might. a new poll puts barrett even with scott walker. another poll puts barrett behind. john nichols has the latest. mitt romney joins donald trump and blows the birther dog whistle. >> in addition to the angge of e president and the citizenship of the president, i would like it to also say that the president has to spend at least three years working in business before the president can become the president of the united states. and even fox defenders are saying fox news is rotten to the core. >> instead of concentrating on job creation, president obama has concentrated on growing government. >> you will not believe the new fox and friends attack on the president. good to have you with us tonight, folks. thanks for watching. it's been less than 24 hours since mitt romney secured the republican nomination for president. now we know how he plans to win the white house. politico published a report today showing the record amount of money republican groups will spend to get romney elected into the oval office. according to sources within the groups, republican super pacs and other outside groups plan to spend roughly $1 billion on november's elections to win the white house and get control of the congress. now, to put this in perspective, in 2008, john mccain raised $370 million, barack obama set records by raising $750 million. the money being spent by the koch brothers is going to be $400 million, more than mccain's entire presidential campaign. the two koch brothers will write checks equal to or double the amount raised by organized labor. we always hear about organized labor writing all the checks. really? add it up this year. it will be a fraction of what these folks do. this is serious money and president obama warned about the consequences when he called out the supreme court's citizens united decision in 2010. >> with all due deference to separation of powers, last week the supreme court reversed a century of law that i believe will open the floodgates for special interests, including foreign corporations, to spend without limit in our elections. >> i think the key there is "century of law," but all of a sudden that's not good. sam alito, yeah, he was sitting there shaking his head no, but president obama was exactly right. billionaire texan harold simmons told "the wall street journal," "i have lots of money and can give it legally now. just never to democrats." he's willing to give his money to the network of pacs run by karl rove, the kochs, the u.s. chamber of commerce, and so many more. rove says, of course, his group is supporting the underdog. >> we expect to have a large war chest next april and may when the president is certainly going to come after the republican nominee, whoever he or she says, and the republican nominee will be out of cash and out of gas and we'll be there to defend him. >> oh, poor karl, but the truth is the exact opposite today. these groups represent the elite, and mitt romney, he's their guy. he supports their interests, that's the key. here's what mitt romney will do about wall street regulations. >> burdensome regulations serve only to restrict freedom and imperil enterprise. and the victims of the regulation are not nameless, faceless banks. they're employees, business openers, and customers who rely on banks who ultimately lose out. >> and when it come to corporate business interests, romney is on the same page as the billionaires. >> phase one, get the corporate tax rate competitive with the rates in europe and the rest of the world, get it down to 25%. >> the top 1% has it great under president obama when it comes to taxes. actually, everybody does. the average income tax rate for a family of four under ronald reagan was more than 11%. it was more than 9% under bill clinton. under president obama, it's about 4.5%. and as we know, mitt romney will give millionaires a tax rate of nearly 5%. those making less than $30,000 a year will actually see a tax increase. how far is that? but billionaires don't care about the people making 30 grand a year or less. they want a guy who will look out for them. >> we have to return to free market, free individual capitalism that builds a stronger economy. i will lower taxes for employers. i will eliminate the burden of regulations on our economy. >> do we really know where we're going in this country? make no mistake about it, if romney and his crowd get control of the government, it will end the middle class in america. no kidding. they don't have the interests of the rest of the country in mind. it's all about them and the top 1%. i mean, look, it is so clear-cut. the new "rolling stone" article out, which identifies 16 -- there's only 16 of them, think about that -- 16 millionaires and billionaires who are trying to get romney into the white house. they are going to want something in return for their money, don't you think? here's the list of their demands. pollution deregulation. see ya, clean water, clean air, and all that good stuff. limiting awards for jury settlements. they want to protect corporations from being sued for wrongdoing and running over consumers. how about those defense contracts? oh, can't touch the pentagon spending budget. corporate welfare, plenty of government subsidies for corporations and more, probably. tax cuts for the wealthiest americans. now, we've been through that, haven't we? have we seen the job creation because of the bush tax cuts? no, we haven't. wall street-deemed regulation. forget that, there's not going to be anymore dodd/frank if these people get ahold of it. and more oil drilling. even though we are drilling more now than ever before on american soil. all of these policies are supported by mitt romney, all of them. it is a blueprint for making sure that this chart stays the same, exactly the way it is right now. they don't want any change. they like it the way it's going right here. the redliners will keep making all the money. the blueliners, you know where they're going to be? stay right down there where they've been for the last 30 years, because that's just the way they like it. a rising tide does not lift all of the boats, not in their world. meanwhile, productivity, where's productivity going to go? well, hell, they're going to get rid of unions and make sure that workers just do a hell of a lot more and give up more. this country right now is at a crossroads. and i'm not trying to oversell this. all i do is listen to their policies and listen to what they say. so far, mitt romney and his crowd have nothing on the table for the middle class. the majority of wage earners in this country, the bulk of who we are as a country, they have nothing for them. all of the breaks are going to go right here. they're trying to destroy everything. there's no plan for health care with these folks. it's the private sector. they want to destroy every wage earner in america when it comes to retirement. they want raiding companies and pengs is okay. they want to destroy collective bargaining. they're going after the fabric of this country, they're trying to concentrate the wealth. so when i say that the middle class is under attack, and this is it, i mean, i'll tell you, i can't believe that i have a radio show and a cable show and all of this stuff is happening in this country. i cannot believe that this is happening on my watch. and on your watch. and i sit here thinking, well, i better say something! i have to say something. we are obligated as americans to say something. we are going to go through an election cycle where we are going to see gobs of money like we have never seen before. look at wisconsin. 25 to 1 in the ratio. that is a microcosm of what we're going to see in every state in this country. and when they're done with obama, if they beat obama and they're done with him, where do you think they're going to go next? they're going to fight like hell to get every gubernatorial chair in this country controlled by a republican and a corporatist, who is going to favor what they want. so, gosh, it's doom and gloom, eddy. no, it's not! no, it's not. because you can make a difference. you're a middle classer, you're a wage earner. just remember one thing. they can't take your vote. you can sit this out and get discouraged, maybe even next tuesday, i doubt it, or you can get involved in this process and have the character, the pride, and the dignity to know that no one bought your vote. that you took the time to find out exactly what the hell these people are all about and where they want to take this country, and you're going to do something about it. you're going to do your share, your part and make it happen. that's how the middle class is going to be saved. because this crowd right here, they got nothing for you. nothing. i want the next reporter that comes in contact with mitt romney to ask him, what is your plan for the middle class? because a lot of those factories and companies you shut down where jobs went overseas, aren't these the wage earners you're concerned about? no. get your cell phones out. i want to know what you think. tonight's question, would the middle class survive a mitt romney presidency? text "a" for yes, text "b" for no to 622639. you can always go to our blog at ed.msnbc.com. we'll bring you the results a little later on in the show. i'm joined tonight by robert greenwald, founder and president of brave new films and the director of the koch brothers film, "exposed," and former congressman, tom perriello. gentleman, great to have you with us tonight. robert, you first. are republicans, are they just setting up a system to make sure that, hell, we're never going to have another democratic president! i mean, this is it. this is the template for making sure that a democrat never goes to the white house again. or is that too extreme for my part? >> well, maybe not extreme, but maybe too pessimistic, ed. what they are trying to do, they're trying to use the billionaires who are behind them to buy the election. fortunately, the election is not for sale. and as you said, there's lots that each and every one of us can do and must do. but i also think it's important to understand exactly what they're doing and exactly why they're doing it, because it is, in fact, legalized bribery. these billionaires are paying for policies so they can make more billion dollars. so that there are no restrict n restrictions of any kind, so that they get greater tax breaks, so that they can further pollute or further destroy the country in whatever ways, increase their profitability. it's not off the charts, is a reason for it. they put money into candidates and they take things out. >> tom, is outspending by republicans the the going to be the main challenge in virtually every race in this election? >> well, i think the combination of the attack on voting rights and the sale of our democracy to the highest bidder is really a one-two punch, right to the gut of the middle class. and as was noted earlier, this isn't some ideological battle. this is a return on investment, where we're talking about a yacht full of billionaires who are going to get 40 to 1, 100 to 1 in special tax rates to themselves. and who picks up the tab for that? it's the middle class. it's the american worker. and so we already have an economy that's rigged against the middle class. they are now trying to lock that into a political system that's rigged against the middle class. >> so, tom, how do you fight it? you've got to go right to the heart of the people, because you're not going to be able to match the money. >> i think people are rising up and realizing just how rigged the system is. and they realize that people power is right response to this. to go and get informed, find out who these people are that are funneling, and the agenda they want. and you see time and again that working and middle class folks feel like they've been sold a bill of goods by the republicans. and they want to stand up and say, hey, what's in this for us? what's something that actually starts to bring good jobs back and the competitive advantage of america back. and i think they're seeing that now in a good progressive agenda. >> you know what amazes me, robert, you know, why aren't there a lot of big-money donors supporting obama like they did in 2008. they must know what the landscape looks like right now. are they that disenchanted with the president? >> i think some are disenchanted, ed, but i also think it's a lot easier psychologically to put $1 million in knowing that you're going to get $10 million or $15 million or $100 million out in return. progressive donors are actually working against their own narrow economic self-interests, but they're working for the betterment of the country, because they believe that, in fact, the country needs to be strong, everyone needs to prosper, there needs to be jobs, and all those kinds of good things so i think you're seeing some of that. but ultimately, everyone knows, ed, we can't outspend them. which is why, again, it's important that the policy that has money in politics, the attack, whether it's the constitutional amendment or it's the laws of disclosure. we have to go at the source and say we cannot allow ourselves to have a system where billions and billions can be put in with no consequences. >> and tom, if romney ends up being a weak candidate down the stretch, what will these pacs do with all the money? i mean, it will be just an onslaught on president obama. >> well, you saw mitt romney as a weak candidate in the primary and you saw what happened. it was the independent expenditures that came in and outspent four to one, seven to one, eight to one, and he still only eked out these primaries by three or four points in a lot of the key midwestern states, because working middle class voters looked at him and his agenda and said, this isn't for us. so the so-called independent groups had to come in and bail him out and i think you'll see that again. you're also going to see that down ticket in some of these house and senate races that are going to play out this way. and i think, unfortunately, that amount of money really can have a huge effect on the flow of information, but voters are smart and decent and i think they'll overcome this. >> this will be the year of displaying heart by progressives, just how bad do you want it? robert greenwald, tom perriello, thanks for being with us. and share your thoughts on twitter @edshow. scott walker is raising loads in wisconsin. "the nation's" john nichols with the latest on the recall next. and donald trump isn't backing off the birther nonsense and mitt romney is just fine with all of it. krystal ball, john errol, and abby lewis will weigh in on all of that in the big panel tonight. i have evidence that proves my dad's a space alien. he speaks a weird language. [ gargling ] [ gargling ] he drinks green stuff. he says he's from albuquerque. i'm not buying it. i mean, just look at him. and one more thing -- he has a spaceship. [ whirring ] the evidence doesn't lie. my dad's an alien. [ male announcer ] the highly advanced audi a6. named to car and driver's 10 best. ♪ coming up, it was another huge day of news in wisconsin. john nichols of "the nation" is breaking down the poll numbers, the john doe investigation, and the latest on the big-name democrats helping tom barrett defeat with scott walker. and republicans are subverting democracy. some say it's worse than wisconsin. radio and talk show host tom hartman will have the latest with me later in the show. share your thoughts on twitter using the #edshow. we're coming right back. in the first place. and why you still feel the same. but your erectile dysfunction -- that could be a question of blood flow. cialis for daily use helps you be ready anytime the moment's right. you can be more confident in your ability to be ready. and the same cialis is the only daily ed tablet approved to treat ed and symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently or urgently. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than four hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or if you have any allergic reactions such as rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a 30-tablet free trial. welcome back to "the ed show." we're six days away from wisconsin's recall election and new poll numbers are out. a marquette poll released today seven points. but new numbers from democratic pollster celinda lake show walker and barrett in a dead heat at 49 to 49. and it's a miracle governor walker isn't polling through the roof considering all the money that he has raised and the commercials that are running. walker's campaign raked in at least $6 million in the last five weeks. it puts his total fund-raising at over $30 million since january 2011. and it's a good thing walker is raising all that money. he needs to pad his legal defense fund. new campaign finance reports show that walker has transferred $100,000 into his legal defense fund since may 3rd. he now as $160,000 sitting in the account. meanwhile, national democrats are finally showing up to the badger state. dnc chair debbie wasserman schultz stumped for barrett in milwaukee and racine, wisconsin, today. chair of the democratic governor's association, martin o'malley, will campaign for barrett in wisconsin tomorrow. and reports surfaced that bill clinton is sorting out his schedule for a possible visit to the badger state. it certainly can't hurt. but there is one high-profile democrat who is planning not to go and show up in wisconsin. president obama's deputy campaign manager stephanie cutter downplayed the importance of a visit to wisconsin earlier today. if you think that the secret weapon here is sending president obama, then i'm pleased that you believe that. it has nothing to do with president obama at the top of the ticket. there may be some that will, you know, predict that it means doom for us in wisconsin in the fall elections, but i think they'll be proven wrong. >> there is no doubt that there is a huge political calculation being made right now by the obama team not to send the president to wisconsin. i think he needs to get there. he needs to fire up the troops even more. this is about the middle class. this is absolutely, really, there's no downside when president obama shows up. how could there be a downside? it would be all upside. this is ground zero in the 30-year war against the middle class by the conservatives. it's the first true test and measurement against citizens united. and it would be a big boost for this country's confidence when it comes to the vote. if walker wins this, republican governors will have more power than ever before to carry out their attacks on the middle class. i hear it on the radio all the time. they'd love to see president obama there. he goes to newton, iowa. he's going to be in minneapolis on friday. his campaign office in chicago. it's all around, but it is in? yes, i know the resources are there. obama for america and the dnc, but the main man they want to see is president obama. they want him on that line, because he talked about being on that line with them back in 2007. and now it's all on the line for people who had done it for him and delivered that state back when he needed it. this is about winning. maybe i'm just too much of a