>> well they weren't in the study. >> it's nice to see you. that does it for us. "hardball" is up right now. republicans go whole hog on birth control. let's play "hardball." good evening. i'm chris matthews in washington. leading off tonight, out on a limbaugh. the man who leads the republican party and speaks for american conservatism showed us all today what he and the gop itself thinks of young women who use birth control. rush limbaugh calls them sluts. he went further except for olympia snow voted down the line to restrict insurance coverage from women's health. here's part of what rush limbaugh has to say. >> if we are going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus

pay for you to have sex, we want something for it. and i'll tell you what it is. we want you to post the videos online so we can all watch. >> we want you to post the videos online so we can all watch. that's rush limbaugh's view of insurance coverage for birth control. much more of this in an election year? is this what they want to say? rush is the spirit chul and intellectual leader of the republican party. no one in the party dares speak against him. are republicans condemning what he said? nowhere. where's mitt romney on this push for birth control? yesterday he was against it. before he was for it. here's what seemed to happen. he first said what he believes, he doesn't like the idea of getting involved in this kind of thing. now he realized his job so is to pair with what they want him to believe. plus olympia snow's departure from the u.s. senate is another

example of how in today's gop, moderates need not apply. plus did some elements of the saudi government play a helpful role in 9/11? a lot of people have long suspected the answer is yes. two u.s. senators are now saying it out loud on the record. finally, let me finish with tough comments ab the republican party's spiritual leader. we begin tonight with rush limbaugh. senator joe brand, right now on his radio show rush limbaugh showed no remorse for the disrespectful language he used yesterday in talking about the georgetown student who testified about the importance of contraception in women's health. let's listen to him. >> miss fluke, here's the deal. if we're going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus pay for you to have sex, we want

something for it. and i'll tell you what it is. we want you to post the videos online so we can all watch. >> i don't know. i have never heard anything like that. in a nod to santorum and foster frieze, his comments women were supposed to use an aspirin between their knees. here's limbaugh using the same colorful reference. >> i will buy all of the women at georgetown university as much aspirin to put between their knees as they want. >> senator joe brand, thank you for joining us. i don't know. it's a strange night to have you on. i have been wanting to have you on for a long time. you're one of the most outspoken women. why do the republican party running today to avoid con demg this awful commentator by their intellectual leader, rush limbaugh? >> i think his remarks are

incredible. they are so insulting to women. they are incredible. i can't -- they are so inappropriate i don't even know where to start. >> let me start with yesterday. let's look at a tape of what he said yesterday. this has been going on for two days now. plenty of time for the republican leaders who are pushing this restriction they are trying to put on health care for women. they could have said something. they are not. here's limbaugh. let's listen to what he said then. >> what does it say that at the college susan fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and says that she must be paid to have sex? what does that make her? it makes her a slut. right? it makes her a prostitute. she wants to be paid to have sex. >> late this afternoon, congresswoman of your state in a letter to speaker boehner,

signed by 75 members of the congress called on the house to repudiate those comments. they initially denied miss fluke the right to speak. they have a right to condemn the words. leader pelosi called on republican leaders to condemn the comments. are you hearing from any republican senators on this? saying this isn't us talk even though we disagree on the policy question. >> i haven't heard a word from the republicans. we had a vote today on something so outrageous. the bill today would basically say that any boss could determine for any reason that he objected to or she objected to that a woman wouldn't have access to basic medicine or health care. and i don't know why we're debating issues that were long settled decades ago. it's quite alarming to me that

we're still talking about access to basic medicine and basic health care for women in this country. you add to that what rush limbaugh has been saying, and it's this continuous slap in the face to women. it's just such a disregard and a disrespect for them. and i think every republican should apologize for his comments. and at least separate themselves from them. >> but there's a certain educational factor when people speak wrong. then you really hear the emotion behind the words. it seems to me that rush limbaugh has done the democrats and progressives a favor here. because for several weeks, they argued on the right. this is about religious freedom. this is about the first amendment and religious freedom we all treasure in this country. rush made it clear it isn't. this is about birth control. this is about whether insurance policies, which are basically mandated now by the obama health care bill should include birth control or not. he says they shouldn't. it seems to me that's now the

issue on the right. that finally got to the point they wanted to raise. we don't want to pay for birth control, because we don't agree with it. how do you interpret it? >> i agree with your interpretation. what we decided in health care reform is the quickest way to bend the cost curve is make sure people have preventive health care. you have to remember, chris, 99% of america's women have taken birth control in their lifetime. 98% of catholic women. this is basic medicine. at least for 15% of women, they take it for other reasons than contraception. you're trying to create a law saying a boss can prohibit someone taking medicine. so what i find so problematic here is that they are just trying to deny women basic access to health care. i think america's women are watching this debate. they are understanding that these leaders in the republican

party do not stand for them. and don't care about them and their families. >> you know, one of the great ironies here, and it's a tricky subje subject. and you and i know each other, i'm worried about saying the wlong thing. those who do have a concern morally about birth control, they are pro-choice because they believe it's up to the individual. they would like to see the number of abortions radically reduced in this country. it's usually the result of an unwanted pregnancy. by definition it is. if you have a lot of people taking birth control, especially young people who are single and don't want to have a child, this could be a god send. all these young people would be encouraged and subsidized by the health care bill to use birth control if they are sexually active, reducing dramatically the number of unwanted pregnancies. it seems to me this is a win-win for everybody. but that's my judgment. >> that's what the health studies show.

when women have access to family planning, they will make decisions about when it's best for them to have children. these are wanted children. these are children they are welcoming into their lives. >> let me talk to you about the politics of this thing. it seems to me we're finding on the edges of the two political parties problem areas. olympia snow voted with your caucus today. voted against -- it's probably win of the reasons she's getting out of the senate right now. you have claire mccaskill getting hit. she's facing a tough reelection in missouri. it's always a tough state. it's right down the line. they are going after her in radio ads already. let's listen to what one of your colleagues is taking for agreeing with you. let's listen. >> first, they took over the banks. then they put government in charge of our health care. now what are barack obama and claire mccaskill focused on? regulating the catholic church. obama and mccaskill want to

force the catholic church and americans of faith to abandon tenants of their religion. they already forced us to pay for government bail outs and obama care. tell them enough is enough. >> what would you say in response to that viewer in missouri? >> the ad is outrageous and a lie. you're saying we're telling the catholic church what to do? we're not. president obama made such a reasonable and very respectful compromise. he excluded churches and synagogues and those facilities associated with religion. others are those who can't pick and choose what laws they are going to follow. you can't choose which labor law you think is worthwhile. we decided that long, long ago. the supreme court justices the most conservative of them made that point. you're not allowed to pick and

choose what laws you want to follow. this is a long-settled law. in 28 states, this has been the law of the land for about a decade. states have made the determination that the larger institution that serve the public at large in commercial ventures have to play by the same rules as everybody else. so the ad is a lie. i hope they hit back equally as hard. and claire mccaskill stood for the women of her state. many women take it for noncontraceptive women. she stands up for women's values and their access to basic health care and access to medicine. and for the basic principle that bosses should not decide what medicines an employee should be eligible to take. it's really quite simple. >> i'm sorry to interrupt. i think you missed a point. not only did he compromise by accepting churches, he went further and said insurance

companies would have to pay for the coverage and not require the churches to sign on to something they can't within their own religious believes do so. i think he really went the extra yard here. you're great to come on the show tonight. i didn't know you'd be coming on in the face of rush limbaugh, but i think you did a good job on that new character of the republican party. thank you so much. coming up, mitt romney was against the blunt. that's the one who said no coverage for birth control in this health care bill. he said he was confused by the question that was put to him. maybe he's confused about who is he supposed to be today? the moderate governor of massachusetts or the new hell raiser. you're watching "hardball," only on msnbc. americans believe they should be in charge of their own future. how they'll live tomorrow. for more than 116 years, ameriprise financial has worked for their clients' futures. helping millions of americans retire on their terms. when they want.

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super tuesday states. let's check the "hardball" score board. in tampa bay, a new poll finds rick santorum holding a big league over mitt romney. romney at 19%. look at santorum up at 40%. a 21-point spread. in vermont, a poll shows romney in the lead. but santorum is within striking distance. romney at 34% and santorum at 37%. don't you love the publicity with the colleges and the polling. we'll be right back. prego?! but i've been buying ragu for years. [ thinking ] i wonder what other questionable choices i've made? [ club scene music ] [ sigh of relief ] [ male announcer ] choose taste. choose prego. monarch of marketing analysis.

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welcome back to "hardball." contraception has been a hot issue on capitol hill, but it's also spill ed into the presidential campaign. mitt romney's under fire today from rick santorum and the obama campaign from both right and left for his changing and odd position on the blunt amendment. that's the amendment that says you don't have to have birth control as part of the insurance coverage of your employees. "the new york times" reports on

their theme for reelection, it sounds similar to reagan's morning in america. do voters think it's on the morning of america track? that's the two topics tonight. how does the team romney try to spin another flip-flop by mitt? you don't want to get ahead of that curve. with us are the experts steve mcmahon and michael steel. mr. steel, here's rush limbaugh that started off his show yesterday, he's the spiritual leader you guys are afraid to defend. let's go. >> what does it say about the college co-ed susan fluke who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? what does that make her?

it makes her a slut, right? it makes her a prostitute. she wants to be paid to have sex. >> you know, this cost don imus a lot of career, this kind of talk. i just wonder about this guy who you guys all bow before as the great alexa hente. are you going to take him on or leave him out there alone? >> i've already gotten in trouble on that front point. remember, i tried to put in context when asked as chairman, you know, what does rush limbaugh mean to the party? he means different things to people. in this instance, a lot of people have a problem with it. i'm sure his lawyers are having a conversation with him about the fact this young woman may have something about what he called her on national radio. you talk about entertainment

and, you know, free speech, but there are lies. when you're having a national political discussion, the political parties have to be sure that they clearly distinguish where they are and where the entertainment picks up. and i think in this particular case, that line has been crossed. i don't think republicans are standing here saying we agree with rush on this because i think it's above the pail. it's not part of advancing the public discourse right now. the name calling and all of that, so i have to put it in the category of entertainment. >> i think you're a great guy, michael, and i think you know the difference. but let's bring in steve. i don't think this guy thinks of this guy as entertainer of the year. they listen to him three hours a day on the radio. >> every republican? i don't think that's true. >> i'm waiting to see one republican elected official go after this guy. steve? >> michael, listen.

i love you, man. but he sounded today like a vile, disgusting pervert who became unglued on the radio. i cannot believe what he said. i cannot believe he'll get away with it. i can't believe it won't cost him millions of dollars in a slander suit that if this woman is smart she will bring tomorrow morning. it was outrageous. i can't believe he hasn't apologized yet. there's nothing entertaining about disparaging massageny. and that's exactly what it was. it was disgusting. >> i'm not disagreeing. >> he said he wanted to see videos of her performing sex on tv. what's that about? >> fellas, i'm not disagreeing with you. i agree with what you're saying. this crosses a very bright line. he probably will have to answer to it. her lawyers will have something to say about this.

but in the back and forth of the national debate, this has no place. that's the bottom line. >> michael, i think you would agree. >> we're beating a dead horse here. let me go to michael on this. you called rush limbaugh entertainment. here's what i do. i try to keep up with mitt romney. i try to keep up with this guy. he's my entertainment. here he was yesterday. he was asked a direct question. where do you stand on this blunt amendment? it said you shouldn't apply the health care bill of barack obama to coverage of birth control. he said very directly he was against the bill. and laid out why. let's listen to the presidential front runner yesterday. >> is being debated later this week that deals with banning or allowing employers to ban providing female contraception. have you taken a position? he said he was for that.

we'll talk about personhood in a second. are you for that? >> i'm not for the bill. but the idea of presidential candidates getting into questions about contraception within a relationship between a man and a woman, a husband and wife, i'm not going there. >> so there's a principled statement. a presidential candidate should not get involved in a relationship between a man and woman. okay. a short time later in another interview, howie carr, a good buddy on the right, romney said he misunderstood that question. let's listen to him with howie carr, a friendly interviewer. >> i didn't understand this question. of course, i support the blunt amendment. i thought he was talking about some state law that prevented people about getting contraception. i thought it was ohio legislation where employers were prevented from providing contraceptives. i really misunderstood the question. >> you know, you have to wonder about leadership here, michael.

is this guy a leader or follower? he flips two hours later. >> i think, chris and steve, i think mitt romney gave a very honest answer in the first instance. i think he spoke as someone who is a former governor has had to deal with these types of issues. he spoke in an honest way. and i think the pressures of the campaign and the fact that his main guy, his legislative liaison is mr. blunt himself, caused this retreat, if you will, on the subject. >> this is what i mean by enterta entertainment. in other words, the front runner for president has to check with his lobbyist. >> chris, come on. stop it. i'm not going to let you get away it. >> you put it in your context. >> you act like you're a new bile person to politics. this is the reality of it.

he spoke in an honest moment. and then, hold up. they have to go back and fix it. that's the bottom line. i'm just telling you. >> who is going to be president of the united states if he gets elected? it's always possible. which one is going to be president? the honest one or flip-flopper? your witness, steve. >> you act like the ebb and flow of a campaign doesn't matter for anything. when hillary clinton made the mistake in south carolina, what was that? >> michael, this isn't the ebb and flow of a campaign. this is mitt romney. and the problem here for mitt romney is this reenforces a perception that his persistent and repetitive that he wants to have it both ways on every issue that's controversial. and that he will say as a

venture capital guy whatever it takes to close the deal. the republican nominee for president, if somebody says blunt rubio amendment, you should know what it is. and secondly, your political instinct should say blunt, rubio, i'm for that. those are guys i want to support me. this is something that's been on the front pages of every major newspaper for the past three or four weeks. and he doesn't know what it is? >> i'm not disagreeing with you here. i said the man answered honestly in the first instance. then the politics set in and he's made the course correction. to your point, steve, i would agree. this is part of the problem that the base has with romney up until now. we don't know where that anchor comes to rest. and that's what he's got to fix. >> there isn't one. it's getting pulled along at the bottom. >> you gave me an excellent explanation of what to expect.

you laid it out quite well how he's going to behave. he'll tell us the truth. then when he gets a call, he'll tell us what that guy believes. your defense was as weak as i have seen one. by the way, the georgetown law student insulted by rush limbaugh will be ed shultz's guests tonight. georgetown has great students. i'm so lucky to live in the same town as that great school. it's a great university. i personally am offended. remember when mitt romney said he was a hunter? well romney's position on guns has evolve d. he gets so, well, just like he was a minute ago. he's not comfortable with the issue. he doesn't cling to guns. you're watching "hardball," only on msnbc..

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back to "hardball." now for the sideshow. first up, master of disguise. remember when mitt romney got caught stepping all over himself when he tried to strike a chord with gun owners? here's what he said when talking about his hunting skills and then at a debate last month. >> i'm not a big game hunter. i'm a rodent and rabbit hunter. sma i have hunted those. >> i'm not going to exploit those, i went moose hunting --

i'm sorry, not moose hunting. elk hunting. >> that may be the only time in history when any person said var meant, if you will. you might think romney would have something else scripted by now. not quite. here's how he faired yesterday on the issue again of gun control. >> i believe in the second amendment. i'll protect the second amendment. i have guns myself. i'm not going to tell you where they are. don't have them on myself either, all right? >> finally, the auto workers continued their convention with former president bill clinton taking on the the stage. he had nothing but praise for the auto industry bailout, but what he said about mitt romney's lack of support for the bailout that hit hardest. let's listen to the former president. >> i happen to think this auto

industry package is the most important thing that was initiated by president obama and the administration. the president could have walked away from this. the government would have walked away from it. we wouldn't be here in the union we're in today. every time i hear mr talk about this, i think his daddy must be turning over in his grave. >> the candidate's father, george romney, he was the long time president, the man who saved american motors. but i would be careful about using family issues with a political rival. never talk about the father through the son. up next, is there any room for moderates in the republican party? that's a good question. consider this thing about the democrats. the big question about olympia snow left the senate, she's leaving at the end. is there any room for the old

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now, that's progressive. call or click today. i'm courtney rae began with your market wrap. the nasdaq adding 22. it was a big day for the auto makers as they reported february sales. gm sales rose 1% and ford saw a 14% gain. chrysler sales up 40%. on the economic front, jobless claims fell by 2,000 to a four-year low. and retail was a bright spot for most of the country. february sales figures came in stronger than expected. that's it from cnbc. for now, back to "hardball."

we're back with an issue close to my heart. moderates are an endangered species. the latest example, senator olympia snow decided this week not to seek reelection. her exit and her criticism of the toxic environment in congress today has people wondering whether moderates can survive in today's political climate. christy todd whittman was republican governor of new jersey. both are moderates. thank you, ladies, for coming on. i'm going to step out of the way. i'm just a television commentator. you guys ran for office, won elections, lost some. you lost the first one for governor. >> no, bradley. i lost senate. >> that's right. tell me your views about the two political parties.

i know you want to hit both. why is there no room for people crossing the aisle, being close to the aisle so you can be one of those people that helps make the deals work? >> i'll just jump in there. it's great to be with you. it's because it's all about politics. it's all about who is going to win and stay in charge. it's not about what are we going to get done and do for the country. it's so sad so see olympia leave. she was amazing. she was always about hard work, solving the problem, and getting down to making a difference. >> i wonder, who is supposed to represent a state like maine, that is sort of a middle of the road state to begin with? >> most of the country is neither. you know that. we know that. as the senator said, what we have had now is we put politics ahead of policy. it's damaging. it's time tr the american people

to stand up and say enough of this. we have had it. we're not going to allow this to go on anymore. we have serious issues that are not being addressed. it's all about what's going to get me another vote in caucus. not about how do i solve the problems and do what i have listbeen elected to do, which is represent the people. i think this cycle where americans elect, it's a new internal way of nominating a bipartisan team that will be on the ballot in every state in the nation for president. but we have to do things like that to get people to sit up and say enough already. >> let's talk about the vote today. olympia snow joined the drats. you had bill nelson of florida and the new senator from west virginia and my friend bobby y casey join the republicans. what do you think of that? that seems to be getting back to the old way where there was spill over. >> there's got to be spill over, but there has to be a conscious

effort at really going through these issues and figuring out what the middle ground is so you don't just have one or two crossing over in that sense, but you're building a consensus in the middle. we have to change peoples' perspective and make sure they know they are never going to get 100% of everything they want. that that 90% is critical because it helps us move the ball from the 10 yard line to the 50 yard line. >> is a lot of this fundraising where the parties have to play to the base or the wealthy people? you know how the fundraising goes. the same issues are raised in both parties. they have automatic ones. they don't have to make any deals. i was thinking of the tough race of claire mccaskill is facing in missouri. >> you know, it's about -- they are playing to the base. but the problem is the base is a small percentage in each of the parties. the issue that we have, the american people started turning

off because they are so disgusted about what is going on. that's why independents are passing republicans or democrats. you're leaving it to the very most partisan people to vote. they tend to be the ones that are excited by the red meat issues. those are the issues that are not the things that are most important to peoples' everyday lives. they are the social issues. we're not talking about the economy the way we need to. we don't have an energy policy. and compromise has become a dirty word, but if you go back to our founding fathers, finding consensus is what it was all about. and why we have the separation of powers and why we are set up the way we are. >> the most important topic, senator snow is leaving from maine. her cousin tells "the new york times" the pressure was beginning to be too much for the senator. "social conservatives in maine

were hounding her at home while party leaders in washington had her hemmed in and steered away from matters she agreed about. there was a constant struggle to accommodate everyone and a lot of pressure on her from the extreme right." we were talking before we went on. i would like to be a maverick. if you don't like me, tough. you need my vote. that's hard to do. >> it is, but if you want to get something accomplished and that's what you're here to do, we're moving to politicians instead of public servants. you have to be able to stand up and say this is not going to get us where we need to get. >> i have to tell you in many ways, 21% of the country calls itself liberal. you don't run the presidency if you don't get moderates and a few conservatives to see your way. you will lose every election if you only vote idea logically.

your party is dominated by the right. so that base is getting pretty scary for you guys. you moderates. thank you for coming on. don't get mad. don't leave mad. thank you. up next, was the government in saudi arabia involved with the september 11th attacks? we'll find out what happened. a lot of people have thought this for a long time. now we have two senators saying it did happen. this is "hardball," only on msnbc. have good insurance. yup, i've got... [ dennis ] ...allstate. really? i was afraid you'd have some cut-rate policy. [ kyle ] nope, i've got... [ dennis ] ...the allstate value plan. it's their most affordable car insurance -- and you still get an allstate agent. i too have... [ dennis ] ...allstate. [ roger ] same agent and everything. [ kyle ] it's like we're connected. no we're not. yeah, we are. no...we're not. ♪ the allstate value plan. dollar for dollar, nobody protects you like allstate.

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governor chris christie of new jersey vetoed that bill to allow same sex marriage in his state saying he wants it put on the ballot. now a new poll shows same sex marriage has broad support in the garden state. take a look. 57% of new jersey voters say they support same sex marriage. that's interesting. it's a new high for the poll. only 37% oppose it. it looks like he's off base on this it one. we'll be right a back. is this what we're doing now? i don't want a plunger anywhere near my coffee. not in my house. with maxwell house french roast, you let gravity do the work.

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ten and a half years after the september 11th attacks, one of the most nagging questions is the saudi role in what happened that horrible day in our country. bob graham, a smart, serious guy let a joint inquiry into the attacks and served as chairman back then. here's what he said in an affidavit. this is the senator "convinced there was a direct link between at least some of the terrorists and the government of saudi arabia. what did that line look like and why are there still so many unanswered questions? eric lichblou is from "the new york times" and robert barry is time magazine's intelligence

columnist. >> there have been ten years of questions now about the saudi's possible role. the point was in the middle of investigations is that those questions have never really been answered. and what role did saudi play? there was a suspicious character in san diego who knew two of the hijackers and provided them money and had linked to saudi officials. and 15 of the 19 hijackers were from saudi arabia and bin laden himself had roots there for generations. so there has been this percolating effect for the last ten years. you have two big names in 9/11 investigations. >> are they saying that the saudi establish mement that we as an ally, who we kiss up to when they deal with us, are these two senators saying those

people who pretend to be our >> they are suggesting that members of the royal family and royal institutions may have had a role in at least financing the attacks. >> purposefully? >> purposefully. that's certainly their implications. the saudis, of course -- >> where do you come ought on this, bob baird. i trust you so much gop you think, based upon this, there's evidence that the royal family, the one we deal with as friends are really our enemies here? >> oh, i think there's a real problem here. look at it, chris. these two guys get off an airplane not l.a.x. they run into a saudi official who takes them under his wing to san diego. pays for them. the same official is getting money from the saudi embassy. he is spirited out of the country. he's unavailable for an investigation right now. and as eric said, 15 of the saudi hijackers were recruit inside the kingdom. we don't know how, how they were vetted and the rest of it. and saudi arabia has simply

refused to answer those questions. they are covering up something. this is not one of our best allies. >> well, the truthers, those who believe that our own government was involved in 9/11 have an absolutely opposite view. they believe we did this to get us in war. to justify a war with iraq or whatever over there. make us more hawkish. this seems to be -- this is people over there who didn't want us involved in that war. isn't that the case? >> wait, chris. these are the crazies. the ones that marginalize the argument by getting involved in. this government was not involved. what this government did was afraid of losing saudi arabia as a near ally and closed off the investigation. and i -- these are two very serious senators that have brought these allegations up. >> do they believe as you -- as far as you can tell what they believe. do they believe the saudi establishment had a hand in the 9/11 hell? saudi establishment? >> yes. >> unbelievable. eric? >> well, i think the interesting

thing now is where this goes in court because these declarations from the two senators are coming in the midst of a multibillion-dollar lawsuit which has now -- >> from the relatives of those who lost their lives are suing the saudi government. >> and they've been stopped from suing in court for years now. they've just gotten a green light from appellate court. more than the money, what they want to do is find out what happened. this may be the best avenue through court to actually get some -- >> what happened. we know al qaeda did it. we know al qaeda is tied in with -- >> well, they are suing saudi institutions. dozens and dozens of saudi institutions that they say the families claim, along with insurance companies that paid out billions of dollars, claim were behind this and kerrey and graham are now saying we're on your side. we think the saudis may have been more deeply involved than they say. >> why did the bush of george w. bush rush those saudi people out of the country so expeditiously and mysteriously right after 9/11? bob? >> we needed saudi arabia's help on invading iraq, one.

i think that was in the cards of 9/11. we were looking for allies. and it was really unthinkable that the country that is the world's reserve sank for oil could be on the other side. it was just something too terrifying for people to look at. and i think there's a lot of fbi agents that are very angry about this that weren't able to pursue this. they'd have a lot more to say. why specifically the investigation was cut off. >> so where is it headed right now? you first, bob. where do you think this new development here. credible people. highly credible. they now believe there's something to the saudi connection. where is it headed? >> i don't think it's going anywhere. we're on the verge of a war with iran. we need saudi arabia. we're going to need it if we do get dragged into this. >> more cover-up. thank you, bob. more cover-up. that's sad. we like to know what happened here. bob baer and eric lichtblau. we love "the new york times" here. let me finish with rush

limbaugh. you can't finish him off. let me try to finish with him and his way back machine. this guy is from another, well, decade at least. you're watching "hardball" only on msnbc. important day for us. important day for us. you ready? we wanna be our brother's keeper. what's number two we wanna do? bring it up to 90 decatherms. how bout ya, joe? let's go ahead and bring it online. attention on site, attention on site. now starting unit nine. some of the world's cleanest gas turbines are now powering some of america's biggest cities. siemens. answers. lord of the carry-on. sovereign of the security line.

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let me finish tonight with this. i thing republican party has gotten trapped in the way back machine that sherman and mr. peabody used in the days of "bullwinkle" and rocky the squirrel. they and rush limbaugh seem to think that young women using birth control is a matter for hot debate.

that they can score points attacking those young people protecting themselves from pregnancy during their college years. well, are they crazy? are they politically nuts enough to think the way to win votes in 2012 is to head deep into the long ago territory of attacking people for using birth control? i have not heard a priest give a sermon on this topic since i was in grade school. why are politicians and their radio ringleader out there in the church tent riling up people about something they put to bed a half century ago at least. if it's only about an old fuddy duddy argument, that would be one thing. but listen to limbaugh calling a young college student a slut. just listen to him. this man who leads the republican party spiritually. >> what does it say about the college coed susan fluke who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex. what does that make her? it makes her a slut, right? makes her a prostitute.

she wants to be paid to have sex. >> and he continued today. >> so miss fluke and the rest of you fema nazis. if we are going to pay for your contraceptives and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something for it. and i'll tell you what it is. we want you to post the videos online so we can all watch. i will buy all of the women at georgetown university as much aspirin to put between their knees as they want. >> i get it, rush. you think this battle isn't about religious liberty but about birth control. and you don't like young women wanting to have birth control. that explains that language. this is strange that rush limbaugh doesn't want young women to have birth control provided in their insurance policy. why is he getting into this? why is he so hot to trot to use this kind of language on this stuff? why is he attacking people here, reducing them to something very