panelists include former sec chairman trevor potter. live coverage starting at 12:15 p.m. eastern on c-span. >> every generation through our history has worked and sacrificed to leave a better country to their children, their grandchildren and future generations. we're spending their money, we are now even more, much more spending their money, and we are leaving them a mess that will be a very difficult to deal with, and if we are tt weak, just think of who wants to come here first and take us over. now, the last thing i ever want ken er bcae 're sooy finciallwe we can't do anything. >> uh-huh. >> and we'reove anytha direction. we're on t edge theliff, and we have goto start fixing it now, otheisee're leaving a disaster to our children and granhiren in the future, and we could even los ourcouny. ross perot, interviewed by "usa today"'s richard wolffe on the economy, the deficit a debt and how it's changed since he ran r presidenn 1992 and '96. fi richard wolffe's article in today's edition of "usaoday" and at usa today.co ross per tonight on c-span at 9 eastern. >> host: a

then we will be joined by trevor potter, katherine mangu-ward. many of us have known trevor for many years. katherine mangu-ward is a fellow here. hopefully in addition to moderating she will also provide some provocation which is always useful. toh no more do, i'm going thank you for coming in turn it over to michael. >> i am the one who knew trevor when he was a lawyer for john mccain which i thought was a very important job. nothing like being a lawyer for stephen colbert. maybe one day i can say i work for comedy central, too. i want to give you a brief overview. this is a graphic we ran in "time" magazine at the end of july, we are trying our best to project with the money would come from and what the differences would be in terms of the various sides. the point we're trying to make, one that there is a real difference in political money strategy that they are employing the cycle. the obama campaign is heavily reliant on small dollars, regu under $2,500 from individuals. the campaign has total control over and can spend as they want. th usa

then we'll be joined by trevor potter, katherine mangu-ward -- trevor potter is a partner, and often known as the lawyer for stephen colbert's super pac. ali many of us have known him for many years but now the world knows him. and katherine mangu-ward is a fellow here at new america and the managing editor of magazines. so with no more a do i will thank you all for coming and turn it over to michael. >> someone who knew trevor when he was a lawyer for john mccain, agenda was a pretty important job, nothing like being a lawyer for stephen colbert. maybe one day i can say i work for comedy central, too. people will be impressed. i just want to give a brief overview. this is out to a graphic we ran in "time" magazine at the end of july this summer, trying our best at that moment in time to project that where the money would come from and what the differences would be in terms of the various sides. the point we're trying to make, one that there is a real difference in political money strategy that these campaigns are employing this cycle. the obama campaign is heavily reliant on small d

election law expert trevor potter told us that now, corporations argue that it is a constitutionallyrotected use of corporate resources to order employees to do political work or attend campaign events, even if the employee opposes the candidate or is threatened with being fired for failure to do what the corporation asks. reporter in new york times magazine came across a recording of governor mitt romney in a conference call in june with some business executives. the government told him there is, quote, nothing illegal about you talking to your employees about what you believe is best for the business. because i think that will figure into their election decision. their voting decision. and, of course, doing that with your family and your kids, as well. and here's governor romney two months later, campaigning at an ohio coal mine. >> this is a time for truth. i listened to an ad on the way here. i'll tell you, you got a great boss. he runs a great operation here. and he -- there he is. >> look at all those miners around him, steadfastly standing in support, right? they work for a co

so i took the documents to trevor potter, the former chairman of the federal election commission.so the question is, what does this lead you to believe? >> it would suggest if they are sending this questionnaire around to candidates and then producing these letters that they have a direct role in these candidate communications. this is the sort of information that is, in fact, campaign strategy, campaign plans that candidates cannot share with an outside group without making it coordinated. >> ryssdal: and just to be clear, that's a big no-no. >> right, you need to know more, but certainly if i were back in my fec days as a commissioner, i would say we had grounds to proceed with an investigation and put people under oath and show them these documents and ask where they came from and where they were. >> ryssdal: makes you want to know more. >> yes. >> ryssdal: okay. we contacted several individuals who are involved with wtp, including christian lefer. hi, i'm looking for christian lefer, please. it's kai ryssdal from frontline. is this mr. lefer? none of them would give frontline

, katherine -- trevor potter, a partner in captain and drive, and dale. we know him for years, but now the world knows him, and katherine maggie ward is a fellow here at new america and editing manager of "reason" magazine. in addition to moderating, she can provide provocation which is useful. with no further adieu, thank you, all, for coming, and i'll tern it over to michael. >> i wonder who knew trevor when he was a lawyer for john mccain, an important job, nothing like being a lawyer for steven cobehr. maybe one day i can work for comedy central and people can be impressed. a brief overview. this is a graphic we ran in "time" at the end of july this summer trying the best at that moment in time to project out where the money was comes from and what the difference would be in terms of various size. a couple points we tried to make which is there's a real difference in political money strategy that the campaigns employ in the cycle. the obama campaign is heavily reliant on small, individual dollars, regulated money what is -- that is contributions under

then we we will be joined by trevor potter, katherine mangu- ward. many of us have known trevor for many years. katherine mangu-ward is a fellow here. hopefully in addition to moderating she will also provide some provocation which is always useful. with no more do, i'm going to thank you for coming in turn it over to michael. >> i am the one who knew trevor when he was a lawyer for john mccain which i thought was a very important job. nothing like being a lawyer for stephen colbert. maybe one day i can say i work for comedy central, too. i want to give you a brief overview. at the end of july, we are trying our best to project with the money would come from and what the differences would be in terms of the various sides. the point we're trying to make, one that there is a real difference in political money strategy that they are employing the cycle. the obama campaign is heavily reliant on small dollars, regulated money, contributions under $2,500 from individuals. the campaign has total control over and can spend as they want. the exception your is