controversy dogging president obama. did top aides, including the vice president joe biden warn him about it beforehand? new information coming in. i'm wolf blitzer. you're in "the situation room." our national political correspondent jim acosta is following it for us. >> reporter: it sounded like he was referring to mitt romney as mr. burns, the villain from "the simpsons" who once said release the hounds. that's because in the race for the alpha dog, the fangs are out. rick santorum doesn't need anybody to tell him who let the dogs out. >> i think it's interesting you're asking that question about governor romney and his attack dogs.connect 1200 he has an opportunity tomorrow at this convention ironically he spoke to them four years ago this week, wolf, when he was pulling out of the presidential race. let's listen to what he says. >> i stand for conservative prim pes, i'll fight alongside you for all the things we believe it in, and one of the things we believe is we cannot allow the next president of the united states to retreat in the face of evil extremism. >> wolf, he received a great reception there four years ago, because don't forget, even though he was getting out of the race, he was the conservative candidate, because they didn't like john mccain. >> he was the conservative alternative to john mccain. i remember it. >> now he's got to prove -- >> let me read from "wall street journal," the criticism of romney. now his political team's instinct will dig into the oppo research and savage mr. santorum. this may get him 51% of the delegates, but he would be a weaker nominee for it. pretty strong words. but i think it's a fair point. as you and i have been talking, first of all, you lose sent voters over that. you've got to attack rick santorum and newt gingrich, if you will, because he had no choice but to win arizona and michigan. so he has been to differentiate himself. i've been talking to a lot of strategists, and they're always eager to give their advice to mitt romney. what they're saying is he needs to start filling out that story line, change the narrative. not just say i'm the business guy, but say, you know what? i need to fix washington, we need to fix it. here's how i would do it. that way they say he might be be able to tap into the anger of the tea party, for example, by being anti-washington, not just being an outsider, and he can take on more of a pop you list appeal that way. we've heard him talking about his fare, fix, but they say he needs to change the story line a bit. >> gloria, thank you very much. i want you to stick around and listen to the interview with congressman ron paul. congressman, as usual, thanks very much for coming in, but quick question. why aren't you at the conservative political action conference under way here in washington? the other three republican candidates will be addressing the group tomorrow. >> well, we made the decision a couple months ago not to do it. it was a matter of resources. you know, we have a lot of young people involved in our campaign. we asked a lot of them, and they're doing a lot of hard work, they do the phone calling and the door knocking, and all these things, and they're scattered by. we decided we wouldn't put the effort -- people don't come there automatically, and our supporters, we've asked them to do other jobs, so we had decided that a couple months ago not to come to cpac. >> how do you explain the recent success of rick santorum, certainly at the expense of mitt romney? >> i think it's the frustration with the republican base i think there's a few republicans that might not even vote republican, and we have a lot of those that come to our rallies from the democratic party. but i think it's a lack of enthusiasm for any of the other three. it's been around for a bit, but there's a bit of irony, though, for santorum to be the one that's criticizing mitt romney as sort of being liberal. when we do the analysis and look at his voting record, he's not a moderate. he has voted for a lot of big government things. so from my viewpoint, it's a big ironic that this sharp criticism and arguments and debates going back and forth, i don't know, maybe the people are getting tired of it, maybe they're tired of the rpg dickering among themselves when they realize their positions are essentially the same. and of course, we're not on the top. we see ourselves growing in enthusiasm and our numbers keep growing, so hopefully the message will resonate and more will join us. i think that will be the case. >> i way i see it, from your perspective, correct me if you think i'm wrong, you have your positions very well known to a lot of supporters and other folks, but you look at the other three republican candidates, you don't see a lot of difference among these other three, do you? >> no, i don't. that, of course, falls to benefit to us, because in many ways i'm running against the status quo, individuals that support the positions that existed, they don't question anything in foreign policy or anything in monetary policy. they've got big spenders. i mean, none of them when they had a chance to really show fiscal conservatism, they didn't do it. they don't offer any cuts, so there is a difference, but i think that's -- that is what's raising the frustration level with many republicans, and i -- i would have to work hard to present my case for limited government and different monetary system and looking at entitlements and actual cuts. you know i propose and i'm very sincere about it that i would cut a trillion out of the budget. i think government is too big and if you want it smaller, you have to cut the spending. >> speak about the monetary policy, i know you want to go back to the gold standard. walk us through how that would work out, play out. right now the international economy is basically based on the u.s. dollar. if you went to the gold standard, how do you change that? walk us through the process. >> well, not easily. you couldn't do it with waving a wand, you can't do it in a day. you can't get rid of the fed in a day, but you have to have gradualism. when we went back to the gold standard after civil war, it was like 17 jeers later with a three-year transition period. all i want to do is legalize competition with this -- the world is going to come crashing down financially when they continues. i just want people to opt out and be able to preserve their wealth by using another currency. and the system even by those who are very much in charge on international finance knows this is coming. they're talking about a new currency, but they're talking about another paper currency run by the united nations. that, of course, would be an anathema to those of us who believe we have a right to -- >> you say the system is about to come crashing down. you look at the last three years. since president obama took office, if you look at the dow jones, the wall street numbers, they have really gone up a lot from under 7,000, 6500, 6800, approaching 13,000. why are these numbers so good right now? >> well, because the fed has created so much money. the inflation is an increase in supply of money. we never know it's at, but they will channel it, so channeled to the financial markets, and the banks got the money for free, where the people who produce jobs, they don't even -- it's much safer for the banks to borrow at 0 percent, and they get out of trouble. there's stocks like that, but there's no real growth, irregardless of what the employment statistics shows. in the past ten years there's really been no growth. we've a 30 million nick in population, but no significant increase in jobs. this country is in much of worse shape. the unemployment rate is 11%. that's why the people feel worse than the government tells us we're supposed to feel. i think the american people know that. that's why there's still a lot of concern about the economy. >> where do you stand, congressman, on the debate that's under way, the fight that's under way between the white house and the catholic church on contraception as far as religious-based hospitals, charities, universities, that would be required to provide contraception. you're a doctor among other things. where do you stand on this fight that's going on, not only as a position but as a libertarian? >> well, the position -- i just don't like mandates and telling people what to do. we get into trouble when you use taxpayer funding to do things you shouldn't be doing. when the taxpayers get involved, you say how can you be fair to everybody? well, you can't be, so the government shouldn't be funding it, but certainly if the funding is going to occur, you don't tell churches what they should do. so i don't like the mandates at all, and i think obama has dug a hole for himself here, because he's trampling on religious conviction, but the political and economic and constitutional approach of government being involved in doing things like this is really where it starts. then you say, we have a government program, how can you sanitize everybody's wants and wills and what they want to do and protect everybody? it's absolutely impossible. this is why the voluntary -- you have voluntary churches or whatever, you can do what you want, the government doesn't have a say just to protect voluntary choices rather than the government dictating to people what they should or shouldn't do about birth control. >> i want to be precise on this and then i'll let you go. a woman works at georgetown university hospital, a catholic-based university hospital. you're not necessarily catholic, even if you are catholic, you want access, your health insurance to get birth control pills. should your health insurance company be required to provide you that kind of access? >> no. then it's not insurance. once there's a government involvement, but if insurance were voluntary issue for individuals rather than the way we deliver it with tax benefits to large corporations, and your medical benefits go with the corporation become very complex. in a true free market, you pick the company that would provide you with the services that you said. it would be like picking out which life insurance policy you want, or picking out what kind of house policy you want, or what kind of car policy you said. it would be individualized. when they put a mandate on, say you must do this or that, it's no longer insurance. they're not measuring their risk at all. the customer is not making and choice and the businessman is not making a choice. it's the fault of compulsion by government-run programs that will northweinevitably will lea these fights. >> will you win on start? >> i think we have a chance. every time i've been you have there, the support has been wonderful. i'm so pleased they're receptive to the ideas of liberty, and i'm cautiously optimistic about saturday. >> we'll be covering it with a special "the situation room," 6:00 p.m. eastern starting our cover saturday night. congressman paul, as usual, thanks very much for coming in. >> thank you. "the cafferty file" is up next. then more on the contraception controversy dogging president obama. this top aide, including the vice president joe biden warn him of the political risk beforehand? and the slaughter in syria. what hacked e-mails allegedly reveal about the government's efforts to manipulate the world news media. plus a politics blaming women for a rise in rape cases. wait until you see he's caught doing. we have the video. one of the best things about state farm is our accessibility. oh, yeah? [ chris ] you can call us 24-7, get quotes online, start a claim with our smartphone app. you name it, we're here, anytime, anywhere, any way you want it. that's the way i need it. any way you want it. [ man ] all night? all night. every night? any way you want it. that's the way i need it. we just had ourselves a little journey moment there. yep. [ man ] saw 'em in '83 in fresno. place was crawling with chicks. i got to go. ♪ any way you want it ♪ that's the way you need it ♪ any way you want it ♪ sadly, no. oh. but i did pick up your dry cleaning and had your shoes shined. well, i made you a reservation at the sushi place around the corner. well, in that case, i better get back to these invoices... which i'll do right after making your favorite pancakes. you know what? i'm going to tidy up your side of the office. i can't hear you because i'm also making you a smoothie. [ male announcer ] marriott hotels & resorts knows it's better for xerox to automate their global invoice process so they can focus on serving their customers. with xerox, you're ready for real business. jack cafferty is here with "the cafferty file." jack? >> as a serious brutal crackdown intensifies, it seems increasingly likely there will be some kind of military action. calling to protect the syrian population. one opposition group reports that more than 130 civilians were killed today, most of them in the city of homs. there are reports of bomb explosion, wounded people bleeding to death in the streets because they can't get medical help, and snipers picking off civilians running for cover. doctors inside syria says government forces are targeting hospitals, medical staffs and patients. meanwhile, the pentagon and u.s. central central command have begun reviewing military options. one senior officials calls it a scoping exercise, to see what's possible giving our other military commitments in the region. it's not unusual for the pentagon to do this. it's so they have the options ready if the president wants them at some point. they're likely conversation everything from humanitarian relief to support of opposition groups inside syria. one source says outright strikes are unnecessary. one option is a safe haven. others like john mccain says the u.s. should consider all options. the state department says while they never take anything off the table they don't think sending more arms into syria is the answer. it's believe that any action would be riskier and more complicated than the libyan mission and a lot of people don't think the united states should have gotten involved in that. here's the question -- should the united states be involved? go to cnn.com/caffertyfile, post a comment on my blog, or go to our post on "the situation room's" facebook page. >> jack, thank you. are the conservative activists gathering here in washington worried that president obama will be tough to beat in eric erickson has the inside track. he and donna brazile are standing by. and shockeying details about syria. we now know what advisers to bashar al assad were telling him to say as the crackdown escalated. a catholic cable tv network is now suing the u.s. government in a lawsuit over a controversial health care reform provision. it requires religiously affiliated employers to provide full contraception coverage to women. the issue is certainly dogging president obama and sparking fierce partisan debate. our white house correspondent dan lothian is joins us. what are you picking up there? >> again this is one of the thor issues not going away. at the white house discussions continue behind the scenes, and according to a sort familiar with the catholic community, the administration has spoken with at least one group. we heard from senator john kerry, a democrat noises calling for a compromise. he believes there can be a balance between providing the health care that people need and also respecting religious beliefs. what is clear here is opposition to the ruling does not break along party lines. it's a controversial decision that keeping dogging the president. >> are there any thoughts to share before you leave? >> after days of heavy pressure from catholic groups and republicans on the trail and on capitol hill -- >> government should be telling institutions what to do, and they certainly should be be oppressing them. >> some democrats are joining the political fray and criticizing the president's decision, including former virginia governor tim kaine, who said he expressed grave concerns to the white house over its policy that requires religious affiliated organization to provide contraception coverage. >> i think they made a bad decision in not allowing a broad enough religious employer exception. >> kaine made the comment with kathy lewis, a public affairs radio show in norfolk, virginia. more pressure on the administration came in this her from house democratic leader john larsing to health and human services secretary kathleen sebelius. while he supports the requirement for contraceptive services, he wrote, quote -- i believe that further flexibility needs to be granted to religiously affiliated organization in this instance. white house sources admit aiding were split on this decision, but that it was along gender lines, and then this was the question of who in the president's inner circle tried to change his mind. >> i will not get into internal deliberations and who was on which side. >> reporter: to be sure the white house does have supporters on this issue. and from democrats pressuring the president not to back down. >> this latest ruling on women's access to family plans and health care has absolutely politicized in what i call an ongoing war against women. >> my colleagues and i stand in solidarity with american women, who have waited decades for equity in contraceptive coverage. >> but now there's bipartisan -- a democrat a republican looking to repeal this portion of the health care law. they believe the federal government has overreached. they say if the president doesn't reconsider, then congress will act. one other note, wolf, a short time ago after wrapping up the meeting with the italian prime minister here at the white house, the president again was asked to comment. he said oh, come on, guys, certainly appearing frustrated or irritated by the question, but again there's a lot of pressure on this white house and it doesn't seem to be going away. >> is it fair to say -- it was suggested in "new york times" yesterday that a lot of the women who work for the president supported this decision, but some of the catholic men, like perhaps joe biden, the former -- >> reporter: that's right. the white house really has been pushing back. it hasn't been along gender lines here at the white house. yes, clearly there was opposition. there's some aides who thought this was the right decision, others who thought it was not, but here at the white house they're saying that both men and women were on both sides of this issue. it wasn't according to gender, wolf? >> dan lothian thanks very much. syrian opposition group is reporting as many as 137 deaths at the hands of government forces today. and now we're getting a shocking inside look at how the syrian government is allegedly stemming the crackdown to the outside world. the source, secret e-mails posted by the notorious hacking group anonymous. brian todd, what are you finding out? >> reporter: one person we nose connected to the group says the e-mails appeared to be authentic. if so it decrease like as if bashar al assad's aides have a very high opinion of americans. it's days before a big interview and bashar al assad is being coached, to spin this crackdown, one aide writes, don't talk reform. americans won't care or understand that. the aide advises the syrian president to talk about, quote, mistakes, blame his own police. american psyche can be easily manipulated when they hear there are, quote mistakes done and now we are, quote, fixing it. here's what asaid said about the crackdown in that early december interview with barbara walters. >> these are individuals and individual mistakes. >> done by the military or done by whom? >> we don't know everything, but some cases done by the police, summer cases done by syrians. >> reporter: that e-mail was apparently from the press att