captions by: caption colorado, llc (800) 775-7838 comments@captioncolorado.com from washington, "the mclaughlin group," the american original. for over two decades, the sharpest minds, best sources, hardest talk. "the mclaughlin group" is brought to you by met life, guarantees for the "if" in life. issue high octane villainization. >> they're telling their investors this. we under the money. we are gonna keep on making big profits even though a lot of folks are going to be put under hardship. >> rather than go to asia next week, president obama stayed home to twist arms and pass his health insurance reform bill.

the obama program is designed to help 31 million people get health insurance. it calls for regulating rates for those who already have it. obama has been trying to get popular support for his bill. villainizeing alleged greed merchants. currently pointing the finger at health insurance companies. focusing his argument on the accusation that the health insurance industry is helping drive up health costs from the current 2.5 trillion to a 2019 figure of 4.5 trillion. >> we can't have a system that works better for the insurance companies than it does for the american people. insurance companies continue to ration health care based on who's sick and who's healthy, on who can pay and who can't pay. when a whole bunch of potential employers tell you, you know what? we just can't afford it or we'll have to take thousands of

dollars out of your paycheck because the insurance companies just jacked up our rates. >> but the insurance companies argue rising costs have more to do with doctors and hospitals increasing their salaries and costs. relative to hospitals, doctors, pharmaceuticals, insurers have a small piece of the health care pie, however. >> there's been an effort through the villainization campaign to distract away from the point we've been making by focusing on 4% which is what we represent to basically fnd a trillion dollar piece of legislation. we are kidding ourselves in s o will work. it won't. >> question. why is president obama villainizing, demonizing insurance companies? pat buchanan? >> it's crude and nasty but it works. that's yes' picking on these folks. he also demonized the doctors. normal americans out there protesting in the summer, they are thugs and harry reid called

them evil mongers. they are running it through the congress. what are they doing? 50 votes in the senate. they got this deemed to pass. in the house what have they got, the louisiana purchase and the cornhusker kickback. it is the naked face of big government in a power grab, john. that face in the fall is gonna get a good punch in it. >> is this dirty pool in his part? >> pointing out the practices of the insurance companies is not dirty pool. it's the way our system is set up. insurance companies make money when they deny people coverage. they've been raising their premiums to the point where a lot of people can't afford them anymore. >> so is the rest of the industry. that's what karen's saying. you have a hospital problem, they're rates are going up. >> the bill, when it is passed, will put restrictions in place throughout the industry, and put a system finally in place of insurance that will create competition. don't feel sorry for the

insurance companies. they're going to get 32 million more customers, which will allow them to spread the risk and keep premiums at a reasonable -- >> can i still -- let's feel sorry fo . insurance companies are not the only group mr. obama has villainized to move legislation. critics say. there are also the surgeons. >> if a family care physician works with his or her patient to help them lose weight, modify diet, monitors whether they're taking their medications in a timely fashion, they might get reimbursed a pittance. but if that same diabetic ends up getting their foot amputated, that's 30,000, 40, $50,000 immediately the surgeon is reimbursed. >> monica, is it responsible behavior for mr. obama to drive a political wedge between the

tradition ale trust between patient and surgeon, patient and physician? >> no, of course not. but look, this bill is so hated by the american people so roundly rejected by the american people that the president had no choice but to throw the spaghetti against the wall and see what might stick. so far, we have had four rationizations for this bail. he said we kneed universal coverage. then moved on to lowering health care costs. then he moved on to well, we're going to do this for deficit reduction. that didn't work and now he's settled on demonizing the insurance companies and the doctors. every time he has gone out there trying to make one of these arguments, his personal poll numbers come down and the opposition for the health care bill rises. this is -- all of these attacks on whether it's the insurance companies, nobody's here defending the these attacks. >> you just did. >> i didn't defend the insurance companies but i find his attacks on them quite appalling when they are making

between 3 and 5% profit. you know the insurance organization that turns down more claims than anybody else? it is medicare a government-run insurance company. >> you want to add to the list of villainized victims of barack obama some say, namely the are also a target of his. >> not enough. not enough. >> he should target them more? >> absolutely because if there is one group that is more hated by the american people than the bankers, i don't know what it is. remember, the big bankers brought us to the verge of a financial meltdown and now wall street has recovered and main street is still suffering with millions of unemployed, millions of foreclosures, bankruptcies. they are doing extremely well. they are not lending. lending is down by a hundred billion by the big fallbacks. we started a movement called move your money, encouraging people to take the money from

the big banks and put them in the credit unions and community banks to create jobs and lend. >> there is a bill before the senate, and we will, i think, get the financial regulation as well. we've conveniently avoided mentioning the news of the week, the congressional budget office analysis that the health care reform bill will actually reduce the deficit by $138 billion over ten years and 1.2 trillion in the second year. the example where you made fun of the president talking about physicians who cares for people as opposed to a physician who does procedures -- >> i quoted him, i didn't make fun of him. >> well, but you said it was unethical. the bill would actually begin to create a medical system where doctors are rewarded for caring for a patient as opposed to doing procedures. [ all talking at once ] >> it's all necessary to get -- >> john, some of us are aloirve tide because of surgeons.

>> come on it was an outrageous thing. you act as though they are complete opportunists. >> reimbursements. >> you act as if they can't wait to slice you open for money when -- [ all talking at once ] >> let airianna make the point. >> it is about the reimbursement system and how basically in the end, it's not in the interest of the patient. i mean it is a whole system. >> he sudden surgeons are going for the money. [ all talking at once ] >> opposed obama care. there has to be a reason for that. eleanor mentions the cbo. nobody believes those numbers. the democrats were dancing in the streets on thursday when the numbers came out, but the truth is, the cbo -- >> nobody believes -- [ all talking at once ] >> not even the cbo and not even the democrats, el thor, believe those numbers. in fact, you have a lot of democrats coming out saying we're not buying this. the cbo said this is only a preliminary estimate because we don't have -- >> how essential --

>> you have to live with it. >> this is an exit question to this segment. how essential is it for obama care to pass to be passed by the congress and become statute for obama to do well, for obama's party to do well this year? if he doesn't get it passed, is the party lost? >> if he doesn't get it passed, the democratic congress is a failure for this year. obama is certainly temporarily a failure. this is his signature issue. >> eleanor? >> a lot of the anger at washington today is because the government can't seem to perform. if this doesn't pass it's hard to see how anything else will pass. then the republicans can run against the democrats as the party that can't govern. so it is critical, and i think they're going to pull it off. >> no matter what form it takes. ? >> what do you mean what form it takes? [ all talking at once ] >> not any health care.

>> just give us something. >> it's a bill they've talked about and debated for years. it's not some spaghetti just tossed up against the wall. >> is the democratic party saying give us something so we can win in november? and what about the american people? where does that leave them if they are saddled with health care? >> saddled with health care? >> with obama care. >> saddled with this bill. look, you have between 55 and 60% of the american people opposing this bill. they do want reform, don't want a brand new $2.5 trillion entitlement that we cannot afford. i think the rank and file democrats are saying look, you have to give us something to take back to our districts. we've got blue dog and swing districts saying i'm between a rock and hard place. the democrats put themselves there, john. they are between a rock and a hard place. either they get fired in november or support a bill. >> airianna, is obama putting a political win over the public good? >> well, first of all, i need to dispute what monica says

because if you take the individual elements of the bill, you know, people want change. they don't want to be dropped off their insurance policies when they get sick. they don't want their premiums to rise as they've just been rising over the last few weeks 39% in california. over 50% in illinois. no, i think personally that the white house is overestimating the significance of passing this health care bill because i think the biggest issue in the mid-term elections is going to be jobs and not health care. unless the economy recovers and people start getting jobs, i don't thit passage of the health care -- [ all talking at once ] >> the commitment they have made to health care has built the issue into a critical issue. >> john -- >> if he doesn't get it passed what's the shakespearean play where you are wounded by your own sword? >> hoist by your own baton. >> that's it. >> john, you are worried about

one thing. >> it's going to pass. that's not the issue. the issue is, after it passes, the emphasis on jobs has to be so much bigger than it has been so far. >> that's why he wants to get it out of the way as soon as possible and he's not going to indonesia. >> my fear is there isn't the same kind of passion for major legislative reform after the -- >> john, this is about power. you're exactly right. it has got ton where now one side's gonna lose and the other's gonna win and the democrats are being brought aboard saying you are not giving those right wingers. >> and the people are not involved. >> exactly. >> the people are involved because it expands health care coverage to 32 million people. when we come back we come lady. when planning for retirement these days, the forecast is full of ifs. if i'm too exposed to downturns. if i'll go through my savings too fast. to help you feel more confident consider putting a portion

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♪ michelle, my belle these are words that ♪ go together well my michelle ♪ [music] ♪ >> first lady michelle obama is now polling higher than her husband. 71% of americans have a fave otherrable view of michelle obama says pew. 39% have a favorable view of the president says the "new york times." the first lady has also been increasingly in the media spotlight. last week, she spoke at the smithsonian. when she conveyed the gown she wore last year at the inaugural ball, adding it to the museum's first lady collection. >> i'll never forget the moment that i slipped on this beautiful gown. i remember how just luscious i felt as the president and i were announced onto the stage fomany dances. >> question. michelle obama is almost twice

as popular as her husband. is that typical for first ladies? i ask you, eleanor? >> the last five first ladies have had higher poll ratings than they're husbands because they typically do not take on controversial issues. even hillary rodham clinton who undertook health care reform plan still polled higher than her husband. michelle obama has balanced the sort of policy issues and the style issues very well. she hasn't crossed over whatever that line is that first ladies aren't supposed to go beyond. and taking on childhood obesity as a serious health issue in this country, but she hasn't really confronted any, you know, lobbyists. i don't think there are any lobbyists with fat chirp or anything like that -- fat children or anything like that. so she's wading into an issue that everybody wants to embrace. she's also handled the entertainment aspect of the white house well. >> betty ford and laura bush i have here. their poll numbers were consistently higher than their

president husbands, but nancy reagan and hillary clinton were less popular than their presidential spouses. >> not throughout, i think. >> can you account for that? >> yes. initially nancy reagan was seen as extra glamorous. she had all of these dresses she was getting. then she turned it around with the don't ask don't tell, and i think became more popular. eleanor -- >> you mean just say no? >> just say no. >> who led ronald into astrology? >> she did. >> did that contribute to ronald reagan's. >> no, that was after. >> was there anything to is t.? >> done regan wrote all about it in his book. usually the first ladies are more popular. >> do you follow astrology at all? is your moon going into your house? >> but john -- >> we're not allowed to do into that? >> john, just remember how

incredibly polarizing michelle obama was during the election. when she was caricatured by the opposition as this angry, black lady. and there were all these rumors about a tape that existed when she talked about whitey, and here she is now she has demonstrated she can balance being an amazing mother, taking on issues that are really important but not divisive and also the style element obviously appeals to people. >> on michelle. childhood obesity. last month, president obama signed a memorandum on childhood obesity. he put michelle in charge. the first lady has made childhood obesity her top priority as other first ladies have formation about what's in the

twinkie, you know? and our kids would be pretty upset. and i am not supporting -- [ laughter ] that. so all of the kids out there, all right? >> last october, first lady obama organized the first white house healthy kids fair. >> i plan on jumping a little rope and doing a little oping. so if you want to join me, let's get going. >> do you think that the first lady's interest in childhood obesity is gonna make her popular? not with the fat kids, right? >> she's already popular. second, this is not a minor issue. this is a major sort of national epidemic that has huge health karim pli indications both for -- health care implications both for the lives and for the health care industry that's being burdened. so prevention is what this is

all about, and it is a key issue. >> she's also trying to reconnect people to the food source by creating a garden on the south lawn and teaching them that real food comes to the ground. some people look at that and say that's got dirt on it and want to run to a fast food place. there's a lot of education that needs to take place not only in the white house but the school system. >> what about tying up traffic on h street and i street with the farmer's market? is she going back to that and affect the rest of us in the city? >> for an hour, you can deal with it, john. >> did you know about that? or was that quietly abandoned. >> she said i haven't been affected by the farmer's market. >> john, i think the first lady has been very smart to take on this issue. she's getting to kids when they are young before they can become obese adults and have all of the attendant health problems but air ray anna's right, she gave the opposition a lot of ammunition sitting in

jeremy ya write wright's chur. she realized she doesn't want to be a detriment -- >> monica -- >> hold on. >> she turned into a huge asset to him. >> is she going to play a role in whether or not president obama seeks a second term? >> i think so. john, here i will say something. i think obama does not look like he's really enjoying this job. >> really? how do you deduce that? >> i mean, it looks like it's a great burden for him. >> do you think he's bored by it? >> i don't think 'es bored by it. >> bored by the issues. intellectuals handle that issue, now tell me something i don't know. >> he doesn't get along with a lot of foreign leaders. he doesn't make an effort. >> oh, that is such an exaggeration. >> i think right pat is practicing astrology. i think he's just looking into his magical astra logical

crystal ball. >> quickly eleanor. >> he has settled in and kept his cool. i think now he's on the verge of getting a pretty matsch area cheervement. while he hasn't coz yid up. >> quickly. [ all talking at once ] >> while he hasn't cozied up to any foreign leaders and looked into their soul, i world -- [ all talking at once ] >> i think he's ready to resign. >> i do not think this man particularlien joys the job. >>back with predictions. when planning for retirement these days, the forecast is full of ifs. if i'm too exposed to downturns. if i'll go through my savings too fast. to help you feel more confident consider putting a portion of your savings in a metlife variable annuity. when the market goes up, it gives your assets a potential to grow. while protecting you if the market goes down with a steady stream of income. let america's number one annuity provider help you stay on course with guarantees for the if in life.

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predictions, pat? >> u.s. clash will die down temporarily, but it's going to come back because general petraeus and the pentagon are concerned about the united states being perceived as israel's poodle. >> quickly, eleanor. >> once health care passes and if the congress keeps performing and passes a series of jobs bills, president

obama's approval rating in the next several weeks will surpass the 50% mark and that will help his party in the fall. luck with that. the federal reserve left rates unchanged this week, but i predict they will start raising rates in the third quarter by a quarter point. >> good idea? >> yes. >> arianna? >> i predict senator ted cough mn will emerge as a major leader in the senate challenging chris dodd over the details of his bill and looking for something really substantive. >> mm-hmm. president obama will choose solicitor general elena kagan to replace a supreme court justice john paul stevens. remember, you can friend us on facebook and follow us on twitter. bye-bye. the miracle of high-speed

internet is changing our lives in ways we never thought possible. helping us to connect, and learn, and innovate - driving our dreams and our economy forward. now the fcc chairman has released a report that creates a pathway for everyone in america to be connected to the power of high-speed internet. it depends on 350 billion dollars in private investment to make it happen. investment that will be important for job creation and economic recovery. at at&t, we're ready to do our part. in fact, at&t is investing billions to build out and enhance our wireless and wired networks. we applaud the fcc chairman and his vision to provide access to high-speed internet everywhere... including rural america. everyone deserves to be connected to the future...

and the future has always connected to the future... and the future has always been our business. at&t.