now developing news in new hampshire involving proat any timers in portsmouth. nbc ron allen is live there with the details. good to see you, ron. >> how are you, carlos? >> ron, so apparently there is fairly significant, almost disturbing news. let us know what is happening there in new hampshire. >> well, things are peaceful. there are perhaps several thousand people here in front of the high school and they are lining the road up to the high school. people for health care reform, for lack of a better way to describe them on one side and people against it on the other side. things are very orderly but let me clear up one thing. is there a man in the crowd who has a handgun strapped on his lower leg. i asked the chief of police about this. the chief of police says that it is legal for him to have the gun as long as it is not concealed. it is a registered weapon and what is more the man is on private property, a church ground there at the end of the roadway and the church has apparently given him permission to be there. the police are keeping a close eye on this

bill anderson from new hampshire. in reference to what you've just said, i'm presently under the new hampshire medicaid system and i have to take a drug called lipitor. when i get on to this program, they said, no, we're not going to cover lipitor, even though i've been on that pill for nearly ten years based on the information that my doctor feels is right for me. and i had to go through two different rile trials of other of drugs before it was finally deemed that i could go back to lipitor through the new hampshire medicaid system. so here it is, the medicaid that you guys are administering and you're telling me that it's good, but then in the next sense, i'm dealing with the same thing that the insurance companies are doing. >> i think that's a legitimate point. i don't know all the details, but it sounds to me like they were probably trying to have you take a generic as opposed to a brand name. is that right? and it turned out that you did not have as good a reaction under the generic as the brand name and then th

bill anderson from new hampshire. in reference to what you just said, i'm presently under the new hampshire medicaid system, and i have to take a drug called lipitor. when i get on to this program, they said, no, we're not going to cover lipitor even though i've been on that pill for basically ten years based on the information my doctor feels is right for me. and i had to go through two different trials of other kind of drugs before it was finally deemed that i was able to go back on the lipitor through the new hampshire medicaid system. so, here it is the medicaid that you guys are administering and you're telling me that it's good, but in essence i'm dealing with the same thing you're telling me the insurance companies are doing. thank you. >> well, look, i think that's a legitimate point. i don't know all the details. but it sounds to me like they were probably trying to have you take a generic as opposed to a brand name. is that right? and it turned out that you did not have as good of a reaction under the generi

i know in new hampshire we're handling things just fine. there's a lot of noise, but not all that much heat to some of the misinformation that's happening. and people have a right to protest in a democracy. so this is a good, healthy debate about a serious issue. in the end, i know that in congress and in the senate, we are committed to delivering lower costs, better care and putting the people back in control of their own health care. >> congressman paul hodes from new hampshire, thanks so much. tamron, such an interesting point, that it was a very rational, sort of reasoned discussion in new hampshire, but you have to wonder, as the president try tries to talk about this is why we, this is being drowned out by these other ton has that is just a chaos. >> we saw senator mccaskill, people were yelling and the fever pitch of anger. you could feel it, but david, i'm still curious. you've got these people out front with their signs, if they really want answers to the questions that they write on the signs or if they, in their minds, have the a

it is scheduled to start in new hampshire there, hundreds of people have already turned out. of them will be able to get inside. they are lining the streets. new poll numbers from rasmussen. public support for the health care reform plan has fallen to a new low. take a look, 42%. that is down five points from just two weeks ago. rick: one of the most beloved members of the kennedy family is gone. eunice kennedy shriver passed away early this morning near the compound, the 88-year-old sister to jfk and ted kennedy, of course. best known for the remarkable work that she did it in transforming america's view of the disabled, organizing the special olympics more than 40 years ago. she was awarded the presidential medal of freedom for her work. joining us now is the chief operating officer and special olympics president. i was amazed to read that this effort began in her backyard? >> it certainly did. first of all, you are kind to reach out. this is a woman who started with a simple idea. through her tireless efforts, it was built into a global movement that is unprecedented. >> ta

trying to make the case here in new hampshire, a place that he has been many times, that health care is needed now. an interesting tactic. the president and his spokesperson robert ganz basically blaming cable news. do not allow cable knows the opportunity to kill this this year. that would be a mistake for this country. it will be interesting to see if that resonates. basically, the president doing his part to find these conflicts and to not them down, but over all, pretty the novelette inside, perhaps out of respect for the office. trace: so are you happy with your health care? if you are -- the question is should you be? the bottom line is your current health plan may not be as good as you think it is, and there is a good chance it will not be around when you need it. with us now is the director -- former director of communications to dennis hastert. also in the former communications director for trent lott. we also have a democratic consultant. we watched claire mccaskill, arlen specter, the president's town hall meetings. we have very different scenes. >> let me say first of all

my name is lana arsenal from portsmouth, new hampshire. i have a couple questions about the universal insurance program, which, if i understand you correctly, president obama, you seek to cover 50 million new people over and above the amount of people that are currently getting health care at this moment. >> it will probably -- i just want to be honest here. there are about 46 million people who are uninsured, and under the proposals that we have, even if you have an individual mandate, probably only about 37, 38 million. so interest in that ballpark. >> i'm off a bit. >> i wanted to make sure i wasn't overselling my plan here. >> that's okay, mr. president. [ laughter ] >> my concern is for where are we going to get the doctors and nurses to cover these? right now i know that people are not going to school to become teachers to teach the nursing staff. doctors are -- have huge capacities, some of them are leaving private to go to administrative positions because of the caseload that they're being made to hold. i really do feel that, you k

. >> joe, take a look at my opening announcement in '96 in new hampshire. me up from new york. they charged up on the stage, almost knocked my wife and sister off -- >> wow. >> i will tell you this, standing behind me were members of new hampshire. hubert humphrey back in 1968, he couldn't even go to a rally before his salt lake city speech, dump the hump, they were shouting him down. lbj had to go to military bases as did richard nixon in those years. this is nothing new. spector handled it very well. >> i felt bad for him. >> and i know we have to do news. i have to say, this is important for americans to realize. there are a lot of people who did get involved for the first time with barack obama. they have seen the press, adore this man over the past two years and this has to be very shocking to them. but for politician that is have been around for 20 years, we've seen this time and time again, i had senior citizens screaming at me in 1995, know, how dare you take away my medicare. and you sit there, you listen to the yells, you let them yell themselves o

>> yes. >> no. >> back in new hampshire -- i was going to do a spit take, i'm sorry, mr. obama solicited questions specifically from skeptics of health care reform. some of those questions came from the left. one man identified himself as a republican asking a reasonable question in reasonable fashion. >> good afternoon, mr. president. my name is ben hirshenson. i'm from maine and also florida. i'm ha republican. i don't know what i'm doing here, but i'm here. >> we're happy to have you. we're happy to have you. >> mr. president, you have been quoted over the years when you were a senator, and perhaps even before then, that you were essentially a supporter of a universal plan. i'm beginning to see that you're changing that. do you honestly believe that? >> president obama clarified the nation of his pan, not single payer, meaning not the government paying for everyone's health care, but, yes, universal, at least in that everyone ought to be able to afford it. the key elements of the plan, in fact, were emphasized by him before he took the first question, acknowledging as

[applause] 500,000 families in new hampshire. we also cut taxes for small businesses on the investments they make and over 300 new venture small businesses have qualified for new loans backed by the recovery act. now, that was 1/3 of the recover at. another 1/3 of the money and recovery act is for emergency relief for folks who have borne the brunt of this recession. we have extended unemployment benefits for 20,000 new hampshire residents. [applause] we have made health insurance 65% cheaper for families who rely on cobra while they are looking for work. [applause] and four states that were facing a historic budget shortfalls, we provided assistance that has saved the jobs of tens of thousands of workers who provide essential services like teachers and police officers. [applause] it has prevented a lot of painful cuts in the state but also a lot of painful state and local tax increases. the last 1/3 of the recovery act is for investments that are putting people back to work for these are jobs refurbishing bridges and pavement on

do they won a reprieve from new hampshire?> i think in some ways they want to see a repeat of new hampshire which is in docile audience,ç in the wreck we screened by the white house -- indirectly screened by the white house. it is also a larger name of the democrats, taking aim on the rocky mountain area. çwinningis key, but looking ahead to the next presidential election, they will be focusing on those areas.

i am from stratham, new hampshire. there is a lot of misinformation about how we will pay for this health care plan. i'm wondering how we will do this without raising taxes in the middle class because i do not want the burden on my parents. i am also a college student. >> they already have enough problems paying a college tuition. [laughter] >> exactly. also, i am looking toward my future with career options and opportunities. i do not want inflation to skyrocket by adding this to the national debt. i'm wondering how we can avoid both those areas? >> that is a request in. [applause] -- as a great question. first of all, i said i will not sell -- sign a bill that adds to the deficit or the national debt. this will have to be paid for. this will have to be paid for. it is in contrast to the bill that was passed that cost hundreds of billions of dollars by the previous administration and previous congress that was not paid for at all and that was a major contributor to our current national debt. that is why if you'll forg

southbound new hampshire avenue between 108 and ednor road.this was blocked but police will be opening it shortly. on the outer loop from 95 to georgia crawling along and 66 fa eastbound we are slow from 50 to 123. wide open here at gallows road. >>> a sticky morning for you as temperatures are already in the 70s. going to the low 90s this afternoon. a couple more storms. few more tomorrow. and finally, in to this weekend an monday we turn nice as we cool off as well and dry out. temperatures low to mid 80s. >>> the market got shellacked yesterday and looking at a comeback rally at the opening bell maybe as much as 40 points but we have home depot and target earnings coming up. >> and advice on getting a better night's sleep. >>> and jetblue's all you can fly deal an we will be cooking some pizza. have yourself a great day. join us for 9 news now at 9:00.

you. >>> we will bring you live coverage of president obama's town hall meeting from portsmouth, new hampshire, set to begin at 1:00 p.m. eastern time. >>> look for a hot deal on a new car, well, if you're looking for one, try ebay. what? gm is changing the way it does business. we'll talk about that, next, right here in the "cnn newsroom." >>> all right. just moments ago president obama deplaning marine one at andrews air force base. he will hop aboard air force one in just a moment. we will see the president in just moments here for his trip to portsmouth, new hampshire, for his town hall debate. really his town hall meeting. it will probably turn into a debate a little bit more. scheduled for 1:00 p.m. eastern time and trying to hang on here just to see the president climb off of marine one. all right. but, once again, that is scheduled to happen the town hall meeting at 1:00 p.m. eastern time right here in the "newsroom." >>> the health care debate is, it does seem to divide families who can't seem to agree. cnn's john roberts talked with the woodhouse brothers today on "american morning."

let's go to portsmouth, new hampshire. joining me now is nbc news political director and chief white house correspondent chuck todd. aside from commentary right to the facts tonight, chuck. the president seemed very much in command today. did it appear that way to you? >> well, i tell you, you look at outside and frankly, the outside folks, you know -- the gun guy, and i want to say this, the gun guy was some kind of -- new hampshire's got plenty of live free or die guys. i think he was somebody who is out on the fringe and really had nothing to do with this health care debate. the rest of the protesters for what it's worth actually seemed to keep a level head. and what that tells you is, the office of the presidency -- we're not seeing this with u.s. senators, we're not seeing this with members of congress. but the office of the presidency, at least, is keeping people from going nuts. >> how are they doing that? >> yes, they're doing their vocal protests -- well, on the inside. for instance, i talked to one of the gentlem

the washington -- a meeting in new hampshire. the washington bureau reporter has more. >> it is a calm scene outside of this high school in new hampshire. that could change as a meeting takes place later. >> 1000 people could be coming from every demographic. >> his proposal has come under fire in a recent town halls. from missouri to maryland. >> would you just allow the senator a few more moments. he will get to the question. >> we are having a vigorous debate in the united states. i think it is a healthy thing. >> the white house is retooling its message. >> we are surprised about some of the wild rumors we have heard. >> the administration has launched a new web site that will give a reality check on health care. they are trying to address skeptics. the president is confident that his plan will pass. >today the president targets his message towards those are already insured. in washington, nikole killion, wbal tv 11 news. >> divers have discovered the wreckage of a plane involved in the deadly mid air collision this weekend.

susan, new hampshire? town hall? >> yes. interesting. interesting. i went to new hampshire.ting test for the president. obviously, the media will be surrounding him. it does give him an opportunity to refocus the debate. hopefully they'll be constructive debates. because i think as republicans and as people who are concerned out there, there's an argument to be made about shifting what is it, the one sixth of our economy for 13% of the american public who doesn't have health care. and the rest who have some problems with it. but who don't know exactly what the government is suggesting. this is his chance to make it clear what the government is suggesting, how much it's going to cost and most importantly, less emphasis on cost but what is it going to mean you to and your health care delivery system for your family? >> and new hampshire knows how to do town hall meetings. >> they sure do. >> and i'd like to take a moment to mention the departure of ann wexler. she died on friday. she gave bill clinton his first job in politics, sending him off to oregon taxes for george mcgove

>> the koran. >> no. >> back in new hampshire, mr.bama solicited questions from skeptics of health care reform. some of the questions came from the left. one man identified himself as a republican, asking a reasonable question in reasonable fashion. >> good afternoon, mr. president. my name is ben. i'm from maine. and also, florida. and i'm a republican. i don't know what i'm doing here. but i'm here. >> we're happy to have you. we're happy to have you. >> mr. president, you've been quoted over the years, when you were a senator and perhaps even before then, that you are, eventually, a supporter of a universal plan. i'm beginning to see that you're changing that. do you honestly believe that? >> president obama clarified, not single payer. but yes, universal, at least in everyone ought to be able to afford it. the key elements of the plan were emphasized by him, before he took the first question, as he did. some seek to drown out these simple facts. >> for all of the chatter and the yelling and the shouting and the noise, what you nee

new hampshire is one of only two states with mandatory road tests for seniors. but as randall pinkston tells us, others are thinking about it. >> whatever happens, happens. >> reporter: 75-year-old thomas johnson is about to take his second road test. the first time was 59 years ago. >> as we get older, i suppose our reaction times change and our vision changes. >> reporter: in new hampshire, johnson's home state, every car and truck driver 75 or older must retake the road test to renew their driver's license. >> i sergeant william hahns, a licence bureau supervisor says most elderly drivers, nine out of ten, pass. >> we have identified some drivers that clearly shouldn't have been on the roadway and have acknowledged that they shouldn't have been on the roadway. >> reporter: while 15% of the facial's drivers are over 65, only 11% of them are involved in fatal crashes. but starting at 65, their risk of accidents for every mile driven spikes up. by age 80 elderly drivers are as likely as 17-year-olds to have fatal crashes. other than new hampshire, only one other

i am not in favor of that. >> so, some civil give and take in new hampshire, but a rough ride elsewhere for senators claire mccatskill and arlen spector. check it out. >> i don't understand this rudeness. what is this? i don't get it. do you all think you're persuading people when you shout out like that? >> you want to be led out of here? you're welcome to go. >> now wait a minute, now wait a minute. now wait a minute. >> beg your pardon? >> you don't trust me? okay. you know, i don't know what else i can do. i don't know what else i can do. if you want me to go home -- >> one day god's going to stand before you, and he's going to judge you. and the rest of your cronies up on the hill. >> okay. we've just had -- we've just had a demonstration of democracy. okay? >> so that's what it was. a little civics 101 there in pennsylvania. a lot of lawmakers saying that they are trying to educate their constituents, given all the misinformation out there, maybe they should try an old favorite. ♪ i'm just a bill, yes, i'm only a bill ♪ ♪ and i'm sitting here on capitol hill ♪ >> and there really

chance of showers and storms today, many hours, including concord, new hampshire. a chance of showers around d.c., baltimore, new york city. carry that umbrella today in case you get caught in one of the heavy downpours late this afternoon. >>> this is the last big day of heat for the eastern seaboard. >> retailers are left reeling. mcdonald's customers are still loving it. an ice cream treat with a kick. your early morning business headlines straight ahead. >>> plus, michael jackson's autopsy results are in. why does the mystery remain in the pop star's death? >>> amazing return to the diamond just five months after open heart surgery. we'll tell you why tiger woods is beingtiined f by the pga. you're watching "early today." >>> good mning. welcome back to "early today." i'm christina brown. here are some of the top headlines. a myanmar court has found a woman guilty of violating her house arrest after an uninvited american man spent two nights in her home in may. she's been sentenced to 18 months of house arrest while the american has been given a seven-year priso

i am from new hampshire.i am one of the people that turned myself in on the white house web page for being a skeptic of this bill. >> before you answer this question just because you refer to it, can i say this is another example of how the media ends up just completely distorting what has taken place. what we have said is that if somebody has -- if you get an e- mail from somebody that says obama terrorists creating a debt panel, forward us the e- mail -- obama is creating a test panel, forward this to us and we will address it. this is being portrayed as obama collecting an enemies list. here i am trying to be responsive to questions that are being raised out there. >> and appreciated. [applause] >> i just want to be clear that all we're doing is try to answer questions. >> i know in the white house the stand which you are on is often referred to as the bully pulpit. why have you not used it to chastise congress for having teo systems of health care? one for all of us and one for them? -- for having two sys

both directions of new hampshire avenue. nothing on 66 but a heavy volume in manassas and centreville. this is 95. plenty of your neighbors moving up newington to get to the beltway. the crash in waldorf is out of the road. back inside. >> we are glad you took that showers this morning. look at bill. it is a category two storm. it could be a category 3 storm, meaning a major storm, as early as tomorrow morning. the latest trajectory takes it towards p.r. will -- towards puerto rico. it could lead to some deadly recurrence as we head into the weekend. locally, it is mild and sticky. look off to the west. rapid city, 51 degrees. there is a cool pocket of air that could get here by this wekend. today it is the classic heat pump situation. tomorrow, kind of a similar pattern. temperatures near 90 towards the end of the week. >> thank you. >>> still to come, packing heat and presidential rallies. is it a problem? we will take a look at that. >> three men are taking -- we have more in the tech report. >> topping your "money scope"

madoff with the money. >> still ahead, we are monitoring the president's health care town hall in new hampshire so far no fireworks. john will have a play by play in a moment here. >> we will head to the floor of the new york stock exchange to get steve's up to the minute take on the markets. stay with us. thththththththththh >>us productivity jumped by 6.4%,s biggest gain in six years. much the result of cuts in jobs and workers's hours. shares of cit getting hard hit after the struggling lender announced it was delaying the release of the quarterly report to the sec. act viv investor bill ackman cut his stake in target to 4.4% to 7.8% and lost the hotly contested proxy battle it elect new directors to the company's board. >> for more on the market moves, let's go back down to the floor of the stock exchange where steve is. grit to see you. we are looking ahead to tomorrow. what are you on the floor expecting and what could make a more bullish statement for the market. >> don't step in front. fed. i don't think anyone thinks it will do with the rate. i don't see anything positive about talking

new hampshire avenue at 8 for the police activity. northbound i-95, heavy and steady right new on the main line as you work your way through woodbridge headed up towards lorton. all of your lanes are open. no incidents to report in the hov lanes. traffic runs steadery up through springfield. that's a check of your fox 5 on-time traffic. -- traffic runs steady up through springfield. >>> fewer people are riding metro since june's deadly collision. metrorail ridership developed by 2.3% in july. metrobus ridership dropped by 4%. overall, ridership was expected to go by at least 3% this year. right now, metro is not sure if the deadly train accident on june 22nd is affecting rider confidence or if it is just another sign of the troubled economy. >>> most of us could be holding drug upony. no joke. a new study finds 90% of u.s. bills have trace amounts of cocaine. it is even worse in the nation's capital where 95% of bills in the district tested positive. overall, about a 0% jump frp a similar studdie. the authors speculate it might have to

particular in new hampshire. new england arguably invented the town hall meeting.nd try to embrace the democracy but answer these things. look, he's got to do some myth busting here. this whole death panel thing has gotten out of control among seniors. there are some opponents that are preying upon seniors at this point to get out information. it's something they have to push back on. >> chuck, i want to bring christy hefner in the conversation. new topic. hillary clinton, want to play this clip for you both, led us to these headlines where she feels she needs to emphatically say she's the boss. i actually don't blame her. joe and i disagree on this. here is hillary clinton answering a question i guess she thought was really about and for her husband. take a look. >> wait, you want me to tell you what my husband thinks? my husband is not the secretary of state. i am. you can my opinion, i'll tell you my opinion. i'm not going to be channeling my husband. >> okay. christy hefner, first of all, what's your reaction to that? it's making a lot of waves in the papers. >

. >>> president obama pitches healthcare reform in new hampshire today. he's likely to hear some rock hard opposition from skeptical granite state residents, particularly those who already have insurance. susan roberts is in washington with more. susan, good morning. >> reporter: michelle, good morning to you. these disruptive town hall meetings are really turning into shouting matches and drowning out the discussion of what's actually in the bills in the house and senate. president obama is expected to walk into this later today. the white house is expecting a tough crowd at today's town hall meeting in new hampshire. >> disgusting what they're doing. >> reporter: like this forum near atlanta last night, tempers have been flaring across the country over the president's healthcare reform plan. critics insist his proposal would jeopardize medicare and result in limited insurance options. supporters say the overhaul is long overdue. >> we are having a vigorous debate in the united states, and i think that's a healthy thing. >> reporter: president obama's to

more on the town hall meeting in new hampshire. everyone is talking about the anger and debate that has gone along with that. the debate sparked a lot of protest and the president tackled it head on. john? >> a different atmosphere in pennsylvania today, a newly party-switched democratic senator got a lot of angry people yelling at him and he will do the best to manage that. he and two others will regain control of the debate. turn the temperature down and he directly addressed the tone early on in the session when he said let's argue about thing that is real and not made up stuff that has been exaggerate and is not part of the legislation. he got a good response so far. he is just getting going. we will see how the famously independent new hampshire residents treat him for the rest of the day. since everybody is deferential to the president, he not get the same treatment that members of congress get. >> fair point. a little bit different of a reception. thafgs very much. the sale of american companies may feel like a come back to

people who are covered, heading to new hampshire.ven though he's held other town halls on health care reform, aides say today he's really going to drive home, try to drive home that message that even if a person is covered, that, in fact, the system itself is still broken. in new hampshire, we expect the president to talk about how there's a need to change the system to make sure for instance that health insurance companies aren't able to deny a person coverage because they've got a pre-existing condition. meantime, given all of the fireworks that have taken place at other town hall meetings in the nation, i asked this morning robert gibbs whether the white house is expecting a bit of a bumpy ride today in new hampshire. here's what he said. >> the president's been answering questions from the american people, not in pre-scripted or stacked town hall meetings. these tickets are given out by those -- to those who want to come. people raise their hands, the president picks them, and we discuss calmly and rationally the issues that are

newshour this tuesday, the lead story is president obama takes his health care reform case to new hampshire: we have our own debate among editorial page writers; then come the other news of the day, including the latest from burma on the sentencing of nobel peace laureate aung san suu kyi; the latest on the tragedy-torn democratic republic of the congo, as secretary of state clinton wraps up a visit; and a review of the special legacy of eunice kennedy shriver, who died today. major funding for the newshour with jim lehrer is provided by: >> what the world needs now is energy. the energy to get the economy humming again. the energy to tackle challenges like climate change. what if that energy came from an energy company? everyday, chevron invests $62 million in people, in ideas-- seeking, teaching, building. fueling growth around the world to move us all ahead. this is the power of human energy. chevron. intel. supporting math and science education for tomorrow's innovators. the william and flora hewlett foundation, working to solve social and environmental problems at home and around the w

people in new hampshire are used to seeing firearms. no one from new hampshire was alarmed. maybe some of the people they bused in from massachusetts were alarmed but we're not really concerned about them. >> what is wrong with the people from massachusetts? >> they already have their health care scheme and socialism going in their state. they should probably keep it over there. >> let me get back to your beliefs. do you believe our fundamental rights as a republic, limited government, the notions that people are -- individuals are supreme, you believe all that is at stake here? >> yes. >> how so? >> well, it's not like this is, you know, out of the blue and all of a sudden it's at stake. this has been an ongoing process. this has been an ongoing process since it was said what type of government have you given us, the republic, if uk keep it. people have not been vigilant -- >> i'm with you. let me ask you, do you think roosevelt was wrong to start social security? >> yes. >> was johnson wrong to start medicare? >> yes. >> where did we go wrong? >> um -- >> was teddy rooseve

he is speaking to a town hall today in new hampshire.ncourage your viewers to tune into that town hall. >> if you were to look at the number one fear, the fundamental fear that i'm not going to be in control of the decisions that will affect my health because of this plan, when you look at some of these plans it actually -- certainly when you look at wyden/bennett and other ideas it looks like we would have more choice. how do you make people feel like they will actually be em power as disempowered by this reform. if you listen to the people in the town halls, they are feeling threatened and disempowers by this process as opposed to empower by more choice as you suggest they may actually receive. >> let me say this as clearly as i can. most people get health insurance through their work and, for most people, that health insurance that they get through work will be there. nothing will change for them, except that they will be protected against discriminatory insurance rules and their costs will begin to go down. that's the whole goal here

he faced a polite audience in new hampshire, other members of his party have not been as lucky. >> i don't understand this rudeness! what is this? i don't get it. i honestly don't get it. do you all think you're persuading people when you shout out like that? you don't trust me? >> with me now, live in d.c. is chief white house correspondent chuck todd. we were just watching claire mcclass kill mccaskill having a tough time at her town hall in missouri. is it some of the town halls gone away from michigan and in missouri influencing the conversation one way or the other? >> i think it is influencing the conversation or you wouldn't have the president himself yesterday at a town hall have to spend as much time explaining what is not in his proposal for health care as he did trying to pitch what is in his proposal on health care. so there is no doubt this stuff is having an effect. i think another thing we've learned is it's a lot easier to show up at a town hall meeting for a member of congress if you're an opponent than it is to get into one of these town hall meetings with the presi

live from new hampshire here waiting for a response to

welcome to portsmouth and new hampshire. my name is peter schmidt. i'm a state representative from dover. i'm a senior citizen. i have a wonderful government-run health care plan called medicare. >> right. >> i like it. it's affordable. it's reasonable. nobody tells me what i need to do. i just go to my doctor or the hospital. i get care. now, one of the things you've been doing in your campaign to change the situation is you've been striving for bipartisanship. >> right. >> i think it's a wonderful idea. but my question is, if the republicans actively refuse to participate in a reasonable way with reasonable proposals, isn't it time to just say we're going to pass what the american people need and what they want without the republicans? >> well, let me -- let me -- let me make a couple of points. first of all, you make a point about medicare that's very important. i've been getting a lot of letters, pro and con for health

welcome to portsmouth in new hampshire. -peter schmidt. i'm a state representative from over. i'm a senior citizen. i have a wonderful government- run health care plan called medicare. i like it. it is affordable. it is reasonable. nobody tells me what i need to do. i just go to my doctor and possible and i get care. one of the things you have been doing in your campaign to change the situation is u.s. been striving for bipartisanship. i think that is a wonderful idea. my question is -- if the republicans actively refused to participate in a reasonable way with reasonable proposals, isn't it time to say, "we will pass with the american people need and what they want without the republicans?" >> let me make a couple points -- first of all, you make a point about medicare that is important. i have been getting a lot of letters, pro and con, for health care reform.

soon as president obama returns om mexico this week, he's going to hold a town hall meeting in new hampshire. this will be, of course, on healthcare reform. meanwhile, over the weekend, more tension at these town halls that are happening all over the country. the growing anger and confusi

welcome to portsmouth in new hampshire. -peter schmidt. i'm a state representative from over. i'm a senior citizen. i have a wonderful government- run health care plan called medicare. i like it. it is affordable. it is reasonable. nobody tells me what i need to do. i just go to my doctor and possible and i get care. one of the things you have been doing in your campaign to change the situation is u.s. been striving for bipartisanship. i think that is a wonderful idea. my question is -- if the republicans actively refused to participate in a reasonable way with reasonable proposals, isn't it time to say, "we will pass with the american people need and what they want without the republicans?" >> let me make a couple points -- first of all, you make a point about medicare that is important. i have been getting a lot of letters, pro and con, for health care reform.

health care town hall with a gun strapped to his leg and police arrested a 62-year-old before that new hampshire event for carrying unlicensed loaded gun. the reason we're talking about this, a lot of talk here because people feel like, yes, there are second amendment rights for sure but also there are questions about whether this has a racial overtones. here you have a man of color in the presidency and white people showing up with guns strapped to their waist or their leg. >> it is real that there is tremendous anger in this country

welcome to portsmouth and new hampshire. my name is peter schmidt. i'm a state representative from dover. i'm a senior citizen and i have a wonderful government-run health care plan called medicare. i like it. it's affordable. it's reasonable. nobody tells me what i need to do. i just go to my doctor or the hospital and i get care. now, one of the things you've been doing in your campaign to change the situation is you've been striving for bipartisanship. i think it's a wonderful idea, but my question is, if the republicans actively refuse to participate in a reasonable way, with reasonable proposals, isn't it time to just say, we're going to pass what the american people need and what they want, without the republicans? >> well, let me -- let me make a couple of points. first of all, you make a point about medicare that's very important. i've been getting a lot of letters, proand con for health

welcome to portsmouth in new hampshire. -peter schmidt. i'm a state representative from over. i'm a senior citizen. i have a wonderful government- run health care plan called medicare. i like it. it is affordable. it is reasonable. nobody tells me what i need to do. i just go to my doctor and possible and i get care. one of the things you have been doing in your campaign to change the situation is u.s. been striving for bipartisanship. i think that is a wonderful idea. my question is -- if the republicans actively refused to participate in a reasonable way with reasonable proposals, isn't it time to say, "we will pass with the american people need and what they want without the republicans?" >> let me make a couple points -- first of all, you make a point about medicare that is important. i have been getting a lot of letters, pro and con, for health

the psident got a friendly reception at a tn hall meeting in portsmou, new hampshire. jeffrey brown has r lead story repo. >> reporter:his was mr. obams first foray into new hampshire as prident, and he made clear he w ready to goon theoffensive in what has become rancorous tional conversation on hlth care. >> l's disagree over things at are real, not these wil misrepsentations that bear no resemblance t anything that's actually been propod. the way politics works, sometimes, ishat people who want to keep things t waythey are will try to scare the heck ou of olks, and they'll create boogiemen out there th just aren't real. now theard part, beuse the history isclear. every time we come close to passing health insurancereform, the special terests fight back with everything they've got. they useheir infence, they -- they use their plitical allies scare and mislead the americanpeople, th start running adds. this is what they alway do. we can't let them do it again -- not this time, not n. >> reporter:hile pushing his plan to expandoverage to the uninsured, the predent toda

bret: he just misspoke in that town hall in new hampshire according to the white house press secretarythe president and his pitch. what about the fact checking of the president, as the white house wants to fact check all the fishy statements about healthcare reform. let's bring in steve hayes with "the weekly standard", a.b. stoddard of "the hill" and jeff birnbaum, managing editor digital of the washington times. well, this is about the aarp and whon the group endorsed or did not endorse, and of course they haven't yet. jeff, what about the president's pitch and fact checking what he is saying on this stuff? >> well, this was a very big mistake, the aarp. let me just explain. aarp is the most powerful organization in policy sense in a political sense in the country. the only rival might be the national rifle association. the aarp is second in size -- in any organization in the country to the catholic church. it can, if it wants, kill health reform, and it remarkable to me that the aarp, which has been working so closely with the white house and the democrats, actually made the stateme

it'll be in new hampshire. one woman in a town hall meeting in new jersey last night. >> it's my opinion that we have the best health care in the world. people from canada have come here for life-saving procedures. where are we going to go if this health care gets passed and you know this president only -- >> towson, maryland, last night where the democratic senator was booed repeatedly. the crowd was told to calm down so he could even speak. he's been defending the president's plan in health care reform. and he says it will give people more choices and more americans were covered. tom foreman was there and taking the temperature of people on a hot night in maryland. >> he came here to the outskirts of baltimore to meet with about 500 people, about 500 more could not get into the university hall where this event was being hosted. outside, people were sweltering in the heat and getting more heated by the moment as they talked about this issue. some in favor of it, a great many more against health care reform. li

he's live in portsmouth, new hampshire.is disturbing for a lot people is that man's protest sign said the tree of liberty needs watering. what did officials do about it and paint the scene for us today. >> reporter: well, david, the man was under surveillance for the entire time he was here. the police were well-aware of him, the secret service was in the loop, and they decided that he was harmless, that he was being cooperative, and they basically let him do what he wanted to do. by my guess he was about 100 yards or so from the entrance to the auditorium here where the president spoke, and the presidented behind the building. the man was under surveillance and deemed harmless. he was well within his rights to be on public property or private property with a nine millimeter weapon strapped to his leg. he never threatened the president, he never said anything threatening and that's what it was. for the most part the protests were very peaceful. they were peaceful. on either side of the streets there were people for and agai