tonight, swiftboating the president. rick perry questioning president obama's love of country. is his birth certificate next? karl rove's why the man they call bush's brain wants to take perry down. plus republicans are charging admissionç to their o halls? are you kidding me? on the party of cold hard cash. and elvis has left the building. why michele bachmann's latest gaffe is her best yet. welcome to the show. i'm al sharpton. tonight's lead -- swiftboating the president of the united states. we've seen this before, the dirty that i that republicans do their differy business. we remember the attacks on the nominee back in 2004 --

>> gave aid and comfort 209 enemy. >> dishonored his country and more importantly the people he served with. >> swiftboat veterans for truth is responsible for the content of this advertisement. >> we saw similar hate-filled rhetoric at the republican rallies in 2008. >> our opponent is someone who sees america as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who targeted their own country. >> i hope americans know that is not what our brave men and women are doing in afghanistan. >> who is the real barack obama? and, of course, we saw it with the poisonous birther attacks as well. now we're seeing it from the new republican star, rick perry.

in the few days since he began his campaign, he launched a series of smears against president obama. first perry suggested that the military doesn't respect our commander in chief. o cf1 oer in chief. the powerful reasons i'm running for the presidency of the united states is to make sure that every young man and woman who puts on a uniform of this country respects highly the president of the united states. >> but perry wasn't done. the next night he said president obama hadn't served his country. >> the president had the opportunity to serve his country. i'm sure at some time, and he made a decision that wasn't what he want to do do. >> the same night perry questioned the president's patriotism. >> i don't know. you need to ask him. >> are you suggesting he does

not? >> i'm saying you're a good reporter. go ask him. >> but he kept going. he even took aim at ben bernanke, the fed chair. >> if this guy prints more money between now and the election we would treat him pretty ugly down in texas. i mean, printing more money to play politics at this particular time in american history is almost treasonous in my opinion. >> treason? this from a man who suggested texas should secede from the union? >> we've got a great union. there's no reason to dissolve it, but if washington continuing to thumb their nose at the american people, who knows what might come out of that.

>> well, i am at almost a loss of words. when i think of a man who would suggest that, texas leaving the union, and then trying to say fed chair bernanke, who by the way, was appointed by george bush, doing to try to keep some of the currency in the economy and keep things going, whether you agree with that or not, treason, i think that clearly it is a lot more in the world of suggesting that when you talk about a state seceding the union. when you're talking about a man who's the champion of states' rights while he questions voter rights, civil rights that are laws, the uglyness of mr. perry saying that there's a black cloud over the united states.

is this a strait of creating an environment that's so ugly that it can do anything but polarize and divide? i think we need to deal with it early and firmly. joining me now is democratic strategist bob shrum, senior adviser to john kerry in the 2004 campaign and msnbc analyst michael steele, former rnc chairman. thank you both for being here tonight. >> good to be with you, al. >> glad to be here. >> let me start with you, michael. isn't perry crossing the line with all of this, talking about treasonous, talking about black cloud over the country? i mean, isn't this way over the line? >> no, i don't think so, al.

i think it's part of the dog days of summer and the hot rhetoric of campaigning, and it's everything that you cited in yourç opening was said aboua republican candidate or president in the last ten years. so, you know, it is what it is. bloth sides engage any hyper boli, even the reference of black cloud, really? you want to stretch it that far. >> i just quoted what he said. i didn't give a conclusion. >> it's your inference, al, and you know your inference. >> let me ask you a question. >> yes, sir. >> since you said that it has been said about every republican candidate in the last ten years and i ran the last ten years, tell me any candidate running in a democratic primary that said statements like that about any republican. >> there are all kinds of hot

statements made about -- >> name them, that said that they were reminded them of a cloud over the country? that questioned -- i mean, come on, you're talking about a candidates for president, michael. >> wait a minute. excuse me, al, there's a difference between being a candidate and running against a president, and being, you know, having an open primary or situation where there is no president to talk about. i mean, so the reality of it is that saying, you know, that the president is a dark cloud over the economy, yeah, the -- that sort of reasonable statement to me. i've heard others make that reference in terms of the snuff economy, the dark cloud, faying -- i'm here to explain, not defend or deny. you schedule me a question, i'm letting you know that basically you're taking it too far as usual. >> all right. -- well, you don'tç -- well, a usual, well, there was an aide

to mr. bush today that said it was inappropriate and unpresidential. >> and that is that aide's view. >> there are some republicans that have done what you won't do, saying that statement is wrong. bob shrum, i don't think that it's too much to ask republicans, since you have people even like karl rove saying they're going too far to the right to denounce this ugliness. mr. steele thinks i'm going to far. i don't think i'm going too far that i'm even agrees with karl rove. >> well, that's a moment, let me tell you. >> i thought michael was going to agree with you that this was inappropriate. you're absolutely right. these two things -- the swiftboating and what's happening now are similarly despicable. in one case you had the war hero being attacked by the support of the a guy that barely showed up for his national guard service.

in the other case, you have the guy who got osama bin laden as president of the united states is being attacked as patriotic. president obama proves every day he loves this country. his whole life proves it. in one day rick perry has proved he's not prepared, not really ready for primetime. >> wow. >> but i would like to say to michael, there's not one case where i can think of where a democratic nominee or candidate for president, serious candidate said something like this about a republican incumbent president. you know how john kerry began the debate in 2004, really, bo? >> he began it by saying -- by saying both george bushç and i love this country. we just have different views of where to lead it. >> and then went on to talk about the president's and the vice president's failure to serve that country in vietnam. >> actually, he did not.

michael, did you even watch the debate. >> i did watch the debate. >> he did not. >> you know, guys, look, i get the joke here. i mean, this is perfectly. >> it's not a joke, michael, to say that somebody didn't love the country and he's president of the united states, to call the chairman of the federal board -- >> you sit back -- >> because he's got the policies of a -- it's ugly, it's despicable. >> that's fine. >> you don't have the guts to denounce it. >> you know why it's surprising to me, michael, i'll let you respond in just a minute. >> go ahead. >> i can remember so many times in my life that i've been called on to denounce things others have said and to apologize what i have said. >> there's nothing to denounce here. >> will you please let me finish? and i think they have been right on many occasions, but when someone would even just question you, is this over the line, you get insulted. >> i'm not insulted.

i don't take any of this personally. >> you know he's over the line, and i'm quoting to you other republicans have said he's over the line. >> you're quoting other republicans who are in a political is it match with the governor of texas. >> tell us all about it. what is the match? >> everybody in politics knows that the rove/bush camp and the perry camp have been at odds for a long, long time. so you're saying that bush, roveç -- >> reverend, please don't -- oh, please. come on, this is a revelation to you, all right? >> i'm asking you the question. >> you know, michael, you can do the decent thing and say what you think. this is what the political season is going to be like. there's nothing enlightening about any of this conversation. >> i think it's very enlightning. >> and just sit back and wanted to hear.

>> think it's enlightning that would question the president's patriotism, question his military record. >> please, come on, you didn't question george bush's patriotism and his military record? dib cheney's and everybody else's? stop with the disingenuous nonsense. this is so silly. by reaffirming what the -- >> >> he started by saying we have different visions. michael, why can't you say the decent thing? >> what is the decent thing? >> i know you think it. >> what? >> that these attacks are ugly and inappropriate. >> let's just get it all out on the street now, so we can get past this craziness and sit down and sigh what these gentlemen want to do for the country. >> i just think that it is interesting that america sees we remember bob shrum when the president ran, we had to deal

with everything not only what he said, what the pastor of the church he used to go to said. we had to deal with anybody that ever went to their house said. now all of a sudden this is sillyness, this is a joke. >> excuse me, reverend, look -- >> who would governor perry saying that -- >> excuse me -- >> they call that a double stud, mr. steele. >> you clearly don't know what i said about thatç at that time. i thought that that conversation was silly. so i'm at least bess consistent in terms of what i view -- >> it wasn't silly. it was sinister. >> well, that's your characterization. my characterization is that it's silly. >> they have gone after this president's character every step of the way. >> yeah, he's such a victim. >> saying you disagree with him on policy, but you credit -- >> the same thing happens the other way. >> i think -- >> such a victim. >> i think you'll have to deal with the fact, mr. steele, that some people will raise questions

in these primaries because they were raised by the leaders of your party in the last primary. if you said it was silly then, say it's silly now. >> i just did. it's silly. it's silly. >> but i agree it is legitimate questions to ask, and i'm going to keep asking them. >> you can keep asking, but it doesn't change the sillyness of it. >> i do not think it's healthy for this country for this man to behave in a way -- to act like this president is unpatriotic, who did what mr. bush, your nominee and president, did not do. >> he wasn't your president, either? >> he was certainty my president when he was -- he was not nigh nominee. >> i think he means he was a republican president. you know that. >> i thought it was our president. >> he was all of our president. >> but he was also a many president. >> and you guys went after him

with every tooth, saw and nail that you could -- >> give an example, michael. >> you have to prepare for these shows. >> thank you both for your time today. president obama is focusing on jobs. can he get republicans ready to get serious? plus president obama came face-to-face with the tea party in iowa last çnight. we'll introduce you to the young fella that had his facts wrong. and paul ryan remembered what it was like facing his own constituents. >> we do -- -- >> his plan this time around -- charge money. i'm serious. stay with us. announcer ] anan anthis...is the netwo.

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glue we'll talk to ohio

congresswoman marcie captor about the president talking jobs in iowa today. jobs. jobs. where are the jobs? where are the jobs? we'll talk about that next. newtons fruit thins, one unique cookie.

especially behind the wheel. nothing wrong with that. in fact, allstate gives them a bonus -- twice a year -- for being safe drivers. dollar for dollar, nobody protects you like allstate. understanding that ultimately the private sector is going to be creating jobs, but also understanding that the government can be an effective partner in that process. our job is not finished until every single american who's looking for a job can find a job. >> to put our country back to work. that's our great challenge, it has been my central mission for the last 2 1/2 years, it has to be all of our central missions

going forward. getting americans back to work. still the president's number one job. the president was on the road in way again today talking about getting rural america back to work. he says the key is a balanced plan. >> in washington, you'd think that the only two ways of thinking about our problems is either government is terrible and it has to be basically eliminate d or government is th answer to every problem. it's not either/or. it's a recognition that the prime driver of economic growth and jobs is going to be our people and the private sector and our businesses. but you know what? government can help. >> and the president's newç proposal to help rule america reflects that balanced approach if he wants the small business

administration's rural investment capital, it would be one way to do it. conferences that are connecting start-ups for rural investors and offers loans so rural hospitals can hire new doctors, and spread the local economy. these ideas are just the tip of theitis berg, with the president due to unveil a full jobs plan in september. here to talk about it is democratic congresswoman marcy kaptur of ohio. thank you, reverend sharpton. >> these new preels come apt the president's otherably ideas, which including extending payroll tax cuts, are these plans going to get americans back to work? are they going to really go through? >> my first comment is i'm glad

the president is on the topic of jobs. that is where we need to put 80% of our focus, and it is the reason we have these deficits, because we're losing $4 trillion in this decade, because people aren't working. we've got, oh, 12 to 25 million people out of work or working two and three part-time jobs. this is a huge drag on the economy and also our trade deficit. we're half a trillion more goods come in here from elsewhere than we're able to export. the trade deficit is a hue downdraft on growth in this country, so the president is on the right subject. i find the president sort of between home plate and first base inç terms of where he reay needs to be on jobs, and we need to incentivize job creation in our country, because all these tax benefits that have been going out for well over a decades have created jobs in china, jobs in indonesia, jobs in mexico, but not enough jobs

here in our country. so we have to have a patriotic capitalism that rewards investment here. the particular program that the president was talking about, and many of his programs, from an economic standpoint do not create jobs now. they actually only yield about one third, 0.3 to economic growth, whereas if you move into infrastructure and the repair of our communities, you yield $1.37 reinvested in the economy, up to $1.67 for every federal dollar that's spent on repairing roads, bridges, reforestation projects, repairing buildings around or country. so he's not quite where we need him to be, but like i say, he's moving to first base. >> he's moving from -- he's not moving from third to home plate. i think that means he's got a

long way to go, congresswoman. >> oh, no. >> i like the bill that one of your colleagues has, the fast bill, talking about repairing schools. all these things i think are something that is more immediate. but the real question i said to you in the beginning -- can we get this through? all of us can have the most utopian plan in the world, but given the makeup of the congress, what can we get through that will relieve the problems of the unemployed? >> well, first of all, i think the president is right in getting out of the washington. in order to be successful on the jobs front, heç needs to go to the places that are hurting so much, and iowa is okay. i love the people of iowa, i've been there many times, i've been to newton iowa, where may tag shut down and moved to mexico. closed thousands of jobs and a

wonderful company down. but iowa is a little atypical. unemployment there is lower than in places like i represent, ohio, and the president needs to take his case to the american people. i think that deficit and debt limit issue got out of control in washington, because he kept inviting people into the white house. he's got to take his case to the american people and go where people are out of work. they want to hear what he's going to do. >> and i think the american people have to bring it to a lot of you guys in congress, because again, i don't know how we get through unless he change the climate. i think some of us need to come to washington. let's go now -- i'd like to bring in huffington post reporter and msnbc analyst alex wagner. is this balanced approach that the president is using to tackle rural jobs a preview of what we can expect in september? he's talking about this big job

plan he's going to unveil in september. he's got to deal with the congress that the republicans are the majority of the house, is this balanced approach a forecast of what we're going to see? >> he has to go for a balanced approach. we saw from the debt limit debate that he's between a rock and a hard place, to a certainly extent. you have a field of presidential candidates at this point, a 10:1 balance. for every $10 of government expenditures cut, could they do $1? tax revenues? no. we are at the point where obama can haveç these elegant jobs plans, but in terms of getting them through, he's got to shoot for the center. even that may not be enough. >> the other thing i'm reading a published report today is you have the gas tax that will expire in september. this may be the next fight for those that have signed these nor quist pledges of no taxes at all. we may have a showdown over the

continuation of gas tax, which affects a lot of the r50dways and infrastructure dollars that we actually need to continue working. >> look, the debt limit debate was never about a contentious issue up until this year. you have these sort of marks in the road where the gop has signaled that they are prepared to -- i hesitate to use the word hi jacket, but they are prepared to hold the president accountable and also really fight to the death on this stuff. i mean, these are sort of routine -- this is routine legislation, and they're using everything in the arsenal, largely for political gain, which is why i think you see the white house, today and days previous saying, look these are people putting party before country. >> you hate to use the word hi jacked? somebody is careful with the language tonight. congresswoman, why can't the congress convene? i have a witness i would like to bring before the congress,

particularly the republicans in the house that don't want to see any tax increases. i would like you to call to the stand this man to testify to them on why we need to change taxes in this country. one of the richest men in the country. >> even a rich country has limits. we have promised things that we can't deliver on, and that's a mistake, but we're also in the process undertaxing the very rich. what i propose incidentally would not touch the taxes of 99.7%. i'm talking about 0.3 of 1%. this is warren buffett saying that we need to stop coddling our super-rich, including himself. congresswoman, can't we really put pressure on the republicans in the chamber with you, when we hear even some of the super-rich saying, this is ridiculous?

>> well, i agree with mr. buffett, and thank goodness there's one lone ranger out there calling people of conscience to task. i would ask the chairman of the ways and means commit aye, mr. camp, congressman camp of michigan, to invite mr. buffett, and frankly if the republicans won't do it, the democrats have means in the house to give mr. buffett and any of his colleagues from wall street who helped drive us into this situation we're in right now, along with the oil companies that raised prices over $6. that's why the market tanked in 2008. bring some of those individuals, and we will give them space, airspace to tell their story. i'm very proud of him. i thank him for doing that. >> thank you for being with us tonight. thank you, alex, for joining us this evening. ahead, paul ryan heard from his constituents a few months

ago. now he has a plan to escape. stay with us.

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president obama has come face-to-face with the tea party in iowa. the party's leader there is a 29-year-old unemployed failed politician named ryan rogues. at monday's town hall, he got up close and personal with the >> when you're talking about civility, how is your vice

president calling us terrorists -- >> he did not call you terrorists. >> he said we were acting like terrorists. >> he said for us to be willing to go -- was irresponsible, and it was. >> rhodes should get his facts straight. reply do recently reported that vice president biden called tea party terrorists, but biden denied having said that. he told cbs, quote, i did not use the "terrorism" word. i never said they were terrorists or weren't. i just let the democrats vent. in spite of his misinformation, rhodes is already a new right-wing celebrity. he was on rush limbaugh this afternoon. rhodes has never held office. didn't win the congressional campaign he managed. he studied turf grassroots management in college and got into politics because of a blood

drive. it's reported he sauce his fellow students protesting the red cross van on taking blood dough mailings from gay men. rhodes thought the protest was too, quote, politically correct" and that spurred him into getting involved. 9 or he wasn't inspired by a candidate, and he doesn't have much of a resume, and he certainly needs a fact checker. but congratulations, tea party. ryan rhodes is your king maker in iowa. way to go. every day, all around the world,

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welcome back. bl you're talking about politics or stick ball, one rule applies. for every action, there is a reaction. so when republicans made a big deal of paul ryan's medicare killing budget plan, here's the response they got. >> we do tax the top.

>> you're a congressman. don't laugh at us. >> if you vote to eliminate medicare as it is today? >> no. >> yes. >> yes, you voted yes. >> i want to know how a profit motive makes my care more efficient. you see actual voters were very unhappy. it turns out the gop isn't toot could not on those youtube videos, so they've come up with a absolute. silence the poor and middle class. the solution -- they've start to do charge constituents money to ask them questions. for $35, people can question arizona congressman ben quail, and they can quick minnesota representative chip cravic.

other republicans like paul ryan aren't really holding any town hall meetings during the summer break at all. but if you're in ryan's district and want to ask him a question, you can pay $15 to attend a luncheon sponsored by a local rotary club. that's what i think democracy is, paying to get your voice heard. joining me is keith ellison, democrat from minnesota. congressman, it is absurd to me that if we're talking about voting on unemployment, insurance extensions, and people getting funds because they need help because they don't have a job, that in some of the districts of the people that are advocating this, unless they can afford to go to a luncheon or some event, they can't even ask their congress person a question. >> i say shame on them. you know, democracy means

stewardship of the people. these three teem charging to get access to them are proving this fear that our country could be lurching toward plutocracy. but if you're in oakland, california tonight and want to meet with the progressive congress, you can see barbara lee and nancy pelosi tonight for free, because we really want to know what you have to say. just last night i was meeting with constituents, and of course we don't charge a thing. we meet all the time and never charge. it's our duty to reach out and hear from the people. this is a story i thought was going to be -- was a joke or spoof, something on "the onion" but sadly it's true. >> it may not be an onion, but may make you have tears in your eyes. in haul fairness, congressman

ryan's office released a statement. they say it was never intended to be a town hall meeting or fund-rais fund-raiser. it was a luncheon event with the rotary club, and to cover the food, they are charging $15 to guests. that's fair, but what they don't explain is why there were more than a dozen free town hall meetings when mr. ryan rolled out his whole attack on president obama's health care plan, and we don't see they free town hall meetings by congressman ryan and others now in the wake of their plan and in the wake of the whole deficit reduction fight and debt ceiling debate. so why aren't we seeing, before they try to define what -- why aren't we seeing them having what you have, open stony hall meetings accessible meeting for free for their constituents that they did so proudly and openly

when they were questioning the health care bill ofç president obama? >> because they simply don't want to be accountable to the people. add let me tell you, when the health care bill was going through, i had some tea party representatives come to a town hall. they tried to get a little rowdy. we let them talk and say their peace, and we a good community forum. we talk to people whether they agree or disagree, because that's the voice of the people. we're not hearing from these gentleman now, because they simply have other things to do than to listen to the voice of the people. this is disappointing, this is a shame, and you know what? the very poor people who don't have work, they don't have $15 or $35 to talk to a congressman. when is nair chance to voice their opinion? >> well, that's the problem. now i'm told that congressman ryan's office says we are having phone town hall meeting. >> phone? what about face-to-face? >> not only what about

face-to-face, there's all kinds of things you can have with problems and editing and in and out on a phone, and of course not to question the fact that you're talking about people who now have to run up their phone bills or cell phone bills or whatever phone they may use, hoping to be able to break through to talk to their congressman. i think i heard somebody saying something about a duty? >> a duty, a constitutional responsibility, a moral charge and responsibility to listen to people. it doesn't matter whether you agree with them or not. the fact is, if you're a public servant, the operative word is "servant" and this is what we need to be encouraging. if anybody doesn't want to talk to members of their community, their constituents, then i don't think they deserve to be in office, and i hope that the people who live in the districts of these members take very careful note of this decision.

i hope they pay for it in polls. >>9z hope they remember they can vote free. thank you for your time today. >> thank you. . the perfectly/bush similar are striking, but there's one major difference, and it could sink rick perry. is he ready for the rove attack machine? and are republicans rooting for a bad economy? one of president obama's closest advisers goes there. we'll debate that one, next. counts on me to stay focused.m so i take one a day men's 50+ advantage. it's the only complete multivitamin with ginkgo to support memory and concentration. plus vitamin d to help maintain healthy blood pressure. [ bat cracks ] that's a hit. one a day men's. in one place. ♪ the front-row tickets you never bought. the lucrative investment you never made. the exotic vacation you never took. but there's one opportunity that's too good to miss.

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welcome back to the show. some hot political talkers today, let's bring in the hot ones that i think can handle these hot issues today, mike at dyson georgetown university. political analyst and ron christie, president -- let's start with president obama and the economy. this morning president obama's former press secretary robert gibbs pointed the finger right at republicans, saying they want to see the -- >> at some point you get to ask yourself, are they not dealing with these things, because quite frankly they just don't want to see this economy get better, because they want to see an election that might turn out better for them?

>> mike at, is he right? >> i think so. i think somebody finally has the courage to say so, somebody in the obama camp steps forward and articulates a truth that many of us have believed for a long time, the republicans are willing to do anything, especially the far right wing, to make us lose our aaa rating, to talk about a reduction in spending, and to raise the debt reverend al, of really sticking it to poor people, working class people and the working poor. so i think that if the economy isn't doing well, then president obama's chances of reelection in their minds won't be as strong, and as a result of that, they have proved they're willing to take this economy and country hostage to their narrow parochial and bitter beliefs. >> ron, there are some that have said their priority is to make sure that president obama is a one-term president. is it not possible that that

would even be their priority over the economic health of this country? >> of course not. i mean, the suggestion that republicans would want americans to be out of work, this country wouldn't be the strongest, the best in the world for political purposes is absurd. the fact of the matter is that the senate has not passed a budget in two years. president obama's budget was voted down 97-0 in the united states senate. rather than trying to blame the republicans, rather than trying to be desperate hand come up with these attacks, i think robert gibbs would have been far more responsible to say why has it taken president obama 2 1/2 years to put forward a jobs plan, and why is he going to martha's vineyard later this week at a $50,000 a week place to vacation. he should have called congress back. they need to get this economy right, and republicans and democrats -- >> let me ask you a question, ron, so when michele bachmann

said let the country default, that was absurd? that's what you said, for anybody to say that. you're saying that when she and others said let it go, that was absurd? >> what michele bachmann said is we should not raise the debt limit. what we have done is given democrats and the president trillions more irresponsible opportuniáes to spend money. what she had and what i believe is we should have slashed trillions which of course would not have required to raise the debt limit. >> but we couldn't come to agreement and that would have led to default. >> this is so ironic that president obama is saying we should not -- >> we can't have -- >> no, no, no, senator obama said it's irresponsible to raise the debt limit. now that he's president obama and the republicans say we should cut spending, this president is the wishy-washiest lack of leadership, it's pathetic. >> you're getting away from the point. >> i answered the question. >> dr. dyson, the clear pattern

in the negotiations were that there was the move that either we are going to get this this way or we're going to let the country default. >> no question -- >> is it irrational to think that some involved, maybe not all, were clearly saying it is better politics for us to do that? >> absolutely right. it's absolutely not absurd to believe that, with all due respect to my dear friend mr. christie, the reality is the proof is in the pudding. people were willing to say they would take this economy hostage. that means what that translates into is we're willing to do anything to derail the prospects of this economy getting back on track and for president obama to be given the victory much the right wing has been adamant about refusing to see to mr. obama, president obama, hits legitimacy and his creative contribution to strengthen this economy. the politics of austerity will do nothing to get us back on track. we need to stimulate this

economy, create jobs directly, stimulate the economy through consumer spending, as opposed to enormous attack on people's reality. >> create jobs. >> so people will have a contribution to the economy. >> i have to ask you this for the sake of consistency. when you attack the presidentç who is now on a bus tour in iowa, was in minnesota, for going on vacation later this week, did you also have that position when president bush kept going on vacation when he had us in the middle of two wars? >> the president bush he went home to his ranch in texas. >> it was called vacation. >> a working vacation. >> no, i'm talking about the fact of the matter he's -- i'm saying never let the republicans talk. >> we'll be right back. every day, all around the world,

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today we saw another classic gaffe by michele bachmann. she was in south carolina trying to pay tribute toç the king.

let's all say happy birthday to elvis presley. >> uh-oh. it's the day he died today. of course, this isn't the first time she's had a major flub about a cultural icon. there was the time she confused an american icon with a serial killer. >> well, what i want them to know, just like john wayne was from waterloo iowa, that's the spirit i have, too. >> it turns out that john wayne gacys serial killer was from water look. >> the very founders that wrote those documents worked tirelessly until slavery was no more in the understanding.

>> that's just ridiculous, and bachmann has gone after geography, too. >> what i love about new hampshire and what we have in common is our extreme love for liberty. you're the state where the shot was heard around the ward at lexington and concord. >> i don't doubt bachmann may love in that in that, but the battles were fought in massachusetts. the latest gaffe may be her best, wishing elvis happy birthday on the day of his death. i think she's just upset because of this. ♪ don't you ♪ step on my blue suede shoes ♪ >> you see bachmann might be upsetç that elvis may have sai blue suede shoes, you know, blue rather than red? my fear is whether you wear blue she's, red shoes, blue or red states, we mayll