of course, president obama reiterating his stance. he's not going to negotiate on that point, and, of course, just around the corner, the debt ceiling debate. if the nation defaults, if we have a shutdown, these twin fiscal problems would be hugely catastrophic. so president obama coming out this afternoon with those headlines. back to you. >> all right. thank you, kristen welker. let's toss it to martin bashir at a moment when the president is rejecting what he says as potential changes to the constitutional structure of this country. martin bashir, i'm sure you're going to have a lot to say about that. >> thank you,tory. good afternoon. friday, september the 27th and the president has just delivered a stern message to the speaker. this political grandstanding has real effects on real americans. ♪ the affordable care act is here. >> obamacare is the law. >> they have tried to put up every conceivable roadblock.

>> they are more than happy to see the government shut down. >> if you had had a state representative say that affordable health care is worse than the law that let's slave owners get their hundred republican away slaves back. >> of course there are death panels in there. >> i'm quoting here. we have to repeal this failure before it literally -- >> kills women, kills children. >> ended up with mom and dad fighting. >> i don't think ever have we had a 21-hour filibuster. >> you put five red necks on a mower. >> and then the person voted for the issue they were filibustering. >> radicals in the house and senate. >> the '80s called and they want their health policy back. >> i don't know that they even know. >> i'm sorry, but is it just doesn't work that way. >> all of this would be funny if it wasn't so crazy. ♪ the chills that you spill on my back can be filled with satisfaction when we're done ♪ ♪ satisfaction on what's to come ♪ ♪ i couldn't ask for another good afternoon, the

countdown is on and we are teeing up for the thrill-seeking risk-taking weekend. the operation of the government rests on their necks move. and what do you think they're going to do first? well, with just four days to a possible shutdown, the democratic-controlled senate this afternoon passed a bill to fund the government through november the 15th. and leave the president's health care law intact. that leaves the ball squarely in speaker boehner's court and the president had a clear message for his top republican rival, just seconds ago. >> the house republicans are so concerned with appeasing the tea party, they have threatened a government shutdown, or worse, unless i gut or repeal the affordable care act. i said this yesterday. let me repeat it. that's not going to happen. >> house leaders have called a meeting saturday at noon to discuss a way forward out of the chaos they have created on the continuing resolution. but first, with the ability to

avert economic havoc squarely in their hands, guess what's on tonight's schedule? a trip to the movies, of course. majority whip kevin mccarthy is inviting lawmakers for a field trip tonight, to see the thri thriller prisoners at a local theater. the film may seem a little odd, but listen to go majority leader harry reid today, it makes perfect sense. >> they have taken the united states government hostage and demanded an impossible ransom. the democrats repeal the law of this land known as obamacare. together we'll send a message to radical republicans that we will not allow the law of the land to be used as a hostage. >> senator reed called today's vote, quote, the first step in resting control from the extremists. of course, mr. cruise control himself doesn't want to let that happen. lord, no. >> when the house stands up and does the right thing, i think it will present a terrific

opportunity for every senate republican to stand arm in arm with the house republicans. and then critically, i think it will also present an opportunity for senate democrats. senate democrats this time around didn't listen to the american people. >> and i suspect my next guest may have something to say about that. joining us is democratic senator barbara boxer of california. she joins us live. good afternoon, ma'am. >> hello, martin. >> you've just heard the president. he used analogies, like threatening to burn down the world economy. threatening to burn the house down of america. he said that this is not a concession to me. it's not doing me a favor, speaking of this absurd idea to hold the nation's credit -- debt ceiling, as it were, hostage to their proposal to defund the affordable care act. and so what was your reaction to the president? >> listen. when the president uses those kind of words, you know that he

really believes this is very, very serious. this is a man who has reached out from day one to the republicans, and he's been rebuffed. and, you know, you get to the point where we have two major responsibilities here. forget about, you know, passing new laws and new programs. we have to keep the government going. we have to make sure this government of the greatest nation on earth keeps going. we have to make sure the second thing is, to pay our bills. and these new -- this new breed of the republican party -- it's not the grand old party that i knew. this formerly grand old party is playing games, dangerous games with america. and i do want to say that if speaker boehner were to take the bill that passed the united states senate today, which is a clean, continuing resolution and continues government, steers clear of any type of controversy, if he would put it on the floor, and if he did what tip o'neill used to do, which is

count to 218 and pass it, he would get the votes. he is instead acting like he's just speaker of the republicans, not speaker of the house. >> so what do you say to senator ted cruz, who picks up his salary of 200,000 odd dollars a year, but is very happy to see members of the army, members of the navy, members of the air force, federal employees, he's happy to see their paychecks be delayed and threatened. and yet he is happy to grandstand for 21 hours in the way that he did over the last two days. >> martin, i took to the floor today, and i actually did address my colleague, senator cruz. and i asked, why doesn't he come on my bill, s-55, which would stop us from getting our pay if there's a shutdown or a default? so i said, you stood for 21 hours inflicting -- ready to inflict pain on social security recipients, medicare recipients, all of our communities who won't

have the benefit of the full -- the full group of fbi agents that we need in this dangerous world and so on and so forth, members of the military. and i asked rhetorically for him to call me and get on my bill. i hope he will. but that's just onel and example. but seriously, if you look at the affordable care act, which they call obamacare, you can call it whatever you want. for me, it's the most important reform since medicare. and you see what it's already doing. 3 million young people on their parents' policies. kids with preexisting conditions like asthma finally being able to get coverage so they don't have to be rushed to the emergency room. and refunds. and immunizations that are free and check-ups. and the closing of that infamous doughnut hole on medicaid recipients. these are already reforms that are in place today, and they want to take it away from people. >> but senator, what is

driving -- when you put those facts to us, what is driving this opposition? because this is a law that was voted through, both houses, that was affirmed by the supreme court. that the president who led this law on was re-elected, just in november. and yet they choose to oppose this at every possible way they can. what is behind this? because it doesn't seem to me as though this is anything other than a personal attack on this particular president. and it seems to me that he understands it in exactly the same way. why else would he say just now, this is not a concession to me. it's not a favor to me. he recognizes that their animus and their hatred for this reform is actually trumped by their hatred for him as an individual. >> well, martin, i think there is no question about it, that there is an animosity here that

i've never, never, never seen. and a lack of acceptance of this election. which was so clear. and it was a very big victory for the president. they won't accept it. so in many ways, they are really not accepting democracy. 42 times they voted to repeal obamacare. it's not going to happen. but then i think, martin, it's also worth looking back in history at what republicans said about medicare. and even more -- and when it went into effect in the '60s and even as late as the '90s how they feel about health care reform, newt gingrich, medicare will wither on the vine. and bob dole bragging that he said medicare would be terrible. and if you go back to social security in the '30s, what happened and was stated then, and the move by george w. bush to privatize it and paul ryan and so on. so i think it's two things. i definitely think you're right. they will not accept the results

of this election. they want to hurt this president, which is -- it's just unbelievable, after this president has taken us out of the worst recession since the great depression, and now leading us toward a more peaceful world. i mean, it just -- i think when history is written, it's too soon to know. he will be viewed very, very favorably. but they also -- they also don't like these benefits, and they historically fought against them. >> of course. to that point you just made, senator, the president talked in his phone call about the phone call with the iranian president -- president. he said the two discussed ongoing efforts to reach an agreement over iran's nuclear program. he even mentioned that the ayatollah has issued a fatuwa against the development of any kind of nuclear weapon. it seems remarkable that the president of the united states should report such a significant

breakthrough. the most important in relations between this country and iran since 1979, and then what does he have to do but pick up the shambles, the chaos, the havoc, that's being wrought by republicans. this ought to be a day when we are reflecting on some major improvements. you know, these -- of course we treat all of this with a certain level of trepidation. but we ought to be celebrating this. we oughtant be sitting here talking about closing the naths down on tuesday. really? >> that's a self inflicted wound that the republicans appear ready to do. i do want to say to you that there were a group of republicans in the senate who did help us get to the place that we are now. and i want to thank them publicly. i did honor the floor, as well. we have a group of grown-ups in the senate who helped us get that clean, continuing resolution through. but when you look at the house, it is chaos. it is anarchy. it's very dangerous. and as nancy pelosi said,

they're playing with fire over there. and yes, we have an amazing breakthrough. of course, we have to be very, very careful when it comes to iran and what they say. what matters is, what they do. but definitely, this is a moment of major import in the world today, as well as what's happening with the syria weapons and the u.n. resolution. i sit on the foreign relations committee. listen, i voted to say, be tough with the syrians unless they did this so i feel really good about it. and you're absolutely right. what should be a day where we are sitting back and saying maybe, please, we are getting to a better place in world peace that we have to worry about these. if i could just say pretty immatu immature folks over there taking their teddy bear and blankie and saying if i don't get my way i'll just bring the government down. and, by the way, i'll get my pay as i -- as i do this to the people. >> of course. >> it's awful.

>> senator barbara boxer, thank you so much for joining us on this important afternoon. thank you. >> thanks. we're going to take a quick break, but much more on the president's remarks coming up. stay with us. so ally bank really has no hidden fees on savings accounts? no hidden fees. it's just that i'm worried about you know "hidden things." ok, why's that? well uhhh... hey daddy, what's your job? daddy's a uhh florist. are you really a florist? dad, why are there shovels in the trunk? there's no shovels in my trunk. i see shovels... you don't see no shovels. just am. well, it's true. at ally there are no hidden fees. not one. that's nice. no hidden fees, no worries. ally bank. your money needs an ally. bjorn earns unlimited rewards for his small business. take these bags to room 12 please. [ garth ] bjorn's small business earns double miles on every purchase every day. produce delivery. [ bjorn ] just put it on my spark card.

[ garth ] why settle for less? ahh, oh! [ garth ] great businesses deserve unlimited rewards. here's your wake up call. [ male announcer ] get the spark business card from capital one and earn unlimited rewards. choose double miles or 2% cash back on every purchase every day. what's in your wallet? [ crows ] now where's the snooze button? [ crows ] life could be hectic. as a working mom of two young boys angie's list saves me a lot of time. after reading all the reviews i know i'm making the right choice. online or on the phone, we help you hire right the first time.

with honest reviews on over 720 local services. keeping up with these two is more than a full time job, and i don't have time for unreliable companies. angie's list definitely saves me time and money. for over 18 years we've helped people take care of the things that matter most. join today.

we're not going to do this under the threat of blowing up the entire economy. i will not negotiate over congress's responsibility to pay the bills that have already been racked up. voting for the treasury to pay america's bills is not a concession to me. >> that was the president moments ago, urging congress to act more responsibly in the name

of their constituents. let's get right to our panel. joining us from washington is msnbc political analyst, professor michael eric dyson. and msnbc contributor, jared bernste bernstein, who is, of course, from the center on budget and policy priorities. and former adviser to the vice president. jared, if i might begin with you, did it not strike you that when the president was speaking, it was obvious that he had learned a hard lesson from 2011 when he involved himself in a negotiation with speaker boehner that went nowhere, and when republicans caused the credit rating of this nation to be downgraded, the aggression in his voice today seemed to me to suggest that he has had it. that these kind of discussions are so self-injurious to the american economy, he's not even prepared to have a conversation about it anymore. >> yes, i heard that as well. and i thought it was extremely important. because if the president or any president were to negotiate with republicans or, for that matter,

i thought the president made a good example when he turn it around the other way. you could be negotiating with a future group of renegade democrats. if you engage in that type of negotiation, you are essentially training the congress to create these hostage situations every chance they get. and because of the way the debt ceiling and the budget works out, as you see, they get a lot of chances. you can argue that the president made a mistake by beginning that training back in 2011. and i think there's an argument there. but then at least they were on a similar page. they both wanted to do something about the budget deficit. now, of course, with the focus on gutting the law of the land, obamacare, it's very different. but it is essential that the president sticks to his words today. and i'm sure he will, by the way. i believe his spine is extremely stiffened on this and not negotiate with these folks on these issues. >> i think i agree. professor die son, with you might think this is a democrat

versus republican fight. but actually, this is a grand old parade of disfunction, of basic chaos within the republican party, isn't it? >> no question about it. and think about it, martin. look at the context and the backdrop. the president today announces he speaks to one of the heads of iran. that we have not spoken to in some 27-odd years, and yet he can't negotiate in fair -- in good faith with the leader of the opposing party within america. who is the real terrorist here? the refusal to negotiate with terrorists is a good stand for the president. i mean, a retore california terrorist, manipulating the interests of their own party against the greater interests of the commonwealth here. so the president has to have a stiffened spine, as mr. bernstein has indicated. and also, he's got to understand that the people of the united states of america are squarely behind him, and the republicans are self emulating, self destructing before our eyes in

their refusal to even acknowledge that is a sign of not only dysfunction, but a kind of political pathology that is diply rooted. >> and to professor dieson's point, jared, republicans have spent the past two years crying about the deficit. you know about the deficit better than anybody. the president said, the deficit has been going down faster than in any point in 60 years. but we know the deficit is no longer an issue for republicans. the deficit is what happens on tuesday when people can get affordable health care. >> look, the deficit is falling actually too quickly, from my perspective. that is, the fact that the fiscal policy is kind of a headwind against the underlying economy right now is one of the reasons the recovery is weaker than it should be. that said, of course the president is absolutely correct and the republicans well know that they don't have that issue front and center as they did. so what have they done?

they have lit out against obamacare. and, by the way, i think the whole attack on obamacare is, in part, an ideological attack on government. but it's also just a decision they made. and when i say "they," i'm not necessarily talking about the moderate republicans, which still exist. there were 25 who voted for cloture in the senate today. i'm talking about a small group of a democrat -- an increasingly demographically underrepresented minority. which is the 80 members of the tea party that are essentially behind all of this. and because of the fear of being primaried, all of the moderate republicans are going along with them, including thus far john boehner. >> indeed. i'm so sorry we don't have more time. but we had to cede to the president and i think both of you would agree, even given your significance, we had to it take his words first. thank you. >> he has been interrupting me for a long time, the president. i'm very sympathetic to that.

thank you, gentlemen. we heard from barbara boxer. when we come back, we'll turn to the other side of the aisle with a republican congressman from texas. stay with us. ♪ [ male announcer ] now, taking care of things at home is just a tap away. ♪ introducing at&t digital life... ♪ ...personalized home security and automation... [ lock clicks ] ...that lets you be closer to home. that's so cool. [ male announcer ] get $100 in instant savings when you order digital life smart security. limited availability in select markets. ♪

then you'll love lactose-free lactaid® it's 100% real milk that's easy to digest so you can fully enjoy the dairy you love. lactaid®. for 25 years, easy to digest. easy to love.

thank you. thank you. i got this. oh, no, i'll get it! let me get it. uh-uh-uh. i don't want you to pay for this. it's not happening, honey. let her get it. she got her safe driving bonus check from allstate last week. and it's her treat. what about a tip? oh, here's one... get an allstate agent. nice! [ female announcer ] switch today and get two safe driving bonus checks a year for driving safely. only from allstate. call 866-905-6500 now. here we go! hold on man. is that a leak up there? that's a drip. whoo. okay. aah. now that's a leak. that is a leak! and if you don't have allstate renters insurance... game over. [ female announcer ] protect your valuables from things like water damage for as low as $4 a month when you add renters insurance to your allstate auto policy. call 866-905-6500 now. plus, drivers who switched saved an average of $498 a year. just a few more ways allstate is changing car insurance for good. [ female announcer ] call an allstate agent and get a quote now.

diarrhea, gas, bloating? yes! one phillips' colon health probiotic cap each day helps defend against these digestive issues... with three strains of good bacteria. [ phillips' lady ] live the regular life. phillips'. just moments ago, the president had stern words for those house republicans who think their hostage tactics over funding the government will work. >> do not threaten to burn the house down simply because you haven't gotten 100% of your way. that's not how our democracy is supposed to work. >> and joining us now is a firm opponent of the affordable care act, republican congressman, micha michael burgess of texas. good afternoon, sir. >> good afternoon to you, sir. >> i understand you don't like the law, but this is a law that has been voted on by congress, affirmed by the supreme court, led by a president who was last time i looked, re-elected in

november. are you happy to burn down the country for the sake of a commitment to defunding or repealing the affordable care act? >> well, martin, truth is, i actually have a different perspective. in fact, i agree with senator baucus, who said this thing could be a train wreck. now, look, if i see a train wreck coming down the track, why wouldn't i do everything i possibly could to prevent that wreck from happening? >> so you would -- so are you saying, sir, you believe we should refuse to fund the government, that you pick up your paycheck, but soldiers in afghanistan don't. that you pick up your paycheck and federal employees serving this nation throughout the country -- >> sir -- the united states house of representatives a week ago passed a bill to fund every aspect of the federal government well into the month of december, but did not put anymore money toward what appears to be a failing proposition in the affordable care act. that was a responsible -- i think that was a responsible bill. i wish that senator reid had

paid more attention to it. now they have countered today -- i don't know why it took them a week to come up with a counter, but they countered today. i'll be at my desk tomorrow working. the rules committee will meet to consider a rule for their appropriations for the next fiscal year saturday or sunday. i fail to see how the senate's not accepting of the house's position is somehow more honorable than the house not accepting the senate's position. it is our obligation to work these things back and forth. after all, that's why we're all duly elected. >> yeah, that's true. but you know, sir, that if truth be told, if nothing is resolved, then the government shuts down next week. now, i know that the republican house has wanted to attach a christmas list of about 40 other things to any kind of it continuing resolution. and -- >> that's actually not true. that was -- there is a debt

limit discussion that went on yesterday that was probably more resembled what you're discussing. >> yes, indeed. >> but what is front of us now is the appropriations lapse that would occur at midnight on september 30th. and, look, i don't disagree everybody knew this was coming. i have been arguing for some time, that look, we know what's just around the corner. the end of the fiscal year happens, the next day the exchanges are supposed to open up in the affordable care act. people refuse to answer questions, even the most basic questions about what this thing will look like on october 1st. the american people get that. you don't throw good money after bad. that's what people in my district are telling me. i feel the same way. i am not add ots with the people in north texas. >> i understand, sir, what you're saying. but would it not be more appropriate, given the legislative success and the supreme court's affirmation of the law, and the fact that this president was lengelected twice would it not be more sensible to

at least allow the act to have its way, to take place, to allow the american people to taste and see if the law is good or bad? and that point, the evidence will -- i don't know why you're laughing, sir. but the -- >> well -- >> the implication from someone like your colleague, michele bachmann, is that this law is literally killing people. >> i'm trying to answer your question, martin. there is a school of thought that says, yeah, this is so bad it's going collapse under its weight. let the cookie crumble and let the democrats own the whole thing. the problem is, i see a train wreck coming. i believe i am obligated to try to prevent that train wreck from happening, or at least minimize the damage to the people surrounding it. now, you are correct to point out the things you've said. but remember, back in 1988, dan ross ten could you ski, chairman of the ways and means committee here in the united states house of representatives passed what he called a catastrophic care bill. he was very proud of that bill. he went home and his people revolted. they stormed him out of a town hall meeting. he came back to washington the

next session of congress, that january, and repealed his own bill. now, president reagan had signed the first one, president bush signed the repeal, because there was a change in presidency along the way. but it's exactly the situation you're describing. >> sir -- you sound to me as though you're describing your friend senator ted cruz. and the fer agoo we have just seen there. >> there's no relationship between this and ted cruz. there are plenty of people who do feel this thing is so bad, get out of the way and just let it collapse. but i am sorry, i can't do that. my training as a physician tells me i see something bad happening, i've got to use everything available at my disposal to try to prevent it from happening. it's really as simple as that. >> well, i'm sure it is. and i wish you all the best this weekend. and let's hope that you're not responsible for bringing the government down to a shutdown. congressman michael burgess, thank you. stay with us. what might be for some republicans, the dirtiest word

of all. consider yourself warned. ♪ you better understand that you're alone ♪ ♪

from the eternal flame to endless bloviating, here are today's top lines. goodness, gracious. well, senator cruz -- >> ted cruz, have you seen this guy? he said i will do everything and anything -- >> to dephubbed obamacare. >> really? how about lighting yourself on fire? >> so we had to take a special jeep up to the main road. >> we, the men of the mind, we are on strike against self emulation. >> the only one we had break down in a bad accident. >> goodness, gracious, the suffering people have gone through. >> i could go on for hours, but i would probably start to bore you. >> i'm a good soldier. i salute. >> really couldn't blame elaine

for wanting a career. >> bottom line is simple. >> why some people are mad at ted cruz. >> senator cruz has actually advanced our cause. >> was the problem, i think, with this current plan. they made it too easy under the democrats to say that's unacceptable. >> if you talk to somebody who said i don't know, i was watching fox news and they said it was horrible. >> one of the scary things about obamacare, the affordable care act -- >> over the last few weeks, the rhetoric has just been cranked up. >> except the nazis -- >> to a place i have never seen before. >> you cannot defeat the germans. >> was it honorable when the germans bombed pearl harbor! >> you had a state representative somewhere say that it's as destructive to personal and individual liberty. >> as a fugitive slave act of 1850. >> here's one more that i've heard. i like this one. we have to, and i'm quoting here. we have to repeal this failure before it literally -- >> kills women, kills children. >> i just want to point out, we still have women. we still have children.

>> let's repeal it now while we can. >> you don't need to listen to the politicians. you don't need to listen to me. just go check it out for yourself. make up your own mind. >> let's get right to our panel, joining us now here in new york is mckay cop ins of buzz feed and josh barrow of business insider. and "cycle" co host from a secure undisclosed location. you reported in buzz feed, the republican party's class is rolling its eyes at ted cruz's attempt to keep the affordable care act from going into effect? is that true? i thought this was a fund raising exercise and the money was rolling in? >> there was a lot of money from activists, the core constituency for ted cruz. tea partiers loved this. but long-term as one of our sources said, if you want to seriously run for president, you need the serious money from the serious people and the serious people are the ones who read "the wall street journal" who think that ted cruz is basically a joke. >> a kamikaze pilot.

josh, what is it? please help me understand this, josh. what is it about the affordable care act that makes elected representatives want to threaten the stability of the nation and the global economy? >> well, it's been this snowballing thing. they spent the last two election cycles building their campaign about how terrible this thing is. and first of all, started to believe the rhetoric, even though before the affordable care act -- >> they wrote the rhetoric. >> yes. >> they believe their own mythologies. >> you keep saying something over and over again, you believe it's true. and they made the base believe it's true. so if oh, by the way, life will go on if this becomes law, somebody else is always going to be there to call them, you know, patient of the surkamp. >> right. >> or say they're like neville chamberlain. >> let's see what the president said as he called out republicans. >> some republicans have suggested that unless i agree to an even longer list of

demands -- not just gutting the health care law, but cutting taxes for millionaires, or rolling back rules on big banks and polluters, that they would push the button, throw america into default for the first time in history, and risk throwing us back into recession. >> mckay, i thought the last election was fought on that very list of issues. i mean, didn't mitt romney go around saying he wanted to defund the environmental protection agency, he wanted to repeal dodd/frank? now they brought that back. i mean what happened? did the president not win? >> if you talk to most conservatives and republicans, they will not concede that that was a judgment on their platform. they will say, you know, any number of reasons obama won. but what's really funny is that we saw mitt romney come out today, and actually say, government shutdown, not a good idea, guys. you know, as much as i agree with you with the result, i don't think that the best idea is to shut down the government. >> your reaction to what you

heard from the president today. >> i thought it was an interesting speech, tough speech. i appreciated the sort of grit he had. the line i wrote down that stuck out to me, no one gets to threaten the faith and credit in the united states to extract political credit. i think that what he was doing was saying to folks in d.c., you are going to hurt the people at home, think about what you're doing, this is not right to hurt folks at home, just to score political points. he talked a little bit about the import of the federal government in people's lives and how people at home will be hurt by shutting down the government. that it's not this abstract political theater or that people will be hurt. and this is fundamental, i think, to progressives' argument about government, that government can't help and shape people's daily lives. and as we go about our lives, we can forget the importance of the federal government and how it's protecting us in all these fundamental ways. and the president tried to remind folks in d.c. about that today. >> josh, final question to you. yesterday jimmy williams was on this broadcast, and he said the true leader of the republican party is now jim demint.

bloomberg business week has a cover story today saying, effectively, that jim did he mint is the republican shadow peopler. so is that the case? >> i don't think that's quite right. i think there is no leader of the republican party. >> no leader. >> no leader. and i think jim demint has been able to force the party to do various things, forced them to have this fight over obamacare. but what's going to be the end game? we're going to have a debt ceiling increase. we're going to have a bill that funds the government, even if we have a shutdown for a few days and obamacare is not going to be did he funded. jim demint cannot force republicans to lay the party down on the tracts and do the suicide mission -- >> so what's the point? >> jim demint raises a lot of money. >> excellent. thank you so much. thank you all. coming up, in hot water, the comments that have sparked a global pastor protest. next. ♪

( ♪ ) for those nights when it's more than a bad dream, be ready. for the days when you get a sudden call from the school, be ready. for the times you need to double-check the temperature on the thermometer, be ready. when you have children's motrin on hand, you're ready. for high fever, nothing works faster or lasts longer than children's motrin.

be ready with children's motrin. i remember thinking there's a lot i have to do... check my blood sugar, eat better. start insulin. today i learned there's something i don't have to do anymore. my doctor said with levemir® flexpen... i don't have to use a syringe and a vial. levemir® flexpen comes prefilled with long-acting insulin taken once daily for type 2 diabetes to help control high blood sugar. dial the exact dose. inject by pushing a button. no drawing from a vial. no refrigeration for up to 42 days. levemir® (insulin detemir [rdna origin] injection) is not recommended to treat diabetic ketoacidosis. do not use levemir® if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. the most common side effect is low blood sugar, which may cause symptoms such as sweating, shakiness, confusion, and headache. severe low blood sugar can be serious and life threatening. ask your health care provider about alcohol use, operating machinery, or driving. other possible side effects include injection site reactions. tell your health care provider about all medicines you take and all of your medical conditions.

get medical help right away if you experience serious allergic reactions such as body rash, trouble with breathing, fast heartbeat, or sweating. flexpen® is insulin delivery my way. covered by most insurance plans, including medicare. ask your health care provider about levemir® flexpen today.

that commercial brought to you by barilla, enjoyed by rich and poor, male and female, gay and straight, until wednesday, when the company's chairman said this to an italian radio station. we won't include gays in our ads, because we like the extra gishl family. if gays don't like it, they can always eat another brand of pasta. everyone is free to do what they want, provided it doesn't bother anyone else. the backlash and the commercial implications prompted mr. barilla to walk back his comments. i apologize if my words have generated controversy or misunderstanding, or if they have hurt the sensibilities of some people. in the interview, i simply wanted to highlight the central

role of the woman in the family. but sensing that his words were still boiling over, the group took to twitter in a last, desperate attempt to turn the heat down. while we cannot undo words that have been said, we can apologize to all those we have hurt or offended. we are deeply sorry. joining us now is an always temp temp temperat jonathan capehart. is this the end of pasta dishes in your home? >> well, with barilla. i'll switch to de cicco, i forgot to bring their box. if the sensibilities of people -- people being offended. it's -- it's -- it's beyond stupid. >> why? >> well, because. that commercial, the clip of the commercial you showed. if you watch the entire commercial, i mean, yeah, he certainly loves the traditional family, where the women are in the kitchen, the women are making dinner, the women are serving the plates. the man is out in the -- out in

the garden doing whatever and strolls in, sits down and has dinner. that's not the way -- that's not the way people live their lives, particularly americans. >> certainly not the way i live. john, just days before guido barilla landed himself in hot water, george h.w. bush was an official witness to the gay wedding of two of his long-time friends. how is it possible that a man of 89 can recognize generational shifts in this country, but a company like that can't? >> well, that's a very good question. i mean, what that says -- that says more -- says more about george bush and the bush family than it does about barilla and his pasta company can. it's not known by many people. the bushes actually have lots of gay friends, have -- and their gay friends love them to pieces. if anything, when laura bush came out in favor of same-sex marriage, one of the friends, a man by the name of charles francis, said to me, where was she when we needed her, when

they were in the white house, when there were all those ballot initiatives around the country in 2004? where was her voice then? so when i saw that president h.w. bush was at this -- same sex wedding in maine and was the official signatory, it didn't surprise me at all. it was heartening to see the bushes once again are showing themselves to be the statesmen in a party that doesn't have any. >> and final opportunity for you to recommend which form of pasta? >> de cecco. >> thank you. still ahead, the rise and fall and the legend of a jazz great. stay with us. this is for you. ♪ [ male announcer ] bob's heart attack didn't come with a warning. today his doctor has him on a bayer aspirin regimen to help reduce the risk of another one. if you've had a heart attack, be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen.

♪ unh ♪ [ male announcer ] you can choose to blend in. ♪ or you can choose to blend out. the all-new 2014 lexus is. it's your move. the all-new 2014 lexus is. a writer and a performer. ther, i'm also a survivor of ovarian and uterine cancers. i even wrote a play about that. my symptoms were a pain in my abdomen and periods that were heavier and longer than usual for me. if you have symptoms that last two weeks or longer, be brave, go to the doctor. ovarian and uterine cancers are gynecologic cancers. symptoms are not the same for everyone. i got sick... and then i got better.

♪ the medical i have flous of

one of the greatest pioneers of jazz, charlie parker. in a short but profoundly creative life, born in 1920, traveled from obscurity in kansas to international acclaim in new york. at the height of his powers, audiences were compelled to listen, even when it was personally uncomfortable. as explained by daily news columnist, stanley crouch. >> there were these two women who sat in the audience, and they were so enthralled by parker's playing, they didn't go to the bathroom, they wet their seats rather than to get up and miss one note that came out of the saxophone. >> i'm delighted to say that mr. crouch, the author of the new book, "kansas city lightning: the rise and times of charlie parker," joins us now. welcome, sir. >> thank you very much. >> what was it in your view as a

musician and artist that made charlie parker so unique? >> well, there were two things, essentially. one of them was his rhythmic imagination. and the other were the notes that he chose to play. and the fact that he heard notes moving at a great velocity. all the while, he heard everything going on around him. >> do you mean by that he was inventing harmony, a melody, that was almost unimaginable for anyone without his genius, without his ability? >> yeah, because nobody ever played that fast before. now, they had played what they call our broken chords. that had been done, but melody at that speed, no. >> he was raised in the 1920s in kansas city, and went on to play in the segregated venues of chicago, as you know, and ultimately in new york. where he was at times barred from clubs. had he to busk. how much did being

african-american add to the personal grief of his own life? >> well, it didn't -- it didn't so much add to his -- the grief of it. it actually added more to his -- his joy, because the kansas city that he grew up in, the people, they lived the life that was basically indifferent, and -- and removed from segregation, in that they didn't take it very seriously. and what i am saying is that -- see, when they decided to have a party, when they decided to go to a dance hall, when they decided to have a parade in their neighborhood, that's what they did. so they wouldn't have said, well, we would have a party, but the white folks wouldn't -- they wouldn't like it if we were having a good time. they didn't think like that. >> right. >> so when i was talking to my mother and my father, they -- they grew up in the 1930s. they gave me such a different sense of the way -- the way people actually lived and

actually thought than we see in the -- in many of the -- the poorer -- those poor darkees, they are just down there under the white people's feet and they can't do anything about it. and i don't mean that they didn't know that there was bigotry. but they didn't -- they didn't define themselves by it. >> i understand. final question to you. charlie parker's life was cut short, just at the age of 34. >> right. >> and he suffered with addiction to heroin and alcohol and so on. and you depict this in great detail in the book. do you think that, had he been born after the civil rights era that his circumstances may have been vastly better than they were before? and maybe his life wouldn't have ended as they did. >> they might have been vastly different, but i've always thought of charlie parker as a guy like that, that rockefeller, who died of an overdose up in harlem.

he wasn't broke at all. he just liked dope. and -- and he ended up getting out of here. but in the book, it's basically a paying to charlie parker and americana and his music. >> wonderful. as i said, stanley crouch's book, "city lightning," available now. thank you for joining us. >> thank you. >> and we'll be right back. ♪

we're going to taste a romney-family-favorite. >> tell us about these. >> they're burned. you've got to turn the griddle down. >> i've got a cooking emergency. >> how could we ever forget mrs. ann romney in that morning show moment less than a month before her husband lost the presidential election. in which case it turns out, one

of the just many dishes around the romney table. a selection now transkribd into a cookbook, compiled by mrs. romney and rising perfectly in time for the holiday season. the book "jacket" is res plen can't with the ever-expanding all-american romney family. you know, the ideal american family that simply couldn't connect with the average american. and all of this reminded us that not with standing his personal wealth of well over half a billion dollars, there really is no accounting for taste. >> i just got these pancakes from a restaurant called pancakes, egg-set extra, kind of a play on words and the pancakes, apparently, are very good. >> no fancy feast for mr. romney, no. but caution, don't you dare stand between that man and his dinner. that's right. tag, isn't it? >> dad always goes to the line first, because he doesn't want to wait for all the grandchildren, because it takes forever. the parents are cutting the meat and serving everything up and he's usually finished by the

time the rest of us sit down. >> thank you so much for watching this afternoon. and every afternoon. "the ed show" with ed schultz is coming up right after this. good evening, americans, welcome to "the ed show" from minneapolis. we have breaking news to start our program tonight. big news not only on the foreign policy