about a war on caterpillars, then we'd have a problem with caterpillars. the fact of the matter is, it's a fiction. >> i think there's just one piece missing from what otherwise is obviously a perfect analogy of women as caterpillars. i think there's just one thing missing. if democrats said that republicans had a war on caterpillars and every mainstream media said we had a war on caterpillars, the republican party would not then just have a problem with caterpillars. there is a missing piece of this analogy, right? in this analogy what he's missing is the part where the republican party introduces hundreds of pieces of legislation all over the country attacking the rights of caterpillars, which in his analogy is in fact what the republican party has been doing. the republican party in this analogy has to be seen as a radically, what, anti-cocoon party? sacrifice the caterpillar? save the cocoon? metamorphasis? there's an empirical reason why the president obama is leading a two to one margin among women under the age of 50 in the big swing states right no

the fact that the democrats had a war on caterpillars, we'd have a problem with caterpillars.hat it's a fiction. >> reince priebus trying to fix the war on women idea by saying the war on women, that's the same as a war on caterpillars. and of course, it's always hilarious to compare women to caterpillars. but as an analogy, it did miss the key point that people would only say that republicans were waging a war on caterpillars if republicans had spent the last year or so pursuing legislation all over the country blocking caterpillar's access to moth reception, repealing equal pay laws for caterpillars, focusing on some caterpillar version of abortion rights to the exclusion of all other priorities, even though they said they were going to focus on caterpillar jobs, jobs, jobs. that part was missing from the analogy. that was sort of strike one, the war on caterpillars thing. then the spokesman for the republican party took another swing at it. he decided that rather than taking issue with the word "women," rather than taking issue with word "three" in the phrase "war on women,

about we have a war on caterpillars then we'd have problems with caterpillars. committee, of course, of course, bounced on his remarks calling them, quote, callous and dismissive of what matters to women and is completely out of touch. they cited a recent poll that puts the president ahead of romney by 18 points among women in key swing states and 34 points among caterpillars. obama senior adviser david axelrod tweeted this, from the department of includeless, rnc chair says gop problems with women are contrived by the media. andrea? >> well, i think the interesting thing about this is that the lead story in the "new york times" today is that the republican national committee under rinse preeb bus has retired its debt. they've raise sod much money. so he has done a really good job on the money front. on this front -- >> you're being nice. this is a clueless thing to say. >> it was a figure of speech. >> about caterpillars? >> people bounced on the caterpillars. he wasn't trying to compare people to insects but his point -- >> of course he wasn't, but it was clum

talked about the fact that republicans have a war on caterpillars, then we'd have problems with caterpillars. the fact of the matter is that it's a fiction. >> so, joe, that's the proper sound bite there and chris alisa of "the washington post" talked about how they're seizing every opportunity to drive an issue wedge between republicans and women and it's working. how can republicans reverse the narrative and do so in a way that's effective for them? >> well, you make a great point, thomas. that's right. right now there is a gap and a lead. president obama's leading certainly among women over governor romney for the moment and on our side, republicans have to work very, very hard to win back women and to make the narrative about how to put women and families back to work and how the current economy hurts women and children. i think governor romney will be successful at doing that. republicans know that democrats do not have a good story to tell on the economy which is why they're seizing on the fact that republicans presently have a problem with women. they keep hammering at that home and t

see, it's an analogy in which women are caterpillars.all project is to convince women that the republican party has a lot of respect for women, the caterpillar day was not a good day for the republican party. now they are trying again. instead of taking on the women part of the idea of a war on women, instead of going after word number three in war on women, now they are going after word number one. shawn spicer, republican national spokesman, telling reporter that is the use of the word "war" in the phrase "war on women" borders on unpatriotic. given this is the same republican party that accused president obama of waging a car on everything from war on coal to a war on mexico to e yes, a war on women. it is a little rich they have now decided anybody using the word war in a political context is a traitor. if the republican party chairman is really bad at talking about this, and he is, and if the republican party chief paid talker, their spokesman is really bad at talking about this, and he is, i'm going to go out on a caterpillar leafy

see, it's an analogy in which women are caterpillars.ject is to convince women that the republican party has a lot of respect for women, the caterpillar day was not a good day. instead of taking on the women part of the idea of a war on women, instead of going after word number three in war on women, now they are going after word number one. republican national spokesman said the use of word war, that quote borders on unpatriotic. war on coal to war on mexico to yes, war on women. it is a little rich they have now decided anybody using the word war in a political context is a traitor. if the republican party chairman is really bad at talking about this, and he is, and if the republican party chief paid talker, their spokesman is really bad at talking about this, and he is, i'm going to go out on a caterpillar leafy limb and suggest a new spokesperson on this issue who is good at talking about it. it turns out she is really good about talking about the republican war on women. really good. like sit down, pay attention. this is good. >> i

than we have problems with caterpillar's i mean the fact of the matter is it's a fiction. we're in caterpillar's now some democrats have blasted pre-vis saying that he was comparing women to caterpillars i don't think so i think that's just silly obviously the previous was trying to say that the war on women is something that he considers fictional like a war on caterpillars and it's also a mass manipulation being carried out on the part of the media obviously and so once again the republicans are just innocent victims turns out they're not the i've called the string of policies being proposed by republicans in the capitol and state houses across the country a war on women i will call again after all wasn't too long though the house republicans had an all male hearing on contraception yesterday was consing governor scott walker signed g.o.p. bills barring abortion coverage through health insurance exchanges and requiring gawkers to consult privately with women seeking abortions and today mississippi governor phil bryant receives a bill that would close the sole remaining a

caterpillars, then we'd have problem with caterpillars. the fact of the matter is it's a fiction. >> fiction? caterpillars? i don't think that the gop has ever been in such a public relations maze. republicans don't have any policies to close the gender gap. the war on women is fiction but there were more than 1100 bills introduced across the country last year to restrict women's health rights. so it's not just small time lawmakers writing these bills either. keep that in mind. stars of the republican party are front and center of the war on women. john kasich signed six new abortion restriction bills into law last year. of course, in pennsylvania there's governor tom corbett who told women to just close your eyes when it comes to the state's new mandatory ultrasound bill. 35 new house bills were introduced and governor bob mcdonnel supported medically unnecessary ultrasounds. and scott johnson whose budget requires insurance companies to cover prescription birth control. can we go on and on? so, what, fiction? does he know what he's talki

>> well, first of all, the analogy to caterpillars, women and caterpillars, bugs to be squashed. chosen a better word. the thing that really make me angry about this is i'm sure they did like it better when we weren't paying attention to what they were doing. but the reality is, last year, there were 1100 anti-women provided introduced in state legislature. this year we've already had 900. we have eight states trying to defund planned parenthood. 13 states trying to push the same mandatory ultrasound bill that bob mcdonald did in virginia. we have 11 states trying to ban abortion from, insurance from providing abortion. we have 23 states that are trying to do that with the health insurance. we have tom corbett telling women to just shut their eyes. we have rick perry telling low income women that they can't have preventive health care. >> we do have to get to other guests. >> that's the reality. >> he said it is just a war on caterpillars. >> whether republicans believe this war is a fantasy is immaterial. it is landing real blows on their reputation. the president we know is bea

and here the caterpillar. so how do you make sense of this?> i'm less insulted by the republican choice of analogy as i am by their actual platform. be republicans say things like women can just close their eyes or women use rape as an excuse. sometimes they are bad analogies, bad use of lake wage but they are a gasp that shows you think really think about things. >> right. the truth is the most revealing excuse -- >> absolutely. >> what you just said is deeply important. the metaphor is less important than what they have done. and what they have done is this fundamental cutback in access to health care, access to choice access to fundamental human rights. ben let's switch to another aspect of the political dynamic here which is the social issues in women's rights in particular seem to gain traction for the theological right which the economical issue which mitt romney wanted to talk about lost its traction a bit. >> it was complicate the narrative a bit if we're getting jobs numbers like we're getting tomorrow. how do you argue to run and fix

problems with caterpillars. the fact of the matter it's a ficti fiction. >> alice stuart is press secretary to the santorum campaign. a lot to talk about with rick santorum. you're seeing this al hunt's interview to air this weekend on bloomberg with reince priebus. if you are trying to tamp down the gender war why compare to the an insect? >> i'm not exactly certain why he picked that insect for that matter but it might not have been the best analogy. the truth is there is not a gender problem at the republican party. women, conservatives and liberals for that matter, they are multi-issue candidates, they are concerned about jobs, concerned about the economy, so you know, republicans are embracing men, women and all folks. the main thing is women are just like men. they want jobs, they want the economy to turn around, they want to be able to provide for their families just like the men do. >> we know that, you and i know that, but the exit polls certainly reflects a different reality that there is an 18-point g

republicans have a war on caterpillars we would have problems with caterpillars.at this president pursued. he hasn't answered arch bishop dolen's questions about obama world and intarmz care. >> i don't understand why the president of the united states has to answer to any arch bishop or any religious leader. the preparation of his defense is ludicrous, and obama, in any case, backed away it and found a compromise acceptable to mainstream catholics about the rule of health care by contraception. but what this war on women is about is not about what happened in the past couple of months. it's been a continuing problem for the g.o.p. which is why with one exception of the tea party election of 2010 there has been a huge genialitieser gap since the early 1980sder gap since the early 1980s between republicans and democrats. it's not just about abortion. it's not about contraception. it is about a complete disregard for women's health issues and the protection of women and not only in health issues but also in the workplace and equal pay and everything else that's been

. >> the democrats said we had a war caterpillars we'd have a problem with caterpillars. >> the republicans really embarrassed themselves. >> we do suffer from p.m.s. -- >> new controversy at augusta national golf club. >> a question of whether women should be members of augusta. >> women are not allowed to become members. >> jay carney has spoken out -- >> the president's answer to this question is yes. >> president obama seems to be picking up the banner for women. >> women are on president obama's side. >> i do want to talk a little bit about mitt romney's strategy. >> i wish ann were here, my wife were here. >> why p doesn't he actually speak to women? >> any old girlfriends here? i have to be careful. >> he can't help it. he was born with a silver foot in his mouth. >>> the latest polls are showing the huge gender gap in president obama's favor against mitt romney is actually getting bigger. gloria steinham is not content with what is now a 20-point advantage among women voters, gloria wants the obama winning margin with women to be even bigger. >> whether or not women can determine wh

having a war on caterpillars, then we have a problem with caterpillars.t's a fiction -- >> first of all, caterpillars, really? that's the best you could do? does seriously there's no fiction here. let's get the facts. seven states pushed women having to have ultrasounds before abortions. but republicans think there is no attack on women. nice try. but we got you. it's just too hard." then there was a moment. when i decided to find a way to keep going. go for olympic gold and go to college too. [ male announcer ] every day we help students earn 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. yeah lunch announcements are primetime. [ male announcer ] lunchables peanut butter and jelly with a crispy rice treat. feed your great ideas. [ feedback ] ♪ it's peanut butter jelly time ♪ ♪ peanut butter jelly time ♪ peanut butter jelly time ♪ peanut butter jelly ♪ peanut butter jelly [ cheers and applause ] peanut butter paul. a

as fictional as a war on caterpillars. you know, if they're still wondering why there's an 18-point gender gap and president obama is ahead of mitt romney by that many points, then they really -- they really must believe these things that they're saying. shocking. >> nikki haley thinks she has the answer for mitt romney on this issue. let's listen to what she had to say. >> what i would say to governor romney is he needs to reach out to the women. he needs to talk to them about the issues they care about. the media thinks that women only care about contraception. that's not true they care about contraception and education and health care and jobs and the economy. but he's got to do it. get out in front of women and say this is what i believe in. this is why i believe it. let the women ask their question and it will happen. >> do you think that's actually going to happen in the romney campaign? >> no. i mean i think mitt romney has been so focused on trying to out right wing and embrace extremism that he is really beholden

how is caterpillar act.e press release caterpillar said they were raising guidance for 2012. i want to see if their guidance is actually above. >> bid ask is a little below. >> 9.54 is where the street is now. let's see. they say they are raising their fwidance. first quarter sales of 15.98. that looks a little bit below expectations, which was 16.2 for caterpillar at this point. that was a little bit below. they see 2012 at 9.50. they are calling that a raise but the estimate is already 9.54. so the raise they are giving is still a couple of cents shy. and seeing how much they beat first quarter by, you would think that the full year number would maybe, that might be causing a little bit -- you know what? >> caterpillar we look as a global economy. >> sometimes i want goes down three at the beginning end the session up three. very volatile. and very cyclical. and what happens in china. >> china play is what happens with housing here and what happens in agriculture here. >> and it's like better to look at it

with caterpillars. a war on vet can that the president pursued and he hasn't answered archbishop dolan issue with obama world and obamacare. >> bret: democrats jumped on that quickly. >> it's like they take off and the montgomery county schools got ready for passover and not accepted tv appearances and metaphor rick wars on caterpillars or anything else. the obama administration sees a political opening and they are trying to exploit it. they are vulgar and simple-minded. you think how could that work? guess what? in politics and vulgar and simple-minded works and they're having some success imprinting the minds of swing voters that gee the republican party seems out of touch to women's issues. >> bret: charles, women's conference at the white house? >> aconsideredding to jay carney it has nothing at all to do with the election. they actually think they can say that. with a straight face and get away with it. all the administration use taxpayer money to promote themselveses in an election year. this is

the war on caterpillars then we'd have problems with caterpillars. the fact of the matter is it's a fiction. >> the chairman of the republican party trying to say the whole idea that the republican had a war on women was as fictitious of the idea that republicans were waging a war on caterpillars. this was strike one. this was a swing and a miss for reince priebus. his party earned the label of war on women because of things like restricting access to contraception and opposing equal pay for equal work and going hog wild against abortion rights. not because of the substance of it but because comparing women to caterpillars is not an awesome way to convince women how much respect you have for them. so that was -- thank you. strike one. then they gave it another shot. not the chairman of the republican party but the spokesman for the republican party, sean spicer. remember that name. it's coming back. he said it's not the women part of the phrase but the war part. he said it's borderline unpatriotic for anyone to use war as a political metaphor. and, y

you might as well say there's a war on caterpillars. this is a huge gender gap. we see it in terms of comments women make at i vil. you have women saying i'm a lifelong republican. my grandfather a lifelong republican. he would roll over in his grave feld hear this, but that the party has been so in the words of this one woman so anti-won, i can't vote republican. that is a huge problem for the party. >> catherine, this is worth calling attention to. olympia snow and lisa murkowski, olympia saying san drop fluke should have been commended not condemned. lisa murkowski yesterday saying it makes no sense to make this attack on women. if you don't feel this is an attack, you need to go home and talk to your wife and daughters. >> and congresswoman might be able to remind me, but the new york republican congressman who was talking to a huge group of women about three weeks ago and he said, i hate to say this, i think i'm helping my party but you need to vote democratic. you need to vote for the party that is supporting you. when you look not only at national issues b

media outlet talked about the fact we have a war on caterpillars we'd have problems with caterpillars. the fact is it's a fiction. >> the obama campaign immediately shot back saying, quote, prince priebus' comparisons to limit women's access to mammograms and a war on caterpillars show how little regard including mitt romney have for women's health. that's not what reince priebus was equating to women's health with that comment. obama campaign tries to tie romney to the damaged republican band at this point. romney campaign is convinced that romney the candidate doesn't have a problem with women. it's the republicans. he's just being hurt by that association and romney said as much in an interview with news max this week. >> there's no question that over the past several weeks, that a discussion about religious liberty was distorted into a discussion of contraceptives and there was the perception that somehow republicans are opposed to contraceptives. i think this will pass as an issue as people understand our real position. >> clinical romney there. the romney campaign believes mitt