. >> jon: when we come back, is al sharpton a good fit for msnbc? onaires, millionaires and corporate jets, that was the question. >> reverend al may be getting a prime time gig on msnbc. could they be pay back for blessing the deal with comcast? comcast? that's next on news watch. [ male announcer ] walls can talk. but it's our job to make them say something interesting. so how about this weekend we learn some new tricks of the trade... then break out our doing clothes and get rolling. let's use some paint that helps us get the job done in record time and makes a statement when we're finished. we're lowering the cost of a new favorite color. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. take your painting skills to the next level at one of our free paint workshops. so i want to major in biology. miss gopie is the best teacher i ever had. she's amang, i love her. [ de ] i'm teaching jasmine ap biology. i knew she had the talent... i always pushed her. [ jasmine ] her class you literally have to think, le it takes so long to do her home

. >> jon: when we come back, is al sharpton a good fit for msnbc? >> and millionaires, millionaires and corporate jets, that was the question. >> reverend al may be getting a prime time gig on msnbc. could they be pay back for blessing the deal with comcast? that's next on news watch. ... [ male announcer ] to the 5:00 a.m. scholar. the two trains and a bus rider. the "i'll sleep when it's done" academic. for 80 years, we've been inspired by you. and we've been honored to walk with you to help you get where you want to be ♪ because your moment is now. let nothing stand in your way. learn more at keller.edu. it's the cleanest, clearest water. we find the best, sweetest crab for red lobster we can find. yeah! [ male announcer ] hurry in to crabfest at red lobster. the only time you can savor three sweet alaskan crab entrees all under $20, like our hearty crab and roasted garlic seafood bake or sn crab and crab butter shrimp. [ jon i wouldn'tut it my table at home, i wouldn't bring it in. my name's jon forsythe, and i sea fd differently. from the teache

amazing that it is so radical and extreme that you say, do they actually have robert reich and al sharptonuoting richard mixon? who would have thunk it? >> who would have thought. >> thanks for your time tonight. >> thanks, al. >> >>> tonight, mitt romney slams president obama on the economy but won't take a stand on debt fight. >>> and we are following breaking news. the tea parties it the boss to get in line. boehner scrambles to get the votes tonight. we'll talk to a prominent tea party activists ahead. ÷@x >>> romney says he doesn't like obama's leadership but he is failing to show any of his own. that's our con job of the day. there is one word romney loves to throw around on the campaign trail, it's lead. >> if we have leaders that will tell the truth, and lead with integrity, and who know where to lead us, then america will remain as its always been. >> i hope to be one of those leaders with your help. >> why isn't the president leading? >> but mitt sure seems to pass the buck. here's how he is leading in the debt talks. >> there are people working out a series of negotiations righ

i'm al sharpton. to nights's lead. just how much is president obama willing to compromise in the debt fight? the president obama met today with leaders of both parties at the white house. and he said, everyone must sacrifice to make a deal. >> nothing is agreed to until everything's agreed to. and the parties are still far apart on a wide range ever issues. everybody acknowledged that there is going to be pain involved politically on all sides. but our biggest obligation is to make sure that we're doing the right thing by the american people. >> but democrats are nervous that the white house may agree to as much as $4 trillion in cuts over ten years. under that plan, democrats would agree to cuts in social security, medicare, and medicaid. in return, republicans would sign off on up to a trillion dollars in new revenue. which they don't seem willing to do. >> everything is on the table except raising taxes on the american people. >> we, as republicans, are not going to support tax increases. >> joining me now is indepe

welcome to shot, i'm al sharpton. tonight's lead, fight to the debt. at a twitter town hall today, president obama blasted republicans for using the debt ceiling as a hostage in budget talks. >> the debt ceiling should not be something that is used as a gun against the heads of the american people to extract tax breaks for corporate jet owners. >> today, republicans definitely did not sound like they are in a mood to make a deal. at the white house, budget talks that are set for tomorrow. >> thursday's meeting will give us a chance to see if the president means what he says. until now the president's proposal are frankly indefensible np. >> so will republicans compromise even a little to get a deal or do they just want to be the party of no? joining me now, is republican congressman joe walsh from illinois. freshman lawmaker elected just last year with tea party support. so congressman, are republicans using a gun against the american people in these budget talks like the president says? >> hey, reverend sharpton, good to be with you. hey, i got to, ju

more politics are ahead with al sharpton. >> grand bargain or grand illusion? tonight, washington may be getting closer to a deal on the deficit. but is it a deal worth having? let's make sure it has shared sacrifice. >>> and congressman under fire for his attack, he says he's not sorry. >>> plus, there's more to the story. the more impact migraine headaches may have had on michele bachmann's job performance. >>> and rush limbaugh, hot air. hits a new high. his latest attack on big government is our con job of the day. >>> welcome to the show, i'm al sharpton. tonight's lead, are we closer to a deal or disaster? president obama and house speaker john boehner may be nearing a deal for a new grand bargain on debt limit. the president is meeting with democrats right now at the white house. presumably to talk about the deal. but any agreement would have to get past the tea party republicans in the house. and democrats say, they have a problem. >> the loudest shrillest voices from the republican party are not leaders but tea party extremists. >> they group of ideal

i'm al sharpton. tonight's lead, president obama ramps up pressure on republicans to do their job in the debt fight. this afternoon, the president pressed congress to make a long-term deal on the debt ceiling. >> i don't think the american people here sent us here to avoid tough problems. that's in fact what drives them nuts about washington, when both parties simply take the path of least resistance. >> the president says he's willing to compromise, but are the republicans? >> it's my hope that everybody's going to leave their ultimate mate tums at the door, leave the political rhetoric at the door and we're going to do what's best for our economy and what's best for our people. >> the president spoke, as it's becoming clear that the republican leaders are feeling the heat, facing tough new criticism for not being willing to compromise. today in "new york times," conservative columnist david brooks wrote, quote, if responsible republicans don't take control, independents will conclude republican fana

i'm al sharpton. tonight's lead, i think we may have found the answer to what's happening to the republican party. they've been drinking so much tea, i think they may be dizzy. at this hour, house republicans are debating and are expected to vote for the most extreme budget plan in years. it's the tea party's cut, cap and balance bill. earlier today, president obama set it was a political effort, not a serious one. >> that is not an approach that could pass both chambers, not an approach i would sign and it's not balanced. we don't have any more time to engage in symbolic gestures. we don't have any more time to posture. >>> republican leaders are holding this vote in a desperate attempt to stop a civil war within the gop. the tea party and its corporate backers have declared open season on any gop lawmaker who supports another budget alternative. mitch mcconnell's plan to raise the debt limit, sending a warning letter to every republican in congress saying, quote -- we will refrain from backing any m

i'm al sharpton. tonight's lead, the white house signals it may veto john boehner's debt plan, but it's not clear that boehner could even get his own party to support it. in a speech last night, he tried to selling his vision to skeptical republicans by pinning the blame on the president. >> i'll tell you, i gave it my all. unfortunately the president would not take yes for an answer. >> mr. speaker, it's your party, they said no, no to the reid plan, no to the president's grand bargain, no to the gang of six plan, no to mcconned's plan b. last night the president challenged americans to send a message to republicans, saying no is not a policy. >> so i'm asking you all to make your voice heard. if you have a balanced approach, let wlur member of congress know. if you believe we can solve this problem through compromise, send that message. >> and america has responded. capitol hill phones are lighting up. 40,000 calls went in during the lunch hour today, and web sites for boehner, michele bachmann, and

wait until you hear this one. >>> welcome to the show, i'm al sharpton.tonight's lead, republicans going to town on the "american idol" can people. john boehner delayed a vote on list debt plan until tomorrow because budget experts say his math literally doesn't add up. but something else doesn't add up. the votes. in fact, the speaker is so desperate to build unity, that at a gop meeting last night, party leaders used a bank robber movie as inspiration. >> i need your help. i can't tell you what it is. you can never ask me about it later. and we're going to hurt some people.ç >> who's car we gonna take. >> the we're gonna lurt hurt some people, obviously got tlem riled pup. so much more that the congressman said, we're going it drive the car. what smor interesting is that the next scene in the movie, take a look at this. is. >> who is it? >> open up. >> [ bleep ]. >> is this really what republicans want to do to the american people? and who are they doing all of this for? the far right of their base. the tea party. well, let's take a look at the massive

more politics ahead with al sharpton. >>> have republicans in the house bult bm a cult in don't blame me for saying it. a democratic senator beat me to it. tonight, till no deal and no word on whether john boehner's members even want one. >>> plus, just one year franks bill became law, he is still under fire from big banks. congressman frank is here live. >>> emotional testimony in the senate and calls to repeal the defense of marriage act. >>> welcome to the show, i'm al sharpton. tonight's lead. if washington plays let's make a deal, the tea party is still saying my way or the highway. president obama's meeting at the white house with john boehner and eric canton, but house republicans still refuse to budge on any deal to raise the debt limit. they're saying no to the president. they're saying no to the game of six senators. they are even saying no to mitch mcconnell's plan b. today one democratic senator add new word for the tea party's extremism. the cult fringe. >> the debate and fight is not between the democrats and republicans. it is between senate republicans and they are sor

i'm al sharpton. tonight's lead, president obama goes prime time.in three hours, the president will address the nation on the debt crisis. it comes as republicans reject another, yet another, fad deal from the democrats. today, senator harry reid offered a proposal that cuts the deficit, doesn't raise taxes, so surely speaker boehner is delighted, right? wrong. >> i believe that the plan is full of gimmicks and doesn't deal with the biggest drivers of our deficit and our debt, that would be entitlement programs. >> instead, boehner is pushing a short term proposal. which the white house and democrats say is a nonstopper. and up until a month ago, it was a nonstarter for republicans as well. >> the uncertainty that's out there is not going to be overcome by, you know, another little short term gimmick. >> i think the president put it best on friday. >> you know, at some point, i think if you want to be a leader, then you got to lead. >> joining me now, democratic strategist bob shrum. also from the washington post, dana mi dana millbank. bob, what do

you know, a friend of mine just suggested that i watch the "60 minutes" piece by al sharpton around iys he's decided not to criticize the president about anything. so the guy who was criticizing the p is out, even though he had really good ratings, and the guy who has decided not to criticize the president about anything is in. >> msnbc in talks with al sharpton to take over that 6:00 p.m. show, and that probably will happen. the msnbc statement. there was an offer on the table for you to remain a contributor and do a weekend show. you chose not to do that. what about this notion that, you know, you just decided to go negative and rip them? >> all right. well, look, here's the thing. they say it's baseless, except they don't specify what's baseless about it. they have acknowledged that conversation took place. they just say that insider/outsider conversation, we meant your producer said that, which, again, does not seem credible at all, right? so they've actually acknowledged every single part of the story, so i don't know what they're saying is is baseless. second of all, yes, there

joining me now is the founder and president of the national action network, reverend al sharpton hereht. and also professor of sociology at georgetown university, michael aaron diyson. the markets are going to be very interesting tomorrow. we're going to find out just how nervous this country is. what do you anticipate? >> well, there's going to be a lot of nervousness and anxiety and market insecurity. i think this shows, as you know, robert reich just said, that this small splinter group has taken american hostage. john boehner cannot rally his troops together. he can not galvanize his troops in a way that proves his authority. he's been critical of obama for not having leadership and exercising legitimate authority. here it is he can't get his stray cats together to stand together shoulder to shoulder. i think this says to the nation that we don't have a leading party, a speaker of the house who's concerned about the ultimate good of the people or at least the tea party spt. he's capitulating to them in a very vicious way. i think this strengthens the democrats if they can stand to

right now, al sharpton paks up our coverage. >>> good evening. i'm al sharpton. we begin with breaking news. president obama is set to make a statement any moment. it comes after another day of rangeling over the debt limit talks. the president went out to college park maryland and spoke at an open town hall meeting. he's been bringing his case to the people on the other side, the republicans have been going back and forward. their bill went before the senate. it was defeated today. there's been rangeling all over capitol hill. but, we understand that speaker boehner has walked out of talks and we are waiting on the president to make a statement. let's go live right now to nbc newsy o'nnell who's been coring those talks. kelly, what can you tell us? >> reporter: it's a bulletin reverend al. speaker boehner is breaking off talks with president obama. we learned this a short time ago. they alerted members of the house and reached out to majority leader reid and republican leader mitch mcconnell. speaker boehner saying he will abandon white house negotiations and tu

is i know al sharpton has a feeling for the people. i am hoping he will raise up the issues, talk to some of the people who have issues or problems and deserve to be heard. we all need to be clear about the way we deserve to be heard and we will create our own strategies. again, probably not the place to be as vulnerable -- this hurts me. it hurts me to see people of african descent at the periphery of our economy understanding the many ways we have been central. understanding in so many ways to work that we have to do and understanding no one is going to do it for us. there are a series of demographics that are frightening. we are not the biggest minority any more and we are now the fastest-growing. the latino population -- we are not mad at them but they are where they are and who they are and how they are and we need to figure out how to work with them. we also need to figure out how to get our fair share of this economy that we have created a foundation for. that is what part of the challenge is. i look at the next five years for t

well no it's not it's not as i said i am sure you didn't look like al sharpton years ago here so you can. bet and doesn't necessarily equate to but here's the question you know what i would. to the news coverage of this in fact we've got you know sixty seconds of silence which i'm not going to run here because i don't want to cut into your time but but we we played in three d. last night on the show we played all the news coverage of the firebombing of the planned parenthood clinic which was not an abortion clinic it was a place where women got mammograms and things and and never did they mention the word terrorist and then this muslim guy gets busted with some guns and bombs and all of a sudden the word terrorist is appearing in every other sentence right the double standard you know it's sometimes it is hard to say the media tends to pick up things at different places and then in terms of what's within somebody's purview and how the media reads you know whether or not it be interesting to people it changes all kind of because what i find interesting i do agree with you tom i find i

kids go we found out the james there would be leaving m s n b c or is began swirling after al sharpton was filling in where of the story would as it was due to james poor ratings at the six o'clock hour prove the other night that was nowhere near true his ratings were good they were more than good turns out the m.s.m. dc's president phil griffin told rank the people in washington didn't like his telling that he needed to have more republicans on the program and perhaps most damning the wall being an outsider is good and i said d.c. in griffin's words is the establishment now something of those of us who observe the mainstream media could have told you from their coverage because they could. when they actually admit to it and act on it themselves and as we asked yesterday how long for that establishment mentality really last before viewers wise up and start turning to other alternatives joining me from our studio in lassen los angeles is frank you're i think young parents again thank you so much for joining us we're happy that you've chosen us to be one of the places where you can come

i'm reverend al sharpton filling in for ed shultz.ry day from 1:00 to 4:00 listings time. go to nationalactionnetwork.net.

i'm al sharpton. "hardball" starts right now. >>> performance art. let's play "hardball." good evening. i'm crist matthews in san francisco. leading off tonight, the cut, cap and balanced caper. it's been a huge debate tonight. this evening house republicans are expected to vote for something they call cut, cap and balance. talk about performance art. this is the stuff you see on psych walks on the weekend, miming, pretending to be doing something. bumping into walls that aren't really there. the republican plan has no specifics on what to cut, to cut below 20% by gdp, ten years from now and demands a two thirds vote for back a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. it has no chance whatsoever of being a bipartisan deal. this afternoon president obama announced the gang of six has come up with a plan of spending cuts, changes to medicare and medicaid, and taxes. at the top of the show we'll talk to a tea party republican, who says no to taxes, and don't worry about default, spiking interest rates or an american downgrade. our new poll shows the public is taking sid

i'm al sharpton, "hardball" starts right now. > the leading six-pack. let's play "hardball." >>> good evening, i'm crist matthews in san francisco. leading off tonight, the gang of six has a plan. president obama endorsed it in principle. conservative republicans helped draft it and a deadline looms with certain economic consequences on the other side of august 2nd. so how long can the tea party republicans stand in the door and say no? give us everything we want, we'll give you nothing, and then we'll have a deal. how much longer can they say they won't accept any plan that president obama would agree to? of course, that's our top story tonight. >>> plus what would ronald reagan think of the debt fight? he would be seen by today's republicans as a hopeless moderate. republicans talk about the party of reagan, but wasn't the great communicator also in several cases a great compromiser? and across the country republican governors and legislators are rewriting voting eligibility rules with one thing in mind, lowering the turnout, making it easier for repu

i'm al sharpton. "hardball" starts right now. fshs. >> the tea party gets its way for now, let's play some "hardball." >>> good evening. i'm michael smerconish in for chris matthews. leading off tonight, if at first you don't succeed, add a balanced budget amendment. that's what speaker boehner did last night after hes debt ceiling bill didn't pass. he guaranteed failure in the senate. no democrats voted yes only 22 republicans voted no. what happens next? the senate takes the weekend for possible late night votes. we will get the latest in just a moment. plus how far will tea party republicans go to get what they want? is it really a conservative proposition to risk default? we have two tea partiers here tonight. is anyone winning politically in president obama is trying it position himself as the adult in the room but the economy tarvegs doesn't his prospect tanks with it? have you had enough yet? if people are fed up with dem krts an republicans is there a third way? a group called americans elect says yes and it may have the

. >>> welcome to the show, i'm al sharpton. tonight's lead, president obama is vowing to veto what some are calling the republican's worst idea yet. it's the so-called cut, cap and balance bill. a tea party plan that's even more extreme than the ryan he budget. here is the -- >> classic washington posturing ka bookie theater. you know, this is a measure that's designed to duck, dodge and dismantle. duck responsibility, dodge on obligations and dismantle, law, which would require the dismantlement of our social safety met wp social security, medicare and medicaid. >> even though american people rejected their agenda, a new poll shows 71% disapprove of how republicans are handling the debt talks. much worse than for democrats or the president. in fact, 51% of republicans don't even like where the gop is doing. 73% of independents feel the same way. joining me now, is democratic strategist bob an former rnc chairman michael steele now an mooes moo msnbc contributor. bob, do they get copies at rnc or don't they care about what the

. >>> coming up, the reverend al sharpton sitting on for ed schultz tonight.s been amazing the last couple of nights. i recommend checking it out right after we are done. >>> but before that, the best new thing in the world today is really great. and i can't say it. and i hope i'm going to be able to say it by the time we get to the end of the show, because i can't say it right now. it's there on the teleprompter, but i can't say it. sorry. >> announcer: this past year alone there's been a 67% spike in companies embracing the cloud-- big clouds, small ones, public, private, even hybrid. your data and apps must move easily and securely to reach many clouds, not just one. that's why the network that connects, protects, and lets your data move fearlessly through the clouds means more than ever. [ female announcer ] it follows you wherever you go. it's a cloud of depression. and although you've been on an antidepressant for at least six weeks, you're frustrated that your depressive symptoms are still with you. seroquel xr, when added to an antidepressant, is appro

more politics ahead with al sharpton. >>> a wake-up call for the econ kon my. it is about jobs, not cuts. we know the republican agenda is driving the economy off the cliff. and now is the time to change the conversation in washington. and debt fight dubbed president obama have a secret plan to get a deal? >>> plus, michele bachmann's attempt to go main stream is over. her sickening true colors came out today. >>> and murdock's mess, his phone-hacking scandal deepens. can he survive it? what does itean for fox news? >>> welcome to the show. tonight's lead, we need to stop having the wrong conversation on jobs. the new jobs numbers came out today. and they are good. unemployment hit 9.2%. and if we needed any more proof, here it is again. the republican approach of tax cuts and huge spending cuts is all wrong. we democrats are doing what you wanted. but this jobs report swwake-up call. there is not a singed jobs bill since they took power and they block the president at every turn. >> the debate here in washington has been dominated by issues of debt limit. but

. >>> coming up, the reverend al sharpton sitting on for ed schultz tonight.ast couple of nights. i recommend checking it out right after we are done. >>> but before that, the best new thing in the world today is really great. and i can't say it. and i hope i'm going to be able to say it by the time we get to the end of the show, because i can't say it right now. it's there on the teleprompter, but i can't say it. sorry. >> one of the things that former minnesota governor tim pawlenty has been bragging about running for president is that he brought minnesota to brink of government shutdown. his home state of minnesota tonight is on the brink of a government shutdown. state parks and campgrounds in minnesota have already closed in anticipation of a shutdown that is happening because of a budget standoff between the democratic governor of minnesota, mark dayton and the republican-controlled legislature. republican legislative leaders have been keeping quiet about the state of negotiations. late today, they did start talking to the press in an effort to try to nu

i'm al sharpton, thanks for watching. "hardball" starts right now. >>> gop meets government on protests. let's play "hardball." >>> good evening. i'm chris matthews in san francisco. leading off today, my way or nothing, what the republicans are telling president obama these days. do things entirely our way or we'll put the government in default. the republican party shown it's not an opposition party looking to govern or even co-govern. it's a protest party. a party neither makes or takes responsibility for its actions. in a poll out today showing voters are not supporting this republican tea party approach. plus, pay attention to the man behind the curtain. really pay attention. the gop the refusal to raise any taxes under any circumstances is matching the clear purposes the man pushing republican tax policy right now. one man. grover norquist, the most powerful man most americans have never heard of plays "hardball" here tonight. >>> plus, another day, another resignation in the murdoch scandal. this time the number tw

i'm al sharpton. "hardball" starts right now. >>> right wing dictatorship. let's play "hardball." >>> good evening. i'm chris matthews in washington. leading off tonight -- the republicans on the verge of victory. looks as if the tea party already won. last night president obama argued the wealthy should be asked to pay their fair share in taxes, but taxes aren't even in the boehner plan, and they aren't in the reid plan. it's all spending cuts. and there's serious talk about a short-term deal eric cantor would force the president to debate entitlements, taxes and spending all over again in six months. what exactly has president obama won in return? >>> plus, watching the obama/boehner face-off last night, it was hard to believe what we were watching. the republicans are on the brink of winning the battle, in which the very rich will be asked to contribute nada. nothing. and everyone else will be asked to contribute everything. how did we get here? >>> also, silence of the lambs. where are the republican candidates for president? michele bachmann, of course,

thanks for watching, i'm al sharpton. "hardball" starts right now. >>> too much tea, let's play "hardball." >>> good evening. i'm chris matthews's in washington. even if the boehner bill passes the house tonight there are more tough hikes ahead. one u.s. senators need to find a bipartisan alternative to the boehner bill capable of getting the 60 votes you need. that means senators need to get their heads and numbers together. the next fight is the conference between the house and senate that has to find a compromise between the two bills, house and senate that is capable of getting 60 votes if senate again and 216 in the houses. that means a compromise capable of drawing it up democratic house members to r for the loss of republican house members for any compromise to the left of the bill which manages to pass tonight. also, holding the economy hostage, are some republicans willing to see the u.s. defalt or lose its credit rating if they don't see everything they want, don't get everything they want? we will talk it a tea

i'm al sharpton. have a great weekend. "hardball" starts right now. >>> bad numbers. let's play "hardball." >>> good evening, i'm chris matthews in washington. leading off tonight, you can just imagine the glee republicans felt this morning when the terrible jobs numbers came out. the unemployment rate ticking up a tenth of a point and only 18,000 jobs created last month. tim pawlenty, romney, all them had to say this. could that be the new republican talking point, that the economy is struggling because the poor aren't paying enough in taxes? the economy and the race for the white house is our top story tonight. >>> also, is president obama ready to give away too much in talks with republicans? some democrats worry the president will give away the store on medicare, medicaid and social security without getting much in return. are they right? could he get a better deal? could he avoid default? >>> right off the cliff. are republicans so terrified of the tea party, they're willing to tank the economy in order to avoid a challenge from the right? we'll debate that one.

welcome to the show, i'm al sharpton. tonight's lead, breaking news once again, which is moments away from a house vote on speaker boehner's debt plan. the vote he failed to do last night because tea party republicans reviews to get in line. after that embarrassment, boehner revote wroet his bill to make it even more extreme adding, listen to this, a balanced budget amendment that would cripple social security and medicare. it's shocking new evidence that the tea party extremists now control the gop. and they would rather drive the economy off the cliff than than compromise. let's go to nbc's luke russet live on capitol hill. luke, is boehner certain that he has the votes this time? >> he absolutely is, reverend al. i spoke to a few gop aides before i came over here and throughout the day. it was basically widespread knowledge that if boehner did not have the votes for this proposal after he specifically reconfigured it to adhere to the desires of the more conservative part of his conference, then he would have been in de

i'm al sharpton. "hardball" starts right now. >>> is rogue in vogue? let's play "hardball." >>> good evening, i'm crist matthews in washington. leading off tonight, republicans gone rogue. if this deficit crisis were a game of chicken, by now the republicans would have tossed the steering wheel out the window, dumped a cinder block on the accelerator and beyahooing like sam pickens riding the bomb at the end of "dr. strangelove." how do you negotiate with people who are happy to cut the baby in two, happy to see the economy destroyed as long as they get to hot dog over the rubble? that's where we are, because they think their leader's plan, the we win/you lose offer, is too liberal. that's our top story tonight. also, who's to blame? last night we showed you this graphic on how revenues, the black line, have not kept up with spending. what happened to the money? three words, bush tax cuts. the tax cuts that many republicans insisted would magically bring in new revenue, did the opposite. but none of this is helping president obama. his numbers are slip

i'm al sharpton. "hardball" starts right now. >>> it's jul25th. do you know where your debt ceiling is? let's play "hardball." >>> good evening. i'm chris matthews. down in washington, leading off tonight, bad behavior. i've long understood the two parties have different roles to play. democrats focus on the needs of people, health care, the challenges of getting old, urgency of keeping poor people up to some basic level of human existence. republicans focus on, well, the punishment of criminals. a beefy defense policy. lower taxes. fair enough. our country makes it. we decide things out of this back and forth advocacy. whose turn is, noisy democracy at work.ç now a level to one side of this argument right now that's negative, nasty, out of hand. it's threatening to destroy and behaving like the little rich kid who wants to leave the game, take his ball and go home. remember that kid? it's my ball and i want to go home. he's grown up now and says it's my money, and i want to go home and i want it all. is it really the main purpose of the united s

. >> obviously you couldn't make a speech, the reverend al sharpton, go in a trailer and talk about ag in the trailer who has absolutely no hope and say, this is an american who needs help. -- there is some discussion or some idea that maybe african-americans, i guess, the underserved communities in the african-american community, music may be more visible so the perception that he's talking to black people is real. but the fact is, all of america is suffering. the underserved need his help and he needs to stand up for them. and i think that's what this discussion is about. he needs to stand up with them and for them. >> and, by the way, how then could the republicans turn away? >> that's right. >> from that argument? because that would look extremely -- i don't even want to think -- the last time i used this word it ended up -- >> but be careful. >> beyond insensitive. >> but pat buchanan, though, the fact is the way our political system is set up these days, let's face it, campaigns for democrats and republicans are funded by wall street. by the hedge fund guys that get these outrag