increase. he pays less, you pay more. >> well, what do you make of that, bob? this is a stronger, tougher batt battle. here we have a study showing tens of bucks they make in each case, there's a dollar added to the burden of those in the middle. >> yeah, look. it's an effective ad. i love the picture at the end, by the way, he's getting off the plane and the one behind him says trump. the romney people are trashing this study. they've quoted the organizations themselves before. the fact is a george bush adviser was an adviser of this. in terms of growth and what would have to be cut. they don't agree entirely with the idea somehow this all pays for itself and it didn't in the reagan years. but they do come up with a bottom line. that $2,000 a year you're talking about. this has been a terrible month for rem.

he was awful overseas. he comes back to this. unlike the recommendation michael steele made on this network last night, he's not going to release his tax plan. he's not going to release his tax returns. and i think he's eroding his standing. right now on the new pew poll, he's ten points behind and has a 37 favorable and a 52 unfavorable. this is hurting romney badly. >> let's go to this question with steve. what do you make of this report? the assumptions here are romney has laid out what he believes he can do which is cut corporate rates, maintain the bush tax cuts up to the top of the income levels, and at the same time keep the total number of revenue equal. my question is if you do that, keep the neutrality there, also get rid of the -- make sure you've got the minimum tax removed and all the sin incentives are maintained. how do you all that and not

reduce revenues or lay the new revenue responsibilities on to the middle class? >> well, let me just respond to one thing that bob said if i may, chris. bob, i agree with you that mitt romney's had a lousy month. you know who's had a worse month is barack obama? there's two statistics that barack obama can't get around. one is 1.5% growth which is anemic. barely keeping us out of a double dip reception. those are devastating numbers. >> why don't you debate the tax thing instead of trying to shift the subject? give an answer on the tax thing. you going to give me the reagan fantasy again? >> all right, bob. let's get to this issue. first of all, what the romney plan basically says, chris and bob, is that 20% across the board reduction in tax rates for everybody. so there's no -- this fantasy that somehow the middle class is going to pay more, no. they're going pay less. you're getting this confused with the obama/harry reid plan where people next year are going

to face a $2,000 tax increase if we don't do something about extending the bush tax cuts. where in the plan -- show me bob or chris, where in the plan it says about tax increases on the middle class. the one thing i will agree with you both on, a criticism i've made of mitt romney. i do think he's going to need to be more specific about what tax breaks you're going to take away from people to help pay for this. >> that's how you get the tax increases. >> you just got there. took you awhile to get to the reality here. if you're giving a tax break to the richest people in the world, somebody's got to pay for it if you're having the same level of revenues. >> hold on. you're leaving out something. >> the fact is they assumed when they did this study -- look, this is a reputable group. mitt romney's campaign has praised them time and time again. they assumed the tax breaks taken away were going to be as fair as possible. but given the size of the tax cuts, you're going to end up with the middle class having to

pay $2,000 more, the average middle class family. that's the bottom line of the study. >> but they assumed that. >> that is the bottom line. you know, steve, you're smart. you can read the study. you don't have to sound like the romney fog machine. >> i've read the study and i've read the romney tax plan. there is nothing in the plan about raising $2,000 -- >> that's the point, steve. [ overlapping speakers ] i want to referee for a second. no politician is stupid enough to spell out how he's going to screw people. you have to read it to understand that. and if he's -- no, you tell me simply put. if you're giving big tax break to the people at the top. corporate breaks, bush tax cuts for individuals, the whole routine then you say keeping the same level of revenue. anybody with a brain knows somebody else is going to pay the piper here. answer that question. >> they're going to take away some of the tax deductions. we don't know which ones. hold on. let me finish this point.

but what we dmoe is when you take away tax productions, the top 3% that you want to tax more, they get 50% of the gains from all those tax deductions. a good example. a millionaire gets a much bigger tax deduction on the mortgage deducti deduction. >> on balance the people at the top get a big cut even when you take away those tax deductions. and people at the middle and bottom get an increase. the only answer to this is to put the plan out there and let people look at it. >> people at the top don't have mortgages. they borrow the money on their liquid assets. they don't even have to go to the trouble of mortgages. you're laughing already. you know they're not sitting around worrying about their mortgage payments. millionaires. >> that's not true. they buy bigger houses. they make -- >> all right. there are restrictions on that. >> put out the plan. put out the tax returns.

let's get the truth out there and maybe romney won't be losing by ten points. >> what i think, guys, i'll give it to you at the end. i think there's a new tax to be considered here to protect the lower rates for the top people. there's only one answer to that. a new form of taxation. you don't have to tax the rich where you really go for the money or have bigger deficits. i think it's a vat and i think it's going to be proposed if romney wins. >> thumbs down on that. >> not all you guys. and not romney yet. if i had him in a debate, that would be the first question to put to him. would you rule out a vat or not? you would but you're not running. this morning on a press call, a preview of the economic plan. dismissed the tax policy center report. let's listen to him flack for romney. >> that report you referenced is a joke. there are serious flaws with both the authorship of that study and the methodology. it was co-authored by a member

of the obama white house, someone who was part of the white house economic team. >> well, the other half he didn't tell you was it was also co-authored by a bush veteran. and president obama called out the romney campaign criticism. let's listen to the president here. >> first they said well it's a liberal organization. despite the fact it's headed by an economist who worked for george bush. then they said that the study failed to fully take into account the massive economic boom that would come from cutting taxes on the wealthiest americans and the biggest corporations. because we all know how well that worked out the last time we tried it. >> there it is again.

it's always been proven wrong. but bobby, you start here. they want to make the case they cut the taxes for the rich somehow the poor benefit. it's trickle down. absolutely in our face. give a bigger break to the guy with the money and somehow the peons will do better. go ahead. that's what they've been selling since reagan. >> steve and i will disagree on the merits of this, but the reagan thing in my view is a fantasy. what happened in the reagan years is they cut taxes and had big deficits. the tax cuts didn't pay for themselves. politically the president is in the right place here. the country agrees with him on whether the wealthy should pay more. agrees that the middle class shouldn't pay more. that's being held hostage by republicans in congress to give a tax break at the top. you look at the ad you showed at the beginning and listen to the president here, it's clear who is going to win this argument politically between fehrnstrom and romney.

>> let me put on the scale here. there's one thing i see that shatters the argument. if it's true that the undecided voters, why do all those 19 or so democrats call for complete continuation of all the bush tax ut cans? i think they come from rule and conservative areas. they're afraid. but they have jumped ship there, bob. >> but the independent voters in the polling are in favor of the wealthy paying a higher share -- fairer share of the taxes. >> why'd they jump ship? >> because they're cowards. they're scared. the president is going go out and offer a fundamental choice. who stands up for the few and who stands up for the many in this country. who's fighting for the middle class or people at the top? >> steve, go for it. >> you nailed it, chris. 19 vulnerable -- >> i know. i'm just wondering why they're chicken.

>> you said it better than i could. 19 democrats on battle ground districts and they're not wealthy areas. these are middle class, working class rural areas voted to extend all the bush tax cuts. >> was that an act or courage or cowardice? >> because they think it is good politics. and you know what? i think mitt romney is right on the politics. he's right on the policy. >> there are no numbers that support that. >> bob, hold on. let me finish. you said, bob, a few minutes ago the reagan tax cuts didn't pay themselves, and you might be right about that. but chris what you and bob cannot deny is we had an incredible economic boom when the cut those taxes. >> because we had a policy -- >> look, we all agree that tax cuts generally stimulate growth in the economy, but that's an arcane argument. the fact is if you shift the tax burden to the middle class are you smart or just screwing the

regular people? thank you bob shrum and steve moore. thank you. hot tea. tea party candidates are winning races. the behavior in the house will be followed by the behavior in e in senate. oh, boy. not so fast. could these guys cause more trouble for the republicans than for the democrats? that's my question tonight. the pea party is just trouble. and plus one right winger out there is going after another right winger. frank gaffney going after grover norquist saying he's a member of the muslim brotherhood or working for them. what's going on in the right? anyway, speaking of right wing extremists, richard murdoch says his idea of compromise is having the other side cave into him. that's how tea partiers think. joe donnelly is even in the polls with murdoch and donnelly comes here tonight to play "hardball." finally, should english become america's language that you have to be able to speak

fluently before you become a citizen? it's never been the rule before. you simply need fluency in some language. john conyers has something for steve king who's pushing the bill. [ speaking spanish ] >> i don't think that's fluency in any language. no word on whether king got a full translation. this is "hardball," the place for politics. down here, folks measure commitment by what's getting done. the twenty billion dollars bp committed has helped fund economic and environmental recovery. long-term, bp's made a five hundred million dollar commitment to support scientists studying the environment. and the gulf is open for business - the beaches are beautiful, the seafood is delicious. last year, many areas even reported record tourism seasons.

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president. keep an eye on that one. it's a closer race in the 12 battle ground states we've been following but still a lead for obama. consistent with other polls 48-44. it's a big one for the president. we'll be right back. [ male announcer ] fight pepperoni heartburn and pepperoni breath fast with tums freshers! concentrated relief that goes to work in seconds and freshens breath. ♪ tum...tum...tum...tum... tums! ♪ [ male announcer ] tums freshers. fast relief, fresh breath,

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it's like a sauna in here. helping you save, even if it's not with us -- now, that's progressive! call or click today. no mas pantalones! there's a big difference of viewpoint in terms of what the tea party needs. they're one of the best things in the country because all of a sudden we're reengaging hundreds of thousands of people in this country who go to work every day, they obey t law and pay taxes but they're sick and tired in what they see as far as the stupidity in washington. >> that was oklahoma senator tom coburn earlier today o "morning joe" championing the big tea party movement. the tea party looks as if it's gaining strength and will likely add another member next year. it's good news for the tea party. but is that good news for

republicans, democrats, or none of the above? michael sheir is the white house correspondent for "time" who wrote the cover story in the latest issue. there it is. we always sell here. this question of whether -- i looked at last summer as what a great example of what the pea party c -- tea party can do. to wreak havoc. as long as you've got 80 or so members of the house of representatives that are republicans who will vote against any deal that allows any revenue increase to coincide with huge cuts in spending, they won't go along with it. therefor, they render impotent. even eric cantor who kills boehner as a negotiating partner and damn it nothing gets done. as long as you have tea partiers around, i will continue tend nothing will get done.

they will come to office with the single purpose of not being legislators. your thoughts max pappas? >> they sent them to the senate that heir reed controls and hi sit os them. >> let's get back to the point. when it comes to reducing government and making deals that the democrats will go with it, that's the only way to get it done. two parties. what have they done to bring a deal to the floor? >> they passed the bill to repeal obama care. >> there's a bipartisan thing, they want to screw obama. this is the talk that works out in the villages where people give speeches but has no relevance to running the united states. will tea partiers ever negotiate a deal that will reduce the federal deficit and reduce the debt down the road? >> i think if romney is the president it will work more than if obama is president. >> how will it work?

>> you're talking about the freshman class in the senator. >> i'm talking about people like ted cruz and murdoch in indiana. >> they're going to be stars. they're going to be fantastic. >> see, your goal is to reduce the government to what? to a non-functions irrelevancy. >> reduce it down to where we're not borrowing 40 cents on the dollar. >> in other words, no deal. >> deal if we get back to balance. >> what about ten dollars in spending -- >> how about the cuts. >> you don't get the cuts. >> usually the ten for one deals is the wimpy version of politics like from popeye. >> i know. so the tax hikes -- >> except you're not going to get any more deals. >> they can stick around as long as they're going to vote for bringing the budget back down. >> it's complicated. you're talking about where you still need 60 votes to get anything done. if you're talking five, six republicans who are going to be

playing this role, it's going to be hard for mcconnell -- >> if romney wins this fall? the pelosi people come in and vote against everything he does. it will make the government sting. the more peopleate the government, the more you like it. the more it fails, the more you like it. you're laughing about it. >> no. if you look at the graph, you slow down spending for one year you get a long-term benefit. keep it flat for another year. >> why should the government cut programs helping poor people unless it does something for the wealthy people. >> i'm not sure that's true. >> let's look. yesterday we showed you a advertisement attacking ted cruz's opponent with the nasty word he's a moderate. well, he's a cruz campaign ad comparing politicians to real conservatives. take a look. >> politicians from both parties have broken promises, driven us to the brink of bankruptcy and failed to secure the border. politicians cut deals.

principled conservatives deliver. ted cruz, a proven conservative fighter who delivers. >> so you covered the politics of this thing. how does a conservative get things done without passing bills that achieve cuts and deficits or debt? >> it's a long-term problem, not just immediately what you're talking about but for the republican party. the most enthusiast part of the electorate right now is the tea party. it's been that way three years now that's been the case. the problem is the republican party is being pushed to the right by this. and the republican party is now in a situation where mitt romney could lose the election and win 59% of the white male vote in this country. the deck -- demographics of the country is moving another way. over the long-term, if the tea party people who get into the senate, who get into the house don't quite make deals, the trajectory of this enthusiasm which is a core group. >> i think a lot of the stuff when i'm not trashing people as

racist is people don't like the changing demographics of the united states. so every time -- >> like ted kruds. >> no. he's a cuban-american. >> or marco rubio. >> that's been a different situation. every time a speech is written by a tea partier, they're not happy with saying they're going to cut spending. they've got to say something to do with bordered. >> that doesn't -- that's not a tea party position. >> why does cruz make that statement? all of the time you hear border, border, border. >> what brings the tea party together is the center of american politics. it's not extreme. it's fiscal policy. >> you're saying tea parties don't have an attitude about immigration. >> no. >> they don't? >> no. there's not a consistent tea party position on this. >> how can you say that when they're talking about the cause? it sounds like the confederate army still fighting. >> what they agree on is on fiscal responsibility and the

constitutional limit to federal power. they disagree on everything else. social policy, immigration. >> my experience is they're on the far right. >> we'll have you by next time you come. >> far right. it is a far right political movement. >> american politics. >> i watched it bring down, poor john boehner looks like a loser out there. you're independent of the republican party and to its far right. >> that's right but if we were to the far right we wouldn't be win bing. >> you're winning primaries, though. you're not necessarily winning general elections. >> the union guys are disenchanted with -- >> by the way, stop with the domestic situation while you're at it. i love fiscal responsibility at home too. thank you for joining us. up next, the line of public officials fed up with michele bachmann gets even longer. this is "hardball," no surprise they've had it with her, the place for politics.

back to "hardball." now to the sideshow. others to call for republican congress woman michele bachmann and two of her colleagues to be removed from their posts on the house intelligence committee. bachmann and friends drew a slew of backlash suggests that some in the u.s. government have ties to the muslim brotherhood. the list included huma abedin. wrote in part representative bachmann's advocacy of these conspiracy theories is particularly damaging to the u.s. interests because of her prominence. despite considerable criticism these members of congress have refused to disavow their reactions so we urge you to replace them. might not play so well to the rest of the world.

you think? well moving on, the white house debated steve king's bill to make english our official language and require new potential citizens to be fluent in english. michigan democrat don conyers got his chance at the microphone during the hearing. see if you can figure whether he's in favor or not. [ speaking spanish ] >> so he's not in sport of the english only bill. congress said it was one that the country would look back on with shame and regret if it were passed. finally over to players and spectators getting ejected from baseball games. right? well, how about a pa system operating getting ejected?

that's what happened in florida light night. the daytona cubs versus the ft. myers miracle. a pa operating named derek die blasted three blind mice for all to hear. check out how the empire and the announcers reacted. ♪ >> you're done! do not play "three blind mice" turn the sound off the rest of the night. >> derek die was ejected from the game. that is awesome. that is so cool! >> that is so cool. booted from the game. believe it or not, this has happened before. in 1985 someone else was ejected from a florida minor league game for playing the same tune. the umpires don't like being called three blind mice. up next, pushing antimuslim

scare tactics are targeting one of their own. grover norquist who pledges to never raise taxes now being accused by a right winger of being in league with muslim extremists. that fight's ahead. this is fun. you're watching "hardball," the place for politics. one is for a clean, domestic energy future that puts us in control. our abundant natural gas is already saving us money, producing cleaner electricity, putting us to work here in america and supporting wind and solar. though all energy development comes with some risk, we're committed to safely and responsibly producing natural gas. it's not a dream. america's natural gas... putting us in control of our energy future, now.

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hey there. here's what's happening. aviation officials say three planes flew too close to one another tuesday but were never on a collision course. miscommunication between a radar official and reagan national was to blame. an emotional kofi annan retired earlier as the special envoy on syrian crisis. and it was a losing day for stocks. the dow slid 92, s&p fell ten. the nasdaq also lost ten.

now back to "hardball." welcome back to "hardball." when michele bachmann who we created here, i think, and other republicans required an investigation into whether huma abedin was connected to the muslim brotherhood. the so-called evidence came from frank gaffney. gaffney sees himself warning of infiltration at the highest levels of our government. for years he's been focused on a surprising target. grover norquist. yes pab that norquist. the anti-tax crusader who's got 95% of the republicans to pledge never to raise taxes. he's accused norquist of working with the enemy.

in turn norquist has called gaffney i think appropriately, a conspiracy theorist. for some it was a step too far. last year gaffney was barred from speaking at the c-pac convention but he's not backing down. by the way "the huffington post" is unbelievable these days. it's zooming. >> thank you. >> what do you make of this? you're covering as a straight reporter. tell me, is frank gaffney okay? i mean, he -- i'm going to get to it at the end of the show, but his accusations about logos and missile defense agency may be islamic symbols. he's finding things out there that may be delusional. >> more con sefbtives are lining up. john boehner, john mccain saying that he's pedaling his conspiracy theories. he's been accused of bigotry by members of his own -- >> bigotry towards whom?

>> muslim-americans. and they've been accused of being members of the muslim brotherhood with little evidence and other conservatives are rejected his claims. >> that's pretty rotten. you see people work at the stands. they work all night at the food stands outside. three times a night and they're praying and great americans trying to make it in this country with little background. and they all feel, i don't know what they feel when they read this crap. all this turkish americans and everybody that has backgrounds eastern europeans with islamic backgrounds, everybody is targeted by this stuff. >> someone that's been targeted by these accusations, has a security clearance, he has received death threaten. law enforcement had to come to his house. these don't go into a void. >> terrorist suspect. then you have people saying they're just investigating. people like newt say they're

just investigating. how would you like to be a terrorist suspect? that's enough. your thoughts. >> they draw connections broadly. gaffney was arguing that norquist introduced bush to -- >> does he believe he's an agent of terrorist? >> does gaffney believe norquist is? oh, definitely. he said that. >> by cutting tax known to be a fanatic. but not a loyal american. >> he says look this guy brought to the white house. what was he lobbying for? and because people who norquist introduced bush to years ago -- >> okay. the idi -- idiocy of this. does anybody spot a pro arab position in hillary's camp?

she's an american envoy. but what influence has been there? >> he says he was able to enter the united states. but that was policy that a lot of people agreed with. some of the moves of the obama administration that's made towards the islamic world. he met on meeting with these. the way they look at it is kind of let's find the roots behind all this. it can't just be it's the politics. >> the alternative strategy if you want america to be secure, you're a young woman, for the next hundred years let's make enemies of all arabs and islamic people. that would be a strategy for winning hearts and minds in the world. >> the sin grover norquist has committed is trying to bring more people like muslim-americans into the conservative movement. and that's what frank gaffney seems to be upset about. he says that norquist is

expanding the view of the muslim brotherhood and the islamic terrorists. >> sometimes the logic of gaffney's charges can seem a little confusing. that's being pleasant. listen to what institutions he said norquist was helping. the muslim brotherhood infiltrate. it may surprise you. >> that became sort of the entry point for member muslim brothers to work their ways into conservative circles specifically to get into the bush campaign and subsequently bush white house and administration. >> i was thinking of the movie "the beautiful mind" all these things on the wall, you know. i'm thinking the way that gaffney, this evil man he's been trailing as he said for 12 years was using w. bush, the most toughest in the arab world we've

had is somehow an agent of the muslim brotherhood. that's transparentally ridiculous. >> based on something that's a dead letter. it happened 12 years ago. >> where is the pro-arab influence of george bush out there? >> but because that happened and norquist continues to fraternize with people, he thinks it still might be -- it still might be relevant. and you're characterizing it, this is how the theories develop. there are a couple reeds of truth. and if toupt believe something darker, you take those and run with them. >> was this like the big tank for all conservative thinking putting this together? how does that work? going to work against gaffney and say this is about economics not crazy theories. >> gaffney's argument is if you know what i know, you will believe what i believe. but he presented all his evidence to the acu and she said there seems to be nothing here

at all and the board unanimously agreed with her. >> proving the conspiracy. that's what conspiracy theorists say. you just proved it. >> but he wants to try it again. >> thank you so much. great to have you both on. up next, democratic congressman joe donnelly is the only thing standing in the way of a far right extremist richard murdoch from winning in indiana which is currently held by a pretty good senator. joe donnelly here next. this is "hardball," the place for politics.

well, yesterday we told you about president obama's lead in the polls in some key swing states. incumbent democrats also have leads in those senate races out there. let's check the "hardball" score board. in florida it's senator bill nelson with a seven-point lead over connie mack. that's according to the cbs/new york times poll. the poll also found that in ohio sherrod brown has a 12-point lead over self-financer josh mandel. and in pennsylvania, i'm always watching that one, bob casey with an 18-point lead. i know bob, he's still working hard. but finally in michigan, debbie stabenow is over hoekstra. this has got to be tough in these races. a lot of good news for liberals tonight. we'll be right back.

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their bachelor's or master's degree for tomorrow's careers. this is your moment. let nothing stand in your way. devry university, proud to support the education of our u.s. olympic team. we're back. what can you say about a senate candidate who proudly declares his compromise is making the other side cave in? that's the language used by richard murdoch, the tea party candidate who won out in indiana. take a look. >> what i've said about compromising bipartisanship is i hope to build a conservative majority in the united states senate so that bipartisanship becomes democrats joining republicans to roll back the size of government, reduce of bureaucracy, lower taxes and get america moving again. >> he's not exactly laughing when he says that absurdity. imagine what happened if every senator talked like that guy?

would anything ever get done? don't compromise on thinking. joe donnelly is running against murdoch this november. in what could be a tight race. congressman, donnelly, you're a notre dame guy so i like you already. is this a close race right now fairly put? >> it is. the last poll put it a dead heat 42-42. >> i notice you're out there openly doing what jack kennedy did in '52. you're going for the lugar vote. you're saying if you're a moderate republican and voted for dick lugar all these year, you should vote for me. >> absolutely. he's questioning whether social security is constitutional. whether medicare is constitutional. he tried to destroy chrysler. he has had time after time where he said my idea of compromise is democrats doing what we want them to do. lugar republicans are thoughtful people, moderate republicans who want to move our country

forward. >> but has your state -- i don't think of indiana as a right wing state. i mean, it's not utah. it's not wyoming. it's not mississippi. you know, you don't have a hit of that, do you? >> what we're about is common sense. it's how do we work together to create jobs, create opportunity, make our state grow, and make our country grow. that's what we're looking for, people to act like adults not fifth graders. >> flying too far to the right and your state dumped him. does your state still have the anti-far right attitude? >> absolutely. we're about bringing solutions to the problems. don't talk about it, get work done. they don't expect us to go to washington and give flowery speeches. we're sent there to get work done to do it. >> here's murdoch after losing to murdoch senator lugar wrote a concession letter. he said quote, if mr. murdoch is

elected, i want him to be a good senator. but that would require him to revise his stated goal of bringing more partisanship to washington. he will find unless he modifies his approach, he will achieve little as legislator. worse, he will help delay solutions that are beyond the capacity of partisan majorities. i mean, you're the expert, i'm the watcher. i used to work on the hill. every time you try to get something done, you have to give something to the other side or nothing gets passed. >> that's exactly right. i live right on the michigan line. fred upton just across the line, fred and i worked together to get a vetted senator. as a team we were able to make our time. over in ft. wayne we were able to help save an air base there with a republican congressman from that area. the way you get things done is to work together. this fellow is talking about if he gets to washington and there's a democrat senate, he's not even going to try.

we're hired to do work, not to travel around. >> last r murdoch made a statement referring chrysler to slavery. let's watch. >> mr. lincoln said if it was a tribute from his subjects or if it was offered as an apology by one race of man for enslaving another race of man, it was he said, the same tyrannical principle. it is once again that message from washington, d.c. that even people like those i represent can work and sweat and toil and earn and save. so that someone else can be given their assets. it is the same tyrannical principle as in 1858. but now it's 2012. >> you know, on a rhetorical level, there's that nasal voice, that nasalness that joe mccarthy

used to use all the time. you know? the some communist party that did this is the same one killing our soldiers in korea. it's that same kind of angry nasalness. what is that about? is that something that works in indiana? >> he also compared trying to destroy chrysler, he called it his rosa parks moment. >> what's that mean to him? >> hi has compared himself to rosa parks, an american hero. >> she gets on the bus and won't go to the back, how's that relate to him? >> i don't know how he thinks that has to do with chrysler and his actions. he's tried to destroy over a hundred thousand jobs in indiana. in indiana we want you to focus on creating jobs, creating opportunity. and we honor our american heroes. we don't talk about them in a way that makes no sense. >> i'll be surprised if indiana jumps in the nut barrel. >> they're not going to see. >> i hope not. good luck to you. we can't endorse, but you seem like a good candidate. thank you joe donnelly running

against a wild man. when we return, let me finish with the man on the far right. between frank gaffney and grover norquist. you're watching "hardball," the place for politics. [ male announcer ] fight pepperoni heartburn and pepperoni breath fast

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let me finish tonight with this. never fear the enemy while he's in the process of destroying himself. napoleon bonaparte is to have said that. reasonable people watching the

crazy intermurals we talked about tonight. i'm referring to what frank gaffney is saying about tax avenger grover norquist. according to gaffney who normally champions the latest war overseas, norquist is secretly working with the enemy within. that he's doing the work of t muslim brotherhood. listen to his words and think about someone who might say them. i have had it as more personal burden for the past 12 years to try to warn conservatives one of their own has been involved enabling and empowering muslim brotherhood operations against our movement and our country. he goes further. gaffney says it all starts with the bush white house. that the people around president barack obama. quote, that became sort of the entry point for muslim brothers to work their way into conservative circles. specifically to get into the bush campaign. this is from the same accuser who said the logo of the u.s.

missile defense agency bore a similarity to the islamic crescent and star. something nefarious, he said, was afoot. so this strange war goes on between the questionably accountable and the seriously -- between the enforcers of the conservative order. the one demands that politicians make to him the other questions the national loyalty of the one demanding the signatures. stick with napoleon on this one. just stay in the stands and watch these gladduaters go at it through the election. that's "hardball" for now. thanks for being with us. the ed show starts right now. good evening, americans. welcome to the ed show. mitt romney is horsing around with billionaire donors in aspen while president obama is fighting for the middle class. tonight i'll show you mitt's

fancy dancing on taxes. this is the ed show. as ed would say, let's get to work. >> mitt romney's middle class tax increase. he pays less, you pay more. >> on the air and on the stump, president obama is drilling mitt romney over his middle class tax hike. and the romney team is trying to change the narrative. >> that report you referenced is a joke. >> patrick gaspard on the nightmare. and dean baker on the policy implications. and why on earth is twitter getting on gabby douglas over her hair? i'll explain. president obama has mitt romney on the ropes over a tax plan that doesn't add up and would raise taxes on the middle class. the obama campaign put out an ad that will air in eight battle ground states.

>> mitt romney made $20 million in 2010. but paid only 14% in taxes. probably less than you. and now he has a plan that would give millionaires another tax break and raises taxes on middle class families by up to $2,000 a year. mitt romney's middle class tax increase, he pays less, you pay more. >> the romney campaign has been caught completely flat footed. on a conference call this morning, romney advisers struggled to combat the truth about their tax plan. eric fehrnstrom called the independent analysis a joke. another adviser said the romney plan would create 5 to 10 million jobs. but couldn't explain. it's important to understand what they're saying here. after an independent analysis says romney's plan would raise tacks on 95% of americans, romney's advisers call that report a joke. yet won't provide details to dispute the report. then those same advisers claim the romney tax plan will