Transcripts For CSPAN Washington Journal 20150309

This congress has taken in Foreign Affairs and matters of Foreign Policy. We have lines for those who think congress is too involved, 202 7488000. Align for those who think congress is not involved enough, 202 7488001. And align for those who think the level of involvement a line for those who think the level of involvement is just right 202 7488002. You can also catch us on social media. Good monday morning to you. Iran, iraq syria, arming the ukraine. Overhanging congress right now is the debate over the Transpacific Partnership. That important trade deal. We want to know from our viewers if you think this congress is getting too involved in matters of Foreign Policy. We will talk about that with you, our viewers for the first 45 minutes of todays show on washington journal. A preview on this weeks action in the senate. We turn to Niels Lesniewski joining us again this monday morning. Good morning to you. Niels good morning to you. John i want to talk about the iran deal that is going on and the bill that was expected to be on the floor this week in the senate and then got pulled. What is going on there . Niels what has happened with the floor schedule was we had anticipated that on tuesday, the senate would attempt to hold a vote on picking up a measure sponsored by the Foreign Relations chairman bob corker of tennessee that would require the administration to send any sort of agreement that may be reached with the iranians over their Nuclear Program to capitol hill for a sixtyday period to allow congress to weigh in on any sort of agreement. What happened was, a number of Democratic Senators who had supported the legislation indicated to the majority leader in the senate that they would not vote for their own bill until after a march 24 deadline for some sort of resolution in these talks with iran. What we are left with is the prospect that the bill was not going to be preceded. Our Corker Bob Corker told me he knew he did not have 60 votes for his own bill. That plan was put on hold until after the 24th. John if a bill like this does not get past by this congress how much say will this congress have in any sort of Nuclear Negotiations that are happening . Niels it is not clear the way this is being structured that there is anything the congress will have specifically approving any sort of agreement with iran. If there is some sort of agreement reached, you would have a situation where members of Congress Might be waiting in through weighing in through Something Like the appropriations process. In order to implement the agreement. Without this legislation at this juncture, the white house had indicated it would be vetoed. There is no real way for congress to necessarily have to weigh in, absent Something Like that. John with that legislation off the table, attention turning to the debate over the president s war powers request. Talk us through what is happening in the senate this week. Niels while they are working on the floor with a much less controversial matter, they are going to take up antihuman trafficking legislation that should have broad support. You will see at various committees that there will be all sort of Foreign Policy related hearings, the highlight of which is the secretary of state john kerry, the new defense secretary, ash carter and the chairman of the joints these joint chiefs of staff are scheduled to be testifying midweek about the president s request for an authorization of the use of force against the group called isis or isil or the Islamic State. What we will see, i think, is that that is going to lay bare how big the gap is between the group of lawmakers who think that the request was too broad those that think the request was too narrow. I think that will be the most interesting thing of the week. It may be that we find out there is no way this congress can move forward with that request at all if the gap is as wide as we think it is. John touch on some of those other hearings we are expected to see on capitol hill this week on some of those foreignpolicy matters. Niels there is a weekly a current, weekly occurrence, a closed briefing at the Armed Services committee. We will see another hearing about the status in ukraine. Today, this morning, it might be of interest to washington journal viewers, senator chris murphy, a democrat from connecticut is hosting senator mccain, the chairman of the Armed Services committee. In connecticut. They are meeting with the ukrainian American Community up there about the situation on the ground in ukraine. That will be another talking point for the week. The other thing we might see as this goes forward, how they will respond to see if anything will be done about russia in regards to ukraine. John Niels Lesniewski, appreciate your time. Still expected to be a busy week. Thank you for coming on. Niels thank you. John we are talking about foreignpolicy issues with our viewers. We are asking whether congress is too involved, not involved enough or the level of involvement in foreignpolicy issues is about right in this new congress. We will start with carol in ohio on the line that thinks countries is too involved. Good morning. Caller thank you for cspan. I think this Republican Party by inviting the Prime Minister of the protocol is that the white house does this. John youre talking about Benjamin Netanyahus speech . Caller i am. When he came over to speak, i was ashamed of what the republicans were doing to the office of the president. If they keep this up like they have been doing, the Republican Party will cease to exist because moderates like me are not going to vote for them ever. They do not know how to govern. All they know how to do is obstruct. And bash this president instead of doing their job and trying to better the United States. John on that line for those who think congress is not involved enough, robert is waiting. Good morning. Caller good morning. I think they are involved in too much stuff around the world. It is not just the republicans that clapped and applauded netanyahus speech. It was democrats as well. I believe they are breaking many laws. The leahy law, the arms treaty law, which gives israel weapons to use against civilians. We have all seen that in 2008. Previously in 200013 and 2014. Speaker boehner broke the logan act. It is against the law for any u. S. Government official to talk to a Foreign Agent without certain restriction. I know the act. Anybody who thinks iran will get nukes is crazy. We have 31 military bases around iran. It takes a lot of effort to launch Nuclear Weapons. Iran signed the npt, a nuclear code proliferations treaty. Israel has not. That is all i wanted to say. John that is robert in connecticut. The third line is for those who think the level of involvement is about right. Todd is on that line. Good morning. Caller good morning. I think congress should be involved. You cannot leave it all up to the president. Who knows who will who knows who we will have in the future . Congress should be involved a little bit. John here is how the council on Foreign Relations puts this level of involvement and what each side is responsible for in a paper they did on congress and u. S. Foreignpolicy. They note that the president or executive branch has the power to initiate as well as implement foreignpolicy, proposals for legislation, negotiation of internal agreements, nominations of leading foreignpolicy officials and statements of policy. Congressional approval is needed for spending and consent is needed for finalizing trade agreements. More ambiguous our war powers which are in practice dominated by president ial action. They quote a director of the congress project at the woodrow international Woodrow Wilson international center. If you want to read more on the breakdown, their paper is the council on Foreign Relations. We want to hear from our viewers on social media as well. Here is Steve Harrison saying this congress as a whole does not have the competence to be involved in poor foreignpolicy. Congress is too involved in shipping jobs offshore. A tweet from monty who says the nation once foreignpolicy promoting National Interest and not those of lobbyists and privateers and profiteers. If you feel like waiting in, we have a poll on our facebook page, facebook. Com cspan. Those who say converses not involved enough is more than doubled in those who say converses to involved. Some comments below from several individuals following along on our facebook page. You can go through those as well edward writes, we must respect the rights of members of congress to expects to respect the expects to respect the opinions you can follow along on twitter or just give us a call. The phone lines, if you think congress is too involved, not involved enough or it is about right. You can see the numbers on our screen. Ahmad is waiting in pennsylvania, saying congress is too involved. Caller good morning. They are. I think it is a shame that they called this guy to come here and make his speech for them like the senate and house have no brain. Some guy who just mode murdered palestinians will come here and make policy for them. John ahmad also with concerns about that speech last week before a joint session of congress. He was welcomed by john boehner. That line for those who think congress is not involved enough. Joe, good morning. Caller good morning. I do not think congress is involved enough. That is what we elected the people for. Without the Prime Minister coming over here he told it the way it was. That is all it is to it. John on this deal with iran over nuclear negotiation, do you think the senate and house should have a say over this deal once it is finalized . Caller why shouldnt congress have a say so . Were going to let our president andahalf dozen other people around the world the president is not a king. That is what we have branches of service. That is what they are elected for. John Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell was on the sunday shows yesterday, talking about the Iran Nuclear Deal. He was on face the nation when he was asked if the deal the senate will approve the deal. [video clip] the chairman of the form Relations Committee has a proposal that would require the deal to come before congress for approval. The president threatened to veto that. It is not want us to have any role to play in this. Im hoping we can get sick the seven senators we can get 67 senators. The president does not want us involved in this but he is going to need us if he is going to lift any of the existing sanctions. He cannot work around congress forever. I am glad the Prime Minister came. We need to hear from somebody, to point out the problems with the deal we anticipate will be made. Also, to point out you should not ignore all of irans other unrelated behavior. Full minting revolution all over the middle east. They have built ieds that have killed and injured number of our personnel. This is a dangerous regime. John Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell of kentucky yesterday on face the nation. The debate about this Iran Nuclear Deal causing several headlines in todays papers. Here is a story from the end of last year amid the debate on the nuclear deal. The headline 37 organizations at the end of last year, asking congress not to meddle in the sensitive diplomacy that was being done over the Iranian Nuclear deal. President obama was also talking about the Iranian Nuclear deal on sunday shows yesterday. Here is a bit from his appearance on face the nation. [video clip] there is an urgency because we now have been negotiating for well over a year. The good news is, during this period, iran has abided by the terms of the agreement. We know what is happening on the ground. They have not advanced their Nuclear Program. We have been able to roll back their 20 it is given us access to what they are doing. We are not losing anything through these talks. If there is no deal, youre willing to walk away . Absolutely. If we cannot verify that they are not going to obtain a Nuclear Weapon even if they cheated, we would be able to have enough time to take action if we cannot have that kind of deal, we will not take it. John we are conducting our own poll on facebook this morning on what you think about congressional involvement on matters of Foreign Policy. Too much, about right, or not enough. For more scientific poll, we turn to the Washington Times. A recent story about a quinnipiac poll. 1300 resident registered voters signing our plurality of trust. The numbers are in line with a survey taken after the 2014 midterm elections. 47 of Americans Trust republicans in congress, compared to 42 who trust president obama more on matters of Foreign Policy. A Pew Research Poll which came out last week finding that voters trust republicans more on foreignpolicy 48 to 35 . Democratic party to Republican Party. That is from the pew research center, noting this is the first time the gop has had a significant advantage on this issue since 2002. Neither party had an edge as recently as october. Our phone lines are open on that line for those who think congress is not involved enough theodore is waiting in texas. Good morning. Caller good morning. I cannot hear you. I think congress is not doing enough. The president is the chief diplomatic officer for the United States. By doing that, the Republican Party showed a strong lack of leadership and respect for the president s position. Limiting the power for foreignpolicy. Iran is developing Nuclear Weapons and they have they will by inviting netanyahu they of bungled anything Going Forward with the president in getting irans Nuclear Program under control. John carol is a frequent caller and tweets nearly every day. She writes in her thoughts this morning. Since obama doesnt follow what many experts advice, it is important to important for congress to weigh in forcefully. Randy is calling from fort worth, texas. Caller thank you for taking my call. As a republican, i voted in the Current Congress to stop obama. With all of these executive orders, right now we have another one coming up with an ra. With nra. The Prime Minister gave an idea of what is going on with the Nuclear Program in iran. President obama did not inform the American People of this deal. The Washington Post had a story that they admitted to that Prime Minister netanyahu went to president obama. The Washington Post said they did request to speak to the American People. Why is that not mentioned . John one other deal that is being considered by the Obama Administration, also causing concern on capitol hill is that Transpacific Partnership, that trade deal. Michele fornoy has a piece in todays wall street journal talking about that deal. Writing that, the Transpacific Partnership would cover 40 of domestic gross product. Any such deal will have to make it through the u. S. Congress in order to prevent lawmakers from amending the agreement and undoing years of international negotiations. She goes on to say that the u. S. Failure to pass a transpacific agreement would lead a political vacuum for china to fill. Her piece is in todays wall street journal. If you think on versus 20 two involved if you think congress is to involved, 202 7488000. Not enough, 202 7488001. Just right, 202 7488002. Not enough line, jim is waiting. Caller good morning. What concerns me is in november , it was said that things would change and they would put a stop to obama throwing out whatever he wants and using executive power to override congress. It is not what our constitution is set up for. If one guy can go around and be a dictator, why have congress . They got elected to go in there and do their job. Boehner as speaker of the house put his foot down. John on the area of Foreign Policy, do you think more deference should be given, more space should begin to the president on issues of Foreign Affairs . Caller of course, up to a point and then it should be overview. John what is that point . Caller if it gets to the point where all parties agree including the senate or congress , that you can overview what has been done, great. A oneman show is not going to cut it. That is why in november he got his butt whooped. 70 of the people out there think his policy is so screwed up. They are looking at congress to put their foot down and congress is so weak they let him run amok. Look at the kind of stuff big use they use the irs to control an election. That is impeachment. Using a branch of government to control political outlook. This guy is going crazy. He is walking all over our constitution and people are numb to it. John here is the wording from the constitution, article two, section two on the powers vested in the president. The President Shall be commanderinchief of the army and navy. He shall have the power by and with the advice and consent of the senate to make treaties provided two thirds of senators present concur. He shall nominate and the appoint ambassadors. He shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers. He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed. Some points from the constitution to this specific point. Do you think congress is to involved, not involved enough or that its level of involvement is about right . Mark is in st. Paul minnesota. Good morning. Caller good morning. I say that congress is to involved in foreignpolicy right now. What the Prime Minister in israel did was a political farce for his reelection. He is a war hawk like republicans are. Congress should worry more about u. S. Policy as far as jobs. Leave obamacare alone and worry more about what the American People really want done, jobs, jobs, jobs. John you brought up the concern over a war hawk. What do you make of the debate happening over the authorization for use of military force . The president is asking for military action in iraq and syria. That is been going on for six months now. Caller i think the u. S. Should stay out of for. We have been in the longest war in history so far. My son was over there in iraq. I think our people should have some time out. The world should be responsible for its own regions. There are enough people over there that do not like isil that they should be able to form a group. Let it be led by u. S. Policies but other people can fight their wars too. John several stories in todays paper talking about new please from the government in iraq for help. Here is a story from the wall street journal. Cultural officials call for more military help from the Usled Coalition battling the Islamic State to halt the groups destruction of agent monuments. The nation reeling from the loss of life and land. The minister of tourism and antiquities said on sunday that the government was investigating reports that militants had begun bulldozing 2000 year old ruins in the city of hatra. If confirmed it would be the third attack and 10 days on heritage sites. John is next in new hampshire. Thinking the level of involvement in congress is about right. Why do you think that . Caller i do and i dontt. Personally, i can understand some of the frustration levels historically. Based on the last year and a half. I think it has gone well over the top. We have to and trust in our president entrust in our president. He is not working on his own. Hes working with other countries. Other national leaders. Working on agreements and monitoring the situation. How should i were this . A lot more Sensitive Information that otherwise some congressmen and women would not be privilege to know. I dont know. I dont agree with whats been happening. Thats all i have to say. Thank you. Host frederick is calling in from woodbridge, virginia on the line that thinks congress is too involved. Good morning. Caller good morning. My name is frederick. I have three comments to make. One is that congress shirts go back. Congress should scale back. In selma, none of the republican congressman went to celebrate the 50th anniversary of selma. I remember when someone came here right in front of the press, he spat at the president. Secondly, it is an impediment to peace. I will tell you. He continuously disrespects the palestinians. As long as he does that, this will continue. Host you brought up selma, the events over the weekend and selma. Getting a lot of attention. Heres a headline from bring your times the New York Times. Talking about eric holder speech on sunday at the brown chapel in selma where he talked about the progress that has been forged in that southern town. He was speaking there, the president , of course, also speaking. We will bes trip to visit selma in the next be talking about the president s trip to visit selma in the next segment. Bob is up next from jacksonville, texas. On the line that thinks congress is to involve. Caller good morning. Republicans sure do have short memories. When dick cheney was in office, he spent every waking moment preaching that the president needed more power. More power. Make up your mind, kids. Thats what they are. A bunch of kids. Thank you very much. Host also on that line for those who think congress is too involved. Michael from pennsylvania. Caller good morning. I guess i would have to agree with the caller from texas surprisingly. Host why are you surprised michael . Caller republicanled congress, memory problem. Yeah. They use these opportunities for Economic Opportunities, quite frankly. Host you are talking about foreign involvement . Caller whats that . Host you are talking about foreign involvement for Economic Opportunities . Caller yes. The other caller pointed out obama has been dealing with a lot of other countries. The United States does not rule the world, yet. I agree with the caller from texas, some people have tried. It just a lot of fear mongering, shallow thinking, and im sorry to say, im american italian. Theres still a lot of races left in this country. Im ashamed of that fact to o. Host michael in pennsylvania. Getting close to st. Patricks day. We will check in with what irish eyes has to say on twitter. Don is waiting in fayetteville North Carolina. Thinks congress is not involved enough in Foreign Policy. Why do you think that . Caller its real simple. The basic reason we have a federal government if you look at the inception of this country, is to deal with foreign powers. Whether or not they are making calls, their whole job is to make decisions in dealing with Foreign Countries and foreign powers. Whether or not going to war which we have been involved in since you the one or dealing with economics, they need to be invested in dealing with these foreign states. Host lets take the example of the unrest in eastern ukraine. Do you think congress is playing the right role here . Or do you think congress is not involved enough . Caller i dont think congress is involved enough. Unfortunately, with the mentality of fear that we have developed over the past 20 years, people have oh, we are scared of this, scared of that. Great. Stand out and make your stand. Understand that are government our government is there to deal with foreign powers. Thats what their job is. On the state level, the state are supposed to deal a daytoday issues. On foreign issues, that is why we have the federal government. People tend to forget that and think the federal government is supposed to take care of daytoday state issues. Its not. Therefore, they need to be involved. They need to get away from fundraising and partisan issues that they want to bigger about in the states and start dealing with what will make our country strong, both economically and politically. Host got your point. Some news on ukraine. Heres a headline from rollcall. The president expediting lethal aid to ukraine. Lawmakers urging the president to expedite lethal aid to ukraine. On thursday, a Bipartisan Group of lawmakers sent president obama a letter to quickly endorse efforts to transfer lethal weapons to ukraine. The letter included Speaker John Boehner and House Majority leader kevin mccarthy, among others. That story, you can find in rollcall. That topic being debated on some of the hearings this week that you can find on cspan. Dave is up next from georgia. On the line that thinks congress is not involved enough. Caller thank you for cspan. Thank you for taking my call. Congress is not involved enough. I do agree with the previous caller. It is congresss role to deal with Foreign Countries. And states roles to deal with certain issues going on economically with states. One saying that ive always adapted to is the best gauge of future behavior and actions is past behavior and actions. This president has muddled every saying that everything that he is touched in Foreign Policy and Foreign Relations. The world does not trust him. The country does not trust him anymore. Im amazed that some of the calls that come in. I understand their liberal agenda. The liberal agenda gets outside of the way our constitution was set up and the way our country was set up. Its more akin to a kinship. Its amazing to me that people seem to think an example is clinton. Host let me ask you. Its a question posed by jen on our twitter page. She says i should ask people to be specific about the part of the constitution that obama walks all over. Caller i think a better question is what part is he not walking all over. Come on. He cant stand the way our constitution is set up. Host why do you say that, dave . Caller lets take the right to bear arms. This constitution was set up that part was set up because what were you doing . We were trying to away from our rights being infringed upon by other countries that ruled our country. Their forcible ways of handling us. Their thoughts of our freedom was outside the realm of what they could grasp. It goes back to what happened this weekend. There was a certain attitude in this country that the black individual didnt have the same rights as the white individual. Thats not what freedom stands for. Host what specific incident are you talking about . Caller im talking about the anniversary of what happened in alabama at the bridge. And what happened with the voters right back. What had to happen in order for black individual stab the same Voting Rights as me and you. It should have never happened have gotten that far. I will disagree with how much progress that weve made since that time. What you have is a more level Playing Field. Individuals have been propped up by the overreaching of making things right. Are used to that propping up, and now the Playing Field has been leveled. It comes down to personal responsibility. Host some of the issues you have brought up, we will be talking about in the next segment of washington journal ago with april ryan, White House Correspondent, and author of the recent book, the presidency in black and white. You also brought up Hillary Clinton and her emails. That story in many newspapers. We will be talking about the clinton email issue in the last half hour of todays washington journal. We have a few more minutes for phone calls on u. S. Congresss involvement in Foreign Policy. Caller good morning. Thank you for accepting my call. I think congress is a bit too involved. First and foremost, its a pretty big world out there. I think they are expecting the president to be in every inch of this world. We cant control the rest of the world. We have problems right here in our own country. I also cant understand. Im a voting citizen of the United States and ive noticed that there is no respect for our president. Any and everything that happens anywhere in the world i dont care if its going on the plane with his wife, they have a problem with it. He has served two terms. I would probably give him a third term if that were the case. I think people need to stop listening to the rhetoric that congress and everybody else is complaining about. Maybe we can come up with the right ideas and actions to help ourselves right here in the United States, as well as abroad. We have allies over here. We do. We have an understanding that we would help them. I think they should be able to help themselves. Weve had to hustle and strain all of our lives. Why cant they do with a have to do . Thats my point. Host stephen is waiting next and robert still, missouri. That line for folks who think congress is not involved enough. Why do you think that . Steve, are you with us . Caller yes. Host why do you think congress is not involved enough and Foreign Policy. Co what specific areas would you like to see the more involved in. Caller every branch of our government is corrupt. When you have Unlimited Money coming in and near all in it for themselves, theres no one to vote for. I grew up in the east. We didnt have racial tensions. Actually, its the drug war. A lot of this. I dont understand. If you hit a cop, he has the right to defend himself. Host stay on Foreign Policy for me. Caller there is so much going on. Only congress can declare war. And the president thinks he has the power, it just like george bush, all the torture they were doing and all that. That should have been overrode by congress. The whole iraq thing. Look at the mess we have going on now. I was all over our lives. Host where do you want to see congress and served themselves now . Ukraine, iraq and syria Nuclear Negotiations, tpp trade deal . Caller mostly the iran. Iran is a bigger problem than any of it. They are making Nuclear Weapons. It is guarantee they are making Nuclear Weapons. No doubt about that. We are just stupid. If congress doesnt jump in, we will have bigger problems down the line. If we have to go war with them, id rather do it now. Host thats still in roberts bill. Rick is up next from atlantic city, new jersey. That line that thinks congress is too involved. Caller good morning, big guy. How are you . Host good. Caller some of this sounds to me lay political echoes from years ago. What i mean by that is between john kennedy, malcolm x. , Martin Luther king, and bobby kennedy. It seems like when he touched when they touched on Foreign Policy. Host are you saying you have no faith in congress or the presidency . I think we lost rick. Teresa is waiting periog. We are asking. Whether it congressional involvement is too much, not enough, or right. Too much is counting out catching up to not enough. A facebook poll. You can participate. Leave your comments as well. Teresa is on the line. Good morning. Caller no disrespect to our president , who i love. I think he is a very june till man genteel man. However, why do we have now 15 or 16 countries with isis. We are in golf. Come on, do something. Host do you think congress can push the president to do more through the war powers debate . Caller if he does, he gets it done. If he doesnt, hes no good. How can he win . Congress doesnt work with him. They said they wouldnt since day one. They never did. That man has to do what he is doing. He has to be aggressive. Host on matters of for policy, more confidence in president obama himself rather than the collective work of congress . Caller yes. I will tell you why. And if it is in our president standing behind us, who will do a . Thank you. Host frank is in new jersey. The line for folks who think congress is to involve. Frank, good morning to you. Caller good morning. Congress is too involved. Since the inception of the constitution, even back in washingtons day. Washington and the executive branch is the one that always controlled Foreign Policy. He would send ambassadors like jefferson and franklin to other countries to start talks. At this point in time, if the president thinks congress is not doing its job. His Foreign Policy is in fact hindering the country. They have the right to teach him. They can get off their butts and do their job. Congress is supposed to take care of domestic issues foremost. Foreign policy has always been and the Foreign Branch executive branch. The president Petitions Congress on war against lawrence were concerns war concerns. If some of them would read the constitution, they would know better. Host we read part of the constitution earlier. Here is article one, section eight, specifically dealing with this topic and the powers vested with congress. Congress should have the right or, has the right to regulate Congress Current see punish piracy. The power to declare war. To make rules concerning captures on land and water. To raise and support armies. The vitamins in provide and maintain a navy. Those are a few of the powers specifically vested in congress. Through article one, section eight. Patricia is in memphis tennessee on the line for folks who think it is about right, the involvement that congress has. Good morning. Caller good morning. Im not sure it so much about how much involvement they have as so much that they dont like the president. We see this all over the United States in different places and different pockets. I have moved from pennsylvania to memphis, tennessee where there is so much racism. The move every time a black person moves next you, they moved. They keep moving the zoning so that they Stay Together. They need to come in and look at memphis, tennessee. The same thing that is going on in ferguson is going on in memphis and all across the south. Racism is alive and well. As soon as everyone listens to it and recognize it, there maybe we can do something about it. Thats what congress is about with our president. They have not liked our president from day one. So i just hope people rise up and see what is going on because theres going to be bloodshed all over this country if we dont. We dont need a taliban, or whatever, here. We can Stay Together and love one another. Thank you very much. Host budgetary, stick around for our next segment on washington journal this morning. We will be joined by april ryan, White House Correspondent and author of the book, the presidency in black and white. We will look at the issue of modern president s and race in america. Later, Louise Radnofsky joins us on the Affordable Care act. First, on saturday, president obama attended the 50th anniversary of the semimontgomery marches. [video clip] president obama they saw the idea manifests itself here in america. Because of campaigns like this, the Voting Rights act was passed. Political and economic and social barriers came down. The changes that these men and women brought are visible today in africanamericans in boardrooms, who say on the bench, who served in elected office is. From the Congressional Black Caucus all the way to the oval office. Because of what they did, the doors of opportunity swung open not just for black folks, but for every american. Women marched through those doors. Latinos march through those doors. Asianamericans, gay americans americans with disabilities they all came through those doors. [applause] their endeavors gave the entire south the chance to rise again. Not by reasserting the past, but by transcending the past. What a glorious thing, dr. King might say. Which leads us to ask just how might we repay that debt . First and foremost, we have to recognize that one days commemoration, no matter how special, is not enough. In selma taught us anything, its that our work is never done. The american experiment in selfgovernment gives working for misdeeds generation. Gives work and purpose to each generation. When it comes to the pursuit of justice, we cannot afford complacency or despair. Host watch entire coverage of the weekend of events on cspan. Org. Now, in studio, White House Correspondent, april ryan, joins us. The author of the recent book, the presidency in black and white. We will talk about apple, but i want to talk with the president s visit to selma. What does the ch check mean, not just did this president. You were there. Guest not only was i there, i got a ride down with the president. Our group of five black journalists. We got to interview the president. A lot of them were raise questions. What it means to this nation and the presidency john, race plays, and it has played through history and in the white house. For each president , they have dealt with the issue of race. From war to peace and in between. In between is race. This president talked about the president who authorized the voting act. You had former president george bush on stage with obama. In my book, the presidency in black and white, i have a chapter on selma. Ambassador and a young talk to me about the conversations that he was involved in with dr. King and lbj about pushing forward the Voting Rights. Host the congressman and the former ambassador. Guest yes. Former ambassador and congressmen, and the young said, lbj said at the time he did not have the power to push for Voting Rights. What they did strategically was said ok, and went down to alabama at a time the you cannot have three africanamericans on a street together. Because of an ordinance. They found out way, and the rest is history. We talk about that in the book about how race is played out in history. Host this is a topic that you hear so much about, and you have covered for so long, in nearly 20 years at the white house. When you have one question with the president , like this on air force one, whats your question . Guest my question was, since race is such an issue and in the book on the researching for the book, i found there are many people in this country like three pillars in this country and emancipation proclamation, abraham lincoln, then the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights act with lbj. Many people say we are now in a postracial america. I asked president obama, would you consider a postracial approach . He said, yes. Im paraphrasing. He said, yes my election was his story, but he does not a quay his presidency to all the legalities that change the course of history. So yes my presidency in itself is his story, but what he is doing now is closing the gl gap of discrimination, base underscore based on historic decisions on race. Does it surprise you, for and 10 people say Race Relations have gotten worse under the nations first black president. Guest it depends. If you feel it immensely, you feel it. The president , i asked a question at the 2014 press conference, about the state of black america. He said, on average everyone is doing better honor his presidency. It depends. If you are hurting financially thats when there is the season this country. It all depends on who you are. Im not surprised. Host the book is the presidency in black and white. April ryan is our guest for the next 45 days or so on washington journal. If you want to call income of the numbers are on the screen. Democrats can call in at 202 7488000. Republicans, 202 7488001. Independencts, 202 7458002. If youre outside the u. S. , 202 7480003. In your book, you rank the three press on their grades. The rankings might be a bit surprising. Talk about who comes out best in your book. Guest it all depends on which issue. Overall, i gave president clinton and b plus and president obama a b plus. President george bush, a c minus. The only reason i gave a c minus is because he had a failing grade of f and one categories. That failing category was katrina. Anytime you have people die, people. People who felt disenfranchised and felt their country did not stand up for them or was there for them, that receives a failing grade. We are still feeling the affects of katrina, 10 years after katrina. Specifically for the new orleans community. President clinton received a b plus. Yes, there were things he could have done more. There were things he did nbc did not do. As obama is interesting. I changed his grade while i was in the process. You see a big difference between firstterm black obama and second term. Specifically, second term fourth quarter. He had to navigate the waters strategically. Anything to target africanamericans, would have been viewed, by some groups, in a negative light. You cannot discount the fact that there are deserve what it should there are disproportionate numbers when it comes to africanamericans in this country in almost every area. I change the grade because right now, we are in his area where the president is coming out talking about race. Targeting issues that have been a problem for decades in this country. Speaking about the mistrust of minority communities and policing. Trying to root out some of the evildoers. He is also talking about Voting Rights. Thats why i changed his grade. I posted it up a little bit because you see a different obama when it comes to race now. Host you brought up the issue of a postracial. Period. You talk about the expectations placed on obama right after he was elected. I went back and found a call him from november 5, 2008 talking about expectations right after obamas election. I just want to read your piece of this. How could a decent person not hope for all of these possibilities, or give america credit for electing its first black president . Talk about the expectations then and now. Host i like the word hope in the article. The expectations then he couldnt even rise up to the level expectation that he saw for himself. It was like a savior. He did something that no one else did. It was almost viewed as a savior. Its not, hes human. We were in a time in a recession. We were really starting to fall in recession. Gas prices were climbing out. Gas prices were climbing up. We were also in the pain of war. Financially and physically. He was talking about change. Hope you can believe in. He really made people believe. He said, im pulling you out of war, i will fix these problem spirit you never know what happens. You cant predict. There is no handbook for that office. The oval office. Anything can happen. I dont think he could have reached the level of expectation that he said. Hes human. All of them are human. I believe they go into the job the best they know how to, and i do believe theyd want to do the best for the country. Host your book may be considered Something Like a handbook. Why did you write the book . Guest i have a friend who really encouraged me. He is in the media as well. He said to me, when i first got his job i fell into this job he said, you cannot sit here and do what you do and not write about it. I journaled and journaled and that we compiled the book during that clinton years. I was too young and too fresh. During the bush years, we had a bite. The person who is working with us, giving us a contract, he got fired. That was a no then. My agent and i diane, diana night, we looked at one another during the obama time. Littlefield said, lets do this. The book hasnt totally changed since then and now. I think diane and littlefield for birthing the 17yearold baby to the world. It took 17 years to write. Im very proud of this. The crazy thing about this is admissible, you have presence on the record. You have president barack obama on the record. You have bill Clinton Former president clinton, on the record. Condoleezza rice on the record. I can name a whole bunch of people. The former head of the wall opportunity commission. The commission of civil rights. A whole host of people. Host including some press staffers that you went back and forth with. The book is the presidency in black and white. A caller in baltimore, maryland is waiting to talk to you. The line for democrats. Caller good morning. This is just a statement, more than anything else. I got out and voted for president barack obama. I did consider the fact that he was black, but i voted him to do a job. He has done exactly what i wanted him to do. Im sick of hearing about wars of the tragedy of four. Im also a taxpayer citizen. I worked all my life and im retired now. I did not take one foodstamp, i not been on welfare. I pay taxes and i expect my congressman and my senators to represent me. I did not see a republican congressman or senator i might be wrong, by did not see them down there at that march, which was important to me. At 66 years old, i know where i went through in civil rights and Voting Rights. I expected them to represent me. If they did not show up to represent me, who are they representing . Host april ryan, you were down there in selma. Can you talk about some of those issues. Guest i didnt see republicans and democrats. It was heavier on the democratic side, i believe it is very political at this point. You have republicans and democrats that know the history. Yes, this was wrong. Bloody sunday was terrible. Worse than terrible, it was an atrocity. I believe, because it is not a coming together, they did not want to this is my personal opinion send a message that they were in support of it by being down there. Its a sad day when politics rules instead of coming together and dealing with an issue in history that really is profound and really change the lives change the country, and lives of so many. Host a column in todays Washington Post about this, specifically the Voting Rights issue. Where now kings agenda remains unfulfilled. There is a photo that was used and there on our screen for our viewers. Dexter is waiting in silver spring, maryland. Good morning. Caller im calling from maryland. I think it is a backlash against blacks in general. Since obama has been elected. I voted for him twice. I was hopeful that america would rise up and get past racism in this country. For me, it has gotten worse ever since he was elected. I dont blame him for it. I think it is just a backlash on life in general. Host thank you, dexter. Guest there is a segment of america that did not want this president as president. Theres a segment of america that may not have wanted him not because of the color of his skin, but because they didnt want him. You do have that segment. I hear it. I was listening, driving in to ad radio program, and a major gospel thing it was talking about how her daughter has to deal with it. With some of the girls, they talk about the racial component. Ive heard many things. Ive heard a lot of people tell me, in my walks of life, they work in a multicultural environment, and say, i dont like obama. They assume, just because youre black, you instinctively or immediately voted for him. That is not always the case. You can be an africanamerican and not agree with everything he says. You can be a republican that supports republican president s you dont necessarily agree with everything he says. There has been a little bit of a backlash because im not going to say little bit there has been a backlash in this country by certain sects, or sectors, they didnt like the fact that this president is here. Host for viewers who are unfamiliar describe what American Urban Radio Network is and what you see as your role covering the white house for the last several decades. Guest my role as a journalist is just that. Objective. Objective in bringing in all the sides, not just two sides of the story. All sides. Im not an activist journalist. I ask questions on all the issues. For urban american Radio Network, we are the oldest and only minority owned Radio Network that has programming news programs, radio stations, things of that nature. We are basically a Minority Owned Company that basically puts out news pertaining to, and programming, pertaining to minority america, particularly black america. We have 30 some odd stations across the country. We are very aware of our heritage and who we are as a company and what we stand for. Host talk about your experience at the white house. You take a lot of pride that you started in the six the role of the Briefing Room and moved up to the third row. What does that mean . Guest the farther back you are, the less likely you will be called in on. If you come in on a daily basis, and you are really there, traveling with the president you are really not sitting on the back row but youre putting in all the work. I was there, and im thankful to steve scully. He moved me from the sixth road to the fourth row. Then it karen bowman build me up smack dab in the middle. Ive been there and i been there for 18 years. Its sad that the room is divvied up with a hierarchy. Radio i call radio the vassar child of white house reporting. It is tv, wires, then the newspapers, then magazines, then you go down the radio. There are a lot of radio folks on the second and third row. Im proud to be one of that number. Host do take it personally when you are not called on . Guest oh yes. It is ego. If you have a question, but its about your work, you have a question that may not be the same question that everyone else has. They could be asking isis or benghazi, or the emails, or netanyahu. I want to hear that, but youre not going to assess fairly about the nigerian girls, or the new labor fax that affect minorities. Theyre not been asked that. Im going to cover that, but theyre not ask those questions. Host on her twitter page, weighing in on this question modern president s had handled race on a business as usual basis, in a word, poorly. Our guest is april ryan, White House Correspondent, covering the president every day. Ron is waiting in ohio. My for democrats. Good morning. Ron, are you with us . Ok. Jim is waiting as well on our line for independence in chicago. Jim, good morning to you. We will hold off on the calls until we get them back. Why dont you talk about your experiences in the press corps. What you have asked for a president s. The questions, specifically on the issue of an apology for slavery. Something you talk a lot about your book and something that was a big part of bill clintons presidency. As specific trip to africa. Guest former president bill clinton i want to thank him i was in his office last year we did a great interview. We smell long time talking. When he was president , he said to me, you are going to get me in trouble for your questions. A lot of times, they dont know what to expect when i asked questions. I think thats why sometimes they dont call on me. He told me that. It made me feel good. I took that word from him to let me know, ok, this is how its going to be. When it comes to slavery apology, i asked the president that because he was the president that had this historic trip to africa. Host we are showing our viewers some photos from that trip. Specifically, the door of no return. Guest im getting goosebumps. At that time, he also embarked on this very bold initiative. The race initiative. Trying to bridge the racial divide. Get people talking about race. He knew the nation was browning, and we were changing as a nation, our makeup wasnt going to be what we started out as. He wanted people to understand it was a hard issue. Not necessarily legislative, but a hard issue. When you Start Talking about race theres one dynamic. That blackwhite dynamic. How can you talk about that without dealing with the rule of the problem. Thats how the apology for slavery, the question kept emanating in the press conferences and briefings. They tabled it. He thought about it, but he tabled it. There were factions in the white house, somewhere for, some were against. At a historic soul food dinner. Host one where your aunt cooked for him. Guest you read the book my at pearl aunt pearl. To hear an american president say that he is getting all these different comments from people within the black community there are coming together, it could change the course of history. Things could have changed. I dont know. Its something that ive heard as a child that a lot of times we cannot come together on issues. The hear an american president say that you have blind people in his white house saying, yes and something no. You had the white people saying i dont think so. I was told many times they would happen. Written language was so strong, but he pulled back on it when it was time to go talk about the issue of slavery. When he gave a beautiful speech in senegal. Thats kind of why the big issue of an apology of slavery was there when bill clinton. Then, when george w. Bush, it came back up. He went to africa. Will you apologize for slavery . No. He felt because only people participated, america shouldnt apologize. I mean, why not apologize for what happened . What this nation are allowed to happen. Host candace president doing and should this president do it . Guest candace president doing i doubt it. I doubt he will. If he wanted to, im sure he could. I think it would send a bigger message if there were to be president , who is not necessarily africanamerican, do Something Like that. Any president could do it. I think its more so a president , not necessarily the color. Tried different underlying issues if this president were to do that. Host lets try again, chicago illinois. Jim. Caller good morning. Im from chicago and ive been following barack obama ever since 1995. I never voted for him as a state senator or u. S. Senator because he was really not that active in the black community. He really did little to nothing for the black community. As president , it seems like he cares more about illegals and gain is then minorities that live in chicago or other parts of the country. Im very disappointed with him. I was hoping he would do something great for the black community, even though i didnt vote for him. Unfortunately, i think a lot of people are disappointed with him. Guest i could understand that. Again, thats a level of expectation. This president will go down in history as the president for the lgbt community. Jim makes a good point. The level of expectation is what i think he is pointing to. He has to navigate the water strategically. In the first term in order to get a second term. Had he really targeted in on race a lot, i dont think he would have gotten a second term. I dont think anything he would have done what had passed. For instance, look at all the groundswell that came out after he started talking early on and his administration. They stop that fast. Second term, its all or nothing. Hes moving forward. Host how do you respond to jim who writes on twitter why do you refuse to believe that its his policies not his skin color . A minority who voted against him did so because of the agenda and not race. Guest i like that question. You have a president where the economy is getting better. I dont say this as anyone who supports him or not support them. I say it, looking at the racial dynamic and the policies. Were climbing out of the recession. Osama bin laden was killed. We still have terror. The economy is better. People are wanting health care, he did something that no other president was able to do. You may not like his politics but he has been a president who has moved and done things that no other president has done. I think we see his hue more than you see his politics. Host james is on from South Carolina for republicans. Guest before we go to james, i just want to say that im not famous in support of him or against him. Just looking at it from a historical standpoint. Some of his policies are not the best. He is president of the United States. Host james, you are out. Caller good morning. I think maybe you do like the president. Its not about liking or disliking the person. If this policy. Anyway, a million things i could say. What i was calling about is you mentioned grading bush on his situation with black folks in america. Guest katrina. Caller right thats where i was going. Katrina. What does he have to do with that . The governor told him to stand down. Told him to stand down. He was on tv five days before the car c hurricane and said this is category five, get out. And then you blame him. You were there in selma, correct . Guest yes. Caller the familys picture of obama and all his fabulous picture of obama and all his supporters. Bush was in that picture as well . Guest yes he was. Not only in the picture, he was also in on the stage. I thank you for this call. I really do. I actually personally, like each one of the president. Clinton, bush, and obama. As people. I am a journalist. Its about relationships in washington. I want to talk about this. In the bush chapter, i talk about how president bush was not the person who many people believed he was. He was not a racist by any stretch of the imagination. Actually, i think kanye west got it totally wrong. I think this president was wrapped up in the politics of the Republican Party. He is the head of the Republican Party, leader of the country. Katrina went on. He went down there and did an abysmal job. People were left homeless. People were left to die. Any time Something Like that happens, it is horrible. In this country the president at that time, george w. Bush, he felt it. He kept going back. I traveled with him on the first year anniversary. I traveled with the first lady to mississippi. We went to church is where people were house. That is one piece of it. He has done so much. For one, he is the president who is known to have done more for africa than any other president. I believe, and i say in this book, because the africanAmerican Community did not vote for him, the Republican Party, and those in the administration, did not promote what he was doing. There were things he did that a lot of people dont agree with. Particularly, but then then National Security adviser calling for no referential treatment in admissions. There is a mixed bag. I do believe george bush is a president who got hung up in the politics of the rug and party. I see george bush and a different light than other people saw him. In this book, i really give him a lot of credit. I would like for you to get the book and read the bush chapter and then come back and talk to me about it. Host and for folks understand the grading system, some of the areas that you grade on when youre coming up with the overall grade you are in aa a you and a you can see the breakdown in the end of the book. Chris is waiting. You are on with april ryan. Caller good morning, folks. Longtime listener, first time caller. To get the cliches out of the way. I guess, i would like to start by commenting on professor skip gates book. Recently her with it yet are you familiar with that . Guest lets about his book. Go ahead. Caller he difficult their report and the daily show. One of his signature lines was about president ial poet laureate what is turning you go what is her name . Host weve got a lot of colors callers. What is your question . Caller my angelou. He said that she was, in fact, 85 caucasian. Host do you have a question . Oh, we lost him. Lets go to the line for independents. Good morning. Caller good morning. Im sitting here listening to all these people. Im a 70yearold black man who spent 20 years 25 years of his life in the service, from 1963 to 1988. When i hear this question about race and relationships in this country, it brings to mind my service in vietnam in 1964 and 1965. Guys like me, born in North Carolina and raised up in brooklyn, when i joined the military in 1963, i was off to do the countries bidding. I wore the flag of this country on my back all over the world. Two distinct times i was asked why does the document fight in the u. S. Military . One was in 1960 eight and the other time was in 1988 when i was stationed in germany. When that german asked me not, my heart stopped. Because it made me realize, a lot of people realize that your service, particularly a black around person, is not really accepted. When i look at pictures of that bridge, it brings to mind my uncles and my cousins, who i know fought in world war ii and world war i. They werent treated very well. Guest i got your point. What you are saying, you go and fight for this country and you come back and there are still discrepancies and disparities and you dont deal you have all the rights that you feel you should have. In my correct . Host the caller hung up. Guest ive heard that from sony people, from so any people. He still have problems because of your race, or being declined credit, or cannot find a job or are underemployed. There is there are still issues in this country that need to be fixed. I think that was part of why george w. Bush was there because he sees that are still issues. Weve got to open our eyes and look at the facts and look at it really accurately. The issue of race is something we are so scared to touch because we are hypersensitive about it on every side. If we can come down and put the facts on the table and just talk and have a civil discussion, i think things would thereof differently bear out differently than they have. Host on the twitter page. Anthony is waiting in michigan the line for democrats. Caller thanks for taking my call. I was wondering if she knows when the drumbeat for netanyahu when he came up, and they applauded and this guy was going to get money for a war. All of these things that americans are upset about right now, weve got a really big water problem. These people will not come here to straighten that out, but they will applauded the drumbeat of war. Im wondering if those lenses she is looking through and im a former marine are rosecolored. Because i thought that every thing that happened in louisiana was atrocity. Guest i believe i did say that the things that happened in new orleans was an atrocity. Host the thing we get from colors a lot is the amount of money that goes overseas as opposed to money spent on Community Building here in america. Guest yeah, there are still areas in this country where you would be surprised. He would think you were in another country. There are pockets of poverty, pockets of hurt in this country. That is what the problems and that is where the racial dynamic , and im along with the color how things cannot be seen or with the caller where things cannot be seen or have not been dealt with. You have schools that are crumbling, kids using outdated books, Water Systems that are not updated. Homes that are not fit to live in. You have roads in communities that are not protected from different elements. There are issues of race that they are out in everything. And i understand the callers frustration. That is why i wrote this book. Race is in everything. Those kinds of issues that the settlement was talking about do not make it on the New York Times or the Washington Post everyday. They do not make the first block of the news. You get a couple of questions and then that is when the race question comes up. That is why i wrote the book. People say, why would you asked the president questions about race . Why not . People think the issues of race dont matter. That is why this book is here. Bill clinton in my interview with him, he said race doesnt matter. It may factor in the white house, but when you hear it in the Briefing Room, it does not play a factor. Race doesnt play a part with the Daily White House mix with the senior advisers. We dont hear about it. Host on the line for democrats rating. Randy, good morning. Caller i really want to thank you for bringing up issues that are related to race when you are in that white house briefing. And i know thats not the only thing you pursue, but you are the only one who does. When i hear these polls during the election that race racism is exposed. Let me suggest something especially to a lot of your white colors that call in with ignorance, they are blaming president obama for exposing their racism. The election of president obama truly exposed their racism and they blame him for it. Thats like blaming a bank for having money as the reason for someone robbing it. Host do you think they disagree with the policies of this president . Caller they can have that, but if you listen carefully, you will hear it. When people are talking about president obamas inability to work with congress, i dont see how you can say that without factoring in what transpired on january 20, 2009 on the inauguration night of this newly elected president where these 15 u. S. Congressional people got together and plotted to destroy him. And that was at the onset of the worst financial crisis. Host i want you to pick up on that and specifically this president s relationship with congress. Guest that is interesting because many people say he has an ability work at congress. Hiram everything in the Briefing Room and asking questions of this president when democrats are screaming i remember being in the Briefing Room and asking questions of the president when democrats are screaming he will not work with us. He has tried to work with republicans. There is a natural giveandtake also there is a natural back and forth in this town. There is an extra piece in this last six years. This president , hes got his faults definitely, but hes got his positives. And i believe he has tried to work with congress. At one point, democrats were very angry with him because they felt that he was giving into them. Theres this crazy dance in washington that has gotten a little crazier over the last six years. And i do believe that race is a factor. Host lets head back to michigan. Marty is delightful republicans. Caller thank you so much for taking my call. First, i want to say that the Health Care Bill was passed with no republican support and rammed through the congress. Ive seen clinton work with the republicans passing healthcare reform and getting things done. Hillary clinton getting the same opposition when she pushed health care. It is just, i would say, the attitude of the congress is a reflection of leadership. There is no leadership. When we say the economy is getting better, there are 92 Million People out of work stopped 60 Million People with no insurance. 61 trillion in state debt. 119 trillion of unfunded debt that my daughters, my next my daughters next 10 will be paying for. 4 trillion under bill clinton. Guest i think that was wiped out during the clinton years, if im correct. I remember wearing a button well, the clinton folks were sending out buttons where there was a black button that said in white, zero debt. Host the federal deficit . Guest yes. The clinton years were the best economically, and then we were down in the bush years with the wars. And now we are dealing with the repercussions of decisions made from years ago. And i guess the president is trying to pull it out. Its a dance hes got to do. Any president , it could have been mitt romney or john mccain and they would still have to deal with the issues of trying to do the dance of getting us out of this economy. It is not all just one president. You have to go back and see what is let up what has led up to why we are here. Health care was made during this administration. It was not made during the bush or clinton years. Healthcare reform is here now. That is his legacy bes. But the other his legacy piece. But the other issues were before him. He was dealing with the residue from another president. Host one more call in bronx new york. The line from republicans. Caller good morning. Two things i would like to say. I am very disappointed as a republican, very disappointed with republicans yesterday, why they didnt show up at selma. And they keep talking about, oh the middle class and poor people , and i would like to know from you if you think that many republicans in there are still thinking thinking like the jim crow era. Im very ashamed to be a republican today. Host lets take that in our last minute. Guest i will say this the Republican Party is definitely trying to correct the errors of the last few years. They are trying to be more inclusive. At least, they are reaching out to me in trying to do different things. I heard rand paul is going to maryland for a couple of days and hes got the Republican Party really trying to reach out. This is a nation that includes so many different people, not just white males. I say this to you, if you are very disappointed by republicans or democrats reach out to your leaders and tell them that. Make it known. We will see what happens. Youve got to speak up to your party leaders. I dont care few our a democrat, republican, what have you, you have to speak up and let them know your dismay or your distort or your support. Host april ryan, radio correspondent and author of the presidency in black and white. We appreciate you stopping by the washington journal. Guest thank you for having me. Host up next, Louise Radnofsky talks about the republican proposals for replacing the afford will care act, we will open up to talk about the Hillary Clinton email controversy. We will be right back. But tonight on the communicators, founder and ceo of comedic on media column medications corporation and the effect of the fcc rules. If they are going to impose all kinds of regulatory fees they should have regulatory fees at the local level, the states will get in the act. I have not found one thing that does not want to raise more money. It give them an opportunity. Tonight at 8 p. M. Eastern on the communicators on cspan2. The Political Landscape has changed with a 114 congress. Not only are there 43 new republicans and 15 new democrats in the house and 12 new republicans and one new democrat in the senate, there are also 108 women in congress, included the first africanamerican republican in the house and the first woman veteran in the senate. Keep track of the numbers using congressional conical chronicle. New congress, best access. On cspan, cspan cspan2, cspan radio, and cspan. Org. Washington journal continues. Host Louise Radnofsky is back at our desk. She joins us now to discuss the republican proposal to replace the a verbal care act. I want to start with the challenge that was heard last week at the supreme war. What happens if the court at the Supreme Court. What happens if the court in the coming months decides the case . What is the Immediate Impact . Guest some of this depends on how the Court Structures a ruling if it decides to side with the plaintiff. It could mean that the tax credits could go a very quickly and the decisionmaking will be so short as to preclude states not having any involvement at all. Just as a leader the rulings could be impacted by months. It could be difficult for some states to set of exchanges, but it would be more difficult is the timeframe were that of days. Host how unusual would it be for a willing to go into effect month later as opposed to 25 days . Guest as i understand it it would be very unusual indeed. Host how many people are we talking about that could be in fact it impacted if the court rules that the plaintiff . Guest 6 million enrolled in january and open a moment continued after that. In fact, there is an open enrollment timeframe for those who want to sign up again while filing their taxes. That number could climb considerably. Host what is the expected plan to replace the federal exchanges in the state is that came about . Guest what you will hear from congress and each of the state is that each of the state is responsible for coming to this and fixing this. There has been an awful lot of fingerpointing. Host what is the republican stance right now . Guest actually, it depends more on the state. You have the governor, the legislature, and the insurance commissioner. They would have a hand in shaping this. It is a game of chess that would probably be played out. Host what was the white house what was the white house say . Guest in the days leading up to oral arguments, there was a lot of this from all sides, largely because the Obama Administration supporters suggested very strongly that there was nothing they could do if the court were to side with the plaintiff. Both were designed to show the court that they never intended for this to happen, which is an important issue in the suit will stop and in the suit. Host talk about the of the members of congress using the wall street journal as a place to put forth some of their thoughts. Lets have about the ryan of to incline plan Ryan Upton Klein plan. Guest there are a few questions that republicans would have to grapple with it the subsidies were to go away very quick. One is very whether they wanted to what the Obama Administration wanted to do is to patch up a quick fix and let it go into gratuity. No republican has any intention of letting that happen. But then theres the question about letting the tax credits continue in the short term to by the time to have a very big debate about what to replace it with. And there are some divisions being articulate it for that. One of the old ones in the Ryan Upton Klein plan, the idea that they could put on the table that there could be tax credit again in future. They would be refundable. They would have some different criteria and there are a lot of details that have not been fleshed out. But essentially, the three men came out in support of tax credits, and that is important because they are the three chairman of these committees in the house. That would have an Important Role in shaping the houses the houses vision of this. Host and the three republicans in the senate. Guest what they did is almost come at it from the other direction. It committed to supporting tax credits in the short term to preserve been through the end of the year. There is been discussion about a 618 month extension to allow for breathing room in a way that the House Republicans are still not willing to do. Host these different plans being called offerings for obamacare, if the plaintiffs when if the plaintiffs win. The phone lines are open. The numbers are on the screen. One other possible plan, senators asked senator sat has been in the news with something that is being called akin to a cobra extension. Can you discuss this . Guest he was the first to come out in favor of some sort of transition. He is a freshman. It was seen by some as an indication that the freshman really wanted to be heard will stop this is going wanted to be heard. This is going to come down to more than just the three cap people in the senate. And he painted a dire picture for republicans about what would happen if they got what they wanted. The white house and democrats would blame them and they might not be able to win that messaging more that they were responsible for taking away health care for millions of people in the short timeframe. His short term plan would be in the form of tax credits as well and could give republicans the opportunity to decide some of that and then have the conversation and breathing space about what they would want to replace that with. Host and the Washington Times describing it as the claimant title winding down obamacare act. We are talking about some of these different plans for replacing the federal subsidies. Lets get to calls. Middleton is waiting in milton is waiting in west virginia, line for democrats. Caller good morning. Could you give me time to Say Something lady know the truth . I have been working on this for a year and a half. Did you know that preexisting conditions stops at the five. The Affordable Care act did not do anything for senior. The new citizens are being discriminated against Senior Citizens are being disseminated against is the medicare supplemental Insurance Program the Insurance Companies have the right to ask you preexisting questions and they can deny you coverage. The informal care act has a provision in there that excludes these Insurance Companies that allow them to do this. Why should Senior Citizens be discriminated against . Guest the short answer is, in the Affordable Care act, it leaves medicare in his policy workings essentially untouched. In its policy workings essentially a touch. The insurance policies are for policies that are sold in the exchanges. If you are over 65 and qualify for medicare, you are automatically precluded. Host as we talk about the republican plan for replacing obamacare, cspan democrat writes in jim is up north on the line for democrats. You are on with Louise Radnofsky. Caller thanks for taking my call. Im a little confused by the guests because she is talking about tax credits and shes talking about subsidies as is they are the same thing. I wish if you would just for a minute explained to me, because ive read all about these plans. Republicans are offering tax credits in some of their plans which to me, you have to have income to have tax credits. This plan is not for people that have a lot of income. Its for people that are near poverty. They dont need tax credit. They need the subsidy. Talk a little bit about those two. Guest the tax credits in the Affordable Care act can be obtained in advance and can be used to offset the cost of the premium. We often refer to them as subsidies because that is the effect that they have on insurance bills. But they are certainly tax credits. What House Republicans have proposed is over the longterm the possibility that they would have tax credits that would also be available affront to people so they could use them over the course of the year to offset the cost of their premiums, and also refundable. Host and that is the Ryan Upton Klein plan. Guest yes and if they want to continue and it is an indication that they want to continue them in some form for some. Of time. For some length of time. Host next caller, go ahead. Caller one to you getting rid of the mandate depending on the income tax bracket that you are in . Wouldnt that solve most of these huge over the issues of the Affordable Care act . Guest yes and no. The requirement to carry insurance for paid a or pay a penalty is tied to whether insurance is affordable to you. If the tax credits were to go away in thirtysomething state then there were be a larger number of people that will qualify for the exemption to the insurance. And that is what the plaintiffs are seeking. They are challenging the tax credit because their legal argument is motivated by the mandate itself. What insurance with say is that it would not get rid of the larger problem of the Affordable Care act. They are now required to sell insurance, and in exchange they require most americans to buy coverage or pay a penalty. That could course that could force premiums up for everybody. Host is there a different plan for the repeal and replace it has been called worse along by republican that has been called for, for so long by republicans. In this case, if it is struck down by the Supreme Court . Guest right now, republicans are looking at the Supreme Court as the best avenue for repealing. They have not been able to get that done. Its not clear how much either side would give in negotiations if the sprinkler created the opportunity, but it could change the dynamics considerably from what they have done so far. Host in looks vertical align for independents. Caller good morning to both of you. Does it bring down the premiums for the average consumer . Guest there would certainly be these subsidies that offset peoples premiums, although not the full amount. One of the things we have heard about a little from republicans scattered around is a desire for their proposals to be skinnier Insurance Plans available, plans that would be cheaper, but cover less. Right now, the Affordable Care act has some fairly straight requirements on what they cover how high deductibles are, things that leaves some gaps out there but are generally considered to be higher in their requirements and what previously existed in the Insurance Market. Which means the very cheapest plan people read that people were used to are not available anymore and republicans please the very cheapest plan people were used to are not available anymore. Host luis radnofsky is here with us for about half an hour. Mike is a line from forward since mike is on the line for republicans. Caller yes, quilters. Mike walters. I developed a plan based on the extension of Milton Friedmans plan of 10 years ago. It allows for competition and also provide subsidies and tax credits for preexisting conditions, but does not violate the principles of competition. It sort of like what is in the Auto Insurance area. Auto insurance is offered in the u. S. For the past 10 years with a total profit margin of about 4 . Adding competition, giving state options some states may want to have mandated coverage, like massachusetts, and others may want to price it at the right price instead of having massive subsidies. Host thinking thank you for. Is there an attraction for a plan like what he describes . Guest this is a record were to strike the law in a 237 state you would still have the issue of 13 states, were to strike the law in seven states, you would still have the issue of her teens rates that are 13 states that are democratically elected. It could certainly give them greater leeway than they currently have under this is the to pursue their own health solutions. You could see radically different policies in indiana, lets take a more from illinois. Depending on what those policies in indiana, lets say from illinois, depending on what the state wanted to do. Host next call, go ahead. Caller i was just calling to talk about a view on insurance that is kind of lost in this little discussion and it goes back to the republican conservative mantra of business is our job creators. Insurance companies did not start out as initially, hey, i want to make a lot of money and make jobs. They started out because there was demand by people in the Insurance Market, a demand by people to pool all of their risk to prevent something catastrophic that could happen to anyone of them at any given time. When you start letting people out of the pool, it seems like that is in order to benefit the Insurance Company, kind of like taking regulation away from a vegas casino so that they can change the odds. Before the Affordable Care act came along in the Insurance Market especially in health because of demand, those guys can manipulate prices, kick out people, whatever they want, and all they do is make all this money. You put some regulation back in and make everybody participate and even if you are a wealthy person arnie 400,000 a year, if you are in a bad insurance a wealthy person earning 400,000 here, if you are in a bad Insurance Market, all you have to all the choice you have is to watch her loved one die. Host these were some arguments that we are during the course of the Affordable Care act debate. Guest certainly, and at this point, the Supreme Court should be wellversed in the notion of the death spiral, which is when Healthy People drop out of the full and Prices Higher and will continue to become higher because they are dissuasive to any other sick person who needs to buy insurance. Host bob in ravenswood, west virginia, line for independents. Caller good morning, and thank you for taking my call. Louise, i would like to the european on another option that should be considered to get your opinion on another option that should be considered. I approached my congressman about this and could not think you get much traction. I went to see everybody at quality i want to see rebutted get Quality Health care. I want to see everybody get Quality Health care. And then if the governor government takes over, let the insurance handle the underwriting and that could bring prices down. Prices went down and the [indiscernible] host your thoughts on bobs options . Guest certainly, there is a lot of support for catastrophic policies being available more widely. Right now, you can get one of two the age of 35, or two had or if you had one that had previously been canceled. Certainly, a lot of people in their 50s are willing to pay for catastrophic policies, so that they can see the doctor of their choice and they are good candidate for catastrophic policies because they have the resources to get the point where they would see their insurance policies kick in. There has been discussion about this in the congress. You have the bronze, silver, and gold right now. There is a feeling that the bronze might be too generous for those who want to have a lower level of insurance, and so they cannot with copper. Came up with copper. Host kiki writes, health care should be considered a constitutional right. If you dont have health, you dont have freedom. We are talking with Louise Radnofsky with the journal of health, policy reporter there. We have been talking about the offerings that have been described if the plaintiffs win in king versus burwell. Ernie is on the line for independents. Caller good morning and things for taking my call. A few years ago when i was young man insurance was pretty much free when you work for a corporation or company. The insurance has gotten so big that they started charging astronomical prices for their services. Then they free then they refused to ensure you i nsure. I talked to a lady in Human Resources and she had previously broken her ankle and they refuse to ensure her insure her because it was considered a preexisting condition. Dont you think that there could be more pressure on this segment . Guest the insurance extends to those on medicare and medicaid. There have been changes that have had an effect on this, too. But essentially, many employees have seen their share of the premiums go up to participate in a Large Employers plan. In many cases, the Large Employer themselves are financing the plan. They do use insurance, but the insurance does not have the direct hand in setting the prices. They are asking their employees to contribute more, in part because they are looking to a change in the form care act for they will have to pay more themselves. Pressures around both have been there. There is a policy provision that has a has had an impact. Host are republicans coalescing around one of these plans . When should we expect that to happen if it is going to . Guest the general consensus around republicans is that they dont have to have a consensus until june and the Supreme Court ruling. And that is not just because it is some weeks away and they are buying time, but to some extent what will be in republicans power to do, if anything, will be entirely dependent on what the Supreme Court decides. And they logically conclude as well that there is no point having a very bitter fight right now if there is no need to. Certainly, democrat would agree that theyve had very brutal discussions at times about what they should have as their vision or Health Care Overhaul four Health Care Overhaul. And democrats have almost look at that gleefully and said well, at least that is one consolation and they would have to go through what we went through as well. Host if they decide for the plaintiff, the justices, did they ask about any of these replacements or what comes next during the arguments that happened last week at the Supreme Court . Guest there was a little bit of that and a little bit of looking back to see what it was congress intended in the first place and what the text of the statute ended up saying. But the proliferation of the pieces in the days leading up to the Supreme Court and the days after do seem to be designed in no small part to my just as the Obama Administration was trying to send a strong message to the justice is that there would be a replacement on the table to try to tamp down some of the argument that the justices could not possibly strike tax credits because the world would catch on fire if they did. Host on the line for republicans, go ahead. Caller i know ways why theyve done it, to get elected. Most republicans the only way this is going to be solved is conservative ideas. Conservative. The constitution. There aint no such thing as the Affordable Care act. It was all a lie. Im on medicare and i cannot even get a bill from it doctor out here. A pill from a doctor out here. Aint nothing you can do to fix income of because it was a big lie. Host if you want to put on your political reporters hat for a second and talk about 2016. Is the Affordable Care act going to be as big an issue in campaign ads in 2016 as we saw in 2014 and 2012 . Guest i could put on my hat and say it depends on the court ruling, for sure. But one question it does not get asked a lot from applicants four republicans is what they will do if the court does not cite for the plaintiff. That would definitely factor into the 2016 president ial elections. And what would replace the report care act if it has been significantly gutted. Host if they dont decide for the plaintiff, we go back to the callers concern. Hes saying that these numbers were elected to repeal the Affordable Care act. Is there a plan on the table legislatively . Guest certainly, republicans in congress have attended to repeal the law. From a pulling perspective repeal a polling perspective they generally say that they dont like the law. There is a general sense among the majority of respondents that they want to keep it, perhaps the they are exhausted by the idea of another reform battle. But repeal triggers an emotional reaction from people and that is why they will tell you that republicans have voted more than 50 times repeal it. When phrase that way, it is in their favor. Host john, good morning. Caller you just answer my question. The republicans have no plan. The question of this morning is really moot. The republicans have no plan. The second reason i called is there is a chart that showed the recent drop in uninsured state by red states versus blue states. Are you familiar with that chart . It shows the percentage of the uninsured that dropped statebystate in the red states and blue states. That is what the public needs to see. Could you address that . Host i dont have that chart and for me, but i will let luis radnofsky address it. Guest the Obama Administration had to come up with evidence that showed a drop in the uninsured. There have been a large number of is that have attempted to track the the changes in the percentages of uninsured. And certainly, by most measures the proportion of the uninsured is lower than it has been a has been in a long time in many places. In some states, those states expanded medicaid to include those that make a little bit more than the Poverty Level and that has had a significant impact. We dont know how much the exchanges allowing those with slightly higher income to buy coverage with help from the government and with medical history that has kept them from getting insurance. Some had lost their policies and came to the exchanges and they are captured too, in the numbers. There are a large number of these studies and they do essentially point to this idea that there has been a drop. Host nebraska, patricia is waiting on the line for independents. Caller i see statistics that we have comparatively high medical costs, but poor care, compared to the rest the world. Is there ever any plan for taking Insurance Company completely out of our medical systems . Im kind of one that believes that is what drives up the cost and then compromises our care. Ive seen times when Insurance Companies make medical decisions. That is my question. Guest there are certainly a few lawmakers that would support such a plan, have floated such a plan. Generally however, the fight has been around how to change the existing insurance system that preserves a large wealth for private Insurance Companies and for private employee employers. If you think back to have one government option excluded included in the exchanges, and the extent to which that cause difficulties in getting consensus around the law that eventually pass, that would give you some sense of how difficult that would be to achieve in the Current Congress. Host can you talk about tea leaves . How the judges are going to roll . Guest dont do it. Anybody who is making a prediction at this point probably should be should not be. That said, the row number of reporters who were there and we learned that there appear to be to justices two justices at play. There may be other judges in play but two certainly signaled that they were in play. And perhaps for the government, that is actually better sign that they expected going in. Two votes possibly open to being swayed by then. Host when you just need one. Guest yes, and one of the issues that appeared that the justices appeared to focus on is the extent to which states, by declining to set up their own exchanges, were being coerced by congress in the way it was set up because they would have to make tax credits available. And this issue of coercion is important because the court had originally ruled on it in 2012 and what people said would be the blockbuster Health Care Case and has upheld the mandate. And said that states could not be coerced in expanding into expanding medicaid. Host lets go to janet, crystal lake, illinois, line four republicans. Caller good morning. Thank you for taking my phone call, first of all. Here are a couple of problems that i had. I feel like my rights have been taken away, because i dont the right to really choose what my health care is. Heres a little bit of my situation. Im 61 years old and i make it is living. Not great, but decent living. When i called to get my insurance, it will be running 1000 per month. I do have a preexisting condition, which they will not cover the drugs for that. My drugs cost 30,000 a year. Then i have to ask myself, do i pay for my property taxes or do i pay for Health Insurance . I would rather have been able to say, i will run with no Health Insurance whatsoever and i will cover my own drug bill, but i do want to be having 1000 a month for Health Insurance and a delectable with 6,300 a year. Deductible with 6,300 a year. Host is that how you used to do things before the of portable before the a formal care act . Caller yes, i used to cover my own insurance. But at least i had the choice. When they start giving examples, they give these examples of people that are 35 years old or 28 years old, and they get on tv and they say, this is the greatest policy around. I get a subsidy. My policy might cost 100 per month. I would be drilled of my policy cost 100 per month. I would be thrilled if my policy cost 100 per month. How would these people like a 6,300 deductible plus 30,000 for the drugs that i have to take. When i call the drug to company to say, can i get a deal on this 30,000 per year drug . This 30,000 per year drug, they said, sorry, you make 1000 per year more than what you would qualify for. Everybody elses rights get looked at and they say the book of the people are right here. What about the bulk of the people that are 55 and 60 before they can get onto medicare . Host thank you for sharing your story. I want to let Louise Radnofsky jump in. Guest it is an interesting story, and the details set out a lot of what is going on. The choice you would essentially have is between finding a way to meet your insurance costs that you had before that sort of works, even though the drug is very expensive. And now the choice is between paying a large amount of money for Insurance Plan that does not actually cover the thing that you want to cover and then finding the money for the drug still. Or choosing to forgo the Insurance Plan because it does not seem to be a value and then finding a way to pay the penalty. That has stuck a lot of people with difficult and painful choices that they feel very angry about. And there is certainly a an ongoing issue about what the Insurance Plans in the exchanges will be able to cover. There are a lot less expensive they are a lot more expensive than they used to be because of what they are required to cover. And you push one button and it works well for somebody and not for another. You have people that are angry that the Insurance Plans that are available to them do not cover the expense of treatment that they wanted to cover. Host henderson texas, line for independents. Henderson, are you with us . Caller who decided what is affordable on the Affordable Care act . What price range did they come up with . And also, what is the price range on salary for the middle classes . Where do they start the middle class . Who is the class they keep talking about . And who made the decision what is affordable for people under the Affordable Care act . Guest the Affordable Care act does have some definitions of affordability of Health Insurance. They are fairly complicated, but essentially, the working standard is somewhere between 8 and 9. 5 , depending on what you are looking at, of your monthly paycheck. The question of who is defined as the middle class is easier to answer. The subsidies are available to people between the poverty line and four times that amount. For a Single Person that is around 11,000, 12,000, depending on the year to 48,000 and then slightly larger for larger household. The subsidies are available on a sliding scale, so they taper off toward the end and are much more valuable for people lower down on the from. Host i will try to get one more call. Danny is waiting in alabama on the line for democrats. Caller good morning and thank you for taking my call. They asked the lady a while ago about taking the Insurance Companies out of the equation. I want people to understand how many Pension Plans Insurance Companies underwrite. If you did, he would ruin the economy. I think that is why obama said if he could do it from scratch, he would do it differently. But what weve already got, it had to be included, the insurance had to be included in the plan, what he did. The Affordable Care, its only a plan just like you got a group plan. That is all it is, with some restrictions in it. We will still have more competition as the years go on and more Companies Come into your state. And insurances will be getting cheaper. From 68, i worked for the company where i thought employees paying zero. Ive been retired 12 years, but now they are paying over 400 per month. And that was from zero. Host denny, thank you for sharing your view from alabama. Guest a couple of things, when that really get what we are talking about today insurance buys are intricately woven into the Health Care System at this point. Insurance plans are intricately woven into the Health Care System at this point. It could have a complicated written effect. It might take some days, weeks months, or even years to figure out how far that has reached. That is probably the main thing to focus on. And people still have very strong opinions about what Health Care Reform should look like. And even if the Supreme Court does hold the law of as it stands, its very likely debate will continue for months years possibly through the president ial election but likely path that point because people have very strong opinions. Host Louise Radnofsky, i always appreciate your knowledge and insight on this topic. Up next, we will be back to hear from our democratic and independent viewers on whether the unfolding controversy surrounding hillary and emails surrounding Hillary Clintons emails and the impact it could have on her potential president ial candidacy. We will be right back. Tonight on the communicators founder and ceo of Media Communications corporation on the challenges facing Media Companies and the fallout from the latest fcc decision affecting the internet. I have no doubt that this will increase rates for consumers. Cracks wise wise that why is that . All these fees, regulatory fees utilities, and the states that we operate are going to get into the act. Ive not found one government that does not want to waste more money and that will give an opportunity to raise more money. Tonight at eight eastern on the at 8 00 eastern on the communicators. The Political Landscape has changed with the 114 congress. Not only are there 43 new republicans and 50 new democrats in the house and talk to republicans and one new democrat it in the senate. Theres 108 Women Congress and the first woman better it in the senate. Veteran in the senate. Keep track of them and the congressional chronicle page on cspan. Com. Cspan. Org. New congress, best access on cspan, cspan2, cspan. Org. Announcer washington journal continues. Host in a last half hour of washington journal, we are opening our phone to our democrat and independent colors. Callers. We are asking if it has impacted her potential candidacy and hurt her 2016 campaign. If you are a democratic and independent viewer in eastern social time zone, it is 202748 8000. Youll be talking about this for the next 30 minutes. Headlines on this topic making the front pages in the opinion pages in several newspapers around the country. He is the front page of the Washington Post this morning. The story noting that with backtoback revelations that she was working with Foreign Countries that gave millions of dollars to rich handler double foundation her familys Charitable Foundation and that her exclusive use of private email system was an argument for a clinton candidacy put in peril. This is the political column in the washington journal. Basic questions about private email linger. Heres the headline from the front page of the opinion section of the Washington Times. Hillarys watergate is the headline there. The democrat superstar failed to take the nixon lesson to heart. Heres the lead editorial in todays Washington Times as well. Not ready for hillary is the headline for that piece. Clintons disdain for the rules and tone deafness has shown in the way that she and her husband insist on living their lives. This deserves savvy democrats who worry that the public might be wary of the endless clinton soap opera. They are reluctant to say so in public, though they fear that the public is not only not ready for hillary, but may be ready to forget hillary. That is the editorial writing in the Washington Times this morning. This was a topic on some of the sunday shows. One of those who went on the sunday show was senator Dianne Feinstein. She was asked about Hillary Clintons email. Heres a bit of what she had to say. [video clip] what i would like is for her to come forward and say what the situation is because she is the preeminent political figure right now. She is the leading candidate whether it be republican or democrat to be the next president. I think that she needs to step up and come out and state exactly what the situation is. Some people you think the silence is hurting her . I think from this point on the silence is going to hurt her. Host senator Dianne Feinstein a democratic senator talking about this issue. Republicans are also talking about this issue on the sunday shows including congressman trey gowdy. He is the chairman of the Selective Committee on benghazi. He was on face the nation and he was asked about hillarys use of a private email and private sermon it server as well. [video clip] where there any gaps of emails . There were. You think of that iconic picture of her on the c17, sunglasses on, and the handheld device in her hands, we have no emails from that day and we have no emails from that trip. Their strange credibility to believe that if you are your way to libya that theres not a single document that has been turned over to congress. There are huge gaps and with respect to the president , it is not up to secretary clinton to decide what is Public Record and what is not. We need someone, and frankly ive lost confidence of the state department to make that determination. They are the one to allow this arrangement and they did nothing to this arrangement. Frankly, i think your viewers are entitled to a neutral attached arbiter to determine what is Public Record, and that never should have let the custody of government, and secondarily, what is our committee entitled to. We are not entitled to everything. I do not what everything. I just what everything related to libya and benghazi. Host Hillary Clintons response so far coming in the form of a tweet. She wrote netsuite, i want a public to see my email. I asked the state department to release them. They said they will relieve them review them for release as soon as possible pickup we are asking our democratic and independent colors of what this means for Hillary Clintons potential president ial campaign. Do you think this impact her and her ability to run in 2016 . First up is mary and georgia. Caller i have no problem with mary Hillary Clinton. powell and Condoleezza Rice did it. What is the difference with her . This is the republicans and they are afraid of hillary and they are tried to get something on her. You can change peoples minds the same way they do with barack obama. You can go on fox and let the fox listeners hear them and they try to take the credibility from her. She is going to be the president. So they can just get over it. People do not fall for the hokey. Vote for hillary. Host that was mary and georgia. She brought up former secretary of state colin powell. He was asked about his email use and his time in office. Heres a bit of what he had to say. [video clip] i started using it in order for everyone else to use it to be a 21st Century Institution and not a 19th Century Institution. I retain that of those emails and im working with the state department to see theres anything they want to discuss with me about those emails. Asked you to turn them over but you dont have them . I do not have them. I do not print them off. I do not have them in my personal files. A lot of the emails that came out of my personal account went into the state department system. It were just a state Department Employees and the state. Gov domain. I do not know if the Service Servers in the state department capture them or not. They are all declassified and im not terribly concerned if they were able to recover them. Host we are talking with just our democratic and independent viewers in his last 20 minutes or so of the washington journal. What does this email controversy need for Hillary Clintons ability to run in the democratic primary and the election race as well . Nancy is a democrat massachusetts. Good morning. Caller i want to know whether and she traveled with the secretary or someone she is going to be doing business with on long trips . Wouldnt there be some paperwork that she would have . Host youre talking about emails that she sent from her personal account to our state Department Employees . Caller yes. Is it that the whole point of having secretaries and associates . Host you think these people should have been the ones responsible for keeping all of her communications . Caller yes. Host ok. Don is in maryland on the line for democrats. We are talking the democrats and independents here if you want to call it. Good morning. Caller im a hillary supporter. I just want to say that this whole thing is much ado about nothing. I think the republicans are just out to get hillary. They are afraid of her and the fact that she is so popular and powerful. Even frank luntz, the repugnant pollster, i saw him on the morning show a couple of days ago and he was saying that after he had this focus for group, he said that after talking to these people in the focus group that i have to say that he thinks Hillary Clinton will be elected for the next president. He is a republican pollster. I was amazed that he admitted that hillary is so strong and he predicted that she will win the next election. She is not perfect but i think that she has a background. She has been secretary of state. She has a lot of international experience. I think shes going to get it. Host let me ask uses typically on this email issue. The agree with senator feinstein of california saying that Hillary Clinton needs to at least explain herself more on this personal email account and personal server as well . Caller i would agree with that. I also feel that she is not formally announced that she is going to run for president. I think that is one reason why the response has been a little slower. But i think it would be good for her to come out and just get it out in the open and explain herself. But anyway, i think that she has excellent chance of being elected as our next president. Host a few tweets on the topic. Steve wrightson, the state department has all of hillarys email. If there are any gaps, ask the state department, not hillary. Jody writes, if the nsa is doing their job, they should have all of hillarys emails. Eastern and central time zones 2027488000. In the mountain, 2027488001. White house aides are frustrated that the former cabinet members silence on the issue. That is the headline there in the wall street journal. Obama was asked about the email issue on face the nation yesterday. Heres what he had to say. [video clip] were you disappointed . Let me just say that Hillary Clinton has been outstanding public servant. She was a great secretary of state for me. My administration encourages transparency. My blackberry that i carry around. All those records are available in an archive. Im glad that hillary is instructed that those emails that had to do with official business need to be disclosed. You say that you have the most Transparent Administration ever. How does this square with that . I think the fact that she is going to be moving forward will allow us to make sure that the people have the information that they need. Host the Washington Post and their story on the topic this morning. Their piece says it reminds people of the schedule scandal and transparency that were often associated with bill clintons eight years in washington. We want to know how our democratic and independent viewers feel about this and how it might impact your vote and how you participate in the democratic primary. That might include Hillary Clinton. Phoenix, arizona on the line for democrats. David, good morning. Caller good morning. I personally do not think that the emails is going to be much of a scandal. I think it has got a little bit of legs but i do not think it is going to be that much because of how we have been transitioning from snail mail to electronic mail. The regulations are all new. But i still believe, as i did back in 2007 when we were electing barack obama instead of Hillary Clinton, i still believe that she has things in her past and in bills passed in b ills past that will hinder her becoming the president. That is just my opinion. As a democrat, i will support her if she is the nominee, but i believe that we have some work to do before that. Host who would you like to see roddick in a primary run in a primary . Caller iparty committed to a oneperson support to Bernie Sanders because he has picked up a mantle that i have been touting as a way to help our society six our own budget which is dfix our own budget which is to tax a quarter million. We have a place were we should raise that to 22 point Million Dollars before they stop paying taxes on that. I think that is one the big mantle paces mantle pieces that he has in fixing the economy. Host he is talking about the vermont senator. Nancy is an independent. Good morning. Caller good morning. Host go ahead. You are on washington journal. Caller my comment on hillary she has come a long way. She is not going to change. For me to vote for her, im going to stick with fidel castro. 50 years ago, i came to this country. Nobody knew who he was. We do not know who she is because she is hiding a lot of stuff. I do not think im going to vote for her. Another one coming up is not for hillary. I see this country going down and down because one hand watches the other hand. That is my comment. Host the last caller was saying that he does not think this is going to be a longterm story. Do you think that these emails or what may or may not be in there is going to follow her for a lot longer here . Caller theyre going to throw it out. Believe me. It is not going to be a threat it is going to be down the road. It is nothing. It is like the time where she was with the clinton and her husband. Elkland, her husband. Nothing is going to do. Nothing is going to be done. No one is was do anything. No one is going to do anything. One hand with the other. That is not nothing. I do not going to vote for her. Host arlene is in san francisco, california. Arlene is a democrat. Good morning, arlene. Caller i just wanted to say that i think it is a nonstory. It is ridiculous that we are even talking about this. The previous secretary of state also have his personal email. I mean, really. It will affect my vote for her. I will vote for her and hopefully we will have a democrat in the white house again. So we want have any republicans wanted to go to war. That has created a great disaster as far as look at iraq now. What a failed state it has become. Host you think this they nonstory this is a nonstory . What about the donations that the Clinton Foundation has excepted from Foreign Countries . The second graph says that as clinton commemorates the womens rights act in beijing, she finds herself under attack for the foundation acceptance of millions of dollars innovations and donations from middle Eastern Countries know for violence against women and for dying and for denying the many basic freedoms. This was not how she intended to reintroduce resulted american voters. You think that story is a nonstory . Caller i do not know all of the rules and regulations for money going into foundations. I do not know specifics of who donated. Host that is arlene in san francisco. Martin is a democrat. Good morning. Caller how are you doing . Host im fine. Caller first off, i think hillary is pretty much toast. I say that as a democrat. I think she is too old. I think she has been through enough transitions and our demographics. Elizabeth warren would be a more sense a cold choice. Ive got to go with the earlier guy. I say why not Bernie Sanders . It would be the one thing that would force democrats and republicans to work together. It is like humans going after the aliens or Something Like that. As far as the emails go, theres just too much backlog. Besides that, they never got to foxnews and broadcasting they did not get a chance to open their pen the words there pandoras box of fun for the previous election because barack obviously got elected. I think hillary will have to bow out, just like benghazi and everything else, it will be a self and relating thing immolating thing. I think Bernie Sanders is the answer and i think hillary ought to bow out gracefully and help the democratic party. But i think she is too old. Host martin in california. A few tweets on this topic. Hillary should not say anything as a candidate until she is a candidate. Fed up with the media. This is a nonissue. This will not change anyones mind. Uncle johnny writes, why did the hillary appointed benghazi independent review board discover the secret email cap two years ago or did they . Hillary has also been has always been a lightning rod for the right. If it has been bad for president obama, it will get worse with clinton. The best thing that happened to her of hopkins the news of Hillary Rodham clintons exhaustive use of private email account while serving as secretary of state gives her pumpkins a fresh way to paint her as untrustworthy answer to. Without an official campaign to defend her in the media, clintons response of a single tweet allows her to dodge questions on cable news. We are taking calls in the last 10 minutes or so from democratic and independent viewers. Michael is in houston, texas. Do you think this changes a Hillary Clinton candidacy in 2016 . Caller i cannot predict what will happen. But i do think that the controversy is without merit. There was the regulation in 2009 that said all employees of the state department a government correspondence should be served preserve for federal records. She mayor or may not have known about it at the time. May or may not have known about it at the time. She shouldve released every government email, every government related email that she sent an cap her private email separate. It does raise concerns. Whether it will affect the elections are not or not. Host i just want to sit back and watch as head spin. Always fun stuff. New york, della is a democrat. Caller good morning. Emails are important. They are reminiscent of the billing records that they cap sacred kept secret in the governors mansion. When im more concerned about what i am more concerned about i want to know why did they passed nafta which took away the jobs of the American People . Why did they repealed glasssteagall act that allowed the commercial banks and investment banks to merge with the Savings Banks and actually caused the crisis of 20072008 . I want an answer to those questions because she ran as copresident. I want them to answer those questions. And also, why did they pardon the criminals . Why do they pardon whats his name . They guy who is ill fee of guilty of espionage . I want an answer to those questions which they should answer to when she was copresident of the United States. Host are you saying there are more serious issues out there that she needs to be dealing with and that her campaign should be talking about . Caller what did she accomplish as copresident of the United States . Remember, she said by one, get to. That is what she ran under. Why did they do the things that they did . Why did they give us a Health Care Bill, instead they passed nafta . When they came into office in 1992, they had a democratic congress. They couldve given us a Health Care Bill. Instead, they passed nafta which sent jobs down to mexico. Why did they do that . I want an answer to those questions. Host all right got your point. Joe is a democrat. Caller good morning. That last person did not sound like an independent, nor did the angry woman from florida. What my point is i do not think any official business ones was manufactured through enough im a person who hates to receive emails and all my friends know that. I think anything official would be documented with copies in the state department and put in briefcases, handcuffed to a trusted person with maybe someone else going and flying across the atlantic to deliver them to heads of state or ambassadors. I cannot imagine any official business will be conducted through emails. I would think that would be like to her secretary, clear my schedule for friday afternoon because there is want to be a baby shower for my daughter or, to her husband, asked the cook i feel like having a pork roast tomorrow night for dinner. Just personal things that are of no importance whatsoever. I cannot believe any real official business was sent via email. I do like hillary and always have and will support her. I think president obama is just one of the best president s this country has ever had. Host that was joan in georgia. He is some of the heres some the questions that Hillary Clinton should answer. Why did clinton said of this email system . How many emails did she sent from a private account in her four years . Which emails were sent to the state department for archiving . And did anyone raise concern about clintons exclusive use of the private email system . Just a few of the questions that he lays out in his column today with the Washington Post. Bills in washington as a democrat. What do you think about this email controversy . Caller good morning and thank you for taking my call. I have a suggestion for all the democrats. If they will have bumper stickers made that say, one question what have the republicans done for you . It is like many billboards running all around the country. If you want to beat the republicans, this is going to be a good way to do it. It might even get some republican members to flip over and vote democrat if they find out that they have done nothing for them. Thank you for your time. Have a great day. Host that was built in washington. Vivian says on twitter, the socalled scandal will be dead and gone before any votes are cast. People will find news tables to rally around. John is a democrat. Good morning. Caller good morning. What really should be looking at is that cheneys in the bushes and whatever. And the bushes and whatever. As far as hillary taking foreign money, look at the keystone pipeline. Is that not a Foreign Company tried to come to United States . People are talking and looking at the wrong things. You look at the wars. Where was all this money going to do these wars with . As soon as we get out of one wed get into another one. Wake up america. Follow the money. The company that makes texan bullets tanks and bullets what aegons new are you going to do . Host john is the last caller today on washington journal. Hope you join us tomorrow morning. Have a great monday. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2014] and look at our Live Programming today on cspan. At 11 30 a. M. Eastern conference and a obama will be addressing leaders at the National League of cities conference. The president planning to announce plannin