it. >> oh? no credit for the president there. how about for a saved auto industry. >> i'll take a lot of credit for the fact that the industry has come back. >> yeah, mitt. i suppose you help put man on the moon, too. we begin with the president challenging his opponents in congress to take action on job creation and mortgage relief and pushing constructive efforts to help americans in hard times. today, he gave congress a five-point to do list including a veterans job call and clean energy tax credits. and at a time when critics say they are a do-nothing congress, the president was more than happy to say they are standing in the way of economic recovery. >> i know this is an election year. but it is not an excuse for inaction. just saying no to ideas that we

know will help our economy is not an option. there is too much at stake. we've all got to pull in the same direct. >> the president's pitch come on a day with two positive economic headlines. first up, the u.s. government recording a budget surplus of $58 billion in april. breaking a string of deficits that began in 2008. posting 3.7 million job openings in march. the highest number in more than three years. but even with such glad tidings for mitt romney, there is still not nearly enough big business exploitation in our economy. as he laid out his vision today in michigan. >> government will be the partner, not the master. and government will be small enough for businesses to grow fast enough. fast enough to exploit global opportunities. >> indeed. lose the department of

education, lose the energy department, the department of interior. corporations can regulate the environment on their own. we saw how well that worked in the past. yes, romney spelled out his vision much more clearly in that paragraph than he ever has before. and interesting that he gave his remarks a half mile from a gm plant in lansing, michigan. thanks to one of our twitter followers for that. because when he is not playing up with corporations, the governor is busy taking credit for certain government efforts like the bailout that saved the auto industry. >> i pushed the idea of the bankruptcy and finally when that was done and help was given, the company got back on their feet so i'll take a lot of credit for the fact that this industry has come back. >> what? the auto rescue was his idea now? i didn't get that. because back a couple years ago, mr. romney said to cnn, what was it? bailout of enterprises that are in trouble, that's not the right

way to go. i know president bush started with the auto industry. i thought it was a mistake. well, we know that there is one company that continues to get free publicity for mitt romney every day. the makers of etch a sketch. let's bring in our panel now. and the author of the new book, showdown. here in new york, the contributor, correspondent for the nation and politico white house reporter from the offices in arlington, virginia. david, help me. i'm confused. the president can't spike the football on killing osama bin laden. yet mitt romney can give himself credit for the auto bailout which he opposed. now, help me. >> martin, just imagine this. if mitt romney can save an

entire industry by writing one op ed for the new york time, imagine what he could do with a president with executive orders? it is stunning. he is super mitt. he saved the auto industry by writing an op ed that was titled, let detroit go bankrupt. forget president. he should be emperor. >> or of course the almighty god. the dnc has had fun with the hash tag entitled things mitt takes credit for. it is the auto bailout. in florida he will be claiming he helped build disney world. invented the cuban sandwich. >> and killed the bar before he was only 3. basically, this is him trying to do the flip, the republican flip where you take an opponent's strength and turn it into a weakness. in this case i think he has gone one flip too far. >> it's not a flip. it is a shameless act of theft.

it is burglary! it is stealing! it's a felony! >> i was trying to give him a bit of credit here. his op ed reminded me of the famous vietnam phrase, you had to destroy the village in order to save it. his plan was to destroy the village so it could come back stronger. it has come back stronger. therefore it worked. it is simple lodging you by republican circles. >> sorry, david. you wanted to butt in quickly? >> it is circthe circus. >> republicans are attacking the president fortune his to do list for congress. calling it a distraction from his economic record. i thought it is focusing on his economic record. i'm beginning to be very confused by this. >> they want you to be confused. the downer punch to what the president outlined. a veterans job program, working

on the front of mortgages. you're disus from all the things you can't done. well, congress isn't over am i feel this is one of those rebuttals that shows you how cynical washington is. not that the president needs a reminder but the notion, the very idea that you would legislate any of this is dead on arrival in washington because they don't actually believe that this congress would just set up in a two-year term should actually do its job for two years straight. >> when the president said you've got six months. let's use those six months. the congress simply ignores that will. >> david corn is a bigger washington insider than me. you can see that on the screen. >> those are fighting words. >> i think david and i would agree, if not on what i just that, down in washington people don't look at this as a time to govern at all. they literally feel governing is over and we'll wait no matter what happens in the country, we'll wait for this election. >> fantastic.

>> you had an example of that today. you have an example of that today with the student loan vote where there was a lot of grappling over the side issues and not necessarily focusing on how to get to the end point which is to keep interest rates stable lest they go up in july on a vulnerable population with the kids looking for work and saddled with this debt. and the republicans and democrats can't seem to get it together. particularly with the object stib answer of republicans not even allowing this to come up for a full vote. >> you must be telepathic. we're about to go to a piece of sound. the president addressed this very issue today. listen to this. >> one other thing they've got to do. before they do anything else, congress needs to keep student loans rates from doubling for students who are here and all across the country. >> so david, just this afternoon, democrats student lobe bill failed to pass. are we looking at another

showdown as you write about in your book? is that what is going to happen? >> it failed foos because as joe noted, republican obstinance. given that the house is controlled by republicans and the republicans are using the filibuster in the senate. there is not a lot of opportunity to do anything the way there was in the first two years. even during the lame duck session. so it has been a lot of posturing. to give the president some credit, he would like to sit down and he would be happy to compromise that dreaded word for republicans on many of these fronts. i think we'll keep seeing a fight over the student loan bill. like the pay roll tax cut bill which they eventually caved organization it is not good politics. the president is happy to go to schools in virginia, north carolina, and other swing states and have this fight over and over again in the next few months. >> to agree with this student loan issue but it is how we pay

for it. >> how we pay for it and it is this hostage taking that we've seen. the notion that we should every time we want to do anything as a government. reopen the broader 30 or 50-year budgetary question of how we deal with long term deficits and entitlement programs. i think the republicans, they have been rhetorically effective in getting a lot of people including a lot of the media to think this is a reasonable beginning point. when i worked in the senate, it was a while ago. in 2002 i don't remember every time we said we have to find money for students that we had to then reopen a big deficit discussion will. >> and joe, you were going to point up, i guess, the point about democrats which they've been saying they're not prepared to allow health care provision in the president's reform, moneys to be taken out for preventive health so students can have lower interest rates. >> that's part of the issue as well. if you extrapolate a little bit more, this fits into the broader narrative that the republicans are trying to write about responsibility for women's

health care. and the fact of women's reproductive health is an expendable issue. in one way it was a loss for students. it was a loss for democrats. in another way, it gives the president two very clear points. the first is the do nothing congress just did that. they did nothing. and the second is that the republicans did nothing by trying to raid the fund for women's preventive health care which is something we've seen time and time again during the gop presidential nomination race. >> and you're seeing the same fight going on with reconciliation bill when they were going to take money away from food stamps and other low income programs to get rid of those automatic defense cuts that they agreed to last year. so it is the same, joe is right. this is a big narrative forming. i think to the president's advantage. >> indeed. thanks so much. next, will the gop really cut funding for meals on wheels? we put to it a republican member in just a moment. stay with us. [ male announcer ] the inspiring story

of how a shipping giant can befriend a forest may seem like the stuff of fairy tales. but if you take away the faces on the trees... take away the pixie dust. take away the singing animals, and the storybook narrator... [ man ] you're left with more electric trucks. more recycled shipping materials... and a growing number of lower emissions planes... which still makes for a pretty enchanted tale. ♪ la la la [ man ] whoops, forgot one... [ male announcer ] sustainable solutions. fedex. solutions that matter. yeah, you -- you know, everything can cost upwards of...[ whistles ] i did not want to think about that. relax, relax, relax. look at me, look at me. three words, dad -- e-trade financial consultants. so i can just go talk to 'em? just walk right in and talk to 'em. dude, those guys are pros. they'll hook you up with a solid plan. they'll -- wa-- wa-- wait a minute. bobby? bobby! what are you doing, man? i'm speed dating! [ male announcer ] get investing advice for your family at e-trade.

and then treats day after day... who gets heartburndvice well, shoot, that's like checking on your burgers after they're burnt! [ male announcer ] treat your frequent heartburn by blocking e acid with prisec otc. and don't get heartburn in the firstlace! [ ma announcer ] one pill a y. 24 hos. zero hetburn.

on thursday the republican controlled house will propose another helping of austerity. this time in order to stave off a cut of $55 billion in defense spending. the republicans are set to pass a whole new menu of cuts targeting among others, school lunches for poor children and meal on wheels for the elderly. we thought it was interesting because one of the most important republicans on capitol hill, congressman joe barton, seem to be such a huge fan of meals on wheels. you can see him delivering food

as part of the program to some of his constituents. surely he wouldn't vote against the program, would he? >> he is going to vote against it. it is going to come as a huge package and he won't have to vote on the individual provision to end wheels on meals. and i can assure you, they will give him the talking points to justify this to his constituents. >> and joining us now from washington is representative joe barton, republican of texas. good afternoon, sir. >> how are you? >> we want to recognize your support for meals on wheels and your service to the community. but are you as representative gwen moore said on this broadcast yesterday, are you really going to vote with your colleagues in the house to cut food deliveries for the elderly, school lunch subsidies for 280,000 poor children, and vote for 300,000 poor children to lose their health insurance? are you going to vote for that? >> i am going to vote to honor our commitment that we made last

summer to begin to reduce the gigantic federal deficit which is last year over 1.5 trillion dollars. larger than the entire federal budget was when i first got elected and as a part of that, i will be voting for some reductions in program that are good programs that quite frankly, i actually support the underlying program. on the meals on wheels program, my family foundation, the joe barton family foundation made the major anchor grant to meal on wheels and ellis and johnson county to build a new kitchen. gave a six figure donation and helped raise another six figures. we're going to have a ground breaking on that kitchen sometime in the next six months, hopefully. my wife every week goes out and delivers meals on wheels as a volunteer in ennis, texas. and i don't deliver them every week. i do at least once or twice a year go out. and i go to numerous events with

the volunteers and the folks that run the meals on wheels program in my district. >> so, sir, just so i understand it, you're perfectly willing to deliver these meals and indeed your wife is gracious enough to do the same on a regular basis. but you will vote for these resources, this amount of money that is being given your vote to rescind that budget. you don't want that to continue. >> we have a national debt, as you well know, over $15 trillion. it is growing at the rate of over $1 trillion a year. we can't sustain that. there will be no money to fund any program -- >> i do understand. sir, i do understand your explanation. you've already rehearsed your view about the deficit. >> that's not a rehearsed explanation. that is an absolute fact. >> so just to be absolutely clear, you will be voting for meals on wheels to be cut for

the provision of subsidized school lunches. 280,000 children, for health care provision for 300,000 children. you will be voting for those to cease. >> we had a budget agreement last year that said -- >> is that yes or no, sir? >> part of that is through a sequestration. >> is it yes or no? >> in order to not have a sequestration, the budget committee and the leadership in the house is reported out a bill. moved some of the cuts from one part of the budget to the other and i'm going to support that. >> excellent. so you are -- >> so, sir -- >> to go down to zero. >> i do understand your point about the budget deficit. i just want to have a yes or no answer. you are going to vote for meals on wheels to be slashed for 280,000 children to lose their -- >> i'm not voting to slash meals on wheels. meals on wheels budget, only 8%

of the meals on wheels budget comes from federal sources. 92% of the meals on wheels budget comes from private contributions and volunteer support of the folks that run meals on wheels. so having a reduction to get the budget balanced -- >> why would you prefer to cut meals on wheels for the elderly, or school subsidies for meals for children, rather than raising a small amount of tax on the super rich who never, ever have to go hungry. why would you prefer to penalize the poor and the needy as opposed to asking the super rich to pay a small amount in taxes, given that they never have to go hungry. why would you prefer that? >> i don't want, as you categorize it, our poor to stay poor. i want them to get a good job, to get out of poverty. >> sir, we're about 80 and

90-year-old seniors who live at home and rely on the provision of meals on wheels. i'm not talking about 25-year-olds who have prospects for work. i'm about elderly people that we've seen you visiting who are not for jobs, sir. they're looking for a warm meal. and it appears to me that you would rather penalize that provision. >> the meals on wheels program with all due respect. and we'll go through that again. we have to have an economy that is growing, that creates jobs, that creates opportunity so that they're working people that can help the folks that you're trying to help and i'm trying to help. i know many of the people on meals on wheels in ennis, texas. i work with them as a young man when they were still in their careers. they are great people. they are adorable people. and through no fault of their own, they've gotten older and their families have passed away. they need a little help. the meals on wheels program helps but so do other various programs. and i want to keep the

government strong, the economy strong in order to do that, we've got to balance the budget. you know that. >> we're talking about avoiding the automatic cut of $55 billion which as you know -- >> we're trying to do. >> in the pentagon's budget. why not ask millionaires to pay a little more in tax? that would raise around $160 billion. even the buffett rule would raise $47 billion in ten years. that's almost 55. or how about ending massive subsidies to oil companies? and yet it seems to me, sir, you would prefer to slash meals on wheels -- >> no. you're the one using the term slash. i'm not slashing. no, sir, i'm not. >> that's what you're voting for. no. they get 8% of the budget. you're not slashing it. the net effect of this budget reduction may be 1%. maybe 1%. that is a reduction.

i'll accept that i am voting to reduce it. >> you will know that the u.s. conference of catholic bishops has expressed this very real criticism of this targeting of the poor. >> we're not targeting the poor. >> and refusing to raise taxes on the assumer rich sflx the whole point of the sequestration is across the board. >> sure. but you know, sir -- >> half in social, half in defense. >> that you know there is an absolute refusal to raise a congressmen in tax. >> when you raise taxes, you generate less revenue and less economic growth. that didn't happen -- we'll talk about that another time. i know that you're a long-time member of the methodist church. is that correct? >> that's a true statement. >> how do you square your approach to the words of same 146. he defends off fans and widows. isn't this the exact opposite of the cuts being proposed by

republicans in congress. >> the lord helps those that helps themselves. >> which scripture is that, sir? >> it was taught to me by my father who is a president of the united methodist school board in waco, texas, and in brian, texas. but in order to help people, you have to have something to help them with. to have something to help them with, you have to have people that can get jobs, keep jobs, progress and when you start raising taxes and borrowing money that you don't have, you put that burden on the future generations. you also put it on the, what are called the poor. >> indeed. and let's not forget putting the burden on the elderly who rely on meals on wheels. congressman joe barton, thank you so much for joining us today, sir. >> it's always fun. thank you. >> stay with us. the day's top lines are coming

up. >> education is our future because schools is this nation's back bone. >> he defends women's rights. >> every day i come in contact with women. do i sometimes fantasize about their undergarments? sure. do i go -- when i see them? no. [ female announcer ] did you know the average person smiles more than 50 times a day? so brighten your smile a healthy way with listerine® whitening plus restoring rinse. it's the only rinse that makes your teeth two shades whiter and two times stronger. ♪ listerine® whitening... power to your mouth. like a ramen noodle- every-night budget. she thought allstate car insurance was out of her reach. until she heard about the value plan. dollar for dollar, nobody protects you like allstate. ♪

power surge, let it blow your mind. [ male announcer ] for fruits, veggies and natural green tea energy... new v8 v-fusion plus energy. could've had a v8.

the calcium they take because they don't take it with food. switch to citracal maximum plus d. it's the only calcium supplement that can be taken with or without food. that's why my doctor recommends citracal maximum. it's all about absorption.

sven's home security gets the most rewards of any small business credit card! how does this thing work? oh, i like it! [ garth ] sven's small business earns double miles on every purchase, every day! woo-hoo!!! so that's ten security gators, right? put them on my spark card! why settle for less? testing hot tar... great businesses deserve the most rewards! [ male announcer ] the spark business card from capital one. choose unlimited rewards with double miles or 2% cash back on every purchase, every day! what's in your wallet? here's your invoice. from treason and taxes to same sex marriage. and rick santorum, here are today's top lines. be a man. >> we have a president that is operating outside of our constitution. i do agree he should be tried for treason. >> this country has to continue to be vigilant. >> these terrorists keep trying to find more terrible ways to kill. >> this terrible device and the

bomb here's would use it are no longer a threat. >> i don't correct all the questions that get asked of me. >> mitt romney versus jimmy carter. comparing military resumes. >> jimmy carter graduated near the top of his class in annapolis. mitt romney owns a yacht and a sailor hat. >> you took over $1.5 million in foreign tax credits in ten years. >> i look at it. >> he is just not authentic. >> the company is back on their feet so i'll take a lot of credit. >> people aren't buying what he's selling. >> he opposes bans on gay marriage but doesn't support gay marriage. >> vice president joe biden said the sitcom will and grace made the public more comfortable with gay people. and urkel made america more comfortable with obama if tolerance to gays and lesbians, that means there's left the tolerance left over for straight

people. >> richard lugar, the projected new -- >> we all respect his service. we've come to realize it is time for different outlook. >> trying to do the very best job that anyone has ever con. >> this endorsement finally got around to e-mail last night and in paragraph 13, he said i endorse mitt romney. >> under cover of darkness. be a man and say i can't endorse him or come out and endorse somebody. >> let's get right to our he is steamed panel. dana mill bank is a political columnist with the "washington post." if i can begin with you, as if hoping nobody would notice rick santorum buried his endorsement of mitt romney in the 13th paragraph of an e-mail just before midnight. is this the most reluctant endorsement in the history of politics? >> as a woman, if that was a love letter from my lover, i would call it a kiss through

glass. bullet proof glass. and while i'm sleeping, thank you very much. i think it is a very weak endorsement. probably coerced by people who know and love their party more than they do the individual. but i wouldn't hold in it high esteem if i was mitt romney and obviously know there are troubling waters within the party and don't drink your celebration cup just yet. >> who can forget this classic from santorum in the heat of the gop primary? listen to this. >> why would we put somebody up who is unique ily, pick any other republican in the country. he is the worst republican, in the country, to put up against barack obama. >> between remarks like those and his almost invisible endorsement, what are the chances that mitt romney will even invite rick santorum to the convention, no less give him a speaking slot. >> i think the "washington post" or msnbc could have him in there as a camdommentator or somethin.

he'll find his way in there. let's give rick santorum a little credit here. at least what we see now is what he was saying on the campaign trail was real. he is not going to turn around and say it's terrific. let's all rally behind romney. and gingrich has done much the same thing when he was pulling out. he said it's not like it is ronald reagan against barack obama. so this is, he's saying he is reluctant very clearly, by the way he's doing this. and he is reluctant. this is a hold your nose and do what you've got to do to be loyal to the party endorsement. >> if that's the reaction of leading contenders for the nomination, what does that say about the base of the party itself? >> this is why you have romney continuing to go out there. you have somebody at his event calling the president of the united states a traitor, saying he should be tried for treason

and romney won't actually say no, ma'am, that's not how we do things in the united states of america. he is clearly still worried about rallying that base even though the nomination is his. and it is very clear that he is not motivating his base to the numbers that he will need. >> today's republican primary in indiana may well mark the end of senator dick lugar's 36th year career in the senate. the latest poll shows him trailing tea party candidate richard mourdock by ten points. conservatives are saying that mourdock victory would be a huge boost for the tea party general in the senate. so i guess we have to assume that reports of the death of the tea party were premature. is that right? >> absolutely. in fact mourdock called it a new grassroots organization. moving forward with 1,400 volunteers, going around the country. around indiana trying to stir up this opposition against lugar. it is kind of odd that your own party, lugar, will put a lugar

to your head to try to destroy you when you've tried to be what? you try to aim high for patriotism, trying to do treaties with president obama, called his favorite son because he wants to secure nuclear weapons, the proliferations of devices. >> you know that according to republicans, having anything to do with this president is treason in itself. >> in your column, you say indiana republicans will be choosing between party and country in this primary. what do you mean? >> i think it is very much just identified. saying how dare? they cut off they say what he was working with democrats. on he was working with democrat on keeping nuclear weapons from the former soviet union from proliferati proliferating. he was to keep a major american city from being blown up by terrorists with a nuclear

weapon. if we now have a guy coming into the united states senate saying we shouldn't work with the other party even if it is to keep americans safe from terrorists, i think we've really gone too far here. >> i think tragically we have. >> thank you so much. >> thank you. next, a new website that makes it easier to report illegal aliens in your neighborhood. yes, that's big brother hiding hip the curtain. stay with us. [ dad ] i'm usually checking up on my kids, but last year my daughter was checking up on me. i wasn't eating well. she's a dietitian, and she suggests that i try boost complete nutritional drink to help get the nutrition i was missing. now i drink it every day and i love the great taste. [ female announcer ] boost has 26 essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium and vitamin d to help keep bones strong and 10 grams of protein to help maintain muscle. and our great taste is guaranteed or your money back. learn more at boost.com. [ dad ] i choose great taste. i choose boost.

how long since you worried about flakes? since before jeans were this skinny. not since us three got a haircut. ♪ not since my first twenty-ninth birthday. [ female announcer ] head & shoulders. clinically proven to improve scalp health. with seven benefits, there's no worries from flakes, itch or breakage. i haven't worried about flakes since my grunge days. remember them? trying not to. [ female announcer ] head & shoulders. scalp and hair beyond compare. great! tyler here will show you everything. check out our new mobile app. now you can use your phone to scan your car's vin or take a picture of your license. it's an easy way to start a quote. watch this -- flo, can i see your license? no. well, all right. thanks. okay, here we go. whoa! no one said "cheese." progressive mobile -- insurance has never been easier.

get a free quote today. let's see what you got. rv -- covered. why would you pay for a hotel? i never do. motorcycles -- check. atv. i ride those. do you? no. boat. house. hello, dear. hello. hello. oh! check it -- [ loud r&b on car radio ] i'm going on break! the more you bundle, the more you save. now, that's progressive.

this is one of the all-time classics. i love this book. where the wild things are. when he came to the place where the wild things are, they roared their terrible roars. and they gnashed their terrible teeth. >> that was the president just a month ago at the white house

easter egg roll reading from the child's classic, "where the wild things are." one of more than 80 tilgts written by maurice sendack who passed away. born in brooklyn and inspired in part by his own sickly childhood and by the horrors of the holocaust, sendak redefine the genre of children's literature writing with childhood emotions. some would describe as too dark but his supporters far outweighed his detrackers and over some six decades, he would enchant millions, young and old including myself. and collect nearly every prize one could aspire to. in 1993 said the body gets old but the creative mechanism is refreshed, smoothed and oiled and honed. we are grateful for that creativity and imagination. may his voyage forward be met with, not with wild things but

with peace and light. maurice sendak was 83 years old. capri sun has 25% less sugar than leading regular juice drinks. because less sugar is a better way to fly. ♪ just not literally. capri sun. respect what's in the pouch. we love theme parks but with four kids, it can just be too expensive. yeah, so to ve money we just made our own. oh no!hat could be worse than ninety-foot swells?!

typhoon! first prize! it's a chee grater. wooooo... thissn't sry. are you kidding me? the's an easier way to save. mom's hair fm th'8. wooohooo... geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen rcent or more on car insurance. ♪ you make me happy when skies are gray ♪ [ female announcer ] you know exactly what it takes to make them feel better. ♪ you make me happy [ female announcer ] that's why you choose children's tylenol. the same brand your mom trusted for you when you were young. ♪ how much i love you [ humming ] [ female announcer ] children's tylenol, the #1 brand of pain and fever relief recommended by pediatricians and used by moms decade after decade. [ humming ] and used by moms decade after decade. you do a lot of no.aking? look i'm going through the rapids. okay... i'll take it. sync your card with facebook,

foursquare and twitter for savings. that's the membership effect of american express. ♪ why do you whisper, green grass? ♪ [ all ] shh! ♪ why tell the trees what ain't so? ♪ [ male announcer ] dow solutions use vibration reduction technology to help reduce track noise so trains move quieter through urban areas all over the world. together, the elements of science

and the human element can solve anything. [ all ] shh! [ male announcer ] solutionism. the new optimism. under the current president, the number of border patrol agents has doubled while the apprehension of those crossing into this country illegally has dropped to a 40-year low. still, it hasn't stopped one new website from encouraging average citizens to spy on their neighbors and report anyone they suspect may be in the country illegally. it's got some lawmakers very upset. one of those is congressman joe crowley, democrat from new york. >> good afternoon. great to be back with you. >> you on twitter called this new website another example of turning immigrants into scapegoats and compared to it vigilante justice. you yourself are work o'a letter to the justice department on this issue. what will you be saying to them? >> we'll be asking the justice department to advise to us whether or not this violates any

federal laws. what it is really using is modern technology for a modern possie to go after suspected illegal aliens. and this website is known as illegal aliens report.com. and what it does is it has anonymous people writing in anonymously with pictures and addresses and actually, of personal information like social security numbers, addresses, et cetera. supposedly reporting suspected illegal aliens. and i think it crosses the line. >> we were not going on mention the website's title and name because we didn't want to encourage traffic. but house subcommittee today held a hearing on a new strategy unveiled by the border patrol. it moves the priority from simply building fences to using intelligence to determine why some try repeatedly to cross the border. is this the best way forward for immigration reform?

>> i do think that really it is just reallocating resources we've given them. to do it in a smarter way and i think that there is no question that our legal system of immigration is broken. and the integrity of our borders is important. we need to know who is in this country and what their purpose is. why they are here. but really what it is really calling for is for an overhaul of our legal immigration system. the one we have now is broken. it needs to be fixed and we in washington need to work on this. i think this website is an offshoot of the disgruntledness of our inability to get something done in washington. it doesn't mean we should not try to fix the problem and i think this website itself could actually exacerbate the problem. >> indeed. in a pew poll from april president obama leads barack obama by 40%. obama was at a fund-raiser in

palm beach when he was overheard saying these numbers spell doom for us if we can't turn them around. today the rnc's hispanic outreach director said romney is still deciding what his position is on immigration and i guess he'll change it once he's decided. he has already said he would veto the dream act. he has endorsed the show us your papers law and has proposed self-deportation for those who are undocumented. i mean, is this just another moment of confusion and etch a sketch for this man? >> i think what it comes down to is which mitt romney are we talking about? the one enquagd in the primary or the one that will shift and engage in a general election knowing that he has to shift his positions from the radical fundamental positions he has taken in the primary. there is no doubt that mitt romney will once again find himself with the etch a sketch, rehimself. because he has no vision. he does what he thinks will be the best positioning for him to get elected and that's it. i don't think he has much

principle at all when it comes to this issue. >> congressman joe crowley from new york. thank you for going after that website and i'm sure all of us appreciate that. thank you. stay with us. today, we stand against the tyranny of single mile credit cards. battle speech right? may i? [ horse neighs ] for too long, people have settled for single miles. with the capital one venture card, you'll earn double miles on every purchase, every day! [ visigoths cheer ] hawaii, here we come. [ alec ] so sign up today for a venture card at capitalone.com. and start earning double. [ all ] double miles! [ brays ] what's in your wallet? can you play games on that? not on the runway. no. perfect golden color. rich in fiber. my dad taught me, and i taught my son out there. morning, pa. wait... who's driving the...?

♪ 99 bushels of wheat on the farm, 99 bushels of wheat ♪ [ male announcer ] yep, there's 8 filling layers of whole grain fiber in those fun little biscuits... so they stick with you, all morning long. kellogg's® mini-wheats cereal. [ mini ] yee haw! a big breakfast in a little biscuit. [ roger ] tell me you 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.

♪ [ lauer ] this is our team. and unlike other countries, it's built by your donations,

not government funding. and now, to support our athletes, you can donate a stitch in america's flag for the 2012 olympic games in london. help raise our flag, add your stitch at teamusa.org. in the field of medicine, having a check list in the operation room makes surgery 30% safer. today during a speech on jobs in albany, new york. the president took a page from the menu, giving a checklist to congress to improve the health of the united states economy. >> it's about the size of a post-it note so every member of congress should have a chance to read it. >> kristen welker is live with the president. he said this is a make or break moment for the middle class.

how could his checklist help move things forward, do you think? >> well, martin, good afternoon. the official line from the white house is that they're hoping this czehecklist which includes things like providing tax incentives for companies to bring jobs back to america should provide relief for homeowners as well as veterans looking for work, the official line is they're hoping the constituents will hear the president speak or put pressure on members of congress to actually take action on some of these proposals. the reality, of course, martin, is that a lot of these proposals have been put on the table and they've really stagnated in congress, so it's hard to see that they're going to gain a lot of traction, especially now that we're six months out from election day. there is, however, a fair amount of political capital and potential political points to be gained. as you know, the president has been hammering congress for some time now as a do-nothing congress.

he's started to loop mitt romney in this, that romney will just rubber-stamp things the republicans go for. they've put their own things on the table. so in terms of actually getting this legislation passed, it's hard to see it will have a real impact. however, there is some potential political gain here. martin? >> in addition, kristen, the president also talked about the student loan crisis. the rates, as you and i know, are set to double on july 1st. the president made a statement a time ago about senate republicans blocking the bill. what was said? >> well, the white house really honing in on the fact that if this legislation isn't passed by july 1st that 7 million students will see their student loan rates double. so putting the pressure on that way, and hammering republicans for basically want to go taing the funding out of preventative

care. we have republicans agreeing they don't want to see student loan rates increase. however, the fight is the traditional fight, martin, over how to get it done. republicans want to take the money out of preventative care, democrats saying they want to roll back tax incentives. this is a chance for president obama to reach out to key c constituencie constituencies, and that is young voters. he wants them to turn out in force again this year, and this is certainly a winning topic for him. mart martin? >> in the morning you're with the prince, in the afternoon you're with the president. thanks, kristen. >> thank you. >> we'll be right back to clear the air. ♪ [ acoustic guitar: slow ] [ sighs ] [ announcer ] all work and no play... will make brady miss his favorite part of the day.

♪ [ upbeat ] [ barking ] [ whines ] that's why there's beneful playful life, made with energy-packed wholesome grains... and real beef and egg. to help you put more play in your day. beneful. play. it's good for you. in absolute perfect physical condition and i had a heart attack right out of the clear blue... he was just... "get me an aspirin"... yeah... i knew that i was doing the right thing, when i gave him the bayer. i'm on an aspirin regimen... and i take bayer chewables. [ male announcer ] aspirin is not appropriate for everyone so be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. so he's a success story... [ laughs ] he's my success story. [ male announcer ] learn how to protect your heart at i am proheart on facebook.

and i thought "i can't do this, it's just too hard." then there was a moment. when i decided to find a way to keep going. go for olympic gold and go to college too. [ male announcer ] every day we help students earn their bachelor's or master's degree for tomorrow's careers. this is your moment. let nothing stand in your way. devry university, proud to support the education of our u.s. olympic team. hi, i just switched jobs, and i want to roll over my old 401(k) into a fidelity ira. man: okay, no problem. it's easy to get started; i can help you with the paperwork.

um...this green line just appeared on my floor. yeah, that's fidelity helping you reach your financial goals. could you hold on a second? it's your money. roll over your old 401(k) into a fidelity ira and take control of your personal economy. this is going to be helpful. call or come in today. fidelity investments. turn here. today is gonna be an 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. time now to clear the air.

many political commentators have described mitt romney as being a man without convictions. suggestible, always willing to hear what will further his ambitions before hearing his policies. he's got himself in somewhat of a bind. what is clearly pure judgment, romney has failed to hide his sing gular success. he talks most often about something he did badly but won't mention the one thing he did well. you see, no matter where he goes, he repeatedly sells himself as the man with the most experience and expertise on the economy. >> i've lived in the real economy. for 25 years, i spent my life in business. i only spent four years as a governor, and i joke that i didn't inhale. i'm still a business guy, all right? i know how to lead us out of

this stagnant obama economy and into a job creating recovery. >> now, this is interesting when one kexamines his performance a governor of massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. the state went from 37th in terms of job creation to 47th in the nation. in fact, massachusetts was only just ahead of michigan and ohio which had been decimated by the collapse of manufacturing, and louisiana, which had been devastated by hurricane katrina. and for a man who claims to know all about job creation and preparing people for work, he did profound damage to education and training. student fees across the board shot up by 63% after romney instituted statewide cuts of 14% in higher education. yet, despite these facts, he's chosen to promote himself as the man who knows all about job creation and the economy. but when it comes to his real

success in massachusetts, his reform of health care, he never mentioned it. and if he does, he's a cutely embarrassed and quickly attacks the president's reform even though he knows that the president based the affordable care act almost exactly on the massachusetts model. and how is that working out in practice? first, the number of uninsured went down from 13% to less than 6%. second, the cost has also gone down with a number of people reporting they spent 10% of their family income on health care, falling from $9.6% to 6.1. third, 60% say they're happy with the affordable health care reform. but the one man who is not happy submit romney himself. we must add a third condition to

mitt romney. he's not only a conditionist, he's also a contortionist. now it's time for dylan ratigan. >> thank you, martin. it's a pleasure. all right. i'm dylan ratigan. today's big story, all a loan. millions of college students finding themselves without a legitimate voice in a national debate. washington and congress playing election year theatre pro-wrestling politics with the financial rates of federal loans that are intended to be made available to the lowest income individuals in our country. the senate plans to