>> a former local d.a.'s connection to the bill cosby saga -- an "inside story" right now. good morning, everyone. i'm matt o'donnell. it is sunday. it is time for "inside story." let's meet our panelists for this week. nia meeks, communications executive. >> good morning. >> good morning, nia. >> brian tierney, marketing executive. >> how are you? >> good morning, brian. >> morning. >> harold jackson, the editor of the inquirer editorial page and a guest panelist for us this morning. harold, welcome to "inside story." >> glad to be here, matt. >> thank you for joining us. and, also, ed turzanski, foreign-policy analyst. good morning, ed. now, we now know that bill cosby admitted under oath that he obtained quaaludes to give to women he wanted to have sex with. didn't go any further in that in terms of his statement. now, this admission happened in a deal with former montgomery county district attorney bruce caster. now, back in 2005, caster did not think he had enough evidence

to prosecute cosby on a woman's claims that he sexually assaulted her at his cheltenham mansion. caster says he told cosby he would not prosecute him if he gave a sworn disposition, which is where this statement took place. 10 years later, what do you think about caster's decision back then in 2005, nia. >> i think he cut the best deal he thought he could make happen. it's interesting that he actually got something that's on the record that now is going to come out and probably impact a lot of things for bill cosby perhaps not in a criminal record, in a court of opinion more so because on the criminal side, a lot of the statutes of limitations have run out unfortunately, but i do appreciate the fact that we do have something on the record. there are so many women who have come out -- not saying that each one of them told the truth -- but every one of them, for the most part, have been castigated as liars and, oh, money grubbing and blah, blah, blah, and it's unfortunate that we cannot still take the word of a woman that says, "i have been assaulted" and follow through with that particularly if that person is powerful. this is a tragedy of epic

proportions, when we talk about bill cosby, we're talking about 50 years of entertainment, of involvement, and we are talking about generations, and a lot of people remain lost and disgusted but also devastated personally, as well as professionally. >> oddly enough, harold, it was cosby's own words that really caused a flood of people to come out and say, "you know what? i don't support this man anymore." >> yes, it was, and, you know, let's -- let's not be misting this. it's that this is not incriminating evidence, but it certainly adds fuel to the notion that he did something wrong. i'm willing to believe the women who said that he drugged them and took advantage of them. i think that mr. caster, when he took that disposition, decided that that's not enough evidence to prosecute, so he didn't. so, as nia said, in the court of public opinion, i think most people will find that he's guilty, but we still don't have that evidence that would convict him in a court of law. >> right, ed? >> yeah, i'll tell you what, what's a sub-part of this story is that this wouldn't have come out but for journalist maryclaire dale here at the associated press and who --

who, you know, made the effort to get the records open and a judge robreno, a federal judge low profile, who decides, "yeah, this guy is a public figure, he's out there moralizing, and this is -- the people have a right to know this information." so, this didn't just happen. it's because of the press that does it, so congratulations on that side. >> i'm consistent with what's been said already. the -- it's just an unspeakable tragedy all the way around -- a tragedy for all those who were victimized and also a tragedy that bill cosby's someone who was one of the most respected figures in the country... because of what he had done on television. that reputation is now in tatters. it will never be put together again, and to the point of caster, every once in a while, law-enforcement people especially prosecutors, cannot get the conviction, but they want to lay a marker down. >> mm-hmm.

>> and this is a -- this is a great lesson. they'll be teaching this in law schools to say in this particular case, he couldn't get him. made this part of the record so that if the individual continued in public life, it would come back. if you can't get him in the court of law, you'll get him in the court of opinion. >> caster's running for d.a. again. says he's gonna look to see if he committed perjury, if he retains that office again, so we may hear more from him. a lot of people did continue to support cosby up until we learned of these statements that he made back in 2005, and the point that some people make is this. why did you not believe all these women that came forward? >> mm-hmm. >> but now it takes the words of bill cosby himself... >> mm-hmm. >> ...to make you believe these allegations. >> and it's part of the culture in which we are -- we are currently. unfortunately, we still have a feeling that's pervasive that women somehow bring it upon themselves, that there are people that are out trying to bring someone else down, and

that is true. there are those instances. however, my grandma used to say, "when there's smoke, there's fire, and everybody ain't lying," and there were too many instances of similar situations to come up for you just to dismiss all of them. >> yeah, when 10 or 12 women are sitting on a panel, and they're all talking about very similar type situations, i mean, i -- i don't think it took this for most people to lose -- for bill cosby to lose credibility. i think a few months ago. when you think it wasn't... you know, and i think -- but i think what people really react to, too, is the hypocrisy of somebody who's moralizing... >> yeah. >> ...somebody who's telling young man, "pull your pants up," giving lectures on how to conduct your life -- i mean, he -- that was a part of his brand, if you will. >> but that was the third stage of his brand. think before that, we had the family figure if you want to talk about the whole huxtable era and the philanthropy and really focusing on education and helping community, and a lot of people, like, gravitated toward that and did not want to see that crumble because when you look at the impact that he had historically black colleges and universities and the arts and

patronage and temple university, there was a lot that bill cosby did on the positive, so i can understand why people didn't want to just chuck that away on allegations because, again, we did not have standing proof. what we had was rumors. we had innuendo. we had allegations. >> but now we have a thing that he got prescription drugs and gave people pills to knock them out. >> well, he didn't say gave them to anybody, but the intention. >> right, that's the important point to make. >> let me ask you this, harold. some people have called for phylicia rashad, the woman that portrayed his wife in the famous tv show, to come forward and to say something. does she have a responsibility to say anything on this? >> i don't think that she's the public figure -- the same type of public figure as bill cosby. i don't think she has a responsibility to say that. plus, again, there will be people who will continue to defend because what we have here is, again, some circumstantial evidence. he has never admitted giving, to my knowledge, giving quaaludes to women without their knowledge. you know, so there's still -- there will be people who will continue to have doubt, but i think nia makes a very important point. cosby represented more than himself. he represented all of those institutions that he gave money

to as a philanthropist, all of those kids that he supported to help get through school, all of those people who supported his message to young black americans that you need to do better about your own -- your own conduct. >> right. >> and now all of that goes down the drain with him. >> that's a shame. >> it is a shame. >> right, right. there's no doubt about it. >> all right, let's talk about the mayor's race in philadelphia. now, the daily news had an article that said, "let's pretend there's a mayor's race." >> [ chuckles ] >> and then in a couple of days after that, something kind of happened that we're gonna talk about right now. it involves james kenney, but the backstory is here. margie winters, who was fired from the waldron mercy academy in merion station, she says, because she is gay and because she's married to a woman. now, kenney, the democratic nominee, told the inquirer that "cowardly men," in his words, in the archdiocese are the ones behind the firing, even though the catholic school is not run by the archdiocese. we have a quote from kenney right here, what he told the inquirer as all of this news broke, and we're gonna put that up right now.

what he said is, quote... so, a lot going on here, a lot of back and forth, he said, she said type of thing, but since you're with the inquirer harold, what do you think about this? >> well, i think he's exactly right that we do it like people who stand for the principles of the church, whatever church that is, to go on the record as, this is what i believe, and this is why i'm taking this position instead of it being nebulous about whose authority is being used for this. if it's the bible that they're basing their decision on, then quote the bible, but someone needs to take responsibility and stand up. i was sort of surprised that kenney did it. he's not mayor yet. he -- you know, he has an election to run for in november. of course, it's a given that he'll win, but still, this was a fight that he didn't have to -- didn't have to enter into, and he did. >> i'm not surprised. >> and he has -- a couple things. number one is, i went to waldron academy. i don't represent the archdiocese, but my firm does represent the world meeting of families, which is a separate, independent organization. i've had a nice relationship with jim kenney, but i think this shows certain issues of

temperament. i mean, the school is in the suburbs. he's making accusations or insinuations which are incorrect. i mean, this school made the decision on their own. it wasn't -- the catholic church does have teachings. no surprise. it's not out of philadelphia. it's -- these are, you know, if you're a catholic, these are eternal teachings, okay? at the same time, there are people who work at the archdiocese and the world meeting of families who are gay, and everybody knows it, and they're not being hunted down, so it just seemed to me a vicarious cheap shot from jim kenney to somehow take a shot at the catholic church and the local archbishop when there's no facts behind it. there's no facts at all, and even the school has said, "we're an independent school." they're not part of the archdiocese, and i don't get it. i think it does show this temperament issue is going to be one that's gonna haunt him when he's mayor. >> well, he has a reputation for being intemperate. >> he's -- he's a hothead. >> but that's nothing new either, and i'm not really surprised that kenney jumped in on this 'cause, i mean, you know, his support for the lgbt community in philadelphia and beyond is on the record. it's something that he's been pushing for and standing with. >> and it has him at odds with

the archdiocese... >> it absolutely does. >> ...long before this. >> and this is not a surprising thing. again, it's kenney being kenney. >> it helps with the fund-raising. it helps to pick a fight with somebody who doesn't say -- >> this is who he is, though for better or for worse. he's not hiding it, and it's not surprising. i'm sure, you know, his communications people are like "uh, you didn't really have to do that right now," but this is the dude. >> yeah. >> and this is what we're looking at. >> which i think speaks to what kind of mayor he'll be. >> well, let's say he becomes mayor, and the archdiocese is -- it's a big player in philadelphia politics. the basilica's just down the street from city hall. could this be a big problem for him in governing? >> oh, i don't see it being a problem in governing, and let's keep something in mind. jim kenney does have very strong views. he is -- he is entitled to them. but the archdiocese doesn't have to report to him and doesn't have to meet his standard for disclosure. the archdiocese chooses to do its business in a particular fashion. it's free to do that just as jim kenney is free to say what he wants and to conduct himself in the manner in which he wants.

i don't think people would be pleased if the archbishop were ordering jim kenney to do things because he is a catholic. so, i'm with brian on this. i'm not quite sure why engage in this. >> i'll disagree with you a little bit because i think that he's not free to be himself if he's going to be mayor. i think that there is a certain conduct that is expected of him, and if he's going to be -- live up to the reputation of being intemperate, that's bad news. >> no, but, harold, my point is that he is free to the extent that the archbishop will not dictate to him what he is to say and how he's to comport himself, and he makes that choice to be mayor. look, every job we do in life imposes certain conditions on us, so... de facto, you're not free. you're free. you have that right under the constitution. in practicality, actions have consequences. >> i think this is another example of whoever his

communications director's gonna be should he become mayor, they're gonna have a huge job on their hands, number one, and then number two, it's not like this is the first time we would've had a mayor, should he become mayor, who's been known as a hothead. i mean, ed rendell, yeah. so, sometimes you need people around you that'll definitely help to smooth those waters, and, again, it shows the kind of cabinet and the kind of leadership he's going to need to have around him should he become mayor. >> okay, but he will become mayor because, unfortunately the other side doesn't seem to have a candidate. >> melissa marie bailey, republican candidate. >> but so, you have a situation, though, where it's a school in lower merion township. >> absolutely. >> that's an independent school. so, does he -- if it's in lancaster county, does he feel like he has to attack the archbishop or the church? i mean, i don't get it. it wasn't a philadelphia school. it's not a catholic archdiocese -- archdiocesan school. i don't get why he has to talk. >> let's talk about the budget. pennsylvania doesn't have one right now. it was due on june 30th. democratic governor tom wolf vetoed the entire republican legislature proposal. the republicans voted down wolf's entire proposal before that.

wolf has vetoed bills that would privatize the state's liquor stores and reform the state pension system, but other than that, brian, everyone's getting along just fine here. [ laughter ] >> that's good. you know, it's funny, too, because, i mean, you know, the governor says repeatedly, "i was elected by the people with this mandate." but, you know, every state rep and every state senator was elected, as well, and they got a mandate. in fact, the republicans picked up three seats in the senate and seven in the house, so, when -- when i hear an executive official, either in washington or in a state, saying, "i was elected with this mandate," so was the other guy, so was the legislature, and part of the way government works is that the executive works with the legislature. now, the republicans put forth a plan that said everybody who's already an employee of the state gets the same pension, but going forward, let's have a 401(k) for new employees, just like probably most of us have a 401(k) going forward. and they didn't want that, and wolf doesn't want that. why is that? i think it's 'cause he wants to appeal to the public-employee unions, and he knows that's unpopular with them. he's gonna have to get real to get something done. >> i mean, to a degree and not to a degree, and i've said on

this show that the budget was not gonna pass on time. that was no surprise there, but when we're looking at this, we know that there are republicans who voted on this budget that did not want to see this budget enacted. in fact, if it had been a republican governor who said "oh, i'll sign it," say, "oh no, no, no, no, i don't want you to do this. i don't want you to do that." so, there is brinkmanship here as well. there's gamesmanship. let's be honest with that. last time, when we had governor corbett, they couldn't get this through. they couldn't get pensions through. they couldn't get liquor privatization through for some of the same issues. now everyone's galvanized. it's like, "oh, we're all in the same party. he's the bad guy. let's all put this here 'cause after all, he's gonna veto it." what i'd like to see would be mature minds get together and say, "listen, here's a give, here's a take." >> exactly. >> can we get to that point? >> that's how you get things done. >> and we're not gonna get there probably for another two weeks. >> i'll give you the pension. you give me this. >> let me disagree with brian a little bit because i think there is a big difference. >> [ laughs ] >> i know, but i think there -- >> he's getting it out now. >> he knows you. [ laughter ] >> i think there is a difference between, you know, the plebiscite of running for

governor and running florida state legislature. i mean, if you're a state legislature and representing a small district, then everybody knows you, and they're friendly with you. you're gonna run on some issues, but, you know, if you're running for the whole state, if you're gonna put forth an agenda. >> yeah, but if your side has more people -- >> we got to go. we got to go. commercial -- be right back. >> "inside story" is presented by temple university -- temple fuels students with academics and opportunities to take charge plugged into the city, powered by the world -- temple.edu/takecharge.

a newspaper editorial calls the budget passed by the legislature "fantasyland" it lets oil and gas drillers off the hook. fails to fund education. and deepens the deficit. it's a "political stunt that deserves the governor's veto." but governor wolf is fighting for a middle-class budget that lowers property taxes. and makes oil and gas companies pay up to fund our schools. tell the legislature to get serious and pass a real budget.

>> well, the race for a pennsylvania senate seat the democrats across the nation have their eyes on has become a bit complicated. allentown mayor ed pawlowski says he has suspended his campaign to run for the democratic nomination due to fbi searches at allentown city hall, so this leaves congressman joe sestak is really the lone major candidate who can face g.o.p. senator pat toomey next year. democrats approached kathleen mcginty -- a big surprise. she ran for governor last year but she's governor wolf's chief of staff right now, and ed rendell actually went out and said, "you know, i doubt she would ever leave that job..." >> right. >> "...to go and run for senate." but how do you guys see this race right now? >> she's -- it would be great if she were not chief of staff because she is a conscientious person, and she probably won't because of that, her work ethic, and she's a bright star, and i've said this before. but looking at sestak, sestak was not someone that the democrats were necessarily

enamored with, and it's almost like anybody but, but now we have to come back 'cause we really want this seat, and so they're trying to figure out can we make a deal? can we make this romance work? but if there was someone else out there, mm, you know, i think they would woo them until they can get something. i don't see anyone really in love with sestak at this point. >> ed, toomey won a pretty close one against sestak last time around, and he'd probably be thinking, "you know, whoever they're putting up, i'm gonna be in for a fight." >> he will be in any event only because of the dynamics of the vote in this commonwealth and the fact that philadelphia produces a wave of about 400,000 democratic votes that you have to overcome for the rest of the state, but toomey's got a very solid record, and as nia suggests, sestak is a compromised candidate. he's just -- he's not... he's not the ideal for the democrats because they don't think he can win. and toomey has done quite a bit in his term. >> sestak also has a reputation

among a lot of folks who seem to know him well as being kind of a hothead, kind of mercurial. >> mm-hmm. >> he was an admiral. >> yeah, yeah, he was an admiral. he was an officer in the navy pretty much all of his life and not a great one to work -- can't pull together a great team. so, i think -- i love bob brady's comment. he said, "sestak likes to think of himself as a free thinker. i'm a free thinker, too." i'm free-thinking mcginty for..." [ laughter ] "...for u.s. senate." >> well, you know, toomey certainly thinks that sestak would be a formidable opponent. he's already started running television ads because he thinks he will. as to whether anyone else -- >> that's really earlier. >> yeah, it's very earlier. sestak -- i think democrats will coalesce around sestak. he is a former admiral. he does have a reputation that is not warm and fuzzy, but -- and perhaps a suggestion about mcginty leaving governor wolf's cabinet is one indicating that some people don't think she's performing as well as she should and maybe she should consider some other role. >> there are some people who are saying, "that sounds like a great next step for her." yeah, leave the chief of staff

role and -- and go up. you know, everybody was wondering why the mayor of allentown wasn't more visible -- pawlowski -- and the fbi raiding your office is always a tough thing on the campaign. >> it has a little impact, just a little. >> yeah, it's... >> [ laughs ] >> well, the person -- i guess you could say kathleen mcginty right now is the star... >> mm-hmm. >> ...female politician in pennsylvania. the woman that used to be that person, kathleen kane, not so much anymore. she has said goodbye to yet another staffer. lanny davis and the p.a. attorney general have decided to part ways. he is the 10th kane communications specialist since she began her term in 2013, and another thing i'll throw out in here -- kathleen kane going against governor wolf in his stance on having a moratorium on the death penalty, which i found to be quite surprising. what do you think, ed? >> well, if you've lost lanny davis, i don't know where you turn next. >> mm-hmm. >> i mean, to quote jim carville and the last dog in the fight, that is lanny davis. lanny davis is the guy who comes

in, wraps himself around you and fights to the bitter end. >> he's a talented man at what he does. >> he absolutely is, which is why he's done this all over the country, and the fact that they have parted company tells you that lanny davis does not think this woman can be worked with or salvaged. >> and brian will tell you, when you're working with anyone whether it's a candidate or a client, when it comes to communications, if you don't have that person's trust, if you cannot believe in their story and give a good story and work with them, there's no reason for you to be there 'cause it will damage your brand and your reputation. so, i don't know what happened. i'm not in that room, but the fact of the matter is that it does not bode well for our current attorney general. i mean, it really does not, nor does it bode well for pennsylvania because here we have our a.g. who may now be warring with our governor, and she's already embattled and under fire. if this was supposed to provide some inoculation or say, "well i'm independent regardless of that," it was a bad move, and it was a really bad decision. >> yeah, i think it is an effort to kind of change the subject a

little bit in terms of the kathleen kane story, and, you know, it did give her a headline for a day or so, but i think that there's something about this woman -- unfortunately, her temperament -- that she goes through these folks and staffers and chiefs of staff, you know, with -- with unbelievable reckless abandon. >> let me ask you real quick brian tierney, does governor christie deserve an apology from the media on how we have reported bridgegate... >> no. >> ...given that he says he's basically been exonerated 'cause he's never been charged and they had that internal review of what happened and they cleared him? >> you know, it's such a crazy rhetorical thing. i deserve an apology. from who? from the media. >> from harold. >> for harold, a long line of people? there's a lot of people who probably look at governor christie and look at some of his bullying statements and think he owes people an apology. >> harold? >> yeah, you know, we've made some very critical comments about governor christie, not just about this particular incident but the way he's governing new jersey. the state is in a fiscal down spin, tailspin right now, but, you know, no one owes him an apology. you know, he's the governor. he created the culture within that governor's office in which this was done, whether he gave

someone the orders to do it or not. >> yeah, if you're playing football and you get hit, do you say, "you owe me an apology"? it's part of the game. >> i've never seen it happen. inside stories of the week coming up.

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>> "inside story" is presented by temple university -- temple fuels students with academics and opportunities to take charge. plugged into the city, powered by the world -- temple.edu/takecharge. >> inside stories of the week -- we start with nia. >> with a lot of talk of politics and temperament, there can be some reason for a discouragement, but i would encourage everyone to pay attention for the special election that's coming up next month. there's a crop of new, young people that are coming in for public service. with all the disgrace that we've seen recently in pennsylvania,

it's a wonderful opportunity to see new talent and new leadership being oh, my god." it's not gonna be much more than other big public events. it's gonna be a world event that's happening here in philadelphia, and enjoy it. it's gonna be very family-friendly. >> thanks, brian. the pulitzer prize-winning harold jackson with his inside story. >> the largest and oldest civil-rights organization, the naacp, is holding its 106th anniversary convention here in philadelphia. if you have not already, pick up the inquirer open currents, and read david levering lewis' treaties on what that organization has been and what it can be. >> right here on this sunday morning. thanks, harold. and, ed? >> matt, general jim dunford united states marines -- is going through confirmation to be chairman of the joint chiefs -- said this week that russia is the greatest threat the united states faces. mitt romney in the 2012 election said that the russians were our number-one national security threat. somewhere, mitt romney is smiling. >> all right, thanks to all of

our insiders this week including harold jackson from the philadelphia inquirer. enjoyed talking to you this morning, and we hope to have you back again. nia, ed, and brian. i'm matt o'donnell. that's it for "inside story" this week. we'll see you next week, and i'll see you monday morning on action news at 4:30 a.m. set your alarms early. >> dvr it. >> i'm in nydia han along with eva pilgrim. coming up next a motorcyclist is dead after his bike collides with a car in hunting park. mexico's top drug lord escapes from a maximum prison, now a manhunt is underway. >> humidity and storms return this week. chris has the exclusive accuweather seven-day forecast.

those stories next on "action news." colima.

>> good afternoon, it is sunday july 12 i'm nydia han along with eva pilgrim. >> we're following breaking news out of scranton where police officer has died chasing three robbery suspects. >> police are searc