convened. fourth, visenger also pointed out that corbit took close to $220,000 in gubernatorial campaign contributions. in the meantime, some say it was just one investigator assigned to the case of that predatory animal until corbit became governor in 2011. finally, many legal experts are opining that the lawsuit is unlikely to succeed. lester munson at "espn today" noted that the only legal theory is based on anti-trust laws that manipulate marks. the ncaa might be a monopoly, but it doesn't appear to be conspireing to manipulate any market. voters will be the ultimate jury.

that's "hardball for now." "politics nation" with al sharpton starts right now. >> thanks, michael. thanks to you for tuning in. tonight's lead, the new start in washington. the 113th congress sworn in today is the most diverse in american history. there are more women in both the house and the senate than ever before. and, for the first time ever, white men do not make up the majority of house democrats. in the senate, a strong, progressive voice took the oath of office. senator elizabeth warren now representing massachusetts and what was once ted kennedy's senate seat. in the house, republicans were voting on whether to keep john boehner as speaker. there were a few defections. >> the reading clerk will now call the roll. >> amash?

brown broun of georgia? yoho? >> but, in the end, in the end, speaker boehner survived easily. >> the total number of votes cast is 426 of which the honorable john a. boehner of the state of ohio has received 220. >> that's right. the man who drove this country to the brink of default who repeatedly threatened to shut down the government. who can't even control his own party. he's their man-again. it's the same leadership with the same failed agenda. even before the vote, boehner was telling his fellow republicans that he's done negotiating with president obama one-on-one. maybe that's a good thing. and the first move by the new congress, michelle bachmann introducing another bill to repeal obama care.

something republicans tried to do more than 30 times in the last congress. and, in case there were any doubts about republican intentions, mitch mcconnell put an end today. in an article today mcconnell wrote, "now the conversation turns to cutting spending on the government programs. it's the debate that starts today whether the president wants it or not. we know what that means? when republicans talk about cutting spending, they mean gutting the safety net that millions of americans count on. they mean slashing medicare, medicaid and social security. those fundamental programs that president obama vowed to protect during the campaign is what the election was all about. well, he won. republicans lost. but, instead of finding a new approach, they're already starting to put forward the

same, old leaders with the same, tired, old ideas. no doubt there's a big battle to come on these issues. joining me now, joan walsh, editor at large at salon.com and an msnbc political analyst. and cynthia tuckel, syndicated columnist for "the atlanta constitution." thank you both for being here with me tonight. >> good to be here, reverend. >> senator, let me go to you first. how should democrats handle these republicans who, apparently, haven't learned anything from their failures in the last congress? >> well, they have no choice but to go around them, go over them, go through them, which is basically what happened with the deal to overt the fiscal cliff. much of this is going to depend on president obama's leadership.

the president stood firm in these negotiations. he had told republicans, he had told the american public, that he was not going to sign any deal that did not increase taxes on the wealthiest americans. he told them and he told them and he told them. they did not believe him. they thought that they could roll over him just as they had done in 2011. >> right. >> it did not work. so if the president holds fast, as he did before, they will not be able to roll over him and gut programs of consequence and ruin the economy. >> now, joan, so from what cynthia's view is, the president stood firm. you would then disagree with some of the critics on the left that say he caved. one celebrated writer even said he was wimpish. you wouldn't agree with that? >> no, i wouldn't agree with that.

reverend, al, i'm not crazy about everything in the deal and i'm worried that we did compromise a little too much on tax rates, but whatever. a deal is a deal. he got an enormous amount of what he wanted. he did get the rates to go way up, again. and he held off spending cuts, at least for a while. so there are a lot of good things about the deal. the deal is a model. and i think the important thing for the president is to continue that confeversation with the american people. even though he won the election, he's the first president since dwight eisenhower to win 51% of the vote twice, i think it's important that even after he won, he continued to talk to the american people about what his goals were, what the obstruction was that he was facing and keep people on his side. his approval ratings are higher. that's going to be important. we do have more progressive people in the senate and the house, that's important. but we still have this tea party madness. and we still have people like john boehner who know better who

are turning to these people and allowing them to abstract. >> now, talking about approval polls and approval ratings, cynthia, let's talk about mr. boehner's. since he became speaker, there have been some problems for him at the polls. let's look at the fact that republicans have gone down 9%. approval of congress is down 13%, and approval of boehner, personally, is down 9%. he was reelected today, but he's certainly not doing well in terms of public approval, cynthia? >> well, the entire republican brand is damaged, reverend al. most americans do not agree with the republican agenda. most americans want to see the social safety net remain in place. they recognize how important it is. medicare, social security, the

safety net for the poorest americans. joan was talking about some of the things the president got in the deal, he got extension of unemployment insurance. most americans favor those things. boehner and his caucus of poor conservatives do not. they don't care about working people. they don't care about wrecking the entire economy just to get their way. protecting the richest americans is all they really care about. >> now, joan, they're already getting ready for another battle. and this one, over the debt ceiling. including in their preparation there, including the threat of shutting down the government. watch this. >> save your powder for the debt ceiling fight. we have leverage at the debt ceiling to make this president face up to the fact that we're spending our way into oblivion. >> i think there's going to be a whole new field of battle when

the debt ceiling rolls around. >> this is where we have leverage. we republicans need to be willing to tolerate a temporary partial government shutdown. >> so here we are, not even 48 hours after we dealt with the fiscal cliff and they're talking about the debt ceiling and, possibly, shutting down government. >> yes, they are, reverend al. and this is what remains scary. when you have people merely committed to blocking. they're not committed to building. they're not committed to building a stronger middle class and help people out of poverty or any of that, that, you know, frankly, republicans in my childhood participated in some of those things. they were excellent on civil rights, for example. there was a time when the two parties could work together to get things done. when you have nihilists to take us over the cliff or hit the debt ceiling or default on

obligatio obligations, then the party, even the majority party, is in a tough position. we don't want to play chicken with the economy. the president made a deal, even as you said, because he wanted people to continue on with their insurance. if we care about people and the outcomes, it makes it hard to hold a firm line, but the president has to. and i think he has to make the crazy people in the republican party the problem of the republican party and the problem of wall street and the ceos in this country because they've enabled this nihilism. he needs to go out to widen his base and make these crazy people everybody's problem. >> cynthia, aren't they really being hypocrite kal? they were not that concerned about arguing, saying they weren't as obsessed about arguing about the deficit when there wasn't a democrat in the white house. look at this, "new york times" compared the amount of the new debt added under president bush versus the amount added under

president obama. it's not even close. more than $5 trillion under bush, mostly thanks to unfunded wars and tax cuts for millionaires. new policies under president obama have added $1.44 trillion with the deficit. why all of this obsession with the deficit now when bush was running away with two unpaid-for wars and driving the deficit deeper and deeper in the hole. >> you know, reverend al, i'm so glad you pointed that out. i remember how we got into this sea of red ink. it hadn't been that long ago. bill clinton had balanced the budget. we had a budget surplus. and then, george w. bush came into office and threw all of that overboard. tax cuts for the rich, two wars and, during that period, dick

cheney said reagan showed us that deficits don't matter. and the very people that are now insisting on a fight over the debt ceiling, boehner, cantor, et al voted repeatedly to raise the debt ceiling when george w. was president. are they hypocrites? you betchya. if they wanted to cut spending, why don't they talk about cutting defense? cutting the pentagon? that's 30% of the federal budget. we are winding down two wars. but do you hear them talking about cutting defense? no, you don't. they just want to cut the social safety net. >> that's what it's all about. joan walsh and cynthia tucker, thanks for your time to be the. >> thanks, reverend. good to be here. >> ahead, republicans are already threatening to hold the

economy hostage to get what they want. are the democrats ready to stand strong? this man is. he's back. the king of political haymakers reelected to congress, back in the house and ready to defend democratic values. he joins us live next. and as the gop brand free falls, chris christie rises a day after his blistering attack on john boehner, we have news on the governor's next move. stay tuned. plus, white house photos revealed. behind-the-scenes presidential shots you don't want to miss. you're watching politics nation on msnbc. [ male announcer ] no matter what city you're playing tomorrow.

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have you joined the "politics nation" conversation on facebook yet? we hope you will. today, everyone was talking about this photo of minority leader nancy pelosi with the new class of democratic women on the steps of the capitol. heather says there's nothing better to inspire my daughter and all of the young girls in this country. john says diversity is the key to progress in this country on all fronts. maureen says maybe now we can clean up the mess of the 112th congress and get some real work done. up next, we're talking to another member of the 113th congress, allen gracie about the fight ahead. but, first, we want you to share your thoughts with us. please, head over to facebook and search politics nation. and like us to join the conversation that keeps going long after the show ends. [ male announcer ] where do you turn for legal matters?

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today, we welcomed back a new congress. we welcomed in a new congress in washington. and, with it, a new number of battles. we know the right is coming. on the debt ceiling, on medicare, on social security. they're ready to fight. so, now, more than ever, the democrats need strong voices, progressives, who are willing to fight for the causes they believe in. who aren't afraid to land a political punch. look out, republicans. he's back. >> republicans' health care plan

for america. don't get sick. that's right. don't get sick. if you have insurance, don't get sick. if you don't have insurance, don't get sick. if you're sick, don't get sick. just don't get sick. let's give 3 million americans a working wage. an honest day's pay for an honest day's work. they'll spend it on the things they need to do to stay alive. instead of the alternative, which is to have them lose their job, keep unemployed and lose their cars. >> i understand that if barack obama has a blt sandwich for lunch tomorrow, they will try to ban bacon. >> joining me now, the man himself, congressman allen gracie, democrat from florida. he was reelected this past year and was sworn in today as a part of the 113th congress.

congressman grason, congratulations and thanks for being here. >> thank you. as steven tyler would say, i'm back in the saddle again. >> i imagine republicans didn't exactly roll out the red carpet for you today? >> no, that's okay. i think we're going to have to find some way to get along with each other, i guess. but time will tell. >> now, talk about getting along. they've already said they're willing to hold the debt ceiling hostage. that's quite a reversal from a few years ago. listen to this. >> does -- will the debt ceiling be raised? or does it have to be raised? yes, you can't not raise the debt ceiling. it's the unworkable solution. obviously, you can't default. >> let me tell you what's involved if we don't lift the death ceiling -- debt ceiling, excuse me. financial collapse and calamity throughout the world. that's not lost upon me. >> that would be financial disaster for our economy. >> so defaulting on the full faith and credit is

unacceptable? >> i don't think it's a question that's even on the table. >> so were they kidding then? or are they kidding now? why the big change, congressman, and how do we deal with it? >> they change because they say it's a device for them to extract concessions. they'd never other wise be able to accomplish. that's why it's legislative terrorism. they're using the debt ceiling as a means to cut social security benefits, cut medicare benefits, cut unemployment insurance, cut anything of any use to any ordinary human being in this country. >> legislative terrorism holding the economy hostage, i would take from that. mr. boehner, the speaker, reportedly told the gop that he's done negotiating one-on-one with president obama. what do you make of that? >> well, look, boehner is a chief of no indians.

we saw it again today when he reached the end of the roll call. he didn't have enough votes to be speaker. he needed 218 votes to be speaker. when everybody had already voted. he was at 216. and then they had to drag in bachmann and get her vote and then he managed to eke out a two-vote viblctory in a house where he had 18 extra votes. that's how he is. he's a weak, weak man. a weak speaker. therefore, he can't negotiate with the president because the president can actually make commitments, make decisions. he can say when you send me a bill, i'll sign it. what can boehner say? nothing. >> so you led the charge against the gop tax cuts in 2010. let me play for people what you did. >> every single year for the next ten years, the republican tax plan is to give millionaires

enough money for a mercedes-benz. they can buy a bottle of wine from 1787 every year for the next decade. thank you, republican party. here's something else they can do. they can buy 20,000 jars of their favorite mustard, grey poupon. here's an idea. let's take that hundred billion and give americans a job. >> now that they've made some concessions on taxes, do you think that they will be easier to negotiate with on revenue? >> no. and, frankly, let me use a term that you may have heard once or twice in new york. they keep talking about the deficit, but when it comes to actually doing something about it, meaning taxing people who

actually have money they can pay to the government, somehow, that's behind the peal. they want to tax the poor who have no money instead of taxing the rich who have all the money. it just doesn't make any sense and i think people are starting to see through it. >> miss you guys. didn't make my side of brooklyn, but i'll use it. congressman grason, thank you very much for your time tonight. >> thank you, reverend. >> coming up, chris christie will not back down after unloading on boehner. but is there something behind it all? is he getting ready for 2016? plus, president obama is getting ready for a second inauguration and is driving those whacky, right wing conspiracy theorists crazy. the birthists, get ready. i'm coming next. [ male announcer ] house rule number 53.

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preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the united states. >> so help you god? >> so help me, god. >> congratulations, mr. president. [ cheers and applause ] >> president obama taking the oath of office four years ago. in just a few weeks, he'll do it again. of course, the fact that the

president won reelection and will be innaug rataugurated aga driving some folks on the right crazy. first, they wanted republican states to boycott the electoral college. that didn't work out so well. so, now, they're trying something else. let me see if i can say this with a straight face. the birther web site, worldnetdaily, published an open letter to chief justice john roberts saying he should refuse to administer the oath of office. he says that barack obama is not a natural-born citizen as prescribed in our constitution. these people are unbelievable. they never quit. meantime, radio host glen beck has a different approach. he's refusing to let anyone on

his show even say the president's name. >> anybody who brings him up, unless it's me, is fired. i can't take the man's voice. i don't want to hear him. i don't want to know about him. i am not talking about that man anymore. i'm not going to do it. we refuse to mention that man's name or play his audio or anything else. i'm just not going to do it. >> sure thing, glen. if you just pretend he's not the president, maybe that will become reality. and let's not forget the day after the election when beck urged his listeners to buy farmland and guns. >> i will tell you, last week, we purchased more farmland as a family. may i recommend if you have a chance to buy farmland, you buy farmland. may i high ly highly suggest yo grandfathered in to the second

amendment today. oh, and don't forget the ammunition. >> from glen beck to world net daily, the far right still can't accept this president as legitimate. did you think we wouldn't notice? nice try, but we gotchya. ladybug body milk? no thanks. [ female announcer ] stop searching and start repairing. eucerin professional repair moisturizes while actually repairing very dry skin. it's so powerful you can skip a day... but light enough you won't want to. dermatologist recommended eucerin. the end of trial and error has arrived. try a free sample at eucerinus.com. woman: we're helping joplin, missouri, come back from a devastating tornado. man: and now we're helping the east coast recover from hurricane sandy. we're a leading global insurance company, based right here in america. we've repaid every dollar america lent us. everything, plus a profit of more than $22 billion.

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see ya! whoaa...oops! mom? i'm ok. grandma? hi sweetie! she operates the head. [ male announcer ] campbell's chunky soup. it fills you up right. here we go again. speaker boehner is in charge of the republican party. it's a party that's become the butt of late-night jokes. a party in the middle of the civil war. a party whose brand is sinking to an all-time low. 65% of americans describe the republican party negatively. wow. 65% of americans can't agree on much of anything. but here's how you know it's bad. the most popular member of the party, right now, refuses to back down from his blistering attack on boehner for playing politics with sandy victims. >> there's only one group to

blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims. the house majority and their speaker, john boehner. >> now, in this current atmosphere, everything is the subject of one-upsmanship. everything is a potential piece of bait for the political gain. and it's just -- it is why the american people hate congress. americans are tired of the palace intrigue and political partisan ship of this congress, which places one upmanship ahead of the lives of citizens who sent these people to washington, d.c. in the first place. shame on you. shame on congress. >> shame on congress. yes, this is a party in chaos. it's a party with the leader refusing to stand up to the extreme tea party wings holding this country hostage. >> and, today, the tea party is fired up and vowing to go after gop lawmakers. but american's rejecting it.

and so are some republicans. here's what msnbc's own joe scarboro said this morning. >> the seeds are being planted right now for the destruction of the house republican majority. they better turn this ship around quickly, or we're going to have a democratic monopoly in washington, d.c. on january 4, 2015. >> turn this ship around? right now, it's a ship without a rudder. good luck, mr. speaker. joining me now are tu ray and krystol ball. thank you both for coming on the show tonight. >> thanks for having us, reverend. >> krystal, here we go again. where is the future of this party. >> i think, unfortunately for them and, honestly, unfortunately for the country, too.

i think they have a ways to go until we're back. the next thing is the debt ceiling fight. basically, they're going to have a repeat of 2011 when they held the country hostage to get their way. when they were willing to put their own political objectives over the well being and health and economy of the country and really the world as a whole. they're going in that direction again. so, as bad as their favorability ratings are right now, as bad as things look for them right now, i think they are only going to get worse because the country is going to continue to see how dysfunctional and how they've been driven by the extremes. but i will say this. i think we may have seen the merchants of the new coalition that's going to allow us to get through these fights who did vote for the fiscal cliff deal along with the democrats. hopefully, we can see that partnership again that is actually interested in moving the country forward in govr nans. >> look at governor chris

christie. if we look at his behavior over the last months. august, 2012, he delivers the keynote address at the republican national convention. he mentioned romney's name only seven times. he embraces president obama after hurricane sandy six days after the election. january of this year, which is only three days old, he hammers house gop and speaker john boehner for poor leadership. are you seeing a pattern here? >> i think you're a little more cynical than i am. the rnc is saying look at me, i think this guy is going to win. consider me for 2016. he's been screaming about getting help for his constituencies. and trying to get help for new jersey when they needed help. especially now that he sees the house adjourning without finishing the bill.

tonight, the billions that they needed was just so horrible and shameless and he's just standing up -- >> after they promised it to them after several conversations. >> he's just standing up and screaming as loud as he can, we need help. that's the sort of governor that you want for your state who's going to pound his chest and say we need help. there, you see somebody who's being honest. those sort of moves are not going to help you in a gop primary. they're going to help you in a general election, but how is he going to get through a gop primary after doing those sort of things. >> one thing you need in a gop primary in 16 is to get reelected in a mostly democratic state. >> i don't know if you see it, anybody who's on the horizon who could seriously challenge the most popular republican in the country? >> yeah, they told hillary clinton that in 2007 before barack obama ran. but let me continue with my pattern of cynicism.

christie has been raising money hand over fist for the last month. i'm talking about december 2012-january 2013, he's raised more than $2 million for reelection without much fund-raising effort. is he gearing up showing how much money he can raise and lead in the part? >> i think that is part of the strategy, which is that, you know, basically, there's some talk that may believe corey booker would get in. he's looking at the senate seat, instead. so, to some respectes, this plas very well. embracing the president, spratisprat i separating himself from the national republicans. but i do also think, you know, he didn't have to go as far as he did in directly calling out john boehner. i mean, he went all the way and said it is my party that's too blame. he could have gotten sort of the

same credit in new jersey, politically speaking, and done a little bit of oh, both sides, it's just dysfunctional all arnold. he called them out exactly as he saw it. and i appreciate that. i appreciate it even if it is politically mote vated. he really seems to be putting his constituents first. >> it's not being honest to say both sides are to blame. that's not what happened in how republicans screwed new jersey and new york and he told the truth. and it matters more coming from a guy like that. >> first of all, he couldn't blame both sides because the speaker is the one that decides the bills and the speaker pulled the bills. >> well, we always do that. both sides are to blame. and he's with that orenstein group saying, no, the republicans are to blame and that's absolutely truthful. >> the other thing, krystal, is in the polls. he is leading as the most favorite gop candidate to run for president in 2016.

55% of polls say they have a favorable view for christie. let's say he doesn't have this grand plan that i'm implying? does it encourage him when he sees these numbers? >> i'm sure he's paying attention to those numbers, i'm thinking, down the road. and he, obviously, wasn't put under a lot of pressure this time around and decided to hold back. which i think was a smart move, in the long run. but i do think that these -- the embrace of the president, a lot of republicans still blame him for mitt romney losing, which is absurd, to blame sandy for mitt romney losing, which is also totally absurd. i do think those will be challenging things to come in a gop primary, unless, unless, and this is unlikely, if the gop is able to come to terms to hold them at bay and become a more mainstream party, then maybe. but i don't see that happening. >> the guy can walk and chew game. he can do what the state needs

him to do and do those things separately. and, as i say, i think he's doing this for new jersey and doing the best that he can and need to do for new jersey. and he's also going to think about 2016. >> i don't think it's cynical, but i also think it's reality and we'll see where it goes. i also remind both of you that we will not be running against president obama in '16. so all of this aennti-obama ferr will be off the table. we'll see. i've got to go. we had two wars to pay for and some tax cuts. >> absolutely. >> i don't think this president is going to leave us like that. krystal ball and toure, thanks for being here. and catch them on "the

cycle" right here on msnbc. coming up, a new day for students from sandy hook, elementary. as they go back to school, a new bill is being introduced to help prevent another newtown-like tragedy. we'll talk to the democrat behind it. and the year-end pictures from behind the scenes. and it's president obama like you have never seen him before. stay with us. >> announcer: did you know there are secret black market websites around the world that sell stolen identities? >> 30-year-old american man, excellent credit rating. >> announcer: lifelock monitors thousands of these sites 24 hours a day. and if we discover any of our members' data for sale, lifelock is there with the most comprehensive identity theft protection available. [♪...] [squealing, crash] call 1-800-lifelock or go to lifelock.com today. [ male announcer ] this is joe woods' first day of work. and his new boss told him two things -- cook what you love, and save your money.

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today, the official white house photographer revealed his year in photos and shared favorites snapshots of 2012. i love this one. a young, oval office visitor picked up the president's phone while he wasn't looking. i wonder if he got through to any heads of state? and here's president obama, joe biden and hillary clinton sharing a laughing time in the oval office. here's something you don't see often. the president driving. he's testing the chevy vault in the south drive. robert gives is riding shotgun. president obama taking a break while shooting hoops with george clooney and other actors. and a touching shot of the first lady and the president at valerie jaret's daughter's wedding. and, finally, here's the president taking a brief moment to smile while consoling families in new town at the prayer vigil.

this snapshot taken with siblings and cousins of one of the young victims. coming up, legislation introduced today to help prevent another newtown-like tragedy. that's next. [ male announcer ] , nyquil doesn't unstuff your nose. what? [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus liquid gels speeds relief to your worst cold symptoms plus has a decongestant for your stuffy nose. thanks. that's the cold truth! at legalzoom, we've created a better place to handle your legal needs. maybe you have questions about incorporating a business you'd like to start. or questions about protecting your family with a will or living trust. and you'd like to find the right attorney to help guide you along, answer any questions and offer advice. with an "a" rating from the better business bureau legalzoom helps you get personalized and affordable legal protection. in most states, a legal plan attorney is available with every personalized document to answer any questions. get started at legalzoom.com today. and now you're protected. [ coughs ] [ baby crying ] ♪

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can we honestly say that we're doing enough to keep our children -- all of them -- safe from harm? the answer is no. we're not doing enough. and we will have to change. >> we will have to change. president obama's promise after the horrific shooting at sandy hook, elementary. that started today. this morning, the children of newtown connecticut started to school for their first day of classes since the shooting. just hours later, house democrats introduced a bill to limit high-capacity magazines which were used in both

sandyhook and the aurora movie theater shooting last summer. another shooting survivor, former congresswoman gabb gabby giffords is working on gun control with new york mayor. she'll visit newtown tomorrow. these are critical steps towards limiting gun violence in this country. but, raeb, some on the right think the only way to solve gun violence is with more guns. >> the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. we need to have every single school in america immediately deploy a protection program proven to work, and, by that, i mean armed security. >> ten states are now considering bills to make it easier. and, sometimes, even mandatory for teachers to be armed at school. and an ohio group has launched

an armed teachers training program that's already attracted 600 applicants from several states. gun violence is an epidemic. if chicago, there are 506 shooting deaths in 2012. and already three this year. the fight to save lives must happen now. joining me now is congresswoman dianna deget, democrat from colorado who is the co-sponsor of that bill tar getting high-capacity magazines. thank you for your time tonight. >> thank you, rev. good to be with you tonight. >> congresswoman, do you think this bill has the support to become law in this new congress? >> i think this bill can have the support to become law. after the terrible, tragic shootings in aurora and now sandyhook, this just a few weeks ago, i think that the balance has tipped. and i think that people now realize that we need to do something. and part of that solution is

banning these assault magazines. that's why congresswoman carolyne mccarthy and i reintroduced the legislation today. it's the same bill as last time, but i think the mood has changed here at congress. >> well, the mood in the public has seemed to really show a lot of support in a recent poll. 52% say they want major gun restrictio restrictions, 62% want a ban on semi-automatic weapons. 62% also want a ban on high-capacity ammunition clips. on p "meet the press" this past sunday, the president talked about gun control. here's what he had to say. >> here's the bottom line. we're not going to get this done unless the american people decide it's important. and so in is not going to be simply a matter of me spending political capital. with public opinion, there's nothing you can't do. and without public opinion, there's very little you can get

done in this town. >> do you see public opinion rising and enough of a move among the public to help create a different climate for your bill this time, congress w078? >> well, you know, rev, i've been talking to a lot of people. and the intensity of feeling seems to have increased. you're never going to one hundred percent be able to stop a deranged person from getting their hands on a gun. but what you can do is stop them from getting their hands on one of these assault magazines that shoots 30 rounds, as the case in connecticut, a hundred rounds, as the case in aurora. and that gives the victim some fighting chance to run away or, like happened with congressman giffords, when his clip ran out, somebody tackled him and stopped him from shooting even more people. so it just seems to be common sense. and the only purpose of these magazines is to either shoot targets or to shoot people. and, so, it really kind of seems

like a no-brainer to a lot of us. congressman mccarthy and i have been talking to number of nra democrats as well as our colleagues across the aisle. and we're finding no one signed on yet, but we're finding a new willingness of those folks to work with us and to talk to us. >> what about the nra? will republicans be reluctant to fight against the wishes of the nra? or has the nr aerks's influence waned? >> no, the nra is still, i think, the most powerful lobbying group in washington. so what has to happen now is the moms and dads of america have to contact their representatives and senators and they have to say, "where do you stand? what are you going to do about the bigger picture? what are you going to do in specific to keep these assault magazines out of the hands of crazy people and criminals." >> your projection at this point

is you think it's more hopeful than it was when you first introduced the bill? is that your prediction or your count at this time? >> i absolutely think that it's more hopeful, the president coming out and saying we need to do something about this. public opinion for banning these magazines, now over 60%. even gun owners say why do i need a magazine that's going to shoot 30 or a hundred rounds at one time. so i do think it's moving. but, again, i think it's going to be very difficult because the nra is very powerful. >> congresswoman dianna degette, thank you for your time. >> good to be here, rev. >> the new congress sworn in is the most diverse in history. whatever your politics, there's something to celebrate. that's next. i gave birth to my daughter on may 18th,

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the 113th congress is officially at work and looking more like america than ever before. it's the most diverse congress in history. it has 101 women, including a record-setting 20 women in the senate. it has 43 african americans. 31 latinos. 10 asian americans and 7 openly gay or bisexual members. tammy baldwin is the first openly gay senator and first female senator from her state. illinois democratic congresswoman tammy duckworth is an iraq war vet and double amputee who lost her legs while serving in that war. and then there's republican senator tim scott of south carolina. today, he became the first african american senator from the south since reconstruction. and new hampshire is the first st