The Factor Rundown
Juan Williams fills in.
Unresolved Problems Segment
Want KILLING REAGAN Free?
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Why are Democrats bailing on the DNC?
Guests: Rep. Chris Van Hollen
Attorney General Eric Holder faces a contempt vote in Congress for refusing to turn over some documents pertaining to the administrationâ??s response to the Fast & Furious gun-running operation. There are now five Democrats who say theyâ??ll defect and side with Republicans in the vote.
Juan pressed the Congressman on why these five Democrats are splitting with the party and taking a historic step to hold an AG in contempt by Congress. Rep. Van Hollen believes the NRAâ??s political involvement on this issue has influenced some Congresspeopleâ??s decisions on how to proceed, but he stopped short of judging any individual memberâ??s motives.
In addition, there are now nine Democrats in Congress who say they will skip the Democratic Convention in September. Should the Obama White House be worried?
Rep. Van Hollen insisted these Democratic no-shows are not trying to distance themselves from the President; they simply want to spend time with their constituents back home.

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Joe Biden promotes class warfare on the campaign trail
Guests: Kirsten Powers and Michelle Fields
At a campaign stop in Iowa, Vice President Joe Biden took a shot at Mitt Romneyâ??s wealth, bringing up his Swiss Bank account and Cayman Island investments. Also, the Obama re-election team is attacking Romneyâ??s Bain Capital record in a new campaign ad. But is this sort of rhetoric resonating with American voters?
Kirsten maintained that the Obama narrative making Romney out to be an out-of-touch rich guy who sends American jobs overseas seems to be striking a chord with voters, especially in battleground states.
Michelle took issue with Biden claiming heâ??s part of the middle class. She said itâ??s insulting because the VP either believes Americans are stupid or heâ??s the one whoâ??s completely out-of-touch with regular folks.
Juan accused the mainstream media of helping Obama with lots of reportage about Bain Capital shipping jobs overseas.
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New presidential polling looks like good news for President Obama
Guests: Scott Rasmussen and Margie Omero
A brand new Fox News poll of registered voters shows President Obama in the lead over Mitt Romney, 45% to 40%.
Juan expressed surprise at the health care poll numbers â?" 38% said theyâ??d overturn the law, 30% said theyâ??d uphold it, and 21% said theyâ??d just invalidate the individual mandate portion of the law. Yet 51% of Americans disapprove of the job the President is doing in the health care realm.
Scott Rasmussen argued that whatever the Supreme Court decides, the health care law is doomed because it has lost in the court of public opinion. However, Ms. Omero disputed that notion, asserting that many of the key components of the reform are actually overwhelmingly popular.
In the horserace, Juan pointed out that Obamaâ??s favorable numbers are much higher than Romneyâ??s, even in key swing states. Scott Rasmussen indicated that the Presidentâ??s job approval rating will be the most crucial number â?" on Election Day, if Obama has 48% approval, Scott predicted heâ??d get 48% of the vote.

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Preview of the Obamacare ruling
Guests: Steven Engel
All eyes will be on the Supreme Court tomorrow morning when it is set to rule on Obamaâ??s health care law. A new Fox News poll reveals that 49% of Americans oppose the law, while 39% favor it. â?" individual mandate will be ruled unconstitutional
Juan began the conversation by stating that conventional wisdom in D.C. right now thinks the individual mandate will be ruled unconstitutional. Mr. Engel agreed that thereâ??s a 60-40 chance of that happening, but cautioned that conventional wisdom can often be wrong.
On Kennedy being the deciding vote, Mr. Engel seemed to find it likely that this will be a 5-4 decision with four justices to the left of Kennedy and four to the right
Juan commented that if the individual mandate is indeed struck down but the rest of the law is left intact, it will create a big mess where weâ??re all likely to see our premiums go up.
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U.S. Department of Agriculture using taxpayer money for ads promoting food stamps use
Guests: Deneen Borelli and Rich Benjamin
Despite the fact that 1 in 7 Americans are currently on food stamps, the federal government is encouraging more people to sign up for the program in a new radio ad paid for by the Department of Agriculture.
Ms. Borelli expressed outrage over the ad, saying we should be reducing the number of Americans on government assistance, not advocating more assistance. She also cited rampant waste, fraud, and abuse in the food stamp system. While she doesnâ??t want to see anyone starve, Ms. Borelli said the real issue is getting more people gainfully employed in the U.S. so they donâ??t have to rely on the government.
On the other side, Mr. Benjamin contended that 49 million people will be malnourished this year in America. Therefore, he thinks itâ??s wise for the President to advise people to use this program so we can have a country of healthy, well-fed people. Mr. Benjamin called it slander to suggest poor people want charity instead of jobs.
Juan invoked compassion, insisting that a child whose parents are out of work deserves to be well fed. But at the same time, he worried that this is another example of big government getting bigger.

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Major economic problems in California
Guests: Jonathan Hoenig and Mark Sawyer
The city of Stockton, California is carrying a $700 million dollar debt is about to file for bankruptcy. An estimated 20% of Californian cities are currently teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.
Hoenig blamed the progressive agenda in Californiaâ??s government, saying it prompted cities to borrow, spend, and kowtow to unions. He claimed that firefighters in Stockton make $160,000 a year and take home outrageous pensions.
Juan moderated an intense debate after Prof. Sawyer implicated hedge fund managers like Mr. Hoenig for crashing the market. The professor said taking hard-working peopleâ??s pensions away is tantamount to wage theft.
But Mr. Hoenig explained that if we donâ??t cut the pensions, weâ??ll end up like Greece. Juan wondered how we can continue to pay these pensions when we have no growth and no money.
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Warren Buffett & Jon Bon Jovi
Billionaire Warren Buffett sang a duet with rocker Jon Bon Jovi at a philanthropic event in New York City. Politics aside, Juan declared the men patriots for being so charitable.
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