NBC's Domenico Montanaro previews the week ahead in politics, including President Obama's trip to Europe for the G-8 conference, the final debate in the Massachusetts Senate race, and the kickoff of Netroots Nation, a gathering of liberal activists.

Analysis.

Republicans considering running for president over the past six years have been delivering red meat to the base at conservative confabs.

But Jeb Bush Friday did not fit the mold. 

The former Florida governor, mulling a 2016 bid, followed the retiring firebrand Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) at the Faith and Freedom Coalition. But while Bachmann and the other speakers here, including Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) -- the 2012 vice-presidential nominee -- treaded familiar turf by railing against government and President Barack Obama, Bush didn’t go there. 

“I won’t be pointing out the failures of the Obama administration,” Bush said to silence here. “They’re clear for those that want to see them.” 

Instead, Bush laid out a detailed, four-point plan to grow the economy that included American energy, immigration reform, education, and family.

“I’d rather talk about how conservatives can govern again,” Bush said, “to begin to solve our pressing problems.”

A comment Bush made about immigrants’ higher rates of “fertility” drew much of the attention and distracted the cognoscenti in Washington. 

"Immigrants create far more businesses than native-born Americans,” Bush said. “Immigrants are more fertile, and they love families, and they have more intact families, and they bring a younger population. Immigrants create an engine of economic prosperity."

Bush was awkwardly trying to point out that heavily Catholic, recent Hispanic immigrants have more children, in the way that Italian and Irish immigrants once did. Of course, that’s changing among younger Hispanics, as it did for the Italians and Irish. as the generations grew up in America and fully assimilated. 

But that was a small moment in what was a speech that stood out for its tone and seriousness. It was a stark contrast to what has been seen at many of these conferences, as a host of Republicans have jockeyed for the limelight and the Republican nominations for 2008 and 2012.

In addition to the usual Republican points of entitlement reform, regulatory reform, and tax-code reform, Bush called for four points he said could increase growth in the U.S. to 3.5 to 4 percent per year over the next decade:

1.Encourage North American energy production, notably natural gas, approving the Keystone XL pipeline, rational fracking regulations, opening lands up for drilling, helping Mexico modernize its oil sector.

2.Approve comprehensive-immigration reform because immigrants are entrepreneurial (and “are more fertile,” and those more children can help fix the imbalance in entitlement support). This would include a legal pathway that include fines and penalties, H1 visas, and a guest-worker program.

3.Reform education by raising standards, grading schools based on student achievement, like in Florida, eliminate social promotion in third grade, focus on early literacy, expand school choice/vouchers. 

4.Family: “No amount of growth nor transformed education system will be sustainable if strong family faith isn’t the backbone of any American renewal,” Bush said. But he didn’t toe the conservative line on “traditional” families. “We have to be supportive of the single mom” and the “grandmother,” as well as other non-traditional families, Bush said (though he derided the Democrats’ attempts to fix these issues through policy.) 

Bush’s prescription certainly will not win over everyone, and plenty will disagree that his plan will improve the economy in the way that he touts. But it was clearly a different tone and a civil speech on serious issues.

Ironically, in addition to his famous last name, that moderate tone (and moderate policy on immigration) may be one of Bush’s biggest hurdle to a Republican nomination. 

The crowd here greeted him politely and seemed impressed by his thoughtfulness. But following him was Ryan.

“The left likes to think we’re the fringe,” Ryan said. “Guess what, you, me, us, we’re the mainstream.”

When Ryan was finished, he got a standing ovation.

What’s the endgame for Syria?... And what happens next week at the G-8 summit in Northern Ireland… NBC/WSJ poll on a war-weary public… A tale of two different conferences today: Jeb Bush and Paul Ryan speak at Faith and Freedom in DC, while Chris Christie speaks at the Clinton Global Initiative… Bill Clinton grabbing headlines and Hillary Clinton defining TBD… And House GOP to hold immigration meeting on July 10.

*** What’s the endgame for Syria? After months of internal deliberations, the Obama White House yesterday announced its first significant effort at trying to intervene in the Syrian civil war. The decision comes after the White House confirmed the Assad regime has been using chemical weapons, and it comes amid growing public pressure on the White House to do more -- from John McCain on the right to Bill Clinton on the left. But here’s our question: What is the administration’s ultimate policy toward Syria? And what’s the endgame? While this issue isn’t a domestic political problem for Team Obama, it has become an international one where its international credibility is on the line. It was striking to see the administration announce this change in policy on a conference call while the president was attending an LGBT event at the White House. Of course, with the G-8 summit in Northern Island coming up next week, it’s very likely that President Obama uses it to announce some form of an international coalition to support the opposition.

Stringer / REUTERS

Members of the Free Syrian Army run to avoid a sniper in Deir al-Zor, June 13, 2013.

*** And what happens next week in Northern Island? But the G-8 isn’t united against Assad. The old G-7 might be, but country No.8 -- Russia -- is in a different place. The end game the president HOPES is a reality is that the ramped up international effort to support the opposition in Syria convinces Russia to back off its support of Assad. But with Assad’s forces winning, can a negotiated settlement be reached? What’s the incentive? Maybe the best criticism of the president on this issue came from someone on the left, actually: former Carter NSA Zbigniew Brzezinski, who noted the lack of U.S. leadership globally in trying to force China and Russia to see this issue through the prism of the Western powers and key Arab allies. 

*** A war-weary public: The White House’s change in Syria policy comes as the American public is EXTREMELY hesitant to intervene directly in Syria's civil war. According to our NBC/WSJ poll released last week, just 15 percent of respondents said they favor U.S. military action when asked to pick a response to stop the killing in Syria, and only 11 percent wanted to provide arms to the opposition. Folks, that’s just one-in-four Americans who support the policy the White House announced yesterday. By comparison, a plurality of respondents -- 42 percent -- preferred to provide only humanitarian assistance, and 24 percent believe the U.S. shouldn't take any action. Perhaps more significantly, those attitudes cut across party lines and almost all demographic groups. "Whether you voted for Romney or Obama, they have the same opinion on Syria," said Republican pollster Bill McInturff, who conducted the survey with the Democratic firm Hart Research.

*** A tale of two conferences: Another round of potential 2016 Republican hopefuls today addresses the Ralph Reed-founded Faith and Freedom Coalition gathering in DC, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI). Among yesterday’s Faith and Freedom speakers were Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rand Paul (R-KY), as well as Rick Santorum. But more than 700 miles away, in Chicago, Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is speaking to a different audience -- the Clinton Global Initiative. At 5:00 pm ET, Christie shares the stage with former President Bill Clinton at a session entitled “Cooperation and Collaboration: A Conversation on Leadership.” Of course, don’t forget that Christie’s participation at the Clinton Global Initiative comes just after his recent appearance with President Obama on the Jersey Shore. Yet don’t miss Ralph Reed’s very conciliatory remarks about Christie, which were VERY different than he got from the CPAC folks who didn’t invite the New Jersey governor to their confab earlier this year. “We’re sorry he didn’t come, but Chris Christie is pro-life,” Reed said. “We’re hoping he’ll be here a year from now.”

*** Christie trailing the pack among Republicans and conservatives: But we’ll remind you of these numbers: While Christie has plenty of crossover appeal per our most recent NBC/WSJ poll, he trails other Republican 2016ers in fav/unfav scores among GOP and conservative respondents. He’s got a lot of work to do if he’s going to win the support of the voters you need these days to secure the ’16 GOP nod. No one has higher negative ratings among Republicans and core conservatives than Chris Christie. From our poll going back to December:

Among Republicans:
Paul Ryan (62%-13%)
Rand Paul (53%-6%)
Marco Rubio (49%-6%)
Jeb Bush (48%-7%)
Chris Christie: (40%-16%)
Scott Walker (21%-5%)
Ted Cruz (21%-6%)

Among conservative respondents:
Paul Ryan (58%-11%)
Rand Paul (47%-5%)
Marco Rubio (45%-6%)
Jeb Bush (44%-7%)
Chris Christie (33%-15%)
Ted Cruz (21%-6%)
Scott Walker (19%-5%).

*** Bill grabbing headlines and Hillary defining TBD: Yesterday, we wrote that Hillary Clinton -- over the past four years -- has emerged with her own brand that’s distinct and separate from her husband’s. But we certainly got a reminder how Bill Clinton can still grab headlines (on Syria), even on a day that was supposed to be about Hillary’s debut with the Clinton Global Initiative. That must have given former Hillary campaign staffers a negative flashback back to ’08, when they would constantly get frustrated at how the Big Dog could throw them off…. As for Hillary’s speech yesterday, she is starting to define “TBD.” She laid out the issues she wants to focus on (early childhood development, opportunities for women, economic mobility) And now she’s launching “Too Small to Fail,” which is her early childhood initiative.

*** House GOP to hold immigration meeting on July 10: Lastly, NBC’s Frank Thorp reported yesterday that House Republicans will hold a “special GOP conference meeting” on July 10 to discuss immigration reform. Folks, if you wanted a sign that the Gang of Eight bill is probably going to pass the Senate and that it’s likely headed to the floor of the House for a vote, it’s this House GOP meeting. The meeting is also a sign that House Speaker John Boehner is trying to telegraph to his members that they need to come up with a solution to whatever the Senate ultimately passes. Bottom line: Boehner is laying the groundwork to show membership there is no House consensus, so they might be stuck with the Senate solution.  

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*** Friday’s “The Daily Rundown” line-up: The latest on Syria, NSA, and the Iranian election with our First Reads… Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) joins to discuss immigration, the budget, and Syria… A Deep Dive on climate change with former Gov. and EPA Administrator Christie Whitman… Plus The Associated Press’ Liz Sidoti, MSNBC Political Analyst and former RNC Chair Michael Steele, and Democratic pollster Margie Omero.

*** Friday’s “Jansing & Co.” line-up: Guests include Ayman Mohyeldin/NBC News – Anne Gearan/The Washington Post and Perry Bacon/TheGrio on White House decision to arm Syrian rebels, Rep. James Clyburn/(D) Assistant House Democratic Leader on the Syria Situation – Immigration Bill progress and Gun Control, Stephanie Schriock/Emily’s List on Hillary Clinton’s speech on her new role moving forward as well as whether Republicans need to elect more women to office in the wake of Rep. Franks comments about rape and pregnancy,  Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel on Arizona and other states signing on to Obamacare and Chris Kofinis and Susan Del Percio on Chris Christie vs. the rest of the potential field for 2016

*** Friday’s “MSNBC Live with Thomas Roberts” line-up: MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts interviews NBC’s Ayman Mohyeldin, Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), and Gen. Barry McCaffrey on possible military intervention in Syria…  Daughter of murdered Sandy Hook Principal Dawn Hochsprung joins to discuss the renewed push on gun control...  GetEqual Co-Director Heather Cronk will talk about her group’s protests against First Lady Michelle Obama and House Speaker John Boehner  over LGBT rights.  And Today’s Agenda Panel includes:  MaddowBlog writer Steve Benen, Jack and Jill Politics Co-Founder Cheryl Contee and Slate Political Reporter David Weigel.

*** Friday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” line-up: NBC’s Kristen Welker, filling in for Andrea Mitchell, interviews former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Theodore Kattouf, NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Ali Arouzi and Ian Williams, the Washington Post's Ruth Marcus, National Journal's Chris Frates, The New York Times' Mark Mazzetti, The Guardian's Ed Pilkington, and Carlee Soto, sister of Newtown victim Victoria Soto.

*** Friday’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall” line-up: MSNBC’s Tamron Hall interviews former State Department spokesman PJ Crowley, former State Dept official Joel Rubin, Politico’s Anna Palmer, and Former Florida state prosecutor Kendall Coffey.

*** Saturday’s and Sunday’s “Weekends with Alex Witt” line-up: As part of her weekly “Office Politics” series, MSNBC’s Alex Witt interviews The New Yorker’s George Packer.

Ahead of next week’s G-8 summit, “The Obama administration announced Thursday that it has determined that the Syrian government has deployed chemical weapons against opposition groups, crossing what President Obama had called a "red line" and prompting him to provide direct military aid to the Syrian opposition groups for the first time,” USA Today writes. “White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said that the president has decided to step up "military support" to the main opposition group, the Supreme Military Council, to bolster its effectiveness, but declined to ‘inventory’ what equipment would be provided. But a government official knowledgeable about the plans confirmed to USA Today that the new assistance would include arming the rebels. The official was not authorized to speak and did so on condition of anonymity.”

“A year after President Barack Obama made an emphatic pitch to Europe’s economic powers to focus more on economic growth than austerity, much of the eurozone remains mired in or near recession. Obama’s appeals have had mixed results in softening the demands on some of the most debt-ridden European nations to cut their spending,” the AP writes. “Still, the region’s crisis is no longer perceived as an urgent threat to the global economy, and while the U.S. still wants Europe to temper the debt trimming and increase global demand, Obama is not expected to be as insistent with other leaders of the Group of Eight industrial nations when they meet in Northern Ireland next week.”

Noting good economic data, Charlie Cook notes that President Obama isn’t benefiting much from it: “The good news for President Obama and his administration is that all the controversies swirling around the White House have not had a significant impact on his job-approval ratings. The bad news is that, like so many other second-term administrations, Obama’s may end up spending so much of its last four years fighting fires and fending off congressional inquiries that it gets little else done. … if the administration is bogged down in controversy, voters won’t be handing the president or anyone else any laurels for the economic recovery. That’s what Obama, his administration, and congressional Democrats facing voters next year ought to worry about.”

“President Obama spends Friday looking forward to Father's Day and honoring the champions of women's pro basketball,” USA Today writes, adding, “The president ‘will be joined by fathers and their children as well as students and leaders from the Becoming a Man (BAM) program at Hyde Park Academy in Chicago,’ the White House added.”

Here’s Obama’s famous 2008 Father’s Day speech.

“The White House says President Barack Obama is taking advantage of new advances in the wireless industry to help create jobs,” AP writes. “Obama is expected to announce Friday that he’s directing federal agencies to be more efficient in their use of radio spectrum and to make more capacity available to satisfy the growing demand for broadband Internet.”

Iran’s presidential election takes place today. If no one gets a majority, there’s a runoff next week. AP: “As polls opened early Friday, arguments over whether to boycott the ballot still boiled over at coffee shops, kitchen tables and on social media among many liberal-leaning Iranians. The choice — once easy for many who turned their back in anger after years of crackdowns — has been suddenly complicated by an unexpected chance to perhaps wage a bit of payback against Iran's rulers. The rising fortunes of the lone relative moderate left in the race, former nuclear negotiator Hasan Rowhani, has brought something of a zig-or-zag dilemma for many Iranians who faced down security forces four years ago: Stay away from the polls in a silent protest or jump back into the mix in a system they claim has been disgraced by vote rigging.”

Hillary Clinton launched “Too Small to Fail,” an initiative focused on helping children 0-5. Here’s the kickoff video. Here’s the site.

Beth Reinhard: “Rand Paul and Marco Rubio may go head-to-head in a fierce competition for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. But a funny thing is happening on the way to the White House: The would-be rivals have found themselves in a light bromance, each needing to bask in the other's glow for their own political purposes. Rubio needs Paul's help -- and political cover on the right -- to get an immigration bill passed. Paul needs Rubio's help -- particularly with the Hispanic community -- to soften his image in the center.”

Here’s our take on yesterday’s speeches at the Faith and Freedom Coalition event in DC: “Four Republican senators – including two who might run for president in 2016 – addressed a gathering of social conservatives on Thursday, touting their pet issues and outlining their goals and accomplishments. But they also urged the activists in attendance not to give up the fight, despite many inside the party calling for change on how the party talks about its values.”

“The four who spoke to the Faith and Freedom conference in Washington, D.C., were all elected in 2010 and fueled by the Tea Party: Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Ron Johnson, R-Wis.”

Rick Santorum also addressed the conservative conference yesterday. “Rick Santorum ripped Mitt Romney’s campaign Thursday for mishandling President Barack Obama’s ‘you didn’t build that’ gaffe last summer,” Politico writes. “The former Pennsylvania senator recalled all the business owners who spoke at the Republican National Convention. ‘One after another, they talked about the business they had built. But not a single—not a single —factory worker went out there,’ Santorum told a few hundred conservative activists at an ‘after-hours session’ of the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington. ‘Not a single janitor, waitress or person who worked in that company! We didn’t care about them. You know what? They built that company too! And we should have had them on that stage.’”

MASSACHUSETTS: Vice President Biden’s going to Massachusetts next week to campaign for Ed Markey.

Four Republican senators – including two who might run for president in 2016 – addressed a gathering of social conservatives on Thursday, touting their pet issues and outlining their goals and accomplishments. But they also urged the activists in attendance not to give up the fight, despite many inside the party calling for change on how the party talks about its values.

The four who spoke to the Faith and Freedom conference in Washington, D.C., were all elected in 2010 and fueled by the Tea Party: Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Ron Johnson, R-Wis.

Rubio used the forum to make a moral argument in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. He stressed that "compassion" is at the heart of the debate, whether you support or oppose the legislation that the U.S. Senate is currently considering.

“We know every single human life has value,” he said. “Every single human life matters” and “deserves protection of our laws and values.”

That’s part of the argument he has made for reform for the past year. “Our faith has always been about compassion and it compels you to do something,” Rubio told CBN as recently as two days ago.

In his speech Thursday, Rubio -- who identifies as Catholic, grew up Catholic, was Mormon for a brief stretch in his childhood, and in his adult life also attends a Baptist church -- noted that his faith “heavily influences” him.

Rubio cited Jesus and the Bible when it comes to American exceptionalism and the need for an active world presence by the United States.

“There is nothing to replace us. I promise you, it’s not the United Nations,” he said. “If America’s light is extinguished, there is no other light.”

Striking a somewhat opposite tone was Rand Paul, who invoked religion to argue against foreign aid to certain countries and against pre-emptive war.

“Jesus preached non-resistance,” Paul said, adding that he “simply can’t imagine” Jesus as the head of an army of soldiers.

He also seemed to call into question the Iraq war. “Saddam Hussein was bad,” Paul said, “but his government was secular and a safe place for Christians.”

Paul also preached against foreign aid, especially in countries where Christians are persecuted and that have a disdain for Israel. He pledged no money, in particular, for Pakistan and Egypt, and argued against intervention in Syria.

“There’s a war on Christianity not just by the liberal elites here at home but worldwide,” Paul said. “These countries are not our true allies, and no amount of money is going to make them so. … I say not one more penny to countries that are burning the American flag."

Sen. Mike Lee said conservatives needed to talk more about what they’re for rather than against, and he emphasized the importance of community and the family.

“Conservatism has never been a vision of isolated loners,” he said.

“Some say we have to change with the changing times,” Lee added. “Change the way we say things and talk about families. … I think they make a great point. Times have changed, we do need to broaden our appeal. But ultimately the critics have it exactly backwards. … It’s not that we’ve focused too much on the family, but far too little. The rapid changes we’ve seen have only made the family more important, not less.”

On poor students in failing schools, single moms working two jobs and on the elderly and disabled, he said, “Our party has ignored them.” But he called solutions to poverty and upward mobility proposed by Democrats “seductive,” but “flawed.”

Johnson -- who stressed his opposition to “Obamacare” and blamed liberals and the culture wars of the 1960s for the failings of American society today -- drove home an anti-government message.

"Why does a majority continue to elect people who want to grow this place?” Johnson said in reference to President Obama’s election and subsequent re-election as well as Democratic control of the Senate. “I have no idea. It baffles me."

He added, “When I hear politicians [who say they] want to create a sense of trust in government--,” his reaction is, “No, no, no, no, no. That's is the wrong solution.”

"We need to engender that healthy distrust -- that healthy distrust that our founders found in government."

Edited by NBC's Natalie Cucchiara.

Hillary fully steps out of Bill Clinton’s shadow… But a reminder how Bill can immediately grab headlines: Politico reports on how he disagrees with Obama on Syria… Social conservatives gather in DC… Why Republicans are struggling when talking about abortion -- they don’t have good answers explaining why they oppose exceptions to rape/incest/health of mother… Snowden charges that the U.S. hacks into China’s computers… And a conservative group comes to Gomez’s aid in MA SEN.

*** Hillary fully steps out of Bill Clinton’s shadow: Today beginning at 10:00 am ET, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton share the stage together at the Clinton Global Initiative gathering in Chicago -- a town that used to be associated with Hillary but that is now more associated with the current occupant of the White House. (Think of today as the debut of Hillary’s courtship of Obama’s Chicago.) And if you’ve followed Hillary’s career since she became a national figure in 1992, something pretty remarkable has happened over the past four years: She now, more than ever before, has a political brand and identity that’s separate from her husband’s. And that’s a pretty powerful development when thinking about 2016, because it means she’s not as associated with any potential baggage (Lewinsky, Marc Rich, etc.) as she was when she ran for president in 2008. “In '08, she was coming out of Bill’s shadow,” said one Democratic strategist who worked on her presidential campaign. “Now there is no shadow in the world big enough to cover her.” The reasons for this separate and distinct brand come from her holding one of the biggest jobs in the world as secretary of state; from her stepping away from domestic politics; and from her quick embrace of -- and loyal work for -- President Obama since losing the Democratic nominating fight. “People have gotten to see her in a different way,” the Democratic strategist adds. During the 2008 campaign, Bill Clinton at times was Hillary’s greatest asset and liability all rolled up into one. Come 2016, the Big Dog’s shadow won’t see so large. And yet…

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

Former first lady and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks with her husband former president Bill Clinton as they attend the opening ceremony of the George W. Bush Presidential Center April 25, 2013 in Dallas, Texas.

*** Bill Clinton disagrees with Obama on Syria: Bill Clinton can still immediately grab headlines and stir up controversy -- for anyone. Just look at this latest piece from Politico: “Bill Clinton told Sen. John McCain [at a closed-press event yesterday] he agrees that President Barack Obama should act more forcefully to support anti-Assad rebels in Syria, saying the American public elects presidents and members of Congress ‘to see down the road” and ‘to win.’” More from the piece: “The former president also said commanders-in-chief should be mindful of looking like ‘a total fool’ by over-interpreting public opinion polls about whether the United States should get involved in crises overseas.” Set aside the personal annoyance some in the White House might have with Clinton siding with one of Obama’s former adversaries, it’s worth noting how Bill Clinton’s and Barack Obama’s own experiences are actually dictating their positions on Syria. For Clinton, he regrets not intervening in Rwanda and had success in Bosnia; for Obama, he’s learned from the lessons of Iraq and Libya that intervening can be messy -- especially when there doesn’t seem to an end game. By the way, our most recent NBC/WSJ poll showed that the American public is VERY skeptical about intervening in Syria. Just 15% say they favor U.S. military action; 11% want to provide arms to the opposition; 42% prefer to provide only humanitarian assistance; and 24% believe the U.S. shouldn't take any action. Foreign Policy's Gayle Tzemach Lemmon takes a look at the White House's current deliberations on Syria and comes to the conclusion that while there is a divide among some in the administration on this  issue, it’s Obama, personally, driving the policy.

*** Social conservatives gather in DC: The Clinton Global Initiative conference in Chicago -- where New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks on Friday -- isn’t the only place where potential 2016ers will be speaking over the next couple of days. The Faith & Freedom Coalition, the Ralph Reed-founded group of social conservatives, is holding its “Road to Majority” conference in DC. Speaking today -- beginning at noon ET -- are Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rand Paul (R-KY), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Mike Lee (R-UT). On Friday, featured speakers include former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), and Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC). And on Saturday, the featured speakers are Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former presidential candidate Herman Cain, Virginia Lt. Gov. nominee E.W. Jackson, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Just sayin’, but if you needed a starker example of how Chris Christie is, well, a different kind of Republican these days, just look at where he’s NOT going: to Washington for the Faith & Freedom event.

*** Why Republicans are struggling when talking about abortion: Speaking of social conservatives… .Democrats are jumping all over Rep. Trent Franks’ (R-AZ) comment on Capitol Hill that the incidences of pregnancy as a result of rape “are very low.” A new DNC memo says Franks’ words are “echoing similar comments made last year by Missouri Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin.” And the Democratic Super PAC American Bridge has re-launched its “It’s Not Just Akin” website. But it’s important to note that what Franks said is a bit DIFFERENT than Akin. As New York Magazine’s Jonathan Chait writes, “Franks didn't say the ‘rate’ of pregnancy from rape is low. He said the ‘incidence’ is low. He didn't say it's hard to get pregnant when you're raped. He said rape-induced pregnancy doesn't happen very often.” Yet the bigger political story here is that Republicans have a SERIOUS problem when talking about why they oppose exceptions to anti-abortion laws -- on the basis of rape, incest, or the health of the mother. Not too long ago, Republicans seemed to have mastered talking about abortion, keeping Democrats on the defensive on this issue. But many of them no longer have a good answer why they oppose the rape/incest/health exceptions. Of course, part of the reason is that being in favor of exceptions is no longer acceptable to many mainstream anti-abortion groups. So as GOP’s mainstream position on abortion has changed, that has caused the GOP’s current linguistic struggles on abortion.

*** Snowden charges that U.S. hacks into China’s computers: Here’s the latest development regarding NSA leaker Edward Snowden: He told the South China Morning Post that he plans to stay in Hong Kong and fight any extradition back to the United States. But he also said something else. “Snowden said that according to unverified documents seen by the Post, the NSA had been hacking computers in Hong Kong and on the mainland since 2009. None of the documents revealed any information about Chinese military systems, he said. One of the targets in the SAR, according to Snowden, was Chinese University and public officials, businesses and students in the city. The documents also point to hacking activity by the NSA against mainland targets. ‘We hack network backbones – like huge internet routers, basically – that give us access to the communications of hundreds of thousands of computers without having to hack every single one,’ he said.” Snowden appears to be doing himself -- or his supporters -- no favors when it SEEMS like he’s cozying up to China in this interview.

*** Conservative group comes to Gomez’s aid: Lastly, the first GOP outside group is now getting involved in Massachusetts’ Senate race. “A new conservative outside group is launching a big ad buy in Massachusetts on behalf of Republican Gabriel Gomez’s special election campaign,” the Washington Post says. “The group, called Americans for Progressive Action, is spending about $700,000 on ads over the next week, according to a person familiar with the buy.” Figure that -- a conservative outside group with the name “Progressive.” Interesting…

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This story was originally published on Thu Jun 13, 2013 9:04 AM EDT

*** Thursday’s “The Daily Rundown” line-up: Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) joins to discuss the latest surrounding the NSA leaks and the role of private contractors, sexual assault in the military, and the Montana Senate race… A Deep Dive with The Cook Political Report’s David Wasserman into voting patterns and the GOP’s built in advantage… Plus The Washington Post’s Anne Kornblut, The Wise Latina Club’s Viviana Hurtado and Politico’s David Chalian join the Gaggle.

*** Thursday’s “Jansing & Co.” line-up: Guests include Sen. Richard Blumenthal/(D) Connecticut on news conference today on gun control with families of Sandy Hook victims as well as the latest on the NSA controversy, Karen Tumulty and Ron Fournier on Rep. Trent Franks controversial statement about rape and abortion, Tommy Muska/Mayor of West, Texas on FEMA decision to deny funds to the town in wake of the plant explosion there, Angela Rye and Danny Vargas on GOP and the War on Women and David Mixner on President Obama’s event this evening with the LGBT community.

*** Thursday’s “MSNBC Live with Thomas Roberts” line-up: MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts interviews Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) on Rep. Trent Franks’ comments on rape and pregnancy and the Newtown families’ new push gun control…  Stephen Harvey, attorney for the families of Sarah Murnaghan and Javier Acosta join to discuss Sarah’s lung transplant surgery…  Freedom to Marry Executive Director Evan Wolfson & David Codell who is openly gay and was a law clerk for Justice Ginsberg, join to discuss the President’s Gay Pride reception at the White House and the upcoming Supreme Court decisions on marriage equality…  Today’s Agenda Panel includes:  MSNBC.com Contributor Timothy Noah, The New Yorker’s Amy Davidson and The Root’s Edward Wyckoff Williams.

*** Thursday’s “NOW with Alex Wagner” line-up: Alex Wagner’s guests include former RNC Chair Michael Steele, MSNBC’s Karen Finney, Huffington Post’s Sam Stein, author Jon Meacham, and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX).

*** Thursday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” line-up: NBC’s Andrea Mitchell interviews the Washington Post’s Barton Gellman, Anne Gearan and Chris Cillizza, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Sr. Advisor Karim Sadjadpour, Time’s Radhika Jones, MSNBC’s Chris Jansing, and USA Today’s Susan Page.

*** Thursday’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall” line-up: Thomas Roberts, filling in for MSNBC’s Tamron Hall, interviews the Washington Post’s Anne Kornblut, Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis, and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT).

The Boston Globe: “President Obama exhorted a crowd of thousands to support US Senate hopeful Edward J. Markey, who Obama said, would ‘carry on the legacy of John Kerry and Ted Kennedy’ and ‘be my partner.’”

Obama stopped in for a burger to go at a famous sandwich shop in Boston. He left $20 for an $8 burger and encouraged people to vote for Markey. The Boston Globe: “Ronny Alfaro, who cooked the presidential patty in Charlie’s tiny kitchen, said security personnel stood by the grill and watched him prepare the meal. ‘I was pretty nervous,’ Alfaro said. ‘The guy who brought the order in was like, ‘This is for the president of the United States... I just started cooking.’”

Obama then raised money for the DNC in Miami. He said, “I can't do it by myself. I've got to have partners. … All too often, we're not getting cooperation from the other side. … It'd be a lot easier if I had a Democratic House and a Democratic Senate. We've got a lot more work to do. It's going to be absolutely critical that everybody here feels the same urgency … over the next year and a half."

Bill Clinton sounds more hawkish on Syria than President Obama. He told John McCain at a closed event for the McCain Institute for International Leadership in Manhattan, per Politico: “Some people say, ‘Okay, see what a big mess it is? Stay out!’ I think that’s a big mistake. I agree with you about this. Sometimes it’s just best to get caught trying, as long as you don’t overcommit — like, as long as you don’t make an improvident commitment.”

AP: “The White House says President Barack Obama has spoken with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (shin-zoh ah-bay) about North Korea’s nuclear program and a territorial dispute with China. The two leaders agreed in a phone call Wednesday to collaborate to end Pyongyang’s (pyuhng-yahng) nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The White House says they also discussed the need for stability and dialogue about the East China Sea.”

NBC’s Carrie Dann: “The day after an overwhelming bipartisan vote to begin work on a comprehensive immigration reform bill, that debate got a little less, um, Kumbaya. A procedural squabble erupted on the third day of formal discussion on the bill as both sides wrangled over how to begin the process of amending the legislation, and senators argued heatedly over a proposed amendment by Texas Sen. John Cornyn that would broaden the requirements for border security -- and, some say, could jeopardize the timeline for a path to citizenship.”

The AP: “Bickering across a deep divide, supporters of immigration legislation pushed back hard Wednesday against Republican demands for tougher border security measures before millions living illegally in the country could take the first steps toward U.S. citizenship. Even modest changes were snared in the political crossfire that erupted on the first full day of debate on the measure.”

Reid Wilson: “As the Senate begins debate on a sweeping overhaul to the nation's immigration system, some Republicans worry they'll find themselves stuck between a rock and border fence. And they have good reason to be anxious. The bill presents political opportunities for the Republican Party as a whole, and its efforts to refresh a conversation with the rapidly-growing population of Hispanic voters. It also presents a field of landmines for individual members who face competing interests at home, from business communities that support the bill and conservative activists who oppose it. The tug-and-pull between the national party's political interests and an individual member's political interests has Republican senators and their advisors taking pains to build a foundation for their votes.”

With Rep. Trent Franks’ comments Wednesday that the incidence of pregnancies resulting from rape are “very low,” Super PAC American Bridge, which supports Democrats, has relaunched, ItsNotJustAkin.com. The group cites Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) endorsing mandatory ultrasounds and the House passing a law banning abortion with no exception for rape, as well as Franks’ comments.

The DNC also issues this memo: “Yesterday, Republicans from Washington, DC to Madison, WI and Austin, TX began waging a new war on women’s health by acting on additional unnecessary and insulting state and federal legislation that further restricts a woman's ability to make the health care choices that are right for her.  This, just weeks after the GOP’s infamous ‘autopsy’ report acknowledged the Republican Party’s problems with women and pledged to change.”

Politico follows up on the Issa-Cummings spat over their committee’s IRS investigation. “Rep. Elijah Cummings is backing away from his assertion that the investigation into the IRS scandal is ‘solved’ and says he still wants to work with Republicans on the probe. In a brief interview with POLITICO on Wednesday, Cummings said that he was trying to argue that — contrary to some GOP comments — the investigation has proven the Obama administration didn’t order the IRS to target conservative groups applying for a tax exemption. ‘The witch hunt needs to end,’ said Cummings, who is the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. ‘What I meant was the witch hunt.’”

That said, Issa still hasn’t released the committee’s full transcripts of interviews with IRS employees.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (D) writes an op-ed in Roll Call endorsing Elizabeth Warren’s student-loan plan.

John Boehner sang his “birthday song” to Kate Upton, the swimsuit model and niece of GOP Rep. Fred Upton, Chris Frates writes. Here’s a clip of him singing it.

What’s a million here, a million there? How Domino’s Pizza made Eric Cantor even richer: “The Cantors, who have been married since 1989, were millionaires before Diana Cantor joined the board of Domino’s, but the company’s success has nonetheless dramatically swelled their wealth,” National Journal writes. “In 2006, her first full year on the board, the Cantors had a net worth of between $1.97 million and $6.51 million, according to calculations by the Center for Responsive Politics. That means her $3 million in Domino’s compensation has boosted their total net worth by roughly between 50 percent and 150 percent since 2006.”