Tackling Ebola Anxiety, Same-Sex Marriage Surge
Special | 24m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
America tackles Ebola on the global stage and fears at home.
Alexis Simendinger explores how the U.S. government is tackling Ebola globally and allaying national concerns about the virus. Also, Pete Williams reports on the immediate impact of the Supreme Court's decision to reject any same-sex marriage cases. Gloria Borger interviewed former CIA head Leon Panetta on his recent memoir and criticism of Obama. Plus, Karen Tumulty reports on the “wild card” rac
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Major funding for “Washington Week with The Atlantic” is provided by Consumer Cellular, Otsuka, Kaiser Permanente, the Yuen Foundation, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Tackling Ebola Anxiety, Same-Sex Marriage Surge
Special | 24m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
Alexis Simendinger explores how the U.S. government is tackling Ebola globally and allaying national concerns about the virus. Also, Pete Williams reports on the immediate impact of the Supreme Court's decision to reject any same-sex marriage cases. Gloria Borger interviewed former CIA head Leon Panetta on his recent memoir and criticism of Obama. Plus, Karen Tumulty reports on the “wild card” rac
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Washington Week with The Atlantic
Washington Week with The Atlantic is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Buy Now
10 big stories Washington Week covered
Washington Week came on the air February 23, 1967. In the 50 years that followed, we covered a lot of history-making events. Read up on 10 of the biggest stories Washington Week covered in its first 50 years.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipGWEN: NEWS EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, FROM EBOLA TO SAME-SEX FROM EBOLA TO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
MARRIAGE.
FROM MEMOIR POLITICS TO SENATE FROM MEMOIR POLITICS TO SENATE POLITICS.
POLITICS.
WE'LL COVER IT ALL TONIGHT ON WE'LL COVER IT ALL TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
"WASHINGTON WEEK."
>> WE HAVE TO WORK NOW SO THAT >> WE HAVE TO WORK NOW SO THAT THIS IS NOT THE WORLD'S NEXT -- THIS IS NOT THE WORLD'S NEXT -- GWEN: THE EBOLA PANIC, HOW THE GWEN: THE EBOLA PANIC, HOW THE U.S. IS STEPPING IN TO STOP ITS U.S. IS STEPPING IN TO STOP ITS SPREAD.
SPREAD.
>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO >> WE'RE NOT GOING TO COMPROMISE THE HEALTH AND COMPROMISE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR ARMED SERVICES, SAFETY OF OUR ARMED SERVICES, BUT WHAT'S TRUE IS WE HAVE BUT WHAT'S TRUE IS WE HAVE UNIQUE CAPABILITIES THAT NOBODY UNIQUE CAPABILITIES THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS.
ELSE HAS.
GWEN: MORE THAN 4,000 DEAD IN GWEN: MORE THAN 4,000 DEAD IN WEST AFRICA AS THE WORLD BRACES WEST AFRICA AS THE WORLD BRACES FOR MORE.
FOR MORE.
AT THE SUPREME COURT, THE DAY AT THE SUPREME COURT, THE DAY THE COURT STEPPED OUT OF THE THE COURT STEPPED OUT OF THE SAMEEX M-SARRIAGE DETECTIVE, SAMEEX M-SARRIAGE DETECTIVE, A YING THE WAY FOR A YING THE WAY FOR LEGALIZATION IN AS MANY AS 30 LEGALIZATION IN AS MANY AS 30 STATES.
STATES.
>> IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THE >> IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THE WHOLE COUNTRY RECOGNIZES THAT WHOLE COUNTRY RECOGNIZES THAT ALL FAMILIES DESERVE ALL EQUAL ALL FAMILIES DESERVE ALL EQUAL RIGHTS ALL THE TIME.
RIGHTS ALL THE TIME.
GWEN: BUT IS THE DEBATE ENDING GWEN: BUT IS THE DEBATE ENDING OR TAKING ON A NEW FORM?
OR TAKING ON A NEW FORM?
LEON PANETTA, FORMER TOP ADE OF LEON PANETTA, FORMER TOP ADE OF THE PRESIDENT, DIRECTS THE PRESIDENT, DIRECTS CRITICISM AT THE MAN HE ONCE CRITICISM AT THE MAN HE ONCE SERVED.
SERVED.
>> IN IS NOT THE TIME TO GET IN >> IN IS NOT THE TIME TO GET IN THE TRENCHES AND NOT SAY THE TRENCHES AND NOT SAY ANYTHING.
ANYTHING.
GWEN: PLUS, THE TOPSY-TURVY GWEN: PLUS, THE TOPSY-TURVY SENATE MID TERMS.
SENATE MID TERMS.
COVERING THE WEEK, ALEXIS COVERING THE WEEK, ALEXIS SIMENDINGER, WHITE HOUSE SIMENDINGER, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT FOR CORRESPONDENT FOR REALCLEARPOLITICS.
REALCLEARPOLITICS.
PETE WILLIAMS, JUSTICE PETE WILLIAMS, JUSTICE CHIEF POLITICAL NBC NEWS.
CHIEF POLITICAL NBC NEWS.
ANALYST AT CNN AND KAREN ANALYST AT CNN AND KAREN TUMULTY, NATIONAL POLITICAL TUMULTY, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE "WASHINGTON REPORTER FOR THE "WASHINGTON POST."
POST."
>> AWARD-WINNING REPORTING AND >> AWARD-WINNING REPORTING AND ANTS.
ANTS.
-- ANALYSIS.
-- ANALYSIS.
COVERING HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS.
COVERING HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS.
LIVE FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITOL, LIVE FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITOL, THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THIS IS "WASHINGTON WEEK WITH GWEN IFILL."
ONCE AGAIN, LIVE FROM WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN WASHINGTON, MODERATOR GWEN IFILL.
IFILL.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
GWEN: GOOD EVENING.
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS STRUGGLING TONIGHT TO DO ITS STRUGGLING TONIGHT TO DO ITS PARTICIPATE TO CURB NOT ONLY PARTICIPATE TO CURB NOT ONLY THE OUTBREAK OF EBOLA IN WEST THE OUTBREAK OF EBOLA IN WEST AFRICA BUT ALSO THE OUTBREAK OF AFRICA BUT ALSO THE OUTBREAK OF PANIC HERE AT HOME.
PANIC HERE AT HOME.
THE DISEASE CLAIMED ITS FIRST THE DISEASE CLAIMED ITS FIRST VICTIM THIS WEEK IN DALLAS AND VICTIM THIS WEEK IN DALLAS AND ALTHOUGH NO ONE HAS YET ALTHOUGH NO ONE HAS YET CONTRACTED IT HERE, NEW CONTRACTED IT HERE, NEW SECURITY RESTRICTIONS ARE IN SECURITY RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE AT FIVE OF THE NATION'S PLACE AT FIVE OF THE NATION'S BIG HOSPITALS.
BIG HOSPITALS.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY SILVIA BURWELL.
SECRETARY SILVIA BURWELL.
>> THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO >> THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO INCREASE BEFORE WE GET TO A INCREASE BEFORE WE GET TO A LEVELING OFF POINT BUT EVERYDAY LEVELING OFF POINT BUT EVERYDAY THOSE ON THE GROUND EFFORTS, IT THOSE ON THE GROUND EFFORTS, IT IS IMPORTANT THERE IS URGENCY.
IS IMPORTANT THERE IS URGENCY.
IT IS ABOUT DAYS.
IT IS ABOUT DAYS.
GWEN: IS THIS AN ALL HAND ON GWEN: IS THIS AN ALL HAND ON DECK EFFORT CRISIS HERE AND DECK EFFORT CRISIS HERE AND ABROAD?
ABROAD?
>> IN THE UNITED STATES I THINK >> IN THE UNITED STATES I THINK THE ANSWER, AT LEAST THERE THE ANSWER, AT LEAST THERE WEEK, HAS BEEN YES AND WHAT'S WEEK, HAS BEEN YES AND WHAT'S BEEN INTERESTING IS THE TWO BEEN INTERESTING IS THE TWO SIDES OF THIS.
SIDES OF THIS.
AS YOU POINT OUT, THE PRESIDENT AS YOU POINT OUT, THE PRESIDENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION WORKING AND THE ADMINISTRATION WORKING HARD TO KEEP THE LEVEL OF HARD TO KEEP THE LEVEL OF ANXIETY IN A CONTROLLED STATE ANXIETY IN A CONTROLLED STATE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH JUST IN THE UNITED STATES WITH JUST ONE -- OBVIOUSLY WITH JUST ONE ONE -- OBVIOUSLY WITH JUST ONE EBOLA-ENFECTED -- INFECTED EBOLA-ENFECTED -- INFECTED PATIENT IN DALLAS.
PATIENT IN DALLAS.
TALKING TO STATE AND LOCAL TALKING TO STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS TO TRY TO GET HEALTH OFFICIALS TO TRY TO GET THEM RAMPED UP TO BE PREPARED.
THEM RAMPED UP TO BE PREPARED.
THE AIRPORT, WHICH WAS NOT THE AIRPORT, WHICH WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE SOMETHING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION INITIALLY WANTED ADMINISTRATION INITIALLY WANTED TO DO BUT THE CONCERN WAS THAT TO DO BUT THE CONCERN WAS THAT IN CONGRESS AND ELSEWHERE THERE IN CONGRESS AND ELSEWHERE THERE WAS MAYBE A CALL FOR ROLLING WAS MAYBE A CALL FOR ROLLING THE DRAWBRIDGES UP, RIGHT?
THE DRAWBRIDGES UP, RIGHT?
TO PUT A TRAVEL BAN IN PLACE.
TO PUT A TRAVEL BAN IN PLACE.
SO THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN SO THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PREPAREDNESS AND THE ANXIETY.
PREPAREDNESS AND THE ANXIETY.
INTERNATIONALLY WHAT WE'VE SEEN INTERNATIONALLY WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL OF CONTROL OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, THE U.N., SOME OF THE SOUND THAT U.N., SOME OF THE SOUND THAT YOU PLAYED IS A LEVEL OF YOU PLAYED IS A LEVEL OF ANXIETY RAMPING UP THE RHETORIC ANXIETY RAMPING UP THE RHETORIC ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA.
CONTINENT OF AFRICA.
GWEN: LIKE THE SWINE FLU THAT GWEN: LIKE THE SWINE FLU THAT NEVER REALLY IN THE END POSEED NEVER REALLY IN THE END POSEED THAT GREAT A THREAT HERE BUT THAT GREAT A THREAT HERE BUT WHICH WAS RAVAGING OTHER PLACES WHICH WAS RAVAGING OTHER PLACES AND AT SOME POINT REACTION AND AT SOME POINT REACTION ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE JUST DO ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE JUST DO SOMETHING.
SOMETHING.
>> DR. FRIEDEN FROM THE C.D.C.
>> DR. FRIEDEN FROM THE C.D.C.
WAS TALKING TO BE CONCERN OF WAS TALKING TO BE CONCERN OF THIS BEING LIKE AIDS.
THIS BEING LIKE AIDS.
WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH AIDS WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH AIDS FOR DECADES AND 39 MILLION FOR DECADES AND 39 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM AIDS AND PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM AIDS AND IT'S STILL HERE, STILL WITH US.
IT'S STILL HERE, STILL WITH US.
AS YOU POINT OUT, THE BALANCE AS YOU POINT OUT, THE BALANCE HERE IS ADMINISTRATION AND HERE IS ADMINISTRATION AND HEALTH OFFICIALS TRYING TO HEALTH OFFICIALS TRYING TO REMIND PEOPLE IN THE UNITED REMIND PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THE DEVELOPED STATES AND IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WORLD THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE AS A THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE AS A MASSIVE EPIDEMIC.
MASSIVE EPIDEMIC.
BUT HE'S TALKING ABOUT THESE BUT HE'S TALKING ABOUT THESE COUNTRIES IN AFRICA, SIERRA COUNTRIES IN AFRICA, SIERRA LEONE AND GUINEA.
LEONE AND GUINEA.
THEY FACE THE POSSIBILITY OF THEY FACE THE POSSIBILITY OF THEIR LIVELIHOODS BEING WIPED THEIR LIVELIHOODS BEING WIPED OUT.
OUT.
>> IN THIS COUNTRY PEOPLE LOOK >> IN THIS COUNTRY PEOPLE LOOK AT THE RESPONSE IN DALLAS AND AT THE RESPONSE IN DALLAS AND GO WAIT A MINUTE.
GO WAIT A MINUTE.
THAT WAS FULL OF A LOT OF HOLES THAT WAS FULL OF A LOT OF HOLES AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES EVERYONE AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES EVERYONE SO NERVOUS.
SO NERVOUS.
>> ONE OF THED >> ONE OF THED THIS WEEK IS THAT THOMAS ERIC THIS WEEK IS THAT THOMAS ERIC DUNCAN, THE LIBERIAN NATIONAL DUNCAN, THE LIBERIAN NATIONAL WHO DIED AFTER SEEKING CARE IN WHO DIED AFTER SEEKING CARE IN DALLAS, TURNED OUT THAT WHEN HE DALLAS, TURNED OUT THAT WHEN HE DID COME TO THE HOSPITAL, HE DID COME TO THE HOSPITAL, HE HAD A TEMPERATURE OF 103 HAD A TEMPERATURE OF 103 DEGREES AND HIS FAMILY WAS ABLE DEGREES AND HIS FAMILY WAS ABLE TO GET THE HEALTH RECORDS.
TO GET THE HEALTH RECORDS.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND OTHER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS SAW IT AND NEWS ORGANIZATIONS SAW IT AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE RECORDS THE YOU CAN SEE IN THE RECORDS THE DOCTOR'S DESCRIPTION SO YOU'RE DOCTOR'S DESCRIPTION SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
WHAT HAPPENED THERE AT THAT WHAT HAPPENED THERE AT THAT HOSPITAL AND THE HOSPITAL HAS HOSPITAL AND THE HOSPITAL HAS CHANGED ITS STORY ABOUT WHAT CHANGED ITS STORY ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED, IS A LESSON THAT HAS HAPPENED, IS A LESSON THAT AT LEAST HERE IN WASHINGTON, AT LEAST HERE IN WASHINGTON, THE FOLKS AT THE WHITE HOUSE THE FOLKS AT THE WHITE HOUSE ARE VERY MUCH A ARE TRYING TO ARE VERY MUCH A ARE TRYING TO USE THAT TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE, USE THAT TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE, GET READY.
GET READY.
>> THIS IDEA, THOUGH, THAT >> THIS IDEA, THOUGH, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE SCREENING YOU'RE GOING TO BE SCREENING PEOPLE AT THESE FIVE AIRPORTS PEOPLE AT THESE FIVE AIRPORTS -- THIS IS A DISEASE THAT HAS -- THIS IS A DISEASE THAT HAS AN INK BASE PERIOD OF 20, 21 AN INK BASE PERIOD OF 20, 21 DAYS SO YOU'RE TAKING PEOPLE'S DAYS SO YOU'RE TAKING PEOPLE'S TEMPERATURES.
TEMPERATURES.
THEY'RE COMING THROUGH THE THEY'RE COMING THROUGH THE AIRPORT.
AIRPORT.
WHAT EFFECTIVELY ARE YOU GOING WHAT EFFECTIVELY ARE YOU GOING TO ACCOMPLISH BY THAT?
TO ACCOMPLISH BY THAT?
IS IT GOING TO ACTUALLY STOP IS IT GOING TO ACTUALLY STOP THE SPREAD OR JUST MAKE PEOPLE THE SPREAD OR JUST MAKE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS BEING FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS BEING DONE?
DONE?
>> THE GOVERNMENT SAYS ABOUT >> THE GOVERNMENT SAYS ABOUT 150 FOLKS TRAVEL FROM THE 150 FOLKS TRAVEL FROM THE AFFECTED COUNTRIES IN WEST AFFECTED COUNTRIES IN WEST AFRICA A DAY INTO THE UNITED AFRICA A DAY INTO THE UNITED STATES THROUGH THESE MAJOR STATES THROUGH THESE MAJOR AIRPORT MOSTLY AND THAT MOST OF AIRPORT MOSTLY AND THAT MOST OF THEM, AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST THEM, AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, THE FOLKS WHO'VE TWO MONTHS, THE FOLKS WHO'VE TRAVELED, THERE'S BEEN EXIT TRAVELED, THERE'S BEEN EXIT SCREENING OF THEM WHEN THEY'VE SCREENING OF THEM WHEN THEY'VE DEPARTED AND THERE HAS BEEN A DEPARTED AND THERE HAS BEEN A SWEEP THAT CAPTURED 70 PEOPLE SWEEP THAT CAPTURED 70 PEOPLE THAT MAYBE SEEMED ILL AND NONE THAT MAYBE SEEMED ILL AND NONE OF THEM HAD EBOLA AND THE ONLY OF THEM HAD EBOLA AND THE ONLY CASE WE'VE SEEN IN THE UNITED CASE WE'VE SEEN IN THE UNITED STATES, HE HAD NO SIGNS COMING STATES, HE HAD NO SIGNS COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES.
INTO THE UNITED STATES.
PAST THE DISEASE PAST THE DISEASE DETECTIVIVES.
DETECTIVIVES.
THIS IS VERY MUCH, I THINK, AN THIS IS VERY MUCH, I THINK, AN EFFORT TO TRY TO ALLAY ANXIETY EFFORT TO TRY TO ALLAY ANXIETY TO AID THIS -- ADD THIS LAYER.
TO AID THIS -- ADD THIS LAYER.
GREAT BRITAIN HAS ADDED THIS GREAT BRITAIN HAS ADDED THIS ALSO IN THE MAJOR THROUGHWAYS ALSO IN THE MAJOR THROUGHWAYS IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IT MAY IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IT MAY HOLD BACK THIS PUSH FOR THE HOLD BACK THIS PUSH FOR THE TRAVEL BAN.
TRAVEL BAN.
>> BACK TO DALLAS FOR A SECOND.
>> BACK TO DALLAS FOR A SECOND.
IS THE CONCERN THAT THEY IS THE CONCERN THAT THEY RELEASED HIM RELEASED HIM JEOPARDIZED HIS CARE OR PUT HIM JEOPARDIZED HIS CARE OR PUT HIM BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY WHERE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY WHERE HE COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT HE COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT OTHERS?
OTHERS?
>> BOTH IS ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN >> BOTH IS ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN IF HE HAD BEEN HOSPITALIZED IF HE HAD BEEN HOSPITALIZED IMMEDIATELY, IT WOULD HAVE CUT IMMEDIATELY, IT WOULD HAVE CUT DOWN ON THE RANGE OF PEOPLE HE DOWN ON THE RANGE OF PEOPLE HE WAS THEN IN CONTACT WITH THE WAS THEN IN CONTACT WITH THE QUESTION THAT'S ALSO BEING QUESTION THAT'S ALSO BEING ASKED, WOULD WE HAVE LIVED?
ASKED, WOULD WE HAVE LIVED?
GWEN: LET'S MOVE ON.
GWEN: LET'S MOVE ON.
I HAVE A HARD TIME REMEMBERING I HAVE A HARD TIME REMEMBERING THE LAST TIME THE SUPREME THE LAST TIME THE SUPREME COURT'S REFUSAL TO STEP INTO A COURT'S REFUSAL TO STEP INTO A LEGAL ISSUE HAD SUCH IMMEDIATE LEGAL ISSUE HAD SUCH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
EFFECT.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN WEEK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN WEEK WHEN THE HIGH COURT ANNOUNCED WHEN THE HIGH COURT ANNOUNCED THAT IN FIVE CASES IT WOULD THAT IN FIVE CASES IT WOULD ALLOW STATES TO DECIDE FOR ALLOW STATES TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHETHER PEOPLE OF THEMSELVES WHETHER PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX SHOULD BE ALLOWED THE SAME SEX SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO MARRY AND LATE TODAY THE TO MARRY AND LATE TODAY THE COURT ALLOWED MARRIAGES TO COURT ALLOWED MARRIAGES TO BEGIN IN HOLLYWOOD AND NORTH BEGIN IN HOLLYWOOD AND NORTH CAROLINA AS WELL, WHICH MEAN A CAROLINA AS WELL, WHICH MEAN A MAJORITY OF STATES NOW HAVE MAJORITY OF STATES NOW HAVE MARRIAGE BANS THAT HAVE BEEN MARRIAGE BANS THAT HAVE BEEN DECLARED UNCONSAL.
DECLARED UNCONSAL.
IS THAT RIGHT?
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> -- UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
>> -- UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
IS THAT RIGHT?
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S NOT OVER BECAUSE FIRST OF IT'S NOT OVER BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL WE HAVE THESE AFTERSHOCKS.
ALL WE HAVE THESE AFTERSHOCKS.
IT'S BEEN LIKE COVERING AN IT'S BEEN LIKE COVERING AN ELECTION TODAY WAITING FOR ALL ELECTION TODAY WAITING FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT STATES TO CHIME THE DIFFERENT STATES TO CHIME IN THE SECOND THING IS THAT THE IN THE SECOND THING IS THAT THE SUPREME COURT -- WE HAD THIS SUPREME COURT -- WE HAD THIS TIDAL WAVE OF RULINGS IN THE TIDAL WAVE OF RULINGS IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF AND THEY PAST YEAR AND A HALF AND THEY WERE ALL BUILDING UP BUT THERE WERE ALL BUILDING UP BUT THERE WERE HOLDS PLACED ON ALL OF WERE HOLDS PLACED ON ALL OF SUPREME COURT, SUPREME COURT, WE THOUGHT THE LAST WORD.
WE THOUGHT THE LAST WORD.
NOW THEY SAY ALL THOSE COURT NOW THEY SAY ALL THOSE COURT RULINGS THAT WERE WAITING KICK RULINGS THAT WERE WAITING KICK INTO EFFECT.
INTO EFFECT.
THE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE THING HAS THE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE THING HAS MOVED SO FAST.
MOVED SO FAST.
ONE WEEK AGO VIEWERS OF YOUR ONE WEEK AGO VIEWERS OF YOUR PROGRAM WERE WATCHING WHILE IT PROGRAM WERE WATCHING WHILE IT WAS LEGAL IN 1 STATES.
WAS LEGAL IN 1 STATES.
NOW IT'S 28 AND COULD BE 129 NOW IT'S 28 AND COULD BE 129 BEFORE WE'RE ALL THE -- 29 BEFORE WE'RE ALL THE -- 29 BEFORE WE'RE ALL THE -- OFF THE BEFORE WE'RE ALL THE -- OFF THE AIR.
AIR.
IN THE SUPREME COURT, THE LOWER IN THE SUPREME COURT, THE LOWER COURTS HAD ALL REACHED THE SAME COURTS HAD ALL REACHED THE SAME CONCLUSION AND SAID WE CANNOT CONCLUSION AND SAID WE CANNOT CONSTITUTIONALLY BAN A SAME-SEX CONSTITUTIONALLY BAN A SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
MARRIAGE.
IF THEY SAY OH, YEAH, STATES IF THEY SAY OH, YEAH, STATES CAN CAN BAN IT, THEN I THINK CAN CAN BAN IT, THEN I THINK THE SUPREME COURT WOULD TAKE THE SUPREME COURT WOULD TAKE THIS CASE.
THIS CASE.
>> THE AMERICAN PUBLIC OPINION >> THE AMERICAN PUBLIC OPINION HAS SHIFT SOD DRAMATICALLY ON HAS SHIFT SOD DRAMATICALLY ON THE QUESTION.
THE QUESTION.
WHEN PROPOSITION EIGHT FIRST WHEN PROPOSITION EIGHT FIRST BECAME A COURT ISSUE, THE BECAME A COURT ISSUE, THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRY WAS MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRY WAS AGAINST SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
AGAINST SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
NOW A MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRY NOW A MAJORITY OF THE COUNTRY SUPPORTS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
SUPPORTS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE COURT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE COURT IS SAYING WE'RE JUST GOING TO IS SAYING WE'RE JUST GOING TO LET THE COUNTRY DECIDE THIS LET THE COUNTRY DECIDE THIS ONE.
ONE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE HEAVY WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE HEAVY LIFT.
LIFT.
>> THAT'S ONE POSSIBILITY.
>> THAT'S ONE POSSIBILITY.
THOSE CASES.
THOSE CASES.
IT COULD BE.
IT COULD BE.
NINE JUSTICES, FOUR OF THEM NINE JUSTICES, FOUR OF THEM EACH SIDE, YES OR NO.
EACH SIDE, YES OR NO.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE JUSTICE THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE JUSTICE KENNEDY IS, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO KENNEDY IS, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE.
TAKE A CHANCE.
IT COULD ALSO BE THE IT COULD ALSO BE THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.
OLD-FASHIONED WAY.
THEY DON'T TAKE CASES WHEN THEY DON'T TAKE CASES WHEN THERE ISN'T A CIRCUIT SPLIT AND THERE ISN'T A CIRCUIT SPLIT AND THERE WASN'T ONE HERE.
THERE WASN'T ONE HERE.
WE COULD BE UP TO 35 STATES WE COULD BE UP TO 35 STATES HERE PRETTY SOON BY THE TIME HERE PRETTY SOON BY THE TIME THE COURT MAY GET AROUND TO THE COURT MAY GET AROUND TO TAKING THIS AGAIN.
TAKING THIS AGAIN.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHY >> CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHY THEN THIS WAS A SURPRISE?
THEN THIS WAS A SURPRISE?
>> ACTUALLY, I HAD A BET WITH >> ACTUALLY, I HAD A BET WITH JOAN ON YOUR PROGRAM LAST YEAR JOAN ON YOUR PROGRAM LAST YEAR AND I SAID THIS IS -- I WAS ONE AND I SAID THIS IS -- I WAS ONE OF THE FEW WHO THOUGHT THEY OF THE FEW WHO THOUGHT THEY WOULDN'T TAKE THIS IF THERE WAS WOULDN'T TAKE THIS IF THERE WAS NO CIRCUIT SPLIT.
NO CIRCUIT SPLIT.
BUT I WAS STILL SURPRISED AND BUT I WAS STILL SURPRISED AND HERE'S WHY WE THOUGHT IT WAS A HERE'S WHY WE THOUGHT IT WAS A SURPRISE.
SURPRISE.
NUMBER ONE, ALL THESE CASES NUMBER ONE, ALL THESE CASES CAME IN WHERE BOTH THE PEOPLE CAME IN WHERE BOTH THE PEOPLE WHO OPPOSED AND THE STATES WHO OPPOSED AND THE STATES DEFENDING THEIR SAME-SEX DEFENDING THEIR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BAN SAID PLEASE TAKE MARRIAGE BAN SAID PLEASE TAKE MY CASE.
MY CASE.
SO ALL THE PARTIES WERE SO ALL THE PARTIES WERE UNANIMOUS IN SAYING TAKE IT.
UNANIMOUS IN SAYING TAKE IT.
SECONDLY IT DOES HAVE AN AIR OF SECONDLY IT DOES HAVE AN AIR OF INEVITABILITY ABOUT IT.
INEVITABILITY ABOUT IT.
EVERYBODY REALIZE THAT IS EVERYBODY REALIZE THAT IS ULTIMATELY THE SUPREME COURT IS ULTIMATELY THE SUPREME COURT IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE IT SO WHAT WAS THE POINT OF IT SO WHAT WAS THE POINT OF WAIT SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW WAIT SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.
THE ANSWER.
>> PUBLIC OPINION IS COMING >> PUBLIC OPINION IS COMING THIS WAY AND ONE TIME THE THIS WAY AND ONE TIME THE SUPREME COURT DID GET AHEAD OF SUPREME COURT DID GET AHEAD OF SOCIAL CHANGE WAS ROE V. WADE.
SOCIAL CHANGE WAS ROE V. WADE.
AND THE OUTCOME OF THAT WAS A AND THE OUTCOME OF THAT WAS A SOCIAL BATTLE THAT STILL GOES SOCIAL BATTLE THAT STILL GOES ON.
ON.
WAS THAT PROGRAMS PART OF THEIR WAS THAT PROGRAMS PART OF THEIR REASONING, TO SORT OF LET THIS REASONING, TO SORT OF LET THIS PROCEED AND NOT GET AHEAD OF PROCEED AND NOT GET AHEAD OF IT?
IT?
>> I SUSPECT FOR SOME JUSTICES >> I SUSPECT FOR SOME JUSTICES IT WAS.
IT WAS.
RUTH BADER GINSBERG MADE A RUTH BADER GINSBERG MADE A SPEECH AT A LAW SCHOOL BEFORE SPEECH AT A LAW SCHOOL BEFORE THE COURT CAME INTO EFFECT THE COURT CAME INTO EFFECT WHERE SHE SORT OF SAID THERE'S WHERE SHE SORT OF SAID THERE'S NO POINT FOR US TO GET INTO IT NO POINT FOR US TO GET INTO IT NOW.
NOW.
HOWEVER, IT ISN'T OVER.
HOWEVER, IT ISN'T OVER.
IT DOES SEEM THAT THE LONGER IT IT DOES SEEM THAT THE LONGER IT GOES IT DOES SEEM TO BE GOING GOES IT DOES SEEM TO BE GOING IN PRETTY MUCH ONE DIRECTION IN PRETTY MUCH ONE DIRECTION AND IF THE COURT WERE TO SAY AND IF THE COURT WERE TO SAY NOW WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE AFTER NOW WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE AFTER PERMITTING ALL THESE OTHER PERMITTING ALL THESE OTHER MARRIAGES TO HAPPEN, THAT WOULD MARRIAGES TO HAPPEN, THAT WOULD BE A WEIRD THING IF THEY BE A WEIRD THING IF THEY SUDDENLY SAID BEFORE WE LET YOU SUDDENLY SAID BEFORE WE LET YOU GET MARRIED, GUESS WHAT, YOU'RE GET MARRIED, GUESS WHAT, YOU'RE NOT MARRIED.
NOT MARRIED.
GWEN: ADVOCATES FOR GAY GWEN: ADVOCATES FOR GAY MARRIAGE SAID THEY'RE STILL NOT MARRIAGE SAID THEY'RE STILL NOT HAPPY BECAUSE IT STILL LEAVES HAPPY BECAUSE IT STILL LEAVES IN PLACE A MATCH WORK EVERY IN PLACE A MATCH WORK EVERY STATE OR CIRCUIT CAN DO WHAT IT STATE OR CIRCUIT CAN DO WHAT IT DOES KIND OF DEAL.
DOES KIND OF DEAL.
THAT'S ALSO ROOM FOR THE THAT'S ALSO ROOM FOR THE CHALLENGE TO BE FORCED, RIGHT?
CHALLENGE TO BE FORCED, RIGHT?
>> THERE ARE THOSE SAYING THIS >> THERE ARE THOSE SAYING THIS IS THE SUPREME COURT'S JOB TO IS THE SUPREME COURT'S JOB TO MAKE THESE BIG DECISIONS.
MAKE THESE BIG DECISIONS.
HOWEVER, THE SUPREME COURT HOWEVER, THE SUPREME COURT LIKES TO THINK OF ITSELF AS NOT LIKES TO THINK OF ITSELF AS NOT THE PLACE WHERE YOU GO TO HAVE THE PLACE WHERE YOU GO TO HAVE JUSTICE BUT THE PLACE WHERE YOU JUSTICE BUT THE PLACE WHERE YOU GET THE LAW IRONED OUT SO IT'S GET THE LAW IRONED OUT SO IT'S UNIFORM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND UNIFORM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND ALL THE SUPREME COURT RULES -- ALL THE SUPREME COURT RULES -- RULINGS HAVE BEEN THE SAME.
RULINGS HAVE BEEN THE SAME.
SO WHAT WAS THERE FOR THE SO WHAT WAS THERE FOR THE SUPREME COURT TO DO?
SUPREME COURT TO DO?
>> WITH INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE.
>> WITH INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE.
AND THEN AS IN THAT AND THEN AS IN THAT THE PUBLIC FOLLOWED.
THE PUBLIC FOLLOWED.
>> THE SUPREME COURT TOOK A >> THE SUPREME COURT TOOK A PASS ON GAY MARRIAGE AND PASS ON GAY MARRIAGE AND INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE UNTIL MORE INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE UNTIL MORE AND MORE OF THE STATES CAME AND MORE OF THE STATES CAME AROUND.
AROUND.
BY THE TIME THEY DECIDED LOVING BY THE TIME THEY DECIDED LOVING VS. VIRGINIA IN 16 THERE WERE VS. VIRGINIA IN 16 THERE WERE VERY FEW STATES LEFT.
VERY FEW STATES LEFT.
>> IS THAT THE MODEL?
>> IS THAT THE MODEL?
>> SOME PEOPLE THINK SO >> SOME PEOPLE THINK SO GWEN: WE'LL SEE.
GWEN: WE'LL SEE.
FULL DISCLOSURE, EVERYONE AT FULL DISCLOSURE, EVERYONE AT THIS TABLE HAS MET OR COVERED THIS TABLE HAS MET OR COVERED LEON PANETTA, THE FORMER C.I.A.
LEON PANETTA, THE FORMER C.I.A.
DIRECTOR AND .SECRETARY.
DIRECTOR AND .SECRETARY.
HE'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG HE'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
TIME.
HIS PRAISE AND CRITICISM HAS HIS PRAISE AND CRITICISM HAS CAUSED QUITE A STIR HERE IN CAUSED QUITE A STIR HERE IN WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON.
WE TALKED TO HIM ABOUT HIS NEW WE TALKED TO HIM ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK "WORTHY FIGHTS."
BOOK "WORTHY FIGHTS."
PART OF HIS TRA TEAK IS THE PART OF HIS TRA TEAK IS THE PRESIDENT'S HANDLING OF THE NEW PRESIDENT'S HANDLING OF THE NEW WAR AGAINST ISIS.
WAR AGAINST ISIS.
>> I THINK THE POSITION IS THAT >> I THINK THE POSITION IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE COMMANDER IN CHIEF WHEN YOU'RE COMMANDER IN CHIEF YOU REALLY OUGHT TO KEEP ALL YOU REALLY OUGHT TO KEEP ALL OPTIONS ON THE TABLE TO BE ABLE OPTIONS ON THE TABLE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO WHAT IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO DEFEAT THIS ENEMY.
DEFEAT THIS ENEMY.
TO MAKE THOSE AIR STRIKES WORK, TO MAKE THOSE AIR STRIKES WORK, YOU DON'T JUST SEND PLANES IN YOU DON'T JUST SEND PLANES IN THIS DROP BOMBS.
THIS DROP BOMBS.
GWEN: GLORIA, AFTER HAVING READ GWEN: GLORIA, AFTER HAVING READ THE BOOK AND INTERVIEWED HIM, THE BOOK AND INTERVIEWED HIM, WHY IS HE SAYING ALL THIS NOW?
WHY IS HE SAYING ALL THIS NOW?
>> HE'S TRYING TO SELL OKS,BO >> HE'S TRYING TO SELL OKS,BO NUMBER ONE AND I THINK IN NUMBER ONE AND I THINK IN TALKING TO HIM THAT HE WANTS TO TALKING TO HIM THAT HE WANTS TO GIVE LEADERSHIP ADVICE TO THE GIVE LEADERSHIP ADVICE TO THE PRESIDENTS, TO THE COUNTRY, TO PRESIDENTS, TO THE COUNTRY, TO THE WORLD.
THE WORLD.
THIS IS A MAN WHO'S BEEN IN THIS IS A MAN WHO'S BEEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE FOR 40 YEARS AND PUBLIC SERVICE FOR 40 YEARS AND HE HAS A LOT TO SAY THAT'S HE HAS A LOT TO SAY THAT'S POSITIVE ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA, POSITIVE ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA, THE MAN WHO MADE THE DECISION THE MAN WHO MADE THE DECISION TO GO AFTER OSAMA BIN LADEN, TO GO AFTER OSAMA BIN LADEN, WHICH HE CALLED A GUTSY WHICH HE CALLED A GUTSY DECISION.
DECISION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THE TABLE WHO DISAGREE AROUND THE TABLE WHO DISAGREE WITH HIM ON THAT GO ORDER BUT WITH HIM ON THAT GO ORDER BUT HE DID IT.
HE DID IT.
WITH THE PRESIDENT WHO HE FEELS WITH THE PRESIDENT WHO HE FEELS THING DONE THE RIGHT THING DONE THE RIGHT WITH THE SYRIA CHEMICAL WEAPONS WITH THE SYRIA CHEMICAL WEAPONS ISSUE, WITH KEEPING THE ISSUE, WITH KEEPING THE RESIDUAL FORCE IN IRAQ.
RESIDUAL FORCE IN IRAQ.
I THINK WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO I THINK WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO IN THIS BOOK IS TALK ABOUT IN THIS BOOK IS TALK ABOUT LEADERSHIP.
LEADERSHIP.
WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE IN THE WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE IN THE A TE HOUSE, THEY'LL SAY IT'S A TE HOUSE, THEY'LL SAY IT'S BETRAYAL OF HIM.
BETRAYAL OF HIM.
THAT HE'S TALKING A GOOD GAME THAT HE'S TALKING A GOOD GAME NOW BUT NOT WHAT HE SOUNDED NOW BUT NOT WHAT HE SOUNDED LIKE WHEN HE WAS IN THE WHITE LIKE WHEN HE WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
HOUSE.
WHEN I ASKED HIM WHETHER IT WAS WHEN I ASKED HIM WHETHER IT WAS A BETRAYAL OR YOU SHOULD BE A BETRAYAL OR YOU SHOULD BE DOING THIS -- JOE BIDEN SAID DOING THIS -- JOE BIDEN SAID COULDN'T YOU WAIT UNTIL THE GUY COULDN'T YOU WAIT UNTIL THE GUY IS OUT OF OFFICE?
IS OUT OF OFFICE?
HIS ANSWER WAS YOU DON'T PUT A HIS ANSWER WAS YOU DON'T PUT A HOLD ON HISTORY.
HOLD ON HISTORY.
GWEN: SOME DO.
GWEN: SOME DO.
AFTER GEORGE W. BUSH WAS OUT OF AFTER GEORGE W. BUSH WAS OUT OF OFFICE, WE GOT EMAILS FROM OFFICE, WE GOT EMAILS FROM CONDOLEEZZA RICE AND DICK CONDOLEEZZA RICE AND DICK CHENEY AND STAY POINTED FINGERS CHENEY AND STAY POINTED FINGERS AT 50E67 OTHER.
AT 50E67 OTHER.
>> THIS PRESIDENT HAS HAD BILL >> THIS PRESIDENT HAS HAD BILL GATES.
GATES.
HILL RILL CLINTON.
HILL RILL CLINTON.
I THIS ISN'T UNPRECEDENTED BUT I THIS ISN'T UNPRECEDENTED BUT I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TWO I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY PEOPLE ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM, GATES AND PANETTA WHO TEAM, GATES AND PANETTA WHO REALLY H COME OUT MAKING TH REALLY H COME OUT MAKING TH ABOUT LEADERSHIP, I THINK.
ABOUT LEADERSHIP, I THINK.
>> WHEN I WAS A YOUNG REPORTER >> WHEN I WAS A YOUNG REPORTER ON CAPITOL HILL AND YOU WERE ON ON CAPITOL HILL AND YOU WERE ON THE HILL -- THE HILL -- >> YOU'RE BOTH STILL YOUNG.
>> YOU'RE BOTH STILL YOUNG.
>> I LOVE YOU.
>> I LOVE YOU.
>> WE BOTH REMEMBER LEON >> WE BOTH REMEMBER LEON PANETTA FROM THE HILL.
>> WHAT ABOUT KAREN?
>> WHAT ABOUT KAREN?
>> WE WERE ALL THERE.
>> WE WERE ALL THERE.
[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] >> BUT WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS >> BUT WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS LEON PANETTA WAS TALKING ABOUT LEON PANETTA WAS TALKING ABOUT CONGRESS AND HE'S COMPARING CONGRESS AND HE'S COMPARING PRESIDENT CLINTON AND PRESIDENT PRESIDENT CLINTON AND PRESIDENT OBAMA AND IT'S VERY OBAMA AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING.
INTERESTING.
WHAT DOES HE SAY IN THE BOOK?
WHAT DOES HE SAY IN THE BOOK?
>> HE WRITES ABOUT WORKING FOR >> HE WRITES ABOUT WORKING FOR BILL CLINTON AND THE JOY IN BILL CLINTON AND THE JOY IN POLITICS THAT BILL CLINTON TOOK POLITICS THAT BILL CLINTON TOOK AND WHAT HE EFFECTIVELY SAYS IS AND WHAT HE EFFECTIVELY SAYS IS BILL CLINTON WOULD MAKE ANY BILL CLINTON WOULD MAKE ANY DEAL WITH YOU AND WHAT HE WAS DEAL WITH YOU AND WHAT HE WAS GREAT AT WAS CONVINCING YOU GREAT AT WAS CONVINCING YOU THAT WHAT HE WANTED WAS THAT WHAT HE WANTED WAS ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOU AND ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOU AND THAT'S WHY HE COULD CUT DEALS.
THAT'S WHY HE COULD CUT DEALS.
HIS POINT ABOUT THIS PRESIDENT HIS POINT ABOUT THIS PRESIDENT IS THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA LOVES IS THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA LOVES THE POLICY PART OF IT AND HE'S THE POLICY PART OF IT AND HE'S BRILLIANT AT IT BUT HE SAYS THE BRILLIANT AT IT BUT HE SAYS THE DEAL-MAKING PART OF IT, THE DEAL-MAKING PART OF IT, THE POLITICAL PART OF IT, NOT SO POLITICAL PART OF IT, NOT SO MUCH.
MUCH.
THAT'S NOT ONE OF HIS GREAT THAT'S NOT ONE OF HIS GREAT SKILLS AND HE URGES THE SKILLS AND HE URGES THE PRESIDENT, FOR THE NEXT YEARS, PRESIDENT, FOR THE NEXT YEARS, IF HE WANTS TO HAVE A LEGACY IF HE WANTS TO HAVE A LEGACY THAT DEALS WITH THINGS LIKE THAT DEALS WITH THINGS LIKE IMMIGRATION REFORM TO ACTUALLY IMMIGRATION REFORM TO ACTUALLY START DOING MORE OF THAT SO START DOING MORE OF THAT SO PROGRAMS WE COULD GET MORE PROGRAMS WE COULD GET MORE DONE.
DONE.
>> DOES THE WHITE HOUSE THINK >> DOES THE WHITE HOUSE THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM AND IF SO HOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND IF SO HOW ARE THEY PLANNING TO PUSH BACK?
ARE THEY PLANNING TO PUSH BACK?
>> THEY'RE PUSHING BACK ON IT.
>> THEY'RE PUSHING BACK ON IT.
THEY LIKE LEON PANETTA.
THEY LIKE LEON PANETTA.
THEY DON'T WANT TO OVERTLY SORT THEY DON'T WANT TO OVERTLY SORT OF ATTACK HIM BUT WHAT THEY'RE OF ATTACK HIM BUT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS LOOK, HE'S TALKING A SAYING IS LOOK, HE'S TALKING A DIFFERENT GAME THAN HE TALKED DIFFERENT GAME THAN HE TALKED WHEN HE WAS -- HE SUPPORTED THE WHEN HE WAS -- HE SUPPORTED THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY ON NOT PRESIDENT'S POLICY ON NOT LEAVING THE RESIDUAL FORCE IN LEAVING THE RESIDUAL FORCE IN IRAQ AT THE TIME AND THAT HE IRAQ AT THE TIME AND THAT HE WAS THE GOOD SOLDIER.
WAS THE GOOD SOLDIER.
WHEN I ASKED HIM DID YOU THINK WHEN I ASKED HIM DID YOU THINK ABTOU RESIGNING WHEN YOU ABTOU RESIGNING WHEN YOU DISAGREED WITH THE PRESIDENT ON DISAGREED WITH THE PRESIDENT ON ALL THESE ISSUES?
ALL THESE ISSUES?
HE SAID NO, HE'S THE PRESIDENT HE SAID NO, HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
OF THE UNITED STATES.
HE MAKES A DECISION, YOU SALUTE HE MAKES A DECISION, YOU SALUTE AND MOVE ON.
AND MOVE ON.
IT'S VERY DIFFERENT ONCE YOU'RE IT'S VERY DIFFERENT ONCE YOU'RE OUT OF OFFICE.
OUT OF OFFICE.
PRETTY SOON WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PRETTY SOON WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PRESIDENTS SIGNING PRESIDENTS SIGNING NONDISCLOSURE FORMS FOR ANYBODY NONDISCLOSURE FORMS FOR ANYBODY WHO'S A TOP ADVISOR.
WHO'S A TOP ADVISOR.
HOWEVER, DON'T FORGET, IN THE HOWEVER, DON'T FORGET, IN THE END, PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL WRITE END, PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL WRITE HIS VERSION OF HISTORY.
HIS VERSION OF HISTORY.
JOE BIDEN WILL WRITE HIS JOE BIDEN WILL WRITE HIS VERSION OF HISTORY AND WE'RE VERSION OF HISTORY AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COMPARE AND GOING TO HAVE TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST, RIGHT?
CONTRAST, RIGHT?
GWEN: AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT GWEN: AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT KAREN POINTED OUT TO ME TODAY KAREN POINTED OUT TO ME TODAY THAT LEON PANETTA HAS DONE A THAT LEON PANETTA HAS DONE A TELL-ALL BEFORE WHEN HE WAS TELL-ALL BEFORE WHEN HE WAS WORKING FOR RICHARD NIXON.
WORKING FOR RICHARD NIXON.
>> VERY GOOD POINT.
>> VERY GOOD POINT.
GWEN: WE'RE A MONTH AWAY FROM GWEN: WE'RE A MONTH AWAY FROM THE CRITICAL MIDTERM ELECTIONS THE CRITICAL MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND IN MANY STATES VOTING IS AND IN MANY STATES VOTING IS ALREADY UNDER WAY AND IT TURNS ALREADY UNDER WAY AND IT TURNS OUT THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE OUT THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE SENATE MAY STILL BE UP IN THE SENATE MAY STILL BE UP IN THE AIR, THANKS TO TIGHT RACES IN AIR, THANKS TO TIGHT RACES IN SOUTH DAKOTA, KANSAS, GEORGIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, KANSAS, GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA AND EVEN PERHAPS NORTH CAROLINA AND EVEN PERHAPS KENTUCKYKYKY KENTUCKYKYKY THE PRESIDENT IS NOT ON THE THE PRESIDENT IS NOT ON THE BALLOT BUT HE KIND OF THE.
BALLOT BUT HE KIND OF THE.
LISTEN TO A BIT OF THIS WEEK'S LISTEN TO A BIT OF THIS WEEK'S NORTH CAROLINA SENATE DEBATE.
NORTH CAROLINA SENATE DEBATE.
>> SENATOR HAGGAN'S VOTED WITH >> SENATOR HAGGAN'S VOTED WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA 9 % OF THE PRESIDENT OBAMA 9 % OF THE TIME.
TIME.
SHE SERVED AS A RUBBER STAMP SHE SERVED AS A RUBBER STAMP FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FAILED FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FAILED POLICIES.
POLICIES.
>> I HAVE BEEN RANKED THE MOST >> I HAVE BEEN RANKED THE MOST MODERATE SENATOR IN THE COUNTRY MODERATE SENATOR IN THE COUNTRY BY THE NONPARTISAN "NATIONAL BY THE NONPARTISAN "NATIONAL JOURNAL."
JOURNAL."
THEY RANK SENATORS ONE TO 100.
THEY RANK SENATORS ONE TO 100.
I AM SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE.
I AM SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE.
THAT MEANS I CAN WORK ACROSS THAT MEANS I CAN WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.
THE AISLE.
GWEN: AND IN KENTUCKY, THE GWEN: AND IN KENTUCKY, THE DEMOCRAT RUNNING AGAINST MITCH DEMOCRAT RUNNING AGAINST MITCH MCCONNELL WON'T EVEN ADMIT HE MCCONNELL WON'T EVEN ADMIT HE VOTED FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA.
VOTED FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA.
IS HE THE REASON THINGS IS SO IS HE THE REASON THINGS IS SO TIGHT?
TIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU LISTEN TO THAT KAY YOU LISTEN TO THAT KAY HAGGAN-TILLIS EXCHANGE THERE.
HAGGAN-TILLIS EXCHANGE THERE.
I CANNOT RECALL AN ELECTION I CANNOT RECALL AN ELECTION THAT HAS BEEN SO GENERICS WHERE THAT HAS BEEN SO GENERICS WHERE YOU GO FROM STATE TO STATE AND YOU GO FROM STATE TO STATE AND HEAR EXACTLY THE SAME LINES.
HEAR EXACTLY THE SAME LINES.
THE REPUBLICANS SAY MY OPPONENT THE REPUBLICANS SAY MY OPPONENT VOTED WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA FILL VOTED WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA FILL IN THE NUMBER PERCENT OF THE IN THE NUMBER PERCENT OF THE TIME.
TIME.
THE DEMOCRAT SAYS NO, I'M AN THE DEMOCRAT SAYS NO, I'M AN INDEPENDENT VOICE AND BESIDE, INDEPENDENT VOICE AND BESIDE, THAT PERSON IS TOO EXTREME.
THAT PERSON IS TOO EXTREME.
THE SCRIPT IN EVERY STATE THE SCRIPT IN EVERY STATE APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AND IT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AND IT IS ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA BUT IS ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA BUT ANOTHER REASON THINGS ARE SO ANOTHER REASON THINGS ARE SO CLOSE AND SO HARD TO FIGURE OUT CLOSE AND SO HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DIRECTION THEY'RE GOING IS WHAT DIRECTION THEY'RE GOING IS THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE RELYING THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE RELYING ON A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ON A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA DID IN HIS OWN PRESIDENT OBAMA DID IN HIS OWN CAMPAIGN TO BRING OUT THE PARTS CAMPAIGN TO BRING OUT THE PARTS OF THE ELECTORATE THAT THEY OF THE ELECTORATE THAT THEY NEED.
NEED.
TO REACH THE SOPHISTICATED TO REACH THE SOPHISTICATED TECHNIQUES TO REACH VOTERS, TECHNIQUES TO REACH VOTERS, MOTIVATE THEM, BRING THEM OUT, MOTIVATE THEM, BRING THEM OUT, IN PLACES LIKE COLORADO, FOR IN PLACES LIKE COLORADO, FOR INSTANCE, FOR THE FIRST TIME INSTANCE, FOR THE FIRST TIME VOTERS ARE GOING TO HAVE -- VOTERS ARE GOING TO HAVE -- EVERY SINGLE VOTER WILL HAVE A EVERY SINGLE VOTER WILL HAVE A HOUSE.
AILED TO THEIR HOUSE.
AILED TO THEIR THEY CAN SIGN UP AND REGISTER THEY CAN SIGN UP AND REGISTER TO VOTE ON THE SAME DAY AS THE TO VOTE ON THE SAME DAY AS THE ELECTION.
ELECTION.
SO IT IS TRUE, I THINK, THAT SO IT IS TRUE, I THINK, THAT FOR BETTER AND WORSE, AND FOR BETTER AND WORSE, AND PROBABLY MORE FOR WORSE BECAUSE PROBABLY MORE FOR WORSE BECAUSE PRESIDENT OBAMA IS A GREAT PRESIDENT OBAMA IS A GREAT WEIGHT ON THESE DEMOCRATIC WEIGHT ON THESE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.
CANDIDATES.
IT IS AN ELECTION ABOUT BARACK IT IS AN ELECTION ABOUT BARACK OBAMA.
OBAMA.
>> IS IT MAJOR OBAMACARE OR >> IS IT MAJOR OBAMACARE OR BROAD -- BROADER THAN THAT?
BROAD -- BROADER THAN THAT?
>> IT'S MUCH BROADER THAT >> IT'S MUCH BROADER THAT THAT.
I THINK ALL OF THE THAT.
I THINK ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE ROILING THE THINGS THAT ARE ROILING THE NEWS NOW HAVE COME BACK AS A NEWS NOW HAVE COME BACK AS A QUESTION OF PRESIDENT OBAMA ICE QUESTION OF PRESIDENT OBAMA ICE EXPENSE.
EXPENSE.
A BOTCHED ROLLOUT OF HARANG, A BOTCHED ROLLOUT OF HARANG, CHILDREN AT THE BORDER.
CHILDREN AT THE BORDER.
ISIS, EBOLA.
ISIS, EBOLA.
YOU NAME IT AND IT IS ALL YOU NAME IT AND IT IS ALL GETTING INTO THE NARRATIVE.
GETTING INTO THE NARRATIVE.
PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS.
PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS.
>> IT'S NOT JUST IN THE RED >> IT'S NOT JUST IN THE RED STATES THAT A LOT OF THESE STATES THAT A LOT OF THESE SENATE CANDIDATES DON'T WANT SENATE CANDIDATES DON'T WANT THE PRESIDENT -- YOU WERE JUST THE PRESIDENT -- YOU WERE JUST IN COLORADO, WEST VIRGINIA, IN COLORADO, WEST VIRGINIA, IOWA.
IOWA.
STATES WHERE HE HAS BEEN STATES WHERE HE HAS BEEN POPULAR.
POPULAR.
SUDDENLY ALL THESE STATES ARE SUDDENLY ALL THESE STATES ARE SAYING DON'T CAMPAIGN FOR ME.
SAYING DON'T CAMPAIGN FOR ME.
>> SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO ME >> SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT'S ALSO THAT PEOPLE ARE THAT IT'S ALSO THAT PEOPLE ARE RUNG AGAINST WASHINGTON.
RUNG AGAINST WASHINGTON.
SO YOU HAVE INDEPENDENTS IN SO YOU HAVE INDEPENDENTS IN KANSAS ALL OF A SUDDEN COMING KANSAS ALL OF A SUDDEN COMING OUT OF NOWHERE.
OUT OF NOWHERE.
>> AND K.D.
-- SOUTH DAKOTA OF >> AND K.D.
-- SOUTH DAKOTA OF ALL -- ALL -- GWEN: TELL US ABOUT SOUTH GWEN: TELL US ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA.
DAKOTA.
>> AN EXTREMELY RED STATE THAT >> AN EXTREMELY RED STATE THAT WAS ON NOBODY'S RADAR SCREEN WAS ON NOBODY'S RADAR SCREEN UNTIL THIS WEEK AND ALL OF A UNTIL THIS WEEK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE LARRY PRESSLER, SUDDEN YOU HAVE LARRY PRESSLER, WHO USED TO BE A REPUBLICAN, WHO USED TO BE A REPUBLICAN, NTW RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDE NTW RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.
IN SOUTH DAKOTA.
THAT IS A THREE-WAY RACE THAT THAT IS A THREE-WAY RACE THAT IS SO CLOSE THAT THE WAY YOU IS SO CLOSE THAT THE WAY YOU CAN TELL THAT PEOPLE TAKE THIS CAN TELL THAT PEOPLE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, THE DEMOCRATS ARE SERIOUSLY, THE DEMOCRATS ARE PUTTING A MILLION DOLLARS INTO PUTTING A MILLION DOLLARS INTO SOUTH DAKOTA.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
>> THE QUESTION IS WILL >> THE QUESTION IS WILL INDEPENDENT VOTERS COME OUT IN INDEPENDENT VOTERS COME OUT IN STATES LIKE KANSAS AND SOUTH STATES LIKE KANSAS AND SOUTH DAKOTA IN A MIDTERM ELECTION DAKOTA IN A MIDTERM ELECTION WHEN THERE'S NOBODY AT THE TOP WHEN THERE'S NOBODY AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET RUNNING FOR OF THE TICKET RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT?
PRESIDENT?
>> AND KANSAS, THERE'S AN >> AND KANSAS, THERE'S AN INTERESTINGTHERE WE HAVE AN IND INTERESTINGTHERE WE HAVE AN IND CANDIDATE RUNNING AGAINST A CANDIDATE RUNNING AGAINST A REPUBLICAN AND THE -- PAT REPUBLICAN AND THE -- PAT ROBERTS, THE INCUMBENT, AND THE ROBERTS, THE INCUMBENT, AND THE DEMOCRATS HAS JUST DROPPED OUT DEMOCRATS HAS JUST DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE SO PRESUMABLY ALL OF THE RACE SO PRESUMABLY ALL THE DEMOCRATIC VOTES TO THE THE DEMOCRATIC VOTES TO THE DEGREE THEY'RE THERE WILL GO TO DEGREE THEY'RE THERE WILL GO TO THE INDEPENDENT AND POSSIBLY A THE INDEPENDENT AND POSSIBLY A LOT OF REPUBLICAN VOTES AS WELL LOT OF REPUBLICAN VOTES AS WELL SO WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IS THIS SO WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IS THIS RESCUE SQUAD OF EVERY SINGLE RESCUE SQUAD OF EVERY SINGLE FACTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FACTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THERE.
IS THERE.
YOU HAVE TED CRUZ, SARAH PALIN, YOU HAVE TED CRUZ, SARAH PALIN, BOB DOLE.
BOB DOLE.
THEY'RE ALL THERE TRYING TO THEY'RE ALL THERE TRYING TO SAVE PAT ROBERTS.
SAVE PAT ROBERTS.
>> FOR THOSE OF US WHO LOOK AT >> FOR THOSE OF US WHO LOOK AT THE CALENDAR AND HOPE THIS THE CALENDAR AND HOPE THIS COULD BE OVER ON ELECTION COULD BE OVER ON ELECTION NIGHT, ARE WE GOING TO BE NIGHT, ARE WE GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTED?
DISAPPOINTED?
WILL AMERICA BE SEEING THIS GO WILL AMERICA BE SEEING THIS GO ON FOR DAYS?
ON FOR DAYS?
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE FUN.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE FUN.
>> THEY MAY BE COUNTING BALLOTS >> THEY MAY BE COUNTING BALLOTS IN THE PRECINCTS OF ALASKA FOR IN THE PRECINCTS OF ALASKA FOR WEEKS.
WEEKS.
THERE COULD BE A RUNOFF IN THERE COULD BE A RUNOFF IN LOUISIANA IN DECEMBER AND LOUISIANA IN DECEMBER AND HERE'S ANOTHER STATE ON THE HERE'S ANOTHER STATE ON THE SCREEN, WASN'T THERE A FEW SCREEN, WASN'T THERE A FEW WEEKS AGO, GEORGIA.
WEEKS AGO, GEORGIA.
IS SUDDENLY WHERE WE IS SUDDENLY WHERE WE HAVE -- IT'S LOOKING A LOT HAVE -- IT'S LOOKING A LOT CLOSER THAN PEOPLE THOUGHT AND CLOSER THAN PEOPLE THOUGHT AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THE RUNOFF IF THAT'S THE CASE, THE RUNOFF IS IN JAN. IS IN JAN. -- JANUARY.
-- JANUARY.
GWEN: THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
GWEN: THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
REINDEER.
REINDEER.
WE HAVE TO GO NOW BUT AS WE HAVE TO GO NOW BUT AS ALWAYS, THE CONVERSATION ALWAYS, THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES ONLINE.
CONTINUES ONLINE.
THE WEBCAST STREAMS LIVE AND THE WEBCAST STREAMS LIVE AND PLUS YOU CAN FIND IT ALL WEEK PLUS YOU CAN FIND IT ALL WEEK LONG.
LONG.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW PRESIDENT WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SECRET WEAPON MAY BE OBAMA'S SECRET WEAPON MAY BE THE CASH HE'S RAISE FG THE CASH HE'S RAISE FG CANDIDATES.
CANDIDATES.
KEEP UP WITH ME AND JUDY KEEP UP WITH ME AND JUDY WOODRUFF ON THE PBS NEWS HOURS WOODRUFF ON THE PBS NEWS HOURS AND WE'LL SEE YOU HERE NEXT AND WE'LL SEE YOU HERE NEXT WEEK ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
WEEK ON "WASHINGTON WEEK."
GOOD NIGHT.
- News and Public Affairs
Top journalists deliver compelling original analysis of the hour's headlines.
- News and Public Affairs
FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world.
Support for PBS provided by:
Major funding for “Washington Week with The Atlantic” is provided by Consumer Cellular, Otsuka, Kaiser Permanente, the Yuen Foundation, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.