we re all throwing religion. i think that s overreached like a lot of things are today. chris, this is crazy talk. it s crazy talk. and i just want to touch on a couple things that tony said. first of all, this president has celebrated the national day of prayer. he s gone to court to defend it. that s one thing. second of all, he has expanded the office of faith-based initiatives, and he has also expanded his secular base by extending the policy who left taxpayer funding discriminate against people who don t practice that faith they can even not hire people like single moms or gay men who practice things against the church. obama went along with that. he issued an executive order. really deeply of fending his base. he also put stimulus money into churches through the office of faith-based initiatives. the catholic charity said he s
we don t do in fairness to him. the romney campaign is locked in their headquarters saying how do we humanize this guy? how do we make a narrative of his life that comports with the average american? the power point thing doesn t work. so on the personal level, he s been afraid of the mormon thing because it s the mormons. but people who know him well and who know about his work as a leader in the mormon church, wherein fact he had to get involved with the emotions of people, it s a very starring thing. but they should have thought of that by now. i don t know that it s too late. i think that s an important message. that s the core of who he is. is he still the favorite? yes. yes. thank you. a little slower there. up next, what kind of president has barack obama been in his
first three years of office? talking about an article just out. a big thing on the president. it s very important for people to catch up on the depth of this guy s administration. this is hardball on msnbc. even ragu users chose prego. prego?! but i ve been buying ragu for years. [ thinking ] i wonder what other questionable choices i ve made? [ 80s dance music plays ] [ sighs ] [ male announcer ] choose taste. choose prego. your finances can t manage themselves. but that doesn t mean they won t try. bring all your finances together
also an msnbc political analyst. and susan page, a great bureau chief of usa today. let s talk about this thing that s developed. even in a photo op with the italian prime minister late this afternoon, president obama couldn t escape questions about this contraceptive issue and religious organizations. let s listen to what happened. thank you, guys. come on, guys. come on, guys. shortly afterwards, harry reid tried to defuse the issue again. let s listen. this debate that s going on dealing this issue of contraception is a rule that hasn t even been made final yet. there s no final rule. there s not a rule. everybody should calm down. let s see what transpires. boy, those are desperate.
three years in office. he joins us here tonight. finally dual explosions. one against romney and the other against the birth control ruling, even among democrats themselves. we start with that story. john heilemann, national affairs editor for new york magazine. and susan page, a great bureau chief. let s talk about this thing that s developed. late this afternoon, president obama couldn t escape questions about this contraceptive issue and religious organizations. let s listen to what happened. come on, guys. shortly afterward, harry reid tried to diffuse the issue again. let s listen. this debate that s going on