Three scandals have the White House playing defense. CNN’s John King is on 'Starting Point' talking with John Berman about how the White House is responding to the IRS investigation, Benghazi talking points, and AP reporters’ hacked phone records.
The first of several congressional hearings on the IRS scandal due to begin on Friday morning. The recently fired, acting IRS chief Steven Miller will be on the capitol facing tough questions from a House Committee about the agency's targeting of conservative political groups and why he did not come clean to lawmakers early on. CNN’s Chief Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash reports.
READ MORE: IRS official denies intentional political targeting, lying to Congress
Whether it's on the road or parked on a local street it seems more than ever. It is currently being reported that drivers are being targeted for tickets.
Financially strapped governments big and small are looking for new revenue streams.
And it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.
CNN's Chief National Correspondent John King reports on the new developments unfolding in Washington D.C. with the IRS and the September 11, 2011 attack in Benghazi.
President Obama's administration is fighting a battle on capital hill in regard to recent reports that the IRS targeted conservative tea party groups trying to get tax exempt status. The IRS agency's acting commissioner was forced to step down due to the targeting of conservative political groups. His pink slip may not be the last. The IRS’ actions have triggered criminal and congressional investigations. along with promises of reform.
Additionally, President Obama and his administration has been receiving much criticism lately about how the administration handled the attack on the consulate in Benghazi. Republicans are still looking for answers.
A new development from the attack on the U.S. consulate in benghazi. The two men who headed up a state department review of the events of last september 11th - are demanding a public hearing to defend their reputation. In a letter obtained by cnn's jake tapper to Congressman Darrell Issa, Admiral Michael Mullen and General Thomas Pickering say it's not in the public interest for them to be questioned behind closed doors.
They write, "In our view, requiring such a closed door proceeding before we testify publicly is an inappropriate condition." The letter concludes by saying "what the committee is now proposing is highly unusual in the context of senior officials who are not fact witnesses but instead are reporting on their own independent review."
READ MORE: First on CNN: Pickering, Mullen challenge Issa to let them testify in public
A report coming out this week shows IRS officials were targeting Tea Party and other conservative groups when they applied for tax exempt status. The audit states that the IRS flagged groups with the names "Tea Party," "Patriot" and the "9/12 project" a group created by conservative pundit Glenn Beck. This morning the National Coordinator for Tea Party Patriots, Keli Carender, joins “Starting Point” to weigh in on the report.
Four years ago, his political career nearly disintegrated when he disappeared for five days and admitted to an extramarital affair. On Tuesday Sanford mounted a remarkable political comeback to win his old seat in the house. He beat out democratic challenger Elizabeth Colbert Busch 54%-45% in South Carolina’s first congressional district special election. This morning Congressman-elect Mark Sanford joins “Starting Point” to discuss his win and plans moving forward.
Sanford who held the seat he won once before from 1995-2001 says “I’ve learned a lot...life is a series of course of corrections, a series of changes.” The Congressman-elect adds “we learn by every experience both good and bad.”
By night, Wendy Casey and her son Randall are just a mother and son living under the same roof. But by day are political competitors in the town of Dixmoor, Illinois.
On Tuesday, Wendy and her son will run against each other to be the town's next mayor. If either Casey wins they would be taking a job overseeing a town in dire financial straits, with extensive problems making payroll payments and even finding the money to fill the gas tanks of its squad cars. This morning, Wendy Casey joins “Starting Point” to discuss what it is like running against her son for office and some of the issues Dixmoor is facing.
Four years ago after the re-election of the current mayor, Wendy Casey says she decided to run for office and two years prior her son Randall decided to run for trustee as a write-in candidate but didn’t win. She says although Randall knew she was running it was not really until September that she “really knew that he was serious when he began to start collecting signatures.”
In the house that they share Casey says it's been difficult. The 45-year-old candidate says she and her son usually “just say good morning and good evening [but] this morning, I actually told him good morning, and good luck, and may the best woman win.”
After the polls close today Casey says she and her son will “be okay.” Although for their town “it has gotten to the point where residents...do not want to come out and vote because they are not trusting the current elected officials,” she says.
On "Starting Point" this morning, Kansas City Mayor Sly James talks with John Berman and Christine Romans about the unarmed man who rushed the stage during his State of City Speech.
James, who has been mayor since May 2011, believes that it was clear the man "had something to say, and he was intent on saying it.” Derron Black had unsuccessfully run for the Missouri House last year, and was taken into custody after the incident. The mayor seemed unfazed while security apprehended Black, and removed him from stage. James’ calm and cool demeanor can be attributed to his time in the Marine Corps.
James does not think this was a security breach, and has “nothing but faith” in his security team. He feels part of being a mayor is having people around him at all times, and that any added security would make him unapproachable.
“I’m not the President, I’m the mayor of a city, I’m supposed to be out with the people talking to them,” he says.
Given the problems facing certain parts of Kansas City such as unemployment, lack of education, high crime rates, and poverty, the mayor sympathizes with the man’s frustrations, “the only difference that he and I may actually have is his method of delivery.”
As a parting note James wishes the man “nothing but the best, and perhaps at some point in the future we can have a conversation and get things straightened out.”
It all comes down to two in South Carolina's extra special special election.
Fmr. Gov. Mark Sanford will move forward into a run-off in the election to replace Rep. Tim Scott. But it's still not clear who Sanford will face in the Republican run-off.
The close race for a second triggered a recount, and whoever wins will go up against Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch, sister of Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert. She was the runaway winner of the Democratic primary.
Teddy Turner, son of CNN founder Ted Turner, finished fourth in a GOP field of 16. He talks with John and Christine on "Starting Point" this morning to talk about the race.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) on the root of the dysfunction in Washington politics and how it can be stopped. He also explains how this 'dysfunction' is hampering budget and spending cuts negotiations.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertise with us | About us | Help | Advertising Practices
