the ground, they forget the lesson of kosovo. in kosovo, using air power, we defeated an entrenched government, we brought down an entrenched government without losing one american fighting man or woman. we didn't lose a pilot, we didn't lose a plane. it was a tremendously successful venture. and i believe air power with the type of things the president is doing in terms of terrorism, can be successful. >> you know, congresswoman,
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defense secretary chuck hagel said the pentagon signed off on a plan for striking isis in syria. he's approved it, but president obama hasn't agreed yet. we've launched about 180 air strikes on isis targets in iraq. how critical is this next phase? >> well, i think the next phase is very critical, because, you know, everybody has seen the treachery of isis and then you reported earlier about the potential group in australia and what they were trying to do. we've also heard about people being recruited in the united states. so that's something that is deeply troubling to me. i think that there needs to be absolutely comprehensive approach and we need to look at what we can do to stop people from wanting to get involved and being recruited. you've even seen new stories about young women who are going over and offering themselves as
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brides. so this needs to be stopped and it needs to be stopped worldwide. >> governor, the vote to arm the rebels is frankly a complicated one for many people on both sides of the aisle. but even many republicans are criticizing the hawks in their own party who want boots on the ground. listen to senator rand paul and what he said today. >> the interventionist clamor for boots on the ground, we should remember, they were wrong about iraq. they were wrong about libya. they were wrong about syria. when will we quit listening to the advocates who have been wrong about every foreign policy position of the last two decades? >> i mean, governor, why are the hawks in the gop still prominent after their failure in places like iraq? >> i don't think they are. i don't think they have the ear of the american people, rev. i think the american people are solidly against putting american troops on the ground to fight
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this war, solidly for air power, solidly for steps to degrade isis and to stop terrorism. there's no question. and again, the republicans look foolish. and to our democrat who voted against the president, remember kosovo. when the president said we're going to do this without boots on the ground, he can mean it, he can enforce it, he can implement it. the fact that general dempsey came and said we might use boots on the ground, it doesn't matter. because under the constitution of the united states, it matters only what the president, the commander in chief says, and president obama has been crystal clear. we're not putting american fighting troops on the ground. >> but also -- >> but congresswoman, there are reports that around 100 americans are fighting with isis. >> right. >> secretary kerry addressed that issue today. i want to play this. >> what i want to make certain
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is that anybody who has a passport returns in handcuffs, not through customs with their passport, and that's our goal. >> how does the u.s. deal with americans that are sympathizing with isis, congresswoman? >> well, i think we need to get to the bottom of it in those communities. we certainly know there are communities where people have been recruited from, and the fact that they're that disaffected, that alienated, we need to really reach out into those communities and find out what's driving this. i think it's critically important that we stop this. so i think we need to do some soul-searching, get involved in those communities and see what's driving this, and do everything we can to stop it. i just think that's one of the worst parts about this. and it's also one of the most dangerous. so it's not like isis is going to invade the united states. but clearly, if people are being recruited from here and go over
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there, what is to stop them from coming back here? that's the danger here inside of the united states. it might even be from our own citizens. >> isn't that, governor, the difference between the potential in syria and iraq, then kosovo, that isis is a different type of enemy, and that you have the whole politics with assad in syria and all, isn't there? differences here than we faced in kosovo? >> there's no question. i used kosovo to show that air power can be successful in degrading, and in that case, really bringing down a government. so you can't underestimate the power of air power. with the intelligence.
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99.9% of the muslim community is against this. you cannot in the name of religion behead an innocent person. that's not islam, it's not christianity, it's not judaism. and the american muslim community is standing firm against isis. >> that's an important point, thank you. thank you both of you for your time tonight. we're watching the senate vote on arming syrian rebels against isis. we'll bring you the results of that vote as soon as we have them. still ahead, breaking news on chris christie and the bridge gate scandal. we'll tell you about sources close to the feds, and what they're saying about the investigation. also tonight, yet another nfl player arrested for domestic abuse. our brand new poll reveals whether americans think the league has fumbled its response to the scandal.
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and how police are ramping up the search for an accused cop killer with anti-government history. stay with us. you drop 40 grand on a new set of wheels, then... wham! a minivan t-bones you. guess what: your insurance company will only give you 37-thousand to replace it. "depreciation" they claim. "how can my car depreciate before it's first oil change?" you ask. maybe the better question is, why do you have that insurance company? with liberty mutual new car replacement, we'll replace the full value of your car. see car insurance in a whole new light. liberty mutual insurance.
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big news tonight on the chris christie bridgegate scandal. breaking news from inside the investigation. that's next.
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this is holly. her long day of outdoor adventure starts with knee pain. and a choice. take 6 tylenol in a day or just 2 aleve for all day relief. onward! breaking news tonight and it's a big one.
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wnbc reporting just moments ago, federal officials say they have found no evidence that governor christie had any advance knowledge of, or involvement in, the shutting down of traffic lanes leading to the george washington bridge. now, officials do caution the investigation is not yet complete. but it's been ongoing since this news exploded back in january. and so far, it's turned up nothing. no doubt about it, this is good news for governor christie. since the nation learned about the infamous e-mail about traffic problems, governor christie has said he didn't know about it. tonight's news, so far, they have nothing proving otherwise.
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joining me now, michelle and crystal ball. michelle, your reaction to the news? how big is this politically? >> well, christie is certainly going to come out and say he's vindicated, and that the legislative panel that's been looking into this, that he was criticizing earlier, needs to wrap it up. there's nothing the republican base enjoys so much as the idea that one of their own is being persecuted. so he could make good use of this. >> crystal, i mean, this could be a huge political boost for the governor and even into his rumored looks at 2016. what do you think? >> yeah, and what folks are saying, he has never stopped thinking 2016 was a possibility. never stopped planting those seeds. so he certainly will try to use this news to great effect and i think michelle is absolutely right, a few things that the republican base love more than
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the media in their view, unfairly attacking someone, so he'll try to use that for all it's worth. but throughout this, and i think we've said this all along, even if it comes out he had no advance knowledge, didn't know what was going on, there's a lot of questions there about the culture in the office where folks who were so close to him could have orchestrated this lane-shutdown in seemingly retribution, political punishment. we still don't understand exactly what that political punishment was in relationship to. so still a lot of questions here, but absolutely good news for him. he will try to say, you know, he's been vindicated that, that this shouldn't stick with him at all. but i do think that there are general issues of culture and corruption and being a bully that are unresolved, that will stick with him regardless. >> well, but michelle and i
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agree that there's legitimate questions of the culture, but was the opponents, was many of us that are critical of him, did it become so overplayed that the fact that they may have found nothing on him, may overshadow those that would look at the culture? is it that the opposition overran the runway on this, or will people be able to step back and look at, but it doesn't clear the culture and the possibilities that people on his staff may have done wrong. >> i think it's going to come down to your political tendencies anyway. people who were completely convinced that christie was up to something, and that he was a bully are going to look at this and say, yeah, well, maybe he didn't know, but it doesn't change the kind of broader issue. whereas people who tend to be sympathetic and inclined to like christie, are going to say, see, we told you he was just being punished because people don't
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want him to run in 2016 and give the democrats a real battle here. so i think it will depend on how you lean anyway politically. >> now, but crystal, he still has a long way to go, because there's still port authority, there's still the hurricane sandy funds, so we're not talking about everything is over here. >> sure. >> and we're talking about some aids that were very close to him. we're not hearing reports they've been cleared. >> yeah and the tough thing politically for him is not only do you have this investigation lingering around him, but you also have a state that hasn't done well compared to the rest of the nation in jobs. a lot of his budget prowess that he was so proud of, has crumbled and he's been on a step with the republican party on a number of issues. so even if they're inclined to
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forgive him these allegations, i think he has a tough argument to make that he is the tough governor he initially was portrayed as. >> here's a recent poll about the potential 2016 gop field. former governor mike huckabee is at 21%, followed by paul ryan at 12%. governor christie is near the bottom at 6%. what does today's news due to christie's reputation among republicans in iowa and elsewhere? >> well, you know, with the iowa republicans, they like their social conservatives, but i'm not sure christie's problems with bridgegate, even without those, that he would be doing fantastically in iowa. that's the part of the base he has trouble with. so the question is now, whether or not he can play the victim card such that he rallies the base around him. this is pretty effective. you can see rick perry out on
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the trail doing something very similar with his indictment in his home state. this kind of partisan, you know, targeting message really works well and it could actually help christie. >> now, the big one would be if he were to run and go through the nomination, if he faced the presumed democratic nominee, which most people feel is hillary clinton if she runs. a match-up between clinton and chris christie, 47% would vote for hillary clinton, 41% would goat for chris christie. if he comes out playing a victim, that's not a wide margin. assuming both run and both are nominated, does he give her a better challenge than others in the field that we are looking at in the field of the republican
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party? >> i think chris christie is a phenomenally talented politician. i think it is remarkable that he was able to win as much of the vote and from as broad a coalition in new jersey as he did. although with the tactics that were used to gain that pipt coaliti -- bipartisan coalition. he's very skilled. and before the bridgegate scandal and before the budget fell apart in new jersey and him having those sorts of issues, before we really zoomed in on the fact that the job creation numbers there hasn't been very good either, i thought he would be the most formidable republican opponent. i think it's hard for him to make the case that he would really be an effective executive at the federal level. >> so, could he run on this, michelle? is this enough of a bump, given
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the rest of the thing's that kriftal is outlining, to raise money and go for it? >> i don't think he ever really had to make a big argument about why he needs to run. everybody's out there running. the question for him has always been, can he get through the nomination process with a base that's suspicious of him on a number of levels on various issues? i think this probably does help him with that, but it doesn't touch at all on what happens if he makes it through the generals. >> all right, well, i'm going to leave it there. but i don't care how we cut it, it's a big news and a good news for the governor. >> absolutely. >> michelle and krystal, thank you for your time tonight. >> and catch krystal on the cycle weekdays at 3:00 p.m. eastern right here on msnbc. a pennsylvania trooper is laid to rest today as the massive manhunt for his killer
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continues. tonight a new twist in that manhunt and more on what authorities are calling anti-government leaning. plus, another nfl player arrested on domestic abuse charges and is raising new questions for roger goodell and the nfl. we'll raise the question tonight. stay with us. power plant in the country to combine solar and natural gas at the same location. during the day, we generate as much electricity as we can using solar. at night and when it's cloudy, we use more natural gas. this ensures we can produce clean electricity whenever our customers need it. ♪ where the reward was that what if tnew car smelledit card and the freedom of the open road?
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ballot, republican pat roberts leads by two points over independent candidate greg orman. but take a look at this, with taylor off the ballot, orman leads roberts 48-42. republicans never counted on losing kansas. and with news tonight, it's a major blow for them. to be continued. [ crickets chirping ] but did you know that the lack of saliva can also lead to tooth decay and bad breath? [ exhales deeply ] [ male announcer ] well there is biotene. specially formulated with moisturizers and lubricants, biotene can provide soothing relief and it helps keep your mouth healthy, too. [ applause ] biotene -- for people who suffer from dry mouth. [ female announcer ] we love our smartphones. and now telcos using hp big data solutions are feeling the love, too.
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a massive manhunt continues in pennsylvania with a cop killer on the loose. and a community on high alert. the shooting suspect, eric frein, is now a federal fugitive after he allegedly ambushed two police officers on friday night, killing one and seriously wounding the other. police announced today frein has been added to the fbi's ten most wanted fugitive list.
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as the search for the alleged killer intensifies, local schools were shut down again today, and people in the community are on edge. >> it's very rural. there could be bunches of places he could be if he's hiding. >> i believe that with this person on the loose, that everybody is not safe. there isn't a person that's safe. >> today, 40 miles away from the scene of the crime, the officer was laid to rest. hundreds of police lined the streets as the community paused to remember the trooper gunned down. frein was an experienced sharpshooter. his father says he quote, doesn't miss. but police had a warning for frein. >> in the event you are listening to this broadcast on a radio, while cowering in some cool damp hiding place, i want you to know one thing, eric, we are coming for you.
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it is only a matter of time until we bring you to justice for committing to cowardly act. >> there are still very few details about the alleged shooter. is this a case of a lone wolf? or was frein motivated by something else. day six of the search and a town on edge. there are still more questions than answers in this case. joining me now, ryan lind of the southern poverty law center and jim cavanaugh, a retired atf agent who played major roles in the five-year hunt for olympic park bomber eric rudolph, and the washington, d.c. sniper. thank you both for being here. >> thank you, reverend. >> thank you for having me. >> jim, basics of the search, people believe frein is still in the state. do the odds go up or down that they'll find him the longer it takes? >> well, i think he's likely
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there, reverend al. his plan looked a little bit busted because he got his four-wheeler mird in the mud in this pond. that happens to these guys. he may be a great marksmen, but not a good four-wheeler. he got that thing caught up in there and his plan sort of changed. so if he's gone into the mountains on foot and not obtained another vehicle, they're hoping to have him hemmed in there, and squeeze him down with the tactical teams from the state police, and the fbi, and the county s.w.a.t. teams, to squeeze him down and keep him in there and hope he doesn't bust through the gauntlet. >> when you say "squeeze him down," what exactly are they doing? >> the way they do it, they set up a center and all the big commanders are there and investigators. they track the leads, every tip
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that comes in, that might be his whereabouts. a sighting, a man in camouflage, it comes to the command center. but the s.w.a.t. and special response team, those are the same thing with different names. they're put out in certain areas that he might frequent or done activities in, they'll be trying to find him. they have long rifle teams, special rural operations who are very good at that, certainly in the federal service and the state police as well who operate a lot in rural environments. so we can squeeze him down and locate him. there's a big danger that he can set an ambush. he's playing soldier, he's done this before -- >> that's what i want to ask you. i want to show you pictures again of frein with his rifle. how do police go about trying to catch him if he's such a good shooter? >> well, they hope to find him
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by seeing him first, because the teams will lay still, maybe by air, with infrared radars, night planes and helicopters might be able to locate him. locate him first before he sees you, then you can get stand-off distance enough to squeeze him down correctly. but he's going to want to lay ambushes, so i'd want to interview the people he's worked with for and say, what kind of imu ambushes did he lay, and maybe you can get ahead of him a little bit. >> ryan, let me go with you, the southern poverty law center reports, quote, it's at least the third deadly ambush of north american police officers by apparent anti-government extremists since the beginning of the summer. the attacks have left six officers dead from canada to las vegas. the southern poverty law center has been tracking this increase
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in anti-government fringe groups over the last several years. why are you seeing this surge? >> well, i think the surge is largely a result of a feeling that the country is changing. they feel that with obama in the white house, progressive politics at work and they feel need for reaction. it tends to follow history. >> now, the sovereign citizens movement is a loose group of people with anti-government leaning. the movement has its roots in posse comitatus and they reject federal, state, and municipal laws. they believe all taxation is illegitimate. and the fbi classified them as a domestic terrorist movement. right now, there's no evidence, none, showing frein is affiliated with this movement, but he has expressed anti-government and anti-police
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sentiments, according to police. >> right. >> but there's been an increase in sovereign citizen movements since 2010. what can be done about these kinds of groups? >> frein has expressed anti-government views. amid this anti-government movement we've been tracking for years, there has been this widespread perspective on law enforcement that they are not the keepers of the peace, but the army of a totalarian government. so people would target law enforcement and that's becoming apparent, that's a reaction to this idea that the federal government is evil in some respects. >> you know, jim, you've dealt with a lot of these cases. what is it like for the community? how does the community deal with these kinds of things? because i noticed some are
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refusing to be intimidated. watch this. >> i don't think that our life should be altered. yes, they should take precaution, definitely. but, no, i don't believe they should close the schools. i think we should just go on. because then he is winning, that's what he wanted. >> that gives him some kind of sick ego boost. i really think that would be the case. and if he can hear any of this, i'm sure he feels he's winning at some point, and he's not going to win. i have faith in the law enforcement. >> i mean, how can people feel safe? you see these people not intimidated. how do people feel safe in the community under this kind of situation, jim? >> well, what they got to do, reverend al is what they're doing, being alert, but not alarmed and scared. take the proper measures. i think it's prudent some schools have closed for a period
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of time. i think we should give law enforcement authorities a chance to try to locate frein. and that may come in the short-term. it may come in the next week. so we shouldn't worry too much about his feelings. we should be worrying about the safety of all the children, the people that maybe work at courthouses. law enforcement officers are duty-bound to go after him, and they're going to do that, but they're armed and trained and they have the equipment. so they'll go after him. be smart, there's no reason -- i think people in eastern pennsylvania are doing the right thing and hopefully he'll be caught in short order. >> jim -- i'm sorry. ryan lenz and jim kelvin, thank you both for your time tonight. >> thanks, reverend. breaking news, the senate has voted, 73-22, to authorize president obama's plan to arm moderate syrian rebels in the fight against isis.
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the senate vote did not go along party lines. with senators as different as elizabeth warren and rand paul voting no, while democratic and republican leaders voting yes together. the house passed the plan last night. it will now go to the white house for the president's signature. still ahead, the growing nfl scandal. another player arrested for domestic abuse. and new questions tonight about why a billion dollar business gets to operate as a non-profit. stay with us. sweet! spicy! savory! enjoy it all... 'cause red lobster's one and only endless shrimp is now! endless choices! endless variety! kick it up with our spicy new wood-grilled sriracha shrimp and it's back: parmesan crusted shrimp scampi! the year's largest variety of shrimp flavors! so many to explore! as much as you like, any way you like! endless shrimp is here!
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. break. breaking news, president obama is going to make a statement on the senate isis vote in just a few minutes at 7:00 p.m. eastern time. the senate passing that resolution just moments ago. the house passed it last night. he'll be speaking from the state dining room at the white house. you can watch it live right here on msnbc. but we have developing news tonight with the nfl. scandals have dominated headlines for weeks, and tonight we're hearing directly from the american people. a new poll showing just 27% approve of the nfl's handling of the recent domestic violence
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allegation. 53% disapprove. this comes as arizona cardinals player jonathan dwyer was arrested last night for allegedly headbutting his wife and breaking her nose back in july. and throwing a shoe at the 18-month-old son. dwyer denies allegations. the team deactivated him and the nfl will be reviewing the case. this month, four players have been suspended over allegations of violence. each time, owners, officials and coaches have said it's all about doing the right thing. >> i know the league is very judicious, work hard to do the right thing. >> our goal is to do the right thing. >> we constantly strive as an organization to do the right thing. >> but tonight, the questions about what the right thing means
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continues to pile up for commission roger goodell. new criticism about the 49ers leading ray mcdonald play despite domestic violence accusations. in congress, senator corey booker is asking why the nfl is a tax-exempt organization. and tonight, americans want answers. joining me now is dave siren, sports editor for the nation. and joy taylor, co-host of the vase low and joy radio show on 104.3, the ticket. thank you both for joining me. >> thank you. >> thank you, rev. >> joy, how much pressure is on the nfl to address concerns americans still have? >> a lot of pressure. they're getting a great deal of attention, as they should, and i really believe it's mostly
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because it started with the ray rice situation and them being so light on him, despite how gruesome the video was, even the first video, showing him pulling her, you know, unconscious body out of the elevator. i believe if they had handled this properly from the beginning, there wouldn't be so much pressure on them right now. roger goodell is nowhere to be found and people want answers, as they should. >> dave, what do you think? how much pressure is on the nfl? >> well, there's enough pressure that roger goodell is right now in dick cheney's bunker. nobody's seen roger. he has disappeared from the scene. this is classic scandal management that the nfl is trying to do. they're getting roger goodell out from in front of the cameras, and instead what they're doing is trying to show everybody, as you said, reverend, that they just want to do the right thing, without actually saying what the right thing is. and i think this is because the nfl owners want to defend roger goodell, they want him to stay commissioner. he's made them a ton of money.
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and we need to keep our eye on the ball as a public and keep asking these two very important questions. the first, what did roger goodell know and when did he know it? he still hasn't answered that question about the ray rice video. how irresponsible and derelict has he been in dealing with domestic violence? and the second question, to what degree is the violence and head injuries and painkillers on the field a contributing factor to the domestic violence taking place off the field? >> joy, calls are growing for the commissioner to speak out as dave was saying. respected nfl reporter peter king says today, it's past time, commissioner. quote, the league is in chaos, and america needs to hear from him. i believe he certainly should have spoken by now. a good start would be for goodell to hold an all-comers press conference, no holds barred. answer everything. it's past time. i want to hear from both of you
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on this. what do you think? will he talk, joy? >> well, he has to at some point. eventually he has to say something. i believe if he came out and did something like that, just had a press conference and was just open and answered all the questions and accepted fault for the situation, it would soften the public's anger toward him. it just seems like they're hiding something and trying to treat the situation as if it's just going to go away. it's really arrogance in my opinion, because it's like the nfl doesn't feel like the rules that apply to everyone else apply to them. and that's just not the case anymore, with social media, with the different media outlets that are available to the public, people get information and you can't handle things the way that you used to and just put out a lie and hope nobody finds out. people will find out. i think that is the feeling fans and people are feeling. they're not getting the whole truth. and for all the money and support that people pour into the nfl, it feels a bit unfair. >> oh, i agree with joy.
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>> dave? >> yeah, i agree with joy so much. he has to get in the hot light and answer some of these questions. the reason he's reticent to do so, he's got a little bit of the george w. bush problem. every time he opens his mouth, he puts a silver foot in it, and it doesn't come out well when he tries to articulate. today a spokesperson for the nfl put out a statement in the "new york times" and he talks about the role of the female in the national football league. they use this language coming from 1952. they don't know how to community with the 21st century audience on issues of domestic violence, racism, and certainly not on the issues of head injuries. they're deflecting and roger goodell looks worse every time he opens his mouth. >> yeah, but on the same poll, joy, more on this nbc poll, the question was raised, should nfl
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commissioner roger goodell resign? 29% said yes. 43% said no. so americans don't like the way this is going, but don't want him to go. i mean, is this what you're hearing on the radio? >> oh, no. a lot of people are calling for roger goodell to resign, but it's not our choice. the fact of the matter is, he makes the nfl a ton of money. that is the most important thing. we all know money is the bottom line. it's why none of the bsponsors have actually pulled out yet. because that audience is huge. and roger goodell is a big part of that. so him handling these issues poorly does not reflect on the bottom line and the numbers. and that's why i don't feel like he will go anywhere. even though i feel like he's handled the situation terribly and not done the right thing at any point, he still makes them a lot of money. >> dave, i have to go to you on this. this has put a renewed focus on
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why the nfl is a non-profit group and why the nfl has a tax-exempt status. here's the league's office revenue in 2011. $255 million. and here's the taxes they paid. zero. dave, i know you covered this story for a long time. the league's under a microscope now. will this change? >> well, i'll tell you what, i'm really glad that corey booker, senator booker is asking the question. i don't know if corey booker, senator booker would like the answer for why the nfl keeps its tax-exempt status. it's because the nfl has a pact that spent $1.4 million in the last two election cycles. they employ 26 full-time lobbyists in washington to make sure they keep their tax-exempt status. it dates back to the 1960s. it was put in a foreign aide
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bill and pushed through by two louisiana politicians who made a deal under the table with then commissioner to deliver the saints as the next nfl team. this is a very dirty story that expresses everything that's dirty about washington, d.c. politics and the national football league. and i believe in what dr. king said, that sun light is the best disinfectant. let's talk about why they have tax-exempt status. it speaks about so much that's wrong in washington. >> thank you both for your time tonight. coming up, we'll hear from president obama in just a few minutes on the senate passing his plan on isis. stay with us. [ female announcer ] we help make secure financial tomorrows a reality for over 19 million people. [ susan ] my promotion allowed me to start investing
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this is awkward. go to comcastbusiness.com/ checkyourspeed. if we can't offer faster speeds or save you money we'll give you $150. comcast business built for business. president obama due to speak in just a few moments on his plan to arm moderate syrian rebels in the fight against isis. we'll go live to the white house next.
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if energy could come from anything?. or if power could go anywhere? or if light could seek out the dark? what would happen if that happens? anything. breaking news, we are awaiting a statement from the president obama on the senate isis vote. the senate passed that resolution on a plan to syrian rebels just moments ago. joining me live from the white house north lawn is nbc senior white house correspondent chris jansing. chris, what can we expect to hear from the president tonight? >> this is a victory for them. they said from the very beginning they wanted only one
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thing from congress after the president laid out his plan for fighting isis and that was the authorization to arm and to train the syrian rebels. so this assures that he gets it. it wasn't even close. the vote 78-22. following the house vote yesterday, all part of the continuing resolution that will fund the government through december 11th. but it does a couple of things. it sends out a message that congress is united with the president in their determination to fight isis. the president has said he would welcome any sign from congress that they would put together a united front. the second thing, they're going into the u.n. general assembly, the president is still working to put together an international coalition to fight isis. i'm sure you'll hear from the president about how important this is moving forward to arm and equip the syrian rebels. certainly doesn't end the debate. a lot of folks worry it's a slippery slope and others who think it's not enough.
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reverend al. >> "hardball" will have full coverage of the speech next. chris jansing, thank you for your time tonight. and thanks to you for watching. i'm al sharpton. "hardball" starts right now. congress backs the president on war. and this is "hardball." ♪ ♪ good evening, i'm chris matthews in washington. president obama is just about to dress the country on the votes by both houses of congress now, supporting his decision to arm and train syrian opposition forces for the battle against the terrorist group isis. the senate just voted. 78-22 to authorize the arms and training. the house voted yesterday also in support of the president's position. senator angus king of maine joins us now, he's an independent to