> time for drama, obama. let's play "hardball." good evening, i'm crist matthews in washington. leading off tonight a jobs program or a campaign message? we learned today that president obama will unveil a plan to create jobs, and also cut the deficit. he will either get his way with it or he will use the plan to make the case that while he's interested in results, the republicans are chiefly concerned with saying no to everything and defeating him. it looks like the president is getting into the action here. also, have you noticed the loudest voices criticizing rick perry these days are not the white house or the republicans running against him? they're w. folks, as in george w. bush, who turned the phrase "the godfather" on its head. to them it's not business, it's strictly personal. plus perhaps you think tea

partiers are highly part sans, social conservatives who take a dim view of african-americans and immigrants and want to see religion play a bigger role in politics. guess what? two professors who have been studying the types say you're dead right. what did president obama have in centcom with bill clinton, even john adams? they've all been criticized for taking vacations. that's an open question tonight. let me finish tonight with a very simple proposition, mine on how president obama can get congress to pass a jobs bill. i call it porking out. we start with the president's jobs programs. jared bernstein, a former adviser to vice president joe biden, and howard fineman. gentlemen, let's talk about this speech now. do you have an inside -- first of all, you are an outsider now. do you know what the president will come out? >> i have some ideas, mostly from the outside. >> give us the inside first. >> the president will continue

to talk about what he's talked about so far, extending the payroll tax holiday. that's important. that's already in the system. if you do that, and you absolutely should, it keeps your foot on the accelerator, to let that stuff expire, as it's schedule to do do at the end of the year, that takes your foot off. >> so he's going to get payroll taxes down, and he's going to make sure the dollars go out. what does he do to create jobs? >> there's the infrastructure program. the president has talked about this idea of an infrastructure bank. not exactly the most resonant thing with people out there. i think he may be moving toward ideas that are easier for people to wrap their heads around i6r7b8g9s who in the white house is doing this now? when the president is on vacation, is going to be developing a hard plan. who is doing that?

>> the economics team is working on this, as they have been. they have never stopped. this is a plan that's going to be rolled out, have the kinds of components i mentioned, may a new hires tax credit, maybe something for the manufacturing. >> will the american people be impressed? will they smell the construction? will they imagine the shovels coming or the yans? or will they think more sundry items, unemployment compensation or say more blah blah blah? what's your hunch? >> that's a fair question. i think if the president pivots to a kind of resonant ideas like -- by the way, six america schools today fast, i know it's something that the white house is talking about. it's got some attention lately in the papers. this is an idea to fix schools -- >> i like the idea, labor intensive, hire a lot of people >> and people see the schools looking better. >> here's president obama talking that it's politics holding it back. >> the only thing holding us

back is the politics. no reason why we shouldn't put americans back to work all across the country, rebuilding america. we need roads and bridges and schools all across the country that could be rebuilt. all those folks who got laid off from construction because the economy went south or the housing bubble burst, they're dying for work. >> okay. there are the words. is he going to build? howard, do you have confidence? you're a loyalist largely, right? do you have confidence as a reporter studying this, that he's going to come out with something that's box office, it's going to be big, and people will say finally. >> no, and the reason i don't, he has to do two things. he has to be both really specific and vivid about the projects, but also give people a sense that he's got a theory about how this whole thing is

going to work. when he gives that speech in spept, it's going to be one speech about two different things. one will be about job creation. the other will be about the deficit plan. he has to show those are not in conflict, that somehow he has the whole thing figured out. on the specific front, if he were to say 500 projects in 500 days, here are the 500 projects, this will show you the tangible nature of what we are doing. picket 150 brinks, 150 roads, 150 schools. here are the 500. >> will he do it? >> i don't know what james sperling is cooking up over there. he goes back to the clinton administration. he's maser in devising economically saleable programs. he's not an economist, but a smart salesman of economic policy, i think jared would agree. >> absolutely. >> if he comes up with something, that's one half. the other half is the president has to saying we're in a period of all sister.

we can't spray water all over the place, we've got to drop one drop of water on each seed and be smart about how we're spending. he's got to convince the people that we're smart about it. the stimulus package has a bad rap, okay? it seemed like it was hasty, it was unfocused, some of the criticism is ahn fair, but it's baked in the cake. american people think that was a waste of money, that was watering the desert. >> well said. >> we can't afford to water the desert anymore. >> i've got to tell you, i agree with howard, i think the word "stimulus" is a bad work. pick up "new york times," "usa today" your local paper after the president speaks in september. will there be a big char that says 500,000 jobs, 200,000 jobs on highways? will there be something we can

see it and the republicans will have to say we have to take a look at it, they can't dismiss it. >> i completely agree with howard. >> no, wait, do you think that will be the case -- >> yes, i do, you might see three, and three is exactly what we need. >> 300 schools? >> no we're going to do schools, a hiring tax credit, and we're going to do a payroll tax cut. i think that's a flies, tight three-part package. if you talk about infrastructure, you're tot, a massive stimulus, with 100 moving parts, you're toast. i say a tight project. >> whoa, whoa, whoa, i say -- and this is -- i get this from the master hoar, take a bunch the projects in the states of all the republicans and sigh we're going to fix your school, your road, your bridge, it's 500. we're separately going to deal with the deficit. we're not going to be crazy with this, and then challenge them to oppose projects in their own districts. >> here is why i think the president has to be drama obama, not no-drama obama. a new poll out there as we

speak. gallup, the best poll out there. 26% approve the president's handling of the economy. 71% disapproved. so this stuff on the road he as been doing, what he's been saying isn't working. talking about what you talk about. payroll tax deduction. what you're saying isn't working. >> chris, i'm looking at the numbers, first that's an outlier, i'll bet. that is a very bad numb berm. but give him a chance. he just made a mistake of wasting two months completely offtopic with the debt ceiling and the debt. he's pivoting and pivoting hard. i would argue that number will go up.

the question is 35 or 45? that we'll have to see. he's got some fight back on him. >> let's go to congress, he spoke about needing to work with congress, and the congress is split, to create jobs. that requires a working relationship as in previous administration this is the way he's still talking about compromise. let's listen. >> there's something we can help on, but frankly we can do more if we have congress's cooperation. those are proposals that historically have had support from republicans and democrats. eisenhower build the highway system. last time i checked he was a popular president. this is what i mean by politics getting in the way. you can't bring an attitude that says i would rather see my opponent lose than america win. you can't have that attitude. >> i don't know. >> well, here's my view of it. i think his at -- i know he wants to be harry truman and run against the do-nothing congress, but he needs a specific, visit

popular plan to complain they're not doing anything about. to have an abstract philosophical view doesn't cut it. you have to have something specific and say we dare you to stop it. we dare you to stop it. he can be sharper. you made the point while we were listening to that, dwight eisenhower couldn't exist in the he couldn't get from lubbock to dallas, you know, without the federal government. someone's got to tell him there's an interstate highway system. >> eisenhower brought troops in. do you think he should desegregate the troops in little rock? >> i think reagan would be kicked out. >> i totally agree with howard on this point about drawing the lines, but that's what i heard

him doing. he may not be as dramatic as you like it, but that's who he is. >> what is he talking about deals making? >> he's running against a guy who probably will be the front-runner that's talking about secession from the union. he's talking about putting a deal together? they don't want a deal. they want him gone. >> absolutely. >> and i hear him bringing that -- >> i want to see a construction, a big thing of jobs. the 2 million jobs program, fixing schools, fixing highways, and put it in the districts and show all the schools in the districts of boehner and cantor. all the people -- show the schools that are going to hell, the railroads going to hell, we don't even have railroads anymore. >> what's happening is the republicans are willing to sacrifice their own ratings in congress to pull the president

down. that's what they've done. >> i think he's got to get connected with old-style politics -- i can't believe i'm talking like this. but i am. howard's always right. >> twice a day. howard fineman and jared bernstein. thank you. coming up, rick perry is the not getting any love. i'm talking about the w. people out there. it seems to be more personal than business, the opposite of ross in the godfather 2. you're watching "hardball" only on msnbc.

>> the biggest concern we have right now is not the launching of a major terrorist operation, though that risk is always there. the risk that we're especially concerned of right now is the lone wolf terrorist, somebody with a single weapon being able to carry out widescale massacres of the sort we saw in norway recently. >> wow, let's hope that doesn't happy. we'll be right back.

♪ [ male announcer ] an everyday moment can turn romantic anytime. ♪ and when it does, men with erectile dysfunction can be more confident in their ability to be ready with cialis for daily use. cialis for daily use is a clinically proven low-dose tablet you take every day, so you can be ready anytime the moment's right. [ man ] tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. don't take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. [ man ] do not drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed back ache or muscle ache. to avoid long-term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than 4 hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, stop taking cialis and call your doctor right away. [ male announcer ] ask your doctor if cialis for daily use is right for you. for a 30-tablet free trial offer,

go to cialis.com.

rick perry was campaigning today, but it was controversial comments earlier in the week. he said the fed chairman could be treasonous if he decided to print more money before the election. today he joked about the reaction. let's listen. >> i got in trouble talking about the federal reserve. [ laughter ] >> i got lectured about that yesterday. >> well, he made light of it, but many critics are taking his remarks quite seriously especially form ser bush adviser. here's karl rove going after the governor on fox yesterday. let's listen. >> you don't accuse the federal chairman of being a traitor to his country, being guilt of treason and suggesting we treat him ugly in texas. that's not a presidential

statement. >> wow, other bush aides, including tony fratto and frank winner, also criticized the remarks. why are bush folks lining up and talking up against their fellow texan? is it personal or does it say something about the republican party's fear? and it could be quite legitimate, as we know, of going too far right? julie mason joins us, and marge mark. thank you. i want to start with julie and this whole thing, what do you make of this? is this a personal war? a kerfuffle, or they really worry? are rove and those people worried that people may sink them in a year think think they can win?

>> they don't like perry. it goes back to texas in '98. and the governor's campaign then. rove actually convinced perfectly to switch parties and, and they consider him a bit of a rube, a bit of a country cousin. perry considers bush to be sort of the country club republican, not really heir to the true republican party. >> maybe they're both right. >> maybe. it does point out this whole fight for the heart and soul of the republican party. which side will win? will it be the perry partisan, the hard partisan christian right or more the bush side out of greenwich, connecticut? >> what is this -- i compared him to bull connor with a smile, maybe that was too far, but i'm still learning about the guy. he didn't like the accommodations being based on the interstate commerce clause.

rights any more. talked about secession, states' rights, the guys who hated, so i am suspicious, maybe i should not yet. there's something that keeps playing to the soddy buster attitude that doesn't like civil rights. i know the words. matt? >> i don't think that's fair, to be honest with you. this election will be about the economy. >> tell me what's not fair? >> well, i just think to harp on those specific things misses the 98% of what governor perry has done. >> so you think it's wrong -- you're saying it's wrong to say he's an enemy of the voting rights act, because his he doesn't really believe in states' rights, he really didn't believe in secession, so i'm wrong to listen to his words, you're saying? >> chris, what i'm saying is that you're getting off on some

bunny trails that aren't necessarily what this election will be about. >> not what he wants it to be about. >> well, what his record is. it's about job creation. texas has created more jobs since the recovery than the other 49 states combined. that's a very compelling argument to make next fall against president obama when you look at where he is. you rightly noted the gallup numbers. 26% approval on the economy. look, there are definitely things out there that will hatch on to. there will be some things to go after. is buzz fundamentally this election is about the economy. >> that's a political argument. i'm trying to figure out who this guy is. let me go back to julie. why does he use these terms, i don't like the voting rights act, i don't like the constitutional basis for the civil rights act? i'm talking up secessionism, i'm a states' rights guy? why does he talk like that? i just want to know why he uses those words over and over. >> he believes in that, chris, and you're right, he has

interesting points. rick perry, unlike mitt romney and other candidates, hasn't been vetted nationally. he has it answer these if he is going to be taken seriously as a candidate. he's only been in texas, not on the national stage. we're going to hear what he thinks, we'll see him respond, and it will be a fascinating process. he hasn't been through that wringer of the national vetting to run for president. >> all you have to do is look at google, matt, you're saying he wants to focus on things he didn't talk about before. >> he spends most of his time worried about job creation. he really does. he had a successful session, passed pro life, retort reform, one of the largest budget deficits without raising taxes in state's history. look, you ask any other governor, they would trade places with where texas is, because it's creating jobs, the economy is going good, no state income tax. it's an extremely interesting place to be right now. >> matt, i think there's some question when rick perry can realistically take credit for all of that. >> would he take blame if the unemployment rate was high? of course he would. >> yeah, but that's not the test.

his policies didn't laid to that great job development in texas, but he's going to try to run on but i'll cut him some slack. he's only been at it for a few days now. >> for that nice guy comment,

here comes of response. governor perry took a swipe. let's listen. >> yesterday, um, the president said i needed to watch what i say. uh, i just want to respond back, if i may. mr. president, actions speak louder than words. my actions as governor are helping create jobs in this it's time to get america working >> what do you think he meant when he said the other day, the governor, that he wanted to have the military proud of who their commander in chief was. what did that mean exactly? >> well, i would say this, governor perry is the only candidate in the race with military experience. >> are they not proud of being -- serving under the commander in chief now? i didn't know there was a lack of pride in serving under president obama. what's he talking about? >> look, i think that president

obama has taken on some of the national security policies of president bush's administration. it's different rhetoric from when he ran for office. he stayed in iraq, he surged into afghanistan. those policies were changes. >> he caught bin laden. >> yes, and the navy s.e.a.l.s caught bin laden, right. mr. obama's leadership 37. >> why are they not proud -- >> this election will not be on national security -- >> why do you keep saying it's not about what the candidate keeps saying it's about? i that is a direct personal shot at the nature of this president, who he is as a person. it doesn't even have to do with his lack of -- is this guy a birther? what is he? what is rick perry getting at here?

>> it's such throw-back politics, isn't it? it seems that he's raising an sure that doesn't even exist. >> matt, explain. >> i'm being put on the spot to look into someone else's mind and explain what they were thinking. that's an interesting exercise. i would just say that, look, as i said before, i know you want to take things he said, one sentence here and there and use it against him. >> no, i want to understand what he's talking about. >> well, let's talk about the nomination process, because this is important. i think our primary electoral want a conservative, an executive and someone to go directly at obama on his leadership. bachmann has one of those, perry has all three characteristics, so i think that's why you're seeing him number two, number two in new hampshire, very strong in iowa. so he's definitely on the rise right now. if you're mitt romney, you have to be worried. and if you're president obama you have to be worried about

rick perry. >> well, apparently you agree with him. julie, last one -- does he have problems? is he going to retreat from everything he said before? >> i think he's going to stand by -- he's so charismatic, such a fascinating character to watch. he is great at retail politics and there's things that could come back to haunt him, but i don't see him retreating. he'll own it. >> does he have any black support? >> i don't think so. not much. >> thank you both for joining us. up next, it looks like one person will be forgetting the now infamous catchphrase corporations are people, too. find out who is taking that one on in the bank. what a comment. you're watching "hardball," only back to "hardball." ugh, my feet are killin' me. well, we're here to get you custom orthotic inserts.

dr. scholl's custom fit orthotic center recommends the custom-fit orthotic that's best for your tired feet. foot-care scientists are behind it. you'll get all-day relief. for your tired achy feet. for locations, see drscholls.com. thank you...

back to "hardball." now for the sideshow. first up, the republican candidate mitt romney drew quite a bit of back lash when an

audience member asked questions about cuts in social security. he veered off into the defense of corporations. let's listen. >> corporations are people, my friend. we can raise taxes -- of course we can raise taxes -- of course they are. everything that corporations ultimately earn goes to people. where do you think it goes? [ laughter ] >> as he expected, equating massive corporations with human beings did not sit well. however, it's the democratic national committee taking the opportunity to capitalize on that gaffe, if you will. the dnc is selling t-shirts boasting the phrase, some of my best friends are corporations. it has a sketch of a candidate just above the phrase he coined. to avoid any possible confusion, the man that wears a pin that says "mitt." not hiding from that one. as rick perry launches full speed into campaign mode, it's hard to forget hi vocal stance. the home state of texas could decide to secede from the union at any point in time. fellow texan, and fellow republican, louie gomert i think he's a birther. explained, i think those comments were made tongue in cheek. i've talked to rick. i've known him. i know he has no intention of

ever seeing texas secede. that may play well some some sectors, i think the civil war pretty much decided that. that's gohmert speaking. i'm using the civil war as a states' right to sever ties from the union. something he may have to answer to. as the campaign heats up. interesting territory here, this guy. who are exactly the rank-and-file members of the tea party? are they politically nonpartisan? what exactly do they have in common? wait until you catch this. we've got the answers up next.

back to "hardball." so who really are the members, the members, not the leaders, the members of the tea party out there. two college professors say they have the answer, and often it's not who they say there are. quote, our analysis casts doubt on the tea party's origin story. early on they were often described as nonpartisan, neophytes, they were highly partisan republicans, long before the tea party was born. well, republicans really are tea party people and the other way around joan walsh is editor at large at salon, and at notre dame, his book is "american grace."

so, you're on, david. thank you, nice people in "new york times." it taught me a lot. and joan, i want you to jump in, your study tells us this is a pretext -- pretense that the tea partiers are conservative republicans, churchy, not fond of minorities particularly, et cetera. >> that's right. the way we did this study is we are able to look at what people were like and what they told us back in 2006, because we've been running an ongoing study where we started with 3,000 americans five years ago. now just another interview in the last few months. it's exactly as you described, highly partisan reps, not comfortable with minorities, and very comfortable with the mixture of research and politics.

>> what about their attitudes ethnically, about illegal immigration, immigration generally, about african-americans, you say they have a negative view? >> that's right. on both those matters, immigration and african-americans or at least their feelings, we find that the more any thif you are toward immigrants or the cooler you are toward african-americans, the more likely you are to be a tea party supporter. >> wow, wow, does this shock you joan? >> not a bit, though it's great research, great to have it, and david did a great job. i can't wait to read the book. this is what we've been saying from the beginning. it's a failure of the media. this is the republican base dressed up in funny costumes. we kind of called that at the beginning. the thing that was added in that probably -- i wish that david's research could quantify is the role of right-wing media. i went to the very first tea party here in san francisco, we actually had one, and talked to people.

it was run by our local right-wing radio station, the one that broadcasts rush, the one that broadcasts michael savage, so that's the thing that's kind of more theatrical, made it take over, but it's not anything different from what we've been seeing for the last 50 years. >> that's the one with the four letters in it, right? anyway, an excerpt of the tea party in your piece says -- so what to tea partiers have in commonalty? they are overwhelmingly white, but even compared to other white republicans, they had a low regard for immigrants and blacks long before barack obama was president, and they still do. how do you discern that? people never seem to admit racial prejudice. how did you get to that? >> on the question of immigrants, we asked, do you think more immigration, less immigration or stay about the same? if you were a person who said i

think we should have fewer immigrants, you were much more likely to be turned out to be a tea party supporter. on the question of how people perceive african-americans, we use a method that asks people to rate how they feel, are they warm or cold toward, in this case, african-americans but we also asked about lots of other groups and people as well. what we find is people seem to answer that question in a sensible way, so people that we would expect to be warmer toward a particular group, higher on that scale. if you expect it to be cooler, that's what we find. tea party supporters are markedly cooler toward after kaj americans. and i should mention f. also in comparison to other republicans. all these things we're finding are in comparison, not just to the general population, but to republicans as well. >> joan, your thoughts on that. >> it's not terribly surprising. it's not only about having a black president, though we have seen enough horrible instances of racism to know that that

matters, but people were very unsettled by the voting rights act, the civil rights act. that there's been a blacklash for a long time, and who have been very skeptical of the growing diversity and, you know, wonderful nature of our country, that we just somehow can't assimilate and welcome and love these last couple groups of people. it's just that it's too big a challenge for them. >> the faith matters study that you put together found that among tea party supporters, david, 76% said our laws and policies would be better if more elected officials were deeply religious. 32% believes it is perfectly proper for religious leaders to try and persuade people how to vote. 41% believe that political should be a social issue. so, it isn't a secular let's just cut the side of government and cut taxes party, is it? the tea party.

>> no, in fact that's actually what i think is most striking about the data that we have analyzed. while tea partiers are concerned about the size of government and they hold out positions you would expect, where they really stand out is on this question of how much interplay do we have between god and government. this is a group far more comfortable mixing religion and politics and having god in government than we find among, again, the general population, even when compared to other republicans. you know, that's why you would expect a rick perry or michele bachmann to have traction in this group. they are the sort of candidates that speak to those sorts of concern. >> join, it sounds like the conservative forces, the hard right forces, largely christian conservative. they said to outlaw abortion, they want to fight same-sex, the people that don't like immigration much at all, they don't like black opportunity or aspirations, they're basically hard righters and now they're calling themselves something new, they have a new name. they've rebranded. >> but they go back even farther than that, chris.

we have this idea that the founders created this country where we were going to separate church and state, but a lot of the founders from the very beginning wanted religion in politics and were always judging. there's a strong protestant evangelical culture in this country that took off after catholics. it's not like that hasn't been present where there's a nothing you have to be a white protestant to really embody the values of america. most people don't agree with that. the best news we have is to know the tea party is not to love the tea party. the more we know about them, the more the unfavorable ratings climb. people don't approve of what they're bringing to politics. >> i think i overstated by saying this buy is bull connor with a smile, and i'll take that back. i think i have to be care 68 learning this guy, dave, which a guy keeps says when he uses terms like secession, and he

talks about something wrong with the constitutional basis for the civil rights act. when he talks about states' rights. when he uses all the code of those old bad guys in the south, is it wrong to suspect he might have those views? david campbell? >> our data suggests that whatever governor perry's actual views are, those are phrases and issues that will resonate with the tea party faithful as we noted there, are generally pretty suspicious of minorities, but you know what's even more interesting about governor perry is the fact that he's so open and overt with his use of religion on the campaign trail, and that's going to resonate even more with the tea party faithful. >> right, excluding catholics, jews largely from his big prayer rally. i mean, it is a particular strain of religion, not religion

generally. >> it's great reporting. i love the work you're doing, david. so proud notre dame, once again your university has done something great for the country. i mean it. i mean it. >> thank you for having me. >> anyway, joan walsh, we all root for you guys in many, many ways. thank you, joan walsh. i'm a subway alum news. coming up, is it now a good time for president obama to take his vacation? boy, it seems to be bothering people, this vacation.

democrats in wisconsin have won a pair of recall challenges last night. two incumbent democratic state senators defeated republican challengers to hold on to their

seats. last week, of course, six republicans were the subject of a recall, four of the six won. this was the last round of the series of recall election in wisconsin, after which republicans remained in control. they won the final fight. we'll be right back. we're back. let me tell you about a very important phone call i made. when i got my medicare card, i realized i needed an aarp... medicare supplement insurance card, too. medicare is one of the great things about turning 65, but it doesn't cover everything. in fact, it only pays up to 80% of your part b expenses. if you're already on or eligible for medicare, call now to find out how an aarp... medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company, helps cover some of the medical expenses...

not paid by medicare part b. that can save you up to thousands of dollars. these are the only medicare supplement insurance plans... exclusively endorsed by aarp. when you call now, you'll get this free information kit... and guide to understanding medicare, i can keep my own doctor and choose my own hospital. and i don't need a referral to see a specialist. as with all medicare supplement plans, and help pay for what medicare doesn't. call this toll-free number now...

we're back. beginning tomorrow, president obama is taking off for ten days for a vacation up in martha's going away in which a time the economy is so fragile, unemployment is so high, and the credit rating has been downgraded for the first time in will this vacation end up hurting the president in the end or is it a temporary crisis?

let's take a look right now, here's the president talking about it. this was out in decora, iowa. >> some people have been saying mr. president, why don't you call congress back for a special session, and what i said is the last thing people need for confidence right now is to watch folks on capitol hill arguing all over again. and hopefully when they come back in september, they are going to have a wake-up call that says we need to move the economy forward. >> okay, ken walsh, you've decided to work this issue. it is so tricky. i have to say in defense of this town, it's empty. if he were working this week, he'd be the only one working in washington. >> that's true. that's true. there's two points, one is taking the vacation itself, and the second is where he's going. having written a book about

this, i'm very sympathetic to presidents going on vacation, everybody needs a break, and every summer i do -- i talk about this and write columns and stuff about it. this time i do think it's different. with the economic hardship, obama talking about shared sacrifice, martha's vineyard to me does not seem the place to go, exclusive people vacation there, even if he disguises or camouflages playing golf and so on, doesn't allow photos. >> can't get away with that. >> can't get away with that anymore. >> jack kennedy used to play golf and no one got pictures of him, but not this president. >> i expect they are going to try to limit that sort of thing, he may have some events he's going to do up there. >> by the way, bill clinton, who has a good reputation these days, used to go up there and have the first day picture with him and vernon walston, then he was left alone, maybe going into a store to buy a book or something. >> right, right, and he loved socializing, loved to hang around with the people he'd

known at a distance all his life, celebrities, all the people, the movies he'd watch them in, that sort of thing. obama doesn't seem to be in that world, but these summer vacations have become political events now, because people -- every president no matter democrat or republican always gets hammered for going on vacation. it goes way, way back, eisenhower was criticized for being a part-time president because he went to gettysburg, his farm there so often, but there's an interesting history when the presidents do get away, there's sort of a star-crossed nature to it. look at all the presidents who've had problems during the august vacation. >> 9/11. >> hurricane katrina. >> remember the great memo of condoleezza rice?

let's look at a few presidents who have had their vacations interrupted. here's that memorable photo of president george w. bush flying over new orleans, looking at the aftermath of katrina. didn't help, bush was forced to go back to washington in august of 2005. herself president clinton on vacation in martha's vineyard in '94. here's a photo of former president george herbert walker bush fishing up in maine, former president actually cancelled a trip in '92 to monitor a standoff over nuclear inspections in iraq, so this has been going on and on. i remember clinton one summer because of one of his advisors said go west, young man, don't go to martha's vineyard. >> he went to the teetons. >> that helped him. >> it helped him, but he never went back after he was reelected. >> i'm going out there with my daughter at the snake river. we're going to do time on the river for graduation present.

>> he didn't have a great time after the election, back to martha's vineyard. >> will we be talking about this next month? >> probably not. >> thank you so much. what a great guy for taking on a tough one. when we return, let me finish with how congress can pass a jobs bill. wait until you hear it, it's really gross, but i think it even more money when you switch your car insurance to esurance. i could save 'em 522 smackers. you talkin' dough? bread. benjamins? scratch. greenbacks. moolah. cheddar... simoleons! don't try to out-save me. [ female announcer ] any way you say it, $522 is the average amount saved by people who switched to esurance. 522 bucks! [ female announcer ] to find out how much you'll save, call 1-800-esurance or visit esurance.com right now. that's 1-800-esurance or go to esurance.com.

let me finish tonight with a simple proposition. it's how president obama can get congress to pass a jobs bill. call it porking out. got it? i bet you do already. all he has to do is combine the projects that all the members of congress have asked for in their districts, the dams they want fixed, road project, sewer and water projects they want funded. take all those projects in one big, fat bill, a wedding of pork projects and send it up to capitol hill, then alert every media outlet about what's at stake in each hamlet in the country, pet projects that will finally get done and put local folk on the job, getting a payroll, getting it done. okay, i'm calling it porking out, because that's, of course, what it is. it's doing jobs that people at

the local level want done, but you know what, at least it's something. it's putting people to work doing jobs that people, dare i say the word voters, want done and will see being done. voters will see people being put to work who were previously unemployed. how's that for an improvement in reality? it would be hard for congress to vote against it because these are the very projects they would have been pushing for themselves, drafting bills to get funded, talking it up in their news letters and local press, so why not, mr. president, pork out, put a jobs bill out there they are already voting for, they've already voted for supporting, make them an offer they can't refuse or can't without looking any more politically constipated than they already do. that's "hardball." thanks for being with us, the last word with melissa harris-perry in for lawrence o'donnell starts right now. good evening, i'm melissa harris-perry in for lawrence o'donnell. president obama's planning a major speech on jobs after labor day,it