The War Room with Jennifer Granholm http://current.com/shows/the-war-room Wed, 16 May 2012 19:08:53 +0000 en hourly 1 Bundling unwrapped: What is it, and should bundlers be identified? http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/blog/bundling-unwrapped-what-is-it-and-should-bundlers-be-identified Wed, 16 May 2012 17:19:52 +0000 Aaron Burgess http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=post&p=12666
According to FEC guidelines, in a given election, individuals are only allowed to contribute $2,500 to a single candidate; however, "bundlers" routinely make donations of $500,000 or more. The Obama campaign has identified more than 500 bundlers on its website, but the Romney camp is keeping their lips sealed. read post]]> Following President Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage last week he received an outpouring of support – in the form of money. According to FEC guidelines, in a given election, individuals are only allowed to contribute $2,500 to a single candidate; however, ”bundlers”  routinely make donations of $500,000 or more. So far, just a handful of these bundlers within the LGBT community have raised more than $3.3 million for Obama, which begs the question: What exactly is a bundler?

Essentially, a bundler is a member of a certain community or organization who gathers contributions for a particular candidate. Traditional fundraisers simply ask members of a community or organization to make donations to a particular candidate. These donations, however, are small (per FEC guidelines) and come in over time, making it hard for the campaign and the public to see a particular community’s support. A bundler, on the other hand, collects all of the community’s donations and presents them to the candidate at one time. This has the effect of giving the campaign a large and immediate influx of money that is explicitly attached to a certain group or issue.

In this case, bundlers that are in or support the LGBT community have given Obama a clear sign they support his stance on the issue of marriage equality. For a detailed look into who the bundlers are, and more on Obama’s fundraising after his endorsement, check out Chris O’Connor’s article in Forbes. There is, however, a flip side to the bundler issue. Campaigns are not required by law to release the names of these bundlers, although every candidate since George W. Bush has decided to… until now.

Just as Mitt Romney didn’t want to release his tax returns, he also doesn’t want to release the names of his biggest bundlers. For good reason perhaps. As NPR reported, Jack Abramoff, a bundler for George Bush in 2004 pleaded guilty to corruption charges, and in 2008 Norman Hsu, a bundler for Hillary Clinton was revealed as a Ponzi architect.

The Obama campaign has identified more than 500 bundlers on its website, but the Romney camp is keeping their lips sealed. Who are these people fueling money to Romney? Do we have a right to know?

]]> Granholm: Run through the open door http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/granholm-run-through-the-open-door Wed, 16 May 2012 02:39:55 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12643
Jennifer Granholm says women who break the glass ceiling have a duty to reach through the shards and pull other women up by mentoring those who come behind. watch video]]> Jennifer Granholm says women who break the glass ceiling have a duty to reach through the shards and pull other women up. Without women as mentors, she says, “we end up with a war on women – with men as the only soldiers in the battlefield.” And from the battlefield, Granholm says to expect scars, to honor the scars received from fighting for someone or something important.

]]> We don’t live in a world where there’s abstinence and unicorns’ – Lizz Winstead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/we-dont-live-in-a-world-where-theres-abstinence-and-unicorns-lizz-winstead Wed, 16 May 2012 02:35:47 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12651
Lizz Winstead discusses her new book in 'The War Room.' Winstead, who held a comedy tour for Planned Parenthood last year, asks if the war on women is "the last gasp of the white male power structure." watch video]]> Writer and satirist Lizz Winstead joins Jennifer Granholm in ‘The War Room’ to discuss her new book and the effects of the war on women. Winstead, who held a comedy tour for Planned Parenthood last year, asks if the war on women is “the last gasp of the white male power structure.” Winstead shares her personal story to help people understand the reality of what happens when there’s little sex ed. “If we continue to hear this meme that motherhood is one of the hardest jobs in the world, then we should allow people to be as prepared for it as possible,” Winstead says.

]]> Goolsbee: Clear differences between Obama and Romney on budget plans http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/goolsbee-clear-differences-between-obama-and-romney-on-budget-plans Wed, 16 May 2012 02:30:38 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12646
Austan Goolsbee breaks down the difference between Obama and Romneyon the budget deficit: "If you put to the American people, do you want to go crush Social Security and Medicare... I don't see anyone being for that." watch video]]> Austan Goolsbee, former chair of the president’s council of economic advisors, says we have to deal with the aging global population. Goolsbee explains the kind of plan the U.S. needs to deal with an increased number of retirees, and it’s very similar to Obama’s ideas and leagues away from Romney’s. “If you put to the American people, do you want to go crush Social Security and Medicare in order to pay for some deficit reduction and a whole lot of high income tax cuts, I don’t see anyone being for that.”

]]> Lizz Winstead: Humor and politics http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/blog/lizz-winstead-humor-and-politics Tue, 15 May 2012 22:56:56 +0000 The War Room Staff http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=post&p=12609
Lizz Winstead is a master of turning outrage into something funny. As co-creator and one-time head writer of The Daily Show, she has had her feet firmly planted in the boys' clubs of humor and politics, but that's not the only thing that sets her apart from many women: she has been a public champion of Planned Parenthood and she writes about not getting the "mommy gene" and going to prom at age 35. read post]]> Lizz Winstead is a master of turning outrage into something funny. As co-creator and one-time head writer of The Daily Show, she has had her feet firmly planted in the boys’ clubs of humor and politics, but that’s not the only thing that sets her apart from many women: she has been a public champion of Planned Parenthood and she writes about not getting the “mommy gene” and going to prom at age 35.

Winstead delves into her personal and professional lives in a new book of autobiographical essays called Lizz Free or Die, which you can read a bit of over at NPR. She’ll join us tonight in ‘The War Room’ to talk about her writing, the war on women and the ongoing circus we call politics.

If you’re unfamiliar with Lizz, here’s her primer on Michele Bachmann, fool for Christ, from 2008. Watch, then tune in tonight at 9/8c only on Current TV.

For more Lizz, check out her YouTube channel or read her writing at The Huffington Post.

 

 

]]> What happened to Wall Street reform? http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/blog/what-happened-to-wall-street-reform Tue, 15 May 2012 16:34:58 +0000 Christopher Hickey http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=post&p=12525
You would think that after a best-selling book, an Academy Award-winning documentary, and the worst recession since the 1930s, Wall Street might be willing to admit, "You know, we may have overstepped our boundaries." read post]]> You would think that after a best-selling book, an Academy Award-winning documentary, and the worst recession since the 1930s, Wall Street might be willing to admit, “You know, we may have overstepped our boundaries.” Nobody passed that memo on to JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who admitted last week that his bank lost over two billion dollars in credit default swaps this quarter. Yes, that’s four times the amount the US Department of Energy loaned to Solyndra. No, you haven’t traveled through time to 2008. (Dimon faced shareholders today, by the way, and someone had the good sense to liveblog the conversation.)

What happened to Wall Street reform? Matt Taibbi, who recently reported on the dismantling of Dodd-Frank and other acts of Wall Street crookery, thinks JP Morgan’s blunder may undermine the whole effort.  But are our current financial regulations enough? Felix Salmon examines how exactly the bank blew through two billion dollars in one quarter, and comes to the following conclusion:

Your sophisticated platform needs to be built on a foundation of dumb rules: simple limits on how big any one position can get, on how much exposure you can have to any one counterparty, or in general on any trade which is based on the hypothesis that your desk is smarter than anybody else on Wall Street.

 

Those kind of rules won’t prevent all blow-ups, of course, but they’ll help. They would have prevented this one, and they would have put an end to Jon Corzine’s disastrous MF Global trades, as well.

 

The problem is that traders hate dumb rules, because they cap the amount of money they can make. And traders have enormous power at investment banks these days, because they make the lion’s share of the profits. That’s why it’s important that the CEO of an investment bank not be a trader. And certainly it’s crucial that the CEO shouldn’t have his own trading account and buy and sell from his Blackberry during meetings, as Corzine did. That’s just a recipe for disaster.

What do you think? Will JP Morgan prompt any new legislation enforcing these “dumb rules?” Meanwhile, this pro-Romney ad released yesterday from American Future Fund tries to position Barack Obama as the “Big Wall Street” candidate. Er, come again?

]]> Congress or big oil: Who’s really controlling US foreign policy? http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/congress-or-big-oil-who%e2%80%99s-really-controlling-us-foreign-policy Tue, 15 May 2012 02:39:57 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12566
Steve Coll, author of “Private Empire: Exxon Mobile and American Power," and Jennifer Granholm discuss why oil companies are fighting regulation that would make them disclose money they pay to foreign governments. watch video]]> Wall Street isn’t the only one lobbying against financial regulation, so are big oil companies. Steve Coll, president of New America Foundation and author of “Private Empire: Exxon Mobile and American Power,” and Jennifer Granholm discuss why oil companies don’t want to disclose how much money they’re giving to foreign governments.

]]> Granholm: Romney is waging a war on logic http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/granholm-romney-is-waging-a-war-on-logic Tue, 15 May 2012 01:39:45 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12570
Jennifer Granholm says Mitt Romney waged a war on jobs while he was at Bain Capital, a company that focused on profits not job creation. watch video]]> Jennifer Granholm has a problem with the Republican claim that President Obama is waging a war on jobs: “It’s totally nonsense!” Granholm says it’s actually Mitt Romney who waged a war on jobs while he was at Bain Capital. “For Mitt Romney to now turn around and claim that job creation was his motivation and his success. Well he’s waging a war on logic.”

]]> Coppins: Evangelical voters still skeptical of Romney http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/coppins-evangelical-voters-still-skeptical-of-romney Tue, 15 May 2012 01:30:25 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12568
Buzzfeed’s McKay Coppins joins Jennifer Grahholm to discuss Mitt Romney’s struggle to connect with evangelical voters. watch video]]> Buzzfeed’s McKay Coppins attended Mitt Romney’s commencement speech at Liberty University. Coppins tells Jennifer Granholm that overall reviews were positive but the crowd questioned whether Romney was on the same “theological page” as them.

]]> History was made, now what? The effects of Obama’s historic stance on gay marriage http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/blog/history-was-made-now-what-the-effects-of-obamas-historic-stance-on-gay-marriage Mon, 14 May 2012 22:07:30 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=post&p=12511
Last week President Obama took a bold step when he revealed his support for same-sex marriage. While the president's feelings about the issue don't directly influence lawmakers, there has been movement in pushing for legislation that gives same-sex partners the rights and privileges opposite-sex partners enjoy. read post]]> Last week President Obama took a bold step when he revealed his support for same-sex marriage. While the president’s feelings about the issue don’t directly influence lawmakers, there has been movement in pushing for legislation that gives same-sex partners the rights and privileges opposite-sex partners enjoy.

The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is drafting legislation that would give employees of the federal government who are in same-sex domestic partnerships the same rights and benefits as their straight, married counterparts. According to the summary of the bill (S. 1910: Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2011): “Same-sex domestic partners of federal employees living together in a committed relationship would be eligible for health benefits, long-term care, Family and Medical Leave, and federal retirement benefits, among others.” Sen. Susan Collins of Maine says this move is “both fair policy and good business practice” arguing that that the private sector is ahead on this front, pointing out that “almost 60 percent of all Fortune 500 companies, one out of three employers, and 50 percent of employers with 5,000 or more workers, provide benefits to domestic partners of their employees.”

And the public sector isn’t the only group that needs to play catch-up. A GOP pollster, Jan van Lohuizen, has urged Republicans to start “evolving” on this issue of equality too. Talking Points Memo reported that the pollster recommended “Republicans express their support for ‘equality under the law as a fundamental principle’ because ‘freedom means freedom for everyone.’ Remarkably, Lohuizen advises Republicans to reframe gay rights as a conservative value.”

But it could take some time for Republicans to take heed of that advice. In an effort to give same-sex equality legislation another chance after it was killed in the Colorado house last week, Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, called for a special session in the House State Affairs Committee to revisit six bills, one of which was a civil union bill.

The House State Affairs Committee will hear and decide on the bill this afternoon. Meanwhile, Rhode Island is ahead of the curve, taking a step toward equality by allotting the same rights to same-sex partners who were legally married in states that currently allow it. The executive order came from Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who said the president’s announcement last Wednesday was “positive momentum” but that he didn’t anticipate legislation supporting gay marriage to pass in Rhode Island this session.

And tonight we’ll dive into the latest on gay marriage the week after the president’s endorsement with Democratic pollster John Whaley and the National Journal’s Alex Roarty reporter Andy Kroll. Be sure and follow us on Facebook and Twitter and tune in tonight at 9/8c only on Current TV.

]]> Extra: W. Kamau Bell on political comedy and satire in the post-Bush era http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/web-exclusive-w-kamau-bell-on-political-comedy-and-satire-in-the-post-bush-era Mon, 14 May 2012 21:16:36 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12120
Political satirist W. Kamau Bell answers questions about the world of political comedy and satire in the post-Bush era. "Bush was a soft target so comics who were never political could make fun of him," says Bell. Obama? Not so much, according to Bell. watch video]]> In this web exclusive, political satirist W. Kamau Bell answers questions about the world of political comedy and satire in the post-Bush era. “Bush was a soft target so comics who were never political could make fun of him,” says Bell. Obama? Not so much, according to Bell.

]]> Ronald B. Scott on #Bullygate: Memory problem or honesty problem? http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/ronald-b-scott-on-bullygate-memory-problem-or-honesty-problem Sat, 12 May 2012 02:55:47 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12470
Ronald B. Scott, author of "Mitt Romney: An inside look at the man and his politics," says he was shocked when the bullying allegations against Romney were revealed and that Romney has a pattern of forgetting disturbing incidents. watch video]]> Ronald B. Scott, author of “Mitt Romney: An inside look at the man and his politics,” says he was shocked for the first time when the bullying allegations against Romney were revealed. Scott says Romney’s lack of recollection of controversial events is a “habit that he has when he gets into a difficult situation.” And it’a a pattern Scott calls disturbing. “When he’s confronted with that information,” Scott says of an earlier incident, “he doesn’t recall that either.”

]]> Williams: Community debating whether Obama empathetic to African American issues http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/williams-community-debating-whether-obama-empathetic-to-african-american-issues Sat, 12 May 2012 02:49:25 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12473
Politico's Joe Williams says the president's endorsement of gay marriage won't damage Obama's reputation in the black community in the long term. But it could dampen enthusiasm. watch video]]> Politico’s Joe Williams says the president’s endorsement of gay marriage won’t damage Obama’s reputation in the black community in the long term. It could dampen enthusiasm, however, and remind the African-American community of ongoing frustrations with the president. “It’s about persuasion mobilization enthusiasm in an election where every vote is going to matter,” Williams tells Granholm. “Mobilization is going to be the key, the ground game is going to determine who goes to the white house next turn around,” he says.

]]> The ‘Romney bubble:’ Separate from harsh realities many Americans face http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/the-romney-bubble-separate-from-harsh-realities-many-americans-face Sat, 12 May 2012 01:50:55 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12458
Jennifer Granholm calls out Mitt Romney for his bullying past and present, wondering aloud whether Romney thinks about the people he has hurt while pursuing his personal ambitions. watch video]]> Jennifer Granholm calls out Mitt Romney for his bullying past and present, wondering aloud whether Romney thinks about the people he has hurt while pursuing his personal ambitions and suggesting he has never faced consequences for his actions. Romney, she says, “is focused like a laser on the problem at hand: How to get elected president. Nothing else matters.”

]]> Extra: Words on gay marriage, the sound of history in the making http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/gay-marriage-the-sound-of-history-in-the-making Sat, 12 May 2012 00:32:09 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12447
In this web exclusive relive this weeks historic moments after the president and vice president expressed their full support of same-sex marriage. watch video]]> In this Web exclusive, relive the historic comments by President Obama and Vice President Biden, as well as others who expressed their support of same-sex marriage. What was your reaction? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

]]> Socializing with ‘The War Room’: The most popular posts of the week http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/blog/socializing-with-%e2%80%98the-war-room%e2%80%99-the-most-popular-posts-of-the-week Fri, 11 May 2012 23:06:01 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=post&p=12426
We are wrapping up a big week here in 'The War Room.' With President Obama coming out in support of same-sex marriage and our own Jennifer Granholm getting fired up over Romney's attempt to rewrite history around the auto industry bailout, our social media channels were abuzz with commentary as we focused on the issues of fairness and equality that are near to people's hearts and that impact their lives. read post]]> We are wrapping up a big week here in ‘The War Room.’ With President Obama coming out in support of same-sex marriage and our own Jennifer Granholm getting fired up over Romney’s attempt to rewrite history around the auto industry bailout, our social media channels were abuzz with commentary as we focused on the issues of fairness and equality that are near to people’s hearts and that impact their lives.

Here’s a round-up of the Tweets and Facebook posts that got the most attention.

]]> Occupy Spots: Take back the message from the big money machine http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/blog/occupy-spots-take-back-the-message-from-the-big-money-machine Fri, 11 May 2012 19:29:38 +0000 Jessica Hilberman http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=post&p=12409
On the heels of George Clooney's account-busting big Hollywood money Obama fundraising event, it's hard to believe that the 2012 campaign will ever be short of cash. It's not hard to believe, however, that the little guy might have trouble getting his voice heard. Enter Occupy Spots, where the 99% can fund and produce issue-based ads to represent themselves. read post]]>

On the heels of George Clooney’s account-busting big Hollywood money Obama fundraising event, it’s hard to believe that the 2012 campaign will ever be short of cash. It’s not hard to believe, however, that the little guy might have trouble getting his voice heard. Enter Occupy Spots, where the 99% can fund and produce issue-based ads to represent themselves.

Using LoudSauce, a crowdfunded platform that works like a Kickstarter for ad buys, Occupy Spots is able to promote their own messages about the Occupy movement – letting Occupy speak for itself, rather than be defined by the press. Last year Occupy Spots raised more than $20,000 from more than 300 people via LoudSauce to air three Occupy Movement spots on TV. The first spot aired over 170 times, even on Fox News.

True to their mission, anyone can apply to be part of the next Occupy Spots campaign, but act fast. The submission deadline is May 21. Tonight, we’ll talk to Occupy Spots’ Gina Levy about how people can help Occupy the media to spread their messages. Tune in at 9/8c only on Current TV.

 

]]> Boehlert: Right wing bloggers went bonkers on Romney bullying story http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/boehlert-right-wing-bloggers-went-bonkers-on-romney-bullying-story Fri, 11 May 2012 02:29:49 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12381
"We're going to take note of this incredible double standard," says Eric Boehlert, calling out the right wing activists who criticize coverage of Romney's teenage bullying. watch video]]> “We’re going to take note of this incredible double standard,” says Media Matters for America’s Eric Boehlert, calling out the right wing activists who criticize coverage of Romney’s teenage bullying. “These are the same right wing conservative activists who scream and yell that the press never vetted Obama, they never wrote about his youth… But now when the Washington Post writes a completely above board story fully quoted story about Romney’s youth it’s a hit piece. You can’t have it both ways,” he tells Jennifer Granholm in The War Room. “If you’re going to run for president, your youth is going to be reported on. That’s not surprising.”

]]> The economy? We’ll talk about that. And same-sex marriage, women’s health http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/the-economy-well-talk-about-that-and-same-sex-marriage-womens-health Fri, 11 May 2012 02:09:40 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12383
Guy Cecil, explains that while the Republicans are trying to paint Obama's same-sex marriage comments as a distraction, the Democrats feel it's an important issue to many Americans. watch video]]> Guy Cecil, executive director of Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, explains that while the Republicans are trying to paint Obama’s same-sex marriage comments as a distraction, the Democrats feel it’s an important issue to many Americans. To the GOP challenge that Democrats don’t want to talk about the economy, he says, “we want to make sure that we’re holding @MittRomney and Republicans around the country accountable.”

]]> Shhh! Brett’s Talking Now: 100% full of Mitt http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/shhh-bretts-talking-now-100-full-of-mitt Fri, 11 May 2012 01:30:29 +0000 Laurel Moorhead http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/?post_type=video&p=12379
TV critic Brett Erlich previews a new History Channel special, 'I'll Take a Lot of Credit,' starring Mitt Romney. watch video]]> TV critic Brett Erlich previews a new History Channel special, ‘I’ll Take a Lot of Credit,’ starring Mitt Romney. Brett has the backstory on how Romney’s inspiration launched the political career of a young Barack Obama, how Romney sowed the seeds for the iPod and even generated the idea for ideas themselves.

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