RHETORIC, REALITY COLLIDE

Steve Fraser and Joshua B. Freeman, 04/20/12

The privatization of prisons in recent years has meant the creation of a small army of workers too coerced and right-less to complain.

Mark Cassello, 04/20/12

Assistant Professor of English, Calumet College of St. Joseph and founder of "Love Notes from the Indignant Left"

It is not Romney's wealth that makes him unable to relate. It is his incapacity to acknowledge the privileged position from which he began.

Elliott Negin, 04/20/12

Director of News & Commentary, Union of Concerned Scientists

With ALEC in the spotlight, what has still gone unmentioned is its longtime stealth campaign to scuttle state -- and federal -- climate change initiatives, despite the fact that a number of its corporate members publicly acknowledge that global warming is a serious problem.

Jess Coleman, 04/20/12

Student, New York City Lab School

If President Reagan were still around, he would likely have trouble identifying with what today's Republican party represents.

Ed Schultz, 04/20/12

Host, MSNBC's 'The Ed Show' at 8PM ET

There is no lobby for the poor in this country. The only thing that they can rely on is a little bit of government assistance to keep their dignity and their opportunities alive.

Paul Abrams, 04/19/12

Last person on Earth not on Facebook

To release his 2010 and 2009 returns would raise the real possibility that he committed voter fraud. And, we all know how deeply concerned Republicans are about voter fraud, don't we?

Dr. Robert A. Kornfeld, 04/20/12

Founder of the Institute for Integrative Podiatric Medicine

We all need to be part of the solution. If so, then everyone benefits from improved health, and health care services can be provided in a prudent, efficient and effective way.

Cassy Stubbs, 04/20/12

Senior staff attorney, ACLU Capital Punishment Project

In a remarkable victory over racial bias in the death penalty, Marcus Robinson will not be executed by the State of North Carolina but will instead spend the rest of his life in prison after a judge ruled today that his death sentence was tainted by racial discrimination in jury selection.

The Center for Public Integrity, 04/20/12

Original investigative journalism

Nancy Parrish, 04/20/12

President, Protect Our Defenders

America's troops deserve better than spin and half-hearted actions that fail to address core problems. They deserve real action. That means no longer hiding behind manipulated statistics and fundamentally reforming the way the military handles sexual assault and rape.

Bob Cesca and Chez Pazienza, 04/20/12

This week's show highlights: Ted Nugent is An Irrelevant Chickenhawk; The Stupid General Election Has Begun; Dog Meat Gate and Republican Outrage; Older Americans and Anti-Obama Racism; The Medicare Part-D Donut Hole.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, 04/19/12

Author and political analyst

The line between what's legitimate free speech versus a threat of bodily harm to him will be tested, blurred and challenged just as repeatedly. Nugent is only the latest example of that. He won't be the last. That's what makes what he said so chilling.

Bob Burnett, 04/20/12

Berkeley writer, retired Silicon Valley executive

The United States isn't a couple. We can't get a divorce. There's no simple way out of the conflict we're in other than to undertake the difficult task of stopping the bullying. After all, the bullies are a minority.

Robert Reich, 04/19/12

Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy, University of California at Berkeley; Author, 'Beyond Outrage'

The Obama White House should face it: "We're on the right track" isn't sufficient. The president has to offer the nation a clear, bold strategy for boosting the economy. It should be the economic mandate for his second term.

Richard (RJ) Eskow, 04/19/12

Writer; host, 'The Breakdown'; Senior Fellow, Campaign for America's Future

Cuts to Social Security -- whether they're in the form of means-testing or the Ryan/Romney proposals to raise the eligibility age and reduce cost-of-living benefits -- will hurt most seniors. They'll cause the most pain to elderly and disabled women and minorities.

Shawn DeBarge Goodin, 04/19/12

Engineer officer, U.S. Army

Although Brandon and I live in Washington State, which now has marriage equality, if we were to marry the certificate would carry no value when presented at my post. Simply because of our sexual orientation, my marriage would go unrecognized.

Irene Monroe, 04/19/12

Native of Brooklyn, graduate of Wellesley College and Union Theological Seminary at Columbia

While President Obama's attitude concerning same-sex marriage is "evolving," and presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's attitude is an unequivocal denouncement, the American people seem to be moving solidly toward an acceptance of marriage equality.