in mitch's distinguished career, he served as the chairman of the national republican senatorial committeeunanimously elected by colleagues to be as the senate republican leader. ladies and gentlemen, senator mitch mcconnell.s the senate republican leader. ladies and gentlemen, senator mitch mcconnell. the senate republican leader. ladies and gentlemen, senator mitch mcconnell.the senate republican leader. ladies and gentlemen, senator mitch mcconnell. >> well, thank you very much, john. i'm still just reveling in hearing someone from hollywood make a speech like that. i hope you're going to be able to find work after this. you're great. and come back anytime. i also want to recognize john cornyn who's doing a fabulous job as chairman of the nrsc. thank you so much, john. and you heard from our nrsc chairman orrin hatch who's doing an absolutely spectacular job. orrin has enjoyed a long and distinguished career and certainly doesn't need to be spending his time pitching for the nrsc but to tell you the truth, he's been an all-star the past couple of years and we don't know where we'd have

joined fund-raiser for the national republican congressional committee in the national republican senatorial committee, alaskan gov. sarah palin was told saturday night should not be allowed to redress the thousands there after all. the event begins tonight at 7:30 p.m. eastern. finally, former first lady laura bush says she is pleased that president barack obama nominated a woman for the supreme court, saying it judge sonya soda sounds like a winner and a good nominee. she made the remarks in an interview broadcast earlier on " good morning america." "washington journal" continues. host: healthcare is the issue for the next 25 minutes or so. what should the administration's plan look like? from the u.s. news section in this morning's "the wall street journal," this piece about a link senator kennedy. in the newspaper, if the liberal mr. kennedy takes a lesser role that could make it easier for the more conservative mr. baucus, the senator from montana to push the health care legislation into a centrist direction. mr. kennedy is a major proponent of including a publicly run health insurance

this tweet asks if you will certify the senatorial election if the minnesota court rules in favor of mr. franken? guest: i will fall of the direction of the court. i cannot issue a certificate until the supreme court process is finished. it is not. there are many union groups and democratic groups wondering why will not sign it right now. i cannot do that. we have to allow the court to finish. then if i am asked to sign a i will. i would not defy the law. host: could this go to the u.s. supreme court under this circumstance? guest: it might if one side or the other appeals to it. it is possible that one side or the other could say enough is enough and the wood in it. but if one side appeals there could be further litigation. -- they could say enough is enough and end it. host: i understand that you are friend of norm common, but do think it has become a sideshow? -- a norm coleman. guest: yes, i think so. we are at a disadvantage without a full congressional delegation. the citizens are frustrated, but that has to be balanced against making sure that the outcome is fair. we're intere

republican leader, ranking republican on the judiciary clerk the head of the national republican senatorial committee have all taken a turn. they won't let us have the hearing, they won't let us hear the facts. don't tell -- let her speak, keep her quiet, don't have a hearing. but we're all against her. well, come on, mr. president. that's not the american peoplemenway.and actually my inn to their efforts note they doubly demonstrated why we should have a hearing as soon as possible. don't delay. let her respond. let her speak for herself. because so far they're the only ones trying to speak for her. and when they do, they say we're open finded, we're fair-minded and everything else, but we're going to vote against her. well, in fairness, knowing she's stick to the earlier opportunity to respond to their questions and concerns and answer their charges. as i said when i went the date after consulting with the ranking republican on the senate judiciary committee, i wanted that date to be fair and adequate. fair to the nominee and adequate to allow senators to prepare. to be fair, we needed to

the national republican senatorial committee and the national republican congressional committee raised some $14.5 million tonight. those two organizations help elect candidates to the house and senate. the keynote address will be given by former house speaker newt gingrich. at the dais the nrcc chairman republican pete sessions. you're watching live coverage on c span. >> week after week i see house democrats give nancy pelosi a blank check, a blank check to do with as she wants to the american taxpayer. and taking our hard-earned dollars. and i believe that american people are increasingly alarmed -- alarmed with what they see. the real consequences of democrats unchecked one party rule in washington with trillion dollar spending sprees with more debt than any time in our nation's history, with job-killing taxation and regulation, i really don't think this is the change that americans thought they could believe in the last election. where i come from, people pull together in tough times, united with a defined set of national goals in the best interests of every american. as republican

of this time we are going to be in front, the local congressional and senatorial district offices all around this country. if you have heard about the ethics of government run health care today and it concerns you, and you are like barbara and are willing to serve your country to ensure that your children and grandchildren are not left to enhance these deficits in this kind of health care, joe tutti party patrons.org to get plugged in here, [applause] >> that is tea party patriots did or did. we are now joined by tony perkins, president of the family research council. >> thank you, grover. we have heard about health care in other countries, but as a former member of the louisiana legislature that served on the health and welfare committee there we are one of the few states that has a state run public health care system so if we want to look and how public health care is conducted we can see that even in on country where you often get pterosaurs before you even get a bed down in louisiana. so i encourage you to take a closer look at how we are providing health care in these public syst

and for district judges at least there's a tradition of considerable senatorial courtesy. but courtesy is one thing. for the president to totally abdicate his constitutional power to nominate is not wise. and those who want to submit only one name for the president's consideration rather than three or a panel are asking the preses to totally abdicate his role in the process. the president should rightfully refuse such entreaties. presidents, however, still has to get his nominees confirmed. the 41 republicans in the senate sent president obama a letter on march 2nd in which they said "we look forward to working with you as you consider nominees for the federal judiciary." they went on to say that unfortunately the judicial appointments process has become need lessly ack moanious. we would very much like to improve this process and we know you would as well. it is in that spirit that we write -- early on." the republicans then went on to request two steps the administration can take to achieve that stated goal. but before the white house had the opportunity to respond to th