the next president of the afl-cio. -- candidate to become the next president of the afl-cio. ilive coverage on c-span. >> good morning, everyone. welcome to the center for american progress action fund. i'm executive vice president here. it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the first that of our new series called "perspectives on the future of the american labor movement." is hosted by the center for american progress's american worker project, which conducts research on how we can increase the wages, benefits, and security of all american workers, and promotes their rights at work and make sure that the american worker perspective is central to all work at the center for american progress, whether it is that the economy, in government, health care, and host of other issues. -- economy, environment, health care and a host of other issues. today's discussion comes at a pivotal time for our countries workers. in the midst of the rate recession, with job loss and an unemployment at near record levels, and even worse, before this recession, the economy was working -- not

what's the afl-cio going to do on this? >> the issue here is controlling costs. right now we have an monopoly by private insurers. most states have two or three insurers who control the entire market or 75% of the market. there's no competition. their relationship with hospitals is basically a cozy relationship. the prices are going sky high. it's not just a problem of some people who -- >> are you going to back this health care plan or are you going to bitch and moan and say it's not enough. >> we are going to back it. >>> up next, what american political figure was offered 40 goats and 20 cows or 20 cows and 40 goats for their daughter's hand in marriage and who said let her decide? now, that's choice. that's next in this -- i shouldn't say it that way. that's next in the "sideshow." you're watching "hardball" only on msnbc. undefeated professional boxer floyd "money" mayweather has the fastest hands boxing has ever seen. so i've come to this ring to see who's faster... on the internet. i'll be using the 3g at&t laptopconnect card. he won't. so i can browse the

secretary treasury of the afl-cio joins us from washington. good to see you. w to the huffington post and the way they drib it it is the a 236789 l-cio is drawing a line in the sand for lawmakers who aren't fully behind this public plan. what are you going to do to them? >> well, what we said was, there had to be three or four elements in that plan in order for us to support them. if they didn't support the plan with a public option in it, with an employer mandate and no taxation of benefits, that we would tell our members and let our members decide, look, every 30 seconds american declares bankruptcy because of medical bills. millions of people don't have health care. you have millions of small businesses and large businesses that are struggling because health care costs are out of sight. insurance companies have a stranglehold on us. the only way to break that stranglehold on the health care industry is to have a public option. we said, the american people are demanding that you do something. the republicans have offered nothing. they've said no to everything

the afl-cio is reportedly gearing up to go to war with the conservative protesters who are making things difficult for some element lawmakers. "the huffington post" reports the nation's biggest union wants to bring in their members to help counter the protests. a town hall last night with two arkansas senators, here is what happened when congressman schneider said he would not support a single payer insurance plan. >> that's what obama wants. >> no, it's not what president obama wants. >> yes, it is. >> so -- >> how about barney frank? >> and watch what happened when republican congressman todd akin mentioned his democrat colleagues nearly getting lynched at town halls. >> people from washington, d.c., have come back to their districts and have town hall meetings and they almost got lynched, and so -- [ applause ] >> that's right. cheering at the idea that somebody might actually get lynched. well, one group of -- conservative group, americans for prosperity says this anger is not being manufactured here in washington by conservative groups. instead, they say this anger is real and wides

. >> now, the afl-cio and move on.org have called on their members to take an active role in the august health care town hall meetings and we should mention that there are democrats including senator ben cardin from maryland, and one of the things he says he's not so quick to dismiss the town hall disenters. he said while some may call it manufactured anger, he said in the town hall meetings that was not the case. that people have strong views about health care reform. so, he is saying this is what this is really doing, tapping into real, genuine anger and all these calls of saying it's astroturf or somehow manufactured, he said that's just not the case. >> i thought it was very revealing. jake tapper, abc news white house correspondent, asking robert gibbs point-blank, what's the difference, he was talking about astroturf. what's the difference between liberal organizers and right-wing organizers or conservative organizers? and the best response gibbs could give was that the republicans were bragging about it. i mean, that's really remarkable. >> you know, and this is a good point that

. >>> joining us now is richard trumpka, secretary treasure of the afl-cio. he was a very early supporter of then-candidate barack obama. thank you very much for joining us. >> rachel, thanks for having me on. i really appreciate it. >> sam stein of the huffington post today posted an interview with you in which you said democrats who vote against a public option for health care reform shouldn't count on any support from labor when they were up for re-election. is the public option a do or die for labor? >> absolutely. without the public option, this bill instead of being health insurance reform, it will become health insurance company grab number two. look, insurance companies' profits were up over 1,000% the last five years and working families have had their premiums increased 300% over the last couple of years. three times, they pay three times as much. this is about holding them accountable to the working families of this country and get ago bi ing a bill that actually works. and without a public option in this bill, it's no longer health insurance reform

and by the way, did anyone notice that the head of the fed in new york is now the former head of the afl-cio? hey, that shouldn't be any problem. here in new york, corruption with finances and new york and the unions? that's crazy. ok, so, labor unions an environmental projects. van jones, green jobs czar. then, what did he do? >> well, he is on a panel that we don't know much about, a commission that governor governor paterson put him on called the energy transition commission. i haven't been able to get any information about that, but one of the important things i found notable is that he is an advisor to the workforce development institute in new york which is advising state and local governments an universities on how to write their grants to get stimulus funds from the stimulus bill that he and his friends at apollo wrote. glenn: hold on a second. so the cofounder of the weather underground is working for the governor of new york, wow, and he's writing how to get money from the stimulus bill, written by the apollo ap liance, which -- by the apollo alliance, which he he is the hed of her

today the head of the afl-cio joined many democrats in saying that the public opening is essential for keeping health costs down. >> police say there is evidence a man murdered inside of his northeast d.c. pizza shop may have been robbed. the 44-year-old shop owner was found stabbed inside the pizza mart yesterday. police are handing out fliers looking for more information on the murder. >>> wave of bombings in iraq today at least 95 people killed. hundreds of others were wounded. explosions damaged iraqi parliament buildings. iraqi foreign ministry and police pa silts there. some people believe those explosio are an attempt to disrupt the upcoming elections. >>> coming up this evening on "news4 at 6:00" the mental health records of the virginia tech gunman were released today. virginia's governor tim kaine announced massive budget cuts today that could have an effect on college tuition. at a show called "gust hunters" is visiting an historic site in prince william county tonight. >>> the government is out with new guidelines how to fight swine flu this fall and winter and the recommen

attempting to touk had his constituents welfare reform or gun control is shouted down by plants from the afl cio. >> i don't think you have to talk to republican congressman. have you heard my speeches geraldo? i am glad to have liberals on the record against shouting down speakers. i don't think that's here's happening i have been gone in most of keys taises we do. a lot of them are old people. and as poles indicate and logical old people are concerned about what their end of life care is going to be under the democrat's li healthcare built. >> did you feel elderly for people who are learning medicaid and head care. we for bet d the healthcare bill as the polls indicate they are the most concerned. they also indicate most americans aren't wild about emotional takeover. >> pretty young. >> section 12:55 on management used encourage assisted suicide. not firing a law they are concern. >> i don't think they are fake i think they are sincere. a lot of them are professionals. >> that was the argument by democrats were we are like bob the boxer well pressed mob. >> let's see what's going on. let's ro

those mob scenes are supported in part by a group called freedom works, and today the afl-cio, the labornd people to town halls as well to confront the anti-obama teams. we have organizers on both sides tonight to show the fight right here on the set. >>> plus, the battle for america. the story of the most exciting presidential election of our times. why did ted kennedy break with the clintons and support obama.

the afl-cio has issued a call to arms by what it calls right wing tea party patriots. ll this, going to one of these potentially violent forums might be hazardohaa hazardous to your health and safety. >> reporter: congressman john dingell drowned out by the boos and jeers from an angry hall. he was hosting a town hall. the 81-year-old could barely get a word in edgewise. crowds started showing up early to wait in line, both those for and against, yelling it out before the meeting ever got under way. >> just say no! just say no! >> reporter: once inside, it was a free for all at times. >> it got really heated and really loud. it was a lot of chanting, a lot of booing, you know, some clapping. at one point it felt like people were more worried about drowning each other out than listening. >> dingle's wife debbie vowing to set up another town hall. >> make sure we can quickly schedule another meeting and get as many people as you want to get. >> reporter: so many questions about what the obama health plan really means. >> something has to be done in the way of reform but n

at 10:00 eastern, the secretary- general of the afl-cio on the future of the labor movement. >> as the debate over health care continues, c-span's health care hub is a key resource. go online, follow the latest tweets and advertisements and links. share your thoughts on the issue with citizen video, including video from town halls to of gone to. there is more at c-span.org /healthcare. >> this morning, democrat congressman gerald connolly of the virginia talks about a town hall meetings and how the issue is playing out at those meetings. we will talk to james cole and doctor john garrett about the health care system, and provide a context to the health-care debate that is currently before congress. in a couple of hours, paul rainwater, executive director of

of course the afl-cio and the acr and have been tried to pack townhomes last week as they were mia until they got told to rally and you know what? i'm like thinking omg, i'm lol. because this whole thing is a big mbs s. well, i wonder if the presidents guarantee will work. stay tuned to fnc, you can find out. that's my view i would love to hear yours. and you can contact me. when you do, click onto the "fox news" feedback section and there you'll also find some information on how to contact your congressman and senators. [ applause ] >> mike: my first guess is america's healthcare situation will be fixed unless we do something that no one seems to be talking about. he says, we got to put the squeeze on the lawyers. who could forget him as the brutal bus, johnny sack, and the sopranos. in this scene, i was fine once initial. >> was his prognosis? >> three months to the treatment you have question or. >> what do you mean? >> your bow window of 1-3 years. >> what about the metastasis. >> two rounds of pear plant and, thus effects on plant and all concurrent with radiation? any cancer inside

those mob scenes are supported in part by a group called freedom works, and today the afl-cio, the laborrganization announced it's going to send people to town halls as well to confront the anti-obama teams. we have organizers on both sides tonight to show the fight right here on the set. >>> plus, the battle for ic

the afl-cio is looking to impose this tax which would be levied on every stock transaction. the union claims it could raise billions per year for government projects, and our next guest is for it. ethan, it seems small until you look at the sum for a wall street that is by adding its footing. bad timing? >> no, i do not and so at all -- for a wall street that is finding its footing -- fighting its footing? >> no, i do not think so at all. basically, we just had a bill out, and i know you were not a big fan of it, but it happened -- we just had a bailout. we had guarantees, and then we also have an implicit guarantee from the treasury to the financial sector, so the question right now is who should pay for that, and i really believe that the people to benefit from government services, they should pay for it, and we are seeing that the financial sector has been doing quite well. if you look at the earnings of goldman recently -- neil: you are talking that there will be this tax on body and selling stocks. everyone buys and sells stocks, not just goldman -- there will be this ta

we were talking about the seiu, a division of the afl-cio. fact, they broke off from afl-cio. there is a quotation that is very telling, because it is the m.o. for this organization. we prefer to use the power of persuasion, but when that does not work, we use the persuasion of power. everything that the left has accused the tea party movement and grass roots movement of, they are guilty of themselves. the obama administration has not condemned the by left perpetrated by these thugs, and in fact, kathleen sebelius had a teleconference the seiu çand is purple army to keep on doing what they are doing. gretchen: if it was just one function on this side, another faction on the other side, and it did notç turn into fisticuffs, that would be fine, but where do you see this going? to us, these offenses of violence, -- i do not know, where does it go? >> unless the white house says something specifically about these seiu members, when they did to the camerawoman, unless there is specific condemnation, they are basically condoning it. brian: last q

and gec for the afl/cio. >> excuse me [sneezing]. >> and now, the american center for law and justice... a nice job for the aclu. and the night job equivalent for the ac l and there is research about this, and identifying that experience matters before the supreme court and talking about the corporate capture of what they call the supreme court bar and talking about how the presence of the supreme court bar, whether representing corporate or public interests, had had an enormous effect on the courts in public interest law, i think, when -- i think when the highly experienced advocates including john roberts when he was an attorney, appeared before the court, they win for petitioners 76% of the time and respondents, 51% of this time which is remarkable considering that the court reverses the lower court 55% of the time. and so my question is, how do we get some of that, some of that power, that advocates have, over the supreme court, and bring it into our movement? >> one of the ways that i think interviews especially and progressives really need to do a lot of work is in infrastructur

support the aggressive supports at democratic congressional town meetings on health care, and now the afl-cio own people to these down halls to what could amount could the -- to a showdown. gentlemen, you're both professionals. tell me about this. the issues come up whether you're astroturf or not. are you a paid official? >> i work at the headquarters in d.c. >> you work -- and you get a salary from them. >> yes. >> are you a lobbyist? >> no. >> you're lobbying washington and pushing a point of view. how come your not a lobbyist? >> we're 501-c 3. >> you're nonpartisan. >> we're supposed to take this for real you're nonpartisan. >> if you look at our opposition to a lot of bush's policies -- >> but right now you guys are killing -- you're going to every town meeting in the world blowing them apart. how many people are on your payrolls? >> 18. >> how do you organize these meetings? >> mostly through the internet. we have about 400,000 online members who we can contact with an e-mail database we have, send them information about when the town halls are, give them briefings. >> when you watch t

where they can pass the pockets of their friends down the streets, and the people at the seiu and the afl-ciopension funds are going to collapse. neil: all right, thank you. . wwww . . a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a

. >> tell me why the afl-cio or unions or shareholders, broadly speaking, haven't gone after companies for years and years and years that have been paying these high and to many people's eyes, outrageous amounts to -- these are not the founders of these companies. these are the employees of the companies. >> well, to the taxpayers now, these are the hired help. they work for the taxpayer now. and we have been going at this. we have a website, paywatch.org that for ten years has been sounding the siren on pay packages, and not just pay packages, but the incentive structure on pay packages where you are traders getting all of the up side of their contract and the taxpayers are getting all of the down side. so, yeah, we have been setting the need for governance and d strong directors and boards to structure these. >> isn't the right way for this to gsolved for the shareholders to stand up, they're the ones who own these companies and say enough is enough, or pension funds or to disinvent from those companies that are paying too much for their -- >> right. let the market work. and it appe

the afl-cio endorsed my candidacy. only republican to get it. so it's a matter of who can do more. veterans affairs to pennsylvania to philadelphia and to pittsburgh to look at what's going on and to give better care. i'm bringing in the secretary of transportation, ray lahood. i'm trying to get a train from center city to reading to take pressure off the schuylkill expressway. the experience i've had with sotomayor i think showed in the questioning that i have on her, and i was critical of her in not answering questions and got into the bork hearings on the myth that bork was borked on a verb, and my background and my experience, i can do a lot more for pennsylvania than my opponent. >> well, i'm with you on bork, by the way, for what it's worth. i think you were right about bork. let me ask you about this question. you voted for mccain last time, but the president of the united states now, of course, is barack obama, and you support him now because of what he had to do on the stimulus package. you made that clear. isn't it ironic he's going to come in and campaign for you in a pri

advertising by the afl-cio, the democratic party, a lot democratic donor companies. you did not see that on the right. there is a funding gap that plays into it. at the same time, there are different interests. i have to tell you, i see the trend now where on web sites on the right, traffic is going up. take heart -- take hot air. they use the same analytic tools as daily kos and they are as large if not larger than daily kos which is huge for us. we're starting to make process. there is still progress to go. some part of that as well, recognition on the right that demographically we are different. we're working families to work for the day who cannot be engaged online versus a college kid and retirees on the east and left coast chicken dedicate their time to it. >> matt, i would ask you, you have won many different hats. you see this both as someone who has written about this and some and been involved in campaigns. what he think about how things have played out? >> eric said at the right and left are different and some states are conservative. i think we should try

he usually receives 100% approval from the afl-cio, so that must tell you something. >> the old model been to say that the democrats say it is the insurance companies faults. republicans say it is the trial lawyer's fault. >> we should point out, the bill has 14 co-sponsors from both parties. martha: we will have to take a look at it. thank you. trace: we told you about the earthquake in california, 5.8 magnitude. now they say another one has hit 3 miles south of tijuana. now they say the new earthquake was 6.9 magnitude. that is a monster. we are also hearing from the mayor's office in san diego confirming that some buildings were shaking downtown and that some buildings have been evacuated. 6.9 is about the size of the northridge earthquake. before hurricane katrina, that was the most costly natural disaster in the history of this country. clearly, there will be crews headed down there. that could cause a great deal of damage, a number of injuries. quality and reliability... are more than words here. it's personal. i have diabetes. rodney's kid too. so we're so proud to manufacture.

so, many of these democrats who are up for re-election and the afl-cio, the secretary-treasurer just released a statement today warning -- warning -- democrats that if they don't support or vote against something that has a public option or a government-run option, insurance option, for health care, ha that they won't get support from labor unions. so, that's just unexample of the balancing act, the political balancing act, that these democrats in particular are trying to deal with right now. >> you know, mark, i was talking about andy stern not too long ago, the head of the seiu, to that exact point. they have a $10 million war chest really aimed and he said at democrats who don't do what they want. they want health care reform and they want it to pass. is this kind of turning the table and trying to make this a republican/democratic thing, a way that the democrats who want health care reform can kind of mask the problems they're having within their own party? >> well, you know, i got to tell you, just this morning, drew, i was talking to several republican strategists about what th

two labor groups including the afl/cio are asking members to show up at the town hall meetings to back the white house plan. in washington, doug luzader, fox news. >>> it is 6:11 on friday morning and looking back on the life of john hughes, the man behind ferris buehler's day off. we'll look at his movies. >>> and we'll tell you how to cash in on your back to school shopping this weekend. >>> and first let's get to redskins training camp and dave ross. >> reporter: hopefully a week of humiliation coming to an end. and the final day. can i win just one for the gipper? please. stick around for fox 5 morning news. back in a minute. (announcer) get schooled in style... ...at the jcpenney back to school huge sale. tired of waiting for your savings? with an instant money coupon from jcpenn, get $10 off instantly when you spend 0. save on night and day doorbusters. like, junior's arizona tees and tanks for only $4.99 young men's shorts are $9.99 style doesn't wait. and neither should you. get instant savings on the styles you love with instant money from jcpenney. check your newspaper or go

consent, madam president, that letters that have been received by the judiciary committee from the afl-cio and from apps be inserted in the record at this time. and i would also ask unanimous consent, madam president, that the entire -- my entire stbe printed in the record in full. and i yield the floor. the presiding officer: without objection. a senator: i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: mr. durbin: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from illinois. mr. durbin: madam president, i ask the quorum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: thank you. madam president, the judiciary committee has received several letters and statements of support from organizations dedicated to advancing civil and women's legal rights, including latino justice, prldef, the alliance for justice, and the national women's law center. i ask unanimous consent to put these letters in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: thank you, madam president. madam president, as a member

signaled that he might drop the public option, president obama is getting a stern warning from the powerful afl/cio. the organization which claims 10 million union members says the only proposal that would control costs is the public option. top aids say president obama hasn't given up on it despite adamant disapproval from republicans. >> his preference is for a public opening. if there are others that have ideas about how we can institute oice and competition, he's happy to look at them. >> this is not about fixing the health care system. this is about government control. >> some democrats want to pass the reform now, without gop help but that would require democratic unity and conservative democrats are still leery of the public option. >> we are connected to your commute. all lanes are back open along i-95 in prince george's county this morning despite some overnight closures. the road work is taking place between route 198 in laurel and route 212 in beltville so that crews can work on the intercounty connector and interchange there. some soubs lanes are closing as early as 7:00 in the evening.

the afl-cio send me a brand new laptop. the first time i had ever laid eyes on all on one. sent me a brand new beeper. i did not on a mobile phone. i went down to the mobile phones store and bought the latest, state of the art mobile phone, and it came in a bag. i am not lying. you plug it into your truck and had to roll up the window. i would pull up next cue girls and act like i was on the phone. i really could not afford to make a phone call. i was in dallas with a beeper, mobile phone, and a brand new laptop. i drove a black pickup truck. most people thought i was another drug dealer in arlington. let's get serious. they said this day would never come. they said we set our sights too high. they said the country was too divided to ever come together around a common purpose, but at this defining moment in history, we have done what the cynics said we could not do. hang on, that is not my speech. i wrote that for somebody else a long time ago. how many of you recognize that speech? raise your hand. congratulations to you, because of you and millions of union members and yo

the afl-cio send me a brand new laptop. the first time i had ever laid eyes on all on one. they sent me a brand new beeper. i did not on a mobile phone. i went down to the mobile phones store and bought the latest, state of the art mobile phone, and it came in a bag. i am not lying. you plug it into your truck and had to roll up the window. i would pull up next cue girls and act like i was on the phone. i really could not afford to make a phone call. i was in dallas with a beeper, mobile phone, and a brand new laptop. i drove a black pickup truck. most people thought i was another drug dealer in arlington. let's get serious. they said this day would never come. they said we set our sights too high. they said the country was too divided to ever come together around a common purpose, but at this defining moment in history, we have done what the cynics said we could not do. hang on, that is not my speech. i wrote that for somebody else a long time ago. how many of you recognize that speech? raise your hand. congratulations to you, because of you and millions of union members a

the afl-cio now is warning it will not support democrats who oppose a government-run insurance optionhe president not to push a reform bill through congress without their support, using a maneuver one gop senator calls sneaky. the white house says it still wants a bipartisan bill. all of this as the president makes a new health care pitch to religious groups. let's bring in our senior white house correspondent ed henry. and ed, what are you hearing that is new from the president? >> reporter: well, what's interesting, suzanne, is that the president just wrapped up a conference call with faith leaders and really took the gloves off. for the first time in this health care debate, i heard him use religious republicans to hit republicans, hit them pretty hard. at first, mild religious references, the president saying he thinks there's an obligation for people to help others who do not have health insurance, saying "i am my brother's keeper, i am my sister's keeper," but then he said this. >> i know there's been a lot of misinformation in this debate, and there are some folks out there who

peter: and apparently no so coincidentally the afl/cio announced yesterday that they are going to mobilize labor activists to attend town hall meetings in 50 congressional districts this month to counter the opposition to the health care reform. so if you're attending these town hall meetings, anticipate buses full of labor activists, as they're called, who will be attending. coincidentally to discuss. gretchen: the interesting thing will be to see how many of these town hall meetings actually happen now, because some members of congress have now said, look, we're going to hold conference call town hall meetings over the telephone now. some, at least one, says that he fears for his life at these town hall meetings. but also, maybe they don't want to get themselves into exactly what we've been seeing at some of these events so will they actually continue to hold these events? that, to me is very important today that could insight people to get even more angry. steve: so people were angry last night in tampa. and the town hall turned violent. apparently one congresswoman was trying to talk a

they'll get some help from the afl-cio, as well. >>> secretary of state hillary clinton laughs off critics of her husband's mission to north korea. >> john bolton, the former -- >> i'm sorry. no. i really shouldn't. >> she sits down with cnn's fareed zakaria to defend the mission that brought home the american journalists. plus a newlywed's nightmare. the wife accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill her husband and police using an elaborate ruse to nab her. >>> deborah feyerick is monitoring some other stories incoming into "the situation room." what's going on? >> hey there, wolf. hi, everyone. in the pacific ocean, hurricane felicia has reached category 4 status with maximum sustained winds of 140 miles an hour. forecasters say it will weaken significantly over the coming days as it moves over cooler water. the storm could pass over hawaii lirl next week, but it is expected to be a tropical depression with sustained winds of about 35 miles an hour by that time. >>> a jury is now deliberating the case of a former top nasa official accused of corruption. courtney stat allegedly sought

involved on this teleconference call that had to organize, get everything in place for the day of service, it's acorn, afl-cio the color of change group. the group that's boycotting beck or trying to. the community action partisanship partnership. these are a bunch of left wing crazy groups, are they not? what does it have to do with 9/11. >> your argue. is national day of service and remembrance put together by david payne of a group that includes 2 different organizations which consists of families of those who lost loved ones on 9/11 and responders who are lost on 9/11. that is who really put this thing together. obama did sign a bill having to do with this initiative by a nonprofit group that was not done by the government. you want to single out -- you are quoting from a spectator article by matthew who was on the radio show two nights ago who can't think of one liberal he likes by the way. laura: i like you. >> because of a conference call on that call were the groups you mentioned plus a must be of other groups which are not necessarily liberal. and who was on that conference call is not what this is a

program that's been endorsed by the association of manufacturers, by the chamber of commerce and the afl-cioso when you get -- >> strange -- >> that varied organizations together, it must be doing something right. >> are there rules we should know when we play with these microphones? >> like this. what do you generally say -- >> once you turn it on, it's on. i still haven't gotta right. once it's on, it's on. i keep pressing it, turning it off -- >> i usually move mine out of the way so i can deal with my notes in front of me. >> and you got these behind you whispering -- >> we're sitting on pads of paper, big, thick -- >> reams of paper. >> don't you feel small? >> i do, actually. >> that's not a good feeling around washington, to feel small and -- >> feel short. >> i feel like i'm talking to mr. potter and he's offering me a job. >> you can't get the chair in. >> bottom line is, they're lower than you are in the chair. >> that's true. >> senator, thanks for your time. >> nice to be here. >>> when we come back, a look at this morning's top business  stories. and the director of the white h

i went on to the afl-cio website and they have a group healthcare for americans now and they claim thathey have been generating grassroots activism all year on healthcare. they claim to have sent 7,500 people to capitol hill to protest on healthcare and in their memo they have a point that says do not debate on their policy points and two interrupt them on talking points. so the idea that only the right is trying to generate people is false. the unions have been pushing people out. but there are more people showing up opposed to what is being suggested. so, i think that is a good gauge for what is going on. the call also mentioned other countries. i lived in england for a while in the 1990's and i would repeatedly see signs that said nurse shortage and bed shortage and they have nationalized healthcare. so, it is all free but you get the shortages that you see a lot and to sum rimer summa rice yoi expensive now wait until you see when if is free. we will continue this in a few minutes. >> employment numbers are being released. the commissioner of the bureau of labor statistics will talk

president obama is still on vacation in washington making no major rules on health care as the debate rages on this was afl-cio headquarters here in the white house today. former senate majority leader republican bob dole says barack obama's got to do are. >> he ought to pick up the mantle of a and go with it. i mean he is the president. >> reporter: in an opned today's "washington post" dole says mr. obama ought to come up with his own specific plan now. with the public option or not. with a tax hike or not. specifics. the obama health care reform bill. >> many think he's trying to duck and then if it fails he won't be held responsible because he didn't have a bill. well, that's not leadership. >> reporter: dole says the ruckus in town hauls that are giving cold feet about big change would die down. >> the president's introduction of his bill, the obama bill, would trump everything. >> reporter: the whi house reacted to dole's criticism. >> characterize the role that the president is playing as inactive would be inaccurate. >> reporter: but if the polls are accurate the president's public support is down to 5

a lot of left-wing sites on the internet will see advertising by the afl-cio, the democratic party.you don't really see that on the right. there is a funding gap that plays into it. i am seeing the trend that project a on website -- that on the right website the traffic is going up. they use the same analytics tools, and they are later -- a larger. we are starting to make progress. there needs to be greater recognition on the right that demographically, we are different. we are working families, who works through the day, who cannot be engaged on line, verses college kids and retirees on the east and left coast to can dedicate their time to it. >> you have for many different hats. i think you see it both as somebody who has written about this but also somebody who has been involved in campaigns. >> the ratings -- it is a mistake for conservatives to -- we should try to learn from the other side. i am sure that liberals try to learn from lee atwater back in the '80s and '90s. the right and the left are different. i have to tell you that the left is very worried right now. it is not b

i went on to the afl-cio website and they have a group healthcare for americans now and they claim thathey have been generating grassroots activism all year on healthcare. they claim to have sent 7,500 people to capitol hill to protest on healthcare and in their memo they have a point that says do not debate on their policy points and two interrupt them on talking points. so the idea that only the right is trying to generate people is false. the unions have been pushing people out. but there are more people showing up opposed to what is being suggested. so, i think that is a good gauge for what is going on. the call also mentioned other countries. i lived in england for a while in the 1990's and i would repeatedly see signs that said nurse shortage and bed shortage and they have nationalized healthcare. so, it is all free but you get the shortages that you see a lot and to sum >> you can see "washington journal" every morning at 7:00 a.m. eastern. tonight we will have anne coulter speaking at george washington university. you can see her comments live at 8:15 p.m. eastern. tomorrow is t

ago, the most supreme -- experienced supreme court advocate were the gc for the naacp and gc for the afl-ciost experience non- profit attorney is jay secours loew of the american superior court of justice, which is denied jobs for the aclu. there has been a lot of research, identifying experience matters before the supreme court, talking about corporate capture of what they call the supreme court bar. and talking about how the presence of the supreme court bar, whether representing corporate interests or public interest has had an enormous effect on the court in public interest law. when theseç highly experienced advocates, including john roberts when he was an attorney , appeared before the court, they win 51% of the time. which is remarkable considering that the court reverses a lower- court 55% of the time. my question is, how do we get some of that power that advocates have over the supreme court and bring it into our movement? >> one of the ways that i think liberals especially and progressives really need to do a lot of the work is in infrastructure building, especially in the legal a

tell me about apollo and these -- i have acorn and the black farmers and the sierra club and greenpeace and afl-cio why are these thee categories -- how are they tied to apollo? >> well, the apollo alliance is designed to bring together the elements of organized labor with the community organizers with the green groups, the environmental groups and to access all of the big foundation money that's been supportive of those causes in the past, so it's kind of -- van jones, the green jobs czar, described the apollo mission as a grand theory for progressive left causes that ties all these things together. >> glenn: apollo is named apollo. do you know why? >> they really admire the moon shot mission and they think we need a similar centrally planned massive mobilization to reorder society and take control of energy and various other objectives. they want to make it like a moon shot. glenn: i saw on their website and it is something like "massive and fast." they wanted something like the moon shot that could happen and just be launched quickly. ok. so van jones, he is the self-p proclaimed communist. he i

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