introduce is someone you all know, one of your leaders, a brilliant tactician who worked it out so mary elaineory as the only republican challenger in the country to defeat a democratic incumbent. we're going to repeat that in 2010 hundredfold.ountry to defe incumbent. we're going to repeat that in 2010 hundredfold.the country to democratic incumbent. we're going to repeat that in 2010 hundredfold.challenger in defeat a democratic incumbent. we're going to repeat that in 2010 hundredfold. in mitch's distinguished career, he served as the chairman of the national republican senatorial committee as the majority whip and the 111th congress, senator mcconnell was unanimously elected by colleagues to be as the senate republican leader. ladies and gentlemen, senator mitch mcconnell.s the senate republican leader. ladies and gentlemen, senator mitch mcconnell. the senate republican leader. ladies and gentlemen, senator mitch mcconnell.the senate republican leader. ladies and gentlemen, senator mitch mcconnell. >> well, thank you very much, john. i'm still just reveling in hearing someone from hollywo

elaine that kagan, smart, talented. so judge sotomayor, as i said, i think she is a reasonable choice for the president to make. as far as individual senators' evaluations, that will be determined by the confirmation process, which she will get to answer. we'll see how the senate treats her. my view is she was a reasonable choice for president obama to make. >> you mentioned among the finalists, but she had a long tenure as a circuit court judge and that was one of the results of justice sooter, the president might want to have someone with more record to see how they would make a decision. do you think we have reached a point where if someone has not only had a long record as a circuit court judge but hasn't even served as a judge we're not going to see that person nominated, governors or other people, and do you think that's a good or bad thing? >> i think that is definitely a relevant factor in tchay and age. i think the fact that judge sotomayor had 245 record and others didn't was a very important consideration to

elaine. caller: hello. yes. i was just calling to comment to say that i really think that president obama is headed in the right direction. and we really need to just get, stay on congress. make sure that they back him in everything that he is doing. i think him signing the memo was a good first step. and if we give him time, everything that needs to be done will get done. guest: thank you. we have found that in my own group here in washington, d.c. that incremental approaches have borne a lot of fruit. and it has been crucial to us in our independent advocacy to give credit where due as well as criticism. and so praise as well as pressure. and so that is what is going to work with this president. he has legislative history of supporting our community going back to his days in the illinois state house. my colleague from equality illinois reck garcia, who is the leading gay rights lobbyist in springfield in the state house sing it is praises of barack obama. and so we know this is someone who understands our issu

host: let us take our last call from elaine on the democratic line from oakland, california. caller: yes. host: you have a question? caller: i would like to know about the health care. i was born in 1962, the oldest and my family is 49 years old, i live in oakland, calif., we have bacteria in our walls from china -- just people died -- three people died last month. if it was your family -- bush took all my money -- tell me jesus said you have a right to have a better. i was born in 1952, waiting for years for this, and a good to court today and all of you guys -- 5 percent white supremacists -- host: we wanted it there. congressman earl blumenauer, thank you for joining us. guest: up my pleasure. host: we will be back with the president and ceo of oil and gas company anadarko out of dallas, texas, talking about energy reform, climate change, and the economy. we will be right back. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] national captioning institute] [captions copyright nation

elaine chester created a program through the delaware division of family services to help low-income children receive wrapped holiday gifts matching children in need with people interested in sending gift. under her leadership which is one of the largest corporate gift drives in delaware. it benefits hundreds of childrens annually including those terminally ill. since the expansion in nursing home the elderly receive gifts from employees, as well. leonard young, also wilmington, earned his jefferson award for tireless promotion of public health, education, and wellness initiatives encouraging others to get regular preventive health screening has led delawareans to incorporate healthy living into their routines educating youth about the dangers of substance abuse and preventing violent behavior in relationships, a leader in the community and his involvement in public health endeavors is far reaching. i am especially proud this year's national winner of the jefferson award for outstanding service is a high school in wilmington, delaware. led by two seniors: robert leskevchy and dominic