congressman clyburn, thank you for watching. here is president obama last night in madison, wisconsin. >> i know times are tough right now. i know times are tough. i know a lot of folks are anxious about the future and i know that during the campaign, especially after we had already

how about jim clyburn?e says if the republicans do get the majority, then it will be subpoena city usa in washington, d.c. and the birthers are going to go after president obama constitutionally on where he was born. todd, what about this? iflgts he's absolutely right. the last time republicans controlled the house up dan burton leading a crazy circus sideshow investigating all sort of nutty ideas. they spent 140 hours of deposition about whether the clinton white house misused its credit card -- its christmas card list. so absolutely, if you need another reason to vote for democrats in november, it's to keep the house and dan burton and darrell issa away from the governmental affairs committee as this government is facing two wars and a fragile economy, wasting the president's time answering a bunch of subpoena. >> clyburn says the white house will be full time responding to subpoenas about where the many matt or may not have been born, whether his mother and father were ever married and whether his family

congressman clyburn's dead wrong. you are not going to do the kind of burden stuff. not shooting at cantaloupes out back, not doing birther stuff even though burton's on one of the birther list and so the fortinbury. >> not at all. first of all, that issue is long since settled. i came into congress when people were questioning whether or not george bush was legitimate. i thought we should work with the president. two years ago i felt the same and i have been since. >> well, let's take a look at some things you said. something on may 25th of this year concerning the issue of joe sestak, your fellow congressman. let's watch. >> an allegation has been made that multiple sources many both parties, anthony weiner, dick morris and other democrats have made it very clear, even axelrod, that they should answer that in fact this is serious, this is an impeachable offense, according to dick morris and i think that brings back the question that it's not about what was done wrong, it's about the cover up. >> do you believe there was any impeachable offense involved in white hou

so it's not true, congressman clyburn's dead wrong. you are not going to do the kind of burden stuff. not shooting at cantaloupes out back on the vince foster case. you're not going to be doing birther stuff and although burton's on one of the birther list and so is fortenberry he's apparently talking like a birther. you're not going to follow their lead? >> not at all. >> not at all. first of all, that issue is long since settled. i came into congress when people were questioning whether or not george w. bush was legitimate. then, i thought we should move on and work with the president. two years ago i felt the same way and i have been since. >> well, let's take a look at some things you have said. you've answered that question. something that you said on may 25th of this year concerning the issue of joe sestak, your fellow congressman. let's watch. >> an allegation has been made that mult mel sources in both parties, anthony wiener, dick morris and other democrats have made it very clear, even axelrod, that they should answer that in

congressman clyburn, thank you for watching. here is president obama last night in madison, wisconsin. >> i know times are tough right now. i know times are tough. i know a lot of folks are anxious about the future and i know that during the campaign, especially after we had already started winning, the feeling was, well this is just exciting, you got those nice hope posters and then there was the inauguration and beyonce singing and bono and i know sometimes it feels a long way from the hope and excitement that we felt on election day or the day of the inauguration. but i've got to say, we always knew this was gonna take time. we always knew this was gonna be hard. >> congressman clyburn that is barack obama, the president of the united states, back in campaign mode. can he lift the spirits of the party? >> oh, absolutely. look, i've been out there every weekend for the last three, four weeks and i can tell you, i was in pennsylvania, new jersey, delaware, this past sunday, monday, tuesday, and people are upbeat. they're now se

clyburn suggesting some voters and possibly some members don't even understand the tax cuts. >> if you make $251,000 you get the same tax cut for the first $250,000 that everybody gets for that or less. the only thing you pay the increase is that $1,000, not the $251,000. i think one of the reasons there's been some recalcitrance is that people have not made that clear. we're proposing the first $250,000 of all americans' income and applying the bush numbers -- apply to all income over that. >> there is enmity in the caucus over what congressman clyburn just said. the anxiety comes from what our colleagues across the building will do in the united states senate and that's where the discussions still emanate from. >> howard fineman has been tracking this story on the hill and trying to get a correct definition of the term "erstwhile." why did harry reid duck this fight with republicans and does that mean it's dead as well? >> i think it's dead. as we said, i think they were going to flinch and they did. for congressman clyburn trying to explain at this late date that fundamental questio

how majority whip jim clyburn isn't either. he's limp him up coming up in the "battleground" segment tonight. >>> violence is coming from the left. what a load of garbage this guy is selling now. all of that, plus the imam slams carioo barbie and one of the kids from "fox & friends" lands on "the zone" tonight. [ female announcer ] you use the healing power of touch every day. ♪ now the healing power of touch just got more powerful. introducing precise from the makers of tylenol. precise pain relieving cream works quickly to activate sensory receptors. it helps block pain signals fast for relief you can feel precisely where you need it most. precise. only from the makers of tylenol. [ male announcer ] what if clean sheet day became clean sheet week? new ultra downy april fresh has scent pearls that give you a whole week of freshness with just one wash. ♪ and from day 1 to day 7, ultra downy april fresh lets you climb in to more freshness than this other fabric softener. so why settle? get more. feel more. >>> brand new economic

congressman jim clyburn from south carolina. now this joke of a pledge mentions the middle class three times. and says zero about the poverty rate and nothing about diversity. for more, let's bring in hillary shelton, he was the senior vice president for policy and advocacy at the naacp. mr. shelton, good to have you with us tonight. >> it's great to be. >> back. >> as someone who has advocated for people all of your life, how did you feel today? did you feel included in this plan. >> not at all. as a matter of fact, what i felt is as if we're reverting back it a policies agenda that was not helpful. one that came out of an administration, that actually ended up cutting programs and services, not only for the poor, but actually not enforcing the civil rights protection for racial and ethic americans in our society. it was a step backward in a time when our nation needs to move forward. >> is it something that would motivate in your opinion, minorities and all different progressive groups across the country to realize that if the

clyburn: i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit. the question is on the motion to recommit. those in favor say aye. opposed say no. the ayes have it. the motion is adopted. .6 c16 c16 c16 c13 for what purpose does the gentleman from north carolina rise? >> pursuant to the instructions of the house and the motion to recommit i report h.r. 4785 [to the house -- back to the house with an amendment. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the amendment. the clerk: amendment offered by mr. butterfield of north carolina, page 1, line 5, insert with a gross annual household income of less than $250,000 after homeowner. page 1, line 9 insert -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from south carolina. mr. clyburn: i ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection? without objection. the reading is dispensed with. the question is on adoption of the amendment. so many as are in favor

. >> clyburn went on to say the democrats will fight back with a rigorous response. republicans say they're ready. >> we challenge speaker pelosi, leader reid to bring these bills up. to change the course of america. we ask the american public to join our fight. >> reporter: social conservatives worry the issues they hear most about would be absent from the pledge. they did make it in, but really with only brief mentions. commitment to traditional marriage and opposition to using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions. bret? >> bret: shannon, thank you. much more on this with the panel. new claims for unemployment insurance jumped by 12,000 last week. this that is the first increase in the last five weeks. sales of previously occupied homes were up 7.6% in august, after a terrible july. mortgage rates are unchanged this week. and the index of leading economic indicators was up .# of a percentage point last month. stocks were down today. the dow lost 77. the s&p 500 gave back 9-1/2. the nasdaq fell 7-1/2. the middle east was the focal point of president obama's second add

clyburn: thank you very much, mr. speaker. i thank my friend, chairman holden, for yielding me the time. mr. speaker, i rise in strong support of h.r. 4785, the rural saveings program act and i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the rural star as it is popularily called is an important piece of the make it in america agenda. it's a program that will create jobs and help save families money on their energy bills. supreme court justice brand eyes once called our 50 states laboratories of democracy. and that is certainly the case with this home-grown american-owned ideal. the rural electric coops in south carolina brought this idea to my attention late last year and i worked with my colleague, congressman johnson sfrat, to craft legislation that -- john spratt, to craft legislation. i am very proud that south carolina is providing significant leadership for our economic recovery. with this innovative approach to job creation and energy savings. the concept is very simple. low cost home improvement loans for en

. >> let me tell you what jim clyburn said earlier in reaction to this. >> sure. >> after reading over it last night, it occurred to me if this is implemented what we are going to see is the infliction of a plague on america. >> i think that's a little extreme, but go ahead. >> i suspected you would say that. while it's not the wording that you've used in criticizing this pledge, again, they're not getting the traction. i know you love to call sarah palin sister sarah. i'm curious to see if she'll defend the pledge. she did not mention the really party in the new web ad, talking about this tea party movement. to our knowledge we didn't hear a lot of touting of the tea party as the republican members of the house talked about this pledge to america. >> look who has done well. christine o'donnell came out of nowhere and knocked off an established republican. this fellow paladino is beating up cuomo mercifumercifully. he's not out there putting out a program. he's going after them. he's on the offensive. in politics, this democrats have a fortress they have to defend. they have a record.

so the response is coming, chad, as congressman clyburn just mentioned.mentioned the contract with america. newt gingrich brought that out in 1994. you covered that as well. how would you compare the two? there's a lot of comparisons being made between both documents. >> fundamentally, this is a pledge. not a contract, a pledge is something short of that. in 1994 republicans bought an ad in tv guide e enumerating the tn points in the contract and asked people to post it next to their tv screens. they said this way you can check off how we're doing in the first 100 days. in 1994 republicans, you know, were charging toward here, and they've been very artful this time around to try to draw illusions to that time 16 years ago. in fact, if you watch the tape of the rollout of the contract, you hear much of the same rhetoric today. anger in the electorate, only one party was listening and the other not, but there's truly only one parallel the republicans need to make, and to them it's capturing the house. they do that, people won't care whether it's a contract

majority wrist -- majority whip clyburn has golf tournament and others awarded congressional black caucuships to relatives. >>> the u.s. hit iran with another set of economic sanctions. but these are not over the nuclear program. national correspondent steve centanni fills in the blanks from the pentagon. >> reporter: two top candidate members, secretary of state hillary clinton and treasury secretary tim geithner appear together at the state department to announce new sanctions against individuals in iran for human rights violations. including the head of the revolutionary guard and other cabinet ministers. the u.s. action stems from a police crackdown following the iranian election in june of last year. hundreds of protesters alleging massive election fraud were arrested and at least 30 were killed. since then, secretary clinton notes a steady deterioration of human rights in iran. >> these officials watch, or under their command, the iranian citizens have been arbitrarily arrested, beaten, tortured, raped, blackmailed and killed. yet, the iranian government has ignored repeated calls f

that was john boehner introducing the republican's pledge to america and here's what james clyburn ofouth carolina had to say about it. >> i have after reading over it last night, it occurred to me that if this is implemented, what we are going to see is the infliction of a plague on america. >> what effect will this new pledge have on the midterms? joining me now, steve mcmahan and todd harris. here are some of the points in the pledge on paper. it calls for making bush tax cuts permanent. business tax cuts, giving small businesses a deduction equal to 20% of their business income. it calls for a new cap on government spending. for the repeal of the health care bill. repeal. and fully funding, i don't know where this came from, missile defense. full funding of missile defense. that's an odd one. you're not laughing, steve. here's what is hidden under the table. changing the 14th amendment to guarantee citizenship. it's not on the paper here. >> people come here to have babies. they come here to drop a child. it's called drop and leave. >> republicans are talking about actions that wo

friend, somebody who all of us rely on for his wisdom, his steadiness -- the house majority whip, jim clyburnlause] a couple of folks who are working tirelessly in my cabinet -- the attorney general of the united states, eric holder, is in the house. [applause] the woman who is charged with implementing health care reform -- hhs secretary kathleen sebelius is here. [applause] our united states trade representative, ambassador ron kirk is here. [applause] and obviously it is a great honor to have been able to speak backstage to this year's phoenix award honorees, judith jamison, harry belafonte, sheila oliver, and simeon booker. thank you for everything that you've done for america. [applause] i know you've spent a good deal of time during cbc weekend talking about a whole range of issues, and talking about what the future holds not just for the african american community, but for the united states of america. i've been spending some time thinking about that, too. [laughter] and at this time of great challenge, one source of inspiration is the story behind the founding of the congressional bla

>> congressman clyburn and i are about the same age.et's talk about compromise on the hill, congressman. you are the majority whip. you to count the votes. yet steny hoyer obviously hearing from democrats in the south and the midwest, we don't want to raise taxes right now, we don't want to be seen as raising taxes right now. let's extend the bush tax cuts a year or two. do we have a compromise coming up on that issue? >> i've been hearing that. i think what we'll see happening is that, when you go district by district, you get one result. if you look at the country as a whole, this proposal that the president has put forth is very, very popular. 59%, 60% of the american people say they're for it. when you start going to each congressional district, then you're getting a different result. >> and that's your concern, that's steny's concern, when you have somebody like perry ello and i don't know if he's involved with this, saying i've walked the plank on health care and on cap and trade. i can't walk the plank on taxes. you guys have to

but i forget sometimes, talking about the '40s and '50s, and when i talk to friends, jim clyburn.an. it's amazing there are so many guys like jim clyburn that have to have this same position. >> i think michele is telling a story about another aspect of the greatest generation. these world war ii guys and women, but they are heroic in many, many, many ways. and the african-american experience she's talking about is another aspect of their stoicism. he wanted to help his family, but it was a positive act for the country to say that i've served and i'm going to continue serving by keeping my stories to myself so my children are free. >> what i tried to do in the book also was try to understand people who lived on the other side of the color line. they were the first black family that lived in minneapolis. my mother, it would be easy for her to be angry and she now lives in a condominium where there are white women, black women, most of her friends are probably not ones who would have befriended her in the 1950s. it's important to think about people who lived on the other side of the

the other is jim clyburn who is one of the top ranking democrats in the house.s could be a huge pickup opportunity for republicans which helps explain why they have devoted so much attention to this race. congressman spratt chairs the budget committee. he's one of nancy pelosi's key people in the house. and he's one of the top democrats on the armed services committee. with his longevity, with his leadership, he's certainly been a high-profile congressman and it would be a considerable blow to democrats to lose him. congressman spratt has been in congress for 28 years. he's serving his 14th term. he's the longest serving congressman in south carolina. he's chairman of the budget committee and he's the second ranking democrat on the armed services committee. he's carved out a reputation as the budget guru in the house. one of his signature achievements was the helping president clinton pass the balanced budget agreement in 1997. he's now serving on president obama's deficit commission. congressman spratt's won pretty happenedily in the last several elections -- h

brownback and lindsay graham as well as my friend from columbia, south carolina, the honorable jim clyburn for assisting in this effort. i'd also like to ex pry -- express my appreciation to the conservation organizations that have assisted in this effort, including the wildlife conservation society, the world wildlife fund, the humane society of the united states, the association of zoose and aquariums, -- zoos and aquariums and safari club international. these clupes -- groups worked tirelessly for the passage of this bill and i thank them. i urge an aye vote. there is no question that it will help stamp out extinction. thank you, mr. speaker. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentlewoman from the virgin islands. mrs. christensen: thank you, mr. speaker. i also want to mention our colleague from guam, congresswoman bordallo's support for this bill. though she could not be here to support this as she's on official business, she relays her thanks to the gentleman from south carolina for his efforts on this legislation and for

the doctors scott, president and foundation.bc jim clyburn earned. eric holder is in the house.he woman who is charged with implementing health care reform, hhs secretary, kathleen sebelius. she is here. our united states trade representative, the ambassador is here. and, obviously, it is a great honor to be able to speak backstage to this year's phoenix award honorees, harry belafonte, sheila oliver, and others. thank you for all that you have done for america. i know you have spent a good deal of time during cbc weekend, talking about a whole range of issues and talking about what the future holds not just for the african-american community but for the united states of america. i have been spending some time thinking about that, too. and at this time, a great challenge, one source of inspiration is a story behind the founding of the congressional black caucus. i want us all to take a moment and remember what was happening 40 years ago wrote -- 40 years ago, when 14 black members of congress decided to come together and form this congress. it was 1969. more than one decade had