joe" but right now time for chuck todd. chuck, take it away. a half century of hope. 50 years after dr. king delivered his i have a dream speech, washington and the world will reflect on the work still to be done. meantime, the u.s. and the world allies let syria know that chemical attacks will not be tolerated. we'll get the latest on what kind of military strike could punish assad without somehow swaying the country's civil war. those realities weigh heavily on president obama today when he marks the dream anniversary, honoring the legacy of nonviolence on the eve of an expected u.s.-led military strike. good morning from washington. it's wednesday, august 28th, 2013. this "the daily rundown," i'm chuck todd. let's get right to the first reads of the morning. today is the 50th anniversary of the march on washington. of course dr. martin luther king

jr.'s i have a dream speech before a crowd of a quarter million people in washington and millions more on television watched on that 1963 day. his remarks galvanized the civil rights movement. president obama called it one of the five greatest speeches in american history. >> when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city. we will be able to speed up that day with all of god's children, black men and white men, jews and gentiles, protestants and catholic, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old knnegro spiritual, freet last, free at last, thank god almighty, we are free at last. >> to think the most famous part of the speech was ad libbed. at this hour, thousands are

retracing the steps of the original marchers heading down constitution avenue to the washington memorial and the national mall. two hours from now, a program commemorating the march and the speech will begin. then some time after 2:00, president obama and former presidents bill clinton and jimmy carter will speak on the steps of the linken memorial to honor king's legacy and his call to let freedom ring. at 3:04, 50 years to the minute after king's address, organizers at dozens of sites around the country will ring bells. among them is this bell. from the 16th street baptist church in birmingham. the bell that rang in 1963 just before a bomb killed four little girls. organizers say they are remembering the bloodshed by all in the struggle for civil rights. by the way, we mentioned that m former president bill clinton will speak today. breaking news from the white house this morning.

we can report that former president bill clinton is being tapped to deliver a major policy speech on behalf of the white house defending and explaining the health care law. the affordable care act. he'll do so at his presidential library in little rock, arkansas, on wednesday, one week from today. president obama once dubbed clinton the secretary of explaining stuff. he actually had another word at the time but "stuff" is what's been quoted. that's what the white house hopes bill clinton will do when it's just the one-month mark before the health care marketplaces open up. think about the setting. his library in little rock. arkansas. if somehow he can sway the arkansas electorate, his former electorate, his former home, about health care, and it ends up saving mark pryor's senate seat, that's where you see how the politics of all this falls. and why the white house believes they need bill clinton to do this. moving on.

let's get to my other first reads of the morning. the other big story is syria. where all indications are it's just a matter of time before the u.s. launches a military strike. laying the groundwork and bracing for a showdown at the u.n. this morning, the british prime minister david cameron tweeted that the uk has drawn up a u.n. resolution condemning last week's chemical weapons attack in syria and asking for authorization necessary for measure, to protect civilians there. cameron says the resolution will be put to the five permanent members of the u.n. security council later today. we know what's probably going to happen but this is something that needs to be done. this morning, u.n. special envoy to syria admitted there's evidence that some kind of chemical substance was used in the august 21st attack but said he wants to see the proof that would justify a military strike. >> what we have been told is there's evidence that america, the british, the french say they

have, is going to be shared with us. we will be very, very, very interested in hearing from them what this evidence they have is. >> he also said any military action should be authorized by a u.n. resolution. problem is is there's almost no chance that a resolution will pass. we expect the u.s., britain and france will support it. russia and china almost certainly won't. members of this administration have been reaching out to their international counterparts. in the last four days, you've had the president reaching out to leaders of can that, australia, france and the uk. we kind of know the usual suspects in a u.s.-led coalition. all in an effort to show the level of consultations going on. also released the list calls made by the vice president, secretary of defense, chairman of the joint chiefs, the u.n. ambassador and secretary of state. secretary kerry alone has made 47 calls to foreign leaders over the last week. among the ones that got the most attention, russian foreign minister lavrov.

officials tell nbc news they have intelligence intercepts tying the chemical attack to the regime. the intelligence report, which could be released to the public as early as tomorrow, shows how assad forces stored, assembled and launched the weapons. >> there's no doubt who's responsible for this heinous use of chemical weapons in syria, the syrian regime. the president believes, and i believe, that those who use chemical weapons against defenseless men, women and children should and must be held accountable. >> while the president tries to build the case for an attack, the reaction from congress has been mostly quiet. not surprising since they're all still in recess. house minority leader nancy pelosi weighed in for it the first time. she supports the president. and said only congress would be willing to consult with the

president. but not everyone is content with the consultation approach. including some democrats. connecticut senator chris murphy and congressman john larson both said the president needs approval from capitol hill. writing that the administration must make the case to congress and should convene congress. in addition, 33 house lawmakers have signed a letter to obama asking him to call congress back into question so they can, quote, share the burden of decision, made regarding u.s. involvement in syria. the administration insists that any military strike would be meant to simply send a message not to remove syrian president bashar al assad. it's something they believe they have to do quickly which is why they don't need congress' support. those supporting a military strike are not happy with some of the rhetoric. namely senator mccain. >> the president can say whatever he wants to. but isn't it contradictory that two years ago he said he must go and now he's saying this isn't aimed at regime change? if it isn't aimed at regime

change, what is it aimed at? we can send them a diplomatic note if it's just we don't agree with what they're doing. >> one final note on all things syria that may or may not be connected to all this. if you had some trouble online yesterday, you may have bashar all assad to thank. a group calling itself the syrian electronic army hacked "the new york times" and twitter disrupting service. the group attacked other sites in recent months, both in the u.s. and britain. officials tell nbc news the group is connected to the assad regime but the link is murky. what's going to happen on the military front? the u.s. has moved five destroyers into the mediterranean in preparation for air strikes that could begin as early as tomorrow. as we mentioned, if the u.s. opts for a missile strike, the window for those strikes supposedly opens tomorrow. for more on the u.s. military strategy, i'm joined by our chief pentagon correspondent jim miklaszewski. mick, right now, all the talk is

cruise missiles from destroyers. while the administration has been trying to downplay exactly what the results of a strike would look like, about whether it's going to tip the balance in the syrian civil war, we do hear that it would be over days, not hours. explain. >> well, u.s. military officials, first of all, a senior u.s. military official told me this morning that the u.s. has gone beyond the point of return at this point. and it's believed that some kind of attack against syrian targets now, as you mentioned, is inevitable. these cruise missiles, at least four of those guided missile destroyers, a fifth one, has entered the gulf. two u.s. submarines and one british submarine. they're all aimed at limited targets. that was the word from the military and eventually the white house that this would be a limited strike aimed at sending a message to bashar al assad and

the syrian regime not to launch anymore chemical weapons. as we heard from the white house spokesman yesterday, there's no talk about taking out the regime. now, i can tell you that all the pieces are in place. it's not clear the president has given the order yet. but when he does, those missiles could be in the air within hours, chuck. >> mick, what everybody's trying to figure out, the timing of this, the u.n. inspectors are still in syria. one would assume we wouldn't be launching any strikes at or near damascus while there are u.n. inspectors on the ground. those folks aren't scheduled to leave till sunday. so is that something we should be reading between the lines of? >> there is a lot of reporting, saying the strikes could not possibly begin till those u.n. inspectors are out of the country. i can tell you, senior administration official told me that that was the old way of conventional thinking, chuck. >> old way means what? old way means --

>> meaning that -- >> that the state -- >> as a matter of fact, if you look at the timetables -- >> they think they have the technology to make sure these folkings are safe? >> they already have the technology to do that. these cruise missiles could launch from 1,500 miles away. that's not the issue. it's clear then, wherever those u.n. inspectors are, which probably would be pretty close to regime targets, that those are not going to be the targets. if, in fact, those air strikes begin within the next couple of days. which is what we're hearing. >> all right. jim miklaszewski at the pentagon. it's going to be a long holiday weekend, thank you, sir. with lawmakers on reset till next week, mostly bit players in the drama surrounding syria. joining me now, democratic member of the armed services committee. senator, i want to begin with the fact that you've got democratic colleagues from

connecticut, john larson on the house side, longtime member of house leadership there. your senate colleague, chris murphy. all believing that congress should play a larger role. not just consultation, but a larger role. what say you? >> i say there has to be a larger role and there has to be consultation. which so far has not occurred. i'm still waiting for that evidence and intelligence that the administration has prompted. i'm sure it will provide that kind of input. and frankly so is the country and the world community. there's a reason that chemical warfare is prohibited by the laws of war. why it's made a war crime. and that is that it violates treaties and conventions. the world community has to be briefed. ultimately any action we take should be in collaboration with the world community, targeted, sush surgical, precise, and avoiding any troops on the ground. >> do you think we're rushing?

do you think the administration's rush things? >> there is a need for action. there's also the need to consider that second and third order. the second and third days. i'm sure having discussed this issue with general dempsey, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, that the administration is thinking through what the ramifications will be, to avoid spreading this conflict. >> if the president has a policy goal that says assad must go but the administration is saying any military strike is not about regime change this goes to the question that senator mccain asked. he basically said that's a contradiction. how do you square it? >> this kind of limited proportionate response has to aim at those high value military assets that were involved in delivering the chemical warfare. the transporting and the actual

execution of that chemical warfare attack. assuming this evidence does, in fact, link it with assad, has to be the target of this kind of surgical and precise attack. i think that is a wise way to go. it avoids spreading the conflict. it limits the kind of ramifications. but failing to act i think also has consequences in terms of the repercussions in encouraging and involving this regime. that's why i think a strike of limited duration and scope. avoiding wider conflict is the way to go. >> and the goal of the strike should be what? is it -- should it be just punishment? or is the goal -- you're striking him so he's no longer capable of using chemical weapons. what is the actual goal here of the military strike? >> part of what needs to be done, chuck, is for the definition of that goal to be further refined and explained to the public. i think the administration very likely is going through that

exercise right now and congress coming back to your first question needs to be consulted as to what the goal is. but certainly it ought to be limited to in effect disabling further chemical warfare strikes and also demonstrating that the united states and the world community, and, again, it has to be with the world community, will not tolerate this kind of horrific, inhumane and violation of world law. >> just very quickly, do you think that the president should hold off on any strike till you guys get back into session? >> i'm ready to go back tomorrow if the president wants to consult with us and have us vote. if time requires it, he has the legal authority to proceed on his own. >> senator blumenthal, thank you for coming on this morning. coming up here on "the daily rundown," we have more of the special coverage of the 50th

anniversary of the 1963 march on washington. as thousands gather to mark this hiss st historic day, president obama prepares to speak in the exact same spot where mlk delivered his iconic speech 50 years ago. you're looking live right now at an interfaith service going on at the shiloh baptist church. reverend bernice king is speaking now. it's the first of many events scheduled today. in fact, here's what else is on the planner for the day. three generations actually of presidents. when it comes to the issue -- living the issue of race in this country. you're watching "the daily rundown" only on msnbc. ♪ better start swimming or you'll sink like a stone ♪ (announcer) answer the call of the grill with new friskies grillers,

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i. we're less than 30 minutes in today's massive march cohelp rating the 50th anniversary of the march on washington. heading towards louisiana avenue as they make their way towards the lincoln memorial. at least 100,000 people gathering for speeches. we have a little bit of a weather issue. the "today" show's al roker. what have you seen so far? there's a little bit of nervousness about the weather. >> yes, it was raining here earlier. it's been -- it's still sprinkling off and on. we expect it to dry out maybe in the next hour or so. and then there's another area of showers and thunderstorms back through western p.a. and maryland that will probably get in here later this afternoon. probably about the time the president is expecting or

thereabouts. it's going to be kind of interesting. right now, sound checks, folks milling about. obviously, as you can imagine, security is very tight here. we went through some of the tightest security i remember coming through events here in washington, even more so than an inaugural. and like i said, people are, though, very -- there's a festive mood here. people are really excited about being here, chuck. >> and i want to throw to -- i know you spent a little time with martin luther king iii. i want to play a clip of that. >>. >> he'd be very proud of the fact that there's some individuals doing well but he'd be very concerned about the fact that there's staggering unemployment rates among young people between the ages of 18 and 30 in the african-american community and at violence at epidemic levels in our communities. >> al, it seems that's the

message the president wants to talk about too, when he touches on. he knows, he's worried about expectations about his speech in general but those seem to be the themes he wants to tackle. >> i understand the president did, in fact, speak with martin luther king jr. iii about his speech this afternoon. i mean, perhaps more so for some inspiration than perhaps the actual content. but it's very interesting. i got to stay at the willard hotel last night. the same hotel that was one of the few in washington that allowed blacks to stay in back in 1963. and it was there that martin luther king jr. and seven other associates put the finishing touches on that speech. so, you know, when you think about it, 17 minutes, 1,579 words that really changed the course of a nation. and, again today, the

commemoration of that. being given by a black president is not lost on anybody. of the thousands of folks who will be here later today. >> it seems to be what makes this an extra special day. talking about the things that have been accomplished in 50 years. even while we know there's still other things. al roker, i will see you down on the mall i think in an hour or so. i'll see you soon, sir. still to come here on this special edition of "the daily rundown," we'll have a preview of watt president is planning to stay on this historic day. aides admit the president is feeling pressure on this one. first, trivia question. how many african-americans were serving in congress when dr. king delivered his i have a dream speech? first person to tweet the correct answer to @chucktodd and @tdailyrundown gets the shoutout today. tweet us with #advancin

#advancingthedream. you'll see pictures plenty of ordinary americans have been sending in. we'll be right back. humans. even when we cross our t's and dot our i's, we still run into problems. namely, other humans. which is why at liberty mutual insurance, auto policies come with new car replacement and accident forgiveness if you qualify. see what else comes standard at libertymutual.com. liberty mutual insurance. responsibility. what's your policy?

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this tasty stouffer's lasagna dinner from walmartogic medicine is less than $2.15 a serving. replacing one restaurant dinner a week saves your family of four over $1750 a year. save money. live better. walmart. expectations for the president's speech today are incredibly high. organizers saying president obama will speak from the very spot where dr. king delivered his i have a dream speech. the president told the tom joyner morning show yesterday that today's speech has not been an easy one to write. >> helet me just say for the record right now, it won't be as good as the speech 50 years ago. because i just want to get that out there early. because, you know, when you are talking about dr. king's speech at the march on washington, you're talking about one of the maybe five greatest speeches in

american history. >> at a town hall last week, the president actually offered a bit of a preview of the message that he wants to deliver today. >> 50 years after the march on washington and the i have a dream speech, obviously, we made enormous strides. i'm a testament to it. you're a testament to it. the diversity of this room and, you know, the students who are here as a testimony to it. on the other hand, i think what we've also seen is that the legacy of discrimination, slavery, jim crow, has meant that some of the institutional barriers for success for a lot of groups still exist. >> the president went on to talk about the long legacy of poverty still facing african-americans. so it's gaggle time.

joined by democratic strategist jamal simmons. editor of bloomberg review, anything else you want to throw in there? jamal, this -- i was talking to some white house folks who were excited about today and at the same time going, this is an impossible speech. because you have african-american political act visits that want, you know -- that just want him to be the reincarnation of martin luther king jr. and the president himself knows that that isn't the case. and of course this whole push/pull. is he a black political activist or american president. >> right, clearly, an american president. my understanding, will really broaden this conversation out to how these issues of economic injustice, voting rights, like sort of take these issues from 1963, honor that, and then come forward to where we go from here

and really talk about the economic issues, the voting right issues. broaden it out to gay and lesbian issue. still have issues of people being enslaved around the world. there's all sorts of things on the agenda for the progressive community. >> that's a lot of stuff to put in one speech. he wants to spend a lot of time on the historical context and the historical meaning of the day. >> we pump up every speech as being a political speech. who would have thought people there 50 years ago -- it's been wonderful to hear stories. who would have thought the 50th anniversary would have a re-elected african-american president up there cohelp rammig this event? >> just his mere presence is enough. >> gets him two-thirds of the way there. he is i think very capable making this a great speech. i remember the first time i heard him give a big speech.

a fabulous political speech. this is another opportunity to say something that makes a statement and affects the nation. >> i agree, you know, ramesh, the national journal did an interesting piece. both president bushes were invited to speak. president bush 43 had just had that heart scare. both of them not healthy enough to travel. but the three presidents that are speaking, all come distinctly from a different generation. carter born in the '20s. clinton born in the '40s. obama born in the '60s. and have seen the racial strife of the south in particular through very different eyes. >> that's right. you know, carter and clinton, being southern, white and being seen -- certainly when they were -- >> growing up, the way they grew up. >> it was very important to their ability to get elected in what was really a republican era of presidential domination. >> they did it by basically

bridging the gap that i think the whole march was aimed at at the time, right, which is try to bring working class whites. saying, you both have the same challenges on the economic front. >> it's really a great story because you have carter who was in the middle -- i have a little history in georgia. carter's in the middle of the georgia struggle to get everything sorted out. he was right in the heart of that stuff. you have clinton who comes in 20 years later in his political life in the '80s. where he's part of the integration of america that took place. we look at president obama sometimes as someone who is the cause of a change but i like to talk about he's kind of the result of a change. >> exactly, i was just going to say. that is interesting, and why the president peaspeech is going to d different than carter and clinton. >> remember, carter succeeded -- the governor of georgia, he put

martin luther king's portrait in the georgia statehouse causing tremendous controversy. if you read bill clinton's memoir, he said he watched the march on washington's speech in the den of his house in little rock crying. he says that, along with meeting jfk, were the two events that really propelled him into politics. >> don't forget to be there when central high was happening there in little rock. you guys are coming back. speaking of bill clinton, bill clinton getting involved in the health clarify, ramesh, good or bad thing for conservatives? >> it's going to be a fun thing for conservatives. >> we'll have more. that's a nice little teaser for later in the show. up next capturing history through the lens of a camera. renowned photographer who documented the 1963 march on film, he joins us with his memories of that historic day. and will share some great photos with us. later this afternoon, following the speech at the lincoln

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that's the power of the home depot. right now get glidden premium paint in unlimited colors for only $18.94 a gallon. 50 years to the day since the march on washington. although time has become a moment in history that people were there they never forget. today, thanked to the acclaimed photographer, it's a moment in history we can all relive. in the '60s, a young davidson gave up a photography contract with vogue to take on a different assignment, photographing the turbulent times of the civil rights movement. joining us with freedom writers in alabama and he began to capture it all. as cops turned fire hoses on demonstrators, he turned cameras their way. on the front lines.

eventually his photos would change the way we saw our own history. bruce davidson is a photographer with magnum photos. he joins me now to explain what it was like to capture such an historic moment in time. mr. davidson, you're dressed the part. this is the way we expect all photographers to look at all times. >> i just came back from the foothills of l.a. i've been working out in nature. so this is what i wear. >> so who are you shooting the march on washington for? who hired you? >> i don't remember who hired me. most of my photography from 1961 freedom rights to black power movement and the march on -- selma march, were all done by myself. i was my own magazine. >> and when did you realize what you were sitting on? you have taken all these photos. i'm guessing it was a week later two weeks later, that you start developing what you had. >> i followed the civil rights

movement from the freedom rides in '61 to selma march. so each experience sensitized me to the plight of people, and the segregational laws. so i actually was on a freedom ride. and actually at the march on washington. the march on washington is different for me because it was about masses of people. you can't deny that. you're not going to be able to deny that. not when you have 350 people waiting there for freedom. and then i stationed myself with my back to dr. king's speech, so i heard his speech, but i didn't see him. i saw the multitudes -- >> you saw the reactions. >> i saw the people. >> i'm going to put up a few

photos. i want you to help me with captioning them if you will. i think the first one is this cheering crowd. you can see the flags. the flag, that usually surround the washington montment. here they are cheering. >> it's just so beautiful, those young children really. >> they look -- teenagers perhaps. >> right, high school students. they were -- they were joyfully singing spontaneously. >> this is happening throughout the day. >> throughout the day, everywhere. there were people singing and dancing. and being part of a whole of a movement. >> let me put up the next one here. because it's a reminder. i think it's interesting here. there was a -- this was three women here. you see them -- color guard essentially. the flag of washington, d.c. i believe there. this was a very patriotic event. perhaps to some people watching that day, surprisingly so. >> i think it was also spiritual.

people were singing from their heart. i just had to follow whatever it was that was happening before me. things were not controlled in a way. i didn't direct it. i just reacted. >> as you and i were talking before we taped, here's this young beautiful woman. so young. we forget how young the kings were. they were leading this movement. they were 30 something. >> i was young too. there was -- just so beautiful. >> young folks end up changing things. >> oh, yes, absolutely. it's the young -- it's the youth. >> there weren't a lot of 60-year-olds and 70-year-olds that were speaking there. >> not many, not many. >> right, lewis was a teenager.

>> think about everything. this looks like -- i don't know if this is it. this is a grandson and his grandfather? it feels that way. right? >> very beautiful moment. >> think about the america that that elderly gentleman saw. >> he probably never voted at that point. because this is before the voter right thes act was enacted. before the selma march. he probably never voted in his life. but his son is taking him along. >> and he was going to be -- >> he was going to be there where the american flag was shown. >> right. >> let me show one more photo here we want to get in. this is, again, as people were just traveling in from all other. >> they were beautifully dressed. >> everybody took this very seriously. the organizers said there was no

way they were going to let -- there was all this, is there going to be riot police and all these things. >> no, no, and it was beautiful and it was -- a path to freedom for them. everyone was together. both black and white at that time. i think it was amazing. to have a massive people along the reflecting pool. it was moving. and then, to hear dr. king's words. they were penetrating. >> bruce davidson. the art of journalism of photography is something. you have to be a photographer to really appreciate -- >> you have to have a passion. >> and you do. i spoke with bruce davidson yesterday afternoon. because guess what, he's documenting the anniversary today. you can see those pictures online tonight at tv.msnbc.com.

go to our website for a special look at the strides and struggles of african-american politicians during the 50 years since the march on washington. still to come, reflections on this historic day from presidents obama and clinton. you're looking live here at the lincoln memorial where crowds are just starting to gather. rain has come down so we've got an umbrella issue. by the way, in case you're wondering, white house soup of the day, mushroom and leek.

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and you know what i walked out with? [ slurps ] [ dad ] a new passat. [ dad ] 0% apr. 60 months. done and done. [ dad ] in that driveway, is a german-engineered piece of awesome. that i got for 0% apr. good one, dad. thank you, dalton. [ male announcer ] it's the car you won't stop talking about. ever. hurry in to the volkswagen best. thing. ever. event. and get 0% apr for 60 months, now until september 3rd. that's the power of german engineering. right now, this is a live picture of atlanta. more than 200,000 people gathered in washington for the largest ever march this city had ever seen. dr. martin luther king jr. delivered that now iconic speech over the reflecting pool.

there's that reflecting pool today. the mlk grave site. when martin luther king delivered his i have a dream speech, there were five african-americans of congress. all five were representatives. no sitting african-american senators in 1963. congratulations to today's winner. send your trivia suggestions to dailyrundown@msnbc.com. we'll be right back. mom, dad told me that cheerios is good for your heart,

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getting back to my first read on the big story of the day was at this point exactly 50 years ago that tens of thousands of people were making their way to the washington mall. today thousands of are going to be marching again heading down a wet constitution avenue to the washington monument and ultimately the lincoln memorial and we will hear from presidents obama and clinton and carter will be honoring dr. king today.

two have been reflecting on king's words and their impact. >> i don't think the fundamental meaning of the speech has changed at all. i still think it is poetic and powerful and beautiful and wise. martin luther king's message to resonate in every corner of the world. >> the words that he spoke at that tiparticular moment with s much at stake and the way in which he captured the hopes and dreams of an entire generation, i think, is unmatched. >> we share former president george w. bush put out a statement and our country has come a long way since that bright afternoon 50 years ago yet our journey to justice is not complete just to the east of the lincoln memorial. there on the national mall or president whose story reflects

the promise of america will help us honor the man who responded to millions who redeemed that promise. that is the words of former president george w. bush. we are in the middle of a remarkable confluence of event today. president obama marking a tribute to the power of a peaceful demonstration while considering military action? nsyria. let's bring back the gaggle. the work at hand of governing the country and the national security interest moves on and we are going to hear from the president today and it could be within 24 hours that the country hears from him again trying to defend military action. >> that's right. it's also nobel peace prize winner that lends irony -- >> which is why he used that speech to defend war? >> right. >> he knew there was something he was going to have to do. susan, we talk about bill clinton. the other news of the morning is the idea that not only are we

hearing from the two of them today but may be hearing this pair could become a traveling road show and they certainly want bill clinton on the road. the white house asking and bill clinton agreeing to be the secretary of explaining the health care law to red states it looks like. >> i can't believe that president obama loves the idea he has to turn to president clinton to explain the health care law. >> you were just stunned by some of the results of that poll. >> 4 in 10 americans think it's been repelled. that is a failure to respond to the republican attacks to make the argument, not only is it not repelled but here is what we are going to do. big test in october 1st. will healthy people go to them and buy insurance? >> interesting to see if the president mentions health care in his remarks today. i think he might as sort of he might fit it in.

i had always heard he was somewhat jealous bill clinton can somehow do a speech like that an hour and a half and people don't get bored. >> no. >> bill clinton always inspires the love, right? especially among democrats. people love to hear him. i think when you get president clinton out talking about did -- >> doing it in little rock. not about him going to his library. mark pryer not distancing himself from health care realizing he has no choice but to handle it. >> african-americans, latinos in texas and california and florida they know he is good at communicating. >> business record of selling overhaul is mixed. >> but conservatives. is it ted cruz versus bill clinton? >> it's the entire republican party is unified on this point that obama care is a mistake and

needs to go. >> shameless plugs. >> i reread the "i have a dream" speech yesterday and astonishing how much power it retains. >> david warner was a wonderful song writer and performer. >> a friend of ours at the gridiron club. >> he unexpectedly died this week and we will miss him. >> one of those shockers. you can't expect it. very young man. >> i wrote a piece in the u.s. news.com and it's about bill de blasio's race for mayor and path other white politicians campaigning in a diverse america. with an african-american candidate in the race. >> it's identity politics turned on its head. that's it for this edition of "the daily rundown." see you tomorrow but stay with us all day long as we have special coverage with the march on washington. today at 4:00, the entire martin

luther king, jr. "i have a dream speech." coming up, chris jansing. it's delicious. so now we've turned her toffee into a business. my goal was to take an idea and make it happen. i'm janet long and i formed my toffee company through legalzoom. i never really thought i would make money doing what i love. [ robert ] we created legalzoom to help people start their business and launch their dreams. go to legalzoom.com today and make your business dream a reality. at legalzoom.com we put the law on your side.

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50 years after dr. martin luther king told hundreds of thousands he had a dream. the first black president will remember king's live and legacy standing in almost the very same spot at the lincoln memorial as we look at that live right now. president obama will be joined by former presidents clinton and carter and celebrity rights and leaders as well. 50 years after one of the greatest speeches in political history, the president is expected to touch on the very same themes of justice and equality and opportunity. he will praise how far we have come but acknowledge how far we have left to go. perhaps he'll take a