glenn kessler writes the factcheck column for the "washington post." he joins me now. glenn, these big speeches to joint sessions of congress are by definition full of glittering political generalities. how do you tell... how do you begin to measure what's true and what's not? >> well, i take what the president says or what any speaker like that, particularly if they throw out facts and figures i try to go and look at the source of where have that fact and figure came from. particularly in a case of the state of the union address. it's very much like the prosecutor's case in a final argument in a trial. he's going to make his case and so he often will skip over things that are... that don't support his case and so that's where i come in and try to provide some additional context or the facts as they may be. >> ifill: well, help us isolate three particular things he said in the speech last night and provide some of that context. the first we're going to take a look at is what he had to say about where the united states stands in its war in iraq and its dealings with the

instead, it glenn kessler picks which statements to evaluate. we could go on. what is he talking about? >> we recently introduced to my column, the pinocchio tracker where i rate a different comments by politicians on the one-four scale. if you say something really outrageous that is inaccurate, you get four pinocchio's. if it is slightly misleading, you make it one pinocchio. all the candidates running for president including barack obama, i list all the columns i have written where i evaluate their statements. there is an average. obama averages about two pinocchios. he has had a lot of wind. it comes out as an average of 2. we are not saying it is anything scientific. it is just a way to kind of track where people stand. >> what does pinocchio have to do with this? >> when he told a lie, his nose would grow. i do not go out of my way and say that politicians are lying. i cannot make a judgment about the motivation for why they say the things they do. however, i will take a statement, barack obama says something about the chrysler bailout. i will evaluate the

. >> in his column, glenn kessler rates the truthfulness of political figures and others. >> whethersomeone is deliberately lying? i think that a politician says the same thing over and over again, even when it has been pointed out that it is untrue, that they know that they're saying something untrue, and they're just going to say it anyway. >> glenn kessler >> this morning the political reporter for "the state"

then another chance to see "q&a" with glenn kessler. >> tomorrow, the managing editor and jakesakcusak sherman take a look at the week ahead. mark wolfe talks about the low- income home energy program. it is live at washington journat 7:00 a.m. on c-span. >> the south carolina primary is saturday january 21. since 1980, the winner has gone on to beat republican presidential nominee. c-span's road to the ones out -- road to the white house coverage. >> i do not think he is trying to make it bad. he did not know what to do. he is over his head. >> as candidates get their message out corks yet another war where we do not know what we are accomplishing. we don't know why we're there. and then we leave it a bigger mess. >> elements of power, we need to make sure that it is in our national security. >> we want to put this on our newspaper. >> five more resources at the c- span campaign web site. and read the latest from the candidates, political reporters, and people like you from social media sites at c-span.org /campaign is based 2012. >> reddis lawmakers have returned from their holiday b

. >> in his column, glenn kessler discusses the veracity of political -- of politicians. >> even whent has been pointed out there saying something untrue, and they just say it anyways. >> tonight, at 8:00, on "q&a." >> "washington journal" continues. host: joining us from columbia, outh carolina, adam beenan, thank you for being with us. guest: thank you for having me. host: your story this morning focuses on jobs, which has gotten rich. least one supporter in the state. hoping for a campaign revival in south carolina. what is happening with his candidacy? caller: -- guest: south carolina was supposed to be a slam-dunk for rick perry. he announced his candidacy in charleston. the first week that he was here, i followed him to a couple of restaurants in the state and he was a rock star. and at that point it looked like you is going to win. he was lining of this in -- all of these important endorsements. i think that the debates heard him. i think that some of the hit he took on immigration heard him here as well. he has never been able to recover from that. it is also par for the cours

. >> this week on "q&a" glenn kessler discusses his current job as "the fact checker" columnist. >> you have a web site. i want to read you what one of the comments that came from the public at large in the to explain. this average pinocchio list strikes me as absurd and meaningless. if anything exist to be manipulated by partisans, if not the grind, it acts as itself. the writer does not evaluate every statement. to do so is impossible. instead, it then kessler picks which statements to evaluate. we could go on. what is he talking about? >> we recently introduced to my column, the pinocchio tracker differentte a comments by politicians on the one-four scale. if you say something really outrageous that is inaccurate, you get four pinocchio's. if it is slightly misleading you make it one pinocchio. all the candidates running for president including barack obama, i list all the columns i have written where i evaluate their statements. there is an average. obama averages about two pinocchios. he has had a lot of wind. an averageu andt as of 2. we are not saying it is anything scientific. i

copyright national cable satellite corp. 2012] upcoming guests on a "q&a" include author and reporter glenn kessler discussing his role as a fact checker. and diane qwest, talked about her columns. today, c-span's live "road to the white house" coverage continues with republican candidate mitt romney at a campaign rally in hudson at noon. then at 7:00 p.m., a john hudson campaign rally in exeter. this morning, former new hampshire senator judd gregg discse

. >> glenn kessler sunday night at 8:00 p.m. on c-span's "q&a." >> charles clark, senior editor of government magazine. then craig gilbert looks at

and >>> glenn kessler said the t "q&a".s fancspan's host: james bennet, thank you for being here. wanted to talk to you about the cover of "the atlantic" -- said reported this piece for you. where did he go? guest: we have been trying various ways to get our hands around the way the economy is changing, not just since the crash, but it has revealed a lot of long-term structural changes in the economy, including the rise of the global league, the rise of women in the work force. what we really wanted to address here is what has happened to manufacturing in american economy. and was also the great factory of the american middle class. we have been talking to adam davidson about collaborating. they are wonderful story tellers and terrific at explaining complex economic ideas. >host: tell us about project money. and they are doing a story on npr. guest: it is a national public radio program focused on business generally in the economy. they do a great job of finding a very tangible accessible illustrations of often complicated,

. >> glenn kessler, tonight at 8:00. >> it is important to emphasize that while it is great to have this memorial to his memory, and it is great to have a national holiday, and it is great to have streets and schools and hospitals named in his honor, it is also a important to not place too much and this is on martin luther king the idle, but not enough emphasis on the ideals of martin luther king jr.. >> take look at the life and legacy of dr. martin luther king jr.. the c-span video library. it is what you want, when you want it. >> a town hall meeting with rick santorum in florence, south carolina. it is part of what he is calling his face, a family, and freedom to or. he received the endorsement of a group of evangelical and other religious leaders at a conference held outside of houston. this is about an hour and 15 minutes. >> hi, how are you? good to see you. >> thank you for coming to see us. >> great to be here. >> i like that sweater vest. it looks good. good to see you, thank you for coming out. >> thank you for coming to florence. best of luck to you. >> thank you for coming o

after that, "q&a" with glenn kessler. then another chance to see david cameron at the primbritish house of commons. >> have believe that it is important to recognize that, while it is rare to have this memorial in his memory and a school and streets named after him, it is important to not place so much emphasis on martin luther king, jr., the idol, and not enough on the ideals of martin luther king, jr. >> online at the c-span video library. search, clip, and share. >> the national action network hosted the annual martin luther king day breakfast to honor those who work to continue the legacy of dr. king. participants include berry gordy, lisa jackson, and alexis herman. we will have live coverage beginning at 8:00 a.m. monday. now a town hall meeting with rick santorum in florence, south carolina. part of what he is calling his faith, family, and freedom tour. this week, he received the endorsement of a group of evangelical and religious leaders at a conference held in houston. this is about an hour and 15 minutes. >> he

they are essentially untrue, and they're just going to say it anyway. >> "the washington post" glenn kessleror jan brewer, told the arizona republic that her job growth, education and economic funding are going to meet priorities. now governor brewer delivers his second state of the state address where she talks about her accomplishments in office before a crowd of several hundred people in a house chamber in phoenix. her remarks are or 35 minutes. >> her excellency, governor of the state of arizona. [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] >> good afternoon. honorable senators, representatives of the centennial legislature, the supreme court, constitutional officers, tribal leaders and honored guest, and my fellow arizonans, probably don't have to tell you that i love arizona. [applause] it's my home and our home and it's an extraordinary place. after a long hard day, and look forward to walking in my garden, enjoy the wildlife, watch the sunset and plan for the challenges ahead. yes, preparing for the state of the state address but it's impossible to be in this c

saying something untrue, and they are just going to say it anyway. >> the "washington post's" glenn kessler. >> coming up in 15 minutes, live coverage of tavis smiley's forum on poverty in america. speakers include princeton university professor cornell west and author and filmmaker michael more -- moore. republican presidential candidate newt gingrich signed a pledge earlier today that says as president he would keep the federal mortgage tax deduction in place to encourage home ownership and create new jobs. he spoke at a homeownership rally outside of the state capitol in columbia, south carolina. this is 15 minutes. >> i want to start for a minute and talk about home ownership on a personal level. i cannot of a family in central pennsylvania. my dad ultimately became a career soldier, but before that, he went to college. while he was doing that, we lived in an apartment above a gas station right on the square, and we rented. when my dad was in the army, we went wherever of sam sent us, and we were always in army housing. i remember the feeling my mother had after my dad retired and they

. >> glenn kessler evaluates and rates the truthfulness of political figures and others. >> whether they are deliberately lying, and the politician says the same thing over and over again even as it has been pointed out as untrue, they know they are saying something untrue and they are just going to say it anyway. >> "the washington post's" glenn kessler, sunday night on "q&a." > "washington journal" continues. host: frank newport joins us to talk about independent voters. the number of americans identifying themselves as political independents is the highest you have measured. guest: it is the highest we have measured, but just by some points, so it is important we don't make too much out of it. more americans are disengaged, less involved, and are more likely to tell themselves they are independent, -- tell pollsters they are independent, which is what we saw last year. host: back in 1988, 33% of people identified themselves as independents. what is contributing to the seven-point increase? guest: there are ups and downs. 1988 was an election year, when bush won over dukakis. in genera

. >> glenn kessler sunday night at 8:00 p.m. on c-span's "q&a." >> next, tim scott hosts a presidential town hall meeting in myrtle beach south carolina. it is one in a series of meetings he is hosting for undecided voters on a series of issues. joining congressman scott is the virginia gov. bob mcdonnell. he offers his views on the presidential field and his role in the campaign. this is about an hour. >> one more announcement. these police that you see around you, they are armed and dangerous. i would like to introduce someone that i have gotten to know over the last year. i have worked with probably 100 members of congress now and some are better than others. and you should be very proud. and you should -- there must have been some sort of divine intervention because something good happened in the first congressional district of south carolina. i have had the chance to get to know the congressman now. he understands policy. he understands people. and he understands the country and what it needs. there is a lot of anxiety and

. >> in his "washington post" column, glenn kessler rates the answers by politicians. >> i think if aolitician stays same thing over and over again even when it's been pointed out that it's untrue that they know they are saying something untrue, they are going to say it anyway. >> the "washington post" glenn kessler on c-span's "q&a." >> it's easy to follow the presidential candidates through social media. go to espn's 2012 website and fool what the candidates are posting in real time. read the latest from ploil recorders. so campaign, 2012. >> former senate majority leader george mitchell spoke earlier about the middle east peace process and iran's nuclear program. he's president obama's former middle east envoy. this event is hosted by the atlantic. >> ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us. i'm ed minor large and the series a new product that we're trying to draw together. tonight we're partners with the center or middle east paste and hosting something called "is peace possible?" . it's an important look on ongoing affairs in february affairs. so nice here he knows about b

. >> in his washington post fact checker column glenn kessler evaluates and rates the truthfulness of political figures and others. >> whether or not they are deliberately lying, i do think that if a politician says the same thing over and over again even when it has been pointed out it is not true that they know they're saying something untrue. their adjustment to say it anyway. >> the washington post glenn kessler sunday night at 8:00 on c-span is q&a. >> a new report outlines the safety of the world's nuclear weapons material. the group's nuclear threat initiative grew to 32 countries and rated as strongly as having the safest arsenal. north korea finished last on the list. the co-chairman of the organization, former senator sam nunn talked about the report at the national press club. this is just over an hour. >> i want to just thank everyone for coming today and for your interest in the release of our nuclear threat initiative but clear material security index. the nti index is a country-by country assessment of the status of nuclear material security conditions around the world.

. >> in his "washington post" fact checker column, glenn kessler rates the candidates. >> if a politicianat a forum and duncan, south carolina. this event was hosted by the republican party of spartanburg and greenville county and runs about one hour, 20 minutes. [applause] [applause] [no audio] [no audio] [no audio] [no audio] [no audio] [no audio] [no audio] >> good evening, once again ladies and gentlemen. we are broadcasting live from our gop 2012 presidential candidate forum. we're now joined by former speaker of the house, newt gingrich, the will make his way to the podium in the next few minutes to read he is joined this evening by his wife calista. we welcome the former speaker of the house, newt gingrich? [applause] [no audio] >> let me just say i am thrilled to be here and you have two great congressmen here as a moderate its allies suspect will do a lot better job than some of the report porter's we have been up against. i am looking forward to it. [applause] >> speaker gingrich, on behalf of congressman duncan and everyone here, we can scarcely imagine the sacrifices that are

. >> glenn kessler rates the candidates. >> i think if a politician says the same thing over and overinted out that it is untrue, they know there saying -- they are saying something untrue. they will just keep saying it. >> we now return to january 8, 2008 to hear from mike huckabee after he lost the primary. he had won the iowa caucuses but failed to gather support in new hampshire. this is about 10 minutes. >> thank you. thank you very much. [chanting "we like mike"] you may like me, but i want to tell you something. i love you guys. i have a great, great friends here is a highly decorated marine from vietnam. he once said "i have never lost anything i have done. sometimes the game ended before i got done finished playing." tonight i was able to call governor romney and senator mccain and congratulate them on finishing ahead of us. a few weeks ago, we were way back in not even 6th place and no one thought we would even be a contender in new hampshire. [cheers and applause] because so many people in state just worked their hearts out and it was not like we had a whole lot of money to

. >> of glenn kessler evaluates and rates the truthfulness of political figures and others. >> whetherr not they are deliberately lying -- i do think that if a politician says the same thing over and over again, even when it has been pointed out that it is untrue, that they know that they are saying something untrue. and they are just going to say it anyway. >> the "washington post"'s glenn kessler, said it added 8:00 -- sunday night at 8:00. >> it believe it is important to emphasize that while it is great to have this memorial to his memory and great to have a national holiday and great to have streets and schools and hospitals named in his honor all over our nation and world, it is also important to not place too much emphasis on martin luther king be idle, but not enough on the ideals of martin luther king, jr. >> take a look at the life and legacy of dr. martin luther king, jr., the civil rights movement, and race relations in america today online at the c- span video library. it is what you want, when you want. >> next, we will look at a proposal to register internet domain names

. >> in his "washington post" fact checker : glenn kessler evaluates and the rates the truthfulness ofthey're saying something untrue. they're just going to say it anyway. >> the "washington post" glenn kessler sunday night at 8:00 on c-span q&a. >> the country with the most secure nuclear arsenal as australia. with the united states drinking 13th, and north korea and last place. those are the findings of the nuclear materials security index, a joint report by the nuclear threat in asia to of and the economist intelligence unit. former u.s. senator sam nunn presented the report, just over an hour. >> i wanted just thank everyone for coming today and for your interest in the release of our nuclear threat initiative nuclear material security index. the end t i index is a country-by-country assessment of the status of nuclear material security conditions around the world. this type of in-depth index has not been produced before. it takes a broad approach in defining nuclear material security, it is comprehensive, and they will be public. this is the publication. all of you, of course, wil

. >> glenn kessler, sunday night at 8:00. >> president obama has elevated small business to cabinet level status. he has urged congress to give him authority to purchase six, starting agencies into one. his remarks are about 20 minutes. >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states. >> good morning everybody. please have a seat. welcome to the white house. i see all kinds of small business people here, and i am thrilled to have you here. as a small-business owners, you know as well as anybody if we are going to rebuild an economy that lasts, an economy that creates good middle-class jobs, we are all going to have to up our game. the other day i met with business leaders who are doing their part by in sourcing and by bringing jobs back to the united states. i told them that if you are willing to keep asking yourself what you can do to bring jobs back, i will make sure you have a government that helps to succeed. that is why we are here today. i ran for office pledging to make our government leaner, smarter, and more consumer friendly. from the moment i got here i saw up close

. >> glenn kessler, sunday night at 8:00 on c-span compel "q&a." >> chris matthews on the presidential maneuvers in the nixon debate. >> nixon gets control, so he brings the temperature of the room to 40 degrees. it is a meat locker when kennedy are reps. -- are arrives. there is a nixon guy standing guard on the thermostat, and he says if you did not give -- get out of the white, i am calling police said they had a standoff -- out of the way, i am calling the police. they had a standoff. the idea was they did not want richard nixon to sweat. they all knew what was going on. this is a boss who was going to rule america, and the stuff is going on. >> sam donaldson interviews chris matthews saturday night at 10:00 p.m. eastern. >> "washington journal" continues. host: at the table, david chavern, chamber of commerce. thank you for being here. guest: great to be here. host: in "the mihill" -- the hill, " today -- explained keystone. why is this important to you? guest: we are talking about a proposed pipeline from the oil sands area again western canada down through the midwestern u.s., f

. >> glenn kessler saturday night on c-span's "q & a." >> mit romney had a rally.♪ i was born free ♪ >> welcome, welcome. what a great turnout. i will tell you, it has been an exciting night for a couple of reasons. was that a great win in new hampshire or what? [cheers and applause] >> so i said, the joke was, we all take wagers on how he was going to do, and we wagers, and i said iowa is going to win by a hair. someone called back and said he won by eight hairs. i called back and said new hampshire will be a landslide. they said, shh, you can't say it will be a landslide. it was a lapped slide. i want to make sure that you know your supporters are here. we have p [applause] >> jay lucas has thrown his support behind governor romney today. [applause] >> i want to talk to you a little bit. everyone has asked the question, why mit? i want to take you through what my process was in doing that. what i knew i was going to face as governor was unemployment problems. it was economy problems. it was bag balancing our budget and dealing with the spending and trying to find

. >> glenn kessler evaluates the truthfulness of political figures and others. >> if a politician says the same thing over and over again, even when it has been pointed out to be untrue, they know they are saying something untrue, and they will say any way. >> it is easy to follow the presidential candidates durso shall media. the two of our campaign 2012 web site and follow what the candidates are posting in real time. read the latest from political reporters, and what the viewers like you are saying on facebook, twitter.com and more. access the most recent video from the candidates at c- span.org/campaign2012. >> jack abramoff recently sat down to discuss political corruption here in washington. he also talked about his experience of being convicted of felony charges in going to prison due to his lobbying practices. he pleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion in 2006. from harvard law school in cambridge, mass., this is about an hour and 25 minutes. >> welcome. this is the first of our new and occasional series. i am the director of the center for ethics and a professor here at the law s

. >> glenn kessler, sunday night at 8:00. >> now the u.s.hamber of commerce president talks about the challenges facing the u.s.. this is about 30 minutes. >> good morning. welcome to the u.s. chamber of commerce. i am margaret spellings. this is an exciting time for us. 2012 marks the chamber's 100th anniversary. in a few minutes the chamber's president tom donahue will deliver his annual address. before he does, i will say a few words about tom. 2011 was a challenging year for america. through it all, tom did what he does best. he turned challenges and opportunities and led the chamber through a string of victories. tom has the energy and vision to act. that is what makes him fun to work for. he does not keep the business community in the national debate. he helped frame it. he helped position the chamber to be an advocate for business in the most critical issues confronting america. that is why so many of us look forward to his address. i think we are going to get a glimpse of what this year will bring politically and economically and wha

. >> glenn kessler evaluates the truth and as a political figures and others. >> i do think if a politicianre saying something untrue. they're just going to say it anyway. >> sunday night it 8:00. >> now deadbeat wasserman schulz -- debbie wasserman schulzt. she was in new hampshire for about 40 minutes. >> welcome, everyone. i want to welcome you all. i and the executive director. i want to welcome you all to the kickoff to the 2016 new hampshire presidential primary. as good to deliver a better line than that. some people thought i might be too exhausted. the new england council and the new hampshire institute of politics has become the must stop location for all the candidates, reporters. we're very excited about that. jim is a way and larry is in place from the newfoundland council today. i want to thank our sponsors. there are betters in the back. they are responsible for making these breakfasts happen, he and they are our partners through this process. great companies, particularly here in new hampshire and new england. we have a few dignitaries today. we have the man responsible for

. >> glenn kessler evaluate the truthfulness of political figures and others. >> whether or not they'reerately lying, i do think if a politician says the same thing over and over again, even when it has been pointed out it is not true, they know they're saying something untrue. they're just going to say it anyway. >> sunday night at 8:00 p.m. on "q&a." >> the internationals by museum held an event looking back at intelligence gathering successes and failures in 2011. the speaker was david major, who served as security director of the national security council from 1985 through 1987 under the reagan administration. please be advised, there is some video at the beginning of this event about saddam hussein's death that some might find difficult to watch. this is just over two hours. >> our speaker this evening, david major, is a founding board member of the international spy museum. member -- our speaker this evening, david major, is a founding board member of the international spy museum. he told me i cannot say he is an esteemed a board member, because that would make him sound old. he i