Editor's Note: American Morning's Tuesday audience commented on Mark McGwire publicly acknowledging and apologizing for his past use of steroids. While the majority viewed McGwire as a “cheater,” others defended his use of the performance-enhancing drugs as nothing more than another method of “improving his heath.”

JC: Maybe people also should think about all the high school and college kids that have died taking steroids trying to emulate their athletic hero's.
Carl: You ask what we think of McGuire and steroids. I think he is a very dishonesty person and should not be given the job as hitting coach for St Louis. He lied to Congress I think but do not remember for sure.
Michael: I just wanted to say how many hypocrites are out there who are calling Mark McGwire a "cheater" for trying to improve his health in order to play via unnatural methods. No one cries cheater when athletes use cortizone shots to be able to play through an injury or what about lasik surgery in order to improve ones vision? It's unfair to Mark to discount all his accomplishments because he was injecting testosterone instead of cortizone.

Now that Mark McGwire has revealed his use of steroids, what is your opinion of him? Were the drugs just a way to “improve his health” as one viewer contends, or was he “cheating”? Continue the conversation below.

Editor's Note: Tuesday’s American Morning audience reacted strongly to part two of Carol Costello's report on health care lobbying groups.

• Dan: Absolutely un-[…]-believable!! Costello is doing a feature on lobbying the health care bill and she singles out the SEIU? Can no one at CNN tell the difference between groups who lobby for the rights of average Americans and those who spend tens of millions trying to protect the profits of the huge health industry corporations? In this age where "lobbyists" are framed in a very negative light, singling out SEIU, and AARP, is reprehensible. Of course, those groups are not spending nearly the sums that the industry groups are on advertising on CNN. You people truly suck.
• Eliot: I was interested this morning to FINALLY see a story coming up about the outsized influence lobbyists are playing in the health care debate. I was, however, shocked to see your story focused exclusively on the SEIU president and their lone lobbyist and contained not a mention of the probably 5000 lobbyists working against reform. Your report was deliberately deceptive, misleading and completely transparent in its aim.
• Art: Two thousand pages in the house bill, and I will bet that half of that was written by or for some lobby and not for those in need of decent health care. Get rid of the lobbyists!

How do you feel about lobbying groups in Washington? Continue the conversation below.

Editor's Note: As the East Coast dug out of a treacherous weekend winter storm, Monday’s American Morning audience lamented Senate Democrats’ success in moving forward the health care reform bill. While some blamed Republican “obstructionism” for the lack of bi-partisan support, most were disappointed by the compromise necessary to have all Democrats support reform. Many suggested that during the next election cycle, the current Congress would be voted out as a result. Others included President Obama in the list of those likely to be removed from office.

For

• Marlin: I challenge any pundit for any of these networks who give credence to the republican complaints about them being shut out will review historic actions by the Govt over the past 75 years... I have read and for that matter can remember many of the republican utterances on such actions as Medicare, family leave and in the past social security, workmen’s comp, unemployment comp, the 48 hour work week then the 40 hour work week. Perhaps you all could contact the Wash. spectator and get past actions of the republican party and what social security and many of the above mentioned was going to do to the country./ Also I challenge all of you to check how many times the republicans have used the filibuster since losing the majority 3 years ago. If you think they are interested in bi-partisanship after checking these facts I have some ocean front property in Arizona i would like to sell you. You all are either blind to their actions or don’t want to see it. Please check these facts and prove me wrong. I submit just as when Clinton was elected they are more interested in obstructionism than getting something done for the country.

Against

• Shannon: According to your report this a.m. about health care reform, nothing has changed except now we will be required to buy it. The last 10 years I have had health care on and off don't be fooled – the insurance companies will deny you because everything will be an pre-existing cond. So what has changed for us is we have to spend money we don't have for 4 years and ultimately we will be denied coverage because of the loophole of pre-existing cond. I was so hopeful.

• Arnold: I know that we need health care BUT we do not need to give Nevada, Vermont, mass. offerings for there vote the President should not sign this bill if he does he will break his promise. The president has made a deal with the drug industry for 80 billion dollars and he said that he is going to change things in Washington what a joke. I have listen to all of the debates on health care and the senate keeps using the blame game remember that they have run the house and senate the last two years .last why is it now that they are talking about Medicare going broke why did they not do something two years ago.

FULL POST

Editor's Note: “Climate-gate” dominated feedback from Monday’s American Morning audience.

• Donald: The story about the emails from the climate change research people misses the most important question: Is it just a coincidence that right before the climate change conference hackers find suspicious emails regarding climate change? Obviously not. Who were the hackers? Why did they choose this target? Were they paid to do this? Who paid them? What percentage of the thousands of emails were incriminating? Exactly what manipulation of data is implied by the emails? The timing of this story is obviously designed to block action against climate change. So, when you cover this story, give equal time to the questions I just mentioned. If you don't then you are just doing a service to the ones who planned this.
• Edward: Climate Gate Story. Does the fact that there is "actually" no scientific equipment present, at the most prestigious scientific institute in the world on global climate change, set off any alarm bells?
• Judi: Boy it seems CNN is pushing the idea that global warming is bogus. You are pushing the Republican lies that this is not happening. We have fought this subject since the early 60's. Nut cases have caused this country to lag behind in going green instead of depending of oil. You are nuts for pushing this stupid idea. Science must put up the negative to prove the positive.
• Susan: Climate change – As far as people debating climate change; proof and evidence should bring an end to anything [where there] is unbelief. If not, those who continue on arguing over something that has factual evidence are ignorant and out for their own gain, no matter who it is or what field it is in. People love to go with their own personal theories and concepts instead of proof and evidence. You can refute proof, I don't care who it is.
• Lela: Kiran and John, don't tell me now CNN is going to join the ranks of the Republicans, especially Inholfe in trying to prove that Global warming is a trick or a myth. We know the major pollutants of global warming lies with big corporate. Car industry, oil and coal industry, among others. Not far from where I live is an Alcoa a plant, it would make you cringe if you knew the stuff coming out of that big smoke stack. Pcb along with other things. My husband retired from Alcoa and the things I have heard is unconscionable what Corporate will do to keep from paying money to fix the situation. It is possible most of the factories could fix what they omit, but it would cost a lot of money for them, and that would take away from the big boss's bonus. Kiran, we are smart. The ones of that have lived long enough know the difference in the climate than what it use to. I really started noticing something wasn't right in the 80"s. It seems as though republicans are so void of feels or other people's welfare but their own, plus some of Blue Dogs. Some people will sell their soul to the Devil for money and power, and the dire situation our country is in now , is never more apparent than what greed can do.
• Hubert: We know the earth is changing, We can slow it down a little. If we used windmills for electric and electric cars would help some. But the big money makers don't want that. They want to keep making money, The hell with their kids, MONEY is more important.
• Bruce: What is going on in your research department? There is massive suppression on climate data and deliberate corruption of that data by the CRU. Carbon levels in Gore's hockey stick went up ONE HUNDRED years before the temperatures did. Why didn't you call your guest on that? No wonder Rense and Whatreallyhappened are doing so well! Isn't the Copenhagen agreement unconstitutional? Also, your truthometer people should actually told the truth on skyrocketing energy costs from climate gate – tell them they are not fired.

Continue the conversation below.

Editor's Note: With President Obama’s announcement on Afghanistan set for Tuesday, American Morning’s Monday audience was greatly concerned about a “war tax” being proposed by some lawmakers.

• Ellen: ... NO ON THE WAR TAX, WE'RE BROKE ALREADY, OBAMA PROMISED NO HIGHER TAXES ON MIDDLE INCOME AND ALL THE REST OF THE DEMS DO IT RAISE TAXES ON THIS AND THAT, IT ALL AMOUNTS TO THE SAME THING-A TAX INCREASE. WE'RE BROKE. THE COUNTRY IS BROKE WAKE UP.
• Joseph: Concerning the War Tax. It is apparent that the Democratic Party will not be satisfied until such time as they tax the people of this country into complete poverty. They have no sense of what the people want because they do not listen to the people. They are in direct violation of the constitution because they do not follow the people's direction. Every representative currently holding office should be brought up on charges of Treason. They have failed completely in their oath of office to “Uphold and Defend the Constitution of the United States”.
• David: on the war tax, I believe that our country should get out of Afghanistan and Iraq. Granted, we do need to do what must be done to protect our country, but once we leave these wars, are we not still going have to do many things to protect our country here at home? So why not concentrate on what matters and quit worrying about the Wars and bring our troops home!
• Lynn: I oppose a 'War Tax' to pay for the war in Afghanistan. The US Citizens have been paying for this war since George W Bush started it (and left it) over 8 years ago...and we continue to pay in dollars and lives! I strenuously object to any more taxes for this war!
• William: RE. the war tax. We have $12 trillion in debt. We paid $384 bil. in interest on the public debt. Health will cost $2 trillion. We have 17.5% unemployed and we're talking about a war tax. What a joke.

What do you think of a “war tax” to help fund a troop surge in Afghanistan? Continue the conversation below.

Editor's Note: Tuesday’s American Morning audience was “offended” by President Obama holding a state dinner, when the economy was in such shambles and the U.S. was still fighting two wars. Most saw the dinner not as a “cross section of America,” but for the “suck-ups, large campaign donors, Hollywood celebs, and staffers.”

• Mike: I couldn't help but to comment on the state diner. Every day I see the homeless, buildings falling apart, people losing homes, and the list goes on. and hear we have these people eating like kings and queens off the tax payers of this country. sometimes I think this country isn't so great after. Oh and by the way I'm one of those people up at 4:30 am wondering how am I going to make it this month.
• Bruce: I find all the giddy slobbering of your anchors regarding the "State Dinner" a little offensive. Two back-to-back news items featured the breathless preparations for tonight’s state dinner which was followed by the news that 36.5 Americans are on food stamps. One of your guests stated the guest list was a "cross-section" of America, and nothing could be farther from the truth. So...how many homeless will attend? How many unemployed? How many returning troops and their families? How many factory workers? How many farmers? What a crock...the guest list will be comprised of suck-ups, large campaign donors, hollywood celebs, and staffers. […]

What are your thoughts on the state dinner? Continue the conversation below.