children's futures, and we are all mortal. words of wisdom, as relevant then as they are today. thanks so much for watching our broadcast this afternoon. crist matthews and "hardball" is next.. 8 can anything stop hillary? do you think she'll be the next president? two, she must survive the caucuses and primaries without suffering undue damage to the clinton brand. bill will have to do hi part in that. three, she's have to weather the all-out assault of the party and the wing that will be out to

destroy her, villainize her and her husband. finally she'd have to defeat the republican candidate for what could be 16 straight years. so i go back to my first concern. will hillary run? here's what i think. i don't think it will be easy. i think surprisingly tough, perhaps even frightening, but i think she's make the run. it's what's she's been going for since she spoke out at the wellesley commitment, not when every road sign points to 1600 pennsylvania avenue and you're the one on the road. jonathan al der is author of a new book "the center holds." larry salve itch, two experts here. today hillary clinton made her first major appearance, speaking at the clinton global initiative out in chicago, where she talked about her portfolio at cgi. she made a point to talk about

women. let's listen. >> when women participate in the economy, everyone benefits. this also should be a no-brainer. when women participate in peacemaking and peacekeeping, we are all safer and more secure. and when women participate in politics, the effects ripple out across society. so -- >> shy also talked about the role of government itself. let's listen to that. >> we understand you can't look to government to solve all our problems. we need those partnerships that bring public servants and private leaders together. >> and she talked about her goals, which incidentally lead to a job creation generally. let's listen. >> certainly i will be focused on applying lessons learned from around the world and building

new partnerships across our entire portfolio, but particularly in three broad areas that have been close to my heart my entire adult life -- early childhood development, opportunities for women and girls, and economic development that creates jobs and gives more people and more places the chance to live up to their own god-given potential. let's start with jon. i may cause trouble, which i am prone to do. >> i like it. >> does president obama -- this requires some mind reading, hard reading. does he want to be succeeded in office by hillary clinton, making him somewhere in history between the two clintons is he happy with that positioning? >> i think he's absolutely fine with that. you have to look at this in terms of cementing his legacy. remember, after ronald reagan's

eight years, we had four years of george h.w. bush. that helped to lock in the reagan legancy, kept chunks from being repealed. it's very important for obama's legacy that he have the strongest possible democrat, and that's hillary clinton, to do the same thing for him. the strange thing is these two towering figures, they need each other. obama needs hillary. hillary needs obama to perform and have a good enough economy and to otherwise have a record that she is going to of to run on in order to get to the white house the. >> it sounds very sim by on theic. does he like at hillary to make up for his impeachment, and more concerned about his legacy than obama's? do you think that's an unfair question? >> no, it's not unfair action and i guarantee it will be

asked, but look, bill clinton may want hillary's term to be his third term. i think she probably has something else in mind. it might be a hybrid between the clinton and obama administration. i do ultimate that it turns out to be all that much of clinton's terms. >> are you both of a mind i opened my statement, that when you started at where she started, of course, when -- at the regency hotel, the first time they had their debut in new york, she spoke first. i think she's had to her credit her eye on the highest office since day one. >> i think she's running, partly because there are no other women of her stature on the scene. if tlmp, then it would be a closer call.

her 3r50ir89 is there be a woman -- this has been important to her since she was in college. >> how do you know that? >> she's told this to interviewers over many years. right now she's the most likely person to fulfill that dream, and she nose it. >> i think she's likely to run, and she's going to have, as you indicated, there will be bumps in the road, but here's the reason why i think this partnership, which is not a close personal partnership they didn't invite them to dinner under the beginning of the second term. politically, the reason they are so close is that they really don't disagree on very much. they look at the world in pretty much the same way, which is extraordinarily different from what they questioner toss a radical, republican view of the world.

>> larry, i still think hillary clinton that she will run a notch or two to the right of president obama she will point out she's not taking back her position supporting the iraq war, maybe as the margaret thatcher role, as a woman you have to be positioned a bit more hawkish than the average democratic presidential candidate. what do you think? it's an open question. >> actually that's a very good point, chris. if she wants to do one thing different electorally, it will be try to bring ban appalachian state voters into the party. it's because of race, mainly they abandoned the democratic party for obama in both 2008 and 2012, but those were big bill clinton states. she won't do as well as bill

clinton did, but i think she can certainly redue the margins of victory for republicans in states from west virginia, arkansas, others states there. >> besides what she is, a caucasian white woman, i know exactly what you're talking about. when you take southwestern pennsylvania, westmoremand county, and then draw a diagonal and go right through west virginia, down there kentucky, i don't know the full geography, be basically point to a declining vote for obama as opposed to a vote for bill clinton. >> obama ran behind people like due caucus, kerry, in some of these white counties, and hillary can do better there. i think your point is a good one. what makes it more interesting, even though she's almost running as obama's vice president, and they're connected in that way, she's not actually in office. so it gives her leeway to split with him on certain discrete

issues, but if she does too much, it gives the media an opening to rub those wounds raw. so i think they'll be very careful, they will coordinate, give the white house a heads-up when she takes a position. >> you're smart. the credentials are amazing. yale law school, harvard, wellesley, and georgetown, yet not seem too la de-da, that you can appeal to the person working the dinee, the guy working in the garage, the average american who has to make a buck. they haven't lost that? >> i think that's a big piece of it. the other part of the dynamic is you have to remember, 57% of all the votes cast in democratic primaries are cast by women.

as both of you have mentioned, we shunt had a woman president. great britain had a woman prim, canada in 1983. still no woman president. that's the strongest single dynamic that helps hillary clinton get the nomination. >> is that particular among women in their 60s. is it true statistically that women my age have been waiting for this deliverance if you will, for their olympic voting lives in inch certainly democratic women have. not unanimously, but disproportionately. we have breaking news, big news. senator john mccain just announced that the obama administration has concluded that the syrian government used chemical weapons against the rebels and the united states will announce we will send support to the rebels because of

it. that was, of course, the red line. yesterday bill clinton took a general swipe at -- let's talk about that. let's listen to this. well, here he took a general swipe at syria's policy. most americans are opposed to u.s. intervention, but in a close press event, bill clinton warned that no president should allow public opinion polls to dictate foreign policy. they hired a president to look around the corner and down the street. you just think, well, if you refuse to act, the one thing you cannot say is my god, two years ago there was a poll that said 80% of you were against it, right? you would look like a total fool, so you have to in the end

trust the american people, and hope to got you can sell it. well, there he is, i don't know, i guess you could read that as a shot against obama. you all know president obama is his own person. he's again intervention in the middle east. that's why he's president, because we all got that about him. why would bill clinton suggest it's the polling that's keeping president obama from putting troops or taking any other kind of extreme step of getting involved with syria? >> you know, i'm not sure. clinton can be mischievous. obviously they don't have a close personal relationship. it's been very frosty not too many years ago. i'm not sure there was a shot across obama's bow. >> if earp obama, would you think so? >> i'm not sure that i would. obama has generally been pretty good, something like the auto bailouts. >> c'mon, jon.

i'm just saying, c'mon, jon. >> i know, you're saying c'mon, and i'm saying bill clinton was doing what he often does, which is talking especially nowadays, talking abstractly about presidents. >> i heard your first answer. >> look, chris, chris, if he was committed to intervention and trying to stake a shot at obama because he wasn't, then i would take your analysis of this, but clinton is not on record saying we should rush in right now. he's out of the swing of things, and he's much more into this kind of meandering conversation, especially when he's behind closed doors. remember, he regretted that he didn't intervene in rwanda. that gnaws at him. well, here we go.

we're doing -- let's find out what it is in the next several hours. thank you, gentlemen, very smart. larry, great to have you on again. coming up. six months since the massacre at sandy hook, the families are back here in washington, d.c., the family is making clear they're not going away. what will it take for congress to pass something? plus republicans just don't can't stop talking about rape as well as abortion. the latest culprit is congressman trinity franks. it's time for republicans to learn when they're talking about rape, just saying no, i'm not talking about rape. well before demographers expected, and could have enormous implications how we vote in the years to come. chris christie is the latest celebrity to slow-jam the news with jimmy fallon.

what we don't need is another unelected politician just sittin' around congress. whether it's in the senate or the house of representatives. >> take it from my man, the love gov. when he sits around the house of representatives he really sits around the house of representatives. if i didn't know better, i would guess christie was thinking about running for president. jimmy fallon is a good place to start. this is "hardball," the place for politics. ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] for dad's first job as dad. nissan tests hundreds of child seats to give you a better fit and a safer trip. snug kids, only from nissan. ♪

otherworldly things. but there are some things i've never seen before. this ge jet engine can understand 5,000 data samples per second. which is good for business. because planes use less fuel, spend less time on the ground and more time in the air. suddenly, faraway places don't seem so...far away. ♪ well, on so many issues its president obama's points that spent so much money on tv, but according to cantor media, supporters of immigration reform have spent $2.4 million to just 717,000 by opponents. that's a margin of more than 3:1 for immigration reform. in contrast to issues like health care, wall street reform,

and the deficit where. we'll be right back. on home ree written by people just like you. you want to be sure the money you're about to spend is money well spent. angie's list -- reviews you can trust.

welcome back to "hardball." six months after the horrific attack in newtown, family members are in washington, d.c. pushing lawmakers to take up gun safety. again. well, let's watch. >> around 9:35 a.m., an armed man walked into sandy hook elementary school and opened fire. and killed 26 people within the school. i am here today to remind congress what happened to my family, to remind them of what keeps happening in america. 5,000 more americans have died due to gun violence since december 14th, and there still

hasn't been any federal action to protect us from gun violence. well, that was jillian soto, the younger sister of victoria soto. the families also met privately with president obama. the senate of course tried and failed to pass new background legislation, and that bill was worked out by two senators who had the strong backing of the nra -- trong -- republican pat toomey and joe manchin. in a shift the organization is going after manchin with a new tv ad. let's watch it. >> remember this tv ad? >> i will -- >> that was joe manchin's commitment, but notice manchin is working with president obama and new york mayor michael bloomberg. concerned? >> tell senator manchin to honor

his commitment to the second amendment. >> manchin pushed back hard today, writing, quote, the washington n.r.a. could spend $100 million on ads against me, still won't make what they say true. if they were honest with their members, they would sigh that my bill protects second amendment rights, but enhances and strengthens them. unfortunately the leadership in washington has lost is way. while griving families show the humidity issue, of course, the nra continues the long journey. nia malika henderson is a reporter for "the washington post," and ron reagan a political analyst. i want to start with ron reagan on this. the red line it seems to me on syria has certainly moved over to the right. it used to be if you were against guns, now if you take the gun safety position, all you want to do is make sure there's no gun show loophole.

people have to do background checks. that's all the people are asking for. and that's what manchin is being pilloried for. >> we forget that sometimes it used tore the nra supported background checks. it doesn't even represent its own-mile-per-hour, three quarters of whom would like universal background checks. the nra represents and is a lobbying group for gun dealers, period. they're about money. if they found out they could sell more guns by scrapping the second amendment all together, they would do it in an eye blink. it's not ideological, it's about money. >> i noticed there that the way this defense by manchin is. not is the nra, drawing the distinction between members who

were members of the nra? virginia, but members of the nra, many of whom do support background checks, he distinguishes them from the big shots in washington who get paid to talk like this. >> that's right. he's essentially saying that the folks that run the nra, the folks you see on tv most often aren't the run of the mill folks who are members of that group or the run of the mill folks who like to hunt, and shoot and all sorts of things, and they're gun owners. i think manchin really embodies the shift we have seen more generally in the democratic party. it's a party that had been running scared, i think, for many decades from the nra. now you are seeing a president and a first lady go out when they are at some of these fund-raisers they talk about a gun control. they say if it weren't for six votes, they would have been this leg through the senate.

that's why they need increased numbers in the senate. so i think we are in the middle of something of a pend limb shift. the nrai think won this round, but i talk to some folks at harry reid's office, he was talking about his own experience, his father's suicide, they aren't going to give up on this, but there's a sense it might not happen right now or in this congress, but they're going to keep at it. >> as you say, he promised to fight -- he also made clear he wasn't looking to pass some watered-down version. so let's watch. >> when republicans voteside against this legislation on the senate floor, they voted against 90% of the american people. -- the fight is not over. it's just beginning. i want to be very, very clear, though. in order to be effective, the bill against the senate must

include background checks and not aer whatted-down version 6 background checks. >> i know where you stand. people have long-distance running mentalities, and i think the people have been for gun safety -- bobby kennedy gets shot. didn't do any good, maybe, but i wrote the letter. they never change their minds, never change their attitudes and never change the frickin' subject. well, it's difficult, obsession is the right word.

solely on the issue of the second amendment. but somehow sensible people, 90% of americans who would like university background checks have to borrow or find that kind of intense legitimate. you notice the ad against manchin that the nra ran, they didn't even talk about universal background checks. they simply said he was teaming unwith bloomberg and obama. for what? that's not even identified there. they demonize obama and bloomberg, so you don't even have to say what they're talking about there. sensible people need to do the same thing for the nra. nra needs to be just as demonized among 90% of at the public, as obama is demonized among the 10% or so of the fanatic gun buffs. >> you think there to -- the pictures they put in there? maybe a soupspoon of throwing in

the ethnic part? i mean, i'm just thinking. >> obhama looked awfully dark in that picture. >> this thing of tying him into the city as bloomberg, you know, new york is coming at you. i get the question is, covering this, it seems the tricky part is to get the four democrats back on base. how do you get people like mark pryor, the other two people, and how do you get -- well. baucus is leaving. how do you turn people around? >> that's the problem. you know, you imagine that these senators, is it worse to be where they are now or to flip-flop? people lie ayotte, you had these polls out, suggesting they were taking something of a political hit, some of that has died down. they are working the phones -- >> to what effect? how did you get ayotte to change

her vote? she would look even worse if she flips now. >> that's is the thing. i was that was the thinking early to. some folks were thinking they could make her change her mind, but we i think she's looking at her overall chance of -- so this is hard, they realize it's hard, but we'll have to see. >> i think the victims' families just keep coming for the rest of their lives is a smart move. thank you, ron, thank you, nia mali malika. this is "hardball," the place for politics. [ panting ]

we're headed the same way, right? yeah. ♪ [ panting ] uh... after you. ♪ [ sighs ] [ male announcer ] it's all in how you get there. the srx, from cadillac. awarded best interior design of any luxury brand. lease this 2013 cadillac srx for around $399 per month, with premium care maintenance included. try align. it's the number one ge recommended probiotic that helps maintain digestive balance. ♪ stay in the groove with align. ♪ need help keeping your digestive balance in sync? try align. it's a probiotic that fortifies your digestive system with healthy bacteria 24/7. because your insides set the tone. stay in the groove with align.

energy efficient appliances. you can get a tax write off for those. a programmable thermostat, very smart, saves money. ♪ cash money sorry. i see you have allstate claim free rewards, for every year you don't have a claim, you'll get money off your home insurance policy. put it towards... [ glass shatters ] [ girl ] dad! dad! [ girl screams ] noise canceling headphones? [ nicole ] that's a great idea. [ male announcer ] home insurance that saves you money for not having a claim? that's allstate home insurance with claim free rewards. talk to an allstate agent... [ doorbell rings ] and let the good life in.

to help protect your eye health as you age... would you take it? well, there is. [ male announcer ] it's called ocuvite. a vitamin dedicated to your eyes, from bausch + lomb. as you age, eyes can lose vital nutrients. ocuvite helps replenish key eye nutrients. ocuvite is uniquely formulated to help protect your eye health. now that's a pill worth taking. [ male announcer ] ocuvite. help protect your eye health. and now there's ocuvite eye + multi. an eye vitamin and multivitamin in one. we have kristin welker joins us. do we know that the united states is going to get involved in militarily helping the rebels in syria, based on this report that the government in syria has been using gas? >> well, chris, what the administration is saying is they have aiding to some extent the

opposition forces they haven't used the specific term militarily, but that is what we believe based on what members of congress have said on the hill. they believe 100 to 150 people have been killed due to the use of chemical weapons. as you know, president obama has said that would be his red line. that would change the calculation for him inside syria. so, today, the white house making the pop layers toss opposition forces. this comes on the heels of a u.n. report, chris, that found that 9 on,000 people at least have been killed inside syria. when asked specifically about what some of the other plans were that the white house is considering, they wouldn't be specific, except to say this is a game changer inside syria. chris? >> i'm just wondering whether

we're getting an accurate report, especially hearing in john mccain, suggesting this will be a 180. it sounds like from you're telling us is this is an escalation, not a 180 change. >> i think it's an escalation. in terms of how the white house is going to specifically characterize it, i think we'll have to wait for the coming days to say how much eight is increased to the opposition forces. as you know, john mccain recently visited syria, met with opposition forces there. he has been one of the more hawkish voices in terms of arming the rebels, so he tonight praising the action by the white house, saying this is a good step forward for this administration in terms of helping those people who are several so much. let me read you something. deputy national security divorce ben rhodes speaks to the nsc, devote, the united states have a number of other legal financial diplomatic and military

responses available. we are prepared for all contingencies and will make decisions on our own timeline. is this -- could it be -- i'm always looking to the positive face, an ultimatum. this is your time, you may be on the up side of this war this week, but here's a chance to begin brokering a peace deal that might get you out of that country alive? >> reporter: i think that is what they are hoping will happen. as you know, president obama is going to be participates in the g-8 summit in a few days, and will try to put the pressure on russia to convince assad to step down. there are a number of contingencies that they are planning for, including possibly a no-fly zone. at this point in time that doesn't seem very likely. i think you're right, the white house hoping this will be the ultimatum that will force assad to essential step down and leave

his post. chris? >> so fascinating the battle that you and i have been covering for the last several years, we call them the hawks and the doves, and the president has been a dove. here he is in a description, he's being portrayed as a fellow hawk. i get we'll have to wait a couple days to find out if that's accurate or not. >> i think what's been interesting is there has been communication between john mccain and the white house, so this is not a total surprise. i think there's been a lot of conversations behind the scenes about what to do next. the white house has been discussing this now, as you know, for a number of months, but more specifically in recent weeks as pressure has mounted on them to take action. and as we got those early assessments about the fact that chemical weapons may have been used. tonight the bed headline is the white house has confirmed based on their intelligence that the assad regime has used chemical

weapons and has crossed that red line. >> thank you so much, kristin welker at the white house. we're going to talk more about this in this edition of "hardball" and then at 7:00 tonight. this is a big story. it seems we have hard intelligence that the assad regime on several occasions, as described here, multiple occasions moved what i believe is sarin gas, the red line has been crossed. we're into a new level in terms of our role in that war. we'll be right back. out there owning it.

the ones getting involved and staying engaged. they're not afraid to question the path they're on. because the one question they never want to ask is "how did i end up here?" i started schwab for those people. people who want to take ownership of their investments, like they do in every other aspect of their lives.

welcome back to "hardball." if the 2012 election cycle taught republicans anything, when it comes to women's issues,

you need to choose your words carefully. senate candidates todd akin in, and -- well, yesterday at a house hearing arizona congressman trent franks stepped into the same perilous territory while pushing for a bill. let's listen. >> before, when my friends on the left side of the aisle here tried to make rape and incest the subject, because, you know -- the incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low. the franks' statement less provocative than those of akin and murdoch, he allowed them as -- he was not alone. in wisconsin the republican-dominated state senate voted to require women to -- at the very least and quite possibly already to a more

invasive transadvantage able ultra-sound. joan and jonathan are both msnbc contributors. joan, it just seems that they can't avoid that one word rape. it's an odd word to talk about in general conversation even. >> right. >> we don't usually chat about it, and here they are bringing it up. >> well, yeah, chris. it's because it's what they believe. during the romney campaign, paul ryan was asked about akin's comments and he said the means of conception shouldn't change the law. and they don't have a problem talking about it. i think it's deeper than that. we see with scott walker in wisconsin, this is their agenda. it's not talking about rain when they're in trouble. scott walker said i feel just fine about ultra-sounds, like you're talking about a medically

necessary ultra-sound, which we all are fine with, but the potential of a transadvantagible -- they're not fine with it. this is what plays to the republican base, this is what many of them feel very profoundly and deeply. this is what they believe, this is what they think is good for the country, this is what they're pushing. just telling them to rebrand themselves and stop talking about rape is not going to be good enough. >> this is interesting. jon you and i have talked about this, but when you have someone close to you as a gale person, you have a different attitude about the issue. it seems to me everyone has a woman close to them, a daughter, sister, mother certainly, and you do have a certain attitude when you think in terms of a young doddo young 20-year-old daughter, you want her rights to be pretty much supreme and you want her to have all the options. when you start talking about the laws they're going to pass, i think people naturally go to someone they know and should that person have the -- to be

left alone by the state or not. >> is that for me, chris or joan? >> for you. >> look, chris, the idea that you have a committee filled with men who are talking about women's reproductive health, women's bod why is and what they can and cannot or should or should not do with them, and also talking about these issues in ways that are not grounded in fact or in science, i think is pretty galling to the country, especially women sitting in congress listening to their colleagues talk about them and their bodies in that way is just incredible. >> let me break it to people out there who are watching. you bring up topics like that around this office, and the women have the view let's not generalize these discussions. i thought it was interesting that once again a male congressman saying the incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy is very low. i mean, do they have some sort

of medical journal on the top of their desk? where do they get this stuff from? >> what they're doing really, chris, in all these instances, they are calling women liars. they're saying women who claim that they need an abortion because they were raped are lying about it, because, you know, their body shuts the whole thing down or the incidence is very low, so it's a terrible misunderstanding of science, but they're also wrong in their view of women. they view us as can't be trusted to make our own decision. it's offensive on so many different levels, i don't really know where to start. let's talk about wisconsin now, what's going on in wisconsin. there's a bill out there. it requires women seeking abortion to have an ultra-sound. scott walker plans to sign on to this thing, requires women seeking abortions to have an ultra-sound and quite possibly a

transvaginal probe. let's watch. >> i move that the body vote immediately on the current question. >> the question before the house is nondebatable. >> the question before the house is nondebatable, the clerk will call the roll. senator carpenter. coles. cullen. >> call the roll. >> darling. >> you're out of order. >> el us. >> sit down, you're not recognized. >> that's a little rough. joan, your view of that. somebody in that chair does not want somebody out there in the assembly to raise their voice on this. >> they don't want them to even talk about it. the crazy thing is he they had the votes. if scott walker signs that bill, some people talk about him as a 2016 guy, maybe not a morizing as rand paul or cruz, if he

signs that bill, he will be governor ultra-sound and never be president. >> you're talking to me, aren't you, joan? because i was talking up scott walker as a compromise. >> i heard that. >> as always, that's who you're talking to, me. >> i'm always talking to you. >> thanks for the education. thank you both for coming on. up next, last year more whites died in america than were born. what that means for our politics when we return. this is "hardball," the place for politics. m? ♪ now you can give yourself a kick in the rear! v8 v-fusion plus energy. natural energy from green tea plus fruits and veggies. need a little kick? ooh! could've had a v8. in the juice aisle. need a little kick? you know it even after all these years. but your erectile dysfunction - you know,that could be a question of blood flow. cialis tadalafil for daily use helps you be ready anytime the moment's right. you can be more confident in your ability to be ready. and the same cialis is the only daily ed tablet approved to treat ed and symptoms of bph,

like needing to go frequently or urgently. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long-term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than four hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or if you have any allergic reactions such as rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a 30-tablet free trial. yeah? then how'd i get this... [ voice of dennis ] ...safe driving bonus check? every six months without an accident, allstate sends a check. silence. are you in good hands?

this is "hardball." we'll be right back with more on the big development in syria. 6 [ male announcer ] i've seen incredible things. otherworldly things. but there are some things i've never seen before. this ge jet engine can understand 5,000 data samples per second. which is good for business. because planes use less fuel, spend less time on the ground and more time in the air. suddenly, faraway places don't seem so...far away. ♪

moments ago, white house deputy -- national security adviser ben rhodes issued the following statement on plans to increase support for syrian rebels. this comes as the white house expresses, quote, high confidence, close quote, that the assad regime has used chemical weapons. quite simply, the assad regime should let us know that their actions have led us to increase the scale and scope of assistance that we have provided.

these efforts will increase going forward. joining me gene robinson. it looks like we're giving them more including lethal armaments. >> it looks like we're going to do that, and perhaps other assistance. obviously, the pentagon has been planning for this moment. and one assume there's is no reason for the white house to announce the red line has been crossed unless they have some idea what they want to do. we're just not quite sure yet how far they go. is there some sort of even limited no-fly zone. do they help -- you know, the rebels will need a place to train. and equip themselves, some sort of safe haven if we're really going to materially aid them. so that would have to be protected in some way. near the jordanian border? >> and they have resisted going into jordan, haven't they, for the trainees? the potential trainees? they want to stay in their country. >> they would like to stay in their country, and frankly, they are needed in their country.

it doesn't help to have them all go into jordan if your aim is to beat the syrian army. this comes at a moment when the city of aleppo, which is kind of a really big deal in this war is on the verge of falling again to the assad regime. it's kind of half and half between the assad and the rebels now. if aleppo goes, it's hard to see how the rebels recover. so it's a particularly crucial moment. >> it's an interesting thing here, sam. we're trying to get really a breaking story, as i said. here is a statement from ben rhodes today. more elaborate and way more murky. the united states and the international community have a number of other legal, financial, diplomatic and military responses available. we are prepared for all contingencies, and we will make decisions on our own timeline. so there is still -- rattling the sword more than doing something. but then i get the sense according to mccain and lindsey graham and others that they have definitely decided to give aid. this is the thing that is taking shape right now. it's going to be more than we've given. so we're taking sides.

we're really getting in this thing. >> this is really murky because it's developing there are somewhat conflicting reports about whether or not there will be a limited no-fly zone on the call. it seemed like they were saying there was not going to be a no-fly zone. what seems clear at this juncture is we will be providing more aid to the rebels. in what capacity? they wouldn't say. gene brings up an interesting point is that you either go in at this juncture or you don't go in at all. it's very tough to jump in on the side of the rebels when they're on the precipice of actually losing this thing, or at least losing the key outpost. so, you know, this is a tough spot for the obama administration. at the same time, it's a costly one as well. the cost of a no-fly zone if we do decide to do it is estimated at $50 million a day. so, you know, we have to take all these things into consideration. and right now i think the administration itself is working through the considerations. >> you know, frankly, i think

there is a serious question as to whether it is in fact too late. absent a really robust u.s. engagement of the kind that i think would not go over well here in this country. >> well, what about -- maybe i'm just looking at history. i'm worried here. well go in. we say we go in with the trumpets blaring tonight, which is mccain is happy which is going to scare the other side that mccain is happy. what is putin going to do? putin has been decided whether to give his sophisticated military air defenses. what happens if he says okay, buddy, you want to play tough? we're going in too. and then it's going to be like the spanish civil war where the world is involved in the fight. >> u.s.-supplied weapons against russian-supplied weapons. >> and our planes being shot at by their defenses. this is pretty scary, they gets scary. and, again, the question is are they really contemplating an intervention that is pro bust enough to change the balance? and let's talk about that. >> these people that talk about,

especially the neo con pencil necks oh, just take them out. and inevitably it escalates. inevitably we have to go to ground troops to protect our air base, to protect this, protect that. if we start facing soviet state-of-the-art -- sam, last thought to you. what happens if this escalates globally? >> you can make the case we have the capacity to do what the neo cons want to do. but let me bring up the other side of the coin there is not that strong intelligence about who actually in the rebel camp there are conflicting reports about whether there are extremists who have infiltrated the rebel camp. >> who we're armg. >> exactly. >> we've been through the victory ceremonies in kabul. thank you. smart thinking. we'll be right back. we had never used a contractor before and didn't know where to start.

at angie's list, you'll find reviews on everything from home repair to healthcare written by people just like you. no company can pay to be on angie's list, so you can trust what you're reading. angie's list is like having thousands of close neighbors where i can go ask for personal recommendations. that's the idea. before you have any work done, check angie's list. from roofers to plumbers to dentists and more, angie's list -- reviews you can trust. i love you, angie. sorry, honey. [ male announcer ] everyone has the ability to do something amazing. ♪ some just do it, on a more regular basis. ♪ ♪ in dealerships everywhere. in theaters, june 14th.

in dethto fight chronic.e. osteoarthritis pain. to fight chronic low back pain. to take action. to take the next step. today, you will know you did something for your pain. cymbalta can help. cymbalta is a pain reliever fda-approved to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain. one non-narcotic pill a day, every day, can help reduce this pain. tell your doctor right away if your mood worsens, you have unusual changes in mood or behavior or thoughts of suicide. anti-depressants can increase these in children, teens, and young adults. cymbalta is not for children under 18. people taking maois, linezolid or thioridazine or with uncontrolled glaucoma should not take cymbalta. taking it with nsaid pain relievers, aspirin, or blood thinners may increase bleeding risk. severe liver problems, some fatal, were reported. signs include abdominal pain and yellowing skin or eyes. tell your doctor about all your medicines, including those for migraine and while on cymbalta, call right away if you have high fever, confusion and stiff muscles or serious allergic skin reactions like blisters, peeling rash, hives, or mouth sores to address possible life-threatening conditions.

talk about your alcohol use, liver disease and before you reduce or stop cymbalta. dizziness or fainting may occur upon standing. take the next step. talk to your doctor. cymbalta can help. foour neighbors.... and our communities... america's beverage companies have created... a wide range of new choices. developing smaller portion sizes and more.. low and no-calorie beverages... adding clear calorie labels so you know... exactly what you're choosing... and in schools, replacing full-calorie soft drinks... with lower-calorie options. with more choices and fewer calories... america's beverage companies are delivering.

we finish tonight with this. we just learned today that more nonhispanic whites in the u.s. died last year than were born. it's a remarkable statistic. obviously people from different groups will have different reactions. white people may feel their position they're rogue. immigrant mace feel the country is getting more diverse down the road. the vital fact is the country's democratic face is changing. we're becoming much more like that many faces of benetton. more like when you visit a big city than out in the countryside. more different of appearance, more different background in values and politics as well. but the challenge remains to

built unity out of differences. e pluribus unum. the pluribus is growing. "politicsnation" with al sharpton starts right now. >> thanks, chris. and thanks to you for tuning in. tonight's lead, the tricky business of picking an impartial jury. day 4 of jury selection, and there are big developments in the state of florida versus george zimmerman. lawyers questioned ten potential jurors today. so far 75 people have been rejected out of a toll jury pool of 500. it's clear that many people have at least some knowledge of the case. keep in mind lawyers have just ten peremptory challenges each that they can use.