Transcripts For CURRENT The War Room 20130812 : vimarsana.co

Alleviate overcrowded prisons and address racism in the Justice System. As we come together, we need to discuss although incarceration has a significant role to play in our Justice System, it can be ineffective and unsustainable. It poses a significant uneconomic burden. It comes with human and moral costs that are impossible to calculate. Michael the attorney general. The defendants with drug charges but no ties to large scale drugs organizations will be able to hold draconian mandatory minimum sentences. Eric holder comes after one month after 1,000 inmates in california initiated a Hunger Strike to protest conditions there. They said, quote, overcrowded prison versus been increasingly president bush. In 1978 the u. S. Held over just 300,000 prisoners. In 2009 we reached a high of 716 million prisoners. That is an 800 increase. Crime has not increased by prison incarceration has. The u. S. Holds 25 of the worlds prisoners even though we only have 5 of the worlds population. This morning in his speech to the American Bar Association the attorney general holder acknowledged the racial prejudice inherit into the american Justice System. Lets be honest, it has had an stabilizing affect on communities largely poor and of color. And applied inappropriately theyre ultimately counterproductive. Michael racism in the Justice System is being talked about from the west coast to the east coast. This morning a federal judge ruled new yorks stop and Frisk Program violates the Constitutional Rights of minorities. 600 people were stopped in 2011, almost 90 stopped in 2012 were africanamerican or latino. The u. S. District court did not eliminate the Controversial Program but insisted on broad reform to protect against this type of discrimination. They said the citys highest officials have turned a blind eye to the evidence of the frisk and stop i in a racial manner now, we get an unique and indepth perspective on all of this with julian bond, hes a friend of the war room, a friend of mine. He joins us today from pensacola, florida, julian, as always thank you for joining us on the show. Im very pleased to be here. Thanks for having me. Michael always. Since weve been doing this series, since weve been talking about race so much, you have been a constant refrain, your voice has, and we appreciate it. Lets start with new york. New yorks mayor Michael Bloomberg said if this decision were to stand it would make the city and the whole country a more dangerous place. What are your thoughts on what mayor bloomberg had to say. I think this is nonsense, and mayor bloomberg knows better. He has been tied to this policy, he has promoted it, defended it, and it just isnt working. It harasses black men and hispanic men on the street. All of the information we know about it knows that its not working. Why he clings to it in this way i have no idea. But even if he does appeal it im sure another court will say the same thing this judge has done and well be rid of this stain of new york city and imagine that mayor bloomberg would say it will affect the whole country if it goes away. Thats just absolute nonsense. Michael thats absolute new york centricity. The world is new york, and Everything Else is just. Arent you from new york, michael . Michael i cant hear you. I cant hear anything that youre saying. But lets take his side for one moment. He said the crime that has gone down in new york has largely benefited the latino and black communities in new york. What do you say to that when he and commission ray kelly face you with those numbers . Thats absolutely true. The crime going down does benefit black and hispanic communities because theyre the communities that are affected by crime. But to say that the stop and frisk policies are responsible for the decrease in crime are another thing all together. There is no evidence that these things are connected. There is no evidence that stopping black men on the street for no reason other than their black that it decreases crime. The two things dont go together. Its silly. Michael if there was racial profiling 90 of people stopped are black, its largely clear. In july an unarmed africanamerican man was shot in pensacola, florida. He was shot in his very own driveway. They thought he was a burglar. They said it was due to, quote, officer anxiety. What does this say that men of color risk every day in this country. Just because it happened in pensacola, where im now, doesnt mean that it doesnt happen in other places. Its a sad commentary on our Police Forces no matter where they are. This is such a frightening thing to have happen. Imagine this, youre sitting in your car, in your driveway in front of your house. You reach down to get a cigarette and youre accosted by three policemen. They tell you to stand up, raise your hands, and you do that as eyewitness testifies. But they fire on you. Two of the three shoot at you 15 times. Youre shot once in the leg. A friend of mine should be fired for this behavior. Not only because they behaved in an awful way, but because theyre poor shots. They fired 15 times and he was only shot once. Michael thats another reason not to smoke. I would never reach for a cigarette. Were making light of something that is really serious. It is very serious. Michael yes, and i think its important that we talk about these cases. Its florida, the focus of this is not about the state of florida. Its about the country, and Police Forces who are not showing restraint, and this is again profiling. Its no different than the stop and frisk. I want to circle back to eric holder. What were your initial renouncements on hireactionson n systems. It will have a tremendous affect on prison systems. Youre going to see the numbers decrease. Its not going to go away. Whatever fears people have about this should be abandoned, but this is a great step forward for the United States to get rid of these mandatory minimum sentences which is one of the affects that general holder said today. Its just a wonderful thing to have occur. Its a great idea. A wonderful thing to have happen, and im sure people all over the country are congratulating him. You know, i think this is a legacy by him. He was under such attack by idiotic people earlier this year that had it been me i would have gone away, but he stood his ground. He stood up. He did the right thing, and hes doing the right thing today. Michael i dont believe for a second that you would have gone away, either, if it had been you, but youre right, he has weathered a storm, and this is an important part of what he wants to be remembered for. I want to turn to something that sickened me, julian. Nobody died, but these are the stories that are upsetting. Over the weekend, a rodeo clown donned an obama mask at the Missouri State fair. They asked if the audience wanted to see obama run down by a bull. Those are the types of systemic subtle racism. What happened in missouri julian, was overtly racist. When did that become okay . When did it start up again or did it not stop . It has never been okay, but it started when barack obama was elected president of the United States. And when he was elected he committed a serious crime of being president while black. And for some people in this country luckily a minority, only a few nit wits and idiots, they have done every word and deed to treat him as if he is he were not a decent person. Even people who are allegedly respectful like donald trump. Why is he on tv today . Why is he considered a serious figure . This guy is a laughing stock. But still this hatred of obama goes on. If you think it doesnt have anything to do with his race, youre not thinking at all. Michael we dont have to address that. Its obviously because of his race. Julian, youve been on this program. Weve done our march goes on series, part of what we want to do in calling the march goes on is to see how the Younger Generation takes it forward. Your grandchildren, julian bond, interviewed you about your participates in the civil rights program. Let me ask you a question, jacob, what do you think is your responsibility to maintain freedom in the world . What is it that you have to do . I think what i need to do is i need to stand up for what i believe in and actually do what i feel is right, not just say things are wrong because saying things isnt going to get anything done unless you do what you say. What about you . I feel that my responsibility is to stand up for what i believe in. If i feel that something could change, to do what i can to do it. Michael so julian, you need a little work as an interviewer. I can talk to you about that off the air, but your grandchildren are really impressive. Our march goes on series is coming to a close. As we go off the air what words of advice do you have on how to keep the fight of civil rights alive or did your grandchildren sum it up right there . Its more than that. They have to learn what happened yesterday and the day before that, and whether it was effective or not, or if so, why so. They have to find out how they can become involved and continuing to fight the good fight, the struggles of yesterday, and as were approaching the an vary of the march on washington we have to wonder if the goals of the march on washington were met over the past 50 years. The answer to that is no, they were not. We need people not only as young as my grandchildren, theyre great kids, werent they . Not only kids as young as my grandchildren, but people as old as you and i are. We need to put our shoulders to the wheel, ge make sure the figt gets done. Michael i dont know what you meant by people as old as you and i, but thank you for coming. I really appreciate it. Im looking at you, john boehner, politicians are on summer break, and what better place than des moines, really . Donnie fowler and my good friend Ben Mankiewicz will collectively shape their views on that with me. Theyll also share them. And ro khama getting ready for the Silicon Valley house seat. And whether vacationing or campaigning, a book that every lawmaker should have on their Summer Reading list, a dream foreclosed. Ill talk to the author about the people she met and the courageous action they have taken to fight the big bank. Were just Getting Started in the war room. Did anyone tell the pilgrims they should selfdeport . No, they said make us a turkey and make it fast. laughter . She gets the comedians laughing. Thats the best thats hilarious. And the thinkers thinking. Okay, so there is wiggle room in the Ten Commandments is what youre telling me. Shes joy behar. Ya, i consider you jewtalian. Okay, whatever you want. Who plays kafka . Who saw kafka . Who ever saw kafka . laughter . Asking the tough questions. Chris brown, i mean you wouldnt let one of your daughters go out with him. Absolutely not. You would rather deal with ahmadinejad then me . Absolutely singing i take lipitor, thats it. Are you improving your lips . laughter . When shes talking, you never know where the conversation is going to go. It looks like Anthony Wiener is throwing his hat in the ring. His what in the ring . His hat. Always outspoken, joy behar. And the best part is that current will let me say anything. What the hell were they thinking . Only on current tv. Michael the House Financial Service committees is one of the most powerful committees in washington around overseas the entire economy from stocks and bonds to the banks. They all fall under its jurisdictions. They are known as the Cash Committee. In the First Six Months of this Year Committee members received 9. 4 million in donations, more than any other committee by far. Not surprisingly a seat on the Cash Committee is highly sought after. Because its of popularity the committee has grown in size forcing the installation of four tiered rose of seats in the Rayburn House Office building. The report from the New York Times shows freshmen on the committee are cashing in, bringing in large donations from the financial industry for exchange legislation favorable to the financial industry, shocking. Andy barr collecting more than 115,000 donations from banks, Credit Unions and Insurance Companies this year along. What does wall street get for all these greased palms . Representative barr, the distinguished gentleman from kentucky proposed legislation to elimination regulation on banks promised tax breaks on Credit Unions and proposed roll back of frank dodd regular rations. Quote, it is almost like investing in a firstround draft pick for the nba, the nfl, ill add nhl although he didnt, and theyre hopeful for a return. Its hard to think that money flows freely to washington, but those responsible for regulating the financial industry are the once most susceptible to the washington lobbying. Joining us now to talk about all of todays political goings on, two of our favorite, donnie fowler, Democratic Political strategist, and we had to build a new tier because everybody wanted to be on your economy, and Ben Mankiewicz, thank you for being with us. The game has changed so much. A freshman has this kind of power. What has happened that allows the freshman congressmen to wield this kind of influence. We see more stories about sex than outright robbery in congress. But what youre buying when youre a lobbyist in d. C. Is time and access. 24 hours a day, especially a freshman who faces the toughest selection theyll ever are going to face, their first election. They need money, so the people who had money, which tend to be wealthy corporate interests in this country, will pay for a dinner, breakfast, reception. They get access to that new congressman who is still learning, and they simply say, congressman, here is our side of the thing. The problem with that is not that they dont have a right to tell their story. The problem is people who dont have money cant pay for those dinners, cant pay for 20 lobbyists, and therefore dont get to tell their side of the story. This is what is happening in washington. It is an investment, and the unnamed lobbyist is right. Its corrupting our system, not in a bribery way, but it has corrupted our system. Michael money is not going to come out of washington completely, but it can be done incrementally . Listening to donnie it sounds like this is continue to go pollute. I was floored by this story. I was really struck by it, too. Again, when donnie said you cantyou dont bribe somebody, and you dont bribe somebody overnight, and there are limits to what the pacs can give each member, but this guy raised 150,000 in six months. And 5,000 from a pac might not do it, but 150,000 all from the same industry, that does do it. I get that its not direct bribery, im going to take to you breakfast and youre going to do this, but you give somebody 150,000 in six months, theyre going to do whatever they wanted you to do. Michael all they would have to do is take me to breakfast and id do when they wanted. Donnie, the three of us are going to hang out and talk politics, my favorite thing to do. Iowa. You know, we talk about iowa now. But Rick Santorum was back there again this weekend. Does he believe he has a chance . Do you believe he has a chance . I believe he has a chance in iowa. He won it in 2008. Iowa has a few thousand voters who vote in each partys caucus, and iowa is a retail politics state. Its a purest form of grassroots politics. If you are there every month for four years you literally have met everybody who will caucus in the Republican Party or Democratic Party meetings. Michael getting there early is an important thing. Ben, there is Iowa Democratic news. Vice President Biden announced a trip this fall. How does the conversation go when joe tells hillary he wants to run for president . I dont think it will go well. I really hope that joe biden has people around him who will let him know that he has ended the distinguished career at the near the pinnacle, and he should shake everybodys hands and go out a winner. I dont want to see joe biden win because i dont sense in anyway, shape or form that america is ready to elect him president. I dont think it has dramatically changed. I dont think eight years with a president who is only popular with 90 of the people who voted for him the first time, and being Vice President puts him in a position to be pallettible to enough americans to make a difference. I hope he bows out graciously. Run for her Vice President. V. P. For life. Michael Julian Castro is going from san antonio to iowa as well. I suspect hes campaigning for Vice President himself right now. Donnie, the war on obamacare just goes on and on. Lets listen to what Reince Priebus had to say. So mr. President , if you want to shut the government down because you want to continue to fund this monstrosity that you admitted is half broken, then go ahead. The fact that it is on the Republican Party i think its been from the Democratic Party it might not be adopting, i dont know why youre adopting that spin. Michael is anybody going to believe if this government shuts down that its not the fault of the republicans. The president is begging the republicans to go down this run. This is a nowin position for the Justice System<\/a>. As we come together, we need to discuss although incarceration has a significant role to play in our Justice System<\/a>, it can be ineffective and unsustainable. It poses a significant uneconomic burden. It comes with human and moral costs that are impossible to calculate. Michael the attorney general. The defendants with drug charges but no ties to large scale drugs organizations will be able to hold draconian mandatory minimum sentences. Eric holder comes after one month after 1,000 inmates in california initiated a Hunger Strike<\/a> to protest conditions there. They said, quote, overcrowded prison versus been increasingly president bush. In 1978 the u. S. Held over just 300,000 prisoners. In 2009 we reached a high of 716 million prisoners. That is an 800 increase. Crime has not increased by prison incarceration has. The u. S. Holds 25 of the worlds prisoners even though we only have 5 of the worlds population. This morning in his speech to the American Bar Association<\/a> the attorney general holder acknowledged the racial prejudice inherit into the american Justice System<\/a>. Lets be honest, it has had an stabilizing affect on communities largely poor and of color. And applied inappropriately theyre ultimately counterproductive. Michael racism in the Justice System<\/a> is being talked about from the west coast to the east coast. This morning a federal judge ruled new yorks stop and Frisk Program<\/a> violates the Constitutional Rights<\/a> of minorities. 600 people were stopped in 2011, almost 90 stopped in 2012 were africanamerican or latino. The u. S. District court did not eliminate the Controversial Program<\/a> but insisted on broad reform to protect against this type of discrimination. They said the citys highest officials have turned a blind eye to the evidence of the frisk and stop i in a racial manner now, we get an unique and indepth perspective on all of this with julian bond, hes a friend of the war room, a friend of mine. He joins us today from pensacola, florida, julian, as always thank you for joining us on the show. Im very pleased to be here. Thanks for having me. Michael always. Since weve been doing this series, since weve been talking about race so much, you have been a constant refrain, your voice has, and we appreciate it. Lets start with new york. New yorks mayor Michael Bloomberg<\/a> said if this decision were to stand it would make the city and the whole country a more dangerous place. What are your thoughts on what mayor bloomberg had to say. I think this is nonsense, and mayor bloomberg knows better. He has been tied to this policy, he has promoted it, defended it, and it just isnt working. It harasses black men and hispanic men on the street. All of the information we know about it knows that its not working. Why he clings to it in this way i have no idea. But even if he does appeal it im sure another court will say the same thing this judge has done and well be rid of this stain of new york city and imagine that mayor bloomberg would say it will affect the whole country if it goes away. Thats just absolute nonsense. Michael thats absolute new york centricity. The world is new york, and Everything Else<\/a> is just. Arent you from new york, michael . Michael i cant hear you. I cant hear anything that youre saying. But lets take his side for one moment. He said the crime that has gone down in new york has largely benefited the latino and black communities in new york. What do you say to that when he and commission ray kelly face you with those numbers . Thats absolutely true. The crime going down does benefit black and hispanic communities because theyre the communities that are affected by crime. But to say that the stop and frisk policies are responsible for the decrease in crime are another thing all together. There is no evidence that these things are connected. There is no evidence that stopping black men on the street for no reason other than their black that it decreases crime. The two things dont go together. Its silly. Michael if there was racial profiling 90 of people stopped are black, its largely clear. In july an unarmed africanamerican man was shot in pensacola, florida. He was shot in his very own driveway. They thought he was a burglar. They said it was due to, quote, officer anxiety. What does this say that men of color risk every day in this country. Just because it happened in pensacola, where im now, doesnt mean that it doesnt happen in other places. Its a sad commentary on our Police Forces<\/a> no matter where they are. This is such a frightening thing to have happen. Imagine this, youre sitting in your car, in your driveway in front of your house. You reach down to get a cigarette and youre accosted by three policemen. They tell you to stand up, raise your hands, and you do that as eyewitness testifies. But they fire on you. Two of the three shoot at you 15 times. Youre shot once in the leg. A friend of mine should be fired for this behavior. Not only because they behaved in an awful way, but because theyre poor shots. They fired 15 times and he was only shot once. Michael thats another reason not to smoke. I would never reach for a cigarette. Were making light of something that is really serious. It is very serious. Michael yes, and i think its important that we talk about these cases. Its florida, the focus of this is not about the state of florida. Its about the country, and Police Forces<\/a> who are not showing restraint, and this is again profiling. Its no different than the stop and frisk. I want to circle back to eric holder. What were your initial renouncements on hireactionson n systems. It will have a tremendous affect on prison systems. Youre going to see the numbers decrease. Its not going to go away. Whatever fears people have about this should be abandoned, but this is a great step forward for the United States<\/a> to get rid of these mandatory minimum sentences which is one of the affects that general holder said today. Its just a wonderful thing to have occur. Its a great idea. A wonderful thing to have happen, and im sure people all over the country are congratulating him. You know, i think this is a legacy by him. He was under such attack by idiotic people earlier this year that had it been me i would have gone away, but he stood his ground. He stood up. He did the right thing, and hes doing the right thing today. Michael i dont believe for a second that you would have gone away, either, if it had been you, but youre right, he has weathered a storm, and this is an important part of what he wants to be remembered for. I want to turn to something that sickened me, julian. Nobody died, but these are the stories that are upsetting. Over the weekend, a rodeo clown donned an obama mask at the Missouri State<\/a> fair. They asked if the audience wanted to see obama run down by a bull. Those are the types of systemic subtle racism. What happened in missouri julian, was overtly racist. When did that become okay . When did it start up again or did it not stop . It has never been okay, but it started when barack obama was elected president of the United States<\/a>. And when he was elected he committed a serious crime of being president while black. And for some people in this country luckily a minority, only a few nit wits and idiots, they have done every word and deed to treat him as if he is he were not a decent person. Even people who are allegedly respectful like donald trump. Why is he on tv today . Why is he considered a serious figure . This guy is a laughing stock. But still this hatred of obama goes on. If you think it doesnt have anything to do with his race, youre not thinking at all. Michael we dont have to address that. Its obviously because of his race. Julian, youve been on this program. Weve done our march goes on series, part of what we want to do in calling the march goes on is to see how the Younger Generation<\/a> takes it forward. Your grandchildren, julian bond, interviewed you about your participates in the civil rights program. Let me ask you a question, jacob, what do you think is your responsibility to maintain freedom in the world . What is it that you have to do . I think what i need to do is i need to stand up for what i believe in and actually do what i feel is right, not just say things are wrong because saying things isnt going to get anything done unless you do what you say. What about you . I feel that my responsibility is to stand up for what i believe in. If i feel that something could change, to do what i can to do it. Michael so julian, you need a little work as an interviewer. I can talk to you about that off the air, but your grandchildren are really impressive. Our march goes on series is coming to a close. As we go off the air what words of advice do you have on how to keep the fight of civil rights alive or did your grandchildren sum it up right there . Its more than that. They have to learn what happened yesterday and the day before that, and whether it was effective or not, or if so, why so. They have to find out how they can become involved and continuing to fight the good fight, the struggles of yesterday, and as were approaching the an vary of the march on washington we have to wonder if the goals of the march on washington were met over the past 50 years. The answer to that is no, they were not. We need people not only as young as my grandchildren, theyre great kids, werent they . Not only kids as young as my grandchildren, but people as old as you and i are. We need to put our shoulders to the wheel, ge make sure the figt gets done. Michael i dont know what you meant by people as old as you and i, but thank you for coming. I really appreciate it. Im looking at you, john boehner, politicians are on summer break, and what better place than des moines, really . Donnie fowler and my good friend Ben Mankiewicz<\/a> will collectively shape their views on that with me. Theyll also share them. And ro khama getting ready for the Silicon Valley<\/a> house seat. And whether vacationing or campaigning, a book that every lawmaker should have on their Summer Reading<\/a> list, a dream foreclosed. Ill talk to the author about the people she met and the courageous action they have taken to fight the big bank. Were just Getting Started<\/a> in the war room. Did anyone tell the pilgrims they should selfdeport . No, they said make us a turkey and make it fast. laughter . She gets the comedians laughing. Thats the best thats hilarious. And the thinkers thinking. Okay, so there is wiggle room in the Ten Commandments<\/a> is what youre telling me. Shes joy behar. Ya, i consider you jewtalian. Okay, whatever you want. Who plays kafka . Who saw kafka . Who ever saw kafka . laughter . Asking the tough questions. Chris brown, i mean you wouldnt let one of your daughters go out with him. Absolutely not. You would rather deal with ahmadinejad then me . Absolutely singing i take lipitor, thats it. Are you improving your lips . laughter . When shes talking, you never know where the conversation is going to go. It looks like Anthony Wiener<\/a> is throwing his hat in the ring. His what in the ring . His hat. Always outspoken, joy behar. And the best part is that current will let me say anything. What the hell were they thinking . Only on current tv. Michael the House Financial Service<\/a> committees is one of the most powerful committees in washington around overseas the entire economy from stocks and bonds to the banks. They all fall under its jurisdictions. They are known as the Cash Committee<\/a>. In the First Six Months<\/a> of this Year Committee<\/a> members received 9. 4 million in donations, more than any other committee by far. Not surprisingly a seat on the Cash Committee<\/a> is highly sought after. Because its of popularity the committee has grown in size forcing the installation of four tiered rose of seats in the Rayburn House Office<\/a> building. The report from the New York Times<\/a> shows freshmen on the committee are cashing in, bringing in large donations from the financial industry for exchange legislation favorable to the financial industry, shocking. Andy barr collecting more than 115,000 donations from banks, Credit Unions<\/a> and Insurance Companies<\/a> this year along. What does wall street get for all these greased palms . Representative barr, the distinguished gentleman from kentucky proposed legislation to elimination regulation on banks promised tax breaks on Credit Unions<\/a> and proposed roll back of frank dodd regular rations. Quote, it is almost like investing in a firstround draft pick for the nba, the nfl, ill add nhl although he didnt, and theyre hopeful for a return. Its hard to think that money flows freely to washington, but those responsible for regulating the financial industry are the once most susceptible to the washington lobbying. Joining us now to talk about all of todays political goings on, two of our favorite, donnie fowler, Democratic Political<\/a> strategist, and we had to build a new tier because everybody wanted to be on your economy, and Ben Mankiewicz<\/a>, thank you for being with us. The game has changed so much. A freshman has this kind of power. What has happened that allows the freshman congressmen to wield this kind of influence. We see more stories about sex than outright robbery in congress. But what youre buying when youre a lobbyist in d. C. Is time and access. 24 hours a day, especially a freshman who faces the toughest selection theyll ever are going to face, their first election. They need money, so the people who had money, which tend to be wealthy corporate interests in this country, will pay for a dinner, breakfast, reception. They get access to that new congressman who is still learning, and they simply say, congressman, here is our side of the thing. The problem with that is not that they dont have a right to tell their story. The problem is people who dont have money cant pay for those dinners, cant pay for 20 lobbyists, and therefore dont get to tell their side of the story. This is what is happening in washington. It is an investment, and the unnamed lobbyist is right. Its corrupting our system, not in a bribery way, but it has corrupted our system. Michael money is not going to come out of washington completely, but it can be done incrementally . Listening to donnie it sounds like this is continue to go pollute. I was floored by this story. I was really struck by it, too. Again, when donnie said you cantyou dont bribe somebody, and you dont bribe somebody overnight, and there are limits to what the pacs can give each member, but this guy raised 150,000 in six months. And 5,000 from a pac might not do it, but 150,000 all from the same industry, that does do it. I get that its not direct bribery, im going to take to you breakfast and youre going to do this, but you give somebody 150,000 in six months, theyre going to do whatever they wanted you to do. Michael all they would have to do is take me to breakfast and id do when they wanted. Donnie, the three of us are going to hang out and talk politics, my favorite thing to do. Iowa. You know, we talk about iowa now. But Rick Santorum<\/a> was back there again this weekend. Does he believe he has a chance . Do you believe he has a chance . I believe he has a chance in iowa. He won it in 2008. Iowa has a few thousand voters who vote in each partys caucus, and iowa is a retail politics state. Its a purest form of grassroots politics. If you are there every month for four years you literally have met everybody who will caucus in the Republican Party<\/a> or Democratic Party<\/a> meetings. Michael getting there early is an important thing. Ben, there is Iowa Democratic<\/a> news. Vice President Biden<\/a> announced a trip this fall. How does the conversation go when joe tells hillary he wants to run for president . I dont think it will go well. I really hope that joe biden has people around him who will let him know that he has ended the distinguished career at the near the pinnacle, and he should shake everybodys hands and go out a winner. I dont want to see joe biden win because i dont sense in anyway, shape or form that america is ready to elect him president. I dont think it has dramatically changed. I dont think eight years with a president who is only popular with 90 of the people who voted for him the first time, and being Vice President<\/a> puts him in a position to be pallettible to enough americans to make a difference. I hope he bows out graciously. Run for her Vice President<\/a>. V. P. For life. Michael Julian Castro<\/a> is going from san antonio to iowa as well. I suspect hes campaigning for Vice President<\/a> himself right now. Donnie, the war on obamacare just goes on and on. Lets listen to what Reince Priebus<\/a> had to say. So mr. President , if you want to shut the government down because you want to continue to fund this monstrosity that you admitted is half broken, then go ahead. The fact that it is on the Republican Party<\/a> i think its been from the Democratic Party<\/a> it might not be adopting, i dont know why youre adopting that spin. Michael is anybody going to believe if this government shuts down that its not the fault of the republicans. The president is begging the republicans to go down this run. This is a nowin position for the Republican Party<\/a> but for the rabid base that they do the politicking from. The president is saying, please do this. Shut down the government. Take heal care away from kids, seniors and take all the good things away from obamacare and shut the government down while youre doing t go ahead. Michael its one of those situations where i cant see it being anything but a problem for the republicans. But again, they put themselves in places like that all the time. Ben, we talked earlier in the show about this missouri rodeo clown who wore a president obama mask. How did this happen, and why do americans think this is okay . I legitimately suspect that many people there who were hooting and hollering, whooping it up, let alone who put on the mask, let alone the guy who said who wants to run down president obama dow with a bull. They would look at you legitimately in the eye and answer if asked if they were racist no. They think its just good fun, and they dont even get sort of the racial stereotypes. At the bea the bare minimum, its hostile. Michael its hard to say that theyre not racist. As a member of the missouri rodeo association, i dont think anybody was watching. Michael they blew it. Youre from the south. Is it really two different countries. American by birth and southern by the grace of god. Ill go to my grave with that bumper sticker. But this entire country has a history of racism. First of all, missouri is not the south. Michael well, dont tell them that. Half the state thinks they are. This whole country has a history of racism in different ways and in different degrees. The south is not unique in having it. The south did have slavery, but so did the rest of the country. I will say this, the most segregated racially divided Democratic Party<\/a> ive ever been a part of working in 15 states over 25 years was the northeast. And the most segregated city while involved in a president ial campaign was the midwest. Im not accusing racism, but. Michael no, i understand, they always seem to come from one place. Ben mankiewicz, thank you for being on the show. Donnie fowler, i should stop and say youve been on this show since before i was on this show. Its always a pleasure to sit next to you. Were always smarter about politics once you leave. Thank you very much. Great to be here. Michael well look at a new book called a dream foreclosed. A group of homeowners who have taken on big banks. The congresser holding the seat from Silicon Valley<\/a> is in for a big fight. Stick around. Documentaries that take you inside the headlines, way inside. vo from the underworld, to the world of privilege. Everyone in Michael Jacksons<\/a> life was out to use him. Documentaries that are real, gripping, current. If you believe in states rights but still support the drug war you must be high. Viewpoint digs deep into the issues of the day. Do you think there is any chance well ever hear the president even say the word carbon tax . With an opened mind. Has the time finally come for real Immigration Reform<\/a> . And a distinctly satirical point of view. But you mentioned great leadership so i want to talk about donald rumsfeld. laughter cutting throught the clutter of todays top stories. This is the savior of the Republican Party<\/a> . I mean really . With a unique perspective. Teddy rosevelt was a weak asmatic kid who never played sports until he was a grown up. laughter . And lots of fancy buzz words. Family values, speding, liberty, economic freedom, hardworking moms, crushing debt, cute little puppies. If Wayne Lapierre<\/a> can make up stuff that sounds logical while making no sense. Hey, so can i. Once again friends, this is live tv and sometimes these things happen. Watch the show. Only on current tv. Michael welcome back to the war room. Im michael shure. Its shaping up to be one of the most interesting intraparty races this cycle, at least on the democratic side. Congressman mike honda has represented california and Silicon Valley<\/a> for the last 12 years, and highways won by landslides nearly every time. Honda has already been endorsed by several democratic juggernauts including barack obama, nancy pelosi, and San Francisco<\/a> mayor ed lee. At first glass hondas seat has been far from vulnerable, but that has not stopped ro khanna from challenging him in washington. Ro khanna has served bomb administration as Deputy Assistant<\/a> secretary in the department of commerce, and he has already raised 1. 74 million, almost over four times as much as honda. He has endorsements from local tech giants like are a hoo ceo marissa mayer, facebook ceo sheryl sandberg, and napster creator and former facebook president sean parker and many others. In other words, he has sill van valleys elite on his side. Joining us now to discuss the future of sill von valley politics is ro khanna. Thank you for joining us. He has endorsed you. Lets talk about what you want to talk about, then, and tell me why do you why you think you would be a better congressman than mike honda. When mike honda went to washington he had good intentions and he wanted to get things done. But good people can get caught up in a bad system, and special interests are dominating washington. Thats why ive taken a pledge not to take any pac money, not to take any lobbyist money, bus thats what is going to break the gridlock in congress and get people to focus more on their communities to have the economic agenda to get things done youve raised a lot of money, youve raised 1. 7 million to run from congress. And its a intraparty race. Thats not where the democrats are right now. Why did you choose this race . Why not wait for retirement. I cant tell you to move to another district but why did you pick this race . First of all i think competition is what makes democracy great. No person is entitled to a seat. Thats the foundation of our democracy. Thomas jefferson said lets have a new constitution every 12 15 o 20 years, and we can barely get new members of congress. I think competition will benefit the district. And secondly, it is the heart of Economic Growth<\/a> and the heart of innovation, and congress has not had a strategy to think about what we need to do to prepare young people for the jobs of the 21st century. How were going to be competitive, create jobs in this area, and we need to take this to washington. Michael when you say that, it does. I think all 435 members think their districts are the most fascinating complex districts, i appreciate you saying that, and i wouldnt argue, Silicon Valley<\/a> is an unique place. But you talk about raising all this money. I want to get back to the money for a second. You said youre not going to do it from lobbyists but isnt the tech sector a special interest in itself, and all this money, doesnt that make it a special interest . Certainly, but the money comes from a broad base of support. Its a message that congress is broken, and we want people who are not going to take the special interests, and weve had support from educators, from asian americans, from working families, from people in the technology sector, and theyre not corporate pacs. Its not that google or Facebook Pacs<\/a> are supporting us. Theyre actually supporting my opponents. But the people supporting us are so frustrated with how broken washington is. Theyre saying they need to do something to change the culture in washington. You Silicon Valley<\/a> being frustrated that the people in washington cant get it right. Michael i would agree with that. People are frustrated, and money people who are frustrated tend to have influence to make more changes. Thats just the way it is. But i keep getting back to this intraparty race and what motivated you. You ran against tom lantos at one point, now youre running against mike honda. What is it about california and the primary process that sort of motivates you to go at these people . Mike honda, whatever we think of him, i assume he has been your congressman before, and as youre in his district. He is a progressive. He is been right there on Nano Technology<\/a> because thats who he represents, what would you do differently from mike honda if you got there. First of all its old politics to say that you have to run against someone. Were looking at a mission. We want to help people in the direct figure out how to get prepared for the 21st century. We have a situation in Silicon Valley<\/a>. Were only one in seven people where our engineers are women. We need policies that are going to help more young women to get into science, technology and Silicon Valley<\/a>. We have a situation where 120,000 Computer Science<\/a> graduates are in need in this country. We need to figure out how to teach programming in school to give people those skills. We have a situation where we still have a tax code from the 1960s that has incentivized companies to go overseas. I would like to debate what are the reforms of the tax policies and lets have a discussion on the issues. What has made our politics so stale is the lack of competition. You think the innovation of Silicon Valley<\/a> if we just had google a as a company. Dont compete against google. Google hasnt had a scandal. Let google be there for 15 years. Until google has a scandal dont compete. We wont have innovation. Competition drives innovation, and as democrats we shouldnt highwe shouldnt shy away from. Michael i do hear that. Mike honda is on the professional congressional caucus. Do you see yourself if you win this race trying to get into that caucus. People get at that at different angles. What kind of democrat are you . I say nonflippantly that im a no nonsense democrat. What can pass, how can you work across the aisle to get things done. Not just have gridlock, and not just have political slogan. A lot of times people will say things in washington. They know there is no chance of passing just to sound good. Michael repealing obamacare 40 times. An im goingpeople know im on planned parenthood, im strong believer of a womans right to choose. I came out for gay marriage ten years ago. Im a strong believer of strong gun safety legislation and strong believe that are Global Warming<\/a> is an extensio extensiol threat, and its not just ideals but delivery. Michael do you think you would go with the progressive caucus in congress . It would be highly premature for me to speculate what caucus and what committees and measure the greats before weve even had the first debate. Michael a good way to put it. Ro khanna, the people of Silicon Valley<\/a> will clearly have a smart debate next fall. Ro khanna. Coming up, the author of a dream foreclosed. Well look at the impact of fo foreclosure on African American<\/a> communities. Stay with us. Alright, in 15 minutes were going to do the young turks. I think the number one thing that viewers like about the young turks is that were honest. They know that im not bsing them with some hidden agenda, actually supporting one party or the other. When the democrats are wrong, they know that im going to be the first one to call them out. They can question whether im right, but i think that the audience gets that this guy, to the best of his ability, is trying to look out for us. Michael on april 11, 1968, one week after dr. Martin luther king jr. Was assassinated in memphis, tennessee, president Lyndon B Johnson<\/a> signed the Fair Housing Act<\/a> of 1968. It was the last piece of legislation of the civil rights era. It out lawed discrimination in rent and sales of home. He launched the freedom move to bring it to northern cities. They protested the cities entrenched in housing segregation. By 1968 the Fair Housing Act<\/a> a had languished on the floor for two years. After Martin Luther<\/a> king jr. s murder president johnson pushed the law through. I do not exaggerate when i say the proudest moments of my presidency have been times such as this when i have signed into law the promises of a century. Michael the promises of a century. Nearly 50 years later the promise of fair housing still has not been fulfilled. Since the start of the financial crisis in 2007 10 Million People<\/a> have lost their homes due to foreclosure. 10 Million People<\/a>. Thats the population o of new york, philadelphia, and washington, d. C. Think about that. While this wave of foreclosure has affected all americans. Black homeowners are twice as likely to be forced from their homes as their white counterparts proving once again the march still goes on. Joining us from new york to discuss todays struggle for fair housing is laura gottesdiender, author of a dream foreclosed black america and the fight for a place to call home. Laura, welcome inside the war room. Thanks so much for having me. Michael this foreclosure crisis was not an accident. Banks targeted people of color for subprime loans and then foreclosured in wide stretches. Tell us how that happened. I would be happy to. You know, im glad that you opened with the fact that the Fair Housing Act<\/a> was passed in 1968, and that was followed by the fair lending act of 77. But the fact of the matter is that housing discrimination is very much alive and well in the United States<\/a>. It has been incredibly well documented how Racial Discrimination<\/a> was rampant throughout the mortgage industry. Really, essentially, a systemic practice of the mortgage industry. The way that one former loan officer in baltimore put it was that wells fargo put bounties on the heads of minority borrowers by providing Cash Incentives<\/a> to any of the Loan Officers<\/a> who were able to convince these customers to buy these completely unpayable loans. And so it wasnt however just the fact that these loans were unpayable, toxic mortgages that all of the industry knew were toxic, but they represented it to homeowners as if they would be completely fine. You can just refinance in a year or two. The bigger issue is that wall street at the end of the 90s and all through 2000 exploited racist lending and Racial Discrimination<\/a> in housing and property ownership. You open with the fact that i was going to say, you know, the vast majority of the 20th century we saw the federal government red lining communities across the country. Result of that these neighborhoods, the africanamerican neighborhoods were starved for loans. When wall street began peddling the toxic mortgages they were exploiting the fact that the government had been in the process of Racial Discrimination<\/a> for a long time. Michael laura, quickly tell us what kind of impact had these foreigns had on africanamerican communities . We know theyve been targeted. What has been the affect effect . The effect has been there have been million of foreclosures concentrated in these communities of color. The effect, the human toll has been that there has been a mass displacement out of many of communities, the vast example currently is what is happening in detroit. Detroit is the city with the largest africanamerican homeownership rate in the country going into the crisis. Now undergoing the largest municipal bankruptcy in u. S. History, 100,000 homes were foreclosed on. Onethird of all africanamerican homeowners had been forced out of their homes since this crisis began. So what were seeing is a mass displacement. Were also seeing these foreclosures spiral that are reverberating into other issues. Things like School Closures<\/a> that were seeing in chicago and philadelphia. Things like hospitals, Senior Centers<\/a> effected. Michael there are people who fought the banks and people who won. Tell us about Bertha Garrett<\/a> in detroit, the city we were just talking about. Sure, i would be happy to. Bertha garrett, when i went to meet with her a year ago was a 65yearold grandmother, deeply religion, born in alabama. She and her husband had lived in their home in detroit for 22 years. She became ensnared in a predatory loan when a sleazy Mortgage Company<\/a> lied to her and convinced her to take out a secondary loan. And she fought her foreclosure until final lynn when theory convictioher eviction was pendid not leave her home because it would destroy the life she had built, and it would further the collapse of the city she had grown up in at that point. She reached out to antiforeclosure groups, occupy detroit, and they had a huge eviction blockade on her front lawn. Hundreds of people rallied to stop the city from parking the dumpster that was there to haul all of her things out of her house. Meanwhile she went downtown and tried to meet with a representative of her bank, bank of new york mellon when they said we wont meet with you today. She said im not leaving. She laid down in front of the office door, effectively using this incredibly strong, nonviolence tradition of the Civil Rights Movement<\/a> said i will not be moved. And were see eviction blockades happen all across the country, and in men cases such as bertha, they win. Michael thats part of the encouraging story. Our series is called the march goes on, and people are still marching, people are still protesting in such a peaceful way. Laura gottesdiender, the book is called a dream foreclosed black america and the fight for a place to call home. Thank you so much for being on the show. Coming up, intrepid brett erlich. He goes to dark places of the internet so we dont have to. Thats up on the war room next. vo later tonight, current tv is the place for compelling true stories. Jack, how old are you . Nine. This is what 27 tons of marijuana looks like. vo with Award Winning<\/a> documentaries that take you inside the headlines, way inside. vo from the underworld, to the world of privilege. Everyone in Michael Jacksons<\/a> life was out to use him. vo no one brings you more documentaries that are real, gripping, current. Michael now its time for our resident comedian brett erlich just back from his missouri rodeo tour, brett . Indeed, yeeha, my friends, yeeha. Im glad to be back on with you, michael shure. Michael better than that other guy. I get very touchy when i dont have you around. Lets get to the show. Here we go. What is in a name i can you . Well, if you ask a magistrate in tennessee what is in a name might be blasphemy. A tennessee judge has changed a baby boys name from mosiah to martin. She aid only one person has earned that name, messiah, that is jesus. They could not agree on the childs last name. But no one expected the judge to change the childs first name. I didnt know you could do that as a judge, by apparently you can. Michael so now the kids name is brett. No, the kids name is martin. But the logic from the point of the magistrate, she needs to know that jesus name was not messiah. It was jesus. And. Michael great point. Thats like saying my producers name is producer, we have a producer whos name is jesus. Thats fine. Thats amazing to me. Moving on, we have an amazing clip from Gretchen Carlson<\/a>. Apparently there might be a new sport at the olympics. There is one trying to get accepted, and Gretchen Carlson<\/a> from fox and friends is not happy about it. This may be in the olympics. This is not your grandfathers pole dancing. Meaning . You cant put a single dollar bill in, and it cannot be done in an erotic manner. Thats like a dog without fur. Oh, the carlsons, theyre fantastic people. It was just great. Because she said that the greco roman wrestling might be pushed out. Baseball might be pushed out. Im thinking greco roman wrestling, i think pole dancing is something that people from all nations can get behind. Michael and the mens competition will be great. I think it should just be guys who are getting off work and they show up, loosening their tie. And here is the next clip. President obama played golf and this photo arose from that. Just come on, man. We need to work on our demeanor on the golf course, our etiquette. We need to step it up. Here is a picture of fla Vladimr Putin<\/a> playing golf. Michael i think the president will hear you. He watches the war room. It looks like he was practicing for the pole dancing competition in that photo. Brett erlich, great as always, and thanks for joining us here in the war room. Have a great evening. The young turks, as great as they always are, are next. [ music ]c] [ music ] cenk all right, welcome to the young turks. Last week on currentoh sad all right, well, weve got a great show for you, dont get too sad. Big news day today. Eric holder saying, you know what, the war on drugs, fascinating. Well get to that in a little bit. Of course ive got more on the nsa. Turns out snowden was right abou, ande person who ends up pg him right is the head of the","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"archive.org","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":"800","height":"600","url":"\/\/ia800904.us.archive.org\/18\/items\/CURRENT_20130812_220000_The_War_Room\/CURRENT_20130812_220000_The_War_Room.thumbs\/CURRENT_20130812_220000_The_War_Room_000001.jpg"}},"autauthor":{"@type":"Organization"},"author":{"sameAs":"archive.org","name":"archive.org"}}],"coverageEndTime":"20240619T12:35:10+00:00"}