mr. mourdock? >> well, to the question -- to the statement you don't think you know everything, believe me, i don't either. the last 24 hours i've been asking myself how does a geologist end up as a candidate for the united states senate? but not being a lawyer, and to your point, i am one of those people who though i'm not a lawyer, i've read the constitution many times. and i understand from reading that and from reading the federalist papers, that we were originally designed to have a relatively weak federal government and stronger state governments. the several points you made on abortion, gay rights, gun rights, et cetera, being more the state issues, that is, as i said in the opening question, why i find this issue so interesting. the gay marriage issue with the states preemptively acting, as i don't recall they've ever done in american history before. i think saying that this is an awakening at the state level for a need to get back to the more federalist principles of the weaker federal gov

mr. mourdock? is -- >> guest: well, to the statement you don't think you know everything, believe me, i don't either. the last 24 hours i've been asking myself how does a geologist end up as a candidate for the united states senate. but not being a lawyer, and to your point, you know, i am one of those people though i'm not a lawyer, i've read the constitution many times, and i understand from reading that and from reading the federalist papers that we were originally designed to have a relatively weak federal government and stronger state governments. the several points you made on abortion, gay rights, gun rights, etc., being more the state issues, that is, as i said in the opening question, why i find this issue so interesting. the gay marriage issue with the states preemptively acting as i don't recall they've done in american history before. i think that's saying that there is an awakening at the state level for a need to get back to the more federalist principles of the weaker federal governm

mr. mourdock joined us on c-span's washington journal for 30 minutes. >> well joining us on the panel is richard mourdock, who knocked off richard lugar in the primary on tuesday. mr. mourdock, thank you for being with us. if we could, let's start with what we were talking about with our audience a little earlier this morning. and that's president obama's statement endorsing gay marriage yesterday. i want to get your reaction to that. >> i was surprised me made it. as i traveled the state of indiana in the last 15 months, i've not heard the issue come up i don't think more than twice. and clearly in a state like indiana that is very conservative, that the president won in 2008. it will certainly work to his disadvantage here, and i see that happening in the other so-called critical swing states. i think that's going to be more of a negative than a plus for the president. >> what about your personal view? if it comes before the senate, what would your personal view be? >> well, i am one who believes that marriage should be one man, one woman. i have watched here in indiana as i think. i th

mr. mourdock said that the problem with lugar is that h crossed party lines.is not a way to run a country, but ideas winning momore and more. -- ti is winning more and more. it gives the demrats bitit of an opening in indiana. >> lugar is well respeed in washingtgton, the people back home thought he had gone washingt. he did not even have a permanent redence in indiana -- >> he had a farm. >> but that does not pass thias far asoing back and staying in touch with people in indiana. i have familyn indiana and they don't know lugar other tn any money washington. >> i like lugar, but he wais 80 years old. >> what are you in an ageist? >> oh, oh. >> this was a tea party vicictory mourdock is different in that he is a state treasurer, t somme nobody. but it does fortified position of t the tea party, and the biggest liability for lugar other than his agend his residency isis that barack obama had praised him as a senator he could work with. >> kiss of death. >> it was a over norist victory,oo. >> club for growth ended up spending -- >> let me ask about the mitt romn

mr. mourdock is elected, i want him to be a good senator. that will require him to advise his stated goal of bringing more partisanship to washington. unless emad fews his approach he will achieve little as a legislator." in north carolina voters over we'llingly passed an amendment to the state's -- overwhelmingly passed an amendment to the state's constitution. north carolina women not recognize any union -- will not recognize any union between none married couples, gay or straight. president obama won yesterday's meaningless west virginia democratic primary with 60% of the vote. he's not popular there the other 40% went to an inmate serving a six year prison term in texas. >> postal service is trying to keep thousands of rural post offices from closing by shortening their hours. the mail service is backing away from plans to closer intoly 3700 post oftens starting -- several bay area locations are on that closure list. the backlash from the public has been so strong the plan is to reduce staffing and shorten hours to keep as many offices o

mr. mourdock is elected, i want him to be a good senator.ill require him to advise his stated goal of bringing more partisanship to washington. unless emad fews his approach he will achieve little as a legislator." in north carolina voters over we'llingly passed an amendment to the state's -- overwhelmingly passed an amendment to the state's constitution. north carolina women not recognize any union -- will not recognize any union between none married couples, gay or straight. president obama won yesterday's meaningless west virginia democratic primary with 60% of the vote. he's not popular there the other 40% went to an inmate serving a six year prison term in texas. >> postal service is trying to keep thousands of rural post offices from closing by shortening their hours. the mail service is backing away from plans to closer intoly 3700 post oftens starting -- several bay area locations are on that closure list. the backlash from the public has been so strong the plan is to reduce staffing and shorten hours to keep as many offices open as

mr. mourdock said, "the problem with lugar is that he voted across party lines start this in my view, that is not the way to run the country, but it is winning more and more. it gives the democrats an opening in indiana. i'm not sure, big it is, because indiana as basically a republican state. >> lugar brought this on himself, with all due respect. he is well-respected in washington, the problem is people back home thought he had gone washington. he did not have a primary residence in indiana -- >> he had a farm -- >> that is not pass as far as going back and stay in touch and with people in indiana. i have family in indiana and they knew little about him other than heat lives and washington. >> he is 80 years old. >> what e you, ageist? >> oh, oh. >> easy for him to say. this is the tea party victory, no mistake about it. mourdock is different in the sense that he has been twice elected state treasurer. he is not a nobody. but it does fortified the position of the tea party, which is that the biggest liability against dick lugar was that bara obama had praised him as a senator he could wo

mr. mourdock said that the problem with lugar is that he crossed party lines, and that he wanted to be a senator who voted with republicans and never crossed party lines. in my view, that is not in a way to run the country, but it is winning more and more. it gives the democrats an opening in indiana. i am not sure how big ideas, because it indiana is basically a republican state. >> lugar brought some of this on himself, with all due respect. he is well respected in washington, but the people back home thought maybe he had gone washington. he did not have a primary residence in indiana -- >> he had a farm -- >> but that does not pass as being a resident as far as going back and staying in touch with people in indiana. i have family in india, and they don't know lugar except as a name in washington. >> i am a lugar fan, but he is 80 years old. >> what are you, an ageist? >> oh, oh. >> easy for him to say. this is a tea party victory. mourdock is different in the sense that he is state treasurer, not some nobody. but it does fortified the position of the tea party, and the biggest liabili

mr. mourdock's politics. his unrelenting partisan mind set is irreconcilable with my philosophy. he will encounter roadblocks in congress and he will have more republicans who will embrace the same. his prime mission is to cleanse the party. that's the statement from dick lugar after losing his seat. john carry of massachusetts called lugar's loss a tragedy saying in part it is a blow to the institution during a period when the institution itself has been strained. vice president joe biden tweeted this. the senate lost a brilliant strategic mind, a man with absolute integrity. he will be missed. the chair woman of the dnc, debbie wasserman schultz said the republican party is now indistinguishable from the tea party. the members were a bit concerned mourdock may not fare well with democrats. dick lugar has lost his senate seat after 36 years. voters were out in force in the overwhelmingly approved an e amendment that bans same-sex marriage in that state. at mendment passed with 61% of the vote making north carolina the 30th state now in the country to support a constitutional pri

mr. mourdock, a follow-up question.ned jim demint and the tea party to not compromising in the senate. and what would you say? i want to give you an opportunity to respond. what would you say when people criticize you as saying you don't understand the nature of the institution you're running to represent the senate which is really premised on the notion of compromising with your colleagues. >> well, i'm a huge student of american history and i recognize this is one of those times where there's great polarization between the two parties. and frankly the ideas for which the parties are working are really at opposite ends of the spectrum. i don't think there's going to be a lot of successful compromise. hence you have the deadlock we have today. what i've said about compromise, i hope to build a conservative majority so bipartisanship becomes democrats joining republicans to roll back the size of government, reduce the bureaucracy, and get america moving again. the stimulus plan hasn't worked. >> what i hear you say is yo

mr. mourdock? guest: believe me, i don't know everything either. was asking myself how it geologist winds up as a candidate for the u.s. senate? i have read the constitution many times. we were designed to have a relatively weak federal government and stronger state governments. that is why i find this issue so interesting -- the gay marriage issue. i think that saying there is an awakening at the state level for a need to get back to the more federalist principles of the weaker federal government and a stronger state government. i think historians will note what has been happening these last few years. the government is growing larger and it is sucking up more resources that is killing our economy. so much of our revenues are going to washington. the system was designed so there could be prosperity at the local levels. today we have so much the federal government. they are utilizing resources so they can distribute them as they see fit. somethinghe cusp of that will be seen as historical. host: is there anyone in the senate did you admire the most

mr. mourdock, one of the criticisms that senator lugar campaigned on was all the outside of indiana money that was culminating ine ing coming . do you have a comment on that? >> he did many times make the point that there were all this special interest money coming from outside the state. and i agree, there is a group, special interest group from all over the country that came np they're called conservatives. they're the people who would express the very things i've spoken of here this morning with you, that we want to see government reduced. they are very concerned about the future of this country vis-a-vis the economic issues that i spoke of in the last answer. we've got to turn things around. we've got to quit kicking the can down the road. it's a beautiful thing to be 60 years old, to run for an office that frankly i don't have to have, and to know if i'm successful enough to win that i get to make the hard decisions that a lot of americans don't want to make, that a lot of senators especially and congressmen don't want to make. but they have to be made. there are going to be some rou

mr. mourdock, congratulations. >> thank you very much. >> what do you believe the firing offense was? s much more resounding, even more than we expected on our team. i think for a long time, mr. lugar had been out of touch with the state. he moved out of state in 1977. when the issue came up, he filed a lawsuit saying he doesn't have to live in indiana. that sent a message he doesn't want to be here. >> senator lugar put out a lengthy statement, a manifesto of sorts, and he endorses you but he does so it seems reluctantly. "i want him to be a good senator but that will require him to revise his stated goal of bringing more partisanship." >> i said bipartisanship ought to come to the democrats point of view. we wanted to give more to the national voice to the ideas that republicans and more specifically conservatives would be in the majority of the senate and the house and hopefully we'll have a republican in the white house. that means they have to come our way. if we're successful in getting the numbers, we'll work toward that. i want confront not so much people but the issues that ar

mr. mourdock is the state treasurer there. we will hold that seat in november. we will miss senator lugar. >> senators, thank you both for joining us. i think people are still probably yelling at their tv sets, but i thank you both very much for getting up this morning and joining us. >>> mitt romney's test at a liberal university. >> i learned a lot of respect from him. >> his personal faith does contradict the believes of the school but he wasn't here speaking as a pastor or someone like that but as someone running for president. >> next up, influential christian conservatives who oppose romney in the primaries. in alabama we had more beautiful blooms... in mississippi we had more good times... in louisiana we had more fun on the water. last season we broke all kinds of records on the gulf. this year we are out to do even better... and now is a great time to start. our beatches are even more relaxing... the fishing's great. so pick your favorite spot on the gulf... and come on down. brought to you by bp and all of us who call the gulf home. home protector plus

mr. mourdock wants to respond to. guest: thank you for your service. i urge you to talk to the folks with the local civil rights or get good legal counsel. as a veteran, we appreciate your service to the country and you deserve to have full benefits. host: maurice e-mails to you -- guest: it may be a stretch to go to three. they have done a better job in opening up a better area of negotiation for the economic ties we have in southeast asia. the emphasis on asian trade is a good thing and a healthy thing. we need to be looking to make sure we have those doors open for us. with china and india and vietnam, there will be more and more trade from the united states and they deserve kudos for that. host: steven from missouri. caller: you mentioned hostess filing for bankruptcy. the last year, the top executives gave themselves 80% raises. now they are filing for bankruptcy. i would like to hear your opinion. guest: thank you for the question. i was making that parallel between the chrysler workers who were losing their jobs and they were getting protection

mr. mourdock saying he thinks he doesn't support successful compromise. that it's not really possible. u think of that? >> soledad, what mourdock is saying is popular but it's very dangerous. you have to compromise in order to build a great nation. our nation was essentially founded on compromise and without that today we're going to lose our credit rating again, we're going to have more gridlock and really hurt our nation's status as the nation's only superpower. >> if i don't compromise what i can do is build my team bigger. i don't have to compromise. those will have to compromise to me by brings them to my side of the aisle is his argument. what areas do you think we'll need compromise on some of the biggest issues that the congress is dealing with right now. >> well, we've got to have a compromise on the budget issues which are crushing our economy and have to have compromise on defense issues. we've got to figure out how to right size the defense budget. virtually every area of government we have to have good people getting along and solving problems, not fighting each other. not

mr. sunday morning himself, hugo lindgren of "the new york times magazine." tea party challenger richard mourdock ousted senator dick lugar in last night's primary after 36 years in office. he grated mourdock but offered an ominous prediction for congress, writing "what mourdock has promised in this campaign is reflexible votes for a rejectionist orthodoxy and rigid opposition to the actions and proposals of the other party. if that attitude prevails in american politics, our government will remain mired in the dysfunction we have witnessed during the last several years, and i believe that if this attitude expands in the republican party, we will be relegated to minority status." mourdock responded to this, this morning on "the daily rundown." >> what i've said is i certainly think that bipartisanship ought to consist of democrats coming to the republican point of view. >> well, there's that. joining us now from washington is former rnc chair and msnbc political analyst, the notorious michael steele. chairman steele, is this win, is mourdock's win a good thing for the republican party? >> well, y

mr. judd, not much suspense in the west virginia voting today. in indiana, a very consequential on the republican race. nbc news can predict that dick lugar lost his seat. richard mourdock is state treasurer. he's run three times before and lost each time. all the people left on the tea party side of things decided that richard mourdock is the guy they wanted to dump money on and end the 36 year career of senator lugar. he's never been controversial in indiana. he's won past elections by more than 30-point margins. in 2006, he won by 75 points. the democrats didn't run somebody against him. he got 87% of the vote. in terms of policy, he's always been just a mainstream conservative. one in expertise in foreign policy and arms control. those are not always very partisan things. they are the kind of political issues on which there's room for bipartisan agreement, which is why senator lugar turned up in a campaign. >> the single most important national security we face is the nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorist. i reached out to senator dick lugar to help lock down weapons. we have to lead the entire world to reduce that threat. >> for democratic candidate s