PBS NewsHour; December 10, 2010 3:00pm-4:00pm PST

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS

>> Lehrer: GOOD EVENING. I'M JIM LEHRER. A JAILED CHINESE DISSIDENT WAS HONORED IN ABSENTIA TODAY WITH THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.

>> Brown: AND I'M JEFFREY BROWN. ON THE NEWSHOUR TONIGHT, WE REPORT ON THE SCENE IN OSLO AND BEIJING, AND JUDY WOODRUFF EXAMINES THE STATE OF U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS.

>> Lehrer: THEN, MARGARET WARNER GETS THE LATEST ON THE VIOLENT PROTESTS IN BRITAIN OVER TUITION HIKES FROM NED TEMKO OF "THE OBSERVER" IN LONDON.

>> Brown: WE UPDATE TODAY'S BACK AND FORTH ON CAPITOL HILL ON THE TAX CUT DEAL.

>> Lehrer: MARK SHIELDS AND DAVID BROOKS ANALYZE THIS WEEK'S NEWS.

>> ♪ I'M EXPRESSING WITH MY FULL CAPABILITIES ♪ AND NOW I'M LIVING IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES...

>> Brown: AND WE LOOK AT RAP MUSIC AS A FORM OF LYRIC POETRY. A NEW ANTHOLOGY MAKES THE CASE.

>> I THINK WHEN YOU GET TO DIVE INTO THESE LYRICS YOU GET TO SEE HOW MUCH DEPTH IS REALLY IN WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE SAYING.

>> Lehrer: THAT'S ALL AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S NEWSHOUR. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

>> OPPORTUNITY CAN START ANYWHERE AND GO EVERYWHERE. TO HELP REVITALIZE A NEIGHBORHOOD IN MASSACHUSETTS; RESTORE A HISTORIC LANDMARK IN HARLEM; FUND A LOCAL BUSINESS IN CHICAGO; EXPAND GREEN ENERGY INITIATIVES IN SEATTLE. BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE GIVING, LENDING AND INVESTING IN MORE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MORE OPPORTUNITIES HAPPEN.

>> I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE UNIVERSE...

>> LOOKS LIKE.

>> FEELS LIKE.

>> FROM DEEP SPACE.

>> TO A MICROBE.

>> I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORLD BY PURSUING MY PASSION FOR SCIENCE.

>> IT REALLY IS THE KEY TO THE FUTURE.

>> I WANT TO DESIGN...

>> A BETTER SOLAR CELL.

>> I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S REALLY POSSIBLE.

>> I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO CURE CANCER.

>> PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY THINGS WORK. I WANT TO BE THAT PERSON THAT FINDS OUT WHY. THAT'S HEALTH IN NUMBERS. UNITED HEALTHCARE. AND THE WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION, WORKING TO SOLVE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD. AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. AND... THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU.

>> Brown: IT WAS A DAY OF HIGH CEREMONY IN OSLO, NORWAY-- THE DAY WHEN THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HANDED OUT. INSTEAD, THE WINNER OF THE PRIZE REMAINED IN A CHINESE PRISON. ♪ TRUMPETS ECHOED THROUGH THE CITY HALL OF OSLO AS THE KING AND QUEEN OF NORWAY AND DIGNITARIES FROM DOZENS OF COUNTRIES TOOK THEIR PLACES. THEY CAME TO HONOR CHINESE DISSIDENT AND LITERARY CRITIC LIU XIABAO, WHO WAS SENTENCED LAST CHRISTMAS DAY TO 11 YEARS BEHIND BARS. NORWEGIAN NOBEL COMMITTEE CHAIR THORBJORN JAGLAND MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> WE REGRET THAT THE LAUREATE IS NOT PRESENT. HE IS IN ISOLATION IN A PRISON IN NORTHEAST CHINA. NOR CAN THE LAUREATE'S WIFE, LIU XIA, OR HIS CLOSEST RELATIVES BE WITH US. NO MEDAL OR DIPLOMA WILL THEREFORE BE PRESENTED HERE TODAY.

>> Brown: INSTEAD, AN EMPTY CHAIR WAS LEFT WHERE LIU WOULD HAVE SAT, HIS AWARD PLACED THERE. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME A PEACE PRIZE WINNER HAD BEEN PREVENTED FROM ATTENDING THE CEREMONY SINCE 1936, WHEN ADOLF HITLER BARRED A GERMAN PACIFIST FROM ACCEPTING THE AWARD. CHINA HAD ALSO BARRED LIU'S CLOSE RELATIVES FROM ATTENDING, SO NORWEGIAN ACTRESS LIV ULLMAN READ FROM HIS COURT APPEAL LAST DECEMBER.

>> I HOPE THAT I WILL BE THE LAST VICTIM OF CHINA'S ENDLESS LITERARY INQUISITIONS, AND THAT FROM NOW ON, NO ONE WILL BE INCRIMINATED BECAUSE OF SPEECH. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS THE FOUNDATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, THE SOURCE OF HUMANITY AND THE MOTHER OF TRUTH."

>> Brown: LIU'S CRIME, UNDER CHINESE LAW, WAS AUTHORING AN OPEN LETTER CALLED "CHARTER 08". IT CALLED FOR OPEN ELECTIONS, FREE SPEECH AND THE RULE OF LAW. HE HAD ALSO BEEN A LEADER OF THE TIANANMEN SQUARE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT IN 1989, AND SERVED SEVERAL OTHER PRISON TERMS FOR DISSIDENT ACTIVITIES. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ANGRILY PROTESTED AWARDING THE PEACE PRIZE TO LIU. TODAY, A STATE-RUN NEWS CHANNEL DENOUNCED THE AWARD AGAIN, PART OF A CONCERTED CAMPAIGN THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR WEEKS.

>> ( translated ): WE ARE FIRMLY AGAINST THE ATTEMPT BY ANY COUNTRY OR INDIVIDUAL TO USE THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE TO INTERFERE IN CHINA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND INFRINGE UPON CHINA'S JUDICIAL SOVEREIGNTY.

>> Brown: SECURITY WAS TIGHT OUTSIDE LIU'S APARTMENT BUILDING IN BEIJING, WHERE HIS WIFE HAS BEEN INCOMMUNICADO, AS POLICE SHOOED AWAY INQUIRING JOURNALISTS. THE REGIME ALSO TOOK EXTENSIVE MEASURES TO CENSOR FOREIGN NEWS COVERAGE SEEN INSIDE CHINA. BLACKOUTS AFFECTED CNN AND THE BBC, AND THE SO-CALLED "GREAT FIREWALL" BLOCKED MANY NEWS WEB SITES. NEVERTHELESS, TWITTER IN CHINA LIT UP WITH TALK OF HOW TO WATCH THE CEREMONY, DESPITE THE BLACKOUT. ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT, BEIJING THREATENED REPRISALS AGAINST COUNTRIES WHO SENT ENVOYS TO THE CEREMONY IN OSLO. AND 16 NATIONS SKIPPED THE PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING RUSSIA, IRAQ, IRAN, AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, EGYPT, AND SAUDI ARABIA. BUT THE NOBEL COMMITTEE'S JAGLAND INSISTED THE PRIZE WAS NOT MEANT AS AN INSULT.

>> CHINA'S NEW STATUS ENTAILS INCREASED RESPONSIBILITY. CHINA MUST BE PREPARED FOR CRITICISM AND REGARD IT AS POSITIVE. IT HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO REMIND THE WORLD THAT THE RIGHTS SO WIDELY ENJOYED TODAY WERE FOUGHT AND WON BY PERSONS WHO TOOK GREAT RISKS. THEY DID SO FOR OTHERS, FOR ALL OF US. THIS IS WHY LIU XIAOBO DESERVES OUR SUPPORT TODAY.

>> Brown: IN WASHINGTON, SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON SAID LIU HAS BEEN PERSECUTED FOR PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS.

>> WE CONTINUE TO CALL FOR HIS RELEASE, AND TODAY, WE CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER.

>> Brown: AND LAST YEAR'S NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE, PRESIDENT OBAMA, ISSUED A STATEMENT LAUDING LIU, SAYING, IN PART, "MR. LIU XIAOBO IS FAR MORE DESERVING OF THIS AWARD THAN I WAS." IN A 2008 INTERVIEW, LIU SPOKE OF HIS WORK.

>> ( translated ): IT'S NOT TRUE THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN SIMPLY IGNORE US, THAT THEY DON'T CARE WHAT WE DO. IF THEY DIDN'T CARE, THEY WOULD NOT GO TO SUCH LENGTHS TO MONITOR AND CONTROL US. I ALSO SENSE THAT THE COMMUNITY WHICH EMPATHIZES WITH US, SUPPORTS US AND IS PREPARED TO SPEAK OUT FOR US IS GROWING.

>> Brown: EVEN IN HIS ABSENCE, THE POWER OF LIU'S OWN WORDS ECHOED IN OSLO TODAY. NOBEL OFFICIALS SAID THAT, FROM HIS PRISON CELL, HE HAD DEDICATED THE PRIZE TO THE "LOST SOULS" OF TIANANMEN SQUARE.

>> Lehrer: COMING UP, WHAT THE NOBEL AWARD MEANS FOR THE STATE OF U.S. CHINA RELATIONS; PLUS, THE STUDENT RIOTS IN BRITAIN; THE TAX CUT COMPROMISE HERE IN THE U.S.; THE ANALYSIS OF SHIELDS AND BROOKS; AND RAP MUSIC AS AN ART FORM. BUT FIRST, THE OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY. HERE'S HARI SREENIVASAN IN OUR NEWSROOM.

>> Sreenivasan: TENSIONS RAN HIGH IN HAITI TODAY AS OFFICIALS CHECKED VOTE TALLIES FROM THE DISPUTED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. POLICE WERE OUT IN FORCE IN PORT-AU-PRINCE AND ELSEWHERE, TRYING TO PREVENT NEW VIOLENCE. PEOPLE LINED UP TO GET GAS, FOOD, WATER AND OTHER NECESSITIES AFTER THREE DAYS OF RIOTING. BULLDOZERS CLEARED BARRICADES TO REOPEN STREETS. THE UNREST HAS PROMPTED THE U.S. TO ISSUE A TRAVEL WARNING TO AMERICANS. FLIGHTS IN AND OUT OF PORT-AU- PRINCE HAVE BEEN HALTED AS WELL. IN CANCUN, MEXICO, WORLD CLIMATE TALKS GROUND TOWARD A CLOSE WITHOUT ANY SIGNS OF MAJOR PROGRESS. DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING NATIONS COULD NOT AGREE OVER FUTURE CUTS IN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. MEXICAN OFFICIALS EXTENDED THE TWO-WEEK OLD NEGOTIATIONS INTO SATURDAY IN HOPES OF REACHING A DEAL ON SMALLER STEPS. THREE CURRENT AND FORMER POLICE OFFICERS IN NEW ORLEANS NOW FACE SENTENCING IN A KILLING AND COVER-UP AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA. THE VICTIM, HENRY GLOVER, WAS SHOT DEAD OUTSIDE A STRIP MALL. HIS BODY WAS LATER BURNED IN A CAR AND LEFT ON A LEVEE. LAST NIGHT, A FEDERAL JURY CONVICTED A FORMER OFFICER OF MANSLAUGHTER. ANOTHER DEFENDANT WAS CONVICTED OF BURNING THE BODY, AND A THIRD OF WRITING A FALSE REPORT.

>> THIS IS A CASE THAT NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT, AND CASES LIKE IT. IT IS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITIZENS ARE PROTECTED BY THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE THEM, WHO ARE SWORN TO PROTECT THEM, INCLUDING ALL OF US AND ALL OF OUR INDIVIDUALS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> Sreenivasan: TWO OTHER OFFICERS WERE ACQUITTED OF ALL CHARGES. A TOTAL OF 20 CURRENT OR FORMER NEW ORLEANS POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN A SERIES OF FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATIONS. THIS WAS THE FIRST CASE TO GO TO TRIAL. TWO TOP MEMBERS OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WERE HOSPITALIZED TODAY. TREASURY SECRETARY TIMOTHY GEITHNER HAD A MINOR SURGICAL PROCEDURE TO GET RID OF A KIDNEY STONE. AND RICHARD HOLBROOKE, THE SPECIAL ENVOY FOR AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN, FELL ILL AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT. HE WAS UNDERGOING EVALUATIONS. WALL STREET FINISHED OUT THE WEEK WITH MODEST GAINS. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 40 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 11,410. THE NASDAQ ROSE MORE THAN 20 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 2,637. FOR THE WEEK, THE DOW GAINED MORE THAN 1%; THE NASDAQ ROSE NEARLY 2%. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DAY'S MAJOR STORIES. NOW, BACK TO JIM.

>> Lehrer: MORE NOW ON CHINA ON THIS DAY WHEN A JAILED CHINESE DISSIDENT WAS AWARDED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN ABSENTIA. CHINA HAD WARNED OF DIPLOMATIC CONSEQUENCES FOR COUNTRIES THAT SENT REPRESENTATIVES TO THE CEREMONY IN OSLO. JUDY WOODRUFF HAS OUR STORY.

>> Woodruff: AND FOR THAT, WE'RE JOINED BY SUSAN SHIRK, A FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHINA POLICY IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. SHE IS NOW THE DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA'S INSTITUTE ON GLOBAL CONFLICT AND COOPERATION. AND GORDON CHANG, AN AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST FOR forbes.com. HE LIVED IN CHINA AND HONG KONG FOR 20 YEARS, AND WORKED AS A LAWYER FOR AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL FIRMS. THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US. SUSAN SHIRK, TO YOU FIRST, WHAT SORT OF THINKING DO YOU UNDERSTAND THERE TO BE INSIDE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD LEAD TO THIS SORT OF HARSH REACTION THEY'VE HAD TO THE LIU XIAOBO NOBEL PRIZE AWARD?

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT DOMESTIC POLITICS IN CHINA. SPECIFICALLY ABOUT POLITICS AT THE VERY TOP REACHES OF POWER OF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY. IN RECENT YEARS THE INTERNAL SECURITY POLICE AND THE PROPAGANDA DEPARTMENT AND THE MILITARY HAVE BECOME VERY POWERFUL INTERESTS WITHIN WITH THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY. THE SECURITY POLICE AND THE PROPAGANDA DEPARTMENT LEAD THIS CHARGE, THIS CAMPAIGN AGAINST LIU XIAOBO-- ZIBO. THE SECOND FACTOR IS THAT THE CAMPAIGN FOR POWER HAS BECOME IN CHINA. IN 2 YEARS THERE WILL BE THE 18th PARTY CONGRESS. THERE WILL BE A MAJOR LEADERSHIP TRANSITION. AND THE CAMPAIGN HAS ALREADY BEGUN TWO YEARS BEFORE THE ACTUAL TURNOVER OF POWER. AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPETING FOR POWER BELIEVE THAT THESE HAWKISH STANCES TOWARDS THE WEST, ESPECIALLY THE UNITED STATES, ARE WAYS FOR THEM TO WIN POINTS.

>> Woodruff: GORDON CHANG, WHAT WOULD YOU ADD TO THAT? IS THAT WHAT YOU SEE GOING ON THERE?

>> I THINK IT CERTAINLY IS. BECAUSE IN THIS RUN-UP TO THE LEADERSHIP TRANSITION THAT SUSAN TALKS ABOUT, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR LEADERS TO COMPROMISE ON ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAD ZIN TAU IS TONE TO BE A HARD-LINER AGAINST THE UNITED STATES. PEOPLE SAY THAT CHINA HAS CHANGED AND GOTTEN MORE HOSTILE RECENTLY. I THINK THAT THIS IS AN INHERENT PART OF THE REGIME. AND SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THIS REGIME IS STARTING TO SHOW ITS TAIL AS THE CHINESE WOULD SAY, THE FOX IS SHOWING ITS TAIL. AND BASICALLY IT SORT OF REASSERTING ITSELF. I THINK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS TREND.

>> Woodruff: BUT SUSAN SHIRK T SOUNDED AS IF YOU WERE SAYING THAT THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE SECURITY DIVISION, THE SECURITY POLICE AND THE PROPAGANDA COMMITTEE HAVE GAINED MORE POWER. SO YOU SEE THIS AS A NEW DEVELOPMENT?

>> I DO. I THINK THAT UP UNTIL QUITE RECENTLY CHINESE FOREIGN POLICY WAS ACTUALLY QUITE COOP RATTIVE AND FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE. AND ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST YEAR OR 18 MONTHS OR SO. IT'S REALLY CHANGED. AND I THINK MANY OF US WHO HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO BUILD A STABLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA ARE REALLY QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS DRIVING THIS CHANGE. AND I FOR ONE SEE IT AS DOMESTICALLY DRIVEN BY THE NATURE OF CHINESE POLITICAL SYSTEM.

>> Woodruff: WHAT DO YOU SEE AS BEHIND IT?

>> WELL, I DO THINK IT FITS CAMPAIGN FOR POWER AT THE 18th PARTY CONGRESS. I SEE IT AS THE RESULT OF THE FACT THAT THE INTEREST GROUPS THAT HAVE THE GREATEST STAKE IN A PEACEFUL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES DO NOT REALLY HAVE THAT MUCH VOICE IN FOREIGN POLICY. AND PREVIOUSLY WE HAD STRONGER LEADERSHIP IN CHINA. WE HAD A DUNG XIAPING, WHEN THERE WAS A LOT OF NOISE AND A LOT OF NATIONALIST PRESSURE-- HE HAD-- HE UNDERSTOOD THAT IT WOULD REALLY BE SUICIDAL FROM THE STANDPOINT OF CHINA'S NATIONAL INTEREST TO TRY TO GET INTO A COLD WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES. AND I DON'T AGREE WITH GORDON THAT HU XINTAO IS ANTI- -- OR ANTI-AMERICAN BUT I DO THINK HE'S PRETTY WEAK AND HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DISCIPLINE THESE GROUPS WITHIN THE PARTY.

>> Woodruff: GORDON CHANG, DO YOU SEE THESE KINDS OF DIVISIONS EXISTING NOW INSIDE --

>> YEAH, I THINK THOSE DIVISIONS DO EXIST. BUT IT'S REALLY INHERENT TO THE NATURE OF THE REGIME. DUNG XIOPING SAID WE SHOULD BUY TIME UNTIL WE CAN STRENGTHEN OURSELVES. AND NOW CHINA HAS STRENGTHENED THEMSELVES THAT IS WHY WE SEE A MORE HOSTILE BELL I BELIEVE RANT REG SEEM. THIS IS INHERENT IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM. SO YES, IT'S A NEW DEVELOPMENT BUT IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE SURPRISED ABOUT. I DON'T THINK THE CHINESE FOREIGN POLICY REALLY HAS ACTUALLY BEEN CONSTRUCTIVE. BECAUSE ALL ALONG THEY'VE BEEN PROLIFERATING NUCLEAR WEAPONS, TECHNOLOGY. THEY'VE BEEN BACKING NORTH KOREA TO THE HILT. AND THEY'VE BEEN ENGAGING IN CYBERWARFARE AGAINST THE UNITED STATES THIS IS NOT A SIGN OF A CONSTRUCTIVE MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

>> Woodruff: SO GORDON CHANG, SO ALL THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, THE ECONOMIC OPENING TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, YOU DON'T SEE THAT AS A MATERIAL CHANGE IN CHINESE THINKING.

>> WELL, IT'S A MATERIAL CHANGE IN CHINA, IN THE CHINESE PEOPLE, CERTAINLY. WE SEE A MUCH MORE MODERATE, MUCH MORE UP TO DATE AND CERTAINLY THE MOST DYNAMIC SOCIETY ON EARTH. BUT WHAT IS REALLY INTERESTING IS THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS CHANGED REMARKABLY LITTLE OVER THREE DECADES OF THIS ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION. I THINK THAT IS BECAUSE THE NATURE OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM REALLY IS JUST THE SAME. AND SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE HAVE GOT IS A GOVERNMENT NOW THAT SORT OF REASSERTING ITSELF. AS DUNG XIOPING SAID YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT WHEN YOU ARE STRONGER. NOW THEY ARE STRONGER.

>> Woodruff: SUSAN SHIRK, THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CAME INTO OFFICE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COOPERATION WITH CHINA, THEY LOOKED TO SEVERAL AREAS. HOW HAS THAT GONE. AND I ASK YOU THIS AS THERE IS JUST A NEWS BULLETIN MOVING ON THE WIRES JUST EARLY THIS EVENING TALKING ABOUT BYLATERAL MILITARY TALKS BETWEEN CHINESE AND U.S. OFFICIALS. AND THEY QUOTE A U.S. OFFICIAL AS SAYING THESE WERE CANDID, FRANK AND PRODUCTIVE EXCHANGES ON AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT. ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT, DOES THAT TELL YOU ANYTHING?

>> WELL, THAT DOESN'T TELL US MUCH EXCEPT THERE WERE A LOT OF DIFFERENCES. AND THAT'S NO SURPRISE. ESPECIALLY THE MILL TO MILL, MILITARY TO MILITARY PART OF THE RELATIONSHIP HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE THINNEST AND THE LESS, LEAST WELL DEVELOPED. BUT HU XINTAO IS COMING TO VISIT THE UNITED STATES THIS JANUARY. AND HE'S GOING TO WANT TO HAVE THAT BE A SUCCESSFUL VISIT. HE'S NOT GOING TO WANT TO HAVE IT BLOW UP IN HIS FACE. SO I AM WATCHING TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP CAN RECALIBRATE SOME OF THESE POLICY, I WOULD CALL THEM POLICY MISTAKES THEY'VE MADE, ABOUT TURNING THE LIU XIAOBO NOBEL PRIZE INTO A BIG INTERNATIONAL CRUSADE AGAINST THE WEST. WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS FAILED INTERNATIONALLY. TAKING NORTH KOREA'S SIDE IN ALL OF THESE CONFRONTATIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA, THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. SO LET'S SEE IF THEY RECALIBRATE WHICH IS WHAT, OF COURSE, I'M HOPING FOR.

>> Woodruff: GORDON CHANG, WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS IN THE NEAR TERM?

>> WELL, I DON'T SEE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GET ANY BETTER. WE HAVE ALL OF THESE DISAGREEMENTS. THEY'RE FUNDAMENTAL. AND YOU JUST CAN'T PAPER THEM OVER AFTER FOUR DECADES OF TRYING TO WORK COOP RATTIVELY WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. SO I AGREE WITH SUSAN THAT HU XINTAO WANTS TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL ADVICE KNIT JANUARY. BUT YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT WE HAVE GOT SOME REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH. AND IF WE DON'T DEAL WITH THEM, IF WE TRY TO PAPER THEM OVER AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, THEY'RE JUST GOING KICK THESE PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THEY ARE ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.

>> GORDON CHANG, SUSAN SHIRK, WE THANK YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU

>> Brown: NEXT TO BRITAIN, WHERE A VOTE TO TRIPLE UNIVERSITY TUITION IN PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY TRIGGERED PROTESTS THAT TURNED VIOLENT. WE BEGIN WITH A REPORT FROM SIMON ISRAEL OF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS.

>> Reporter: ONE DEFINING IMAGE OF LAST NIGHT'S DEMONSTRATIONS-- A LOOK OF HORROR ON CAMILLA'S FACE WHEN THEIR LIMOUSINE WAS ATTACKED BY ANGRY PROTESTORS. AND THE OTHER IS THIS 20-YEAR- OLD LONDON STUDENT, ALFIE MEADOWS, WHO UNDER EMERGENCY SURGERY AFTER BEING ALLEGEDLY HIT ON THE HEAD WITH A POLICE TRUNCHEON. BOTH ARE NOW THE SUBJECT OF MAJOR INQUIRIES. SCOTLAND YARD HAS NOT DENIED REPORTS THAT ONE PROTESTOR MANAGED TO LUNGE AT THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW AT SOME POINT ON THE TEN- MINUTE JOURNEY. CHANNEL 4 NEWS HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THAT IS NOW PART OF A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE ATTACK. IT MAY HAVE BEEN A RANDOM MOMENT, BUT DEMONSTRATORS MANAGED TO BREAK THROUGH THE RING OF ROYAL PROTECTION. CHARLES AND CAMILLA SET OFF FROM CLARENCE HOUSE AT 7:10 IN AN OFFICIAL ROLLS ROYCE, FLANKED BY POLICE MOTORCYCLISTS. THE ROYAL PARTY WENT UP ST JAMES STREET AND THEN TURNED RIGHT INTO PICCADILLY. AT 7:15, THEIR CAR TURNED LEFT INTO REGENT STREET. IT WAS THEN SURROUNDED BY PROTESTERS, PELTED WITH PAINT, AND A REAR SIDE WINDOW SMASHED. FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE CONVOY ARRIVED OUTSIDE THE LONDON PALLADIUM, FROM WHICH A SHOCKED PRINCE OF WALES AND DUCHESS OF CORNWALL EMERGED.

>> THAT ROUTE WAS THOROUGHLY RECCIED IN ADVANCE, INCLUDING UP TO SEVERAL MINUTES BEFOREHAND, WHEN THE ROUTE WAS STILL CLEAR. THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF-- I WAS GOING TO SAY DEMONSTRATORS, BUT I'D RATHER DESCRIBE THEM AS THUGS-- AND HOW THEY MOVED ABOUT THE CAPITAL YESTERDAY MEANT THAT THE PROTECTION OFFICERS WERE PLACED IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION.

>> Reporter: SCOTLAND YARD'S REFUSED TO COMMENT ON EXACTLY HOW CLOSE THE ARMED PROTECTION OFFICERS CAME TO AIMING THEIR GUNS AT PROTESTORS. BUT THE BIGGER EYE IS ON THE BIGGER PROTEST, THE 25,000 OR SO WHO WERE KETTLED IN THIS SQUARE LAST NIGHT BY UP TO 3,000 OFFICERS.

>> OF COURSE THERE IS A RIGHT TO PROTEST PEACEFULLY. THERE ALWAYS SHOULD BE. BUT THERE IS NOT A RIGHT TO GO ON THE STREETS OF LONDON WANTING TO PURSUE VIOLENCE AND SMASHING UP PROPERTY. WE WANT TO LEARN THE LESSONS FROM THAT, BUT ABOVE ALL, WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IS THAT THESE PEOPLE WHO BEHAVED IN THESE APPALLING WAYS FEEL THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW OF THE LAND.

>> Reporter: ORGANIZERS AND THE MET HAD AGREED A ROUTE FROM THE UNIVERSITY LONDON IN MALET STREET TO VICTORIA EMBANKMENT. BUT BY THE TIME THE MARCH REACHED ALDWYCH, SEVERAL GROUPS HAD SPLIT OFF. ONE CROWD TRIED TO SET FIRE TO THE NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS TREE IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE. AS THE DAY WORE IN PARLIAMENT SQUARE, ATTITUDES HAD HARDENED. SCUFFLES BROKE OUT. IT WAS DURING ONE OF THESE THAT ALFIE MEADOWS, A 20-YEAR-OLD PHILOSOPHY STUDENT, IS ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN STRUCK OVER THE HEAD WITH A POLICE BATON. TODAY, POLICE FORENSICS TEAMS HAVE BEEN GOING THOUGH THE DEBRIS LEFT BEHIND. THE STUDENT DIDN'T DIE AND OTHER INJURIES WERE RELATIVELY MINIMAL. STILL, THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, AND WITH A WARNING TODAY FROM AN ANARCHIST ELEMENT THAT THERE'S MORE TO COME.

>> Brown: MARGARET WARNER TAKES THE STORY FROM THERE.

>> Warner: THE PLAN TO TRIPLE COLLEGE TUITION FEES IS PART OF A BROAD BUDGET RE-BALANCING PROGRAM NOW BEING PUT IN PLACE BY BRITAIN'S CONSERVATIVE PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON AND HIS COALITION PARTNER, THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS. THE MEASURE PASSED THE HOUSE OF COMMONS YESTERDAY, BUT WITH SIGNIFICANT DEFECTIONS FROM LIBERALS. FOR MORE ON ALL THIS, WE TURN TO NED TEMKO, A WRITER FOR "THE OBSERVER," A LONDON NEWSPAPER. NED TEMKO, WELCOME. FIRST OF ALL, BRIEFLY, WHAT IS THE MAIN FOCUS OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS THAT WERE LAUNCHED TODAY? NESS WELL, THERE ARE TWO AREAS THEY ARE LOOKING INTO, THE NARROW ONE IS HOW ON EARTH PRINCE CHARLES THE HEIR TO THE BRITISH THRONE AND HIS WIFE CAMILLA THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL FOUND THEMSELVES IN THEIR OFFICIAL ROLLS-ROYCE BEING PELTED WITH PAINT, PEOPLE BAYING FOR THEIR HEADS. AND ROYAL PROTECTION OFFICERS, SOME OF WHOM ARE ARMED, LEFT TO TRY AND SCURRY THEIR WAY OUT OF DANGER AND SOMEHOW KEEP AN OBVIOUSLY SERIOUS CLASH FROM BECOMING MORE SERIOUS YET. AND POSSIBLY CAUSING BLOODSHED. SO THAT'S ONE NARROW FOCUS. MORE BROADLY, HOW THESE DEMONSTRATIONS TURNED VIOLENT FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT TIME AND PARTICULARLY ACCUSATIONS FROM ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM THAT NOT JUST A TINY MINORITY BUT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THESE DEMONSTRATORS ARE PEOPLE WHO INFILTRATED THE DEMONSTRATION WERE BENT ON VIOLENCE AND ON THE PROTESTORS SIDE, ACCUSATIONS THAT THE POLICE EITHER OVERREACTED OR USED THE WRONG TACTICS TO POLICE THESE EVENTS. SO BOTH OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS I THINK WILL GO FORWARD NOW AS A MATTER OF URGENCY.

>> Warner: SO WAS THIS PROTEST UNUSUAL FOR LONDON TO HAVE IN THE STREETS OF LONDON. AND WAS IT OVER THE TUITION HIKE OR MORE BROADLY OVER THIS AUSTERITY PROGRAM.

>> WELL NO, THE IMMEDIATE FOCUS HAS BEEN OVER THOOT THESE TUITION HIKES. AND THIS IS THE THIRD STRAIGHT REGULAR DEMONSTRATION BY THE STUDENT GROUPS AND THEY'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE ANGRY. AS THE LEGISLATION GETS CLOSER TO COMING INTO LAW. BUT AGAINST THE BACKGROUND, AS YOU SAY, OF OVERALL AUSTERITY MEASURES, THE MOST RADICAL BUDGET CUT PROGRAM, SOMETHING LIKE 83 BILLION POUNDS IN TOTAL SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR, SO IT'S. ALL KIND-OF-A POLITICALLY PERFECT STORM. AND THERE'S EVERY PROSPECT OF MORE DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD.

>> Warner: GIVE US EXAMPLES OF HOW TOUGH THESE CUTS ARE GOING TO BE. ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT TALKING ABOUT BASICALLY CUTTING SOMETHING LIKE 20% OUT OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET OVER FOUR YEARS?

>> YEAH, AND IT'S A HUGELY AMBITION-- AMBITIOUS AUSTERITY PROGRAM. IT'S NOT ACROSS-THE-BOARD. THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN RING FENCED. ONE OF THEM IS THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE, FOR INSTANCE, OVERSEAS AID HAS BEEN RING SPENT. AND THEY'VE ACTUALLY DONE A KIND OF ARITHMETICAL FORMULA TO AT LEAST ADD TO PRIME AEROSCHOOL EDUCATIONOVER THOSE FOUR YEARS. FOR THE MOST PART FOCUS IS ON PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS AND THAT IS WHERE THE MAIN AXE IS GOING TO FALL WITH. WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THAT SO FAR EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A LOT OF FEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED, I SUPPOSE, IN PRINCIPLES. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY MAJOR IMMEDIATE AFFECT BECAUSE THE CUTS HAVEN'T REALLY STARTED TO TAKE EFFECT YET.

>> NOW WHERE ARE THE PUBLIC OPINION POLLS ON THIS. AS I RECALL, I MEAN DAVID CAMERON RAN FOR OFFICE SAYING THIS KIND OF THING HAD TO BE DONE. HAS THE PUBLIC STICK WITH HIM ON THE IDEA OF NEEDING THESE MEASURES?

>> BY AND LARGE, YES. AND THAT'S WHAT IS SO FASCINATING. OBVIOUSLY THERE HAS BEEN SOME SLIPPAGE IN THE POLL FORCE THE CONSERVATIVES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE MAJOR BUDGET CUT ANNOUNCEMENTS IN OCTOBER. BUT THE MAIN VICTIM IN THE POLLS HAS BEEN THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS. THE JUNIOR PARTNER IN THE COALITION BECAUSE THEY ARE KIND OF SQUEEZED IN BETWEEN. AND THEIR POLL NUMBERS ARE REALLY TAKING A NOSEDIVE. BUT BY AND LARGE CAMERON'S RATINGS REMAIN HIGH AND EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT, IS YOU KIND OF BORE INTO THE DETAILS OF THESE POLLS. THE CONSERVATIVES ARE STILL ENJOYING A FAIRLY HEALTHY LEAD AS THE PARTY MOST TRUSTED TO DEAL WITH THE ECONOMY. SO THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A BROAD ACCEPTANCE OF THIS KIND OF MAJOR ACTION TO DEAL WITH THE BUDGET DEFICIT AND THE PUBLIC DEBT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

>> Warner: YOU MENTIONED THE BIGGEST HITS WILL BE FELT BY PEOPLE EMPLOYED BY THE GOVERNMENT. I THINK THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING A HALF A MILLION OUT OF WHAT IS IT, SIX MILLION JOBS. DOT PEOPLE ARE YOU TALKI ABOUT IN GOVERNMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT OR POLITICS, DO THEY THINK YOU COULD SEE SERIOUS PROTESTS FROM THE UNIONS, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN THOSE CUTS START HITTING OR NO?

>> I THINK THERE IS A FEAR. AND CERTAINLY THE UNIONS ARE GEARING UP TO BASICALLY SPEARHEAD PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO THESE CUTS. THE GREAT UNKNOWN, REALLY, IS THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL TAKE UP THE SLACK IN THESE JOBS. BECAUSE THERE IS A PRECEDENT IN THE '80s FOR INSTANCE FOR A SIGNIFICANT CUTBACK IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE PAYROLL HAS BEEN HUGELY INCREASED UNDER 13 YEARS OF LABOR PARTY RULES. SO IT'S NOT AS IF THERE ISN'T SOME SCOPE FOR EFFICIENCY SAVINGS. BUT THE REAL THING THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS COUNTING ON WHICH BY THE WAY, THE EARLY INDICATIONS HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGING TO THEM, IS THAT A SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN PUBLIC SECTOR, RATHER IN PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYMENT WILL AT LEAST TAKE UP SOME OF THIS SLACK AND EASE THE PAIN A BIT.

>> WE ARE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME BUT QUICKLY BEFORE WE GO, HAS THERE BEEN ANY CRITICISM OF PRINCE CHARLES AND CAMILLA FOR WADING INTO THESE PROTESTORS WITH FULL REGALIA AND JEWELS WHEN THEY WERE PROTESTING.

>> NO, NO, THIS IS ENGLAND. NOT EVERYBODY IS A REAL ROYALIST HERE, NOT LEAST BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WERE SAYING OFF WITH YOUR HEADS AS THE MOB APPROACHED THEM. BUT BY AND LARGE, MOST BRITONS AND EVEN IN THE MOST KIND OF EXTREME RADIO CALL-IN VOICES, THERE IS SYMPATHY FOR THE MIGHT OF CHARLES AND CAMILLA. AND AFTER ALL, THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY AND THEY DON'T MAKE THE POLICY. THEY ARE BASICALLY, THEIR JOB IS TO GO IN ROLLS-ROYCES AND JEWELS.

>> Warner: ALL RIGHT, NED TEMKO OF "THE OBSERVER" IN LONDON, THANK YOU S

>> Lehrer: AND NOW, AS A LEAD-IN TO THE ANALYSIS OF SHIELDS AND BROOKS, THE LATEST ON THE TAX CUT DEAL PRESIDENT OBAMA MADE WITH REPUBLICANS. THE TAX CUT DEAL APPEARED TO GAIN MOMENTUM TODAY, WITH CHANGES TO MOLLIFY DISCONTENTED DEMOCRATS. THE PRESIDENT AGAIN PREDICTED PASSAGE. AND IN AN INTERVIEW WITH NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, HE SUGGESTED HE COULD ACCEPT SOME MODIFICATIONS.

>> MY SENSE IS... IS THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP ABOUT ALL THE FINAL ELEMENTS OF THE PACKAGE. KEEP IN MIND, WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY WRITE A BILL; WE PUT FORWARD A FRAMEWORK. I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE FRAMEWORK IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE THE ONE THAT WE PUT FORWARD.

>> Lehrer: LATER, THE PRESIDENT MET WITH FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON TO TAP HIS EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH DISAFFECTED DEMOCRATS AND TO GET HIS ENDORSEMENT FOR THE DEAL.

>> THE AGREEMENT, TAKEN AS A WHOLE, IS, I BELIEVE, THE BEST BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT WE CAN REACH TO HELP THE LARGEST NUMBER OF AMERICANS, AND TO MAXIMIZE THE CHANCES THAT THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY WILL ACCELERATE AND CREATE MORE JOBS, AND TO MINIMIZE THE CHANCES THAT IT WILL SLIP BACK.

>> Lehrer: LAST NIGHT, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID INTRODUCED A BILL THAT EMBODIES THE FRAMEWORK, ESTIMATED TO COST $855 BILLION. AS THE PRESIDENT AGREED WITH REPUBLICANS, THE MEASURE WOULD: PRESERVE THE BUSH-ERA INCOME TAX BREAKS FOR TWO YEARS; EXTEND JOBLESS BENEFITS THROUGH 2011; CUT SOCIAL SECURITY PAYROLL TAXES BY 2% FOR ONE YEAR; AND SET A TOP RATE OF 35% ON A NEW ESTATE TAX. THE SENATE MEASURE ALSO ADDED "SWEETENERS" TO PICK UP DEMOCRATIC VOTES. THEY INCLUDED ONE-YEAR EXTENSIONS OF CREDITS FOR ETHANOL, BIODIESEL FUEL, AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES. THE BILL ALSO CONTINUES TAX BREAKS FOR COMMUTERS USING MASS TRANSIT. SOME, LIKE SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS, A VERMONT INDEPENDENT, SAID THE PACKAGE STILL TILTS FAR TOO MUCH TO THE RICH. HE SPOKE ON THE SENATE FLOOR FOR MOST OF THE DAY.

>> YOU CAN CALL WHAT I'M DOING TODAY WHATEVER YOU WANT. YOU CAN CALL IT A FILIBUSTER, YOU CAN CALL IT A VERY LONG SPEECH. I'M NOT HERE TO SET ANY GREAT RECORDS OR TO MAKE A SPECTACLE. I AM SIMPLY HERE TODAY TO TAKE AS LONG AS I CAN TO EXPLAIN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE GOT TO DO A LOT BETTER THAN THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES.

>> Lehrer: HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALREADY REJECTED THE ORIGINAL PACKAGE. TODAY, VIRGINIA'S BOBBY SCOTT AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS WARNED AGAINST KEEPING TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH IN THE FINAL BILL.

>> YOU CAN'T GIVE EVERYBODY A TAX CUT LIKE IT'S OPRAH WINFREY OR SANTA CLAUS. YOU GET A TAX CUT, YOU GET A TAX CUT. EVENTUALLY, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. WHAT WE ARE SUGGESTING IS WE LET MANY OF THESE TAX CUTS EXPIRE, AND THEN DEAL WITH THE TOUGH CHOICES NEXT YEAR.

>> Lehrer: MOST REPUBLICANS WERE EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THE BILL, BUT THERE WERE SOME RUMBLINGS ON THE RIGHT. "WASHINGTON POST" COLUMNIST CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER SUGGESTED THE DEAL IS ANOTHER HUGE STIMULUS PLAN THAT ADDS TO THE DEFICIT AND AIDS THE PRESIDENT'S RE-ELECTION BID. HE WROTE, "IT WILL PUMP A TRILLION BORROWED CHINESE DOLLARS INTO THE U.S. ECONOMY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WHICH JUST HAPPEN TO BE THE TWO YEARS OF THE RUN-UP TO THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION." THE MORE IMMEDIATE TIMETABLE CALLED FOR THE SENATE TO HOLD A PROCEDURAL VOTE ON THE BILL MONDAY AFTERNOON. AND TO SHIELDS AND BROOKS-- SYNDICATED COLUMNIST MARK SHIELDS, "NEW YORK TIMES" COLUMNIST DAVID BROOKS.

>> THEN, MARK WHACK IS GOING TO HAPPEN AFTER MONDAY?

>> MONDAY THERE WILL BE A CLOTURE VOTE AT 3:00. AND THE BETTING IS RIGHT NOW THAT THE VOTES ARE THERE TO INVOKE CLOTURE. AND THE SENATE WILL MOVE TO VOTE UP OR DOWN ON THE BILL IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.

>> Lehrer: AND THEN IN THE HOUSE?

>> I THINK EVENT-- EVENTUALLY THERE IS A LOT OF RUMBLING IN THE HOUSE. THE DEMOCRATS HAD A INFORMAL VOICE VOTE IN THEIR CAUCUS ABOUT THE THING. BUT LISTEN, IF THEY DO NOTHING, THEN THE TAXES WILL GO UP. EVERYBODY WILL BE REALLY ANGRY -- PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE WILL COME IN AND CUT THE TAXES ON THEIR OWN TERMS. SO THERE IS PRETTY MUCH NO CHOICE. THIS THING WILL GO THROUGH.

>> Lehrer: NO CHOICE HERE.

>> I THINK THERE IS A CHOICE. I THINK DAVID'S RIGHT THAT SPEAKER PELOSI DOES NOT WANT IT TO GO DOWN. BUT SHE DOES WANT IF CHANGED. AND THERE REALLY-- THIS IS REAL IN THE HOUSE THIS IS NOT A-- .

>> Lehrer: YOU MEAN THE PROTESTS, THE DEMOCRATS.

>> THE PROTEST IS AUTHENTIC. IT IS BASED ON BOTH THE MEANS BY WHICH IT WAS DONE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE SUBSTANCE OF IT. I JUST WAS READING BETWEEN 1971 AND 2001 MEDIUM INCOME, THE AVERAGE WORKER SHOWED HISTORICALLY NO GAIN DURING THAT SAME 30 YEARS, THE INCOME OF THE TOP 100th OF 1% WENT UP BY ALMOST 500% THAT IS WHY THE BUSH TAX CUTS ARE IMMORAL. THOSE ARE WORDS WRITTEN BY-- BARACK OBAMA. THAT IS WHAT HE MADE THE CENTER PIECE OF HIS CAMPAIGN, DOMESTICALLY IN 2008. AND SO THERE IS A SENSE OF THAT, OF BETRAYAL ON WHAT IS THE DEFINING ISSUE TO HIS PRESIDENCY. AND IT JUST KIND OF WALKED AWAY WITH IT AND WITH THE STAIN AND CONTEMPT TOWARD DEMOCRATS WHO DID NOT EMBRACE IT. AND WHO HAD BEEN HIS MOST STEADFAST SUPPORTERS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. AND MANY OF WHOM PAID FOR THEIR LOYALTY TO THE PRESIDENT WITH TOUGH, DIFFICULT VOTES THAT PUT THEIR CAREERS AT RISK.

>> Lehrer: AND YET DAVID BROOKS WROTE IN THIS MORNING'S "NEW YORK TIMES" THAT THIS IS A TERRIFIC WEEK FOR THE PRESIDENT AND THE DEMOCRATS.

>> WELL, I THINK IT WAS. I SORT OF UNDERSTAND THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS ON THE METHOD. THE WHITE HOUSE DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB OF REWARDING THE LOYALTY THAT HAS BEEN FOLLOWING UP, THEY DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB TALKING AND COMMUNICATING. NONETHELESS I THINK THE PRESIDENT GOT A REMARKABLY GOOD DEAL. LOOK AT THE CONTEXT HE WAS IN. AS I MENTIONED THERE ABOUT TO BE A REPUBLICAN HOUSE. THE TAX CUTS ARE GOING TO GO AWAY. AND YOU HAD A SERIES OF DEMOCRATIC SENATORS FROM RED STATES WHO WANTED ALL THE TAX CUTS PRESERVED. AND SO THERE WAS AN EXTRAORDINARILY WEEK HAND THEY WERE DEALT. AND YET, THE WHITE HOUSE MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE NEGOTIATIONS A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THE DEMOCRATS WANT ON THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, ON COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS, ON THE PAYROLL TAX. THEY GOT A LOT OF TOUGH THEY DID REMARKABLY WELL FOR THEIR SIDE. A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ARE UNHAPPY BECAUSE THERE IS SORT OF A BALANCED PACKAGE. AS FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA, HE SAYS IT IS IMMORAL. HE DISAGREES WITH THE POLICY. THAT MUCH IS CLEAR, BUT GUESS WHAT, THIS IS WASHINGTON. THIS IS REAL LIFE, YOU HAVE TO DO NEGOTIATIONS. AND GIVEN THE CONTEXT HE HAD, AND THE CONTEXT HE FACED AND THE RUINOUS COST, IF EVERYBODY'S TAXES WENT UP WITH IN THE MIDDLE OF A REETION, HE HAD TO MAKE A DEAL. AND HE MADE A DEAL, HE IS PROBABLY NOT HAPPY WITH THE DEAL. THE REPUBLICANS ARE TOTALLY NOT HAPPY WITH THE DEAL. BUT IT IS A DEAL. THAT IS WHAT A DEAL IS WE'RE NOT USED TO THAT HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON TOO MUCH RECENTLY BUT IT HAPPENED. AND SO ON BALANCE I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR WASHINGTON THAT SOMEBODY ACTUALLY MADE COMPROMISE.

>> FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SAID A COUPLE HOURS AGO HERE IN WASHINGTON AFTER MEETING WITH ABOUT THE OBAMA, HE HAD A NEWS CONFERENCE AND HE SAID I BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A BETTER DEAL OUT THERE THAN THIS ONE.

>> HE'S SPEAKING FOR HIM SELF?

>> I THINK HE'S-- HE IS A VERY INFORMED, INSIGHTFUL OBSERVER. I POINT OUT, JIM, TWO WORDS THAT WERE SPOKEN REVERENTLY. SIMPSON BOULS. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT --

>> THE DEFICIT.

>> AND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS. WE WERE A NEW ERA. WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS. 900 BILLION OF RED INK JUST OUT THERE AND 120 BILLION OF IT GOES TO THE TOP 2%. TIMES 9 GREATEST QUALITY IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE 1928. DAVID SAYINGS THE PRESIDENT CUT THE DEAL. THE PRESIDENT CUT A DEAL AFTER NO FIGHT. HE DID HAVE, NOT YOU HAVE A WEAK HAND. HE HAD 60% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BELIEVE ACCORDING TO BLOOMBERG POLL ASKED SPECIFICALLY THIS WEEK, DURING THE FIGHT ITSELF, AS IT WAS EMERGING, DO YOU FAVOR REPEAL OF THESE TAXES FOR THE RICHEST. WAS THERE A FIGHT MADE. THAT'S WHERE YOU COME TO A COMPROMISE. IT'S AFTER A FIGHT. I WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE PROBLEM THAT BARACK OBAMA HAS RIGHT NOW IN THE POLITICAL WORLD. REPUBLICAN SECRETLY ARE GLEEFUL. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY REPUBLICANS THAT ARE CONDEMNING THIS --

>> TALK RADIO.

>> I'M TALK APPROXIMATING ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO COUNT VOTES ON IT BUT THE PROBLEM IS THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE BARACK OBAMA WILL FIGHT. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS BACKBONE, WHETHER HE DOES HAVE A BACKBONE. IT'S A QUESTION ALWAYS ASKED ABOUT LIBERALS, HOW TOUGH IS HE. AND HE, THE TIME OF THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS WHEN WITH THE UNITED STATES AND SOVIET UNION STOOD AT THE BRIDGE OF THE WAR DEAN RUSS PUT T HE SAID YOU ARE EYEBALL TO EYEBALL WITH THE OTHER GUY AND THE OTHER FELLOW BLINKED. BARACK OBAMA YOU GOT THE SENSE HE BLINKED AS SOON AS HE WALKED IN THE ROOM AND GAVE THE REPUBLICANS WHAT THEY WANTED.

>> Lehrer: YOUR POINT IS, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, DAVID, YOU CAN STATE IT YOURSELF IF YOU WOULD LIKE, THAT THIS WAS NOT THE TIME TO FIGHT THIS IS THE TIME WHEN THE COUNTRY WANTED NO FIGHTING ANY MORE. LET'S GET THIS THING DONE.

>> I THINK HE DID FIGHT.

>> Lehrer: YOU THINK HE DID FIGHT.

>> I THINK HE MADE THE CASE INTERNALLY. LISTEN, WE HAD AN ELECTION, REPUBLICANS WON THE ELECTION WA, WAS HE GOING TO DO, LET THE TAX CUTS EXPURE. THE REPUBLICANS WOULD HAVE BEEN TEMPTED BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE MADE OBAMA AND DEMOCRATS LOOK TERRIBLE. AND CROWD DONE HANGER'S POINT MAKES IT CORRECT THAT IT MAKES OBAMA'S RE-ELECTION QUITE LIKELY. SO THERE IS-- SO YOU KNOW, I THINK A FIGHT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE ANY DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THE REPUBLICAN KOS HAVE WALKED TOO. BUT LET ME ADDRESS MARK'S POINT ON THE DEFICIT WHICH I THINK IS A SERIOUS POINT. EVERYBODY IS A FISCAL HAWK WHEN THERE ARE OPPOSING POLICIES THEY DON'T LIKE. HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS. AND I WANT TO OUT CAN THE DEFICIT AS MUCH AS ANY AND YET I THINK THIS IS A GOOD DEAL. I GUESS MY EXPLANATION OR RATIONALIZATION IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT IS THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO CUT THE DEFICIT IF THE ECONOMY IS IN DECENT SHAPE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO CUT SOME OF THE SPENDING. WE'RE NOT GOING TO RAISE TAX THE WAY WE NEED TO DO UNTIL THE ECONOMY IS ROLLINGING ALONG. AND IF BEN BERNANKE IS WORE HE ODD ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND WE COME UP HERE EVERY FOURTH FRIDAY AND THE JOB NUMBERS EVERY MONTH ARE TERRIBLE, WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO CUT ENTITLEMENTS. SO WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING SHORT TERM TO MAKE THE ECONOMY HEALTHIER AND THEN WE CAN THINK ABOUT CUTTING THE DEFICIT. UNTIL WE DO THAT, I WOULD SAY THIS IS A STEP. THIS WILL STIMULATE THE ECONOMY A LITTLE, MAYBE OVER THE NEXT YEAR SO WE CAN GET SERIOUS ABOUT THE LARGER ISSUES.

>> WHAT ABOUT THAT, WHATEVER YOU THINK ABOUT THE PLAN, WHATEVER OBAMA THIS AND THE DEMOCRATS THAT, WHAT ABOUT THE GENERAL POINT THAT'S BEING MADE BY BOTH SIDES NOW THAT THIS COULD, IN FACT, LEAD TO HELPING THE ECONOMY RECOVERY. AND THAT WHATEVER YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT MAY END UP BEING A GOOD THING.

>> SO KEEPING TAX RATES FOR THE VERY WEALTHIEST.

>> I TAKE YOU DON'T AGREE.

>> WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN SINCE 2001, ALL RIGHT. FIRST EIGHT YEARS OF THESE TAX CUTS. THAT IS WHY THEY WERE THERE. THE COUNTRY LOST 600,000 JOBS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THIS IS BEFORE THE COLLAPSE. THIS IS BEFORE, THIS IS BEFORE THE FINANCIAL CRISIS. I MEAN IT'S A MYTH THIS IS SUPPLY SIDE TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, YOU DON'T START BY GIVING 120 BILLION TO THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE WHO SIT ON IT. AND SECONDLY, YOU DON'T PASS AN ESTATE TAX THAT GIVES THE LOWEST RATE, JIM, SINCE 1931, AFTER 11 YEARS OF REPUBLICANS IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE CONGRESS, THEY FINALLY GOT IT DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE NOW UNDER A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT WHEREAS A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS, WHO IS GOING TO BENEFIT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 39,000 FAMILIES GET A TOTAL WINDFALL OF $27 BILLION NEXT YEAR. NOW IS THAT STIMULUS?

>> Lehrer: I THINK THAT IS A NO, TOO.

>> I'M WITH MARK ON THE ESTATE TAX. THAT HAS NO STIMULATIVE EFFECT. BUT LISTEN, WE'VE GOT A SERIES OF BIG BIG BUSINESSES AND SMALL BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY THE SMALL BUSINESS WAS THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS AT WAR WITH THEM. THEY ARE SITTING ON HORDES OF CASH, THEY ARE COMPLETELY INSECURE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CERTAINTY ABOUT ANYTHING. THEY ARE IN A VERY RISK AVERSE MOOD. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THAT PSYCHOLOGY IF THE TAXES GO UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS ECONOMIC SITUATION. IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO BE GOOD. AND SO I THINK AFTER TWO YEARS, WE SHOULD NOT EXTEND ANY MORE. I THINK THEN THEY SHOULD ALL GO UP. BUT RIGHT NOW IN THIS FRAGILE MOVE, WHEN HE TALKED TO HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSPEOPLE AND THEY FEEL BEATEN UP AND WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM, THEY DESCRIBE THE BARRIERS THEY PUT BEFORE EVERY INVESTMENT DECISION. AND THERE'S A WHOLE SERIES OF BARRIERS. WE'VE GOT TO START ELIMINATING THOSE BARRIERS SO THEY CAN INVEST IN JOBS. RAISING TAXES ON THOSE PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY.

>> THIS WAS A POINT BILL CLINTON MADE, WE JUST HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT. DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL. THE REPUBLICAN FILIBUSTER KILLED IT FOR NOW. IS IT DEAD FOREVER?

>> I DON'T-- WELL, NOT FOREVER.

>> OKAY.

>> BUT IN THE NEAR TERM, I THINK ACCORDING TO SUSAN KOINLS AND JOE LEIBERMAN 60 VOTES ARE THERE, SO MAYBE IF THEY GET A STAND ALONE MEASURE, TAKE IT AWAY, THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION, THE OTHER STUFF, MAYBE IT WILL BE THERE, I THINK IT HAS A GLIMMER OF LIFE.

>> GLIMMER OF LIFE AND OUTSIDE OF THIS, ONE PERSON STANDS DISTINGUISHED BY THIS, AND THAT IS BOB GATES WHO LAID IT RIGHT TO THE CONGRESS AND SAID WHAT YOU ARE DOING, BY NOT COMING UP WITH A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION IS RISKING A JUDICIAL MANDATE AND EDICT. AND THAT IS GOING TO PUT THE SERVICES IN A TERRIBLE POSITION WITH NO TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE ADJUSTMENTS REQUIRED. AND HE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. AND IF THEY IGNORE HIM, THEY DO IT AT THEIR RISK AND THE RISK OF OUR MILITARY.

>> Lehrer: HOW DO YOU READ THE REPUBLICAN POLITICS ON THIS? THEY CAME WITHIN THREE VOTES. BUT THEY DIDN'T GET THE 60. BUT THE MAJORITY WAS THERE.

>> I ASSUME FOR MOST REPUBLICANS YOU DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT THIS. YOUR PEOPLE, SENIORS, ESPECIALLY, AGAIN THIS IS A GENERATIONAL THING. SENIORS, IN THE SHORT TERM ARE AGAINST IT. AND SO IT'S PROBABLY A SAFE BET FOR A REPUBLICAN TO VOTE AGAINST THIS THING FOR NOW. I WOULDN'T SAY THE SAME THING IN TEN YEARS FROM NOW BUT FOR NOW.

>> Lehrer: BUT THE CHANGE IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSE MEANS THIS PROBABLY WILL NOT GO WITH A NEW CONGRESS.

>> NO, EXACTLY RIGHT, DAVID'S RIGHT.

>> Lehrer: AND IT WILL BE AWHILE. AND DO YOU AGREE, THE COURTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FINALLY RESOLVE THIS.

>> THE COURTS, IF NOT THAT, THE GENERATIONS.

>> Lehrer: YEAH. WHAT ABOUT START, IS THE SENATE GOING TO-- GET DID --.

>> THIS WAS JOHN KYL'S ESTATE TAX. JOHN KYL IS THE PERSON THAT WROTE THIS ESTATE TAX REASONS THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM ARIZONA.

>> SO WE'LL FIND OUT ON THAT. I MEAN IF THE ESTATE TAX GIVE AWAY IS IN THERE, WINDFALL, AND START DOESN'T COME, THAT IS A HELL OF A BAR-- .

>> Lehrer: ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT IS HOW IT WORKS?

>> I'M SUGGESTING THAT THIS CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. THIS WASN'T EVEN ON THE WISH LIST, THE ESTATE TAX.

>> NO.

>> AND IT WAS CLEARLY HELD UP AS PART OF THE TAX NEGOTIATION AND ALREADY THERE ARE SIGNS OF CRACKAGE IF YOU WANT TO USE THAT WORD WITH. THAT WILL PROBABLY GET A-- .

>> Lehrer: I NOTICED SENATOR McCAIN SAID HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAPPEN.

>> IT IS POLITICS THAT IS HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

>> Lehrer: IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK THIS WAY AND IT HAS. THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU

>> Brown: FINALLY TONIGHT, FROM OUR POLITICAL WRAP TO RAP, THE MUSIC, AND MAYBE, RAP, THE LYRIC POETRY. ♪ RAP MUSIC, IN THE DECADES SINCE IT AROSE OUT OF THE BRONX IN THE 1970s, IT'S BEEN EMBRACED BY MILLIONS AS A VIBRANT NEW CULTURAL FORM, AND VILIFIED FOR ITS PROFANITY AND CELEBRATION OF VIOLENCE. IT HAS SEEN ITS STARS KILLED AND INCARCERATED, OR BECOME ENTERTAINMENT MOGULS AND INTERNATIONAL CELEBRITIES. ♪ BUT IT HAS NOT, UNTIL NOW, BEEN PRESENTED QUITE LIKE THIS-- AS LYRIC POETRY, PUBLISHED BY THE PRESTIGIOUS YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS IN THE NEW "ANTHOLOGY OF RAP." EDITORS ADAM BRADLEY AND ANDREW DUBOIS, WHO RECENTLY CAME TO WASHINGTON'S LINCOLN THEATER FOR A PUBLIC FORUM ON THE POETICS OF RAP, MET AS GRADUATE STUDENTS IN HARVARD'S ENGLISH DEPARTMENT, WHERE SHAKESPEARE AND SHELLEY TEND TO HAVE PRIDE OF PLACE OVER ICE CUBE AND SNOOP DOGG.

>> ♪ DROP IT LIKE IT'S HOT...

>> Brown: BUT, SAYS BRADLEY:

>> AT NIGHT, AT DAY, BETWEEN CLASSES, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, WE WERE LISTENING TO ALL THE GREAT RAP ARTISTS OF THAT PERIOD, MID- TO LATE-'90s. AND I SOON FOUND OUT THAT I HAD A PARTNER IN RHYME WHO WAS ALSO LISTENING TO THE SAME THINGS, EVEN AS WE WERE TAKING COURSES IN POETICS, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE LITERARY CANON. AND IT WAS THE KIND OF SYNERGY THAT WE BOTH SAW GOING ON BETWEEN THOSE THINGS.

>> AS WE WERE BECOMING TEACHERS, GRADUATES, TEACHING ASSISTANTS, WE REALIZED THAT ONE OF THE WAYS THAT AN ART FORM GETS DISSEMINATED AND UNDERSTOOD AND APPRECIATED IS BY HAVING MATERIALS THAT MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.

>> Brown: NOW, RAP CAN BE ROUGH, AND IT IS CERTAINLY OFTEN PROFANE... ♪

>> Brown: BUT BRADLEY AND DUBOIS SAY IT OFFERS WHAT POETRY ALWAYS HAS-- RHYTHM, COMPLEX RHYME SCHEMES, ALLUSIVE AND METAPHORIC LANGUAGE. AS RAPPER LAURYN HILL PUT IT ONCE IN A SONG: "I TREAT THIS LIKE MY THESIS WELL-WRITTEN TOPIC BROKEN DOWN INTO PIECES I INTRODUCE, THEN PRODUCE WORDS SO PROFUSE."

>> WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH THE ANTHOLOGY IS TO SAY THAT THIS IS A TRADITION IN FULL. YES, IT'S RELATED IN PROFOUND WAYS TO THE BROADER TRADITION OF WESTERN LYRIC POETRY. YES, IT'S RELATED IN PROFOUND WAYS TO THE AMERICAN SONGBOOK ACROSS ALL GENRES OF MUSIC. AND YES, IT'S RELATED IN IMPORTANT WAYS, AS WELL, TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ORAL TRADITION OF THE TOASTS AND SIGNIFYING, THE DOZENS. IT'S ALL THERE. BUT FINALLY, IT'S A TRADITION THAT CAN STAND ON ITS OWN.

>> Brown: THE PIONEERS OF RAP DREW INSPIRATION FROM RHYTHM AND BLUES, AND SOUL MUSIC. ♪ ♪

>> Brown: BUT RAPPERS LIKE KURTIS BLOW SEIZED UPON A DISTINCT BEAT AND USE OF LANGUAGE. DECADES LATER, HE PARTICIPATED IN THE WASHINGTON EVENT CELEBRATING RAP, AND TOLD US HE'D KNOWN EARLY ON THAT HE AND OTHERS WERE ON TO SOMETHING.

>> I JUST KNEW IT WAS GOING TO SPREAD AND IT WAS GOING TO BE BIG.

>> Brown: DID YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AS A POET?

>> OF COURSE.

>> Brown: YOU DID.

>> YES, DEFINITELY. WE WRITE OUR RAPS WITH METERS, AND IN POETRY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A METER-- YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A... YOU'RE A-A, A-B, B-B. AND THEN YOU REPEAT THESE METERS WHEN YOU CONTINUE YOUR RAP AS YOU ARE WRITING. SO THE RHYTHM, OR WE CALL IT "THE FLOW," IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. BUT IT IS JUST LIKE POETRY.

>> ♪ I'M EXPRESSING WITH MY FULL CAPABILITIES...

>> Brown: RAP AND THE LARGER HIP-HOP CULTURE EXPLODED IN THE LATE '80s AND EARLY '90s, WITH RECORDS SELLING IN THE MILLIONS. PERHAPS NOT INCIDENTALLY, THE ERA ALSO SAW THE RISE OF SO- CALLED "GANGSTA RAP," WHICH EXTOLLED THE LIFE OF GANGS AND GUNS, AND PROVOKED THE HUGE RAP ON RAP-- THE CONDEMNATION FOR ITS PERCEIVED MISOGYNY AND GLORIFICATION OF VIOLENCE. ♪ THE NEW ANTHOLOGY DOESN'T SHY AWAY FROM THIS, BUT IT DOES SHOW THAT RAPPERS ALWAYS WROTE ABOUT , AND EVEN RAISED QUESTIONS MANY ASPECTS OF LIFE.

>> ♪ WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR MIND IS WHAT I ASK YA...

>> THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT, WHEN IT IS THERE, IT MAKES NO SENSE NOT TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND LOOK AT IT WITHOUT HAVING A KNEE-JERK REACTION. WE COULD THINK OF SO MANY POETS AND DRAMATISTS AND NOVELISTS WHOSE MATERIALS, BY SOMEONE, ANYONE, MIGHT BE CONSIDERED UTTERLY OFFENSIVE.

>> Brown: ONE RAPPER KNOWN FOR WRITING ABOUT SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND MUCH MORE IS CHICAGO-BORN COMMON, WHO HAD A STRING OF HITS BEGINNING IN THE MID-'90s. ♪

>> Brown: AND IS STILL GOING STRONG, EVEN AS HE'S BRANCHED OUT TO ACT IN FILMS. AT THE RECENT WASHINGTON EVENT, COMMON PERFORMED THE FIRST RAP HE EVER WROTE, AT AGE 12.

>> I WAS GOING TO RUN A COLD SHOW, WHEN I WAS THERE I SAW PEOPLE JAMMINGING TOO. THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE BLOND HILL CREW. DR. ICE, ROMEO, AND MASTER E, ALL OF THE BLIND HILL CREW RAPPED INTO A TEAM. IT WAS JUST ME SAYING "THIS IS WHAT I'M ABOUT. I'M A COOL LITTLE 12-YEAR-OLD." AND IT WAS MY WAY OF... AT THAT TIME IN MY LIFE, I DON'T KNOW IF I WAS ALWAYS AS EXPRESSIVE AS I WAS THROUGH RAP. YOU KNOW, HOW YOU PICK SOMETHING, A PERSON CAN HAVE A SHY PERSONALITY, BUT YOU PICK UP SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT IN? THAT IS WHAT HIP HOP WAS TO ME.

>> Brown: WERE YOU A SHY

>> Brown: IN THE AFTERWARD TO THIS BOOK, IN AN ESSAY, YOU WROTE THAT THE ANTHOLOGY LETS US SEE BEYOND THE STEREOTYPE. WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THIS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, AS HIP-HOP ARTISTS, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM THE BLACK AND LATINO CULTURES, THERE ARE A LOT OF STEREOTYPES THAT ARE PUT UPON THE INNER CITY YOUTH, AND UPON RAP CULTURE AND HIP HOP ITSELF. I THINK WHEN YOU GET TO DIVE INTO THESE LYRICS, YOU GET TO SEE HOW MUCH DEPTH IS REALLY IN WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE SAYING.

>> Brown: FOR THEIR PART, THE ANTHOLOGY'S EDITORS BELIEVE THAT RAP'S RISE HAS LED TO WHAT THEY CALL A "RENAISSANCE OF THE WORD" THAT HAS INFILTRATED MAINSTREAM CULTURE.

>> ♪ I GOT THE VOCAB...

>> THERE ARE GRANDMOTHERS IN SUBURBAN WISCONSIN WHO ARE SAYING "BLING, BLING," AND DON'T KNOW THAT IT CAME FROM B.I.G. AND LI'L WAYNE. THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO HAVE KEYED IN TO THE FREQUENCIES OF HIP-HOP LANGUAGE AND TO THE MUSIC THAT THESE ARTISTS HAVE CREATED, AND FOR US, THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO CELEBRATE.

>> Brown: KANYE AS KEATS? LI'L WAYNE AS WHITMAN? THE NEW ANTHOLOGY DOESN'T GO QUITE THAT FAR, PERHAPS, BUT IT DOES ASK FOR RECOGNITION FOR RAP IN THE POETIC TRADITION.

>> ♪ I'M LIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY DOING SOMETHING MEAN TO IT ♪ DOING BETTER THAN ANYBODY YOU'VE EVER SEEN DO IT... ♪

>> Lehrer: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY: A JAILED CHINESE DISSIDENT WAS HONORED IN ABSENTIA WITH THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE; AND PRESIDENT OBAMA MET WITH FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON AND WON HIS SUPPORT FOR THE TAX CUT DEAL. MR. CLINTON SAID, "I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS A BETTER DEAL OUT THERE." AND TO HARI SREENIVASAN IN OUR NEWSROOM FOR WHAT'S ON THE NEWSHOUR ONLINE. HARI.

>> Sreenivasan: WATCH MORE OF JEFF'S INTERVIEW'S WITH COMMON, KURTIS BLOW, AND THE EDITOR OF THE "ANTHOLOGY OF RAP" ON "ART BEAT." AND WE HAVE MORE ON THE CONVICTION OF THREE NEW ORLEANS POLICE OFFICERS IN A KILLING AND COVER UP AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA. WE TALK TO ONE OF THE REPORTERS WHO HELPED BREAK THE STORY. ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEB SITE, newshour.pbs.org. JEFF.

>> Brown: AND THAT'S THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. ON MONDAY, WE'LL LOOK AT THE SENATE'S FIRST VOTE ON THE TAX CUT MEASURE. I'M JEFFREY BROWN.

>> Lehrer: AND I'M JIM LEHRER. "WASHINGTON WEEK" CAN BE SEEN LATER THIS EVENING ON MOST PBS STATIONS. WE'LL SEE YOU ONLINE, AND AGAIN HERE MONDAY EVENING. HAVE A NICE WEEKEND. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

>> OKAY, LISTEN. SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO GET SERIOUS.

>> I THINK...

>> WE NEED RENEWABLE ENERGY.

>> ...RENEWABLE ENERGY IS VITAL TO OUR PLANET.

>> YOU HEAR ABOUT ALTERNATIVES, RIGHT? WIND, SOLAR, ALGAE.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK AN A BIG SCALE. ONLY, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE.

>> SO, WHERE ARE THEY?

>> IT HAS TO WORK IN THE REAL WORLD. AT CHEVRON, WE'RE INVESTING MILLIONS IN SOLAR AND BIOFUEL TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE IT WORK.

>> WE'VE GOT TO GET ON THIS NOW.

>> RIGHT NOW.

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