National politics with Joe Watkins & James B. Peterson

Hour 1

Now that the Supreme Court has reset the political landscape by upholding the Affordable Care Act aka “Obamacare,” we take stock of the landmark ruling’s effect on the campaigns for the White House and Congress today and the potential effect on November’s elections. President Obama can now use his signal legislative success on the campaign trail, but he must do so with Chief Justice Roberts’ recasting the “penalty” to be paid by those who forsake insurance as a “tax.” Republican challenger Mitt Romney is running behind an effort for “Full Repeal,” but the conversation shifts from the economic focus he prefers to healthcare reform, a particular challenge for the former Massachusetts governor whose biggest accomplishment was passing a similar healthcare program. Meanwhile, the partisan battle over the botched “Fast and Furious” gun sting came to a head last week with Republicans led by Congressman Darrell Issa voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. Joining us to sift through and explain the meaning behind the news are Republican strategist and pundit JOE WATKINS and Lehigh University English professor and Hip Hop scholar JAMES B. PETERSON.

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[audio: 070212_100630.mp3]