THE ED SHOW
February 10, 2014
Guests: Charlie Crist, Mike Rogers, Goldie Taylor, Michael Eric Dyson, Bernie Sanders
ED SCHULTZ, MSNBC HOST: Good evening Americans and welcome to the Ed Show live from New York. Let`s get to work.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. PAUL RYAN, (R-WIS) HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Here`s the issue that all Republicans agree on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lost trust in this president.
RYAN: We don`t trust the president to enforce the law.
JOHN BOEHNER, (R-OH) HOUSE SPEAKER: He`s feeding more distrust.
REP. ERIC CANTOR, MAJORITY LEADER: The president`s got to demonstrate frankly to the country and the Congress can trust him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don`t trust.
BOEHNER: We don`t trust.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don`t trust the president should do it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don`t trust.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why don`t we just pack up and go home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trust but verify.
RYAN: This is not a trust-but-verify; this a verify-then-trust approach.
SEN. TED CRUZ, (R) TEXAS: Let me be clear, I don`t trust the Republicans.
SCHULTZ: Who do you trust?
CRUZ: And I don`t trust the Democrats.
BOEHNER: And frankly, one of the biggest obstacles to be faced is the one of trust.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: Well, it looks to me like the Republicans found a new word to use when they were having their little shindig out there in Cambridge, Maryland. Now, they`re stuck on trust.
Yeah. Trust. It`s a word that we hear a lot about here on the Ed Show because I know you can`t trust Republicans. Republicans are now trying to use this word against the president of the United States. They`re on this media push trying to convince Americans that you can`t trust the president.
Republicans claim the president can`t be trusted to enforce the law on immigration once reform is passed.
Here is what failed Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan said last week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN: Here`s the issue that all Republicans agree on. We don`t trust the president to enforce the law.
We don`t think that we can allow this border to continue to be overrun and if we can get security first, no amnesty, before anything happens, we think that`s a good approach.
This is not a trust-but-verify; this a verify-then-trust approach.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: Verify then trust. Well, let`s verify the fact that we have more agents on the border, we have more resources on the border, we have more overtime hours on the border, we have more fences, we have more sensor technology. We have four-fold the security on the border. So what part are they not talking about when they said they don`t trust about the president enforcing something?
Majority Leader Eric Cantor, he`s on the same page, he must have gone to the same seminar. He admitted that they came up with a strategy at their annual Republican retreat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CANTOR: We just came off of their annual retreat this week and we had a very robust discussion about a very different called situation which is our broken immigration system.
And I think the takeaway was mentioned, there`s a lot of distrust of this administration in implementing the law and we just heard the president in the State of the Union address say, you know what? If he can`t work with Congress, he`s going to do it his own way. And that sort of breezed this kind of distrust.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: Implementing the law and it`s all about trust.
Every time the Republicans talk about immigration they talk about security. Security is bottom line with them, that`s what the president has offered. He`s deporting more people out of this country than any other president has before.
When Republicans have a gameplan, they know how to stick to it.
Here`s House Republican Speaker John Boehner talking about trust on Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOEHNER: We`re still looking for the pieces to this puzzle but listen we do not want to default on our debt and we`re not going to default on our debt. We`re in discussions with members about we can move ahead, we`ve got time to do this, and we`re going to continue to work at it. No decisions -- no decisions have been made.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: Yeah, because they don`t trust anybody. Who do you trust, President Obama and the House Democrats or House Republicans who have obstructed everything?
Democrats brought Obamacare to this country which is getting better everyday. Republicans repealed it over 40 times in the House. Democrats want a minimum wage increase for workers in this country. Republicans? They don`t want anything to do with it. Democrats want to restore the unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed in this country. Republicans? They say no to that too. Republicans shut down the government and caused a credit downgrade.
Make no mistake, Republicans are saying to no immigration reform because they know that the demographics, the simple demographics are against them across the board. This has nothing to do with trusting the president of the United States.
On Sunday, Senator Chuck Schumer called them out. He proved his point. He said, "If Republicans are worried about President Obama enforcing the law, hey, let`s do it to enact by 2017."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER, (D-NY), FINANCE COMMITTEE: They want to do immigration reform but they don`t trust the president to enforce the law particularly the enforcement parts. So there`s a simple solution. Let`s enact the law this year but simply not let it actually start until 2017 after President Obama`s term is over.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: Well, what do you think the reaction was? Not surprisingly. A spokesperson for Boehner called the idea entirely, not some, but entirely impractical.
It`s fair to say Republicans are the ones who can`t be trusted on immigration reform. Meanwhile, the American people are losing trust in the Republicans.
People are growing tired of this agenda across the country. Just look at the governors and how much trouble they`re having. These six governors have become really the face of radical Republican policies and I think the people are pretty much sick of it if you look across the board.
Now, John Kasich of Ohio, not bad, he`s sitting at 52 percent. That might have something to do with him taking on Obamacare. Not a bad number for his record because you see he tried to limit collective bargaining with public workers in the state and that of course failed senate bill, five was repealed by Ohio voters after the outrage came from police, and fire fighters, and teachers, and the wage earners across the state.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, I didn`t think I`d ever say this. This guy might be the sleeper in the bunch. He`s got an approval rating of 51 percent. He has relentlessly attacked union workers across his state of Wisconsin. In 2011, he stripped public worker`s rights of collective bargaining, causing massive protests. Do you remember the story? I do. It was cold in Wisconsin too then but the hearts were warm and the people know exactly what this guy is all about.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder`s approval sits at 42 percent -- 49 percent disapproval of Snyder. Not good. He passed controversial right to work legislation. Snyder did a way with democracy in the city of Detroit by putting an emergency manager in charge to circumvent local elections.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, this guy, he`s a dandy. Let me tell you, there isn`t a teacher on the face of the earth that he likes. He`s the big loser in all of this. 24 percent approval while 65 percent disapprove. Residents in his state were outraged after he decided to privatize Pennsylvania`s liquor stores.
Then we have New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Need we really say anything on the Ed Show about this guy? We alarmed you about this guy back in 2009. The Bridgegate scandal has caused Christie big time. Recent poll shows that Christie is now at 48 percent disapproval and 38 percent, it`s down 14 points since October and going on the wrong direction.
It`s not just Bridgegate, Christie has made a career of attacking New Jersey`s teacher`s union. Overall, he`s fired roughly 6,000 public school workers most of them teachers. How can he have that many bad people in the workplace?
Then we have the biggest loser of them all. Florida Governor Rick Scott. His policies are no doubt the most radical of all of these guys. Only 34 percent approval of the folks down in Florida, and also compared to 51 percent who`ve disapproved of what`s going on with his administration. Scott has made a career out of attacking poor people in the state. He caused outrage after passing a law to drug test welfare recipients.
Scott refused to expand Medicaid outlined in the Obamacare proposal and law. The people of Florida, they`ve lost trust in this guy across the board. His poll number show it and he is failing on all fronts.
On Friday, Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist who was running against Scott called him out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FMR. GOV. CHARLIE CRIST, (D) FLORIDA: About a million of my fellow Floridians are not getting healthcare today and I am told my friends at SIEU that means that six people in Florida die everyday as a result of that. Everyday.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wait a minute, so you -- that`s a tough allegation. You`re connecting your ...
CRIST: Sure it is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are dying and it`s the fault of not expanding Medicaid?
CRIST: That`s right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: So, if it`s all about trust, pick the winner here. Who do you think is the real winner? The reason why the Republicans are talking about trust because each one of these guys when it comes to workers in middle class Americans can`t be trusted whatsoever and they know it. This is supposed to be the big bench out in the field for the Republicans.
People in Florida clearly didn`t trust Rick Scott running their state. He did the wrong thing by not expanding Medicaid, could have been like our friend Beshear there in Kentucky? No, I didn`t want to do that.
But let`s get back to trust for a moment and let`s connect it to immigration. First of all, the Republicans don`t want anything to do with immigration reform because it`s just simply not their people. They don`t have the demographics on their side, and they don`t know what to do, so the best thing to do is to just block it. They have gerrymandered the House to the point where they can hold the House for who knows how long. They have socially engineered elections in this country so they will own the House. Hopefully someday, in their world, they can buy the Senate and they`ll just ride it out to see if they can get somebody at the White House again.
They have put the House to a position where it`s going to be very hard for the Democrats to win it. I`m not saying it can`t be done but if immigration reform down the road were to start and you got a whole flux of these voters in there, it would make them gerrymander all over again. And that`s why I think that Priorities USA Action, the story we ran on Friday, they`re making a huge mistake by just talking 2016 and not going after the House.
Now is the time to do it before immigration reform because after immigration reform, if the Democrats have power in the House they`ll really be able to change the country and isn`t that really what we want it comes to the vulture chart and fairness to the workplace?
Get your cellphones out, I want to know what you think tonight`s question. "Are Republicans stopping immigration reform to keep control of the House?" Text A for Yes, text B for No to 67622, you can always go to our blog @ed.msnbc.com. We`ll bring you the results later on in the show.
For more, let me bring in Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist who currently is running again for governor in the state of Florida. He`s the author of the new book "The Party`s Over: How the extreme right hijacked the GOP and I became a Democrat".
Governor, good to have you with us tonight. I appreciate you being on the Ed Show.
CRIST: Thank you, Ed, it`s great to be with you. I hope you`re doing well. It sounds like you are.
SCHULTZ: We are doing well. We`re telling the truth. That is for sure. Immigration reform ...
CRIST: Yes you are, buddy.
SCHULTZ: Immigration reform, hot topic in Florida. Your reaction to the Republicans all of a sudden collectively saying that they just don`t trust the president on immigration reform.
CRIST: It`s pathetic and it`s insulting and I just don`t understand it. You know, especially from a state like Florida, you know, we are a melting pot within the melting pot of America, you know, all of us are the sons or daughters of immigrants unless you`re a native American. I mean my own example, my father`s father immigrated from Cyprus, a Greek island, my father`s mother immigrated from Lebanon, on my mother`s side I`m a son of the American Revolution, her family are, you know, Irish, Welsh, Swiss.
And so really, you know, we`re all immigrants and the notion that we can`t move forward on this issue, we can have some level of compromise and practical discourse and discussion is shocking, it`s hard for me to believe. And I`m hopeful that in the future we can move beyond that. But from what we saw out of the Republicans in the House last week that looks like they just want to say no to the president and they`ll give any reason to do it and now they`re stuttering on trust which is so unfair, it is conscionable.
SCHULTZ: They have socially engineered the House. I mean they have positioned themselves about as strong as the Republican Party has ever been when it comes to owning the House, owning the majority.
Wouldn`t immigration reform kind of screw that up for them?
CRIST: Well I certainly think that it would and, you know, the idea that you could reach out and actually get something done in a productive way for the people of America and open this immigration debate to an honest, fair exchange. There are reasonable minds who can exercise common sense, that can get things done so that we can have a rational immigration policy in America.
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
CRIST: And, you know, at a time where President Bush tried to do it, obviously President Obama is trying to do it. It would be nice if the Republicans in the House would say, "You know what? It`s the right thing to do."
You know, when I was a child, I did childish things but when I became a man I put childish things away. We should learn from those kinds of reasonable words and move forward.
SCHULTZ: Governor, it`s very clear that the people of Florida are rejecting Rick Scott and what he has on the table. Were as he different from you on immigration? Would this be a problem for him as well?
CRIST: No question about it. I mean, Ed, when he ran for governor three and a half years ago, one of the ways he won the Republican primary was to promise that he was going to have an Arizona type law in Florida if he were elected governor.
Well, he didn`t follow through with that but that`s no big surprise, he doesn`t follow through with much of anything. And you cited an example earlier that it`s just catastrophic really when it comes to my fellow Floridians and that is Medicaid expansion.
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
CRIST: He said he was for it for about 30 seconds then didn`t lift a finger to get it done and it`s hurting people in Florida terribly over a million of them. Plus -- go ahead, I`m sorry.
SCHULTZ: And speaking of that, Governor, you made a comment, you said that six people a day in Florida die because of not expanding Medicaid? Can you elaborate on that a little bit?
CRIST: Yeah. There`s a great lady that heads up SIEU here in Florida, Monica, and she told me at a meeting just two weeks ago that as a result of these million Floridians not getting healthcare, as a result of not expanding Medicaid, you know. Understand, Ed, these are people who are sick and if they don`t get healthcare they get sicker or in some instances they die.
And she told me she read a report recently that said, "Six are dying a day in Florida." every single day because of a bad policy decision and the lack of follow through. That`s not right. That`s not good leadership. That`s not being a good servant.
SCHULTZ: So ...
CRIST: That`s doing things that are wrong.
SCHULTZ: ... if you had an opportunity as governor of Florida, would you have done what Kentucky has done? Would you have modeled it the same way accepted it, expanded it, done the state exchange and made it totally different for Floridians?
CRIST: That way - absolutely. You know, Governor Beshear`s doing a great job in Kentucky, a great job that the Affordable Care Act...
SCHULTZ: So I think I don`t mean to interrupt you, Charlie.
CRIST: ... a great job of Medicaid ...
SCHULTZ: I don`t mean to interrupt you, Charlie, but I think ...
CRIST: Right.
SCHULTZ: ... that this is really a key point here because there are Democrats who have got cold feel when it comes to running with Obamacare. It sounds like you have no problem stepping to the plate saying, "The Affordable needed to be fully implemented across the board in Florida." Is that what I`m hearing? Does ...
CRIST: Absolutely, Ed. No question about it. I mean, you know, this is abundantly clear to me that affordable care for all Americans is something that we desperately need to do. You know, and presidents have tried this, you know, term after term. This president, Barack Obama, has gotten it passed and it got endorsed and, you know, the U.S. Supreme Court said, it is constitutional. It is time to get beyond this and have Republicans stop bemoaning the fact that we finally have a president who actually was able to accomplish something that really is an incredible civil right.
I mean, you know, we have a right to food, we have to right to water, we have a right to shelter, and we have a right to affordable health care in this country. And this president got it done with good colleagues in the House and the Senate. And it`s time to move forward to get this done, to get it implemented, and to stop the road blocks and do what`s right for the people of our nation.
SCHULTZ: All right. Charlie Crist from Florida with us tonight here on the Ed Show. We`ll do it again. Congratulations on your book. Very provocative and to the point title I got to hand that to you. No question about it. Thank you, Governor.
Remember to answer tonight`s question there at the bottom of the screen. Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @Ed Show and on Facebook. We always we want to know what you think.
Still ahead, defining Hillary Clinton, why voters and especially Progressives should be asking some new questions on where Hillary Clinton stands on issues?
But first, a top NFL prospect launches a bombshell before the tryout and the country is talking about it. We`ll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCHULTZ: Time now for the Trender`s social media action, this is where you can find us; Facebook.com/Edshow, Twitter.com/Edshow, and ed.msnbc.com, and on the radio Sirius XM Channel 127 noon to 3 PM, Monday through Friday, and get my pod cast on my radio website at wegoted.com.
The social media nation has decided and we are reporting. Here are today`s top stories voted on by you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe it`s jogging or yogging. It might be a soft J.
SCHULTZ: The number three Trender, icy reception.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Travels treacherous around the metro area.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some spots now have more than a foot of snow on the ground.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I said, "What are you doing running?" and you`re saying it was really good out?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s the perfect texture for running, very low impact on its dress (ph), you notice it if you don`t get wet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s too nice to not be out here.
SCHULTZ: Portland joggers run into some trouble in the snow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Worse case, we can just slide right through a stop sign and we`ll be OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We`ve seen a lot of people out here, like he said, running, sledding, just enjoying. One thing -- oops.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That`s got to hurt.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, all night long I`m going to notice the girl who fell on her pot (ph).
SCHULTZ: The number two Trender, not a smart move.
MARCUS SMART, AMERICAN COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYER FOR THE OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS: I let my emotions get the best of me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just marks his character instead of talent. Now a bigger issue.
SMART: I want to apologize to the fans and I want to apologize to my teammates, my coach and staff.
SETH GREENBERG, ESPN COLLEGE BASKETBALL ANALYST: I`ve never seen anything like this except what happen in The Palace.
SCHULTZ: Marcus Smart takes a page from the Ron Artest playbook.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Artest is in the stands. No. This is awful.
SCHULTZ: And gets pushed back from his sideline show.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`re in as three game suspension and anything else would be dealt with amongst us.
SMART: It`s something that I`ll have to learn from, you know, I`m taking full responsibility.
RON ARTEST, NBA PLAYER: That was a great lesson learned.
SCHULTZ: And today`s top Trender, three and out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A college football player headed for the NFL has revealed that he is gay.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael Sam, SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
MICHAEL SAM, AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYER: That I`m openly proud gay man. I`m not afraid of who I am.
SCHULTZ: One of the top college football prospects comes out ahead of the NFL draft.
SAM: I want to be a football player in the NFL.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The 24 year old expected to be taken early around of the NFL draft come April is now poised to become pro football`s first openly gay player.
SAM: If I work hard, if I make plays that`s all that should matter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The NFL has already issued a statement saying how courageous Michael Sam is for coming out and making this admission.
SAM: I`m happy with who I am, I know how to play the game. I`m a football player and that`s -- that`s all that matters.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: Joining us tonight Mike Rogers of Raw Story has been with his Raw Story for the last 10 years. Congratulations on you guys` anniversary there Mike also a ...
MIKE ROGERS, RAWSTORY.COM: Thank you.
SCHULTZ: ... gay activist and has been very active in the activism for the gays in this country and a very brave reporter I`ll say, if I can say that tonight.
ROGERS: Thank you Ed.
SCHULTZ: You bet. Mike, you know, Michael Sam, this is such a different situation, we`re not talking about a guy who`s division too that might get a look. We`re not talking about a guy who might be a free agent who`s going to sign him.
This guy is prime time. He`s one of the best football players in the country. He was the South Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year. We`re going to find out what NFL owners really think about diversity in our society. What if the -- what if he gets snubbed on draft day, what kind of backlash would that bring in society in your opinion? What`s your call on this?
ROGERS: You know, I think at this time when you look at what`s happening in the country in a larger cultural arc, you have to be politically blind to not realize how far we`ve come. If you look at business for example, they`ve turned the corner, we`re there, we`re done, business gets it and football is big business. And he`s among the best and I think what we`ll see in just three months, three short months because everyone will be focusing on it, we will see whether or not football stands up for its non discrimination cause that`s now four years old.
SCHULTZ: Now, there`s been a number of different comments that have been made, an NFL player personnel assistance speaking anonymously to Sports Illustrator said that they don`t think football was ready for a gay player yet and it would chemically imbalance an NFL locker room and meeting room. What do you -- what do you make of that statement. I mean that might be what NFL owners and head coaches and general managers are thinking.
ROGERS: You know, I think you might see some of that in some old school teams and some folks who aren`t with the current cultural trend. And this unnamed source who refuses to speak out, clearly I don`t think exit because Michael Sam`s colleagues were so supportive at his college that they`re just the people who are a few years away from football. So while one person who is an assistant personnel coach wants to knock down Michael Sam and his honesty. That`s what this is really about his honesty.
I don`t think it`s reflective really of what`s happening in the country today and I think that if anybody finds out who that is, they`ll probably hold them accountable for this.
SCHULTZ: Well, is it too much for me to assume that if a team takes him early, I mean you got millions of dollars that`s going to be invested in this guy if he`s picked in the first couple of rounds. He`ll be a huge story and all of a sudden there will be gay fans all over the country that will get behind the team that selected this player. I mean, is there a business angle to this and a big wind fall for a team that makes a move on this?
ROGERS: You know, I was watching TV the other day and I saw that some of those NFL jerseys are well over $100. I don`t own one but you can be rest assured the day he is picked up, I will be ordering at least two of those jerseys because I will want to support the team and many, many millions of people in my community will step up to the plate and support the NFL and the team that makes this happen. It`s a marketing boon.
And again, this is big business. That`s what is going to come down to and he is really good. He`s not a "is he good or is he bad". He`ll be snapped right up. I really believe that.
SCHULTZ: Well, that was my first question. What happens if he gets snubbed? We just never know. There was a punter for the Minnesota Vikings who was just a gay activist and spoke up and was warned and basically he`s been black balled out of the league. He`s not in the league right now. There`s some legal action going on there that`s why this is such a huge story as well.
The other thing is, there`s the combined coming up on February 22nd that`s going to be in Indianapolis, Indiana. They asked a lot of questions, personal questions. There -- I mean they mean ask him, would you not hit on our players. I mean I`m serious. I mean they`re going to want to know that in the locker room in a team setting that this is never going to be an issue that his personal life is not going to be brought into the business setting of the NFL. How does that play?
ROGERS: Well, I think it will play very well. Our good friends, my good friends at GLAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation have been working with every major league sport from the National Football League to Major League Baseball, to the soccer leagues, to the NBA and I think that the education that will go on and this will certainly accelerate that education, Ed. No doubt.
They`ll receive the right messages and what`s appropriate and what isn`t and the same questions that will be asked of everybody I think are the questions that are legitimate so.
SCHULTZ: Yeah. We`ll see. Mike Rogers, well one thing is for sure. He just brought the interest to the NFL up on the off season quite a bit. You and I are talking about it, the country is talking about it, and the combine the course is going to be a huge story as well.
And again, the thing that makes this so intriguing is that he`s first. OK? He`s the first openly gay player. No player at his ability has had the courage to do something like this. How will the NFL respond? They can make the statements but it all comes down to the pick because everybody`s going to need a player as good as this guy. It`s going to be interesting. Mike Rogers, good to have you with us tonight. Thanks so much.
ROGERS: Thank you, Ed.
SCHULTZ: Later, the U.S. Postal Service saw its 19th quarter of losses. And Darrell Issa, a Congressman from California thinks he has the answer. Senator Bernie Sanders here to respond to that.
Coming up, Hillary Clinton`s looking for ways to smooth out relationships with Democratic base folks out there. A new book revealing her hit list may make it hard, a hard sell for Hillary. We`ll talk about it.
But next, I`m taking your questions on Ask Ed Live, just ahead here on the Ed Show on MSNBC. We`ll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCHULTZ: Welcome back to the Ed Show. Love the questions. Love this segment Ask Ed Live.
Our first question comes from Lenora. She wants to know, do you think Chris Christie`s presidential aspirations are over? No, I don`t. And I`m not trying to be funny here. I just think he`s going to be carrying a little bit more luggage to the airport than most candidates if you know what I mean. He`ll have to answer questions after questions after questions, but I do think that he`s crafty enough to get around it. If he escapes this with the truth, he may be in a stronger position, but I do think that there are always going to be some people who are questioning whether, "I wonder what he really do if he did or not." He would be a good Republican candidate if he can get through it.
Our next question is from Gina (ph). Any truth to the story that Scott Walker stated he voted for Reagan, even though he wasn`t of legal age? I was tweeted this a couple of times during the radio show today about this. And as I understand that the person who did the interview misstated his position and has apologized for that. So I don`t think this is an issue.
Stick around. Rapid Response Panel coming up next.
MANDY DRURY, CNBC CORRESPONDENT: I`m Mandy Drury with your CNBC Market Wrap with slight gains of stocks today. The Dow up by seven points, the S and P adding two, and the NASDAQ rising by 22 points.
The McDonald`s share is plumping following disappointing January sales. The fast food chain blames cold weather for its steeper (ph) than expected U.S. sales decline. But it was a different story for Hasbro. While the toy maker is earning missed estimates, investors cheer (ph) to invest 2014 forecast of shares rising more than 4 percent.
That is it from CNBC, first in business world wide. Back over to you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCHULTZ: Welcome back to the Ed Show. A new book and documents released this weekend, really offer up some red meat for Hillary Clinton`s critics if she chooses to run for the presidency in 2016.
"HRC: State Secrets in the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton" offers an in-depth account of Clinton`s time as secretary of state. It also offers a detailed look into the so called Hillary hit list.
You know, when that story first came out, I thought that was -- you`re kidding. There`s a hit list. According to the book, aids on Clinton`s failed 2008 presidential campaign kept a spreadsheet of Democrats they felt had betrayed her by supporting President Obama.
Democratic members of Congress were ranked on a scale from one to seven. Friends got a one, Democrats who betrayed Clinton got a seven. I`m pretty sure I`m in double figures, but whatever.
Now, Democrats like Ted Kennedy who delivered an endorsement speech of Barack Obama just before the Super Tuesday primaries, well, he got a seven.
Missouri State Senator Claire McCaskill was high on the list and she knew it. According to the book, McCaskill told a friend, she didn`t even want to be in an elevator alone with Hillary Clinton.
John Kerry reportedly cut the hit list for endorsing Obama at a critical moment after Clinton want to Hampshire primary.
So much for a party unity, I guess it`s a going to be a good book. Big sales, right? For Hillary Clinton to be successful, if this is all true, she needs, as I see it, crop the grudges, unite the base. We got too much at stake.
An entry from the archives of one of Hillary Clinton`s best friends could give her a path to do just that. The published documents for the Washington Free Beacon on Sunday include journal entries, interviews, and correspondence from the mid 1970s to 2000. One entry from 1993 describes a dinner where Clinton called a single-payer healthcare system "necessary."
When Clinton was running in 2008, she took the New York Times. She told the New York Times, "I never seriously considered a single payer system."
If Hillary Clinton focuses on old grudges, it won`t help her win the White House. If she makes something progressive like single payer, the focus of 2016 under campaign, it could be a real kumbaya (ph) for Democrats.
Joining me now at Rapid Response Panel, Michael Eric Dyson, Georgetown University Professor and MSNBC Political Analyst, and also Goldie Taylor with us tonight with theGrio.com. Great to have both of you with us tonight.
You know, if there were any candidate, Goldie, that had a list, I don`t like list. I like forgiveness. I like togetherness. How can the story this book do any candidate any good for that matter?
GOLDIE TAYLOR, THEGRIO.COM: You know, I think political list really are the reality of the world. Look, my political mentor 20 years ago carried a list in his left breast pocket of who was in and who was out. And I think it really ruled his political -- very successful political life.
And so, having list like that really are just kind of, you know, the reality of politics both of yesterday and today. But Hillary Clinton really is the biggest name in the Democratic yard right now and Republicans are spoiling for a fight. They think that if they can take Hillary Clinton down, if they can use some of the information from this treasure show (ph) of documents, if they can somehow sally her reputation and keep her, you know, at day, then maybe they can recapture the White House.
But I think they`re spoiling for a fight that they really don`t want. Hillary Clinton is a political animal. She has been since she stepped onto the stage in Arkansas. She has, you know, a group of loyalist as well as people who have, you know, not really been in her camp. But she knows who they are. And she knows that, you know, if she plays her cards right and gets into this race, then she could very well be the next president.
SCHULTZ: Michael Eric Dyson, I`m anxious to see the first interview with Hillary Clinton about the hit list. How does she bury this?
MICHAEL ERIC DYSON, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Well, she can make some references to the godfather to score (inaudible) movie and indicate that she was being over influenced at that time.
But quite seriously, the reality is, as Ms. Taylor said, you know, a lot of politicians carry so called hit list. They do it in their minds. They`re kind of man (ph) in rolodexes of people that they figure get them wrong.
That`s what it takes to be a serious and successful politician to a certain degree. I would bet you in the president White House. There`s a similar kind of action going on or at least at the administration with people, more delicately put perhaps. But I think all politicians carry that kind of umbrage taken in offense given by those who opposed them. And I think that Hillary Clinton, as noticed it was said, is the most formidable political animal in the Democratic Party right now.
I don`t think she`s going to defer to her sense of resentment to obscure her political chances. She`s going to get onboard. She`s going to get folk (ph) onboard. She`s going to move forward.
Now, after she gets into office, it maybe that then the nice of this (ph) begin and that the distribution of the Hambridge (ph) begins. But I think until that point, there is no way that that`s going to reside track her from getting her mission in focus. And she is a very focus politician and she has the advantage of Obama and her husband. And the experiences she has had is both first lady and as a formidable candidate against President Obama last time. I think the field is hers for to take in.
SCHULTZ: And well, Goldie, if she comes out strong for universal healthcare that she mend a lot of fences and there`s no doubt that she has a resume, but is that going to be over shadowed by the Clinton dynasty brand, what about that?
TAYLOR: You know, I think she`s got a balance to strike. I think you`re going to find that she comes out stronger on some positions. Maybe single payer is it. It was certainly energized, you know, a great deal debate. You know, but as I said before, you know, we`re all about sort of wanting aspirative (ph) primary. Hillary Clinton is today the candidate, I think, the de facto candidate who could win the nomination.
But, you know, we didn`t know who Barack Obama was this time...
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
TAYLOR: ... you know, back in 2008.
SCHULTZ: And even now (ph).
TAYLOR: And so, you just never really know. But I think Hillary Clinton, as we`ve said, you know, is a strong politician and she has a strong track record. They`re going to look at the last 30 years of her public life and it`s going to be on display. Is she ready for that? I absolutely believe she is.
SCHULTZ: I do too. I mean, what hasn`t she been through? Embattled Former Army General David Petraeus who is popular among Republicans for his counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq is quoted to saying that Hillary would make a tremendous president.
What is that say about her appeal that, doctor, outside the progressive based that she has an appeal to get some independence. What about that?
DYSON: Well, it says, quite bit. It says first of all that she has this kind of bipartisan appeal. It says that the Blue Dog Democrats, those who negotiate on the DLC understand her appeal, but at the same time, progressives realized that she is still the best bet in town, so to speak, the only if you will wagon to which they can hook -- start to which they can hook their wagon.
So, the reality is, Hillary becomes the biggest name in the room. She becomes the best game in town and she`s able to have this kind of bipartisan appeal. And don`t forget the kind of drama beneath the surface, so to speak, because Petraeus of course was what, head of the CIA under President Obama...
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
DYSON: ... and now that somebody who is kind of been, you know, dispelled because of -- or at least dismissed because of his own full pause (ph) in the past...
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
DYSON: ... comes around and circles back around to celebrate Hillary. There is some kind of good feeling that Hillary Clinton must feel in an implicit endorsement by General Petraeus.
SCHULTZ: Well, I think it speaks volumes that Rand Paul, Senator from Kentucky keeps bringing up the Clintons in 1990 in Bill`s activities and allegations and impeachment and everything else. That shows how desperate they are, how nervous they are about the Clintons...
DYSON: Right.
SCHULTZ: ... being in position to move the country forward. Michael Eric Dyson, Goldie Taylor, great to have you with us tonight. Thanks so much.
Coming up, Republicans who planned to destroy the post office are -- well, are licking their chops again. They love those numbers. Bernie Sanders is here to set them straight. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCHULTZ: And in Pretenders tonight, not so sleek, Rick Snyder. The Michigan Governor is kicking off his reelection campaign by doubling down his mistakes. In an interview, Snyder said, he would absolutely sign the Right-To-Work Law again.
Here`s how Snyder`s union-busting policies turned out for the State of Michigan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RICK SNYDER, (R) MICHIGAN: Fundamentally, I authorized the filing of a bankruptcy and Kevyn Orr has filed through and that bankruptcy filing has occurred in federal court.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: Getting workers rights in letting Detroit go bankrupt is in the platform that I want to run on. But this is at the campaign ad I`d make either.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some call him a nerd. But Michigan now calls him the comeback kid. Our governor loves budgets, ignores politics, and brings us results.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHULTZ: The comeback kid, I think not. Most politicians want the public to forget their mistakes. If Rick Snyder thinks he can win by glorifying them, he can keep on pretending.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCHULTZ: Welcome back to the Ed Show. This is a story for the folks who take a shower after work. And believe me, these folks too, they`re hard working Americans.
United States Postal Service continues to suffer financial losses threatening its long term viability just what the Republicans want. The postal service ended 2013 with a $354 million loss. It was the 19th quarter of losses out of the last 21. Now, the financial pinch, the United States Postal Services under is the result of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. Passed of course by Congress in a lame-duck session in 2006 which forces the postal service to prepay retiree healthcare for 75 years into the future in a 10-year window.
In other words, it`s about $6 billion a year on their bottom line that they have to meet for future operations. Who the hell runs our business like that? Republicans have been gunning to nail the post office for a long time. They want it to be forced to the bankruptcy so they can privatize everything they can get their hands on.
On Thursday, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee approved that bipartisan bill which would grant the postal service more operating flexibility and provide relief for some of its workforce related obligations. Meaning, the prepay what I was just talking about. The bill will eventually head to the Senate for, for debate. Committee Chairman Tom Carper of Delaware released a statement reacting to the financial laws in supporting the legislation.
He said, it`s time that the Congress and the administration work together to save the postal service for the long haul.
Here, here, I agree. Postal reform legislation won`t do any good. The agency is still predicting that it will default on another employed benefits payment due at the end of September.
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, he has done everything he can to help enhance and save the postal service. Senator, good to have you with us tonight. You know, I go home to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, lot of resort (ph) down and up in upstate Minnesota, 6,000 people. Saturday morning, the post office is packed. People love their post office. America loves their mail. Why in the world was this bill ever passed and why ever the Democrats try to reverse this whole thing. I know you have, but collectively it should be right on the front burner.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (D) VERMONT: Actually, it`s an issue that it`s going to be discussed in caucus tomorrow and I`m going to do everything I can to make sure that we have legislation which saves tens and tens of thousands of jobs that would otherwise be lost.
Here is the most important point for the viewers to understand. In the first quarter of this fiscal year, in terms of operating profits, the U.S. Postal Service made earned $765 million dollars. In other words, they enjoyed a very healthy profit margin. The problem is, they are operating under unprecedented burden that no other agency of government, no private company has to do, and that is pre-funding 75 years of retiree health benefits in a 10-year period in about $5 billion a year. That is 100 percent of the reason right now as to why postal service is "losing money." Get rid of that onerous burden, postal service will be in reasonably good shape.
SCHULTZ: How could every Democrat in caucus not recognize this? I mean, this should be lack of a better term, a slam dunk to reverse this.
SANDERS: Well, let me give you the good news, Ed. And my legislation has 29 cosponsors right now. I expect we will get more. And these are people who understand that we got to get rid of this onerous and unfair burden, we`ve got to keep the postal service open on Saturdays that in the midst of a terrible recession, terrible economic downturn, you don`t cut tens of thousands of good paying jobs. Our job is to grow middle class jobs, not to cut them. So I think we`re going to have a lot of support in the Democratic caucus. I hope we can pick up some Republican support, but this is a fight I intend to wage in a very strong way.
SCHULTZ: I want the president checking in on this. More veterans are employed by the postal service than any other employer in the country. It would be horrible to a small business if this were to go away even on just Saturdays.
SANDERS: Here`s what -- you`re right...
SCHULTZ: OK, go ahead sir.
SANDERS: You`re right Ed. And this chairman of the Veterans Committee, I appreciate that and your absolutely right. But here`s essentially what the debate is about. Our Republican colleagues, they want to cut Social Security, they want to cut Medicare, they want to cut every government program including the U.S. Postal Service. Some of us believe very strongly that if you give the postal service some flexibility...
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
SANDERS: ... in terms of e-mail, in terms of banking, in terms of being able to wrap packages, give them some flexibility, they will do very, very well. They`re doing well today, they will do better. I do not want to see tens of thousands of jobs lost through this onerous process.
SCHULTZ: And this is all under the umbrella of the Republican mantra to privatize everything they can get their hands on. That`s it.
SANDERS: I think that is true.
SCHULTZ: And I think the Republicans ought to come out and make a statement that they will never touch this money that has been placed in escrow for people`s healthcare in future generations. They will do that because I think they`re going to try to get their myths on that that money down the road sometime.
SANDERS: Look, as you`ve said, the postal service is an enormously popular institution. People like it, respect it, they know that if you live at the end of the dirt road in Vermont, you`re going to get your mail...
SCHULTZ: Yeah.
SANDERS: ... it`s a good thing.
SCHULTZ: Senator, great to have you with us tonight. I appreciate you sticking up for the working folks in the postal service. It`s vital for the country. Thanks so much.
SANDERS: Thank you.
SCHULTZ: That`s the Ed Show. I`m Ed Schultz. Politics Nation with Reverend Al Sharpton starts right now. Good evening Rev.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
END
The Ed Show for Monday, February 10, 2014
Read the transcript to the Monday show