Obama's "Grand Bargain"; San Diego Files Cross Complaint
TAPPER: Welcome back to THE LEAD. In politics, it was pitched by the White House as a new grand bargain from the president. But Republicans say it's neither grand nor much of a bargain. Here's the sales pitch.</s>BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Here's the bottom line. I'm willing to work with Republicans on reforming our corporate tax code as long as we use the money from transitioning to a simpler tax system for a significant investment in creating middle class jobs.</s>OBAMA: That's the deal.</s>TAPPER: So, that was the president today in Chattanooga in front of the cameras. But I want to give you a behind-the-scenes look at your government at work. After the story of this "grand bargain" came out this morning by the AP, House Speaker John Boehner's press secretary Brendan Buck tweeted, "In case you were curious, we heard about this grand bargain offer from the AP wire." But prompted by troublemaking me, White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer then tweeted that wasn't true. And a senior White House official elaborated in an e-mail, saying the White House called Speaker Boehner's office yesterday and they left a message. One that the speaker's office did not return until around noon today. This is like asking a girl to a seventh- grade dance. Let's bring in our panel. Former CEO of Hewlett-Packard and founder of Carly Fiorina Enterprises, Carly Fiorina. CNN contributor and Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen. And CNN contributor and Washington correspondent for "The New Yorker," Ryan Lizza. Ryan, the president's grand bargain today. How much of an offer could this be if there wasn't even this connection made until noon?</s>RYAN LIZZA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, something has to get this off the ground, right? And we all know that Obama and Boehner have not been talking. Boeher has said publicly -</s>TAPPER: As opposed to the Israelis and the Palestinians.</s>TAPPER: They're talking.</s>LIZZA: That's easy compared to this!</s>TAPPER: They're talking!</s>LIZZA: Look, I think Boehner last year or earlier this year said he was done having one-on-one negotiations with the president. So I think this is Obama's attempt to jump start this with a public speech, get the conversation going, get Republicans and Democrats back and forth saying what they like, what they don't like. And see if they can get this thing off the ground. Remember, in the Senate, it like springtime in the Senate. There are Republicans now who are negotiating, there are conversations. The Senate is actually a semi-functional institution this year. I think he's trying to give the House a little nudge here.</s>HILARY ROSEN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: And that's key because remember, John Boehner actually publicly announced he didn't want to talk to the president anymore about economic grand bargains.</s>TAPPER: Not solo. Yes.</s>ROSEN: The president has been meeting very regularly with bipartisan groups of members and even Republican House members. Look, we're only six months into the second term. So --</s>TAPPER: Is that it?</s>ROSEN: We should stop talking about 2016 -</s>TAPPER: Oh, my Lord.</s>ROSEN: -- and reelections and all of that. The president has a job to do, and he's trying to get it done. What he did today was he said you guys want tax reform, we still want investment in jobs and infrastructure and education. Let's work together and figure this out. And Republicans ought to take him up on it.</s>TAPPER: And Carly, the president, the White House says look, Republicans I know they want a comprehensive tax reform that includes individuals. But that's a nonstarter because the president wants to raise taxes on upper-income individuals; the Republicans will never do that. So let's talk about where we can work, and that's why he's taken the position he's taking. Republicans don't see it that way, though.</s>CARLY FIORINA, FOUNDER, CARLY FIORINA ENTERPRISES: Well, here's what I would say as someone who has negotiated a lot of deals in my life. There a couple of cardinal rules for getting a negotiation done. First one is you have to actually want a deal. It not clear to me Obama wants a deal. It's very clear to me that he wants to be able to blame Republicans for the lack of a deal. Second, you need to flatter your counterpart, not insult them. That's just sort of basic deal making 101. Third, you need to know what your counterpart's red lines are and respect. And, fourth - and fourth, most importantly, you don't negotiate in public actually. Even in politics. If you really want a grand bargain, Boehner and the president are going to have to actually sit down in private and try and work something out. And you announce it when it's done, not before you've begun.</s>ROSEN: And in the past, the president has met every one of those (sic). And first of all -</s>FIORINA: He's met none of them. He's met none of them.</s>ROSEN: The president is not running for reelection.</s>TAPPER: In the last five year, I think is what you're saying. Not in the last day.</s>ROSEN: But the president is not running for reelection. He has no reason to say, oh, I'm going to do better if we fail. Then I can blame you. What he wants very much to keep this economy moving and moving more quickly. And it is John Boehner who has said I can't do this with you.</s>TAPPER: I want to give Carly the last word, and then I want to move onto another topic.</s>FIORINA: I hope you are right. I hope he wants to deal. The only past relation I would put forward in suggesting he may not is President Obama may truly have decided that the most important thing he can do for his legacy is to get a Democratic House in 2014 and to do so, he must continually blame Republicans for all problems.</s>TAPPER: I do want to move on to one other topic and that an even more dysfunctional government scene playing out, of course, in San Diego. Do you remember, Bob Filner, San Diego's Democratic mayor is not stepping. He's doubling down. He is asking the city of San Diego to pick up the tab for his growing legal fees after seven women have come forward accusing him of sexual harassment. T he city is actually filing a cross-complaint asking that he pay them for their legal fees. Ryan, this guy is not taking a hint.</s>LIZZA: No. I mean, this is when you know you've been in government too long, you expect the government to pay for everything. The least he could do is if he maybe wins the case then the government with pick up the tab. But when you're credibly accused of those accusations, it seems like you have a responsibility to pay for your own legal fees.</s>TAPPER: This is the first Democratic mayor in San Diego in decades, Carly.</s>FIORINA: Well, I don't think it's a reflection on the party.</s>TAPPER: It could damage the party.</s>FIORINA: Well, yes, this guy is a disgrace. He ought to go away like a couple of other guys we've talked about on this show.</s>TAPPER: And McDonnell should just be pointing to these guys, Weiner, Spitzer, Filner.</s>ROSEN: Take your choice with these male politicians.</s>TAPPER: There is a former city councilwoman in San Diego who said that she had heard these stories and she warned people about it and nothing ever happened with it.</s>ROSEN: I had dinner this weekend with some female members and former members who said this guy has been this way all along, that everybody thought he was a little creepy.</s>LIZZA: When he was in Washington?</s>TAPPER: When he was in Washington they had heard stories like this?</s>ROSEN: You know, not necessarily official sexual harassment, but just a guy they never trusted.</s>TAPPER: Creepy. All right, Carly Fiorina, Hilary Rosen, Ryan Lizza, thank you, great panel today. Really appreciate it. Coming up, when they're not launching hunger strikes in their cells, some of the guys in Gitmo like to kick back and relax by reading "50 Shades Of Gray." I am being completely serious that's coming up. Later, Governor Chris Christie, I hope you've set your TiVo, sir, we'll tell you about the new movie that die hard Springsteen fans have put together with their own concert footage. Stay with us.