Sunday Shows

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 22, 2011, 1:12PM

Mitchell: 'The President Didn't Say That Israel Has To Go Back To The '67 Lines'
Appearing on This Week, former Middle East envoy George Mitchell said that President Obama's proposals for the Israel-Palestine conflict did not entail a major shift in U.S. policy. "The president didn't say that Israel has to go back to the '67 lines. He said with agreed swaps," said Mitchell. "Swaps means an exchange of land intended to accommodate major Israeli population centers to be incorporated into Israel and Israel's security needs. Agreed means through negotiations. Both parties must agree."

Jordanian King: 'My Instincts Tell Me Not To Expect Much'
Also appearing on This Week, King Abdullah II or Jordan was pessimistic about the Israel-Palestine peace process. "My instincts tell me not to expect much over the next couple of months, unfortunately," said King Abdullah." "I just have a feeling that we're going to be living with the status quo for 2011."

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Sunday Shows

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 15, 2011, 1:11PM

Nikki Haley: 'We Do Not Want A Massachusetts Health Care Plan In South Carolina'
Appearing on This Week, Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) said that Mitt Romney would continue to have to deal with the issue of health care reform. "I will tell you we do not want a Massachusetts health care plan in South Carolina. I think that he will have to continue to deal with that issue. I think he's going to have to talk about how that was not good for the country. That wouldn't be a good thing that we'd want to mandate on all of our states. And I think he'll have to respond to what his thought process was. But I think that we are looking for a leader that's willing to, one, make courageous stands, take strong policy decisions, but two, also admit when a mistake was made."

Boehner: 'Medicare, Medicaid - Everything Should Be On The Table, Except Raising Taxes'
Appearing on Face The Nation, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) reiterated his objection to any tax increases in order to deal with the deficit, which President Obama has said would have to be part of a solution. "The people he's talking about taxing are the very people that we expect to reinvest in our economy and to create jobs," said Boehner. He also added: "Medicare, Medicaid - everything should be on the table, except raising taxes."

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Sunday Shows

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 8, 2011, 1:21PM

Donilon: Obama Ordered Bin Laden Raid Based On '50-50 Chance'
Appearing on State of the Union, National Security Adviser Tom Donilon said that President Obama ordered the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound based on "what was probably a 50-50 chance that Osama bin Laden was there." Donilon also added: "It was a circumstantial case ... But what he had 100 percent confidence in was the ability of our special forces to execute the mission."

Kerry: 'Shut Up And Move On' About Circumstances Of Bin Laden Killing
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) rebutted those who might question the decision of the Navy Seals to shoot an unarmed Osama bin Laden, rather then capture him. "They had no idea whether Osama bin Laden was lunging for a button that would blow up the entire building. There were weapons in the room. He was reaching for them. What we do know is he was not surrendering. It was the dead of night," said Kerry. He also added: "We need to shut up and move on about, you know, the realities of what happened in that building."

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Sunday Shows

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 1, 2011, 1:17PM

Ryan: 'If You Want To Good At These Jobs, You've Got To Be Willing To Lose The Job'
Appearing on This Week, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) dismissed the potential political backlash against his proposals to drastically change and privatize Medicare. "And I hear this all the time from the political people, from the pundits and the pollsters that this could be -- this could hurt us politically. I don't care about that," said Ryan. "What I care about is fixing this country and getting this debt situation under control. Look, literally, Christiane [Amanpour], if all we fear about is our political careers, then we have no business having these jobs. If you want to good at these jobs, you've got to be willing to lose the job."

McCain Pans Obama For "Backseat Role" On Libya
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) accused President Obama of taking a "backseat role" on Libya. "I would like to remind you that NATO is an organization of 28 countries," said McCain. "With Italy there's now seven of them actually in the fight. They don't have the assets that the United States of America does. ...the United States is NATO. So the British and the French - God bless them and others - they don't have the assets. They are running out of some of their munitions." He also added: "We need to get back into the fight. We should be leading. We should not be following."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 24, 2011, 1:07PM

Conrad: 'Work Both Sides Of The Equation' On Taxes And Spending, Without Raising Rates
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) called for an increase in tax revenue, without raising marginal rates, by closing tax loopholes. " You know, let me just say this, revenue has to be part of this because revenue as a share of our national income is the lowest it has been in 60 years. Spending as a share of our national income is the highest it has been in 60 years. So you got to work both sides of the equation," said Conrad, who served on President Obama's debt commission. "But we did not raise tax rates, as this proposal, what we did was have tax reform. Let me just give you an example. In the Cayman Islands there is a little building, five-story building, called Ugland House, it claims to be the home of 18,000 companies. They all say they're doing business in that little building, the only business they're doing is monkey business. They're avoiding paying the taxes that they owe. If you reform the tax code and collect that money, I don't consider that a tax increase."

Coburn: Increase Revenue By 'Taking Away Tax Credits, Lowering The Tax Rate'
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) voiced his support for tax reforms that would increase overall revenue by closing loopholes and tax credits, without raising tax rates: "Well, we're not talking about it [raising rates]. I think if you go back and look at the commission's report, what we were talking about is getting significant dynamic effects by taking away tax credits, lowering the tax rate and having an economic increase that will actually increase the revenues to the federal government."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 17, 2011, 1:10PM

Geithner: Congress Will Raise Debt Ceiling -- And Leaders Told That To Obama And Me
Appearing on This Week, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said: "Well, I want to make it perfectly clear that Congress will raise the debt ceiling." When asked by Christiane Amanpour whether he was sure about that, Geithner responded: "Absolutely. And they recognize it, and they told the president that on Wednesday in the White House. And I sat there with them, and they said, we recognize we have to do this. And we're not going to play around with it. Because we know -- we know that the risk would be catastrophic."

Geithner: If Debt Ceiling Isn't Raised, U.S. And World Economy Would Tip 'Into Recession, Depression'
Also during his appearance on This Week, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner warned of what would happen if the debt ceiling were not raised. "What will happen is that we'd have to stop making payments to our seniors -- Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security. We'd have to stop paying veterans' benefits," said Geithner. "We'd have to stop paying all the other payments on all the other things the government does. And then we would risk default on our interest payments. If we did that, we'd tip the U.S. economy and the world economy back into recession, depression."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 10, 2011, 1:09PM

Ryan: Budget Deal 'Really Still A Drop In The Bucket'
Appearing on Meet The Press, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) said of the budget deal: "Well, we're here because the Democrats didn't pass a budget last year. I mean, for the first time since 1974, the House didn't even bother to try passing a budget last year. So that's why we're here. Now, I feel like we had a pretty good outcome. We represented one-third of the negotiators, but we got two-thirds of the spending cuts we were asking for. This is really still a drop in the bucket. We want to move from talking about saving billions of dollars to going on to saving trillions of dollars."

Plouffe: Ryan Plan 'Not Going To Become Law'
Appearing on Meet The Press, White House senior adviser David Plouffe was asked whether Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-WI) budget plan was dead on arrival. "It may pass the House. It's not going to become law," said Plouffe. "I--and I don't think the American people are going to sign up for something that puts most of the burden on the middle class, people trying to go to college, on senior citizens, while not just asking nothing of the wealthy, giving them at least a $200,000 tax cut. So that's a choice you're making."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | April 3, 2011, 1:16PM

Reid: 'Wait And See' On Arming Libyan Rebels
Appearing on Face The Nation, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said that the United States should hold off on arming the Libyan rebels for now. "I spoke to the president yesterday about this, President Obama, and I think at this stage we really don't know who the leaders of this rebel group is," said Reid. He also added: "We have others, as [Defense] Secretary Gates has said, that can do it more easily than we can. So I think at this stage let's just wait and see."

Graham: 'I'm Ready To Look At Arming Them'
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was more positive on arming the Libyan rebels. "I'm ready to look at arming them to help themselves," said Graham. "We need American air power back into the site. We need to take the fight to Tripoli. Go after his inner circle. That's the way to end this war decisively and quickly. The strategy we have is going to lead to a stalemate. It needs to change. Help the rebels, take the fight to Tripoli. Get this thing over with. Qaddafi must go."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | March 27, 2011, 1:08PM

Hillary Clinton: Libya Mission's Progress 'Demonstrates Really Remarkable Leadership'
Appearing on This Week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said of the mission in Libya: "But what is quite remarkable here is that NATO assuming the responsibility for the entire mission means that the United States will move to a supporting role. Just as our allies are helping us in Afghanistan where we bear the disproportionate amount of sacrifice and the cost, we are supporting a mission through NATO that was very much initiated by European requests joined by Arab requests. I think this is a watershed moment in international decision making. We learned a lot in the 1990s. We saw what happened in Rwanda. It took a long time in the Balkans, in Kosovo to deal with a tyrant. But I think in -- what has happened since March 1st and we're not even done with the month demonstrates really remarkable leadership."

Gates: 'No, No,' Libya Did Not Pose Threat -- 'But It Was An Interest'
Appearing on This Week, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was asked whether Libya posed an actual threat to the United States. "No, no. It was not -- it was not a vital national interest to the United States, but it was an interest and it was an interest for all of the reasons Secretary Clinton talked about," said Gates. "The engagement of the Arabs, the engagement of the Europeans, the general humanitarian question that was at stake. There was another piece of this though that certainly was a consideration. You've had revolutions on both the East and the West of Libya...Egypt and Tunisia. So you had a potentially significantly destabilizing event taking place in Libya that put at risk potentially the revolutions in both Tunisia and Egypt. And that was another consideration I think we took into account."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | March 20, 2011, 12:51PM

Saif Qaddafi 'Surprised' By Coalition Attack
Appearing on This Week, Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi's son Saif Qaddafi said the country was "surprised" by the multi-national air strikes on the country. "Step aside, why?" said the younger Qaddafi. "Again, there is a big misunderstanding. The whole country is united against the armed militia and the terrorists. Simply the Americans and the other Western countries, you are supporting the terrorists and the armed militia. That's it."

Mullen: Qaddafi's Future "Difficult To Know"
Appearing on Face the Nation, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen said of Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi: "He's a thug, he's a cagey guy, he's a survivor. We know that. So it's difficult to know exactly how it comes out, but in the immediate future we're very focused on protecting, providing the environment in which the Libyan civilians cannot be massacred by him and that there can be humanitarian relief and particularly in and around Benghazi."

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TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | March 13, 2011, 1:27PM

Lieberman: 'Put The Brakes' On New Nuke Plants
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) called for a delay in setting up new nuclear power plants in the United States, in light of the ongoing earthquake crisis in Japan. "The reality is that we're watching something unfold," said Lieberman. "We don't know where it's going with regard to the nuclear power plants in Japan right now. I think it calls on us here in the U.S. - naturally not to stop building nuclear power plants, but to put the brakes on right now until we understand the ramifications of what's happened in Japan."

McConnell: Environmental Catastrophe Not 'A Very Good Time' To Make Energy Policy
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) defended nuclear power, saying that the United States should not back away from it in the wake of the earthquake in Japan. "This discussion reminds me, somewhat, of the conversations that were going on after the BP oil spill last year," said McConnell. "I don't think right after a major environmental catastrophe is a very good time to be making American domestic policy."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | March 6, 2011, 1:06PM

Daley: People Talk About No-Fly Zone As If It Were A 'Video Game'
Appearing on Meet The Press, White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley criticized those who call for a no-fly zone in Libya: "Well, you know, lots of people throw around phrases of 'no-fly zone,' and they talk about it as though it's just a game on a video game or something, and some people who throw, throw that line out have no idea what they're talking about," said Daley. "Bob Gates understands the difficulty of going to war. This is a man who spent his--almost his entire life working for the government. He, he knows the difficulty of war and the challenges, as does Admiral Mullen. So when, when people comment on military action, most of them have no idea what they're talking about."

McCain: Qaddafi 'Insane,' A No-Fly Zone Can Send Message To People Around Him
Appearing on This Week, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) reiterated his support for a no-fly zone as part of an effort to oust Muammar Qaddafi. He's insane. But perhaps the people around him would begin to depart the sinking ship," said McCain. He also added: "Again, by a no-fly zone, by declaring our support for a provisional government, perhaps, which is being formed up now - there is a lot of steps we can take."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | February 20, 2011, 1:12PM

Walker: Public Employee Benefits 'LIke A Virus That Eats Up More And More of The Budget'
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) appeared on Fox News Sunday, advocating his budget package -- which in addition to requiring greater contributions from public employees to their benefits packages, would also strip public employees of most collective bargaining rights. "If we're going to be in this together, (cut) our $3.6 billion budget deficit, it's going to take a whole lot more than just employee contributions when it comes to pensions and health care," Walker said. "But it's got to be a piece of the puzzle because as I saw at the local level, it's like a virus that eats up more and more of the budget if you don't get it under control."

Schumer: 'There Are Lots Of People On The Hard Right Clamoring For A Shutdown'
Appearing on State of the Union, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) accused Republicans of not wanting to avoid a government shutdown. "Here's the bottom line: we have said shutdown is off the table," Schumer said. "Speaker (John) Boehner, (Senate Minority Leader) Mitch McConnell, other Republican leaders have not taken it off the table when asked and there are lots of people on the hard right clamoring for a shutdown."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | February 13, 2011, 1:33PM

Egyptian Ambassador: U.S. Can Still Count Country As Ally
Appearing on This Week, Egyptian Ambassador to the United States Sameh Shoukry said that Egypt would maintain its close relationship with the United States. "Certainly," Shoukry said. "These issues are driven by mutual interest, by Egyptian interest and the interest remains a close association to the United States."

Boehner: Obama Administration Handled 'A Very Difficult Situation' With Egypt
Appearing on Meet The Press, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) commented on the Obama administration's handling of the Egyptian revolution. "I think they've handled what is a very difficult situation about as well as it could be handled," said Boehner. He also added: "I believe that we should always listen to those who are crying out for freedom, crying out for democracy. What we should not tolerate are those who want to push some radical ideology to take control of those governments. And I think that's the real concern of the administration and, frankly, all of us on the Hill."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | February 6, 2011, 1:36PM

ElBaradei: 'The Process Is Opaque'
Appearing on Meet The Press, Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei criticized the Egyptian government's handling of the current political crisis: "I should start by saying I have not been part of the negotiation. I have not been invited to take part in, in the negotiation or dialogue. But I've been following what is going on. I can tell you, David, that there is still a huge lack of confidence between the government and the demonstrators. There's a good deal of fear that, that the government would--will retrench and then come back, you know, again to, to--with vengeance, if you like. The process is opaque. Nobody knows who is talking to whom at this stage. The process is managed by the outgoing regime without involvement of the new opposition, if you like, or the rest of the people."

ElBaradei: Peace With Israel 'Rock Solid' But We Also Want Palestinian STate
Also during his appearance on Meet The Press, ElBaradei was asked about concerns that Egypt's peace treaty with Israel was not rock solid. "Well I think, I think everybody saying it is rock solid," said ElBaradei, "but, but, but everybody also saying that, at the same breath, that whether Egypt is a democracy, whether Egypt is a dictatorship everybody in Egypt, everybody in the Arab world will want to see an independent Palestinian state, David. I don't think anybody disagree with that. That has nothing to do with the peace treaty between Egypt and, and Israel, which is, as you said, has been concluded, and I assume that Egypt will continue to respect it, you know?"

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | January 30, 2011, 1:19PM

Hillary Clinton Calls For Democracy In Egypt
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared on all five major Sunday morning talk shows, calling for a peaceful transition to democracy in Egypt. She said on State of the Union: "We want to see this peaceful uprising on the part of the Egyptian people to demand their rights to be responded to in a very clear, unambiguous way by the government, and then a process of national dialogue that will lead to the changes that the Egyptian people seek and that they deserve,"

Daley: Mubarak Must Support "Basic Human Rights"
Appearing on Face The Nation, White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley called for the Egyptian government to show restraint in the current political crisis. "The determination of Egypt will be done by the people of Egypt," said Daley. "The U.S., again, can stand by, we can support, we can support the basic human rights of the people of Egypt."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | January 23, 2011, 1:08PM

McCain: Obama Has 'Learned A Lot'
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) offered some rare compliments to the man who defeated him in 2008, President Obama, saying that Obama had "learned a lot in the last two years" and since the November elections. "He is a very intelligent man. I think he's doing a lot of right things. This emphasis on cutting spending that we'll be talking about...was something that obviously was not talked about in the last two years," said McCain. "I think there's common ground because I think the president realized, as a result of the November elections, that the American people have a different set of priorities."

McConnell: 2012 Election 'Is Not Right Now'
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell backed away form his past statements that his top priority was to make sure President Obama would be defeated in 2012. "Well, the election is not right now," said McConnell. "And the question is what are we going to do between now and '12? Sure, I'd like a Republican president in January of 2013, but the real question for the American people right now is not the election in '12, but what are we going to do now? And I'm hoping the president's pivot to the center will be more than just rhetoric and we can actually do some important things for the country in the short term. The election will take care of itself over a period of two years."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | January 16, 2011, 1:30PM

Gillibrand: Giffords Making 'An Extraordinary Amount Of Progress'
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) that her friend Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) is making progress in her recovery from the shooting in Tucson, though she is not yet able to speak: "It's far too early for that. But she's making progress every day. She's using both sides of her body. She's able to breathe on her own. She's able to open her eyes and to show people she understands what she's hearing and seeing. So she's really--it's an extraordinary amount of progress for a woman who sustained such a horrific injury that she did."

Schumer: I Will Sit With Coburn At SOTU
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that he and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) will sit together at the State of the Union address: "My colleague Senator Mark Udall called for Democrats and Republicans to sit together at the State of the Union. I called up Tom after he did that, and he graciously agreed, we're going to sit together Wednesday night at the State of the Union, and we hope that many others will follow us. Now, that's symbolic, but maybe it just sets a tone and everything gets a little bit more civil."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | December 5, 2010, 1:56PM

Rangel: 'They Knew' I Didn't Deserve Censure
Appearing on State of the Union, Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) said that his censure this past week was the product of a political environment in which members of Congress were afraid of appearing "easy on anybody in Washington." Rangel added: "I can understand that feeling back home, but I tell you, individually, whether it's Republicans or Democrats, they knew what I had done did not reach the level of a censure."

Durbin: 'Unconscionable' To Cut Top Taxes And Not Extend Unemployment
Appearing on Face The Nation, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) said that any tax-cut deal would also have to include an extension of unemployment benefits: "The notion that we would give tax cuts to those making over a million dollars a year, which is the Republican position, and then turn our backs on 2 million Americans who will lose unemployment benefits before Christmas ... is unconscionable."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | November 28, 2010, 1:49PM

Hillary Clinton On Pat-Downs: 'Not If I Could Avoid It'
Appearing on Face The Nation, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked whether she would want to submit to the current airport security pat-downs. "Not if I could avoid it. No, I mean, who would?" said Clinton. She also added: "Clearly, as Secretary Napolitano has said, we're doing this because the terrorists keep getting more creative about what they do to hide explosives. You know, crazy things like underwear."

Hillary Clinton: Senate Should Ratify START
Also during her appearance on Face The Nation, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on the Senate to ratify the START arms control treaty with Russia. "Now at the end of the day, the Senators have to decide. But I would hope that this treaty would be treated as others -- whether it was a Democratic or Republican president -- saw their treaties in arms control with the Russians treated," said Clinton. She also added: "This is beyond politics."

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Sunday Shows

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | November 7, 2010, 1:06PM

McConnell: 'We Owe It To' The American People To Try To Repeal Health Care
Appearing on Face The Nation, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reaffirmed that the Republicans would try to repeal health care reform. He referred to the recent election results: "People who supported us - political independents - want it repealed and replaced with something else. I think we owe it to them to try."

Clyburn Compares GOPers Talking Health Care Repeal To Strom Thurmond Opposing Civil Rights
Also appearing on Face The Nation, House Democratic Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) compared Republicans pledging to repeal health care reform to Southern politicians who had pledged to repeal civil rights, saying that they were "really flying in the face of history." "The Democrats lost [their] place in the South because of the Voting Rights Act of 1965," Clyburn recalled. "I remember [former Republican Senator] Strom Thurmond going back to Washington after 1968, saying, 'We are going to repeal the Voting Rights Act.'"

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 24, 2010, 1:37PM

Steele: 'No One's Produced One Shred Of Evidence' Of Foreign Money
Appearing on Meet The Press, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele responded strongly to the accusation that foreign money was being funneled into pro-Republican political organizations: "I don't know what they're talking about. No one's produced one shred of evidence that any of that is happening. And, you know, I--look, you know, when President, then candidate, Obama was asked to disclose some of his donors because there was suspicion of their being, you know, the foreign source of money into his campaign, they refused to do it. So don't give me this high and mighty, you know, holier than thou attitude about, about special interests flooding, flooding the political marketplace. The Democrats have been dabbling in those areas and clearly disclose it. If you, if you think that there's something out there, disclose it, Nancy. Disclose it, you know, anyone else who's got that evidence."

Rove: Liberal Attacks On My Funding 'Hypocritical'
Appearing on Face The Nation, Karl Rove defended the fundraising and spending of his group American Crossroads, which the White House has attacked for not disclosing its funding sources. In response, Rove said that Prescient Obama benefitted from over $400 million in outside support during the 2008 campaign: "And if liberals do it and nobody complains about it, it strikes me as somewhat hypocritical when conservatives adopt their strategies and follow their models and conservatives get criticized by the President of the United States by name."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 17, 2010, 1:31PM

Graham: 'We're Going To Have Some Bipartisanship On Tax Cuts And Replacing The Health Care Bill
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) predicted that Republican gains in Congress would result in more compromise from President Obama and the Democrats. "About bipartisanship after the election, I predict there will be a good bit of effort," said Graham. "There will be a bipartisan effort to extend the Bush tax cuts and not let them expire. 2012 and 2014, Democrats in swing states are going to get the message from independent voters to come to the middle. So I think we're going to have some bipartisanship when it comes to replacing the health care bill with a more moderate approach."

Axelrod: Whether Obama Can Work With GOP Is 'Up To Them'
Appearing on State of the Union, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod indicated that President Obama's approach to working with Republicans would not change, in terms of compromises on such key issues as the extension of the Bush tax cuts, if Republicans make significant gains in November. "It's up to us to extend our hand (to Republicans) as we have before," said Axelrod. "It's up to them to decide whether they're going to take it or whether they're going to do what they've done for the last 2 years."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 10, 2010, 1:16PM

Axelrod: Corporate Spending On Election 'A Threat To Our Democracy'
Appearing on Face The Nation, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod continued to blast corporate spending in the current election season, including the charge made by Democrats that spending has included money from foreign sources. "This issue of this special interest spending is very important," said Axelrod. "It's never happened before that organizations are spending this kind of money. And the American people need to ask, 'Why is the oil industry, Wall Street and others spending this kind of money to defeat candidates and elect others in this sort of secretive way?' You know, that is a threat to our democracy."

Rove: Obama Has 'Enemies List Unrestrained By Any Facts Or Evidence'
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Karl Rove hit back at accusations from the White House and Democrats his group American Crossroads, and other conservative groups, are receiving foreign money. "They have not one shred of evidence to back up that baseless lie. This is a desperate and I think disturbing trend by the president of the United States to tar his political adversaries with some kind of, you know, enemies list unrestrained by any facts or evidence whatsoever."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 3, 2010, 1:34PM

Sanders: Republicans 'Do Not Want America To Succeed'
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) accused Republicans of deliberately blocking legislation in order to stop job creation, and thus improve their chances in the election. "I think in his heart the president is a very, very decent guy; he wants to do what most Americans want him to do: To reach out, bring people together," said Sanders. "But what has happened is the Republicans have said 'no, no, no.' They have waged more filibusters than any time in the history of this country. They have been the party of 'no' and obstructionism. At some point, what the president has got to understand [is] they do not want America to succeed. They're into politics."

Richardson: Dems Should Take On Tea Party
Appearing on Face The Nation, Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) said that Democrats should more forcefully take on the Tea Party movement. "For some reason everyone is scared of them," said Richardson. "What they really want to do to this country, when they talk about reducing deficits, is they're cutting into Medicare, Medicaid, firefighters, teachers, nurses, people's benefits, Social Security. I think it's important that we not be defensive, that we be strong, but we have to unify and stop the internal carping."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | September 26, 2010, 1:31PM

Hoyer: Colbert's Testimony 'Was Not Appropriate'
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) criticized the appearance of Stephen Colbert before a House subcommittee hearing on immigration this past Friday. "I think his testimony was not appropriate. I think it was an embarrassment for Mr. Colbert more than the House," said Hoyer. His views are contrary to those of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who defended the Colbert appearance on Friday.

Boehner: Dems Have Time For Colbert, But Not For Bush Tax Cuts
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) criticized Congressional Democrats for wasting time by inviting Stephen Colbert to testify before a subcommittee on immigration, instead of debating the extension of the Bush tax cuts. "Washington is spending more time with comedians than debating (our) economic future," Boehner said. "They have time to bring a comedian to Washington, D.C., but they don't have time to end the uncertainty."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | September 19, 2010, 1:32PM

Bill Clinton: 'I Was Wrong' That Health Care Law Would Become Popular Quickly
Appearing on Meet The Press, former President Bill Clinton said he was wrong to have predicted that the health care reform law would be immediately popular after being signed into law: "Well, I was wrong about that for two reasons. First of all, the benefits of the bill are spread out over three or four years. It takes a long time to implement it. And secondly, there was--there's been an enormous and highly effective attack on it. But I think it's important. Let's--forget about the politics. Let's talk about the facts here. The real reason that the interest groups want to repeal, not fix health care, is that they like the way it's going now. They're dumping people every year and making the government pick them up. We are spending 17.2 percent of our income on health care. None of our wealthy competitors spend more than 10 1/2. Yet our infant mortality rate is higher than theirs, our overall mortal--age expectancy is lower than theirs. We don't have a better health system than they do. What's happened? That's a trillion dollars we spot our competitors every year for a health system that doesn't work as well. The people that are getting a trillion dollars have a lot of money to spread all this information--misinformation."

Kaine: Dems 'Proud Of The Accomplishment' Of Health Care Legislation
Appearing on State of the Union, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine said that the new health care law would be politically beneficial to the party. "I travel all over the country. I guess I've been in about 42 states, and most Democrats that I see on the trail are very proud of the accomplishment and they're talking about it," said Kaine. In response to Democrats who have touted their votes against the bill, Kaine said: "Some, particularly House members in districts that, you know, can often get gerrymandered and become tough districts are distancing themselves from the health care bill. I don't tell people how to run their races, but I've been on a ballot seven times and won seven races, and in my experience, you ought to be proud of what you're doing and promote the accomplishments."

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Roundup

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | September 12, 2010, 1:18PM

Boehner: I'll Drop Tax Cut for Rich If I Have To
Appearing on Face The Nation, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) indicated that a compromise on renewal of the Bush tax cuts -- to renew only the tax cuts for those making under $250,000, and allow the tax cuts for higher-incomes to expire -- could be possible. "I want to do something for all Americans who pay taxes," Boehner said. "If the only option I have is to vote for some of those tax reductions, I'll vote for it. But I've been making the point now for months that we need to extend all the current rates for all Americans if we want to get our economy going again, and we want to get jobs in America."

Goolsbee: U.S. Can't Afford Tax Cuts for High-End Earners
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Austan Goolsbee indicated the Obama administration's strong position against renewing the Bush tax cuts for those making over $250,000 per year. "The president strongly believes that ... after a decade of astounding squeeze on the middle class that was followed by the worst recession in our lifetime ... you cannot afford to raise taxes on the middle class. We should make that permanent," Goolsbee said. But he also added: "What we cannot afford to do is pass 700 billion additional dollars of tax cuts for the millionaires and billionaires at a time when we are just going to borrow that money."

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