and eugene robinson, you were there. what's your impressions of what you saw and heard?ll, i'm not actually in the hall, but my impression of what -- that was incredible! you know? i mean, i knew there would be a reaction, but they went after juan in a way that, frankly, recalled the south carolina of a few decades ago and not the sort of new south carolina that we all think we're living in right now. >> and does -- richard wolffe, does newt gingrich think that he's going to gain favor with conservative voters in south carolina with his brash response to juan williams? >> yes. and i hate to say this, but he's probably right. i mean, you're not talking about the general population here, the independents who go up and decide general elections across the country. yes, this kind of pandering, condescension, just total brushoff of what is a very legitimate concern. you know, the caricaturing of juan williams as being some sort of epitome of a liberal media, that's what fox does every day. he's a fox news analyst, now running for president. yeah, this will work for him. i actu

eugene robinson. gene, is this the kind of day we live for, or am i overreacting? >> this is the kind of day we live for, rachel, best place you can possibly be, come down here, unless you want to go with me to like visit mitt's money in the cayman islands, i think that will be fun too. >> we can swim with the sting rays and mitt's millions. let me ask you, gene, because you and i were both together, completely wrong about rick perry. you and i both thought rick perry would be the real threat to mitt romney, he was going to be the real candidate, and today kaput, does that have any effect on the race at this point? >> it does have an effect on the race, yes, we were completely wrong. we saw he was really going to be a force in this race. look, he doesn't bring many voters with him, right, he's down in the single digits here in south carolina, so it's not as if he's bringing legions into the gingrich camp, but doing it today, it just reenforces this idea, this reality, of gingrich momentum in south carolina and i'll tell you, i've been here all week, and he's gainin

eugene robinson is a "washington post" columnist, pulitzer prize winner, and michael steele is the former chairman of the republican national committee. yesterday at a gingrich event in marshalltown, iowa, gingrich said he'd been romney voted. so i asked the former speaker if this is the future of american politics. the lofty rhetoric on the trail by the candidate himself, meanwhile the nasty super pac anonymous ads from a front group. here's our exchange? >> no, no more than it has been in the past. >> but you've won all these debates, and you come in here, and all i watch on television are these restore our future ads, they're legal now, with no, i paid for that ad by mitt romney, and they go out, and he has a beautiful family, but his ads are trash, trashing you constantly. >> he is assuming american people are stupid. i don't think the american people are stupid. >> but the polls show they're responding. the polls are reacting to this. >> i'm sure within a few weeks, every american will know this is his pac. >> he took you from the 30s down to the teens. it's working. why doesn't he d

joining me tonight, msnbc political analyst eugene robinson. also associate editor and pulitzer prize-winning columnist for the "washington post." eugene, great to have you with us tonight. >> good to be here, ed. >> good americans knew about the wealth -- and this story is getting around. if every voter out there knew exactly what romney's wealth was and just how much he pays in taxes, do you think that would affect how people might view him as the president, or view him as the candidate or maybe affect their vote? what do you think? >> well, i think it's something people would want to know. look, i'm with you. i have nothing against a guy making a dollar. that's what, you know, this country's economic system is all about. it creates wealth. you know. the problem is that that wealth has become increasingly concentrated in just a few hands, and mitt romney is one of the, what, 3,140 top beneficiaries of what's been happening to the economy. now, i know the answer to your question, i think. he almost certainly pays a lower tax rate than your lis

we have response from msnbc's eugene robinson, richard wolf, and rick tyler from the newt gingrich pack and a lot more. now he's on attack. romney tried to land the latest attack on gingrich for his association with freddie mac. romney hammered him with his pay in the debate. >> you said you were paid $1.6 million as a historian. they weren't hiring you as a historian, and this contract proves you weren't a hiss tore yal. it doesn't say you provided historical experience, you were hired as a consultant. you were making over a million dollars at the same time people in florida were being hurt by millions of dollars. >> this is a good example. as a businessman, you know that the gross revenue wasn't your personal income. we had three offices, the company was being paid. my share annually was about $35,000 a year, and the fact is i offered strategic advice largely based on history, including my history in washington. >> just one of the many exchanges we'll bring in tonight. let's bring in pulitzer prize-winning columnist for the "washington post," and also richard wolf. richard, did romney

eugene robinson is an msnbc political analyst and a columnist for "the washington post."hris cillizza, also an msnbc contributor and managing editor of post politics down in washington. we looked at these numbers. let me ask you. let's take a look at axelrod talking on "meet the press" yesterday about what they are learning. here he is. >> independent voters are fleeing governor romney now and his numbers are falling. he's under water nationally. this process is not helping him because he's so intent on pandering to those forces on the right of his party, to try and win this nomination. >> he's on the mark there. some evidence of mitt romney's fall right now among independents in the latest nbc/"wall street journal" poll. while those independents rating him overall positively have remained steady, his negative rating has gone up. in november, 22% viewed him negatively. in december, up to 29%. now that number is up to 44%. he's rising on the negative side. look at romney and obama, how they match up among independents. back in november, romney beat obama by 13 points. now

eugene robinson is a political analyst. i have to tell you., this president is the luckiest human being. he came up from an interesting background. if he benefits from what looks to be a strong recovery in the most difficult part of the country. the older industries where the blue-collars have been working hard. if this comes back, he wins, i guess. >> yeah. it's an argument he would make. but i still say that the bottom line for a lot of folks is what are the fundamentals for gm to continue building success. we don't know what that is. we don't know if they have taken the corrective measures. that's not good enough. it's not a fact of what they are doing internally. it's returned confidence because they are out there. no one is talking negatively about them. >> i think he benefits. what about the head of ford? three years in a row in profits. >> he didn't take the bailout money. they did it through the market sources and forces to help them streamline and do the fu fundamentals to make the company strong. they don't know if they have done tha

eugene robinson. it was great to be with you last night. thanks for coming back tonight. >> great to be you, too, rachel. we had fun last night an it's just starting. >> you and i have been on the same page, the woefully wrong page on misunderestimating mr. santorum here. do you think he has contender -- he has the makings of a contender here and will be treated as such or people ignore him and wait for him to i go away? >> i don't think you can ignore him at this point. but for eight votes he would have won iowa. he is the surging candidate right now. he's not going to be ignored. he will be vetted. you kind of started the process tonight, i think. but others will pick it up including others in the race. because, look, rick perry, who went home to texas, i guess, for five minutes to think about the race is now back in the race. he's got to go after santorum if he's going to get any traction at all. santorum is getting all the voters that normally you would think would be perry voters. he, if any -- only one person does it, it would be rick

i'm here with the huffington post political director and eugene robinson, pul utser prize winning author. both are analysts. fantastic event this morning a ripping debate, highly charged. electric in many moments. >> yes. let focus the main question of new hampshire. whether mitt romney will be ratified as the likely nominee of the party in this debate showed his weaknesses. it showed his stance as the nice guy, businessman, nonpolitician was open to question. it was questioned by everybody else on the stage and very surgically and strategically by the questioners, david gregory and the other. >> your first thought, gene? >> they landed some blows on romney today. the question is, whether it's too late. things happen late in new hampshire. it seems like there's an eternity between today, sunday, and tuesday. but is that really, realistically enough time for the needle to move. >> here is the one-two punch from santorum and gingrich going after romney for being in public life, attacking his geist or his presentation. here is the first shot from santorum. >> i went to massachusetts to make

that's the predictionç from "t washington post's" pulitzer prize winner, eugene robinson.uld all conditions now hold. and he joins us now. eugene? just back from new hampshire, we're back at home base for a couple days. >> we're back here for a while. >> you are a south carolina native son. you know that state better than anybody else. let's talk about mitt romney. he's in the bible belt. it's the first time, perhaps, that the mormon faith will be an issue. >> mm-hmm. >> will it, won't it? >> it could an issue. my sense is that people kind of know mitt romney. there is no one alternative to mitt romney, who i think is going to beat him in south carolina. and i don't think the mormon thing, you know, it's going to cost him some votes there, but i don't think it's going to cost him the primary. >> what about the anti-abortion issue? and that whole question. because that was the first ad that newt gingrich put up. >> questions about, you know, he changed his mind and then stuck with it. but changing your mind is a big deal. and that's going to cost him probably more support t

howard fineman editorial director, eugene robinson is a "washington post" columnist, both are msnbc political analysts. this morning gallup's editor in chief said romney's national lead was collapsing. take a look at the latest numbers. at the beginning of this week romney led newt gingrich by 23 points. in the latest gallup tracking poll out today that lead's down to 10. this afternoon mitt romney conceded south carolina was going to be a very close contest. and that this could tour out to be long race for the nomination. let match. >> we have a long process ahead of us, 1150 delegates to get. i sure would like to win south carolina but i know that if those polls were right, regardless of who gets the final number, we're both going to get a lot of the ankle gates. i want as many delegates as i can get. but i don't know what the numbers will be. i'm pretty confident. cautiously optimistic. >> one of those polls that romney mentioned, an important one in south carolina, is the chemical money palmetto poll. just released the latest results that show given dwrich ahead of romney by 6 points. let

thank you, my colleagues of lore and eugene robinson. up in fact, more from the candidates and analysis. what great morning for nbc and msnbc. we're talking about the republican presidential debate just held here in manchester, new hampshire, just two days before the new hampshire primary. >> what are the three areas that you would make some reductions that people would feel some pain andly tell you it would be those brats at the department of commerce and energy and education that we're going to do away with. [ male announcer ] wouldn't it be cool if you took the top down on a crossover? if there were buttons for this? wouldn't it be cool if your car could handle the kids... ♪ ...and the nurburgring? or what if you built a car in tennessee that could change the world? yeah, that would be cool. nissan. innovation for today. innovation for tomorrow. innovation for all. ♪ by marie claire as one of the 25 beauty products that will change your life because it whitens by removing up to 80% of surface stains. see how it can change your life. c

also, the "the washington post's" eugene robinson. >> we'll ask eugene, by the way, about him going afterreal firestorm. >> well, we'll get to that. >> yeah, but first, will your atlanta falcons find a way to survive in the meadowlands this weekend? >> against willie's giants. >> giants. >> we'll bring in peter king and mike florio for the postseason predictions but first bill karins on the postseason forecast. >> going to try to predict what happens, and he always gets it wrong. >> i'm going to go ahead with a new year's resolution and continue to ignore all negative comments. good morning, everyone. we are watching snow this morning. yes, snow, just a little bit of it. of course, we'll be talking a ton about new hampshire. po portland, maine, a little bit on the ground. careful driving up i-95 in that location. warm air on the way. look at d.c., 60 degrees, and as we talk about new hampshire as we go towards primary, the forecast looks perfect up through new hampshire and into two, so it should be a good turnout come tuesday for the voting. as far as the weekend forecast goes, very warm

thank you howard, my colleagues and lore and eugene robinson of course from the post. >>> more analysis from us. you're watching msnbc's coverage. what a great morning for nbc and msnbc. we're talking about the republican presidential debate just held here in manchester new hampshire just two days before the new hampshire primary. >> let me answer the question you asked earlier. what are the three areas you would make reduction that people will feel pain. it would be those bureaucrats at the department of commerce and energy and education that we're going to do away with. [ applause ] [ whistle blows ] oh! [ baby crying ] ben harper: ♪ what started as a whisper every day, millions of people choose to do the right thing. ♪ slowly turned into a scream ♪ there's an insurance company that does that, too. liberty mutual insurance. responsibility. what's your policy? we have to thank you for the advice on phillips' caplets. magnesium, right? you bet! phillips' caplets use magnesium. works more naturally than stimulant laxatives... for gentle relief of occasional constipation. can i get an aut

tomorrow, "the washington post" eugene robinson joins us.a look what's next on news nation. >> good to see you. in our next hour, the supreme court rules that a woman who says she's disabled cannot sue the lutheran church that fired her. why wasn't she the protected under the americans with disabilities ac? plus mississippi governor hailey bauer bore's final act in office has ignited outrage. he pardoned nearly 200 people, including a rapist and a murderer. why his supporters are calling this move a mississippi tradition. >>> and we're getting new reaction from secretary of state hillary clinton on the iranian nuclear scientist murdered by a car bomb in iran. we have a live report from tehran. "news nation" is just minutes away. an accident doesn't have to slow you down. with better car replacement, available only with liberty mutual auto insurance, if your car is totaled, we give you the money for a car one model year newer. to learn more, visit us today. responsibility. what's your policy? >>> right now on "news nation," divide and conquer

eugene robinson in today's "the washington post" does not think that mitt romney has this locked in. hat. you say this, eugene. i don't subscribe to the screw that romney somehow locks up the nomination even if he finishes second to santorum or paul. first there is the obvious fact that you don't win by losing. second, the primary schedule still offers the opportunity for anybody but mitt to coalesce behind a single, strong challenger. a romney victory in new hampshire next week is already taken for granted but then comes south carolina, a state where it's easy to imagine romney being beaten by santorum, newt gingrich, or even rick perry all of whom will still be in the race. yes it would be remarkable if the antiromney sentiment all came together behind one of those contenders in a week and a half but stranger things have happened. remember herman cain. just three and a half weeks ago in the game. >> on top of the game. >> unbelievable. >> we've seen palin at the top of the game, trump in the spring, michele bachmann at the top of the game in the summer. rick perry in august at the t

eugene robinson, thank you as well. up next, republican presidential candidate, newt gingrich.primary day. ♪ i am you ♪ you are me i'm jennifer hudson, and i believe. i was strong before weight watchers, but i'm stronger with it. i believe weight watchers can do the same for you. i believe you have more power than you think you do. i believe because it works. ♪ if you want it, you got it your turn. your time. your year. join for free. weight watchers points plus 2012. because it works. the two trains and a bus rider. the "i'll sleep when it's done" academic. for 80 years, we've been inspired by you. and we've been honored to walk with you to help you get where you want to be. ♪ because your moment is now. let nothing stand in your way. learn more at keller.edu. >>> welcome back to "morning joe" live from manchester, jnew hampshire. joining us now, former house speaker, mr. newt gingrich. i think off the top i ought to say, i'm so sorry about joe. >> what are you talking about? >> so personal in his opinions. so from the beginning here -- >> yeah. >> he issues you a formal apolo

eugene robinson is with us. joining us jeff greenfield.e were many. >> but i will tell you. mitt romney had a great night for mitt romney. >> no. >> i think he -- no, i think he had a great night. i think that'll probably propel him to a win in florida. that's my own gut right now being from florida. and knowing the type of people florida elects. that said, jeff, for we conservatives who question this -- what's at this man's core. the one thing i promise you would never hear out of my mouth would be one that paul ryan's medicare plan is right-wing social engineering from the newt side. you say how does anybody do that? and the other front-runner's saying, you know, individual mandates, the individual mandates that actually conservatives are praying that the united states supreme court will overturn as an unconstitutional violation of my civil rights as an american, that's nothing to get concerned about. >> right. >> that's a big -- big mistake. >> if you were judging this debate strictly on a kind of college score, santorum's critique was