before -- there's only one place he can get this information, keith, it's in the dnc.ile he doesn't -- i have no evidence that he gave a direct order to go in there. he, in essence, put in play the only place you can find the information he was looking for was in the dnc. >> and he this assumption that political corruption equalled money. and, therefore, this was worth some investigation? >> no. it's a little more specific than that, because what happened is, he comes back from china. the itt charge that he had settled an antitrust case with the itt corporation in exchange for a large campaign corporation, he's being battered with that after he get back from canada -- or china. he's convinced the democrats are using this to try to hurt him and tarnish the centerpiece of his campaign. and so he writes memos on this and says, this is a problem. they've obviously planned this. as it happened, that wasn't true. there wasn't -- hadn't been a corrupt settlement, so he's looking for something that he can use to counter this negative publicity he's getting, that is tarnishing

. >> speaking of czars, the dnc strikes back at republican hypocrisy asking if why it's an evil idea, why did the gop support them during the bush years? hateful spin after speaker pelosi expressed concern about violent rhetoric. suddenly fox news decides your words do matter and could indeed incite people to violence. >> she got all choked up over something that could be very very serious. >> when you harken to terrible tragedies involving political assassinations -- >> giving people ideas. >> and it's a horrible thing to do. >>> and saturday night live uncovers the plot behind the wilson you lie tirade. >> all at once together. are going to yell "you lie." >> all that and more now on "countdown." >>> good evening from new york, i'm lawrence o'donnell in for keith keith olbermann. 45,000 people die each year because they don't have health insurance. put another way, that's one person every 12 minutes, five people every hour. more people every day than are killed because of drunk driving and murder combined. how many more people will die of the minutes, hours, weeks, and possibly year

rob miller and dnc has raised $1.35 million since the incident. good for him.now, republican strategist, ron christie. good to have you on tonight. an apology? normally when people make an apology they kind of let things drift away because they're ashamed of what they did and trying to get redemption for what they did. this guy is profiteering on. are you okay with the aftermath of the apology? >> i have a mixed bag on this. the behavior he displayed on the house floor is inappropriate. there's a certain level on decorum a member of congress should display toward the president of the united states whether you agree or disagree with him. his outburst was unwarranted, uncalled for and i thought it was a good thing he apologized to rahm emanuel and conveyed that apology to the president. there are many on the left and in the media making far too much of this. the man apologized. the president accepted his apology. we should move on. rentive wilson underscored his concern the fact illegal aliens under the current version in the house there is not a strong enforceme

but it strikes me as a journalist that it is interesting that the dnc has come in and not the rnc, where to make of that. i think, fred at one point, you said that the interests are already spoken for there. do you think, looking at 2010, 2012, you would speculate on how there could be a shift in the character of elections, if this could particularly hurt democratic candidates? >> anybody who has hazard a guess on the impact of law on political behavior has been wrong. so i am being invited to be wrong publicly, and i will decline that invitation. i will say about the rnc, there is, and this probably has also been mentioned, there is a pending case. the republican national committee is looking to mccain- feingold-of of political parties. to permit political parties to collapse soft money. if you look at the rnc as a whole, it is positioning itself, and i think its position each year is quite clear. >> would you respond to that? >> i would respond not by agreeing. the rnc has adopted a resolution i sponsored, i am a member, putting them in favor of deregulation, and in particular, got the

beck in a moment because the dnc put together an advertisement on him and we will show it to you andet his reaction. then the dumbest thing said and done this week. the factor has the list. right back. introducing a breakthrough from tums that can control your heartburn for hours all day or all night. it's called tums dual action, and it's the longest lasting tums ever. tums dual action works two ways to relieve heartburn: like all tums, it goes to work in seconds. plus, tums dual action has an effective acid reducer that works for hours, all day or all night, to keep heartburn from coming back. rely on tums dual action for fast, long-lasting relief of heartburn. brand power. helping you buy better. why is dick butkus here? i hired him to speak. a lot of fortune 500 companies use him. but-- i'm your only employee. we're gonna start using fedex to ship globally-- that means billions of potential customers. we're gonna be huge. good morning! you know business is a lot like football... i just don't understand... i'm sorry dick butkus. (announcer) we understand. you want to grow internat

that's exactly what they were doing, as opposed to the positions. >> how open and transparent the dnc. thank you very much, lisa. lisa sylvester. >>> up next here, is criticism of president obama, is it racist, or is it political? or is it all about public policy perhaps? that's the subject of our "face-off debate" tonight. >>> and a new wave of drugly cartel violence along the border with mexico. it seems unending. perhaps worsening. we'll be right back. half the h. - thank you. - her little brother has nothing. but then just like that, caitlin helps him out. i don't need a wall and a piece of chalk to mark the growth of my kids. we can just play monopoly. family moments cost less at walmart. monopoly championship edition and other hasbro games at unbeatable prices. save money. live better. walmart. >>> mexican drug cartel violence is exploding along our southern border. so far this year, more than 600 people in the city of juarez, just across the u.s. border, have been killed in drug cartel violence. that violence is on the rise, despite promises from mexico's president to rein in t

. >> now, put on your hat as former chairman of the dnc. how do you feel about seeing democrats attack democrats politically over this and some people trying to get primary challenges against congressmen like jim cooper in tennessee? is that something you would advise against as ultimately self-destructive, or is this a way to get what some might think of as stronger democrats in those seats? >> well, look, here's the problem. the problem is we have a very big majority. but if you don't use your majority, you lose your majority. and that's exactly what's happening right now in democratic party. there is no reason -- 65% of the people, lawrence, 65% of the american people in a cbs poll that was put out a couple of days ago want a public option. a public option is simply allowing people to sign up for medicare if they're under 65. that's a very good public option. and there's no reason -- you know, i don't understand why these senators aren't voting for what 65% of their constituents want. that is what i don't understand. and of course people

beck in a moment because the dnc put together an advertisement on him and we will show it to you andreaction. then the dumbest thing said and done this week. the factor has the list. right back. there was a time i wouldn't step out of the house without my makeup. now, it's no problem. (announcer) neutrogena tone correcting night serum with high performance soy to even skin tone and active retinol to speed cell turn over. clinically shown to visibly fade brown spots in 14 nights. i even out my skin at night so it looks younger, flawless in the morning. (announcer) neutrogena tone correcting now you can fade and prevent discolorations all day. new tone correcting spf 30. sfwhen you own a business,g saving sounds good. so hear this: regions makes it simple to save money and time with lifegreen checking and savings for business, free convenient e-services and regions quick deposit, so you can deposit checks right from your desk. so switch to regions and start saving. plus, get a business financial review through a regions cashcor analysis. it's how business gets into the rhythm of saving

is that the best the dnc can do? >> who has thought of this?is on the television shows every week bashing the obama administration from day one so, i think at some point it has to be addressed. >> well, i think what dick cheney has done is respond to a number of things being said by president obama and his minions, namely that these enhanced interrogation techniques weren't right and in effects weren't successful and made our country more dangerous. is he standing up and saying wait a second. you can think i was wrong about what i said. can you argue with me about the iraq war and that's the historical fight that's going to continue. on this issue, interrogating the worse of the worse. we are talking about a handful of people. the american people are on his side on that issue. maybe not on the iraq war but certainly that issue. >> i think you have a point. but you have to remember. he is using the classic ends justify the means argument. we're a nation of laws. we have to apply them legally and thinkly to all people who come into our custody. a

he's not running the presidency as if it's an extension of the dnc, much like we saw with the bush administration. it was an extension of the republican national committee. he's trying to govern. he's got a very busy agenda. senators and members of congress all have a busy agenda. health care, the economy, the environment really across the board. barack obama has proven you can raise tens of millions of dollars when the idea is right and the motion is behind you and you can do that in a relatively quick period. i think democrats are in good position going into next year. we need to get health care done, keep this economy on the right track that it's on. >> joe, i can hear you shaking your head. >> rich gave a very, very nice spin. i have to take my hat off to him. that was a very kind spin. the reality is that, of course, the democrats are seeing their coffers dry up a bit because the big donors, big people who gave generously to barack obama's campaign in 2008 and other democrats are not happy because in part, yes, they don't like being the part of the administration whether it has to do with ha

otherwise, it should be paid for by the dnc.ot fair where only one side is allowed audience response. if you do not let anybody yell out, you do not give standing ovations when he is lying. sean: if republicans force him to apologize again -- harry reid did not apologize for calling bush a liar or any democrat who did the same thing or worse. i want republicans to back this guy up. he has apologized. leave him alone. if you want to support congressman wilson, i have a link on my website. >> i was at a tea party today, unlike you posers at fox. you guys sit in a nice comfortable chair. sean: i have been working since seven in the morning. i have been to tea parties. god bless. let not your heart be trouble. the great american panel is a straight ahead. hey, it's great to see you're back after that accident. well...i couldn't have gotten by without aflac! is that different from health insurance? well yeah... ...aflac pays you cash to help with the bills that health insurance doesn't cover. really? well, if you're hurt and can't wo

i mean, the dnc has shellacked republicans now to election in a row. they like the status quo.c does appear they want to change it. i think that's consistent with the rnc's past positions, but it's probably informed to make certain consent by the perception of whether the current situation benefits us or not, or benefits the dnc or not. you know, as a matter fact, congressman tillman of the tillman act that the rormers like to lionize, he was a notorious segregationist who had a problem. and his problem was a corporations in his district were lining up in favor of the republicans to throw him out, and he wanted to do something about it. so as an incomof politicians will inevitably do, as they use their political power to pass laws to disable their opponents. and we have seen this historically. mccain-feingod, there is not one word, not o paragraph, not even one sentence that adversely affects an incumbent politician. so that is why the very sophisticated politicians that wrote the bill of rights to our constitution wanted congress not to be able incumbent politicians, not to be

otherwise, it should be paid for by the dnc. fair where only one side is allowed audience response. if you do not let anybody yell out, you do not give standing ovations when he is lying. sean: if republicans force him to apologize again -- harry reid did not apologize for calling bush a liar or any democrat who did the same thing or worse. i want republicans to back this guy up. he has apologized. leave him alone. if you want to support congressman wilson, i have a link on my website. >> i was at a tea party today, unlike you posers at fox. you guys sit in a nice comfortable chair. sean: i have been working since seven in the morning. i have been to tea parties. god bless. let not your heart be trouble. the great american panel is a straight ahead. coatofigf poulida.. si tdui fav. 90s slacker hip-. anris u s. ♪ that can strain your relationships and hurt yourody 'cause we'pride ♪ng a ride ♪ ♪ it's the credit roller coaster ♪ ♪ and as you can see it kinda bites! ♪ ♪ so sing the lyrics with me: ♪ when your debt goes up your score

and my great friend and the chair of the dnc, tim kane, please give him a big round of applause, theernor of the commonwealth of virginia. [applause] i want to begin by congratulating all of the recipients of the phoenix award for outstanding contributions to american life. i have to single out one of tonight's honorees for whom i can personally vouch, our ambassador to the united nations, susan rice. [applause] susan is doing a fantastic job as ambassador, especially in this past week when we were at the united nations. we are all lucky to have her representing us there. please give her a big round of applause. [applause] i look out at all of you tonight, on members of congress, on state and local officials, leaders of all kinds, and i am reminded of the extraordinary tax of public service from african-americans today. i am reminded of the difference that each of you is making at every level of government. the neighborhoods of our small towns, the bustling streets of our big cities, but i am also reminded that it was not always this way. i am reminded of a time long before the cbc w

he's not running the presidency as if it's an extension of the dnc, much like we saw with the bush administration. it was an extension of the republican national committee. he's trying to govern. he's got a very busy agenda. senators and members of congress all have a busy agenda. health care, the economy, the environment really across the board. barack obama has proven you can raise tens of millions of dollars when the idea is right and the motion is behind you and you can do that in a relatively quick period. i think democrats are in good position going into next year. we need to get health care done, keep this economy on the right track that it's on. >> joe, i can hear you shaking your head. >> rich gave a very, very nice spin. i have to take my hat off to him. that was a very kind spin. the reality is that, of course, the democrats are seeing their coffers dry up a bit because the big donors, big people who gave generously to barack obama's campaign in 2008 and other democrats are not happy because in part, yes, they don't like being the part of the administration whether it has to do with ha

the dnc likes the status quo. the rnc does not. they want to change it. i think that is consistent with the rnc's positions in the past. it is in form to a certain extent by the perception of whether the current situation benefits us or not. congressman tillman of the tillman act that reformers like to lionize, he was a notorious segregationist to have a problem. his problem was that corporations in his district were lining up in favor of the republicans to throw him out. he wanted to do something about it. as incumbent politicians will inevitably do, they used their political power to pass laws to disable their opponents. we have seen this historically. mccain fine gold, there is not one word or paragraph, not even one sentence that adversely affects incumbent politicians. that is why the very sophisticated politicians that wrote the bill of rights to our constitution wanted congress not to be able -- incumbent politicians not to be able to rewrite the rules for their own election. we have seen over and over again that they would write them to benefit th

gretchen: first it was the white house and now the dnc lashing out in a new call' em out campaign. reform. joining me now is a republican familiar with these attacks senator lamar alexander. good morning to you, senator. >> good morning. >> i found this fascinating. the news this morning is that the dnc is taking a page from the president's book and calling out republicans when they believe they see lies with regard to health care reform. but you were called out in a white house blog the other day when it was written that the president promised he was going to call people out and here we go. lamar alexander actually called for manufacturing czar. how did you feel when you were called out in a white house blog? >> well, it's a little bit of an honor, gretchen, and you know, i worked in the white house a long time ago. and what i was told was our job was to push out of the white house all the merely important issues and reserve just a few presidential ones for the president to work on. this white house seems to want to bring the entire government into the white house. >> gretchen: we

. >> i know a lot of my friends in the dnc and the left want to make this a brew ha-ha. we're not talking about the president's speech and what he said. we're talking about personalities and how feelings are hurt and all of that. >> so republicans were treading gingerly. the conservative base, they are fired up. stay with us tonight. you'll hear what they are saying about the congressman's outburst is it. we'll also drill them on the details of the president speech, a fact check of congressman wilson's claim that the administration wants to provide health care for illegal immigrants it's a pivotal point in this debate. we're all over it tonight. another quieter, though, message to president obama and this one about the war in afghanistan. democratic leaders say they see little support for more troops. there are currently 62,000 u.s. troops in afghanistan. anderson coop ser with some of them this week on the front lines where temperatures can reach 120 degrees. >> this dust, marines call it moon dust, it's a fine powder that coats everything and gets everywhere. into weap

republican congressman trent franks and eugene green from the dnc also president of the group rock thevote, thank you both for being here i want to start with you. you believe this is all manufactured outrage to give. >> well, the great thing about america is that we are a free country. i'm a big believer in freedom of speech having worked for an organization that was founded on free speech for many years. but the reality is that there are organizations, local action committees, that are in a sense i feel like really hurting some of these people -- hurting some of these people like cattle. some argue they have the best of intentions but some people are following the leader like little lemmings do when they go and dive off a cliff. they are not i think in the true fan of what our original evolutionary founding fathers were trying to do when they would face during and really talked about the points that they were upset with. what really concerns me is when we see the type of mccarthyism and fear that this is being promoted here. those aren't american values. when you say -- see kkk type

paul kirk, former chairman of the dnc, longtime staffer to senator ted kennedy, was sworn in by viceresident joe biden this afternoon. appointed by deval patrick to temporarily fill kennedy's seat. special election for the senator will be held in january. it's more good news for the democrats on the health care front, and in the fight, a 60-seat supermajority in the senate and these numbers, today, from a "the new york times"/cbs news poll. 65% of people want, john feeh y feehery, did you hear that, they want a public option. 75% of the people think you health care system needs fundamental changes or an overhaul. join ing me, johnfeehery. i love the numbers after the town hall meetings. >> a couple days ago you said eric cantor wants to kill people. he doesn't want to. he wants to do the best thing for the american people. eric cantor and his people introduced the bill on june 17th, refundable taxes, so people can associate -- they're going to put the plan together when they can. >> no, honestly, no guaranteed competition for the private sector. the republicans are not on the table w

and my great friend and the chair of the dnc, tim kane, please give him a big round of applause, theernor of the commonwealth of virginia. [applause] i want to begin by congratulating all of the recipients of the phoenix award for outstanding contributions to american life. i have to single out one of tonight's honorees for whom i can personally vouch, our ambassador to the united nations, susan rice. [applause] susan is doing a fantastic job as ambassador, especially in this past week when we were at the united nations. we are all lucky to have her representing us there. please give her a big round of applause. [applause] i look out at all of you tonight, on members of congress, on state and local officials, leaders of all kinds, and i am reminded of the extraordinary tax of public service from african-americans today. i am reminded of the difference that each of you is making at every level of government. the neighborhoods of our small towns, the bustling streets of our big cities, but i am also reminded that it was not always this way. i am reminded of a time long before the cbc w

deval patrick appointed paul kirk, former chairman of the dnc. he will serve until a special election is held for the seat in january. shortly before ted kennedy's death, he asked massachusetts law makers to allow the governor to appoint an interim replacement. kennedy did not want democrats to be one vote shy on the issues such as health care reform. >> so you hear it from me, consistent with senator kennedy's wishes and the expectations of the governor and the legislators, i shall not be a candidate in the special election for the united states senate in december or january. >> paul kirk is expected to take the oath of office tomorrow. senator kennedy died on august 25th after a 14-month battle with brain cancer. >>> congress is working to prevent a hike in medicare premiums next year. the vote was 406 to 18. without the congressional action, some medicare recipients would have faced monthly premium increases of $8 to $23. the bill heads to the senate. law makers said older americans should not have to pay higher premiums because they are not e

we're going to -- we're supposed to be joined right now by donald fowler, former chairman of the dnc,at south carolinian. we're going to be joined by him right after this. ( birds chirping ) ♪ ♪ mmm! ♪ and i would do anything for love ♪ a.1. makes meat loaf sing. a lot of other beef too. [ telephone rings ] [ ring ] [ "catch the wind" plays ] what is the sign of a good decision? in the world of personal finance, it's massmutual. find strength and stability in a company that's owned by its policyholders. ask your advisor or visit massmutual.com. >>> if you've been wrong on as many national security issue as joe lieberman has, it takes a special something to call the president a wuss because he didn't listen to you and instead took the unanimous advice of the joint chiefs of staff and the defense secretary. joe lieberman and mitt romney and a bunch of other national security geniuses are going after the president on defense. that's next. >>> plus, kent jones has a shocking report that involves a anchorman and a defenseless chicken. >>> first, time for a couple of holy mackerel stories.

. >>> former dnc chairman paul kirk is expected to be appointed to the senate today to replace ted kennedy. he tolds the seat until a special election in january. >>> wind and heat are fans the flames. this is video from overnight from 40 miles northwest of l.a. the fire is now 25 square miles in size. rough situation there. >> the santa ana winds are blowing. the heat going on and the rain around here. it could be worse. i want to remind everybody, southern maryland today and tomorrow the maryland blue crabs of waldorf are in the playoffs. a couple of home games here and american red cross is collecting blood today and tomorrow at the games. if you donate you get a free box seat and is a certificate for a hair cut. >> super cool. >> give blood and support your team. >> get the forecast as we head out the door. a warm day in the 80s. a chance of a shower, slim chance at that and then tomorrow we will cool down where we should be 70s and saturday even cooler with rain and showers in the afternoon and the evening and in to tonight and saturday night, as well. highs upper 60s to near 70 degre

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former dnc chairman howard dean will be here to tell us if the democrats will draw a line in the sand and insist no public option, no bill. getting to 60. what does president obama have to do to win over a republican or two to get to the magic filibuster vote 60 votes. we hear that. david axelrod will preview what we can expect from the president tonight. and we will check what last-minute negotiations on capitol hill ahead of the president's address. we'll be back with a live edition of "hardball" at 7:00 eastern. at 8:00 stay with us for live coverage of president obama's speech. after that it is "countdown with keith olbermann" at 9:00 and "the rachel maddow" show at 10:00 and "the ed show" at 11:00. chuck todd is nbc's political director and "newsweek's" howard fineman is an msnbc political analyst. chuck todd, you have the best speech writers in the business worksing frantically for days along with the best speech giver in the business, in my time working in the senate, i never saw a speech save legislation. do these guys know something i don't? >> i don't think they believe they

sean: he is the former vice chair of the dnc committee michael brown is here.t country music star from the multi platinum duo big and rich. john rich is back with us. he is an oscar nominated, frankly should have won it, the one and only mickey rourke is here. how far are you doing it? you should have won it for the wrestler. >> i thought sean did a great job. have you got to roll with it, man. sean: you have got a good attitude. let's go to this tape you just heard, michael. this is now becoming politico is writing about it you have a council woman in chicago talking about it. you have others -- if you disagree with barack obama it's about race. now jimmy carter talks about it? >> race playings a role every day in the united states of america. you can't walk or run about it. i hope it was mr. b. politics. not race. he got frustrated. sean: this is the same america that voted for him. they ignored reverend wright and bill ayers and voted for him while people like sean sean hannity said i don't think is he being honest. >> race and gender still play a role in ev

former marine rob miller has received $750,000 and the dnc reports raising $1 million since that now-infamous "you lie" line. wilson not the only person talking about health care and immigration. this morning, the gang of six continued efforts to hammer out a bipartisan compromise and democratic senator kip conrad shares one part of a possible framework after the meeting. >> we have an outline to prevent anybody here illegally from benefiting from these initiatives. >> finance committee chairman, democratic senator committee member max baucus says the groups are getting close and could have something for a full committee next week. >>> the president continues to make his own push, meantime, heading to minneapolis tomorrow to drum up support for health care reform, all just the latest chapter, decades' long battle over this issue. wednesday night, the president invoked the efforts of former congressman john beginni mamand. >> a bill was first proposed by john dingell senior in 1963, today, his son continues to propose that same bill at the beginning of each session. >> john dingell joins me li

governor kaine is the dnc chairman so i'm running against them as well as all the national labor unions i really do think that the federal issues where i'm opposed to the intrusions under the free enterprise system and things that will hurt virginia businesses and families are wrong and my opponent is on the wrong side of those and people are paying attention. >> chris: usually the candidate who is behind wants to debate and the one in front doesn't. as we pointed out, creigh deeds refused to appear this this debate and only agreed to do two. why is he ducking debates? >> he agreed to four. we asked for them and i repeatedly refused. i think the issues favor me. it is jobs, the economy, transportation, energy. i laid out detailed plans and he hasn't. he wants to hike taxes by billions and i want to keep taxes low to promote economic environment. on my those issues where i'm right and he is wrong, he has a weak position and that is bly he is not here. >> chris: just over five weeks to election day. >> can't wait. thanks, chris. >>> coming up, the president goes to the united nations and

senators dick durbin and john cornyn as well as former dnc chair howard dean, house speaker newt gingrich will be david gregory's guests. it's tomorrow on "meet the press." check your local listings for your time. >>> and now to the missing search for graduate student annie le. dozens of state and law enforcement personnel are ramping up search efforts today, one day before le was set to be married. nbc's mike taibbi is here in studio with the latest. mike, good morning. there is a reward out there now from yale in this case? >> yeah, a reward of $10,000, but that hasn't generated a strong lead, let alone a real break in the case or anything that could be characterized that way. i spoke to the law enforcement contacts, both at the city, at the university, fbi. none of them have anything new to report. there have been published reports, though, that the fbi has questioned a professor who had canceled a class that tuesday shortly before she was reported to have disappeared, and you know, so the basic question at the beginning of this saga, is this a runaway bride or foul play still is not a

>> you know, i think it's because howard dean is no longer -- is no longer chair of the dnc and he's not there to give testosterone injections to them. you know, i think the problem is it takes some guts to say, look, there is a racial piece of this, and, again, it doesn't mean that you're an overt racist if you're worried about this president, you're worried that he doesn't share your values. but you may be worried if he doesn't share your values for of a lot of reasons you're not aware of and some of them may be perfectly realistic and some may be because he doesn't look like you and he doesn't come from the same background. again, you don't have to attack someone as a racist for that but you do have to call them out for the fact this kind of rhetoric, this kind of language, bringing guns to -- to a town hall meeting where the president of the united states is, where are the democrats in saying, enough to this. let's pass a law against anyone coming within a mile of the president of the united states with a gun. 80% of americans would support that. >> i wish the nra would come out

joining us, senators john cornyn and dick durbin and former house speaker newt begin river and former dnc chairman, dr. howard dean. good morning to you. a lot to get to. we'll start with senator durbin. in light of the president's speech this past wednesday, what specifically will be achieved on health care this year? >> i think we can pass health care reform. i really believe the american people are ready for it, we are closer to victory than we have ever been, and i hope we understand that failure to pass this health care reform this year will make things overwhelmingly worse. those who are opposing us, those who are criticizing us, really don't have an alternative. they would stay with the current situation, which leaves families with health insurance, with the uncertainty of its cost and the uncertainty of whether coverage will be there when they need it and millions of americans with no protection at all when it comes to health care insurance. we can do better, and i hope that the republicans will join us. we have opened the doors to them in the help committee in the senate, they ha

. >> what about the democratic strategist here, hayne shinekofp, the dnc has an ad out right now forhe republicans and seniors. can we really continue to watch this suggestion that there is a bipartisan possibility here? >> it's absurd to assume there's bipartisanship. what we do is the midterm congressional elections going on right now, and if he doesn't get the meat off the bones, democrats are going to have a problem on the midterm elections. >> let's also point out for the record, the democratic congress has adopted 160 amendments from republicans members of congress. >> name one. >> one dealing with employer flexibility when it came to health care benefits. removal of the death panels. there have been a number of amendments focusing on employer flexibili flexibilities, focusing on incentives for individuals. >> you better get in here before they wear you out. >> my friend ed rollins taught me when i was just a lada if you -- principles in politics is if you don't define yourself or your issue, your opponent will do it for you. the president should have been giving this speech ei

our governor is the dnc chairman. i'm running against them as well as all the national labor unions. but i really do think these federal issues where i am opposed to the intrusions into the free enterprise system and these things are wrong and my opponent's on the wrong side and people are paying attention. >> we have about 30 seconds left. usually the candidate who's behind wants to debate, the one who's in front doesn't. as we pointed out, creigh deeds refused to appear on this debate and a lot of other debates. he's only agreed to two. why he's ducking debates? >> we asked for 10. he refused. i think the issues important to the citizens of virginia, particularly independent voters, chris, favor me. it's jobs, economy, transportation, energy. i've laid out detailed plans, he hasn't. i want to keep taxes low to be able to promote economic development. i think on those issues where i'm right and he's wrong, he knows more debates mean more exposure for his weak positions. that's why he's not here. >> thanks for coming