SALON

Sunday, Jan 20, 2013 6:27 PM UTC

Sunday show roundup

Second term priorities, gun control and the Hagel nomination VIDEO

By

Topics: Video, sunday show roundup, Fox News Sunday, meet the press, Gun Control, Chuck Hagel, david plouffe, David Axelrod, NRA, State of the Union, face the nation, roy blunt, ,

Sunday show roundupPresident Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

While both the president and VP were sworn in for their second term in intimate ceremonies ahead of the public extravaganza Monday, the debates du jour continued on the Sunday talk shows.

Gun control:

The head of the National Rifle Association David Keene, in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” was confident that efforts to ban assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition weapons would fail.

“I’m willing to say that guns in this country have as much influence as they always have, and perhaps more,” he told host Candy Crawley.

Appearing on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) — a Congressman with strong NRA support — urged an approach to curtailing gun violence that does not focus just on guns. “If you’re just going to say it’s all about guns, and we need gun changes and bans, then you’re wrong,” he said, noting that he and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) would be sponsoring a bill to launch a commission on “mass violence,” which would look at cultural depictions of violence, mental health care as well as gun control.

Obama’s senior adviser David Plouffe, who made the talk show rounds Sunday, told “State of the Union” that he believed there to be “consensus on Capitol Hill” over gun control.  “We think we can get 60 votes in the Senate and 218 [votes in the House],” Plouffe said.

Bearing out Plouffe’s point, staunch gun rights supporter Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) suggested he could be open to the idea of universal background checks, which would close the so-called gun show loophole. “I think we ought to talk about that,” Blunt said on “Fox News Sunday.”A CBS News/New York Times poll last week found that 92 percent of Americans supported universal back ground checks on gun buyers.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), author of a universal background bill told NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday that the measure was a “sweet spot” in terms of a gun control measure that has a good chance of passing. “This is the best chance of getting something done. And I think you’re going to find much broader support than we ever imagined,” he said.

Watch the NRA’s Keene comment on CNN:

 

Hagel:

Talking heads continued to express support and concern form Obama’s secretary of defense nominee, Chuck Hagel. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said on “Fox News Sunday” that he was “not comfortable yet” about the nomination. Blumenthal said he hopes to press Hagel on his views on Israel and Iran (a many Republicans and pro-Israel groups believe the nominee to be overly critical of Israel and soft on Iran.) Appearing on the same show, Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) said she was “very troubled” by Obama’s pick.

Meanwhile on “Meet the Press,” Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Hagel was “superbly qualified based on his overall record, his service to the country.” Chuck Schumer, having spoken at length with Hagel, said that he believed Hagel would “allay the concerns of many people” during his confirmation hearings (via NBC’s “Meet the Press”):

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

 

Obama’s second term:

Unsurprisingly, discussions turned to Obama’s second term, predictions and priorities. On “Meet the Press,” David Axelrod talked amorphously about “creat[ing] an economy, rebuild[ing] an economy.” He said, “that’s not just about dealing with the fiscal crisis, it’s about education, it’s about research and development, it’s about controlling our energy future. All of these are part of the equation. And we can’t just do one piece of it.”

On “Fox News Sunday,” Sen. Blunt placed the onus on the president to lead, rejecting charges on Republican intransigence in Congress. “There’s only one guy who can lead and that’s the president,” he said, adding, “[the president] has not done much to advance a specific agenda.”

Meanwhile, on the same show David Plouffe directed blame at the GOP. “The barrier to progress is not the president, we need to see more Republicans willing to compromise,” Plouffe said.

Watch Axelrod’s comments on second term priorities, via NBC’s “Meet the Press”:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Natasha Lennard

Natasha Lennard is an assistant news editor at Salon, covering non-electoral politics, general news and rabble-rousing. Follow her on Twitter @natashalennard, email nlennard@salon.com. More Natasha Lennard.

You Might Also Like

More Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

7 motorist-friendly camping sites

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 9

Sponsored Post

  • White River National Forest via Lower Crystal Lake, Colorado
    For those OK with the mainstream, White River Forest welcomes more than 10 million visitors a year, making it the most-visited recreation forest in the nation. But don’t hate it for being beautiful; it’s got substance, too. The forest boasts 8 wilderness areas, 2,500 miles of trail, 1,900 miles of winding service system roads, and 12 ski resorts (should your snow shredders fit the trunk space). If ice isn’t your thing: take the tire-friendly Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway — 82 miles connecting the towns of Meeker and Yampa, half of which is unpaved for you road rebels.
    fs.usda.gov/whiteriveryou


    Image credit: Getty

  • Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest via Noontootla Creek, Georgia
    Boasting 10 wildernesses, 430 miles of trail and 1,367 miles of trout-filled stream, this Georgia forest is hailed as a camper’s paradise. Try driving the Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway, which saw Civil War battles fought. If the tall peaks make your engine tremble, opt for the relatively flat Oconee National Forest, which offers smaller hills and an easy trail to the ghost town of Scull Shoals. Scaredy-cats can opt for John’s Mountain Overlook, which leads to twin waterfalls for the sensitive sightseer in you.
    fs.usda.gov/conf


    Image credit: flickr/chattoconeenf

  • Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area via Green Road, Michigan
    The only national forest in Lower Michigan, the Huron-Mainstee spans nearly 1 million acres of public land. Outside the requisite lush habitat for fish and wildlife on display, the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area is among the biggest hooks for visitors: offering beach camping with shores pounded by big, cerulean surf. Splash in some rum and you just might think you were in the Caribbean.
    fs.usda.gov/hmnf


    Image credit: umich.edu

  • Canaan Mountain via Backcountry Canaan Loop Road, West Virginia
    A favorite hailed by outdoorsman and author Johnny Molloy as some of the best high-country car camping sites anywhere in the country, you don’t have to go far to get away. Travel 20 miles west of Dolly Sods (among the busiest in the East) to find the Canaan Backcountry (for more quiet and peace). Those willing to leave the car for a bit and foot it would be remiss to neglect day-hiking the White Rim Rocks, Table Rock Overlook, or the rim at Blackwater River Gorge.
    fs.usda.gov/mnf


    Image credit: Getty

  • Mt. Rogers NRA via Hurricane Creek Road, North Carolina
    Most know it as the highest country they’ll see from North Carolina to New Hampshire. What they may not know? Car campers can get the same grand experience for less hassle. Drop the 50-pound backpacks and take the highway to the high country by stopping anywhere on the twisting (hence the name) Hurricane Road for access to a 15-mile loop that boasts the best of the grassy balds. It’s the road less travelled, and the high one, at that.
    fs.usda.gov/gwj


    Image credit: wikipedia.org

  • Long Key State Park via the Overseas Highway, Florida
    Hiking can get old; sometimes you’d rather paddle. For a weekend getaway of the coastal variety and quieter version of the Florida Keys that’s no less luxe, stick your head in the sand (and ocean, if snorkeling’s your thing) at any of Long Key’s 60 sites. Canoes and kayaks are aplenty, as are the hot showers and electric power source amenities. Think of it as the getaway from the typical getaway.
    floridastateparks.org/longkey/default.cfm


    Image credit: floridastateparks.org

  • Grand Canyon National Park via Crazy Jug Point, Arizona
    You didn’t think we’d neglect one of the world’s most famous national parks, did you? Nor would we dare lead you astray with one of the busiest parts of the park. With the Colorado River still within view of this cliff-edge site, Crazy Jug is a carside camper’s refuge from the troops of tourists. Find easy access to the Bill Hall Trail less than a mile from camp, and descend to get a peek at the volcanic Mt. Trumbull. (Fear not: It’s about as active as your typical lazy Sunday in front of the tube, if not more peaceful.)
    fs.usda.gov/kaibab


    Image credit: flickr/Irish Typepad

  • As the go-to (weekend) getaway car for fiscally conscious field trips with friends, the 2013 MINI Convertible is your campground racer of choice, allowing you and up to three of your co-pilots to take in all the beauty of nature high and low. And with a fuel efficiency that won’t leave you in the latter, you won’t have to worry about being left stranded (or awkwardly asking to go halfsies on gas expenses).


    Image credit: miniusa.com

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 9

Related Videos

Comments

 2 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username ( settings | log out )

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>

follow salon

Most Read

Popular on Reddit

links from salon.com

vote
Let's Stop Screwing Around and Impeach James Clapper: After lying to Congress about all the different ways the NSA's spying on us, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper lies about how he lied. Call the White House at 202 456-1111 and Tell Obama to Get Rid of Clapper
530 points531 points | 26 comments
vote
Let's Stop Screwing Around and Impeach James Clapper: After lying to Congress about all the different ways the NSA's spying on us, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper lies about how he lied. Call the White House at 202 456-1111 and Tell Obama to Get Rid of Clapper
447 points448 points | 32 comments
vote
Yes, there is a better search engine (1998)
107 points108 points | 33 comments
vote
Machiavelli doesn’t belong to the 1 percent | "The Prince" is oft-quoted on Wall Street, but its author was a hero of the working class who despised elites
90 points91 points | 33 comments
vote
Let's Stop Screwing Around and Impeach James Clapper: After lying to Congress about all the different ways the NSA's spying on us, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper lies about how he lied. Call the White House at 202 456-1111 and Tell Obama to Get Rid of Clapper
91 points92 points | 9 comments

From Around the Web

Presented by Scribol
listener_new_rect The Listener: "The Joker": Laughing at life's deepest sorrows