welcome back to "morning joe." you know, willie, some people are just weird. some people are just weird. and john heilman fits in that c category. >> you do. >> i applaud your appearance on the "today" show. >> i applaud your wife. >> big fan of "soul train", i'd like to see him do his moonwalk. >> just stop. i don't even know what that means. all right. >> really? >> what have you learned? >> nothing. nothing. >> really? >> it's "way too early." >> the longest war in american history may be over sooner than expected. defense secretary lee on panetta says the u.s. combat operations in afghanistan could end as soon as next year. what does it all mean for that country's future?

our own and has a political impact. >> and a poor day for mitt romney, to say the least. conservatives pile up and are romney's words the problem or something much worse in their mindz? and the donald ducks into vegas for a side show. will get behind newt gingrich or it could be romney? does he have another surprise in store, as usual, the donald trying to play this for all its worth. it's groundhog day. i feel sorry for the folks reliving this day with donald trump. it's february 2 nld, 2012. this is "the daily run down," i'm chuck todd. we're going to show you live pictures of the national prayer breakfa breakfast. president obama is expected to speak. first, i'll give you my first reads of the morning. the latest sign that the u.s. and nato allies are trying to wind down in very unpopular war right now in a lot of

democracies around the world. the decade-long war in afghanistan, defense secretary lee on panetta told reporters on the press plane that the combat mission may end a ye o the latte part of 2013 we'll be able to make a transition from a combat role to a training advice and assist role. now panetta is attending a meeting of nato defense ministers and the comments come a day after a report was leaked to the press suggesting that the taliban's morale in afghanistan remains xpleextremely high. they say, of course, it takes time to end a combat mission and emphasizing that panetta also said this, "it doesn't mean that we're not going to be combat ready. we will be because we always have to be in order to defend ourselves." panetta's comments reflect a growing feeling in the administration that iraq with the official end of combat operations came 16 months before the final troop withdrawal may be a model for afghanistan.

and already republicans are responding. mitt romney last night in las vegas. >> the taliban hears it. the pakistanis hear it. the afghan leaders hear it. why in the world do you go to the people that you're fighting with and tell them the day you're pulling out your troops? his naive take is putting in jeopardy the commitment to freedom. >> and john mccain said in a staple, "it sends exactly the wrong signal to our friends and enemies in this conflict. it continues the administration's misguided policy of publicly forecasting plans to withdraw." the criticism is on saying it publicly. the criticism isn't on the withdrawal plan itself. the idea that this may be how it works. but politically, president obama in early september in his acceptance speech to be able to say, it's going to be a big applause, ended the war in iraq and beginning the wind down in the war in afghanistan. that's going to be a big

applause line. it will be interrogatory see how often republicans really do try to hit the president on this because they know independents have war fatigue as much as any part of the electorate or any part of military families or, frankly, other countries that are involved in this mission. now, moving on to the campaign trail itself. mitt romney arrived in nevada yesterday. it wasn't a strong performance in the caucuses in 2008 people were talking about, nor was it his 14-point florida win. it was this sound bite. >> i'm not concerned about the very poor. >> of course, as the campaign points out, romney's full comment was longer. here it is. >> i'm not concerned about the very poor. we have a safety net there. if it needs repair, i'll fix it. i'm not concerned about the very rich. they're doing just fine. i'm concerned about the very heart of america. >> on his plane to las vegas, romney was already in damage control mode.

>> no. no. no. >> you have to take the whole sentence, all right? because then it sounds very different. >> but the gaffe isn't just the latest a parade of them which make the wealthy candidate sound out of touch and a little heartless. take a listen. >> i should also tell my story. i'm also unemployed. if we could raise taxes on people. that's not the right -- corporations. corporations are people, my friend. rick, i'll tell you what. $10,000? $10,000 bet? >> i'm not a betting man. >> oh, okay. i know what it's like to worry whether you're going to get fired. there were a couple times i wondered whether i was going to get a pink slip. it also mean if you don't like what they do, you can fire them. i like being able to fire people who provide services to me. i'm not concerned about the very poor. we have a safety net there. if it needs repair, i'll fix it. i'm not concerned about the very rich. they're doing just fine. >> so newt gingrich was quick to jump on those comments saying

"the founding fathers would not have agreed." >> i am fed up with politicians in either party dividing americans against each other. let me shock the wall street groups. the founding fathers actually meant what they call the 1% which i call americans. let me shock governor romney. the founding fathers meant the very poor who they called americans. >> and gingrich got backup from rush limbaugh. >> he makes himself a target with this stuff. he comes across as the prototypical rich republican. wizards of smart in the pren establishment, we can't have newt out there. why, newt's going to be the topic. what evidence is it -- or is there that it's not going to be about romney with these kinds of statements? >> you know, even romney supporters, potential supporters they were simply left shaking heads saying, forget the ideological fight. maybe he's just not a good

campaigner. "every time he seems to get into his groove and pull away, he says things that make people think that he doesn't know how to play the game." john mccormick said this "fresh off his big win in florida, mitt romney made the most stunningly stupid remark of his campaign." one guy romney did get some backup from was his romance competitor ron paul. >> not too long ago he was taken out of context that he liked to fire people which is completely out of context. i don't think he would come in here and say, you know what? i don't care about the poor people. >> international democrats seem to be enjoying this, too. white house press secretary jay carney weighed in from the podium. >> middle class americans, lower income americans and poor americans were hit hard by the recession. and that's why he's been focused very aggressively on doing everything he can to grow the

economy and create jobs. >> and not exactly coincidentally as romney campaigns in nevada where the unemployment rate has gone from a 5.5% when republicans lost caucused there to 13% today. and the construction industry has collapsed. the president had his latest pointed remark at a housing event that seemed to be shot at romney. >> it is wrong for anybody to suggest that the only option for struggling responsible homeowners is to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom. i refuse to accept that and so do the american people. >> remember romney told the las vegas journal review in a past trip to vegas that the government should simply let the housing market hit bottom. look, here's the issue for romney. this isn't about a left-right thing. the question is whether he is ready for modern day political warfare. it's done verbally. it's done fast. it's done on your feet. and he does seem to have this

tendency to misspeak, misstep a lot, playing into this narrative about whether he can connect. and that's been the issue here. it's connection. can he connect with conservatives in the primary? can he connect with the middle electorate, middle class, those important blue collar workers in pennsylvania and ohio? this has been the fundamental problem for mitt romney, frankly now, for six years. finally, the latest not romney. apparently it's going to make an endorsement today, donald trump will announce who he is supporting in las vegas. and in trump like fashion, he aimed for as much buildup as possible. keeping the plans under wraps. if he endorses newt gingrich, he'll become the last in a long pa raved the not mitt romneys who had their 15 minutes atop of the polls, herman cain, rick perry, sarah palin sort of. of course, he could choose to endorse mitt romney, the guy who snuck out the back door of trump towers rather than be seen with him. if he really playing this game,

leaking, sort of leaking out word that maybe he's going with gingrich and instead goes with romney jumping on the band wagon there, what a snub of newt gingrich. the only guy that actually took him seriously -- took a joint press conference with him that is left in the campaign. who knows? by the way, does mitt romney really want this endorsement standing next to a donald trump the day after this? anyway, finally, we will have one more endorsement. we're going to take you live to the national prayer breakfast where you'll now hear from president obama. >> thank you. thank you very much. thank you. >> please, have a seat. >> good morning, everybody. it is good to be with so many friends united in prayer. and i begin by giving all praise and honor to god for bringing us

together here today. i want to thank our co-chairs mark and jeff to my dear friend, the guy who always has my back, vice president biden, all the members of congress -- [ applause ] joe deserves a hand. all the members of congress and my cabinet who are here today all the distinguished guests who traveled a long way to be part of this. i'm not going to be as funny as eric. but i'm grateful that he shared his message with us. michelle and i feel truly blessed to be here. this is my third year coming to this prayer breakfast as president. as jeff mentioned, before that i came as senator. i have to say it's easier coming as president. i don't have to get here quite as early.

but it's always been an opportunity that i cherish. it's a chance to step back for a moment, for us to come together as brothers and sisters and see god's face together. as a time when it's easy to lose ourselves in the rush and clammer of our own lives or get caught up in the noise and ranker that too often passes as politics today. these moments of prayer slow us down. they humble us. they remind us that no matter how much responsibility we have, how fancy our titles, how much power we think we hold, we are imperfect vessels. we can all benefit by turning to our creator, listening to him.

avoiding phoney religionocity, listening to him. this is especially important right now when we're facing big challenges as a nation. our economy is making progress as we recover from the worst crisis in three generations but far too many families are still struggling to find work or make the mortgage and pay for college or in some cases even buy food. our men and women in uniform have made us safer and more secure and we are eternally grateful to them. but war and suffering and hardships still remain in too many corners of the globe. and a lot of those men and women who we celebrate on veterans day and memorial day come back and find that when it comes to finding a job or getting the kind of care that they need, we're not always there the way we need to be.

it's absolutely true that meeting these challenges requires sound decision making, requires smart policies. we know the part of living in a pluralistic society means that our personal religious beliefs alone can't dictate our response to every challenge we face. but in my moments of prayer, i'm reminded that faith and values play an enormous role in motivating us to solve some of our most urgent problems. and keeping us going when we suffer setbacks and opening our minds and our hearts to the needs of others. we can't leave our values at the door. if we leave our values at the door, we abandon much of the moral glue that has held our nation together for centuries

and allowed us to become somewhat more perfect a union. frederick douglas, abraham lincoln, james adams, martin luther king jr., dorothy day, majority of great reformers in american history did their work not just because it was sound policy or they had done good analysis or understood how to exercise good politics but because their faith and values dictated it. and called for bold action. sometimes in the face of indifference. sometimes in the face of resistance. this is no different today for millions of americans and certainly not for me. i wake up each morning and i say a brief prayer.

i spend a little time in scripture and devotion. and from time to time friends of mine and some who are here today, friends like joel hunter or t.d. jakes will come by the oval office or call on the phone or they'll send me an e-mail and we'll pray together. they'll pray for me and my family and for our country. but i don't stop there. i'd be remiss if i stopped there. if my values were limited to personal moments of prayer or private conversations with pastors or friends. so instead, i must try imperfectly, but i must try to make sure those values motivate me as one leader of this great nation. i talk about our financial

institutions playing by the same rules as folks on main street. when i talk about making sure insurance companies aren't discriminating against those would are already sick or making sure that unscrupulous lenders are not taking advantage of the most vulnerable among us. i do so because i genuinely believe that it will make the economy stronger for everybody. but i also do it because i know that far too many neighbors in our country have been hurt and treated unfairly over the last few years. and i believe in god's command to love thy neighbor as thyself. another version of that golden rule is found in every major religion and every set of beliefs from hinduism to islam to judaism to the writings of plate yoe. when i talked about shared

responsibility, it's because i genuinely believe that in a time when many folks are struggling and at a time when we have enormous deficits, it's hard for me to ask seniors on fixed income or young people with student loans or middle class families who can barely pay the bills to shoulder the burden alone. i think to myself, if i'm willing to give something up as somebody who's been extraordinarily blessed and give up some of the tax breaks that i enjoy, i actually think that's going to make economic sense. but for me as a christian, it also coincides with jesus' teaching that for unto whom much is given, much shall be required. it mirrors the islamic belief that those who have been blessed have an obligation to use those blessings to help others or the

jewish doctrine of moderation and consideration for others. when i talk about giving every american a fair shot at opportunity, it's because i believe that when a young person can afford a college education or someone who's been unemployed has a chance to retrain for a job and regain that sense of dignity and pride and contributing to the community as well as supporting their families, that helps us all prosper. it means maybe that research lab on the cusp of a life saving discovery or the company looking for skilled workers is going to do a little bit better and we'll all do better as a consequence. it makes economic sense. but part of that belief comes from my faith and the idea that i am my brother's dekeeper and am my sister's keeper. as a country, we rise and fall together. i'm not an island. i'm not alone in my suck us is. i succeed because others succeed

with me. and when i decide to stand up for foreign aid or prevent atrocities in places like uganda or take on issues like human trafficking, it's no the just about strengthening alliances or promoting democratic values or projecting american leadership around the world although it does all those things and it will make us safer and more secure. it's also about the biblical call to care for the least of these, for the poor. for thoiz of tse in the margins society. to answer the responsibility we're given in proverbs to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. you brothers may reflect the jewish belief that the highest form of charity is to do our part to help others stand on their own. treating others as you want to

be treated, requiring much from those who have been given so much, living by the principle that we are our brother's keeper, caring for the poor and those in need. these values are old. they can be found in many denominations and many faiths and among many believers and among many nonbelievers. and their values have always made this country great when we live up to them, when we don't just give lip service to them and we don't just talk about them one day a year. today with as many challenges as we face, these are the values i believe we're going to have to return to in the hopes that god will butress our efforts.

we can see these lived out in our policies and agree on the best way to achieve these values. in the words of c.s. lewis, christianity is not and does not profess to have a detailed political program. it is meant for all men at all times. and the particular program which suited one place or time would not suit another. our goals should not be to declare our policies as biblical, it is god who is infallible, not us. michelle reminds me of this often. so instead, it is our hope that people of good will can pursue their values and common ground and the common good as best they know how.

with respect for each other. and i have to say that sometimes we talk about respect. but we don't act with respect towards each other during the course of these debates. but each and every day for many in this room, the biblical injunctions are not just words, they are also deeds. every single day in different ways so many of you are living out your faith and service to others. just last month it was inspiring to see thousands of young christians filling the georgia dome and the passion conference to worship the guy who set the captives free and worked to end modern slavery. since we've expanded and strengthened the white house faith based initiative, we partnered with catholic charities to help americans who are struggling with poverty, worked with organizations like

world vision and american jewish world service and islamic relief to bring hope to those suffering around the world. colleges across the country have answered our interfaith campus challenge and students are joined together across religious lines and service to others. from promoting responsible fatherhood to strengthening adoption, from helping people find jobs to serving our veterans. we're linking arms with faith-based groups all across the country. i think we all understand that these values cannot truly find voice in our politics and our policies unless they find a place in our hearts. the bible teaches us to be doers of the word and not merely heroes. we're required to have a living, breathing, active faith in our own lives. and each of us is called on to give something of ourselves for

the betterment of others and to live the truth of our faith not just with words but with deeds. so even as we join the great debates of our age, how we best put people back to work, how we insure opportunity for every child, the role of government and protecting this extraordinary planet that god has made for us, how we lessen the occasions of war, even as we debate these great issues, we must be reminded of the difference that we can make each day in our small interactions, in our personal lives. as a loving husband or a supportive parent or a good neighbor or helpful colleague. in each of these roles, we help bring his kingdom to earth. and as important as government policy may be in shaping our world, we are reminded that it's

the cumulative acts of kindness and courage and charity and love. it's the respect we show each other and the generosity that we share with each other that in our every day lives will somehow sustain us during these challenging times. john tells us that if anyone has material possessions and see is his brother in need but has no pitty on him, how can the love of god be in him? dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. you know, mark read a letter from billy graham and it took me back to one of the great honors of my life which was visiting reverend graham at his mountain top retreat in north carolina.

i was on vacation with my family, a hotel not far away. i can still remember winding up the path, up a mountain to his home. 91 years old at the time. facing various health challenges, he welcomed me as he would welcome a family member or a close friend. this man who had prayed great prayers and inspired a nation, this man who seemed larger than life, greeted me and was as kind and as gentle as could be. and we had a wonderful conversation. and before i left, reverend graham started praying for me as he had prayed for so many presidents before me. and when he finished praying, i felt the urge to pray for him. i didn't really know what to

say. what do you pray for when it comes to the man who's prayed for so many? but like that verse if romans, the holy spirit interceded when i didn't know quite what to say. and so i prayed, briefly. but i prayed from the heart. i don't have the intellectual capacity or the lung capacity of some of my great preacher friends here to pray from a long time, but i -- i prayed. and we ended with an embrace and warm good-bye and i thought about that moment all the way down the mountain. and i thought about it in the many days since. because i thought about my own spiritual journey. growing up in a household that wasn't particularly religious. going through my own period of doubt and confusion. finding christ when i wasn't even looking for him so many

years ago. possessing so many shortcomings that have been overcome by the simple grace of god. and the fact that i would ever be on top of a mountain saying a prayer for billy graham, a man whose faith had changed the world and has sustained him through triumphs and tragedies and movements and milestones, that simple fact humbled me to my core. i have fallen on my knees with great regularity since that moment asking god for guidance not just in my personal life and christian walk but in the life of this nation and the values that hold us together and keep us strong. i know that he will guide us. he always has and he always will. and i pray his richest blessings on each of you in the days

ahead. thank you very much. [ applause ] >> president obama there with remembrance of his prayerful meeting with the reverend billy graham in north carolina. he was on a trip at the time to western north carolina. and that was in asheville. he made his way and had a meeting with billy graham and his son. you kristen welker is live at the white house. in an election year sometimes your ear is tuned in for politics. most of the prayer breakfast is usually not about politics. i couldn't help but think of the timing, if you will, of listening to the president talk about the very poor, talk about worrying about the poor in a way frankly that all presidents do at these prayer breakfasts. but to hear it to day just after the mitt romney thing, you know, forgive me for having my ear tuned into politics. >> it's interesting, chuck.

that's what stood out for me. talk about the importance of caring for the poor. almost the direct inverse of what mitt romney said yesterday during that gaffe that he made when he said that he wasn't particularly concerned about the poor. something, of course, that mitt romney has said was taken out of context. but it was seemingly another veiled swipe that the president took at mitt romney. and we sort of tallied how many of these veiled swipes he's taken over the past week, chuck. at least ten since the state of the union address. including yesterday when president obama unveiled his new program for help for struggling homeowners, when he said some people have suggested we should allow homeowners to bottom out. that's just wrong. so it looks like politics also alive this morning during the national prayer breakfast. he gave a real defense of his policies, chuck, coming against the backdrop of this election year. chuck? >> he did. and but also there at the end which he doesn't do often,

talking about his own journey to christianity in a way you don't often hear the president speak of. kristen welker at a rainy white house, thank you. >> thanks, chuck. >> the opening bell just rang. let's get a quick market rundown. becky quick is here. >> it looks like we're going to be slightly high they are morning. the opening bell just ringing in. we'll be up about 20 points or so when things shake out. it's really good news based on all the gains we had already seen for the month of january. yesterday we saw another 83-point gain for the dow. a steady grind of pushing higher. now the big news, facebook out with the filing yesterday after we spoke. and came out with about 200 pages or so of information about this company that investors have been clammering for, waiting to get more information about it. some of the key numbers that came out are the revenue numbers. $3.7 billion is the revenue. and that's right about in line with what wall street had been expecting. you saw revenue growth numbers have been coming down slightly. you're still talking about massive, massive numbers, $3.7 billion.

the other thing that is so interesting is we did get weekly jobless claims today. it showed a drop of about 12,000 to 367,000 jobless claims for the week. that is in line with expectations, too. chuck, this all leads up to the big jobs report that we get tomorrow from the government. >> and it comes tomorrow. not on groundhog day. thank you, becky. we'll be back in 30 seconds. nevada is a swing state. ready for this, 10 of the last

11 general elections. it's also one of the fastest growing states in the last ten years. it's grown by 35%. just like florida, hispanics are an important voting block making up 26% of the population. i want to get a little deep into here. so joining me, republican senator there, appointed senator, dean heller. you're running for the full term coming up. most important point i have to get on nevada is how do you say it? nevada. >> nevada. >> no h as i was told. i get criticized all the time. before we get to nevada, i want to hear your comments, your reaction what secretary panetta said yesterday about afghanistan putting sort of a public date out there of some time middle of 2013 that we're going to begin the drawdown at least -- we're going to end combat operations there, if you will, in afghanistan. you're reaction? >> actually, i think it's a move in the right direction. you know, i support the drawdown. we have a lot of domestic

problems here in this country right now. i think we ought to be concentrating more on the problems we have here in this country and trying to police the world is a very, very difficult thing to do. and so if the troops and the commanders on the ground believe that that's the right direction we should be going, i think it's a good move. >> are you, first of all, are you surprised by the republican criticism, your potential, the guy you're maybe running is going to be at the top of your ticket, mitt romney, was critical of the decision of going public with it? >> i supported getting out of iraq also. i thought that was a good move. and i believe panetta is in touch with the commanders and with the troops and understanding what the needs and concerns are for the country. our country and for that matter, iraq. i think the same is true with afghanistan. so, yeah, we're going to have difference of opinions. frankly, romney and i have had difference of opinions in the past. >> are you open to negotiation with the taliban? >> we'll take a look. you know, i -- i don't believe you negotiate with the taliban. i think that's a very, i have

difficult thing to believe that we can actually -- >> then how do you end the war? without negotiating with your enemy. >> i know, very, very difficult. but the taliban is not our friends. i have a very, very difficult time thinking you can actually negotiate with an enemy like that. that, frankly, are completely out of control. >> all right. let's go to your home state. will you be surprised? you supported mitt romney four years ago. >> i did not. >> well, right tend you said -- how about this? you had nice kind words for him at the end of the day. >> sure. >> why doesn't you support him? >> i don't endorse. i think nevadans can make decisions for themselves. they don't need my endorsement. i question endorsements as a whole to begin with. but i don't endorse candidates. i have a lot more confidence in nevadans can make decisions for themselves. >> you are going to participate in the caucus? >> i will. >> and so you'll be making your support public? >> no. i will not. >> the process is a secret ballot? >> in my county, it is. >> will be surprised if mitt

romney doesn't win it? >> actually, i will. i believe that the results will probably be similar to florida. i think there is one variable in this. and that depends more on turnout than anything else. i think that ron paul could make some real moves in nevada. >> are you comfortable running with either mitt romney or newt gingrich at the top of the ticket? >> yes, i agree. >> shelly berkeley is somebody who you served with in the house. can raise a lot of money. we know what happens. >> it's going to be a tough race. >> who makes it a little easier for you to run? >> first of all, we're up 12.6% unemployment. we're the highest in the nation. foreclosures are the highest. bankruptcies are the highest in the state of nevada. i don't think obama is going to do well. i think the obama economy is killing most nevada neffians, i it this republican candidate doll well. >> you call this the obama economy. but the houtsing, do you think the housing crisis was created by the obama administration?

>> well, i think that obama economy did inherit a very, very tough situation when they came in. but i don't think any of -- anything that he's done up to this point made it any better. >> what would you do with the housing situation? this is the forefront of what is wrong in, you know, i'm a floridian, same thing there. i know nevada is about the only place can you say is worse than florida. >> right. obviously if there was an answer, we would figure that out five years ago. i'm introducing legislation. it's unfortunate that there are regulations now that says when a home is foreclosed on that, a bank cannot rent that home back to that familiarly. you know, we're talking about the spiralling value of home. it's because people are being kicked out of their homes. at least what we should do is change the rules. i'm going to attempt to do that next week. by allowing the families to stay in their homes so we can keep and maintain the values of these homes in nevada. >> do you think we overdeveloped? >> probably to a degree. i mean it was a bubble, absolutely. it was a bubble. >> too many new houses being built in las vegas. same thing happened in the waterfront in florida. >> first of all, it was a growth

industry. this is what kept the economy in nevada so strong. i mean if you sit down with developors now, there is a resume room of 20 or 30 people. it used to be a full room of hundreds of developors. i mean it is very, very tough on nevada. i don't that i obama's economic policies have helped at all. >> all right. senator hellor, thank you for coming in. >> appreciate it. >> appreciate it. we'll be watching your state saturday. tell us with they're going to report the results, i know we're still waiting. >> all right. >> you just heard it. nevada is the wild, wild west for the republican race. candidates firing shots at each other, donald trump rides into town. taz what everybody is looking for. everyone is prospecting for gold. need we say more? our political panel will be here next. first, white house soup of the day, tomato bisque. you know in, their defense, we haven't had a lot of tomato lately. [ male announcer ] what's the beat that moves your heart?

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♪ >> rise and shine, campers. the daily flash back, 1887. it's when americans first began counting on this rodent as a reliable meteorologist. yes, it's groundhog day. the original groundhog day was celebrated at gobbler's knob in punxsutawney, pennsylvania. there will be six more weeks of winter. of course, is it this winter? is it this kind of bizarre winter we've had or actual winter is going to start coming?

only phil knows the answers. again, i feel sorry -- you are reliving this day? in two days, it is nevada's turn to weigh in. romney is trying to beat back critics. our democratic strategist is with us. he has something new to plug, i swear. >> i know. i know. josh green is the senior political editor for bloomberg business week. i think this is your first appearance as a bloombergee. what do you call yourself? >> just bloomberger. >> just josh. >> just josh is what you want. okay. not to say that my ear isn't always tuned to politics, but my ear is always opportunity to politics. i want to play a part of what the president said today, coincidentally, on poor people at the national prayer breakfast. >> and when i decide to stand up for foreign aid or prevent atrocity it's places like uganda

or take on issues like human trafficking, it's not just about strengthening alliances or promoting democratic values or projecting american leadership around the worlding although, it does all those things and will make us safer and more secure. it's also about the biblical call to care for the least of these, for the poor, for those in the margins of our society. to answer the responsibility we're given in proverbs to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. >> all right. guys, let me put this in a little bit of context. because the president has coincidentally said things, never mentioning mitt romney's name, that seem to be push backs to mitt romney. we put together a comp reel. let me play some more of them. >> it's good to remember that

the fact that there are some folks who are going to let this industry die because of folks coming together, we are now baklava in a place where we can compete with any car company in the world. it is wrong for anybody to suggest that the only option for struggling, responsible homeowners is to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom. >> it's also about the biblical call to care for the least of these, for the poor, for those in the margins of our society. >> jackie, this is three days in a row where he has hit bottom, mitt romney saying the las vegas review journal, industry referring to an op-ed before and now, of course, mitt romney says he supports, eventually what the president did because the president came around to his side and, of course, the comments on the poor which, again, i know some people are say you're trying to read too much politics in into that. >> i think there's no coincidence there. the white house has been focused on mitt romney this -- for the

duration of this campaign so far where it's gotten serious. i think you're seeing that in the president's remarks. it's not to theally -- we're not to the point where he is mentioning names. but i do think this is deliberate. >> josh green, are we seeing rush limbaugh is right, the idea that mitt romney wouldn't be a focus in a general election like newt would be? i don't know, maybe he's right here. romney could be just as much of an issue. >> absolutely. whoever the republican candidate is, you could get pillared for weaknesses. newt is as explosive, you know, temperament, anger and unsteadiness. for romney, profile of an uncaring, out of touch rich guy, vulture capitalist. and obama is smart enough to know he has the bully pulpit. he can help define romney before he is the official -- >> but romney is helping him with the gfs. he is sort of giving them presents every couple days and helping the white house make this argument. >> and you see, it's what was amazing to me is that outlets that you might expect to say, you know what? this is the typical mainstream

media. they're saying this guy stinks of politics. >> absolutely. i wish in your come pe lags you have thought bubbles where the president says, some people -- romney, anybody -- romney. >> but he has the luxury. he can do that and he has more editors. he'll make the thought bubbles later. >> romney has two problems. one is the problem of not being focused on poor people. and the other problem is political which is that he has a really great day on tuesday. he ones a big primary in a big way. he spends the entire next day talking about a gaffe he made at 8:00 in the morning. he does this over and over again. i think what you're hearing from the republicans is a collective groan that this is the horse we have to take all the way into the fall. they're not so happy about it. >> we're going to continue. we have to slip in a break. we're off a little bit today. we'll be back with the j team in a minute. we'll be back with more from them. you're watching "the daily

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let's bring back our panel. to finish up quickly on mitt romney, there's a lot of mixed reports about the side show of donald trump. is he going to endorse gingrich? now there's rumors it could be donald trump. i'm sorry. jacki, is there a worst day for him to be standing next to donald trump? >> i don't see him standing at a podium with donald trump. dopd trump doesn't have much of a constituency. >> he doesn't have a constituency. his son gave money to mitt romney. >> if i were romney, i would feign an attack of appendicitis

rather than be up there with donald trump. >> do they put out a web video? >> it's probably already done. trump cares. why does it matter? why are we talking about it? >> i defend us doing this because apparently the republican presidential candidates are the only ones that take him seriously, which i don't get. >> the fact that they have made donald trump somebody we should care about. >> is simon cowell next? >> it's only useful if he gives mon money. let me go to afghanistan. i think it's the most politically impactful story of the day. fair? >> i think it's been tough for republican candidates to attack the president's foreign policy. >> how about just a few minutes ago? republican running in a swing state. i'm all for it. >> that's the thing. it's been tough for them to make

a dent. it's going to continue for them to make a dent with the president because he has a good record on that. >> it was surprising romney tried to go after him. >> but it was an ablig toir attack. he didn't say he wanted to reinvade afghanistan. >> jamal, what did you take away from his answers? i was not surprised on one hand, but other the it was blatant. i'm not a conventional republican you think of in 2012. >> that's a tough state. i spent a lot of time working for the caucuses. in nevada, you have a lot of democrats in that greater las vegas area. the democratic party has done a really good job of finding voter, registering them, and the republicans haven't had as good a time bringing people out.

it's a big swing state. >> game changer for rick santorum? >> huge. >> gets right to my plug. business week has a great feature on the least essential from gary boou si to barry manilow. >> trump number one? >> barry manilow for ron paul is a little less essential. >> he writes the songs that make the fed fall in love. >> i'm keeping it simple. thank you to my husband jared. all the other spouses that wait for those of us who have been traveling a lot. so we appreciate it. thank you. >> she got you. >> jamal is going last because all of the panelists complain he's so good. >> my college roommate's wife is producing "a streetcar's name

desire." all black cast. >> great team. that's it for this edition of "the daily rundown." we'll see you back here tomorrow. we'll have the breaking news of unemployment numbers. co u on msnbc, "jansing and co." have a great day. bye-bye. [ female announcer ] if whole grain isn't the first ingredient

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