American Morning
WH Adviser Jarrett: State of the Union will focus on 'America winning'
President Barack Obama is expected to focus on job creation and economic growth in his State of the Union address tonight. White House adviser Valerie Jarrett says that while the president hopes to embrace the renewed spirit of civility in Washington DC he strikes a cautious tone, "Sitting together is one thing. Working together and moving our country forward on behalf of the citizens of our country is what the president's first priority is."
Jarrett gives a brief preview of the speech tonight and weighs in on whether the President would welcome Rahm Emanuel back to the White House.
Freshman Reps. Womack and Cicilline on the change they'll bring to DC
We're taking a look this week at some of the newest members entering congress this year. Yesterday we talked to Representatives Karen Bass, D, California, and Paul Gosar, R, Arizona, about what they thought were the most pressing needs for the 112th congress.
Today we talk to Representative Steve Womack, R, Arkansas, who not only won his seat by the second largest margin in his state but was also the only Republican in Arkansas who had not been backed by the Tea Party. As well as talking to Representative David Cicilline, D, who will replace Rep. Patrick Kennedy as the representative from Rhode Island.
Representatives Womack and Cicilline explain to T.J. Holmes what message they are bringing to Capitol Hill and Washington DC from their constituents outside the beltway bubble.
What to expect from the 112th Congress
Today marks the first day of the 112th Congress, and with it, a new Republican majority in the House of Representatives. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is promising that House Republicans will run "a cut-and-grow majority" in the upcoming year, planning to reduce the amount of federal spending while simultaneously growing the economy.
Number one on the House Republicans' agenda is a vote on repealing President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul. Some Republicans say they were elected to repeal the legislation. But a recent CNN/Opinion Research Poll finds that only 37 percent oppose the bill for being too liberal, and that any possible legislation passed would meet a veto from President Obama. Does that mean Republicans' efforts are a waste of time?
Kiki McLean, a Democratic strategist, and Ed Rollins, a Republican strategist, talk to American Morning about the Republican roadmap for healthcare repeal and the other upcoming legislative battles facing the new Congress.
Axelrod: Americans 'going to get screwed' if tax hikes not prevented
(CNN) - President Barack Obama vigorously defended his agreement with Republicans to extend all of the Bush-era tax cuts on Tuesday, arguing that it was a price that had to be paid to spare the middle class from crippling tax hikes. The president promised disheartened Democrats that the fight over the cuts for the highest-income Americans would continue over the next two years. He also urged them to take a long-term view of the bitter policy fights now taking place in Washington.
Today on American Morning, President Obama's senior adviser David Axelrod responds to Democrats upset over the agreement, and how the decision affects Obama politically.
Notably, Axelrod tells AM's John Roberts, “I say the people who are going to get screwed [… ] are the American people if we don’t act to prevent their taxes from going up January 1.”
For more, watch the full interview:
Ever wonder if Hillary were in the White House?
Ever wonder what it would be like if Hillary Clinton had won the Presidency? Would the country be any better off?
Dana Milbank, political columnist for The Washington Post, raises these questions in his latest column.
This morning, he tells AM’s John Roberts how Hillary Clinton might have fared as President, especially surrounding the health care debate. And, he weighs in on all the chatter about Hillary on the 2012 ticket for Vice President.
Read the full column here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/05/AR2010110505214.html
Steele: Republicans in shadows need to 'shut up,' focus on tomorrow
One day 'til midterm elections.
How are the Republicans preparing in the final hours?
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele tells American Morning’s John Roberts that Republicans need to focus on winning elections tomorrow night–not on 2012, and whether Sarah Palin will run for President.
"Let’s stop the Washington-inside games. No one cares about that," Steele told Roberts. "Help us make phone calls. Help us dial in the districts around the country so we can turn out our vote. That’s what these folks should be doing right now, not focusing on Sarah Palin. Cause Sarah Palin doesn’t focus on Sarah Palin, she’s focused on winning elections and seats tomorrow night."
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