Jesse Contario, 2/17/12

Senior analyst, Momentum Analysis

Republicans like to say their current primary fight is "just like" the 2008 primary between Obama and Clinton -- but it's just wishful thinking.

Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, 2/18/12

Senior Religion Editor for the Huffington Post

Mr. Santorum should be careful in his efforts to score political points using biblical mandates on the same week that he shows such callousness towards the lives of the poor.

Tico Almeida, 2/19/12

Founder and president, Freedom to Work

At Freedom to Work we're pushing hard for President Obama to sign the ENDA executive order, along with HRC and many other organizations. So I was disappointed when I read the comments former HRC head Elizabeth Birch made to reporter Chris Geidner from Metro Weekly.

Marian Wright Edelman, 2/17/12

President, Children's Defense Fund

At one time, the Nations owned a home. But like so many other American families, their standard of living has declined over the past decade even though they are a two-parent working family.

Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg, 2/19/12

Blogger

The private prison industry has devoted time and money to ensuring that crime legislation benefits their financial interests. They have donated millions to political candidates and parties, as well as helped pass more punitive sentencing laws.

Jonathan D. Moreno, 2/19/12

Professor, University of Pennsylvania; Senior Fellow, CAP; Author, 'The Body Politic: The Battle Over Science in America'

When people think of a cultural conservative like me, especially one who's Roman Catholic, they tend to think about abortion, but that's only part of the story.

Mary Keck, 2/19/12

Professor of English and Gender Studies, University of Southern Indiana

If the allegations that he leaked information to Wikileaks are true, he fulfilled his oath to protect and serve the citizens of the United States. His actions should be celebrated just as we would the deeds of any courageous service member.

David Leopold, 2/19/12

Past president, American Immigration Lawyers Association

Lin might not be playing for the Knicks, or for any other team in the NBA, if the anti-immigrant restrictionists had their way.

Josh Silver, 2/17/12

CEO, United Republic

If our current campaign finance system isn't corrupt, what is? A handful of billionaires can decide who the next president will be. If our Supreme Court doesn't find that corrupt, then they are using a very different dictionary than the rest of America.

Aaron Belkin, 2/18/12

Author of How We Won: Progressive Lessons from the Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Sure, another pipeline here and offshore rig there will enable us to ignore our addiction for a few more years, but if the Republicans really want to avoid returning to Bush-era gas prices over the long term, they need to support policies that address demand, not just supply.

Chris Kelly, 2/18/12

Writer, 'Real Time with Bill Maher'

Maybe you're haunted by your brushes with birth control, maybe you're not. But we must have done something wrong -- as people, as a generation, as a nation -- to have to go through this hell again. Endlessly.

Robert Reich, 2/17/12

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

Suddenly, manufacturing is back -- at least on the election trail. But don't be fooled. The real issue isn't how to get manufacturing back. It's how to get good jobs and good wages back. They aren't at all the same thing.

Ben Freeman, 2/17/12

National Security Investigator, Project On Government Oversight

Since President Obama released his FY2013 budget request on Monday, proponents of Pentagon waste and inefficiency have been working overtime.

Rev. Susan Russell, 2/17/12

Episcopal priest and activist from Pasadena, Calif.

By vetoing the marriage equality bill passed by the state legislature, the Governor of New Jersey chose to stand for bigotry rather than equality. New Jersey deserves better. America deserves better. And Governor Christie should know better.

Chris Weigant, 2/17/12

Political writer and blogger at ChrisWeigant.com

The line between certain types of comedy and the political/media world should be brighter than ever. This is a lesson Dana Milbank of the Washington Post apparently has yet to learn.

Jim David, 2/17/12

Comedian and writer

I'm marrying the love of my life, and unlike New Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, Ronald Reagan, and Bob Barr, the author of the Defense of Marriage Act, when I say "I do," I'll mean it. If we're talking family values, I'm ahead.

Martha Rosenberg, 2/17/12

Health reporter, 'Consumers Digest' contributor

It was not a great surprise that the FDA's new cephalosporin livestock rules have the Agribusiness Seal of Approval. It was Big Pharma and Agribusiness lobbying that killed its stronger cephalosporin rules issued four years after.