PBS NewsHour; January 26, 2011 6:00pm-7:00pm PST

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS

>> Lehrer: GOOD EVENING. I'M JIM LEHRER. PRESIDENT OBAMA CALLED FOR A NEW ERA OF COMPETITIVENESS ECHOING THEMES FROM HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.

>> Ifill: AND I'M GWEN IFILL ON THE "NEWSHOUR" TONIGHT KWAME HOLMAN REPORTS ON THE REACTION TO PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE HERE IN WASHINGTON AND ON THE ROAD IN WISCONSIN.

>> Lehrer: WE SURVEY PUBLIC MEDIA REPORTERS IN WISCONSIN, NEW MEXICO AND COLORADO ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE AND THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE.

>> Ifill: RAY SUAREZ EXAMINES THE IDEOLOGICAL CLASH OVER GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN TURNING THE ECONOMY AROUND AND SPURRING NEW GROWTH.

>> Lehrer: THEN, WE HAVE TWO TAKES ON THE UNREST IN EGYPT, A REPORT FROM JONATHON RUGMAN IN CAIRO AND JUDY WOODRUFF LOOKS AT WHAT THE CRISIS MEANS FOR THE MUSLIM WORLD AND BEYOND.

>> Ifill: AND JEFFREY BROWN TELLS THE STORY OF HAITIAN POETS AND ARTISTS SURVIVING AND CREATING AMID THE RUBBLE OF LAST YEAR'S EARTHQUAKE.

>> YOU NEED THE VOICE OF HOPE. YOU NEED A VOICE OF REVOLT AND RESISTANCE AND I THINK FOR ME YOU CAN DO THAT, OF COURSE WE CAN DO THAT.

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

>> FOR THREE HOURS A WEEK, I'M A COACH, BUT WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER, I NEEDED A COACH. OUR DOCTOR WAS GREAT, BUT WITH SO MANY TOUGH DECISIONS, I FELT LOST. UNITED HEALTHCARE OFFERED A SPECIALLY TRAINED R.N., WHO HELPED US WEIGH AND UNDERSTAND ALL OUR OPTIONS. FOR ME, CANCER WAS AS SCARY AS A FASTBALL IS TO SOME OF THESE KIDS, BUT MY COACH HAD HIT THAT PITCH BEFORE.

>> TURNING DATA INTO USEFUL ANSWERS. WE'RE 78,000 PEOPLE LOOKING OUT FOR 70 MILLION AMERICANS. THAT'S HEALTH IN NUMBERS. UNITED HEALTHCARE.

>> AND BY THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION. DEDICATED TO THE IDEA THAT ALL PEOPLE DESERVE THE CHANCE TO LIVE A HEALTHY PRODUCTIVE LIFE. 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.

>> Lehrer: PRESIDENT OBAMA TOOK HIS STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE OF WINNING THE FUTURE ON A ROAD TEST TODAY. "NEWSHOUR" CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT KWAME HOLMAN BEGINS OUR COVERAGE.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT LEFT WASHINGTON-- AS PRESIDENTS TRADITIONALLY DO THE DAY AFTER STATE OF THE UNION-- INTENT ON SELLING HIS VISION FOR THE FUTURE. THE DESTINATION THIS TIME: WISCONSIN. MR. OBAMA WON THE STATE CONVINCINGLY IN 2008, BUT IT TURNED SHARPLY REPUBLICAN IN LAST YEAR'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS. THE PRESIDENT TOURED A RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY PLANT NEAR GREEN BAY AND QUOTED FORMER PACKERS HEAD COACH, VINCE LOMBARDI.

>> IN THE WORDS OF THE MAN THE "THERE IS NO ROOM FOR SECOND PLACE. THERE IS ONLY ONE PLACE IN MY GAME, AND THAT'S FIRST PLACE." THAT'S THE KIND OF DETERMINATION TO WIN THAT AMERICA NEEDS TO SHOW RIGHT NOW. WE NEED TO WIN THE FUTURE. ( APPLAUSE )

>> Reporter: TO DO THAT, HE SAID AGAIN, THE COUNTRY MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFICITS, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF INVESTMENTS TO GROW THE ECONOMY.

>> WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BREAKTHROUGHS THAT COME TO DEFINE THE 21ST CENTURY TAKE ROOT HERE IN AMERICA; THAT WE CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WORLD IN INNOVATION. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS LAST NIGHT. BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE'LL CREATE THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE. THAT'S HOW WE'LL BUILD THE INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE. THAT'S HOW WE'LL WIN THE FUTURE IN THE 21ST CENTURY. ( APPLAUSE )

>> Reporter: BACK IN WASHINGTON, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WERE COOL TO THE PRESIDENT'S INVESTMENT IDEAS, CONTENDING THEY WERE SIMPLY COVER FOR MORE WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING. THEIR MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDENT: CUT AND GROW. HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER ERIC CANTOR OF VIRGINIA SPOKE TODAY AT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION.

>> THEY ENVISION THAT ADMINISTRATION TO BE ABOUT CUT AND INVEST, THAT SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO GO ABOUT CUTTING SPENDING SO WE CAN INVEST IT FROM WASHINGTON SOMEWHERE ELSE. NOW ALL OF THAT GIVES MOST OF US PAUSE BECAUSE IN USING WORD INVEST IN THIS TOWN, THROUGH THE PRISM OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO ME MEANS MORE SPENDING. THAT'S WHY EACH DAY OUR RESPONSE

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT DID CALL LAST NIGHT FOR A FIVE-YEAR FREEZE ON SOME DOMESTIC SPENDING TO SAVE $400 BILLION OVER A DECADE. INITIALLY, AT LEAST, THE FREEZE IDEA GOT THE COLD SHOULDER FROM REPUBLICANS LIKE UTAH SENATOR ORRIN HATCH.

>> IT'S TIME TO CUT SPENDING, NOT FREEZE IT AT THESE BLOATED AND UNSUSTAINABLE LEVELS, AND THAT'S WHAT LEADS ME TO WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY. FAMILIES ACROSS AMERICA HAVE TIGHTENED THEIR BELTS, BALANCED THEIR BUDGETS, AND LIVED WITHIN THEIR MEANS. THE SAME CAN'T BE SAID OF WASHINGTON, WHERE RUNAWAY SPENDING HAS PUSHED OUR NATION'S DEBT INTO VERY DANGEROUS LEVELS.

>> Reporter: MAINE'S OLYMPIA SNOWE JOINED HATCH AND OTHER SENATE REPUBLICANS TO RESURRECT THE IDEA OF A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.

>> IT'S CLEAR: WE HAVE LOST CONTROL OF OUR FISCAL DESTINY THAT'S-- THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT, INTUITIVELY AND PARTICULARLY WHEN FOREIGN ENTITIES AND FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS OWN 50% OF OUR DEBT, THEY OWN IT. AND SO WE HAVE TO CHANGE ALL OF THAT. OUR FOUNDING FATHERS HAD A VISION. BUT THEY CERTAINLY DID NOT VISUALIZE THAT WE WOULD ACCUMULATE $14 TRILLION IN DEBT.

>> Reporter: THAT APPEAL CAME AS THE NON-PARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PROJECTED THE BUDGET DEFICIT WILL HIT $1.5 TRILLION THIS YEAR-- A NEW RECORD. THE FIGURE WAS UP FROM EARLIER ESTIMATES BECAUSE OF THE TAX CUT DEAL APPROVED DURING LAST YEAR'S LAME DUCK SESSION. FOR THEIR PART, CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS ARGUED THE REPUBLICANS' PLANS FOR CUTTING GOVERNMENT WILL ONLY MAKE MATTERS WORSE. SENATE MAJORITY WHIP DICK DURBIN OF ILLINOIS:

>> WHILE THE PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICANS VIEW THE BUDGET LIKE A PIÑATA. THEY BELIEVE IF YOU PUT ON THE BLINDFOLD AND SWING AWAY NO MATTER WHAT YOU HIT IS WASTEFUL. THAT IS A MINDLESS VIEW WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETING. AND THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR CUTS THEY END UP ADDING A TRILLION DOLLARS TO THE DEFICIT, CUTTING A MILLION JOBS AND CALLING FOR PRIVATIZATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY, AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS NEVER COME.

>> Reporter: BUT THE FIGHT OVER SPENDING WAS NOT JUST ACROSS PARTY LINES. THE SENATE'S TOP DEMOCRAT HARRY REID SAID AGAIN TODAY HE OPPOSES THE PRESIDENT'S CALL TO BAN ALL EARMARKS.

>> Ifill: SO HOW DID THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE RESONATE AROUND THE COUNTRY? FOR THAT, WE TURN TO SOME OF OUR PUBLIC MEDIA COLLEAGUES: MEGAN VERLEE, CORESPONDENT FOR COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO. GENE GRANT, THE HOST OF "NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS", ON KNME ALBUQUERQUE. AND FREDERICA FREYBERG, REPORTER AND ANCHOR AT WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION. FREDERICA, I WANT TO START WITH YOU SINCE THE PRESIDENT WAS IN YOUR STATE TODAY, A STATE THAT TURNED COMPLETELY FROM DEMOCRAT TO REPUBLICAN IN THE LAST NOVEMBER ELECTION. SO HOW DID WHAT HE HAVE TO SAY LAST NIGHT AND AGAIN TODAY RESONATE THERE?

>> WELL, I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED TO THE PRESIDENT WHEN HE STEPPED OFF AIR FORCE ONE IN GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN, TODAY WAS THAT HE WAS PRESENTED WITH THREE GREEN BAY PACKERS JERSEYS, A SLIGHT RIB AT THE PRESIDENT WHO IS A CHICAGO BEARS FAN AND, OF COURSE, THE PACKERS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL. BUT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE STATE THAT TURNED FROM A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY TO A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN BOTH THE STATEHOUSE, THE GOVERNOR'S SEAT, TWO CONGRESSIONAL SEATS WENT TO REPUBLICANS AND A U.S. SENATE SEAT WENT TO A REPUBLICAN, WHAT PEOPLE HERE SAY IS THE PRESIDENT IS ACKNOWLEDGING THIS NEW POLITICAL REALITY AND HIS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH LAST NIGHT, OF COURSE, MADE THAT CLEAR. ONE POLITICAL SCIENTIST FROM NORTHERN WISCONSIN TODAY SAID THAT WHILE THE PRESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT NEW POLITICAL REALITY, HE STILL CAME TO WISCONSIN TODAY BECAUSE HE IS WILLING TO CREED... NOT WILLING TO CEDE THIS TERRITORY TO REPUBLICANS IN 2012. BUT HIS TRIP TO WISCONSIN WHICH IS ON... GO AHEAD.

>> Ifill: WELL, BEFORE HE EVEN GETS TO 2012 THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC THING HE IS ADVOCATED IN HIS SPEECH LAST NIGHT, LIKE HIGH-SPEED RAIL, WHICH YOUR GOVERNOR HAS REJECTED.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. HE ADVOCATED FOR THIS INVESTMENT IN THESE KINDS OF TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL AND OUR NEW REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER DID CAMPAIGN AGAINST THIS HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT GOING THROUGH WISCONSIN, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO CONNECT CHICAGO TO THE TWIN CITIES, MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL AND, IN FACT, TURNED BACK $810 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN REJECTING THAT PROJECT. SO THERE'S DEFINITELY A PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR NEW GOVERNOR AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. OF COURSE, THEY'RE BOTH INTENT, BOTH INTENT ON CREATING JOBS IN THIS STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNT RE.

>> IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF HOW YOU DO IT. MEGAN VERLEE, LET'S GO TO COLORADO, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MANGLING YOUR NAME EARLIER. IT SEEMS IN COLORADO THERE'S SOMETHING SIMILAR GOING ON BUT ESPECIALLY THIS ISSUE OF BIPARTISANSHIP WHICH IS WHAT WE SAW TALKED ABOUT IN WASHINGTON, IT WAS YOUR SENATOR, MARK UDALL, CAME UP WITH THIS IDEATHAT PEOPLE CROSS PARTY LINES. IS THAT WHAT HIS PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING UP HERE?

>> I THINK SO. COLORADO TENDS TO BE A VERY MODERATE STATE. IT PUNISHES POLITICIANS WHO GET TOO FAR IN ONE DIRECTION A LOT OF TIMES AND I THINK SENATOR UDALL IS PROBABLY FEELING PRETTY PROUD OF HIMSELF TODAY FOR HOW MUCH ATTENTION THAT MOVED GOT AND HOW TALKED ABOUT IT IS. I FEEL LIKE I'M HEARING MORE ABOUT PEOPLE WHERE PEOPLE SAT DURING THE STATE OF THE UNION THAN WHAT WAS SAID DURING THE STATE OF THE UNION. AND OUR DELEGATION CERTAINLY SAT TOGETHER AND HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT HAVING THAT HOUR TOGETHER ON THE FLOOR.

>> Ifill: LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID DURING THE STATE OF THE UNION, MEGAN. THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK, FOR INSTANCE, ABOUT EDUCATION AND YOUR OTHER SENATOR ACTUALLY, BECAUSE HE USED TO BE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN DENVER HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH THIS AS WELL. WERE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS THAT? WAS THERE INTEREST IN WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAD TO SAY ON THAT SUBJECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, FIRST THERE WAS A LOT OF PRIDE THAT ONE OF DENVER'S REAL TURNAROUND SCHOOLS, BRUCE RANDOLPH, GOT A DIRECT MENTION IN THE SPEECH AND IT'S NO ACCIDENT THAT SENATOR MICHAEL BENNETT WAS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SCHOOLS WHILE REESE RANDOLPH WAS TURNING AROUND... THERE'S A LOT OF FEELING THAT WAS A DESERVED RECOGNITION. THE REFORMS THAT STARTED AT ABUSE BRUCE RANDOLPH, LOOKING AT INNOVATIVE MODELS FOR UPPING SCORES AND HELPING STUDENT IMPROVEMENT HAVE GONE FROM DENVER NOW TO OUR STATEHOUSE AND I THINK THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME MIXED FEELINGS LISTENING TO THE PRESIDENT TALKING ABOUT RACE TO THE TOP BECAUSE COLORADO COMPETED VERY HARD IN BOTH ROUNDS, MADE BIG LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND VERY HARD ONES UP AGAINST THE STATE'S TEACHERS' UNION AND DIDN'T WIN. SO THERE WAS SOME FEELING THAT POSSIBLY THE WEST WAS BEING MALIGNED IN WASHINGTON. SO I THINK FOR SOME WHO TRIED REAL HARD FOR THAT CARROT AND NEVER QUITE CAUGHT IT, HEARING THE PRESIDENT PRAISE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT CAME FROM IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BITTERSWEET.

>> Ifill: GENE GRANT, I SAW A WORD CLOUD TAKEN THAT NPR DID AFTER THE SPEECH LAST NIGHT IN WHICH THE BIGGEST WORD PEOPLE REMEMBERED WAS SALMON, THE SALMON JOKE. ALSO ONE OF THE BIG WORDS THEY REMEMBERED, PHRASES, WAS DOING BIG THINGS. IN NEW MEXICO, THE PEOPLE YOU HEAR, THE PEOPLE YOU TALK TO, DOES THAT SOUND LIKE AN OPTIMISTIC IDEA OR DOES IT SOUND LIKE THEY'RE ABOUT TO BECOME BIG SPENDERS AGAIN IN WASHINGTON?

>> >> LIKE THE WAY YOU ASK THAT, IT'S INTERESTING. IF THERE WAS ANY STATE OF THE UNION I WOULD SAY THAT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DIRECTLY AT NEW MEXICO ON THIS IDEA OF BIG THINGS. IT WAS LAST NIGHT'S SPEECH... IT WAS VERY, VERY INTERESTING. WHEN HE OPENED WITH THE FIRST STEP IS WINNING THE FUTURE IS ENCOURAGING AMERICAN INNOVATION, I'LL BET YOU A WHOLE LOT OF NEW MEXICANS SAT UP IN THEIR SEAT BECAUSE THAT'S IN OUR WHEEL HOUSE WITH TWO NATIONAL LABORATORIES, LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABS, THE CONSENSUS IS AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING HOW YOU BREAK DOWN PARTISANSHIP WHEN YOU TALK DOWN NATIONAL LABS HERE-- IS THAT WE ARE WELL POSITIONED FOR THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET PROPOSAL, FOR MORE R&D LATER AND THE PROPOSAL TO GET FORWARD WITH CLEAN TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING VERY HARD AT HERE. THERE'S A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BIG THINGS, THAT'S HOW WE SEE IT, THAT'S HOW WE INTERPRET THAT HERE, THAT BIG THINGS COME OUT OF THESE NATIONAL LABS WITH TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, NOT SO MUCH ON TECHNOLOGY BUT ONE OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES HERE FROM NEW MEXICO IS GOING TO START A TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CAUCUS IN THE HOUSE. AND THAT'S A BRILLIANT... FAIRLY BRILLIANT IDEA BECAUSE ONE OF THE BIG STRUGGLES IS HOW DO YOU GET THESE BRILLIANT MEN AND WOMEN IN THESE NATIONAL LABS COMING UP WITH THESE BRILLIANT IDEAS AND MOVE THIS STUFF OUT INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN CLEAN TECHNOLOGY CLEAN COAL, IF YOU WILL, NUCLEAR MANAGEMENT, A NUMBER OF ISSUES. SO WHEN PEOPLE HEAR BIG THINGS, PEOPLE HERE WERE READY TO RECEIVE THAT MESSAGE.

>> Ifill: I WANT TO ASK YOU ALL ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE 2008 BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT DID WELL IN ALL THREE OF THESE STATES AND IS POPULARLY THOUGHT TO HAVE LAST INDEPENDENT VOTERS ALSO IN STATES LIKE YOURS. STARTING IN WISCONSIN, FREDERICA PAUL RYAN, WHO'S THE INCOMING CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE, GAVE THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE LAST NIGHT. HE'S FROM WISCONSIN. TO WHAT DEGREE IS HE SPEAKING FOR WHERE VOTERS OF WISCONSIN HAVE GONE SINCE DWIGHT?

>> WELL, I GUESS YOU'D HAVE TO MEASURE THAT BY THE ELECTION RESULTS AND GIVEN THAT IT IS NOW A MAJORITY OF REPUBLICAN STATES, I GATHER THAT HE SPEAKS FOR THOSE VOTERS AND HIS MESSAGE CLEARLY IS ON BUDGET RESTRAINT AND HE REGARDS ENTITLEMENTS AS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO DRAG US DOWN INTO, YOU KNOW, THE SITUATION IN GREECE. HE SAID LAST NIGHT THAT GOVERNMENT ENTITLEMENTS ARE GROWING A SOCIAL SAFETY NET TO A HAMMOCK. HE'S THE ONE WHO HAS PROPOSALS IN HIS ROAD MAP, OF COURSE, TO GET AT SOCIAL SECURITY SPENDING BY ALLOWING PEOPLE TO PRIVATELY INVEST SOME OF THAT MONEY AND BY GRADUALLY TURNING MEDICAID INTO VOUCHERS. SO I THINK THIS MESSAGE OF FISCAL RESTRAINT AND A BLOATED GOVERNMENT RESONATES HERE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU SAW WHAT YOU SAW IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

>> AND THE ANGER THAT WAS EXPRESSED IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND THAT PAUL RYAN WAS CHANNELING A LITTLE BIT OF LAST NIGHT, YOU THINK THAT'S STILL ALIVE AND WELL IN WISCONSIN?

>> YOU KNOW, NOTWITHSTANDING LAST NIGHT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS WHERE THE MESSAGE SEEMED TO BE UNITY AND PEOPLE WERE COMING TOGETHER IN THE SEATING ARRANGEMENT AND THAT KIND OF THING, WHEN I LISTEN TO A THREE HOUR LONG PUBLIC RADIO STATEWIDE CALL-IN PROGRAM THIS MORNING, MANY CALLERS FROM ACROSS THIS STATE SEEMED ANGRY. THEY SEEMED ANGRY THAT THE PRESIDENT DID NOT TALK ABOUT THEIR IMMEDIATE PROBLEM WITH UNEMPLOYMENT, WITH JOBLESSNESS, THEIR IMMEDIATE PROBLEM WITH BEING UP SIDE DOWN ON THEIR MORTGAGES OR ACTUALLY BEING IN FORECLOSURE. AND IT IS ACKNOWLEDGEED THAT THE PRESIDENT DID NOT TOUCH SQUARELY ON THOSE ISSUES AND THAT ANGER COULD BE HEARD. AND SO I DON'T THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE READY TO GIVE UP ON THAT ANGER.

>> Ifill: MEGAN VERLEE, YOU WENT TO A STATE OF THE UNION WATCH PARTY LAST NIGHT IN COLORADO. WHAT DID YOU HEAR THERE?

>> WELL, IT WAS A BIPARTISAN WATCH PARTY PUT ON BY SOMEBODY WHO'S A SUPPORTER OF MARK UDALL, ACTUALLY. HE WENT FROM BIPARTISAN SEATING TO BIPARTISAN WATCH PARTIES, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING. AND WHAT I HEARD FROM PEOPLE AFFILIATED WITH BOTH PARTIES WAS A REAL WARINESS. THEY ALL SAID "WE KNOW THIS PRESIDENT IS A GOOD SPEAKER, WE EXPECT TO HEAR A REAL GOOD SPEECH. BUT WE'RE GOING TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT COMES OF IT." EVEN AFTERWARDS, THE DEMOCRATS WHO WATCHED IT WERE EXCITED, THEY WERE SORT OF TALKING OVER SOME OF THE IDEAS, BUT THERE WAS THIS UNDERLYING SKEPTICISM OF A MILLION ELECTRIC CARS? CAN THAT REALLY HAPPEN? HIGH-SPEED RAIL? 80% OF THE POPULATION? IS THAT REALLY GETTING HERE? AND YOU JUST HEARD THIS REAL WARINESS, EVEN AMONG PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT, OF TALKS FINE, GAVE A GOOD SPEECH, WE'RE GOING TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT YOU DO WITH IT. AND FOR THE REPUBLICANS WATCHING I THINK THERE WAS AN EVEN STRONGER LEVEL OF SKEPTICISM. YEAH, SOUNDED GOOD.

>> Ifill: DID THEY WATCH IT TOGETHER?

>> THEY ACTUALLY DIDN'T. THE PARTY ENDED UP SEGREGATING ITSELF. THE DEMOCRATS WERE DOWN IN THE DEN WATCHING THE T.V. IN THERE AND THE REPUBLICANS ENDED UP WATCHING THE KITCHEN T.V. AND YOU COULD SORT OF HEAR CHEERS AND SYRIAS FROM EITHER SIDE AS CERTAIN POINTS CAME UP.

>> Ifill: WELL, SOME THINGS DON'T CHANGE. GENE GRANT IN NEW MEXICO, ARE PEOPLE STILL WARY AFTER LAST NIGHT'S SPEECH, DOES IT TAKE MORE THAN ONE SPEECH FOR PEOPLE TO THINK OKAY, MAYBE THIS CAN WORK?

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH WHAT WE HEARD FROM WISCONSIN AND COLORADO. TALK RADIO I HEARD THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON WAS ON THAT SAME BEAT. A WAIT-AND-SEE ATTITUDE AT THE LEAST, HOSTILE, ALMOST, AT THE MOST OR AT THE WORST DEPENDING ON YOUR POINT OF VIEW. AND IT REALLY WAS LIKE WAIT A MINUTE, THIS IS NOT... I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT GETTING MYSELF OR MY WIFE OR MY HUSBAND OR MY KID BACK TO WORK BY NEXT MONTH. AND I THINK WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS IT WAS A SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, IT STARTED... AGAIN, FOR US HERE LOCALLY IT STARTED WITH A VERY ENCOURAGING NOTE THAT WE COULD UNDERSTAND AND WE COULD EMBRACE AND THAT WAS SENSE OF WAITING, WAITING, WAITING, WAITING AND WHEN IT NEVER REALLY HAPPENED, WHEN YOU NEVER REALLY HEARD SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE IMPACTFUL IN PEOPLE'S LIVES IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A THROWING UP OF HANDS, IF THAT'S THE CORRECT TERM. IT WAS... A LOT OF FRUSTRATION. A LOT OF FOLKS WERE REALLY QUITE FRUSTRATED WITH IT. I WOULD ADD AS WELL WHEN YOU... THE BIG PICTURE, BIG STUFF, BIG VISION THINGS SOME FOLKS REALLY CHEERED, SOME FOLKS WERE LIKE NOW WAIT A MINUTE, WE'VE HEARD THE BEFORE, THEY'RE NOT DOWN WITH RAIL, THEY'RE NOT DOWN WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THE PRESIDENT WAS PROPOSING. THE NEW TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY, ENERGY USE IN A VERY AGGRESSIVE TIME FRAME, IT BEGS THE QUESTION FOR A LOT OF FOLKS WAS HOW. SO THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS YET TO BE ANSWERED HERE AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE STILL KIND OF SKEPTICAL.

>> Ifill: FASCINATING TO HEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON. THAT'S GENE GRANT FROM NEW MEXICO, MEGAN VERLEE OF COLORADO AND FREDERICA FREYBERG. THANK YOU ALL.

>> Lehrer: THERE'S MORE ON THE STATE OF THE UNION COMING UP WITH A DEBATE ABOUT THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT. PLUS, THE CRACKDOWN ON DEMONSTRATIONS IN EGYPT AND POETRY IN EARTHQUAKE-RAVAGED HAITI. BUT FIRST, THE OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY. HERE'S HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreenivasan: HOUSE REPUBLICANS PUSHED THROUGH A BILL TODAY TO END PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING FOR PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS. UNDER THE PROGRAM, TAXPAYERS MAKE VOLUNTARY $3 CHECK-OFFS ON FEDERAL TAX RETURNS. REPUBLICANS SAID ENDING IT WOULD SAVE $617 MILLION DOLLARS OVER TEN YEARS AND THEY CRITICIZED DEMOCRATS FOR OPPOSING THE IDEA.

>> THEY DON'T THINK OF $617 MILLION AS SIGNIFICANT. MR. SPEAKER, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THINK THAT $617 MILLION IS SIGNIFICANT. THEY WANT US TO CUT SPENDING WHEREVER WE CAN AND THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS LONG AGO OUTLIVED ITS USEFULNESS.

>> Sreenivasan: DEMOCRATS SHOT BACK THAT REPUBLICANS HAD AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE FOR TARGETING PUBLIC FUNDING OF CAMPAIGNS.

>> THIS IS THE REPUBLICANS BASICALLY CATERING TO SPECIAL INTERESTS AND THE LARGE CORPORATIONS WHO WILL SPEND UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF CORPORATE MONEY ON CAMPAIGNS AND NOT SOMETHING FROM THIS CASE A PUBLIC FINANCING COMPONENT THROUGH VOLUNTARY LARGELY SMALL DONATIONS.

>> Sreenivasan: THE MEASURE WAS CONSIDERED UNLIKELY TO PASS THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED SENATE. THE FEDERAL RESERVE WILL STAY THE COURSE, FOR NOW, ON ITS EFFORTS TO BOOST THE ECONOMY. THE CENTRAL BANK SAID TODAY THE RECOVERY IS CONTINUING, BUT IT'S NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO BRING DOWN UNEMPLOYMENT WITHOUT HELP. AS A RESULT, THE FED WILL CONTINUE BUYING U.S. TREASURY BONDS, IN A $600 BILLION PROGRAM. THAT IS INTENDED TO LOWER INTEREST RATES AND SPUR COMPANIES TO EXPAND AND HIRE. ON WALL STREET, STOCKS MANAGED MODEST GAINS. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE ADVANCED EIGHT POINTS TO CLOSE AT 11,985. THE NASDAQ ROSE 20 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 2,739. ARIZONA CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS WAS TRANSFERRED TODAY TO A REHABILITATION FACILITY IN HOUSTON. AN AMBULANCE CARRIED HER FROM A NEARBY HOSPITAL. SHE HAD BEEN IN INTENSIVE CARE SINCE ARRIVING FRIDAY FROM TUCSON, TWO WEEKS AFTER BEING SHOT IN THE HEAD. OVERNIGHT, DOCTORS UPGRADED GIFFORDS' CONDITION TO GOOD, AND THEY UPDATED HER STATUS THIS AFTERNOON.

>> SHE'S VERY INTERACTIVE WITH US. I CAN TELL WHEN I GO IN AND I'M EXAMINING HER AND SO FORTH THAT SHE'S COOPERATING AND INTERACTIVE AND AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON. SO I THINK ALONG WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID IT'S PROGRESSING QUITE REMARKABLY.

>> Sreenivasan: THE MEDICAL TEAM ALSO REMOVED A TUBE DRAINING FLUID FROM GIFFORDS' HEAD WOUND, ON MONDAY. A TENSE CALM RETURNED TO LEBANON TODAY, AFTER TWO DAYS OF PROTESTS AGAINST THE RISING POWER OF HEZBOLLAH. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PRO- IRANIAN GROUP'S CHOICE FOR PRIME MINISTER NAJIB MIKATI MOVED TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT, AND HE MET WITH OUTGOING PRIME MINISTER SAAD HARIRI. TWO WEEKS AGO, HEZBOLLAH AND ITS ALLIES PULLED OUT OF HARIRI'S PRO-WESTERN GOVERNMENT, CAUSING IT TO COLLAPSE. THE RULING PARTY CANDIDATE IN HAITI JUDE CELESTIN IS DROPPING OUT OF A PRESIDENTIAL RUNOFF. HE HAD BEEN UNDER PRESSURE TO QUIT THE RACE AFTER WIDESPREAD FRAUD IN THE FIRST ROUND, LAST NOVEMBER. CELESTIN'S DEPARTURE MEANS FORMER FIRST LADY MIRLANDE MANIGAT WILL FACE POPULAR SINGER MICHEL MARTELLY IN THE RUNOFF. NO DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE VOTE. IN AFGHANISTAN, THE NEW PARLIAMENT HAS OPENED, MORE THAN FOUR MONTHS AFTER A DISPUTED ELECTION. PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI SWORE IN THE LAWMAKERS, AFTER TRYING TO DELAY THE SESSION FOR A VOTE FRAUD PROBE. AND, HE WARNED SOME COULD STILL LOSE THEIR SEATS. THE AFGHAN LEADER ALSO ACCUSED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF MEDDLING IN THE VOTE. TOYOTA ANNOUNCED A RECALL TODAY OF NEARLY 1.7 MILLION CARS WORLDWIDE FOR FUEL LEAKS. THE RECALL MOSTLY AFFECTS VEHICLES IN JAPAN. BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES TWO LEXUS LUXURY MODELS IN NORTH AMERICA SOLD BETWEEN 2006 AND 2008. TOYOTA WAS PLAGUED BY A SERIES OF MAJOR RECALLS LAST YEAR, AND ITS U.S. SALES SUFFERED AS A RESULT. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DAY'S MAJOR STORIES. NOW, BACK TO GWEN.

>> Ifill: REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS MANAGED TO SIT TOGETHER AT LAST NIGHT'S JOINT SESSION, BUT A FUNDAMENTAL DIVIDE REMAINS BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS ON THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT. RAY SUAREZ PICKS UP THAT PART OF THE STATE OF THE UNION STORY.

>> Suarez: FROM THE PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS, AND FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RESPONSE, AMERICA SAW TWO VERY DIFFERENT ANSWERS TO A FUNDAMENTAL POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC QUESTION: WHAT'S THE BEST ROLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN SPURRING INNOVATION, DRIVING DEVELOPMENT IN THE U.S. ECONOMY OVERALL? THE PRESIDENT USED EXAMPLES FROM THE COUNTRY'S PAST, AND FROM GLOBAL COMPETITORS TO MAKE HIS POINT. AND WISCONSIN REPRESENTATIVE PAUL RYAN INSISTED GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION WAS LIKELY TO MAKE THINGS WORSE.

>> OUR INFRASTRUCTURE USED TO BE THE BEST. BUT OUR LEAD HAS SLIPPED. SOUTH KOREAN HOMES NOW HAVE GREATER INTERNET ACCESS THAN WE DO. COUNTRIES IN EUROPE AND RUSSIA INVEST MORE IN THEIR ROADS AND RAILWAYS THAN WE DO. CHINA'S BUILDING FASTER TRAINS AND NEWER AIRPORTS. MEANWHILE, WHEN OUR OWN ENGINEERS GRADED OUR NATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE THEY GAVE US A "D."

>> DEPENDING ON BUREAUCRACY TO FOSTER INNOVATION, COMPETITIVENESS, AND WISE CONSUMER CHOICES HAS NEVER WORKED AND IT WON'T WORK NOW. WE NEED TO CHART A NEW COURSE. SPEAKING CANDIDLY AS ONE CITIZEN TO ANOTHER, WE STILL HAVE TIME. BUT NOT MUCH TIME. IF WE CONTINUE DOWN OUR CURRENT PATH, WE KNOW WHAT OUR FUTURE WILL BE. JUST TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO GREECE, IRELAND, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OTHER NATIONS IN EUROPE.

>> Suarez: WE HAVE OUR OWN DEBATE NOW ABOUT THE MERITS OF THESE TWO APPROACHES FROM LEADING THINKERS AFFILIATED WITH BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK OF MASSACHUSETTS AND REPUBLICAN ECONOMIST DOUGLAS HOLTZ-EAKIN, FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE. HE ADVISES REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS CURRENTLY AND SERVED AS A KEY ADVISER TO JOHN McCAIN DURING THE 2008 ELECTION. GOVERNOR PATRICK, LET ME START WITH YOU. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE BEST WAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD PARTICIPATE-- OR NOT-- IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT'S STRATEGY-- LIKE OUR OWN HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, BASED ON EDUCATION, ON INNOVATION AND ON TALK FROM WHICH YOU ARE-- IS A STRATEGY THAT WORKS. IT'S WORKED HISTORICALLY, IT WILL WORK RIGHT NOW AND IT WILL PLAY TO OUR STRENGTH. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD TRY TO SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM IN EVERYBODY'S LIFE, RAY, BUT WE DO THINK GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN HELPING PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES, IN ADVANCING THE AMERICAN DREAM. AND THAT IS A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE WITH SOME REPUBLICANS BUT NOT WITH ALL. MOST REPUBLICANS I THINK DO UNDERSTAND THAT GOVERNMENT DOES HAVE A ROLE IN EXPRESSING THOSE THINGS THAT WE AS A NATIONAL COMMUNITY OUGHT TO TRY TO DO TOGETHER. AND THAT'S WHERE THE UNITY, I THINK, HAS TO BE SOUGHT IN THIS COUNTRY AND WHAT THE PRESIDENT, I THINK, IS TRYING TO DO FOR US.

>> Suarez: DOUGLAS HOLTZ-EAKIN, SAME QUESTION. WHAT DOES THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE ECONOMY LOOK LIKE?

>> GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE BUT I THINK THE FUNDAMENTAL MESSAGE OF CONGRESSMAN RYAN WAS THAT WE NEED TO IDENTIFY THAT ROLE AND PUT THE GOVERNMENT BACK IN THOSE LIMITED FUNCTIONS WHERE IT DOES THINGS BEST. AND I THOUGHT THE MOST INTERESTING CONTRAST WE SAW LAST NIGHT WAS REPRESENTATIVE RYAN TAKING ON THE BIGGEST ISSUE THE UNITED STATES FACES-- THE DEBT LOAD THAT WILL, IN FACT, ENDANGER OUR PROSPERITY-- AND IDENTIFYING FOR A ROLE FOR GOVERNMENT AS A WAY TO DECIDE WHAT IT DOES AND DOES NOT DO. IN CONTRAST, THE PRESIDENT WAS ESSENTIALLY SILENT ON THIS BIG ISSUE. THE MOST PRESSING THING THAT EVEN HIS OWN FISCAL COMMISSION HAS IDENTIFIED AND HE SAID NOTHING MORE THAN A FIGURATIVE FREEZE ON A TINY FRACTION OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET AND TOOK A PASS ON THE REST. SO HE DIDN'T SHOW THE GOVERNMENT STEPPING OUT OF ANYTHING. AND WHEN IT GOT THE PARTICULARS, HE SAID THE RIGHT THINGS ABOUT WE CAN'T PREDICT THE WAY THAT THE INDUSTRIES WILL DEVELOP AND WHAT THE FUNDAMENTAL FORCES WILL BE 30 YEARS FROM NOW, BUT THEN TURNED RIGHT AROUND AND PROVIDED EXACTLY THE THINGS WE SHOULD DO FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S POINT OF VIEW. WE'RE GOING TO DEAN DO CLEAN TECH, BIOMEDICAL. NOT A VISION OF A GOVERNMENT RESPONSIVE TO THE CITIZENS NEEDS BUT ONE DIRECTING WHERE WE SHOULD GO.

>> Suarez: DIRECTING WHERE WE SHOULD GO, GOVERNOR? GO AHEAD.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S ENTIRELY FAIR. I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO HEAR ABOUT REPUBLICANS SAYING ONE THING AND DOING ANOTHER. REMEMBER IT WAS PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH WHO EMBARKED ON TWO WARS ON A CREDIT CARD, WHO DID THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT AND, INDEED, CUT TAXES WHEN WE WERE AT WAR. I THINK THE FIRST NATION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD NOT TO ASK ITS CITIZEN BOSS-TO-SACRIFICE AT A TIME OF WAR. I THINK THAT WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS TALKING ABOUT AND TALKED ABOUT LAST NIGHT IS NOT GOVERNMENT TRYING TO SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM IN EVERYBODY'S LIFE, AS I SAID A MINUTE AGO, BUT THOSE THINGS THAT CREATE THE CONDITIONS THAT PLAY TO OUR STRENGTHS AND THAT LIFT THIS ECONOMY AND GET GROWTH GOING AGAIN. I DON'T THINK THE PRESIDENT WAS SILENT ON THE QUESTION OF THE DEFICIT. BUT I THINK TT THERE ARE... IN FACT, HE DID REFERENCE THE BIPARTISAN COMMISSION WHICH TALKED ABOUT BOTH CUTTING SPENDING-- WHICH IS IMPORTANT-- AND DOING THAT IN WIDE AND TARGETED WAYS AND ALSO RAISING REVENUE, THAT COMBINATION OF WHICH IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GOING DEAL WITH THAT PROBLEM. BUT WE MUST HAVE GROWTH AND WE DON'T GET GROWTH WITHOUT A STRATEGY FOR GROWTH. NOT JUST LEAVING IT TO CHANCE BUT A STRATEGY. AND THAT STRATEGY BASED ON EDUCATION, ON INNOVATION AND ON INFRASTRUCTURE IS A WINNING STRATEGY AND YOU CAN LOOK TO MASSACHUSETTS JUST TO SEE AN EXAMPLE OF IT.

>> Suarez: YOU HEARD THE GOVERNMENT MENTION INVESTMENT A COUPLE TIMES, DOUG HOLTZ-EAKIN, ERIC CANTOR DESCRIBED INVESTMENT AS A SYNONYM FOR MORE GOVERNMENT SPENDING. IS THERE A DISTINCTION TO BE MADE? SHOULD ONE BE MADE BETWEEN JUST GOVERNMENT SPENDING-- AS SIMPLE AS THAT-- AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE BUILT AND HAVE TO BE DONE IN ORDER FOR GROWTH TO HAPPEN DOWN THE ROAD?

>> OBVIOUSLY THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A TRADITIONAL ROLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN BASIC RESEARCH, IN NATIONAL DEFENSE, IN INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS A SHARED PRODUCTIVE RESOURCE. AND THE KEY HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO MAKE SURE YOU GET GENUINE PRODUCTIVITY GAINS OUT OF THOSE INVESTMENTS. I THINK THE DISENCHANTMENT YOU HEAR ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE IS THAT THAT WORD HAS BEEN USED AS COVER FOR ALL SORTS OF EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT THAT DOESN'T REALLY MEET THOSE LITMUS TESTS AND WHEN IT DOES MEET THAT LITMUS TEST, WE HAVE WASTED THOSE DOLLARS. WE HAVE 100 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS, NONE OF WHICH IDENTIFY A GENUINE NATIONAL INTEREST IN PRODUCTIVITY AND CONNECTIVITY IN OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND YET WE SEE AGAIN A CALL TO POUR MORE MONEY INTO IT. I THINK THAT'S THE DIVIDE YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW. CONSERVATIVES WANT EFFICIENCY IN THE APPROPRIATE ROLES FOR GOVERNMENT AND THEY WANT THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF THINGS THAT AREN'T APPROPRIATE.

>> Suarez: GOVERNOR, HOW DO YOU LIMIT THE TASKS AND LIMIT THE SPENDING AND JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE SPENDING IN THE RIGHT PLACE?

>> WELL, I WANT TO AGREE DOUG'S POINT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFICIENCY. I THINK TAXPAYERS OUGHT TO DEMAND SIMPLIFICATION AND A STRAIGHTFORWARD SPEND OF THEIR MONEY. IT IS THEIR MONEY. AND, BY THE WAY, THAT'S NOT A CHALLENGE THAT IS TIMELY, THAT'S A TIMELESS CHALLENGE. ANY ORGANIZATION-- PRIVATE OR PUBLIC-- HAS TO BE ABOUT CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT. BUT ON THE POINT ABOUT WHOSE MONEY IT IS, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT IT'S THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WHAT WE JUST DO IS FINISH THAT THOUGHT. BECAUSE IT'S ALSO YOUR ROADS, YOUR BROKEN SCHOOLS, YOUR BROKEN NEIGHBORHOODS, YOUR BROKEN NEIGHBOR, FOR THAT MATTER. AND SOONER OR LATER WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT. WHEN WE TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY, THAT IS WHAT GOVERNMENT IS CALLED. I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A SMALL AND AS SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD A GOVERNMENT AS POSSIBLE. I THINK ANY CONSUMER, IF YOU WILL, OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE, MORE TO THE POINT ANY CITIZEN WOULD WANT THAT. BUT SOMETIMES I... YOU KNOW, IT FRUSTRATES ME A LITTLE BIT TO HEAR THIS POINT FROM CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS WHO, DURING THE GEORGE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LARGEST RUNUP IN THE SIZE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN HISTORY. SO LET'S LOOK NOT JUST AT WHO SAYS WHAT BUT WHO DOES WHAT. AND THIS PRESIDENT IS ABOUT TRYING TO BRING US AN EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE, FORWARD-LOOKING GOVERNMENT AS A WAY OF REFLECTING THE BEST OF OUR AMERICAN IDEALS AND AMBITIONS.

>> Suarez: DOUGLAS HOLTZ AIKEN SINCE THE GOVERNOR HAS BROUGHT IT UP TWICE, I SHOULD GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND ON THE RECENT PAST AND THE BUSH YEARS IN PARTICULAR.

>> OH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PUT ASIDE THE POLITICS. THIS IS A DEBATE ABOUT THE FUTURE AND I THINK THE KEY HERE IS THE DIVIDE BETWEEN CONSERVATIVES WHO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FUTURE REALLY IS DEPENDENT ON INDIVIDUALS HAVING A JOB AND THAT THERE WILL BE NO GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS... HOWEVER MUCH EMPATHY THAT IS POURED INTO IT THAT IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THAT JOB AND WHEN YOU ASK THE QUESTION "WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE BROKEN SFLODZ" YOU DON'T ANSWER IT WITH "I'D LIKE TO SEE HIGH SPEED RAILS, LET'S NOT FIX THE ROAD PROGRAM." WE HAVE TO FIX WHAT'S RIGHT FIRST BEFORE LAUNCHING INTO NEW PROGRAM.

>> Suarez: BUT DOUG HOLTZ-EAKIN, THE PRESIDENT SPOKE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT MEDICAL RESEARCH, TRANSPORTATION, THE DIGITAL FUTURE ABSENT GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT. WOULD THE PRIVATE SECTOR TAKE ON SOME OF THESE BIG INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS?

>> AS I SAID BEFORE, THERE'S A ROLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A ROLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT IN BASIC RESEARCH. WHAT GETS SLIPPERY IS WHEN YOU SAY THE RIGHT THING BUT THEN YOU TURN A CALL FOR BASIC RESEARCH INTO TARGETED TOP-DOWN INVESTMENTS-- IN PARTICULAR CLEAN TECHS AND BIOMEDICAL-- WHEN, IN FACT, IF WE JUST BUILT THE KNOWLEDGE BASE AND TURNED THE ENTREPRENEURS LOOSE WE'D GET THE RIGHT INDUSTRIES IN 30 YEARS RATHER THAN BETTING TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS IN WAYS WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL WORK.

>> Suarez: GOVERNOR, WHAT ABOUT THAT? THAT'S A FREQUENTLY HEARD CRITIQUE THAT GOVERNMENT OFTEN TRIES TO PICK WINNERS AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT DOUGLAS HOLTZ-EAKIN DESCRIBED. OVERSTEPPING.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T HAVE 30 YEARS AND I THINK DOUG WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. WE'VE GOT TO BE ABOUT THE HERE AND NOW. WE'VE GOT TO FACE WHAT OUR GLOBAL COMPETITORS ARE DOING AND AROUND THE WORLD GOVERNMENT IS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO INVEST IN THOSE GROWTH INDUSTRIES. AND WE HAVE AN EDGE HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A GENERALLY WELL-EDUCATED WORK FORCE, WE NEED TO STEP THAT UP. WE HAVE A TRADITION OF INNOVATION, WE NEED TO STEP THAT UP AND CONCENTRATE ON IT AND INVEST IN IT, YES. NOT TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR BUT IN WAYS THAT CREATE CONDITIONS WHERE THE PRIVATE SECTOR WANTS TO INVEST BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE OUR COMPETITIVE EDGE IS GOING TO BE. SO I DON'T THINK THAT OUR OBJECTIVES ABOUT WHERE ECONOMICALLY WE WANT TO GO AND HOW WE WANT TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE AMERICAN DREAM ARE THAT DIFFERENT, FRANKLY, BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MEANS. AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF US REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE CARTOON VERSION OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE ACCURATE. I BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY, NOT THE REAL TO PLAY, NOT THE CENTRAL ROLE OR THE ONLY ROLE TO PLAY BUT A ROLE TO PLAY IN CREATING CHANCE PLAY TO OUR STRENGTH AND GET US MAXIMUM GROWTH AND MAXIMUM JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

>> Suarez: VERY QUICKLY, DOUG, BEFORE WE GO, ARE YOU AS OPTIMISTIC AS THE GOVERNOR IS ABOUT WHETHER THESE DIVIDES ARE BRIDGEABLE?

>> ABSOLUTELY. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE SHARED THESE ASPIRATIONS. THIS IS A DEBATE ABOUT THE BEST MEANS TO AN END. THE CLOCK IS TICKING, THE DEBT SBOPL GROWING AND I DO BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND I'M SADDENED WE HAVEN'T MOVED QUICKLY ON THAT. BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE THERE'S AGREEMENT ON THINGS LIKE EDUCATION WHICH IS REALLY NOT ABOUT MONEY. WE POUR LOTS OF MONEY INTO EDUCATION AND WE DON'T GET RESULTS SO WE CAN TAKE ON THE GREAT COMPETITIVE CHALLENGE WITH THE KINDS OF REFORMS THAT GET OUR MONEY'S WORTH. AND I THINK WE'LL BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> Suarez: GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Lehrer: NEXT, THE PROTESTS IN EGYPT-- SECURITY OFFICIALS SAID A DEMONSTRATOR AND A POLICEMAN WERE KILLED TODAY. THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL TO SIX DEAD IN TWO DAYS OF CLASHES. WE START WITH A REPORT FROM CAIRO BY JONATHAN RUGMAN OF "INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS."

>> Reporter: IT BEGAN IN TUNISIA WITH HOSNI MUBARAK, EGYPT'S PRESIDENT FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. WAVES OF PROTESTORS BRAVING TEAR HUNDREDS ACROSS EGYPT HAVE BEEN ARRESTED WITH PLAIN-CLOTHES POLICE SEEN MARCHING SUSPECTS AWAY. WE FOLLOWED PROTESTORS FLEEING THE TEAR GAS INTO A WARREN OF BACK STREETS. "IT IS NOT OVER" ONE OF THEM TOLD US, "IT'S ONLY JUST BEGUN."

>> POLICE CARS, THEY ARE JUST SHOOTING PEOPLE. THEY ARE SHOOTING PEOPLE. NO MERCY. THEY HAVE NO MERCY. RUBBER BULLETS. THEY HAVE NO MERCY. THEY ATTACK PEOPLE DIRECTLY.

>> Reporter: WILL YOU CARRY ON PROTESTING?

>> YES. I WILL PROTEST UNTIL THEY LEAVE.

>> Reporter: THE PROTESTS BEGAN OUTSIDE CAIRO'S SPOT FOR JOURNALISTS AND LAWYERS. THEY CALLED FOR FRESH ELECTIONS AFTER THOSE LAST NOVEMBER GAVE THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY A WIDELY RIDICULED 93%. SOME JOURNALISTS TRYING TO FILM HERE WERE ATTACKED BY PLAIN CLOTHED POLICE. THIS WAS CAIRO'S FREEDOM SQUARE IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THIS MORNING. FAILING TO LIVE UP TO ITS NAME, PROTESTORS HAVE VOWED TO STAY UP OVERNIGHT, BUT THE POLICE WERE HAVING NONE OF IT. AMONG INJURED AND TEAR GASSED WERE EGYPT'S EDUCATED INTERNET SAVVY FUTURE INSPIRED BY TUNISIA'S REVOLT AND IN SEARCH OF A COUNTRY NO LONGER LED BY HOSNI MUBARAK.

>> ( translated ): AS IF WE ARE NOT HUMANS, THEY ARE BEATING US LIKE DOGS. GOD WILL PUNISH THEM.

>> HE'S NOW 282 AND STILL STARING DOWN FROM BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE CAIRO'S VAST ARMY BARRACKS. RUMORS THAT HE WANTS HISSTON REPLACE HIM ARE ONLY ADDING TO THE SENSE OF DESPAIR HERE. TONIGHT, SECURITY FORCES TRIED TO WARD OFF SMALL BANDS OF PROTESTORS CALLING FOR EGYPT'S PRESIDENT TO ABANDON POWER. THIS IS UNCHARTED TERRITORY FOR AN AGING LEADER AND HIS OPPONENTS ARE SHOWING NO SIGNS OF GIVING UP YET.

>> Lehrer: AT THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY, SPOKESMAN ROBERT GIBBS

>> Lehrer: AT THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY, SPOKESMAN ROBERT GIBBS SAID EGYPT IS A STRONG ALLY BUT DECLINED AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR MUBARAK. AND AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARY HILLARY CLINTON URGED CALM.

>> AS WE MONITOR THIS SITUATION CAREFULLY, WE CALL ON ALL PARTIES TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT AND REFRAIN FROM VIOLENCE. WE SUPPORT THE UNIVERSAL RIGHTS OF THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, ASSOCIATION AND ASSEMBLY. AND WE URGE THE EGYPTIAN AUTHORITIES NOT TO PREVENT PEACEFUL PROTESTS OR BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.

>> Lehrer: JUDY WOODRUFF TAKES THE STORY FROM THERE.

>> Woodruff: AND FOR MORE ON ALL OF THIS WE TURN TO TWO MEN WHO KNOW EGYPT WELL. TAREK MASOUD IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY. HE JUST RETURNED FROM A THREE MONTH TRIP TO EGYPT WHERE HE WAS RESEARCHING OPPOSITION POLITICS. HE ALSO WAS A "NEWSHOUR" REPORTER IN THE LATE 1990s. TAREK MASOUD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. FIRST OF ALL, HOW SURPRISING ARE THESE PROTESTS?

>> THESE ARE PRETTY SURPRISING PROTESTS, JUDY, AT LEAST TO ME. I MEAN, THE EGYPTIAN SYSTEM IS PRETTY TOUGH AUTHORITARIAN SYSTEM BUT IT'S ALSO A VERY FLEXIBLE ONE. AND SO FOR THE LAST ALMOST THREE FOUR YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN SMALL PROTESTS BY DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION, DIFFERENT LABOR UNIONS, ETC., BUT NOTHING OF THIS KIND OF BREADTH AND MAGNITUDE THAT CUTS ACROSS DIFFERENT GROUPS, DIFFERENT IDEOLOGICAL TRENDS AND IS JUST A REALLY READY TO CONFRONT VIOLENT APPARATUS OF THE STATE. IT'S JUST... WE JUST HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS ON THE PART OF THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE SINCE ABOUT 1977.

>> Woodruff: SO WAS IT THE PROTEST IN TUNISIA, THE OVERTHROW OF THE GOVERNMENT THERE, THAT SET THIS OFF?

>> I THINK SO. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE PROTESTS IN TUNISIA OR BEN ALI'S DEPARTURE WAS MAYBE THE MATCH THAT SET OFF THIS VERY LARGE COLLECTION OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL. BUT THE GRIEVANCE THAT... IN EGYPT NOW THAT WE'RE SEEING EXPRESSED IN THESE STREET PROTESTS HAS BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND I CAN'T SHAKE THE FEELING NOW OF THINKING THAT THIS WAS A LONG TIME IN COMING. I MEAN, YOU HAVE AN INFLATION RATE THAT'S AROUND 10%, OFFICIAL UNEMPLOYMENT IS 10% BUT PROBABLY THE FIGURE IS DOUBLE THAT. AND FOR YOUTH IT MAY BE EVEN TRIPLE THAT, YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT. THEN WE JUST CAME OFF OF A PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN EGYPT THAT WAS RIGGED TO AN EXTRAORDINARY DEGREE. IT ENDED IN EARLY DECEMBER. THEY'VE HAD PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS EVERY FIVE YEARS FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW, BUT THIS LAST ELECTION WAS UNIQUE IN THE LEVEL OF RIGGING AND ALL OF THE DEPARTURES FROM FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ANGER AND A LOT OF GRIEVANCE AND WHAT'S SURPRISING IS THAT IT'S EXPRESSING ITSELF IN THIS STREET PROTEST. BUT, LIKE I SAID, THE TUNISIA EXAMPLE WAS SURPRISING. I MEAN, THAT'S A COUNTRY THAT EVERY... SORRY.

>> Woodruff: I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PROTESTING AS MIDDLE-CLASS EDUCATED INTERNET SAVVY. DOES THAT RING TRUE TO YOU? SOMEONE WHO'S SPENT TIME IN SGLIPT

>> ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOVEMENTS THAT AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS GROUP IT'S THE APRIL 6 YOUTH MOVEMENT WHICH IS APRIL 6 IS THE DATE OF A WORKER'S STRIKE IN 2008 IN THE NILE DELTA TOWN. BUT THESE YOUTH ARE VERY INTERNET-SAVVY AND THERE'S A HUGE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN EGYPT. SO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THE INTERNET TEND TO BE MORE EDUCATED, MORE MIDDLE-CLASS. AND WE SEE THEM USING THIS TO COORDINATE THEIR ACTIVITIES. SO I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY INTERESTING AND EXTRAORDINARY THING. BUT I ALSO THINK THESE PROTESTS ARE KIND OF CROSS-CLASS. THEY'RE BRINGING IN NOT JUST MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE BUT ALSO PEOPLE FROM EGYPT'S VAST POPULATION OF POOR AND DISENFRANCHISED.

>> Woodruff: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE MUBARAK GOVERNMENT'S... THE WAY IT HANDLE THIS IS AND WHERE DO YOU SEE IT GOING WITH REGARD TO THE GOVERNMENT THERE?

>> SO, THE SURPRISING THING ABOUT THE MUBARAK GOVERNMENT IS THAT IT HASN'T REALLY COME OUT WITH ANY KIND OF STATEMENT. THE PRESIDENT HASN'T COME OUT AND SAID ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON. WE'VE HAD ONE STATEMENT FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTRY AND YOU CAN SEE THIS... THE EGYPTIAN STATE INFORMATION SERVICES BLAMING THESE PROTESTS ON THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD WHICH IS, OF COURSE, ALMOST LAUGHABLE BECAUSE THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD CAME VERY LATE TO THESE PROTESTS. THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH IT. AND OTHER ON SIGTSS ARE CRITICIZING THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD FOR NOT BEING ON BOARD THIS. SO FOR THE REGIME TO SAY THIS IS THE ISLAMISTS IS A WAY OF SCARING MAYBE SECULAR EGYPTIANS AND SCARING WESTERNERS INTO THINKING THAT THIS IS NOT A MOVEMENT THAT WE WANT TO SUPPORT OR THINK IS GOOD. BUT TODAY RIGHT NOW THERE'S A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT WHO'S JUST SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO THE SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON. WHY HASN'T THE GOVERNMENT COME OUT AND SAID ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND I THINK REASON IS THE MUBARAK ADMINISTRATION ISN'T QUITE SURE HOW TO RESPOND. IF YOU RESPOND BY MAKING SOME CONCESSIONS, WELL, NEIGHBOR WILL DOUSE THE FLAMES OF POPULAR ANGER BUT IT COULD ALSO INFLAME THEM MORE. IT COULD CAUSE PEOPLE TO THINK WELL, IF WE CONTINUE PROTESTING, WE'LL GET EVEN MORE CONCESSIONS. SO THEY'RE JUST NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO RESPOND.

>> Woodruff: AND FINALLY, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE UNITED STATES? WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF SECRETARY CLINTON'S COMMENT TODAY?

>> I THOUGHT SECRETARY CLINTON'S COMMENT WAS GREAT, EXCEPT FOR THE PART WHERE SHE URGED BOTH SIDES TO SHOW RESTRAINT. DRAWING THIS KIND OF MORAL EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE PROTESTING FOR DEMOCRACY... THEY'RE NOT PROTESTING FOR ISLAMIC LAW OR ANY OF THE THINGS WE'RE AFRAID NOVEMBER THE MIDDLE EAST, THEY'RE PROTESTING FOR DEMOCRACY AND TO DRAW A MORAL EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN THOSE PEOPLE AND A REGIME THAT'S CRACKING DOWN ON THEM QUITE RUTHLESSLY IS PROBLEMATIC. AND IT JUST REINFORCES THIS NOTION THAT FOLKS HAVE IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT WE'RE NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN DEMOCRACY WE'RE INTERESTED IN STABILITY. I THINK BEST WAY FOR US IN THE UNITED STATES TO KILL THAT PERCEPTION IS FOR US TO COME OUT VERY CLEARLY AND SAY THAT WE SUPPORT THE RIGHT OF THESE PEOPLE TO PROTEST AND WE BELIEVE THAT THEIR CALL FOR DEMOCRACY IS A LEGITIMATE CALL AND WE SUPPORT IT FOR THEM AS WE DO FOR ALL PEOPLE'S AROUND THE WORLD.

>> Woodruff: TAREQ MASOUD AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Ifill: FINALLY TONIGHT, POETRY AMID THE RUBBLE. JEFFREY BROWN HAS THE LAST OF HIS REPORTS FROM HIS RECENT TRIP TO HAITI, ONE YEAR AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE.

>> Reporter: IN CARREFORE, THE SPRAWLING AREA OF ALMOST HALF A MILLION ON THE OUTSKITS OF HAITI'S CAPITAL, PORT-AU-PRINCE, SCENES OF DESTRUCTION FROM LAST YEAR'S EARTHQUAKE ARE EVERYWHERE. BUT ALSO, PERHAPS UNEXPECTEDLY, VOICES RAISED NOT IN ANGER, BUT IN VERSE. EVERY SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, A GROUP OF WRITERS AND READERS HAS GATHERED HERE IN A TINY LIBRARY THEY COME TO WRITE, DISCUSS AND RECITE POETRY IN FRENCH AND CREOLE. THIS WOMAN'S VERSE IMAGINES A PLACE WHERE NOTHING CAN HARM YOU. THIS MAN SPEAKS OF WIPING AWAY HORRORS AND HUNGER WITH A DANCE. THERE IS PAIN IN THIS POETRY: VIOLENCE, AIDS AND NOW CHOLERA, AND YES, THE RAVAGES OF THE QUAKE. BUT THERE'S ALSO JOY: THE PLEASURES OF FRIENDSHIP AND, AS WITH POETRY EVERYWHERE, LOVE. IT'S A REMARKABLE SCENE AND IT CAPTURES HOW ARTISTS HERE NOT ONLY CARRY ON THROUGH SO MANY HARDSHIPS, BUT FIND WAYS TO ADDRESS THEM AND SHOW THE WORLD THAT HAITI IS MORE THAN WHAT'S SEEN IN DAILY HEADLINES.

>> ( translated ): WE'RE CONSCIOUS OF THE IMAGE PEOPLE SAY THAT HAITI PROJECTS. THIS IS WHY WE TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO ASSEMBLE OUR STRENGTHS AND TALENTS. LIKE IT OR NOT LITERATURE IS THE MEANS TO QUESTION OUR EXISTENTIAL PROBLEMS, A WAY FOR US TO MANIFEST OUR PRESENCE AS HUMAN BEINGAND AS ARTISTS.

>> ( translated ): WE'RE JUST A BUNCH OF CRAZY ARTISTS HERE AND WE WANT TO SEE WHAT HAITI CAN BECOME AND WHAT HAITI WILL BECOME.

>> Reporter: THERE HAVE BEEN STRIDES MADE IN LITERACY AND EDUCATION IN HAITI. BUT SO MANY HERE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO GOOD SCHOOLS OR BOOKS. EVEN SO, HAITI HAS A THRIVING AND LONGSTANDING LITERARY TRADITION. EVELLYN TROUILLOT, FROM A FAMILY OF WRITERS AND INTELLECTUALS IS A PROFESSOR, NOVELIST AND POET.

>> YOU CAN SEE IT'S A COUNTRY THAT IS SO FULL OF COMPLEXITIES THAT I HAVE ENOUGH THINGS TO WRITE ABOUT I DON'T HAVE TO LOOK ELSEWHERE.

>> Reporter: HAITI KEEPS YOU BUSY ENOUGH?

>> HAITI KEEPS ME BUSY.

>> Reporter: HAITI IS A PLACE THAT MOST OF US ONLY SEE WHEN THERE'S A DISASTER. NOW, IT'S THE EARTHQUAKE. WHAT DON'T WE SEE? WHAT DON'T WE KNOW ABOUT HAITI?

>> EVEN FOR US HAITIANS, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN TO SOMEBODY, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE WE ARE ONE COUNTRY AND INSIDE THAT COUNTRY WE HAVE A LOT OF REALITIES, SO DIFFERENT, SO OPPOSITE, SO CONTRADICTORY THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IN ONE VISIT OR IN ONE LIFETIME. WE HAVE TO FACE THE REALITY THAT HAITI'S A POOR COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE DON'T EAT WHEN THEY ARE HUNGRY, WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE THE BASICS TO LIVE A DECENT LIFE. BUT HAITI IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT AND EVEN THE PEOPLE IN POVERTY KNOWS THAT HAITI IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

>> Reporter: TROUILLOT, LIKE OTHERS WE TALKED WITH HERE, POINTS TO PAINTING AND MUSIC TO THE CULTURE OF VOUDOU AND ABOVE ALL, TO HISTORY: IN 1804 HAITI BECAME THE FIRST COLONY WHERE AFRICAN SLAVES OVERTHREW THEIR MASTERS-- THE FRENCH-- AND ACHIEVED INDEPENDENCE. BUT IT'S STRUGGLED EVER SINCE AMID VIOLENCE, MISRULE AND OUTSIDE INTERVENTIONS. THAT HISTORY, SHE SAYS, PERMEATES THE CULTURE. WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY NEEDS OUT THERE, SO MANY BASIC NEEDS, WHAT POINT DOES LITERATURE SERVE? WHY WRITE?

>> BECAUSE YOU NEED THE VOICE OF HOPE, YOU NEED A VOICE OF REVOLT, AND RESISTANCE, AND I THINK FOR ME LITERATURE CAN DO THAT, POETRY CAN DO THAT AND WHEN YOU ARE IN A SITUATION THAT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT I THINK HUMAN BEINGS NEED THAT, NEED THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURE, THE BEAUTY OF CREATION TO MAKE THEM TO THROUGH IT AND TO CARRY THEM FURTHER.

>> Reporter: ON A LOT ACROSS THE STREET FROM HER HOUSE, TROUILLOT AND HER FAMILY ARE USING DONATIONS AND THEIR OWN MONEY TO BUILD A NEW CULTURAL CENTER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WILL OFFER COMPUTERS WITH INTERNET ACCESS, READINGS AND CONCERTS AND, MOST BASIC OF ALL, BOOKS. RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER THERE ARE TENTS, SHACKS, THOSE KIDS DON'T HAVE BOOKS, RIGHT?

>> THEY DON'T HAVE BOOKS. THAT'S A LUXURY. AND WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST TOUCH THE BOOKS. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO DEVELOP THIS LOVE OF BOOKS AND READING EARLY. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

>> Reporter: PERHAPS HAITI'S MOST CELEBRATED WRITER IS FRANKETIENNE.

>> I AM ESSENTIALLY A POET.

>> Reporter: ESSENTIALLY A POET.

>> ESSENTIALLY A POET; A POET WHO IS WRITING NOVELS, A POET WHO IS PAINTING, A POET WHO IS SINGING.

>> Reporter: LAST YEAR'S EARTHQUAKE BROUGHT DOWN MANY WALLS IN HIS HOME. SUPPORT COLUMNS AND REMAINING SURFACES ARE NOW COVERED WITH HIS ARTWORK. AS A PAINTER, FRANKETIENNE, IS KNOWN FOR HIS COLORFUL ABSTRACT WORKS, OFTEN PORTRAYING APOCALYPTIC SCENES.

>> ALL MY WORKS, MY ARTISTIC WORKS, MY LITERARY WORKS, ANNOUNCE THE ATMOSPHERE OF AN APOCALYPSE.

>> Reporter: SO YOU THINK THIS IS A PREMONITION OF THE EARTHQUAKE?

>> A PREMONITION, YES A PREMONITION.

>> Reporter: HE BELIEVES HIS MOST RECENT PLAY, WRITTEN TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE QUAKE, WAS ALSO A FOREWARNING. "LE PIEGE" OR "THE TRAP" TAKES PLACE AFTER A MAJOR DISASTER AS SURVIVORS CROUCH IN THE RUBBLE. A PRODUCTION WAS RECENTLY STAGED IN PARIS BY UNESCO-- THE CULTURAL ARM OF THE UNITED NATIONS-- WHICH ALSO NAMED FRANKETIENNE ONE OF ITS ARTISTS FOR PEACE. HE FIRST MADE HIS NAME WRITING DURING THE HORRORS OF THE DUVALIER DICTATORSHIP AND TOLD US HE FEELS A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE A VOICE FOR HAITI'S VOICELESS PEOPLE.

>> NOW AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE, I THINK THAT MY COUNTRY IS IN THE FIELD OF DEATH, AFTER EARTHQUAKE, AFTER CHOLERA, NASTY ELECTION, MY COUNTRY IS DYING.

>> Reporter: YOUR COUNTRY IS DYING. AND YET THERE ARE ARTISTS AND WRITERS AND CULTURE.

>> THE LITERATURE, THE WORDS, CANNOT SAVE THE WORLD.

>> Reporter: STILL, FRANKETIENNE TOLD US, CREATIVITY IS THE TRUE WEALTH OF HAITI. TODAY, THAT WEALTH IS FOUND IN THE WORK OF WRITERS AND ARTISTS SCATTERED IN OTHER COUNTRIES-- MEMBERS OF HAITI'S DIASPORA-- AS WELL AS THOSE WHO HAVE STAYED HERE, LIKE THE YOUNG POETS IN CARREFORE. WHO TOLD US THAT FOR BETTER AND OFTEN FOR WORSE, HAITI OFFERS THE WRITER ALL THE MATERIAL HE NEEDS. ON OUR VISIT, THE POETRY READING ENDED WITH A SONG IN CREOLE WITH THE REFRAIN: "ONE STAR ABOVE THE HEAD OF EVERY CHILD WILL LIGHT THEIR DREAMS." ♪

>> Lehrer: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY: PRESIDENT OBAMA TALKED UP HIS STATE OF THE UNION THEME OF "WINNING THE FUTURE" IN TRIP TO WISCONSIN. POLICE IN EGYPT BATTLED THOUSANDS OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS FOR A SECOND DAY IN CAIRO AND OTHER CITIES. AND ARIZONA CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS WAS TRANSFERRED FROM A HOUSTON HOSPITAL TO A NEARBY REHABILITATION FACILITY. AND TO HARI SREENIVASAN, FOR WHAT'S ON THE "NEWSHOUR" ONLINE. HARI?

>> Sreenivasan: THERE'S MORE FROM THE POETS AND ARTIST IN HAITI ON "ART BEAT." OUR STATE OF THE UNION COVERAGE CONTINUES, WE'RE TRANSLATING THE ADDRESS INTO AT LEAST SEVEN OTHER LANGUAGES, AND YOU CAN HELP THROUGH A NEW CROWD SOURCING TOOL ALSO READ JUDY'S BLOG POST ON THE DEBATE AHEAD OVER GOVERNMENT SPENDING. PLUS OUR SCIENCE UNIT ASKS: WHAT ARE THE SUBATOMIC PARTICLES KNOWN AS NEUTRINOS AND WHY DO THEY MATTER? THAT'S ON "THE RUNDOWN" BLOG. ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEB SITE: newshour.pbs.org. GWEN?

>> Ifill: AND THAT'S THE "NEWSHOUR" FOR TONIGHT. ON THURSDAY, WE'LL HAVE A NEWSMAKER INTERVIEW WITH VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN. I'M GWEN IFILL.

>> Lehrer: AND I'M JIM LEHRER. WE'LL SEE YOU ON-LINE AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

>> I MEAN, WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT SMALL BUSINESSES?

>> WE NEED SMALL BUSINESSES.

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