accepting on behalf of anne marie murphy, her husband michael and daughters paige and colleen murphy.n behalf of lauren russo, her parent, terry and john russo.

medals given to educators who were killed inside connecticut, rachel davino, dawn hochsprung, anne marie murphy, lauren rousseau. last night, the head of the nra, wayne lapierre, delivered his own response to the president's call for action on guns. >> it's not about keepinging kids safe at school. that wasn't even mentioned in the president's speech. they only care about their decades long, decades old gun control agenda. the president has taken the art of public deception and manipulation to a whole new level. >> and now to the president's pick for defense secretary, chuck hagel is on hold for at least now. republicans successfully halted his nomination until after the recess. >> it's just unfortunate that this kind of politics intruds at a time when i'm when i need a secretary of defense to make sure that the americans are getting the strategy that they deserve. >> john mccain offered this in to the pushback that the nominee is getting from within the gop ranks itself. >> there's a lot of ill will towards senator hagel because when he was a republican, he attacked president bush mercilessly

. >> the presidential citizens medal is awarded to rachel davino, dawn hochsprung, anne marie murphy. lauren russo. mary sherlach. and victoria soto. >> reporter: the president has been using the emotion of newtown to build public support for gun control law. he did it tuesday in an unusual ending at the state of the union. >> gabby giffords deserves a vote. the families of newtown deserve a vote. >> reporter: this afternoon in chicago, a city that saw nearly 500 gunshot-related murders last year, the president noted nearly 70 of those victims were under 18. >> so that's the equivalent of a newtown every four months. >> reporter: for years, it's the nra that has used emotion to win big political battles. the president hopes the emotions of newtown change the equation. chuck todd, nbc news, washington. >>> federal prosecutors today filed campaign finance charges against former chicago congressman jesse jackson jr. and his wife sandi. jackson has admitted to using $750,000 in campaign money to buy personal items, including a rolex watch, mink coats, furniture and even a hat once worn by

and then when dawn hochsprung and mary sherlach, vicki soto, lauren rousseau, rachel davino, anne marie murphyat sandy hook on december 14th of last year, they expected a day like any other, doing what was right for their kids, spent a chilly morning welcoming young students, they had no idea that evil was about to strike. and when it did, they could have taken shelter by themselves. they could have focus canned on their own safety, on their own well-being, but they didn't. they gave their lives to protect the precious children in their care. they gave all they had for the most innocent and helpless among us. and that's what we honor today. the courageous heart, the selfless spirit, the inspiring actions of extraordinary americans, extraordinary citizens. we are a nation of 315 million people. out of all of these folks, around 6,000 were nominated for this medal and today, you're the ones receiving it. not just for what you do but for what you represent for the shining example that you set every single day and the inspiration that you give each of us as fellow citizens, including your presiden

medals given to educators who were killed inside connecticut, rachel davino, dawn hochsprung, anne marie murphyast night, the head of the nra, wayne lapierre, delivered his own response to the president's call for action on guns. >> it's not about keepinging kids safe at school. that wasn't even mentioned in the president's speech. they only care about their decades long, decades old gun control agenda. the president has taken the art of public deception and manipulation to a whole new level. >> and now to the president's pick for defense secretary, chuck hagel is on hold for at least now. republicans successfully halted his

. >> dawn hotsprung and mary serlach, vicky solo, lauren russo, rachel devino, ann marie murphy.heir lives to protect the precious children in their care. they gave all they had for the most innocent and helpless among us. that's who we honor today. the courageous heart, the selfless spirit, the inspiring actions of extraordinary americans. >> the triumph was no triumph. the carnival cruise ship finally reaches shore, and -- >> we didn't have water. we didn't have showers. we didn't have hot meals. >> it was literally like being in a floating port-a-potty. >> what's the first thing you're going to do? >> um -- >> charged with murder. the shocking court appearance today of the blade runner south africa's star double amputee sprinter. >> siberian skies. a ten-ton meet orrite threatens thousands with a window-shattering sonic boom. >>> in a cosmic coincidence, it came just hours before today's suspected close call with a 150-mile wide asteroid. david letterman says don't panic. >> do not fear the approaching asteroid. the nation of iran has solved the problem. we have launched our m