The Ed Show for Monday, April 2, 2012

Guests: Howard Fineman, Joan Walsh, Ruth Conniff, John Nichols, Lena Taylor, Chris Larson,
Mayor Tom Barrett


ED SCHULTZ, HOST: Good evening, Americans. And welcome to THE ED
SHOW tonight live from Madison, Wisconsin.

The war on women`s health took a dangerous turn in the state. We`ll
bring you the latest and we`ll get live reaction.

This is THE ED SHOW -- let`s get to work.

(CHEERS)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCHULTZ: Bomb goes off at a Wisconsin Planned Parenthood clinic a day
before the Republican primary. The FBI is investigating what could be
domestic terrorism in Wisconsin.

"Salon`s" Joan Walsh and Ruth Conniff are here with the latest.

Republicans still can`t rally around Romney, and Rick Santorum
destroys him for a new ad.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What if I told you he raised taxes and stuck
taxpayers with a $1 billion shortfall.

SCHULTZ: John Nichols and Howard Fineman on tomorrow`s big election.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Scott Walker race is a lot more important to
me than the presidential race right now.

SCHULTZ: Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett wants to be the Democrat to take
on Scott Walker in the June recall. Tonight, Tom Barrett is my exclusive
guest.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m doing this for Trayvon. So, it just makes
me press forward to know that we have to address this for my son so that
this death is not in vein.

SCHULTZ: And America is waiting for an arrest in the Trayvon Martin
case, as new details paint an even worse picture for George Zimmerman.
We`ll have the latest.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCHULTZ: Good to have you with us tonight, folks. Thanks for
watching.

The dangerous reality of the war on women`s health was on full display
in Wisconsin last night. Police say a homemade explosive device was
detonated at a Planned Parenthood clinic in the town of Grand Chute,
Wisconsin, about 20 miles outside Green Bay. No one in the building was --
no one was in the building at the time. Police have no suspects.

The president of the Wisconsin Planned Parenthood clinic says the
clinic will reopen tomorrow. She says, "Our primary concern today -- as
always -- is our patients, staff and volunteers."

The bomb attack comes while the Republican presidential candidates are
campaigning in Wisconsin for tomorrow`s primary.

Rick Santorum released a statement denouncing the violence but still
firmly opposing Planned Parenthood. He said, "Violence is never the answer
while we can and should work to defund Planned Parenthood, violence against
our fellow citizens has no place in a freedom loving America."

Santorum isn`t the only candidate who has escalated the war on women`s
health. Mitt Romney is on record saying that he will defund Planned
Parenthood. He says that women who rely on Planned Parenthood services are
on their own.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You make it very clear that you are in support
of Planned Parenthood. But I`m just wondering where you would suggest that
the millions of women who receive their health services such as mammograms
and HPV vaccines go?

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, they can go where ever
they like to go. This is a free society.

But here`s what I say, which is the federal government should not tax
these people to pay for Planned Parenthood.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Women`s health services like Planned Parenthood are under
attack from all sides. President Obama released a video statement saying
he stands with Planned Parenthood and its supporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Protecting women`s
health is a mission that stands above politics. And yet over the past
year, you`ve had to stand up to politicians who want to deny millions of
women the care they rely on, and inject themselves into the decisions that
are best made between a woman and her doctor.

Let`s be clear here: women are not an interest group. They`re mothers
and daughters and sisters and wives. They`re half of this country and they
are perfectly capable of making their own choices about their health.

So, when some professional politicians casually say that they`ll get
rid of Planned Parenthood, don`t forget what they are really tanking about.
Eliminating the funding for preventative care that millions of women rely
on and leaving them to fend for themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: I have said before, who ever stands up for the rights of the
working class in this country will win the presidential election. The same
goes for women`s rights.

President Obama is separating himself from Republicans in his support
for women`s health care and the results are very telling. "USA
Today"/Gallup poll conducted 12 critical swing states shows this: President
Obama`s numbers against possible Republican opponents are getting bigger in
these key states. The president leads Mitt Romney by nine points and Rick
Santorum by 11 points in the swing states.

Among women, the numbers are bigger. President Obama has an 18-point
lead over Mitt Romney and a 15-point lead over Rick Santorum.

The gender gap could be the big ticket play for the Democrats this
year. It could affect races all over the country. Democrats are hanging
on a vulnerable Senate seat in swing states like Ohio and Florida and
Missouri.

There are open seats in Virginia and here in Wisconsin. Female voters
are questioning whether Republicans are on their side, and it`s having a
big effect in the polls. If their answer is a resounding no, Republican
chances of victory in November, no doubt, will take a hit.

Get your cell phones out. I want to know what you think. Tonight`s
question: will the war on women cost the Republicans the White House?

Text A for yes, text B for no, to 622639. You can always go to our
blog at Ed.MSNBC.com. We`ll bring results later on in the show.

I`m joined tonight Ruth Conniff. She is the political editor of "The
Progressive Magazine." Also with us tonight on THE ED SHOW is Joan Walsh,
editor at large for Salon.com.

Great to have both of you with us tonight.

Ruth, let me ask you first. Planned Parenthood, how important is it
to voters? And do you think that these polls will hold up as we get closer
to the election?

RUTH CONNIFF, THE PROGRESSIVE MAGAZINE: I think it`s absolutely
crucial to so many women voters and what women really understand this is
just not about driving a wedge over the issue of late term abortion. This
is about telling women whether they should have access to birth control
and, really, fundamentally, whether we`re going back to little house on the
prairie, or whether we`re living in a modern society. And that`s why you
see these huge number gaps.

SCHULTZ: What can you tell us about the bombing that took place at
the Planned Parenthood clinic?

CONNIFF: It`s interesting because, first of all, it happened in the
Fox Valley, which is a very divided part of our very divided state. It is
very close to the place where Joe McCarthy is buried in Wisconsin and the
headquarters of the John Birch Society.

It`s also an area that sent a Democrat to Congress regularly over the
last several years. So, this is an area of the state that is crucial for
Republicans to win if they`re going to win tomorrow. It is also an area
where you really see the battle between the forces that want to drag us
backwards and more modern forces in play. And Walker`s cuts to Planned
Parenthood which he implemented almost as soon as he took office, $1
million in cuts for preventative care were aimed specifically at these
clinics in the Fox Valley, like the ones that was bombed last night.

SCHULTZ: Joan Walsh, I really don`t know how to ask this. I mean,
we`ve seen some very radical positions being taken by the Republican Party
when it comes to women`s health and now this bombing. God forbid the tip
of the iceberg.

I mean, what does this mean? Are all these radical positions going to
take us into a really scary phase in American politics?

JOAN WALSH, SALON.COM: Well, I think they already have, Ed. You
know, I think that there are two realities in our country. Planned
Parenthood enjoys so much esteem and respect from most Americans. I saw a
Pew poll recently that had them way higher among admired groups than the
NRA.

And so, in the world, in the normal world, Planned Parenthood has a
health mission. They carry it out well. One out of five women has used
the services at some point in her life. They respect it. And I remember
last year when the House GOP started this war to defund it. Just
grassroots women on Twitter and Facebook were speaking up for Planned
Parenthood.

So, on the one hand, you have not been able to delegitimize or
demonize them. On the other hand, with this fringe plays into a long-term
pattern of attacks on Planned Parenthood, violent attacks, needing clinic
escorts to get women to get their services.

And so, there are two realities, two Americas just like Ruth is
discussing in the Fox Valley where you`ve got progressives doing the right
thing and taking care of people, and then you`ve got some frightened and
kind of frightening people turning to violence when they can`t get their
way politically.

SCHULTZ: Joan, politically, these numbers that are not good for the
Republicans right now. Women voters right now seem to be holding all the
cards because of the radical position of the Republicans. How can they fix
it?

WALSH: I don`t know that they can fix it. I mean, look, there`s a
fair amount of time before the election. So, nothing is in the bag.

But, you know, I remember having conversations about Sherrod Brown in
Ohio back when John Kasich got elected and there was this terrible Ohio
backlash and really worrying about that seat, and he`s doing well. And
again, it`s with the support of women. You`ve got Tim Kaine in Virginia.

So, it`s not just President Obama who is being buoyed by this support.
It`s key Democratic senators in tough races.

And I see this continuing. I don`t see that there`s really anything
they can do at this point that they want to do to turn this around and say,
you know what, we were wrong about this. This was settled in the `60s, we
apologize.

I think it`s too late.

SCHULTZ: Ruth, how important is it for President Obama -- he did
something really unprecedented. He came without a video message talking
about Planned Parenthood. I mean, he`s going right at the Republicans
right now. That is about as aggressive a statement as you can make and
he`s also putting the Republicans on the defensive.

What does it mean?

CONNIFF: It means that he knows that he benefits. I mean, look, he`s
at 60 percent with women and Mitt Romney is at 30 percent. I mean,
clearly, this is a settled issue. This is not an issue that`s up in the
air.

Should women have basic access to birth control or should maybe their
boss or pharmacist be able to interfere and prevent it. And the war on
women, the Republicans like to say it`s all hyperbole. Well, what last
night show it`s not hyperbole, it`s a very aggressive, very frightening
force that`s trying to drag us back.

SCHULTZ: Well, how you think things would change between now and the
election? I mean, you`ve got Sherrod Brown who was doing very well in
Ohio. It`s a set that the Republicans definitely want. You`ve got Bill
Nelson on this very same issue in Florida. I mean, two different parts of
the country, but the issue is very same to women`s health.

How can the Democrats capitalize on this to make sure they don`t lose
this advantage?

CONNIFF: I mean, I think that they should just do the right thing.
And I think that doing the right thing means standing up for Planned
Parenthood and standing up for the idea that believe women should have
access to birth control, should have access to safe and legal abortion, and
to expose the extremism of the other side.

Mitt Romney in Wisconsin tried to tell us, you know, women don`t care
about access to birth control. They`re much more concerned about the
federal debt. I don`t think so.

(LAUGHTER)

SCHULTZ: Joan Walsh, could this keep the Senate in the hands of the
Democrats? Is this a big enough issue? Because I don`t think the
Republicans can resurrect themselves, I don`t think the Etch a Sketch is
going to work this time for Mitt Romney on this women`s issue. I mean --

WALSH: No.

SCHULTZ: Look, women just -- the president said it right if his
message, you know, that you`re not some special interest group that`s out
there.

WALSH: No.

SCHULTZ: What do you think? Could this really make a big play for
the Senate and could this be the key issue that would keep the Senate in
the hands of the Democrats as far as the majority?

WALSH: It`s looking that way. It`s always looked good. It began to
look good while back for President Obama with the women`s vote. We were
crucial to his election in 2008. But the Senate has been dicer. State by
state it`s been a little dicer.

But to see these wide numbers, these wide numbers, these wide leads,
that are being opened up in Florida and in Ohio, in Virginia, it`s really
encouraging and it`s all on the strength of this women`s vote that is
turning against the Republicans. So, I think as long as these issues are
in the news, I think Democrats are in good shape.

SCHULTZ: Ruth Conniff and Joan Walsh -- great to have you with us
tonight. Thanks so much for being on THE ED SHOW.

Remember to answer tonight`s question there at the bottom of your
screen and share your thoughts on Twitter @EdShow. We want to know what
you think.

Coming up, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. I mean, they are going around
the state like they`re relatives. Is Ryan auditioning for larger role in
the Romney campaign? Howard Fineman and John Nichols will join me on that
subject.

And later, I`ll talk to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. He`s the latest
Democrat to jump into the race for the chance to take on Scott Walker.

Stay with us. We`ll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCHULTZ: Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are attached at the hip, they
started wearing the same clothes on the campaign trial. Meanwhile, Rick
Santorum is begging for an upset here in Wisconsin.

John Nichols and Howard Fineman join me, next.

Scott Walker, the recall is under way and he`s getting major help from
outside the state. I`ll be joined by State Senators Lena Taylor and Chris
Larsen. I`ll have an exclusive interview with the newest Walker
challenger. That`s Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

And the FBI, they have arrived on the scene in Florida to work for the
Trayvon Martin case. There are major new details in the investigation.
That report is ahead.

Share your thoughts on Twitter using the #EdShow.

We will be right back in Madison, Wisconsin. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PAUL RYAN (R), WISCONSIN: The reason I`m excited about Mitt
Romney`s candidacy because it`s clear from all of our interactions that he
understands this threat to our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: That was Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan embracing Mitt
Romney ahead of tomorrow`s primary hear in the Badger State. Romney and
Ryan, you know, they have been connected at the hip while campaigning
through the entire state. In fact, I don`t think that Mitt Romney has been
this close to a congressional member since. It seems like Ryan is
auditioning for the role of running mate on the Romney ticket.

With a major enthusiasm gap among Republican voters, Romney needs to
get solid conservatives behind him, embracing the Ryan budget which would
eliminate programs for millions Americans is just the first step.

And Republican voters in Wisconsin are buying it. The latest polling
puts Romney ahead of the Badger State by seven points, yet Rick Santorum
remains optimistic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Very good that we`re going
to have a good result here in Wisconsin. We`re going to have a strong
showing. Maybe even sneak in and have an upset.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Santorum`s dreaming. Despite Romney outspending Santorum 50
to 1, Santorum`s latest ad uses his most effective and pointed argument
against the former Massachusetts governor. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANTORUM: I`m Rick Santorum and I approve this message.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What if I told you this man`s government
mandating health care included $50 abortions and killed thousands of jobs,
would you ever vote for him?

What if I told you he supported radical environmental job-killing cap
and trade and the Wall Street bailouts? What if I told you he dramatically
raised taxes and stuck taxpayers with a $1 billion shortfall? One more
thing, what if I told you the man I`m talking about isn`t him. It`s him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: I`m joined by John Nichols, Washington correspondent for
"The Nation" magazine and also author of "Uprising." They may not be
cheering but I know that Howard Fineman, NBC News political analyst and
editorial director of "The Huffington Post" media group has just as many
fans. I know he does.

Gentlemen, great to have you with us tonight.

Of course, John, I want to ask you -- what do you make of this
Ryan/Romney connection? Why are they so close? Romney has not been this
close to anyone on the campaign trail?

JOHN NICHOLS, THE NATION: It`s a symbiotic relationship. A week ago,
Paul Ryan went on national TV and said for the first time, he would
consider an offer to run for vice president. Four days later, he endorsed
Mitt Romney.

Now, what does -- we know what Paul Ryan wants from this. He knows he
can never pass his budget in Congress. He`d like to be vice president.

What does Mitt Romney want? That`s easy too. Paul Ryan is absolutely
credible with the Tea Party. He is absolutely credible with conservatives.
They see him as a movement man.

And the other thing is, kind of less spoken, he is a stone cold social
conservative -- as right wing as Rick Santorum on these issues. And so, in
many ways, it`s a natural fit for a Romney ticket.

SCHULTZ: Why are none of them standing with Scott Walker? You can`t
get them together -- well, you can`t get them together on the campaign
trial. Now, Romney is showing up at certain Walker outlets.

NICHOLS: He wants the Walker backers.

SCHULTZ: He wants the Walker backers, but he want to be seen with
them.

NICHOLS: Well, you know, there`s a couple of reasons for that.
Number one, you might want to consider that Scott Walker is the subject of
a John Doe investigation into criminal corruption.

And that photo might come back to haunt you not just if that goes bad,
but also, do you want to be photographed with a guy who is supposedly on
your agenda and then gets beaten in a recall election.

(CHEERS)

SCHULTZ: Howard Fineman, does Paul Ryan offer more to Mitt Romney
than any other conservative because of his obviously his position as a
chairman of the House Budget Committee and he`s come up with a strong and
conservative budget? Is this really Romney`s best pitch? What do you
think?

HOWARD FINEMAN, MSNBC POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, it`s his best pitch
right now in Wisconsin. But I don`t know that it`s going to necessarily
help him elsewhere.

I know that from talking to one of Mitt Romney`s top staffers just a
few minutes ago really that they think that they have been getting and are
going to get in Wisconsin the biggest share by far of self-identified
Republicans. And I think they`re going to credit to some extent Paul Ryan
for that. So, they want him now. It`s sort of a situation like I`ll see
you one Rick Santorum and raise you two Paul Ryans, at least for Wisconsin.

I`m not convinced it`s going to be the same thing in the country
generally.

SCHULTZ: What about Rick Santorum, Howard? Is this it? Does he have
to win here?

Now, he`s making the case he`s got a lot of states down South that are
going to weigh on this thing and even if Romney does well tomorrow night,
he`s still not halfway there to the total delegate count, and they`re still
a long way to go. Does that work? Does he have to win here? Because if
he loses here, and it looks like he probably will, he will not have won
Ohio or Illinois or Michigan or Wisconsin, all of where the manufacturing
base has been.

FINEMAN: Yes.

SCHULTZ: And this, of course, is where Santorum has been trying to
score very well. What about Wisconsin for Santorum?

FINEMAN: Well, it looks like Rick Santorum is trying to bowl his way
to victory in Wisconsin. I don`t think it`s going to work.

(LAUGHTER)

FINEMAN: It`s beginning to remind me a little bit of the "Monty
Python" movie, the Holy Grail. You remember the scene where there`s the
night and they keep chopping his arms and legs off?

SCHULTZ: Keep going, Howard. You`re warming up the crowd with all of
this. Just keep on going. You`re hot, buddy. You`re hot. Keep going.

FINEMAN: Well, as the night knight shrinks and losses limbs and legs,
he keeps saying it`s a mere flesh wound, you know? I sort of think that`s
where Rick Santorum is right now.

If he doesn`t -- at this point, the players, meaning the media
players, the Republican Party players and increasingly the voters, I think,
are deciding and among the Republicans that the race is over and it`s time
to turn their attention to President Obama.

I think for dignity sake, Rick Santorum is trying to stay around at
least until Pennsylvania. But he better be careful what he wishes for
there, Ed, because that`s my home state. I know a lot of people there. I
keep close tabs on it. It`s by no means certain that Rick Santorum would
win his home state of Pennsylvania on April 24th.

As a matter of fact, as we all know, he lost by 17 points the last
time he ran for the Senate there.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

Here is Mitt Romney`s best surrogate, his wife Ann, in a radio
interview earlier. Listen to this.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

RADIO HOST: Sometimes he appears stiff. Do you have to fight back
some critics like my husband isn`t stiff, OK?

ANN ROMNEY, MITT ROMNEY`S WIFE: Well, I guess we better, unzip and
let the real Mitt Romney out because he is not.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: What the heck was that all about, John Nichols?

NICHOLS: I`m telling you, man. I didn`t know they had him zipped
into some Romney outfit there. But this notion -- this notion that there`s
some kind of inner Mitt Romney, that there`s a Mitt Romney inside that
somehow better than the thing he is showing us. I mean, the guy has been
running in some of the most intense races of his life. Wouldn`t you think
he would have shown it already?

SCHULTZ: I would think so.

John Nichols, Howard Fineman, great to have both you have with us
tonight. Thanks so much. Appreciate it.

FINEMAN: Thanks, Ed.

SCHULTZ: The Walker recall is a make or break moment for the
Republican Party. Scott Walker`s desperation, no doubt, is showing. State
Senators Lena Taylor and Chris Larsen will join me next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCHULTZ: Good to have you back here with us in Madison, Wisconsin.
We are just one day away from the Republican presidential primary.

But I have to tell you, around the state, most of the state voters are
focused on a different election. And that would be the recall election
which has four Senate seats, the governor and the lieutenant governor.

Now, over the weekend, Walker, I mean, he`s on the full defensive.
He`s very desperate, trying to put a positive spin on the situation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R), WISCONSIN: I look forward to this opportunity.
I relish this. This for me and for Becky and the senator s a chance for us
to go across the state and to tell one of the most powerfully messages in
the country. Do we want a governor who is owned by the big government
union bosses and the out-of-state special interest who are driving this
recall election? Or do we want a governor who firmly stands with the
hardworking taxpayers of this great state?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Scott Walker must be desperate if he wants us to believe
that he stands with workers of Wisconsin. The chairman of the Republican
National Committee made it clear the stakes could not be higher for the
Republican party.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REINCE PRIEBUS, RNC CHAIRMAN: My pledge to you especially here in
Wisconsin is to be this governor`s partner lock step. Anything Scott
Walker needs from the RNC, Scott Walker is going to get from the RNC.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: Walker has the full support of the RNC. Stop it right
there. Just remember that. Walker has the full support of the RNC. The
Republican presidential candidates -- wait a minute, they`re a little bit
careful. What`s full support?

Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum have voiced support for Walker, but
they`re not showing up at any campaign events with him because he could be
legally toxic to their campaign. They can`t afford to be seen in public
which somebody who could end up being a huge liability after June 5th.

But here is the bottom line. And this is why I cover Wisconsin as
much as I do on THE ED SHOW. This is all about Citizens United. There is
absolutely no way the Democrats in this state, or as Walker loves to say,
the union bosses, whoever the heck they are -- you know, as if there`s this
money just pouring into this state from the clouds. It`s raining dollars
for Democrats, that`s not the case.

But what we saw here was 30,000 volunteers in the winter time go
across the state and get signatures, the boots on the ground. Now, I don`t
think that these groups that are falling into Wisconsin and backing up
Scott Walker and trying to save him politically, all of the right wing
money that`s coming into Wisconsin -- they can`t beat the people in the
street. That`s the bottom line.

You don`t -- these are progressives who are in the street. You don`t
see the conservatives in the street. You don`t see them -- you know who is
out there for them? Fox News is out there for them. Some right wing
talkers in Milwaukee are out there for them.

But you go across this state, no, no, no, this guy is on big time
shaky ground. This is a template for other states across the union to see
how to fight against the big money. That`s why this is so big.

If Walker wins, if he stays in office, it also sets the template on
how the Republicans are going to be able to get it done.

Let`s bring in Wisconsin State Senators Lena Taylor and Chris Larson.
Let me ask you first, Lena, the template -- I mean, if I`m wrong, tell me.
What`s happening here?

LENA TAYLOR (D), WISCONSIN STATE SENATOR: You`re not wrong, Ed. This
has really been a movement that is unprecedented. It`s unprecedented for
our state. And the people are really ready to push back and fight back.
People are on fire.

Who would have thought, right? Who would have thunk that all of this
time, the people would still be energized and still be willing to fight.
People are ready.

SCHULTZ: Chris, Walker says that he is for the hard working
taxpayers. He uses the word reform. What`s he talking about?

CHRIS LARSON, WISCONSIN STATE SENATOR: He`s talking about grabbing
more power. That`s what he`s been doing this last year. He`s not standing
with the people of Wisconsin. He`s been spending more time out of our
state than in the state, and going around and trying to get money from big
campaign contributors when he had the ability to raise unlimited dollars.
That`s who he`s standing with.

The average wage earner, the people who have been marching in the
street, the people who are dying to be heard, he`s still not listening to
them.

SCHULTZ: You can`t match the money. So how is it going to play out?

LARSON: Well, it`s a people power movement, Ed. It always has been.
The people are the ones who initiated the recalls. The people are the ones
who initiated the protests. The people are going to be the ones to take
back our state.

SCHULTZ: He`s vilifying the unions. Every time I hear Walker talk,
he talks about out of state union bosses.

TAYLOR: Has he forgotten about his Koch Brother bosses? Has he
forgotten about his phone call that he had for nearly 20 minutes with the
Koch Brothers, talking about what he was going to do for them. He`s
forgotten that he`s bought and sold by them.

When it comes to the dollars, Ed, you know they may have the dollars,
but we have the people and the people have the vote. That`s what`s
important. He`s been saying he`s going to do jobs, jobs, jobs. He`s not
been doing that.

If you look at the numbers, not only has he been sold out to the Koch
brothers, but he`s also moved our numbers, where he`s put more people from
work to welfare in our state. So this guy is not for the people. He`s not
done what he needs to do for Wisconsin.

SCHULTZ: A report came out today that the Milwaukee Police and
Firefighter Unions in the City of Milwaukee are endorsing Scott Walker.
They endorsed him in 2010 and they are back endorsing him again. What does
that mean? I understand the state unions are upset about this.

LARSON: Right. It`s not anything that`s very surprising, Ed. They
endorsed him back in the original election. They got exempted. A lot of
people don`t remember that. They were exempted from all of the cuts and
all of the attacks on unions. It was largely seen as political payback for
them.

Here we have they are coming up with their receipt to say, yes, we`re
here with you again because you exempted us. It`s nothing more than a
political ploy, political payback for him.

SCHULTZ: OK, now the senate right now is at 16-16, correct?

TAYLOR: Correct.

SCHULTZ: Correct. OK. There`s four Senate seats. How do you feel
about those recalls?

TAYLOR: We are very excited. They`re very competitive races. When
you get done, I think it`s going to flip and I think you`re going to be
looking at the individuals who will be in the majority.

SCHULTZ: Are you taking -- either one of you weighing in on who you
would like to see go against Scott Walker? Chris?

LARSON: I`m not weighing in. I`m going to make sure that our focus
is on beating Scott Walker, the only governor to ever establish a criminal
defense fund. That`s who we want to beat. We have four great candidates.

SCHULTZ: So you`re not concerned about a big fight within the
Democrat party or anybody getting a broken nose if their favorite candidate
doesn`t get the nod to go against him?

LARSON: No. I think it will be a rising primary, like between Barack
Obama and Hillary Clinton, about who is going to fight more for the middle
class, who is going to fight for the wage earners, who is going to fight
for protecting our long term future.

It will raise people`s attention for the alternative to Scott Walker.

SCHULTZ: Are you concerned, Lena, about any support eroding depending
on who gets the nomination?

TAYLOR: Not at all. I think the only thing it`s going to do is it is
going to energize people across the board. I think the candidates that we
have and the spectrum of the candidates that we have will continue to keep
energy among the base.

People are ready. And whether it`s the very progressive or whether
it`s the farmer or whether it`s the person in urban Wisconsin, you know,
people are ready to be engaged and be involved. I think one other thing
that`s really important, I think this is going to be an opportunity to show
the Democrats are for women, because they have really shown a war on women,
as you talked about earlier.

SCHULTZ: Will that play in Wisconsin in the recall, because Scott
Walker went after Planned Parenthood, one of the first things he did?

TAYLOR: Northeast definitely, most definitely. Women will play a
large role in the election in Wisconsin. I know in my district, women are
the majority. And so I know it`s going to matter.

SCHULTZ: What if you lose? What if Walker wins? What does that say?
I got to ask, what does that say if he wins?

TAYLOR: First of all, he`s not going to win.

SCHULTZ: See, folks, they don`t even want to think about that here in
Wisconsin. It is a motivated bunch. No doubt about it. Wisconsin State
Senators Lena Taylor and Chris Larson with us here tonight on THE ED SHOW.
Thanks so much.;.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR TOM BARRETT, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN: What affects me personally
is the governor`s race. It affects me more right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: He`s the man Scott Walker defeated in 2010. Tonight,
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett want a rematch and he`s my guest exclusively.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every one of us feel the pain of this family
because Trayvon Martin could have been one of all of us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: New evidence in the Trayvon martin case makes it look even
worse for George Zimmerman. America is waiting for an arrest. We`ll bring
you the latest.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCHULTZ: Welcome back to THE ED SHOW, live from Madison, Wisconsin.
The Walker recall could turn into a rematch of the 2010 election.

On Friday, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced he`s running for the
Democratic nomination to challenge Scott Walker on June 5th. He has
pledged not to go negative on his fellow Democrats in the primary. And
he`s asked his primary opponents to do the same thing.

The conventional wisdom is Barrett is a good shot to beat Walker. In
fact, since he only lost to him by just five points in 2010, which, of
course, was not a good year for Democrats.

But this recall election is about labor rights. And some unions,
especially AFSCME, they have communicated to us that they are convinced
that Barrett is not the right guy for the job. They have concerned. In
fact, many unions have already endorsed former Dane County Executive
Kathleen Falk.

But Barrett is running strong in the polls. The latest polls show him
seven points in the lead in the Democratic primary. And Barrett is doing
better than any other Democrat in the head to head match up with Scott
Walker, although he trails the governor by two points right now.

But Republicans are clearly worried about him. The Republican
Governors Association released an attack ad against Barrett before he even
announced he`s running.

And I am joined tonight by the Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett here no THE
ED SHOW. Mr. Barrett, good to have you with us. I appreciate your time.

BARRETT: It`s great to be on your show.

SCHULTZ: You bet. Thank you, sir. Why are you doing this? You wait
until Friday to jump. Why are you doing it?

BARRETT: I`m doing this, Ed, because Scott Walker is trying to divide
the state like it`s never been divided before. I want to restore trust to
the governor`s office. I want to heal the state. And I want to create
jobs.

We can do that. Scott Walker started a civil war in this state. You
heard about it on the last segment, on that call when he thought he was
talking to the Koch Brothers, the phrase he used was he dropped the bomb.
He`s going to drop the bomb.

We all know what that means. When you drop a bomb, two things are
going to happen -- one of two things. Either you`re going to obliterate a
village or people are going to fight back like they`ve never fought back
before. That`s what we have seen in Wisconsin for the last 15 months.

We have seen people fighting in this state to make sure that
collective bargaining rights are restored. That`s something I will do as
governor of this state.

But most importantly, we need a government who is going to fight for
jobs. I was with Scott Walker. I went toe to toe with him time and time
again. I heard him talk about how he was going to create jobs. But in
2011, under the leadership of Scott Walker, the state of Wisconsin lost
more jobs than any other state in this country.

(CROSS TALK)

SCHULTZ: OK, two key points here, you lost to Scott Walker in
November of 2010. What makes you think that you`re going to beat him in
the recall, if you get the nod by the Democrats?

BARRETT: Well, there`s several things. One is that was a terrible
time for Democrats. Russ Feingold, the legislators, we ran into the Tea
Party buzz saw at that time.

It`s changed. But more importantly, people have now seen what Scott
Walker is all about. He never once mentioned during his campaign that he
was going to end collective bargaining rights for public employees. Yet
that is what he did. I will restore those rights.

SCHULTZ: Along those lines, I got to ask you this: the unions are
supporting Kathleen Falk. AFSCME is worried about your commitment to
labor. How can you convince them that you would be the right guy for the
job? Because she signed a pledge saying that she would go be a staunch
supporter of collective bargaining when it`s connected to the budget. But
you didn`t sign that.

This is a real tough point for the unions right now. How are you
going to correct that?

BARRETT: Well, I`ll tell you, what I said was that there are other
avenues to make this a reality. What I can do as governor of this state is
I can call a special session right off the bat, and I can seek to have
those rights restored without waiting for a budget. Or we can do it
through the legislative process.

I said I don`t want to tie my hands behind my back with one approach
or another approach. But I`ve said repeatedly that I support restoring
collective bargaining rights in the state of Wisconsin. And as the
governor of this state, I will restore those collective bargaining rights.

SCHULTZ: OK. What about the money? I want to play this. This is
Scott Walker recently mentioned you in an interview on Fox. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: You who has paid for the expansion of government in the past?
It`s been the middle class taxpayers overwhelmingly in our state. Finally,
we`re putting them back in charge of our government, at both the state and
the local level.

I mean, we`re sitting in the city of Milwaukee tonight. Mayor Tom
Barrett was able to save about 25 million dollars because of our reforms,
balance the budget, and not have to rely on gorging the property taxpayers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: What`s your response to that, Mr. Barrett? I mean, he is
saying that you are following the policies that he implemented and it`s
helped you out as the mayor of Milwaukee. What about that?

BARRETT: One of the things that most people don`t realize is that the
city of Milwaukee, in his budget, got the largest cut we have ever received
as a city, largest cut. If you put together shared revenue, if you put
together the road aids, if you put together the recycling cuts, probably
close to 15 million dollars in cuts that we had.

He wanted to paint me in a corner. He wanted to paint me in a corner
and say, all right, you go out there and you lay off hundreds of people.
You lay off hundreds of people or you take other action.

I did not want to lay off hundreds of people. I don`t want to close
libraries. I don`t want to lay off public health nurses. That`s the
challenge that I face because of Scott Walker.

The biggest mistake we as Democrats can make is to aim the gun at each
other, and forget it was Scott Walker who brought those cuts to the local
level. And mayors throughout the state had to respond to that and make
some very difficult decisions.

SCHULTZ: Mayor Tom Barrett from Milwaukee, great to have you with us
tonight. I really appreciate your time. We`ll do it again.

BARRETT: Thank, ed.

SCHULTZ: You bet. The FBI confirms it is performing a parallel
investigation of the Trayvon Martin case. The latest developments on that
next. Stay with us. We are right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCHULTZ: Welcome back to THE ED SHOW. There are new developments
today in the Trayvon Martin case. The FBI has started to question
potential witnesses. Today the FBI confirmed it has begun a parallel
investigation into the killing of the 17-year-old youth. Agents have begun
interviewing people at the gated community in Sanford, Florida, where
Trayvon was shot.

Trayvon`s parents have now asked the Justice Department to investigate
why the first state attorney reportedly refused a request to arrest George
Zimmerman. The Martin family wants to know if State Attorney Norm
Wolfinger interfered with the case.

Wolfinger released a statement saying that he was outraged by the
family`s request. Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee reportedly sided with
Wolfinger even though the lead investigator did not believe George
Zimmerman`s story.

Two forensic audio experts have now said the cries for help on the 911
tapes are not that of George Zimmerman. One expert said "the test
concluded that it`s not the voice of George Zimmerman." ABC News reports
and has now enhanced the police surveillance video of George Zimmerman on
the night of the shooting.

In the enhanced video, there is a mark on Zimmerman`s head which might
be an injury. But the enhanced video does not show evidence of an injured
nose or any signs of blood on his shirt. Emergency responders canceled a
second ambulance to take Zimmerman to the hospital, according to ABC News.

There was another Rally for Justice in Sanford, Florida, over the
weekend. And former President Bill Clinton has now weighed in on the case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I hope this will
lead to a reappraisal of those Stand Your Ground laws. And I hope that the
truth will come out and the tragedy of this young man`s loss will not be in
vain.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHULTZ: When we come back, I`m going to be talking to the folks here
in this amazing crowd here tonight in Madison, Wisconsin.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCHULTZ: Tonight in our survey I asked, will the war on women cost
the Republicans the White House? Ninety nine percent of you say yes; one
percent of you say no.

Coming up, this crowd has a lot to say about tomorrow`s GOP primary
and the Walker recall. We`ll hear from them next.

Don`t forget to listen to my radio show on Sirius XM radio, channel
127, Monday through Friday, noon to 3:00. You can follow me on Twitter
@EdShow, and like THE ED SHOW on Facebook. We`re right back in Madison.
Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCHULTZ: Big finish tonight on the ED SHOW is a big thank you to the
Great Dane, who have allowed our crew to come in here and do this show
tonight here in Madison, Wisconsin. We really appreciate the Great Dane.
These are great folks. They really are.

One thing about this whole Walker recall -- but it`s just not Walker.
It`s the Wisconsin state Senate, where there`s four seats that are up for
grabs. Let`s not forget the nine recall races that took place last summer.
I mean, this part of the country is so politically active right now.

It`s not because they wanted to make it that way. It`s because they
feel like they are being attacked. They feel like the middle class in this
country isn`t getting a fair shake and there`s a radical agenda out there
that has really taken this crowd to new heights politically, maybe like
we`ve never seen before.

What do you think of that? Is that right or wrong?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I absolutely agree with you as far as the
medicine goes. As a psychologist, I work with people who come in from
Rural Wisconsin, and I think support not as solid there. Frankly, the
recall Walker campaign is doing a great job. But something has to be done
to get more information to people in outlying communities, because some of
them are confused and a little bit scared of all the furor that they see in
Madison.

SCHULTZ: Sure. Are you concerned about maybe political exhaustion?
I mean, the recall last year --

(CROSS TALK)

SCHULTZ: They just answered it for you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m concerned that this is a middle class issue.
Seventy percent of the women and children in Dane County live in the
poverty line. This is not a middle class issue. You are fighting for
women and children across Wisconsin to have access to health care and
rights. Those women need to get out and vote.

SCHULTZ: How is the recall going to go? What does it mean to the
state?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What does it mean to the state. I think the
question is beyond what does it mean to the state? It`s what does it mean
to this nation and what does it mean to this world?

When we stand together for creative candidates that still try to build
community and build on the strengths that we have here, instead of
destroying what we have not only built for our state but set examples for
around the world.

SCHULTZ: Your thoughts.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like all the attention on Wisconsin. I think
it`s important. I think we will come through in May and June.

SCHULTZ: OK. May 8th is the Democratic Primary. June 5th is the
recall election for the four state Senate seats, the governor`s chair and
also the lieutenant governor.

I love this state. I love their passion. I just -- I just know that
the power of the people is going to be successful. We will stay on this
story.

That`s the ED SHOW live from Madison, Wisconsin.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY
BE UPDATED.
END

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