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the white house dispatched joe biden to capitol hill with a tough sales mission last night. convincing unhappy house democrats to support the deal. but even as biden spoke, one democratic congresswoman tweeted, "listening to the vp making the case for the house tax cut deal, i'm still opposed." even democratic leaders are fuming, especially unhappy with the provision that slashes the tax on inheritances. >> the super, super break on the estate tax is a choking point for a lot of our members. >> reporter: the president has been working the phones, too, telling democrats, the deal is necessary to give the economy a boost. >> get this done. the american people are watching, and they're expecting action on our parts. >> reporter: and the president has an unlikely ally on that, senate republican leader mitch mcconnell. >> we've reached a bipartisan agreement. it's time democrats in congress reach a similar conclusion and enable us to act for the good of the whole country. >> reporter: but mcconnell may have some work of his own. not all republicans like the deal.

. >> vice president joe biden says today's weak jobs rept is disappointing and assigned the economic recovery is fragile. it climbed to 9.8%. it was 9.6 in october. employers added 39,000 jobs in november, that's well below the analysts' expectations. california's unemployment is 12.4. the economy needs to add up to 300,000 jobs a month to bring the unemployment raid do significantly. the vice president sayit's critical that congress extend unemployment benefits before the end of the year. republican john boehner says congress must ac now to cut spending and extend those tax cuts for everyone. if you are looking for a job you might find one at th next job journal hire event. it's next tuesday from 11:00 to 3:00 at the windham hotel in san jose. >> the meers of the president obama budget deficit committee voted in favor of a plan to flash the nation's growing

. >> vice president joe biden is on capitol hill tryi to round up democratic support to pass president obama's compromise deal with republicans. yesterday the president cut a deal extending tax cuts for those earning more than $250,000 a year. john hendron has the latest from washington. >> president obama is under fire. friendly fire from democrats. >> there are times to make deals but usually it follows a long, tough fight. i don't know but it seems i missed that part of this equation. >> critics complain h caved cutting a deal to extend the bush tax cuts for two more years for everyone deste campaigning the end of tax breaks for the wealthy. >> how can we rationalize tax cuts for the most wealthy americans when we're facing this kind of a deficit. the prident did get concessions extending unemployment benefits for 13 months for 9 million americans saving 2 million jobless workers from losing their benefits ove the holays, extending tax

. >>> vice president joe biden will try to convince democrats to support the president's tax deal today. some democrats say the president shouldn't have cut a deal with republicans to extend those tax cuts. they're circulating a letter on capitol hill urging party members not to vote for it. the president insists tax breaks for the rich was the only way that republicans would agree to tax breaks for the middle class. >> you don't have the backbone to let the tax cuts expire today, you certainly are not going to do it in the middle of a presidential election. >> business leaders from the chamber of commerce and business round table, a group of the nation's top ceos, are praising the package. >>> new this morning, wikileaks published a new set of cables overnight. the whistle blowing website at posted a new message. it says the leaks will continue despite the arrest of the site's founder, julian assange. he is in jail without bond on rape charges. wikileaks is under pressure on

gwen: isn't joe biden supposed to be the secret weapon? >> in this case, you have to wonder, the deal is, the administration did get more for this than they ever would have expected and i think would get if they were to wait till january when the republicans have more members. what i find interesting about this whole -- all these complaints about process is the process has, you know, what they should be, you know, the question of the process is why weren't they fighting this fight if it's such a great fight to have for the past 11 months or the 10 months before the election. gwen: what's the answer to that question? all these issues which are coming to a head in this last couple of weeks, i feel like we've been here before, where the last couple of weeks before the holidays everything comes to a head. but the immigration, the dream act bill has been languishing, start has been languishing. what was the third thing that didn't happen this week? >> don't ask, don't tell. gwen: it feels like everybody's rushing toward a deadline nobody's goin

tomorrow on the show, my exclusive interview with vice president joe biden. we'll have that.an kicks off his steel on wheels tour with a live show broadcast from seneca falls, new york, the town that inspired the holiday classic "it's a wonderful life." dylan is launching a campaign to create jobs and renew the spirit of america. that's at 4:00 eastern right here on msnbc. and my friend, tamron hall, has a look at what's next on "news natio nation". >> great show. good seeing you in new york as well. >>> in our next hour, we'll pick off where andrea left off. the senate just approved the president's tax cut deal. now the white house is calling republican opposition to the s.t.a.r.t. treaty, quote, a new low in political stunts. we are live on capitol hill for the developments. >>> plus, right now the house is now taking up a new repeal of don't ask, don't tell. we'll have the latest from the senate, which we're watching and the house. >>> i'm joined by one of the florida school board members targeted by a gunman who opened fire inside a school board meeting. we're learning mo

. >> with the tax cut extensions coming to a vote many will be watching this man, vice president joe biden. and his ability to convince his fellow democrats in congress of the obama administration's plan. biden, of course, went back and forth with members of his own party last week taking a more prominent and influential role as president obama nears a crucial point in his presidency. "the new york times" reports republicans are still assessing how powerful a player he will be as the white house adapts to a divided government. but in both parties he's seen if nothing else as someone well positioned to shuttle between congress and the west wing. the president, senator christopher dodd says needs the wide network because he just doesn't have the personal relationship joe has or as agenda weine rut it, he brings everything that rahm emanuel brings but the major difference is everyone likes joe biden. president obama has had republicans over, bill clinton over, now he'll call in business leaders to repair some damage there. in an effort to win support for economic policies, the president reach

on much more important note, i think joe biden is to some degree going to win the battle over afghanistan. he said recently that in july the president will announce something more than a token withdrawal. i think he's right. >> schieffer: nancy? >> i predict after initial rough patch democrats and republicans in congress are going to work together better than anyone expects, and that the debt is going to be the issue that brings them together. >> i think after initial patch of cooperation between congress think will be further divided than ever. and in 2011, drawing battle lines for 2012. >> i predict come fighting season in afghanistan whatever fragile gains have been made recently in the surge will be reversed. and i suspect that chip could be right, for different reasons-- not that big draw down will happen that joe biden's strategy might in the end win the day because democrats are desperate to get out of afghanistan and seem to be willing to do that. even though the president may not necessarily agree with that. >> schieffer: all right. i'll be back in a minute with kind of a special

prepare an interview for joe biden and at sarah palin the question that you ask joe biden. at the bell is the best piece of it as i could have gotten. that.shies away from wha the difference between moderator and reporter, i do not think there is a lot of difference. the critical thing is that there is no such thing as object of pity and did objectivity -- objectivity. >> should they have been called on it in real time by the moderator? >> what are you going to say? feel there is aou follow-up question that needs to be asked, you should ask it. you do not say, senator you are wrong on that or what ever. you would say something that get around it in a more even-handed manner. >> go ahead. >> a republican campaign never takes for granted the role of the paternalistic as archer. the reason charlie was selected r sarah palin was that there are fewer and fewer arbiters and people who can stand without judgment and truly reveal someone or a campaign for the view wherer. much has been criticized about the mccain's se this isa intot -- campaign sit with evening news anchors. we are

. >> this came after one day after joe biden visited capitol hill warning democrats that changes could unravel the entire deal. senior with house economic adviser says that with the increased chance of a double-dip recession. >> i think it is the correct analysis of the economy. that is what we've shifted. >> after that, the boy tells practi3 white house secretary, gibbs is expecting that the alternative is that higher taxes for everybody. and in the de the congress does not act soon? millions will lose unemployment benefits even local residents. people who are looking for work and hope in the congress will put aside politics and passes the bill. >> it is very, very stressful. to know that your benefits are going to run out. with everybody having bills and rent to pay i think it is unfair that they are doing this to not just me but everybody out there that is in the same situation. it is really stressful. especially during the holidays. >> it is kind of scary, released her to think of the consequences. in my younger days i had some rough times, and to think of living in my van? it is n

julia for kron4 news >> a national list joe biden is speaking out about same sex marriage. he says that except fans may not be far behind. this comes just days after president barack obama signed a bill for appealing to the military's do not ask, do not tell policy. it banned military members from serving openly. same sex marriage is only legal and a handful of states. it has been quite a year for president barack obama and a reporter says that there's a lot of bumps along the way and his presidency from the rain had to the best what court. >> maybe it was a metaphor for its year. as simple basketball game ended with the ballot in several stitches for the president. >> let me begin by pointing us that although washington is supposed to be a town in sharp elbows it is getting carried away. the president is leaving friends like honolulu leader predicting a comeback in 2011. >> i met him about on the basketball court. he definitely has an athletic ability to come back. it has been a rough year for of his bones but quite well. >> it 2010 nothing came easier for the president. h

. >> this came after one day >> after joe biden visited capitol hill warning democrats that changes could the entire deal. senior with house economic adviser says that with the larry summers says increased chance of a double-dip recession. >> i think it is the correct analysis of the economy. that is what we've shifted. >> after that, white house secretary,robert gibbs is expecting that the alternative is that higher taxes for everybody. and in >> and they do expect this to be passed as an alternative. >> and also the de the congress does not act soon? millions will lose unemployment benefits even local residents. people who are looking for work and hope in the congress will put aside politics and passes the bill. and as craig sklar says, it is difficult. >> the people you see of these telephones, the offices of the unemployment are giving bad news out. >> unfortunately, at this time congress is not considering adding any more weeks of benefits to the federal extension program. >> that means, the last couple weeks and it is as uncertain as ever. >> and some were hopeful with the latest in

vice president joe biden met with democrats and lobby for the tax package. the agreement would extend expiring bush era tax rates for all taxpayers for two years, reduce payroll taxes, and extend long-term jobless benefits be many object to the deal and republicans are praising it. >>> the tax compromise triggered a selloff in the bond market today. they manage to edge higher by the close of the session. the nasdaq rose by 10-point. >>> wikileaks is grabbing headlines and criticism from around the world and now berkeley may be diving head-on into the controversy. they wanted to leave the army private a hero. if approved, it would require the release of private bradley manning. they have already approved the resolution, although divided. >> i do not support making a hero out of badly manning. i do not -- bradley manning. i do not know who was harmed by these wikileaks. >> he did an act of conscious and a heroic thing and should be thanked for it. >> the resolution will be going before the berkeley city council next tuesday. >>> the number of mountain lion sig

vice president joe biden is going to be introducing the president when he takes to the president.endanc attendance, advocates who have worked on this bill. reverend al sharpton, we saw him, also, secretary geithner as well as larry summers. when we talk about the fact we're going to see this go into effect right away, we also want to let people know about the extension of the unemployment benefits for 13 months. while everybody b that has a job is going to see their paychecks, the fact they're not going to go down in a year. they are going to know there are people out there who get the unemployment benefit extended, excuse me. >> right. and obviously, doesn't affect all the unemployed. there are limits in states on how long you can claim these benefits. many states, that limit is 99 weeks, but if you haven't done it, this this makes a big impact. >> we're hearing more about what type of warning we're getting from the president. i'm going to thank you for your time and for being on here with me this hour. we're going to be back with much more and dylan ratigan picks up things at t

did joe biden sneak one by mitch mcconnell?ll, i think president obama did very well in the tax deal. but most importantly of all, lawrence, this is going to sound like a cliche but it's true. the american people benefited. if you're in politics, you don't always get what you want to quote the rolling stones. president obama didn't get all that he wanted. we certainly shouldn't be giving a tax cut to millionaires. there's no reason for it. the extension of the estate tax and upping the estate tax threshold, those are things our side didn't like. on balance it's a good package for working americans. i think it was a draw with a slight tilt to the president. >> bob green stein, you were here last week advocating democrats vote for this, hold their nose and vote for it on the upper end tax breaks for the wealthy. you're the first person most liberal house democrats turn to on questions of this kind. are you recommending democrats vote for this because joe biden and barack obama outsmarted the republicans in this deal? >> i'm basic

vice president joe biden revealed today he believes america is reinvolving on the issue of same sex marriage made his remarks on "good morning america." the vice president compared what is happening with same sex marriage to the issue of gays and lesbians serving in the armed forces. those remarks two days after president obama signed a bill that overturns the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. >> i think the country's einvolving and i think there's an inevitability for a national consensus on gay marriage. that is my view. >> same sex marriage remains illegal in most states. president obama recently admitted his feelings on gay marriage are still evolving but believes they have some of the same rights married couples enjoy. >> jolly old st. nick. has santa trading in his sleigh for water skis in the national's capital this morning. honey...? [ mom ] yes. honey, i can't find my internet cord. oh, i'll borrow hailey's. you're downloading movies. fast! from here? where is her cord?! we switched to at&t high speed internet and got wireless access. no more cords. wireless, okay, honestly

vice president joe biden heads to capitol hill today to try and convince rebellious democrats to support president obama's tax compromise with republicans. this comes a day after the president himself launched a forceful defense of his concessions he made, including extending tax cuts to the nation's highest earners. nbc's steve handelsman has the report. >> reporter: in trouble with democrats over his compromise on taxes, president obama took his defense public. >> a long political fight that carried over into next year might have been good politics but it would be a bad deal for the economy, and it would be a bad deal for the american people. >> reporter: he got what democrats want, a 13-month extension of unemployment benefits and a one year, one-third cut in social security taxes to help working class families, but mr. obama gave republicans what they want on taxes. no hikes on the top bracket to be sure the rest, 98% of taxpayers, keep their cut. bipartisanship, says the president. >> i am happy to be tested over the next several months about our ability to negotiate with republican

. >> vice president joe biden says today's weak jobs report is disappointing and assigned the economicecovery is fragile. it climbed to 9.8%. it was 9.6 in october. employers added 39,000 jobs in november, that's well below the analysts' expectations. california's unemployment is 12.4. the economy needs to add up to 300,000 jobs a month to bring the unemployment raid down significantly. the vice president says it's critical that congress extend unemployment benefits before the end of the year. republican john boehner says congress must act now to cut spending and extend those tax cuts for everyone. if you are looking for a job you might find one at the next job journal hire event. it's next tuesday from 11:00 to 3:00 at the windham hotel in san jose. >> the members of the president obama budget deficit committee voted in favor of a plan to flash the nation's growing deficit but the plan did not get the supermajority necessary to automatically put it if in front of congress. the plan would cut $4 trillion from the budget over the coming decade though through accommodation of tax increas

. >>> vice-president joe biden speaks out about things such as marriage, what he thinks about the future of the controversial issue and how the repeal of don't ask, don't tell plays a role. >>> and the latest computer model right here behind me, i have got your complete christmas day hour-by-hour. show you when the rain gets here and when it gets. see you back here. >> no santa, no stress. why one sold out san francisco restaurant was serving up a room full of laughs on this christmas eve. . >>> vice-president joe biden says today he believes the same change in attitudes that will allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military will pave the way for them to marry. he told good morning america he believes the country is evolving and there will soon be a national consensus on same- sex marriage. also after signing the repeal of don't ask, don't tell president obama said this week his feelings in gay marriage are in a state of transitiin ne tonight, in bethlehem today bagpipes echoed down the street celebrating the day before christmas. as many as a million and a half crowded the we

. >>> vice-president joe biden speaks out about things such as marriage, what he thinks about the future of the controversial issue and how the repeal of don't ask, don't tell plays a role. >>> and the latest computer model right here behind me, i have got your complete christmas day hour-by-hour. show you when the rain gets here and when it gets. see you back here. >> no santa, no stress. why one sold out san francisco why one sold out san francisco restaurant was serving up the next, you start one feeling a bit off.ne. the moment you feel run down or achy, nip flu-like symptoms in the bud, with oscillococcinum. get oscillo and feel like yourself again. oscillococcinum, nip it in the bud. . >>> vice-president joe biden says today he believes the same change in attitudes that will allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military will pave the way for them to marry. he told good morning america he believes the country is evolving and there will soon be a national consensus on same- sex marriage. also after signing the repeal of don't ask, don't tell president obama said this week h

joe biden says the report is disappointing and a sign recovery is fragile. >> the bottom line is that what this tells us it makes clear is that while we make progress in creating jobs it's not enough. >> vice president biden says it's critical congress extend benefits before the end of the year, republican john boehner says congress must act now to extend cuts for everyone and says the economy needs to add up to 300,000 jobs per month. >> and if you're looking for a job, you might find one at the next abc 7 job journal hire event on tuesday, december 7th in san jose. >> and the war in afghanistan has claimed the life of another californians. a 26-year-old marine sergeant was killed yesterday. he has family here in the bay area as well as fresno where he grew up. his death is a tragic reminder of the challenges troops and leaders face there. president obama made a surprise visit to the airfield in afghanistan friday to speak to the troops. abc reports the commander in chief told troops they're winning the war against insurgents. >> mr. obama thanked u.s. troops for their service this h

he sent vice-president joe biden as an emmiss sear emmissarry to capitol hill. mr. obama says raising taxes on the wealthy is a fight for another day. >> if we're sear use about balancing the budget, we can't continue to afford these tax breaks for the wealthiest taxpayers. >> the republicans say they'll pass the hill anyway when they take over the house in january. >> it's the first thing we will do, and we'll do it retroactively after the first of the year. >> reporter: something the white house don't want to see. abc news, washington. >> alan: new york city mayor michael bloomberg denied he is exploring the possibility of running for president in 20 # st. . >> i'm not looking at the possibility of running. i have a great job, and i'm -- >> i am going to speak out on those things that affect new york system that's my job. >> alan: black berg says he wants to go after the -- go out at the greatest mayor ever of new york. >>> the metrodome in minneapolis collapsed today, and the cameras're rolling. >> alan: more on the deep freeze hitting the midwest. and we could s

. >>> vice president joe biden tonight speaking up about the issue of gay marriage in the united states. in a televised interview today, the vice president said the country is evolving when it comes to same-sex marriage. and that the same thing is happening with the issue with openly gay troops in the military. this week you may remember president obama signed in to law a repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prevents gays from serving openly. in iraq, u.s. soldiers are celebrating the holidays, but they're hoping that this will be their last christmas in that country. under a pact between baghdad and washington, all u.s. troops are scheduled to leave the country by the end of next year. and u.s. troops serving at a base in afghanistan kicked off their christmas celebration. the troops at camp phoenix were treated to a guest appearance by santa claus. the war strategy review released last week by president obama found u.s. and nato forces making head way against the taliban in al qaeda, but serious challenges lie ahead. enjoying a special holiday meal, one soldier tried to l

speakers include vice-president joe biden and senate majority leader mitch mcconnell. 35 minute. >> alaska has lost a giant. we are gathering together to remember and celebrate all that ted stevens was to so many of us. when we all learned of the tragic accident, all over, all across the state, people gathered together to share their stories of the life of ted stevens. people in a cordova gathered together in their neighborhoods, all came into one house, sharing coffee, watching reruns of the c-span when it head stevens delivered his tribute to the senate, his last floor speech. we have seen the big banners that expressed the thanks to him across the community. i was flying down from fairbanks a few days ago. the flight attendant came over the intercom system and gave the most incredibly warm and beautiful impromptu tribute to ted stevens, but to those of us who were assembled on that flight. just last evening, thousands of alaskans lined the streets in the rain and in the damp to stand with signs, paying tribute to our senator. they were not just out to pay tribute or

joe biden told andrea mitchell that is just not acceptable. >> what do you say to senate senator kyl and the others who are dragging their feet? >> get out of the way. there's too much at stake. too much at stake for america's national security, and don't tell me about christmas. i understand christmas. i have been a senator for a long time. i have been there many years where we go right up to christmas. there's ten days between now and christmas. i hope i don't get in the way of your christmas shopping, but, this is the nation's business. this is a national security at stake. act. act. >> you can see andrea's entire exclusive interview with vice president biden a little later today on "andrea mitchell reports" 1:00 eastern time right here on msnbc. >>> later this morning, the president officially unveils the administration's review of the afghanistan war effort. the headline, new strategy showing progress and troops still on track. the surge troops to start coming home next summer. live for us at the white house, athena jones, lay out how they're going to roll this out today. >> rep

from joe biden. >> the s.t.a.r.t. treaty finally on the floor of the senate but not without one republican senator threatening to read every last word in that treaty and another senator, the leading opponent senator kyl saying it's disrespectful to the christmas holiday to bring it up. what do you say to he and the others dragging their feet. >> get out of the way. there's too much at stake for america's national security. and don't tell me about christmas. i understand christmas. i have been a senator for a long time. i've been there many years where we go right up to christmas. there's ten days between now and christmas. i hope i don't get in the way of your christmas shopping, but this is the nation's business. this is a national security at stake. act. act. >> press secretary robert gibbs also fired back against those republicans saying this is a new low in putting political stunts ahead of our national security. this treaty is supported by president h.w. bush. every living republican secretary of state, our nate

probe is being driven by her political opponents on the right and the left, including vice president joe biden. >>> overseas, danish police say they have managed to stop a, quote, imminent terrorist attack in copenhagen. yesterday authorities arrested five men who allegedly plotted to shoot people in a local newspaper office who outraged muslims years ago. a machine gun with live ammunition was seized in connection with the arrest in addition to plastic strips that can be used as handcuffs. >>> now here's a look at other stories making news early today in america. an explosion at a family owned furniture store in michigan killed two people and critically injured another. rescuers combed through piles of debris for more than twelve hours until the last body was recovered. officials expect the explosion was the result of a leaking gas line. >>> in florida, the coast guard unloaded 3400 pounds of cocaine seized from a speed boat in an operation off the coast of panama. the three suspects caught with drugs worth an estimated $48 million are in custody. it is the second major bust this month for th

this morning an exclusive interview with the vice president of the united states, joe biden. >>> then, analysis on the president's leadership and how washington will change in 2011 with the republican house of representatives. political roundtable weighs in. host of msnbc's "morning joe," former republican congressman from florida, joe scarborough, mayor of newark, new jersey, democrat cory booker. republican strategist and co-founder of no labels and former adviser to senator john mccain, mark mckinnon and nbc news chief foreign affairs mccain, mark mckinnon and nbc news chief foreign affairs correspondent, andrea mitchell. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> eight republicans join with democrats to end the ban on gays and lesbians in the military. fell short of the 60 needed to overcome republican opposition, the fate of the new start treaty, nuclear arms treaty with russia, which will continue to be debated today in a rare sunday session. i sat down late friday with the president's point man in dealing with congress, the vice president of the united states, joe biden.

prepare an interview for joe biden and at sarah palin the question that you ask joe biden. moderator and reporter, i do not think there is a lot of difference. the critical thing is that there is no such thing as object of pity and did objectivity -- objectivity. >> should they have been called on it in real time by the moderator? >> what are you going to say? feel there is aou follow-up question that needs to be asked, you should ask it. you do not say, senator you are wrong on that or what ever. you would say something that get around it in a more even-handed manner. >> go ahead. >> a republican campaign never takes for granted the role of the paternalistic as archer. the reason charlie was selected for sarah palin was that there are fewer and fewer arbiters and people who can stand without judgment and truly reveal someone or a campaign for the view wherer. much has been criticized about the mccain's se this isa intot -- campaign sit with evening news anchors. we are almost having to conversations up here. it is all about -- as a campaign operator, your job is to protect

. >> vice president joe biden will try to sell the idea to house democrats later today. >>> 4:38. elizabeth edwards is being remembered today as a woman who showed courage through tragedy, betrayal and her own six-year battle with cancer. joel brown tells us how she's become a symbol of strength. >> reporter: elizabeth edwards died tuesday morning at her home in chapel hill north carolina, surrounded by her three children, friends and her estranged husband john. a statement released by her family reads: edwards family says monday she had weeks to live. she posted a message on her facebook page that said: president obama says he and the first lady are deeply saddened by the passing of edwards. she revealed the kind of fortitude and grace that will long remain a source of inspiration. vice president biden and secretary of state hillary clinton also released statements. biden said edwards fought a brave battle. clinton said she made her mark on america and will not be forgotten. >> reporter: edwards looked well at one of her final appearances. the stand up to cancer benefit in septem

. >>> vice president joe biden is >>> vice president joe biden is urging congress to pass the s.t.a.r.tublican objections that may keep congress in session up until christmas. here is the vice president in an interview with my colleague, andrea mitchell. >> the s.t.a.r.t. treaty finally on the floor of the senate. >> yep. >> but not without one republican senator threatening to read every last word in that treaty and another senator, leading opponent senator kyl, saying it is disrespectful to the christmas holiday to be even bringing it up. what do you say to senator kyl and the others who are dragging their feet? >> get out of the way. there's too much at stake for america's national security. and don't tell me about christmas. i understand christmas. i have been a senator for a long time. i have been there many years where we go right up to christmas. there's ten days between now and christmas. i hope i don't get in the way of your christmas shopping but this is the nation's business. this is a national security at stake. act. act. >> well, he has had a good year, actually. vice presi

-time's number one was vice president joe biden congratulating president obama on the passage that day of health care. i have to say this is biden just being enthusiastic. >> this is a [bleep] day. chris: now come on. duffy, you're the "time magazine" guy. why di p youut him up? he is trying to be a little bit excited. >> that isn't really a gaffe. a gaffe is when you say something -- chris: that's at the top of your list. >> a gaffe is when you say something that is true. chris: well, there you go. let me ask you, andrea, let's look at michael steele. he is the republican national chairman. he takes a lot of heat of what he says. let's catch him on this one. >> this was a war of obama's choosing. chris: this was a war of obama's choosing. analyze the thought behind that. >> we could have a whole magazine issue on michael steele's gaffe. going back to what biden sai biden is now on the hill doing all of these one-on-one negotiations. biden is the man, he is the right-hand man. chris: he is the correcter. he is the back-slapping, dropping the f-bomb, he is the happiest guy in the white

and sunday on "meet the press," an exclusive with vice president joe biden. >>> and finally, here's aok at what's coming up later this morning on the "today" show. meet the security guard called a hero for shooting a gunman who terrorized a florida school board meeting. and two-time oscar-winning actor kevin spacey talks about his new movie, "casino jack." keep it here for continuing local news, weather, sports and more. i'm lynn berry. thanks for watching "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. have a good one.

prepare an interview for joe biden. i thought that was the best piece of the fis i could have gone. that is what i tried to do, because-i do away from what i thought to be interpreted as gotcha questions. the difference between moderator and reporter, i do not think there is a lot of difference. david brinkley used to sit there is no such thing as our objective of the -- there is no such thing as of the activity coming just as a decrease of subjectivity. you have to strive to be as obsolete as objective as you can be. >> nichole, what do you think? >> there were plenty of people that work fact checking -- that were fact checking. you do not say you are wrong. you say something that gets around it and a much more even- handed manner. >> a campaign, particularly of republican campaign never takes for granted their role of the journalist as arbiter. the reason charlie was selected as the first five interviewer for sarah palin is there are fewer and fewer our borders. -- arbiters. so much has been said and written and criticized about the making campaign decision to speak with evening a

vice president joe biden will be david gregory's exclusive guest. >>> now to travel and weather here at home. so far, so good for domestic travel as a busy week gets under way, but for those heading overseas, not a good mix. a lot of holiday plans are in chaos as flights bound to and across europe have been disrupted by a severe winter storm. we have more from london. >> reporter: covered in a blanket of snow, this is a picture postcard image of buckingham palace most tourists never see. but anyone hoping to hop across the pond may want to think again. all flights into and out of the uk's busiest airport are grounded tonight. this flight from miami did manage to land in arctic conditions only to be frozen out on the runway for more than five hours. >> migraine passed away. i won't be getting back to the states for her funeral at this rate. >> reporter: roads have been paralyzed by blizzards while many motorists were trapped in their vehicles overnight, hundreds of cars were abandoned in germany and italy. in britain, despite heavy duty equipment, rescue services are struggling with t

vice president joe biden revealed today he believes america is reinvolving on the issue of sameex marriageade his remarks on "good morning america." the vice president compared what is happening with same sex marriage to the sue of gays and lesbians serving in the armed forces. those remarks two days after president obama signed a bill that overturnshe military's "don't a, don't tell" policy. >> i think the country's einvolving and i think there's an inevitability for a national consensus on gay marriage. that is my view. >> sam sex marriage remains illegal in most states. president obama recently admitted his feengs on gay marriage aretill evolving but believes they have some of the same rights married couples enjoy. >> jolly old st. nick. has santa trading in his sleigh for water skis in the national's capil this morning. [ fema announcer ] why watch regular tv when you canxperience the next generation of television service? at&t u-versev. tv like you've never see before at a really great price. switch to at&t now to g u-verse tv starting at just $39 a month for six mohs, dvr included. o

joe biden's a friend of big oil. at ha ouse hearing, here he is, when bp was on the carpet, he apologized for putting them on the carpet. >> and this shakedown, i apologize. chris: it was british prime minister gordon graham campaigning in the hinterlands and count iring a woman upset about immigration and forgetting he was wearing a mic. >> all of these eastern europeans welcome them in. >> should never have put me with him. ridiculous. chris: the truth sometimes is spoken. get in trouble for it. robert gibbs kicked up a storm with democrats when he said this on "meet the press" back in july. >> i thire thenk's no doubt there are enough seats in play that could cause republicans to gain control. there's no doubt about that. chris: again, telling the truth. finally, was it nevada republican candidate sue loudon, who many think lost her primary fight out there when she advocated this old-fashioned health care solution. >> you know, before we all started having health care in the olden days, our grandparents, they woul

vice president joe biden serving as the chair, the united states this month holds the council's rotating presidency. sanctions were imposed on iraq one year after it invaded kuwait in 1990 under the then president saddam hussein. the council adopted resolutions to lift restrictions on the country's civilian nuclear program. it also decided to return the control of profits from iraq's oil exports from the government, allowing the money to be used for humanitarian assistance. iraqi oil earnings have long been under international control. the united states now wants to accelerate reconstruction by helping the country stand on its own. >>> germany will suspend military conscription, or the draft, as part of a plan to reform its armed forces. the decision was made at a cabinet meeting on wednesday amid government efforts to ease fiscal shortages. under the plan the draft for men age 18 or older will be suspe suspended from next july. the number of soldiers will also be slashed from the current 250,000 to 185,000. the government says the military draft can be revived if necessary. a rising num

after the report, vice president joe biden pushed congress to extend unemployment benefits. >> if we don't act, almost 7 million additional workers will lose coverage over the next year. >> reporter: sheryl stats isn't sure how much longer her benefits will last. >> the possibility that this weekend i will be no longer receiving my benefits. the winter months are here. the electric bill is going to double. gas prices are there. >> reporter: back in washington, the deficit commission won the support of 11 members but not the 14 needed to send the full 4 $4 trillion in budget cuts to congress. >> i believe this death threat constitutes the greatest challenge to our country going forward of any. >> reporter: for many, that challenge now hitting close to home as the economy and the jobless struggle to climb out of tough times. >>> the president barack obama is on his way back to washington after a brief surprise to afghanistan. it was his second trip. and he was greeted at bagram air face by general david petraeus. he praised the u.s. troops for, in miswords, breaking the taliban's momen

. >> vice president joe biden is on capitol hill trying to round up democratic support to pass president obama's compromise deal with republicans. yesterday the president cut a deal extending tax cuts for those earning more than $250,000 a year. john hendron has the latest from washington. >> president obama is under fire. friendly fire from democrats. >> there are times to make deals but usually it follows a long, tough fight. i don't know but it seems i missed that part of this equation. >> critics complain he caved cutting a deal to extend the bush tax cuts for two more years for everyone despite campaigning the end of tax breaks for the wealthy. >> how can we rationalize tax cuts for the most wealthy americans when we're facing this kind of a deficit. the president did get concessions extending unemployment benefits for 13 months for 9 million americans saving 2 million jobless workers from losing their benefits over the holidays, extending tax credits for working families including college tuition and children and a 2% payroll tax holiday for every american. what's it all mean? an a

later at the vice president's home, pelosi huddled with joe biden and treasury secretary tim geithner. this morning they were willing to go along with the brokered deal. >> the president is fighting to get the unemployment insurance they've held hostage. >> reporter: it goes without saying that the tax cuts for the middle class will be extended indefinitely, but one question remains. how long will the extension be for the higher income earners? once that's resolved, the president hopes to see a package on the floor of congress by midweek. >> mike, thanks. >>> let's drill down a bit further with john harwood, chief washington correspondent for cnbc. john, mike really asked the question, how long might an extension we see for the higher earners, and what would keep this from not being a done deal at this point? >> there's still haggling to go and democrats have to make sure their base is comfortable with the concessions president obama has made. but it appears that they're headed toward a perhaps two-year extension of all of those tax rates, three years would get it past the 2012 presid

. >>> vice president joe biden heads to capitol hill to try to convince reluctant democrats to support the president's tax deal, but some want to change it, which woucould put us right back into square one just weeks before everybody's taxes are scheduled to go up. tracie potts has the latest from washington. >> well, this is the way to go forward and the right thing to do. >> it simply adds to the deficit. >> reporter: president obama insists tax breaks for the rich was the only way republicans would agree to tax breaks for the middle class. >> i have not been able to budge them. >> reporter: democrats aren't so sure. >> i think we went too soon. there's a couple more innings in this game. >> reporter: house democrats still want to force the gop's hand by going public, telling americans this is a choice between helping 98% working families versus the wealthiest 2%. >> i think we've got the american people on our side. i think we can win this struggle. >> reporter: some democrats want to scale back the estate tax before this comes up for a vote. others doubt whether it will really be t