let's get to the bottom line with david axlerod. the main line defense is, you know, president obama won't call out radical islamic terrorism for what it is. he won't call out black lives matter for what it is. why go after trump for not calling out these nazi saluting guys by that i am? >> well, i don't think the -- i don't think that the comparison holds. you know, the president has been very tough on terrorism and on terrorists and on islamic terrorists, the extreme islamic sector among isis and al qaeda. the u.s. has been pounding them under this administration. he's been very tough on them, but let's separate out that issue and, you know, your panel, i think, hit it on the nose. donald trump essentially denounces people who he thinks are not kind to him and he is more reluctant to take on people who are supportive of him, regardless of where they come from. they did send a spokesman out to say he doesn't have an association with this groucp, bt he's very free to tweet about the cast of "hamilton," not so much about this group.

pierson says: "you know it's really bad when david axlerod chief strategist to president obama took to twitter today to remind the media that they didn't even have these appointments made at this time without criticism." the name that's causing the most controversy now is lieutenant general michael flynn... who's expected to be appointed as national security advisor. bennett says: "he is by all accounts a very difficult guy to work for but also but much more importantly, he's just wouldn't discuss his conversation with the president-elect.flynn says: "it's going really well and it's a great transition. and the president-elect is in full control believe me." another possible appointment... senator jeff sessions claims he's happy in his current role. but says he would be honored to serve the president. sessions says: "i think he has a good ability to size up people in an effective way. a big part of his success in business is having good people around him. meanwhile... there's controversy over the transition team not going through the proper channels... for president-elect trump to talk

pierson says: "you know it's really bad when david axlerod chief strategist to president obama took to twitter today to remind the media that they didn't even have these appointments made at this time without criticism." the name that's causing the most controversy now is lieutenant general michael flynn... who's expected to be appointed as national security advisor. bennett says: "he is by all to work for but also but much more importantly, he's just not a good person, he's talking about how we should fear all muslims." flynn wouldn't discuss his conversation with the president-elect. flynn says: "it's going really well and it's a great transition. and the president-elect is in full control believe me." another possible appointment... senator jeff sessions claims he's happy in his current role. but says he would be honored to serve the president. sessions says: "i think he has a good ability to size up people in an effective way. a big part of his success people around him. meanwhile... there's controversy over the transition team not going through the proper channels... for president

but their rivals including new york city bill de blasio and david axlerod praising the cast. mike pence has not responded to the whole controversy but lin-manuel miranda has tweeted his support to the message and to the cast. >> so far vice president elect mike pence has not responded to the whole controversial. but the show creator has tweeted his support to the message and on the the cast. dan, paula. >> kendis gibson outside the room where it happened. thank you. let's bring in martha raddatz week" later this morning. martha, good morning. >> good morning to both of you. >> hi, martha. >> thank you. whatever you think of what the cast of "hamilton" said how politically wise was it for the president-elect to take them on given the lingering concerns about both his temperament and his tone. >> i think it's clear either way all the tweeting plays into the charge that he's thin skinned, he can't take criticism. but his supporters love when fights back. probably not paying attention, the very least have come to expect this kind of thing from trump and overlook it. >> so martha,

david axlerod, president obama's political adviser said -- you heard howard dean in announcing says as much as he likes you he said he didn't think you can do the job of dnc chair and do the job in congress. what is your vision for the party? do you have a vision to strengthen the grass-roots and help them turn out people in their local community ies? >> you can do both jobs? >> yes, i can. but the fact is is that the real question is not about one person. it's not about an individual. it's about millions of people working all over this country to reach out in their local communities. the dnc chair has to help them do that and have a vision for that and ten way. if you decide not to run, why would that be? what's the reason not to do it, if you decide not to do it? >> because there's a lot of places that i can serve. i'm going to -- i'm going to fight to rebuild the democratic party no matter what. i will fight to make sure the democratic party is known among working people that we are their champion, no matter what. i'm not really -- i'm looking use and benefit. every democrat in this

sandra: can i go to something that david axlerod just treat tweeted out?e hadn't made any major appointments by this time in 2008. i don't remember being criticized for it. julie: i'm not criticizing him. sandra: well, your party is. julie: well, i can only speak for myself. what i am criticizing him for is this, and this is where barack obama is right, when i hear that leaders of foreign governments have to call the main line of trump tower because they don't know how to get ahold of him -- >> [inaudible] julie: it doesn't matter. meghan: who should they be calling? i'm curious. who should they be be calling? if they're calling donald trump at trump tower, i don't know what's wrong. julie: i'd like them to call the transition office and have them -- [inaudible conversations] >> can't get in touch with president-elect trump? julie: do you know how the prime minister of australia got in touch with him? called greg norman who had his cell phone number. >> you're mad that phone calls -- julie: no, no -- [inaudible conversations] >> focus on how smooth and not

and one of the -- an article that i read, david axlerod talked about having talked to obama about it on saturday. and that they had decided not to do a final run-through of his inaugural address. but one of the things that made that work was that both sides were comfortable -- >> host: yeah. key point. >> guest: they had been dealing with one another for months at a a lower level where you had transition people dealing with white house staff on a variety of issues. and then president obama, president-elect named his people early enough that they could work together with the people who were sitting in the offices before they left. and so they could get information about how things worked. and that was a really, i think, an excellent part of the transition. you know, you can give people paper, give them memoranda, but sitting down and talking to them is a different thing. and that happened, like, in the national security council, for example, after general jones -- >> host: general jim jones. >> guest: was selected as national security adviser, and he appointed the people who were the