joining us tonight. >> thank you. chris hayes is up next. big bill. let's play "hardball." good evening. i'm chris matthews in washington. well, you know it, it would be a lot less fun on this planet if we didn't share it with william jefferson clinton. the man, besides being smart as hell, besides being all things considered one lucky son of a gun, besides having done some great work for this country, one of a kind. one of the best shows in american history. people are downright fascinated by the guy. just talking about him seems to animate people. he's the best human-sized buzz i can think of. maybe not just human-sized but as a global -- as global a personality as that foundation of his that's all over the world. so question mark.

how does his wife tame or use or exploit, you pick the word, find a way to harness the good in bill to the unpredictable in bill? the political genius of the guy without getting him too much in the act? too much in the issue? too much in the show? is this going to be like trying to get a drink from a fire hydrant without getting your clothes wet? well, this was the big front-page story in "the new york times" yesterday. "hillary rodham clinton's advisers are once again grappling with how to deploy" i love that word, deploy like he's a blimp, "mr. clinton, a strategic imperative that was executed so poorly in 2008 that it resulted in some of the worst moments of her campaign." that's "the new york times" front page yes. howard fineman is the global editorial director of the "huffington post." ruth marcus, columnist for the "washington post." and perry bacon is nbc news senior political reporter. perry, i want to start with you about the question. i didn't think it was a worry anymore. somebody in "the new york times" figured the rest of them, that this is a big worry in the

hillary clinton land about how they use bill or don't use him. >> it's got to be a big worry. i mean, he's been a great campaigner for obama and other politicians. when hillary clinton ran, he made a lot of mistakes. the big one, of course, being when he compared obama's victory in south carolina to jesse jackson's, offended a lot of african-americans. even before that he made a lot of gaffes -- >> you swallowed that. offended a lot of -- why did it offend him? he seemed to demean the victory, that the victory didn't mean anything. he basically said only black people voted for obama, that's how he won south carolina. it goes to the point -- >> he also yelled, it's a fantasy. >> it's a fantasy. he said a lot of things. he's otherwise great, but in terms of campaigning for his wife, he was very defensive and very angry at times. >> well, is this just human nature? closer to home, the more you complain? the more you go -- >> the spouse always is more aggrieved than the principal in my experience. when the spouse is bill clinton, and particularly when the spouse is the president of the united states in general, but bill clinton in particular, that's a spouse that bears some watching.

i agree with perry that he has the potential to cause problems for hillary clinton's campaign, but i would also remind people, look at the way he explained barack obama's health care plan at the convention. >> he's the explainer in chief. >> he's the explainer in chief, the best politician bar none in the democratic party today. so he's -- >> so what's the problem? >> a potential -- >> you give me all the googoo here. there seems to be a problem here. >> there's a big risk in him exploding. we were talking earlier about how he becomes literally red in the face. there's just always a risk when you're dealing with bill clinton. >> there were two cases we've within through, except for you, you're the kid here. most of the things we've noticed is when he does that sort of phony, you can say anything you want about me but you shouldn't be on the same stage as my wife. remember that with jerry brown in '92? that was a little theater to say lightly. when people went after her when she was running herself, that was different. >> yes. and that's when he gets red faced. when he gets defensive.

when he makes the big mistakes. i think the best thing for hillary to do would be to give him something to talk about. in other words, her campaign, the big danger her campaign has is not bill clinton, alone. it's bill clinton without a script. >> yeah. >> she has to say what she's for. she has to lay out a program. and then let bill clinton explain it. let him do on the campaign trail what he did so brilliantly at the democratic convention in charlotte. that's the upside. the downside is bill clinton has -- you can't keep him away from the press. i don't care what they do -- >> what about when they disagree? reality here. he was a pro-free trade president. he got in some trouble with the construction unions, other unions. he said, damn it, we're going to try this thing out. it's what i learned in grad school. i'm going to use my education. hillary, i don't know where he is. what happens if they really disagree -- >> that's not going to happen. >> what about the real disagreement? they have real disagreements.

>> i think they do. those they'll hash out behind closed doors. the big problem is the freelancing big dog. okay? that's what we all call him, the big dog. it's when he freelances and wants to show everybody he knows more about their line of work than they do. >> which may be true. >> which is probably true. >> when you have somebody that powerful who goes off script, who is going to command an enormous amount of attention, that's the risk. >> well, here's the big story right now because beyond "the new york times" front story about the clintons, and they are going to be the biggest story in this country in a few weeks. they're about to run. she's about to run. hillary clinton's lawyers are now saying her private e-mail server has been wiped clean at her orders. "no e-mails reside on the server or any backup systems associated with the server." that announcement prompted something of a stir, at least, at the benghazi select committee and the republican national -- here's reince priebus with fox's steve doocy. there's a pair. earlier today. >> even nixon didn't destroy the tapes.

there are thousands and thousands of e-mails that are missing. if it was wiped clean, i guess the next question would be whether there's criminal conduct involved in wiping a server clean. this is intentional behavior which in many cases, steve, is criminal in nature. >> criminal? what law is he citing? it's her property. she did it. what crime is he talking about? >> i -- i am not endorsing that this is a crime because i know hillary clinton and i know her lawyers and i guarantee you that no one is going to jail about this. but you could concoct an argument about obstruction of justice or -- >> this hasn't been subpoenaed. >> or destruction of government property. if you destroy it knowing it's going to be subpoenaed. don't worry about criminal stuff. brace yourself, in my view. brace yourself for hearing the phrase, even nixon, for quite a bit of time, because that was clear from the moment they decided to wipe the servers clean.

>> and they knew this was coming. >> well, you know, it kind of -- it's a really interesting question about when they made this decision. did they make this decision before all the brouhaha -- >> they said they did it last fall. >> that e-mails blew up. so last fall before we knew about all this. maybe they didn't realize it was going to be that big a deal but they probably -- they knew the benghazi committee was looking at it. >> if she had to choose between wiping it clean so it can't be forensically discovered, whatever, or having it available for subpoena, what would be the smart move, ruth? what was the smart move here? >> wipe. >> yes. why do you want to have if there? we released the tapes, released the e-mail. and do this from now until next november. who wants to be in that position? >> part of the problem republicans have is there is no discussion of criminality on anything that's discussed on whatever those personal e-mails were, and at the time she could have had a separate phone to separate what was public and what was private. i'll say once again, hillary's big problem in this case, as with bill clinton, is that she

isn't saying anything. there's no substance to her campaign yet. she better get some soon. she better get some stuff to talk about because that will help push this on to the back pages. >> on this issue, i would argue she has said some things and they were not terribly convincing. she gave a press conference. she said, you know, basically i deleted my e-mails for privacy reasons. i don't want people -- and my mom's funeral and so on. her excuse was not good. she shouldn't have deleted the e-mails. now it's a trust situation where she deleted the e-mails, she said there's nothing nefarious in there. reince priebus is going to say what he's going to say. we're in a place where i don't think voters really care that much about this issue. >> it all depends. you're right. once she's out there moving belong the people. there has to be a press and all that. can't just be moving from person to person and no commenting to the press. >> they're going to say what david kendall, her attorney said, which is they were within the letter of the regulations of the national archives and that's -- >> let's get to the hottest stuff, ruth. this is something i want you to start with.

this is a wildfire potentially. a group of hillary clinton supporters not associated with her calling itself the hrc super-volunteers is out with a list of 13 years. reminds me of george carlin. and phrases they say are sexist if anyone uses them to discuss hillary clinton. these are the list. i want you to jump on these. i want to take each one at a time. is the word "polarizing" sexist? >> no. >> okay. by the way, jump -- >> i like being the ruler here. >> i only have one woman here. "calculating"? >> no. >> "disingenuous"? >> no. >> "insincere"? >> no. >> ready for this one? "ambitious"? >> ha, ha, ha. ted cruz is ambitious. every -- >> you don't think that term was just reserved often for -- never said a politician is ambitious, but just saying hillary is ambitious is negative? >> no. >> tonal thing. okay. "inevitable"? >> no. inevitable is positive. >> okay. "entitled"? >> true. >> "overconfident"? >> possibly. >> possibly what? >> possibly she is overconfident. >> but is it sexist?

>> it has nothing to do with gender. >> not sexist so far. "secretive"? >> true, and not gender related. >> okay. "will do anything to win"? >> yes, not gender related. >> "represents the past"? >> not gender related. >> "out of touch"? >> not gender related. >> "tone deaf"? >> not gender related. >> okay. give me some that are. that you're listening for. guys can jump in here at the risk -- >> i would say -- >> anything to do with tonal. >> hysterical. anything to do with looks. >> rhymes with rich or whatever part -- >> there's all sorts of ways, some them are conscious and some of them are unconscious. >> help us to be conscious. here's your chance. >> for example, the other day, some female elected official was complaining to me about the use of the word "gushing" in an editorial that was describing her. >> she gushed with enthusiasm -- >> you know what, i could sort of understand if it makes you look like you're more childish

or something than the normal person. there might be subtle ways. i like to say two things. i think it's really important for us to be conscious of language and conscious of sexism and i just bristle, and i don't think that's a sexist term either, i bristle when people outside try to give me lists of approved language. >> yeah. >> i would like to write a column using every darn one of those 13 words. 13 words. >> are there going to be watch words men, especially, have to watch as they look to cover the person who looks to be the democratic nominee for president next time? >> i think shrill is one i used earlier. i used the term feisty. i don't think i would have called obama feisty. i think that's a term i wouldn't have used. there are words out there. i think we should be on guard -- i don't think we would call hillary clinton that. in general in '08 we wrote too much about her hair and clothing we write about women more than men. the same way, i hate when obama is called articulate because we

only report african-americans that way. clean, articulate, those are bad terms. joe manchin referred to obama as that recently, used the term articulate. >> of course, he's articulate. what's the story here? >> remember in 2008 when john edwards was asked about something he liked about hillary clinton and he said, well, i like this but i'm not sure about that jacket. bad idea to talk about women's clothes. >> a little too metro. >> okay? yeah. >> anyway, thank you. >> if she has a pantsuit, we'll make fun of that. >> don't talk clothing. anyway, howard fineman, you don't do that. ruth marcus as well. >> thanks. thank you very much. how do you feel about my jacket? >> even steven here. i think this is fascinating, this stuff. i think we all learned as we get older. anyway, coming up, there's a fierce backlash over that new law of indiana. this isn't an accident. that some say could be used to discriminate against gays. tonight we're going to hear from both sides. plus, president obama and vice president biden and even

john mccain team up to pay tribute to the man considered among the greatest senators of all-time. edward kennedy. and as the nuclear talks with iran hit crunch time, republicans in this country continue to hammer away at the charge -- i don't believe it -- that obama hates israel. finally let me finish with the man who loved the senate more than anyone in history. this is "hardball." the place for politics. [clicking sounds] it's so shiny. i know mommy. but it's time to let the new kitchen get some sleep. if you want to choose wisely choose angie's list. with in-depth reviews, an exclusive scoring system and real people standing by to help, you can get a finished project that you'll love. pretty. call, click or download the app for free today. at book club they were asking me what you're doing now, janice. blogging. your blog is just pictures of you in the mirror. it's called a fashion blog todd.

well, i've been helping people save money with progressive's discounts. flo, can you get janice a job? [ laughs ] you should've stuck to softball! i was so much better at softball than janice, dad. where's your wife, todd? vacation. discounts like homeowners' multi-policy -- i got a discount on this ham. i've got the meat sweats. this is good ham, diane. paperless discounts -- give it a rest, flo. all: yeah, flo, give it a rest. it's shaping up to be a busy april in presidential politics. we learned today that florida senator marco rubio will enter the race on monday, april 13th. that's six days after kentucky senator rand paul plans to enter the contest. and we're also expecting hillary clinton to make her move at some point next month. that's april as well. and we'll be right back.

was it a mistake to sign this law? >> absolutely not. >> welcome back to "hardball." that was, of course, indiana governor mike pence doubling down, tripling down, quadrupling

down on his decision to sign a new religious freedom law last week. yesterday in an interview with abc's george stephanopoulos, he refused to answer. he blamed the media for misinformation about the law. here it goes. >> this is a yes or no question. is advance america right when they say a florist in indiana can now refuse to serve a gay couple without fear of punishment? >> this is not about discrimination. this is about empowering people from government overreach. >> your supporters say it would. so, yes or no, if a florist in indiana refuses to serve a gay couple at their wedding, is that legal now in indiana? >> george, this is where this debate has gone with misinformation and, frankly -- >> it's just a question, sir. yes or no? >> well, there's been shameless rhetoric about my state and about this law and about its intention all over the internet.

>> that was one of your supporters who's talking about the bill right there. it said it would protect a christian florist who -- against any kind of punishment. is that true or not? >> george, look, the issue here is, you know, is tolerance a two-way street or not? >> yes or no, should it be legal to discriminate against gays and lesbians? >> george, you're following the mantra of the last week online, and you're trying to make this issue about something else. >> yeah, george stephanopoulos was like an iguana on the guy's leg there. he wouldn't let go of him and shouldn't have. since pence signed the law, he's faced a fierce backlash from the business community in indiana. among the many businesses who are opposing pence on this, apple ceo tim cook who voiced this opposition in a "washington post" op-ped calling the law dangerous. angie's list announced over the weekend it was pulling out of a deal with the state of indiana to expand its headquarters there. this is big stuff. and bigger yet, the ncaa which is headquartered in indianapolis

and also where the final four championship is being held this week released a statement opposing the law saying "we are especially concerned about how this legislation could affect our student athletes and employees. we will work diligently to assure student athletes competing in and visitors attending next week's men's final four in indianapolis are not impacted negatively by this bill." joshua driver is founder of openforservice.org. a campaign to celebrate businesses that oppose discrimination. and russell moore is the president of the southern baptist ethic and religious commission. let's see if we have a disagreement. joshua, what do you think the bill is? gay couples trying to check into a hotel, trying to buy gas, planning a wedding. what influence will is have on real people's lives? >> hopefully nothing. i think it's less about what the bill says. it's more about what the bill means. and i'm very concerned about the ramifications, and my goal is to

focus on the majority of businesses that will not discriminate people as they walk through the front door. >> what are those ramifications? nail them. >> you know, people getting turned away, not being -- from anything. you know, it's more than just the lgbt community. people could use religion as a potential explanation for anybody. and i don't think people should ever be turned away. as an entrepreneur, myself, i would never decline revenue from somebody just because we are different. >> we have a policy in this country, russell, of public accommodations being respectful to people regardless of whatever orientation, sexual identity is not covered by that. what do you think should be the case? should a person who opens a shop for business, whether it's a wedding planner or it's a gas station, a motel, hotel,

whatever it is, restaurant? should they have the right to say, you guys seem gay to me, you're not getting in here. should that be all right? >> well, i don't think anyone is calling for that kind of discrimination, and this law doesn't address that at all. this law simply says -- >> well wait a minute. the governor had all day yesterday to say that and he didn't. george stephanopoulos kept asking him -- >> that's because the law is not making anything legal or illegal. it's simply saying what is allowed to come into court. does the government need to prove that it has a compelling interest when it paves over someone's religious liberty issues? that's what the law is all about. >> what religious issues would you have that would go into court that would justify discrimination of this kind? >> well, there are all sorts of issues that are going to come into play. >> give me some. >> in public square when it comes to someone using his or her creative gifts or gifts. i don't want a politician to force someone who sing "stand up for jesus" because she's in a public marketplace.

we have to have a balancing act when it comes to respecting conscience and respecting religious conviction along with other issues of the common good. this bill is not the sort of radical move that some people are acting like. this bill -- >> why were all those people surrounding the governor and why was the governor doing the signing ceremony in private? what is the purpose of this, really? you say some jewish fellow that doesn't want to sing, you know, "ave maria," if there is a guy. i think everybody wants to sing "ave maria," it's a beautiful song. my question, are these the most esoteric, you passed a state law with the most esoteric purpose. you're saying it doesn't have a broad implication to people. can it be used -- let me ask you a case. suppose a hotel doesn't want to serve gay couples. >> again -- >> for religious reasons. >> this bill does not make anything legal or illegal that wasn't legal or illegal before the law was passed. >> but it would be a challenge

in court, you say. >> not necessarily, no. this does not mean someone has a golden ticket to get out of the dispute. it simply means the government has to prove why there's a compelling interest. in most of these cases -- >> the united states people, the people of this country long ago decided back in the '60s we have a compelling interest when a store opens its door, it's open to everybody. do you accept that? open to everybody. a door opens, you have to let people in. you can't say, oh, you're black or you're gay. you can't do that. do you accept that right? >> in most cases. >> in most -- when don't you accept it? >> well, when you would, for instance, have someone who's using his or her creative gifts or expressive gifts for a viewpoint that that person by conscience can't agree with. that goes every direction. >> i think this is absurd, joshua. i don't know anybody who would go to some jewish guy and say, will you sing at my catholic wedding? pick someone who wants to do it or else they'd do a bad job. you wouldn't ask somebody to do a gay wedding that was anti-gay. you'd want a --

>> i agree. for every business that says, i want 10 to 25 who will say yes. i want to know where people can take their business and avoid the awkward position of being turned away. >> what do you make, russell, of the idea of the ncaa, which is, you know, a lot of basketball players white and black, the most talented basketball players in the country don't want to go to indiana now. they're talking about this. >> i think it's really unfortunate. i think it's a confluence of sexual libertarianism and crony capitalism in way that is trying to bully the state of illinois into backing down from protecting basic religious liberties the same way the federal government does and same way 19 other states do. >> what's sexual libertarianism? what is sexual libertarianism? >> the idea that sexual freedom trumps everything else and ought to be able to pave over the consciences of anyone else.

that's what we're seeing all over the country right now. that's the reason we have numerous disputes and debates in which religious liberty that once was an issue we could all pretty much agree on in american life has become a culture war issue in ways that i think are going to be damaging for everyone. >> okay. a hotel owned by a baptist person, fundamentalist believes in opposition, only supports traditional marriage, should that person be allowed to stop a couple from staying in his lodgings? yes or no? under your thinking? should he have a case in court? >> i don't think anyone who has a hotel or lodge should spend time wondering what anyone is doing in that. that's not where -- >> if they did wonder? >> that's not where most of the disputes are happening. >> it's not about the jewish guy who won't sing at the catholic wedding. >> it is. we have religious minorities all over this country discriminated against. questions of muslim employees being told they can't wear a hijab because hats aren't allowed. we have to have a way in order

to say this is a matter of religious expression and religious conscience. >> i think you gave away your argument, that sexual libertarianism. anyway, thank you, josh driver, and thank you, russell moore, for joining us in this very interesting debate. up next, a big day in boston today as the edward m. kennedy institute, the united states senate, officially opened its doors. senator ed markey who served with kennedy all those years will be here. this is "hardball." the place for politics.

welcome back to "hardball." the edward m. kennedy institute for the united states senate officially opened its doors today after a dedication ceremony recognizing the late senator's commitment to public service. ted kennedy was just 30 years old when he won his brother's seat in the u.s. senate. two years after jack kennedy was elected president, himself. serving there for almost half a century. kennedy became known as the lion of the senate. fighting for the ideals he held so deeply and earning the respect of colleagues from

obviously both sides of the aisle. in honor of his legacy, the boston-based institute is dedicated to teaching the value of government to inspire a new generation of americans to engage in civic life. among the highlights of the museum is a recreation of ted kennedy's senate office just as he left it complete with family momentos and photographs as well as a full-scale replica of the united states senate. full scale. where visiting students can participate in mock floor debates with their peers. in his keynote speech today, president obama said he hoped the institute would restore confidence in government, echoing many familiar themes from ted kennedy and his kennedy family. >> may we all remember the times this american family has challenged us to ask what we can do to dream and say, why not, to seek a cause that endures, and sail against the wind in its pursuit, and live our lives with that heightened sense of purpose? >> i'm joined now by senator

edward markey of massachusetts. senator, let me ask you about what it meant to you personally. you served with ted kennedy all those years. how did you feel walking into the replica of the united states senate, into his office, that replica? >> well, what john f. kennedy meant to the presidency of the united states, to an entire generation, that's what ted kennedy meant to the united states senate. he made impossible dreams come true because he was the greatest senator of all-time. he kept crossing the aisle over to trent lott, to john mccain, to orrin hatch, to nancy kassebaum to find a way to make the senate work, to make a way for the country to work. and that senate that has been recreated down to the finest detail at the edward m. kennedy institute is going to be a place where young people all across our country can visit and to have the debates in a civil way that can show them the pathway to making our country work. >> i'll get back to you in a second on that one. let's look now at republican

senator john mccain. he was there today. he made the ceremony a big bipartisan event. here's what john mccain said about his former colleague, ted kennedy. >> he loved a good fight. he had a real zest for political argument, and the harder you went at it, the more he enjoyed it, and the harder he laughed about it when you next encountered him. i miss fighting with him, to be honest. it's gotten harder to find people who enjoy a good fight as much as ted did. >> mccain loves a good fight, senator, as you know. one of the stories you always hear about ted kennedy is after hours when the senate was out of session, he'd be hanging around in some room in the capitol with a bunch of southern conservative democrats in the old days, and they were friends. is that still possible in the u.s. senate? >> it's less the way the senate was back then, but it's the only way in which it's going to work. if we're going to break down the gridlock, if we're going to make this country a place where people can dream of a future that is better than today, it has to happen.

that's why i think so many people long for the ted kennedy era. that crossing of the aisle. the hard fight, but with a big laugh at the end of it so that it wasn't personal, it was just a dispute over an issue. we need to get back to that day. we need to get back to a day where people can work together. ted kennedy was an idealist without illusions. he knew that you had to fight hard for the causes, the principles that you believed in, but he also had no illusions about how difficult it was and how you had to cross over the aisle to work with republicans to finally get a good result, and i think many, many people want to see that day return to the united states senate. >> thank you so much, edward markey of massachusetts. anyway the kennedys were known for their soaring rhetoric. let's take a look now at the best speech anybody ever gave i think at a democratic convention. here's ted kennedy at the 1980 democratic convention. >> for me, a few hours ago this

campaign came to an end. for all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.

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i'm richard lui in the msnbc german officials saying the co-pilot blamed for crashing a plane last week killing 150 people was treated for being suicidal.

welcome back to "hardball." as a deal with iran comes down to the wire, conservatives here in america and right wingers generally have been going after and that assault on the diplomatic efforts has caused some tension between the white house, of course, and the israeli leader, bibi netanyahu. something the right has been willing to explain for its advantage. here's speaker boehner putting the blame for the strained relationship on the president. >> i make the animosity exhibited by our administration toward the prime minister of israel is reprehensible, and i think that the pressure that they've put on him over the last four or five years have, frankly, pushed him to the point where he had to speak up.

i don't blame him at all for speaking up. >> victimhood. right. anyway, those strong words fit a growing chorus from the right. president obama has caused the breakdown, in fact, many go much further, not only as antagonistic toward bibi netanyahu and his policies but antagonist to the state of israel, they argue. here it goes. >> this administration in general and this president in particular has an extraordinary disdain for israel, in general, and benjamin netanyahu in particular. >> maybe he'll start being more helpful to israel instead of slapping them around as an unwelcome visitor. >> this administration has been the most antagonistic administration to israel in the history of this country. >> here's what i don't understand. i don't understand how jews in america can be democrats first and jewish second and support israel along the line of just following their president.

>> president obama is holding secret talks with iran. even as iran threatens to wipe israel off the map. the israeli prime minister is coming to washington, but obama won't talk to him. >> barack obama as a result of this and the other things he's doing is the greatest threat the jews face, not in this country, but in israel. since the 1930s. >> there we go. i'm joined by tonight's roundtable, david corn, washington bureau chief for "mother jones" and msnbc political analyst. kasie hunt, political reporter for msnbc and very busy these days. lauren burke, managing editor of "politics 365." you know, this trope, meme. the great thing about that country, you can debate policy. you can be tzipi livni. you are allowed to have opinions.

you have an opinion that disagrees with bibi netanyahu, you're considered an enemy of israel against them here. >> as a kid, he gave quarters to plant trees in israel, all i can say about this is oy. there's more debate in israel about the iranian deal, about peace with the -- >> 70% of people didn't vote for netanyahu. what are we getting our heads around here? >> they're equating barack obama with being anti-israel because he's anti-bibi. you know, but this comes after calling him anti-american, comes after calling him anti-christian. >> non-american. >> finally getting -- >> opinion. >> they're finally getting to anti-israel. it's taken a while to do this. >> don't you know, he's under communist influence according to ted cruz. >> communist, socialist, secret muslim, and he also doesn't like israel. why would a jewish-american voter put up with this? this is really quite -- >> this sounds like ed koch.

remember that? no jew should ever vote for jesse jackson. you're getting lively here, laura. >> you either agree all the way or not. you can 90% agree with bibi netanyahu, but if you don't do the 10%, you're 100% against. it's the politics of our age. >> two ways to prevent iran from getting a nuclear weapon. you condition bomb them. the secular people, the rouhanis, they'll all be for it then and we'll never stop them. or try this ten-year thing. >> they have no plan. cotton doesn't have a plan. >> your thoughts? containment or war with iran is still the issue. i don't think war works, but, what's the argument? >> i think from playing off of what you were just saying, i think that this is broader than that and has become a real litmus test for the republican party. in a way that it hasn't been even in previous years. i was talking to david off the

set. he mentioned the fact that a lot of people in george h.w. bush's administration struggled with this issue of israel. i think you're seeing that come up now with james baker and the problems that jeb bush is having because baker gave a speech that was seen as being to exactly what we're talking about -- >> who said? >> i'm sorry? >> who said he's anti-israel? >> james baker's speech at j street drew a lot of criticism. >> from whom? >> the right. >> a jewish organization. it's ridiculous. >> it's a jewish organization with a liberal peace now perspective. back in the first administration, they were tougher on israel, you know, scowcroft, bush, himself, and baker. that caused a whole bunch of problems for republicans who were trying to get through this. now the republican party is totally on the side of the most hawkish elements in israel, and defining this in the most extreme way possible. >> it ain't complicated. i watched this as i grew up. the democratic party was tied into israel politics when it was

labor party politics. of course they were, they were soul brothers politically. these guys belong with the right wing anywhere in the world. your thoughts? >> to me, i don't think it's really about israel so much as it is the two personalities. president obama and bibi netanyahu. i think if this was another leader, we wouldn't have this. people have expanded it out to a bigger thing. >> they see bibi netanyahu as a club to use barack obama. >> the republicans, i don't know what they're playing for. they're playing for the evangelical vote. >> and war. >> who? >> and war. >> they're the hawk party. speaker boehner also joined the hawks in his party when questioning the wisdom of signing any deal at all with iran. watch the know-nothingism coming from this guy. i don't believe boehner knows a word he's speaking. let's watch. >> we have a regime who hasn't kept their word about anything. i don't understand why we'd sign an agreement with a group of people who, in my opinion, have no intention of keeping their

word. >> orange man. "saturday night live." meanwhile, the senate republican leader mitch mcconnell made a surprise trip to israel this weekend where he appeared beside netanyahu in a video and backed the israeli leader's skepticism of the deal. here's the prime minister and majority leader. >> will this increase or decrease iran's aggression? will the fact that iran will have now, while it's still having sanctions, doesn't yet have an easy path to the bomb. it is conquering the middle east in ways that are unprecedented. will this make their move forward more moderate or. >> the group here will share your concerns. >> there's no deal, then the

view to this group, similar to your own is ratcheting up sanctions might be the best direction to take in the wake of a deal that does not come together. >> you know, i think the republicans have boxed the president into a deal, their situation may not be bad for all of us. the only way he can prove he was really honest in negotiating with the iranians is not agree with them. >> right. >> the only way he can agree that he was doing a forthright effort to protect israel from being attacked is to not make the deal. when he makes the deal, they'll be jumping on him saying he's sold out. >> they already say they can't accept any deal. >> any deal. >> netanyahu said in his speech, they rallied behind him. and it's as if if netanyahu ran for the gop presidential nomination in 2016, i think he'd win at this stage. they're so tied to him it doesn't matter what the policy is. >> i have so many thoughts i dare not say. the roundtable is stay with us. we'll be right back. those 13 words a group says you

can no longer say about hillary clinton. we're going do go after each one of the 13 words and see if they're deadly or sexist or whatever. this is "hardball." it's going to be fun. the place for politics. so why pause to take a pill? and why stop what you're doing to find a bathroom? with cialis for daily use, you don't have to plan around either. it's the only daily tablet approved to treat erectile dysfunction so you can be ready anytime the moment is right. plus cialis treats the frustrating urinary symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently, day or night. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medicines, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sex. do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain as it may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long-term injury, get medical help right away for an erection lasting more than four hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision or any symptoms of an allergic reaction stop taking cialis and get medical help right away.

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who lost both legs when an army helicopter got hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, has been in the house since 2013. kirk won the house in 2010 two years after barack obama became president. we'll be right back.

>> it didn't get the focus. will do anything to win. >> do you think differently for a woman who is willing to do anything to win. >> you see, that happened with nancy pelosi as well. she was asked why -- is that saying old? >> two more left. >> out of touch? >> i think you should ask mitt romney if that is gender

specific. hillary clinton will be the most talked about candidate by everybody in the next couple years. >> the potential landmines are everywhere. you remember the word shrill, and saying you're likable enough, hillary. >> there was a lot of stuff about her reminding people of their ex-wife, do you remember that? the cleavage fiasco in 2008. >> george bush senior was accused of being someone's first husband, right? >> there was a lot of references in 2008 that would not have been made toward hillary clinton. >> talking about how she is dressing, her hair style. >> i wonder if some of it is getting even for school teachers you had in the past.

thank you for playing this game, it is a tricky dangerous game. we were very silent. thank you david, casey, lauren. let me finish with the man who loved the senate as much as anyone in history. let me finish tonight with ted kennedy.

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let me finish tonight with ted kennedy. how can this country not love the fact that edward m. kennedy institute for the united states senate. as of today, there is a place that americans can see and experience the role of an american senator. they can walk into a full-scale replica of the senate, they can vote in the world's greatest deliberative body. back in the early 1950s, a young senator from massachusetts was asked by his colleagues to select the greatest senators in history. as i said before, he could only look backwards. had he only looked forward he would have included his youngest brother. ted kennedy who loved the senate more than anyone in history has

a place for it in his beloved massachusetts. thank you for being with us. "all in" with chris hayes starts now. >> tonight on "all in." a fire storm of protests against indiana's so called religious freedom bill. are republicans rethinking their stance? >> we're willing to add some clarity legislatively. >> then, deadline, iran. how close is a nuclear deal? >> plus the growing threat to america's power grid. an attack every four days. a debate over whether the u.s. should try to contact potential aliens in the united states. the push for a new primary for hillary clinton, and the new host of "the daily show." >> hello, everyone, hello.