>> we talked about robert gibbs at the beginning of this interview. he says he needs to resign or become counselor to the president. >> there have been quite a few mentions of that. members of congress have also made that case. he is in the unique position of serving a dual role. he is the press secretary and one of the president's closest advisers, as well as a very good friend to the president. that creates a lot of friction. he has made no secret that he wants to go upstairs to the white house and focus on political policy and advice to the president when henderson signed, instead of dividing his time between the podium -- 100%, instead of dividing his time between the podium. >> robert gibbs responded to chip reed on the interview that took place friday. >> did you put your foot in your mouth or did you say something you meant? [laughter] >> i think i have both my feet planted firmly on the floor. nothing in my mouth to speak of. >> you answered honestly. was this an honest and correct answer that you gave to those questions? >> i would not contra

was that robert gibbs speaking or robert gibbs speaking for the president? >> i think this is a feeling that has been felt in the white house. sam may agree with this, but the president has told lawmakers that we have done a lot for this country and we are getting backed by our own party for things we haven't done. they criticizing for not getting the public option through but not saying we passed the most sweeping health care bill in generations. there is definitely some frustration, but gibbs went too far from where the president would say. >> does robert gibbs say anything by accident or was this growing frustration behind that podium? >> this reflects the west wing mentality. it is a frustration in every corner of the building, including the -- by the person who lives there. there is a sense of frustration. they are working 80 hours a week and they are getting blasted by people who are supposed to be their allies. i don't know what the motivation was behind what robert said. my sense was he was just venting honest frustration unlike what we see in this t

white house press secretary robert gibbs said the american left should be quote drug tested for what was said about barack obama find out what was behind that remark in the second part of the alone a show coming up with r.t. . it's time for tonight's tool time later and this time it's the son of former vice president dan quayle you know the guy who couldn't spell potato well ben quayle is running for congress in arizona and he's mad take a list. is the worst president in history and my generation will inherit a weakened country drug cartels in mexico tax cartels in d.c. . what's happened to america. i was raised right somebody has to go to washington and knock the hell out of the place my name spent well and i approved this message. i'm sorry with that too funny ben quayle looks like you describe a fifteen year old and he's going to d.c. to knock the hell out of the place give me a break i could knock him out in two seconds flat but despite his teenage boys physique there's another reason the band is running this over the top that you see he's trying to divert attention out in arizon

so it was, i don't know what robert gibbs gets out of it. he has complained that he gets it from cable-- . >> lehrer: watching cable television. >> jim tonight on cable television 2 million americans will watch fox news. all right, i don't mean any disrespect to them. i point out two things. in the 2004 election, fox news viewers voted more strongly for george bush, 94% than did nra members, than did born again christians, than did rep karns or conservatives. these are people who watch for ammunition, not for information. and for that reason, i simply say, you know, robert, 310 million americans-- . >> lehrer: we have to give michael a dime. >> i completely empathize with gibbs in the circumstances. having spent time in the white house. there is also a professional right where you are never pure enough and they kick you when are you down. okay. so i understand the frustration. but you don't give vent to the frustration. the reality here is intense sit an issue in this election. they need their core base to turn out. you don't attack them und

well tonight i've got a few words for robert gibbs obama's press secretary the guy who recently when interviewed by the hill how do you words for those that he calls the professional left i'm assuming those are all the reporters the t.v. anchors the liberal bloggers of the world the ones that make following politics their profession the ones that are out there investigating seeking answers critiquing in the interest of the people of the average americans who maybe don't have time to sit around and read every single piece of news every single day the ones that the want to make sure the politicians actually live up to their promises and who call them out if they don't oh i see it turns out that this professional left has actually been doing their job they're not simply drooling over every move made by the obama administration so robert gibbs well he decided to tell that professional left the ones that he in his own words here's are saying that obama in some ways might be like bush he decided to say that all of these people how to be drug tested that's right apparently if you happen to

the one predictable person who had the courage to say something about it was the man that robert gibbs is attacking, dennis kucinich. people must be crazy to support him. but dennis kucinich if you read the bill he introduced saying the united states shouldn't target people for assassination all he is doing is we want this country to respect the constitution. we want its leaders to respect the constitution. out of the hundreds of democrats that serve in the congress you know how many co-sponsored that legislation? five. that shows the utter lack of spine that exists in the political culture that we are leg in right now -- living in when we are not able to get more than six democrats to stand up against assassination without due process. we look at the war in afghanistan where this president has case lated the conflict there. each month bloodier than the last for u.s. soldiers. afghanistan civilians are in a terrible situation. in pakistan it is not just flooding but you have multiple wars on the ground. you have various resistance forces some of which are allied to the taliban, some re

press secretary robert gibbs found himself fending off questions about his professional future after he spouted off about that, quote, professional left, who keep complaining about president obama. yunji de nies was there. >> reporter: today, robert gibbs opened his mouth to prove that, in fact, his foot was not in it. >> i don't plan on leaving, so -- and there's no truth to the rumor that i've added an inflatable exit to my office. >> reporter: the press secretary is in hot water after scolding the so-called professional left. liberals who say the president has sold out his ideals to make deals. gibbs told "the hill" newspaper, "those people ought to be drug tested. they will be satisfied when we have canadian health care and we've eliminated the pentagon. that's not reality." gibbs blamed his addiction to cable tv for losing his cool. many on the left believe mr. obama has not kept his election promises, whether on health care reform -- >> this is an insurance company's dream, this bill. >> reporter: or not being decisive on gay rights. >> that's the president's position. clear as

saying some pretty outrageous comments these days we're going to find out why press secretary robert gibbs accuse the political left of being on drugs and what that professional left had to say to that radio host and wonkette blogger sarah betting casa will join me for that discussion and then we're going to take another in-depth look at our economy the fed says we're in trouble so after weeks of speculation is this confirmation that we really are doomed well as business insiders gregory white for his opinion on the state of the economy and all be joined by relationship expert diana falzone i'll get her opinion on everything from snooki cozying up to john mccain to eminem angry on his new music video which some say glamorizes domestic violence that's all the end of the show now let's move on to today's top story. just a week after obama gave a speech touting the end of the iraq war and the on time withdrawal of american troops comes news that al qaeda is already in that and according to the guardian has already begun enticing former sunni allies to rejoin their forces by paying them more t

lawmakers who used to be or believe in civil liberties went on this one but you know if you ask robert gibbs they're definitely not the ones that need a drug test so when did alleged stoners become the voice of reason fortunately it looks like that's america these days. now last week we told you about a church carnival in pennsylvania that had a game where you could shoot a likeness of president obama needless to say that. game didn't go over too well most a night we've got another game is raising some eyebrows and this one comes from the jersey shore boardwalk where an effigy of president obama had to be removed because of complaints see the game requires patrons to throw baseball the plates held by these rotating caricature zx and along with obama there was saddam hussein and even a red sox player can see him right there now after complaints a plastic bag of pink plastic bag went away was placed over the obama character's head isn't that sweet of them but here's the best part the manager of lucy leo's where the game is played so that they would replace obama's effigy with one of former pre

last week, robert gibbs said he did not want to weigh in on the mosque building in new york. why are you so reluctant to offer an opinion on what is pretty much consuming cultural and religious debate? >> this is an issue that has been thought through. it has gone through the process in new york city. we're not one to be in a position where a local government is on to make a decision and we go in and rededicate. the president has made clear -- and readjudicate. the president has made clear his position. >> are you worried about the anti-muslim rhetoric that has been brought up by this debate? >> president obama can make sure that we communicate exactly how we're feeling to the muslim world. but i do not think that the boundaries are shifting in such a way that [unintelligible] >> will the president have a message as they begin their holy month of ramadan? is this an opportunity for the white house for outreach? >> i believe there will be a message put out. >> given the criticism of the first lady about a lavish vacation, is there a problem with her only spending one day in th

i don't agree what robert gibbs was saying. here's the deal when you start going out promoting policy, when you dip your toe into the little proverbial pool of policy you cease end being a private citizen. you can't be a private citizen when you enjoy a ton of public perks. >> she's still a mother. >> oh, my gosh. do not play that card with me. do not play that card with me. she's a mother but she's a first lady and she's making policy. if you don't want to be criticized don't walk in the policy. that's it right there. >> is she the first first lady who ever traveled with her family and used secret service protection. >> on policy and platform and enjoy the public perks. >> let me jump in. what do you make of the fact we're on international television and this is the subject matter we're talking about, the first lady taking a trip to spain. this cannot be a serious subject. is it for you? >> gosh i feel i'm on hollywood squares. the unemployment rate is at 9.6%. the note that says economy is week. the democrats are going to get

yunji de nies has more from the white house. >> reporter: robert gibbs opened his mouth to prove thatwas not in it. >> i have no plan on leaving. and there's no truth to the rumor that i've added an inflatable exit to my office. >> reporter: the press secretary is in hot water after scolding the so-called professional left. liberals who say the president has sold out his ideals to make deals. gibbs told "the hill" newspaper, "those people ought to be drug tested. they will be satisfied when we have canadian health care and we've eliminated the pentagon. that's not reality." gibbs blamed his addiction to cable tv for losing his cool. many on the left believe mr. obama has not kept his election promises. whether on health care reform -- >> this is an insurance company's dream, this bill. >> reporter: or not being decisive on gay rights. >> that's the president's position. clear as mud. >> reporter: polls show the president still enjoys the overwhelming support of liberals. but on abc's "topline," liberal blogger jane hampshire said he's been taking them for granted. >> he sort of assume

" a quote from president obama and robert gibbs responding. bill is joining us from the republican line, boyertown, pennsylvania. good morning. caller: good morning. gibbs should be drug tests, i mean, look at his tie. the other thing i would say is they are alike. obama and bush, they spend money without taxing. we're handing a world to our kid kids and grandkids that is going to be a worse world than we live in. they spend without taxing. i would say that bush and obama are the same. host: from our twitter page, this is from vivian saying before we start bashing bush, i want to remind us that after 9/11, he told us we are not at war with muslims." and the wisdom and folly of the bush tax cuts in the bloomberg news, which is what the congress will be dealing with in mid september. george joining us from the independent line in baltimore. good morning. caller: good morning. we ought to remind people of what occurred in the last 30 years, the policies that were put in place are the reasons why we are in this pickle that we're in. the former famo

coming up shortly, we will bring you a press briefing by robert gibbs. that briefing is now scheduled for 2:00 eastern. join us tonight when we will have the weekends rallies from here in washington, starting at 8:00 it is glenn beck and sarah palin. after that, al sharpton leads the reclaimed agreement rally. what both tonight here on c- span. -- watch both tonight here on c- span. the impact of digital recorders are having on the industry, fewer ships, and that advertisers tonight at 8:00 on "the communicators." we take a look now at technology and border security. is the assistant commissioner of the u.s. customs border and protection policy and acquisition office. he is here to talk about the secure border initiative project. first of all, what is the project, how is it supposed to work? guest: as a contact, it was a broad policy, and initiative of the homeland security policy, to look at the totality of things needed to secure the border. over time, it has become more focused on two elements. one was the construction of the physical fence along the

. >> white house spokesman robert gibbs said he couldn't foresee any circumstance where combat troopsld be sent back to iraq. iraqi forces are responsible for their own security and the presiden gets to keea campaign pmise. >> joe biden is in baghdad to preside over the formal end of combat operations. as iraqi soldiers take over security, even the name is changing from iraqi freedom to operation new dawn. despite some high-ofile attacks, robert gates said violence is at the lowest level since the war began. >> his forc haven't needed to conduct an air strik in more than six months. and an impoant victory against trans-national terror, al-queda and iraq has been largely cut off from its masters abroad. >> there are now about 50,000 u.s. troops in iraq down from a peak of 170,000 during the surge. and those that remain will advise and assist raer than take the lead on missions. in a prime minister addss tonight from the oval office, president obama will talk how a drawdo fulfills a campaign promise. >> the natn as he truly wants to rebuild is the nation that he lives in the united stat

the progress in the gulf had white house spokesman robert gibbs saying the president is willing to consider lifting the moratorium on new deepwater drilling. >> the president wants to be assured there's a containment structure, and a plan in place that matches directly... what is being undertaken. the size, the scope of the well, the depth at which it's being done at, and what equipment needs to be on hand. >> reporter: analysts don't expect the administration to lift the temporary ban before october, when the bipartisan oil spill commission finishes a series of hearings. energy analyst thomas pritchard says rig operators will also need certainty on their cost of doing business before new drilling resumes. >> if i was running an oil and gas company, i'd want to know if i'm going to devote x number of dollars in a capital expenditure program in the gulf of mexico, that i would want to have some assurances that i have a good picture of what the admin... governmental oversight is going to be on that. >> reporter: as part of the energy bill on hold in the senate, lawmakers are considering wheth

. >> white house spokesman robert gibbs said he couldn't foresee any circumstance where combat troopsould be sent back to iraq. iraqi forces are responsible for their own security and the president gets to keep a campaign promise. >> joe biden is in baghdad to preside over the formal end of combat operations. as iraqi soldiers take over security, even the name is changing from iraqi freedom to operation new dawn. despite some high-profile attacks, robert gates said violence is at the lowest level since the war began. >> his forces haven't needed to conduct an air strike in more than six months. and an important victory against trans-national terror, al-queda and iraq has been largely cut off from its masters abroad. >> there are now about 50,000 u.s. troops in iraq down from a peak of 170,000 during the surge. and those that remain will advise and assist rather than take the lead on missions. in a prime minister address tonight from the oval office, president obama will talk how a drawdown fulfills a campaign promise. >> the nation as he truly wants to rebuild is the nation that he li

white house this morning, thank you very much. >>> joining us now is white house press secretary robert gibbs. mr. gibbs, good morning. >> how are you sir? >> i'm well. this is an important milestone. it can't be -- we can't pass that by. but the fact remains is that as many as 100 civilians are killed every week still in iraq. you have a government -- you have elected representatives that have been -- the election took place five months ago. they still can't form a government. is iraq ready to stand on its own? >> absolutely. iraqi security forces have been in the lead for quite some time. they provided security for the election that was certified in june. as you mentioned in that piece, as bill did, the vice president is over there trying to get the government formed. last time it took six months to form that government. i think we're making progress. the history and the future of iraq will now be shaped by the iraqis. and the president tonight will talk about the change in our combat mission as we focus on rebuilding our nation here at home. >> the president goes to texas today to talk to

robert gibbs, the white house press secretary, attacks what he called the "professional left" last week, saying that these people wouldn't be satisfied if dennis kucinich was president or words to that effect. is this by design? is there more going on? >> i think the frustration is clearly real, and it's one that we have been hearing privately from the white house for a long time. and so, you know, it wasn't totally surprising this came out in public. it does seem almost by design the way that the white house hasn't backed off. these guys are foolish if they think they can get a better president who's more in tune with their agenda than president obama. i think it pays to be precise about this, because there's a group of commentators-- that's what he meant by the professional left-- who is unhappy with president obama. self-identified liberals are happy with this president. >> schieffer: do you think he got in a little bit of a fight with the people on the far left so he can appear more of a centrist candidate going into the elections? >> there is that word from the clinton era-- rememb

attendant and a hero ♪ >> reporter: it's even reached into the white house where press secretary robert gibbsin cheek reference to later. >> there's no truth to the matter that i've added inflatable exit to my office. >> reporter: jetblue wrote on their blog, sometimes the weird news is about us. you can't make this shtick up. but anger on the job is real. job satisfaction is the worst it's been in two decades. >> he really is a symbol and a representation of people's frustration in the workplace. >> reporter: but prosecutors aren't so understanding. they say slater's impulsive exit could have hurt someone on the ground. and for that, he's no hero. michelle miller, cbs news, new york. >>> in suburban chicago an unusual sister act. three sisters gave birth within hours of each other in the same hospital on friday and saturday. two girls and one boy. what are the chances of that? their obstetrician says it wasn't planned that way. to add to the happy news, a fourth sister living in california gave birth to a boy on monday. the mothers say they are happy the cousins will grow up together. sounds

. >> i was kind of surprised that there was thatch reaction to what robert gibbs said. because there's a tremendous amount of frustration within the white house towards the hardcore -- or he called them professional -- gwen: the professional left. >> yes. but the hardcore liberals certainly did have a lot to do with getting barack obama elected. and yet at the same time there's a sense in the white house that they're not being cognizant enough of how things work, especially in the senate where even a diminished minority, which you have in the republicans, can stop almost everything and they feel like, come on, guys, give as you break. we're doing the best we can. we had to make a lot of concessions on health care, for example. we got a bill, you should be happy with that. and the left is saying, no, we don't think you've tried hard enough. >> don't presidents of eater party disappointing their -- either party disappointing their supporters? president clinton was singularly effective in bridging some of those divides but he came in for criticism. >> he did. i think that

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. >> reporter: it's even reached into the white house where press secretary robert gibbs made a tongue-in-cheekeference to slater. >> there's no truth to the rumor that i've added an inflatable exit to my office. >> reporter: so far jetblue is trying to play this for laughs, too. writing on their blog: but anger on the job is real, according to a recent survey. job satisfaction is the worst it's been in two decades. >> he really is a symbol and representation of people's frustration in the workplace. >> reporter: but prosecutors aren't so understanding. they say slater's impulsive exit could have hurt someone in the ground. and for that he's no hero. michelle miller, cbs news, new york. >> hill: still ahead on the "cbs evening news," the town where differences bring people together. but up next, a city with plenty of jobs and what you'll need to do to get one. that send messages through the body. that cause chronic, widespread pain. lyrica is believed to calm these nerves. i learned lyrica can provide significant relief from fibromyalgia pain. and less pain means i can do more with the ones i l

think you're frustrated i think that maybe you voice that frustration not personally but you have robert gibbs voice it for you. that you you probably spend a lot of time clutching those anger balls that we get at work the ones that you can keep on your desk those things i think it might seem a little bit hopeless to him at times but he he has to soldier on because that's his job and he will continue to do it but fifty years from now there will still be people who swear up and down that obama was a muslim muslim kenyan citizen of course sarah thanks so much for joining us and i'll make sure to call fox home to go to your ear. ok thank you all right time far to eat of the day earlier we told you about a swiss company that's being sued for making condoms they go by the name harry potter now the movie studio behind the harry potter movies is not too happy about these condoms that got us thinking what would harry potter tweet about this lawsuit without it say this don't know you muggles know my wand is magical no condoms needed for that's our twitter they will have another one for you tomorrow and

. >> white house press secretary robert gibbs today said that president obama agrees with napolitano that it would be wrong to make that constitutional change. republican senator john mccain also says he does not support changing the 14th amendment. >>> coming up next at six, continuing coverage on the developing news involving an arrest in a case that has terrorized people living in a bay area apartment complex. a five-day event in the bay area design to help struggling homeowners. we look at how it works and how not everyone is coming away satisfied. . >>> the bay area neighborhood is taking matters into its own hands because of all the police layoffs in the city. >>> plus is life beyond earth? a lot of people who think there is are gathered in the bay area right now. we'll explain why coming up next at six. >>> an amateur photographer captures rare and fascinating images over the skies of texas last night. now, these photos here were up loaded to cnn are of the perseid meteor showers. the meteors are a plume trailing behind a comet called swift tuttle. bits of ice and dust a thous

for more on the speech, let's turn to robert gibbs, the white house press secretary. he joins us from the white house this morning. robert, already, the house republican leader has administered a rebuttal of the president's speech he's going to give today. he says this, some leaders who opposed, criticized and fought tooth and nail to stop the surge strategy, now proudly claim credit for the results. today, we mark not the defeat of those voices anticipated, but progress. he's basically saying the milestone happened in spite of president obama, not because of him. your response? >> there's a lot of made-up history in that statement. i think what congressman boehner -- i think what the american people would like to know, with congress boehner, do you support withdrawing the 90,000-plus troops that the commander in chief is marking the milestone of today? there's no doubt that we're not for a timeline for getting our combat troops out of iraq. we would still be there. >> you say made-up history. but the president did oppose the surge. >> the president did oppose the surg

we're part of that professional left that robert gibbs mentioned. i do not usually wear my politics on the sleeve like that, but that is the point i want to raise. we are a progressive institution, left of center. we have someone from the other side of the aisle here to talk with us about drug policy. judge james gray hills from orange county california -- orange county, california. he is our republican/libertarian. he received his undergraduate degree from ucla. he received his ballot of the degree from usc in 1971. he served in the peace corps and coast rica -- in coaster rica. -- costa rica. . he was stabbed as a general and criminal defense attorney for the u.s. navy after that. he has been a prosecutor and a judge in california. he was elevated to the orange county superior court in 1989. he retired after 25 years on the bench in january 2009. he is the author a book. if you want more information on judge gray, go to his website judgejimgray.com. what are you doing in the liberal hotbed like this? >> i'm going to correct that. libertarians are

white house spokesman robert gibbs says the president is satisfied with the progress iraq is making as it prepares to take over its own security operations. despite a recent lull, gibbs says to expect annual uptick in violence in a runup to the august 31 turnover. >>> meanwhile u.s. military leaders are giving a grim projection for the next few months in afghanistan. they say they expect heavy fighting around the city of kandahar through the autumn months and predict a key role for special forces troops whose job it is to kill or capture taliban fighters. the leaders say they hope for signs of success before a review of the war at the end of the year. >>> $8,000 to remove gum from a courthouse entryway. the new documents raising questions tonight about expenses at california courthouses. >> reporter: burglars are targeting one east bay neighborhood. you'll never believe what they took in their last heist. >>> it has been a foggy summer but you know what? today was one of the foggiest days we've seen. most areas mostly cloudy all day. i'll have the details on what you can expect with to

on the "today" show this morning, matt lauer talked to robert gibbs. >> i think the president will talk about three different themes, ending the combat mission in iraq, strengthening our security swinternationally d outlining some steps we have to take here at home. >> so far 4 sfsh, 400 americans died in iraq. the president's prime time speech will be at 5:00 this eveni evening. >>> a road side bomb attack killed four more u.s. soldiers in afghanistan today. 18 service members have been killed since saturday. there are few details about today's bomb attack. the identities of the service members have not yet been releas released. their deaths today bring august's total to 54 casualties including a marine killed on friday. >>> two airline passengers are in serious trouble after security found suspicious items in their checked luggage. dutch officials say the men are charged with preparation of a terrorist attack. u.s. officials say ahmed mohamed nasser al soofi and hezem al murisi appeared to be traveling with mock explosives in their luggage. one of them got on a plane in birmingham, al

press sect robert gibbs made a reference to the infamous statement president bush made. >> there is a lot of reasons there is no "mission accomplished" banner can be us there a lot of work to do. >> reporter: and president obama made a pledge to the people of the gulf coast. >> president obama: we'll continue to work to hold polluters accountable for the destruction they have caused, weev got to make sure persons who were harmed were reimbursed and we'll stand by the people of the region however long it takes until they are back on their feet. >> reporter: and the government point man in the gulf had its own word of caution today. he said the job of capping the bella not be complete until the two relief wells are drilled and includes, once again, pumping mudd and settlement cement into the leak. but this time from the bottom. >>> amtrack is back on track after a derailment cut off service. two empty railcars tipped over around 4:00 yesterday afternoon blocking the tracks in west oakland. many amtrack passengers had to be bussed between emeryville and jack london square. amtrack confir

>> you follow this whole flap this week with robert gibbs giving an interview making clear his frustration with certain commentators on the left. he says "they must be on drugs if they think there's no difference between president obama and president george w. bush." i think one reason that president obama doesn't get credit from the left and doesn't... if you look at the polls doesn't get a lot of credit from independents who also are deeply disaffected is that he doesn't spend a lot of time talking about the broader context of his decisions. his great success in 2008 was he transcended the internal divide in the democratic party. these questions that most democratic presidents, presidential candidates get. hey, are you a new democrat, a so called d.l.c. democrat, are you more tradition old-line liberal? he said "those questions are irrelevant, i'm barack obama." he united the party around his personal story and, of course, around the democratic party's disdain for president bush. and that was enough. he never defined himself in a philosophical or an ideological way. that was great in the

i'll let you know. >> on another topic, on robert gibbs' comments on the professional left, you can explain why -- [inaudible] for democrats to be -- [inaudible] who helped get the president-elected in that way? >> i think what gibbs was doing was having one conversation with one reporter and in response to some questions about frustrations answered honestly. i don't think that it should be read as anything more than that. >> did his comments reflect the president's sentiment? >> well, i think -- you washed the coverage, we all watched -- you watched the coverage, we all watched the coverage. when you look at some of the things that had this administration has been able to do from ending the combat mission in iraq to comprehensive health care reform, to equal pay, excuse me, equal pay to financial regulatory he reform, to what we're doing today, to save 160,000 teacher jobs, is there ever some frustration from anyone who works in this building about the way it's being covered? sure, but that doesn't distract us from the work we've got to do to keep the american people safe and keep the amer

. >> you think it's a challenge -- the press secretary robert gibbs said on this program that he thought it was possible republicans could take orr the house. he believes that's not the case. that caused quite a stir. what impact did that have? it hasn't changed your view about the challenges the republicans face. >> david, listen, it's only august. there's a lot of things that can happen between now and election day. it is possible. there are 100 seats in play around the country, and 94 of them are held by democrat members. i've been all over my district, i've fwlbeen through a lot of or districts. the american people are screaming to washington stop, stop the spending and the job-killing policies, and yet democrats in washington refuse to listen to the american people. republicans have been listening all summer with our program "america speaking out." we're listening. we're going to come forward with our agenda right after labor day. >> right after labor day. why wait until then? why not do it now? >> i think it's important that we listen to the american people. it's not about what i t

making matters worse, last month, white house press secretary robert gibbs acknowledged democrats could lose the house. >> i think there's no doubt there are enough seats in play that could cause republicans to gain control. there's no doubt about that. this will depend on strong campaigns by democrats. >> woodruff: all this is taking place as the president's own job approval poll ratings have been sagging, to under 50 percent, amid public concerns about the economy, government spending, and two wars abroad. but presidential historian richard norton smith says, regardless of a commander-in- chief's popularity during off- year elections, being a fundraiser goes with the territory. >> it's part of the job. even presidents who are riding low in the polls are often very successful as partisan fundraisers. george w. bush, for example, demonstrated that throughout his presidency; jimmy carter and the latter part of his presidency likewise. so there's no real correlation between where you may stand in the gallup poll and your ability to raise money for your party's candidates. you are the fund