i actually went to a similar republican party convention for the california republican party also in angeles in 2011, where they were facing a similar dynamic. it was interesting to see the dichotomy. on stable, we saw consultant after consultant showing the demographics and talking about modernizing the gop making it more friendly to young voters, backing away from contentious social issues and go into the hallway, and they were collecting signatures to put on the ballot, a repeal of teaching the education of gay americans in california schools. so there's a huge contrast there, and we're running up against what's the matter with kansas problem right because there are 30, maybe 40 congressional districts that are historically very friendly to progressive issues on economic policies, but republicans have dominated them by gay-baiting scapegoating immigrants and how the party deals with these issues as they run up against this demographic problem is the real question. >> joe, they got an idea for this. it's two-fold. i'm going to read you two awesome quotes. number one the report in t

are we discussing the republican party of 19th century? the abraham lincoln republican party? or the 1968 republican party, richard nixon and ronald reagan? which one do you identify ith? >> great question. i think that hits the nail on the head of what our obstacles are. many people perceive that there has been a completely different party. the argument that i'm trying to change is that we do not talk about it. there are some who do not see an abrupt difference. we see horrible jim crow and orrible racism that happened in the 30's, 40's, 50's. it was all democrats and not republicans. some of them have switched over to become republicans. but the republicans by nearly were not those people. it is an argument of an obstacle. one of the african-american u.s. senators was a guy -- i am lanking on his name. >> brooks. >> brooks. yes. his comment was, if democrats had the incredible history of abolition and emancipation and oting rights, you would hear bout it all the time because emocrats are good at talking about stuff like that. republicans have done a terrible job. how many of

national republican party.ple of weeks ago you might remember we told you the story of mr. agema posting on his facebook page about how the home homosexual agenda is to get them to fulfill their lifestyle and how homosexuals a equate for half the murders in large sities. since then young republicans have been calling him to resign from party. we can tell you tonight that dave agema hasn't resigned. he is at the spring meeting in california right now where he has mounted a pretty good defense for himself by pointing out he feels very comfortable rejecting all that criticism. especially the part aboutunderer mining the party platform. since the anti-guy thing that he's very much in favor of actually is in the republican party platform. and he's right. this is the republican party platform from the last convention. republicans ran on the anti-guy in 2012 elections. today after 13 something socials demanded it, at this meet in california, they voted on that part of their platform. they voted on whether or not they

and the republican national committee and republican party of michigan have no point of view on that at all. this is a test. this is only a test, but they are not doing well so far on this test. >>> now it is time for "the last word with lawrence o'donnell." mr. o'donnell, good evening. >> rachel, i'm reading your lips because i have no real sound in my ear. i just heard your laugh. that came through. we have been having some control room trouble. april 1st, it turns out, to america is of course april fools day and to us here at msnbc, it is the happiest day of the year, the rachel maddow birthday. what are you doing? you're running out of the building now. where are you going? >> i'm going to go home and try to imagine that i'm not 40 because apparently turning 40 means that i feel 80. >> here is how it is going to be easy to imagine you're not 40. go home and look in a mirror. >> you are very, very nice to me. >> you look like a 25-year-old in that mirror. >> you are very kind, lawrence. thank you very much, i am crawling under the desk. >> thanks, rachel. >> there she goes. >>> to

and republicans said no. they didn't want any kind of approach, balanced or, in my opinion, some of it was over the line in their favor. department want to do it. amanda turkel and nia-malika henderson, thank you both for your time. >> thank you. >> thank you. >>> ahead, a war has erupted. it's bill o'reilly against rush limbaugh. and it's revealing what's really going on in the republican party. >>> a massive oil spill floods one residential neighborhood. you will not believe what a fox contributor is saying. stay with us. the american dream is of a better future, a confident retirement. those dreams have taken a beating lately. but no way we're going to let them die. ♪ ameriprise advisors can help keep your dreams alive like they helped millions of others. by listening. planning. working one on one. that's what ameriprise financial does. and that's what they can do with you. that's how ameriprise puts more within reach. ♪ all your important legal matters in just minutes. protect your family... and launch yo

i'm republican. and i can assure you, you're looking at the racist element of the republican party, because i'm a -- the legislators, the cabinet, the legislators outside of -- we have to be careful in the rhetoric, we have to be careful when you come in and you do away with urgent voting, you have to be careful with you -- when you do away with registration or civil rights. we have to stop putting our foot in our mouth more than anything and we have to do outreach and deal with the issues. we can't talk about race issues. we have to stick to our guns, stick to the issues, and stick to the person -- give people the boot strap toss lift themselves up and out of poverty and not give them the food stamps, not give them what they want, which is to stay in a place of poverty. i want to be the best. i have three sons, and -- >> host: caller, thanks. guest: you know, i love learning, and life is a laboratory. i just had this epiphany. the other thing that is -- minorities find so offensive, and they should,

republicans on that issue.o greg walden who's head of the campaign committee, whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on here, this is not necessarily good for our most vulnerable republicans. that's his job. >> i got you. to recap on this, what happened the other day the president said in his budget one of the ways we have to save money, get the debt down is deal with this cpi the way we adjust social security and other payments by the government and change the formula so it doesn't go up so much every year. he'd argue it's an accurate account of how much inflation there really is. here's the republican congressman from oregon, who chairs the committee. keep going. for re-election of all the house members on the republican side. yesterday on cnn he actually attacked the president from the president's left calling the plan an attack on seniors. let's listen. >> i thought it's very intriguing in that his budget really lays out kind of a shocking attack on seniors, if you will. when you're going after seniors the way he has done

i obsess on republican politics.y, there is something weird going on right now in republican politics. it's inexplicable. the republicans are in the let's hit the reset butten mode post-election and in the past 48 hours they unanimously voted to oppose gay rights, got dick cheney to leave them on foreign policy and theysk

we talked earlier about the republicans. 86% of republicans are for universal background checks.ra lobby is still against it the nra membership is for background checks and it's like, the nra by the way used to be for background checks before they were against it. >> your former colleagues in congress, how do you pry them apart from the nra? i do see some evidence that the state level democrats at least are being peeled apart from the nra. it's becoming more of a partisan and that was one of their strengths, they were bipartisan. but what is it going to take for members of congress to look at all of these deaths and say okay, let's have a solution. >> there were frustrating as an american citizen to see what's going on. i will tell you that thank goodness we have mayor bloomberg who is a game-changer. mayor bloomberg is putting democrats on notice, it used to be the nra was the only game in town. let me tell you something, i'm going to go to the grave as a broke man, mayor bloomberg said, because i think this issue which is crippling our communities all across america, over 1,000

republicans or democrats, people just want to know.tting there going, is she going to run, is she not going to run, everybody just wants this. but it is four years away. i think we also have to remember that 2008 was not very good for hillary. she was attacked. her campaign was attacked. she lost and i think that right now there could be this honeymoon period coming off of four fabulous years as secretary of state. she wasn't really attacked until the very end with the whole benghazi flu madness that happened. but we're for getting that the rough and tumbleness of the 2008 campaign. >> now, dana, fight for women's rights have really helped her popularity. john avalon rights, hillary has become a symbol of something larger than herself. she is an embodiment of baby book second-wave feminists who see her elevation to the pin knack kell of world at large. this is deliverance. >> i think that's sort of the point i'm trying to get at there. and i was there in the hall when she gave that concession speech you just played clips from and a lot

bill, the national republican party tapped kansas republican governor, sam brownback to deliver theepublican party's national weekly address. ta-da, of putting the best foot forward. meanwhile in new mexico, republican governor susannah martinez, a real rising star in her party. she gave probably the best speech of the republican national convention. she's very charismatic. she's supposed to be a different kind of 21st century republican. on friday governor martinez had a seemingly nonpartisan, noncontroversial bill sitting on her desk. a bill designed to make it easier for veterans and their spouses to get jobs. so for military families, new mexico would recognize professional licenses issued in other states. the idea was to cut the red tape for veterans and their spouses to make it easier for them to reintegrate after coming home from deployments. governor martinez vetoed that bill. and then immediately signed a bill that was identical except it singled out only straight soldiers' families as being able to benefit from the provision. so she vetoed the one that included all familie

republican against hillary, republican against joe biden?ll, i think despite all this enthusiasm, i think it's a bit early to come to these conclusions. a lot can happen. i imagine the republicans will work incredibly hard to ensure that she's painttainted in some. i think what it does mean is a woman willing to speak about women issues, to connect reproductive freedom to economic rights and women's rights to human rights can get a substantial amount of progressives and this would be a wonderful thing because i think those issues really need to take center stage giving profound levels of women and her connection of the state department to women's global issues i think is very important and i hope this excitement is a sign that those issues will become central stage in domestic and global politics. >> it's interesting tricia says that because hillary clinton did speak about working for women's rights in a speech last night. listen to this. >> our unwavering faith in the potential, the untapped potential of women and girls is at the heart of t

angelo is a log cabin republican. he is a republican, a strong republican. all we're saying is, listen, we affirm marriage is between one man and one woman. we believe that. we're not going to compromise that value. that is what we believe. but -- >> ever. you're never going to compromise? no, let me get this straight. doctor, let me get this straight. >> sure. >> i want to get your phrasing here. are you ever, ever going to be open to the door of changing that position, or is it permanent with your party? >> i am saying right now that we -- >> right now. >> -- are not going to compromise -- >> right now. >> we're not going to compromise that value and we do not plan on compromising that value in the future. ever. >> so you think it's a permanent value? >> but -- but what i am saying is, what i'm saying is, if we agreed with someone on 80% of issues, and we disagree on 20% of issues, they're still welcome in our party. we will still accept them in our party. we're not going to throw away the 20%. we don't have to have 100% purity. our party, and our platform

now that they've gone completely republican controlled with a republican controlled governorship, ason to the establishing a state religion thing, they're also cracking down on divorce. even if the reason you want to get divorced is, say, domestic violence, your spouse abusing you, the republicans in the state legislature of north carolina want the state government to intervene in your marriage to block you from getting divorced. for two years. during which time they will mandate you attend state government classes and workshops that are designed to make you not get divorced from your abusive spouse for two years. because, you know, small government. speaking of small government, we are also waiting action now from alabama's republican governor robert bentley who says he will sign legislation that will use targeted medically unnecessary overregulation as a tool to shut down the state's abortion clinics. that policy has been passed by the republicans in the alabama state legislature and the republican governor of alabama is expected to sign it. republicans have already put the exact s

the question is can he get republicans to go with him on that? >> democrats very angry about this idea of shrinking the cost of living adjustment, the chain c.p.i. that we're going to hear over and other again. what was the critic on that? why don't they like it? >> it means lower social security benefits for a lot of people and there are mr. democrats who believe as ideology that seniors in society are doing well enough and we shouldn't squeeze them more. as an alternative to that let's get more money from people at the top. there are questions whether the new inflation formula is the appropriate or not. the argument for chain c.p.i. is we're overestimating inflation. the people for this say it's a technical adjustments that makes more accurate. whether it's a better adjustment or not means more money. but all that squawking from democrats is a good thing for the president if he's going to persuade republicans that he's serious about taking on problems. >> you mentioned the cigarette tax which is something a lot of governors have used in the pas

former chairman of the republican party and junior republican senator from arizona saying both at thetime that it is inevitable a republican presidential candidate will support jamz, that's what jeff flake said, while gillespie said it is impossible the republican party will ever support same-sex marriage. so they're working on it, working it out. the republican party is a mess on the issue. mess is okay. we may reasonably expect they will settle in on being divided on this a long time. maybe as far as the consensus may go for republicans, it is that everybody should be treated with dignity and respect. maybe party leadership could just enforce that if nothing else, right? this is a test. the republican party is undergoing a test and his name is dave agema. a committee member for the national party. he was first to note that he was posting things on his facebook page about how the homosexual agenda is to get the public to affirm their filthy life-style and homosexuals prey on children and account for half the murders in charge cities. when that prompted calls for resignation, he said

>> the republican party hasn't talked enough about the great history and interaction between the republican party and black history and voting rights in our country. the story of emancipation, of voting rights and citizenship to the modern era is the history of republican partism we see horrible racism that happened in the 30s, 40s, 50s, it was all democrats. it wasn't republicans. >> jon: right but for the most part those bigoted democrats in the 30s, 40s and 50s became republicans post the modern civil rights every are because of it. you can't just yada yada yada the last 60 years. a republican freed the slaves. gays, black people the vote. yada yada and now i'll vote democratic. what the hell. the problem with this theory that all that stands between the republicans ant plurality of the black shift a history lesson is well, enjoy. >> how many of you -- if i would have said who do you think the found yours of naacp would everybody know the founders were republicans. >> yes. >> you know more than i know. >> and i don't mean that to be insulting i don't know what you know and i'm trying to

republicans have to get on board with obama's budget, but republicans aren't going to be on board to obama's budget. i don't know why the democrats have to own this issue. now they have to take ownership over social security cuts. it doesn't make any sense to me. >> listen to what grace is saying tricia, it makes me think that i'm a little less skeptical of the president. i think this is what he's trying to do, make republicans not support this because it's all about 2014. what say you professor? >> huh well that's interesting third-move chess you're playing there, michael. the problem with your analysis for me is he's made these very significant unwarranted compromises again. i do think he's trying to play a political game in this way but i would like to say that i think that--i would like to think that his legacy could still be most remembered for treating the budget as as a moral document. what is our best self. not to begin with such a level of compromise. the most vulnerable, the very poor, the disenfranchised the immigrant for whom english is a second and third language, women

a republican city councilman is accused of trying to get the republican power brokers onboard with this putbluntly on tape. that's politics. it's all about how much and that's our politicians in new york. they're all like that. you can't do anything without fing money. the fell prosecutor referred to new york's long history of political corruption when he announced the charges. >> the charges we unseal today demonstrate once again that a show me the money culture seems to pervade every level of new york government. it ensnares republicans and democrats, party officials and leaders and corruption in the city, the suburbs as well as the capital. >> six people including senator smith are accused of bribe ry, extortion and fraud. since 2006, nearly a dozen new york state office holders have faced similar crimes. everything from theft and bribely to rabribe bribery to racketeering. the lawyer for one of the party bosses now facing charges suggested it's just the way the system works. "it seems that they are trying to make the business of politics as usual into a crime." it is a crime. joinin

of course, bill kristol actually is part of the republican establishment, and the republican establishmentagree with him that marriage equality is an abomination they will not abide. >> i know what our principles are, i know our party believes marriage is between one man and one woman. >> republicans are so adamant about refusing to rewrite their positions on marriage equality that having a gay son does not lead to a portman-liken enlightenment for some of them. here is republican congressman matt salmon, the proud father of a gay son. >> i don't support the gay marriage. my son is by far one of the most important people in my life. i love him more than i can say. i'm just not there as far as believing in my heart that we should change 2,000 years of social policy in favor of redefinition of the family. i'm not there. >> not there. congressman salmon who is a mormon apparently has no problem with his religion redefining marriage from a partnership of one man and as many women as he wants to one man and one woman at a time. card carrying republican establishment member ed gillespie said thi

the republican governor says he's not the republican, she is, the white house is.overnor, what did you make of that? >> well, i don't agree with her. the american people are opposed to obamacare. they were when the law pass ended and they're still opposed. we're trying to do or part. it's difficult. we can't get answers, the observe obama administration says they'll delay the claims. health insurance will go up dramatically so there's problem after problem with the new healthcare law. >> neil: the issue so much republicans and whether they liked it or not. most of you didn't like t but the premium rise we've seen, the cutback in care we've seen in places, the device tax thing that's gotten to be a problem for folks, that is something that -- it's not a republican event. it was something republicans rejected but it seems the early betting is that if there's problems with this, as the problems materialize, they're going to blame it on republicans. what do you think of that? >> well, i don't think that's a very good idea. i don't think it's a fair idea. this is a huge

also this morning, a republican congressman in charge of keeping the house in republican control speaks out loudly to the left of the president on social security. he's sticking to his guns. how many republicans will make him walk it back? and a bipartisan breakthrough on background checks may not be so easy after all. the nra, after hours of letting it hang out there, late last night, let congress know they're still keeping score. >>> it's a very busy thursday, april 11th, 2013. this is "the daily rundown." i'm chuck todd. got the 411 on everything today. had to use it once. let's get right to my first read. this morning at 11:00, the senate is expected to vote on whether to take up debate on a gun bill. it follows a whiplash day of sorts, as momentum seemed to stall on the big compromise on background checks put forward by senators pat toomey and joe manchin. senator chuck schumer agreed not to appear when the two rolled o out the deal, because toomey didn't want to stand next to them, for political reasons. senator mark kirk, also co-sponsor of the compromise also agreed not to appea

democrats in north carolina also use same day registration more than republicans do so republicans areroposing getting rid of that as well. republicans are in control right now in north carolina and they are really really going for it. >>> earlier this year, another state made a similar try going after college students. republicans tried that earlier this year in the great state of indiana. that bill in indiana ultimately got pulled from consideration after it went through a thorough round of public shaming. so far, north carolina, though, maybe it just hasn't gotten enough attention but republicans appear thoroughly unashamed. they are charging full-speed ahead on this and have veto proof majorities with which to get it done. what's happening in north carolina has not received a lot of national attention at least not yet. do yourself a favor, set a google news alert for north carolina republicans. they have completely unchecked power right now. their ideas how to use that power, as the political scientists say, rather amaze balls. we will have more on the unhinging of republican polit

the least republicans owe them is a vote. the least republicans owe the families of those gunned down at a movie theater in colorado, a sikh temple in wisconsin, a shopping mall in oregon, everyday streets of american cities is a meaningful conversation about how to change america's culture of violence. the least republicans owe america is a vote. the legislation on the floor would keep guns out of the hands of convicted criminals and safeguard the most vulnerable americans. our children. this proposal supported by nine out of ten americans, background checks. nine out of ten. 90% of americans believe we should do something. and i get a letter from a group of republicans saying, don't touch it. we don't want anything to do with it. that flies in the face of what 90% of americans want. if republicans disagree, let them vote against it. i had one of my democratic colleagues say, and there are some of the things i want to vote against. good. they're free to vote against it. if they don't like the laws that exist in america, offe

what republican would. any seriousness stuart why would any republican be opposed you know be willing to go out on a limb and say i'm going to filibuster something everybody likes except the guys who write the checks for my sixty five thousand dollar donation from the n.r.a. support from. yes support from winchester arms rimington. go on down the list of gun manufacturers. and because. they're mistaken about some of their constituents who have been gun supporters in the past because they're honors and they're sportsman and they like to be go out in the woods and and. you know hunting deer is a big two week deal and which i totally support and i grew up around in that culture and i support gun rights i just don't support military weapons being used in civil society and. so i it's a logical that republicans would filibuster this and not allow a vote and not allow a debate so that they could make what they think are the good arguments i don't get this i mean stewart is talking about hunting i've never gone hun

and talk to republican leaders about why they will not be republican leaders much longer if they do not side with conservative and libertarian on the particular issues. we have seen things like this happen before. there was an expansion of medicare late in the reagan administration called the medicare catastrophic care act, and essentially what happened is it was such a disaster in the implementation that congress very quickly repealed it. there are some political differences in that was a bipartisan piece of legislation. so both parties had a little bit of stake in it. and both parties therefore could neither party really was hurt by the repeal. it is difficult, i think, for an unpopular program to survive with just the support of one party. once it has the support of just one party. i think it always remains a possibility to do things to reform it, to repeal it peace mail, and a political conditions allow to revoke it entirely. but we can't be too naive about the g.o.p. either. that's why it will be a constant fight. in a very small period of time, it's one thing i use as a illustrati

the house republicans, because the house republicans are just giving no give. the sense is if you could come up with a grand bargain that could pass muster in the senate with republicans and democrats, the house would eventually just have to break down and get to the bargaining table. but they're still a long way away, i mean lindsay graham has been talking about using tax reform to raise tax revenues for quite some time. he's not exactly a break through here. but, you know, the fact that his budget was greeted hostilely by democrats and some liberal republicans, you could say that's a bad sign, but you could also say that's a good sign. >> in terms of a timetable, is this a long time off or not? >> it is not a long timetable because the republicans say they need to get some traction by july, that's the next time that congress has to raise the debt ceiling. oh, no, we're going to be back there. and the president has said he needs to get something done probably before 2014 when the election cycle comes in, although we have a lot of negotiations to go here, we do

republican leader mitch mcconnell announced monday he plans to join the 13 other republicans who have promised to block consideration of gun legislation. his office said in a statement, quote, while nobody knows yet what senator reid's plan is for the gun bill if he chooses to file cloture on the motion to proceed to the reid bill senator mcconnell will oppose cloture on proceeding to that bill. cloture of course the fancy name here and that filibuster is being used. mcconnell is trying to avoid a primary in 2014, clearly playing the role not of mitch mcconnell senate republican leader but mitch mcconnell republican candidate for re-election in 2014. by the way, we just found out, heritage action america, not technically jim demint's group, he runs the other half of heritage but they're spiritually the cousin organization if you will or sister organizations but heritage action claims to score the procedural vote. it's unlikely many republicans will feel comfortable doing this if they want to have that show up on their score card so we'll see how many republicans do follow through on t

that is what republicans do whenever they are in power now. that is republican governance.at out passing unconstitutional bans on abortion. as if roe versus wade didn't exist. just try and stop them. arkansas republicans are essentially in a frenzy this year. because in arkansas, republicans took control of both houses of the state legislature in this past election for the first time since '74. and i don't mean 1974. i mean 1874. since the reconstruction era after the end of the civil war. and when you have not had control of something since 1874 and you get control of it, i guess you just yee-haw let's ban abortion. who cares? also they made clear that arkansas rejects the equal rights amendment. this is a headline from this week. the equal rights amendment. you know, the equality of rights shall not be denied or abridged because of one's sex. maybe it's because it's got the word sex in it, but arkansas republicans took decisive action this week in 2013 to declare their state to be against that. republicans in arkansas and texas both introduced legislation in the past few

but, look, i think the republican party is republican party.ings is economic and fiscal issues. and we saw this in the last couple of polls, that even that is moving away from them. if that's the third leg of their stool, they're in big trouble. >> i want to go dip a little bit deeper into the same-sex marriage issue. because i think what i was surprised by the large majority that wanted a federal standard. we asked, do you want the federal government to set this or leave it to the states, 56-38 picked the federal government rather than leaving it to the states. were you surprised by that number? >> a little bit. because if you ask people about an issue, they usually pick states. >> they don't want the big, bad federal government involved. >> and this is one of those great cross tabs. people say federal support same-sex marriage three to one, with people say states oppose same-sex marriage by three to one. it's very clear when they answered, what they were picking was, let the states decide, because in utah and a lot of other states, we're not

real cuts to social security and medicare the president is out to dinner tonight begging republicans to support it he's begging republicans to get behind his austerity budget to cut a so-called grand bargain with him that will sacrifice seventy five years of democratic principles in return for. for i don't know in return i guess for trying to fix some debt crisis that doesn't actually exist bob or with the institute for america's future writes that quote the president's major purpose is not to address mass unemployment not to build a new foundation for the economy not to revive the middle class or redress gilded age unequality the president's overriding priority is to cut a deal and a deal that continues to impose austerity on an already faltering recovery either the country nor his presidency will be well served by this. so what exactly is in this budget well it's a three point seven trillion dollar budget for fiscal year two thousand and fourteen putting the nation on track to cut the deficit by one point eight trillion dollars over the next ten years and there are some good things

held by republicans.e republicans have a supermajority in the legislature. and that's because they drew the lines in such a way as to really maximize their control of the state for the next ten years. unless the -- the lawsuit which is about -- brought by the southern coalition should be successful and should redistricts the state. >> redistricting was done in -- when you still have democratic governor, she had no actual role in the process so she couldn't be a check there. i want to talk more specifically about the voter i.d. issue which is -- hot right now. that's right after this. my mother made the best toffee in the world. it's delicious. so now we've turned her toffee into a business. my goal was to take an idea and make it happen. i'm janet long and i formed my toffee company through legalzoom. i never really thought i would make money doing what i love. [ robert ] we created legalzoom to help people start their business and launch their dreams. go to legalzoom.com today and make your business drea

>>chris: from the republican point of view, we have had senate republicans like senator corker of tennessee who said if the president gets serious about entitlement reform and speaks on behalf of it and gives us political cover, he and other senate republicans would consider more revenue. that does force him to make a concession? >> you have to go further than this proposal. the adjustment in the cost of living increase is sensible step and been recommend god many years by the economists highway say the c.p.i. index is out of whack of how people live so it could be something that the president wrote propose as a stand alone but he doesn't. however, there it is. the rest of the cuts in entitlements are having to do with cutting providers of medicare. the administration on this issue, they seem to live in a fantasy world where you can cut the payments to the providers without depriving the recipients and i hear people say, he is nuts. if you stop paying for something you get less. there is nothing --. >> there is the possibility of efficiency. >> i don't dispute that. efficiency is wonderful

angelo is a log cabin republican. he is a republican, a strong republican.ll we're saying is, listen, we affirm marriage is between one man and one woman. we believe that. we're not going to compromise that value. that is what we believe. but -- >> ever. you're never going to compromise? no, let me get this straight. doctor, let me get this straight. >> sure. >> i want to get your phrasing here. are you ever, ever going to be open to the door of changing that position, or is it permanent with your party? >> i am saying right now that we -- >> right now. >> -- are not going to compromise -- >> right now. >> we're not going to compromise that value and we do not plan on compromising that value in the future. ever. >> so you think it's a permanent value? >> but -- but what i am saying is, what i'm saying is, if we agreed with someone on 80% of issues, and we disagree on 20% of issues, they're still welcome in our party. we will still accept them in our party. we're not going to throw away the 20%. we don't have to have 100% purity. our party, and our platform,

short term, the republican party, there's a battle for the heart and soul of the republican party that'saking place. what rick santorum said the other day is the opening salvo in the primary fight for 2016. he may be out of touch with the american people on this issue but not out of touch with the energy and the base of the republican party. and that fight is going to go on straight through the republican nominating process. i mean, michael knows better than i do, that torque right now, that division within the republican party is real. what rick santorum is doing now is staking out ground early on the issue of gay marriage. >> i agree with that. >> the people in your party who are the craziest, the mourdock, the akins. i think sometimes he's smart about blue collar issues, rick santorum. they are the emblems, more and more of your party. you can't say these are my crazy aunts in the closet, don't open that door. the democrats are going to open that door. i know you're laughing. they're going to open that door and say look who's in here. it's rick santorum. >> they're not crazy people. w

this culture war normally when it comes back is helpful for republicans. is it good for the conservative movement to have these issues out there? >> i don't know. i think all of these cultural issues as i guess we call them have been major issues in america for almost half a century really. the abortion argument was going on 50 years ago. roe came 40 years ago. it is hard to resolve these issues because they're not just cultural issues. they are moral issues and americans feel differently about them. i think one way or another they'll probably be bubbling out there for a long time, and it's not the worst thing. >> so maybe a resolution in the law but not in the way people feel. is it also a sign the economy is coming back? >> it usually is, isn't it, when people can think about other things other than jobs. but, you know, i think some of these cultural issues are being resolved. gay marriage before the supreme court, obviously a hot button issue. but you look at the polls and you see 58% and our poll, "the washington post" poll, in favor of it. 80% of adul

after richard nixon went down in flames and within the entire republican party a republican strategist named jude wouldn't speak at an inspiration. the democrats he said had always been the party of santa clause they gave the american people what they wanted social security unemployment compensation medical help the minimum wage free public education inexpensive public hospitals unions environmental protections child labor laws workplace protections paid vacations sick days meanwhile the republicans had always been the priority of scrooge had said loudly oh to every one of those things over and over and over again. and the american people knew it which is why the republicans didn't control the congress for over forty years and a democrat who was a really good at playing santa claus f.d.r. got elected four count them four times as president so. republicans have to figure out two things first they have to somehow become semi-colons and second and perhaps most important at the figure out a way to force the democrats to shoot santa clause becoming santa clause would be easy to use it just