$100,000 to a school district. is he preemptively striking back about this new movie that doesn't make him look so good? the richest people in america, who is richer, who is poorer? they're all rich. i'm chris jansing from msnbc world headquarters in new york. take a look at the live pictures from the united nations in new york city. president obama just arrived and set to address the general assembly just moments from now. he is going to be talking about efforts to jump start the middle east peace talks, but also about the fight against terrorism and this is just one day after three top members of his administration told congress the threat of a terrorist attack on u.s. soil is very real. so, we're following that. also developing right now, house republicans about to unveil what they call their pledge to america. now, basically, this is a set of promises for what they'll do if

they take over the house. 12 republican house lawmakers are at the tart lumber company in sterling, virginia. they'll roll out the pledge and talk to small business owners. luke russert is on capitol hill for us and, luke, give us the thumbnail sketch here. what is in this pledge? >> the pledge has to deal with five other areas. it has to deal with jobs, the economy, reforming congress and congress spending national security and some of the specific things you'll see in this pledge from the republicans today, they'll rule out the following. they want to reduce government spending and go back to 2008 levels that has to do with national security. they want to repeal the national health care law and mortgage giants fannie mae and freddie mac and they want to make the bush tax cuts permanent. those are some of the main facefa facets and president obama is

coming on stage right now and we'll hear from him and his national security speech. >> the president, when you recall when he first went before this world stage basically said to folks there that he knows that there are a lot of expectations accompanying my presidency. let's listen in to hear what his second message is before the u.n. general assembly. >> there are also challenges that we share in common as leaders and as nations. we meet within an institution built from the rubble of war. designed to unite the world in pursuit of peace. and we meet within a city that for centuries has welcomed people from across the globe. demonstrating that individuals of every color, faith and station can come together to pursue opportunity. build a community. and live with the blessing of

human liberty. outside the doors of this hall, the blocks and neighborhoods of this great city tell the story of a difficult decade. nine years ago, the destruction of the world trade center signaled a threat that respecked no boundary of dignity or decency. two years ago this month, a financial crisis on wall street devastated american families on main street. and these separate challenges have affected people around the globe. men and women and children have been murdered by extremists from casablanca to london to julalabod. the global economy suffered an enormous blow during the financial crisis, crippling

markets and deferring the dreams of millions on every continent. underneath these challenges to our security and prosperity lie deeper fears. that ancient hatreds and religious divides are once again ascended. that a world interconnected somehow slipped beyond our control. these are some of the challenges that my administration has confronted since we came into office. and today i'd like to talk to you about what we've done over the last 20 months to meet these challenges. what our responsibility is to pursue peace in the middle east. and what kind of world we are trying to build in this 21st century. let me begin with what we have done. i have had no greater focus as president than rescuing our economy from potential

catastrophe. and in an age when prosperity is shared, we could not do this alone. so, america has joined with nations around the world to spur growth and renew demand that could restart job creation. we are reforming our system of global finance, beginning with wall street reform here at home so that a crisis like this never happens again. and we made the g-20 the focal point for international coordination because in a world where prosperity is more diffuse, we must broaden our circle of cooperation to include emerging economies, economies from every corner of the globe. there is much to show for our efforts, even as there is much work to be done. the global economy has been pulled back from the brink of depression and is growing, once

more. we have resisted protectionism and are exploring ways to explore trade and commerce among nations. but we cannot and will not rest until these seeds of progress grow into a broader prosperity, not only for all americans, but for peoples around the globe. as for our common security, america's waging a more effective fight against al qaeda while winding down the war in iraq. since i took office, the united states has removed nearl lly 100,000 troops from iraq. we have done so responsiblieses as iraqis have transitioned to lead responsibility for the security of their country. we are now focused on building a lasting partnership with the iraqi people. while keeping our commitment to remove the rest of our troops by

the end of next year. while drawing down in iraq, we have refocused on defeating al qaeda and denying its affiliates a safe haven. in afghanistan, the united states and our allies are pursuing a strategy to break the taliban's momentum and build the capacity of afghanistan's government and security forces so that a transition to afghan responsibility can begin next july. and from south asia to the horn of africa, we are moving toward a more targeted approach, one that strengthens our partners and dismantles terror networks without deploying large american armies. as we pursue the world's most dangerous extremists, we're also denying them the world's most dangerous weapons and pursuing the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.

earlier this year, 47 nations embraced a work plan to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials within four years. we have joined with russia to sign the most comprehensive arms control treaty in decades. we have reduced the role of nuclear weapons in our security strategy. and here at the united nations, we came together to strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. now, as part of our effort on nonproliferation, i offered the islamic republic of iran an extended hand last year. and underscored that it has both rights and responsibilities as a member of the international community. i also said in this hall that iran must be held accountable if

it failed to meet those responsibilities. that is what we have done. iran is the only partner to the mpt that cannot demonstrate the peaceful intentions of its nuclear program. and those actions have consequences. through u.n. security council resolution 1929, we made it clear that international law is not an empty promise. now, let me be clear once more. the united states and the international community seek a resolution to our differences with iran and the door remains open to diplomacy, should iran choose to walk through it. but the iranian government must demonstrate a clear and credible commitment and confirm to the world the peaceful intent of its nuclear program. as we combat the spread of deadly weapons, we're also confronting the specter of climate change.

after making historic investments in clean energy and efficiency at home, we help forge an accord in copenhagen that for the first time commits all major economies to reduce their emissions. we are keenly aware this is just a first step and going forward we will support a process in which all major economies meet our responsibilities to protect the planet while unleashing the power of clean energy to serve as an engine of growth and development. america's also embraced unique responsibilities that come with our power. since the rains came and the flood waters rose in pakistan, we have pledged our assistance and we should all support the pakistani people as they recover and rebuild. and when the earth shook and haiti was devastated by loss, we joined a coalition of nations in

response. today we honor those from the u.n. family who lost their lives in the earthquake. and commit ourselves to stand with the people of haiti until they can stand on their own two feet. amidst this upheaval, we have also been persistent in our pursuit of peace. last year i pledged my best efforts to support the goal of two states. israel and palestine. living side by side in peace and security as part of a comprehensive peace between israel and all of its neighbors. we have traveled a winding road over the last 12 months with few peaks and many valleys. but this month i am pleased that we have pursued direct negotiations between israelis and palestinians in washington,

sh sharm el sheikh and jerusalem. i recognize many are pessimistic about this process. the cynics say that israelis and palestinians are too distrustful of each other and too divided internally to forge lasting peace. rejectionists on both sides will try to disrupt the process with bitter words and with bombs and with gunfire. some say that the gaps between the parties are too big. the potential for talks to break down is too great. and that after decades of failure, peace is simply not possible. i hear those voices of skepticism. but i ask you to consider the alternative. if an agreement is not reached,

palestinians will never know the pride and dignity that comes with their own state. israelis will never know the certainty and security that comes with sovereign and stable neighbors that are committed to co existence. the hard realities of demography will take hold. more blood will be shed. this holy land will remain a symbol of our differences instead of our common humanity. i refuse to accept that future. and we all have a choice to make. each of us must choose the path of peace. of course, that responsibility begins with the parties themselves, who must answer the call of history. earlier this month at the white house i was struck by the words of both the israeli and palestinian leaders.

prime minister netanyahu said i came here today to find a historic compromise that will enable both people to live in peace, security and dignity. president abbas said, we will spare no effort and we will work diligently and tirelessly to ensure these negotiations achieve their costs. these words must now be followed by action. and i believe that both leaders have the courage to do so. but the road that they have to travel is exceedingly difficult. which is why i call upon israelis and palestinians and the world to rally behind the goal that these leaders now share. we know that there will be tests along the way and that one test is fast approaching. isra israel's settlement moratorium

has made a difference on the ground and improved the atmosphere for talks. our position on this issue is well known. we believe that the moratorium should be extended. we also believe that talks should press on until completed. now is the time for the parties to help each other overcome this obstacle. now is the time to build the trust and provide the time for substantial progress to be made. now is the time for this opportunity to be seized. so that it does not slip away. now peace must be made by israelis and palestinians, but each of us has a responsibility to do our part, as well. those of us who are friends of israel must understand the true security for the jewish state requires an independent palestinian, one that allows the palestinian people to live with dignity and opportunity.

and those of us who are friend of the palestinians must understand that the rights of the palestinian people will be won only through peaceful means, including genuine reconciliation with a secure israel. i know many in this hall count themselves as friends of the palestinians. but these pledges of friendship must now be supported by deeds. those who have signed on to the air and peace initiative should sign on by taking tangible steps towards the normalization that it promises israel. and those who speak on behalf of palestinian self-government, should help the palestinian authority politically and financially. and in doing so, help the palestinians build the institutions of their state. those who long to see an

independent palestine must also stop trying to tear down israel. after thousands of years, jews and arabs are not strangers in a strange land. after 60 years in the community of nations, israel's existence must not be a subject for debate. israel is a sovereign state. and the historic homeland of the jewish people. it should be clear to all that efforts to chip away at israel's legitimacy will only be met by the unshakable opposition of the united states. and efforts to threaten or kill israelis will do nuthing to help the palestinian people. the slaughter of innocent israelis is not resistance, it's injustice. and make no mistake, the courage of a man like president abbas who stands up for his people in front of the world under very

difficult circumstances is far greater than those who fire rockets at innocent women and children. the conflict between israelis and arabs is as old as this institution and we can come back here next year as we have for the last 60 years and make long speeches about it. we can read familiar lists of grievances. we can table the same resolutions. we can further empower the forces of rejectionism and hate and we can waste more time by carrying forward an argument that will help not a single israeli or palestinian child achieve a better life. we can do that. or we can say that this time will be different. that this time we will not let terror or turbulence or petty politics stand in the way. this time we will think not of ourselves, but of the young girl in gaza who wants to have no ceiling on her dreams.

or the young boy who wants to sleep without the nightmare of rocket fire. this time we should draw upon the teachings of tolerance that line the heart of three great religions that see jerusalem soil as sacred. it's time we should reach for what's best within ourselves. if we do, when we come back here next year, we can have an agreement that will lead to a new member of the united nations, an independent, sovereign state of palestinian living in peace with israel. it is our destiny to bear the burdens of the challenges that i've addressed. recession and war and conflict.

and there's always a sense of urgency, even emergency that drives most of our foreign policies. indeed, after millennium marked by wars, this very institution reflects the desire of human beings to create a form to deal with emergencies that inevitably come. but even as we confront immediate challenges, we must also summon the foresight to look beyond them and consider what are we trying to build over the long term? what is the world that awaits us when today's battles are brought to an end. and that is what i would like to talk about with the remainder of my time today. one of the first actions of this general assembly was to adopt a universal declaration of human rights in 1948. that declaration begins by stating that recognition of the inherent dignity and of the

equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, faith and justice in the world. the idea is a simple one. that freedom, justice and peace for the world must begin with freedom, justice and peace in the lives of individual human beings. and if you're the united states, this is a matter of moral and pragmatic necessity. as robert kennedy said, the individual man, the child of god is the touch stone of value. all society, groups, the state exist for his benefit. so we stand up for universal values because it's the right thing to do. but we also know from experience

that those who defend these valus for their people have been our closest friends and allies. while those who have denied those rights, whether terrorist groups or turanical governments have chosen to be our adversa adversaries. human rights have never gone unchallenged. not in any of our nations. not in our world. tyranny is still with us. whether it manifests itself in the taliban killing girls who fry to go to school, north korean regime that enslaves its own people or an armed group in congo that use rape as a weapon of war. in times of economic unease, there can also be an anxiety about human rights. today, as in past times of economic downturn, some put human rights aside for the

promise of short-term stability. or the false notion that economic growth can come at the expense of freedom. we see leaders abolishing term limits. we see crackdowns on civil society. we see corruption smothering entrepreneurship and good governance. democratic reforms referred indefinitely. as i said last year, each country will pursue a path rooted in the culture of its own people. yet experience shows us that history is on the side of liberty. that the strongest foundation for human progress lies in open economies, open societies and open governments. to put it simply, democracy, more than any other form of government delivers for our citizens. and i believe that truth will

only grow stronger in a world where the borders between nations are blurred. america's working to shape a world that fosters this openness. for the rot of a closed or corrupted economy must never eclipse the energy and motivation of human beings. all of us want the right to educate our children, to make a decent wage, to care for the sick and to be carried as far as our dreams and our deeds will take us. but that depends upon economies that tap the power of our people, including the potential of women and girls. that means letting entrepreneurs start a business without paying a bribe and governments that support opportunity instead of stealing from their people. and that means rewarding hard work instead of reckless risk taking. yesterday i put forward a new development policy that will pursue these goals.

recognizing that dignity is a human right and global development is in our common interest. america will partner with nations that offer their people a path out of povertiy. and together we must unleash growth that powers by individuals and emerging markets in all parts of the globe. there is no reason why africa should not be an exporter offing a agriculture which is why our food initiative is encouraging farmers. no reason why entrepreneurs cannot build new markets in every society. which is why i hosted a summit earlier this spring. because the obligation of government is to empower individuals, not to impede them. the same holds true for civil society. the arc of human progress is

shaped by individuals with the freedom to assemble and by organizations outside of government that insisted upon democratic change and by free media that held the powerful accountable. we have seen that from the south afric africans to stood up to apartide and to americans who march for the rights of all races, including my own. civil society is the conscious of our communities and america will always extend our engagement abroad with citizens beyond the halls of government. we will call out to those who suppress ideas and serve as a voice for those who are voiceless. we will promote new tools of communication so people are empowered to connect with one another and in repressive societies to do so with security. we will support a free and open

internet so individuals have the information to make up their own minds. and it is time to embrace and effectively monitor norms that advance the rights of civil society and guarantee its expansion within and across borders. open society supports open government. but it cannot substitute for it. there's no right more fundamental than the right to choose your leaders and determine your destiny. now, make no mistake, the ultimate will not come because the united states dictates it, it will come was individual citizens demand a say in how they are governed. there is no soil where this notion cannot take root. this is every democracy reflects the uniqueness of a nation. later this fall, i will travel to asia and i will visit india, which peacefully threw off

colonelism and established a thriving democracy of over a billion people. i will continue to indonesia, the world's largest majority muslim country which binds together thousands of islands through the glue of representative government and civil society. i'll join the g-20 meeting on the korean peninsula which provides the world's clearest contrast between a society that is dynamic and open and free and one that is imprisoned and closed. and i will conclude my trip in japan. an ancient culture that found peace through democracy. each of these countries gives life to democratic principals in their own way. and even as some governments roll back reform, we also celebrate the courage of a president in columbia who willingly stepped aside. or the promise of a new constitution in kenya.

the common thread of progress is the principal that government is accountable to its citizens. and the diversity in this room makes clear, no one country has all the answers, but all of us must answer to our own people. in all parts of the world we see the promise of innovation to make government more open and accountable. and now we must build on that progress. and when we gather back here next year, we should bring specific commitments to promote tran transparency and leverage new technologies so that we strengthen the foundations of freedoms in our own country while living up to the ideals that can light the world. this institution can still play an indispensable role in the advance of human rights. it's time to welcome the efforts of u.n. women to protect the rights of women around the

globe. it's time for every member state to open its elections to international monitors and increase the yoou.n. democracy fund. it's time to reinvigorate u.s. peace keeping so that missions have the resources necessary to succeed. so atrocities are prevented and injustice is enforced because neither dignity nor democracy can thrive without basing security. and it's time to make this institution more accountable, as well. because the challenges of a new century demand new ways of serving our common interests. the world that america seeks is not one we can build on our own. for human rights to reach those that suffer the boot of oppression, we need your voices to speak out.

in particular, i appeal to those nations who emerged from tyranny and inspired the world in the second half of the last century. from south africa to south asia. from eastern europe to south america. don't stand idly by. don't be silent. when dissidents else where are imprisoned and protesters are beaten, recall your own history because part of the price of our own freedom is standing up for the freedom of others. that belief will guide america's leadership in this 21st century. it is a belief that has seen us through more than two centuries of trial. and it will see us through the challenges we face today. be it war or recession, conflict or division.

so even as we have come through a difficult decade, i stand here before you confident in the future. a future where iraq is govern by neither tyrant nor a foreign power and afghanistan is freed from the turmoil of war, a future where the children of israel and palestine can build the peace that was not possible for the parents. a world where the promise of development reaches into the prisons of poverty and disease. a future where the cloud of recession gives way to the light of renewal and the dream of opportunity is available to all. this future will not be easy to reach. it will not come without setbacks nor will it be quickly claimed. but the founding of the nute un

nations it is a testing to progress. at times far more trying than our own, our predecessors chose the hope of unity and made a promise to future generations that the dignity and equality of human beings would be our common cause. it falls to us to fulfill that promise and though we will be met by dark forces that will test our resolve, americans have always had cause to believe that we can choose a better history. that we need only to look outside the walls around us. for through the citizens of every conceivable ancestry that make this city their own, we see living proof that opportunity can be accessed by all and that what unites us as human beings is far greater than what divides us and that people from every part of this world can live together in peace. thank you very much. >> barack obama for the second time in front of the united

nations general assembly and there you saw a picture of the first lady, michelle obama. i want to bring in now rick who is director of communications and public policy for the u.s. permanent representative to the united nations. and nancy soteberg president of connect u.s. fund. and, nancy, let me start with you. there were two applause for president obama's speech when he talked about a free and independent palestinian state and when he talked about the protections of womens around the globe. but what is your headline? what do you see as the significance of this speech today? >> a very broad call of action for the world to step up to the plate and do the right thing on human rights, nonproliferation and a plug for his own efforts to secure middle east peace process and it's now up to the world, he says, to join him in this challenge. i was struck by how much time he spent on the middle east peace process trying to rally the arab world to support what he's trying to do between the arabs

and israelis, as well a very strong defense of israel. secreta secretary-general moon's big push was a nod to that and, of course a tweak at iran, but a very strong and broad call to action across the globe. >> do you think it is a call to action, rick, that is going to be heard? we know the audience is there in the hall, but who is going to be listening around the world? >> actually, the world does listen to the united states. sorry. >> that's okay. rick, what is your thought on that? >> well, you know, i was struck. there is a lot in here, a lot of presidents say, you know, a lot of language to hug it out and let's all be nice at the u.n. but i was struck on a couple things. one, obama seemed to really take ownership of the global financial crisis. he really wanted to say that it was america's fault and i was struck by his language that he used. he also then took responsibility to rebuild the world's economy. i think for an american

president to try to be the world president in a speech like this, especially on a troubling economy like what we have now is puzzling that he would do that. i think the second thing that he said was that iraq will no longer be governed by a foreign power and that kind of language is troubling when you go to the u.n. and you characterize it as governed by a foreign power. you miss the idea that iraq and afghanistan that americans and american tax payers have paid fr development. yes, it's not perfect. the way he characterizes things at the u.n. is troublesome for me because he acts like he's president of the world rather than president of the united states. >> is that what you took out of that, nancy? let me ask you about the iraq references particularly. >> with all due respect a misreading of what the president was saying. he very clearly and repeatedly

said, we cannot do this on our own. he is saying we have to lead certainly and the u.s. does have to lead. we are the only super power there. we cannot do it alone. was a call for action for the world to join him and doing these right things and try to make the world grow and he emphasized in this speech yesterday all about prosperity, we need to have a prosperous world. the iraq thing is simply trying to remind the world that iraq is now sovereign and we have been there for many years and the iraq themselves wanted us to have them turn over their own sovereignty. >> we were a liberator, nancy. we were a liberator in iraq, we weren't a foreign power that was trying to take over. >> that is not the point and nor is that what he said. that's not what he was saying. >> he said governed by a foreign power. >> right and the u.n. resolution went in. >> we're not trying to govern iraq. >> let her finish her answer to that. you were saying the u.n. resolution.

>> the u.n. has been governing iraq for years and they just finished and handed the sovereignty back to iraq and he's praising the sovereignty in iraq and that's something he is emphasizing they are now democratic and that's a positive thing and that's all he was trying to say on that point. overall, i think the speech was very much, we have to work together to address these problems and together we can make progress. whether the world will respond is the big question. he has a lot of work to do. >> thanks to both of you. the founder of facebook has a lot of new friends in newark, new jersey, with his expected $100 million donation, we're just hearing about this. maybe just a drop in the bucket for him, but wait until you hear how much the 26-year-old is worth. new forbes numbers out on that. joaquin phoenix making another appearance on "david letterman." wow, wouldn't know this is the same guy, would you?

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a new study finds more americans are using hospital e.r.s to avoid long waits to see their own doctors and that's driving up medical costs, as much as $4 billion a year. overall, 27% of all emergency room visits could be treated else where. developing. right now on msnbc, a dozen gop leaders just rolled out a promise that they think will be and frees the outline to free spending and repeal the health care bill. here's house minority leader john boehner. >> isn't listening, doesn't get it and, frankly, doesn't think

they care. >> pat buchanan, msnbc political analyst and gop strategist and eugene robinson who is a journalist with "washington post" as well as msnbc analyst. eugene, first thing i've got to say is that all three of the cablers were watching the president at the united nations and nobody could take the republic republicans life. what do you think of that strategy? >> i think that's called bad timing. >> they didn't know that president obama was speaking before the united nations. this came as a surprise to them? >> i think you ought to check the president's schedule. you know, presidents have a way of stepping on the big moments of opposition parties. but this, everybody knew that obama was going to speak. they should have worked around his schedule. but then, again, if you actually look at the pledge to america, you know, on second thought,

maybe it's a good thing that more people didn't see it unveiled. >> well, you know what, let me look at it this way, jean. let me ask you about this, former president bill clinton was on "morning joe" this morning and he says he thinks that the president's economic policy is better than the communication of it. you know, but is this the answer? are the republicans with this pledge doing a better job of communicating? clearly, the timing isn't working. >> well, if i was the communication's director for the republicans i should be out of a job right now. if you want to get on national television. but i think that president clinton, with due respect, is mistaken. the american people are the ones passing judgment on the economic policy and it is they who are saying it is not working. let me disagree with what the republicans are doing in my judgment. they are practicing the political equivalent of defensive medicine. where are your ideas, where are

your ideas? they get the generalized principals. we're going to cut the budget and not cut taxes and raise taxes and all they're doing is opening themselves up to be arguing on their grounds when they ought to be arguing that this campaign is about the democrats and the disaster they produced. i don't know why you change the subject to yourself and your ideas when the country wants to get rid of the other party. >> you know, there are more than a few republicans who, frankly, said we shouldn't be doing this. you know, if you look at the blogs, some of them are really unhappy about some of the specifics or lack of specifics. let's say about social security. but, let me go back to bill clinton for a minute because he had an interesting take on this. he talked about the obvious comparisons to the contract with america and newt gingrich back in 1994. let me play for you what bill clinton said this morning. >> newt gingrich proved with that contract for america that you could nationalize a midterm

election, all right? they organized their national plan. here's what ours is. if you hire us for two more years, here's what we're going to do. >> that's what he says that the democrats need to say. they need to say we're making progress slow but steady. give us two years, if we don't give you a change, throw us out. but it's not time yet. what do you think of that? >> well, i mean, i think that the democratic party right now, the message that they're sending is, look, this is a contrast between what we're doing now which is working more slowly than what we like and i think that is their winning message but i think eugene and pat made a good point. this document that was put out was ill-timed in a sense that today's the day when health care benefits kick in. the documents says they'll repeal health care. the tea party movement is casting this revolutionary tone to the midterm and this is a safe document that says we're a lot less pat buchanan's pitch

fork brigade and very bob dole. i think if you try to make a case especially on a day when there is so much competing news, you need to do something more revolutionary like they did in '94 and they didn't do that. >> is this much less revolutionary, eugene, than it was in '94? >> it is much more specific and detailed than the contract was with america in 1994. that is part of the problem because the specifics don't add up. you know, we're going to make all the tax cuts permanent and we're going to cut spending and somehow we're going to also cut the deficit and try to add the numbers up and it's very difficult to see how you do it. just to get back to the point that pat made, the republicans have essentially said, you know, made them selves the issue right at the time when, as polls show, a lot of americans are starting to pay attention to the election. we've all been focused on it for

months, but a lot of people are just now starting to really pay attention and so what are they going to see? they're going to see one party saying, we're making progress, it's slow, but give us a couple more years and another party that comes out with a document that is very, very difficult if you look at its specifics. >> i'll say this, pat. you know what the arguments are for this. the arguments are, it gives us a chance to counter the party of no and say, we are the party of yes. we have a plan, excuse me, going forward. here's what it is. >> chris, the party of no is roaring ahead. it is winning. for heaven sakes. we're three touchdowns up and they're saying, well, you're running a lousy program. but, look, bill clinton with due respect was dead wrong. the contract with america in 1994, nobody in the country knew what it was until the election was over and they said this did it. that was an anti-clinton

election, not a single republican candidate for governor or senator or for congress unless he was indicted lost the election and he is completely anti-clinton. the republicans realize they don't like us, they just dislike them more. >> you know, i never in a million years thought that i would get the three of you all on the same page. i think, can we mark this date down in history. thursday, september 23rd, 2010. oh, but you know what, john boehner and his guys, they are just leaving the podium. they're just walking away from the hardware store so

a big act for his newly released movie and david, of course, took it all in stride. >> a year and a half you came out and it's like you slipped and hit your head in the tub and i knew immediately when you sat down something ain't right. >> i hope i didn't offend you in any way. >> oh, no, no, no, i was not offended. i am telling you, it was so much fun. >> good. >> it was batting practice, you know what i mean? every one of them was a dinger. >> meantime, couldn't everybody use a friend like this. the facebook founder mark zuckerber good has agreed to donate $100,000 to the troubled new jersey schools and let's say

he can afford to give it away. according to forbes, listen to this, the 26-year-old is worth almost $7 billion. that's a billion more than apple's steve jobs. but critics wonder about the timing of this gift. comes just weeks before the release of the social network. a new film about facebook and makes zuckerberg look like an evil wizard. if you look at some of the early reviews of this movie, they are absolutely off the charts. now, speaking of schools, on monday matt lauer will sit down for an exclusive interview with president obama. that kicks off education nation. the interview will also air live on msnbc for a full half hour beginning at 8:30 a.m. eastern. you can submit questions for the president. just go to educationnation.com. and sunday on "meet the press" david gregory will interview key decisionmakers in the nation's education system.

so, check your local listings for that. speaking of that forbes rich list we just mentioned. how is this for the price of admission? you need $1 billion just to get on the list. "forbes" out with its new ranking of the richest 100 people in america. microsoft founder bill gates tops the list. $54 billion. up $4 billion despite pouring cash into charity. warren buffett is number two, just $45 billion. he plans to give away about 90% of his fortune to the gates foundation. and rounding out the top three, oracle ceo larry ellison a mere $27 billion. by the way, one more note we think we should mention michael bloomberg who is number 10, his net worth estimated at $18 billion. still a lot of buzz on whether he'd take a few billion of that and try to run for president. that will do it for me, i'm chris jansing, see you back here at 3:00 p.m. eastern time with anita dunn about the economy, the shakeup of the white house

and bob woodward's new book on afghanistan. lots coming up there, thomas roberts picks things up next. busy thursday. what have you got going on? >> good morning. hi, everything, good morning. coming up in the next hour, the preacher at an atlanta megachurch facing a new sex abuse claim. we'll take you there. the tens of thousands of homes in foreclosure now in question. we'll look at that and see if you can do something about it if your home is in foreclosure. much more coming up in three minutes. ♪ [ male announcer ] ever have morning pain slow you down?

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hi, everybody. good morning, i'm thomases roberts. tamron hall is on assignment. mega church minister under fire and a third lawsuit is filed against an embattled pastor. a live report coming up from georgia. new party pledge. republicans make new promises to voters. can they tap into that big tea party spirit? and $100 million man. the founder of facebook and his incredible gift to a struggling public school system. good to have you