things he was accused of but i believe there were due process problems with the trial. >> maybe it was worth it for thoed show to get the audio clips of jerry sandusky defending himself despite the evidence against him but nbc should have been more straightforward in promoting the segment. happy easter and happy passover. state of the union with candy crowley begins right now. in texas, the murders of a district attorney and his wife fuel concerns of a deadly vendetta. and here in washington, the stage is set for grappling with two critical issues. today, time may have sapped the fervor for major gun control. >> this is our best chance in more than a decade to take common sense steps that will save lives. >> but something like momentum is gathering behind immigration. >> we're on track to meet our deadline. >> guns and immigration with republican senator lindsey graham and connecticut democrat, senator richard loomenthal. plus, the california odd couple. and our sunday panel on how the

justices' decision this summer will or won't change the political landscape. then -- >> let us pray. >> -- ministering to an unpopular flock. ? god remembered my bucket list. >> i pray about everything. >> an easter conversation with the chaplains of the u.s. house and senate. i'm candy crowley and this is state of the union. >> this is cnn breaking news. we'll get to my interview with senator lindsey graham in a moment but first to texas where authorities are hunting for leads in the murder of a county prosecutor and his wife. mike and cynthia mcclellan were shot to death inside their home in kaufman county in dallas. that is the same place this assistant district attorney, mark hasse, was gunned down in january, outside the county courthouse. i want to bring in cnn's ed lavendera, who is in kaufman.

there are so many angles of this story, beginning with these two awful murders and then the question of the link between these two murders and the one in january. >> yeah, a lot of ground to cover here, candy. devastating news that the folks here in kauffman county are waking up to on this easter sunday morning. the news that mike mcclellan, a long-time district attorney, the top prosecutor here in this county was found gunned down, murdered in his home alongside his wife cynthia. this is coming just two months after an assistant prosecutor, a man that mike mcclellan worked closely with, mike hasse was gunned down walking to work. in that case the gunman was able to drive off. there were no witnesses. investigators have been working the case for the last two months. as far as we can tell, there have been no major breaks or leads in that investigation.

the mayor in kaufman says they believe these two men were targeted and suspect the cases are strongly linked, if not carried out by the same perpetrator. we have a lot of questions that have emerged in the wake of the devastating news here in kaufman, texas. we have learned a little while ago the sheriff here will brief reporters on the investigation at the crime scene throughout the night. it was a great number of law enforcement investigators that descended on the scene. fbi is working on the case as well as the state police. texas rangers have been working this as well as local law enforcement. 2:00 eastern, 1:00 central the sheriff here will update reporters as to what they know and can share about this murder investigation. candy? >> talk to me about the murder of the prison chief in colorado,

his alleged asisailant was shot dead after a car chase. the fbi apparently has been looking in to whether there is a link between the texas murder of this prison chief and the first murder in this county. >> if you remember, last week, there was this shootout. a high-speed chase and shootout in decatur, texas, which is north of ft. worth. we're on the east side of dallas here. in the shootout, they discover authorities have been finding evidence that strongly suggests that evan evil, the man who was driving that car and gunned down by authorities in decatur, texas. they believe he is the suspect that killed the prison chief in colorado. after that, because initially after the murder of mark hasse, the assistant prosecutor here in kaufman, investigators said they were looking to groups that may have been tied to white

supremacist groups and we learned that investigators were comparing notes. no direct link had been announced but we have learned that investigators were comparing notes and sharing evidence as to how those murders unfolded. now you add this latest murder to this. all of this cloud is hovering over these cases. what it means, we don't have the answers for you at this point. we know investigators will be taking a much closer look if they haven't started that already. >> ed, thank you. i know you will be on the story all day and in the days ahead. thanks. joining me is slilindsey graham from south carolina. senator, thanks for being here. just off the top, let me ask you, when we see the death of the head of a prison official, two deaths of a d.a. and an assistant d.a., this is a dangerous business, i know prosecuting bad guys, incarcerating bad guys. do you think we need to look at

the protection of these people? >> well, anything that would make our law enforcement officers safer. obviously, this is some criminal enterprise coming after the people who enforce the law. and yes, anything the local community can do to make life safer for those who carry out the law on our behalf, count me in. this is clearly some type of criminal vendetta against these people who enforce the law. >> certainly it looks that way. let me turn you to gun control, which we expect to be the first piece of major business when the senate comes back in a week. five of your colleagues have joined in saying, listen, we are going to filibuster any kind of gun control bill that might infringe on the second amendment. let me read you a little from the letter from senators rand paul, ted cruz, and mike lee. was sent to senator harry reid, the democratic leader in the senate. "we, the undersigned, intend to oppose any legislation that would infringe on the american people's constitutional rights to bear arms, or on their ability to exercise this right, without being subjected to government surveillance.

we will oppose any motion to proceed to any legislation that will serve as a vehicle for any additional gun restrictions. senator inhofe and senator rubio have now joined in that filibuster threat. what do you make of it? would you join it? >> well, i would like to have an open process. the only way i would filibuster a bill is if senator reid did not allow alternative amendments. i have legislation with senator pryor and begich, two democrats, myself, and jeff lake, that would change the federal system. there was a lady who pled not guilty by reason of insanity in 2005, in south carolina, of trying to kill president bush. february of this year, she went and bought a gun. and that adjudication was not in the system. she was able to purchase a gun, went to a school, and thank god that gun did not discharge. she's being held for attempted murder, but the four of us have a bill to redefine mental health

adjudications to make sure a case like hers gets in the system. there's all kind of bipartisan legislation out there that i think would keep guns out of the hands of people who are mentally ill, shouldn't have a gun, and there's some real efforts out there to beef up prosecutions of those who fail a background check. >> if i could, part of the senator reid's bill, as we understand it, will be expanding background checks to people who purchase guns at gun shows, which would include those sellers, keeping the paperwork on the buyers. is that something that you would filibuster? >> well, i would have an alternative to it. i think what the bill -- >> but would you filibuster that? would it be your intent, if that is part of the bill? >> no. if i get an alternative to it, no, i'd vote against it. this idea of private individuals transferring their weapons and having to go through a background check makes no sense. before you'd expand the background check, there are 76,000 people, last year, failed

a background check. and less than 1% got prosecuted. there are 9,000 people in 2010 that failed a background check who are felons on the run, and none of them were prosecuted. so before you expand background checks to include private individuals, let's put some resources into the current system we have that's clearly broken. >> does it give you pause -- does it give you pause, senator, i just wanted the show you a quick poll here. and the question was to folks, do you favor a federal law that requires background checks on all potential gun buyers. 96% of democrats, yes. 89% of independents and 86% of republicans say there should be a background check for all potential bayers. buyers. does that give you pause in opposing that expansion? >> well, if you ask the question, should a father have to do a background check when they give their son a gun for christmas -- >> but this is a little different. this is about, just if you go to

gun show. >> but, no, that's what the bill does! the bill requires private individual transfers to go through the federal system. the current system is broken. i hope most persons understand that 80,000 people last year failed a background check and only 66 got prosecuted. why in the world would you expand that system if your not enforcing the law that exists today to include private transfers? i think that legislation is going nowhere. but i would like to have a robust debate about improving this system to make sure that people who are mentally ill do not get a gun to begin with. and there's a lot we could do in a bipartisan fashion. >> right. i've got to get you to immigration reform here, but just to be clear, you think that anything that requires an expanded background check to everyone who sells a gun and keeping that paperwork will not pass the u.s. senate. is that correct? >> i don't think so. i don't think it makes any sense. the current system is broken. fix the current system. don't expand it to individual

transfers. nothing we're talking about would have prevented newtown from happening. the guy did not fail a background check. >> let me turn you to immigration. we have word that big unions and big business have agreed on a visa plan for these low-skilled, as we call them, workers. the number that can come in, the industries they can come into, how much they can be paid. is that it? have you got a deal now? >> well, i think we've got a deal. we've got to write the legislation, but 2013, i hope, will be the year that we pass bipartisan immigration reform, signed into law with three goals, to do the bill in such a fashion to prevent a third wave of illegal immigration from happening in this country, to make sure that the guest worker program is available to employers who can't find an american worker, once you offer the job at a competitive wage, and turn our chain migration family-based immigration system into a merit-based immigration system with a family component. because we're declining

demographic, we're going to need new workers come into this country in the out years as our population declines. so stopping that third wave means securing your border and controlling who gets a job in america. i think we've accomplished that in this bill. and i believe it will pass. >> so as far as you know, has the whole so-called gang of the whole so-called gang of eight, four republicans, four m

with centurylink as your trusted partner, it can. our visionary cloud infrastructure and global broadband network free you to focus on what matters. with custom communications solutions and dedicated support, your business can shine all week long.

♪ 'cause germs don't stick on me ♪ [ female announcer ] band-aid brand has quiltvent technology with air channels to let boo boos breathe. [ giggles ] [ female announcer ] quiltvent technology, only from band-aid brand. use with neosporin first aid antibiotic.

[ female announcer ] neutrogena® pore refining cleanser. alpha-hydroxy and exfoliating beads work to clean and tighten pores so they can look half their size. pores...shrink 'em down to size! [ female announcer ] pore refining cleanser. neutrogena.®

joining me now is the senior senator from connecticut, democrat richard blumenthal. senator, thank you for being here. i want to start out with what's happening in texas, where we have had the death of a county prosecutor and his wife. the assistant d.a. in the same county was gunned down and killed in january. we've had the death of the head of prisons in colorado also killed in his own home. i know you have been u.s. attorney in connecticut. what sort of effect does this have on really the business of prosecution? >> the brave and courageous

prosecutors across the nation, as well as our police face this kind of horror every day, and it's the reason that they are so strongly in favor of common sense measures to stop gun violence. and they have supported, for example, a ban on illegal trafficking and straw purchases, which, unfortunately, may have been involved in the shooting of tom clements, the corrections chief out in colorado, the straw purchase there of a gun led to his death. and there's been an arrest. so, every day, our law enforcement, as i know from my personal experience as u.s. attorney and attorney general of our state for 20 years, face this kind of threat. and the ban on illegal trafficking has bipartisan support. it will be part of the bill on the senate, as well as the school safety measure and other common sense initiatives, like mental health. these kinds of measures are

very, very important to protect. law enforcement, but also our children and other citizens. >> senator, let me talk to you about that bill for a minute. i don't know if you just heard senator lindsey graham telling me that he didn't think that gun -- background checks at gun shows and keeping the records of those purchases, the sellers keeping those records, is going to pass the senate. he said flat-out, no, i don't think it will pass. what do you think? >> i think there's really a historic opportunity, a moment that we have to seize to break the stranglehold, for the first time in a decade, maybe a generation, that the special interests like the nra have imposed on the this process. i think there is a sensible compromise that we can reach on background checks that will

extend them to all purchases. >> what would it be? >> reporter: it would include all purchases of firearms, but recordkeeping that is sensible, imposes no unfair burdens, and no unfair threats of prosecution to people who may legitimately lose those records or otherwise be excusable. so i think there is room for compromise on that measure, as well as on high-capacity magazines. you know, the shock and horror of newtown is still very much with our nation. it changed us, as a people, i think. and you were there, candy, in the wake of that horror, that sunday after the friday, when the unspeakable tragedy of those 20 beautiful children and sixth grade educators being gunned down by someone who used a high-capacity magazine. in fact, we know now, from the revelations of just this past week, that he left behind, the shooter in that instance, left behind the smaller capacity magazines and took with him the 30-round clips, because he knew he could use them to gun them down and he did, 154 rounds in about five minutes. >> senator, let me ask you,

under the bill that we are expecting senator reid to put on the floor, there is not any kind of limitation on those magazines. there is not a ban on assault weapons, however you might describe those. there may or may not be an expansion of registration -- or, i'm sorry, an expansion of background checks. how would anything in the bill, as it currently stands, have stopped anything that went on in newtown? >> the majority leader has assured me and other proponents of these measures that we can offer amendments on both the assault weapons ban and the prohibition on high-capacity magazines. so there will be votes and i intend to spearhead that amendment on the high-capacity magazines. >> is it a failure if you don't get that? if you don't get a ban on high-capacity magazines, if there's not a ban on assault weapons, if the background check is watered down, is that a success or no?

>> any step that saves lives is a step in the right direction. and the question is not winning or losing here, but, really, saving lives, which the people of newtown and the victims there and their families, i think, want to happen. not just for the sake of those victims, but also more than 3,000 people who have perished since newtown as a result of gun violence. so i think mental health initiatives, school safety, which are part of that bill, would have helped prevent the violence that occurred in newtown as well as potentially other measures that we're going to be offering as amendments and we are going to keep fighting, no question about it. >> let me ask you, then, because you've talked about, and certainly anyone that was there, anyone that watched this on television, anyone with a heart can't forget that day. and yet, i want to show you our latest cnn/orc poll, which shows is that the number of people, the percentage of people

favoring major restrictions on guns or making all guns illegal, has gone from 52% in december, right after newtown, and dropped almost 10%, to 43%. so 43% -- only 43% of americans favor major restrictions on guns or restricting them altogether. what do you make of that? >> candy, the overwhelming majority of americans want common sense measures that will save the lives of their children, police and prosecutors, others who are now outgun by criminals, and keep those guns out of the hands of the convicted felons, the mentally deranged, like adam lanza. >> so why do you think it would drop almost ten points then? >> i think the majority is still overwhelmingly in favor and the challenge really is to mobilize and organize that majority, so that it is not a silent majority, as all too often, it

has been. and make sure that their voices are heard. and the shock and horror of newtown, i think, is still very much with our nation. and that unspeakable tragedy, i think, created an unstoppable momentum. history is on our side and the opponents really are defying, not only the majority, but also the progress of history to save lives and make our nation safer. >> senator richard blumenthal of connecticut, thanks for spending some of your easter morning with us. we appreciate it. >> thank you. >> there are certain rights that are so fundamental to everybody, that we say no majority can take it away. >> it's not about the economy or deficits. it's not hard to understand what this is all about.

you know who you are. you can part a crowd, without saying a word... if you have yet to master the quiet sneeze... you stash tissues like a squirrel stashes nuts... well muddlers, muddle no more. try zyrtec®. it gives you powerful allergy relief. and zyrtec® is different than claritin® because zyrtec® starts working at hour one on the first day you take it. claritin® doesn't start working until hour three. zyrtec®. love the air.

claritin® doesn't start working until hour three. with so much competition, finding the right job is never easy. but with the nation's largest alumni network, including those in key hiring positions, university of phoenix can help connect you to a world of opportunity. license and registration please. what's this? uhh, it's my geico insurance id card, sir. it's digital, uh, pretty cool right? maybe. you know why i pulled you over today? because i'm a pig driving a convertible? tail light's out.. fix it. digital insurance id cards. just a click away with the geico mobile app.

two of the nation's most

prominent attorneys, ted olson and david boies, argued different sides of the supreme court case that decided the 2000 election. but on the issues of same-sex marriage, they are of the same mind. they joined forces back in 2010 -- in 2009 to fight prop 8, the california law that bans same-sex marriage. cnn's gloria borger sat down with them for their only joint interview before olson argued against the case for the supreme court. >> this is a conservative court. i don't have to tell either of you that. so that what makes you believe that this court is going to rule in your favor? lots of people would say, the odds are against you. >> i think these are conservative values, as much as they are liberal values. the belief in the constitution, the belief in an independent judiciary. the recognition of equality. the desire to prevent the government from regulating people's most intimate relationships, i think as much a conservative value as it is a liberal value.

i think also if you look at what this court has done in this last ten years, we have had landmark civil rights decisions in the sexual orientation area that i think should lead and will lead this court to say that it violates the constitution. >> people who have said, particularly conservatives were saying, must have someone in his family who's gay or that must be the reason. do you hear a lot of that? do you hear a lot of that? >> i'm a little disstressed by that. it is basically saying you must have a motive other than principle. you must have someone you are fighting for, not the principle that you say you are fighting for. the fact is i don't know of any

member of my family who's gay or lesbian. i'm quite sure that is not the case. for me, it's the principle of equality and looking people in the eye and not having, harboring this feeling that you are somehow different v different or not as good as us. >> when you first started this case, public opinion has shifted dramatically over the last four years. >> i don't know in my life where there's a single issue, which is a big, deeply held issue and about one everybody understands what the issue is, where there's an issue that people can understand where this there is an enormous shift of public opinion and several states have voted to legalize same-sex marriage in that period of time. now, many will be a long time behind that. the amount of change in public opinion has been huge. >> does that affect the supreme court? >> i'm not sure. i think that to some extent the

supreme court will decide this case, based on the law and based on the constitution. you don't read public opinion polls and you don't rely on votes to decide constitutional questions. if you're going to rely on public opinion polls or what people vote at the polls, you wouldn't need written constitutions. on the other hand, i think it also is probably reassuring to the court to recognize that this is not an issue that is going to cause a cataclysmic social upheaval. this is something in which public opinion has already, probably in some senses, ahead of the courts. the supreme court will rule some time in late june. the affect of that ruling may have will be on the political landscape with our panel after this. ♪ [ acoustic guitar: upbeat ]

[ dog ] we found it together. on a walk, walk, walk. love to walk. yeah, we found that wonderful thing. and you smiled. and threw it. and i decided i would never, ever leave it anywhere. because that wonderful, bouncy, roll-around thing... had made you play. and that... had made you smile. [ announcer ] beneful. play. it's good for you. and every day since, two years ago, the people of bp made a commitment to the gulf. we've worked hard to keep it. bp has paid over twenty-three billion dollars to help people and businesses who were affected, and to cover cleanup costs. today, the beaches and gulf are open for everyone to enjoy --

and many areas are reporting their best tourism seasons in years. we've shared what we've learned with governments and across the industry so we can all produce energy more safely. i want you to know, there's another commitment bp takes just as seriously: our commitment to america. bp supports nearly two-hundred-fifty thousand jobs in communities across the country. we hired three thousand people just last year. bp invests more in america than in any other country. in fact, over the last five years, no other energy company has invested more in the us than bp. we're working to fuel america for generations to come. today, our commitment to the gulf, and to america, has never been stronger. [ male announcer ] were you more interesting in your twenties, or now? when you were starting out? or after a few decades working in some well-worn character? experience makes you wiser for the wear. and now come the richer possibilities.

[ children laughing ] aarp. an ally for real possibilities. find tools and resources at aarp.org/possibilities. [ male announcer ] engine light on? come to meineke now for a free code scan read and you'll say...my money. my choice. my meineke.

joining me around the table, cnn contributor and strategist, donna brazile, republican strategist and former romney campaign adviser, david madden, and chief white house correspondent, jessica yellin. thanks all for being here. >> happy easter. >> thank you, same to you all. let's fast forward to the june decision of the supreme court. and let's assume, first, that this moves to the states. that the overall effect of the ruling, whatever it is, that it's a state, they're going to toss it back to the states. what affect does that have on politics, on the republican view, which has generally been opposed to same-sex marriage, and democrats, which has generally been in favor, certainly with the president, saying that he had an evolution in his thinking? >> look, this is an issue where there has been a sea change in the republican party. more and more, you are seeing

republicans find it easier to make the conservative argument for gay marriage than they are the conservative argument against gay marriage. >> in equal rights. >> correct. and having said that, the you read the brief that ted olson and others have filed, there are a number of arguments in there that make the argument why this is consistent with traditional values of stability inside of the sanctity of marriage. but having said that, there is also still substantiate and some calcified support among republicans who believe that it's important for us to protect the traditional view of marriage. and we're only two years away from a political cycle where, in states like north carolina, voters overwhelmingly supported the definition of traditional marriage. so if it's going to go back to a position where we're arguing the state by state, there are still great challenges on this issue. >> let me ask you, even in

minnesota and maryland, the public has already shifted its opinion on this issue. >> it is minnesota and maryland, let's just say, which is not north carolina. >> of course, of course. but, still, we've come a long way over the past decade in terms of the public's perception of so-called marriage equality. and everyone has a right to equal protection under the law, including gays and lesbians. so i think it all depends on how the justices come up with their ruling in terms of the constitutional issue of fairness. >> but this is a problem for the republican party. if the courts throw this back to the states, it becomes a political issue, still. the best thing that could happen to the republic is if the courts decide -- because, kevin, the polling shows, you'll agree, the polling shows it's not so much a democrat/republican issue right now. the divide is young/old. generational.

>> i believe that's absolutely right. >> and even young republicans support gay marriage, expanded rights for gays and lesbians, and so it becomes another one of these wedge issues. your party just -- >> what happens if the court goes the other way, and you know what, there is, within the constitution something that says that same-sex marriage is okay. it lifts a huge burden off the republican party, does it not? >> i think it's very hard to find out what the court is really going to do here. but i do think that jessica's main point is right. that in ten years, and look, many republicans and democrats believe this. in ten years, this is going to look like an archaic debate. but i don't think we're at a place right now where there's going to be an issue, particularly in 2014, where there's a great deal of emphasis by either party. because there is still a move by red state democrats to put an emphasis on this. and most republicans are less interested in drawing a contrast on this, and much more interested -- >> but republicans made it in 2004 -- >> not a little bit like -- a little bit like abortion and, you know, a women's right to choose and the abortion is that

the democrats used it in the last election, sort of against republicans, certainly when it came to the -- >> that's where the changing demographics are going to have an impact. >> let me push you on to something else. this was a poll, 15th to the 17th of this money, cnn/orc, the opinion of the republican party, favorable, 38%. unfavorable, 54%. i saw you wince, kevin. >> they don't know kevin madden. >> we saw this incident with doug young this week, 79-year-old congressman from alaska, where he used a slur to describe undocumented workers, when he was working on a farm, a childhood farm or whatever. and boy did republicans jump all over that, in a way i've not seen them sort of. i mean, he was -- everybody abandoned that ship. but it points out the difficulty, doesn't it, that the

republicans are going to have, trying to change that imagery. because it's one guy in the republican party, but when it feeds into something, it's twice as damaging. >> it doesn't feed into anything, if you jump on it the way that boehner and other leaders within the party, across the party have. and i think the media always tries to make one statement into an event or something that's much more telling about the party. in this case, that's not true. because if you look at the contrast, those that are within the party, that are trying to work on immigration reform, those that are trying to work on rebuilding the brand and becoming a party of ideas, again, a party of reform, so that way we have -- we're in a better position to win those persuadable voters that we lost in this last election, that's what was most important. so i think the party does a disservice to itself when it doesn't criticize statements like that. that's why this time, they did. >> which they did. and donna, there's a lot of criticism, by the way, this is congressman don young from alaska. but when -- you know, a lot of republicans say, you know, what, democrats say all kinds -- stuff

happens on twitter. i mean, people say stupid stuff. and when it's a democrat, they aren't jumped on in the same way that republicans are. >> i disagree. we're jumped on all the time. even we make low, stupid statements. but this goes to a broader issue that republicans addressed in the so-called autopsy report. where they said, there's nothing wrong with our principles, but how we communicate them. so pretty much, the warning is, watch your language. well, it's not just watch your language, it's, watch your policies. and in north carolina, just recently, the governor there, a republican, eliminated the office of latino affairs. so it goes beyond just simply watch your language. it goes to the broad issue of, will they reach out? >> this is a big shift, though, for the democrats versus the republicans. there used to be a time when the republicans controlled talk radio. and they could take anything democrats said and blast it out. and democrats were always back

on their heels. right now democrats have a lot more sway on the internet and on twitter and on the blogs, and so they have a lot more control over damaging and taking what the republicans say. >> i have 15 seconds, i need a yes or a no. has too much time passed for major gun legislation described as limiting these magazines or a ban on certain types of weapons. is it too late for those types of things to pass. >> no. i believe that this is a very serious issue and it's going to take some time. assault weapons magazines, not passing. >> jessica yellin, kevin madden, donna brazile, thank you. when we come back, the update on the killing of a texas district attorney and his wife. ♪ [ female announcer ] band-aid brand has quiltvent technology with air channels to let boo boos breathe. [ giggles ] [ female announcer ] quiltvent technology, only from band-aid brand. use with neosporin first aid antibiotic. but with advair, i'm breathing better. so now i can be in the scene.

advair is clinically proven to help significantly improve lung function. unlike most copd medications, advair contains both an anti-inflammatory and a long-acting bronchodilator working together to help improve your lung function all day. advair won't replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms and should not be used more than twice a day. people with copd taking advair may have a higher chance of pneumonia. advair may increase your risk of osteoporosis and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking advair. if you're still having difficulty breathing, ask your doctor if including advair could help improve your lung function. get your first full prescription free and save on refills at advaircopd.com.

we all have one. that perfect spot. a special place we go to smooth out the ripples of the day. it might be off a dock or on a boat. upstream or in the middle of nowhere. wherever it may be, casting a line in the clear, fresh waters of michigan lets us leave anything weighing us down back on shore. our perfect spot is calling.

our perfect spot is pure michigan. your trip begins at michigan.org. even in stupid loud places. to prove it, we set up our call center right here... [ chirp ] all good? [ chirp ] getty up. call me! seriously, this is really happening! [ cellphone rings ] hello? it's a giant helicopter ma'am. [ male announcer ] get it done [ chirp ] with the ultra-rugged kyocera torque, only from sprint direct connect. buy one get four free for your business.

and be good for your face? [ female announcer ] now there's new neutrogena® naturals acne cleanser. acne medicine from the wintergreen leaf treats breakouts. no parabens or harsh sulfates. for naturally clear skin. [ female announcer ] neutrogena® naturals. ...and we inspected his brakes for free. -free is good. -free is very good. [ male announcer ] now get 50% off brake pads and shoes at meineke.

an investigation is under way in the murders of a prosecutor and his wife. they were found shot to death in their home. the killings come two months after his deputy district attorney was gunned down outside of the kaufman county courthouse. authorities are scheduled to hold a news conference at 2:00 p.m. eastern. cnn will bring it to you live when that happens. north korea is hurling new insults in the united states. the state-run news agency says north korea compares the u.s. to a boiled pumpkin, unable to endure an attack from a foreign enemy. u.s. officials say there's no indication that the communist country is engaging in anything than warmongering rhetoric. vatican city, pope francis greeted a sea of catholics around the world in his first easter mass as pontiff. he spoke about the resurrection of christ and warned against greed, selfishness and the

exploitation of the earth's natural resources. here in washington, president obama and his family attended church today. they went to services near the white house. the president wished everyone he saw a happy easter. we are expecting that news conference about the murders in texas within the next couple of hours and again we will bring it to you live when it happens. when we return, the men who pray for our nation's leaders. >> these are patriots. these are people who seriously desire the best for this nation. >> democrats and republicans thank me for that prayer. neezin] she may be muddling through allergies. try zyrtec®. powerful allergy relief for adults and kids six years and older. zyrtec®. love the air.

and kids six years and older. [ dog ] we found it together.upbeat ] on a walk, walk, walk. love to walk. yeah, we found that wonderful thing.

and you smiled. and threw it. and i decided i would never, ever leave it anywhere. because that wonderful, bouncy, roll-around thing... had made you play. and that... had made you smile. [ announcer ] beneful. play. it's good for you. there's a reason no one says "easy like monday morning." sundays are the warrior's day to unplug and recharge. what if this feeling could last all week? with centurylink as your trusted partner, it can. our visionary cloud infrastructure and global broadband network free you to focus on what matters. with custom communications solutions and dedicated support, your business can shine all week long. ♪ 'cause germs don't stick on me ♪ [ female announcer ] band-aid brand has quiltvent technology with air channels to let boo boos breathe. [ giggles ] [ female announcer ] quiltvent technology,

only from band-aid brand. use with neosporin first aid antibiotic.

it just seems to us that easter sunday is the right time to introduce you to two people who do an awful lot of heavy lifting on capitol hill. meet the men who pray for the people you vote for. >> matthew chapter 7 verse 12 says essentially due unto others what you would have them due on to you. because this is the law of the prophets an i o often tell the

lawmakers this is the cliff note's version of the bible. >> retired barry black is the first african-american and seventh day adventist to serve as chaplain. >> when i was in high school, maybe back to fourth grade, my plan was to be a senator. from the state of washington. >> apparently god had other plans for father patrick conroy but she close to his childhood dream as the first roman catholic jesuit to serve as house chaplain. >> without ever expecting that i would be in congress by following, you know, the desires and the missioning of my jesuit superiors, here i am. god remembered my bucket list. >> now in his first year on the job, he has seen bitter and bipartisan days but treats them equally because he explains, every prayer counts. >> i get awful nervous if i thought i was working harder on one prayer over another. as if, all right, now it's

important. this prayer is important. this one better be good. >> still, there are days when those session opening prayers get pointed, say in the midst of debt ceiling negotiations. >> save us, oh, god. for the waters are coming in upon us. we are weary from the struggle, tempted to throw in the towel. but quitting isn't an option. >> or as the nation peered over the fiscal cliff. >> may an imperfect compromise when viewed from the perspective of our differences not be undermined by our desire for political victory. >> you know, that prayer, for some reason, got audible amens and it's like, oh, i said something. i did something right. >> that struck a bell. >> and it turns out that even in an environment where compromise is rare and the atmosphere toxic, there are moments that

look like divine intervention. >> i have been told that as a result of a prayer, chaplain, i'm going to change my vote. and may be a phrase or a statement that i had no intention to mean a particular thing, but i believe that i have supernatural help. >> has a senator ever changed your view on something? >> no. >> reverend black, who has a doctorate in psychology, does not confine his council to the spiritual. >> i do not put my brain in neutral. if a senator says to me, as one senator did, give me the slant on the schivo case, then i can shoot from the hips and tell him or her what i think.

>> but it's different in father conroy's house. he has a law degree, but he thinks god put him in congress to cure him of politics. >> i have asked for serenity in the area of politics because, it controlled me, i didn't control it. i could get as angry as angry could be about politics. so, as i was praying that serenity prayer in the area of politics, well, how did god answer this prayer for me? he put me in the house of representatives. where my job is not to have an opinion and not to express my opinion. >> he is happy in his job, as is chaplain black. >> i was in alabama in the '60s in college. i actually listened to martin luther king speak and participated in the desegregation of lunch counters in alabama. to have that experience as a very young man and then to have

the honor of delivering the innovation when rosa parks statue is being placed in statuary hall. >> we praise you, lord, for infusing her with the resolve. to sit down so that millions could stand up. >> it is an opportunity to have a front row seat to history. it doesn't get much better than this. >> still, they do tend to a troubled flock with a 79% disapproval rating and the problems of a country on their shoulders. >> if i were to say there are common thematic, then, there would be a concern that we, as a nation, are losing our bearings or that we've lost our direction and we need to be more faithful to god. >> most people think this is the most reviled congregation you could have. could have. is that fair?

>> first samuel 16:, 7 said humans looks at the outward >> first samuel 16:7 said humans looks at the outward appearance but the looks at the heart. i get a chance to see the interior, not just the exterior you see on a television camera. these are the people who seriously desire the best for this nation and world and take their calling to political ministry, as i consider it, very, very seriously. >> i don't think there's a single member that doesn't want to be as faithful as he or she can be to their own political, but moral or religious lights. >> does it worry you that sometimes i go too far against one another? >> well -- >> and the things they say. >> if the bible verse can be