>> jobs council, obviously reported to haven't met formally or publicly for six months. why exactly is that? >> the president solicits and receives input and advice from members of his jobs council and others about economic initiatives all the time. >> there is no reason they haven't met publicly? >> no, there is no specific reason except the president obviously has a lot on his plate. >> gretchen: how do you respond to that? >> first of all, this is typical. he did this with the debt and deficit. he appoints a group of people and when they come back with recommendations he doesn't like, he ignores them and campaigns against many of these things, like the so-called territorial tax system. these are people who held him, the way the economy grows is when people who have made money take that money and use it to start a new business or grow an existing business. but he doesn't want to hear that

'cause ideal lodgely that's not what he believes. so he ignores the recommendations and moves on. i think that's what we're seeing happening. >> gretchen: you would think with the jobs council, people who were appointed by the president, you even think their advice might be counter to what he believes and that's why he hasn't had a meeting? >> oh, absolutely. we know that for a fact. if you look at some of the recommendations made and some of the public statements from some of those member, it's very clear that many of them clearly understand that the biggest impediments to growth in america today, nardoo all the uncertainty about our tax code, et cetera, is run away regulations, complicated tax code and we're making it harder and discouraging people from investing money in america's future. and i can tell you that the president doesn't want to hear that. i think that's why they ignore it and move on with their campaign speeches. >> steve: you heard jay carney. he's got a lot on his placement of course, that's fund-raiser, but i digress. let's talk about what your colleague from across the aisle, senator patty murray of washington, was talking about a couple of days ago. she made it very clear that the democrats are ready to let the

bush era tax cuts expire all together. they're not fooling around this time. listen to the senator from the great state of washington. >> if we can't get a good deal, a balanced deal that calls on the wealthy to pay their fair share, then i will absolutely continue this debate into 2013 rather than lock in a long-term deal this year to throw middle class families under the bus. >> steve: you know, a lot of people have heard we're coming to a fiscal cliff or tax armageddon or stuff like that. they don't realize that shortly after the election, there is a real judgment day coming for washington, d.c. >> there is a real judgment day coming for the american economy. i think what's going to happen is we're going to see a number of taxes increase dramatically and start to feel the effects already. business already planning for next year. you're going to start to see layoff, businesses not investing to grow their business.

you're starting to see that. people are feeling the pain of this reality. look, that speech on earlier this week, number one, misstated the republicans' position on this issue. the second thing is ignores is a study that just came out yesterday that said very clearly that if the democrats plan to raise taxes on america, go through, millions of small businesses are going to be in peril. 700,000 jobs could be lost, not to mention all the businesses that aren't going to start up and all the jobs that aren't going to be created. this is a very real problem that needs to be addressed. >> steve: it's interesting how you don't hear that story on any real outlets in the main stream media, do you? >> well, unfortunately i think some folks want to ignore that part of the argument. they keep talking about tax on the rich because it polls well and sounds like what the democrats want to push. but the reality is we know for a fact that it takes money out of the economy, puts it into the hands of government. this is money that now cannot be reinvested in starting new businesses or growing existing businesses and that's why that study came out this week saying 700,000 jobs will be lost if the

democrats tax increase goes through. >> gretchen: senator, before we let you go, we have to go to your favorite topic, i know, don't say oh, my gosh action i can't believe you're going to ask that again. but the fox news poll, recent one, they asked people who would be the pick for romney's running mate among republicans? condoleeza rice was first at 30%. and you, sir, were second at 19%. your response? >> well, i stopped talking about the whole process a few months ago. i know this for a fact, mitt romney will make a great choice and great selection. he's always made good decision. that's the number one qualification of a president birks the way. and he'll make a good decision on this issue as well. >> steve: marco rubio from capitol hill, thank you very much. have a great day. >> thank you. >> gretchen: coming up, last month 80,000 jobs were created. can we expect better news this morning? brand-new numbers released on the other side of this break. >> steve: record number of people in this country are on food stamps. so why is our government now working with the country of mexico to make that number even higher?

>> gretchen: it's been eight years in the making. up next, an american hero nine gets his purple heart. you'll see it right here live on "fox & friends" i'm a marathon runner, in absolute perfect physical condition and i had a heart attack right out of the clear blue... i'm on an aspirin regimen... and i take bayer chewables. [ male announcer ] be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. he's my success story. [ laughs ] he's my success story. you can't argue with nutrition you can see. great grains. great grains cereal starts whole and stays whole. see the seam? more pcessed flakes look nothing like natural grains. i'm eating what i kn is better nutrition. mmmm. great grains. search great grains and see for yourself. according to ford, the works fuel saver package could literally pay for itself. jim twitchel is this true? yes it's true. how is this possible? proper tire inflation, by using proper grades of oil,

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>> gretchen: fox business alert. labor department just releasing brand-new weekly jobless

numbers. 386,000 first-time unemployment claims were filed last week. that's up from 350,000 the week before and more than expected. i think it was last week where it had trial begun down and wasn't expected to go down. that was good news because the weeks prior to that it had been up. >> peter: this is 20,000 more than anticipated. >> steve: sure. i think that's when you look at the fox news poll results that came out yesterday, more people are becoming pessimistic about the future of the economy and where we're standing today than we were back in april. >> peter: not gotta. >> steve: not the direction we want to go. >> gretchen: let's kick off headlines. on an interview on sean hannity, george zimmerman apologizing over the shooting of trayvon martin. earlier i asked trayvon's parents if they could forgive him. >> because he extended to the apology to you and we got your comments, would you ever find it in your heart to forgive this

man? >> our son just was murdered a couple months ago. so it's not something that i can really stomach right now. i mean, maybe in a few years. i don't know. but it's just really difficult right now to actually face and sit in the same room as somebody that murdered my son. >> i think it's too much to ask of us to forgive the guy that don't even regret taking our son's life. >> gretchen: part 2 of the interview with george zimmerman airs tonight. >> peter: it's supposed to make sure flying is safe, but extremely troubles news from the government accountability office. the tsa letting 25 illegal immigrants attend a flight school in boston. >> steve: great. >> peter: some even got pilots licenses. even worse o'clock an illegal immigrant owned the school. republican congressman mike rogers shocked and outraged.

>> iraq war veterans, all forced to undergo rigorous security checks before getting on an airplane. and at the same time, ten years after 9-11, there are foreign nationals in the united states trained to fly just like mohammed atta and the other 9-11 hijackers did. and not all of them are getting a security background check. is that risk based security? i don't think so. >> peter: the gsa finding people on the in fly list were approved for pilot training. >> steve: remember mohammed atta? dust from the desert making its way all the way to florida. that's right. meteorologists say the dust particles will travel across the atlantic on trade winds and set up camp 5,000 feet or so above ground. it will paint the sky kind of a milky shade in florida. those with extreme sensitivity to air particles might want to limit their time outdoors. good advice. >> gretchen: shocking video of an attempted child abduction in

philadelphia. come to your screen if you're not watching now because check out this guy right here who tries to snatch that ten-year-old girl. he puts his hand over her mouth right off the street. this is broad daylight. he then gropes her, but not before falling down. police say it was her little two-year-old brother who you can see there, that other image, who screamed and quickly scared the guy away. he then fled in a white sedan. if you have any information about this case, please call your local authorities. >> peter: the united states shuttle program may be over, but the age of exploration is getting started. >> gretchen: nasa testing out its orion capsule in houma, arizona. casey stegall is there for us live. good morning. you got a close up look for us, huh? >> good morning to you. i don't know how much closer you can get than this. check this out. this is orion. in two years time, this thing is going to be launched into deep space. it's going to go 15 times

farther than the international space station. this is obviously just the crew capsule. but take a look at what this thing will look like when it hitches a ride on a rocket to get there from kipuka inch really, florida. these are nasa animations, when it goes up in 2014, it will be unmanned at first because they must test it. when it comes to reentering the earth's atmosphere. >> the shuttle came back in 17,500 miles an hour. >> here in arizona, they're going to be testing the capsules' parachute system. the devices will help bring orion safely back home once it gets past reentry. so they're dropping it out of a c-17 cargo jet at more than 20,000 feet over the arizona desert. this is the fifth of 18 parachute tests that will happen. eventually it will take man to

places like mars and that is projected to happen in less than ten years. this is the next generation of nasa space exploration. obviously replacing the shuttle camera, getting nasa back to its exploration roots, guys. >> gretchen: all right. casey stegall live for us in arizona, thanks so much. time to go back outside and check out what steve is doing with our wounded warriors. >> steve: james was hit by mortar in iraq back in 2004. he lost part of his lung and his shoulder as well and today eight years later, this american hero is getting his purple heart. good morning to you, james. >> good morning. >> steve: also joining us, andrew, specialist, and the fellow there, who will be doing the pinning, major john sullivan. we're just going to watch. >> attention from the united

states of america to all who shall see these present, greetings. awarded in the name of the president of the united states of america, established by general george washington at newburg, new york, 7 august, 1782, to army specialist james patrick o'leary for wounds received in combat action against hostile enemy forces in iraq on 19 july, 2004. >> good luck. >> steve: round of applause, folks! [ cheers and applause ] we've been doing this program an awfully long time and that's the first time we've seen a purple heart on the program. today is your live day, right? >> correct. >> steve: tell us what happened in 2004, if you don't mind.

>> basically our fob got hit pretty bad by some mortars in three locations. i came down and lost part of my lung, shattered shoulder, shattered ribs and i'm lucky to be here. >> steve: you are lucky to be here. you also, sir, were injured on the same day, part of the same mortar attack. what does this mean that you are able to be here with your comrade on this day? >> it's a great horn to be here with james. physically i wasn't wounded that day, but i saw a couple of my teammates killed and severely wounded and i came back with posttraumatic stress disorder. every day i live fort guys that didn't come home. >> steve: absolutely. today you're also taking part in the soldier ride that's going to be kick off right here. we've been doing this live here on "fox & friends" since the last nine years. we have never had such a big crowd, folks. you'll all see it happen in a couple of minutes from now. thank you for joining us.

[ applause ] gretchen, peter, in to you. >> peter: what a stirring moment. you make us all alive, don't they? >> gretchen: they certainly do. we'll all be out there to kick off the race in about 15 minute. >> peter: coming up, a judge makes a decision on the mosque at the center of the major, major controversy. >> gretchen: plus, he's talking football and politics. one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, joe montana here next bacon?! gotta get that bacon!

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>> peter: quick headlines. the controversial mosque in tennessee will open its doors today. a battle over the mosque began in 2010 when protesters claimed muslims were trying to replace

the u.s. constitution with sharia law. despite the lawsuit, a federal judge ruled it can open in time for the islamic holy month of ramadan. and the usca under fire for partnering with the mexican government in an effort to get immigrants to apply for food stamps. nearly 46 million americans are on food stamps already at a cost of $72 billion a year to taxpayers. gretchen, steve? >> steve: thank you very much. hall of famer joe montana right there known as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time playing for 14 seasons with the san francisco 49ers and two with my beloved kansas city chiefs. >> gretchen: he's not adjust football player, he's a businessman. he got approval to build motels near the new 9ers stadium. joe montana joins us now. good to see you again. >> good morning. >> steve: you're in hotels now? >> it's a whole development right next to the stadium we've been working on. >> steve: part of a complex? >> yeah, part of a big complex.

hotel is just one little part of it. have a little fun with that. >> gretchen: what do you make of the business climate right now? you're obviously in the middle of a huge venture out in california. do you think it's good time to be starting business? >> that's what everybody keeps saying. and everybody talks about the economy and the issues we're all having and i see it and i hear it, but try to get on an airplane, try to get in your hotel, somebody is traveling, doing something. i'm just not sure where that line divides. everything that we've heard from a you will the experts, so to speak issues said it's a good time to get started. by the time you're finished, everything should be back in line. >> steve: so from your point of view, things look like they're getting better a bit? >> it seems like they're getting better a bit. i always judge by the freeway out in california. back before the bubble burst --

>> steve: that's why they need a train there. >> you couldn't get up and down the freeway. now it's getting back to where it's getting really, really busy on 1010 out there. >> gretchen: let's talk about the 49ers. the odds in vegas say that they're number within to win the super bowl coming up this year. >> they've got -- their defense played extremely well last year. second year in the offense. they added new weapons that will help offensively. i can understand how people see that. >> steve: yeah. a lot of people wake up first thing in the morning and a lot of people have aches and pains and you're here again today, you've been here to talk about joint juice before. tell us what this stuff is and why you're such a big supporter of it. >> i actually went in to see dr. kevin stone one of the founders of this, for my -- about a knee replacement and partial. we started talking about this. i started taking it and what's really funny, it's not like a pill where you take for pain and all of a sudden it disappears. this is one of those things that takes 14 to 30 days to get in

your system. >> steve: tastes good. >> it's pretty good. and when you really notice it is when you stop taking it. and that's what i found is the hardest. it's nice 'cause when you travel with the little bottles, they have little straws that you can take. >> steve: a loft people take glucosamine and stuff like that. >> it's the same. it's a different mix. it's a liquid form that gets in your system faster and i make a protein shake with it in the morning. >> steve: that's a good idea. >> gretchen: you would only have aches and pains from all the years on the turf. not because you're old. you're still looking good. >> i'm getting this. >> gretchen: thanks for being here today. it's always great to have you on the show. >> thank you. >> steve: i was just outside and the wounded warriors would like to take a picture with you. would you like to come outside with us? >> you bet. my pleasure. >> steve: because we're moments away from the start of the annual soldier ride. you'll see it happen right here on "fox & friends" in about two minutes. >> gretchen: first, let's check in with bill hemmer for what's on at the top of the hour. >> that man ruined my childhood,

i want you to know. >> gretchen: i know. >> twice he beat my team. i know he can't hear me. but joe montana, thanks for coming in. >> steve: get over it. cut the cord, that was 50 years ago. >> gretchen: i know! he ruined me, too. i'm a vikings fan. >> great show this morning. new fox polling tell a fascinating story about where voters are 100 days from the election. kevin mccarthy on the fiscal cliff, how will israel respond to the suicide bomb attack? is syria truly on the brink or does assad double down on the war? it is mid july. there is so much to talk about. we'll get to all of that. ten minutes away here on "america's newsroom" [ male announcer ] at scottrade,

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>> steve: all right. we're moments away from the kickoff this year of the wounded warrior project soldier ride with special guest joe montana. [ cheers and applause ] first let's check in with a couple of the cyclists. we've got all sorts of fellows from all over the country. and this guy doesn't know we're coming up behind him. what's your name? >> bill. >> steve: bill, how important is this that you're part of the soldier ride today? >> it's a great opportunity to be out with fellow soldiers, out riding and accomplishing whatever we can do. >> steve: i understand. today about 15, 20 miles and over the next couple of days, 60 or 70. you ready? >> i'm ready. let's rock'n'roll. >> steve: all right. we will. >> gretchen: we have dan and maggie with us. you're the director of soldier ride and the director of combat stress. so what does this mean to be able to kick off right on "fox & friends" and where are they going? >> it's inspirational. that's all. it's not only inspirational for them, for u but for these warriors to be here in new york city, getting to ride through the city, safe can be with the firemen, the police helping us

out. so it's great for them, great for us. we're going to go to brooklyn and have a party at the end of the day. >> peter: maggie, combat stress, tell us what's going on today with you. >> absolutely. this is a great opportunity for warriors to have that first step in their recovery to get out and find their new normal. >> steve: all right. today to kick things off we've done this every year for the last nine years, we've got joe montana to kick things off. joe, are you ready? >> i'm always ready. not sure i can ride as far as they're going. all right. ladies and gentlemen, get on your way. >> steve: let's go! >> gretchen: good luck. >> steve: we'll get out of the way. allall right. >> peter: there is always a little delay. i got to give you fair warning. >> steve: i understand. there will be a little traffic in midtown manhattan. 48th and 6th avenue and luckily the police department of

new york city is cooperating. we've also got the fire department of new york. they've set up a beautiful display, gigantic flak here at 48th and 6th avenue. >> peter: ladder company 11 and 49. >> steve: we're ready. >> peter: finest and bravest with our wounded warriors. very nice. this all got started nine years ago right here on "fox & friends." fellow by the name of chris carney rode a bike a million miles -- rather raised a million dollars, 5,000 miles. it was really great. >> peter: let's give a big cheer for our wounded warriors as they get started! let's give a big new york and american cheer as they get going! these are our guys and gals! [ applause ] >> steve: the official kickoff, in two minutes

!

>> gretchen: here we're going to start the race right now. >> peter: they're off! yea! [ applause ] >> steve: soldier ride 2012. see you back here tomorrow. thanks for watching. sight. congratulations to everybody here. let's get it going now, fox news alert. another week and another poor jobs report for america. our shaky economy might be on loose sand yet again. we're hearing from you, voters who will have their say over who is responsible. 9:00 here in new york and good morning. i'm bill hemmer live in "america's newsroom." martha has the day off. how are you doing. >> much-deserved.

>> welcome back. >> i am jamie colby in for martin marietta martin marietta. martha maccallum. bill: 49% believe the president's policies contribute to the economic downturn. fox business network stuart varney here. mary katharine ham, editor-at-large hotair.com. stuart start with you. what is happening this week, stu? >> don't mince words. it is a terrible report. 386,000 new claims for jobless benefits is far too high. this makes it basically the worst recovery since world war ii from any recession. the use of the record recovery is being very generous indeed. three years after the end of the recession we should not see a high number of new jobless claims, period. bill: just a week ago we

were getting better. what happened? >> it was artificially low number. it included july 4th week. a lot of people didn't register for unemployment benefits. art fish -- artificially low. bill: they continue to go up. do we have a fix on that? >> the trends is u