back with us now, david axelrod, mary matlin and senator ron johnson. just want to correct the record. the dinner was last evening, but we didn't get wind of this story until we got steve hays' story from "the weekly standard" which was posted up on drudge. if you click through, you'll see the story. let me read part of the remarks. quote -- right now there is a vacuum, she told a crowd of more than 2,000 attending the national republican congressional committee's annual dinner. we've decided to step back and others will lead other things will fill that vacuum, and i quote again, when america steps back and there is a vacuum, trouble will fill that vacuum. now, i have another clause to read, but i want to wait on that, i want to go to you first, david axelrod, i've tried to stay with president obama on this whole issue, because i think politics stops at the water's edge. i know condie rice very well, as does mary and probably senator johnson. i was surprised at the harshness of her criticism. what's your take? >> she was at a fund-raising event, so she