frc action being tony perkins' group, of course, so that's convenient. guess they didn't care to look at new numbers from our nbc news/"wall street journal" poll showing a double-digit swing in support for same-sex marriage. 43% are in favor of allowing it. 42% opposed. never mind, as the gop sees it, why make a sequel when you can just replay the old favorite? let's get right to our panel. with us from washington is msnbc political analyst and georgetown university professor, michael eric dyson. and here in new york is msnbc political analyst jonathan alter, a columnist for "bloomberg view." professor, hooray for hollywood. the rnc is doing it up in style, dressing up their same old platform in a brand new coat and tails. i thought we were going to get extreme makeover uncut gop and instead this seems like c-span reruns of ralph reid's greatest hits. >> absolutely right. to put it into historical concept, they're looking for next ronald reagan or charleton heston but they're stuck with bedtime for bonzo. the reality is this, the republic chance in two m

>> stephanie: even more grotesquely distinguishing between gay youth and adult leaders -- and tony perkinsur point -- that's exactly what the implication is. pedaphilia does not equate to homosexuality. >> and the boy scouts consulted some experts in this field. the ap reported that the scouts consulted four experts in the field of child sex abuse prevention. the four came to a nearly universal opinion that homosexually is not an abuse factor for children. but they still came to this opinion. >> we have no evidence but we feel icky. >> stephanie: it's weird that a compromise just makes it worse. obviously as chris implied this has been such a huge news week and so what -- has there been any reaction that you know of. because obviously a lot of people not talking about this yet. >> yeah, there is bigger news that has been happening this week. putting out a press release or statement on a friday afternoon is always a way to try to bury it. but i don't think they anticipated as much news as we had this week, so i don't think that was part of the plan. but the interesting response will be corp

this rnc vote came the day after prominent conservative tony perkins sent out a letter to donors, readthat he said "until the rnc and other international organizations grow a backbone and defending core principles, don't send them a dime of your hard-earned money." how much do e-mails and messages like this influence the outcome of these events? they need money to run. >> conservative christians have been upset with the rnc since they issued that 100-page autopsy a um couple wheelings ago, didn't mention christian right, didn't mention god, faith groups, an issue they should highlight or abortion. so a lot of christian right activists felt kind of alienated after that report. i talked to a lot of them. that said, tony perkins' group has actually called on its members to stop donating to the rnc twice before in the last four years and the rnc has done pretty well for itself, at least over the last year or so. it is unclear how much influence tony perkins himself and his group actually has on the republican party. >> what do you think was the point of this vote because as far as the part

>> both the rnc and tony perkins have a point.said that public opinion is shifted on gay marriage. it's a, you know, there is majority support for it in most polls especially among the younger generation. the party is trying to do outreach, etcetera. but there is no republican party without social conservatives. i think if you're an evangelical, conservative catholic voter, and you look at the republican party today, it's totally reasonable to say, well look. the party elites are not interested in changing the party's position on economics, on anything that the wall street wing of the party cares about. why are we getting blamed for mitt romney's defeat? so, i mean, social conservatives in general tend to put up with more from the gop i think than they tend to get out of it. so if you end up sort of pitching them overboard you don't actually have a party anymore. >> ian? >> well, i think that you -- i don't necessarily agree that there is no party without the social conservatives. i think that it shows there is a xichl scism that

joining me now to help is tony perkins president of the family research council and fox news contributor morris. just, look, i'm not going to give a voice to the haters, because, boy, oh, boy, these are people really in a dark place, taking shots at pastor warren, at his son and to a large extent, it seems to focus on his religious beliefs around the topic of among others, gay marriage. pastor warren doesn't believe in gay marriage and yet, those who do, not all of them, but some, seem to use this occasion, father morris, as excuse to take a terrible shot at the family. your thoughts on it? >> that's right, i have seen a lot of that, megyn, and i've also seen accusations at him that he's a hypocrite because he's preached that god has an answer to suffering, that god has a solution to senseless life and yet, his own son died in this way. those are ridiculous, nasty, tasteless and very sad responses. pastor warren has been a great man for our country. he's offered a faithful and also a rational and love-filled voice of reasoning. and i see that even he relates to someone like me who differ

the family research council tony perkins told supporters to stop donating until the party got its act together on this issue. then today it seems like the rnc listened. conservatives passed a resolution today declaring "the republican national committee affirms its support for marriage as a union of one man and one woman. as the opt much environment in which to raise healthy children for the future of america. and be it further resolved the republican national committee implores the u.s. supreme court to uphold the sanctity of marriage in its rulings on california's prop 8 and the federal defense of marriage act." well, this civil war within the gop obviously is raging right now. but can a party vehemently against gay marriage win in a country where a majority of people across the board support gay marriage? robin armstrong, republican national committeeman from texas, gregory angelo executive director of the log cabin republicans. gentlemen, this is sort of an amazing thing to watch right now because you've got these couple of strains in republican party which are real, traditional a

da >>> many did, i'm tony perkins.. >> i'm sarah simmons, allison ai has the morning off. off. tucker r barnesge

tony perkins is the president of the family research council. od morning. >> this is melissa harris perry, professor at tulane university. she also does weekend shows on msnbc. this is part of an ad campaign for the entire network. when you first heard that, what was your reaction? >> well, i was thinking, where were they when i was changing the diapers of my five kids. this idea of collectism that everyone but no one is responsibility. it is a nutty notion, gretchen, but a staple idea of the left. this is the 201 version of hillary clinton. this is the intellectual love child of the great society and the sexual revolution where everyone but no one is responsible. it's insane but it's a reality of the way the left thinks, the way they view our children. >>gretchen: to a certain extent, i understand what she means, that, yeah, people in the community do affect the lives of your children. i'm thinking about teachers, coaches, you know, sunday schoolteachers, piano teachers, neighbors. but that's a little bit different than a theory that those peopl

this is tuesday, april 16th, good morning, i'm tony perkins. >> i'm sarah simmons, allison seymour has off. >>> we begin with the latest from boston where the death toll from yesterday's marathon

one of those possible captains tony perkins quickly denounced the sermon. >> the issue ultimately that the reverend leon has is not with the leaders of the religious right, it is with the word of god. >> leon outspoken supporter of same sex marriage used a part of scripture where jesus tells mary not to hold on to the past. to claim that today conservatives want to turn back the clock on civil rights. perkins says jesus was really saying while things had changed since he was now the risen lord, his teachings on moral issues did not. >> and it disappears that what reverend leon is doing here is interjecting divisiveness into what is very clear about scripture and that god's word is the authoritative guide for christians. >> the president emerged all smiles with leon and his aides today refused to condemn the sermon. >> this is not a senator or member of congress or the president. this is a sermon that -- at a church here that's been visited by presidents of both parties for many, many years. and i think, you know, i just don't have anything more on it for you. >> leon was coach to speak

the family research council tony perkins told supporters to stop donating until the party got its actogether on this issue. then today it seems like the rnc listened. conservatives passed a resolution today declaring "the republican national committee affirms its support for marriage as a union of one man and one woman. as the opt much environment in which to raise healthy children for the future of america. and be it further resolved the republican national committee implores the u.s. supreme court to uphold the sanctity of marriage in its rulings on california's prop 8 and the federal defense of marriage act." well, this civil war within the gop obviously is raging right now. but can a party vehemently against gay marriage win in a country where a majority of people across the board support gay marriage? robin armstrong, republican national committeeman from texas, gregory angelo executive director of the log cabin republicans. gentlemen, this is sort of an amazing thing to watch right now because you've got these couple of strains in republican party which are real, traditional and

and tony perkins, the research council.ous right, who we believe is one of the ones being attacked by the reverend in that sermon. let's go down the line, cal. do you feel the same about the reverend making remarks on easter sunday as did you about dr. carson at the national prayer breakfast. >> i do indeed, megyn, the difference was i agreed with everything, as i said, that ben carson said at the prayer breakfast, just the wrong venue. when i first heard about this, the first reaction did this guy climb out of a time capsule bauried in the 1950's. blacks the in the back of bus who has been talking about that for decades. ridiculous and for the president to sit there and he's giving a political sermon when you're supposed to be talking about jesus of nazareth, inappropriate and maybe succumbed to temptation all too prevalent. to settle for a lower kingdom when you ought to be referring to a higher one. >> megyn: and charles krauthammer says he may have been settling for the kingdom of the press knowing the press was there a

good morning, i'm tony perkins. >> i'm wisdom martin in for allison seymour. get to the tax stuff. we know it's april 15. we don't need to remind peopleid about that anymore. tucker barnes.er >> good morning. a little rain to start your day. it's not going to rain all day but you might want to bring an umbrella. there's a look at your radar.adr most of area dry at the moment. showers south and west of town. it's going to budge north and east. front royal, culpepper, work out 66 towards marshall light rain shower activity. a on and owe off. the trend will be to dry thingsi out.t. i'm not sure we'll see sun but the rain will be out of here and mostly cloudy the remainder of day. cool but not cold. 52 at bwi, 56 dulles. forecast high mid to upper swissments afternoon cloudiness. we'll warm it up and have more details on the rest of the workweek in a moment.ek i >> thank you. >> now we want to check in with julie wright for a look at your ontime traffic. >> all right. guys. on the roads this morning. quite busy. in fact metro rails reporting that the green yellow

tony perkins came out and blamed the southern poverty law center but this videotape is the first timecome out and say that perkins was correct. we called the southern poverty law center. we e-mailed them. so far, they have not issued a response to us at all. >> megyn: okay. trace, thank you. >>> well, troubling new details just ahead, as new york city police commissioner ray kelly details the boston bombers' plans to target times square. next. who exactly authorized what happened in that boston hospital? holding this terror suspect earlier this week. why did the f.b.i. get so angry, saying that this ver gation was cut off -- interrogation was cut off mid-stream and valuable information left untapped? michael mukasey will join us to answer the questions. must this have come from the top? he would know. we talk about it next. [ male announcer ] this is george. the day building a play set begins with a surprise twinge of back pain... and a choice. take up to 4 advil in a day or 2 aleve for all day relief. [ male announcer ] that's handy. ♪ your doctor will say get smart about your weight

tony i support you in this. don't let them push you around like that. you have all your life to live all your love to give. perkinsimes the rnc has done you wrong, right? >> don't let them push you around. >> stephanie: yes, they are chris brown. uh-huh. do not do it tony. ♪ i should have changed that silly lock ♪ >> stephanie: until they grow a backbone don't send them a dime of your hard-earned money. ♪ go walk out the door ♪ >> stephanie: he said give directly to candidates who reflect the values that you trust. that's right. push them farther to the right! >> they are a bunch of wuss. >> stephanie: they need to hire that rutgers coach to whip them into shape. yes, screw the young! they don't know what they are doing! homo-fashionist young people. with their stupid gay tolerance. wuss. republicans should try educating them on why marriage matters, yes! in as condescending tone as possible. you cannot patronize enough to stupid stupid -- they are stupid, stupid young people. ♪ and you'll see me come back to you ♪ >> stephanie: there is an entire group of young leaders who are all going to the mat to protect marr

. >> good morning i'm tony perkins. >> i'm sarah simmons. allison has the day off. the investigation treating it as an act of terrorism.act >> a federal source confirms to fox news that i saudi national in the u.s. on a student visa is questioned in the bombings but so far not classified as a suspect. police searched an apartment in a boston suburb overnight flght investigators will only say sayy search wash the related to the t attack was issued. explosions left at least three people dead and more than 140 injured. the blast happened near the t marathon finish line which was packed with runners and their families and friends. where the bomb hit were 10 and 15 feet. f they were families and friends i cheering you near the end. >> unfortunately they are thelyt people that got injured so badly. >> they are not looking okay o because that's not what critical condition means an eight-year-old boy was watching his father run the race. the boy's mother had to have surgery and his sister was also hurt. >> the investigation into yesterday's bombings widened and as ques

tony perkins says the policy change is unsemiable semi -- un.it's not enough. >> if you were a women coming up to you -- >> what kind of a question is that. what would get your attention? >> shannon: the interview that stumped ryan lochte. that's something that you are checking out online. "most clicked" is next. it only matters that it shows up and makes things better. in that spirit, verizon is proud to announce the powerful answers award. 10 million dollars in prizes for the best ideas. ideas so big, they have the power to change everything. whether it's our inspiration, or yours, the world's biggest challenges deserve even bigger solutions. the powerful answers award from verizon. >>> you stumped him. >> what can i say? when a woman walks -- [ laughter ] >> i guess silence. >> you can't -- no. couldn't say anything. he is good looking. >> i need me some oatmeal on that. >> interview with olympian ryan lochte sent the news anchors in a tizzy. they grilled him about the reality show, "what would ryan lochte" do and he was stumped by hard-hitti

from its base to hold the line, to hold the line on social issues, prominent social conservative tony perkinsampaigns as long as the gop is embroiled in a debate over social issues. want to bring in cnn's political director mark preston in hollywood. mark, how would a vote against gay marriage affect the republican party's overall rebranding message? >> as we all know in the past couple of months, the republican party has really been doing this inner look at how do they attract new voters, young voters, african-americans, hispanics, asian-americans. in the last hour, on the issue of same sex marriage on gay issues, the republican national committee passed two resolutions, one upholding the platform that says a union of marriage is between one man and one woman. they also passed another resolution that call on the supreme court to uphold proposition eight in california which outlaws gay marriage. they're calling for the supreme court to focus on the federal defense of marriage act and to uphold that as well. before the vote was taken this is what chairman lance priebus had to say. >> let me ma

karl i had not heard this one, but our good friend tony perkins -- >> no mother blood, no!: no not him. blames boston bombings on sexual liberalism. >> it's like weekend at bernies with jerry fallwell. it's like a race to match the craziness of jerry fallwell after 9/11, blaming it on abortions and gay people. >> stephanie: yeah. >> this is a guy who wants -- once gave money to david duke's campaign committee, so i'm not surprised. >> stephanie: yep. you also write about the boy scouts can you think of another youth organization that wouldn't welcome with open arms its former participants as adult volunteers. >> this is so bizarre, i have been involved with the ymca for a very long time, and i can't imagine them having these students coming up through their program, watching them grow into fine young adults, and then at the age of 18 saying you are no longer welcome here. >> sure, they instantly become child molesters. >> stephanie: what were they thinking of? >> it's just bizarre, and you know what it is is this notion that -- well if we point out and underscore the fact t