giffords and her hustled be running.t primary in which two candidate have declared their intention to run and say despite barber's announcement to run they will remain in the race. joining me now former congressional aide to gabrielle giffords ron barber. thank you for coming. >> thank you for inviting me. >> you said you would not run for the full term. what thanked your minted. >> i never intended to run for any political office. i had to set up the business of putting together a campaign staff, opening an office, getting on ballot. we had 18 days to gather signatures. we ended up with 71 signatures so i felt it was a ground swell of support for my candidacy. then i went around the district and met with different people from different communities. as i was going around the district i kept getting asked by people well, aren't you going to run for the congressional two seat. toyed give it consideration, which i did. in the indiana it was a decision i had to make in consultation with my doctor and my family. this is a hug

ron barber was shot in the face that left giffords with a gunshot wound to the head.covery, and barber says he'll run to fill out the remainder of his former boss's term. he is also running again in august for his own term. and i'm joined now by ron barber. sir, it's nice to have you on with us this morning. and i know that there is a lot to talk about here. but i want to focus specifically on how much does winning this election mean to you, given how closely you worked alongside gabrielle giffords? >> well, it mostly means a lot to me, because i really feel i'm here and trying to serve the people of southern arizona. congresswoman is someone i respect and who inspires me and many other people in our country. but i think the important thing to note is that while we all dearly love her and what she has done for our community, this is not her seat, this is the people's seat. and i went to present myself as a candidate who can take the issues that are concerning middle class in our community to washington and fight hard for them. along with veterans and seniors. those ar

injury affects soldiers, athletes, and even members of congress like our former colleague gabby giffords. the annual cost of tbi is estimated at $48 billion. dollars alone do not paint a complete picture of the injuries. it does take into account the suffering of a person of a brain injury who may be disabled for life or the strain of a loved one's tbi places on family members who are so often the caregivers. federal efforts to address tbi began with the act in 1996. the act aimed to identify an increased awareness of tbi through new research and programs. the tbi amendments of 2001 amended the 1996 law by extending the authorization to include the implementation of a national trauma brain injury education and awareness campaign. the traumatic brain injury act of 2008 reauthorized the program and also authorized a study to examine the information gathered by hhs, assess appropriate interventions and develop practice guidelines. i look forward to the results of this study which will come out in november of this year. the 2008 act also focused on the incidents and prevalence of tbi, unifor

and gabrielle giffords has an advantage ahead of her.band, mark kelley are heading to the high seas. they will talk about the power of the human spirit. and congresswoman giffords will make a special appearance and take photos with guests. they am set sail in july. >> how much would you pay to get the perfect mead mate? how about $1,000. that's what a boston florist says he will pay anyone who can find him a wife. he says he's not rich, but he would be a good, faithful husband. he is looking for a woman over 50, who would be willing to retire with him in sikh. there would be beautiful flowers at the wedding. what are the odds of seeing a leprechaun in the streets of las vegas? pretty good. the men and green are really police officers in disguise. they are walking the streets to test whether drivers will yield to pedestrians. driver who is don't stop for the green people are facing hefty fines. how much? nearly $200. and it is not the school children in fresno who need a spelling lesson, it's whoever made the speed limit signoud their sch

he helped save congresswoman gabrielle giffords. appreciate your help at this difficult time.much do we know? how much does your business, the experts, actually know about how to figure out, a, how severe it is, and b, when somebody's ready to go back into the dangerous combat role? >> well, i think there's always more to learn. and the research in traumatic brain injury is still in its infancy. obviously the brain is very complex. and fortunately the vast majority of people who get traumatic brain injury do recover and return to their normal lives. because it is -- the majority, mild traumatic brain injury. >> i want you to listen to something here. i was out at this base, fort lewis, where this suspect is stationed at the wounded warrior battalion because it had had some problems. they were trying to redo it. i met with the commander at the time. he was talking about how ptsd and traumatic brain injuries were among the biggest problems. listen to this. >> some of the tools that we have, there's hyperbaric treatment for some traumatic brain injuries that gives more oxygenizat

kathie lee gifford!hie lee gifford is our champion. >> age and experience, people. >> a gift box from the playboy club. items we couldn't give away. we're glad you'll take them for us. wow. wow. wow. >> finally, something i want. thank you. >> thank you, everybody. >> bye! >> i want to point out that -- >> bobbie. i was wondering who that was. >> oh, jerry. taking turns with jerry. >> by the way, after -- we should point out after that game show bit this totally surprised jerry, jerry kept going, thanks, kath. thanks, kathie. in the car, leaving. thanks, kathie. i'm, like, she's gone now. >> we taped it for a long time. i felt like things weren't moving along. but thank you, jerry. you're a great sport. all right. here's the thing. a lot of us have children of college age. so in the column "the sunday style" -- it's -- >> social cues column. >> tell us about it. >> a woman was wondering what to do because when her daughter comes home the boyfriend comes with. they were saying where should the boyfriend s

i punched in kathie lee gifford.nd it gives you something called kathie lee gifford radio. >> i had one hit. 30 seconds. >> and anyone who sounds like you. >> okay. barbra streisand and who else? >> here's your song. >> hold on. oh, that's from my "born for you" record. >> okay. >> christopher marleau playing the piano. so long intro. >> who sounds like you? let's go. lady gaga. >> really? >> they pick anyone who has your kind of cadence and your sort of tone, and you know who else is on here? susan boyle. oh, my god, and the irish tenors. this is crazy! anyway, they find people who have your -- >> all three of them? >> all three. anyway. that's mine. pandora. it's free. >> a friend of mine works for pandora. >> it's great. what you got? >> i have two. one is this fantastic -- >> what is that? >> this is by clota wah, which means it has something in there that mommy likes. chic technique. the fabrics are by tracy reese. it's $135 at refinery 29 dotcom. i thought that was adorable for spring. >> i love that. >> your c

. >> the wrong people or wrong w giffords last year used a gun with a high capacity ammunition clip to kill six people, wound 13. it was only when he fired all 31 round in his clip that people were able to subdue and these high capacity magazines were banned congress until 2004. last year you said you thought reinstating this ban should be examined. what's the result of that examination? >> well, we are still in the process of working our way through that. i think there are measures we need to take. we need to be reasonable, understanding there is a second amendment right with regard firearms. but even the descent issent, ree restrictions can be placed on d too is come up with ways in which we are respecting, respecters of the second amendment and yet come up with reasonabla that, that will ulti protect the american people. >> madam chairman, your indulgence for one more question, please. over the past several years, the new york police department has been engaged in surveillance of new jersey's communities and universities. searching for those who might be accused of terror. governor

giffords expert 58 degrees. -- fredericksburg 58 degrees. the clouds will slow the break up like they did yesterday. by ben shahn and we will see a few peaks of sunshine. -- by lunchtime we will see a few peaks of sunshine. he cannot rule out a thundershower later on today. we will be close to 78. we could be in the mid-80's tomorrow here it weekend still looks pretty unsettled. some areas of showers and thunderstorms off and on in nature. it is not continuous. temperatures dropping down into the 60's. things are taking a turn for the cooler but still above average. >> i had taken all the traffic tolls out of my toolbox getting ready to monitor your commute. including the reading glasses. the maps get taller every year. everything is working in our favor. not only to 70, 66 is a pretty good shape. any overnight construction was moved out of the road. they say come on in. we have our eye on it. stick around. >> thank you. >> a big honor as we head into the celebration of a centennial of the cherry blossoms. they're getting their own stamp. >>

and those who were perceived to be in the establishment which at that time included gabrielle giffords, held up to be the cause of all of tucson's troubles. and so she is a friend of mine, a friend of mine for ten years. and so to see her face sort of cast in this sinister colors, peering out from billboards the way that she was portrayed like the eyes of tjx a bird in the great gatsby looking out sort of this has rick said, the kind of believe looking down in as a people, she was vilified. and it was extremely uncomfortable. and so it is my belief that what happened on january 8 that sickening, sickening events was more than just about one young man's mental illness. it had to do with a constellation of forces there were coming together. some of it was this kind of paranoia which rick writes about so eloquently. >> and part of that was just the way gabriel's opponent in 2010 really approach campaigning. seemed to be a lot of pier resentment coming out of that campaign as you would go and make speeches. very little of it seemed based on what one would think of his policy prescriptions

congresswoman gabby giffords was holding a meet your congress event at a supermarket in tucson when this mentally ill, heavily armed young man opened fire. this was the type of weapon he used, and the reason it looks a strange shape is because it has an extended magazine larger than the gun was designed for. the standard magazine for this gun would fit into the handle without hanging below it like you saw in the other picture. a standard magazine would hold 15 bullets. jared loughner had two of the standard-sized ammunition clips in his pocket that did at the safeway in tucson, but the clip he had in the gun held double the number of bullets as compared to the standard one. it holds 30 bullets. that's why jared loughner, last january in tucson, was trying to kill and wound so many people before he was stopped. he fired one bullet in the chamber and fired the 30 bullets in the extended magazine. it was not until he stopped because he had to reload that somebody was able to tackle him and stop that massacre. in the aftermath of the gabby giffords shooting, the country for a second was puzz

yet, you look at what happens after gabby giffords, you have pivotal moments for the country and nothinge. >> i was thinking that exact same thing. let's be honest. someone from a gun control group like yourself does not come out and have a platform in america anymore unless some tragedy like this happens. i was going to ask you, what do you attribute that to? the democratic party doesn't want to talk about your issues. am i right or wrong? >> we've definitely been encouraged to the extent right up to the president that this issue has been talked about. i'm new to this gig. and that's what we plan to change. my job is to -- is to help the american public express the outrage that clearly exists around the state of fairs in our country. and i do believe that this time it's different. i believe this time you have a confluence. you have this guy, george zimmerman, the poster child of what the gun lobby is trying to accomplish in this country. this is a guy with an aarrest record, a violent pass who was issued a concealed is carry permit in a state that is basically the gun lobby's utopia. th

more recently, abc news journalist bob woodruff and congresswoman gabrielle giffords made miraculous recoveries after a year of more of rehabilitation. most patients with moderate brain injuries average 19 days in the hospital and just 26 days or less in post-acute rehapp rehabilitative treatment. many patients do not receive complete rehabilitation. they include older patients, minorities, those who have no insurance or who are covered by medicare and medicaid. even many who have insurance. the consequences of this shortsided approach include more medical complications, greater disability, job loss, homelessness, impoverishment, suicide and involvement with criminal and juvenile justice system. treatment leads to lost productivity and greater use of medication, durable medical equipment and long-term care and institutionalization. in contrast, the consequence of adequate medical treatment, that is rehabilitation of sufficient scope, timing and duration, are well documented. but are not well known in the general medical community or among payers, patients or families. proper acute an

giffords resigned from congress in january to focus on her recovery after she and barber were shot andacre that left six people dead. >>> more shake-ups today for the oprah winfrey network, own, as the struggling cable operation lays off some 30 people. that's about 20% of its workforce. it's also restructuring operations in new york and los angeles. winfrey called the moves business decisions that were difficult and tough. >>> and now for a look at what is trending today. our quick roundup of what has you talking online. a little jail time hasn't dampened george clooney's sense of humor. twitter is buzzing after his arrest friday during protests wrought side the sudanese embassy in washington. clooney's cell mate said he tried to pin the whole thing on his pal, telling police his name was brad pitt. well, we knew the latest ipad was a hot commodity but now tech blogs are posting reports of customers complaining that the tablet is becoming too warm to hold after prolonged use. and other tech sites are alerting users to watch what they say since the ipad's new dictation feature sends al

i thought obama's best rhetorical moment was the tucson speech after the gabrielle giffords shooting.n't trying to accomplish a clear-cut congressional tax, he was really coming to america, sorrow and grief to talk about this horrible thing that had happened to try to make sense of it. he happened to have fabulous news to share, which is that gifford also honored eyes and the situation was much better but i think part of the power of that speech was that even though of course there is always a political component, there was no explicit political component to trirgt thing you talk about the push back against it. >> i think that gets to the points about records and speeches, right? one reason the campaign speeches work better and speeches like the one after gaby giffords or the oklahoma city bombing is they actually -- is there not a follow-up you need to get, a big speech on health care, the bill doesn't pass and things look bad, nobody thinks you are a great communicator. the speech might have been better well delivered, the teleprompter broke and he did a lot off the cuff, rick santo

. >> the man who shot congress throwing gifford? -- congresswoman gifford, it was only when he fired all 31 rounds from his clip that people were able to subdue him. these high-capacity magazines were banned by congress until 2004. he said he thought the reinstating this ban should be examined. what is the result of your examination? >> we are in the process of working our way through that. we need to understand that there is a second amendment right with regard to firearms, but dissent in the case was that reasonable restrictions could be placed on the use of weapons and what this administration has tried to do is come up with ways to be respecters of the second amendment, while coming up with appropriate firearms laws that will ultimately protect the american people. >> madam chairman, your indulgence for one more question. over the past several years, the new york police department has been engaged in the surveillance of new jersey communities. for those might be accused of terror, governor christie, the mayor of newark, new jers

after the gabrielle giffords shooting, president obama went to tucson to get give a well-received speechnging the tone and proud of us. >> in light of this talks about the two daughters and malia and sasha because he wants to be a good role model and have them grow up in a civilized society. now because what we are looking at here because the party and refused to condemn bill maher and everybody on the left. we're supposed to look at statements like in this is political statement and he doesn't mean it. >>> i think bernie touched on this and bill touched on this, i think it has backfired. poll numbers 41%. not just gas prices and economy and debt. it's also he is losing women. he is losing young people. i think a lot of this has to do people see through this. they are like, you god got to be kidding. >> you had the moral high ground and lost the million dollars with bill maher. >> even now it's too late. now it's political expediency but people would laugh about that. >> i don't want to in a sterile world, robert dinero says something, and robert dinero is half a bigot. >> "t" word and c

seventeen year old boy shot dead school shootings in virginia tech is just one of many gabrielle giffords who is now recovering i mean in the wake of all these tragedies is it going to be harder to fight for guns and if in the face in the face of these tragedies it's only a little later be harder to actually if you're talking about from a political perspective the gun issue listen the reason fast and furious is such a scandal the reason eric holder is going to live is because gun control is a losing issue for democrats in the united states is a losing issue and that's why they want to avoid it and that's why any time someone comes up and says hey you know they think iraq i want to take their guns away they're seen as a loon seen as a conspiracy theorist and that may be true or it may be not true but it's because barack obama that's really talked about a lot it's a losing issue for democrats most americans both democrats and republicans support the ownership of guns and that's just a fact especially when it comes to blue dog democrats who follow lockstep with the democratic party given eve

nine-year-old christina was shot and killed in the shooting ram pain that injured gab yell giffords.urvive it. tried to imagine our emotions and keep our family in peace. now the second year we are trying to honor her wishes. >> christina taylor green memorial foundation presented checks do two children foundations for more than $70,000. >>> yesterday hundreds of visitors were invited to climb the cathedral's tower which was only open for one day. the tower was significantly damaged during an earthquake but now deemed safe for visitors. >>> 8:25. we are warming up here. i hope it gets warm enough outside. it may be nice. yesterday was pretty cold. >> we are off to a cold start this morning. so bring along a nice warm coat. make sure it's waterproof. we have a few scattered showers left in the forecast. partly cloudy skies for parts of the bay area. satellite radar. has pushed off to the east. a winter weather advisory remain there is for the afternoon. let me run you through the next day or two or three. take a look here. picking it up around noontime. notice the moisture hanging aro

frank gifford, that's when we announced our engagement. >> that was interesting. that's when you had the bangs and the mullet. >> that's not a mullet. that was the same all the way around. >> i don't think so. it looks like it's short on the top. i love that. >> that was fun. >> well, curly. >> stuck my finger in a socket. that all you got? too blond. as i age, you notice there's a desperation factor. we start to think if we get blonder and longer we're going to somehow be better, and we're wrong on every account. >> one of hairdos that caught the nation's attention, back in the '70s, "name that tune" haircut. remember this haircut? let's roll this tape. oh, boy. ♪ soft as an easy chair love fresh as the morning air ♪ >> that hairdo. >> that was a dorothy hamill. i stole that from her. we should go back to that. >> that particular show, you guys, is maybe coming back to television. >> yeah. >> yeah. they've got the rights. it's a great show to bring back. >> "name that tune," i was ready to leave the business and i got a call from ralph and i'd been so used to goi

he is like what would happen if kathy kathy lee gifford has sex with an impersonator. >> who says she didn't? >> wait a second though. are we looking at the same photo. i'm looking at that photo and he is one cycle away from being an attractive woman. i think i have seen him as an attractive woman at vince's cabaret on dollar beer nights. allegedly. >> bill, you are one to talk. >> the pot calling the kettle black. he is an attractive man, jedediah. >> i am the pot calling the kettle gorgeous. >> the only reason you would watch weather men is if they are good looking. >> they are all wrong 90% of the time. i think we can all say we would rather see somebody attractive. i think he is cute. it is not like he sogly or odd looking -- ugly or odd looking. >> fox news has excellent looking and talented weather men and weather girls. >> his body is awesome. >> you want to work in another microwave joke? >> no, it is interesting that you say the word reporting the weather on television like a jewish last name. you say weather men. >> i am glad we took time out of the show for you to struggle.

captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. ello, everybody! it's winesday, wednesday, march 28th. it's the middle of the week, but we don't care. all is well in the world. >> when it's winesday. by the way, we're still drinking the colby red. the same glass. >> i got the nicest letter from the man who owns the vineyard. anyway, beautiful story. this 14-year-old son said, dad, can't we do something to help heart disease? he said can't we do a wine that all the profs will go to -- his father said, of course we can. the third time we're mentioning colby red. >> we like it. >> i just had somebody try it who has never loved red. it was donna. our wardrobe mistress. she goes, oh, my gosh. >> it goes down smooth. >> you know what else goes down smooth? i was stunned. did you think i would like or dislike "the hunger games." >> i thought you wouldn't like it. knowing it was about children eating other children. >> not eating. killing. >> cannibalism, i don't know. >> i must have

and christina taylor greene, the little girl who was so tragically killed when congressman giffords waser parents turned this around to help the community, to help kids. which is amazing. then kristi yamaguchi whom i love. did you know she had a club foot? who knew that? and so she has this amazing foundation so we're honoring her. basically this is what we're trying to do, encourage people who deal with adversity which we all do at some point. >> but do something about it. >> my mom always said there's always someone worse off than you. but the very act of helping someone else helps you. >> you're having a big party in malibu right on the ocean. >> we're crazy, we're doing it in our home. we've got glen campbell who will be performing and lp and mark cohen and my son johnny is singing. he's written a special song. >> he's a singer. what kind of music does he sing? >> he does indi -- alternative rock. >> the week before or the week after are you actually having your daughter's wedding? >> my daughter's wedding. >> you are a crazy woman. >> we're keeping the tent up. we're having about 3

this reminds me of a shooting tragedy not unlike the congresswoman gabrielle giffords case a little overo which is a tragedy that gets thrown up into the political polarization mill and remember last year, a year ago, liberals blamed conservatives for the shooting. they blamed sarah palin for putting a target on democrats' back and this give, it wasn't political, the guy was crazy. >>sean: where is eric holder? can you put out a beauty on someone's head and not be arrested? >>guest: that is the question. the lynch

way, nile, the one with the blond hair, his mom was outside and she's crazy about some kathie lee gifford. she watches our show from i think ireland. >> that's what i heard, yet she walked right past me when i walked into the thing. >> she claims. yeah. anyway, i left the gym, which is on 51st street, trying to cross the street. >> uh-huh. >> it was a -- you can see it. it was a complete and total crazy mob scene. >> a very humbling experience. you think you've been in show business 45 years like i have, quite a few years for you, too, one name. you arrive on a day like this, get out of the way! god keeps you humble no matter what. >> by the way, these five guys were put together by simon cowell kind of on a fluke. >> he's a genius. did he do il volo? they're the three teenaged -- il bolo. take flight. remember, they were just here. i want to have a sing-off between those guys, the four older guys and the three upstart italian guys. so much fun. >> they were put together by simon cowell, just kind of assembled this group. they were in school and suddenly their whole lives just explode. >>