>> that was my reaction to billy graham. it is profound. here he is talking about it. >> almost as if he anticipated what circus was going to happen in vegas in the afternoon. >> one is playing political blackjack in vegas at the craps room and he's at the prayer breakfast talking about billy graham. >> there is politics at the breakfast. but it was a free bee to talk about the least of these the day after mitt romney says i don't care about the poor. >> the last national bet that, steve, that donald trump made was when he bet on black or red that president obama couldn't come up with his birth certificate. he did come up with it and donald trump still stands. it's a statement about his hue brus. thank you, both. a clear day like this. >>> coming up, the optics of the trump endorsement aren't good for romney. it comes a day after romney said he's not concerned about the little people. that has some republicans even wondering if this guy has good enough chops to be the nominee. do people want to be in the company of a guy who talks like this

finding christ when he wasn'ting of him the fact that i would saying a prayer for billy graham, a man whose faith had changed the world and sustained him through try uts and. that sichl fact humbled me to my dort. . not only in my christian life but in the lives of this nation and the values that hold it together and keep us strong. i know that you will guys us. he always has and he always will. and si know the challenges for each of you in the days ahead. thank you very much. [ applause ] >> thank you, mr. president, for sharing your heart and your faith with us. you have a room full of people here praying for you and your family. god bless the president of the united states of america. [ applause ] >> speaking of powerful people, let's hear one more time from jackie ivanko. [ applause ] ♪ ♪ thy kingdom come ♪ thy will be done ♪ on earth as it is in heaven ♪ give us this daily bread ♪ and forgive us our debts ♪ as we forgive our debtors ♪ and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us ♪ ♪ from evil for thine is the kingdom ♪ ♪ and the power and the glory ♪ forever ♪ god is the kingd

here's president obama speaking about the great billy graham. let's listen. >> one of the great honors of my life which was visiting reverend graham at his mountain top retreat in north carolina when i was on vacation with my family. this man who had prayed great prayers that inspired a nation. this man who seemed larger than life greeted me and was as kind and as gentle as could be. when he finished praying, i felt the urge to pray for him. i didn't really know what to say. what do you pray for when it comes to the man who has prayed for so many? >> that was my reaction to billy graham. it is profound. here he is talking about it. the president of the united states at a prayer breakfast. >> almost as if he anticipated what circus was going to happen in vegas in the afternoon. >> one guy is out there playing political blackjack in vegas at the craps room and he's with the prayer breakfast talking billy graham. >> i know it will shock you to know there is some politics at the national prayer breakfast. but it was a freebie to talk about the least

he made his way and had a meeting with billy graham and his son. you kristen welker is live at the white house. in an election year sometimes your ear is tuned in for politics. most of the prayer breakfast is usually not about politics. i couldn't help but think of the timing, if you will, of listening to the president talk about the very poor, talk about worrying about the poor in a way frankly that all presidents do at these prayer breakfasts. but to hear it to day just after the mitt romney thing, you know, forgive me for having my ear tuned into politics. >> it's interesting, chuck. that's what stood out for me. talk about the importance of caring for the poor. almost the direct inverse of what mitt romney said yesterday during that gaffe that he made when he said that he wasn't particularly concerned about the poor. something, of course, that mitt romney has said was taken out of context. but it was seemingly another veiled swipe that the president took at mitt romney. and we sort of tallied how many of these veiled swipes he's taken over the

. >> the fact i would ever be on top of a mountain, saying a prayer for billy graham, a man whose faith has changed the world and sustained him through try umps and tragedies and movements and milestones, that simple fact humbled me to my core. >> reverend graham, i have to ask you tonight, doesn't that give us a snapshot of president obama's heart? examining someone's heart, mind, conscience, isn't that part of it all? i guess that's not enough for franklin graham. the president still hasn't proven himself. but graham is totally convinced that rick santorum is a christian. >> do you believe that rick santorum is christian? >> oh, i think so. >> how do you know if the standard is only the person knows what is within them, when you apply to the president is why it different for rick santorum? >> because his values are so clear on moral issues. no question about it. >> your reaction to the difference to the question about rick santorum and president obama i think exposes incredible double standard, they are the same situation. >> no, i asked president obama how he came to faith in christ.

mark read a letter from billy graham and it took me back to one of the great honors in my life, which was visiting reverend graham at his mountain top retreat in north carolina when i was on vacation with my family at a hotel not far away. and i can still remember winding up the path, up a mountain to his home. 91 years old at the time, facing various health challenges, he welcomed me as he would welcome a family member or a close friend. this man who had prayed great prayers that inspired a nation. this man who seemed larger than life greeted me and was as kind and as gentle as could be. we had a wonderful conversation. before i left, reverend graham started praying for me, as he had prayed for so many presidents before me. when he finished praying, i felt the urge to pray for him. i didn't really know what to say. what do you pray for when it comes to the man who has prayed for so many. but like that verse in romans, the holy spirit interceded when i didn't know quite what to say. so i prayed briefly. but i prayed from the heart. i don't have the intellectual capacity or the lung ca

on "morning joe" today, evangelist franklin graham, reverend billy graham's son, fast doubts on whether president obama is a christian. >> by your definition, he's not a christian? >> you have to ask him. i cannot answer that question for anybody. >> but you do not believe he's a muslim? >> no. >> categorically not a muslim? >> i can't say categorically because islam has gotten a free pass under obama. >> reporter: two years ago, the president visited an ailing billy graham. at the national prayer breakfast three weeks ago, he spoke about it. >> reverend graham started praying for me as he had for so many presidents before me. and when he finished praying, i felt the urge to pray for him. >> reporter: today, the white house dismissed franklin graham's comments saying the president had just talked at the prayer breakfast about the importance of faith in his life. mitt romney's faith was also questioned today by franklin graham. >> most christians would not recognize mormonism as part of the christian faith. >> reporter: the last time he ran for president, romney tried to put the mormon i

virtually every white house going back to harry truman, america's spiritual president in some ways, billy graham. he played a significant role in your lives, didn't he? >> big, big. >> tell us. >> billy was a great friend of ours, and certainly a great friend, george's mother adored him. and she went to the inauguration, the first one, and then she went back to the white house in the queen's bedroom. billy came back and sat with her and so he was that close a friend. and she would tell george, i think the happiest day of my life was when billy graham came and sat on the porch and talked to us. but he came to dinners, and i think y'all were there when he came to the dinners and one of our nephews or cousins, one of george's millions, was there at dinner and said to him, dr. graham, i have a very close friend whose brother died, and he was a very good guy, why did that happen? and billy was so sweet, and he gave him a wonderful, loving answer, which seemed to satisfy him at the time, but it's a hard answer, and billy was so thoughtful to our family and certainly loved george w. and h.w. >> faith c

billy graham's son making some provocative comments about the president and mitt romney. is it here? there's a report tonight that debris from the japanese earthquake has arrived on the west coast of the united states. the rally. the dow cracks 13,000, but what does it really mean fomillions of americans struggling to keep their heads above water and gas in the tank these days? and a time bomb for baby boomers. a big health warning tonight about what they're calling a silent epidemic and how it can escape detection. silent epidemic and how it can escape detection. "nightly news" begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> good evening. it didn't take long for the issue that loomed so large in the last presidential election to find its way to the headlines in this lex. election. the president's religion, the religion of his challenger, especially mitt romney's mormonism was front and center again today, helped along by the remarks this morning on live television by the son of the most famous preacher in america. we have two reports tonight, before we hear

son of billy graham. again questioning whether president obama really is a christian saying his policies favor muslims and throwing in the fact that muslims think he's a fellow muslim. what is this about? you're watching "hardball" on msnbc. the past is a powerful t. but we couldn't simply repeat history. we had to create it. introducing the 2013 lexus gs, with leading-edge safety technology, like available blind spot monitor... [ tires screech ] ...night view... and heads-up display. [ engine revving ] the all-new 2013 lexus gs. there's no going back. oh! [ baby crying ] ♪ what started as a whisper ♪ every day, millions of people choose to do the right thing. ♪ slowly turned to a scream ♪ there's an insurance company that does that, too. liberty mutual insurance. responsibility. what's your policy? ♪ amen, omen >>> rick santorum and mitt romney continue to fight it out for the nomination. we're talking about that tonight. what a new survey of registered republicans and independent voters asked who should

as the race ffr franklin grrham, son of famed evangelist billy graham... is apologizing for questioning president obama's faith.the apology comes after a group of religiouusleaders with the n-double-a-c-p criticized him for saying he did not know wheeher obama is a ccristian. they also took issue aa is suggestion that islamic llw &pmuslim, becaase his father wa muslim.graham says he ow accepts obama's christianity. he adds the president's religion had no role in his decision not to support his re-election.graham saysshe disagrees with obama's views on abortion and same-sex marriage ... saying they directly conflict with the bible. coming up on the early edition... a cecil county neighborhood... in shock. phock.11:55:50 wwat's going on ? now?the mistake the suspect made.... that lead police right to his meth lab... in his yard. yardd ((bbeak 1)) achoo! [ male announcer ] but when she used tissues, she went crazy wild. tissue after tissue, she always took a ton. until mom explained with puffs ultra soft & strong, you only need one. two times stronger than th

franklin graham, son of the wonderful billy graham. again questioning whether president obama really is a christian, saying his policies favor muslims and throwing in the fact that muslims think he's one of their brothers, a fellow muslim. what is this about? you're watching "hardball" only on msnbc. [ male announcer ] what makes you trust a company? wait -- scratch that -- what makes you trust a car insurance company? a talking animal? a talking character? a talking animal character? how fancy their commercials are, maybe? or how many there are? well what about when a company's customers do the talking? esurance customers are saying stuff like "awesome" and "rockin'." and they aren't even paid to. fancy that. esurance. insurance for the modern world. click or call. >>> rick santorum and mitt romney continue to fight it out for the nomination. we're talking about that tonight. what a new survey of registered republicans and independent voters asked who should be the vice presidential running mate? topping the list is florida senator ma

franklin graham, son of the wonderful billy graham. again questioning whether president obama really is a christian, saying his policies favor muslims and throwing in the fact that muslims think he's one of their brothers, a fellow muslim. what is this about? you're watching "hardball" only on msnbc. every time a vehicle comes into a ford dealership you'll be presented with one of these. we check the belts, hoses... brakes. tires and the pressures... battery, all your fluids... exhaust system, transmission... we inspect your air filter... it gets done,it gets done quickly and it gets done correctly. the works. oil change, tire rotation and more: $29.95 or less after rebate - at your ford dealer. you're a doctor... you're a car doctor. maybe a car doctor... are you still sleeping? just wanted to check and make sure that we were on schedule. the first technology of its kind... mom and dad, i have great news. is now providing answers families need. siemens. answers. >>> rick santorum and mitt romney continue to fight it out for the nomina

thank you. >>> the son of the famed evangelist billy graham is making some controversial comments aboutmney and president obama when it comes to their faith. frankly graham said this this morning about romney who's a mormon. >> is he a christian? >> he's a mormon. >> but he's said he's part of the judeo christian faith. do you take him at his word on that? >> most christians would not recognize mormons as part of the christian faith. of course, they believe in jesus christ, but they have a lot of other things they believe in too, that we don't accept. >> graham went on to repeat a previous assertion that he believes that president obama was born a muslim under islamic law. our chief white house correspondent jessia yellin is getting reaction from the white house. >> some are breathing new like -- >> it's like a flashback to the lowest moments. he had a astonishing response, when asked if he could cat goirgly -- >> i can't say categorically, because islam has gotten a free pass under obama. >> reporter: it would seem challenging president obama's faith is roaring back as a strategy in ca

well, because billy graham is a major evangelical leader in this country. he has met with every u.s. president since harry truman. in 2010, he even met with and prayed with president obama, yet today, graham's son refused to call the president a christian. >> do you by live that president obama is a christian? >> well, i think you have to ask president obama. he has said he is a christian, so i just have to assume that he is. >> you stated in the past the president is a christian as much as he goes to church on sunday but you don't know if he has accepted jesus christ. do you still believe that? >> i mean, i don't know. >> so, therefore, by your definition, he is not a christian? >> again, you have to ask him. i cannot answer that question for anybody. >> franklin graham is not gonna answer that question for anybody? anybody? well, except for rick santorum. >> do you believe that rick santorum is christian? >> oh, i think so. i believe that he is. i think he is -- i think he is, no question. i believe's man of faith. >> so, rick santorum is a man of faith,

consider this, a kid with no name recognition and no background, is reaching a bigger audience than billy graham ever packed into a stadium. >> we have come to present the message of jesus christ. >> reporter: bethke, a guy that lives on a bunk bed with his roommate, and works helping disadvantaged kids is suddenly a very big deal. >> i want you to give a huge welcome to jeff bethke. >> reporter: churches across the country want to bring him out to speak and to perform. >> now that i know jesus, i both of my weakness. >> reporter: a recent church service, we found young people swarming him for autographs and pictures. and taking about his video like it was the latest justin bieber hit. >> it's all over facebook. it's all over twitter. it's everywhere. >> it's becoming some global kind of uproar in a way. >> reporter: but not everyone's a fan. >> none of us are perfect or sitting together. but christ and religion, you can't really sever. >> reporter: far from it. >> we need some help in the church. and that i believe. but don't speak to the people, half-truths to deceive. >> reporter: the faithfu

his father, billy graham, was a member of our church for 50 years. we love franklin graham. i think he should have stuck with his original premise and that is that president obama claims to be a christian. in my book, i quote an interview with president obama in which he says he has trusted in jesus christ for the forgiveness of his sins. and by that definition, he's a christian. you know, if you were to say, lawrence, you're a democrat, i could take you at your word, i believe you're a democrat,but i don't know for sure unless i go to the voting booth and see you vote. i take you at your word and have no reason to doubt you and no reason to doubt president obama is a christian. >> what he said about mitt romney and mormonism, what is your reaction to that? >> well, i do agree with franklin. of course, as you replayed it at the beginning of the program, my comments about mormonism. mormonism is not historic christianity. when people say, well, mormons and christians, say all believe the same things, my response is if that's true, why are they always on my front doorstep tryi

billy graham's son making some provocative comments about the president and mitt romney.it here? there's a report tonight that debris from the japanese

each of you the special sense of the spirit as you pray together and pray in jesus' name signed billy graham. >> thank you. jesus said that if we had faith as small a mustard

the reverend billy graham's son said he could not answer whether president obama is a christian. said the president has told him he is but he can't say for sure. franklin graham did say he believed both rick santorum and newt gingrich were christians. after being pressed about president obama, here's what graham said -- >> president obama, the muslims of the world -- he seems to be more concerned about them than the christians that are being murdered in the muslim countries. that's what bothers me. >> for mitt romney, graham said most christians would not recognize mormonism. but he believes romney would be a good president if he got the nominati nomination. >>> it will be the first museum on the mall in years. wendy rieger joins us now. wendy? >> reporter: vance, this is going to be so cool. you have to get this on your radar. the groundbreaking is tomorrow. this is the tent where they're going to have president obama, former first lady laura bush and all the dig tenitaries will be e tomorrow morning. it's right in the shadow of the washington monument. but, boy, oh, boy, when t

mark read a letter from billy graham, and it took me back to one of the great honors of my life, whichas visiting reverend graham at his retreat in north carolina. and we had a wonderful conversation. before i left, reverend graham started praying for me as he had prayed for so many presidents before me. and when he finished praying, i felt the urge to pray for him. i didn't really know what to say. what do you pray for when it comes to the man who has prayed for so many. but like that verse in romans, the holy spirit interceded when i didn't know quite what to say. and so i prayed. briefly. but i prayed from the heart. i don't have the intellectual capacity or the lung capacity of some of my great preacher friends here to pray for a long time, but i prayed. and we ended with an embrace and a warm good-bye and i thought about that moment all the way down the mountain. and i've thought about it in the many days since. because i thought about my own spiritual journey. growing up in a household that wasn't particularly religious. going nthrough my own period of doubt and confusion. findin

mark read a letter from billy graham, and it took me back to one of the great honors of my life, which was visiting reverend graham at his mountaintop retreat in north carolina, when i was on vacation with my family at a hotel not far away. and i can still remember winding up the path up a mountain to his home. ninety-one years old at the time, facing various health challenges, he welcomed me as he would welcome a family member or a close friend. this man who had prayed great prayers that inspired a nation, this man who seemed larger than life, greeted me and was as kind and as gentle as could be. and we had a wonderful conversation. before i left, reverend graham started praying for me, as he had prayed for so many presidents before me. and when he finished praying, i felt the urge to pray for him. toidn't really know what say. what do you pray for when it comes to the man who has prayed for so many? but like that verse in romans, the holy spirit interceded when i didn't know quite what to say. and so i prayed -- briefly, but i prayed from the heart. i don't have the intellectual capa

listen to him describe this humbling experience meeting the reverend billy graham.old that wasn't particularly religious. going through my own period of doubt and confusion. finding christ when i wasn't even looking for him so many years ago. possessing so many shortcomings that have been overcome by the simple grace of god. and the fact that i would ever be on top of a mountain saying a prayer for billy graham, a man whose faith had changed the world that had sustained him through triumphs and tradition and movements and milestones, that simple fact humbled me to my core. i have fallen on my knees with great regularity since that moment, asking god for guidance, not just in my personal life and my christian walk but in the life of this nation and in the values that hold us together and keep us strong. i know that he will guide us. he always has and he always will. and i pray his richest blessings on each of you in the days ahead. >> for a guy whose faith has been criticized, judged and called into question, that was some pretty candid stuff. was that a more religio

evangelical franklin graham, reverend billy graham's son, weighed in on the candidates and their faith saying that he believes that rick santorum and newt gingrich are christians. last week santorum accused president obama of having a "phony theology." he later said he was not referring to the president's religion but rather to his policy on the environment. graham cast doubts on the president's religion. >> i cannot answer that question for anybody. >> but you do not believe he's a muslim -- >> no, no. >> categorically not a husband sflim. >> no. -- muslim? >> no, i can't say categorically because islam has gotten a free pass under obama. >> the white house dismissed the comment saying the president had just talked about the importance of faith in his life. graham also questioned mitt romney's faith saying most christians would not recognize his mormon religion as part of the christian faith. >>> this morning police are looking for a man who attacked a 10-year-old on her way home from school. the girl's mother spoke exclusively to news4. anne arundel county police released this compos

graham is the son of billy graham. he said, i apologize to the president and any i have offended for not articulating why i am not supporting him in this election. members of the naacp accused him of racial dischord. the number of mosques increased in the last decade according to a new study researchers found that the national count was 2,106 islamic centers compared to 1,209 back in the year 2000. and under a thousand back in 1994. the report was released today. the title is the american -- 2011 based on mailing lists, websites and interviews with community leaders and surveyed 500 mosque leaders. former senator bob perry,. vacated. democrat as well. kerry was also a presidential candidate back in 1992 and a former nebraska governor. finally the smithsonian institution plans a four-day festival with nasa to welcome space shuttle discovery to the discussion in april. national air and space museum announcing plans for more than 25 special exhibits, programs and activities to highlight the history of the space shuttle pr

the tryouts are being held at the billy graham civic auditorium at the civic center in san francisco.it is always surreal to me that here we are in san francisco in a room full of people and some of these people will be performing live in new york city this summer for america to vote on and more a million dollar prize. >> 90 seconds to filter through all the stuff you have done in your life and musically and then try to figure out what should i do. >> all right. buck wheat caterpillar will stand out. if you have a special talent, you still have a chance to audition tomorrow from 8234 the morning until -- 8 in the morning until 7 tomorrow night. i am not sure what to say about that last picture. >> what time did you say that was, diane? >> henry, you are not allowed, dude. no way. >> i have plenty of talent. come on. i want the hours. you said 8 in the morning until when? >> 7:00 at night. you have plenty of time. >> sending me bad information. i know what's going on with you. coming up in sports we'll show you how tiger woods looked in the third round of the at&t national pro am. can

and the fact that i would ever be on top of a mountain saying a prayer for billy graham, a man whose faith had changed the world and sustained him through triumphs and tragedies and movements and milestones. that simple fact humbled me to my core. i have fallen on my knees with great regularity in that moment asking god for guidance not just in my personal life and christian walk but in the values of the nation that hold us together and keep us strong. i know that he will guide us. he always has and he always will and i pray his richest blessings on each of you in the days ahead. thank you very much. [applause] martha: all right. comments this morning by president obama at the national prayer breakfast in washington. it is a tradition that that has been going on since the days of dwight eisenhower. you see mrs. obama with him. you he spoke about a experience he had praying with billy graham as so many presidents have as a moving moment in his life and presidency as the national prayer breakfast continues this morning in washington. bill: as we move forward now we'll take a look at th